CHAP. VI.
How the ancients divided the spoil, and of the pay which they gave to their Souldiers.
I Will satisfy you as to that: I do not question but you have considered (because I have discoursed it formerly with some of you) how our present wars do impoverish not only those Princes which are overcome, but those two are Conquerors; for as one looses his Country, so the other looses his Mony: which was otherwise in ancient times, be, cause the Conqueror enriched himself by the war. The reason of this difference is, be∣cause in our times no publick account is taken of the prizes, (as formerly) but all is left to the discretion of the Souldier, which occasions two very great disorders; the first is, as be∣fore; the other, it renders the Souldier more desirous of plunder, and less observant of order and military discipline. And we have heard of many instances, where their impa∣tience to be pillaging has wrested the Victory out of their hands who had almost perfectly obtained it. Whilst the Romans had the command of their own Armies, they provided very well against both these inconveniencies, appointing all the prizes to be delivered in, and appropriated to the publick, and that afterwards the publick should distribute as it pleased. To this purpose they had their Questores, (which were like our Chamberlains) in whose hands all their prizes and taxes deposited, of which the Consul or General of their Army disposed as he thought good, for the payment of his Souldiers, the curing of the wounded, or sick, and discharging the other necessities of the Army.
'Tis true, the Consul had power to give the plunder of a Town to his Souldiers, and he frequently did it, but that liberty never bred any disorder; for when a Town was taken, or an Army defeated, all the prize was brought into a publick place, and distributed man by man; according to every ones merit.
This custom made the Souldiers more intent upon victory than plunder: the practice of the Roman Legions was, to break and disorder an enemy, but not to pursue; for they never went out of their ranks upon any occasion whatever. Only the horse, the light arm'd men, and what other Souldiers were not of the Legions, followed the chase: where∣as if the plunder of the field had belonged to any man that could catch it, it would have been neither reasonable, nor possible, to have kept the Legions to their ranks, or to have ex∣posed them to so many dangers. Hence it was, that upon a Victory the publick was always enriched; for when a Consul entred in triumph, he brought with him great riches into the Treasury of Rome, and they consisted of Taxes, Contributions, Ransoms, and Plunder. The ancients had likewise another custom that was very well contrived, and that was, out of every Souldiers pay, to cause a third part to be deposited with the Ensign of their respe∣ctive Companies, who never restored it before the War was ended. This they did for two reasons; first, that every Souldier might have a stock of his own; for most of them be∣ing young, and profuse, the more they had, the more they would have squandred. The other reason was, that knowing their stocks were in their Ensigns hands, they should have the more care of him, and defend him with the more courage; and this custom contributed much to their valour, and is necessary to be observed by any man who would reduce his Souldiers to the discipline of the Romans.
I believe it impossible for an Army not to meet with several ill accidents whilst it marches from one place to another; and that it requires great industry in the General, and great courage in the Souldiers to prevent or avert them: you would oblige me much if you would tell me what has occur'd to your knowledg in the case.