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The seconde
Book intreatinge of Election
of the Place of Combatt.

Of the Qualitie of the place appointed for
particular Battle. Ca. 1.

How to declare
and prove by aucthoritie what place is to be chosen indyffe:
rente for the securitie of either of them that shall fighte. we
saye firste that duringe the Romaine Empire, it was accompted an
office of singuler reputacion and rewarde to be experte in chosinge
a place, that were plaine, spacious, and on no side declyninge, also yf
the sonne were so shadowed, that to neyther of the fighters, the same
might be anye impedymente. ffurther that place and grounde muste
be of suche condicion, as t he winde cannot raise anye duste to hinder
the fighte, or occasion the losse of victorie. And that it be scituate
in suche place where is no suspicion of partialitie. And finallie
that it be vppon suche soyle, where no vnmeete accident maye
channce, that is to saye of the turninge of the sonne, force of winde
indisposition of the earthe, and vnaptnes of the rome. All wch
lacke Vigetio de re militari doothe reherse, councellinge that
thorough wisedome force of armes, time and place, a man ought
to endevour himselfe to vanquish his ennemie, we reade howe
Hannibal thorough the reflexion of the sonne, did geve the over:
throwe to Paulo Emilio, and Marco Varrone capteines of ye
Romaine hoste. ffor the eies of the said Romaines beinge by
reflexion of the sonne dazeled, became victored of the Cathagi:
nences. in the olde testamente, it is also to be redde, that in lyke
sorte bearinge sheildes of goulde, and marchinge vppon the sonne
the