Page:The arte of warre (IA arteofwarre00mach).pdf/16

armes their defence were not prepared, which well ordeyned, do maintaine thoſe alſo which be not well ordeyned. And likewiſe to the contrarie, the good orders, without the Souldiours helpe, no leſſe or otherwiſe do diſorder, then the habitacion of a ſumptuous & royall palais, although it were decte with golde and precious stones, when without being couered, ſhoulde not haue wherewith to defende it from the raine. And if in what ſo euer other orders of cities and kingdomes there hath beene uſed all diligence for to maintayne men faithfull, peaceable, and full of the feare of God, in the seruice of warre, it was doubled: for in what man ought the coūtrie to ſeeke greater faith, then in him, who muſte promiſe to die for the ſame? In whō ought there to be a more loue of peace, then in him, whiche onely by the warre may be hurt? In whom ought there to be more feare of God, then in him, which euery day committing himſelf to infinite perilles, hath moſt neede of his helpe? This neceſſitie conſidered well, both of them that gaue the lawes to Empires, and of those that to the exerciſe of ſeruice were appointed, made the the life of Souldiours, of other men was praiſed, and with all ſtudie followed and imitated. But the orders of ſeruice of warre, being altogether corrupted, and a great waye from the aunciente maners altered, there hath growen theſe ſiniſterous opinions, which maketh men to hate the warlike ſeruice, and to fie the conuerſation of thoſe that do exerciſe it. Albeit Iiudging by the ſame, that I have ſeene & read, that it is not a thing impoſſible, to bring it againe to the aunciente maners, and to giue it ſome faſhion of the vertue paſſed, I haue determined is the entent not to paſſe this my ydle time, without doing ſome thing, to write that which I do underſtande, of the arte of warre, to the ſatiſfiyng of thoſe, who are louers of auncient actes. And although it be a bolde thing to intreate of the ſame matter, wherof otherwiſe I haue made no profeſ-ſion.