CHAP. X.
Certain considerations which encourage Souldiers, and make them as virtuous as valiant.
THe worship which the ancients paid to their Gods (though they were false) Religion, and the Oath which was taken before they were listed in the Army, was in those days sufficient to keep their Souldiers to their duty; for upon every misdemea∣nor they were threatned not only with such punishments as they were to expect from their Officers, but such as could be inflicted (as they thought) by nothing but their Gods; which opinion being tempered with other religious ceremonies and superstitions, made all enter∣prises easie to the Generals of those times, and would do so still, were we as careful and ob∣servant of our Religion as they were of theirs. Sertorious knew how to make his advan∣tage that way, pretending conference with a white Hart, which (as he gave out among his Souldiers) came from Heaven to assure him of Victory. Sylla to make his designs the more credible, pretended to discourse with an Image that he had taken out of the Temple of Apollo, which directed him how he was to steer. Others have pretended dreams and vi∣sions that have commanded them to fight: in the days of our Fathers, Charles the Seventh of France during his wars with the English, pretended to be advised by a maid that was sent from Heaven to give him instructions, which maid was called the Pucelle d' Orleans, and gained him many a Victory. There are other ways of making an Enemy contemp∣tible; Agesilaus the Spartan having taken several Persians, strip'd them naked, and shew'd them to his men, to the end that seeing the delicacy and tenderness of their contexture, they might have less occasion to fear them. Some have by design brought their men into extremity, that they might be necessitated to fight, as having taken from them all hopes of preservation, but in Victory; which indeed is the surest and best way to make your Soul∣diers fight, and to infuse courage into them, and then this courage and obstinacy is highly encreased by their confidence in their General, and their love to their Country. Their love to their Country is natural; their confidence in their Captain is more from his expe∣rience and conduct, than from any thing else. There may be many other obligations, but none so strong as that which binds you either to conquer, or dye.