ve understoode, and considered, notwithstandyng I have doen
it (as to daie also I have tolde you) for to be abell to shewe you
better by meane therof, the qualitie of this armie, and also for to
satisfie those, if there be anie, whome have not had the same commoditie
to understand them as you. Nor me thinkes that there resteth other to
tell you, then certaine generall rules, the whiche you shal have moste
familiar, which be these.

[Sidenote: Generall rules of warre.]

The same that helpeth the enemie, hurteth thee: and the same that
helpeth thee, hurteth the enemie.

He that shall be in the warre moste vigilant to observe the devises of
the enemie, and shall take moste payne to exercise his armie, shall
incurre least perilles and maie hope moste of the victorie.

Never conducte thy men to faight the field, if first them hast not
confirmed their mindes and knowest them to be without feare, and to be
in good order: for thou oughteste never to enterprise any dangerous
thyng with thy souldiours, but when thou seest, that they hope to
overcome.

It is better to conquere the enemie with faminne, then with yron: in the
victorie of which, fortune maie doe much more then valiantnesse.

No purpose is better then that, whiche is hidde from the enemie untill
thou have executed it.

To know in the warre how to understande occasion, and to take it,
helpeth more then anie other thynge.

Nature breedeth few stronge menne, the industrie and the exercise maketh
manie.

Discipline maie doe more in warre, then furie.

When anie departe from the enemies side for to come to serve thee, when
thei be faithfull, thei shalbe unto thee alwaies great gaines: for that
the power of thadversaries are more deminisshed with the losse of them,
that runne awaie, then of those that be slaine, although that the name
of a fugetive be to new frendes suspected, to olde odius.

Better it is in pitchyng the fielde, to reserve behynde the first front
aide inoughe, then to make the fronte bigger to disperse the souldiours.

He is difficultely overcome, whiche can know his owne power and the same
of the enemie.

The valiantenesse of the souldiours availeth more then the multitude.

Some times the situacion helpeth more then the valiantenesse.

New and sudden thynges, make armies afrayde.

Slowe and accustomed thinges, be littell regarded of them. Therfore make
thy armie to practise and to know with small faightes a new enemie,
before thou come