roceed to examine the merits of the business, and thus war is decided
on. Immediately after, a priest, whom they call Forensic, is sent away.
He demands from the enemy the restitution of the plunder, asks that the
allies should be freed from oppression, or that the tyrant should be
deposed. If they deny these things war is declared by invoking the
vengeance of God--the God of Sabaoth--for destruction of those who
maintain an unjust cause. But if the enemy refuse to reply, the priest
gives him the space of one hour for his answer, if he is a king, but
three if it is a republic, so that they cannot escape giving a response.
And in this manner is war undertaken against the insolent enemies of
natural rights and of religion. When war has been declared, the deputy
of Power performs everything, but Power, like the Roman dictator, plans
and wills everything, so that hurtful tardiness may be avoided. And when
anything of great moment arises he consults Hoh and Wisdom and Love.

Before this, however, the occasion of war and the justice of making
an expedition are declared by a herald in the great Council. All from
twenty years and upward are admitted to this Council, and thus the
necessaries are agreed upon. All kinds of weapons stand in the armories,
and these they use often in sham fights. The exterior walls of each ring
are full of guns prepared by their labors, and they have other engines
for hurling which are called cannons, and which they take into battle
upon mules and asses and carriages. When they have arrived in an
open plain they enclose in the middle the provisions, engines of war,
chariots, ladders, and machines, and all fight courageously. Then each
one returns to the standards, and the enemy thinking that they are
giving and preparing to flee, are deceived and relax their order: then
the warriors of the City of the Sun, wheeling into wings and columns on
each side, regain their breath and strength, and ordering the artillery
to discharge their bullets they resume the fight against a disorganized
host. And they observe many ruses of this kind. They overcome all
mortals with their stratagems and engines. Their camp is fortified after
the manner of the Romans. They pitch their tents and fortify with wall
and ditch with wonderful quickness. The masters of works, of engines and
hurling machines, stand ready, and the soldiers understand the use of
the spade and the axe.

Five, eight, or ten leaders learned in the order