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At this epoch armies were composed, for the greater part, of

adventurers, enlisted by condottieri, who held their commission

from some prince, and who sometimes pursued the occupation on

their own account, so as to be able to sell themselves and

followers together. Men were drawn to this vocation much less by

the pay which was assigned to them, than by the hope of pillage,

and the charms of licence. There was no fixed or general

discipline; and as their pay was very uncertain, the spoils of

the countries which they over-ran were tacitly accorded to them

by their commanders.