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. XI.

Of Mines.

Fabr.

THe ancients took several Towns by mining under ground, and that two ways, either by carrying their mines under ground into the Town, and entring there∣by, (as the Romans did when they took the City of Vejentum) or by undermining only the walls, and so tumbling them down. At present this latter way is more used than the other, and renders those Towns which stand high, weaker then the rest, because more subject to be min'd, and then adding but a good quantity of powder, which takes fire in an instant, you do not only ruine the wall, but you open the very mountain, and cleave the works into pieces. The way to prevent this, is to fortifie in a flat Country, and make the ditch which encompasses your Town so deep, that the enemy may not dig under it with∣out coming to the water, which is the best defence against mines. But if you be to de∣fend a Town upon an eminence, your best way will be to make several deep holes in the wall, that may give vent to the powder when the enemy sets in on fire.

There is another way likewise to prevent them, and that is by countermining, if you find where the enemy mines, but 'tis a hard matter to discover them, especially if you be besieged by a cautious enemy.