Fabr.tio. ivlany Authors which have written on tha: fubjef*:, have made a difference of their trades, and will not allow of Falconers, Fowlers, Fifhers, Ruffians, or any per- sons who make fpoits their profcfilon, or are in any manner fubfervient to pleafure: thofe who they recommend to be chofcn, are Labourers, Husbandmen, Smiths, Farriers, Car- penters, Buichers, Kuntfraen, and the like. But for my own part, I fbould not fo much conflder the quality of the profeffion, as the goodnefsof the man, and which way he may be employed with mofl advantage. For this reafon I think your Ploughmen, and Day- labourers in the Country, are more ufeful generally than any other; for they take more pains, 4-4^ The An of WA R. Book I.
pains, and do more fervice in an Army, than all the reft. After chem arj your Smiths, Farriers, Carpenters, Toyners, and fuch peopk to be chofen; of which fort it is cort* venient to have gooil liore, bccaufe their arts are nfcfi;l in an Army upon feveral oC- cafions: and 'tis a good thing to have Soldiers who have two firings to their bow, and yield you double Advantage.
Cofimo. How are thofe who are fit, or unfit for the Wars, to be diftinguifhed and known?
Fabritio. I Ciail fpeak of the manner of choo/ing a Militia to form it afterwards in- to an Army, becaufe we fliall have occafion again of fpeaking of the eledion to be made upon the recruiting of an old Army. I fay therefore that the fithefs of a perfoli to be chofen for the Wars, is to be known by experience, (in fome great atchievement) or by conjedure.
This proof and tryal of their courage is not to be found among new raifed men; it is neceflary therefore, where this experience is not to be had, to have recourfe to con- jcfture, which is to be deduced from their age, arts, and feature. Of the two firft we have fpoken before; it remains that we fpeak now of the third, and tell you, that fome perfons (as Pyrrbus) have been altogether for large and tall men. Others (;?s C-^« far) would have them ftrong, well knit, and vigorous, which is to be judged by the compofition of their members, and the quicknefs of their afped. Wherefore thofe who treat of that fubje>3t, have recommended a lively and quick eye, a nervous neck, a large breafl, a mufculous arm, a long finger, a fmall belly, round and firm thighs, atld thin feet; this kind of contexture does always import activity and flrength, which in a Soldier are two things principally to be defiied. Bi!t above all, refped is t6 ht had to their manners, and that they be indued with honc^^y, and modefty, other- wife you choofe an inftVument of fcandal, and a beginning of corruption j for no body can expeft, that with brutifhncfs and diflioncfty, any laudable virtue /Ifould confifl:. Upon this occafion it fecms to me not impertinent (for your better underftanding the importance of this way of eleftion) to let you know the manner in which the Roman Conluls in the beginning of their Magiflracy made their eleClions for the Roman Legions. In which levies (by reafon of their continual Wars) being mix'd of new and veteran Soldiers, they could proceed in the Veterans by experience, and by conjcfture in the new. You mufl know then, thefe levies were made either for prefent fervice, or to exercife them firft, and employ them afterwards as occafion wa^ offered. And although I have fpoken already of what is to be obferved in the eledi- on of fuch as are to be difciplin'd and employ 'd afterwards, yet my intention being to (hew how an Army ipay be ordered in a Country where there is no milicary dif- cipline, and where men are not to be raifcd for immediate fervice, I fliali fpeak of it further. But in thofe Countries where it is the cuflom to raife Forces by the Prince's command, there they may have them always ready for prefent ieivice, as it was anciently in Romey and is among the Swiz.%ars at this d.iy. For if in thefe kind of levies there be new Soldiers, there are many which are old and experfenc'd, which mingled with the new, will make a good Army. Notwithflanding this, the Emperors (after they began to keep flanding Forces and Garrifons upon the Frontiers) appointed Ma- fters for the training and inftii;ding their new men whom they call'd TyroneSf as may be feen in the life of Maximus the Emperor. Which cufiom was not pradifed in the Armies whilft Rome enjoy 'd her liberty, but only in the city, in which thofe military exercifes being much ufed by the youth, it came to pafs, that being drawn out for the Wars, they were fo well verfed and experienced in that counterfeit difcipline, that when afterwards they came to it in earnefl:, they behaved themfelves very well. But when by degrees the Emperors difufcd or abolifhed that cullom of training, they' were conftrained,to thefe ways which 1 have fnewn you before.
CHAP. IX. How the Romans rais fl their Legions.
'T^O proceed therefore to the manner of the eledion of the Penman Legions, I fay,' that after the Roman Confuis (in whofe hands the adminiltrarion of the War was wholly depofited) had taken upon them the Magillracy, being to raife an Army ac- cording to cuftom, which gave to each Conful two L.tr,ions of the beft men, (who were effeemed the firength and flower of their Army) thty created four and twenty military Tribunes, (fix for each Legion) and invelled them widi the fame authori- ty as wc do our Captains, After this, they alftmbled all the Romans who were able Book I The Art of W A R.
447 able to bear arms, and placed the Tribunes of each Legion a-part; after which they drew lots in which Tribe they fhould begin their elcdtion, and where the lot fell, out of that Tribe they chofe four of the beft; and out of them four, one was chofen by the Tribunes of the firft Legion; and out of the other three, one was chofen by the fecond Legion; and out of the remaining two, another was chofen by the third Le- gion; and the fourth perfon belonged to the fourth Legion: Thefe four being difpofed in this manner, they proceeded to the eleftion of four more, the firft of which was chofen by the Tribunes of the fecond Legion; the fecond by the Tribunes of the third i the third by the fourth, and the fourth by the firft Legion. After which they had a third eledion; the firft chofe the third; the fecond the fourth; the third the firft; and the fourth the fecond: and in this manner they varied their ekdions, till at length all the Legions became perfect and equal, and were then united. As we faid before, the Romans had the convenience of making this elcdion for prefent fcrvice, becaufe a good parr of fuch as were chofen, were old Soldiers, well experienc'd in their trade, and all of them well difciplin'd and train'd; fo that their elecSrions were made by eNperience, and conjedure both: But where an Army is to be new rais'd, and chofen, not fo much for prefent as future fervice; the eledion in that cafe is to be made by conjcdure only, and that from the age and perfon of the man.
Ccfimo. I believe what you have faid to be true; but before you pafs to another difcourfe, I would be faiisfied in a thing of which you put me in mind, by faying that levies to be made of fuch perfons as have not been trained up in the wars, are to be made by conjefture,• and of this I am the more curious, becaufe I have ob- ferved in many places our Militias to be condemned, and efpecially as to our num- bers; for many are of opinion a lefs number were better, in refpedi that the fewer there were, the better they would be taught, and by confequence the elections would be. better, the confufion lefs, and they would be more capable of reward, (which is that which keeps them content) and to be fure be under better command. I would know therefore your op nion, whether you are for a great number or afmall, and what meafures you would take in your elections both of the or.e and the other.
CHAP. X, Whether it is lefl for a Militia to confifl of a great Numler or a fmafl.
Tahr. C EEing it is your defire to be fatisfied, which is beft, a great number or a fmaJI; ^ v.'ithout doubt a great number is beft, and nor only more neceftary, but (to fpeak frankly) a compleat and perfeft Militia is not to be had in any place where there is not great plenty of men; and as to your obfervation in other places, it is ea- /iiy refuted. For firft, the fmallnefs of your number does not better your foldiers, (where plenty is to be had, as in Ttfcmij) nor mend your election; becaufe men be- ing to judge by experience, in that country few people would be found whofe expe- rience would reco.mm,end them; forafmuch as few of them have been aftually in the wars; and of thofe few, fewer have given fuch teftimony of themfelves as to deferve to be choi'en before the reft; fo that he who makes his eleflion in fuch places, is to lay afide his experience, and to choofe by way of conjedure. Other people there- fore being in this perplexity, I would know, if twenty young perfons of good af- pcds were brought before me, by v/hat rules or method I was to choofe or rejed. I do not doubt but every man would confefs the beft way to take, and arm, and cxercife them all, (it being impoftible to judge till then which will be the befl) and to referve your eiedion, till having all had the fame exercife and inftrudion, it^be cafy to difcern which is moft vigorous, and likely to do fervice: fo that upon the whole, to defire but few in this cafe, that youreledion may be better, is without queftion an error. As to the objedion of being lefs inconvenience to the Country, and to the People, I anfwer, that a Militia (be it as little or imperfed as it may) is no prejudice to either. Becaufe it takes away no man from his employments; obliges no man from his bufi- nefs; for to appear only on idle days to exercife, is rather a recreation to the People, and advantage to the Country, than otherwife. Whereas if they had no fuch diver- tifement, young men would be apt on thofe days to run out into fome debauche* ry or extravagance, which would be much worfe than thofe innocent recreations, which being a handfome fpedacle, gives great entertainments to young people.
Whereas 44B, The An of WA R. Book 1.
Whereas ic is alleds^ed chac a lefs number is eafier paid, and by confequence kept in better order and obedience; I anfwer, that no Levies can be made of fo few, as that they will be paid always to their fatisfadion. For example, a Militia is to be efta- blifh'd of five thoufand foot: To pay them to their content would require at leaft loooo Ducats a month. FirH, 5000 Foot is not a competent Army, and 10000 Ducats a month would be infupportable to a State, and yet infufficient to {:xt\s{y them, or to oblij^e them to any extraordinary enterprize. So that in fo doing, your expence would be great, your force but fmall, and unable to defend you, much lefs to make any vi- gorous attack. If you encrcafe their pay, or their number, it would be the more im- poffible to pay them: if you gave them lefs, or lifted lefs, they would be fo much the more difl'arisfied and unferviceable.
They therefore who talk of raiding Soldiers, and paying them whilft they are not in fervice, talk ridiculouHy, and of things either impoffible or ufeiefs. 'Tis true, when they are to be raifed for immediate Service, they are always to be paid j yet if in times of Peace they be the occafion of any diforder or inconvenience, (which I cannot believe) the advantages of a well-difciplin'd and ready Militia does abundantly re- compence itj for where there is no fuch force, there is nothing fecure.
1 conclude then, That he who would have a fmall number, to pay them the bet* ter, or for any other of your reafons, is mightily ignorant. For though it agrees with my opinion, that let your number be what it will, it will leflfon upon your hands, (by the many accidents that are not poffible to be avoided) yet a fmall number would quickly dwindle to nothing. Befides, a great number is of more real fervice and reputation. To this it may be added, That if in order to the exerciling, you felecc a few perfons in Countries where plenty is to be had; ti)cy are fo remote, and at fuch diftance from one another, that you cannot bring them to a Rendezvous wich- out great inconvenience j and without exerciling, Militias are ufekfs, as Audi oe fhewn in due place.
Cofimo. You have fatisfy'd me as to my former demand, but I defire you would re- folve me another doubt; and that is, whether fuch great numbers do not produce more confufion and diforder in the Country?
Fahitio. That opinion is as idle as the other, and for the reafons I IhalF give.
CHAP XL How the Inconveniencies which follow great Armies may he preventer!.
Fabritio. 'TpHofe who are defigned for the Wars, may occafion diforder two ways, either among themfelves, or with other people; but the remedy is cafy, though tljeir difcipline (hould not prevent it: (for as to quarrels and mutinies among themfelves, difcipline will obviate them) If the Country where your Levies are to be made, be fo weak, that they have no Arms among them, or fo unanimoufly united a- mong themfelves, that they have no head, this Order and Militia will make them more fierce and couragious againft Strangers, without any impediment to their uni- ty. For men who are well difciplin'd, are as tender of breaking the Laws when they are armed, as much as when they are difarmed; nor can they be any ways alter- ed, unlefs the Officers which you fet over them debauch them, and which way that is to be done, I fiiall fbew you prefently. But if the Country wliere your Levies are to be made, are in Arms, and difunited, this way will be fufficient to unite them j for though they had Arms and Officers of their own before, yet they were fuch Arms as were ufeiefs in War, and fuch Officers as rather bred and provoked mutinies^ than prevented or fupprefs'd them. And the reafon is, becaufe in thofe Countries as foon as a man is offended, he repairs immediately to the head of his party, who to main- tain his own reputation, encourages him to revenge; whereas a pubiick General pro- ceeds quite contrary. So then by this way Seditions are prevented. Unity eftablifhcdi Provinces united (but weak) continue their union, and are freed of their weaknefs; Pro- vinces difunited and mutinous arc reconciled and compofcd, and their ferocity which was employ 'd formerly in diforders, is employ 'd now to the Advantage of the pubiick. As to the provi/ion that is to be made that they in/ure not other people, it is to be confi- dered that that is not to be done, but by the fault of their Officers; and to prevent the Officers from occafioning fuch diforders, it is ncccfiary that care be taken that they do not ufurptoo great an authority over their Soldiers, which authority is to be gained too ways, either by nature or accident; the way by nature, is to be prevented by providing that he who Book I. The Art of WA R. 449 - — ■' ' >. — — " who is born in a place, be never put to command the Forces raifed in the fame place, but be put at the head ot fuch Troops as are raifed in other Countries, with whom he has no natural converfe. As to the accidental way, things are to be fo ordered, that the Commanders in chief be changed every year; for the continuation of a com- mand over the fame men, contrads fuch a friend(hip and intimacy betwixt them, as is many times ptrvtrted to the prejudice of the Prince, Which changes, how ufeful they have been to thofc who have ufed them, and how rtiuch the oraiffion of them have been prejudicial to other people, may be obferved by the example of the King- dom of AJJ)rta, and the Empire of the Romans; for that Kingdom continued a thou- fand )ears without Tiimuit or Civil War, which proceeded from the annual changing of the Officers of the Army. And in the Roman Empire, after Julius Cajar was kill- ed, all the Civil Wars and Confpiracies which happened betwixt the Officers and the Emperors, proceeded from nothing but holding the Officers continually iti command. And if any of the firft Emperors, or thofe who rul'd afterwards with any reputation» (as Ad/ianuSy Marcus, Sevtrus and the like) had had the providence to have introduced that cuftom into their Armies, without doubt their Empire would have been more quiet and durable; for their Generals would not have had fo much opportunity to rebel, the Emperors would not have had fo much occafion to fear, and the Se- nate (in default of fucceffion) having more authority in the Election of a nev^ Empe- ror, would undoubtedly have chofen better. But ill cuftoms (either thorough the ig- norance or inadvertency of mankind) are not to be eradicated by examples either good or bad Cofinio. I fear my demands have drawn you from your intended difcourfe, for from fptaknig of Levies and Militias, and fuch things, we are got clear upon another Sub- jed; fo that had I not excufed my felf before, I fliould think 1 deferved reprehenfion.
Fabrttio. Let not that trouble you, all that we have faid is pertinent enough; for being to treat in the way of Militias (which is condemned by many people) and I fo defend if, 'twas convenient that we Ciould begin with the way of Election j and ftrft as to the Cavalry.
• G H A P. xn.
i ■ Of the Cavalry* f'ak '^HE Cavalry ahcietttly tvas raifed Out df the ticheft atld rtioft cdnfldetable the City, but with refped: to the age, and quality of the perfon. Of thefc there were only three hundred to a Legion; fo that in each Cohfular Army, the Ro- nutrn had never above fix hundted Horfe.
Cofimtj. Would you have a ftanding Militia of Horfe to exereife theto at Hotne, and employ them afterwards in the War?
Fab. To do well, you cannot do otherw^ife, if you Would have Soldiers of your own, and not rely wholly upon fuch as make War their profeflioft.
Cofmo. How would you choofe them?
Fab- I would imitate the Romans^ choofe them out of the wealthieft, giVe Officers as they do at this day, and fee them well armed, and well exercifed. Cofinto. Would it be v/ell to allow them any pay?
Fab. Yes truly it would, yet it fbou'd be no more than wou'd keep their Horfe; foe otherwife lying coannually upon them, they would become grievous to the Subjedi and give them occafion to complain of you.
Cofimo. What numbers would you have, and how would you arm them?
Fah You are too quick, and pafs from one thing to another; I'll anfwer you to that in anocher place, vvhcn I have ^old you l)Ow the Foot are to be armed, and pre- pared for a Ejeid Battle.
Book II THE Second BOOK.
C H A P. L IVhat Arm were moji ufed hy the Ancients in their Wars.
■pab. ▼"▼THEN you have raifed your men, the next thing is to furnifh them \ /\/ with Arms; and before you do that, 1 think it not amifs to examine T Y what Arms were moft ufed by the Ancients, and choofe the beft. The Romans divided their Infantry into thofe who were compleatly, and thofe who were flightly armed. Thofe who were lightly armed, were called J/elitvs, under which name all were comprehended who carried Bows, and Slings, and Darts; the greatefl part of them had Cafques upon their Heads for their defence, and a kind of Buckler upon their arm. They fought in no order, and at diftance from thofe who were arm'd compleatly; their Arms confiHed of a Head piece or Morrion, which came down to the Shoulders, a Brigandine down to their knees, their legs and arms were covered with Greaves and Gauntlets, a Buckler cover'd with Iron, about two yards long, and one broad, an iron ring about it without to keep off the blows, and another within to keep it from the dirt when it was laid upon the ground. Their offenfive Weapons were a Sword at their left thigh, about a yard and half long, with a Dag- ger on their right fide. They carried a Dart in their hand which they call'd Piltm, which upon a charge they darted at the Enemy.
Thefe were the Arms with which the Romans conquer'd the whole World. And though fome of their ancient Writers do give them a iipear in form of a Spit; I do not fee how fuch a Weapon cou'd be handled by one that carried fuch a Buckler, for it was too heavy to be managed with one hand; befides (unlefs it were in the Front where they had room to make ufe of them) it was impoffible to ufe them in their ranks J for the nature of Battles is fuch, (as I fhall fliew hereafter) that they do al- ways contrad and keep clofe, as being in much lefs danger, than when they are drawn up loofer and at a diftance: So that in that clofe order, all Arms that are a- bove two yards long, are not to be ufed; for having a Spear that is to be managed with both hands, if your Buckler were no hinderance, it could not hurt your Enemy when he was near. If you take it in one hand, and raanaj^e your Buckler with the other,' you muft take it in the middle, and then there will be fo much of it behind, that they who come after you will hinder you from handling it; So that it is true, cither the Romans had no fuch Hafta:, or if they had, they made but little ufe of them.
For if you read the Hift;ory of Titus Livius, in the defcription of all his Battles, you will fcarce ever find he mentions thofe Ha/ia, but tells you all along that having dart- ed their Pila, they fell to the Sword. My opinion therefore is, that this Ha/la be laid afide, and that in imitation of the Roynans, we make ufe of their Sword and Buckler, and other Arms, without troubling our felves with that.
The Grecians for their defence did nor arm fo heavily as the Romans^ but for offence, they relied more upon the Spear than the Sword, efpccially the Macedonian Pbalanxy who carried of thofe Javelins which they call'd i'^r-z/Zk, with which they brake the Enemies Battles, and kept their own firm and entire. And tho'iome Writers fay that they alfo had ' their Bucklers, ytt I know not (for thereafons abovcfaid) how they could confift. Befidcs, in the Battle betwixt Paulus Emilius and Perjcus King of Macedon, I do not remember that mention was made of any Bucklers, but only of their Sanjf.t, and ytt the Romans had much ado to overcome them. So that my opinion is, the Macedonian Phalanx was jui\ fuch a Body as the Swiz.x,ers Battalion, whole whole force lies in their Pike. The Ro- Mdus were likewife accuftomcd to adorn their Soldiers with Plumes of Feathers ia tiicir Caps, which renders an Army beautiful to their Friends, and terrible to their Enemies.
Book II. The Art of fr JR. 451 Enemies. In the firft beginning of the Roman Wars, their Horfe ufed a round Shield, a Helmet upon their Heads, and all the reft of their body naked; their ofFenfive Arms were a Sword and Javelin with a long thin fpike at the end of it; and fo be- ing incumbered with Shield and Javelin, they could ufe neither of theiti well, and beinJT unarmed, they were more expofed to the Enemy.
Afterwards they came to arm themfeives like their Foot, only their Shield was a lit- tle fhorter and fquarer, their Launce or Javelin thicker, with pikes at each end, that if by accident one of themftould mifcarry, the other might be ferviceablc. With thcfe Arms both for Hoife and Foot, my Countrymen the Rowans went thorough the whole world, and by the greatnefs of their fuccefles, 'tis likely, they were as well accounted as any Army ever was. And 'Titus Livius in many places of his Hiftory makes it credfble, where comparing the Armies of the Enemies, he fays. But the Romans for cou- rage, fafhion of their Arms, and difcipline were before them all. And for that rea- fon I have chofen to fpeak particularly rather of the Conquerors Arms, than the Arms of the Conquered. It follows now that I fay fomething of the way of Arming at pre- lent.
CHAP. IT.
Of the Arms which are ufed at prefenty and of the invention of the Pike.
Fabritio. Hp H E Soldiers of our times do wear for defenfive Arms, Back and Breaft, -■- and for offenfive a Launce nine yards long, which they call a Pikey with a Sword by their fide rather round than fbarp. Thefe are generally the Arms which they wear at this day; few wear Greaves and Gauntlets, and none at all Head-pieces. Thofe few V. ho have no Pikes, do carry Halberts, the rtaff three yards long, and the head like an Axe. They have among them Mufquetiers, who with their Fire Arms do the fame Service which was done formerly by the Bows and Slings. This manner of arming with Pikes, was found out by the Germans, and particularly by the Swiz.- zers, who being poor, and defirous to preferve their liberty, were and are ftill neceffi- tated to contend againft the ambition of the Princes of Germany, who are rich, and and able to entertain Horfe, which the Swizz^ers are not able to do. So that their Force confifting principally in Foot, being to defend themfeives againft the Enemy's Horfe, they were obliged to revive the old way of drawing up, and find out Arms that might defend them againft them. This neceflity put them upon continuing or reviving the old Orders, without which (as every wife man knows) the Foot would he ufeltfs; for which caufe they make ufe of Pikes, not only to refift and keep off, but to attack and fometimes to diforder the Horfe. And by vertue of thefe Arms, and thefe Orders, the Germans have afiuraed the confidence with 15 or 20000 of their Foot to attack a vaft Body of Horfe, of which 'tis not above 25 years lince we had a moft fignal experiment; and fo many great examples there are of their courage, (founded upon their Arms, and their Order,) that after Charles VIIl's Expedition into j!ay, al! Nations made ufe of them, infomuch as thereby the Spaniards grew into great reputation.
Cofimo. Which manner of arming do you prefer, the German, or the ancient Ro' man?
Fabritio. The Roman without doubt, and I will tell you the ufefulnefs and inconve- nience of them both.
CHAP. III.
Whether the ancient or modern is the left way of Arming.
TH E German Foot are able not only to fuftain, but to beat the Cavalry j they ara better for expedition, and can draw themfeives up better, bccaufe not over pcllcred with Arms. On the other fide, Foot are more expofed to wounds bo h at hand and at a diftance. They are not fo ufeful likewife in Storming of Towns, and are in great danger where there is vi^'orous refiftaiice. But the Romans were fo well armed, tl^ey could encounter and bafHc the Horfe as well as the Germans, and were fecure againft their blows by vertue of their Arms, could manage themfeives better in an engagement with their Su'ords, than the G'^'m^w/ with their Pikes, and affault a Town N n n 2 better The Jn of WA R. Book I.