CHAP. V.
A man is not to depend upon the Countenance of the Enemy, but is rather to suspect what even he sees with his eyes.
THose who are besieged, are to be very careful of the tricks and surprizes of the Enemy, and therefore they are not to relye upon the countenance that he car∣ries, but are rather to suspect there is some fraud or deceit that will fall heavily upon them, if they suffer themselves to be deluded.
Domitius Calvinus besieging a Town, made it his custom every day to march round about the Walls with a good part of his Army; The Garrison fancying by degrees that it was only for his recreation, began to slacken their Guards, of which Domitius having notice, fell suddenly upon them, and carried the Town.
Other Generals have had intelligence of relief that was expected in the Town, and having habited a certain number of their Soldisrs, and disposed them under counter∣feit Ensigns, like those which the besieged expected, they were received into the Gates, and possessed themselves of the Town. Cimon an Athenian General having a design to surprize a Town, in the night set fire on a Temple that was without it, and the Inhabi∣tants flocking out to extinguish the fire, they fell into an Ambuscado, and lost their Town. Others having taken some of the Servants, and such people as came forth for forrage, put them to the Sword, and disguising their own Soldiers in their Cloths, have entred the Gates, and made themselves Masters of the Town.