Of warfare▪

WArre or battel a[…] a thinge very […]rast[…]lye, and yet to no kynde of beastes in so muche vse as it is to man, they do detest and abhorre. And contrarye to the custome almost of all other natyons, they cow[…]te nothinge somuch against glorie, as glory gotten in warre. And therefore though they do daily practise and exercise themselfes in the discypline of warre, and that not only the men but also the women vpon certeyne appoynted dayes, leste they shoulde […]e to seke in the feat of armes yf nead should requyre, yet they neuer to goo to battayle, but other in the defence of their owne cowntreye or to dry[…]e ow[…]e of theyr frendes lande the enemyes that be comen in, or by their powre to deliuer frō the yocke and bondage of tyran[…]ye so […]e people that be oppressed wyth tyrā ny. Whyche thynge they doo of meere pytye and compassion. Howebeit they sende healpe to theyre fryndes not euer in theire defence. But sumtimes also to requyte and reuenge iniuries before to them done. But thys they do no[…] […]les their counsell and aduise in the matter be asked whyles yt ys yet newe and freshe. For yf they fynde the cause probable, and yf the contrarye parte wyll not restore agayne suche thynges as be of them iustelye demaunded, then they be the chyeffe auctores and makers of the warre. Whyche they do not onlye as ofte as […]y i[…]rodes and in […]asions of soldiours prayes and booties be dreuen away, but then also much more mortally, whē their frindes marchaūtes in any land other vnder y• pretence of vniust lawes, orels by the wresting & wronge vnderstonding of good lawes do sustaine an vniust accusation vnder the colour of iustice. Nother the battel which the vtopians fowghte for the Nephelogetes against the Alaopolitanes a lytle before oure time was made for annye other cause, but that the Nephelogete marchaunte men as the vtopians thought suffred wrong of the Alaopolita[…]es▪ vnder the pretence of righte. But whether it were righte or wrong, it was with so cruell and mortal warre reuenged, the countr[…]is roūd about ioy[…]ing their healpe and powre to the puysaunce and malice of bothe parties, that most fl[…]rishing and wealthie peoples beyng some of thē shrewedely shaken, and some of them sharpely beaten, the mischeues were not finisshed nor ended, vntill the Alaopolitanes at the last were yelded vp as bondmen into the iurisdiction of the Nephelogetes. For the vtopians foughte not this warre for themselfes. And yet the Nephelogetes before the warre, when the Alaopolitanes flourished in wealth were nothyng to be cōpared with thē. So egerly the Vtopians prosequ[…]te the iniuries done to ther frindes yea in money matters, and not their owne likewise. For if they by co[…]eyne or gyle be wiped beside their gooddes, so that no violēce be done to their bodies, they wreake their anger by absteining from occupieng with that nation vntill they haue made satisfaction. Not for bicause they set lesse stoore by their owne cytyzeyns, then by theire frindes: but that they take the losse of their fryndes money more heuely then the losse of theyr owne. Bicause that their frindes marchaunte men, forasmuche as that they leise is their owne priuate goo[…]des, susteyne great damage by the losse. But their owne citizeyns leise nothing but of the commē gooddes, a[…]d of y• which was at home plentif[…]ll and almost superfluous, elles hadde it not bene sent furth. Therfore no mā feeleth the losse. And for this cause they thynke it to cruell an acte to reuenge that losse wyth the death of many, the incommoditie of the whiche losse no man feeleth nother in his li[…]fe, nother in his liuinge. But if it chaunce that any of their men in any other countreye be may[…]ed or […]ylled, whether it be done by a commē or a priuate councell, knowing and trying out the treuth of the matter by their ambassadours, o[…]les the offēders be rendered vnto them in recompence of the iniury, they willl not be appeased: but inconti […]ent they proclayme warre against thē The offenders yelded they punnishe other with death or with bondage. They be not only sorye, but also ashamed to atchieue the victory with much blood shed, co[…]tinge it greate follye to bye pretyo[…]s wares to dere. They reioyse and auaunte themselfes yf they vaynquyshe and oppresse theire enemyes by crafte and deceyt. And for that act they make a generall tryumphe, and as yf the matter were manfullye handeled they s[…]tt vp a pyller of stone in the place where they so vanquysshed theyre enn[…]myes in token of the vyctory. For then they glorye then they booste and cracke that they haue plaied the men in dede, when they haue so ouer commen, as no other lyuynge creature but onely ma[…] coulde: that ys to saye by the myghte and pusyaunce of wytte. For wyth boddelye strengthe (saye they) beares, lyons, […]oores, wulffes, dogges and other wylde beastes doo fyghte. And as the mooste parte of them doo passe vs in strengthe and fyerce courrage, so in wytte and reason wee be muche stronger then they all. Theyre chyefe and princypall purpose in warre ys to obteyne that thynge, whyche yf they had before obteyned they wolde not haue moued battayle. But if that be not possible, they take so cruell vengeaunce of them whych be in the fault, that euer after they be aferde to doo the lyke. Thys y[…] theyre cheyffe and pryncypall intente, whyche they immedyatelye and fyrste of all prosequute, and sette forewarde▪ But yet in, that they be more cyrcumspecte in auoydynge and eschewynge▪ ieopardyes, then they be desy[…]rous of prayse and renowne. Therfore immediatl[…] after that warre is ones solēply denounced, they procure manye proclamatiōs signed with their owne commen seale to be sett vp preuilie at one time in their ennemyes lande, in places mooste frequented. In thyes proclamatyons they promysse greate rewardes to hym that w[…]ll kyll their e[…]emies prince and sumwhat lesse gyftes, but them verye greate also for euerye heade of them▪ whose names be in the sayde proclamacions conteined. They be those whome they coūt their chieffe aduersaries, next vnto the pri[…]ce. What soeuer is prescribed vnto him that killeth any of the proclamed persons, that is d[…]bled to him y• bringeth any of the same to them aliue, yea and to the proclamed persones thē selfes, if they wil chaūge their mindes and come into them takinge their pa[…] tes, they profer the same greate rewardes with pardon, and suerty of their liaues. Therfore it quickely c[…]mmeth to passe that they haue al other men in suspicion, and be vnfaithfull and mistrusting emong themselfes one to another, liu[…]g in great feare and in no lese ieopardye. For it is well knowen that dyuers times the most part of them, a[…]d specially the prince him s[…]lfe hath bene betra[…]ed of thē in whome they put their most hoope and trust. So that there is no ma[…]r of acte nor dede that giftes & rewardes do not enforce mē vnto. And in rewardes they kepe no measure. But remembring and considering into howe great hasard and ieopardie they call them, endeuoure themselfes to recompen[…]e the greatenes of the daunger with lyke great benefites. And therfore they promisse not only wonderfull greate abundaunce of golde, but also lā des of greate reuenues lyenge in moost sauffe places emonge theire fryndes. And theyre promysses they perfourme faythfully wythowte annye […] or couyne. Thys custome of byinge and sellynge aduersaryes amonge other people ys dysallowed, as acruell acte of a basse a[…]d a cowardys[…]e mynde. But they in thys behalfe thynke themselfes muche prayse woorthye, as who lyke wyse men by thys meanes dyspatche greate warres wythowte annye battell or skyruyshe. Yea they cownte yt also a dede of pyty and mercye, bycause that by the deathe of a fewe offenders the lyues of a greate […]mber of ynuocentes aswell of their own mē as also of their enemies be raū somed & saued, which i[…] fighting shoulde have bene sleane. For they doo no lesse pytye the basse and commen sor[…]e of theyr enemyes people, then they doo theyre owne: knowynge that they be dryuen to warre agaynste theyre wylles by the furyous madnes of theyre prynces a[…]d heades. Yf by none of thies meanes the matter go forwarde, as they wolde haue yt, then they procure occasyons of debate, and dyssentyon to be spredde emonge theyre enemyes. As by bryngynge the prynces brother, or some of the noble men in hoope to obtayne the kyngedome. Yf thys way preuayle not, then they reyse vp the people that be nexte neygheboures and borderers to theyr enemyes, and them they sette in theyre neckes▪ vnder the coloure of some olde tytle of ryghte, suche as kynges doo neuer lacke. To them they promysse theire helpe a[…]d ayde in theyre warre. And as for moneye they gyue them abundance. But of theyre owne cytyzeyns they sende to them fewe or none. Whome they make so much of, a[…]d loue so intyerlye, that they wol[…]e not be willing to chaung auye of thē for their aduersaries prince. But their gold and siluer, bycause they kepe yt all for thys only purpose, they laye it owte frankly and frely: as who shoulde lyue euen as wealthely, if they hadde bestowed it euerye pennye. Yea and besydes theyre ryches, whyche they kepe at home, they haue also a[…] in fy[…]yte treasure abrode, by reason that (as I sayde before) manye natyons be in their debte. Therefore they hyere soldyours oute of all countreys and sende them to battayle, but cheiflye of the Zapo[…]etes. Thys people is.500. myles from Vtopia eastewarde. They be hydeous sauage and fyerce, dwellynge in wild woodes and high mountaines, where they were bredde & brought vp. They be of an harde nature, able to abide and susteine heate, cold, & labour, abhorrynge from all delycate deyntyes, occupyenge no husbandrye nor ty[…] lage of the ground, homelye a[…]d rude both in the buildinge of their houses & in their apparrell, geuen vnto no goodnes, but onelye to the breede and bringynge vp of cattell. The mooste parte of theire lyuynge is by huntynge and stealynge. They be borne onelye to warre, whyche they dylygentlye and […]arnestlye seke for. And when they haue gotten yt, they be wonders gladde therof. They goo furthe of theyre countreye in greate companyes together, and who soeuer lacketh souldyours, there they proffer theyre seruyce for small wages. Thys ys onely the crafte that they haue to gette theyre lyuynge by. They maynteyne theyr lyfe, by sekyng theyre deathe. For them whomewyth they be in wayges they fyghte hardelye fyerslye, a[…]d faythefullye. But they bynde themselfes for no certeyne tyme. But vpo[…] thys condytion they entre into bondes, that the nexte daye they wyll take parte wyth the other syde for greatter wayges, and the nexte daye after that they wyll be readye to come backe agayne for a lytle more moneye. There be fewe warres there awaye, wherin is not a greate numbre of them in bothe partyes. Therefore yt daylye chauncethe that nye kynsefolke whyche were hiered togetheron one parte, and there verye fryndelye and famylyerly vsed themselfes one wyth an other, shortely after beynge separate into contrarye partes, runne one agaynste an other enuyouslye and fyercelye: and forgettynge bothe kyndred and frendeshyp, thruste theyre swordes one in another. And that for none other cause, but that they be hyered of contrarye prynces for a lytle moneye. Whyche they doo so hyghelye regarde and esteame, that they will easelye be prouoked to chaū ge partes for a halfpenye more wayges by the daye. So quyckelye they haue taken a smacke in couetesenes. Whyche for all that ys to them no proffyte. For that they gette by syghtynge, ymmmedyatelye they spende vnthryftelye and wretchedlye in ryott. Thys people fyghte for the Vtopyans agaynste all natyo[…]s, bycause they giue them greatter wayges, then annye other natyon wyll. For the Vtopians lyke as they seke good men to vse wel, so they seke thyes euell and vycyous men to abuse. Whome when neade requyreth wyth promisses of greate rewardes they putt furthe into greate ieopardyes. From whens the mooste part of them neuer cummeth againe to aske their rewardes. But to them that remain on li[…]e they paye y• which they promissed faithfully, that they may be the more willinge to put them selfes in like daūgers another time. Nor y• Vtopians passe not how many of thē they bring to distruction. For they beleue y• they should doo a very good deade for all mankind, if they could ridde out of ye wordle all that fowle stinkinge denne of that most wicked and cursed people. Next vnto thies they vse the soldiours of them whom they fight for. And then the help of their other frindes. And last of al they ioyne to their owne citizeins. Emong whome they gyue to one of tried vertue and prowes the rewle goouernaunce and conductyon of the holy armye. Vnder hym they appoynte ij. other, whyche whyles he ys sauffe be bothe pryuate and owte of offyce. But yf he be taken or slayne, the one of the other.ij. succedeth hym, as yt were by in herytaunce. And if the second miscarry then the third taketh hys rowme, leaste that (as the chaunce of battell ys vncerteyne and dowtefull) the yeopardye or deathe of the capytayne shoulde brynge the hole armye in hasarde. They chuse soldyers owte of euerye cytye those whyche putt furthe themselfes wyllynglye. For they thruste no man furthe into warre agaynste hys wyll. Bycause they beleue, yf annye man be fearefull and faynte harted of nature, he wyll not onelye doo no manfull and hardye act hym selfe, but also by occasyon of cowardenes to hys fellowes. But yf annye battell be made agaynste theyre owne countreye, then they putt thyes cowardes so that they be stronge bodyed in shyppes emonge other bolde harted men. Or elles they dyspose thē vpon the walles, from whens they maye not flye. Thus what for shame that theyre ennemyes be at hande, and what for bycause they be withowt hope of runnynge awaye, they forgette all feere. And manye tymes extreame necessytye turneth cowardnes into prowes and manlynes. But as none of thē ys thrust forthe of his coūtrey into warre agaynste hys wyll, so women that be wyllynge to accompanye their h[…]sbādes in times of warre be not prohybyted or stopped. Yea they prouoke and e[…]horte them to yt wyth prayses. A[…]d in sett fylde the wyues doo stande euerye one by here owne husbandes syde. Also euery man is cōpassed nexte abowte wyth hys owne chyldren, kins fol[…]es and alliaunce. That they, whom nature chiefelye moueth to mutuall succoure, thus stondynge together, maye helpe one an other. It is a great reproche and dishonestie for the husbande to come home wythowte hys wiffe, or the wiffe withoute her husband, or ye sonne without his father. And therfore if the other part sticke so harde by it, that the ba[…]tell come to their hādes, it is fought with great slaughter & bloodshed, euē to the vtter destruction of both partes. For as they make all the meanes and shyf[…]es that maye be to kepe themselfes from the necessitye of fyghtynge, so that they may dispatche ye battell by their hiered soldyours: so when there is no remedy but yt they muste neades fyghte themselfes then they do as corragiouslye fall to it, as before, whyles they myght, they dyd wyselye auoyde i[…]. Nor they be not moste fierce at the fyrst bro[…]te. But in continuaunce by litle and lytle theire fierce corrage encreaseth, with so stubborne and obstynate myndes, that they wyll rather die then gyue backe an ynche. For that suertye of lyuynge, whiche euery man hath at home beynge ioyned with noo carefull anxietye or remēbraunce how theire posteritie shall lyue after them (for this pensifenes oftentymes breaketh a[…]d abateth couragious stomakes) maketh them stowte and hardy, and dysdaynful to be conquered. Moreouer theire knowledge in cheualrye and feates of armes putteth them in a good hope. Finally the holsome and vertuous opinions, wherin they were brought vp euē from theire childhode, partely through learnyng, and partelye throughe the good ordenaunces and lawes of theire weale publique augmente and encrease theire manfull currage. By reason whereof they nother set so litle store by theire liues that they will rasshely & vnaduisedlye cast them away: nor they be not so farre in lewde & fond loue therewith, that they will shamefully couete to kepe them, whē honestie biddeth leaue thē. When the battel is hottest & in al places most fierce & feruent, a bende of chosen a[…]d picked yong men, whiche besworne to liue & dye togethers, take vpon them to destroye theire aduersaries capitaine, hym they inuade now with preuy wyeles, now by opē strength. At hym they strike both nere & farre of. He is assayled with a long & a continewal assault, freshe men styll commyng in the w[…] ried mens places. And seldome it chaū ceth (onles he saue hymselfe by flying) that he is not other slayne, or […]ls taken prysoner, & yelded to his enemies alyue. If they wynne the fyelde, they persecute not theire enemies with the violent rage of slaughter. For they had rather take them aliue then kyll thē. Nother they do so followe the chase & pursute of theire enemies, but they leaue behy[…]de them one parte of theire hoste in battayl arraye vnder theire s[…]andardys. In so muche that if all theire hole armie be discumfetyd and ouercum sauing the rerewarde, & that they therewith achieue the victory, the[…] they had rather lette all theire enemies scape, then to followe them owt of array. For they remembre it hath chaunced v[…]to themselfes more thē o[…]es: the hole powre & strength of theyre hoste being vanquished & put to flight, whiles theire enemies reioysing in the victory haue persecuted them flying some one way and some an other, fewe of theire men lying in an ambusshe, there reddy at all occasions, haue soday[…]ly rysen vpon them thus dispersed & scattered owt of array, and through presumptiō of safetye vnaduisedly pursuynge the chase: and haue incōtinent changed the fortune of the hole battayll: and spyte of there tethes wrestynge owt of theire handes the sure & v[…]dowted victory, being a litle before conquered haue for theire parte cōquired the cōquerers. It is hard to say whether they be craftier in laynge an ambusshe, or wittier in […]duoydynge thesame. Yowe woulde thynke they i[…]tende to f[…]ye▪ whem they […]eane nothing lesse. And cōtrary wise when they go about that purpose▪ yow wold beleue it were y• least part of their thoughte. For it they perceaue themselfes other ouermatched in numbre, or closed in to narrowe a place, then they remoue their campe other in the […]yght season with silence, or by some pollicie they deceaue theire enemies, or in the daye time they retiere backe so softely, that it is no lesse ieoperdie to medle with them when they gyue backe then when they preese on. They fence and fortifie theire campe sewerlye with a deape and a brode trenche. The earth therof is cast inward. Nor they do not set drudgeis and slaues a worke about it. It is doone by the ha[…]des of the souldiours them selfes. All the hole armye worketh vpon it: except them that watche in harneis before the trenche for sodeyne auentures. Therefore by the labour of so manye a large trenche closinge in a great cōpasse of grounde is made in lesse tyme thē any mā wold beleue. Theire armoure or har[…]ei[…] whiche they weare is sure and stronge to receaue strokes, and handsome for all mo[…]inges and gestures of the bodye, in somuche that it is not vnweldy to swymme in. For in the discipline of theire warefare amonge other feates thei lerne to swimme in harneis. Their weapons be arrowes afarre of: which they shote both strongely and suerly, not onelye fotemen but also horsemen. At hande strokes they vse not swordes but polla[…]es whiche be mortall, aswel in sharpenes as in weyghte, bothe for foynes and downe strokes. Engines for warre they deuyse and inuente wō ders wittely. Whiche when they be made they kepe very secret, leaste if they should be knowen before neade requyre, they should be but laughed at, and serue to no purpose. But in makynge them herevnto they haue chiefe respecte, that they be both easy to be caried and handsome to be moued and turned about. Truce taken with theire enemies for a shorte time they do so fermelye and faythfully keape, that they wyll not breake it: no not though they be theire vnto prouoked. They do not waste nor destroy there enemies la[…]de with forraginges, nor they burne not vp theire corne. Yea they saue it as muche as maye be from beinge onerrune and troden downe other with men or horses, thynkynge that it groweth for theire owne vse and proffyt. They hurt no man that is vnarmed onles he be an espiall. All cities that be yelded vnto them, they defende. And suche as they wynne by force of assaute they no ther dispoyle nor sacke, but them that withstode and dyswaded the yeldynge vp of thesame they put to death, the other souldiours they punnyshe with bondage. All the weake multitude they leaue vntouched. If they knowe that a[…]ye cytezeins counselled to yelde and rendre vp the citie, to them they gyue parte of the condempned mens goodes. The resydewe they distribute and gyue frely amonge them, whose helpe they had in thesame warre. For none of them selfes taketh anye portion of the praye. But when the battayll is fynyshed and ended, they put theire frendes to neuer a penny coste of al the chardges that they were at, but laye it vpon theire neckes that be conquered. Them they burde[…]ne with the hole chardge of theire expēceis, which they demaunde of them partelye in money to be kept for lyke vse of battayll, and partelye in sandes of greate reuenues to be payde vnto them yearlye for euer. Suche reuenues they haue nowe in ma[…]ye countreis. Whiche by litle and lytle rysyng of dyuers and sondry causes be encreased aboue.vij. hūdreth thousand ducates by the yere. Thither they sende furth some of their citezei[…]s as Lieuete[…]auntes, to lyue theire sumptuously lyke men of honoure and renowne. And yet this notwithstanding muche money is saued, which cōmeth to the cōmen treasory: onles it so chaū ce, that thei had rather truste y• coūtrey wt the money. Which many times thei do so lōg vntil they haue neade to occupie it. And it seldome happeneth, y• thei demaūd al▪ Of thies lādes thei assigne part vnto thē, which at their request & exhortacion put thems[…]lfes in such ieoperdies as I spake of before. If anye prynce stirre vp warre agaynst them, intendyng to inuade theire lande, they mete hym inco[…]tinent owt of theire owne borders with great powre and strengthe. For they neuer lyghtly make warre in their owne countreis. Nor they be neuer brought into so extreme necessitie as to take helpe out of forreyne landes into thire owne Ilande.