diche

M {en}. weneð bon siker þurh walle ⁊ þurh diche. þe deð his echte on sikere stude he hit sent to heueneriche.

Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 Part I: Texts Joseph Hall

The remedie for this, is to builde in the plain, and to make the diche that compasseth thy citee, so deepe, that the enemie maie not digge lower then thesame, where he shall not finde water, whiche onely is enemie to the caves: for if thou be in a toune, which thou defendest on

Machiavelli, Volume I Niccol�� Machiavelli 1498

Therefore it is wisdom to let alone those Bulwarkes without, and to fortifie thenterance of the toune, and to kever the gates of the same with turnyngs after suche sort, that men cannot goe in nor oute of the gate by right line: and from the tournynges to the gate, to make a diche with a bridge.

Machiavelli, Volume I Niccol�� Machiavelli 1498

It should be without doubt, but mindyng to make one diche onely, myne opinion is, that it standeth better within then without.

Machiavelli, Volume I Niccol�� Machiavelli 1498

Ladders, and it giveth not facilitie to the enemie, to fill up the diche: Then the walle ought to be high, of that heighth as shall bee thought beste, and no lesse thick, then two yardes and a quarter, for to make it more difficult to ruinate.

Machiavelli, Volume I Niccol�� Machiavelli 1498

Annone did: for as muche as I saied that they made a diche, and filled it with towe, so that he, that woulde passe over the same, should be constrained to contende with the diche and with fire: Annone made the fire, without the diche, and because he intended to passe over it, he made it not great, for that otherwise without the diche, it shoulde have letted him.

Machiavelli, Volume I Niccol�� Machiavelli 1498

When there should bee made besides the diche within, a diche also without, should it not bee stronger?

Machiavelli, Volume I Niccol�� Machiavelli 1498

Lorde of the bridges of his side, ordainyng, that thei should fall upon postes, in the middest of the diche.

Machiavelli, Volume I Niccol�� Machiavelli 1498

Some, which chaunsing to bee in suche perill, have inclosed their armie on the hinder parte with a diche, and fillyng the same full of towe, and firyng it, have then passed with the armie without beyng able to be letted of the enemie, he beyng by the same fire that was betwene them held backe.

Machiavelli, Volume I Niccol�� Machiavelli 1498

The diche that environed the old town was a very deep and ftrong thing*

A description of that admirable structure, the cathedral church of Salisbury. : With the chapels, monuments, grave-stones, and their inscriptions. To which is prefixed an account of Old Sarum. 1774