An order, whych a prince in battayll muste obserue, and kepe, yf he entende to subdewe, or passe thoroughe his enemyes landes

¶ A necessare order to be obserued in battayll .

FYrst he must examin , whether hys cause be lawfull and iuste , for in a iuste cause : God shall assyste hym .

Item he must prouyde that he haue a sufficiente nomber of men and moneye redy for them .

Item he muste counsail , wyth the most wyse & experte men of hys realme , of the weyght and daungers , that may fal : so that as farre as reason may leade him , he be not ignoraunte , what frute shall follow of hys bataill .

Item he muste prouyde that hys hoste lacke no vyttayles .

Item he must see that he lacke no engine and other thyng requyred to defende hym selfe or inuade hys ennemy .

Item that he haue capitaynes experte in warres the whych shall execute hys commaundement Item let hym be assuryd of hys owne cuntrey or he inuade hys enemy , and yf case require , sette it quyet or elles departe not .

Item lette hym leue behynde hym summe noble and crusted man to order and yf nede be to subdew hys enemyes in hys absence and order them .

Item that the moste strongest fortresse be commytted to hys most trusty freyndes .

Item the he oftentymes consulte & counsiall wyth hys wyse & experte counsiall that he may know what is moste expediente to doo , and let hym vse theyre counsaill .

Item when he entreth hys enemyes landes , he shall call hys hoste before hym that he may know the number , and yf he fynde any vnable to battaile put him away .

Item that he haue no superfluous carryage , for ther of groweth greate dyspleasure , specially , when a prince intendeth shorte victory , and then let hys vyttayles be hys moost carryage wherin must be taken a good order , so that he haue thē with him or passe by such places wher it maibe had or els he wasshethe a stone , that is to saye , he laboureth in vaine .

Howe onely by customable vsage of dedes of armes the Romaynes had the victory of all other nations .

The olde custō to chose knightes at .xvi. yere was age of to be perfete in theyr age and to the custome of warre .

Also a prince must dyligently consyder , whych be most pryncypal and most expert , & ouer that . what euery man in hys hoste is moost apte vnto .

For it is very perylous to set an vnexperte man in aucthoryte : for diuers men haue dyuerse wyttes , and as they be , they must be vsed . Some be able to rewie an hoste : Some . C. foremen , other a hundreth horsemen , some be good on horse , some be good on fote , other be good in felde or battail , other to inuade a castel , other to de fende it , other sodeynly on horse to inuade an hooste , otherwyfte on horsebacke to espye newes , other in rydyng , to compasse a felde and note they re number , other apte to chose a mete or apte place for a felde , other be experte in bat taill , & naught when they be at it , whose counsaill is not to be refused , other haue no experience , how be it they be valyaunt when they be put therto , other be both exper te and victoryous , other be able neyther to counsail defende nor inuade , they be good at home . {quod} secta in vtilis . other be good in ingynes , other to make brydges & passages , other to espye they renemyes secretes , in dyssymuled habite , other to gyue counsell and dyscusse ambassades , other mete for execution of iustice , other me te to kepe a princes treasure , and other thynges of charge .

Item the fore warde of the battaill must be stronge aswell wyth horsemen , as with footemen , and let there be put his capitaines of the valyaunste .

Item he muste consyder that hys felde be set to a aduauntage and accordynge therto the hoste must be ordered .

Item that he prouide , where hys hoste shall commodyously reste or he departe from whens he is and diligently let hym note the cuntry whether it be plain , hilly , mountaynes or full of waters , & what straytes be therin .

Item yf he may , let hym haue it trewlye paynted or he enter : so that the daungiers may be knowen and the horsemen may healpe the footemen in tyme of warre .

Item let him prouide that his carriage trouble not his host , yf they be inuaded , wherfore let them be conueyed by the one syde : prouyded that they be surely garded .

Item there must be pronysion , that all artillary maye be surely caryed : for the losse of that is the perill of the hoste .

Item that the explorators be sent to espye the iourneys of the aduersaryes , and what vyttaylles they haue , with all other thinges by them intended .

Item that he take deliberation , yf he may get the frendeshyp of any greate man of hys enemyes counsayll , by corruption of money or otherwyse , by whom he may know the purpose of hys sayde enemyes .

Item that euery day , there be sent light horsemen to the aduersaries host to perceiue theyr purpose , lest they be sodenly inuaded , and also to thentente he may inuade them vnprouyded yf the case so requyred . Requiruntur multi secreti et fideles .

Item yf he can perceyue that hys aduersary intende hasty battayle , let hym take hym selfe in a wayte , that he may prouyde hym in takyng of hys felde to his aduauntage , & put hym selfe shortcely in order .

Item yf he knowe any daungerous waye betwene hym and hys enemeis , he shall by wysdom and dilygence procede towarde that , vntyll he come wythin .iii. or . iiii . bowe shotes , and ther put hym selfe in order to inuade hys hoste .

Item he muste espye what artyllary hys enemies vse & what order they take .

Item euery country hath his maner of fyghtynge to there aduantage , and there enemyes confusyon .

Item he must beware of euery harde and dowtefull passage , except he haue leasure to conuaye hys hoste or excepte necessyte compelle hym .

Item it is better to abyde the comming to a bataill , then to inuade , for the fyrst commers comonly lacke order .

Item yf the enemyes ryde oute of order , and wander , inuade thē , for lacke of order shal destroy thē

Item yf thyn enemyes drawe to hostry of no strength and dysperse them selfe , then they be esylyer taken .

Item when the hoste draweth nere to the enemies , let the wardes come night together for their better surcottes .

Item that footemen be on the one syde not mixte wyth horsemen , {quod} generaretur confusio .

Item in euery warde must be some wyth hand gunnes , crosbowes and other manuall ingyns , and likewyse in the latter warde , to put a syde the lyhgt horsemen .

Item yf he may let hym , prouyde that the sonne and wynde , be for him , specyally for duste , yf there be any .

Item yf he be horsed , and stronger then hys enemy , let hym prouoke hym to open bataill in the playne felde , and yf hys footemen be myghtyer then hys enemyes horsemen , let hym take the aduauntage of a streyght place .

Item when he inuadeth hys enemy lette hys carriage be put , in the one syde & surely garded .

Item he shall put hys ingynes of battaill betwene him and hys enemyes and well defende them .

Item yf he be compelled to folowe hys enemye , and for default of vittaile to inuade therni , or yf he dreade lest hys hoste fortefy hys company , so that he cannot escape , excepte he ouercome his hoste , let him study to breake hys felde , that is to say , let hym vexe thē wyth gonnes and other poyntes of warre , so that they maye disorder them selfes .

Item a prince muste note the tyme and vse as it serueth hym .

Item when he is actually entered battail , hys host shall stande styll in a clust , erand in no wyse remoue frome the place , whatsoeuer he see , though he see his company partely flee & partely slayne , and also though he see hys enemyes flee , for order make the and marreth all .

Item when thou hast inuaded thyne enemyes with the fore & hynder warde , let the myddell stande styffe and close to helpe bothe , as nede shall requyre , and when both wardes haue well fought , let the myddell warde fyght , but for all that let , them not dysorder them selfe excepte compulsyon .

Item he must haue prouysion for passages of waters ,

Item before the batayl , a prince must see the order of his host , and reforme all thynges mysordered , and thys may not be forgotten .

Item he shal shew them , that he wyll lyue and dye wyth them that day , and that besydes theyre perpetuall honour , he wyl neuer forget to honour & rewarde thē . additio . A and for thys let him see couragyous prynces orations , as Alexander , Catiline , wyth other infinite . &c.

Item he shal neyther magnifye hys enemy nor despyce hym but encorage hys capytaygnes , to kepe there order , & yf that they so doo , the victory wyll folowe .

Item he shall practise that both his enemy and hys hoste , may alwaye thynke that more strength is commynge to hym .

Item that he see no robbyng , and that he commaunde hys captaines to see that obserued , payne of death .

Item that he execute indyfferently iustice , and punyshe them , that cause debates .

Item when hys enemyes doo treate of peace , then let hym selfe lefte awayt . Propter pericula in hoe casu experta .

Item let no man passe hys cuntry , and inuade an other , without nede require , excepte he see , howe he may returne wyth honour , or howe he may surely abyde there : it is but symplenes to goo vp and downe in a cnntry , and to ryde farre in it , and harde it is to be longe sure in a cuntrey straung , and to returne with honor , for in the tyme of Talbot . vl knyghtes of Englande laied sege to the towre of Roane , and when they lacked that was necessary for theyr defence , therfore they loste it , & lyke thynges were done in at Britaine at Vans where they loste all .

Item yf any tydynges come forthwyth , let them be herde , and folow thē , as the tyme shall serue

Item a prince , must be keping hys promyse , elles no man shall truste hym .

Item he muste study to haue the fauoure of the beste of the cūstrey , and he muste be iuste and egall .

Item a prince muste study to haue the freindeshyp of the cuntreis adioynyng , and let hym not haue , battaill wyth diuers at once , excepte he be compelled , for there is moche suttelty vsed .

Item in the day of the battaill he must haue aboute hym , a certen of the wysest & moost experte men , to kepe follow and counsaill them .

Item he muste prouyde that hys enemyes espye not the number of hys hoste and the order of the same .

Item yf it fortune hym to lese a batayll or .ii. or to lese hys actillary , then pollicy is to resorte to some fortres , and there to call hys hoste togyther , & to refreshe them as nedethe and to get newe men , and to take peace yf he can , and in the meane tyme to make hys fortresse stronge , tyll he be able by some meanes to make bataill , and to haue all thynges rede therfore .

Item he shall sette hys tentes nyghe to hys enemies hoste that he may trouble and breake theyr aray .

Item he muste beware that he be not beseged .

Item he must beware that after one bataile lost , he begine not another forth wyth , excepte necessyte compell hym , for after a dystrage the hoste can not sodenely be apte to fyght , for woundes and mornynges shall let them & theyr enemyes after vyctory , be more imboldet , how be it oftentymes , men thynke vpon dyspleasure to be reuenged and so for lacke of policy take fury rebuke and in thys maner Charles duke of Burgon was destroyed , wherfore set reason before wyll , and begyn to thynke nothynge harde to perfourme .

Item yf thou wynne a batail or a forteresse of thyne enemies , pursew hym graciously , and suffer him neyther to reste nor to restable hys stregth , wysdom it is to folowe the aduauntage .

Item yf thou get a cuntry committe it to some greate man , and lykewyse of forteresses , and let hym be well intreated , and lacke no moneye for suche men woulde be cherysshed .

¶ The maner of besegyng a forteresse .

FYrst a Prince muste remembre whether he haue sufficient men to besege yt in .iii. diuers parties , & whether ouer that he haue men sufficyente for hys owne defence and moneye bothe .

Item he muste prouyde artyllary and vittayles necessary and let him well beware that his vittayll come not to hys enemyes handes , and this principall to be noted .

Item he muste espye some man that knowethe the strengthe of the forteresse and thery counsell muste he vse .

Item he must espye how it be most easely taken where and hys hoste may beste set theyr felde for theyr assuerty .

Item that done set them in the forwarde that were before sente to espye the strengthe of the forteresse well furnysshed wyth archers , and dyggers and all other thynges .

Item let them comme as nyghe to the walles as they can and so order them that they may reiecte theyre enemies dartes .

Item aboue all thynges prouide that nothyng may passe out or enter into the forteresse , for yf one gate be open it shall be neuer euercome .

Item let one warde be euer redy to helpe the other as nede shal require .

Item the fyrste daye of besegyng the felde must be fortyfied .

Item men must be sente to euery place to espye whether any rescue be intended . &c . and yf it so be let hym consyder there power and yf he see parell remowe hys hoste and hys artyllary lest he be inuaded in bothe sydes , & voyde to some sure forteresse , for the tyme

Item yf he see his enemies of small power he maye set some to fyght wyth thē and other to kepe the sege .

Item when the walles be broken fortyfy hys men , and make an assawte , prouided that he leue behynde them both horsemen and fotemen , to wythstande hys backe enemyes for that not doynge the erle of Arminac loste by Sander a castell of Lumbardy .

Item yf he be put a backe in the fyrst conflicte let hym inuade assone as the daye folowyng , for vpon a vyctory oftentymes the opidanis be necligent , trustynge not sodeynly to be inuaded , by thys prouisyon many places and forteres hath ben optayned .

Item many other thynges be required how be it a prince muste specyally beware of treason and simulation .

❧ Howe a Prince beseged shall order hym selfe .

ABoue all thynge a Prynce must study aswel in tyme of peace as in warre be knowe hys neyghbours myndes , and oftentymes to semde orators to thē aswell to nourysshe loue as to knowe theyr good wyll .

Item yf he see by a Prynces ordinaunce that he intendeth warre let hym streyngthe hys forteresse towardes that contry .

Item let hym make some freinde in that Princes house by whom he may knowe what is intended .

Item yf he be assurid that the prince intedeth hym warre let hym prepare an hoste of as myghty men as hys money wyll suffer hym to doo , and yf he thynke hym suffycient to ouercom him , let hym folowe hys fortune and tarry hys enemie in the entre to hys contry or yf he maye in hys enemyes contrye .

Item yf he thynke hym selfe vnsufficyente in men and money let hym fortify hys hedde places nexte to hys enemyes , and garde them wyth money .

Item yf there be moo forteresses then he maye furnysshe let them be take downe and all maner vyttayll be caryed from thens , and the cuntry lefte bare .

Item let him haue good capitaygnes in hys Forteresses the whyche maye doo hys enemyes daylye dyspleasure and dysperse his hoste , as it was done at Mitz and other places .

Item horsemen must be prouided as it shal be thought necessary to take the messengers , and then make prouision with order .

Ite yf such obstacles be purueyed for enemies they shal lytle preuayle .

❧ How a forteresse shal be kept and howe they that be beseged shall order theyr selfe .

FYrste dygge vp the erthe to the heyght of the walles , for gonnes and other ingynes .

Item the bulwarkes must be fortefyed and he muste beware that the innar byldynges ioyne not to the walles for nygh to the walle inwardly muste be made a trenche to a good heyght so that yf the wall fayle the wall of erth may helpe .

Item he muste haue good capitaynes to order and visite hys watche of the walles and men experte .

Item crosbowes , bumbardes , dykers , phisitions , surgeons , potticares , wyth all other thynges necessarye .

Item he must haue one capitayne to order hys watches as nede shall require .

Item euery nyght the walles must be sene and an order set and kepte for there sure custody ,

Item there muste be watche kepte nygh to the walles to helpe there kepers as nede shall require , and also to withstande inwarde treason .

Item yf there be any noyse let euery man go to there owne place for oftentimes such noyse is made , to maike men ronne together , whyle theyre enemyes inuade .

Item lette it be taken heade theyre whyles , that theyr waters be not poysoned .

Item when he shall inuade , let hym well counsayll , and hys commodities foresene .

Item yf the walles be broken , lette thē be amended forthe with , for feare of inuasion , as it was at the Rodes , whyles the Lorde was at masse .

Item let it euer be commoned , that more people shall comme , to healpe to put them in better conforte .

Item a prince muste be ware that theyre be noo murmure in the hooste and yf theyre be , that they be openlye punysshed .

Item yf the capitaine vnderstande , that any battaille is lost , or foreteresse taken , vnknowne vnto hys hooste , let that be kepte secrete , and lette hym euer shewe hys hooste , thynges of comforte and pleasure .

Item in the principal partes , muste be sette pryncypall men .

Item he muste haue gnydes , that knowe the countrye .

Item yf anye message come , lette him ponder , and repelye discusse yt , and be not ouer lyghte of credence .

Item yf it be a countrye of hylles , waters , or of straytes , he muste haue the moo footemen .

Item when it is proceded in battaille , some wyse men stronge and sure , muste be leste behynde , leste they inuayde in the inner parte of the battaylle .

Item let newe lockes of gaytes ofte be maide for feare of counterfeytynge , and it muste be prouyded of sure kepers .

Item in the nyght , there must be sure watche , aboute , the yates for daungers , that maye fall , as it was done at Arras .

Item there muste be made barrars , nyghe vnto the foreteresse for the defence of footemen , and the sauety othorsemen , and dyuerse other consyderations .

Item the walles shall be strengthed wyth thornes , for shakinge .

Item prysoners must be well entreated , and yf thou take hym that is not trew vnto hys prince , punyshe hym forthe wythall .

Item yf any enemyes treate of delyueraunce , of theyr foreteresses heare it well , but be not lyghte of credence , for theyre be many souttelryes ymagined , and at Betynam many were by that meane destroyed .

Item the watche must be kepte all nyghte , and the watche men not departe , vntyll euery thynge be suere .

Item when the yates must be opened , there muste be so manye presente , as may wythstande the secrete assaute of theyre enemyes , for by thys meane Leystoure was taken , for when .ii. or .iii. had opened the yates , theyre enemyes secretlye hydde , inuaded them and slewe them , and theire was treason wythin .

Item there muste be manye porters , for fewe maye be sone slayne by treason . &c.

Item yf any in the nyght season call to come in the whyche by name and voyce be knowen , that notwythstandynge , lye secrete espies let it be knowen , what nomber there be of thē & when thou openeste the vtter gayte , see the innatre gayte shytte , for Frenche men by thys meane , toke Moelā , for .iiii. traytours fayned , that they had brought Inglyshe men from the bartaylle of sayncte Denys , they opened the gaytes , and were dysceyued ,

Item manye men wyll consyder and counsayll dyuerse , and great thynges , to be attempted , be not swyfte to fololwe theyre counsaylle .

Item some be ignoraunt , and dreade no pareylle .

Item some wyll perswade , and counsaill greate thynges to be done , that they may be taken , and thoughte cowragyous , the whyche in effecte be of noo courage , Hi in bello extremi .

Item lette hym beware , that none of hys hooste haue to great familyarytie wyth hys enemyes for feare of treason .

Item when he wyll battayle lette it be secretlye done , that the guyders knowe it not , and lette the gaytes be faste shytte before he cause men to putte them in armes , also let men be sette to kepe diligentelie the passages , oute of the cytie , that none may go vnto theyre enemyes to shewe the preparations that is made againste them , also when he shal come vnto the fylde wyth hys ennemyes to fyghte , lette hym take awaye contrary vnto that waye , whych myghte be thoughte he woulde take , and after he hathe gone .ii. or .iii. myles , in that waye , lette him returne vnto the way , which was fyrste thought , that he wold haue taken , but let hym take good counsell hede , that neyther the guydes , nor other of hys company know whether he wyll goo vnto the tymethat they be in the feylde .

Item yf any of the carriages or guydes of the waynes come in to the towne let it be seene that , at theyre commynge in , one of the yares be shyte ,

Item yf it fortune any of the sowldyers to be hurte , or wounded in battell or elles oute of the battel , lette the princes or theyr ministers see the medecine be minystred vnto them in dewe order lette them be visited and gentellye intreated with good and softe wordes , and let thē neyther lacke phesicyon nor surgyon for these sayde thinges do encourage and nourishe the hartes of warryers , and make them stronge and wyllynge to fyght ,

Item it behoueth a prince to make good serche and to knowe whyche of hys company be moste diligente valyaunte and taught in feates of warre , and of them make most and to nourishe them wyth great liberalyte accordyng to theyr merites , for the lyberalite of a prince causeth his companye to be diligent , and also multeplyeth and encreaseth the same

Item it apperteyneth to a prince to forbydde that none of hys company entende conflycte or to goo oute of hys hooste wythoute lycence of theyre capytaynes .

Item many other thynges might be rehersed , wherby enemies myght be constrayned and repressed , but take thys for a generall conclusyon , that the effecte of battayll consystethe and standeth in .iii. thynges , that is to say in the abundans of money , in good order putte and kepte , and in folowynge the counsayll and aduertisement of wyse and experte warryers .

¶ To pacifye the sedition of sowldyours .

Wan A. Manlius consule , hadde perceyued , that hys sowdiours grudged against the menne of Campania , where they were nowe lodged , conspyrynge togyther to slee theyr hostes , and after to take away their goodes , he spred abrode thys ruinour , that they shulde lye there styl all the wynter , and thus they of theyr purpose let and dysturbed , he delyuered Campania from greate perylle , and as tyme and occasion serued , punysshed them that were causers of that sedition .

What tyme the legyons of the Romaynes were furyousely sente and bente on peryllous sedytion , Lucius Sylla restored them from theyr rage vnto a quietenes by thys polycie : He commaunded , that worde shulde be broughte hastely to the hooste , that theyr enemyes were at hande , and that they shoulde rayse vp a crye , and call them to harneys , and blowe vp the trumpettes , wherby he brake of the seditron , they all togyther consentyng as nede required , agaynste theyr enemyes .

What tyme Pompeius hoost hadde slayne the Senatoures of Millan , for feare of trouble and busynes , that myghte haue happened , yf he shoulde haue called the offenders alone to examination , he sente for them all togyther , as well for the fautlesse , as the gyltie , so that they semed to be sent for , for some other purpose and therfore appered they that were fautye , wyth lesse feare , bycause they came not alone : and they , whose conscience pleded them not gyltye , gaue good attendaunce , to kepe them that were fautie , lest peraduenture their escape and flyght , myght haue tourned thē to displeasure .