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CHAP. XVI.
How a suspected Town or Country is to be secured, and how the Peoples hearts are to be gained.
IT is a great thing in a General to know how to secure a Town that you suspect, either after a Victory or before; as several ancient examples do demonstrate. Pompey being jealous of the Catinenses, beg'd of them that they would give entertain∣ment to some of his sick men, and under the disguise of sick, sending stout and valiant men, they surprized the Town, and kept it for Pompey. Publius Valerius was diffident of the Epidauni, and caused a General indulgence to be given in one of the Churches with∣out the Town, the people thronging thither for pardon, he shut the Gates upon them, and received none back again but such as he could trust. Alexander the great being to march into Asia, and by the way secure himself of Thrace; carried along with him all the principal persons of that Province, giving them commands in his Army, and leaving the people to be governed by those of their own condition; by which means he satisfied all parties; the Nobility by paying them, and the Populace, by leaving no Governor that would oppress them. But among all the ways wherewith the people are to be cajoled, nothing goes so far as examples of chastity and justice, as that of Scipio in Spain, when he returned a beautiful young Lady to her Parents, and Husband untouched, a passage that contributed more than his Arms to the subduction of that Country. Caesar only for paying for the wood which he caused to be cut down to make Stoccadoes about his Camp in France, got such a name for his justice, that it facilitated the Conquest of that Province. I know not now that there remains any thing to say further about these acci∣dents; or that there is any thing which we have not already examined. If there be any thing, it is the way of taking and defending of Towns, which I am willing to show, were I sure I should not be tedious.
Your civility is so great, that it makes us pursue our desires without the least fear of presumption; for you have offered us that frankly, which we should have been a∣shamed to have requested. We do assure you therefore you cannot do us a greater favour than to finish this Discourse; but before you proceed, let me entreat you to resolve me, whether it be better to continue a VVar all VVinter long (as they do now adays) or carry it on only in the Summer, and in the VVinter go to their Quarters.