Liber III, Pars III — Qualiter construenda est navis, et qualiter committendum navale bellum, et ad quae bella singula ordinantur. Cap. XXIII.

Liber III, Pars III — Qualiter construenda est navis, et qualiter committendum navale bellum, et ad quae bella singula ordinantur. Cap. XXIII.

In this final chapter, we want to discuss something about naval warfare: however, we shouldn't focus solely on this, because much of what has been said about other types of warfare can also apply to naval battles. Regarding this type of combat, the first thing to consider is how the ship should be built, for a poorly constructed ship can easily perish from a minor attack by enemies. Therefore, according to Vegetius, the wood from which the ship is to be built should not be cut at just any time. For in the months of March and April, when the sap begins to flow in the trees, it is not good to cut them down for building a ship. But in the months of July and August, or at any other time when the sap in the trees has dried up, the wood should be cut for such construction. Moreover, one should not immediately build a ship from the cut wood; first, the trees must be divided into planks, and they should be left for some time. So that they can dry out. For if a ship is built from green wood, when its natural moisture has evaporated, the wood contracts and creates cracks in the ship, and nothing can be more dangerous in ships than that. It's difficult to engage in naval battles while exposing oneself to dangers, lest the ship suffer from leaks. Next, we need to see how the wood should be cut and how it should be stored so that the ship can be properly built from it; we must also consider how battles should be engaged in a well-constructed ship. Naval warfare has some similarities to land battles in terms of the methods of fighting. For just as in land battles, those fighting must be well-armed and know how to protect themselves from attacks and inflict wounds on the enemy, so too must these principles apply in naval warfare. In fact, in naval battles, men must be better armed than in land battles, because when naval fighters stand fixed in the ship and move only slightly, they can better withstand the weight of their armor; therefore, their armor must be heavier. However, for the present, we can enumerate ten things through which naval fighters should attack the enemy. The first is fire, which they call incendiary. It is beneficial for them to have many vessels filled with pitch, sulfur, resin, and oil; all of which should be wrapped with tow. These vessels must be filled and thrown at the enemy's ship. From this projection, the vessel breaks, and that incendiary device ignites and sets the ship on fire. There are many such things to be thrown into the ship so that it can be set on fire from various parts; and when such things are thrown, a fierce battle must be fought against the sailors, so they cannot run to extinguish the fire. Secondly, many traps must be set for engaging in naval warfare. For just as traps are set on land by soldiers who, unexpectedly attacking the enemy, frighten them and easily conquer them, so there are traps at sea near certain islands, so that naval fighters can suddenly rush upon the enemy and defeat them more easily. Thirdly, attention must be paid to naval warfare, so that those fighting always keep their ship in the deep waters and strike the enemy's ship against the shore; for those who are drawn to land lose their momentum for fighting. Fourthly, a long piece of wood must be suspended from the ship's mast, which is iron-clad on both sides, to serve as a battering ram against both the ship and the sailors, like a ram that breaks down the walls of a besieged city. However, that piece of wood must be arranged in such a way that the retaining strap can be lowered and raised; when this is done, it is of greater utility, so that it can strike both the ship and those present on it. Fifth, in naval warfare, there should be a supply of large arrows, with which the sails of the enemy can be cut. For if their sails are pierced and they cannot hold the wind, not only can the enemy launch an attack, but they also cannot easily retreat if they want to withdraw from battle. Sixth, sailors have become accustomed to having a certain curved iron that cuts well like a sickle, which is applied to the ropes that hold the sails; it immediately strikes them. Seventh, if the sails are cut in this way and fall from the tree, they are taken away by the enemies so that they cannot fight; the ship becomes slower and in a way less useful for fighting due to such a cutting of the sails. Eighth, in naval warfare, this caution must be observed: that they have many vessels full of white powdered lime, which are to be thrown from above onto the enemy's ships, so that from the force of the projectiles and the breaking of the vessels, dust is raised (as we said above in land warfare) and it enters the eyes of the enemies, so much so that they are offended to the point of being unable to see, which is very dangerous in naval warfare because from every side the combatants see death threatening them in such a battle. Ninth, it is necessary to have many vessels full of soft soap, which are to be thrown with force at the enemy's ships; and this over those places where it happens that the enemies are present to defend their ships. For if the eyes of the combatants in such a battle are offended by the dust of lime in such a way that they cannot see, they can easily be either killed by the enemies or submerged in the waters. Tenth, it is necessary to have many vessels full of soft soap, which when thrown with force at the enemy's ships, and this over those places where the enemies are likely to be present to defend their ships. For if those vessels are not broken in such places, those areas become so slippery with the blue soap that the enemies placing their feet there immediately slip into the water. Moreover, the tenth precaution is almost more dangerous than all the others. For there are some sailors who can endure for a long time under the water; therefore, sailors should seriously prepare themselves against the enemy's ship, and secretly behind them, they should send someone who can endure for a long time under the water; this person, having received a penetrating device, should approach the enemy ship and pierce it deeply, making several holes there that cannot be discovered by the enemies, since when the water begins to overflow through those holes, both the enemies and the ship will be in danger. In naval warfare, there are other things to observe, such as ensuring there is a supply of stones and also sharp iron, which are thrown like stones, with which the enemies are excessively exposed. But the other matters are too particular to fall under narration. Therefore, the precautions we have outlined regarding naval warfare should suffice. Having shown how the timbers are to be cut from which the ship is to be built, and how to conduct warfare in naval battles. It remains for us to declare the purpose for which all wars are organized. Therefore, it should be understood that, according to the philosopher, we do not go to war in order to fight, but to secure peace. War can arise from the wickedness of men and from their greed, aimed at profit or some other satisfaction of anger or desire. However, if wars are fought justly and rightly, they should be directed toward peace and the well-being of humanity. For thus wars should be conducted among people, just as remedies and bloodletting are applied to the human body. Just as there are many humors in the human body, so in society and among people there are many roles and individuals. And just as long as the humors are balanced in the body and there is no excess, we do not need remedies or bloodletting; similarly, as long as people conduct themselves rightly and one does not wrong another, wars should not be waged. Therefore, just as through bloodletting and remedies the excess of humors is expelled, which disturbs the health of the body, so through wars the enemies must be crushed and killed, by whom the common good and the peace of citizens are hindered. Assuming that kings and princes have a just war and that their enemies unjustly disturb peace and the common good, it is not inappropriate to teach them all kinds of warfare and every method by which they can conquer their enemies, which they should organize entirely for the common good and the peace of citizens. For if they seek the common good and the peace of the citizens, they will earn that eternal peace in which there is supreme rest, which God Himself has promised to His faithful, who is blessed forever and ever. Amen. THE END.