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. IV.

Other Advertisements both for the Besiegers and the Besieged.

Fabr.

IN matters of assault, I say, the first thing to be provided against, is the Enemies first Effort; for by that way the Romans gain'd many a Town, assaulting it sud∣denly, and in all places at once, and this they called Aggredi urbem Corona, or to make a general assault, as Scipio did when he took new Carthage in Spain. But if the Besieged can stand the first shock, it gives him such courage, he will hardly be taken afterwards.

And if things should go so far, that a breach should be made, and the enemy enter; yet the Citizens have their remedy if they will stand to one another: for many Armies have been repelled and defeated after they have entered a Town. The remedy is this, that the Inhabitants make good the highest places of the City; and fire upon them from the win∣dows and tops of their houses. But against this the Assailers have made use of two inven∣tions, one was to open the Gates of the City, and give the Inhabitants opportunity to es∣cape; The other is, to make Proclamation, that whoever throws down his Arms, shall have quarter, and none put to the Sword but such as are taken in Arms; and this artifice has been the taking of many a Town. Moreover a Town is taken with more ease, when it is so suddenly attacked, as when an Army keeps at such a distance, as that the Town be∣lieves either you will not at all, or cannot attempt it before they shall have the alarm of your motion, because it is at present so far off. Wherefore if you can come upon them sud∣denly and secretly, not once in twenty times but you will succeed in your design.

I speak very unwillingly of the occurrences of our times, because it must be done with reflection upon me and my friends; and if I should discourse of other people, I should not know what to say. Nevertheless I cannot pass by the example of Caesar Borgia (called Duke Valentino) who being with his Army at Nocera, under pretence of making an in∣road into the Dutchy of Camerin, turned suddenly upon the State of Urbin, and master'd it without any trouble in one day, which another man would not have been able to have effected in a much longer time.