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.

About this Item

Title
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.
Author
Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527.
Publication
London :: Printed for John Starkey, Charles Harper, and John Amery ...,
1680.
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Subject terms
Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527.
Political science -- Early works to 1800.
Political ethics -- Early works to 1800.
War.
Florence (Italy) -- History.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A50274.0001.001
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A50274.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 15, 2024.

Pages

CHAP. VI.

The description of a Battel.

Fabr.

DO not question it, Hark, do not you hear the Artillery? Ours have fired alrea∣dy, but done little execution upon the Enemy; the Velites extraordinary, to∣gether with the light Horse advance to the charge in Troops, with the greatest shout and fury imaginable; The Enemies Artillery has fired once, and the shot passed over the head of our Foot, without any prejudice at all. That it might not have time for a second Volley, our Velites, and our Cavalry have marched up in great haste to possess it, and the

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Enemy advancing in its defence, they are come so close, that neither the Artillery of one side or the other can do any mischief. See with what courage and bravery our Souldiers charge; with what discipline and dexterity they demean themselves, thanks to the exer∣cise to which they have been used, and the confidence that they have in our Army: See our Battalions marching up, with their Drums beating, Colours flying, and men at Arms in their wings in great order to the charge: Observe our Artillery, which (to give place, and make room for our men) is drawn off by that ground which was left by the Velites: See how the General encourages his men, and assures them of Victory: See how our Ve∣lites and light Horse are extended and returned to the flanks of our Army, to see if there they can find any advantage to make an impression upon the Enemy; Now, now they are met, See with what firmness our Battalions have received the charge without the least noise or confusion: Observe the General how he commands his men at Arms to make good their ground; not to advance upon the Enemy, nor desert the Foot upon any occasion whatever. See our light Horse marching to charge a Body of the Enemies Harquebussiers that was firing upon our flank; and how the Enemies Horse come in to their rescue, so that being enclosed betwixt the Cavalry of one side and the other, they cannot fire, but are forced to retreat behind their Battalia's: See with what fury our Pikes addres them∣selves to the Fight, and our Foot advanced already so near, that the Pikes are become un∣serviceable; so that according to our Discipline the Pikes retire by little and little among the Shields: See in the mean time how a Body of the Enemies men at Arms, has disor∣dered our men at Arms in the left wing; and how according to our Discipline, retiring under the protection of our Pikes extraordinary, by their assistance they have repulsed the pursuers, and killed most of them upon the place. See the Pikes in ordinary of the first Battalia's, how they have sheltred themselves under the Scudati, and left them to make good the fight: See with what courage with what security, with what leisure they put the Ene∣my to the Sword. Behold how they close their ranks in the Fight, and are come up so near they have scarce room left to manage their Swords. See with what fury the Enemy slyes, because being armed only with Pike and with Sword, both of them are become un∣serviceable; one because of its length, the other because the Enemy is too well armed. See how they throw down their Arms, how they are wounded, killed or dispersed. See how they run in the right wing; see how they fly in the left. So now we are safe, and the Vi∣ctory our own.

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