Machiavelli, Volume I — Niccolo Machiavelli — John Shaqi
Machiavelli, Volume I
Niccolo Machiavelli · en
This is as muche as hapneth me generally to remember you, and I know
that there might have ben saied manie other thynges in all this my
reasonynge: as should be, howe and in howe manie kinde of waies the
antiquitie ordered their bandes, how thei appareled them, and how in
manie other thynges they exercised them, and to have joygned hereunto
manie other particulars, the whiche I have not judged necessarie to
shew, as wel for that you your self may se them, as also for that my
intente hath not been to shew juste how the olde servis of warre was
apoincted, but howe in these daies a servis of warre might be ordained,
whiche should have more vertue then the same that is used. Wherfore I
have not thought good of the auncient thynges to reason other, then
that, which I have judged to suche introduction necessarie. I know also
that I might have delated more upon the service on horsebacke, and after
have reasoned of the warre on the Sea: for as muche as he that
destinguissheth the servis of warre, saieth, how there is an armie on
the sea, and of the lande, on foote, and on horsebacke. Of that on the
sea, I will not presume to speake, for that I have no knowledge therof:
but I will let the Genoues, and the Venecians speake therof, whome with
like studies have heretofore doen great thinges.
Also of horses, I wil speake no other, then as afore I have saied, this
parte beynge (as I have declared) least corrupted. Besides this, the
footemen being wel ordained, which is the puissance of the armie, good
horses of necessitie will come to be made.
[Sidenote: Provisions that maie bee made to fill a Realme full of good
horse; The knowledge that a capitaine oughte to have.]