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. I.

The Order observed by the Roman Legions when a Battel was presented.

Cosimo.

SEeing we change our subject, I shall yield my place of expostulating to ano∣ther man; for presumption being a thing which I condemn in other peo∣ple, I would not be too much guilty of it my self, therefore I dismiss my self of that office, and will transfer it to which of our friends will vouch∣safe to accept it.

Zanobi.

It would have been very grateful to us all, had you pleased to have continued; but seeing 'tis not your pleasure, tell us at least which of us it is you will depute to succeed you.

Cosimo.

I shall leave that to the election of Signor Fabritio.

Fabr.

I am content to undertake it, and do desire that we may follow the Venetian custom, by which the youngest of the company has the liberty to speak first, and in this case not without reason; for this being the proper exercise of young men, I persuade my self young Gentlemen are the fittest to discourse of it, as being most ready to follow it.

Cosimo.

'Tis then your province Luigi, and as I do much please my self in my successor, so you may be as well satisfied with his interrogation. But that we lose no time, let us re∣turn to our business.

Fabritio.

I am certain, that to demonstrate how well an Army is to be marshall'd and prepared for a Battel; it would be necessary to declare how the Greeks and Romans ordered The Troops in their Armies: but because these things are sufficiently obvious in History, I shall pass by several particulars, and address my self only to such as I think most useful for our imitation, and fittest to give perfection to the discipline of our times, which will be the oc∣casion that at once I give you a prospect how an Army is to be ranged in order to a Battel; how they are to confront and charge one another in a real Engagement; and how they may be exercised in a counterfeit. The greatest disorders committed in the drawing up an Army for a Battel, is to give it only a front, because they leave them and their fortune to the success of one charge: and this error proceeds from nothing but from having lost the old way of closing their ranks, and thrusting one into another. Without that way there is no relieving of the front, no defending them, nor no supplying their places in the heat of their Engagement, which among the Romans was most accurately observed. To the end therefore that you may comprehend this way, I say, that the Romans divided each Legion into three Bodies.

The first were Hastati, the second Principes, the third Triarii. The Hastati were in the front of the Army, in thick and firm ranks. The Principes behind them, but their ranks not altogether so close: and after them the Triarii in so loose an order, that they could re∣ceive both Principes and Hastati into their body upon any distress. Besides these they had their Slingers, their Bow-men, and their Velites; not drawn up in this order, but placed at the head of the Army, betwixt the Cavalry and the Foot.

These light arm'd Souldiers began the Fight, and if they prevailed, (which was very sel∣dom) they followed the Victory; if they were repulsed, they fell back by the ••••nks of the Army, or thorow certain spaces appointed on purpose, and retired among those who had no arms. When they were retir'd, the Hastati advanced against the enemy, and finding themselves overpowred, they retir'd softly to the Principes, and fell into their ranks, and together with them renewed the Fight; but if they also were too weak to sustain the fury

of the Battel, they retreated all into the spaces of the Triarii, and all together being conso∣lidated into a firm mass, they made another effort more impetuous than before; if this miscarried, all was lost, for there was no farther reserves. The Horse were plac'd at the corners of the Army, like two wings to a body, and fought sometimes on Horseback, and sometimes on foot, as occasion was offered. This way of reinforcing three times, is almost impossible to be master'd, because fortune must fail you three times before you can be beaten, and the Enemy must be so valiant as to conquer you as often.