Gabriel Naudé's Treatise on Military Study, to the Most Illustrious Youth Ludovico of the Counts Guidi di Bagno

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Original title: Gabrielis Naudaei Syntagma de studio militari ad illustrissimum iuuenem Ludouicum ex comitibus Guidiis a Balneo A long Latin treatise of more than nine hundred quarto pages on the study of warfare, printed at Rome by Giacomo Facciotti and dedicated to the young nobleman Ludovico Guidi di Bagno. Rieti has been named as the place of composition, but this is not independently established. A preface, 'De militia', defends a scholar's right to write on war and defends arms against the learned. Book I, on the soldier's office, covers the selection of recruits by age, origin and occupation, fortitude, training, the laws of the camp, and piety. Its camp laws include order, labour, obedience, frugality, continence, modesty and abstinence. Book I also attacks military superstition, including amulets, talismans, magnetic armour and the weapon-salve. Book II, on the general's office, is organised around Cicero's four qualities of a commander: knowledge, virtue, good fortune and authority. It treats the general's education and ranks experience above reading, and it includes an annotated military bibliography and remarks on chess. Book II also covers the causes of war, money, provisions, arsenals, machines and firearms, the composition of armies, counsel, and the laws of necessity, war and humanity. The treatise rejects omens throughout and discusses conduct after victory and defeat. Along the way it debunks fables such as Hannibal splitting Alpine rock with fire and vinegar, and Archimedes' burning mirrors. 👉 Read our introductory primer, full report, and finding guide here 📜 View the original source file This text was transcribed and translated as part of the ExLatinis project—an effort by Leo to make English translations of every published text in Latin in early modern Europe (between 1450 and 1750) available to the public for free online.

• Read our introductory primer, full report, and finding guide here
• View the original source file

Document excerpt

GASPARIS DE SIMEONIBVS ODE, In Syntagma de Studio Militari. D Euota leto pectora nobili, Queis arma pulchrum conciliant decus, Emptum periclis; dum profusus Cæde cruor pretium rependit: Quæ tangit Hæmo cura sub horrido Oracla Numen polcere Thracium? Quondam aut Quirites iura belli Quæ Salij docuere cantu. En se, quieto pacis in otio, Mauortis ardor purior explicat; NAVDÆVS aptè MILITARE Dum STVDIVM Latio recludit. Cui nuper Orbis paruit integer, Heu! languet æquus Militiæ tenor; Languent triumphantum phalanges, Desidia potiore victæ. Dedocta robur viuida martium Torpet iuuentus, (heu pudor!) aureis Instructa telis, quæ sequutus Hostis amet, nec, vt ante, pallens. Mox