e not hire any by
commaundemente of the Prince, but accordyng to the will of them, that
are disposed to serve. Then consider now, what maners of those aunciente
armies, maie bee brought into an armie of men, put together by like
waies.

COSIMO. What waie ought to bee used then?

FABRICIO. The same waie that I saied, to chuse them of their owne
subjectes, and with the auethoritie of the Prince.

COSMO. In the chosen, shall there bee likewise brought in any auncient
facion?

FABRICIO. You know well enough that ye: when he that should commaunde
theim, were their Prince, or ordinarie lorde, whether he were made
chief, or as a Citezein, and for the same tyme Capitaine, beyng a common
weale, otherwise it is harde to make any thyng good.

COSIMO. Why?

FABRICIO. I will tell you a nane: For this time I will that this suffise
you, that it cannot be wrought well by other waie.

[Sidenote: Whether it be better to take menne oute of townes or out of
the countrie to serve.]

COSIMO. Having then to make this choyse of men in their owne countries,
whether judge you that it be better to take them oute of the citie, or
out of the countrie?

FABRICIO. Those that have written of such matters, doe all agree, that
it is best to chuse them out of the countrie, being men accustomed to no
ease, nurished in labours, used to stonde in the sunne, to flie the
shadow, knowing how to occupy the spade, to make a diche, to carrie a
burden, and to bee without any deceite, and without malisiousnes. But in
this parte my opinion should be, that beyng two sortes of souldiours, on
foote, and on horsebacke, that those on foote, should be chosen out of
the countrie, and those on horseback, oute of the Cities.

[Sidenote: Of what age Souldiours ought to bee chosen.]

COSIMO. Of what age would you choose them?

FABRICIO. I would take them, when I had to make a newe armie, from xvii.
to xl. yeres: when it were made alredy, and I had to restore them, of
xvii. alwaies.

COSIMO. I doe not understonde well this distinction.

FABRICIO. I shall tell you: when I should ordaine an hooste to make
warre, where were no hooste alredy, it should be necessarie to chuse all
those men, which were most fitte and apte for the warre, so that they
were of servisable age, that I might bee able to instructe theim, as by
me shalbe declared: but when I would make my choise of menne in places,
where a powre were alredy prepared, for suppliyng of thesame, I would
take