sweardes, from stones, and from all other hurt, that
commeth from the enemies, thei would answere also,
that thei went close together, like the Suizzers,
to be able more easely to overthrow the footemen, to
be able to withstand better the horse and to give more
difficultie to the enemie to breake them: so
that it is seen, that the souldiours have to fear,
many other thynges besides the ordinance: from
which thynges, with the armours, and with the orders,
thei are defended: whereof foloweth, that the
better that an armie is armed, and the closer that
it hath the orders, and stronger, so moche the surer
it is: so that he that is of thesame opinion,
that you saie, it behoveth either that he bee of smalle
wisedome, or that in this thyng, he hath studied verie
little: for as moche as if we see, that so little
a parte of the aunciente maner of armyng, whiche is
used now a daies, that is the pike, and so little a
parte of those orders, as are the maine battailes of
the Suizzers, dooe us so moche good, and cause our
armies to bee so strong, why ought not we to beleve,
that the other armours, and thother orders whiche are
lefte, be profitable? Seyng that if we have no
regard to the artillerie, in puttyng our selves close
together, as the Suizzers, what other orders maie
make us more to feare thesame? For as moche as
no order can cause us so moche to feare thesame, as
those, whiche bryng men together. Besides this,
if the artillerie of the enemies should not make me
afraied, in besiegyng a Toune, where it hurteth me
with more safegarde, beyng defended of a wall, I beyng
not able to prevente it, but onely with tyme, with
my artillerie to lette it, after soche sorte that it
maie double the blowe as it liste, why should I feare
thesame in the field, where I maie quickly prevent
it? So that I conclude thus, that the artillerie,
according to my opinion, doeth not let, that the aunciente
maners cannot be used, and to shewe the auncient vertue:
and if I had not talked alreadie with you of this
instrument, I would of thesame, declare unto you more
at length: but I will remit my self to that,
whiche then I saied.
LUIGI. Wee maie now understande verie well, how
moche you have aboute the artillerie discoursed:
and in conclusion, my thinkes you have shewed, that
the preventyng it quickly, is the greatest remedie,
that maie be had for thesame, beyng in the fielde,
and havyng an armie againste you. Upon the whiche
there groweth in me a doubte: bicause me thinkes,
that the enemie might place his ordinaunce in soche
wise, in his armie, that it should hurt you, and should
be after soche sort garded of the footemen, that it
could not be prevented. You have (if you remember
your self well) in the orderyng of your armie to faight,
made distaunces of three yardes, betwene the one battaile
and the other, makyng those distaunces fiftene, whiche
is from the battailes, to thextraordinarie pikes:
if thenemie, shuld order his armie like unto yours,
and should putte the artillerie a good waie within
those spaces, I beleve that from thens, it should
hurte you with their moste greate safegard: bicause
menne can not enter into the force of their enemies
to prevent it.