good leader, as the Macedonian
army was on the death of Alexander, or as those veterans were who
had fought in the civil wars, is apt to grow restless and turbulent.
Wherefore I am convinced that it is better to trust to the captain who
has time allowed him to discipline his men, and means wherewith to
equip them, than to a tumultuary host with a chance leader of its own
choosing. But twofold is the merit and twofold the glory of those
captains who not only have had to subdue their enemies, but also before
encountering them to organize and discipline their forces. This,
however, is a task requiring qualities so seldom combined, that were
many of those captains who now enjoy a great name with the world, called
on to perform it, they would be much less thought of than they are.

[Footnote 1: Professus ante inter suos, ire se ad exercitum sine duce,
et inde reversurum ad ducem sine exercitu. (_Suet. in Vita J. Caes._)]

CHAPTER XIV.--_Of the effect produced in Battle by strange and
unexpected Sights or Sounds._

That the disorder occasioned by strange and unexpected sights or sounds
may have momentous consequences in combat, might be shown by many
instances, but by none better than by what befell in the battle fought
between the Romans and the Volscians, when Quintius, the Roman general,
seeing one wing of his army begin to waver, shouted aloud to his men to
stand firm, for the other wing was already victorious. Which words of
his giving confidence to his own troops and striking the enemy with
dismay won him the battle. But if a cry like this, produce great effect
on a well disciplined army, far greater must be its effect on one which
is ill disciplined and disorderly. For by such a wind the whole mass
will be moved, as I shall show by a well-known instance happening in our
own times.

A few years ago the city of Perugia was split into the two factions of
the Baglioni and the Oddi, the former holding the government, the latter
being in exile. The Oddeschi, however, with the help of friends, having
got together an armed force which they lodged in villages of their
own near Perugia, obtained, by the favour of some of their party, an
entrance into the city by night, and moving forward without discovery,
came as far as the public square. And as all the streets of Perugia are
barred with chains drawn across them at their corners, the Oddeschi had
in front of them a man who carried an iron hammer wherewith to break the