banckes higher then the grounde, is moste weake: for as muche as they
make defence to the enemye which assaulteth thee, and letteth him not
hurte thee, because easely they may be opened, and geve place to his
artillerye: but let us passe into the Towne. I will not loose so muche
time in shewing you howe that besides the foresayde thinges, it is
requisite to have provision of victualles, and wherewith to fight, for
that they be thinges that everye man underdeth, and without them, all
other provision is vaine: and generally twoo thinges oughte to be done,
to provide and to take the commoditie from the enemie that he availe not
by the things of thy countrey: therfore the straw, the beastes, the
graine, whiche thou canste not receive into house, ought to be
destroied. Also he that defendeth a Towne, oughte to provide that
nothing bee done tumultuouslye and disordinatelye, and to take suche
order, that in all accidentes everye man maye knowe what he hath to doo.
[Sidenote: What incoragethe the enemy most that besiegeth a toune; What
he that besiegeth and he that defendeth oughte to doo; Advertisementes
for a besieged towne; Howe the Romaines vitaled Casalino besieged of
Aniball; A policie for the besieged.]
The order that oughte to be taken is thus, that the women, the olde
folkes, the children, and the impotent, be made to keepe within doores,
that the Towne maye be left free, to yong and lustie men, whom being
armed, must be destributed for the defence of the same, appointing part
of them to the wall, parte to the gates, parte to the principall places
of the Citie, for to remedie those inconveniences, that might growe
within: an other parte must not be bound to any place, but be ready to
succour all, neede requiring: and the thing beeing ordained thus, with
difficultie tumulte can growe, whiche maye disorder thee. Also I will
that you note this, in the besieging and defending of a Citie, that
nothing geveth so muche hoope to the adversarye to be able to winne a
towne, as when he knoweth that the same is not accustomed to see the
enemie: for that many times for feare onely without other experience of
force, cities have bene loste: Therefore a man oughte, when he
assaulteth a like Citie, to make all his ostentacions terrible. On the
other parte he that is assaulted, oughte to appoincte to the same parte,
whiche the enemie fighteth againste, strong men and suche as opinion
makethe not afraide, but weapons onely: for that if the first proofe
turne vaine, it increaseth boldenesse to the besieged, and then the
enemie is constrained to overcome them within, with vertue and
reputacion. The instrumentes wherwith the antiquitie defended townes,
where manie: as balistes, onagris, scorpions, Arcubalistes, Fustibals,
Slinges: and also those were manie with which thei gave assaultes. As
Arrieti, Towers, Musculi Plutei, Viney, Falci, testudeni, in steede of
which thynges be now a daies the ordinance, the whiche serve him that
bessegeth, and him that defendeth: and therfore I will speake no forther
of theim: But let us retourne to our reasonyng and let us come to
particular offences. They ought to have care not to be taken by famine,
and not to be overcome through assaultes: concernyng famin, it hath ben
tolde, that it is requiset before the siege come, to be well provided of
vitualles. But when a towne throughe longe siege, lacketh victuals, some
times hath ben seen used certaine extraordinarie waies to be provided of
their friendes, whome woulde save them: inespeciall if through the
middest of the besieged Citie there runne a river, as the Romaines
vittelled their castell called Casalino besieged of Anibal, whom being
not able by the river to sende them other victual then Nuttes, wherof
castyng in the same great quantitie, the which carried of the river,
without beyng abel to be letted, fedde longe time the Casalinians. Some
besieged, for to shew unto the enemie, that they have graine more then
inough and for to make him to dispaire, that he cannot, by famin
overcome theim, have caste breade oute of the gates, or geven a Bullocke
graine to eate, and after have suffered the same to be taken, to the
intent that kilde and founde full of graine, might shewe that
aboundance, whiche they had not. On the other parte excellent Capitaines
have used sundrie waies to werie the enemie.
[Sidenote: A policie of Fabius in besieging of a toune; A policie of
Dionisius in besiegynge of a toune.]
Fabius suffered them whome he besieged, to sowe their fieldes, to the
entente that thei should lacke the same corne, whiche they sowed.
Dionisius beynge in Campe at Regio, fained to minde to make an agreement
with them, and duryng the practise therof he caused him selfe to be
provided of their victuales, and then when he had by this mean got from
them their graine, he kepte them straight and famished them.
[Sidenote: Howe Alexander wanne Leucadia.]
Alexander Magnus mindyng to winne Leucadia overcame all the Castels
aboute it, and by that means drivyng into the same citie a great
multitude of their owne countrie men, famished them.
[Sidenote: The besieged ought to take heed of the first brunte; The
remedie that townes men have, when the enemies ar entred into the towne;
How to make the townes men yeelde.]
Concernynge the assaultes, there hath been tolde that chiefely thei
ought to beware of the firste bronte, with whiche the Romaines gotte
often times manie townes, assaultyng them sodainly, and on every side:
and thei called it _Aggredi urbem corona_. As Scipio did, when he wanne
newe Carthage in Hispayne: the which brunte if of a towne it be
withstoode, with difficultie after will bee overcome: and yet thoughe it
should happen that the enemie were entred into the citie, by overcomynge
the wall, yet the townes men have some remedie, so thei forsake it not:
for as much as manie armies through entring into a toune, have ben
repulced or slaine: the remedie is, that the townes men doe keepe them
selves in highe places, and from the houses, and from the towers to
faight with them: the whiche thynge, they that have entered into the
citie, have devised to overcome in twoo manners: the one with openyng
the gates of the citie, and to make the waie for the townes men, that
thei might safely flie: the other with sendynge foorthe a proclamacion,
that signifieth, that none shall be hurte but the armed, and to them
that caste their weapons on the grounde, pardon shall be graunted: the
whiche thynge hath made easie the victorie of manie cities.
[Sidenote: How townes or cities are easelie wonne; How duke Valentine
got the citie of Urbine; The besieged ought to take heede of the
deciptes and policies of the enemie; How Domitio Calvino wan a towne.]
Besides this, the Citees are easie to bee wonne, if thou come upon them
unawares: whiche is dooen beyng with thy armie farre of, after soche
sort, that it be not beleved, either that thou wilte assaulte theim, or
that thou canst dooe it, without commyng openly, bicause of the distance
of the place: wherefore, if thou secretely and spedely assaulte theim,
almoste alwaies it shall followe, that thou shalte gette the victorie. I
reason unwillingly of the thynges succeded in our tyme, for that to me
and to mine, it should be a burthen, and to reason of other, I cannot
tel what to saie: notwithstanding, I cannot to this purpose but declare,
the insample of Cesar Borgia, called duke Valentine, who beyng at Nocera
with his menne, under colour of goyng to besiege Camerino, tourned
towardes the state of Urbin, and gotte a state in a daie, and without
any paine, the whiche an other with moche time and cost, should scante
have gotten. It is conveniente also to those, that be besieged, to take
heede of the deceiptes, and of the policies of the enemie, and therefore
the besieged ought not to truste to any thyng, whiche thei see the
enemie dooe continually, but let theim beleve alwaies, that it is under
deceipte, and that he can to their hurte varie it. Domitio Calvino
besiegyng a toune, used for a custome to compasse aboute every daie,
with a good parte of his menne, the wall of the same: whereby the Tounes
menne, belevyng that he did it for exercise, slacked the Ward: whereof
Domicius beyng aware, assaulted and overcame them.
[Sidenote: A policie to get a towne.]
Certaine Capitaines understandyng, that there should come aide to the
besieged, have apareled their Souldiours, under the Ansigne of those,
that should come, and beyng let in, have gotte the Toune.
[Sidenote: How Simon of Athens wan a towne; A policie to get a towne;
How Scipio gotte certaine castels in Afrike.]
Simon of Athens set fire in a night on a Temple, whiche was out of the
toune, wherefore, the tounes menne goyng to succour it, lefte the toune
in praie to the enemie. Some have slaine those, whiche from the besieged
Castle, have gone a foragyng, and have appareled their souldiours, with
the apparell of the forragers, whom after have gotte the toune. The
aunciente Capitaines, have also used divers waies, to destroie the
Garison of the Toune, whiche thei have sought to take. Scipio beyng in
Africa, and desiring to gette certaine Castles, in whiche were putte the
Garrisons of Carthage, he made many tymes, as though he would assaulte
theim, albeit, he fained after, not onely to abstaine, but to goe awaie
from them for feare: the whiche Aniball belevyng to bee true, for to
pursue hym with greater force, and for to bee able more easely to
oppresse him, drewe out all the garrisons of theim: The whiche Scipio
knowyng, sente Massinissa his Capitaine to overcome them.
[Sidenote: Howe Pirrus wan the chiefe Citie of Sclavonie; A policie to
get a towne; How the beseiged are made to yelde; Howe to get a towne by
treason; A policie of Aniball for the betraiyng of a Castell; How the
besieged maie be begiled; How Formion overcame the Calcidensians; What
the besieged muste take heede of; Liberalitie maketh enemies frendes;
The diligence that the besieged ought to use in their watche and ward.]
Pirrus makyng warre in Sclavonie, to the chiefe citee of the same
countrie, where were brought many menne in Garrison, fained to dispaire
to bee able to winne it, and tourning to other places, made that the
same for to succour them, emptied it self of the warde, and became easie
to bee wonne. Many have corrupted the water, and have tourned the rivers
an other waie to take Tounes. Also the besieged, are easely made to
yelde them selves, makyng theim afraied, with signifiyng unto them a
victorie gotten, or with new aides, whiche come in their disfavour. The
old Capitaines have sought to gette Tounes by treason, corruptyng some
within, but thei have used divers meanes. Sum have sente a manne of
theirs, whiche under the name of a fugetive, might take aucthoritie and
truste with the enemies, who after have used it to their profite. Some
by this meanes, have understode the maner of the watche, and by meanes
of the same knowledge, have taken the Toune. Some with a Carte, or with
Beames under some colour, have letted the gate, that it could not bee
shutte, and with this waie, made the entrie easie to the enemie. Aniball
perswaded one, to give him a castle of the Romaines, and that he should
fain to go a huntyng in the night, makyng as though he could not goe by
daie, for feare of the enemies, and tournyng after with the Venison,
should put in with hym certaine of his menne, and so killyng the
watchmen, should give hym the gate. Also the besieged are beguiled, with
drawyng them out of the Toune, and goyng awaie from them, faining to
flie when thei assault thee. And many (emong whom was Anibal) have for
no other intente, let their Campe to be taken, but to have occasion to
get betwene theim and home, and to take their Toune. Also, thei are
beguiled with fainyng to departe from them, as Formion of Athens did,
who havyng spoiled the countrie of the Calcidensians, received after
their ambassadours, fillyng their Citee with faire promises, and hope of
safetie, under the which as simple menne, thei were a little after of
Formione oppressed. The besieged ought to beware of the men, whiche thei
have in suspecte emong them: but some times thei are wont, as well to
assure them selves with deserte, as with punishemente. Marcellus
knoweyng how Lucius Bancius a Nolane, was tourned to favour Aniball so
moche humanitie and liberalitie, he used towardes him, that of an
enemie, he made him moste frendely. The besieged ought to use more
diligence in the warde, when the enemie is gone from theim, then when he
is at hande. And thei ought to warde those places, whiche thei thinke,
that maie bee hurt least: for that many tounes have been loste, when
thenemie assaulteth it on thesame part, where thei beleve not possible
to be assaulted. And this deceipt groweth of twoo causes, either for the
place being strong, and to beleve, that it is invinsible, or through
craft beyng used of the enemie, in assaltyng theim on one side with
fained alaroms, and on the other without noise, and with verie assaltes
in deede: and therefore the besieged, ought to have greate advertisment,
and above all thynges at all times, and in especially in the night to
make good watche to bee kepte on the walles, and not onely to appoincte
menne, but Dogges, and soche fiearse Mastives, and lively, the whiche by
their sente maie descrie the enemie, and with barkyng discover him: and
not Dogges onely, but Geese have ben seen to have saved a citee, as it
happened to Roome, when the Frenchemen besieged the Capitoll.
[Sidenote: An order of Alcibiades for the dew keping of watch and
warde.]
Alcibiades for to see, whether the warde watched, Athense beeyng
besieged of the Spartaines, ordained that when in the night, he should
lifte up a light, all the ward should lift up likewise, constitutyng
punishmente to hym that observed it not.
[Sidenote: The secrete conveighyng of Letters; The defence against a
breach; How the antiquitie got tounes by muining under grounde.]
Isicrates of Athens killed a watchman, which slept, saiyng that he lefte
him as he found him. Those that have been besieged, have used divers
meanes, to sende advise to their frendes: and mindyng not to send their
message by mouth, thei have written letters in Cifers, and hidden them
in sundrie wise: the Cifers be according, as pleaseth him that ordaineth
them, the maner of hidyng them is divers. Some have written within the
scaberde of a sweard: Other have put the Letters in an unbaked lofe, and
after have baked the same, and given it for meate to hym that caried
theim. Certaine have hidden them, in the secreteste place of their
bodies: other have hidden them in the collor of a Dogge, that is
familiare with hym, whiche carrieth theim: Some have written in a letter
ordinarie thinges, and after betwene thone line and thother, have also
written with water, that wetyng it or warming it after, the letters
should appere. This waie hath been moste politikely observed in our
time: where some myndyng to signifie to their freendes inhabityng within
a towne, thinges to be kept secret, and mindynge not to truste any
person, have sente common matters written, accordyng to the common use
and enterlined it, as I have saied above, and the same have made to be
hanged on the gates of the Temples, the whiche by countersignes beyng
knowen of those, unto whome they have been sente, were taken of and
redde: the whiche way is moste politique, bicause he that carrieth them
maie bee beguiled, and there shall happen hym no perill. There be moste
infinite other waies, whiche every manne maie by himself rede and finde:
but with more facilitie, the besieged maie bee written unto, then the
besieged to their frendes without, for that soche letters cannot be
sent, but by one, under colour of a fugetive, that commeth out of a
toune: the whiche is a daungerous and perilous thing, when thenemie is
any whit craftie: But those that sende in, he that is sente, maie under
many colours, goe into the Campe that besiegeth, and from thens takyng
conveniente occasion, maie leape into the toune: but lette us come to
speake of the present winnyng of tounes. I saie that if it happen, that
thou bee besieged in thy citee, whiche is not ordained with diches
within, as a little before we shewed, to mynde that thenemie shall not
enter through the breach of the walle, whiche the artillerie maketh:
bicause there is no remedie to lette thesame from makyng of a breache,
it is therefore necessarie for thee, whileste the ordinance battereth,
to caste a diche within the wall which is battered, and that it be in
bredth at leaste twoo and twentie yardes and a halfe, and to throwe all
thesame that is digged towardes the toun, whiche maie make banke, and
the diche more deper: and it is convenient for thee, to sollicitate this
worke in soche wise, that when the walle falleth, the Diche maie be
digged at least, fower or five yardes in depth: the whiche diche is
necessarie, while it is a digging, to shutte it on every side with a
slaughter house: and when the wall is so strong, that it giveth thee
time to make the diche, and the slaughter houses, that battered parte,
commeth to be moche stronger, then the rest of the citee: for that soche
fortificacion, cometh to have the forme, of the diches which we devised
within: but when the walle is weake, and that it giveth thee not tyme,
to make like fortificacions, then strengthe and valiauntnesse muste bee
shewed, settyng againste the enemies armed menne, with all thy force.
This maner of fortificacion was observed of the Pisans, when you
besieged theim, and thei might doe it, bicause thei had strong walles,
whiche gave them time, the yearth beyng softe and moste meete to raise
up banckes, and to make fortificacions: where if thei had lacked this
commoditie, thei should have loste the toune. Therefore it shall bee
alwaies prudently doen, to provide afore hand, makyng diches within the
citee, and through out all the circuite thereof, as a little before wee
devised: for that in this case, the enemie maie safely be taried for at
laisure, the fortificacions beyng redy made. The antiquitie many tymes
gotte tounes, with muinyng under ground in twoo maners, either thei made
a waie under grounde secretely, whiche risse in the toune, and by
thesame entered, in whiche maner the Romaines toke the citee of Veienti,
or with the muinyng, thei overthrewe a walle, and made it ruinate: this
laste waie is now a daies moste stronge, and maketh, that the citees
placed high, be most weake, bicause thei maie better bee under muined:
and puttyng after in a Cave of this Gunne pouder, whiche in a momente
kindelyng, not onely ruinateth a wall, but it openeth the hilles, and
utterly dissolveth the strength of them.
[Sidenote: The reamedie against Caves or undermuinynges; What care the
besieged ought to have; What maketh a citee or campe difficulte to bee
defended; By what meanes thei that besiege ar made afraied; Honour got
by constancie.]
The remedie for this, is to builde in the plain, and to make the diche
that compasseth thy citee, so deepe, that the enemie maie not digge
lower then thesame, where he shall not finde water, whiche onely is
enemie to the caves: for if thou be in a toune, which thou defendest on
a high ground, thou canst not remedie it otherwise, then to make within
thy walles many deepe Welles, the whiche be as drouners to thesame
Caves, that the enemie is able to ordain against thee. An other remedie
there is, to make a cave againste it, when thou shouldeste bee aware
where he muineth, the whiche waie easely hindereth hym, but difficultly
it is foreseen, beyng besieged of a craftie enemie. He that is besieged,
ought above al thinges to have care, not to bee oppressed in the tyme of
reste: as is after a battaile fought, after the watche made, whiche is
in the Mornyng at breake of daie, and in the Evenyng betwen daie and
night, and above al, at meale times: in whiche tyme many tounes have
been wonne, and armies have been of them within ruinated: therefore it
is requisite with diligence on all partes, to stande alwaies garded, and
in a good part armed. I will not lacke to tell you, how that, whiche
maketh a citee or a campe difficult to be defended, is to be driven to
kepe sundred all the force, that thou haste in theim, for that the
enemie beyng able to assaulte thee at his pleasure altogether, it is
conveniente for thee on every side, to garde every place, and so he
assaulteth thee with all his force, and thou with parte of thine
defendest thee. Also, the besieged maie bee overcome altogether, he
without cannot bee, but repulced: wherefore many, whom have been
besieged, either in a Campe, or in a Toune, although thei have been
inferiour of power, have issued out with their men at a sodaine, and
have overcome the enemie. This Marcellus of Nola did: this did Cesar in
Fraunce, where his Campe beeyng assaulted of a moste great nomber of
Frenchmen, and seeyng hymself not able to defende it, beyng constrained
to devide his force into many partes, and not to bee able standyng
within the Listes, with violence to repulce thenemie: he opened the
campe on thone side, and turning towardes thesame parte with all his
power, made so moche violence against them, and with moche valiantnes,
that he vanquisshed and overcame them. The constancie also of the
besieged, causeth many tymes displeasure, and maketh afraied them that
doe besiege. Pompei beyng against Cesar, and Cesars armie beeyng in
greate distresse through famine, there was brought of his bredde to
Pompei, whom seyng it made of grasse, commaunded, that it should not bee
shewed unto his armie, least it shoulde make them afraide, seyng what
enemies they had against theim. Nothyng caused so muche honour to the
Romaines in the warre of Aniball, as their constancie: for as muche as
in what so ever envious, and adverse fortune thei were troubled, they
never demaunded peace, thei never made anie signe of feare, but rather
when Aniball was aboute Rome, thei solde those fieldes, where he had
pitched his campe, dearer then ordinarie in other times shoulde have
been solde: and they stoode in so much obstinacie in their enterprises,
that for to defende Rome, thei would not raise their campe from Capua,
the whiche in the verie same time that Roome was besieged, the Romaines
did besiege.
I knowe that I have tolde you of manie thynges, the whiche by your selfe
you might have understoode, and considered, notwithstandyng I have doen
it (as to daie also I have tolde you) for to be abell to shewe you
better by meane therof, the qualitie of this armie, and also for to
satisfie those, if there be anie, whome have not had the same commoditie
to understand them as you. Nor me thinkes that there resteth other to
tell you, then certaine generall rules, the whiche you shal have moste
familiar, which be these.
[Sidenote: Generall rules of warre.]
The same that helpeth the enemie, hurteth thee: and the same that
helpeth thee, hurteth the enemie.
He that shall be in the warre moste vigilant to observe the devises of
the enemie, and shall take moste payne to exercise his armie, shall
incurre least perilles and maie hope moste of the victorie.
Never conducte thy men to faight the field, if first them hast not
confirmed their mindes and knowest them to be without feare, and to be
in good order: for thou oughteste never to enterprise any dangerous
thyng with thy souldiours, but when thou seest, that they hope to
overcome.
It is better to conquere the enemie with faminne, then with yron: in the
victorie of which, fortune maie doe much more then valiantnesse.
No purpose is better then that, whiche is hidde from the enemie untill
thou have executed it.
To know in the warre how to understande occasion, and to take it,
helpeth more then anie other thynge.
Nature breedeth few stronge menne, the industrie and the exercise maketh
manie.
Discipline maie doe more in warre, then furie.
When anie departe from the enemies side for to come to serve thee, when
thei be faithfull, thei shalbe unto thee alwaies great gaines: for that
the power of thadversaries are more deminisshed with the losse of them,
that runne awaie, then of those that be slaine, although that the name
of a fugetive be to new frendes suspected, to olde odius.
Better it is in pitchyng the fielde, to reserve behynde the first front
aide inoughe, then to make the fronte bigger to disperse the souldiours.
He is difficultely overcome, whiche can know his owne power and the same
of the enemie.
The valiantenesse of the souldiours availeth more then the multitude.
Some times the situacion helpeth more then the valiantenesse.
New and sudden thynges, make armies afrayde.
Slowe and accustomed thinges, be littell regarded of them. Therfore make
thy armie to practise and to know with small faightes a new enemie,
before thou come to faight the fielde with him.
He that with disorder foloweth the enemie after that he is broken, will
doe no other, then to become of a conquerour a loser.