THE FIRST OBSERVATION.

THe getting of this hill as a place of aduantage, was maruellous im∣portant to the happy successe of the battel: for the aduantage of the place is not only noted as an especial cause of easy victory,* through∣out this historie; but in al their warres from the very cradle of their Empire, it cleared their Armies from all difficulties, to what extremitie soeuer they were put. The first reason may be in regard of their dartes and slinges, and especially their piles, which being a heauie deadly weapon, could not any waie be so auailable, being cast countremont or in a plaine leuell, as when the decli∣uitie and downfall of a swelling banke did naturally second their violent im∣pression: Neither can the shocke at handy-blowes bee anie thing so furious (which was a point of great respect in their battels) when the souldiers spent their strength in franchising the iniurie of a rising mountaine, as when the place by a naturall inclination did further their course. And to conclude, if the bat∣tell succeeded not according to their desire, the fauour of the place afforded them meanes of a strong retrait, in the highest part wherof, they had commonly their campes well fenced and fortified against all chances. If it be demaunded whether the vpper ground be of like vse, in regard of our weapons: I answere, that in a skirmish of shot, I take the aduantage to lie in the lower ground rather then on the hill; for the pieces being hastily charged, as commonly they are af∣ter the first volley, if the bullet chance to lie loose, when the nose of the peece is lower then the breech, it must needes flie at randome, and be altogether vnef∣fectuall: but when the nose shall be raised vpward to the side of a hill, the bullet being rammed in with his owne waight, shall flie with greater certaintie and fu∣rie; considering the nature of the pouder to be such, that the more it is stopt and shut in, the more it seeketh to enlarge his roome, and breaketh forth with greater violence and fury. Concerning other weapons, I take the vpper ground in the shocke and incounter, to be aduantagious, as well for the sword as the pike, and would deserue as great respect, if the controuersie were decided by these weapons, as seldome times it is.