which, well ordeined, doe maintain those also whiche be not well
ordeined. And likewise to the contrarie the good orders, without the
souldiours help, no lesse or otherwise doe disorder, then the habitacion
of a sumptuous and roiall palais, although it wer decte with gold and
precious stones, when without being covered, should not have wherewith
to defende it from the raine. And if in what so ever other orders of
Cities and Kyngdomes, there hath been used al diligence for to maintain
men faithfull, peaceable, and full of the feare of God, in the service
of warre, it was doubled: if for in what man ought the countrie to seke
greater faith, then in him, who must promise to die for the same? In
whom ought there to bee more love of peace, then in him, whiche onely by
the warre maie be hurte? In whome ought there to bee more feare of GOD,
then in him, which every daie committyng himself to infinite perilles,
hath moste neede of his helpe? This necessitie considered wel, bothe of
them that gave the lawes to Empires, and of those that to the exercise
of service wer apoincted, made that the life of Souldiours, of other
menne was praised, and with all studie folowed and imitated. But the
orders of service of war, beyng altogether corrupted, and a greate waie
from the auncient maners altered, there hath growen these sinisterous
opinions, which maketh men to hate the warlike service, and to flie the
conversacion of those that dooe exercise it. Albeit I judgeing by the
same, that I have seen and redde, that it is not a thyng impossible, to
bryng it again to the auncient maners, and to give it some facion of the
vertue passed, I have determined to the entente not to passe this my
idell time, without doyng some thyng, to write that whiche I doe
understande, to the satisfaction of those, who of aunciente actes, are
lovers of the science of warre. And although it be a bold thing to
intreate of the same matter, wher of otherwise I have made no
profession, notwithstanding I beleve it is no errour, to occupie with
wordes a degree, the whiche many with greater presumpcion with their