Early English Books Online
 All Digital Collections  spacer  Login  
 
Add to bookbag
Author: Porcia, Jacopo di, conte, 15th cent.
Title: The preceptes of warre, setforth [sic] by Iames the erle of Purlilia, and tra[n]slated into englysh by Peter Betham
Rights/Permissions: The University of Michigan Library provides access to these keyboarded and encoded editions of the works for educational and research purposes. These transcriptions are believed to be in the public domain in the United States; however, if you decide to use any of these transcriptions, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission. If you have questions about the collection, please contact eebotcp-info@umich.edu. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact LibraryIT-info@umich.edu. This statement does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Print source: The preceptes of warre, setforth [sic] by Iames the erle of Purlilia, and tra[n]slated into englysh by Peter Betham
Porcia, Jacopo di, conte, 15th cent., Betham, Peter.
[Imprynted at London: In the olde Iewery by Edwarde Whytchurche. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendu[m] solu[m] These bookes are to be solde at the weste dore of Pauls, by William Telotson], 1544.
Alternate titles: De rei militari. English
Subject terms:
Military art and science -- Early works to 1800.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A09851.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
View entire text
title page
The Epistle. To the ryghte honourable syr Thomas Audeleye knyght, lorde Audeley of Walden, and lorde Chauncelour of Englande, Peter Betham wisheth health and cō¦tinuaunce of ho∣nour
Thomas Phayes.
¶ Fautes escaped in the printyng through ouermoche haste.
book 1
2 ¶ To chose the capitayne.
3. ¶ Of sufferaunce in warre.
4. ¶ Of the stoute and valiaunt mynde of the captayne.
5. ¶ Of the siege and assaulte of a cytye.
6. ¶ Of a great army of our enemies
7 ¶ Of the reproche of the capitayne that houseth his Armye in the somertyme.
8. ¶ To spye and searche a place to fight in
9. ¶ Of the apparell of the capitayne.
10. ¶ To knowe the maner and cōdiciōs of thyne enemies before thou make battayl
11. ¶ Of the Germaynes and Frenchemen.
12. ¶ Of sedicion to be appeased amonge an Armye.
13. ¶ Howe to viewe the Armye of thyne enemyes.
14 ¶ Of peace to be p̄ferred before battayl
15. ¶ Of trompettes and other cla∣mours in an hoste.
16. ¶ Of the rerewarde.
17. ¶ Of great cyties.
18. ¶ In campyng thyne Armye what is to be done.
19. ¶ To kepe thy frendes.
20 ¶ Of quycknesse in battayle.
21. ¶ Of the arraye to be kepte.
22 ¶ Of a lytle multitude in a cytye.
23 ¶ Of the hope and trust of sedicion.
24 What is to be done in tyme of peace.
25. ¶ Of fayned rumours.
26. ¶ Of the offyce of the capitayne.
27 ¶ To knowe whether a cytie is thy frende or no.
28 ¶ Of confidence and assured hope in battayle.
29 ¶ Of the situacion of the cytie to be searched and knowen by the ca∣pitayne hym selfe.
30. ¶ Of lybertie to be kept and en∣creased of all men.
31. ¶ Of the doubtfull cōmyng of thyne enemyes.
32. ¶ When the arraye of thyne enemyes is troubled and out of ordre.
33. ¶ How to make thyne armye stronge and lustye.
34. ¶ A policie to be vsed when thy men do forsake the.
35. ¶ To searche and boulte out the counsayle of thyne enemyes.
36. ¶ Of them that be besieged.
37. ¶ What is to be done when two hostes do vexe and pursue the.
38. ¶ A crafte and pollicye to take a cytye.
39. ¶ A place to encrease thyne armye wythout great charges.
40. ¶ Of an holsome lawe to be made in the citie.
41. ¶ Of excesse to be eschued.
42. ¶ Of wantonnesse, to be cast of in wealth.
43 ¶ To throwe downe villages and castels vndefenced.
44. ¶ How to purchase frendes, and to kepe the same.
45. ¶ To abydesiege.
46 ¶ when it is mete to fyght by eruption.
47 ¶ To enterclude the passage of our enemyes by fyre.
48. ¶ A pollicie to stoppe the flying of thyne enemyes.
49 ¶ How siege is to be layed to cy∣tyes and castels, and of them that be besieged.
50. ¶ To auoyde and escape traynes.
51. ¶ Of hostages and pledges ra¦ther to be taken, then to fyght in open battayle.
52. ¶ To stoppe our hauen.
53. ¶ To make hydde and false dytches to betray thyne enemyes.
54. ¶ To passe ouer a water with an Armye.
55. ¶ To knowe yf thyne enemyes be afrayed.
56. ¶ To constrayne thyne enemyes to fyght in open battayle, and come to hande strypes.
57 ¶ A pollicye to stye.
58. ¶ When thyne enemyes snatche vp and destroye the last warde.
59. ¶ Of the notable falsehode of the barbarous people.
60. ¶ When fewe must make bat∣tayle wyth many.
61. ¶ Thoffyce of the capitayne.
62 ¶ To forbeare holye thynges.
63 ¶ Of the capitaynes liberalitie when the battayle. is wonne.
64 ¶ Of reproche to be eschued.
65. ¶ Of the capitaynes offyce in ioynynge of the battayle.
66. ¶ How to entreate thyne enemyes, the vyctorie obtayned.
67 ¶ To kepe leage and promysse of peace with our enemyes.
68. ¶ Of the captaynes offyce in ac∣complyshyng al thynges.
66. ¶ When thyne enemyes armye prepareth passage ouer any water.
70. ¶ When thy souldyours ben astonyshed and fearefull.
71. ¶ When scarcetie of vytayles is amonge our enemyes.
72 ¶ Battayle is not to be begone but of necessitie and constraynte.
73. ¶ To refrayne from battayle before that we haue deuysed and layed our traynes.
74 ¶ What is to be done, that our enemies may be perswaded, their capitayne to be slayne.
75 ¶ To kepe whole and saulfe territories and townes.
76 ¶ That thyne Armye is to be lodged and kept in the marches of thyne enemyes.
77. ¶ What is to be done, when in wynter we must fyght.
79 ¶ Of pleasures to be eschued of the capitayne, and the hoste.
79. ¶ To chose a place to fyght in, whē the sunne and the dust maye be noysome to thyne enemyes and in theyr eyes.
80. ¶ Of tyme not to be lost, or vaynely spent.
81. ¶ Of good and euyl doinges semblable to be rewarded as punyshed.
82. ¶ What is to be done when thy men be lyght and spedye.
83. ¶ That examples do helpe to encourage soul∣dyours.
84. ¶ That nothyng be done agaynst the capitaynes commaundement.
85. ¶ To refrayne thy souldyours sometyme.
86. ¶ It is not tyme to fight when thyne enemyes do dispayre, and be carelesse of theyr lyues.
87. ¶ What is to be done when we mi∣strust our souldyours to be a∣frayed of the sowne of gūnes and noyse of them yt wayle.
88. ¶ What is to be done when thyne enemyes be moost parte archers.
89. ¶ What is to be done before the siege of a cytye.
09. ¶ Of rashnesse to be eschued of a capitayne.
91. ¶ A pollicye to take the fotemen.
92 ¶ A pollicie to diffeate and dis∣poynt the gunners, that they stande in no stede and vse.
93. ¶ Of the offyce of the capitayne in orderyng the affayers of hys armye.
94. ¶ To refrayne aswel from the empyre as from the treasu∣res after the victorie.
95. ¶ To constrayne thy souldy∣ours to fyght.
96 ¶ To tame fierce people.
97 ¶ To dissemble retreate.
98 ¶ To pyke out for souldyours those whych be paynfull.
99. ¶ Of exercyse.
100. ¶ What is to be done, when our enemyes be con∣quered.
101. ¶ When fewe must fyght a∣gaynst many.
102. ¶ when the souldyours must sleape.
103. ¶ To brynge suspicion of treason amonge thyne enemyes.
104. ¶ Of outwarde helpe that he suspicious warely to be receyued.
105. ¶ Of discention to be swa∣ged and appeased.
106. ¶ what tyme townes and cities maye be despoyled and taken.
107 ¶ Howe moche the presence of the graunde capi∣tayne doeth profyte.
108. ¶ Of the multitude of enemyes.
109. ¶ Of enemyes that be humble and treatable.
109 ¶ Of daungerfull and peryl∣lous battayles.
111 ¶ It is mete for yonge men in theyr youth to practyse martiall feates.
112 ¶ To encrease the nombre of thyne enemyes by a rumour.
113 ¶ To preuent the wylies and traynes of a nobler prince.
114. ¶ Of them that haue longe heere and longe beerdes.
115. ¶ Before we laye siege to cy∣tyes, good it is to possesse the vplande fieldes.
116. ¶ Of men wounded and kylled to be conueyed priuily out of the waye.
117 ¶ Of the requestes of lowe and humble perona∣ges to be herd.
118 ¶ To vse cruelnesse in the be∣gynnyng of the warres.
119. ¶ How to kepe thy kyngdome by boldnesse and coura∣gyousnesse.
120. ¶ Of chastitie in warre.
121 ¶ Of cauillations to be expe∣riensed in ieopardyes by capitaynes.
123. ¶ Of souldyours that do saye yll by theyr capitayne.
123. ¶ Wyth what thynges thy souldyours ar to be encouraged.
124. ¶ To purchace the fauour of a straunge countrye.
125. ¶ A capitayne must be liberal, and therwith praysynge the stoutnesse of hys men.
126. ¶ what is to be done when e∣ruption is feared.
127. ¶ what is to be done of the ca∣pitayne, when hys arme is in extreme peryl and daunger.
128 ¶ Wyth what thynge the mynde of the cōmunaltie is gotten.
129. ¶ Of the fashyon to sende letters.
130. ¶ To allure thyne enemyes to slyppe awaye, and fayle theyr capitaynes.
131. ¶ Of the badgies of the souldyours.
132. ¶ Of kynges and other princes that kepe not theyr feyth.
133 ¶ Of the condicion of the common people.
135 ¶ Of a certayne kynde of defence.
135 ¶ Of the swetnesse of ad∣uauntage.
136. ¶ Of a troublesome and vn∣rulye multitude.
137 ¶ Of the dutye of a good capytayne.
138. ¶ In a newe rendre.
139. ¶ Of the punishment of the ca∣pitayne whych forsaketh hys men.
140. ¶ To abstayne from robbyng of temples.
141. ¶ To pursue thyne enemyes in the chase.
142. ¶ To dissemble retreate and feare.
143. ¶ what is to be done when great ieopardyes are to be vndertaken.
144 ¶ To abstayne from treason.
120. ¶ Of the sagenesse and eloquence of the capitayne in his orations.
146. ¶ To refrayne from spoyle and pillage before thyne enemies be wholye subdued.
147 ¶ To refrayne from burnyng.
148 ¶ Of ayde and succour to be sent to thy neyghbours abbor∣derynge on the.
149 ¶ what it is to do some valiaunt acte in the syght and face of thyne enemyes.
150. ¶ Of lytle power not to be contemned.
151. ¶ Of slouthfulnesse to be eschued of the capitayne and all other.
152. ¶ To viewe and know the coun∣tryes, before thou cary thyne Armye thyther.
153 ¶ Of the encrease of thyne empyre.
154 ¶ The conditions of the capitayne.
155 ¶ What is to be done in the besiege of cyties.
156. ¶ A pollicie to knowe yf thy soldy∣ours be faythfull.
157. ¶ Of the great and huge coue∣tousnesse of the barba∣rous people.
158 ¶ How to cary an armye ouer a water thyne enemyes restynge.
159. ¶ The comfortable wordes of the capitayne, when hys souldy∣ours be in dispayre.
160 ¶ Of thy souldiours, worshyp∣fully to be buryed.
161 ¶ When the power of thyne enemyes is moche stron∣ger, what thynge is to be done.
162. ¶ Of hostages.
163. ¶ To stynt the weapynges and skrykes of women.
164. ¶ To hyde and couer the slaughter.
165. ¶ To pacify a stronge and valiaunt warryour which is displeased.
166. ¶ Wagies are not to be craued when the treasures be spent and wasted.
167. ¶ To passe by lytle thynges that be harde.
168. ¶ what is to be done of the chiefe capitaynes.
169. ¶ To kepe the possessyon of the thyng ones gotten.
170. ¶ Of the nature and condition of the common people.
171 ¶ Of a multitude of gunners and crossebowe shoters.
172 ¶ What is to be done when the walles be bea∣ten downe.
173. ¶ What is to be done in the slackyng of cities.
174. ¶ To set vpon the campe of thyne enemyes not warely kepte.
175 ¶ what is to be done in slowe and slacke siege.
176 ¶ Of lytle thynges not to be despysed.
177. ¶ Of warre on the see.
178 ¶ Of great perylles scaped and auoy∣ded by rashnesse and foolehardynesse.
179. ¶ Of a certayne kynde of defence.
180 ¶ where thyne enemyes preua yle in horsemen.
181. ¶ To rayse the siege of any cytye.
182 ¶ Of cyties yeldynge them selues.
183. ¶ How necessarye warly connyng is to souldyours.
184 ¶ Great victories ben eschued with fewe and expert souldiours.
185 ¶ Of yonge men to be chosen.
186. ¶ What men they shoulde be to whome the kepynge of countries and cities is commytted.
187. ¶ Of the maner of fyghtynge.
188. ¶ In what place best it is to lodge thyne armye.
189. ¶ How to make stronge the campe with fortresses, thyne enemyes assaultynge the.
190 ¶ To take our subiectes rather then straungers for souldyours.
191. ¶ What is to be done in thassemble and takyng vp of souldyours.
192 ¶ To kepe thyne armye healthfull.
193. ¶ what is to be done when waters can not be waded ouer.
194 ¶ To chastice and agrieue thyne enemyes hoste.
195. ¶ To knowe yf any spyes lurke among thy souldiours.
196. ¶ To kepe close theyr counsayles.
197. ¶ The oration of the capy∣tayne to hys hoste whā they be marchīg∣forthe to fyght.
198. ¶ To take thyne enemyes by wyles.
199. ¶ What is to be done wyth capty∣ues and prisoners.
1000. ¶ To fynde swete water and fresshe.
1001. ¶ Of nyght battayle.
1002. ¶ Of the dewetye of the ca¦pitayne in excersy∣syng hys soul∣dyours.
1003. ¶ Of the dewtye of the graunde capy∣taynes in battel.
1004. ¶ Of the fotemen, and sygne of bat∣tayle.
The second boke.
¶ The Proheme of the seconde boke, vnto the lawes of warre.
2. ¶ Of them that yelde theyr selues to theyr enemyes.
3. ¶ Of an outstrayer.
4. ¶ Of a spye or outryder.
5. ¶ Of ronneawayes and landeleapers.
6. ¶ Of them that lose theyr harneys.
7. ¶ Of them that do thynges prohy∣bited, and kepe not the lawes and decrees proclaymed.
8. ¶ Of them that raysevp sedicion.
9. ¶ Of a legion reculynge.
10 ¶ Of banyshed personage.
11. ¶ Of hym that is sentforth lyke a slaue.
12. ¶ Of them that be iudged to dye.
13. Of them that steale ye youth of chiualrie
14. ¶ Of hym that maymeth a yonge souldyour.
15. ¶ Of hym that leaueth hys compagnie.
16. ¶ Of them that rebell.
17. ¶ Of disobedience and sturdynesse.
18. ¶ Of hym that flyeth.
19. ¶ Of spyes and scoutwatches.
20. ¶ Of hym that woundeth hys felowe.
21. ¶ Of runneawayes and traytours.
22. ¶ In what places thy souldyours shalbe forbydden to bye thy bytayles.
23. ¶ Of them that leaue nyghtwatche.
24. ¶ Of them that scape out of prison.
25. ¶ Of a ronneagate or strydlande.
26. ¶ Of the tyme appoynted by the capitayne.
27. ¶ Of a disturber of the peace.
28. ¶ When thy souldiours be in theyr iourneye.
29. ¶ Of them that scatre out of the cōpany.
30. ¶ Of a captyue.
31. ¶ Of them that forsake the capytayne.
32. ¶ Of gonners on horse∣backe.
33. Of gunnes called serpētines wyth other.
34. ¶ Of a profitable defence of the campe.
35. ¶ To gyue thankes and prayse to god after the victorye.
36. ¶ Whether it be lawful for christen men to make and styr vppe battayle.
37. They that go on warfare, do leaue theyr iewels behynde at home.
38. ¶ To make the water noysome and vnhealthsome to thyne enemies.
39. ¶ In what place the battayle is to be fought.
40. ¶ To kepe the citie besyeged in faythe and constancie.
41. ¶ To scape oute of a narrowe place.
42. ¶ Of bowes.
43. ¶ Of the owtragyouse assault of thyne enemyes.
44. ¶ To foresee the place rounde a∣bout, where the battayle shall be.
45. ¶ To set vpon thyne enemyes in theyr iourneye.
46. ¶ What is to be done when our enemyes ouermatche vs in force.
47. ¶ what is to be done when we do fyght in straites.
48. ¶ Of ouermoche confidence.
49. ¶ Of the capitaynes cōmaunde∣ment that no man take any prisoner.
50. ¶ Not to departe from the place appoynted.
51. ¶ That the tentes be not leafte vndefenced.
52. ¶ Of thyne enemyes fallyng in varyaunce and stryfe.
53. ¶ Let thy men be redye in harneys, thyne enemyes lying at hande.
54. ¶ Of the besiegyng of cyties.
55. ¶ To make brydges wyth ropes.
56. ¶ To reuenge our enemyes with lyke anoyaunce.
57 ¶ How to conueye the battayl from one place to an other.
58. ¶ To relyeue the scarcenes of water.
59. ¶ To recouer cities and. townes loste.
60. ¶ What is to be done whan thou art ouermatched.
91. ¶ To set fyere on thyne ennemies pauylions
62. ¶ What is to be done when we can not atcheue out of a place wyth our armye.
63. ¶ To make an assemble and shewe of horsemen in the face of thyne enemyes.
64. ¶ To refrayne frō the besiege of suche cities whych haue daylye newe succour.
65. ¶ What is moste expedient for the chyfe capitayne to do at the fyrst entrye in to countreyes.
66. ¶ What is to be done in ye syege of bygge cities.
67. ¶ What is to be done whā oure enemyes spyes are taken.
68. ¶ Not to haue one espye alwayes.
69. ¶ To knowe the feare and co∣wardise of thyne ennemies.
70. Of the duetye of bolde and stoute fellowes.
71. ¶ To recouer the health of thy souldyers.
72. ¶ A policie to disceyue and de∣fraude our enemyes.
73. ¶ To gette the fauour of oure souldyers.
74. ¶ To haue fyere to burne in water.
75. ¶ What is to be done whan capytaynes do not a gree in one sen¦tence.
76. ¶ Of false hode to be reuenged.
77. ¶ A waye to laye siege to cytyes on the see syde.
78 ¶ Where we haue onely welle water.
79. ¶ To chose a place to fyght in.
78. ¶ To mocke our enemyes.
81. ¶ When thyne hoste is in great ieopardye.
82 ¶ what is to be done when thyne enemyes ben at hande.
83. ¶ To prouyde that thyne armye maye haue suffysaunce of vytayle.
85. ¶ To prouoke thyne enemyes to fyght in ioyned battayle.
addendum
table of contents
colophon