nne: the whiche grewe, for
that these tooke not the exercise of warre for their arte: and those
whiche I named firste, as their arte did use it. And so longe as the
common weale lived unspotted, never any noble Citezein would presume, by
the meane of soche exercise, to availe thereby in peace, breakyng the
lawes, spoilyng the Provinces, usurpyng, and plaiyng the Tyraunte in the
countrie, and in every maner prevailyng: nor any of how lowe degree so
ever thei were, would goe aboute to violate the Religion, confederatyng
theim selves with private men, not to feare the Senate, or to followe
any tirannicall insolence, for to bee able to live with the arte of
warre in all tymes. But those whiche were Capitaines, contented with
triumphe, with desire did tourne to their private life, and those whiche
were membres, would be more willyng to laie awaie their weapons, then to
take them, and every manne tourned to his science, whereby thei gotte
their livyng: Nor there was never any, that would hope with praie, and
with this arte, to be able to finde theim selves. Of this there maie be
made concernyng Citezeins, moste evidente conjecture, by the ensample of
Regolo Attillio, who beyng Capitain of the Romaine armies in Affrica,
and havyng as it wer overcome the Carthegenens, he required of the
Senate, licence to retourne home, to kepe his possessions, and told
them, that thei were marde of his housbandmen. Whereby it is more clere
then the Sunne, that if thesame manne had used the warre as his arte,
and by meanes thereof, had purposed to have made it profitable unto him,
havyng in praie so many Provinces, he would not have asked license, to
returne to kepe his feldes: for as moche as every daie he might
otherwise, have gotten moche more, then the value of al those
possessions: but bicause these good men and soche as use not the warre
for their arte, will not take of thesame any thing then labour,
perilles, and gloris, when thei are sufficiently glorious, thei desire
to returne home, and to live of their owne science. Concernyng menne of
lowe degree, and common souldiours, to prove that thei kepte the verie
same order, it doeth appeare that every one willingly absented theim
selves from soche exercise, and when thei served not in the warre, thei
would have desired to serve, and when thei did serve, thei would have
desired leave not to have served: whiche is wel knowen through many
insamples, and inespecially seeyng how emonge the firste