FABRICIO. Let not this disquiete you, for that
all this reasonyng was necessary, myndyng to reason
of the ordinaunce, the which beyng blamed of many,
it was requsite to excuse it, willyng to have this
first parte of chusyng men to be alowed. But
now before I discend to the other partes, I will reason
of the choise of men on horsebacke. Of the antiquitie,
these were made of the moste richeste, havyng regard
bothe to the yeres, and to the qualitie of the man,
and thei chose CCC. for a Legion, so that the Romain
horse, in every Consulles armie, passed not the nomber
of vi. C.
COSIMO. Would you make an ordinaunce of hors,
to exercise them at home, and to use their service
when nede requires?
[Sidenote: The choosing and ordering of horsemen,
that is to be observed at this present.]
FABRICIO. It is most necessary, and it cannot
be doen otherwise, minding to have the power, that
it be the owne proper, and not to purpose to take
of those, which make thereof an art.
COSIMO. How would you choose them?
FABRICIO. I would imitate the Romans, I would
take of the richest, I would give them heads or chief
Captains, in the same manner, as nowadays to other
is given, and I would arm them and exercise them.
COSIMO. To these should it be well to give some
provision?
FABRICIO. Yea marie, but so much only as is necessary
to keep the horse, for as much as bringing to thy
subjects expenses, they might justly complain of thee,
therefore it should be necessary, to pay them their
charges of their horse.
COSIMO. What number would you make? and how would
you arme them?
FABRICIO. You pass into another matter.
I will tell you in convenient place, which shall be
when I have told you, how footmen ought to be armed,
and how a power of men is prepared, for a day of battle.
[Sidenote: Howe the Romaines armed their souldiers
and what weapons thei used.]
I beleeve that it is necessarye, men being founde,
to arme them, and minding to doo this, I suppose that
it is a needefull thing to examine, what armoure the
antiquitie used, and of the same to chose the best.
The Romanes devided their foote men in heavie and
lighte armed: Those that were light armed, they
called by the name of Veliti: Under this name
were understoode all those that threwe with Slinges,
shot with Crossebowes, cast Dartes, and they used
the most parte of them for their defence, to weare
on their heade a Murion, with a Targaet on their arme:
they fought out of the orders, and farre of from the
heavie armed, which did weare a head peece, that came
downe to their shoulders, a Corselet, which with the
tases came downe to the knees, and they had the legges
and armes, covered with greaves, and vambraces, with
a targaet on the left arme, a yarde and a halfe long,
and three quarters of a yarde brode, whiche had a
