the invasion of foreign powers. The Swiss as well as the Spanish infantry are highly esteemed, but both have defects which may be avoided in the formation of our's, which would render it superior to that of both those powers. The Spaniards cannot support the shock of cavalry, and the Swiss cannot maintain their ground against infantry, as determined as themselves not to run away.
In fact it has been and will long be seen'that the Spanish battalions cannot resist the. French cavalry, and that the Swiss infantry may be beaten by the Spanish. If this point be denied, I beg them to recollect the battle of Ravenna, where the Spanish infantry came in contact with the German troops, who fought in the same order as the Swiss, Now the first having with their accustomed vivacity, and under the protection of their bucklers, thrown themselves across the pikes of the Germans, those were obliged to give ground, and had been entirely defeated, but for the cavalry which fell upon the Spaniards.
It is necessary therefore to institute a military force without the defects of either the Swiss or Spanish infantry, and which wil keep their ground against the French cavalry. Nothing is more likely to make a new prince esteemed, and to render his reign illustrious.
The opportunity which presents itself is too favourable to suffer it to escape, and it is high time
