CHAP. XII.
How a man may make a Princes Favourite suspected, and divide his Forces.
A General above all things is to endeavour to divide the Enemies Forces, either by ren∣dering his Confidents suspicious; or by giving him occasion to separate his Troops, and by consequence weaken himself. The first is done by preserving the Estates or Goods of those he has about him; as in time of War, to spare their Houses, or Possessions; and returning their Children or Relations safe, and without ransom. You know when Ha∣nibal burned all about Rome, he exempted what belonged to Fabius Maximus. You know how Coriolanus coming with a strong Army to besiege Rome, preserved the Possessions of the Nobility. Metellus being at the head of an Army againts Iugurtha, moved it to the Embassadors which the Enemy sent to him, to deliver up Iugurtha Prisoner, and writing Letters to them afterwards to the same purpose, he continued his Correspondence till Iu∣gurtha got the alarm, suspected his whole Counsel, and made them away after several manners.
When Hanibal was fled to Antiochus, the Roman Embassadors practised so cunningly, that Antiochus grew jealous, and trusted him no farther.
As to the way of dividing the Enemy, there is not any more certain than to cause an in∣cursion to be made upon his Country, that he may be constrained to leave the War, and go back to defend himself. This was the way which Fabius used when he had an Army against him of French and Tuscans, Umbrians and Samnites. Titus Didius having a small Army in respect of the Enemy, expecting another Legion from Rome, which the Enemy was de∣sirous to intercept; he gave out in his Army that the next day he would give the Enemy Battel, and ordered it so, that certain Prisoners which he had in his Camp at that time, took their opportunity to escape, and gave intelligence to the Enemy that the Consul had given orders to fight; upon which news, that they might not lessen their Forces, they did not march against the other Legion, and by that means it was preserved; some there have been who to divide or weaken the force of their Enemy, have suffered him to enter into their Country, and possess himself of several Towns, that by putting Garrisons into them, he may lessen his Army, and give them occasion to attack and defeat him. Others design∣ing against one Province, have pretended to invade another, and used such industry in the business, that being entred unexpectedly into that Country, they have conquered it before the Enemy had time to relieve it: for the Enemy being uncertain whether you will return back and invade the Country which you threatned before, is constrained to keep his Post, and not to leave one place to secure another, and it falls out many times that he is unable to defend either the one or the other.