TO THE READERS.

A large decorative historiated woodcut initial 'H' features a classical male figure, possibly Hercules, leaning against a rectangular stone pillar or pedestal. The figure and letter are set within a square frame decorated with foliage and floral motifs.HAVING frequently considered within myself the marvelous order of Nature, and clearly seen that nothing is created imperfect—rather, everything is created most perfect (according to its kind) and with the purpose of bringing comfort and utility to man—who, being the handiwork and image of God, and so to speak, brother of Nature and father of Art, I have been moved to believe that he is entirely obligated to imitate that Nature, and with Art make all his works good, first to the honor of God our Lord, and then for the benefit of his neighbor. Since he dominates all other earthly things, he must surpass them in perfection all the more, as his nobility is found to be greater, being a rational creature and compared by philosophers to a little world; he cannot be likened to any other particular thing, but rather represents all the excellences of the World, as (God be thanked) they are found in him. For this reason, he must labor with all study in all those exercises and in all those arts that can most bring utility to the world, following the good inclinations of his talent and always increasing that gift which God has given him. Thus, those who make an election of the most noble arts and those most profitable to human society shall be worthy of greater honor.

And if, among all the arts and sciences (leaving aside the sacred letters), the disciplina Militare military discipline holds the first place, one will be able by means of this to ascend to all the greatest honors; as one reads in the histories of illustrious men that it has happened to many, who though born of low fortune and of the vilest lineage, have nevertheless ascended through such virtue to the supreme grades of Empire, which happens easily. For I do not know what greater or more generous action a man can perform than to expose himself to the many hardships and dangers of life that the enterprises of war bring, especially in the assaults of Fortresses and in feats of arms, to preserve the liberty of the fatherland and drive away the infidels and enemies of the Holy Roman Church.

Beyond this, I do not know how to discern what is a greater or more important charge than commanding and knowing how to govern an army well in the face of its enemy, and particularly in making it march and lodge securely in the countryside, and in presenting the battle in an advantageous order. For this, it is required that there be an exquisite intelligence and practice of sites, with all those comforts and discomforts that can most bring defense to oneself and offense to the enemy. And that the whole be executed by anticipating the offenses that the enemy can commit, and furthermore, with the readiness of one's decisions, knowing how to oppose them in advance in various ways with defenses.

And since the present Work must be founded upon this part of the trade of war (that is, knowing how to recognize sites and how to fortify them), all those who wish to dedicate themselves to such a profession must have no small intelligence and practice of the offenses that they could receive from that enemy. For from such intelligence must depend the practice of the most secure and real road that can be observed to determine and construct the body of the Fortress with good order, that is, with those members and those military proportions that are required for such Architecture, to defend not only an army, even a small one, in the countryside from another much larger one and of more powerful forces, but also Cities and Kingdoms, which is our end. We avail ourselves of the forms and materials of the sites in such an order that the few defenders can defend themselves from a much larger number by making them lose time, from which the greatest benefit depends. This is done by means of abundant provisions for the sustenance of men, and then by transforming the sites and their material for the offense of the enemy and for the defense of the defenders, through the construction of the Fortress.

For those who use their ingenuity to preserve States deserve no less praise than those who have acquired them by force; and so much the more, since the science of Fortifying is founded upon demonstrable terms (as will be said in its place), which science was not only appreciated and used by the ancient Romans but also later by other powerful Princes for their defense, according to the offenses that were made at those times, as the structures of the ancient strongholds and castles, and the new ones of the cities, which are seen in many parts of Italy and beyond, bear witness. Vitruvius confirms this in the first Book of his Architecture, namely with what diligence these structures were ordered and executed, the same Author then following the rules of civil Architecture to beautify those cities in building with royal adornments the public and private habitations for the comfort of the inhabitants. In this Architecture, many then exercised themselves and became famous Architects, and have with their works reduced such science to the final degree of beauty. But of military Architecture, it seems that few have been those who have wanted or known how to observe the aforementioned rule, that is, to derive defenses from offenses. This perhaps happened because the roar of Artillery and the ruin of mines made by the enemy in the conquest of Fortresses did not delight them as much as did the proportion and the loveliness of perspectives, learned in the comfort and delights of one's own Chambers. Therefore, being these two orders of Architecture so necessary for the union and peace of men, it should...