Politique Observation.

ONE of the chief cares a General ought to have is, that he keep his Forces in good order, that none of them run from their Coullors, or muster any hire∣lings. It is a businesse of so great importance, that oftentimes Victorie dependeth on it: as at Pavie, where the ill successe which befell Francis the first, is by divers Historians attributed to the defect of this particular, for onely looking over the Commissaries Roules, he thought there had bin full as many Souldiers as were there listed upon which the fight was begun, but lost, and the King taken prisoner. Now for Page  223the staying of Souldiers in an Army, one of the best ways according to Alexander Severus, is this, pay them well, clothe them well, shoe them well, arm them well feed them well, and so order the businesse, that they may alwayes have some mony in their purses: and when they be thus well used, such as run from their Collours must then be severy punished; Corbulo beheaded all such, without mercy, and it was observed, that this severity of his, was of great advantage to him, for by it, he kept all his toopes neer at a stay in point of Number: Neither is it lesse needful, to pre∣vent Captaines and Commissaries scroles, who can by a dangerous miracle, revive dead Souldiers, in their companies, and make more to appear then really they have. This is an inconveniency, of which the losse of the Kings mony, is the least conse∣quent evil; for if it happen that a Prince assure himself according to the Roles, is thereupon become confident in attempting any enterprises, he may perchance, when it comes to a trial, find himself much weaker, then he expected, and by that means run into the same premunire, that Francis the first did at Pavie. The best preventive Course in such disorders is that which Darius used, who notwithstand∣ing the vastnesse of his Armie: and the Extent of his States was however so careful of his Forces, that he would often review them in his own presence, pay the Soul∣diers with his own hands, and be perpetually in company with them, not onely that he might be particularly acquainted with them, but that he might take care to pro∣vide necessaries for them, encourage some, and reward others who had wel deserved of him. If after all their cares the Captains shall still presume to make false musters, both they and the Commissaries who admit of them ought to be punished, with so much the more rigor, in regard their faults are of so dangerous a con∣sequence.