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Sometimes they formed themselves into bands of robbers, and occupied

remote fortresses, where their desperate character, the weakness of the

governments which they offended, and the certainty, that they could

be recalled to the arain wanted,

prevented the much pursued by the civil power; and,

sometimes, they attached themselves to the fortunes of a popular chief,

by whom they were led into the service of any state, which could settle

with him the price of their valour From this latter practice arose

their name--CONDOTTIERI; a term formidable all over Italy, for a period,

which concluded in the earlier part of the seventeenth century, but of

which it is not so easy to ascertain the commencement

Contests between the smaller states were then, for the most part,

affairs of enterprize alone, and the probabilities of success were

estie of the

general, and the soldiers The ability, which was necessary to the

conduct of tedious operations, was little valued It was enough to

kno a party reatest

secrecy, or conducted from them in the compactest order The officer was

to precipitate himself into a situation, where, but for his exaht not have ventured; and, as the opposed parties knew

little of each other's strength, the event of the day was frequently

determined by the boldness of the first movements In such services the

condottieri were eminent, and in these, where plunder always followed