And noote, that a Towne, whiche hathe the ditches withoute, with the 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,