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.

THE SECOND BOOK. (Book 2)

CHAP. I.

What arms were most used by the Ancients in their Wars.

Fabr.

WHen you have raised your men, the next thing is to furnish them with Arms, and before you do that, I think it not amiss to examine what Arms were most used by the Ancients, and choose the best. The Romans divided their Infantry into those who were compleatly, and those who were slightly armed. Those who were lightly armed, were called Velites, under which name all were comprehended who car∣ried Bows, and Slings, and Darts; the greatest part of them had Casques upon their heads for their defence, and a kind of Buckler upon their arm. They fought in no order, and at distance from those who were arm'd compleatly; Their Arms consisted of a Head-piece or Morrion which came down to the Shoulders, a Brigandine down to their knees, their legs and arms were covered with Greeves, and Gauntlets, a Buckler covered with Iron, about two yards long, and one broad, an Iron ring about it without to keep off the blows, and another within to keep it from the dirt when it was lay'd upon the ground. Their offensive Weapons were a Sword at their left thigh, about a yard and half long, with a Dagger on their right side. They carried a Dart in their hand which they called Pilum, which upon a a Charge they darted at the Enemy.

These were the Arms with which the Romans conquered the whole world. And though some of their ancient Writers do give them a Spear in form of a Spit; I do not see how such a Weapon could be handled by one that carried such a Buckler, for it was too heavy to be managed with one hand; besides (unless it were in the Front where they had room to make use of them) it was impossible to use them in their ranks; for the nature of Battels is such (as I shall show hereafter) that they do always contract and keep close, as being in much less danger, than when they are drawn up looser and at a distance: So that in that close order, all Arms that are above two yards long, are not to be used, for having a Spear that is to be managed with both hands, if your Buckler were no hinderance, it could not hurt your Enemy when he was near. If you take it in one hand, and manage your Buckler with the other, you must take it in the middle, and then there will be so much of it be∣hind, that they who come after you will hinder you from handling it: So that it is true, either the Romans had no such Hastae, or if they had, they made but little use of them. For if you read the History of Titus Livius, in the description of all his Battels, you will scarce ever find he mentions those Hastae, but tells you all along that having dar••ed their Pila, they fell to the Sword. My opinion therefore is, that this Hasta be lay'd aside, and that in imitation of the Romans we make use of their Sword and Buckler, and other Arms, without troubling our selves with that.

The Grecians for their defence did not arm so heavily as the Romans but for offence, they relyed more upon the Spear, than the Sword, especially the Macedonian Phalanx, who carried of those Javelins which they called Sarissae, with which they brake the Enemies Battels, and kept their own firm and entire. And though some Writers say that they also had their Bucklers, (yet I know not (for the reasons abovesaid) how they could consist. Besides, in the Battel betwixt Paulus Emilius and Perseus King of Macedon, I do not remem∣ber that any mention was made of any-Bucklers, but only of their Sarissae, and yet the Romans had much ado to overcome them. So that my opinion is, the Macedonian Pha∣lanx was just such a Body as the Swizzers Battalion; whose whole force lyes in their 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Romans were likewise accustomed to adorn their Soldiers with Plumes of Fea∣thers in their Caps, which renders an Army beautiful to their Friends, and terrible to their

Enemies. In the first beginning of the Roman Wars, their Horse used a round Shield, a Helmet upon their Heads, and all the rest of their body naked; their offensive Arms were a Sword and Javelin with a long thin spike at the end of it; and so being incum∣bered with Shield and Javelin, they could use neither of them well, and being unarmed, they were more exposed to the Enemy.

Afterwards they came to arm themselves like their Foot, only their Shield was a little shorter, and squarer, their Launce or Javelin thicker, with pikes at each end, that if by accident one of them should miscarry, the other might be serviceable. With these Arms both for Horse and Foot, my Country-men the Romans went thorow the whole world, and by the greatness of their successes, 'tis likely they were as well accounted as any Army ever was. And Titus Livius in many places of his History makes it credible where comparing the Armies of the Enemies, says, But the Romans for courage, fashion of their Arms, and discipline were before them all. And for that reason I have chosen to speak particularly rather of the Conqueror's Arms, than the Arms of the Conquered. It fol∣lows now that I say something of the way of Arming at present.

CHAP. II.

Of the Arms which are used at present, and of the invention of the Pike.

Fabritio.

THe Soldiers of our times do wear for defensive Arms, Back and Breast, and for offensive a Launce nine yards long, which they call a Pike, with a Sword by their side rather round than sharp. These are generally the Arms which they wear at this day, few wear Greaves and Gantlets, and none at all Head-pieces. Those few who have no Pikes, do carry Halbards, the staff three yards long, and the head like an Axe. They have among them Musquetiers, who with their Fire Arms do the same Service which was done formerly by the Bows and Slings. This manner of arming with Pikes, was found out by the Germans, and particularly by the Swizzers, who being poor, and desirous to preserve their liberty, were and are still necessitated to contend against the ambition of the Princes of Germany who are rich, and able to entertain Horse, which the Swizzers are not able to do. So that their Force consisting principally in Foot, being to defend themselves against the Enemies Horse, they were obliged to revive the old way of drawing up, and find out Arms that might defend them against them. This necessity put them upon continuing, or reviving the old Orders, without which (as every wise-man knows) the Foot would be useless; for which cause they make use of Pikes not only to resist and keep off, but to attack and sometimes to disorder the Horse. And by vertue of these Arms,, and these Orders, the Germans have assumed the confidence with 15 or 20000 of their Foot to attack a vast Body of Horse, of which 'tis not above 25 years since we had a most signal experiment; and so many great examples there are of their courage (founded upon their Arms, and their Order) that after Charles VIII's Expedition into Italy, all Nations made use of them, insomuch as thereby the Spaniards grew into great reputation.

Cosimo.

Which manner of arming do you prefer, the German, or the ancient Roman.

Fabritio.

The Roman without doubt, and I will tell you the usefulness and inconve∣nience of them both.

CHAP. III.

Whether the ancient, or modern is the best way of Arming.

THe German Foot are able not only to sustain, but to beat the Cavalry, they are better for expedition, and can draw themselves up better, because not over pestered with Arms. On the other side Foot are more exposed to wounds both at hand and at a distance. They are not so useful likewise in Storming of Towns, and are in great danger where there is vigorous resistance. But the Romans were so well armed, they could encounter and baffle the Horse as well as the Germans, and were secure against their blows by vertue of their Arms, could manage themselves better in an engagement with their Swords, than

the Germans with their Pikes, and assault a Town better under the shelter of their Targets. So that the only inconvenience was the weight of their Arms, and the trouble of carrying them along, which they easily surmounted by accustoming themselves to all kind of diffi∣culties and hardships, and you know custom is a second Nature. You must know like∣wise that Foot are many times to engage both against Horse and Foot together, and consider also that these kind of Soldiers would be altogether unserviceable, and could never stand against Horse; or if they could bear up against them, yet they would still be afraid of the Foot, lest they should be better armed, and better ordered than they. Now if you consider the Romans and Germans together you will questionless discover that the Germans had much the advantage in charging and breaking a body of Horse (as we said before) but to en∣gage a Body of Foot armed, and ordered like the Romans, they have much the disadvan∣tage. So that by this you see what advantage and disadvantage, the one has of the other, the Romans were able to fight Foot and Horse both, and the Germans are able to deal only with Horse.

Cosimo.

I would desire you to give us an example, that we may understand it the better.

Fabritio.

I say you will find in many places of our History, the Roman Foot have over∣come great Bodies of Horse, and you shall never find that they were overcome by Foot, by reason of any defect in their Arms, or any advantage which the Enemy had in theirs. For had their way of arming been found inconvenient, one of these two things would have followed, they would not have advanced with their Conquests so far (their Enemy being better arm'd,) or else they would have arm'd as the Enemy did, and left their own way; and because neither the one nor the other was done, it follows probably that their way of arming was the best. With the Germans it was otherwise as appears by the ill success which they have had whenever they have been engaged with Foot that were well ordered, and as valiant as they; which proceeded from the advantage the Enemy had of them in their Arms. Philippo Visconte Duke of Milan being assaulted by 18000 Swizzers, sent against them the Count Carmignuola, who was his General at that time. Carmignuola, with 6000 Horse, and a few Foot went to encounter them, and coming to an engagement, was beaten for his pains. Carmignuola being a wise man, quickly discovered the advantage which the Enemy had in their Foot over his Horse, having rallyed and recruited his Army, he ad∣vanced against the Swissers again, and when he came near them, he caused his Horse to dis∣mount, and engaging them smartly in that posture, he put them all to the rout, and most of them to the Sword, only 3000 were left, who finding themselves past remedy, threw down their Arms.

Cosimo.

How comes that great disadvantage?

Fabritio.

I told you before, but since you did not regard it, I will repeat it again. The German Infantry have little or no defensive Arms, and for offensive they have the Pike and the Sword, and with these weapons, and in that order they attack the Enemy. But if the Enemy be well provided for his defence (as the Cavalry were which Carmignuola caused to dismount) and receives them in any good order, they may deal well enough with the Swizzers if they can but come to the Sword; for when they once get within them, the length of their Pikes make them useless, and falling then to their Sword, they have the disadvantage of wanting defensive Arms, with which the Enemy is provided. So that considering the advantage and disadvantage on both sides, it will appear that they who have no defensive Arms are without remedy if the Enemy charges but home, and passes their Pikes; for Battels do always advance (as I shall show, when I have told you their manner of drawing up) and pressing on prepetually, they must of necessity come so near as to reach one another with their Swords, and though some few perhaps may be killed or tumbled down with their Pikes, yet those that are behind pressing still on, are sufficient to carry the Victory, and this was the reason why Carmignuola overcame with so great slaugh∣ter of the Swisses, and so little of his own Army.

Cosimo.

Considering that Carmignuola's Forces were men at Arms, and (though on foot) yet armed compleatly, in my judgment it would be convenient upon any great en∣terprize, to arm your Foot in that manner.

Fabritio.

Had you remembred what I told you before about the way of the Romans arming themselves, you would not have been of that opinion: For a Foot Soldier with a Head-piece, Breast-plate, Shield, his arms and his legs covered with Iron, is better able to defend himself against the Pikes, and break into them, than one of the men at Arms dismounted.

I will give you a modern example Certain Companies of Spanish Foot were transported out of Sicily, and landed in the Kingdom of Naples, being to supply Gonsalvo, who was

besieged in Barletta by the French. Monsieur d' Aubigny had notice of their march, and went to meet them with his men at arms, and some 4000 German foot, who pressed upon them with their pikes, and opened the Spanish body, but by the help of their bucklers, and the agility of their bodies, having got under their pikes, and so near as that they could come at them with their swords, the Spaniards had the day with the slaughter of most of the Swisses. Everyone knows how many of the Swisses foot were cut off at the battel of Ravenna, and all upon the same account, the Spanish foot having got to them with their swords, and had cut them certainly in pieces, had they not been rescued by the French horse: and yet the Spaniards drawing themselves into a close Order, secured them∣selves. I conclude therefore, a good Infantry ought to be able not only to sustain the horse, but to encounter the foot, which (as I have said many times before) is to be done by be∣ing well arm'd and well ordered.

Cosimo.

Tell me therefore, I beseech you, how you would have them arm'd?

CHAP. IV.

How foot should be arm'd, and of the force and convenience of men at Arms.

Fabritio.

I Would take both of the Roman and German arms, and half my men should be arm'd with the one, and half with the other; for if in 6000 foot (as I shall explain to you hereafter) I should have 3000 with bucklers like the Romans, 2000 pikes, and 1000 muskets, like the Swiss; I think I should do well enough; for I would place my pikes either in my front, or where-ever I suspected the Enemies horse might make any impression; my bucklers and swords should second my pikes, and be very conducing to the Victory, as I shall demonstrate. So that I think an Infantry thus ordered would be too hard for any other.

Cosimo.

What you have said about the Foot, is sufficient. I pray let us now hear what you judge of the horse, and which way of equipping them is the best, the ancient, or mo∣dern.

Fabr.

I think the present way is the best, in respect of the great saddles and stirrups, (which were not in use among the ancients) and make men sit stronger and firmer upon their horse. I think our way of arming now is more secure, and a body of our horse will make a greater impression than a body of the old. Yet I am of opinion that Cavalry are not to be more esteemed now than of old, because (as I have said) they have in our days been oft worsted by the foot, and so they always will be, if the foot be arm'd and ordered as abovesaid. Tigranes King of Armenia came into the field against the Roman Army, under the command of Lucullus, with 150000 horse, many of them arm'd like our men at arms, (which they called Catafracti) the Romans consisting only of 6000 horse, and 15000 foot. Whereupon, in contempt of their number, when Tigranes saw them, he said, That they were liker the Train of an Embassador than an Army. Nevertheless when they came to fight, he was beaten, and he who writes the story, blames the Catafracti, and declares them unserviceable; for (says he) having Beavers over their faces, they cannot so well see how to offend the Enemy, and being laden with arms, if by accident their horse be killed, or throws them upon the ground, they cannot get up again, nor help themselves in any man∣ner. I say then, that Nation or Kingdom which prefers their horse to their foot, shall al∣ways be weak, and in danger of ruine, as Italy has experimented in our time, having been exposed to ruine and depredation by strangers, for want of foot, which has been very much neglected, and all the Souldiers set on horse-back. Not but it is good to have horse too, yet not to make them the strength of their Army, but sufficient to second the foot; for they are of great use for scouting, making inroads into the Enemies Country, raising Contributions, infesting the Enemy, and cutting off Convoys and supplies of Provisions; nevertheless when they come to a Field-fight, which is the main importance of a War, and the very end for which Armies are raised they are not so serviceable as foot, though indeed in a rout they are better to pursue.

Cosimo.

I cannot concur with you in this for two reasons, one is, the Parthians used nothing but horse, and yet they had their share of the World as well as the Romans; and the other is, because I cannot see which way the Cavalry can be sustained by the Foot, and from whence proceeds the strength of the one, and the weakness of the other.

Fabr.

I think I have told you, or else I will tell you now, that my discourse of military affairs shall extend no farther than Europe. Being intended no farther, I do not think my

self obliged to give a reason for their customs in Asia, yet this I may say, that the Parthian discipline was quite contrary to the Roman; for the Parthians fought always on horse-back in confusion and disorder, which is a way of fighting very uncertain. The Romans fought generally on foot, in close and firm order, and they overcame one another variously, as the place where they fought was open, or streight: in streight places the Romans had the better; in champian, the Parthians, who were able to do great things in respect of the Country which they were to defend, it being very large, a thousand miles from the Sea, not a River sometimes within two or three days march, and Towns and Inhabitants very thin. So that an Army like the Roman, pestered and incumbred with their arms, and their order, could not pass thorow the Country without great loss, by reason the strength of the Enemy consisted in horse which were nimble, here to day, and to morrow fifty miles off. And this may be a reason why the Parthians prevailed with their horse, ruined the Army of Crassus, and put Marc Anthony into so much danger. But as I said before, my intention is not to speak any thing of the Armies out of Europe, and therefore I shall insist only upon the Romans, the Grecians, and the Germans.

CHAP. V.

The difference betwixt men at Arms and foot, and upon which we are most to rely.

Fabr.

WE come now to your other demand, in which you desire to understand what order, or what natural virtue it is that makes the foot better than the horse.

I say in the first place, horse cannot march in all Countries as foot can; they are not so ready to obey orders when there is any sudden occasion to change them: for when they are upon their march, if there be occasion to wheel, or face about, to advance, or stop, or retreat, they cannot do it with that dexterity as the foot. Upon any rout or disorder, horse cannot rally so well, (though perhaps they are not pursued) which is not so with the foot.

Again, it is frequently seen, a brave and a daring man may be upon a bad horse, and a coward upon a good, and that inequality is the occasion of many disorders. Nor let any one think strange that a body of foot can sustain the fury of the horse, because an horse is a sensible creature, and being apprehensive of danger, is not easily brought into it. And if it be considered what forces them on, and what forces them off, it will be found that that which keeps them off, is greater than that which pricks them on; for that which puts them forward is but a spur, whilst that which keeps them off, is a pike or a sword. So that it has been many times seen both by ancient and modern experience, that a body of foot are se∣cure, and insuperable by horse. If you object, that coming on galloping to the charge, makes the horse rush furiously upon the Enemy, and to be less careful of the pike than the spur. I answer, that though a horse be in his career, when he sees the pikes, he will stop of himself; and when he feels them prick, he will stop short; and when you press him on, will turn either on the one side or the other: and if you have a mind to make the ex∣periment, try if you can to run a horse against a wall, and you shall find very few that will do it. Caesar, when he was in France, being to fight a battel with the Swizzers, caused all his horse to dismount, and send their horses away, as being fitter to fly than to fight upon. But though horse are naturally subject to these impediments, he who com∣mands the foot is to march such ways as are likely to be most difficult for horse, and he shall scarce come into a Country but such ways are to be found. If you march over mountainous and hilly places, the very situation will secure you against the fury of the horse; if your march be in a plain, you will seldom march any where but you will have plow'd-fields, or hedges, or woods to secure you: for every ditch, every bank, how inconsiderable so ever, takes off from the fury of the horse, and every plow'd-field or vineyards retards them. And if you come to a battel, it will be the same as in a march; for every small accident that happens to a horse, dismays him, and takes off his courage. However, I will not omit to tell you one thing that the Romans trusted so much to their orders, and arms, that had it been in their power to have chosen a place that had been sleep, and covenient to secure them against horse, (though they had not been able to draw themselves up) or an open place (more obnoxious to the horse) where they might put themselves handsomly in Battalia, they

chose always the last, and rejected the first. But it being time to come now to their man∣ner of exercise, having arm'd our foot according to the ancient and modern way, let us see what exercise the Romans gave them before they brought them to a Battel.

CHAP. VI.

How the Souldiers were exercised.

THough they be never so well chosen, and never so well arm'd, Souldiers are carefully to be exercised, for without exercise they are good for nothing. And this exercise ought to be three-fold, one is to inure them to labour and hardship, and make them dex∣terous and nimble; another to teach them how to handle their arms; and the third to teach them to keep their ranks and orders in their marches, battels, and encampments: which are three great things in an Army. For if an Army marches, is drawn up well, and encamps regularly and skilfully, the General shall gain reputation, let the success be as it will. Wherefore all ancient Commonwealths provided particularly for these exercises by their Customs and Laws, so that nothing of that nature was omitted. They exercised their youth to learn them to be nimble in running, active to leap, strong to throw the bar, and to wrestle, which are all necessary qualities in a Souldier, for running and numbleness fits them for possessing a place before the enemy; to fall upon them on a sudden in their quarters, and pursue with more execution in a rout: activity makes them with more ease avoid their blows, leap a ditch, or climb a bank; and strength makes them carry their arms better, strike better, and endure the shock better: and above all to inure them to labour, they accustomed their Souldiers to carry great weights, which custom is very necessary; for in great expeditions it happens many times that the Souldiers are forced to carry (besides their arms) several days provisions, which without being accustomed to labour, would be more tedious to them, and by this, great dangers are many times avoided, and great victo∣ries many times obtained. As to their way of accustoming them to their arms, they did it in this manner. They made their young men wear head-pieces twice as heavy as those which they were to wear in the field, and instead of Swords, they gave Cudgels with lead run into them, much heavier than their Swords. They caused each of them to fix a pale into the ground three yards high, and fasten it so strong that no blows might be able to batter or shake it: against which pale or stake the youth were accustomed to exercise them∣selves with their cudgel or buckler, as it had been an Enemy; striking it sometimes as it were on the head, sometimes on the face, then on the sides, legs, before and behind; some∣times retreating, and then advancing again: and by this way of exercise they made them∣selves dexterous and skilful how to defend themselves, and offend an enemy. And for the heaviness of their counterfeit arms, they did it to make the true ones appear more light. The Romans taught their Souldiers rather to thrust than to cut with their swords, because thrusts are more mortal, more hard to be defended; and he that make•• it is not so easily discovered, and is readier to double his thrust than his blow. Do not admire that the ancients concerned themselves in such little things, for when people come to handy strokes, every small advantage is of great importance; and this is not my own opinion only, but is taught by many Authors. The ancients thought nothing more beneficial in a Commonwealth, than to have store of men well exercised in arms; for 'tis not the Splen∣dor of their gemms, not their gold, that makes the enemy run, but the fear of their arms.

The faults which one commits in other things may be repaired, but those which are committed in war are never to be redressed; besides, experience in this kind makes men more audacious and bold, for no man fears to do that which he thinks he understands: the ancients therefore would have their Citizens exercise themselves in all military actions, and made them cast darts (much heavier than the true ones) against their pales: which besides that it taught them dexterity, it was a great strengthener of their arm. They brought up their youth likewise to the bow and the sling, in all which exercises there were professed Masters; so that when afterwards they were drawn out to the wars, they were perfect Souldiers both in courage and discipline, nor were they defective in any thing but keeping their ranks in their marches, and receiving orders in their fights; which was quickly learn'd by mixing them with such as had serv'd a long time.

Cosimo.

What exercises would you recommend at present?

Fabritio.

Several of those which I have mentioned, as running, leaping, throwing the bar, accustoming them to heavy arms, teaching them to shoot in the cross, and long bow, and musket, which is a new engine, (as you know) but very good. And to these exercises I would accustom all the youth in my Country, but with more industry and solicitude those exercises which are useful in war, and all their musters should be in idle days. I would have them learn to swim likewise, which is a very useful thing, for they are not sure of bridges where-ever they come, and boats are not always to be had. So that your Army not knowing how to swim, is deprived of several conveniencies, and lose many fair op∣portunities of action. The reason why the Romans, exercised their youth in the Campus Martius, was, because of its nearness to the Tyber, where after they had tired themselves at land, they might refresh, and learn to swim in the water.

I would have also the Cavalry exercised as of old, which is most necessary, for besides teaching them to ride, it teaches them to sit fast when they come to a charge. To this end they had horses of wood upon which they exercised, vaulting upon them sometimes with their arms, and sometimes without, very neatly and exactly, without any assistance; so that upon a signal from their Captain they were immediately on horse-back, and upon another signal as soon upon the ground. And as those exercises both for horse and foot were easie in those times, they would be the same now to any Prince or Commonwealth that would employ their youth that way, as is to be seen in several Cities in the West, where they are continued. They divide their Inhabitants into several parties, and every party is denominated by the arms which they wear; and because they use pikes, halbards, bows, and harquebusses, they are called Pike-men, Halbardiers, Bow-men, and Harquebus∣siers; every inhabitant is to declare in what Company he will be listed; and because some for their age and other impediments are not apt for the wars, there is a choice made out of every order, of such persons as are called, the Giurati being sworn to see the rest exer∣cised in their several arms, according to their respective denominations, and every one of them has a certain place appointed where their exercises are to be made; and all that be∣long to that Order (besides the Giurati) repair thither with such monies as are necessary for their expence. What therefore is done actually by them, we may do as well, but our imprudence will not suffer us to imitate any thing that is good. By these exercises the an∣cients Infantry were very good, and at this day the western foot are better than ours, be∣cause the ancients exercised them at home, (as in the Commonwealths) or in the field (as by the Emperors) for the reasons aforesaid. But we will not exercise them at home, and in the field we cannot, they not being our subjects, are not to be compelled but to what exercises they please: and this want of authority to exercise them has caused our Armies to be first negligent and remiss, and afterwards our discipline; and has been the cause that so many Kingdoms and Commonwealths (especially in Italy) are so weak and inconsi∣derable.

But to return to our order, and the business of exercising, I say, that it is not sufficient to make an absolute Souldier, to in••ure a man to labour, to make him strong, swift, and dex∣terous, but he must learn likewise to keep his ranks well, to obey orders, and the directions of the trumpet and drum; to know how to do right, standing still, retiring, advancing, fighting, and marching; for without this discipline be observed with all accurate diligence, your Army will never be good. And without doubt men who are furious and disorderly, are much more unserviceable than cowards; for order drives away fear, and dissorder lessens a mans courage.

CHAP. VII.

Of what number of men, and of what arms a battalion is to consist; and of ex∣ercising in Companies to make them ready either to give a charge, or re∣ceive it.

ANd that you may the better understand what is said before, you must know that there is no Nation which, to put in order its men of war, has not constituted a principal member, which member, or body, though they have altered it as to their name, yet it is not much altered as to the number of their men; for in all places they consist of betwixt six and eight thousand. This body among the Romans was called a Legion, among the Grecians a Phalanx, among the French Caterve; the same thing by the Swizzers (who are the only people which retain any thing of the discipline of the ancients) is called that in

their language, which in ours is called Battalion. True it is, that afterwards every one di∣vided it into companies, and ordered them as they pleased. My advice is, that we found our discourse upon the name which is most known, and range it as well as we may, accor∣ding to the order both of the ancients and moderns. And because the Romans divided their Legions which consisted of betwixt 5 and 6000 men, into ten Cohorts, I think fit that we divide our Battalions into ten Companies, and the whole consisting of 6000 men, allot to every company 450, of which 400 may be compleatly armed, and the remaining fifty slightly. The compleatly arm'd may by 300 with swords and bucklers called Scudat••, and an hundred with pikes called Pike-men. Those which are lightly arm'd may be fifty foot, carrying Harquebusses, Cross-bows, Partizans and Halbards, which according to the old name may be called Velites; so that all the ten Companies make 3000 bucklers, 1000 ordinary Pikes, and 500 ordinary Velites, which in all will amount to 4500 foot. But because we say that our Battalion is to contain 6000 men, 1500 more are to be added, of which 1000 are pikes, which we will call Pikes in extraordinary, and the other 500 are to be slightly arm'd, and called Velites in extraordinary. So that my foot (as is said be∣fore) will be composed half of Bucklers, and the other half of Pikes, and other Arms. I would have every Battalion have a Commander in chief, four Centurions, and forty Capidieci or Corporals, and over and above, a Commander in chief of the Velites in or∣dinary, with five File-leaders. I would assign to the Velites in extraordinary two Officers in chief, five Centurions, and fifty Corporals, then make a General of the whole Bat∣talion. I would have every Constable to have his Colours and Drums, by which means the Battalion would consist of ten Companies, 300 Bucklers, 1000 Pikes in ordinary, 1000 extraordinary, 500 Velites in ordinary, and 500 in extraordinary; so as they would amount in all to 6000 foot, among which there would be 600 Corporals, 15 Constables, 15 Drums, 15 Colours, 55 Centurions, 10 Commanders of the Velites in ordinary, and one General of the whole Battalion, with his Standard and Drum,

I have repeated this order the oftner, that afterward when I shew you the way of ordering a Battel or Army, you may not find your self confounded. I say therefore, that a King or Commonwealth is to order his subjects, which he designs for the wars, with these arms, and into these divisions, and raise as many Battalions as his Country will afford. And when he has disposed them so, being to exercise them in order, he is to exercise them in their several divisions. And although the number of each of them cannot bear the form of a just Army, yet thereby every man may learn what belongs to his own duty, because in Armies there are two orders observed, one what men are to do in every battel, or division distinctly; and the other what they are to do when united with the rest; and those men who know the first well, will easily learn the other; but without knowledg of the first, they will never arrive at the discipline of the second.

Every one (then) of these Companies may learn by it self to keep the order of their ranks in all motions and places, to open and close, and understand the direction of their Drums, by which all things are commanded in a battel; for by beating of that (as by the whistle in the Gallies) every man knows what he is to do, whether to stand firm to his ground, to advance, or fall back, and which way they are to turn their faces and arms. So that understanding the order of their files in that exactness that no motion, nor no place can disorder them; understanding the commands of their Officer, derived to them by his Drum, and how to advance, & fall back into their places, these Companies (as I have said be∣fore) as soon as joyned, may easily be taught what an united body of all the Battalions is obliged to do when they are drawn together into an Army. And because this univer∣sal practice is of no slight importance, in time of peace it would be convenient once or twice in a year to bring them to a general Rendezvous, and give them the form of an Army, exercising them for some days as if they were to fight a battel with an enemy, drawing them up, and disposing them into front, flank, and reserve. And because a General orders his Army for a battel, either upon the sight or apprehension of an enemy, he is to exercise his Army accordingly, and teach them how to behave themselves upon a march, and how in a battel, and how upon a charge, either upon one side or other. When they are exer∣cised as if an enemy was before them, they are to be taught how they are to begin the fight how they are to retreat upon a repulse, who are to succeed in their places; what Colours, what Drums, what words of commands they are to obey, and so to train them up, and ac∣custom them to these false alarms, and counterfeit battels, that at length they become im∣patient to be at it in earnest, For an Army is not made valiant and couragious for having brave and valiant men in it, but for the good order which is observed; for if I be in the for∣lorn, and know, being beaten, whither I am to retire, and who are to succeed in my place, I shall fight boldly, because my relief is at hand. If I be of the second body that is to

engage, the distress, or repulse of the first will not fright me, because I considered it might happen before, and perhaps desired it, that I might have the honour of the Victory, and not they. Where an Army is new, this way of exercising is absolutely necessary, and where it is old, it is convenient; for we see the Roman Captains before they brought them to fight, continually exercised their men after this manner, though they had been brought up to their Arms. Iosephus tells us in his History, that this continual exercising in the Roman Army was the cause that all the multitude of idle people which followed the Camp either for Traffick or gain, were made useful and serviceable, because they understood their orders and ranks, and how to preserve them in time of Battel. But if you have raised an Army of young men never in the Wars before, whether you intend them for present Ser∣vice, or to establish them as Militia, and engage them afterwards, without this way of exercising by single Companies, and sometimes a conjunction of them all, you do nothing. For order being perfectly necessary, it is convenient with double industry and labour to teach such as are not skilful already, and practise such as are; as we have seen several ex∣cellent Commanders, to practise and instruct their Soldiers, take extraordinary pains without any respect to their dignities.

Cosimo.

It seems to me that this discourse has a little transported you, for before you have told us the way of exercising by Companies, you have treated of entire Armies, and the managing of a Battel.

Fabritio.

You say right, and the true reason is the affection I bear to those orders, and the trouble I am under that they are no more used; yet do not think but I will recol∣lect my self and return. As I told you before, in the exercising of a Company, the first thing of importance is to know how to keep your ranks; to do this, it is necessary to ex∣ercise them in that order which they call Chiocciole, or the Snail order. And because I have said that one of these Battalias or Companies is to consist of four hundred Foot compleatly armed, I will keep to that number.

These four hundred men (then) are to be reduced into 80 files, five in a file, after which they are to be carried forward upon a quick march, or a slow, wheeling, and doubling, charging or retreating, which indeed is more demonstrable to the eye, than the under∣standing. But this Snail way of exercising a Company is not so necessary, because every one that knows any thing of an Army, knows how 'tis to be done; and indeed it is not considerable in any respect, but to teach Soldiers how to move their files; but let us now draw up one of these Companies and dispose them into their ranks.

CHAP. VIII.

Of three principal ways of drawing up a Company, and putting them into a posture to fight.

I Say that there are three principal forms of drawing up men; the first and most useful is to draw them up close, in the figure of two Squares. The second is to draw them up in a square with two wings. The third is to draw them up with a vacuity in the middle, which they call Piazza. To draw them up in the first figure, there are two ways. One is to double their files, that is, the second file entring into the first, the fourth into the third, the sixt into the fift, and so successively; so that whereas they were 80 files of five in a file, they may become forty files of 10 ih a file. After this you are to double them again in the same manner, thrusting one file into another, and then they will be 20 files, and twenty men in a file. This makes two squares, or very near; for though there be as many men on one side as the other, yet towards the head they joyn together, so as one flank may touch the other; but on the other side, their distance is at least two yards one from the other; so that the square is longer from the Rear to the Front, than from one flank to another. And because we are to speak often of the fore part, the hinder part, and the sides, of this Battalia or Company, and of the whole Army when joyned; you must know that when I say the head or the front, I mean the fore part of the Battel; when I say the shoulders, I mean the hinder part; and when I say the flanks, I mean the sides. The fifty Velites in ordinary, do not mingle with the rest of the files, but when the Battalia is formed, they are disposed by its flanks. The other way of drawing up a Company is this, (and because it is better than the first, I resolve to describe it so plain, that you shall under∣stand it as well as it were before your eyes) I suppose you remember of what number of men, of what Officers it is composed, and what Arms it is to carry. The form therefore

of this Battalia is of twenty files, twenty men in a file, five files of Pikes in the front, and fifteen files of Bucklers in the rear. Two Centurions in the front, and two in the rear, which the ancients called Tergiductores. The Constable or Captain with his Colours and Drum is to stand in the space betwixt the five files of Pikes, and the fifteen files of Buck∣lers, Corporals, upon the flank of every file one; so that each of them may have his men by his side; those who are on the right hand, will have them on their left, those on the left on their right; the fifty Velites are to be drawn up on the flanks and rear. Now that your Soldiers may put themselves into this posture in their ordinary march, it is to be done in this manner. You are first to reduce your Battalia into 80 files, five men in a file, leaving your Velites either in the front or the rear, but they must be sure to be placed with∣out this order. Every Centurion is to be at the head of twenty files, five of Pikes are to be immediately behind him, and the rest Bucklers.

The Constable or Captain is to stand with his Drum, and Colours in the space betwixt the Pikes and the rest of the Bucklers belonging to the second Centurion, and may take up the place of three of the Bucklers. Of the Capidieci or Corporals, twenty are to stand in the flank of the files of the first Centurion, upon the left hand, and twenty upon the flank of the last Centurion upon the right hand. And it is to be observed that every Corporal who leads the Pikes, is to have a Pike in his hand: and they who lead the Scudi are to have Bucklers in theirs.

Having put your files into this order, and being desirous upon their march to reduce them into a Battalia to make head against an Enemy, you must cause the first Centurion with his first twenty files to make a halt, and the second Centurion to continue his march to the right all along by the sides of those twenty files which stand firm, till he comes cheek by jole with the first Centurion, where he also makes his stand, and then the third march∣ing on likewise on the right hand by the flank of the said files, advances till he be even with the other two Centurions, and then he making his stop, and so the rest; which being done, two of the Centurions only are to depart from the front into the rear of the Battalia, which by this means is in the same order as I said before. The Velites are to be drawn up by the side, as they are disposed in the first way, which is called redoubling by a right line, for the second way redoubles them in the flanks. The first way is more easie, this is more orderly and useful, and may be better corrected and reformed to your mind, for in the first you are obliged to conform to your number, for five doubled, make ten, ten twenty, twenty forty; so that if you would double your files in a right line, you cannot make a front of fifteen, five and twenty, thirty, nor thirty five, but you must go where the number will carry you. And therefore it happens every day upon particular rencounters, that it is necessary to make head with 7 or 800 foot, and in so doing to double in a right line would undo you. For these reasons this way pleases me best, and the difficulties therein, are ea∣sily removed by exercise and practice. I say then that nothing is of greater importance than to have Souldiers which can put themselves instantly into their ranks, and to learn that it is necessary to exercise them in these Companies at home, to teach them the quick and the slow march, to advance or retreat, and to pass thorow streights, and difficult places without disturbing their order: For Soldiers that can do that well, are good Soldiers, and may be called old Soldiers, though they never looked an Enemy in the face; whereas on the contrary, if a man has been in a thousand Battels, and understands not that, he is but a Novice, and a fresh-water Soldier. This is only as to closing their ranks upon a march when they are in small files; but having closed their files, and being afterwards broken by some accident (either from the place, or the Enemy) to rally, and recollect themselves then, there lies the difficulty and importance which requires great exercise and practice, and by the ancients was endeavoured with much industry. In this case it is necessary there∣fore to do two things.

CHAP. IX.

The manner of rallying Soldiers after a rout, and to make them face about a whole Company at a time.

Fabr.

WHen a Squadron is broken, to rally and bring them again suddenly into order, two things are convenient; first, that several Colours or Countermarks be assigned to every Battalia: and secondly to observe this rule, that the same Foot stand still in the same Files. For example, if a Soldier's place was formerly in the second File, let him

continue in that File, and not only in that File, but in the same place; and in order to that, as I said before, several Countermarks are necessary. And first it is convenient that the Ensigns and Colours of each Company be so handsomly distinguished, that being joyned with other Squadrons, they may know one another. Next, that the Captains and Centu∣rions have Plumes of Feathers of Scarfs, or something that may make them conspicuous and remarkable; and last of all (as being of more importance) the Capidieci or Corporals are to be so accoutred that they may be known; and of this the ancients were so extraor∣dinarily curious, that their numbers were written upon their Helmets in great Characters, calling them the first, second, third and fourth, &c. And not content with this, every Soldier had the number of his File, and the number of his place in that File engraven upon his Buckler. Your Companies being in this manner made distinguishable by their Colours, and accustomed to their Ranks and Files by practice and experience, it is no hard matter though they be disordered, to rally, and reduce them suddenly again; for as soon as the Colours are stuck down in the ground they are immediately visible, and the Captains and Officers knowing which are their own, repair themselves, and dispose their Soldiers imme∣diately to their places, and when those on the left have placed themselves on the left hand, and those which belong to the right hand on the right; the Soldiers directed by their rules, and the difference of their Colours fall immediately into their Ranks, as easily as we put together the Staffes of a Barrel when we have marked them before. These things if learned with diligence and exercise at first, are quickly attained, and hardly forgot; for your raw men are directed by the old, and in time a Province by these exercises might be made very fit for the War. It is necessary therefore to teach them how to turn all together, when to face about in the Rear, or the Flanks, and make Rear and Flank of the first Ranks when occasion is offered.

And this is no hard matter to do, seeing it is sufficient, that every man faces to that side he is commanded, and where they turn their faces, that is the Front. True it is, when they face to the Flank, their Ranks do not hold their proportion, because the distance betwixt the Front and the Rear is thereby much lessened, and the distance betwixt the extremity of the Flanks is much encreased, which is quite contrary to the genuine order of a Battalia, for which cause great practice and discretion is required to rectifie it, and yet this may be remedied by themselves. But that which is of greater consequence, and which requires more practice, is when an Officer would turn his whole Company together, as if it were a single man, or a solid and massy body of it self. And this requires longer experience than the other. For if you would have it turn to the left, the left corner must stand still, and they who are next them, march so leisurely, that they in the right may not be put to run; if they be, it will breed confusion.

But because it always happens that when an Army marches from place to place, that the Companies which are not in the Front, are forced to fight in the Flanks, or Rear, so that one and the same Company is many times compelled to face about to the Flanks and Rear at one and the same time, that these Companies therefore may in this exigence hold their old proportion, according to what is said before, it is necessary that they have Pikes in that Flank which is most likely to be attacked, and Capidieci Captains, and other Officers in their proper places.

CHAP. X.

To range a Company in such order that it may be ready to face the Enemy, on which side soever he comes.

Fabr.

WHen you have marshalled your fourscore Files, five in a File; you are to put all your Pikes into the first twenty Files, and place five of your Corporals in the head of them, and five in the Rear. The other 60 Files which follow, are Bucklers all, and consist of 300 men. So then the first and last File of every Company, are to be Corporals; The Captain with his Ensign and Drum, is to stand in the midst of the first hundred of Bucklers, and every Centurion at the head of his Division. When they are in this order if you desire to have your Pikes on the left hand, you are to double them Company by Company from the right Flank; if you would have them on the right, you are to double from the left; and this is the way by which a Company turns with the Pikes upon one Flank, with their Officers at the Head and the Rear of them, and their Captain in the midst, and it is the form which is observed in a march. But upon the approach of an Enemy,

when they would make a Front of a Flank, they have no more to do but to command that all of them face about to that Flank where the Pikes are, and in so doing the whole Batta∣lia turns with its Files and Officers at the same time in the manner aforesaid; for (unless it be the Centurions) they are all in their old places, and the Centurions can quickly be there. But when a Battalia marches in the Front, and is in danger to be engaged in the Rear; the Files are to be so ordered, that the Pikes may be readily behind; and to do this there needs no more, but whereas usually in every Battalia, every Century has five Files of Pikes in the Front, those five Files may be placed in the Rear, and in all other places the same order to be observed as before.

Cosimo.

If my memory fails not, you said that this way of exercise is in order to the uniting these Battalia's into an Army, and that this practice is sufficient to direct them in that. But if it should happen this Squadron of 450 Foot should be to fight singly and by its self, how would you order it then?

Fabritio.

He who commands them is to judge where his Pikes are to be disposed, and place them as he thinks fit, which is not at all consistant with what I have prescribed before; for though that be a way to be observed in Battel upon an union or conjunction of several Squadrons, yet it may serve as a rule in what ever condition you fall into. But in showing you the two other ways which I recommended for the ordering of a Battalia, I will satisfie you farther.

CHAP. XI.

To draw up a Company with two horns, or another with a Piazza, or vacuity in the middle.

TO come to the way of drawing up a Battalia or Squadron with two horns or points, I say you must order your 80 Files, five in a File, after this manner.

In the midst you must place a Centurion with 25 Files, two of Pikes to the left, and three of Bucklers to the right: when those five are disposed, bring up the other twenty, with twenty Files and File-leaders, all of them to be placed betwixt the Pikes and the Buck∣lers, only those who carry Pikes are to stand with the Pikes. After these twenty five Files are so placed, draw up another Centurion with fifteen Files of Bucklers; after which the Constable or Captain is to draw into the middle with his Drum and his Colours, with other fifteen Files of Bucklers. This being performed, the next to march up is the third Centu∣rion, who is to be at the head of 25 Files, of 5 in a File, three Bucklers to the left, and two Pikes to the right; and after the 5 first Files, let there be twenty File-leaders placed betwixt the Pikes and the Bucklers, and after these the fourth Centurion: Having drawn your men into this order; to make a Battalia consisting of two horns, the first Centurion is to make a stand with his 25 Files at his heels; then is the second Centurion to advance with his 15 Files of Bucklers, and place himself on the right hand of the 1st. Centurion, and marching along by the side of the 25 Files, he is to advance till he comes to the 15 File, and there he is to stop. The next that marches is the Captain with his division of 15 Files of Bucklers behind him, and advancing on the right hand by the flank of the other 15 Files, he is to march up to their front. After him the third Centurion is to move with his 25 Files, and the fourth Centurion after him, and passing along by the right flank of the last 15 Files of Bucklers, they are not to stop at the front of the said Files, but to advance till the last of the twenty five Files be parallel with the Files which are behind them. As soon as this is done, the Centurion at the head of the 1st. 15 Files of Bucklers, is to remove into the left angle in the rear, and by this means you shall form a Battalia of five and twenty firm Files of twenty men in a File with two horns, on each side of the front one, each of them consisting of ten Files of 5 in a File, with a space betwixt the two horns, sufficient to receive ten men a breast. Betwixt the two horns the Captain is to be placed, and a Centurion at each point or angle; there are likewise to be two Files of Pikes, and twenty Corporals on each Flank. These horns or wings are useful to receive and secure Carriages or Artillery, when they have any with them; The Velites are to be drawn up along the flanks under the shelter of the Pikes. But to reduce this horn'd Squa∣dron into another Figure with a space in the middle, no more is to be done, than out of the 15 Files of twenty in a File, to take eight, and place them upon the point of the two horns, which will make a good rear, and turn it into a Battalia Della Piazza, or a Battalia with a space in the the midst; in this space or Area, the Carriages are disposed, and the Cap∣tain

and his Colours, but not the Artillery, for they are placed either in the front, or along the flanks. These are the forms to be observed in a Battalia or Squadron when it marches alone thorow dangerous places. But the single Battalia without horns or vacuity is better, though to secure such as are disarmed, the horned figure is convenient. The Swisses have several forms of drawing up their Battalia's, one is the fashion of a Cross, placing their Harquebussiers betwixt the Arms of the said Cross to secure them from the Enemy. But because those figures are proper only when Squadrons fight singly and by themselves, and my intention being to show they may fight united and in conjunction, I shall not trouble my self with them.

Cosimo.

I fancy I do sufficiently comprehend the way that is to be observed to exercise men in these Battalia's; but (if I mistake not) you told us that to the ten Battalia's, (which united, make a Battalion) you would add a thousand extraordinary Pikes, and four hundred of the extraordinary Velites. And these would you not advise should be ex∣ercised?

Fabritio.

I would, and with very great diligence, exercising the Pikes with the same care as the rest, because I would make more use of them than the rest upon all private occa∣sions, as in conducting convoys of provisions, depredations, and such like. But my Ve∣lites I would exercise at home without bringing them together; for it being their office to fight loose and confused, it is not necessary that they should be always exercised as the rest; for it is enough if they understand their own business well. They ought then (as I said before) and I am not troubled to repeat it again) so to exercise their men in these Battalia's, that they may know to keep their ranks, understand their places, wheel readily, and shift handsomly either upon sight of an Enemy, or inconvenience of the place. For when they can do this well, they will easily learn which are their places, and what are their duties in a Battel. And if a Prince or Commonwealth grudges not to take pains, and employ themselves in seeing their Subjects thus exercised, they would have always good Soldiers, be always too hard for their Neighbours, and would be in a condition rather to give, than receive Laws from other people. But (as I have said before) the disorder in which we live, is the cause that we do not only neglect, but despise those things, and that is the true reason our Souldiers are no better; and though there may be Officers and Sol∣diers too that perhaps are both valiant and skilful; yet they have no occasion or encourage∣ment to show themselves.

CHAP. XII.

Of the Baggage and Train belonging to a Company; How necessary it is that they have several Officers, and of the usefulness of Drums.

Cosimo.

I Would ask you now, what Carriages you would allot to each of these Battalia's?

Fabritio.

In the first place I would not allow that either Centurion or Corporal should march on Horseback, and if the Captain must ride, I would allow him only a Mule. I would allow him two Carriages, one to every Centurion, and two betwixt every three Corporals, because we quarter them together in our Camp, as shall be shown in its due place; so that to every Battalia there should be 36 Carriages, which I would have carry the Tents, and Utensils for their Cookery; their Hatchets, and other Iron Instru∣ments to set up their Huts, Tents, and Pavilions; and if there be afterwards any place left, let them carry what they please.

Cosimo.

I am of opinion that the Officers which you have appointed in every of these Battalia's are necessary, yet I should be afraid so many Commanders should confound them.

Fabritio.

What you say would be true, were they not subordinate to one; but de∣pending still upon one person, they proceed very regularly, nay without them, they could not possibly be governed. For a wall that is tottering in all places, requires that its But∣tresses and Supporters be rather many than strong, because the strength and goodness of one, will not hinder the ruine which will follow. And therefore in all Armies, and among every ten men, it is convenient to have one of more life, more courage, and more autho∣rity than the rest, who with his alacrity, and language, and example, may encourage the rest, and dispose them to fight. And to prove the necessity of these things in an Army, (viz. Ensigns, Officers and Drums) it appears by our Armies, where there are of them all,

but none of them do their office, according to the intent of their establishment. First your Capidieci or File-leaders, if they answer the end for which they were established, are to have their men a-part, lodge with them, charge with them, and be always in the same file with them; for being kept to their due places, the File-leaders are a rule and temper to the rest, keeping them firm and straight in their files, so as it is impossible almost that they be disordered, and if they be, they are quickly reduced. But in our days we make no other∣wise of them but to give them greater pay, and enable them to make particular factions. 'Tis the same with our Ensigns; for they are used more for pomp and parade, than any military service; whereas formerly the Captains employed them as guides, and directions in case of disorder; for every man, as soon as the Ensign was fix'd, knew his place imme∣diately, and immediately return'd to it. They knew likewise thereby how they were to move, or to halt: it is necessary therefore in an Army that there be several of these small Bodies; that every Body has its Colours, and Ensign, and Guide; for where there are ma∣ny Bodies, there ought to be many Arms, and many Officers. The Souldiers (then) are to follow the motion of their Colours, and their Colours the direction of their Drum, which (being well ordered) commands the Army, and advertizes how they are to march with a motion suitable to the time which it beats, which is a great preservation to their order. For this cause the ancients had their flutes and pipes which made an excellent har∣mony: and as he that dances, keeps himself exactly to the time of the musick; and whilst he does so, is not capable of erring: so an Army that in its motions observes the beating and direction of its Drums, cannot be easily disordered. For this reason they varied their sounds when they would excite, or asswage, or continue the courage of their men. And as their ways of beating were various, so they gave them several names. The Dorick way provoked to constancy and f••rmness; the Phrygian inflam'd the Souldiers into a martial fury and violence. It is repo••••ed that Alexander being one day at dinner, and hearing a Drum beating suddenly, the Phrygian way, was transported with so great a vehemence and commotion, that he clap'd his hand upon his Sword, and drew it, as if he had been going to fight. So that in my judgment it would be very convenient to revive the ancient dia∣lects of the Drum, and practices of our Ancestors, and if that should prove too difficult, yet those persons should not be despised and laid aside, who would teach and instruct the Souldier how to obey them; yet those ways may be changed and varied as every man pleases, provided he ensures his Souldiers ears to understand the variety: but now a-days the greatest use of the Drum, is to make a great noise.

Cosimo.

I would fain know of you (if you have ever considered it with your self) how it comes to pass that such military exercises are in our times grown so low and con∣temptible.

Fabr.

I shall tell you freely what I think may be the cause.

CHAP. XIII.

A discourse of the Author about military Virtue; and how it is become so despicable in our days.

Fabr.

YOu know Europe (according to the testimony of several Authors) has afforded many excellent Captains; Africk has had some▪ and Asia fewer: and the reason (as I conceive) is, because those two quarters of the World have had but one or two Mo∣narchies among them, and very few Commonwealths; but Europe has had several King∣doms, and more Commonwealths; and men are industrious, and by consequence excel∣lent, as they are employed and preferred by their Prince, or their State. Where therefore there are many Princes, there are many brave men; where there are but few of the first, there are fewer of the other. We find in Asia there was Ninus, Cyrus, Artaxerxes, Mithri∣dates, and some few others of that rank. In Africa (besides the Aegyptian antiquity) there were Massinissa, Iugurtha, and those great Captains which were trained up in the Carthaginian Wars, which notwithstanding in respect of the numbers which have been produced in Europe, were very few; for in Europe their brave Generals are innumerable in History, or at least they would have been, had the Historians (with those they have already recorded) made mention of such as are now forgotten by the malignity of time. For there people are more virtuous, where there have been frequent revolutions of State, and where the Governments have favoured virtue either out of necessity, or compas∣sion.

As for Asia, it has not produced many extraordinary men, because that Province was wholly under a Monarchy, which (by reason of its greatness, the greatest part of it being always at peace) could not produce such excellent men, as where there was action and war.

In Africa it was the same, yet there they were more numerous, by reason of the Car∣thaginian Republick: for Commonwealths do furnish the World with more brave men than Kingdoms; because in States, virtue is many times honoured and advanced; in Mo∣narchies and Kingdoms it is suspected; from whence it proceeds that in the one it is en∣couraged, in the other exploded. He then who shall consider Europe, shall find it full of Commonwealths, and Principalities, which in respect of the jealousies and animosities be∣twixt them, were constrained to keep up the old military discipline, and advance those who in it were any ways eminent; for in Greece, besides the Macedonians, there were ma∣nay Republicks, and in each of them, several excellent men.

The Romans, the Samnites, the Tuscans, Cisalpine Gauls, France and Germany were full of Republicks and Principalities, and Spain was the same. And though in respect of the Romans, the numbers which are mentioned of them in History, are but small; that pro∣ceeds from the emulation and partiality of the Historians, who following fortune, content themselves with commending the Conqueror; but 'its unreasonable to imagine that among the Samnites and Tuscans (who waged war with the Romans 150 years together before they were totally subdued) there were not many brave men; and so in France and in Spain; but the virtue which Authors do not celebrate in particular men, they impute generally to the whole people, whom they exalt to the skies for their constancy, and adherence to their liberty.

It being true then, that where there are most Principalities and Governments there are more excellent men; it follows, that when those Governments and Principalities extin∣guish, their brave men and virtue extinguish with them, there being loss occasion to exert it. After the Roman Empire had dilated in self so strangely, and subverted all the Common∣wealths and Principalities in Europe, and Africa, and the greatest part of those in Asia; vir∣tue declined in all places but in Rome. Whereupon virtuous men began to grow thinner in Europe and Asia, and by degrees came afterwards to a total declination; for the virtue of the whole World being as it were inclosed in the walls of Rome, when it grew depraved and corrupted there, the whole World became corrupt, and the Scythians were encouraged to make their inroads and depredations upon the Empire which had been able to consume and extinguish the virtue of all other places, but was not able to preserve it at home. And though afterwards by the inundation of those Barbarians it was divided into several Can∣tons; yet for two reasons their virtue was never restored: one was because when Laws and Orders are once neglected and disused, it is with no little pain that they are reassumed: the other, our way of living in these times (in respect of the Christian Religion) imposes not that necessity of defending our selves, as anciently it did: for then those who were overcome in war, either killed themselves, or remained in perpetual slavery, in which they lived afterwards in continual misery. The Towns that were taken were either totally de∣molished, or the Inhabitants banished, their Goods plundered, their Estates sequestred, and themselves dispersed all over the World; so that he who was overcome, suffered such miseries as are not to be expressed. People being terrified by these insupportable cruel∣ties, kept up the reputation of military discipline, and advanced all those who were ex∣cellent therein.

But at present we are under no such apprehensions: no man kills himself for being conquered: no man is kept long a prisoner, because it is more easie to set him at liberty. If a City rebels twenty times, it is not immediately razed and demolished; the Citizens are continued in their Estates, and the greatest punishment they fear, is a mulct or a tax: so that men will not now submit to military orders, nor apply themselves to those labours to avoid a peril which they do not apprehend. Besides, the Provin∣ces of Europe are under few heads in comparison of what they were anciently: for all France is under one King; all Spain under another: Italy is divided into four parties, so that the weaker Cities that are unable to maintain war of themselves, defend themselves by alliances with the Conqueror; and those who are strong (for the reasons abovesaid) are in no fear of ruine.

Cos.

And yet within these five and twenty years several Cities have been sack'd, and se∣veral Kingdoms subverted which example should teach others to reassume, and live accor∣ding to the custom of our ancestors.

Fabr.

'Tis true as you say, yet if you observe what those Towns were which have suf∣fered in that nature, you will find that they were no capital Cities, but subordinate, and de∣pending:

so we see though Tortona was demolished, Milan was not, though Capua was destroyed, Naples was not: Brescia was sack'd, but Venice was not: Ravenna was pillaged, but Rome was not. These examples do not make him who governs recede from his de∣signs, but makes him rather more refractory and obstinate, and pursue them with more ve∣hemence, to recompence himself with taxes and new impositions. This it is that makes men unwilling to expose themselves to the trouble of military exercises, ••••oking upon it partly as unnecessary, and partly as a thing which they do ••ot understand. Those who are subjects, and ought to be affrighted with such example of servitu••e, ••••ve not power to help themselves; and those who are Princes, having lost their dominion, are unable, as having neither time nor convenience: Whilst those who are able, either cannot, or will not; choosing rather to run along with fortune, without any disquiet, than to trouble themselves to be virtuous; for believing that all things are governed by fortune, they had rather follow her swing, than contend with her for mastery. And that you may believe what I have said to be really true, consider the Country of Germany, where, by rea∣son of their several Principalities and States, their discipline is good; and depends upon the example of those people, who being jealous of their States and Seigneuries, maintain themselves in honour and grandeur, as fearing to fall into a servitude, out of which they could not so easily emerge.

This I suppose is sufficient to shew the reason of the vileness and depravity of our pre∣sent discipline; I know not whether you may be of the same opinion, or whether my discourse may not have raised some scruple in your mind.

Cosimo.

Not at all, I am rather perfectly satisfied, only I desire (returning to our first subject) to know of you how you would order your horse with these Battalia's, in what numbers you would have them, how you would have them arm'd, and how officer'd.

CHAP. IV.

What number of horse are to be put into a Battalion, and what proportion is to be observed for their baggage.

Fabr.

YOu may think perhaps I forgot it, but do not wonder, for I shall speak of it but little for two reasons. One is, because the nerves and strength of an Army 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Infantry; the other is, because the horse are not so much debauched and degenerated as the foot; for the Cavalry is equal, if not better at this day than in ancient times. Yet I have said something before of the way how they are to be exercised, and as to the man∣ner of arming them, I would arm them according to our present fashion, both light horse, and men at arms. But the light horse (if I might prescribe) should carry cross-bows, with some few harquebusses among them, which (though in other affairs of war they are but of little use) are here very necessary, to frighten the Country people, and force them from their passes, which perhaps they have undertaken to defend: for one harquebuss will scarre them more than an hundred other arms. But to come to their number, having undertaken to imitate the Roman Militia, I would take but 300 good horse for every Battalion, of which 150 should be men at arms, and 150 light horse; and I would appoint a Captain to each of these squadrons, 15 Corporals to each, and a Trumpet and Ensign. I would allow every ten men at arms five Carriages, and every ten light horse, two; which Carriages (as with the foot) should carry the Tents, Utensils, Hatchets, and other Instruments and Harness. Think not that what I say would be any disorder, seeing their men at arms had each of them four horses in their equipage, which is a thing much corrupted; for now in Germany you shall see men at arms with but one horse, and themselves, and twenty of them are al∣lowed but one Wagon to carry their necessaries. The Roman horse were likewise alone, but the Triarii were lodg'd always by them, who were obliged to assist them in the looking to their horses, which may be easily imitated by us, as shall be shewn in the distribution of our lodgments: what there the Romans did of old, and what the Germans do at this day, we may do likewise, and we do very ill if we do not.

These horse being listed and called over, may be mustered sometimes with the Battalion, at a general Muster of all the Companies, and be appointed to make charges, and counter∣feit skirmishes with them, rather to bring them acquainted, than for any thing else. What we have said already is sufficient for this part: let us now come to marshal our Army, and draw it up in a posture to fight, and with hopes of success, which is the great end of all kind of military discipline, in which men employ so much study and diligence.