第8部分(第1/8 頁)

and　the　republic　ofcitizens　unaccustomed　to　arms；　both　menced　to　enlist　foreigners。The　first　who　gave　renown　to　this　soldiery　was　Alberigo　da　Conio；　anative　of　the　Romagna。　From　the　school　of　this　man　sprang；　among　others；Braccio　and　Sforza；　who　in　their　time　were　the　arbiters　of　Italy。　Afterthese　came　all　the　other　captains　who　till　now　have　directed　the　arms　ofItaly；　and　the　end　of　all　their　valour　has　been；　that　she　has　beenoverrun　by　Charles；　robbed　by　Louis；　ravaged　by　Ferdinand；　and　insultedby　the　Switzers。　The　principle　that　has　guided　them　has　been；　first；　tolower　the　credit　of　infantry　so　that　they　might　increase　their　own。　Theydid　this　because；　subsisting　on　their　pay　and　without　territory；　theywere　unable　to　support　many　soldiers；　and　a　few　infantry　did　not　givethem　any　authority；　so　they　were　led　to　employ　cavalry；　with　a　moderateforce　of　which　they　were　maintained　and　honoured；　and　affairs　werebrought　to　such　a　pass　that；　in　an　army　of　twenty　thousand　soldiers；there　were　not　to　be　found　two　thousand　foot　soldiers。　They　had；　besidesthis；　used　every　art　to　lessen　fatigue　and　danger　to　themselves　andtheir　soldiers；　not　killing　in　the　fray；　but　taking　prisoners　andliberating　without　ransom。　They　did　not　attack　towns　at　night；　nor　didthe　garrisons　of　the　towns　attack　encampments　at　night；　they　did　notsurround　the　camp　either　with　stockade　or　ditch；　nor　did　they　campaignin　the　winter。　All　these　things　were　permitted　by　their　military　rules；and　devised　by　them　to　av