me, after a grosse fasion, more fitlie appoincted to the Campe, then in
nice termes attired to the Carpet, and in course clothyng rather putte
foorthe to battaile, then in any brave shewe prepared to the bankette,
neverthelesse my good will I truste, shall of your grace be taken in
good parte, havyng fashioned the phraise of my rude stile, even
accordyng to the purpose of my travaile, whiche was rather to profite
the desirous manne of warre, then to delight the eares of the fine
Rethorician, or daintie curious scholemanne: Moste humblie besechyng
your highnes, so to accept my labour herein, as the first fruictes of a
poore souldiours studie, who to the uttermoste of his smalle power, in
the service of your moste gracious majestie, and of his countrie, will
at al tymes, accordyng to his bounden duetie and allegeaunce, promptlie
yeld hym self to any labour, travaile, or daunger, what so ever shal
happen. Praiyng in the mean season the almightie God, to give your
highnes in longe prosperous raigne, perfect health, desired
tranquilitie, and against all your enemies, luckie and joifull victorie.

Your humble subject and dailie oratour,

PETER WHITEHORNE.

THE PROHEME
OF NICHOLAS MACHIAVELL,
Citezein and Secretarie of Florence,
upon his booke of the Arte of Warre, unto
Laurence Philippe Strozze, one of the
nobilitie of Florence.

There have Laurence, many helde, and do holde this opinion, that there
is no maner of thing, whiche lesse agreeth the one with the other, nor
that is so much unlike, as the civil life to the Souldiours. Wherby it
is often seen, that if any determin in thexercise of that kinde of
service to prevaile, that incontinent he doeth not only chaunge in
apparel, but also in custome and maner, in voice, and from the facion of
all civil use, he doeth alter: For that he thinketh not meete to clothe
with civell apparell him, who wil be redie, and promt to all kinde of
violence, nor the civell customes, and usages maie that man have, the
whiche judgeth bothe those customes to be effeminate, and those usages
not to be agreable to his profession: Nor it semes not convenient for
him to use the civill gesture and ordinarie wordes, who with fasing and
blasphemies, will make afraied other menne: the whiche causeth in this
time, suche opinion to be moste true. But if thei should consider
thauncient orders, there should nothing be founde more united, more
confirmable, and that of necessitie ought to love so