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. II.

The Arts which are to be used during the Fight.

Fabr.

TO disturb the Army of the enemy when the Battel is joyned, it is necessary to invent some way or other to affright them, either by spreading a report of supplies that are hard by, or counterfeiting some representation of them that may dismay the enemy, and facilitate their defeat.

Minutius Ruffus, and Acillus Glabrio two of the Roman Consuls were skilful in this art. Caius Sulpitius caused all the boys and refuse of his Army to mount upon mules and other beasts that were unserviceable in fight, and placed them at a distance upon a hill, and drawn up in such order that they appeared like a compleat body of horse, when he was en∣gaged with the French, and the enemies apprehension of that body got Sulpitius the Vi∣ctory. Marius made use of the same stratagem when he fought against the Germans: if then these false alarms and representations are of such use and advantage in time of Bat∣tel, true ones must needs be more efficacious, especially if they fall upon the enemies flank or rear whilst the battel is joyned: which indeed is not easy to be done, unless the nature of the Country contributes; for if it be open and plain, you cannot conceal any part of your Forces, as is necessary to be done in those cases; but in woody or mountainous Coun∣tries you may conceal some of your Troops in such manner as they may fall suddenly and unexpectedly upon the enemy, which will give you a certain Victory. It is many times of great importance to spread a rumour abroad during the Fight, that the enemies Gene∣ral is slain, or that he is beaten in another part of the Army, which (as the other) has many times been the cause of a Victory. The enemies horse are often disordered by the repre∣sentation of strange figures, or the making of some unusual noise, as Croesus did, who op∣posed camels against horse; and Pyrrhus when he confronted their Cavalry with his Ele∣phants; the strangeness of which sight affrighted them so, that nothing was strong enough to keep them from disorder. In our days the Turk defeated the Sophi of Persia, and the Soldan of Syria only with the noise of this Guns, which being unusual to their horse, dis∣ordered them in such manner, that the Turk got the Victory, without any great trouble. The Spaniards to distract the Army of Amilcar, placed in the front of their Army certain Chariots filled with flax, and drawn by oxen, to which flax (when the enemy came up to charge) they put fire, and the oxen running from the fire, rush'd furiously into the Army of Arailcar, and put it to the rout. It is an unusual practice (as we have said before) to surprize and disturb the enemy with ambuscades where the Country is convenient: but where it is open and large, many have made great holes in the ground, and covered them with straw and earth lightly, leaving certain spaces solid and firm for their own retreat; over which having retired cunningly in the heat of the fight, the enemy pursuing, has fallen in, and been ruined. If during the fight any ill accident happens that may discourage your Souldiers, 'tis prudence to dissemble it, and turn it to advantage, as Tullus Hostilius did, and Lucius Sylla who observing in the heat of the Battel a party of his Troops go over to the enemy, to the great disheartening of the rest, caused it to be published quite thorow his Army that it was done by his order, which not only dispelled the apprehension that was among them, but encouraged them in such manner that it got him the Victory. Sylla having commanded out a party upon some enterprize, and all of them being killed in fight of his Army, that the rest might not be terrified, told them he sent them on purpose, because he had found them unfaithful. Sertorius fighting a battel in Spain, flew one of his own men, who brought him news that one of his great Officers was killed, and the rea∣son was, lest telling it to the rest, it might possibly have discouraged them. It is no easy matter to detain and Army, (if it be once tottering and inclining to run) and to bring it to fight again: but you must consider it with this distinction, either it is wholly disordered, and then it is impossible to recover it; or else it is disordered but in part, and there is some remedy. Many of the Roman Generals have stop'd the flight of their Armies, by putting themselves at the head of them, and as it were upbraiding them by their cowardize. Lucius Sylla seeing part of his Troops routed, and pursued by the forces of Mithridates, rode up to the head of them with his sword in his hand, and cryed out to them, If any body ask you where you have left your General, tell him you left him fighting in Boetia. Attilius the Consul opposed those who fought bravely against those who ran away; telling them that if they did not face about, they should be killed by their friends as well as their enemies. Philip King of Macedon understanding that his Souldiers were afraid of the Scythians, placed be∣hind

his Army certain of the faithfullest of his horse, with commission to kill any man that fled; so that his men choosing to die rather fighting than flying, overcame their adversa∣ries. Several of the Roman Generals have wrested an Ensign out of the hands of their Souldiers, and throwing it among the enemy, promised a reward to him who should reco∣ver it; and this they did not so much to hinder the flight of their own men, as to give them occasion of doing some greater exploit upon the enemy.