CHAP. III.
Advertisements for such as are distressed for Provisions within a Town, and for such as besiege them, and would reduce them to that necessity.
HE who takes upon him the defence of a Town, is to see such provision made both of Victuals and Ammunition, that he may be in no danger of losing it, either by Starving or Storm. As to Starving (as is said before) it is necessary before the siege be laid, that you furnish your self well with Victuals; but because such provision cannot be made, but a long siege may exhaust it, you must betake to extraordinary ways, and look out for friends that may relieve you, especially if you have a River running thorow the Town. Thus the Romans did when their friends were besieged by Hanibal in the Castle of Catalino, for not being able to relieve them otherwise, they flung great quantities of Nuts into the River which were carried down by the stream in despight of the Enemy, and gave the Garrison very good relief. Some who have been besieged, to make their Enemy believe that they had plenty of Corn, and render them desperate of carrying them by starving, have thrown bread over their Walls; or else given Corn to some of their Cows, and suffered her afterwards to be taken by the Enemy, that when they kill'd her, they might find Corn in her paunch, and conclude that Corn was as plentiful in the Town as in the Camp. On the other side, wise Generals have used as much Art and Stratagem for the reduction of Towns: Fabius permitted the Campani to sow their ground, that presuming upon it, they might make no other provision, and he came afterwards and utterly destroyed it.
Dionysius having besieged Rhegium, pretended a Treaty, and whilst things were in transaction, he provided himself with Victuals with all possible diligence, but when he had effectually supplyed himself, he brake off the Treaty, block'd them up again, and constrained them to surrender.
Alexander the great being desirous to reduce Lucadia, he took, plundered, and de∣stroyed all the Castles about it, but gave the Garrisons safe Conduct to Lucadia, by which Policy he so throng'd them with men, that their numbers quickly distress'd them, and they were forced to surrender.