CHAP. VII.] 



DECLINE OF FEUDALISM. 



203 



in which very few lives were lost, even among the van- 

 quished. This was caused partly by the completeness of 

 the armour, partly from the other causes already men- 

 tioned, and partly from the desire on both sides to 

 make prisoners rather than to slay, in expectation of 

 securing the ransoms which it was the custom at that 

 time to pay. 



The losses were so small as to be ridiculous. Machia- 

 velli says, when the Florentine army raised the siege of 

 Furli to go to the relief of Zagonara in 1423, that *'on 

 encountering the enemy they were soon routed, not so 

 much by the bravery of their adversaries, as by the 

 severity of the season ; for having marched many hours 

 through deep mud and heavy rain, they found the 

 enemy quite fresh, and were therefore easily vanquished. 

 Nevertheless in this great defeat famous throughout all 

 Italy no deaths occurred, except those of Ludovico degli 

 Obizi, and two of his people, who having fallen from 

 their horses were drowned in the morass."^ 



Again at Castracaro in 1467, in the war between the 

 Venetians and the Florentines, Machiavelli says that 

 *'a few slight skirmishes took place between the 

 armies ; yet in accordance with the custom of the times, 

 neither of them acted on the oflfensive, besieged any town, 

 or gave the other an opportunity of coming to a general 

 engagement : but each kept within their tents, and be- 

 haved with the most remarkable cowardice." After some 

 time being wasted in this way, at last a regular engage- 

 ment took place which continued half a day. " Some 

 horses were wounded and prisoners taken, hut no death 

 occurred." ^ 



In fact, all the evidence seems to prove that the losses 

 in the Italian, campaigns of the fifteenth century were 

 of the most trifling character. The lance's point could 

 not penetrate the breast-plate, the sword could not crush 

 the helmet, nor could arrows or cross-bow bolts pierce the 

 solid armour. When a knight was unhorsed it was even 



' Machiavelli, History of Florence, book iv. ch. 1. 

 ch, 4. 



2 Ibid. vii. 



