¶How the town••s men maye be deceyued. Chap. xxvii.
ABoue all thinges it is counted the greatest matter, not onlye in sieges, but euen in all kindes of warre, to spye out and knowe dilligentlye the custome and vse of the ennemye. For you cannot conuenientlye by layinge wayte for them deceiue them, excepte you knowe at what houres they cease from theyr labour, and at what time they be lesse cyrcumspecte, whether at none or towardes euen or in the night, or at such times as they eate their meate, when as y• souldiours of both sydes are dispersed to take their rest, and to refreshe their bodyes. Whiche thinge when the be∣siegers perceiue, subtillye they withdraw themselues from battell, that they maye geue free libertye to the ennemye to be verye negligent. Which negligence what time as it shal∣be greatest, for that they feare nothinge, then the besiegers shall sodenlye bringe their engines and ladders to the wal∣les, and take the Cittye. Therefore in the walles the tow∣nes men ought to haue stones and ordinaunce in a readines, to thende that as sone as the deceipte is knowen, they maye resist and haue at hande such thinges as they may roule, and cast vppon the heades of their ennemyes.