§ 1. Although Servius instituted the order of the classes, the Romans at first nevertheless did not have regular soldiers. Rather, when the country had to be defended or a war waged, they conducted levies. Later, however, as their dominion increased, they maintained regular and permanent legions, and even praetorian soldiers for the protection of the prince. The Greeks had already done this formerly, and the orator of the Athenians recommended it. For Demosthenes, in Oration 4, thought that four legions should be maintained permanently.
§ 2. Great care must be applied so that there may be a supply of regular soldiers; for wars ordinarily arise suddenly and last a long time, and therefore there is need of a remedy that is swift and enduring. Hence Augustus, after surveying the whole mass of the empire, established regular soldiers, and this was preserved by his successors.
I see that practice concerning a permanent soldiery has varied greatly in many kingdoms, especially in France. Gregory of Toulouse, in his book On the State, says: “There are also many other disadvantages of foreign arms. Charles VII, king of France, considering these, after the English had been driven from the kingdom, established a regular soldiery of fifty thousand infantrymen, who, supported by continuous pay, were to devote their labor to military knowledge and meanwhile to assemble more readily against every incursion, while other men were being levied if greater forces were required. But because such men were devoted to brigandage, they were abolished by Louis II, who took Swiss guards into their place as attendants at his side. Again, however, Francis I, the king, mindful of the dangers to which Gaul had been exposed by foreign auxiliaries, restored in the year 1534 the legions of fifty thousand infantrymen; and when these afterward had been almost entirely extinguished, his son Henry II restored them, though without great advantage to the kingdom because of their undisciplined ordering.”
Nor are there lacking men who judge that it is also not expedient for princes to employ their subjects in war, because arms make subjects fierce and therefore cause them more readily to raise their crests in rebellion. For they promise themselves everything from the strength of the sword and of arms, as examples still surviving in France and Flanders show.
§ 3. Honor must be paid to the regular soldier as one who is solicitous for the repose and peace of all. From this the whole nobility formerly had its origin. But it is that soldier who must be supported who serves as a defense, is exercised under good discipline, and is not permitted to rest or be idle. For the evils which arose from such soldiers flowed from another source.
The whole evil, I say, arose from neglected discipline. For if they were kept occupied with some work in different places and supported with moderate pay, they would easily protect even a great kingdom; indeed, they would render it unconquered.
§ 4. They must certainly be kept to their duty; otherwise they become burdensome to princes and intolerable to subjects. For arms give men the spirit to inflict injury; and because they put their lives in danger, they think they have earned everything. If they have failed to extort anything, they are more savage than enemies.
§ 5. They must also be exercised in time of peace; otherwise they very quickly grow feeble through idleness. Thus the garrisons of the present day are not schools for soldiers, but sources of corruption.
Agesilaus exercised his soldiers in the gymnasium and offered rewards for valor. Alexander ab Alexandro, book 1, chapter 20. Philip likewise exercised the Macedonians diligently. They often completed three hundred stadia under arms, carrying all their weapons, provisions, and utensils for sustenance.
§ 6. They must be stationed in different places, both because in that way they are a protection to more people and less burdensome, and so that they cannot conspire. For they do not perceive their own strength unless they are gathered together. When they have formed a marching column, they are terrifying.
§ 7. It is also a prudent policy to join together men of different nations. In this way they cannot easily conduct intercourse or enter into a conspiracy.
§ 8. Nevertheless, it is fitting that at times they should assemble together once, twice, or on some other occasion, to display valor or skill and to encourage mutual emulation.