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. VI.

The Ancients had neither Women, nor Gaming in their Armies; and of the manner how they discamp'd.

Fabr.

THe Romans allowed neither the one nor the other, and indeed it required no great difficulty to prevent them; for to speak truth, the exercises to which they kept the Soldier constantly, either in parties, or together were so many that they had no time either for dalliance or play, nor for any thing else that could make them mutinous or unserviceable.

Battista.

What you say pleases me very well: But pray tell me when your Army Dis∣camps, what orders do you observe?

Fabritio.

The General's Trumpet sounds three times: The first sound they take down the Tents, and the Pavillions, and pack them up: The second sound they load their Sumpters; and the third they march in the same order as I said before, with their Baggage

and Train behind every Battalia, and the Legions in the midst. Then the Auxiliary Bat∣talion moves, and it's Baggage and Train after it, and a fourth part of the common Bag∣gage and Train, which should consist of all those who were lodged in either of the quarters, which I have shown before in the description of my Camp. Wherefore it was convenient that each of the said quarters should be assigned to a Battalion, that upon the motion of the Army every man might know in what place he was to march. So that every Battalion was to march with its own Baggage, and a fourth part of the common Baggage behind it, and this was the manner which the Roman Army observed in its march, as you may understand by what we have said.

Battista.

Tell us I beseech you, in the placing of their Camps, did the Romans use any other customs besides what you have related?