to bryng their men to the perfect knowledge of what so ever thing
appertained to the warre: as manifestly appereth by the warlike games,
whiche in old time the Princes of Grecia ordained, upon the mount
Olimpus, and also by thorders and exercises, that the aunciente Romaines
used in sundrie places, and specially in Campo Martio, and in their
wonderful sumptuous Theaters, whiche chiefly thei builded to that
purpose. Whereby thei not onely made their Souldiours so experte, that
thei obtained with a fewe, in faightyng againste a greate houge
multitude of enemies, soche marveilous victories, as in many credible
Histories are mencioned, but also by the same meanes, their unarmed and
rascalle people that followed their Campes, gotte soche understandyng in
the feates of warre, that thei in the daie of battaile, beeyng lefte
destitute of succour, were able without any other help, to set
themselves in good order, for their defence againste the enemie, that
would seke to hurte theim, and in soche daungerous times, have doen
their countrie so good service, that verie often by their helpe, the
adversaries have been put to flight, and fieldes moste happely wone. So
that thantiquitie estemed nothing more happie in a common weale, then to
have in the same many men skilfull in warlike affaires: by meanes
whereof, their Empire continually inlarged, and moste wonderfully and
triumphantly prospered. For so longe as men for their valiauntnesse,
were then rewarded and had in estimacion, glad was he that could finde
occasion to venter, yea, and spende his life, to benefite his countrie:
as by the manly actes that Marcus Curcius, Oracius Cocles, and Gaius
Mucius did for the savegarde of Rome and also by other innumerable like
examples dooeth plainly appeare. But when through long and continuall
peace, thei began to bee altogether given to pleasure and delicatenesse,
little regardyng Marciall feates, nor soche as were expert in the
practise thereof: Their dominions and estates, did not so moche before
increase and prospere, as then by soche meanes and oversight, thei