The works of the famous Nicholas Machiavel, citizen and secretary of Florence written originally in Italian, and from thence newly and faithfully translated into English.

CHAP. XIV.

What strange effects new inventions have sometimes in a Battle, and how new Noises have the same.

WHat strange consequences have succeeded from sudden and unexpected accidents that have been seen or heard in the heat of the Battel, appears by several examples in History, but especially in the conflict betwixt the Romans and the Volsci, where Quintius observing one of the wings of his Army to stagger and give ground, cry'd out to them to stand firm, for that in the other wing the Victory was theirs; with which words he not only reincouraged his own men, but put such a terror upon the Enemy, that they fled in good earnest. And if in a well ordered Army those unexpected vociferations have such wonderful effect, in a tumultuous and ill governed Army they have much more, where everything is more subject to the agitation of such winds▪ and of this we have a memo∣rable example of our times. The City of Perugia not many years since was divided into two parts, the Oddi, and the Baglioni. The Baglioni prevailing, the Oddi were banished. But the Oddi having got an Army together, and brought them privatly to a place not far from Perugia, by the favour of their friends they were let one night into the Town, and possessed themselves as far as the Piazza. And because the Streets were chained up from one side to other to hinder the passage of the Horse, the Oddesche had a man who went before them with a great engine of Iron wherewith he brake the chains, and he had done his work so effectually, that he had broke all the chains, but what opened into the Piazza the alarm being taken, and every body crying out Arm, Arm, he who broke down the chains being pressed so close by the throng that was behind him, that he had not room for his blow, cryed out to those that were next Back, Back, intending only to have made more room for his arm: But they who were next him calling back to those who were be∣hind them, by degress the word went through the whole Army, and they who were in the Rear not knowing the reason, began to run, and being followed by those who were next, the whole Army retreated by little and little, till at last they brake out into an abso∣lute flight, by which inconsiderable accident, the Oddi were defeated of their design. So that it is to be considered, that in a Battel, order is not only to be taken that the Army be well drawn up, and put in a good posture to fight; but that no such trifling accident be able to discompose it: For if for any thing the popular multitude be unfit for the Wars, it is because every noise, rumour, or alarm, distracts them, and puts them to the rout. Wherefore it ought to be a principal care in a good General to appoint such persons as are to receive

all orders and words of command, and derive them to the rest, that by so doing the Sol∣diers being accustomed to their Officers, may not receive any such orders, but from such persons as are commissioned thereunto, the want of which custom has many times produc'd very great confusion. As to apparitions, and such things as are many times seen, it is the part of a good General, to contrive and exhibit (in the very height of the Battel) such sights as may incourage his own men, and discourage the Enemy; for among many acci∣dents which conduce to your victory, this may be especially effectual. To this purpose is that invention of which Sulpitius made use against the French; being drawn up, and ready to engage the Enemy, he caused all the Servants and refuse of his Army to be armed and mounted upon the Mules and Horses belonging to the Baggage; and having furnished them so formally with Colours and Trumpets that they appeared a compleat body of Horse, he disposed them behind a hill, where they were to continue, till in the heat of the fight, they were to come forth and shew themselves to the Enemy; which stratagem being as well executed as devised, struck such a terror into the French, that it lost them the day. So that a good General has a double care upon him, to contrive by these new surprizes to intimidate the Enemy; and to provide that if any such practices be used upon him, he may discover, and defeat them. Thus an Indian King served Semi∣ramis, who observing the said King to be very strong in the number of Elephants, to fright and persuade him that she was as strong as he, she caused several of her Camels to be dress'd up, and covered with the Skins of Bufaloes and Bulls, that they might look big, and carry the representation of Elephants; and having done so, she marched them in the Van of her Army, but her design did not take; for the King having intelligence of it, perverted it into her prejudice.

The Fidenates being besieged by Mamorcus the dictator, to terrifie the Roman Army contrived to have several of the Townsmen in the heat of the Engagement to come sud∣denly out of the Town with Fire-works at the end of their Launces, hoping that the newness of the sight might be a means to disturb them. And hear it is to be noted, that when such stratagems have more of reality than pretence, they may very well be made use of, because having something of solidity in them, their weakness is not so soon disco∣vered, but where they have more of appearance and fiction than truth, it is best either not to use them at all, or if you do, to keep them at such a distance, as that their fallacy may not be discerned; as Sulpitius did with his Muletiers; for when they are intrinsi∣cally weak, their vanity appears upon their approach, and they do more mischief than good, as the Elephants of Semiramis, and the false fires of the Fidenates, which fires though at first, they gave some disturbance to the Roman Souldiers; yet the Dictator coming in, and questioning them aloud whether they were not ashamed to be smoaked like Bees out of their Huts; encouraging them to turn again, he cryed out, Suis flammis delete Fedenas quos vestris beneficiis placare non potuistis, Go to, destroy the Fidenae with their own fires, seeing all your kindnesses have not been able to oblige them; and by so doing, he defeated the Fidenates, and made their project unprofitable.