Liui. 6. Romane Consul hauing receiued newes that some of his company would be defeated without present succour and not reteining the messenger fell into an ambush layde for him The most assured way of intelligence is by espials secretly sent or discouerers approching the enemie Annibal f Liuy 30. returning out of Italy to defend his owne countrey against Scipio sent diuers espials into his campe g Pro perfugis speculandi gratia in Caesaris castra mittit Hirt. de bel Afric Scipio in the warres of Caesar in Afrike sent two Getulians to espie Caesars campe disguised as fugitiues But because such persons cannot long stay there without being discouered therefore sometimes vnder colour of parley and sometime vnder colour of buying or selling or other busines souldiers disguised like marchants espie out the enemies proceeding Scipio while the treatie of peace continued betwixt him and h Liui. 29. Syphax sent diuers captaines in slaues apparel which wandering about the enemies campe discouered the accesses and issues of it which being reported to Scipio gaue him the meanes to charge Syphax in the night being quiet and safe as he conceiued in his lodging i Scipio cum equitatu iaculatoribúsque expeditis profectus ad castra hostium exque propinquo copias quantae cuius generis essēt speculandas obuius fit Annibali ipsi cum equitibus ad exploranda circa loca progresso Liui. 21. Scipio this mans father before the battel with Annibal at Trebia drew foorth his horsemen and light armed to view Annibals campe Annibal for the same purpose came against him with other horsmen But because this maner of discouery cannot be made without force therefore did a Equitatum omnem ad numerum 4000 praemittit qui videant quas in partes hostes iter faciant Caes bel Gal. 1. Caesar pursuing the Heluetians send all his horsemen in number 4000 to see what wayes the enemies marched The b Histoir de trou de Franc. lib. 9. Admirall of France hauing receiued some losse in the plaines of S. Clere anno 1569 for want of good espiall sent certeine horsemen to the number of sixteene which going nere and taking some prisoners might vnderstand the enemies resolution but because they were so few they were beaten backe before they could see any thing and returned without effect Yet we thinke we doe much when we send foorth sixe or seuen horsemen badly mounted for some do rashly proceed without them but both courses are contrary to the practise of warre The view of the countrey well described in cards both teach a wise Generall many thinges for there he may see the tract of riuers the distances of places the rising of hilles and many such opportunities The c Mouerat senatum maximè maris terrarumque regionis eius situm demonstrando Liu. 32. Romanes in ancient time vsed when they consulted of any action to view the situation of the countrey layed before them The Counte of Purlitia in his aduertisements to Ferdinand the Emperour and Don Sancho de Londonno stand vpon the same as a necessary point for by view of regions described many thinges appeare that otherwise cannot be conceiued But much better may the countrey be discouered if men of iudgement go before with the horsemen to view the same and to follow the traces of the enemies those that obserue this course both go returne safely Marcellus d Exploratò cunfirmisque praesidijs tuto receptu praedatum ierat Liu. 23. searching out the lurking holes of the enemy and placing strong gards in places conuenient returned safely from forraging the countrey They that march forward blindely without either view of the countrey or knowledge of the enemies proceedinges are subiect to many mishaps The Romane armie at the straits of Caudium compassed in by the enemy on euery side complaineth that like e Non ducem locorum fuisse non exploratorem belluarum modo caecos in foueam missos Liu. 9. brute beastes going on without guide or espiall they were carried headlong as it were into a pit f Liu. 31. Appius spoiling the countrey of the Boians without either discouery or standes of men well placed was drawen into an ambush and slaine together with his army This one point neglected cost many of the Romanes their liues in the warres with Annibal Marcus Marcellus going himselfe with a small company to view the countrey was himselfe drawne into ambush and slaine g Vocula nec aduentum hostium explorauit eoque simul egressus victusque Tacit. 20. Vocula charging the enemy without knowledge of his forces was assoone slaine as he went fast out of his lodging to fight with him The Counte of Aremberge by the brauery of the Spaniard forced to passe the Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 1. riuer before he knew the strength of the enemy which seemed not great was defeated with his company by the Counte Lodwike The Admirals vantgard was broken in the plaines of S. Clere an 1569 b Ibidem lib. 9. for that the same did bluntly charge the enemy of whose forces and number the same was ignorant The carelesse march of Mouuans and Pierregourde that were charged before they vnderstood of the enemies approch was cause of their ouerthrow and hath also both vnto the enemy and to vs wrought many calamities in the Low countries which those that escaped narrowly may remember and can report Dangerous therefore it is to march by night especially in countries vnknowen and where the enemies proceedinges are vnknowen Asdrubal c Liu. 27. in the night lost his guide his way and wearied himselfe and being the next day forced to fight was ouercome by the Romanes at the riuer of Metaurus Puygalliard in these late troubles of France marching all night most of his troupes lost their way the rest the day following were defeated at S. Gemme by a very few Protestants Those that escape by policy out of straits as Annibal did at Cales and Asdrubal in Spaine he driuing away the corps de gard by feare of fire the other escaping during parley of yeelding and likewise they that haue had good successe charging the enemy at all aduentures haue bene more happy then wise Those therefore that march against their enemies are to discouer the countrey and affaires of the enemy diligently and to shun night marches but if necessity force them thereunto yet wisedome admonisheth them to vnderstand the enemies doings perfectly to procure sure guides and to keepe them fast to march close together now and then to make alta that those that lagge may come vp by sure marks to know frends frō enemies and to giue certeine perfect directions Which course while d Liu. 25. Martius did holde in Spaine Scipio in Afrike he ouercame the Carthaginians and dislodged them twise e Liu. 29. Scipio foiled Syphax and burnt his campe and slew his people in the night The countrey and proceeding of the
death of the Cardinal king Vnder colour of parley of peace at Dunkirke hee brought his Nauy vpon our coast before we looked for it and I may say before some were well prouided for it These pretenses though false yet make shewe and are beleeued of some and take simple people before they be prepared For when Scipio had put men aborde and prouided many things as for a siege e Vt ab eo quod parabat in alterius rei curam cōuerteret animo◠Liu. 29. Syphax beleeued that as the brute went he meant in deede to besiege Vtica but being in the night inuaded and seeing his campe all fired hee learned with the losse of his army one point of warre neuer to trust the enemy when hee giueth out such reportes Some vnder colour and during the treaty of composition haue wound them selues out of danger Asdrubal being taken by the Romanes at an aduantage promised that if he might be assured to depart out of that place hee would cary his army out of Spaine but while the Romanes were secure thinking that he would not stirre during the treaty of composition the man by litle and litle had gotten out of the snare into a safe ground The king of Macedonia sending messengers to treate with the Romanes for the buriall of his souldiers that lay slayne by their campe in the meane time of the parley remoued his campe out of a strayt and so escaped The Massilians besieged by Caesars souldiers began to treat of composition But when by diuers dayes vaine talke they perceiued their negligence and securitie they sallied vpon the sudden and burnt their engins works which cost them much labour Vnder colour of treaty of peace a Liu. Marcellus espied the walles of Syracusae and another time entred the towne of Salapia seasing a gate Nothing is more commodious for dressing of enterprises against a towne besieged The L. b In the dayes of Q. Marie Grey by the trechery of the French entring the trenches and ditches of Guines during the parley escaped narowly a great danger Rumours of succours comming encourage our souldiers discourage the enemy The c Liu. l. 9. 10. Romane Consull giuing out a report at the time of the beginning of the battell that another army was comming to charge the enemy vpon the backe made the enemy hearing it to doubt and his own souldiers to fight more courageously Vaine shewes doe often deceiue the enemy Caesar mounting certaine slaues and horse boyes vpon cariage horses and mules at Gergouia and causing them to shewe them selues a farre off made the d Caes bel gal 7. enemy feare least a company of horsemen were comming vpon them to charge them vpon the backe Which being practiced long before against the Samnites e Sp. Nautius mulos detractis clitellis alarijs impositis circumduxit quod Samnitibus terrorem attulit Liu. made them feare looke about Annibal not being able to force the garde that kept the passage of Calicula binding fagots on the heads of oxen setting them on fire driuing them toward the place what through wonderment what through feare made them to giue way Martigues seeing the inconuenience of his lodging neere f Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 5. Pampron An. 1568. at the shutting of the euening caused all his company to displace went away safely abusing the enemy with fires made and peeces of matches tyed among bushes which made the enemy suppose hee had bene there still The which practice he seemeth to haue learned of Annibal who fearing least he shoulde bee charged as hee remoued his campe left diuers tentes standing toward the enemy some souldiers armes as if the rest had bin stil there which long before had gained ground were gone Wordes making for vs comming to the enemies eares doe often strike a terror in them Quintius the a Quintius dicens Volscotum alterum cornu fugere pepulit Volscos Liu. 1. Romane Generall crying out aloud that the other corner of the battel of the Volscians fled made that where he stood to flie in deede Valerius Leuinus speaking aloud saying that he had slaine Pyrrhus with his owne hands holpe to discourage the enemy Annibal causing one of his owne men in the Romane Generals name to command the Romanes to flee to the hils next adioyning had done them some hurt but that the guile was perceiued I haue heard some say that a certaine voyce raised in the eares of the Scots at Muscleborough field how their company fled made them both feare and flie False sounds also signes doe often abuse those that are credulous Annibal hauing slaine the Romane Consul with his ring scaled diuers forged letters whereby he had deceiued some if the other Consul had not giuen the cities round about warning of it Hauing taken Tarentū he caused one to sound an alarme after the Romane note which caused diuers Romanes to fal into his hands and the Tarentines to imagine that the Romanes meant to betray them more harme it had done but that the trumpet sounded vnskilfully Suborned messengers are dangerous if credit be giuen vnto them A certaine Lucanian while Annibal warred with the Romanes in Italy led Sempronius a famous leader among them into an ambush promising him to bring him to the speech of his countrymē of whom he feined himself to be sent vnto him b Liu. Annibal causing them of Metapontus to write letters to Fabius as if they were purposed to deliuer vp their citie into his hands had almost drawne him into an ambush where with his army he lay ready to welcome him to the towne Men disguised like women or like countrey people or c Danaûm insignia nobis aptemus Chorabus apud Virgil. armed like the enemies entring within their strength doe now and then abuse them and giue their felowes meanes of entrance In d Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 12. these late troubles of France diuers negligent Gouernors haue by these practises bene surprised Enemies pretending friendship play many odious partes therefore not lightly to be credited Before the battell of Cannae certaine Numidians suborned by Annibal pretending discontentment and seeming to reuolt from him in the middest of the hurly burly charged the Romanes vpon the backe and greatly preiudiced them Ambiorix vnder colour of friendly counsell trayned Titurius Sabinus out of his strength and taking him at aduantage flew him and most of his company Such was a Metuo Danaos dona ferentes Virg. Sinons counsell who as Poets feigne betrayed Troy To auoyde these traps these rules are to be obserued first no b Inimicorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 counsell is to be trusted that proceedeth from the enemy for who can beleeue that he will counsell vs well that seeketh onely to doe vs hurt secondly if any reuolt from the enemy yet is he not to be trusted nor suffered to remaine among vs armed especially if he
for age and impotencie were not fit for seruice they could not haue bene so easily forced The assault of Chateleraud anno 1569 as it was forcible so was it valiantly susteined by diuers braue men directed by Scipio the Enginer The breach being 80 paces wide was so great and the enemies comming so speedy that they could not make any retrenchment behinde it Therefore leauing that course vpon each side of the breach they made gabions and barriquadaes behinde which they placed diuers valiant men armed with cuyraces and targets The front before the breach was sufficiently fenced with houses In the windowes of the houses and in certeine holes made for the purpose they placed their best shot other shot they placed vpon the walles behinde the parapet and in a certeine gallery that ouerlooked the breach When the Italians that had the point came to the assault and had entred the breach they that were couered vnder the gabions sallied vpon the first the shot from the houses gallery and walles dispatched a number of the rest In defence of townes besieged by the enemy no time is to be lost no cost nor labour to be spared By negligence delaies sparing and want of skill of the Gouernors many townes are lost It grieueth me to thinke howe Caleis Bullein Rochel and other Townes which sometime this nation possessed in France were lost by negligence and misgouernment But that it is the lot of all townes that that are committed to such weake persons as beside the name haue nothing of nobility Alcida a Thueyd 1. that was sent to succour Miletum by forslowing the time suffered the Athenians to take the Towne Montegue a strong castle in Poitou was lost by the negligence ignorance and couetousnes of the b Histor de troubl de Fr. li. 5. Capteine that for two hundred souldiers which he should haue mainteined there kept but twenty and sought nothing but spoile without regarde or knowledge of the keeping of the place The Protestants lost Bronage a towne of great importance for want of garrison munitions and victuals sent in time What we haue lost and are like to loose by this meanes I had rather we should learne by others examples and reforme it then to blush to heare it reported and confirmed by the examples of those that were actors Thus we see what is to be done in the defence b gouernment of a place assaulted or besieged and also what is to be auoyded But because al this serueth to small purpose vnlesse the siege in time be raised let vs nowe shewe howe that may be effected The siege is raised sometime through want or missgouernment in the campe when for want of victuals or other disorder the enemy of his owne accord departeth Sometime through sickenes sometime through the distemper of the weather sometime through dissention of souldiers sometime he remooueth to succour his owne people straited in some other place sometime by sallies of the townsmen or succour of their friendes he is driuen away All those wants therfore that may mooue him to depart are to be increased and all those meanes that may hasten his departure to be vsed He is to be streited for victuals by our friendes without Some Towne which he fauoreth is to be besieged his waters are to be corrupted the place where he lyeth if it may be is to be drowned If he may be taken in disorder with all our force he is to be charged and all meanes vsed to call him home or to tyre him lying before vs. The Prince of Orenge succoured Leyden and anoyed the Spaniards by cutting of the bankes of the riuers Fabius c Hetruscos castra circumdantes vigilia quarta erumpens in stratis sternit reliquos fudit Liu. 9. being besieged in his campe by the Hetruscians inuading them vpon a sudden a little before day killed many put the rest to flight The French kings brother anno 1569 besieging Chateleraud caused the Protestants to raise their siege from before Poytiers to succour their friendes there The Aetolians entring into the Citie of the a Liu. Thaumacians besieged by Philip king of Macedonia by their often sallies caused him to raise his siege b Liu. 24. Crispus Naeuius sallying out of Apollonia in the night put all the Macedonian armie that lay before the towne in disarray and caused the same to dislodge Scipio c Liu. 24. going to succour his friendes besieged passed through the enemies campe in the night and presently sallying out vpon them forced them to relinquish their holde The rumor of d Liu. 34. Catoes approches with succours caused the Celtiberians to depart from a towne which they besieged Likewise in the yeere of our Lorde 1569 the towne of Charitè in France was disengaged the enemie departing for feare of a bruite of great succours comming to the towne both of horse and foote which God wot was nothing so At such time as the army riseth the defendants haue commonly good opportunitie to cut those that lagge behinde in peeces When Appius e Liu. 43. departed from the siege of Phanotis the Capteine of the towne following after him and charging him in streite troublesome waies at the foote of certeine hils cut a thousand of his men in peeces Therefore as at other times so then also the Generall ought to haue care that the sicke and hurt be sent before with a good garde and with them the baggage of the army then may he followe safely with the rest By this course Caesar departed safely from before Dyrrachium and in our times the Admirall from the siege of Poytiers The French kings brother rising from Chateleraud when his men were at the assault as soone as he sawe they could not preuaile he began to send away his great ordonance before and at midnight followed with all his army Resteth nowe for the finishing of this discourse concerning the defence of places that I shewe howe any place may with labour be fortified and what rules are to be obserued in the making of bulworkes walles ditches bankes and all sortes of fortification not in such curious sorte as doe the Italians which can neither be well vnderstoode of souldiers vnacquainted with Geometricall termes nor practised in time of warres by reason of the time required in the raysing of them which notwithstanding may serue them in tyme of necessitie as well as the artificiall workemanship of Italians that costeth millions and alwayes helpeth not Yet would I not haue thinges made either rudely without proportion nor hastily without perfection nor niggardly without thinges conuenient In ancient time before the vse of gunnes was found out the danger of walled townes was lest they might be taken with scaling or their walles ruinated with shaking or zapping their defence against scaling was the height of the walles against shaking the mixture of wood and stone and thicknesse Caesar sheweth that the Gaules in his time fashioned their walles checker wise filling
death of his owne souldiers which also happened to Cinna whose vntimely austerity was the ruine of their affaires Alexander if to his great valiantnesse hee had ioyned affabilitie and clemency he had not in the end growen odious to his owne souldiers Who doth not detest Annibal for his great crueltie Temperance is a vertue that shineth in peace especially yet hath it no small vse in the middest of warres and being wanting in a captaine doth make him want so much of perfection For how is it like that hee can gouerne others well that cannot rule himselfe nor his affection or who can looke for modestie and sobrietie in the souldiers where the Captaine is giuen to wine or women and spendeth his time in riot and excesse let this vertue therefore be added to the garland of an absolute Captaines perfections h Liu. 25. Scipio by restoring a faire woman to her husband Allucius wonne to himselfe the heart not onely of that man but also of the womans friends and diuers Spaniardes And i Xenoph. paed Cyr. Cyrus bound Abradata vnto him for sparing his wife Panthea k Quint. Curt. Alexander is renowmed among posterity for his continency toward the wife and daughters of Darius Like coÌ„mendation though in another subiect doth l Plutarch in Epaminond Epaminondas deserue who wheÌ„ his citizeÌ„s did feast riot walked soberly about the wall of Thebes to see that the enemy made no attempt against the city Nothing doth more hurt or hinder the proceedings of wars then riot and intemperancy Annibals souldiers were ouercome with the delights of Capua whom the Romanes with force could not subdue Antiochus in the midst of his preparatiues falling in loue spent a winter in making of a match so lost time and opportunitie to transport his army into Italy as Annibal aduised him The French grew odious to them of Sicilia by reason of their insolencies which gaue them cause to rebell and to murder them al in one euening The intemperance of the enemy giueth many opportunities to those that be watchful a Liu. 8. Cales was taken while the citizens lay drunken in a solemne feast The same was the destruction of Troy Marcellus perceiuing the negligent gard which the Syracusans made on a feast day at night surprised the towne by escalade The b Alphons de Vlloa Turkes took Zeresana a strong town in Sclauony vpon Shrouetuesday at night when the townesmen after their maner of their carneuall being drunke were carelesse and secure Much more therefore behoueth it the General to watch to be sober temperate and careful These vertues are singularly commended in a Generall yet may I not forget desire of true honor loue of the countrey and loyalty toward the Prince and Which vnlesse a Generall haue al other excellencies do rather make him suspected then commend him For who can trust him that hath intelligence with the enemy or receiueth pensioÌ„ from him The French men do merily scoffe at some great men of our nation that haue beene pensioners of the French Kings c Philip Comin and whose acquittances are extant in their Eschequer I would to God the guise were now euery where left C. Fabritius dwelling in a smoky house refused a great masse of gold presented vnto him by the Samnites How much more then ought they to haue care of their honor that dwell in the sight of the world in gorgeous houses that great men for a paltry pension should sell their honor it is intollerable For the loue of their country diuers in time past deuoted themselues to death as the two Decii as Curtius as Mutius Sceuola as Codrus as Leonidas and infinit others Is the race of them now extinct that so fewe of that sort are in our age and country to be found If we consider ancient times we shall finde that those great men whose memories continue vnto our times were endued both with these and many other vertues d Sueton. in vit Caes Plutarch C. Caesar in his actions was most consideratiue in hazard and danger most resolute in executions speedy oppressing his enemies oft times before the newes of his comming were heard painfull in labour in dangers watchfull in diet sober a liberall rewarder of valiant men a good iusticer where neede required if al his vertues were in a Generall what should be wanting beside religion This Generall I propose to all those that desire honor to imitate so neere as they can The honorable parts of Camillus Valer. Coruinus 〈◊〉 Scipio are no lesse to be set before the eies of Capteins Annibal among the Africans deserueth special price He was in his time subtil cautelous skilfull in al faits of armes He was very skilful that could escape his snares Laborious he was and watchfull and speedy and a strict obseruer of military orders Of a Cato parsimonia vigiliis labore cum vltimis militum certabat Liu. 34. Cato it is reported that in parsimony watching and labours hee contended to passe the common â—ouldiers Of the yonger Cato b Monstrabat tolerare labores Lucan Lucan giueth this testimony that in the painfull march thorow the desarts of Affrike he by his patience and example shewed what others were to do These things were in the old Romane captains and as I suppose in those that succeeded them c Acer militae anteire agmen locum castris capere noctu diuque consilio ac si res posceret manu hostibus obniti c. Tacit. annal 18. Vespasian is commended for a man of courage in fight skil in incamping and taking the aduantage of the ground Night and day he broke the enemies purposes oft by counsel sometime by force in diet apparel he was moderate scarce could you know him from a common souldier comparable with antiquitie if couetousnes had not blemished or rather defaced his other vertues By such men the Romane empire grew great by wants and vice of the Generals the same receiued many ouerthrowes Claudius d Polyb. who being captaine the Romanes were ouercome at sea in the first wars with Carthage was a contemner of religion ignorant of matters of warre simple and cowardly Flaminius that was slaine with his army by Annibal at the lake Thrasymene was irreligious rash vnskilful impetuous vnprouident Varro that occasioned the great slaughter of the Romanes at Cannae was a man of no merit nor iudgement wilful and vnexpert in matters of warre Crassus the rich seeking too greedily after spoyle was not aware in what country he marched before bee saw himselfe inclosed by the enemies Looke the latter emperours you shal not find in many of them any thing worthy commendation Maximinus a cruell tirant in matters of warre and state was vnskilfull Such were most of the rest e E cubiculo lectulo iubebat quicquid hosti conduceret Tacit 20. Such captaines he calleth Ignaua animalia Ordeonius that was ouerthrowne by the Germans being in
carriages wanted victuals and armes and munitions many things necessary But seeing they haue done such things at such disaduantage they may thinke our men would haue done much more if the party had bin equall or our men better prouided and furnished Beside this souldiers chosen of this nation are bound with a straiter bond to their prince country then any stranger They haue more reason to fight hauing not only the defence of their prince and country but also their religion lawes liberty wiues and children coÌ„mitted to their hands they are more patient in aduersity haue lesse cause to reuolt Wanting of pay or part of their pay which God wot they may percase do oft times they notwithstanding continue constant and loyal If they offend hauing their wiues children landes goods and friends behinde them they are more easily corrected Finally lesse pay doth content our souldiers then any forreine natioÌ„ I doubt not but if that mony which hath bin cast away vpoÌ„ the Dutch and French had bene emploied vpon our poore country souldiers the country had beene better stored with mony and the people better prouided for warres and greater seruice done vpon the enemy Let vs now compare strangers vnto the subiects of this land There is at all no trust in them a Infidas venâ—lésque manus ibi fas vbi maxima merces Their handes are saleable their heartes faithlesse They accompt that cause best where they may haue most hire It is follie saith b Polyb. lib. 2. Polybius and want of iudgement to put trust in strangers beeing more in number and strength then our owne nation The first time that euer the Romanes vsed mercenary souldiers was when the two Scipioes were gouernours of their forces in Spaine Those two being together with their army betrayed and ruinated by the Celtiberians that forsooke them in their neede may be an euident c Liu. 24. document neuer to trust strangers vnlesse wee haue force to commaund them and constraine them Annibal d Liu. 23. abandoned by the Spanish and Numidian horsemen was greatly weakened e Liu. 23. Mutines forsaking the Carthaginians in whose succour hee came out of Numidia disordered all their affaires in Sicile The Romanes giuing themselues to pleasures and ease and vsing forraine forces of Germanes and Gaules ruinated that huge Empire which was left them by their ancestors Which as Tacitus saith were inuincible so long as they vsed their owne souldiers The Gaules f Qua nihil in exercitu Rom. firmum nisi externum Tacit. 3. reuolted from the Romanes because they saw no strength in the Romane army but that which was of straÌ„gers Of whom they presumed that they would not ioyne with the Romans against them The Thessalian horsemen forsaking the Athenians in the battel of a Thucid. 1. Tanagra occasioned the victory to the Lacedemonians their enemies The same had hapned to the b Thucid. 4. Lacedemonians by the treachery of the Macedonians that forsooke them when the Thracians charged them had not the resolution of Brasidas remedied the disorder The departure of c Guicciar 15. 6000. Grisons that left Francis the first of France before Pauy was the beginning of his weakenesse 2000. mercenary men leauing Maximilian the Emperor broke his enterprise against the Venetians d Guicciar 2. Fabritio Prospero ColoÌ„na although highly aduanced by Charles the 8. of France yet in the end reuolted to Ferdinand In the days of Ed. the 3. Rich. the 2. Hen. the 5. and 6 the greatest e Froissart losses we had in France happened by the reuolt of the French which our men without cause trusted When al was lost yet did wée retaine Caleis vntil it was taken from vs by force for that it was kept peopled by the English nation Yet the same was almost betrayed by an Italian to whom Edw. the 3. gaue it in guard How the Germans that came into France of late in aide of the Protestants vnder the Dukes of Bouillion the baron Donaw behaued themselues I report me to the memory of those poore gentlemeÌ„ that by their disloyaltie and treason were left as a spoyle to the enemie Oft times strangers not only forsake their friends but also ioyne with the enemy oppugne them The f Liu. 21. Gaules in the 2. wars with Carthage flew the watch of the Romanes by night fled ioyned themselues with Annibal The Dutchmen that Charles the 8. of France left in the kingdome of g Guicciar lib. 3. Naples for the defence thereof corrupted with mony tooke part with the enemy The b Tacit. 20. Romans betrayed by their associats at one time were slain both by them by the enemy The ancient Britons vsing in time past the help of the Saxons were by them driuen out of their natiue country The like hapned to the i Caes bel gal 1. Sequanians long before For requiring aide of the Germanes against the Heduans their neighbors they were driuen out of their owne possessions by those that came to succour them k Salust bel Iugurth Iugurtha by the trechery of certaine Thracians that serued the Romanes in Affrike entred the Romane campe in the night and made a great slaughter therein The Turkes are now in possession of Constantinople in aide whereof they first came out of Asia Strangers are neuer satisfied with any pay yet seldome do they any seruice The l Dimissi Galli pecuniam ingentem sine labore ac periculo partam retulerunt Liu. 10. Gaules hired by the Hetruscians carried away their mony without doing anie seruice against the Romanes When the French had foyled the enemy then the hired Switzers and Dutchmen crying for mony hindered their victory They tooke mony saith a Guicciar lib. 2. 12. Guicciardin of al hands did seruice to none It is not possible saith he to manage the b Impossible a manegiar li Suizzerisenza denari infiniti Guicciar lib 9. Switzers without infinit treasure It is long to report al the discourses of their insatiable couetousnes treasons Of king Edw. the 3. purposing to recouer his right in France Froissart sayth that with great summes of mony he hired the Dutch to ioyne with him but he got no ayde of them nor other aduancement but a vaine title of Lieutenant to the Emperor Not long since the c Hie duitch or Germanes Dutch calling for mony when they should fight gaue the victorie to the Duke of Alua their enemie and betrayed their Generall the Prince of Orenge There is nothing more cowardly then strangers when they come to seruice They are d Non fide non affectu tenentur Sine pudore flagitii fugiunt Tacit. in vit Agric not reteined by affection nor regard promise and shame not to flye to saue their skinnes Nothing can bee deuised more disorderly nor rauinous The Switzers tooke their owne Captains prisoners in Lombardy and kept them as pledges
enemy discouered let vs next consider the differences of groundes The plaine champion country is to be chosen of those that desire to fight and are stronger then the enemy Those that are vnwilling to fight let them shunne such ground so much as they can therein there is no feare of ambushes nor impediment to breake the aray of the army which in this ground is no lesse to be obserued in marching then in fighting The champion countrey being without hedges or ditches is aduantageous for horsemen whose force in that ground without a hedge of resolute pikes of no number of other armes can well be susteined Two thousand a Cohortes 4 câ—tratorum à Caesaris equitibus in planitie depreheÌ„sae concisae sunt Caes bel Ciu. 1. targetters ouertaken by Caesars horsemen vpon a plaine were all cut in pieces neither could Afranius their Generall succor them b Curio ex locis superioribus copias deducens à Iubae equitatu circumfusus occiditur Caes de bel Ciu. 2. Curio Caesars lieutenant in Afrike leauing the aduantages of the hilles and descending downe into the plaines being compassed about with Iubaes caualery was slaine together with his army Caesar hauing great aduantage against Afranius and Petreius in his horsemen did force them for their safegard to forsake the plaines For how can can an army c Eques leuisque armatura nunc ab tergo nunc ab lateribus occurrendo fatigabat morabaturque Liu. 28. march in the plaines so long as the enemy with his horsemen and light armed chargeth the same now on the sides and then on the backe Caesar marching in Afrike where he was inferior to the enemy in horse was much by their charges encombred and hindred in his march The Romanes d Equitatu melior erat Poenus ob id campi patentes quales sunt inter Padum Alpesque bello gerendo Romanis apti non erant Liu. 21. perceiuing Annibals strength in horse yeelded to him the plaines and kept themselues vpon the higher grounds If therefore we desire to keepe the plaines we must prouide a competent force of horsemen to match the enemies if we be weake in horse let vs keepe our places of aduantages but if necessity force vs to march through plaine and open countries then must wee make head against the horsemen with our pikes and mosquets disposing our army so that not onely the footmen but the horsemen also may haue succour of the battaillions of pikes and shotte Caesar by this meanes repulsed the enemies horse in the plaines of Afrike and charging them with some few horse seconded with halfe pikes put them to the gallop If our horsemen be not too much inferiour to the enemy then if wee mingle some shotte and halfe pikes lightly armed with doublets plated or other light armour among them and second them with some battaillions of pikes wee need not greatly feare to encounter the enemies horsemen By this e Liu. 26. mixture and aray the Romanes ouerthrew the Capuan horsemen in the siege of Capua which before that they durst not vpon euen hand encounter Afranius had no other meanes to breake the charge of Caesars f Caesaris equitatu Afranianos premente expeditae cohortes extremum agmen claudebant Caes bel Ciu. 1. horsemen pursuing him in Spaine but by opposing against them in the rierward certeine companies of halfe pikes lightly armed and ready not being laden with baggage By this onely deuice Caesar with 2000 horse all weried and faint put 7000 of a Caes de bel Ciuil lib. 3. Pompeyes horsemen to flight for no horsemen will endure the point of the halberd or halfe pike The Prince b Histoire de troubl de France of Condey in the encounter at S. Denis in these late troubles of France assigning to euery company of horse a company of shot which should discharge when the enemy came to charge the Princes horse by this deuice preuailed against the enemy which otherwise he was not able to encounter Wooddy countries and thicke bushes are not to be passed either with our horse or pikes before we haue cleared them with our shot and targetters and short weapons for as in those groundes horse for that they cannot there fetch their carreire and pikes by reason of their length are vnseruiceable so they are exposed to the shot of the enemy which in such places commonly lie hidden The c Tacit. Annal. Romanes taking the Germanes with their long pikes in a certein wooddy couÌ„trey taught them that such groundes were not for them Caesar pursuing his enemies into d Caes bel gal 2. the wooddes would not follow them before the wayes were made and the woods cut downe Hilles and straits are yet more difficult to passe then woods for in woods short weapons and shot may do seruice in hilles and straits possessed by the enemy neither horsemen nor pikes nor any sort of weapons can do seruice but with great disaduantage In surmounting whereof these cautions are to be vsed first that we do not enter a strait before we haue assured our selues of an issue either before or behinde or at least on the sides The e Liu. 9. Romanes not vsing this caution entring the strait at Caudium were so compassed in by the enemy on euery side that they could neither goe forward nor backeward but must there compound for their liues Cornelius the f Liu. 7. consul had likewise bene entrapped and compassed about in a valley by the Samnites if that Decius a valiant man with certeine troupes had not taken the hill aboue their heades and driuen them from thence by his owne danger opening a passage to the rest of the army If we be not assured to force the enemy before vs yet let vs assure our selues of the highest groundes both behinde and vpon the sides of the army and keepe them vntill the passage before be opened Which course Annibal taught vs by his example passing the Alpes and the Pyrenean mountaines Being g Liu. 22. brought into a strait by the mistaking of his guide he forced the passage in the night and deliuered his armie safe out Cyrus perceiuing the danger of his armie in passing the straites and hils of Cilicia taken and kept by the enemie remooued him thence by sending certaine troupes farre about another way to charge him on the backe In passing of mountaines garded by the enemie we are further to take heed that our companies doe not march vp to the hill directly before that our shot and light armed haue either taken the higher ground if any be or els some euen ground either vpon the sides or the backes of the enemie Annibal a Liu. 21. perceiuing that the inhabitants of the Alpes had seased the passages in the night time marching vp with the lustiest yong men hee had tooke the ground aboue their heads and so draue them from the places which otherwise by rolling downe of stones might haue
hurt his men and stopped their passage When Philip the king of Macedonia had lodged his armie by the banke of the riuer Aous and at the foote of certaine mightie mountains the Romane Generall by the direction of a shepeheard vnderstanding the site of the b Deleri exercitus Philippi potuit sed equitem angustiae â—ocorúmque asperitas peditem aâ—morum grauitas impedijt Liu. 32. ground sent foure thousand targetters about the hils and comming vpon his backe draue him from his ground and had vtterly defeated his armie had not the roughnesse and straightnesse of the ground hindered the carriere of his horsmen and the weight of their armes the speed of the footemen The Persians did driue Leonidas from the straites of Thermopylae by comming vpon his backe and taking the vpper ground which likewise was done by the Romane Generall Acilius when Antiochus kept the same straites to stop the proceeding of the Romane armie In all their expeditions through the mountaines of c Liu. 32. 46. Thessalie and Athamanie the Romanes passed without any losse into Macedonie for that they alwayes tooke the tops of the hils with their light armed before they suffered their armie to descend into the valleis Xenophon returning into his countrey through the hils of the Carduchians to passe them safely tooke this course d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. exped Cyr. 4. His companie he deuided equallie into two partes whereof if the first were stopped the second auancing it selfe forward another way wanne the hill and draue the enemies from their ground if the enemie made head against the second then did the first compasse the hill while that part held the enemies in breath The araie of the armie in passing of hils and straites is diuers from the common order of marching for here not the horsemen but shot and light armed targetters and short weapons march first and serue to discouer the enemie they also gard both the sides and backe of the armie next them march the horsemen and pikes with the baggage and great ordonance in the midst Diuers are the dangers and difficulties which an armie is subiect vnto passing of great riuers where there is no bridge nor easie foord no lesse to be considered then other impediments opposed against an armie marching for here the enemie commonly maketh head against vs here he lieth in waite either to charge vs in front or on the backe our forces being diuided and one part not able to succour the other If we bee driuen to fight in the riuer or as soâ—ne as we come on the other side our armes and clothes being wet doe hinder vs and tyre vs. If our armie passe by boates it is to bee feared least the enemie comming downe the riuer with greater vessels and boates then wee haue doe diuide our companie likewise and take away our meanes to passe bridges are broken with great waters yea with great barges and pieces of timber sent downe the riuer and falling ouerthwart them a Belgas nostri in flumine aggressi magnam corum partem conciderunt Caes bel Gal. 2. Caesar charging the Belgians as they passed a riuer cut a number of them in pieces The Spaniards that forced to passe a riuer in the pursuite of b Liu. 21. Annibal were likewise slayne in the midst of it by his horsemen returning backe vpon them and finding them in disorder When the c Inopinantes impeditos aggressus magnam eorum partem concidit Caes bel Gal. 1. Heluetians were all passed the riuer of Soane saue a fourth part Caesar setting vpon them that remained and looked for no such thing discomfited and killed the most of them d Caes bel Gal. 7. Labienus suffering them of Treuers to passe the riuer betwixt him and them before they were halfe passed set vpon them and ouerthrew them before the rest could passe Those e Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 9. Protestants likewise which for want of meanes could not passe so soone as their fellowes were defeated at the passage of Dordonne anno 1569. Hard it is and dangerous to passe a riuer where there is an armie on the other side readie to debate and denie the passage The f Heluetij nauibus iunctis ratibúsque compluribus factis alij vadis Rodani perruÌ„pere conati operis munitione militum concursu â—elis repulsi Caes bel Gal. 1. Heluetians at foordes and by boates often attempted to passe the riuer of Rone but what with the height of the bankes and trenches made and force of men they were repulsed Therefore in passing of great riuers the Generals had need to proceed discreetly and to looke both forward and backward that whether he passe by foords or by bridges made for the purpose or by boates or peeces of timber bound together or skinnes blowne full of winde or howsoeuer he loose none of his companie nor be troubled as men are that are taken vnprouided King Edward the third passed the riuer of Some at a foord notwithstanding the resistance made by the French but if withall he had passed ouer some thousand or two thousand archers which by appointment might haue come vpon the backe of the enemie the passage of the riuer had bene more easie and the defence of the enemie and escape more difficult for by that meanes Annibal defeated the Gaules in the passage of Rone For making she we to passe by force those companies that he had sent about an other way came vpon their backes and cut many of them in peeces The Admirall of France anno 1569 when he could not force the garde at Port de Pile by reason of the Gabions and Barriquadals vnder which the enemies shot lay couered sought and found a passage a litle aboue the place which the enemie had no sooner espied but he left his stand without any great intreatie The Prince of Orenge anno 1568 breaking the force of the streame of the riuer of Mosa by placing horses ouerthwart founde meanes to passe his armie ouer before the enemie knewe where he would passe There is no riuer but lightly higher or lower it may be foorded a Xenoph. exp cyr 3. Xenophon with his companie not being able otherwise to passe the riuer of Tygris yet marching vp towards the head of it founde a foorde b Fossis Caesar Sycorim auertens vadum fecit Caes bel ciu l. 1. Caesar by deepe trenches deriuing part of the riuer of Sycoris in Spaine made the rest so shallowe that the souldiers might wade ouer it Where the enemie doeth fortifie the bankes on the other side and deny vs passage there some part of the armie is to be sent about some other way to come vpon the enemies backes and to open the passage for the rest Annibal when the Gaules stopped him the passage of Rone in the night sent Hanno away with part of his armie which marching that night fiue and twentie miles vp the riuer and finding no
resistance vpon boates brought with him and timber bound together passed his men which making a signe to Annibal that they were passed came vpon the backes of the enemie at such time as Annibal was ready to passe in front c Caes bel Gal. 7. Caesar when by force he could not passe the riuer of Allier in France the enemie still coasting him on the other side cunningly leauing two legions behinde a wood and marching away with the rest of his army when the enemy followed him those that remained behinde hauing boates and things ready passed suddenly and made a bridge ouer the riuer so that the rest of Caesars army returning passed also at ease Neither could the enemie remedy it being drawne so farre from the place a Labienus magno tumultu aduersa Sequana partem copiarum ducens naues aliquot nactus in alio loco exercitum tâ—a luxit Caes bel Gal. 7. Labienus by like practise passed the riuer of Seyne notwithstanding the enemies gard and opposition part of his army he led vp against the riuer of Seyne in the night with great noise which the enemy hearing followed thinking that all his army had bene there In the meane while certeine chosen companies left behinde passed the riuer in great silence in boates made of purpose which taking the banke gaue passage to their fellowes returning Aemilius Paulus with a skirmish busying the mindes of the Macedonians at the same time sent certeine companies about the hils to passe there the riuer of Enipeus which comming on the enemies backes caused them speedily to dissodge and leaue the passage Caesar at b Nauibus ex leui materia viminibus corio contextis 22. millia denectis legione traducta collem occupat munit pontémque facit Caes bel ciu 1. another time when he could not passe the riuer of Sycoris at a foord made certeine boates of twigs and light timber and couered them with leather In those boates caried 22 miles off in one night he passed a regiment tooke a hill and fortified it and there made a bridge for the passing of the rest of the armie In the warres of Charles the 5 against the Protestants in Germany the c Sleidan Spaniards pursuing the Duke of Saxony passed with their horsemen at a foord and diuers of the rest swimming ouer the Elbe with their swords in their mouthes seased the boates that were tied on the other side and by that meanes passed ouer their fellowes The d Lusitani sine vtribus ad exercitus non eunt Caes bel ciu 1. Lusitanians in time past did seldome goe into the warres without girdles of skinnes which being blowne full of wind they easily passed any riuer The Germanes when no way they could force e Caes bel Gal. 4. a passage ouer the riuer of Rhein feined as if they returned into their owne countrey but hauing marched three daies iourney they ridde backe so farre in one night and comming backe vpon a sudden found the countrey peoples boates tied at the riuer side in which they passed themselues and sent backe the boates to passe the rest of the company Where the enemy maketh no resistance there it is easie to passe by boate yet the practise of warre requireth that either for quicke dispatch a bridge be made or els that trenches be made vpon the riuer side both for defence of those that passe first and for those that stay last and also that boates may passe and repasse safely vnder the fauour of some pieces placed on the bankes How a bridge may be made a Caes Bel gal 4. Caesar hath taught vs by the example of that which he made ouer Rhein Take two posts long or short according to the depth of the riuer and couple them two foote asunder and so driue them downe with a rammer leaning somewhat towards two other such posts so ioyned and driuen downe 30 or 40 foote aboue them in the riuer which fastened together with other timber below couered with square beames are the foundation of the bridge Vpon diuers such couples laying timber and couering the same with planks and hurdles and straw the armie hath meanes to passe I thinke there is no carpenter but he knoweth this kinde of worke and therefore the rest I referre to his occupation and workemanship The bridge being made great care is to be taken that the same be not broken as it happened to the bridge made by the Protestants ouer Garonne Anno 1569 caried away by timber wooden milles sent downe against it Which had not happened if either defences had bene made aboue or els a broade place left in the bridge for such things to passe Sometimes bridges are made of boats fastened with cables and stayed with ancres Such a bridge was made by the Prince of Parma ouer the riuer of Scald and also by the Protestants ouer the riuer of Garronne 1569. At the siege of Poytiers the same yere the Protestants made a bridge ouer the water vpon emptie pipes bound fast together with ropes Mouuans to assure his passage ouer the riuer of Rone dressed there a litle fort on the banke where some artillery being placed beat the fregates that would haue hindered the passage and defended the fort against such as would haue disturbed them in passing from the land The same course was also practised by Montbrune and diuers others But as the Generall is to haue care to passe toward the enemie so he is to haue care that he may repasse againe Therefore did Caesar passing ouer Rhine build two forts at either ende of the bridge one to assure himselfe a passage The Romane Emperour Crassus passing the riuer of Euphrates if hee had had the like care more of his armie percase might haue returned then did It was likewise a great error in the Counte Aremberge that passing the riuer he had no regard to assure himselfe of the bridge which being taken froÌ„ him by the enemie he was slaine with most of his company and depriued of retrait The aray of an army passing of riuers is much according to the opposition made by the enemie if none be made the common order is sufficient If the enemie she we himselfe the great ordonance is to be drawne to the banke on the sides of the army other shot likewise if they will reach so farre to the entent the enemie may be forced to giue place If the riuer be gueable let the shot marche on the sides the targets in front seconded with pikes the horsemen may follow in the midst And when the other side is assured then are the impediments and great ordonance to be passed the rest of the army following afterward the backe being armed as the front If the riuer be not to be passed at a forde then a part of our army being sent about to winne some more easie passage when that is ready to come on the enemies backs certaine boates with some small pieces in the
Romanes had ouerthrowen them For which small iourney one of the company told them that the a Pro paulula via magnaÌ„ mercedem Liu. 8. Romanes would make them pay deare Delayes of times vsed by Cecinna Tacitus b Per varias moras prima prodidit hostibuâ— tempora belli Tac. 18. calleth becraying of opportunitie c Inutil i cunctatione agendi teÌ„pora consultando consumpsit Tacit. 19. Fabius Valens going against Vespasians army with hurtfull delayes spent times of seruice in vnprofitable consultations The Athenians not stopping the proceedings of Philip of Macedonia at the first suffered him to grow so strong that all Greece could not in the end withstand his force I pray God that delayes of Christian Princes to resist Philip of Spaine doe not worke like effect in our times Delaies are not good in any time of seruice The times of d Non expectant belli tempora moras dilationes imperatoruÌ„ Liu. 31. warre doe not attend vpon the captaines or counsels pleasures Occasion e Si in occasionis momento cuius praeteruolat opportunitas cunctatus fueris nequicquam mox amissam querà ris Liu. 25. presenteth it selfe vnto them vpon a sudden but if thou embracest it not it passeth without returning though oft thou wish for it againe All which notwithstanding in our times deliberations in matters of warre are flowe the arrestes vncertaine the executions vaine They are like the globe of Saturne that finisheth his course but once in 30. yeeres That which others in time past called loosing of time some call winning of time and that which proceedeth either froÌ„ feare or couetousnes that they begin nothing that will they haue to proceede froÌ„ wisdome and maturity Fabius complained that the yeere passed while the f Nobis in apparatu ipso ac tantùm inchoantibus res annus circumagitur Liu. 24. Romanes were in their preparatiues against Annibal what would he say now if he liued to see some men neither prepare nor beginne any thing To excuse themselues they beare men in hand that they stay to see how matters will fall out and when the king of Spaine will die Vnto whom I say for answere as one of the AtheniaÌ„s said sometime that they that looke for the g Qui euentus expectamus praeda victoris erimus Liu. 32. eueÌ„ts of warre are coÌ„monly a spoile to the conqueror This course is that which as Pontius the Samnite said neither winneth friendship nor doth hurt to the enemie Those that are slowe to helpe others must looke for slowe friendship at others hands in their neede But say they still stay It is not good to be too rash h Vnus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem Ennius Fabius by his staied proceeding restored the Romane Empire to the auncient estate that was shaken by others hastie heady rashnesse Then which example there is nothing can worse fit them Fabius in his time was a wise and resolute coÌ„mander ripe in counsell speedy in execution Annibal could turne nowhere but he was by him al his deuises he speedily preueÌ„ted Onely for this he was accompted flow that hee woulde not rashly venture the Romane Empire vpon one battell Yet when his collegue Minutius was in danger hee was ready to succour him He differred not to prouide an army nor to furnish it he would not suffer the enemy to do what he list What these men are and what they do I list not to report neither is it necessary being so wel knowen I pray God that as in other things so in this also they be not vnlike Fabius For he restored that which was shaken these are rather like to shake that which is sound by their cold delayes CHAP. IX Of orders to be obserued for the good gouernement and assurance of the campe or lodgings of the army AS in diuers other pointes so in the lodging of our army wee are farre declined from the true practice of armes The name of Campe remayneth but the thing is quite decayed and gone Seldome doth the army lie in the field vnlesse it be in the sieges of townes Wherein notwithstanding we bestow so many as we can in houses and villages In marching for the most part the companies are distributed in diuers villages and that three or foure miles asunder if not more The lodgings are seldome fenced vnlesse it be with a barriquade or barrier or small trench ouerthwart the wayes The watch is not so strong nor so diligent as it shoulde bee the confusion and noise is great the prouision of things necessary very small and seldome other then the souldiers can finde The which disorders make the army to lie open to camisadoes and many enterprises if the enemy be strong and iudicious For auoiding whereof the practise of warre requireth that the army do rest in no place but vnited nor without sufficient defence and garde Before that the practice of armes was brought to perfection the army lodged as nowe it doeth without trenches or defenses Pyrrhus seeing the default therein beganne first to fortifie his campe by entrenchment Which the Romanes receiuing from him did in short time excell their master Onely barbarous people commonly lay as before open and without defence which gaue the Romanes such aduantage against them And I doubt not but if the right order of encamping were recalled by anie man of iudgement that he should haue like aduantage against these of our times Many are the commondities that an army receiueth by their lodging well fortified They fight not but when they list and see their aduantage they sleepe soundly without feare and rest safely without danger such a Casta victori receptaculum victo persugium multi exercitus victi eruptione pugnantes hosteÌ„ pepulerunt Liu. 44. defenses are a receite to the conquerour a refuge to the vanquished and a porte and harbour to returne vnto in a storme Many armies saith Paulus Aemilius he that vanquished Perseus being foyled in open field haue retired into their campe and saued themselues and afterward fallying out vpon their enemies haue preuailed and vanquished them Therefore would hee no fight with the enemy before he had entrenched his campe Caesar albeit the was charged vpon the way by the Heluetians returning backe vpon him yet had no lesse care to fortifie his campe then to sustaine the enemies charge And therefore hauing set his army in order b Sarcinas in vnum locum conferri cum ab ijs qui in superiore acie constiterant muniri iussit Caes bel gal 1. he commanded the baggage to be brought into one place and the same to be entrenched by those that stoode last and on the highest ground while the vantgarde and the rest fought with the enemy And such was Caesars care therein that where the enemy was neere he would not suffer his chiefe c Ab opere singulisque legionibus singulos legatos Caesar discedere nisi muniâ—is castris vetuerat bel gal 2.
commanders and counsell to depart from legions or regiments before the worke fortification of the camp was finished Neither could the countenance of Afranius his army in Spaine making shew as if the same would sight deterre him but that he d Cas bel ciu 1. fortified his lodging keeping the rest in armes to receiue the enemies charge The barbarous Gaules by their many losses perceiuing the aduantages that the Romans had vpon them in this point at length by the counsel of Vercingetorix their leader began to e Caes bel gal 7. fortifie their camp as they saw the Romandes do He that doth not so lie entrenched goeth oftentimes out of his may to seeke ease for his souldiers lodgeth with his army disioyned looseth time and labour and lastly may not if hee be wise lodge neere an enemy as strong as himselfe that hath the vantage of ground and trenches He that chargeth an army that lyeth wel entrenched receiueth seldome honour of his rashnesse The Frenchmen because they vnderstoode not so much before were taught it of Prospero Colonna at the Bicocke in Lombardy For aduenturing rashly to fight with a Guicelardin Prospero and his company that lay strongly fortified within certaine bankes made for the keeping of the riuer within the channell they were tumbled into the ditch as fast as they came vp the bankes and many of them slaine That such fortification may be made orderly and strongly diuers rules are to be obserued and some prouision like wise is to be made more then ordinarie First a conuenient place in the way where the army marcheth is to be marked and staked out by the Quarter-master generall which woulde bee a man of iudgement with him also may bee sent other men of iudgement All these with a garde ought to goe b Centuriones exploratoresque praetermittit Caesar qui locum castris idoneum deligant Caes bel gal 2. before that at the comming of the army to the place euery man may knowe the gates and the sides and the places of the campe Within that presently they may begin to worke euerie man may know where to pitch his tent or make his caban to discharge the impediments and baggage and where the ordonance is to be placed This may seeme intricat at the first but with practice it may be made most easie Further to the end that our men be not disturbed when they are at their worke good espialles and discouerers would be sent before to see that the enemy lie not in ambush neere that place where wee meane to lodge Which happening to Caesar in the expeditioÌ„ against the Belgians did more endanger him then the enemies open force For his men c Caes bel gal 2. hauing laide downe their burthens and being scarâ—eâ—ed to fetch stakes earth and stones â—odainly the enemy appeareth out from vnder a hil there by and chargeth him The same was the ruine d Liu. 10. of Fabius his â—ieutenant For going to take a hil alreadie possessed by the enemy without espial he was there slaine in the place with al his comany For defence of those that worke one good part of the army woulde be kept in armes especially where the enemy is neere And those that worke are to haue euery man his sword and dagger girded to him and his other armes fast by him Which not only Caesar a master in these matters but al the Romanes generally obserued There is no time more pâ—oper for the enemies assault nor more daâ—gerous for vs then when wee are newly come to our lodging For then most are secure and put off their armes and either rest themselues or runne about to seeke things necessarie The e Castra ponentes Romanos Poeni aggressi sunt turbassentque munientes ni abditi post tumuluÌ„ opportunè ad id positi à Scipione equites in effusos incurrissent Liu. 28. Romanes as they were pitching their tentes were charged by the Carthaginians in their warres in Spaine and had beene soyled had not Scipio fearing such a matter run through theÌ„ with his horsemen which very opportunely hee had couered vnder a hill in the way as they came to the charge At that time also Caesar was set vpon by the Neruians and lost diuers braue men The Venetians were no sooner arriued in their a Conte de Purlilia ad Ferdinand lodgings at Trent and disarmed but the enemy obseruing his time commeth vpon them and forced them to seeke an other lodging Yet not all for many were lefte behinde to take vp their lodging in that place for euer The place most commodious for lodging is where our companie may not onely haue wood water good ayre and for horses forrage and if it may be some reliefe of victualles for our men but also aduantage of the ground fit to be wrought and hardly to be taken from vs by the enemy Wood may not be wanting for fire stakes and â—abans and lesse water for our men and cattell A riuer also doeth oftentimes ease our men of trauell Especially if it be deepe For that the campe is well fensed on that quarter Good ayre is necessarie for the health our souldiers especially when me lie long in a place The aduantage of ground is requisite for the defending of our lodging Which opportunities those that haue wanted haue beene driuen to great extremities b Caes bel ciu 1. Afranius his army was driuen to yeeld to Caesar in Spaine for want of water And by like necessitie Caesar forced the reliques of Pompeys army which hee c Caes bel ciu 3. besieged on a hill and excluded by trenches from the water to flie to his mercie Himselfe in d Hirt. de bel Alexandr Alexandria had beene driuen to great extremity for want of fresh water had hee not by digging of pits found store In hie and drie countries water is hard to be found vnlesse it be in valle is and deepe botcomes that shewe signes of moisture Lautrecke in the fiege of Naples lodging his army in the lowe grounds brought great contagion among his people and of New hauen and other places want of water and the filthy keeping of our lodgings which cannot be kept too cleane bred the pestilence among our men and wrought the victory to out enemies The disaduantage of the ground at Landresie not considered by the French had sike to haue taught them a lamentable lesson For being lodged in the lower ground they were continually amoyed by the artillery of the imperiallâ—s placed vpon a hill that comntâ—â—ed the French campe and almost forced them to fight with great disaduantage The Italians and Spaniardes were by the French forced to fight against their willes at a Guicciard Rauenna in Lewis the twelft his time for that being lodged in the lower and open ground they were beaten with the enemies great ordonance that continually stroke among their horsemen Which inconuenience coulde not be remedied so but that is was the
occasion of their ouerthrow But howsoeuer the place be chosen aduantageous yet there is alwayes some part that lieth open which is to bee assured with trenches and palissadaes The lesse aduantage that the nature of the ground yeeldeth the more labour our souldiers are to take in working and trenching the same And that with a trench and banke sufficient if not such as the Romanes vsed yet such as may couer the defendants and hinder the ascent of the assailants without ladders Caesar in the b Castra in altitudinem pedum 12. vallo fossaque 18. pedum muniuit Caesar bel gal 2. warres against the Belgians enuironed his campe neere Soissons with a banke twelue foote high and a ditch eighteene foote broade If the danger were great the Romanes vsed to make their bankes higher and trenches deeper It would be incredible if I should report all those bankes trenches and workes which Caesar made about Alexia in France and at Dyrrhachium in the warres against Pompey and other places and howe hee cast trenches of great depth tenne or eleuen miles compasse Which was also the vse of all the Romanes Whose workes yet remaining in England in diuers places because it seemeth incredible they should be doone by men are called diuelles ditches and supposed by them to be cast That this fortification may be made with more ease and greater speed euery man is to worke eyther with mattock or spade I know our men will at first refuse it and discharge themselues vpon pionniers but why should they disdaine to doe that which the Romanes did and why shoulde anie refuse to worke to saue his life and the liues of their company Let them consider howe such idle fellowes that woulde not fortifie their lodgings haue beene vsed c Castra procos habebat nee loco satis tuto posita ne◠praesidiis firmata hac negligentia fretus cum incautum Annibal opressit Liu. 27. Fuluis the Romane Proconsul neither for place nor defence nor garde lay strongly enough with his army which was no sooner brought to Annibal but marching thither with his army he tooke him at vnawres and ouerthre we him and all his companie La Loüe and his companie lying secure and carelesse without trench or barriquade had their throates cut by the garrison of Montpellier in the night being asleepe in their lodging Anno one thousand fiue hundred sixtie and nine Neither did the companie that vnder Napoleon Vrsini a Guicciard came to the succor of Florence besieged by the Prince of Orenge in the daies of Charles the fift escape better cheape to teach others percase to make better barriquades and trenches and to keepe better watch If the Protestantes durst haue charged Charles the fift before his campe was fortified at Englestat they had b Natal com l. 1. no doubt foyled him Neither is it sufficient to trench the wayes if wee lie open on the sides Euerie waie must haue some defence Strossi c Hist. de troubl de Er. li. 7. stiffely defending a certaine valley by Rocheabeille Anno one thousand fiue hundred sixtie and nine fensed onely in front with a weake palissade was inuested on the sides and forced by the Protestantes In which disastre himselfe was taken and most of his troupes distrouped and slaine If his defence had beene strong in all places hee had saued himselfe and foyled his enemy Q. Cicero d Caes bel gal 5. one of Caesars lieutenants by the fortifications of his campe abode diuers assaults of the whole power of France and held out vntill such time as Caesar succoured him And well befell it Prospero Colonna that his lodging was strong at the Bicocke For otherwise he and his companie had beene drawen out thence not by the eares but by the legges There is none so small a fortification but it may doe vs fauour in such a case The Spaniardes making a trench betweene themselues and the French at e Guicciard li. 5. Cirignola and bordering the same with their shot made them to this day remember what daunger it is to passe a trench resolutely defended In these late braules of France captaine Granry f Hist de troubl de Fr. li. 6. lodging in Esse a village vpon the riuer of Vienne gaue the enemy a rude welcome comming to see him in his lodging in the night His safetie was in a double barrier and trench made by him at the endes of the streetes Yet let euery man take heede howe hee presume vpon euery small defence and rather let him cause his men to take more paines It is no base labour that is vndertaken for the defence of our liues and little doth he deserue his life that will not digge a few turfes to saue it Ludouike of Nassau the brother to the Prince of Orenge presumed too much vpon a little bad ditch betwixt him and the Duke of Aluaes army If it had beene but sixe foote deeper hee had repulsed the enemy with great slaughter a This happeued anno 1568. For idlenesse and want of skill he and his company were ouerthrowen and driuen to take Embden for their succour And yet not warned herewith when hee brought a supplie out of Germanie to aide his brother b Mich. ab Islael◠lying in a village without sufficient defence hee was charged by the enemie and there slaine and with him Christopher the Prince Palatins sonne a Prince vnworthy that disastrous death and with them most of the company That the campe may with more ease be trenched and fortified the worke is equally to be diuided amongst the company That equitie the Romanes taught vs and c Singula latera castrotū singulis attribuit legionibus munienda Caes bel gal 1. Caesar practiced diuiding the ground among his regiments to be wrought And shame it is among vs seeing as the vse of warres teacheth vs the great profite of labour in banking and trenching that wee put it ouer to a sort of men called Pionniers vnknowen among the Romanes whose workes were alwayes d They are commonly termed Opera militum done by souldiers This is the cause of the great charge of Princes and slow proceeding and slender effects of warres Therfore they that will not worke and take paines rather then die shamefully let them die But let not the idlenesse of such preiudice the state or the safety of braue men But let such defend themselues as well with bankes as with weapons and not follow the slouthful pride of athers The forme of the campe is much according to the site and lying of the ground Among the Romanes it was made for the most part foure square But it skilleth not though it bee three or fiue square So the bankes woulde bee made tenne e Lesse depth bredth wil serue but this maketh the bankes sufficient or twelue foote hie the ditch sixeteene or eighteene foote broade The deeper the ditch and higher the banke is the more assured is
passe it f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. Clearchus seeing his souldiers faint and hungrie would not charge the enemie albeit good occasion was offered The prince of Conde bringing his men that had watched for the most part all the night into the field before Saint Denis anno 1567. found what faintnesse watching worketh Asdrubal being charged at Metaurus when his owne souldiers were wearie and sleepie by the reason of his nights march and his enemies fresh and lustie was ouerthrowen with a mightie slaughter The g Sitis calor hiantes caedendos capiendósque Gallos praebebat Liu. 27. Gaules gaping for thirst and heate and being wearied with trauell and watching were slaine or taken Puigalliard in these late troubles of France causing his troupes to march continually two dayes and two nights thinking by his speed to surprise the Protestants at S. h Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 13. Gemme was himselfe the cause that his men were cut in pieces by la None not being able for want of sleepe and rest to doe any seruice But least cause hath he to venture whose souldiers stand in feare of the enemies forces Caesar therefore would not begin his iourney against a Caes bel Gal. â— Ariouistus and the Germanes before he had resolued his men that stoode in feare of them to fight And hauing had euill successe in one or two encounters at Dyrrhachium which much dismated his souldiers he remooued from thence and would not fight vntill such time as his souldiers were confirmed He that doubteth any such thing in his men is first to confirme them with hope and report of their former valiant actions and with declaration of the enemies wantes and weakenes and disaduantages he is to encourage them with promises and hope of rewarde to feare them with shame and plainely to declare vnto them that there in no hope but in victorie and therefore that if not for their honour yet for b Virture pares necessiâ—ate superiores Liu. 21. sauing of themselues they ought to fight valiantly Necessitie c Nusquam nisi in virtute spes est milites Liu. 34. enforceth men to fight and the example of their Commanders ready to abide with them in all danger maketh them ashamed to flie Much did it encourage Caesars souldiers when they sawe him in the battell against the Heluetians put his horse from him ready to take the common hazard with them and a very coward he is that neither with persuasion nor example will be encouraged The souldiers for their persons strength and courage being such as they should be the next consideration of a Generall that purposeth to fight is that they haue their armes fitted and all baggage and impediments that may hinder them remooued Alexander before he fought with d Plutarch Darius forgat not so much as to giue order that the haire of his souldiers heades and beardes should be cut lest the enemie might take holde by it Small matters you will say but in this not the smallest matters are to be contemned But yet nothing is more to be respected then the ground where thou purposest to abide the enemie There is great aduantages in hedges ditches and the higher ground Caesars e Milites e loco superiore pilis missis facile hostium phalangem perfregerunt Caes bel Gal. 1. souldiers throwing their iauelins from the higher ground and following the same did easily breake the rankes of their enemies troupes f Pharnaces aduersus collem subiens detruditur vincitur Hirt. de bel Alexandr Pharnaces leading his men against the hill where Caesars armie stoode ranged was presently thrust downe and vanquished Caesar wondered at his rashnes The enemie hauing seased a hill by Rome the Consul g Temerè aduerso Ianiculo Seruilius ad castra hostium aciem erexit soedéque inde pulsus est sed interuentu collegae ipse exercitusque seruatus est Liu. 2. Seruilius mooued with the indignitie of it did rashly cause his troupes to march vp the hill against him which aduantage the enemie taking had ouerthrowne him and his armie had not his Collegue come in the instant and fauoured his retraite Marius a Plutarch in vita Marij ouerthrewe the Germanes and Danes more easily taking them mounting vp the higher ground Certeine of the Admirall of France his companies foolishly striuing to winne the hill neere the plaines of S. b Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 9. Clere were driuen backe with losse and had vtterly bene defeated if the Almanes belowe had not kept their ground and arrested the formost of the enemies that pursued them A smal c Exiguum loci ad decliuitatem fastigium magnum habet momentum Caes bel Gal. 7. aduantage in the vneauennes of the ground is much saith Caesar in the furthering of the victorie At Auaricum albeit he had the victorie in his handes and had foiled the enemie yet would he not followe them up the hill for feare of the discommoditie of the ground At Gergouia he lost many braue souldiers that contrary to his commandement would needes pursue the enemie vp the hill him selfe was neuer in greater danger to loose the fielde then at Munda in Spaine which happened by the forwardnes of his men that needes would d Hirt. de bel Hispanic charge the enemie standing on the higher ground That care that a Generall hath in the first charge of the enemie the same he ought also to continue in the pursuite of his victorie that his men descend not downe into the lower ground nor be too eger following them vp the hill The e Romanus cedentem hostem effuse sequendo in locum iniquum pertractus acie fusus Liu. 6. Romanes following the enemie without order and being drawne into a lowe valley were discomfited and slaine the enemie turning backe vpon them The Corinthians not looking before them in their retraite fell into a f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hollowe bottome of ground which the Athenians perceiuing and that there was no issue out compassed them round about with their light armed and slingers and stoned them all to death The Romanes entring the straite of Caudium were entrapped by the Samnites Annibal g Liu. 21. susteined many losses by the people of the mountaines that tooke the toppes of the hilles and rolled downe stones vpon his souldiers marching along the sides of the hilles Which difficulties h Xenoph. exped Cyr. 4. Xenophon also prooued in passing the mountaines of the Carduchians All difficulties which hinder the armie in marching as woods hilles straites riuers and such like are farre more dangerous if they be obiected against vs in fighting And therefore let the Generall take heede that he be not charged in passing of riuers or straites or at any like disaduantage Further let him diligently view and search the Countrey that the enemy haue not bestowed some part of his army in some wood or beyond some hil behinde or
2. beginning of the battell there is great aduantage And as Pinarius saide to his men lying in garrison in Aenna a Citie of e Qui prior strinxerit ferrum cius victoria erit Liu. 24. Sicile so it falleth out very often that hee that draweth the sworde soonest first obteineth the victorie They that first beginne seeme to haue greater courage then those that stand still as it were to warde their blowes There is many aduantages in beginning the battell They may more easely take the aduantage of the winde and Sunne of the grounde and of the sort of weapons wherewith they fight then those that stand still which are forced to turne which way soeuer the enemie commeth They may there beginne where the enemie is weakest and themselues strongest and therefore the vse of the Romanes was first to begin the charge as appeareth both in the warres of Scipio in Spaine and Caesar in France A certaine f Lez consederez remanquet qu'en touts lez combus passez ils ont mieulx fait chargeans lez premiers que quand ils en◠attendu la desmarcke catholique Hist de troubl de Fr. Frenchman albeit he vnderstood not the reason yet by obseruation vnderstoode this poynt For sayth he in the warres of France it hath beene noted that the Protestants did alwayes preuaile more charging the enemies first then attending the enemies demarche and charge It appeareth both in the braule at Moncontour anno 1569. and diuers other skirmishes which they call battels Those that charge first take the aduantage of any disorder committed by the enemie which others let slippe Whatsoeuer can be deuised to encourage our owne souldiers or to discourage the enemie as at all times so especially in the hazard of battell is to be practised by cryes reportes shewes wordes spoken in the hearing of the enemie and whatsoeuer else can be imagined If there lye any wood or hollowe grounde neere the enemie the same is to be seased that in the heate of the fight our men suddenly arising thence may more amaze and hurt the enemie But of this point we shall haue better occasion to speake at large in the treatise of stratagemes and ambushes Least by flying of some cowardly companions the rest might be discouraged order is to be taken that whosoeuer in the fight beginneth to turne his backe bee presently slaine The a Cohorti suae dictator dat signum vt quem suorum fugientem viderint pro hoste habeant Liu. 2. Romane Generall by this strict commaundement and execution appointing certaine troupes to execute it made his armie stand resolutely Of Attilius it is reported that when his army beganne to giue ground by b Liu. 10. killing the first with his owne hands he made the rest to make head against the enemie which Annibal likewise practised in his battel with Scipio in Afrike albeit he had not like successe This is the case wherein Clearchus the Lacedemonian c Plutarch saide that souldiers ought more to feare their owne Generall then the enemie Finally when by his good direction and the valiantnesse of his souldiers the Generall shall perceiue the enemie to beginne to shrinke and giue ground then must he be most carefull first that he giue him no time to recouer himselfe or to supplie that which is broken secondly that hee keepe his souldirs from spoyle vntill such time as he hath assured himselfe of the victorie When the enemie beginneth to shrinke and to be dismaide any little force more maketh him to runne in a small time he recouereth himselfe againe Therefore d Orant vt perculsos inuadant nec restitui aciem sinant Liu. 29. then is he to bee vrged with the rest of our strength that remaineth entire and not to be suffered to escape Scipio in the battell with Asdrubal in Spaine when the e Liu. 28. Carthaginians disliking the party would haue retyred wholly together did so presse them on all sides that before they could recouer any place of safetie they were forced to change their pace and euery man to flye for his life In the a Caes de bel ciu 3. battell betwixt Caesar and Pompey when Pompeyes horsemen were driuen out of the fielde by those halfe pikes that hee had ordeined for succour of his owne horse with the same men he cut in pieces Pompeyes archers and light armed men That done with the same troupes he charged Pompeies battell that yet stoode firme vpon the backe And after he had driuen the enemie out of the fielde yet rested he not vntill such time as hee had taken his campe and dispersed the reliques of his armie Yet may some say it is not good to presse the enemie too farre and that a bridge of golde is to bee made to those that flie away Gaston de fois was ouerthrowen and slaine pursuing the Spaniards that retired after the battell of Rauenna And diuers others driuing the enemie to dispaire that otherwise would haue fledde haue hurt themselues But this is to be vnderstoode of an enemie that would so flye as he would also yeelde the victorie and contende no more in which case Themistocles perswaded the Greekes that meant to dissolue Xerxes his bridge to suffer the same to continue that thereby he might runne away Others that meane to fight againe are to be pursued diligently with all our forces Gaston de fois had not beene slaine but that hee was badly followed and too farre auaunced Neither coulde the Spaniards haue escaped if they had beene charged with shotte or taken at aduantage and kept from victuals The Romanes had so certaine an order in this point that they doubt not to accuse their b Ex subsidiis quòd tardiùs successissent signum equitibus tardiùs datum Cos accusatus Liu 35. General of trecherie for that when the enemie staggered hee gaue not the worde to the horsemen to charge nor aduaunced his footemen in time to supplie those that were wearie c Victor equestri praelio rex paruo momento si adiuuisset debellare potuit Liu. 42. Perseus for that hauing foyled the Romanes with his horse and hauing the victorie in his hand he did not pursue the rest of their troupes and breake them but suffered them to passe a Riuer quietly is condemned for a man of no iudgement in warres The same errour was committed by the Carthaginians in Spaine who hauing slain the two Scipioes foyled their armie gaue them selues to rest while the Romanes gathering head againe were able afterwarde to matche them and foyle them Those that cannot thrust the enemie downe that is already falling will be lesse able to doe it when he standeth vpright And therefore let wise captaines pursue their enemie to the vtmost and not suffer him when hee once beginneth to looke backe to turne head againe and take breath And in any case let him take heede that his souldiers runne not to spoyle before the victorie be assured and the
footemen especially shot and targetters vpon the flanke of the enemy that chaseth our men and if hee stay not then resolutely to charge him In the meane time those that flie are to be rallyed againe Annibal in that last battell which hee fought with the Romanes in Afrike thrise rallyed his forces and so many fresh charges gaue he vnto them If his souldiers had bene answerable vnto him or els if the Romanes had not followed very orderly he might percase haue broken them b Liui. 35. Philopoemen charging the enemy that followed the chase of his men too egerly did ouerthrow him At Rauenna the c Guicciatâ— Spaniards that remained after the battel vnbroken retiring in good order and vsing the aduantage of the ground did so receiue the enemy that charged them that they slew the General and diuers of his company Those therefore that retire Iet them marche resolutely and orderly the shot let them approch neere to the flanks of the squadrons of pikes There also is the defence of targetters against horse The pikes let them not disdeine the helpe of shot and short weapons The horse are to bee ranged behinde the squadrons or on the flankes Which if they be vnited in one body are not easily broken nor rashly to be charged If being neere the enemy thou desirest to depart without fight at least without Iosse thy best course is to make him vncertaine of thy purpose by pretending that which thou meanest not By making of fires hauging of matches in bushes and standing of tentes the enemy is oftentimes abused especially in the night That thy companies may make more speede thou art before thou beginnest to dislodge to sende thy hurt and sicke together with the baggage and great ordonance before thee and then to followe with the rest a Sauciorum aegrorum habita ratione impedimenta omnia silentio prima nocte ex castris Apolloniam praemittit Ac conquiescere ante iter confectum vetuit his vna legio praesidio missa est Caes de bel Ciu. 3. Caesar departing from Pompey at Dyrrhachium that he might not be charged at disaduantage in his marche tooke this course The sicke hurt and baggage of the campe hee sent away first garded with one Regiment Other Regiments he caused to marche after them some good distance with two legions that remained hee followed last And hauing marched so much as he meant to doe that day and making shewe to lodge there when the enemy that followed was not aware and vnreaby hee departed presently and that day got so much ground that after ward hee ould neuer be ouertaken before hee came whither hee meant to goe If the enemy be ready in armes to follow it is hard to goe from him vnlesse the neerenesse of hils or straites doe fauour thy retraite Lest thou be charged in retiring with the enemies horse or shot or disordered in some straite great care must be vses To represse the force of horsemen vse either thy horsemen entermingled with some shot or squadrons of pikes flanked with musquetiers against shot vse horsemen in the plaine and shot and targetters in straites If thou fearest to be charged in some straite take the vpper ground with thy shot and targets and seeke those aduantages which before I haue shewed thee in the discourse of the vse of diuers weapons and aduantages of ground To stoppe the enemies pursuite where he must passe a straite before be come at thee it is a good course to cut downe trees and woods and to set them on fire For horse will hardly passe through the fire nor can lightly passe but in hye wayes or made wayes By this meanes Xenophon retired safe with his men from b Xenoph. exp Cyr. 5. Dryla and the a 〈…〉 Bellouacians escaped the handes of Caesar in the warrâ—s of France Pompey being to take shippe at Brundusium and fearing least if he abandoned the walles Caesar would enter the towne and charge his men as they went on boord b Pottas obstruit vias platealque inaedificat sâ—sâ—ar transuersas vijs perducir ibique sodes stipiésque praeacutos defigir haec ciatibus teriaque ina quat aditus ad portus maximis trabibus praesepit Milites silentio naues conscendunt expediti ex euocatiâ— sagittarijs in muro collocantur quibus certo loco actuarias naues relinquens signo dato renocat Caes de bel Ciu. 1. stopped and dammed vp all the gates and wayes saue one and in the streetes made blinde trenches staked them and couered them on the walles he placed his archery and light armed for defence of them vntill the rest were all shipped when all the rest were on boord then did these runne toward the porte where there were boates and fregates readie to receiue them That there may be some ende of flying either thou art to direct thy course to the hils and there to make head as aduantage is offered vnto thee or els to take some strong towne for thy safegard The Romanes keeping with their army in the higher ground wearied Annibals victorious army and cut betweene the same and prouision So long as the c Caes bel Gal. 7. Gaules kept on the higher ground and straited Caesars victuals hee coulde not hurt them D. Brutus in taking of Mutina arrested Antonies army that was going into France The retraite of Vercingetorix into Alexia stayed Caesar a great time in that siege in which meane time the Gaules leuied newe forces The siege of townes doe oftentimes breake the force of an army The Protestants finding no resistance in open fielde were harrassed and tyred out in the siege of d Hist de troubl de Fr. Poytiers and like hap had the aduerse party For being victorious at Moncontour they lost all vigour and strength at the siege of S. Iean d'Angeli That thou doe not receiue dishonour by retiring two things thou art especially to haue regard vnto first that thou doe not leaue behinde thee thy sicke and hurt men secondly that thou doe not loose thy carriages and baggage nor leaue them For without them thou canst neither commodiously cary armes nor victuals with thee nor mainteine thy company To do whatsoeuer in this case is requisite nothing is more auaileable then expedition By that thou dispatchest all impediments thou winnest ground thou preuentest the enemy thou sanest thy selfe and thy friends And therefore if in good successe much more in calamitie ought we to vse all celeritie Afranius being almost past all danger yet for idlenesse suffered the enemy to come betweene him and his retraite which e Caes de Bel. Ciuil lib. 1. was his ruine These things they hinder and stoppe the enemies proceeding for sometime But if thou meanest to driue him out of the countrey or to hinder him for winning any more ground newe forces must be leuied and an army sent into the fielde if not to fight with him vpon eauen grounde yet to watche all aduantages and to
the Low Countries of Portugall and France you both vnderstand the practise of armes and the wants of the souldiors the generall hope of al souldiors nay of al that loue their countrey is that your Lordship which so wel vnderstandeth the common disorders of the warres and the great importance of them and hath so great fauour and meanes by reason of your auctoritie to correct them wil one day be a meane to see them in some part redressed all those parts which are required of a sufficient generall do seeme to florish and shew forth themselues in your doings and promise these things in your behalfe Through disorder of some ignorance in others to speake nothing of pinching false reckonings hitherto her Maiestie hath not bene resolued to bring into the field a sufficient armie and those small forces if I may so call such smal troupes that haue bene employed in diuers seruices haue wanted much of their necessary prouisions not that the charge is so great that it could not be borne nor for that her care was lesse then is conuenient for if the same order were abroad that is at home why may not this countrey mainteine thirty or fourty thousand abroad that mainteineth so many millions at home men do not spend more nor eate more abroad then at home but the reason why a sufficient army is hardly mainteined is because there wanteth good directions and orders and punishment of bad dealing some impute the fault to griedy mens insatiable couetousnes which like a goulfe wil neuer be filled but that is not all nor the greatest disorder others thinke it impossible for this Realme to beare the infinite charge of an army but why should not this whole kingdome be able to mainteine 30. thousand in pay when as the citie of Rome the territory being not past ten miles in breadth in that warre which the same had with the a Liui. lib. 8. 9. Latins sent forth ten legions which being full at that time amounted to 40000. foote beside horsmen but what should I speake of Rome the mistres of the world for warlike discipline when as the Cities of Athens and Sparta nay the townes of Thebes Corinth Argos and diuers other in Greece Italy mainteined great armies both at home abroad vpon their owne charges who seeth not then that the cause of these calamities and disorders is want of militarie knowledge and not want of meanes and that as disorder want of reward and punishment is cause that our enterprises are so easily dissolued and vanish of themselues so order and gouernement in ancient times were causes of their happy successe and would also make our affaires succeede the better I neede not seeke farre to finde examples for proofe of this matter seeing the good gouernment of Edward the first that so long warred in Scotland of Edward the third and Henry the fift and eight that were so victorious in France aforde vs such store if then the griedines of some were restreined with sharpe punishment men of heroical spirits not tainted with the base desire of gaine were allured with honor preferment to take vpon them the charge of matters if such were chosen for commanders as haue nothing before their eyes but honor and the enlargement of the commonwealth and all men were resolued to bestow more in iron and steele then in silkes and veluets and golden coates and most things were gouerned by lawe and order of warre and not by fauour and partialitie or which is worse by money in summe if true and ancient discipline of armes were either restored or setled among souldiers I would not doubt but that this Countrey would be able not onely to mainteine a sufficient strength of men but that we should also recouer the ancient glory of the English nation spread farre abroad in France Spaine and other countreys in time past now blemished only with some mens misgouernment Wherefore seeing it hath pleased God not only to make your Lordship acquainted but also partaker of the common calamities of souldiers and giuen you fauour and accesse to her Maiestie in whom it lyeth to reforme these abuses as you haue hitherto employed your person and goods in the seruice of her and your countrey so I beseech you cease not vntill such time as you haue accomplished the redresse of these disorders these are they that without any one stroke of the enemie haue broken our enterprises it is not the courage of the Spaniard nor force of the Dutch nor brauerie of the French that hath frustrated our late attemptes neither doeth force so often ouerthrow armies in fielde as daliance irresolution and delay then through niggardise and good husbandry want of pay and necessarie furniture thirdly presumption and want of strength and sufficient force and lastly those abuses which through want haue crept into armies of late time for pitie could not be corrected for what conscience is it to punish those that spoyle and wander abroad when if they should not thus doe they should sterue for hunger if a Generall haue sufficient force and prouision it is his fault if he doe nothing if he want either force or pay then it is their fault that should haue sent him foorth better prouided many doe great wrong to our Generals in the Portugall expedition when they impute the fault to them God knoweth that with such slender prouision nothing could be done more others that are more deepely to be charged for breaking that enterprise yea and famishing of many poore soules lye hid and I thinke meane not to answere vntill such time as God shall call them before his tribunall seate there to answere once for all If any meanes could bee deuised that abuses of imprests and false musters and accounts taken away loyall captaines might be chosen and poore souldiers be well furnished and that matters might proceed with speede and resolution and more force bee ioyned together I would then hope there would be some seruice done without forces cōuenient what reason hath any to hope for better for as a little water sprinkled on the fire doth make the same more to flame and sparkle so small supplies doe rather kindle and nourish warres then ende them or exstinguish them The onely meanes to redresse both these and all other disorders consisteth in the restoring and by sharpe punishment mainteining of true militarie discipline and orders Without this as a discrazied body is easily dissolued without outward force so an armie though neuer so great without one blow of the enemie is broken and scattered without doing any effect With exercise of armes and obseruance of true discipline of war great enterprises most happily are atchieued The a Romani sibi orbem subegerunt armorum exercitatione disciplina castrorum vsuque militiae Veget. de re mil. Romanes did subdue the world by the exercise of armes and their orders of encamping and practise of warre Neither did they excell the
proceeding and continuance of warres and warlike actions I haue followed in this discourse the order of time setting downe those things first which are first to bee considered prouided and executed and so prosecuting euery action of warre seuerally by it selfe Those that haue done otherwise I see they haue trifled away many words without any small profite They talke of rankes and arayes at large others of building of fortresses that belonging to a good Serieant properly this to a good mason But howe souldiers shal be prouided and how they shall proceede and howe souldiers and fortresses are to be gouerned they scarce mention sure few of them know or can declare Besides these they omit manie other necessarie poyntes of warre wherein the safetie of an armie and a state consisteth Wherefore omitting or slenderly handling those sleight poyntes I haue chosen other matters more important to dilate beginning first with the causes of warres then with the prouision that is made before warres be attemted For although souldiers are the principall actors in these tragicall matters yet before wee drawe an army into the fielde or make leuie of souldiers manie things are to be considered and prouided First wee are to consider that our cause be good and iust For warres without cause are nothing but robbery and violence contrary to humanitie and reason secondly all things necessary for the warres are to be prouided thē are souldiers to be leuied and exercised and so brought into the field to prosecute all other necessary faits of armes 1 First therefore I will God willing declare what causes make warres iust or vniust and what are the effects of lawfull warres and therein also what solemnities or circumstances are to be considered in defiance of our enemies or first attempts of warre 2 Secondly what prouision is to be made of treasure armes munition victuals ships by sea and carriages and tents by land 3 Thirdly that wee are to strengthen our selues with the helpe of confederates and associates so much as we can and to draw what friends or strength wee can from the enemie both before we attempt warres and after 4 Fourthly what partes and qualities are required in a General and what counsell he is to adioyne to himselfe and whether it is better to giue souereigne authoritie in warres to one alone or to more likewise what authority and commission the Generall ought to haue further what is to bee respected in the choyce of Colonels of Captaines of companies and other officers of the army and what in the choyce of common souldiers what othe they are to take and how much the souldiers of our owne nation are to be preferred before strangers what inconueniences ensue of want of pay what numbers of souldiers are required in warres and finally how souldiers are to be exercised that they may be made ready for the warres 5 Fiftly what things are to be considered of those that are to transport an army by sea or by land into an other countrey and whether it is better for the English nation to inuade the Spaniard or any other forreine enemie in his owne countrey then to receiue his assault at home or to stay vntil he come on our coast or within our countrey and lastly what cautions souldiers sent abroade in succour and ayde of other nations are to vse 6 Sixtly what order and aray an army is to obserue in marching and how the same may march safely in the enemies countrey surmounting all difficulties whereby either in champion or wooddy countries or els in the passage of riuers or hilles and straites it may be disordred stopped or hindred 7 And for that we are not onely to offend but also sometimes to defend we are also to shewe what oppositions and trauerses the defendants are to make thereby to stoppe the progression and marche of the enemie and how to send our men safely forth on forraging and howe to stoppe and cut off the enemies forragers 8 For that oft times time is vainely spent in deliberations daliances and delayes to the impouerishing of many states and ouerthrow of many good actions we will shew by many proofes that nothing is more aduantageous then expedition and celerity in preparing marching executing fighting and all enterprises of warre nor any thing more hurtfull or dangerous then delaies 9 What orders are to be obserued in the fortifying defending and gouerning of our campe and lodging that we be not either charged a l'improuista or easily forced to fight 10 We will also shewe that as the assaylants in the enemies countrey are to seeke that the matter may be soone tried by battell so the defendants without great aduantage are to auoyde it and further by what meanes the enemie may be brought to fight and how those that feare to fight may auoyde the encounter with least losse 11 Before the Generall doeth bring foorth his armie into the fielde many things are to be considered all which shal be declared in the eleuenth Chapter 12 In the twelfth we are to discourse of the aray and charge of an armie encountring the enemie in open fielde and therein of the vse of horsemen of pikes halberds targets small shot archerie and great ordonance 13 In the thirteenth shall follow a briefe treatise of stratagemes ambushes and whatsoeuer deuises serue for the more ready atchieuing of our purpose 14 After the victorie once obteined and the enemie vanquished in the next Chapter we are to shew how the victorie is to be vsed and the conquest may best be mainteined 15 And because the hazard of warre is doubtfull in the fifteenth Chapter we purpose to declare by what meanes an army that is foyled or feareth to fight may most safely or with least danger or losse retire and howe the enemie in following the course of his victorie may be stopped 16 The sixteenth Chapter shall conteine precepts and orders for the gouernment of a camp that besiegeth a citie or fort and what course is best in besieging battering assaulting or entring the same 17 For the behoofe of the defendants the 17. shall declare what proceeding is best in the defence and gouernment of a towne or place assayled besieged battered assaulted or demyforced 18 And for that sea townes are not easily defended nor besieged without a nauie at sea in the next place followeth a discourse concerning the vse of ships of warre and how they are to be prouided ranged and managed in sea-fightes 19 Next vnto the execution of warres followeth the treaty of peace truce and confederacies of which we are in the 19. Chapter to intreate and also of the assurance of articles of peace truce and confederacie and likewise of the priuiledges of ambassadors and messengers by which such matters are treated and brought to passe 20 After warres ensue rewardes of such as haue behaued themselues valiantly in the seruice of their countrey and therefore in the 20. Chapter we are to entreat of the rewards of valiant souldiers punishment of
of Charles his horsemen The Spaniard is rich in golde yet doth not the English souldiers feare him in the field It is yron not gold that killeth in the encounter Gold can doe much but not all and therefore were it to be wished that wee had more contended with the Spaniard with the sword wherwith we are able to match him then with gold wherein though we spend all we cannot come neere him Wherefore let mony be prouided before hand if not in such abundance as others haue it yet so much as may prouide armes victuals munition horses for a competent army If any man aske how much I answere with b Plutarch Apopth Cleobulus that warres in this case haue no stint nor set bounds this onely may suffice to shew you that if good orders were set downe and executed it would neither be infinit nor the charge so burdensome as now it is The meanes whereby mony may be raised are diuers either it riseth vpon lands belonging to the crowne and that either by inheritance or confiscation or conquest or vpon rents or penalties or imposts or other duties belonging to the Prince or of subsidies taxes contributions and loanes of subiects or vpon our confederates and associats or else vpon ransoms of our enemies persons or countries By which means seing su large reuenues come vnto the Princes of this realme who seeth not that this realme wanteth nothing but good order in dispensing of the treasure and sharpe punishment against those that purloine it Nay if vayne expenses in apparel iewels silkes golden coats and other vanities were cut off or employed in armes and necessary furniture of warre there would be not onely sufficiencie but also abundance The Romanes for maintenance of their publike stock had diuers inuentions and practices Vpon c Agripro pecunia dati in iugera â—sses vectigalâ—s impoâ—â—ti Li. 31. euery acre of ground of a country subdued they imposed an annuall rent The same might haue beene done in Ireland if it had pleased the gouernours to conuert it to publike vses rather then to serue priuate mens desires which notwithstanding by reason of their great disorders reape small commoditie They looked strictly to their impostes Annibal a Annibal vectigalia negligentia dilapsa restituit Liu. 33. after peace made with the Romanes to encounter with the couetousnes of officers restored the impostes at Carthage to their olde order Philip the King of Macedonia purposing to make warres vpon the Romanes did not onely increase his b Vecâ—igalia auxit noua instituit Liu. 39. customes but deuised new for the maintenance of the warres which is to be done onely in case of necessity lest these new deuises of Italian impostes make the Princes odious to their subiects Where the ordinary reuenues were not sufficient there wise gouernors haue had recourse to equall contributions taxes and loanes Asdrubal c Pecunias imperat populis omnibus suae dâ—tionis Liu. 23. purposing to go into Italy with a supply to Annibals army laide a taxe vpon all the people of his gouernement The Duke of Alua in his time and of late yeeres the Prince of Parma knew well how to put this in practise in the low Countries When the city of Rome wanted money in the second warre with them of Carthage d Priuatis in inopia aerarii pecunias conferentibus ita vt Scribae non sufficerent nec remige in supplementum nec stipendio â—esp eguiâ— Liu. 26. priuate men voluntarily lent mony so fast that the deputies appoynted to receiue it could not dispatch them so that by this meanes the Romanes neyther wanted marriners nor pay for souldiers For continuance of the publike treasury they had their lands and goodes rated equally and euery man payed according which equall proportion if it were now obserued I dare say it would greene no good subiect to pay albeit it were twise so much as now they do Euery man brought in the quantitie of his laÌ„d and the value of it vpon his credit likewise the summe of his rentes and money they that onely liued vpon traffike brought in the summe of their mony and cleare gaines yearely with this promise that what was left out was confiscat and forfeit and euery false summe giuen in was punished with double They that were not rated or at the least nuÌ„bred were banished or sold for slaues Such as had nothing were onely numbred in the rolle The most of this is expressely set down in their bookes of law Forma censuali saith e ff de censibus Vlpian cauetur vt agri sic in censum referantur nomen fundi cuiusque in qua ciuitate in quo pagosit quos duos vicinos proximos habeat aruum quod in decem annos proximos satum erit quot esse iugera videatur Vinea quot vites habeat oliuetum quot iugerum quot arbores habeat pratum quoque quod intra decem annos proximos sectum erit quot iugerum pascua esse videantur item sylua caedua omnia ipse qui defert aestimet illam enim aequitatem debet admittere censitor vt officio eius congruat releuare cum qui in publicis tabulis delato modo ex certis causis vti non possit Likewise Liuy where he mentioneth the taxing of the colonies by Nero and Salinator hath these words a Colonies were such townes as the citizens of Rome replenished with their owne people and depended on the mother citie duodecim coloniarum quod nunquam antea factum erat deferentibus coloniarum censoribus censum receperunt vt quantuÌ„ numero milâ—â—uÌ„ quantuÌ„ pecuniâ valerent in publicis tabulis monumeÌ„ta extarent If the like rate and proportion were obserued among vs that euery man might be rated according to his lands farmes rents and goods equally the burthen would be more easily borne lesse complaint made more mony would come to the payment of her maiesties souldiers So many countries as were vnder the protectioÌ„ of the Romans or confederate with theÌ„ did contribute to the common charge wherein such equall taxation and good order was vsed that the countrey where the army was maintained did defray the most of the charge good reason seing it was for their defence it would seeme strange to those that know not their proceedings how Caesar did not onely maintaine his army 9. yeres in France at the charge of the country but also enriched himselfe and his army The Athenians likewise after that the Greekes had driuen out the b Thucid. 1. Persians out of their country for maintenance of their warres against them made an association appointing what euery Iland or city or territory should pay toward the charge Somtimes the enemies being subdued or straited were not only driuen to pay the charge of the army but also great summes of mony into the tresury the c Sâ—ipendium exercitui Rom. ab hoste in cum annum
pensum binae tunicae in militem exactae Liu. 9. Hetruscians subdued by Decius did not only pay the souldiers stipend for one yeere but were constrained to furnish euery souldier with two sutes of apparel The same Liuy testisteth to haue beene performed of the Samnites and Aequians The Volscians had truce giuen them with these conditions that they should pay the d Liu. 9. Roman army for a yere restore that which they had taken away Cornificius in Illyrio now a part of Sclauony although the country was not able to maintaine an army yet kept the same in order by his prudence saith Hirtius Beside all this the Romans after the warres ended brought infinit sums into the treasury e Liu. 30. Scipio after the victorie obteined against Annibal brought into it 123. thousand pouud weight of siluer Quintius brought 18270. pounde in siluer bullion 84000. pounde in coyned siluer 3714. pounds of gold beside a shield all of golde Aemilius Paulus after his victorie against Perseus brought in much more I forbeare to rehearse lesser summes brought into the treasurie by a Liu. 34. 35. Furius Heluius Minutius Cato and others And the rather for that it was an vsuall matter after the warres in any countrey ended to bring great suÌ„mes of money into the publike treasurie If then beside the maintenance of the armie such store of money could be leuied of the spoyles it is no such infinite matter as is supposed to maintine an armie in case the same be orderly gouerned and well employed The reason that our small companies in France and Flanders haue cost so much is for that the same not being able to encounter the enemie in open fielde are shut vp in some towne and liue all vpon charge without doing good to themselues or hurt to the enemie If there be b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. paed Cyr. 1. a mightie army in the fielde what towne or countrey is not willing to redeeme the fauour of it or what is stirring that such power will want if the army be a sufficient body of it selfe and well furnished there is no doubt but if wise men haue the managing thereof warres as c Redemptoribus vetitis frumentum parare bellum inquit Cato scipsum alet Liu. 34. Cato sayd will mainteine themselues and if not all yet sure defray the greatest part of the charge The Romanes in their extremities to furnish their souldiers in warres diminished and cut off a great part of their priuate charge By the law d Ne qua mulieâ— plus semunica auri haberet neu vestimento versi colori vteretur Liu. 34. Oppia made in the second war with Carthage for this purpose women were prohibited to weare diuers coloured garments or to possesse more then halfe an ounce of gold The e Liu 39. Censors caused the ornaments of women their coches apparell iewels to be valued in their taxe books afterward wheÌ„ disorders grew greater the pretor f Ne vasa aurea ministrandis cibis ne vestis serica vâ—ros foe daret Tacir annal 2. Fronto published a decree that no maÌ„ should vse golden vessel about his meate nor that men should be defiled I vse his word with silken apparell But now if gentlemen be not all beraied with silks they thinke themselues defiled disgraced If any such law were now enacted who seeth not what abundance of mony might be spared if the accoÌ„pts be iustly taken it wil be found that the veluets and silkes and forraine stuffe that commeth yerely into England would richly maintaine an army and to spare so that boldly I may say there waÌ„teth rather order then treasure for the maintenaÌ„ce of our souldiers thogh the number were quadruple to that which now is To restraine the greedines of officers both Romanes and other nations haue put diuers lawes in execution Such a ff Ad l. Iul. repetund lex Iu. lia fraudulent dealing the Romanes punished with banishment which in ancient time was the greatest penaltie that they inflicted vpon their citizens certain heinous cases except b ff Ad l. Iul. peculaâ— leg peculatus Afterward such faultes were punished extraordinarily and not onely the principals were punished but also their seruants and ministers c Xenoph. exp Cyr. lib. 5. Philesius and Xanticles in the voyage of the Greekes with Cyrus were seuerely dealt withall for dealing fraudulently and stealing the common mony Gylippus for the same cause was d Plutarch banished Sparta notwithstanding his great seruice done to the common-wealth in the warres against the Athenians in Sicile Onely of late times and in some places the most compendious assured way to grow rich is for men boldely to steale falsly to accoÌ„pt for such mony as passeth through their fingers Therfore had they e Aerarium opulâ—â—tum â—enues res priuatas Plutar. in vit Demosth a rich treasury in the greatest pouerty of priuate men whereas in our times while certaine grow great and wealthy the publike estate seemeth to grow euery day more then other poore and beggarly When the tribute due to the Romanes could not be found in the publike treasury of Carthage f Peculatum quorundam accusans Annibal pecuniam ad stipendium Romanis inuenit Liu 33. Annibal by calling the fraudulent dealing of the officers in question found more then sufficient to satisfie them And if some od fellowes were in our time seased by the gorge might they not thinke you be made to regorge that which they haue fraudulently and closely swallowed It cannot be denied but that these are compendious waies to find mony for paimeÌ„t of souldiers but I feare me we shal ueâ—er find out or at least neuer vse these waies and no maruell seeing men doe so much delite to walk in bywaies If Cato in his time g Auaritia luxuria ciuitatem laborare conquestus est Liu. 34. coÌ„plained that the commonwealth suffered much by the couetousnes of some riotousnes of others much may princes of our time more iustly coÌ„plaine when by couetise extortion meÌ„ only purchase and by vanity braue it out in riot h Impetrare ab animo non potuit Perseus vt impensam in rem maximi monumenti saceret Liu. 42. Perseus as Liuy reporteth for niggardise could not find in his hart to bestow any mony vpon his souldiers though nothing imported him more I pray God some in the end coÌ„plaine not that all their riches and wealth is reserued for them that seeke their ruine and ouerthrow Mony therfore howsoeuer it be must be prouided in time for without it as fire without matter wars wax cold caÌ„not long be mainteined the same is to be deliuered to the General before haÌ„d to be placed where it may best serue for the armies vse The Cartha giniaÌ„s had treasure ready at newe a hic pecunia hostium sine qua illi gerere beilum non possunt quippe qui mercenarios
should be dispersed in villages when the enemie is at hande and cabines are not so soone built nor is stuffe in all places to bee founde to builde them with The Romanes to euery hundred had both cariages and tents assigned For want whereof our souldiers are seldome well lodged especially in marching and yet are they long about it And where they lye by reason of their cutting downe of woods they leaue marks of their being there many yeeres after Without spades mattocks axes baskets and such like instruments the souldier can neither enclose his enemie nor fortifie himselfe and therefore as very necessary things are such instruments to be prouided as also whatsoeuer is necessary for passing of riuers assalting of townes and other faites of armes I neede not make mention of horses of seruice seeing euery man knoweth what difficulties an armie destitute of horsemen susteineth That which shal be sufficient shal be spoken when we come to speake of horsemen Onely now I will admonish Gentlemen to haue more care of keeping races of horses because in case of present necessitie they that haue them not of their owne shall hardly obteine them of others The last thing that I am here to speake of is first to bee thought of I meane prouision of victuals without which men can neither liue in warres nor in peace It is a faint fight that hungersterued souldiers doe make In a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. exp Cyr. 1. warres without things necessary there is neither vse of souldier nor captaine He that b Qui frumentuÌ„ neçessariumque cômeatum non parat vincitur sine ferro Veget. lib. 3. c. 26. prouideth not victuals beforehand is ouercome without drawing of a sword Against other mischiefes there are remedies but there is no wrastling against hunger Want driueth men to their wittes end When the Lacedemonian souldiers were straited their Generall writ thus to the Magistrates the c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. souldiers are sterued for hunger what shall we do The two d Liui. 23. Scipioes writ to the Romane Senate that without supply of victuals their army must needes dissolue And Caesar e Caes bel Gal. 7. told his souldiers that were determined to retrayte that without their cariages where their victuals were they could no furthâ—r doe seruice against the enemie And therefore victuals must be had ready it is too late to seeke for them in Villages when the hungry souldier is ready to sterue Caesar f Re frumentaria comparata castra mouet bel gal 2. would not once moue towarde the enemie before he had his prouision with him g De obsessione non priùs agendum consticuit quam rem frumentariam expedisset Caes com bel gal lib. 7. Nor would he resolue to besiege any towne before he had taken order for sufficient victuals for his army His vse h Vbi instabat dies quo die frumentum militibus metiri oporceret Caes com 1. 6. bel gal was to deuide victuals to euery company for certaine dayes beforehand The garrison townes of the Romanes were furnished with wheat vineger bacon barley and straw for a yeere beforehand as Capitolinus sheweth in the life of Gordian The reason is laide downe by Tacitus that i Vtaduersus moras obsidionis annuis copiis firmentur Tacit. annal they might be stored with prouision against long sieges The Colonies which were peopled with Romanes and placed as gardes and propugnacles against their enemies were stored with all things necessary How our souldiers were furnished in Flanders and Portugall I report me to their knowledge that endured those seruices Beeing no better furnished it is not to be marueiled â—hough they kept no better order k Disciplinam seruare non potest ieiunus exercitus Cassiod 4. Var. lect c. 13. Hungry souldiers are hardly kept within the compasse of lawes The belly as is commonly sayde in this case hath no eares The cause of all such miseries in warres are diuers first want of care and good proceeding then niggardise and miserie thirdly fraude and deceite last of all impunitie Which are not to be redressed but with contrary proceeding and folowing the precedents of ancient warriers The Romanes gaue to their Generall both treasure and authoritie sufficient to prouide things necessary for the army They brought victuals into the army sufficient and for feare of want layde vp abundance in garners and storehouses in strong places neere to the countrey where their army soiourned Opposing their forces against Annibal they chose a Liu. 21. Clastidium for their storehouse Caesar in the wars against theÌ„ of Auuergne brought all his prouision to b Caes bel gal 7. Nouiodune because it lay neere The Romanes caused their ships of victuals to discharge at c Eo omnes ex Italia oneâ—ariae naues dirigebant cursum Liu. l. 37. Chios in their warres against Antiochus He chose Lysimachia for the place of his store For the warres of d Liu. l. 44. Macedonia they made their prouision in Thessaly e Caesar câ—rtis locis horrea constituit frumentum conquirâ— iussit de bel ciu 3. Caesar had his garners in conuenient places to supply his army in his warres against Pompey Pompey brought all his prouision to Dyrrhachium Asdrubal entring f Fines hostium ingrediens frumentum commeatusque in vrbem Asenam conuexit Liu. 23. Spaine caried all the victuals and store of the countrey into Asena and Scipio likewise landing g Horrea noua aedificata veteâ—a á Scipione repleta frumento ex population bus commeatu Siculo Liui. 29. in Afrike made newe storehouses and filled both new and olde partly with victuals sent out of Sicile and partly with those which hee got by the spoile of the countrey When a strong army commeth into any countrey it is no masterie for the same to finde h Formidine populationis obsides frumentum aalia quae vsui forent affatim praebita Salust bel Iugurth victuals forrage either by feare or force But the companies sent into France and Flanders being so weake it was no marnell if they pined being pend vp or confined within some garrison the enemie being alwayes stronger without For the assurance of our victuals that come vnto vs garisons would be placed in conuenient distances Caesar in the warres with the i PedituÌ„ 10000. sibi celeriter mitti voluit quò expeditiore re frumentaria vteretur Caes bel Gal. 7. Auuergnacs vsed 10. thousand Heduans to this purpose Neither would he suffer any k Vellaunodunum ne quem post se hostem relinqueret quo expeditiore refrumentaria vteretur oppugnare instituit ibidem towne to remaine vntaken betwixt him and his victuals For the fetching in of victuals a conuenient power of horsemen would be sent forth seconded with footemen to forrage and range the countrey Besides this the army would haue diuers cariages laden with
the ancient Britons hee vnderstoode the estate of the countrey and had great helpe to atchieue his purpose against it While they of the citie of a Phil. Comin Dinant suffered themselues to be disioyned from their associates of Liege Charles Duke of Burgundy did easily ouercome them If Lewis the xi of France had not separated and broken the league first betweene the Duke of Burgundy and the Dukes of Britaine and Normandy and afterward betwixt king Edward the fourth and the Duke of Burgundy he could not haue escaped with so litle losse nor vanquished his enemies with so great gaine We haue also domesticall examples of the same but too many and which I cannot without some griefe remember not with dint of sword nor open force but with secret practices with our associates and friendes in France the French tooke not onely Normandy but also Gascoyne and Guienne from the English nation And neuer omitting any opportunitie to trouble vs they wrought much woe vnto this land in the dayes of King Iohn by furthering and procuring the reuolt of the Nobilitie Neither can any estate continue that hath his partes deuided For as one sayth it falleth out that while euery man looking to his owne present safetie a Dum pugnant singuli vincuntur omnes Tacit. suffereth his friendes to fight single all are ouercome By this means the Spaniard hath so much preuailed in the Low countreys and the people haue hurt themselues For disioyning their counsailes and forces and refusing the b Resusans le secours des estrangers Hist de troubl de Fran. lib. 1. ayde of strangers they are for the most part a spoyle vnto the enemie And if we would haue vsed greater force and more diligence in withdrawing from the Spaniard his associates and subiects of Portugall of the Ilands and of the Low countreys hee would haue bene long ere this very gentle to deale withall But some wise men as they say haue not onely not sought to cause his subiects to reuolt but haue refused and still refuse to receiue them that holde out their hands crauing helpe of friends and long since are weary of the Spanish tyranny As for those that suppose the Spaniards to haue such holde of all the countreys which nowe they possesse and of the inhabitants thereof that we should but loose labour in attempting their reuolt they seeme to be ignorant not onely of the state of his countreys and of the Spanish gouernement but also of the nature of things It is well knowen with what discontentment and grudge both the Portugals and those of the Lowe countreys doe serue the Spaniard The Portugals were ready to receiue vs at our last expedition thither and would haue declared themselues further if they had perceiued that wee had bene able to defend them against the Spaniard The state of Milan is holden more by force then by loue or good title They of Naples and Sicile haue by many signes declared their great discontentment of the Spanish yoke The Indians would reuolt if they knewe which way In all countreys there are euer some that either for hope or hatred desire change of state Annibal after that hee had once or twise beaten the Romanes in Italy did afterwarde mainteine the warres for the most part with the aydes of that countrey And Caesar vsed the strength of the Gaules against the rest of the nation Vpon the first ouerthrow which Scipio gaue to the Carthaginians in Affrike he caused most of the countrey to turne enemie against them Neither may we thinke that the state of Spaine is in this point better then other nations especially seeing the stirres in Aragon and Grenade beside many other offers in Castile doe declare that there are among them many mal-contents The Spaniard doubteth not to finde many such among vs but it were to be wished that we would rather make triall first whether there were any such to be found in Spaine When the French made their expeditions into a Guicciard Hist Naples they found great aydes in the countrey some also beside exspectation Why then should Spaine differ from Italy But while we seeke to augment our forces with the succours of our associates and friendes we are not so to rely vpon them but that we prepare sufficient forces of our owne nation both to resist the enemie and if neede be to commaund our associates therein folowing the wise proceedings of the Romanes that neuer would admit a greater number of associates then they had of their citizens in their army and had alwayes an eye that they practised not with the enemie In this as in b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epicharm other points to distrust is a great point of wisedome The Scipioes did trust but too much to the aydes of the Celtiberians in Spaine For being abandoned by them they were exposed naked and vnprouided to the mercy of their enemies c Liu. 1. Tullius Hostilius did deale more wisely For although hee had the succours of the Albans with him yet had hee force sufficient to vanquish his enemis without them If not he had farre worse speeded For in the middes of the battell he was forsaken by them The d Guicciard Hift. Switzers that came in ayde of Lewis Sforza solde him into the handes of Lewis the xij at Nouara and did not onely forsake him And of late yeres the Protestants that eame out of Germany vnder the guidance of the Dukes of Bouillion were in their greatest neede forsaken of the Lansknights that came to ayde them I neede not labour inueh to prooue this seeing the great expenses that by the French and others hane beene wasted vpon the Almains of late time doe teach vs howe little vse or hope there is of the ayde of that nation Of all those that folowe our ensignes and ioyne together with vs those are least to be trusted that are lately reuolted Good it were to trie such and then to trust them Two a Guicciardio Spaniards feining them selues fugitiues in the warres betwixt the Spaniards and the Venetians attempted to kill Aluian the Venetian Generall The like was attempted by certaine Turks against Scanderbeg The Numidians that reuolted to the Romans a litle before their battel with Annibal at Cannae made a great flaughter among the Romanes after the battell ioyued Maureuell that runagate pretending to forsake the enemie vpon some displeasure would haue slaine the Admirall but when he sawe howe that could not be done without euident danger he slew Mouy a valiant gentleman and so returned againe to the enemie Neuer any did wholy rely vpon his associates especially such as were newly come vnto him without losse or danger Good it had bene for vs not to haue looked for so much at the Portugales hands as we did it may be they would haue assisted vs if we had bene the stronger but euery one treadeth on those that are throwen vnder foote and thrusteth forward those that are falling
To assure vs therefore of our associates the safest way is to stand vpon our owne strength and to trust more to our selues then to them the next is by hostages such as are well accompted of another means is by gages of towns King b Froissart Edward the third by seasing of Cherburg for pawne assured himselfe of the king of Nauarres loyall dealing The like course is taken in assuring the contract made betweene vs and the lowe countreys I would we were in like sort assured of the townes we hold there as he was The reasons we haue to feare are diuers but these in shew open that the townâ—â— men of Vlishing and Briel and the rest being armed and in number passing our â—arrison and giuing them victuals and munitions from hand to mouth may force the same eyther to yeelde or deâ—â—rs â—t pleasure That they haue not yet attempted it the feare of the Spaniard 〈◊〉 cause If that scruple were remoued I feare what will fullâ—â—â— without extraordinary diligence and better order and more force but to assure our selues of our associates there is no beâ—â—â—â— course then to doe them iustice The same c Amici officio fide partuntur Salust bel Iug. both procureth friendes â—â—inreineth them in deuotion For who will adhere 〈◊〉 them which wrong them and oppress them d Thucid. 1. Cic. offic lib. 1. Pausanias and 〈◊〉 by ruling their associates with rigour and extremitie caused them to â—â—e part the Lacedemonian armie discontent The like effect did the couetousnesse of the Athenians that respected onely their owne profite worke in their partisans in the Peleponesian warre They must also be defended against their enemies if we looke to haue their helpe against our enemies This reason moued a Caes bel gal 7. Caesar to hazard himselfe in the succouring of the Boians at Gergouia and Iosua to come in ayde to the Gibeonites although fraudulently they had caused him to enter into league with them The Romanes not sending ayde to the Sagâ—ntines besieged by Annibal in time lost not onely them but the fauour of all Spaine And vainely did wee looke for the helpe of Portugall being not prouided to defend the Countrey against the Spaniard To stand b Haec ratio nec amicos parit nec inimicos tollit Liu. aloofe when our neighbours require ayde is a course neither to helpe our friendes nor hurt our enemies Besides the same is most dishonorable for who doeth not despise those in whome they see no helpe yea and vnprofitable for the enemie is thereby strengthened and wee weakened Of the conditions and contractes of association I shall haue occasion to speake in the treatise of peace For the endes of warres are not onely the beginning of peace but also of associations and friendships for the most part Thus much onely may serue in this place that some are onely offensiue some offensiue some with equall conditions on both sides some with respect to one side and as great diuersities there are as of diuers states and conditions of things Anniball and Philip of Macedonia ioyned in league vpon these conditions that c Liui. 23. Philip should waste the coast of Italy with his Naâ—iâ—â— and make warre vpon the Romanes by sea and land vntill such 〈◊〉 â—s they had brought Italy in subiection which should then belong to the Carthaginians that the warres being there ended Annibal 〈◊〉 passe ouer with his army into Greece and helpe him to subdue that Countrey and the Lands adioyning which shoulde reâ—◠〈◊〉 â—o Philip. They of d Locrensibus iussu Annibalis data pax Societas eo iure stabat vt Poenus Locrensem Poenum Locrensis pace ac bello iâ—â—â—ret Liu. 24. Locres conditioned with Annibal that 〈…〉 helpe other both in warre and peace Many speciall mâ—â—erâ—â— knowe 〈…〉 and comprised in articles conâ—â—med on both â—â—des by 〈…〉 and sometime by othe And therefore whatsoeuer articles are agreed vpon they are diligently and loyally to 〈◊〉 â—erformeâ— It is a sure course to winne vs credite among our neighbours and to linke them in â—â—â—ine good wiâ—â— toward vs. CHAP. IIII. Part 1. Of the Generall and the partes and qualities required in him HItherto wee haue spoken of such preparatiues as are to bee made oft times in time of peace but alwayes before the warres nowe we are to speake of that which is the beginning and first care or at least act of warres I meane the musters and choise of captaines and souldiers This among the Romanes belonged to the Generals which vpon the first a Prima belli cura agere delectus reuocare veteranos Tacit. 18. mouing of warres called all the people according to the tribes or diuisions into a place appointed out of them to take such numbers and such men as were most fitting And most reasonable it is that the Generall that should leade men should haue the ouersight and chiefe if not onely direction in the choise of them For who can better make choise of instruments then such artificers as vse them in their workes When the Generals theÌ„selues were otherwise busied yet did b Coss dum ipsi quaestionibus impedicbantur T. Maenium delectui habeÌ„do praefecerunt Liu. 39. they commit the matter to men of great authoritie and wisdome Caesar c Caesar per legatos M. Silanum C. Antistium C Sextium delectum habere instituit Caes com bel gal 6 employed therein his counsell of warres which also in his absence were his lieutenants First therefore wee are to speake of the Generall then of inferiour commaunders and thirdly of common souldiers In the discourse concerning the Generall wee are to consider first what qualities and partes and sufficent Generall ought to haue secondly what instructions or councell he is to vse and lastly with what commission and power he ought to be furnished wichall The principall care that a Prince or State that entreth into warres is to haue is that there be choyse made of a sufficient Generall I knowe that the place is for the most part graunted eyther for respect of Nobilitie or kinred or fauour The Kings of this land in time past employed their children and vncles which notwithstanding prooued not the worst Richard the 2. d Froissart in the warres against the Nobilitie made the Duke of Ireland a fauourit of his Generall but he was not followed The French kings may impute most part of their had successe in their warres to the insufficieÌ„cie of their Generals In the warres of Naples Charles the 8. named a Montpensier fâ—tto luego tonenge delre piu stimato per la grandozza sua per esser del sangue reale che per proprio valore Guicciard lib. 1. Montpensier his lieutenant in respect of nobilitie rather then sufficiencie Lewis the 12. in his warres of b Guicciar hist Lombardy made Chaumont his minion Generall of his forces But nothing did more hasten the ouerthrowe of the French causes there
ought to take heede of the enemies trappes to knowe howe to marche or e Imperatorij muneris est castris locum capere coÌ„meatus expedire ab insidijs praecanere tempus pugnae eligere aciem instruere subsidijs firmare Liu. 9. lodge safely howe to fight with aduantage where to employe horsemen where shotte where other sortes of weapons and to vnderstand the aduantages of all sortes of groundes he hought to vnderstand the times when to fight and advantages of weather and Sunne he ought not to be ignorant of any stratageme of warre nor of treaties and conditions of truce or peace least as our auncesters in time past did he loose by sleight that which before he had wonne by force finally in defending or besieging of Townes in assaultes escaladaes drawing of trenches mines making of batteries forcing or defending of passages of riuers or straytes he may not be ignorant of any point of warre proposing to him selfe the example of Iulius Caesar a man in all faites of armes most skifull Whose iudgement was such that a Hirt. de bel African sitting still in his Tent in his campe at Ruspina hee knewe what the enemie would doe or could doe and prescribed what was to be done against him And deigned not to looke out when Scipio made shewe to assault his campe This knowledge bringeth with it consideration and foresight Both which ought to bee in the General that least hee want things necessarie this least he runne into the snares layd for him by the enemie Of Aemilus b Aemilius dies noctesque intentus ea sola quae adid bellum pertinerent animo agitabat Liu. 4.4 Paulus it is reported that being chosen General for the warres in Macedonia his minde was wholy bent on that seruice so that he gaue himselfe no rest neither night nor day Captaines in c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diodor. Si cal warres must looke both forward and backward and euery way whence any danger or aduantage is toward For in warres d Non licetin bello bis peccare euery error in mortall Many doe more matters by sleight then by force Charles the fifth e Froissart of France did more represse the force of the English nation by practice then by force The Lacedemonians when their leaders preuailed f Plutarch gainst their enemies by counsell and stratagemes sacrificed an oxe when by open force a cocke onley The next vertue required in a Generall is g Virtutes imperatoris praecipuae labor in negotiis fortitudo in periculis industria in agendo celeritas in conficiendo consilium in prouidendo Cic. pro leg Manil. courage and speede to execute that which is wisely determined For vented counsels and vented wine doe foorthwith loose all good tasle And cowardly captaines discourage valiant men that suppose the danger to be as great as their leaders take it h Caes bel ciu 1. Domitius had no sooner determined with himselfe to flie away from Corfinium but the souldiers lost courage The cowardise of Crassus the i Appain bel Parth. rich gaue occasion to the great ouerthrowe which the Romanes had giuen them by the Parthians The faint heart of Titurius Sabinus charged by k Cas bel gal 5. Ambiorix made his souldiers faint Contrariwise resolute men giue courage to their souldiers and restore battels almost lost Caesars couragious heart occasioned the victorie against Pompeyes sonnes at Munda King Richard the third had almost hazarded the matter at the iourney of Bosworth if hee had but had three hundred men like him selfe the field had beene his But because his cause was not good it pleased not God to giue him the meanes l Iugurtha praelio strenuus erat bonus coÌ„silio quod difficile est nam alterum ex prouidentia tâ—morem altâ—rum ex audacia plerumque temeritatem efficit Salust bel Iuguâ— Iugurtha is by Salust commended both for prowesse and counsell Nothing doeth more auaile in warres then the example of the General He is a cowardly companion that dareth not to doe as he seeth his Generall doe Valerius Coruinus vsed no other incouragement to his souldiers then this that they should a Facta mea non dicta sequi volo nec disciplinam sed exemplum à me petere Liu. 7. imitate not his wordes but his deedes and do as they sawe him to giue them an example Not that the Generall ought lightly to hazard his person for that were great temeritie or vexe himselfe with labour for that were vaine but that hee ought to shewe himselfe alwayes couragious in dangers and forwarde in labours No lawes nor precepts can doe herein more then the Generals example The Romanes folowed b Lucan Cato through the drye and hotte sandes of Barbary and shame made Xenophons souldiers march vp the hill seeing him goe before them Neither hath any thing more animated the French Kings souldiers of late then the example of so valiant a Prince leading them They that haue skill and resolution in matters of warre cannot chuse if God be pleased but haue good successe and authoritie For what man wisely laying his plot and resolutely executing the same can fayle of his expectation or want an honourable reputation both with his owne men and with the enemie c Foelicitas rerum gestarum exercitus beneuolentiaÌ„ imperatoribus res aduersae odium conciliant Caes de bel ciu lib. 7. And therefore what neede precepts of these matters which is deede are rather in the power of others then of our selues and followe of those vertues which before I haue spoken of There are also other vertues required in a Generall which although they be not so necessarie as the former yet for the execution of matters are very requisite and profitable as namely iustice liberalitie courtesie clemencie temperance and loyaltie Iustice is an ornament both in warre and peace well beseeming all Gouernours but especially the Gouernours of armies It is profitable to reteine the good willes of our associates necessary for the winning of the good will of our owne souldiers The same hath vse as well in respect of enemies as friendes The Faliscians besieged by Camillus moued rather with the opinion of his iustice that sent backe vnto them the Schoolemaster that deliuered into his handes the youth of the Citie then by force yeelded their Citie vnto him Pyrrhus did neuer offer to treate of peace before the Romanes had sent him backe that traytour that offered for a certaine summe of money to empoyson him d Iustè non minus quà m fortiter bella gerimus Liu. lib. 5. Warres are to bee gouerned not by crueltie but by iustice When a Cic. offic 1. Pausanias in the Peloponnesian warre dealt rigorously with his associats they al forsooke him Which also happened to the Athenians in the same warre for like cause And who doth not hate the Spaniard that seldome suffereth men of qualitie that come in his power
heads of contrary disposition Which mischiefe seeing it can be no otherwise remedied then by giuing the soueraintie to one the Prince is diligently to see that the soueraintie in the army be not diuided amongst many The Romanes albeit they had ordinarily two consuls yet in their greatest dangers they appointed one Dictator or Generall with absolute authoritie The soueraine commandement of one is a helpe and meanes to dispatch matters quickly to take opportunities and vse the time of warre b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Olinth 1. Demosthene doeth playnely declare the same by the example of Philip king of Macedonia While one commaundeth he both vnderstandeth better what is wanting and howe it is to be had his care is greater his proceeding more formall and equall his counsel more speedy and secret Therefore did the Romanes send but one Gouernour into their Prouinces and employed for the most part but one Consull in the gouerument of their armies If both yet where they proceeded orderly the one gaue c In exercitu Rom. cum duo essent Coss potestate pari quod saluberrimum est in rerum magnarum administratione summa imperii concedente Agrippa penes Quintium erat Liu. 3. place to the other A matter most requisite for the dispatch of weighty matters as it is euident in the fact of Agrippa yeelding the chieftie to his felow Quintius The Athenians for that their state was popular vsed yeerely to chuse many captaines yet in their greatest dangers all the rest yeelded to be gouerned by one In the Marathonian fielde against Darius the supreme commandement was in Miltiades in the battell of Salamine against Xerxes in d Herodot Themistocles all the rest submitting themselues to be commanded by him Seldome hath any wise nation done otherwise if they did they payde for the most part the full price of their folly The Romanes were ruinated by the Gaules at the encounter of a Liu. 5. Allia partly by the disorder of the chiefe commanders being diners and hauing equall authoritie Those three b Tres duces delectu habito profecti sunt Veios documentoque fuere quam plurium imperium bello inutile esset Tendendo enim ad sua quisque consilia cum aliud alii videretur aperuerūt ad occasionem locum hosti Liu. 4. captaines that besieged Veij hauing all equal power may be a document vnto vs how vnprofitable the commandement of diuers Generals is for the gouernment of warres For euery man driuing all matters to his owne endes while one man thought one way an other otherwise they gaue occasion to their enemies to hurt them By the discorde c Liu. lib. 5. of the captaines while one refused to succour an other the Romanes were foyled before Veij The Aequians obseruing the disagreement betweene the d Liu. 4. Romane captaines although in force inferiour to the Romanes yet preuailed against them Neither was there any greater cause of the ruine of the e Thucid. 6. Athenian army in Sicile then the contrarietie of opinions and discorde of the three captaines sent thither with soueraigne commandement The originall of all the disorders that fell out in the army of the Protestants in Germany and of the victorie of f Sleidan Charles the fift was the diuers opinions of the Duke of Saxony and Lantgraue of Hesse When the Lantgraue woulde haue foughten the Duke was of another minde or percase was not ready What the one did profitably determine that the other did frustrate From the time of this discorde the affaires of the Protestants went to wracke The French were driuen out of the kingdome of g Discordia di capitani fa perdere Napoli a Francesi Guicciar lib. 3. Naples by a small force by reason of the dissention of the captaines Montpensier and Percy The enuie and contention that fell out betwixt the French and Hungarian captaines gaue an easy victorie to Amurathes the Turke at Nicopolis It had not bene possible for Caesar h Guicciard li. 5. Borgia to escape the hands of so many Princes confederate against him but that the captaines of the aduerse army did weaken their force by their owne disagreement The Venetians were ouerthrown at Ghiaradadda only by the pluralitie of commanders For while i Guicciard lib. 8. Bartholomew Aluian which was one of their Generals determined to fight and the Count Pittiglian which was the other commanded the army to marche the enemie charging them in this instant of their irresolution obteined a great victorie The soueraigne authoritie both of matters by land and by sea is to be giuen only to one otherwise there can be no good correspondence in both places While Lantreck k Guicciard commanded by land and Philippin Doria by sea the siege of Naples was discontinued the towne victualled which happened by reason of the dissention of the Generals It hath bene no small hinderance to our affaires in the Low countreys that those that haue commanded at land haue not likewsie had the gouernment at sea For by this meanes the enemie hath had greater store of victuals and our owne men greater want when the shippes and passages were in others keeping Nay where the commandement is part in the Generall and part in the States things are yet more confused For the States oft times victuall the enemie yea and coutinually trade into Spaine while our souldiers fight against the Spaniard I will not say what inconueniences come of this one point neglected otherwayes for that it would couch some men more particularly then my meaning is For remedy of this mischiefe the Romanes gaue to their captains power both in matters by land and sea Scipio as he had an army by land so he had a Nauie by sea both in the expedition of Spaine and Afrike Neither could Marcellus euer haue preuailed against the citie of Syracusae if he had not besieged the towne both by sea and land Caesar was enforced to goe to sea before he could subdue the sea townes of France But what neede I vse more wordes in a matter so playne both reason and experience teacheth vs that many a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commanders in matters of warre are not good And therefore let there be but one soueraigne commander both by land and sea with what authoritie he ought to be furnished resteth now to be discussed CHAP. IIII. Part. 4 Of the authoritie and Commission of the Generall ACcording to that opinion which Princes and States haue of their Captaines and sometimes respect had to the danger of the times their vse is to giue vnto them more ample or more straite commission But if they purpose that their affaires shal succeed wel of two things one is necessarie to wit that either they furnish them with meanes sufficient or giue them commission to furnish and helpe themselues and that either they doe direct them sufficiently which is scarce possible or els giue them leaue to take order according to
the occasions offered vpon present viewe and varietie of times or things For neither can he doe seruice vpon the enemie that wanteth either conuenient force or meanes nor may he or dare he take the aduantage of time and other circumstances that is brideled and bound by his instructions The Romanes although most expert in deedes of armes whose Senate consisted for the most part of such as in their time had bene commanders and altogether of men exercised in armes yet did not at any time prescribe their Generals what to doe and what they should not doe much lesse howe they should doe or when they should doe it Much more absurd therefore it is that men that neuer sawe enemie nor know the traine of warres should take vpon them to direct Generals what they should doe at land or sea and very strange it seemeth to me that Generals to whome armies are committed should like schooleboyes take forth such lessons as these ignorant pedants and scriuanoes should prescribe Warres are not made by indenture neither can any couenant with his enemie to doe this or not to doe it Nor can any man conceiue what is best to be done but such as are present And therefore the ordinary limitations of some commissions doe nothing els but binde the hands of our captaines that they shall not vse opportunitie or percase further and helpe the enemie Herein therefore it is good to imitate olde warriers at least to come so neere them as difference of times will permit The Romane captaines had authoritie most large and meanes sufficient Their forces were great their furniture and prouision plentifull least they should exact any thing of their associats they were furnished with all things a Liu. 25.26 necessary euen to their b Magistratus mulis tabernaculisque omni alio instrumento militari ornabantur ne quid tale imperarent sociis Liu. 42. 44. mules tentes and carriages That which was wanting or might more easily be had otherwhere they had authority to supply All which consisted was giuen them in one word Now captains haue many words in their commission litle scope or authority Vnder this one word imperium they coÌ„prised al authority necessary for the gouernement of the warres By the same they had power to leuy men to leade them to employ them as appeareth by the c Demus imperium Caesari sine quo exercitus haberi res militaris administrari non potest Cic. Philip Decreui imperium exercitum habenti Quid est enim sine imperio exercitus Cic. Philip. commission giuen to Octauius Caesar that afterward was called Augustus In the Prouince where they made warres they might beside the number they brought with them leuy other souldiers impose vpon the people necessary charges for the defence of the coutry Caesar d Prouinciae quaÌ„ maximum potest militum numeruÌ„ imperat Caes bel â—al 8. to resist the attempts of the Heluetians which threatned to passe through the Prouince of France subiect to the Romanes leuied as many men as he could in his gouernement Fuluius vnderstanding that the a Fuluius quia armare inuentutem Celliberos andiret ipse quanta poterat a sociis auxilia coÌ„traxerat Liu. 40. Celtiberians gathered newe forces he also in his gouernement procured what helpe hee could of his subiectes and associates From their associates and subiects in their gouernment they had power to take victuals carriages shippes and necessarie furniture of warre as is euident in the warres that Scipio made in Spaine and Afrike Caesar in France Sylla and Pompey in Asia and other Countreys They had also power to doe iustice as well to their associates and subiects as to their owue souldiers otherwise they could neither haue encountred with trechery of men euill affected nor defended their fauourers and friendes The defence of the Prouince and their b M. Messala L. Pisone Coss Senatus censuit vti quicunque Galliam prouinciam obtineret quod commodo reip facere posset Aeduos ecterósque amicos populi Rom. defenderet Caes bel gal 1. friendes both against seditious mutins and foreine inuasion was likewise committed vnto them and per consequent power giuen them to leuy power and vse all meanes for the maintenance of their associats and for the gouernment and execution of warres without which they could not be defended Good it had bene for our Generals likewise in the Lowe countreys and other where that their authoritie had bene also enlarged For while they had neither victuals nor lodging nor shippes nor cariages nor artillery nor munition nor other furniture of warre but at the pleasure of the States some whereof were too respectiue of their owne profite nor could execute any man of those Countreys for treason without their consent it is no maruaile if their proceedings were slowe their executions slender their wantes great Further the Romanes gaue their Generals power both to make warres by sea and land Do doubt they had also sufficient meanes without which all power is frustratory Our Captains in the Low countreys as they haue bene weake by land so they depended on others pleasures for matters at sea In later times also the same course hath bene taken When c Corbuloni reges praefecti praetores parere iussi potestas data qualis Pompelo bello Pyratico Tacit. annal 15. Corbulo was sent by Nero against the Parthians hee had power equall to that which Pompey had graunted vnto him in the warres against the Pirats Kings Gouernours of Prouinces and the Officers of the Romanes were enioyned to obey him It is the vse of all Nations both to furnish their Generals and to authorize them sufficiently What authoritie Annibal had it is partly euident by his actions for it is not to be presumed that he did matters without authority and partly by the wordes of Fabius perswading the Romanes to chuse a captaine equall to Annibal a leader sayth hee of great authoritie by reason of his continuance and not restrained by any limitation of times or lawes so but that he might doe all things according as opportunites of warre should require Herein Demosthenes a Olynth 1. declareth what great aduantage Philip king of Macedonia had aboue the captaines of the Athenians for he was not limited by any Superiors commandement nor restrained by termes or time as were they Which thing sayth he is very effectuall for dispatch of matters Those captaines sayth b Duces summi liberi impedimeÌ„tis omnibus dominique rerum teÌ„porumque trahunt consilijs cuncta Liu. 9. Liuy that haue absolute authoritie and are free from impediments and haue power ouer things and times doe worke great effectes with their counsels Whosoeuer therefore for enuy or feare or other cause goeth about to perswade Princes to pare their Generals authoritie and to binde them with strait conditions hath an euill minde himselfe and as much 〈◊〉 in him lyeth ruinateth the affaires of his Prince For what seruice can
yeeres Yea when the a Liu. li. 9. 10. State and Territory of Rome was not the third part of England in bignesse yet did the same mainteine one army against the Samnites another in a contrary quarter against the Hetruscians and the third at home against such of their neighbours as were not perfectly to be trusted The pay all things considered was then rather bigger then lesser in respect of our times The b Decem in dies assibus anima corpus aestimatur Tacit. 1. It is a Roman souldiers speech there pay of the Romanes was for euery day a piece of money which they called Denarium for that it conteined decemasses Although I confesse that afterward the value of that Coyne was enhaunced that wayeth of our money vii d or thereaboutes as both Budey testifieth and I haue tried by waying diuers of the Coynes which I haue seene in Italy and other where The pay of the Athenian souldiers amounted to a piece of money which they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for euery day So that both the pay of the Greekes and Romanes came to one reckoning for Denarius Romanus and the Athenian Drachma by c Alciat de ponderib mensur accompt both of Marchants and Physitions weyed alike and was of one value That the Athenian pay amounted to so much as I haue sayd Thucidides shal witnesse who saith that the garrison of d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid. 3.88 Steph. Potidaea had euery man one Drachma for himselfe and another for his esquire that waited on him dayly Consider the prices of things nowe you shall finde that their pay was greater then either ours which giue commonly viii d a day or the Spanish pay which is iii Duckats a moneth for a man beside their Ventajas as they call them That the charge of warres is now greater then in time past is but an improbable surmise For wherein ariseth the charge of an army nowe but in victuals armes clothes horses cariages and such like which were no lesse chargeable in time past then now powder wee haue nowe and artillerie which in time past was not found out but the charge of their engins and the things about them which nowe we neede not nor vse was no lesse chargeable to them So that if we had that order and proceeding which they had there is no doubt but wee are as well able to mainteine an armie as they Why a sufficient armie should not bee mainteined and paid I see no reason but want of military discipline For seeing this land mainteineth so many millions at home there is no reason but the same should mainteine 30. or 40. thousand of the same number abroad if right discipline of armes were practised The charge of an army is most in meate and apperell But in these things men spend no lesse at home then abroad I doe thinke that albeit this land wanted money yet if the army were well supplyed with victuals and clothes by the Princes Officers that a great armie might sufficiently be payd For that money that should be deliuered to the souldier would most of it come backe for victuals and clothes of which this land God be thanked hath no want The expenses of munitions and armes and other matters are in respect of this charge nothing But what should I talke of this course when there wanteth neither money nor other thing but good orders well executed The reuenues of the Crowne the contributions of the subiects and ayde of our friendes are not so simple but that there may be found maintenance sufficient if mens good willes and loyal dealing were not wanting Besides these if our armie were sufficient to fight with the enemie I would thinke there were want of skill or good order if the same did not aswell liue vpon the enemies spoyles as the Princes pay Clearchus a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph exped Cyr. 1. mainteined his souldiers by the contribution of the cities of Hellespont where they lay The Romanes transporting an army into Asia so wisely did the Generall proceede that he mainteined the same with the spoyles of the Countrey and writ backe to the Senate that for that yeere he needed neither b Liu. 40. prouision nor pay for the victorie gaue his armie sufficient But before Princes bring such a matter to passe many disorders are to be redressed men desirous of honour are to be appointed Officers the rapines and filcheries of former times and hereafter to by strict Auditors and Commissioners are to be sifted out and seuerely punished as matters that disorder all armies c Auaritia di commessarij regij fraudando il re ne pagamenti di soldati cagione della rotta di Garigliano Guicciar lib. 6. Guicciardin shewerh it by the confusion that was in the French army at Gariglian by the default and fraude of the kings Officers for pay If those that kill a woman or a child of no great reckoning deserue death what doe they deserue that are the cause of the death of many valiant souldiers and betray the Realme and their Prince into the handes of the enemie through their fraude filcherie and delayes the abuses in musters must also be redressed Wherein I vnderstand that Gouernours of late haue bene carefull and set downe many good orders but all commeth to this passe that the Captaines shall pay their souldiers which doeth promise no good effect in this matter It is a notorious abuse to giue the pay of the common souldier to the Centurion or Captaine of euery band neuer vsed by the Romanes nor other nation It first came in among the Italians about two hundred and fiftie or two hundred yeeres agone in their scambling warres among themselues The reason was for that the Prince that had warres hired the Captaine out of some other State and the Captaine he hired such souldiers as he could get So that the Prince dealing with the Capatine must pay him and the Captaine must pay his souldiers Which reason now ceasing there is no cause why the abuse should continue Further there are certaine dead payes allowed to the captaine vnder colour whereof I doubt not but they will passe many dead men or such as neuer were in mosters It is asmuch as if he should be alowed to defraude a Prince a litle so it be but in sixe dead payes But better it were and more honorable if the Prince did allowe the Captaine an honourable and sufficient pay and make others the paymasters It is not possible nowe that matters should in these cases be redressed seeing such as haue interest in the gaine are made controllers of the offence Were it not better to pay euery souldier by the poll better I say for the Prince For if the souldiers acquitance moster booke pay-masters and controllers accounts agree he cannot lightly be defrauded either of his money or of his numbers better for the common souldier for he shall haue his due Yea
better for the Captaines for they should not be so condemned as they are of the countrey nor of their souldiers and some very wrongfully and who would for so small gaine incurre the losse of his honour or reputation but thus they shall neither liue themselues nor be able to rewarde their souldiers As if I wished them not larger pay and w ih honester conditions And as if they did vse to reward their men or that belonged to them it is the General that should do it vpon their report not they When a Citati milites nominatim stipendium ad nomen singulis persolutum Liu. 28. Scipio paide his souldiers in Spaine euery man receiued himselfe his due paye man by man Which was the continual practise of the b Stipendium praesens omnibus militibus dabatur Liu. 23. Romanes That I likewise confirmed by the example of Porsena the captaine of the Hetruscians who stoode by c Liu. 2. while euery man receiued his stipend Guicciardin disputing and weying the causes why the Frenchmen in the expedition of Charles the 8. into the kingdome of Naples so easily preuailed alleageth this for principall that the Kings souldiers were payed by the kings Officers and not as the Italian vse was by the Captaines For which cause now at length also the Spaniard weary of this abuse appointeth certaine Officers to pay euery souldier according to the a They call them Pagadores moster roll and diuers controllers of these paymasters This I thinke to be the best meanes to remedy the want of pay the fraude of Officers the disorders of souldiers and coruption of false mosters whereby many Princes haue bene greatly abused are like to be further if order be not taken Before Pauy the b Guicciar li. 15 French king Francis had not halfe the number of souldiers that were vpon his moster bookes which was the principall cause of the ruine of the army and of the taking of the king as Guicciardin affirmeth The same was the ruine of the army of Iulio the 2. before c Guicciar lib. 9. Gemuolo and causeth many to presume further then reason thinking their strength greater diuers to detest warres the disorders are so great This I thought necessary to speake concerning pay more perhaps then some will like But the commiseration I haue of poore souldiers and detestation I had of disorders that haue happened vpon this cause in the seruice where I haue bene and feare of worse haue extorted these complaints from me yet not to hurt any particular God is my witnes but generally to do my countrey good if I could to admonish those whom it concerneth to looke better vnto it hereafter CHAP. IIII. Part. 10. Wherein is declared that there is no hope of good successe in warres without a full army and force sufficient THose that know with what difficultie miserie Officers are wont to pay 4. or 5. M. men haue good cause to thinke it a matter very difficult to mainteine 30. or 40. M. and many percase will wonder what I meane to perswade the leuy of a full army seeing the vnwillingnes and vnreadines of this age in sending forth and furnishing any small number of men But notwithstanding the imagination of the first or wonderment of the second both the lawes and practise of armes doeth teach vs that to obteine victorie and to subdue our enemies a iust and full army must be employed and that small numbers of men doe rather feede the warres then end them rather anger the enemy then hurt him The Lacedemonians before the Peloponnensian warre consulting with the oracle by what meanes they might best preuaile against their enemies receiued this answere that the meanes to ouercome was to vse a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid. 1. their full strength For if an army be a perfect body as the Athenian captaine Iphicrates was wont to say it must haue the iust proportion of partes and iust complement or els it will be monstrous and not able to doe the actions exspected of such a body The Romanes therefore as in other things so in this excelled that they neuer dealt with any enemie but with a full army If the power of the enemie were great they employed a Consulare army consisting of 4. legions of citizens beside the aide of their associates if lesse they vsed but two legions with the ayde of their friendes The greatest force that they vsually employed were two Consular armies ioyned together The number was diuers as the legions were greater or lesser full or imperfect but their greatest force amounted not past to 50. thousand their middle to 24. thousand their least to 12 or 15. thousand or thereaboutes Lesse number I doe not reade that they vsed in any seruice and therefore proceeding with sufficient force I maruell not if their successe were according It is the vse of all nations neither the French in their expeditious into Italy nor the Spaniard into France or Italy vseth to send lesse then a iust army The Duke of Alua beside 12. or 13. M. Almaines and those of the Low countries brought with him 9000. Spaniards and Italians when first he came into that countrey It is no good nor profitable course to send 4. or 5. thousand against what soeuer enemie If to famish they are too many if to fight too fewe Double that number is neither able to keepe the field nor to besiege any citie nor almost able to doe any enterprise of warre vnlesse it be to defend some place for some fewe dayes in the end to giue it ouer being in despaire of succour Our proceedings in France Flanders if mother reason wil pes wade vs may teach vs that this number is too little the effectes doe declare my speach to be true The b Thucid. 1. Lacedaemonians so long as they sent small numbers of men against the Athenians could doe no good against them but did hurt to themselues Small force doeth rather nourish and kindle the warres then extinguish them euen as a fewe drops sprinckled on the fixe doeth make the same to burne more bright and as much water powred on the fire doeth quench the same so a sufficient army maketh an end of brawles or at least bringeth them to triall Nay further a sufficient force doeth not only worke greater effect but also is lesse chargeable then warres made by these slender supplies It may percase seem a paradoxe to some but reason experience doth proue it true These warres of our times they haue no ende but where a sufficient armie goeth there is an end eyther one way or other There is no end of charge in lingring warres in these if the armie preuaile the victorie mainteineth the same if it be ouercome then is there an end of that armie and charge The burthen is onely in the setting of the same out and mainteyning of it in the meane while But will some say the hazard were great Let
them therefore fight valiantly and not suffer themselues to bee skinned They that forecast what windes will blowe seldome sowe or set sayle in time Further a small force must needes lye in Townes and hide their heads where the enemie is stronger Against the enemie they haue neither strength to fight nor meanes to enterprise stil the Prince is at a continuall charge and without pay the souldiers famish but where a full and sufficient force arriueth in any Countrey they commaund the same vnlesse an armie be presently opposed against theÌ„ They enrich themselues with spoiles the fruites they lay vp for their owne store Many confederates some for feare others for other causes ioyne with them and either yeeld money or victuals or munitions Whatsoeuer corne forage or other prouision is without walled Townes that is theirs It must be a Towne of some strength that dare resist them When the armie is great the warres mainteyne themselues as said Cato Scipio with the profite that he drewe out of the Countrey of Spaine mainteined his armie there diuers yeres Sixteene yeres did Annibal maintaine warres in Italy at the charge of that Countrey almost without supplie of men or money from Carthage With the riches of France Caesar mainteined his armie 9. yeeres in France enriched himself and his countrey Besides the charge of the army defraied many Romane captains haue brought in great summes of money into the publike treasurie These are the fruits of victorie but victorie cannot be obteined without an armie If therefore any man hope for the end of warres or good successe in France Flanders or other Countrey let him wish that sufficient meanes were employed There is neither honor safetie profite nor hope of good hap in the course of warres commonly taken If you will not beleeue me then examine the proceedings of the smal companies that haue bin employed in seruice of late time examine the ancient and latter histories of forreigne nations that haue had good successe in their warres If you see nothing but disorder in the one and reason in the other then let captaines neuer for shame on this sort loose their men expend their money trifle the time dally with the enemie contrary to reason and all good proceeding but let them as in other points so in this also returne to the true discipline and practice of warre CHAP. IIII. Part. 11. Of the exercise and trayning of young souldiers whereby they are made apte and ready for the warres A Wise Generall hauing once enrolled his souldiers will not loose any one houre of time but will either exercise them or employ them in seruice There is nothing in warres more pretious then time which once passed cannot be recalled And whether the army be idle or well employed the pay and charge stil runneth on But because it is dangerous to bring yong souldiers into the face of the enemie before they be both fashioned by exercise also fleshed by light encounters with the enemie he ought both diligently to exercise them at such times as the enemie giueth him leysure also to harden them by skirmishes and other light enterprises against the enemie before he hazard to fight with his full forces Therein what example can I set before him better to follow then that of Scipio that ouercame Annibal and in al deedes of armes shewed himselfe most vigilant and skilfull He before he drew foorth his army out of new Carthage into the fielde when as yet the time of the yeere was not proper for seruice did continually diuers dayes exercise his men aswell in fight at sea as at land The first day he caused all his regiments to runne in array and order of battell 4. miles the second day he appointed euery man to make his armes cleane and fit the a Tertio die in modum iustae pugnae sudibus interse concurrerunt Liu. 26. third day he caused them to diuide themselues into two partes and in order of battel to fight the one against the other with cudgels and blunt dartes The same course hee tooke in Sicile before he transported his b Liu. 29. army into Afrike He caused his souldiers in order of battel to march and runne armed and set his ships in aray within the harbour in such good order as if hee were presently to fight The a Intentior quaÌ„ vnquam â—nte a muniendi exercendique militem cura ducibus Volscorum erat Liu. 4. Volscians hauing bin oftentimes foyled by the Romanes and determining to set vp their rest tooke great care in arming and exercising their men as if that were the onely meanes to harten and harden their souldiers And sure much good doth exercise and teaching as well in warre as other artes where the leaders are skilfull Tit. b Liu. 23. Sempronius by exercising his young souldiers taught them to followe their ensignes and keepe rankes both standing and fighting in array of battell and obteined by them diuers victories against the enemie c Liu. 34. Cato likewise in his voyage into Spaine tooke no small paines in exercising of his men before hee brought them to see the enemie whereby he so fashioned them that he gaue diuers repulses to the enemie Tullus Hostilius when the mindes of the Romanes were mollified ky long peace in the dayes of his predecessor Numa yet by exercise obteined so much that they durst encounter and were not inferiour to olde souldiers Epaminondas by framing and excercising the Thebanes made them of a base nation the most warlike people of Greece and with them ouerthrewe the Lacedemonians which from their youth vp were trayned vp in the exercise of armes In the first warres with Carthage the Romanes perceiuing that for want of skill in Sea causes they were inferiour to the Carthaginians practised their men in imaginarie Sea fightes and so long exercised them therein that at lenghth they ouercame them aswell by sea as by land d Liu. 24. Statorius the Romane teaching the souldiers of Syphax to followe their leaders and to keeperankes and other orders of warres in short time made them of nouices so expert that after that Syphax doubted not to encouÌ„ter the Carthaginians This caused Tissaphernes the Persian to make such reckoning of Phalinus a Grecian for that hee was e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exped Cyr. 2. Xenoph. skilfull in ordering of men and teaching them to fight in armes Of English men Philip of Comines giueth this testimonie tha although when they first come into France they haue small skill yet with exercise they first come into France they haue small skill yet with exercise they become good souldiers and therefore seeing most of our souldiers are yong and of small experience in warres by reason of our long peace they are diligently to be exercised before that they see the enemie f Cassius quantum sine bello dabatur reuocat priscum morem exercet legiones Tacit. 12 Cassius the Romane according to the
olde guise of the Romanes exercised his souldiers at all idle times albeit many of them were expert in warres Much more therefore ought we to exercise our young souldiers and that first in fat̄tes of actiuities as running leaping throwing wrastling secondly in the vse of their weapon that both singly by themselues euery man also in company thirdly in marching and keeping of rankes and other exercises of warre By these exercises the souldiers obteine three commidities the body is first made actiue and strong and fit for labour souldiers also learne to march in their armes to carry some weight to run to work in trenches and other necessary fortification without which neither can the souldier rest safely in his campe nor so easily preuaile against the enemie in the fielde Caesar did no lesse preuaile against the Gaules with the mattocke and spade then with the sword In a short time he made huge trenches and mountes such as the a Cae. bel gal 2. enemie wondred at Now because we haue forgotten the true practise of warre our souldiers refuse to worke and Princes vse the helpe of pioners insomuch that hardly we see that brought to passe in a moneth which Caesar could effect in fewe houres The Romanes from their youth exercised their bodies in running leaping wrastling swimming Coruinus the Romane captaine in his youth in these exercises was b In ludo militari cum velocitatis viriū certamen esset ceteris par Liu. 7. equall to the best By this c Ferebant dimidiati mensis cibaria vallum Cic Tuscul qu. 2. exercise they were made able to carry beside their armes halfe a moneths victuals and certaine stakes Secondly euery souldier is made acquainted and cunning with the weapon wherewith he serueth The shot learneth to charge and discharge redily and at marke The piquier how to vse his pike both against footemen and borsemen the halbardier vnderstandeth the vse of his halberd both to defend to strike his enemie the targetter how to manage his sword and target and euery one learneth the vse of sword and dagger for that they are common weapons Without skill men oft times wearie themselues breake their weapons hurt not their enemie The d Discebant Romani tractarescutum obliquis ictibus venientia tela deflectere Veget. l. 1. c. 4 Romane youthes learned first to vse the target or shield and sword for that was their most cōmon armes and howe with slent blowes to breake the force of their enemies weapons or dartes Afterward they practised the vse of all other sortes of weapons And as absurd it is for a souldier to take on him that name not knowing the vse of his armes as for an ignorant person to call himselfe an artificer and yet not to know the vse of the tooles of his occupation Lastly by learning vnderstanding the arrayes iust distances of horsemen footemen the standings of all sortes of weapons and the differences in marching fighting retiring according to diuers sortes of groundes how to march to the assalt or defence of a Towne or place which may be shewed them by those that are good leaders Souldiers may learne howe to place themselues vpon an instant and not as I haue seene done runne away or runne vp downe like men amazed they may also vnderstand how to cake aduantage of the enemie howe to rally themselues being disordered and in what place euery kind of weapon is to be sorted employed with most aduantage In summe array order may both better be kept more easily repayred without which a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist polit armes haue no vse And as well can an armie march or fight being out of array as a body doe the functions of the body hauing the partes out of frame There is certainely nothing b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. oeconomic more beautifull in the eyes of friendes then an armie set in order neither is any thing more fearefull to the enemie But this cannot be done without instruction and exercise of which I hope our gouernours will haue more care hereafter But may some say what neede so many wordes in these matters especially if we consider both the charge labour that hath bin spent in trayning of souldiers within our Realme of late time men able as some thinke to encounter the most florshing armie in Christendome against whom I haue no purpose to speake Nay I wish with al my heart they were so strong and ready as is imagined Onely I thought good to shewe first the defectes in our trayning which I would wish were supplied and our men better instructed and next howe little trust there is to be put in trayned men that neuer sawe enemie vnlesse there be many olde souldiers mingled among them In trayning of souldiers therefore in places where I haue bin these wants I haue obserued First the souldiers are not alwayes best chosen secondly their bodies are not exercised as they should be thirdly they are not taught the vse of their seuerall weapons Fewe teach souldiers the right vse of the piece and none the vse of the pike halberd and sworde and target Fourthly the men are rather wearied in marching vp and downe and wheeling in ringes and filing of rankes which are to no vse in fighting then instructed howe to take their places in marching in fighting assalting retiring or other deede of armes Fifthly there is seldome or neuer sufficient companie brought together so that men may conceiue the reasons of the places of euery sort of weapons horsemen are seldome seene in traynings of souldiers So that hardly can any conceiue howe things should stand by any thing that is shewed Lastly such for the most part vpon some cōmendation of some great mans letters are employed in teaching our souldiers as either neuer went to the schoole of armes or know very little themselues So that I see no other effect of training men then expense of time powder And for mine owne part I wish rather to haue men neuer exercised then in this sort trayned But were they better trained then they are yet are we not to put too great trust in them The Venetians making reckoning of the trayned men of their state which are such like as ours are were abused saith a Guicciar lib. 8. Guicciardin and ouerthrowen And b Confidauano Piu Chenon si doueua ne fanti d'ordonnanza del su◠dominio i Fiorentini Però non si prouedeuan di soldadi e sercitati Guicciar lib. 11. euill were the Florentines apaid trusting in their trayned souldiers The same being appointed to the garde of Prato a Towne of their dominion seeing but two Spaniards to mount vpō a litle breach threwe downe their weapons and ranne as fast as they might out of the Towne Generally there is no trust in yong souldiers A small c Pluris facienda est parua veteranorum manus quà m indocta
expers belli multitudo Veget. l. 1. c. 1. companie of olde beaten souldiers is better then a multitude of people without knowledge and experience of warres Yong souldiers that haue not heard the noyse of battell nor seene the slaughter of men nor felt knockes will hardly abide them at the first If not in trayned souldiers much lesse in tumultuarie forces ought we to put any confidence The d Liu. 8 9. Latines and Hetruscians seeing the Romanes range their countrey in no great number came foorth by multitudes against them thinking to swallowe them vp But the first were no sooner slaine then the rest fled 500. olde souldiers put all the rascall route of e Tacit. 3. Tacfarinas in Affrike to flight At Liu. 21. Annibals first comming into Italy the countrey people seeing the spoiles he made had thought to haue cut a certaine out wing in pieces But in be ginning the execution 35. thousand were put to flight by a very sew The Spaniards at Puente de Butgos in Galicia assembled together in great numbers fledde from vs vpon the first approche of our men And so it is commonly in all yong souldiers Wherefore the best is to vse olde souldiers the next to mingle newe and olde together and diligently to teache them and trayne them before we hazard our whole state vpon them For albeit much is in mans naturall courage yet the same is much encreased by skill and exercise and that not feyned but in fight with the enemie CHAP. V. Part. 1. Wherein is declared what things are especially to be considered of those that leade an army by land or by sea into a forreine countrey VNcertainty and irresolution as in other actions so in the proceeding of warres worketh no good effect Time may not be spent nor money wasted vainely A wise captaine therefore purposing a iourney into an other countrey wil before hand resolue first what time is fittest to set forward secondly what things be necessary for his seruice that he may haue them ready against that time and thirdly what place is fittest both to make his prouision and to assemble his troupes in The consideration of the time is very materiall for neither is it conuenient to enter in the depth of Winter for that at that time forage for horses is very hard to come by nor in the heate of Sommer for that the time is hurtfull for mens bodyes to trauell in Caesar entring into France in the middest of Winter was driuen to great extremities and albeit hee had good helpe of friendes to relieue him with victuals and other nacessaries yet were his souldiers and horses almost famished Then it is hard to lye without doores the wayes then also are very troublesome The duke of Lancasters army arriuing in a Froistart Portugal in the dayes of king Richard the 2. in the heate of Sommer suffered no lesse through heate then the other through cold Much also did the b He himselfe in that iourney tooke that sicknesse whereof he died blacke Princes army suffer in Spaine through the heate of Sommer Neither did the heate of the Countrey in our late voyage of Portugal further our enterprise The most conuenient time to enter any Countrey with an army is when the same may finde greatest store of victuals for men of forrage for horses and is most temperate so that men may endure trauaile best without endangering their health Of this c Caes bel gal 2. 3. Caesar had respect both in his warres in France and Affrike and other places And euill did it befall those that without consideration of time rashly aduentured to goe in foreine seruices He that considereth not the time must make his prouision the greater The place also woulde be chosen and certainely resolued vpon where both our prouision is to be made our souldiers are to be appointed to meete The Romanes in their warres in Greece asseÌ„bled their forces at the port of d Vti omnes â—â—uenirent Brundusium idibus Maijs Liu. 36. BrundusiuÌ„ sayling into Affrike against the Carthaginians they made their prouision rendeuouz at Lilibaeum which say right ouer against Afrike as the other port was commodious for those that sailed into Greece Cato in his iourney into a Cato ad Lunae portum conuenire iustit Liu. 34. Spaine chose the port of Luna as lying directly against Spaine Annibal b Liu. 21. purposing a voyage into Italy assigned newe Carthage for his men to meete at When c Caes bel gal 5. Caesar entended the inuasion of this Iland he appointed his men to meete and his prouision to bee brought to Caleis and Bollein For that neither the time nor place of meeting was appointed certaine I report mee what hinderance it was to vs in the enterprise of Portugal But greatest care would be had first that we cary with vs force of our owne sufficient and secondly that we haue prouision of armes victuals munitions and all instruments of warre with vs. For in vayne looketh he for helpe of others or of the countrey where he goeth that is not strong of himselfe d Machiauel discors Banished men doe make those that goe in their succour beleeue that they haue great parties in the countrey and that the enterprise is easie but there is no wisedome to giue them futher credite then such men deserue In Portugall we may remember how we were abused or rather abused our selues to thinke that the countrey would reuolt before we had beaten the Spaniard that kept the people in subiection and too late it is to looke for supplie from home of men or victuals when we are presently to vse them The Romanes although they sent diuers times succours to other natioÌ„s as to the Greekes oppressed by the kings of Macedonia to the Sicilians inuaded by the Carthaginians yet neuer sent they lesse then a sufficient armie furnished with all things necessarie Caesar for that hee was driuen to leaue a great part of his armie and prouision behinde him both in his e De bel ciu 3. voyage against Pompey and against Scipio in f Hirt. de bel Afric Afrike was driuen to great extremities and omitted many opportunities before the rest of his armie came at him Hee that hath his men and all things ready with him oppresseth the Countrey before prouision can be made against him Yet may not the Prince that inuadeth others so prouide against the enemie that hee forget to couer and defende his owne Countrey and Coast and frontier Townes against all sudden enterprises Annibal marching towardes Italy before hand prouided one g Partiens curas inferendi arcendi belli Liu. 2 armie for the garde of Afrike another for the garde of Spaine And Caesar pursuing Pompey into Greece committed the a Caes bel ciu 3. guarde of Italy and the port townes thereof vnto Antony If b Liu. 29. Syphax going out of his countrey to warre against the
Romanes had had like care his country had not beene taken from him in his absence by Masinissa and Laelius Hee is not wise that seeking to strike his enemy lieth open himselfe But because warres spend both men and victuals and other prouisions especially where there is made great resistance wee must not onely thinke to send sufficient at the first but also cause the same to be supplied in time Nothing did cause Anniball to c Negando supplementum vos retraxistis saide Annibal to the Senate of Carthage Liu. 30. leaue his hold in Italy but want of succour and supplie The slownesse of d Hist de bel Afric Caesars supplies after his army transported into Afrike made him loose many aduantages and sustaine diuers losses I will not say what hurt want of supplie did vs in the Portugall action whhen it may be imputed rather to presumption that wee went foorth vnfurnished then to want of care that wee had no supply in time For wher to could supply haue serued where the whole was through want disordered before for guarde of shippes of carriage and assurance of the army the whole nauy where the passage is by sea is to be furnished and to saile in warrelike sort e Caes de bel ciu lib. 3. Caesar for that hee was driuen to passe his army in certaine Marchant shippes without guard of shippes of warre lost diuers of his souldiers sayling into Greece King Edward the third passing his army into France sailed in that warrelike sorte that encountring the French nauy at Scluce hee obtained a famous victory If the passage be not cleared by shippes of warre keeping the seas it is to be feared least the enemy lying in wait intercept diuers of our shippes and men passing betweene as hath often happened in the passage betweene England and the Low countries within these few yeares And as at sea so by land likewise the waie is to be cleared that no enemy bee lefte vpon our backes The Generrall being ready to set saile with all his company either by ticket sealed or else word of mouth hee is to declare to what port he will haue his company to bend their course to the ende that such as by tempest are seuered at sea may yet afterwarde meete at a port f Caesar tabellis signatis solebat dicere quem in loâ—â—m petiturus esset Hirt. de bel Afric Caesar vsed tickets g Liu. 29. Scipio sailing into Afrike calling two of euery ship declared what he would haue them do and whither to set their course Cato hauing all his ships and men together being ready to set saile for a Cato nauibus contractis edixit ad portum Pyrenei sequerentur Liu. 34. Spaine caused proclamation to bee made that all his shippes should direct their course to the porte neere the Pyreneies which I suppose was Emporia Because Caesar gaue not like direction in his voiages into Albany against Pompey and Afrike against Scipio he sustained diuers losses And in the voyage of Portugal such as lost sight of the fleet either returned or went to Rochel being vncertaine whither to go That the nauy faile not of the port euery ship is to haue a good pilot The better and more certainely the Generall vnderstandeth the state of the enemies country the ports and defences thereof and proceedings of the enemy the more certaine direction he shal be able to giue And therefore as at all times hee ought by his espialles to vnderstand what the enemy doth and what hee prepareth so in this time especially when hee goeth about to transporte an armie into his countrey For this cause b Caesar antequaÌ„ in Britanniam traijceret Volusenum qui omnia exploraret praemittit Caes bel gal 4. Caesar sent Commius and Volusenus into this Iland the one to vnderstand the state of the people the other to view the coast and sound the Ports Cato before hee went against the enemie in Spaine sent his espialles to vnderstand the number the place and proceeding of his armie After the arriuall of the nauy in the enemies countrey the first care of the Generall ought to be to seize vpon some commodious port towne or harbour and to fortifie the same that both his shipping may be safe there and that both succours and victualles may safely come thither and last of all that both from thence hee may safely proceede in his action and haue a safe retraite in a storme Caesar landing his men in Afrike fortified c Hirt. de bel Afric Ruspina and by trenches and bankes made it both a good harbour for shippes and a safe lodging for his army The same was practised before of Scipio who landing neere a point of land in Afrike did first make fortifications in that place But afterward perceiuing that Vtica thereby was more commodious hee tooke the towne and made that a d Eandem sedem ad cetera exequenda habituâ—us erat Liu. 29. castle of retrait from the land and an accesse for his shippes from sea and a place commodious for dispatch of other marters The reasons that moued Scipio to take newe Carthage in Spaine were these that hee might haue a conueient porte for accesse of his shippes and a commodious storehouse for his prouisions of warre Annibal made many attempts against a Liu. lib. 23. Naples and Nola that he might vse them for the same purposes lying commodiously for those that come out of his countrey Neither had Edward the third other respect in his long siege of Caleis but that he might haue a commodious port for his shipping on that side These causes at this present haue moued the Spaniardes that lately haue set foote in Brytaine to fortifie Hannebon and Bluet Little did the Macedonians vnderstand the practise of warre that taking b Liu. 31. Chalcis a very opportune port for their warres in Greece left the same without fortification or garrison That the nauy be not idle the Generall after he hath landed his men is to employ the same in ranging the coast fetching in of victualles and annoying the enemy both by land and sea Unlesse the same be at sea the enemy wil depriue him of succours and victualles Therein let him follow the precedent of Scipio in Spaine of Caesar in Afrike Those that inuade the enemy by land likewise are to seize some towne neere the enemy which may serue them for a fortresse whither to retire and whence to sally out The c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid. 1. Persians inuading Greece vsed the towne of Thebes as a retraite and propugnacle against the Greekes The Lacedemonians to straite the Athenians fortified Eleusis a bourgh in the territorie of the Athenians d Oringis arx fuit Asdrubalis ad excursiones circa in mediterraneos populos faciendas Liu. Asdrubal vsed the towne of Oringis in Spaine as a fortresse from whence hee made roades into the midland countrey thereabout Sulpitius the Romane
Consul in the Macedonian warre seizing a e Praesidium ibi imposuit Nam erat oppidum opportunum ad impetus in Macedoniam faciendos Liu. 31. towne that lay fitly against Macedonia did put garrison in it and from thence made diuers attempts against the Macedonians Antiochus f Liu. 45. purposing to inuade Aegypt furnished Pelusium which is the kay of that countrey with sufficient garrison Yet before the army be brought in sight of the enemy the same is to bee refreshed certaine dayes whether it bee of their trauailes by land in their march or iactation and disease at sea g Liu. 21. Annibal before hee brought foorth his army to fight with the Romanes in Italy caused the same to refresh and rest it selfe diuers dayes after his wearisome iourney through the Alpes And likewise returning out of Italie into Afrike to defend his Countrey against Scipio hee h Paucos dies ad reficiendum militem ex iactatione maritima sumpsit Liu. 30. refreshed his men certayne dayes of their trauaile at sea before he marched against the enemy Whether the country be knowen to the General or not yet ought be not to march without diligeÌ„t discouerers sent before at any time least of all when hee commeth into a strange country all enemy Wherefore after hee hath setled his matters in the towne or port which hee hath seased and refreshed his men let him then send forth espials and discouerers to vnderstand the site of the countrey and proceedings of the enemy a Annibal consulis consilia atque animum situÌ„ regionum itineraque explorauit Liu 22. Annibal before he incountred with Flaminius the Romane Generall sent before him certaine men to espy his purposes and to view the situation of the countrey and the wayes which he was to trauaile It is the practise of all wise Generalles The Romanes neglecting to make this discouery were enclosed at Caudium by the Samnites and shamefully ouercome and Annibal himselfe trusting an ignorant guide was almost intrapped at Cales by Fabius Curio b Caes de bel ciu l. 2. marching in the sandes of Afrike without knowledge of the enemies power or the disaduantage of the country being drie and plaine was ouerthrowen together with his whole army by the Numidian horsemen of Iuba Appius c Appius Boiorum agros populans inexplorato riullisque stationibus sirmatis caesus cum legionibus Liu. 31. spoyling the country of the Boyans without espiall sent before guards placed in conuenient distances was himselfe slaine together with his company The meanes to escape these trappes and ambushes is viligent espiall and discouery If our army do march farre vp into the countrey then is diligent heede to be taken that the enemy do not cut betweene vs and our succours or victuallers For fauour whereof wee are to assure our selues of the passages and to place garrisons in conuenient distances Caesar distributed tenne thousand d Caes bel gal 7. quo expeditiore re frumenâ—â—rià vteretur Heduans in diuers townes and fortes vpon the way that his victualles might come to his army with safety He tooke Vellaunodunum that lay upon the way lest the enemy might stop the passage The towne of e Liu. 28. Astapa in Spaine was taken and ruinated by L. Martius for that the garrison of the enemies there did spoyle the confederates of the Romanes and intercept the victuallers that came to the army The same course did f Caes de bel ciu lib. 3. Caesar take for the brideling of the enemy and assurance of his victualles in his warres against Pompey But because nothing is more to be feared of an army transported into a strange country then want of victuals therfore must the Generals mind be intentiue and carefull not only for the g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. Cyr. paed 1. present but also for the future time He may not thinke that hee shall alwayes finde corne and prouision in the country especially if the enemy vnderstand the traine of warres Caesar found the same by experience in his warres in France when the enemy burned the country before him When the Persian king vnderstood the intention of Cyrus to be to depriue him of his crowne he sent a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. exped Cyr. 1. horsemen before to burne all things that might profitably serue the enemy And in the inuasion which Annibal made in Italy Fabius caused all the prouision that might serue for an army to be either spoyled or brought into strong townes in all places neere where Annibal and his company passed Therefore is it requisite that store of horses and carriages go along with the army for carriage of victualles munitions and other necessaries Cyrus b Xenoph. exped Cyr. 1. had foure hundred wagons laden with prouision beside those that belonged to particulars When in the country nothing is to be found then may this serue Further for fetching in of victualles the army ought to haue a sufficient strength of horsemen seconded with troupes of footemen for their retraite Annibal at one roade in Italy beside infinite cattell tooke foure thousand horses notwithstanding the strict commaundement of the Romanes that all things should be brought into strong holdes Whatsoeuer prouision may be found the same is to be saued and conueyed into those places that best may be defended and serue fittest for the prouision of our army c Salapiarn frumentum ex agris Metapontino Heracleensâ— comportat Annibal Liu. 24. Annibal brought all the corne and prouision which he found in the territorie of Metapontus and Heraclea into Salapia After that d Liu. 29. Scipio in his expedition in Afrike had taken Vtica he caused all the prouision and corne that could be found in the country to be carried thither and to be laid vp in store The same course did Quintius take in his warres against Nabis the tyrant and Caesar in his inuasion of this e Caef. bel gal 4. frumentum comportat Iland If the country where our army passeth doe not furnish vs with victualles the same is vtterly to be ruinated and burned Which if the countrey people do perceiue either for feare or for hope they will succour vs. f Liu 38. Manlius inuading the Gallogrecians forced all those countries where hee passed to compound for feare of spoyle For like dreade the Frenchmen where the English army g Froissart passed in the dayes of Edward the third did supplie the same with necessarie prouision It is a shame saieth h Cyr. paed 1. Xenophon for him that hath a sufficient army not to bee able to get victualles and things necessarie for the same If the enemie shall spoyle one countrey as looking for our forces that way yet shall it be hard for him to spoile the whole vnlesse hee meane to famish his owne people also The Romanes against the a Quò expeditiores commeatus essent incertior hostis quà venturum
bellū foret Fabius per Soranum agrum Decius per Sidicinum legiones duxit Liu. 10. Samnites led foorth their armies diuers wayes whereby the enemy being made vncertain of their comming could not preuent them nor depriue them of prouision Finally it is not possible for an army to enter any countrey but the same shall finde some weary of the present gouernement and desirous of innouation which may bee induced to helpe to furnish it with necessary prouision Caesar in his warres against the Heluetians and Ariouistus had his prouision from the Heduans in his iourney into Belgium from those of Rheimes Arriuing here in Britaine he found both partisans and prouision sufficient Neither are the times nowe changed In all estates there are some malcontents and many desirous of alterations If desire of innouation worke nothing yet if our army haue good successe the same shall procure vs friendes and meanes After Annibals victory at Cannae most of the subiectes of the Romanes reuolted and tooke part with him When the Frenchmen inuaded the b Guicciar lib. ◠15. kingdome of Naples the countrey either folowed them or tooke against them as they had prosperous or bad successe And if that our successe in Portugalll had bene good there is no doubt but that all the country would haue reuolted from the Spaniardes The Generall aboue all things is to haue regarde that hee spend no time vainely Opportunitie to doe great matters seldome offereth it selfe the second time By all meanes the enemy is to be prouoked to fight while our army is strong and his souldiers yong and vnexercised Annibal had more paine at the first to bring the Romans to fight then to ouercome them If the enemy refuse to fight he is to be pursued into some towne or straite or else by besieging of some strong place driuen to come to succour the same All the countrey doth followe the successe of the chiefe citie yet forasmuch as it is not sufficient to take vnlesse we keepe the same there is no lesse care to bee taken in fortifying and furnishing a towne taken then in taking the same Unlesse wee meane to loose our prize as the c Guicciard French did Nouara in the dayes of Lewis the twelth for want of prouision and good order Those that haue followed this course haue done great matters as is euident by the examples of Caesar Scipio Annibal the rest eyther failed of victory or could not maintaine their conquest I will not specifie it by our expeditions into France Portugal Flanders For that might be odious Although those that are wise by that which we wanted may see what we ought to haue had and done But I will rather vse forraine examples The enterprise of a Guicciard Lautrecke in the kingdome of Naples was broken by niggardly expenses slender preparatiues slowe proceeding couetousnesse of officers disorder and want of care about victualles and other prouisions The like disorder in the times of Charles the eight of France made the French to loose the kingdome of Naples which but lately before they had wonne Some of the chiefe gouernours spent their time in pleasures others minded nothing but spoyle they furnished not their townes with victualles nor with souldiers they pursued not the enemy so but that they suffered him to gather strength againe Neither may we impute the losse of Normandy Gascoigne and Guienne to other causes then to disorders in warres want of succour and supply and too much credulitie in trusting the French and presumption in hoping for successe without meanes But may some say to what end tendeth al this discourse seing mē now a daies are so farre from inuading their enemies that some can be content to leaue their friends languishing for want of help which are ioyned neere vnto them both by bond of religion and couenant and what hope is there that such shall giue the charge on others seeing they suffer the fire so neere their owne doores true it is that gouernours haue not beene so forward as some would haue wished and percase as some thinke their honour and the profite of their state required yet haue not matters beene so carelesly neglected as is surmised But suppose they had yet I hope the same course will not alwayes be continued nor that the discipline of armes shall foreuer be neglected of commanders There are yet a number left of the posteritie of those that haue made the name of the English nation famous in France Flanders Spaine and other countries and many do now beginne to mislike and condemne former disorders If at anie time such men may be heard or folowed I doubt not but that this discourse may be put in practise and such aduertisements heard and accepted more gratefully To annoy our enemies and procure our own safetie there is no better course then to translate warres frō our own doores into the enemies countrie Whatsoeuer wil be performed I thought it myduety not to conceale that which I thought not onely profitable but necessary for my countries honour as God willing by many reasons I shall shew vnto you CHAP. V. Part. 2. Wherein is prooued that it is farre better for the English nation things standing as now they do to inuade the Spaniard or any other enemy in his owne country then to receiue their assault and invasion here at home or to stay vntill we do see the enemy on our owne coast MAny there are I doubt not of a contrary minde but especially those that enioy honour wealth and ease These commonly vesire peace and detest warres and against such enterprises alleadge these reasons they say wee haue neither towne nor port in Spaine to receiue vs that the way thither is long and vncertaine by reason of contrarietie of windes and that it will be hard to remedie anie disorder that shall fall out in our army by reason of the distance of the place they alleadge further that we haue no friendes nor confederates in the countrey and that it will be more difficult to subdue the Spaniard in his countrey then abroad for euery man doeth 3 Ante ora patrū ante alta moenia Troiae The Troians were most venturous Virg. fight most valiantly when his wife and children and his owne landes and goodes are in his sight Lastly they suppose that the number of the enemies will be such as that an armie shall bee wearied with killing them On the other side if wee attend the Spaniardes comming hither say they they shall haue all obese things to make against them and wee all things fauorable for vs men municious and victuals sufficient our wines children country in our sight safe places to retrait vnto As Anteus wrastling with Hercules so oft as he touched the earth receiued new strength after his fall so they that in their owne countrey do◠fall rise againe very easily A 5 Tit. Quintius vsed this similitude to dissuade the Achaeans frō forreine warres Liu.
snayle so long as hee keepeth himselfe within his shell is defensed when he putteth out his head he lyeth open to danger So they that in their owne countrey may liue safe by making enterprises abroad oft times receiue blowes and alwayes lie open to danger The 6 Thucid. Athenians were vtterly ouerthrowen in Sicile that before that were well able to defend them selues at home And diuers great armies of Germans and Gaules inuincible if they had bene in their owne countreys were ruinated attempting to inuade forreine countreys Which reasons howsoeuer they seeme plausible in the eares of those that in matters of warres proceede like snayles and care not for any disgrace or future danger so they may enioy present ease yet are built on false grounds and matters mistaken For if we might safely rest at home I thinke him not wise nor sober that would seeke trouble abroad But seeing we can not haue peace the Spaniard hauing begun warres and threatning the destruction of our state the question is whether is better for vs to stay vntill he come vpon vs or to begin with him and seeke him in his owne countrey I say this is best my reasons are these He that first chargeth his enemie hath many aduantages it is his great foly if hee be not well prouided of souldiers mariners armes shippes horses and all prouisions for the warres hee may make choyce where to charge the enemy and proceedeth simply if he doe not there beginne where hee findeth his enemy weakest and most vnprouided He may make likewise choyce of his times take opportunities 7 Con le preuentioni diuersioni si vincono le guerre Guicciar lib. 1. Victorie is obteined by preuention and by the same warres are oft times diuerted as Alphonsus king of Naples sayd but practiced not For if hee had not lingred matters and had met the enemie in the way he had not so easily bene driuen out of his state No man obteineth better conditions of peace then he that first striketh Contrariwise dangerous it is to let the enemie come vpon vs. as 8 Malum nascens facilè opprimitur Inuereratum fit plerunque robustius Cic. Philip. diseases so the attempts and proceedings of the enemy at the first are easily stopped and both in time are strengthened and confirmed And oft times of light beginnings as 9 Tacit. annal 4. Tacitus sayth great troubles arise If thou 10 Veterem feâ—eÌ„do iniuriam inuitas nouam Liu. suffer one iniurie thou doest but giue thy enemy courage to offer thee another The enemy doeth oft times trie our patience and seeing vs patiently to endure iniuries as 12 Liu. 1. Ancus Martius sayd doeth contemne vs. And to 13 Latinos quasinihil non concedentibus Romanis ferociores fecit Liu. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid 1. yeelde in one thing doeth giue the enemy courage to aske more Nothing doeth procure more enemies then patience and 14 Liu. 6. contempt Warre is like a fire if it proceede it embraceth whatsoeuer is neere as the Campamans sayd If 15 Liu. 7. Alexander king of Epeirus comming in succour of the Lucanians had had good successe the Romanes should haue felt his force therefore did they vse at the first to preuent matters Vndestanding that Philip king of Macedonia made preparations to come ouer into Italy they tooke paynes to meete him in his owne Countrey Likewise did they preuent the attemptes of Antiochus Which course if they had taken when Annibal first besieged 16 Cunctati Saguntinis opem ferre de Italia dimicauimus sayd a certaine Romane Senator Saguntum they had deriued the warres into Spaine and escaped the storme which Annibals army brought into Italy Those that feare to assayle the enemy vpon 17 Cauete ne spe pacis perpetuam pacem amittatis Cic. Philip. 7. hope of peace loose oft times peace for euer Tully feared it seeing the Romanes proceede so coldly against Antony and the issue prooued it true The obiect on s that are made are of no moment for admit we neither haue Port nor towne nor friende in the Spanish Dominions yet armes and victory procure all these The coast can neuer be so well garded but that an army may alwayes haue accesse to some Port or landing place or other The Romanes landed diuers times in Afrike during the warres with Carthage and spoyled their townes and countrey nay Caesar landed his army in Epeirus when the enemy with an army prepared helde all the Port townes The Athenians made diuers descentes into Peloponesus notwithstanding the diligent garde that the enemy made Who seeth not then howe easy it is to sease a Port or to land in Spaine the countrey being almost without garde of souldiers if any man doubted before yet since the voyage into Portugal I thinke there is none will make question of that matter Neither did Scipio doubt for want of Portes or friendes to sayle into Afrike or the Persians into Greece or other to inuade his enemy For armes procure friendes and winne Portes so that had we no friends in Spaine yet what resoluce man would refuse to goe against such enemies much more therefore nowe seeing the Portugals are discontent with the Spanish gouernment and Spaine is so stored with men of foreine nations and diuers malcontents As for the distance it is nothing where there is no resistance by the way And what reason haue we to accompt Spaine farre when the Romanes doubted not to transport their armies not onely into Afrike and Spaine but also into Asia which is a farre longer cut If winde and weather serue in three dayes and three dightes the voyage may be perforified The difficulty of supplyes may easily be holpen with prouision made beforehand If the army goe into Spaine well stored there is no such haste of supply but that it may come in good time Why not into Spaine from England as well as from Rome into Spaine Afrike Asia yea and Britein But the Spaniards are valiant at home and will not giue ground fighting for their Countrey wiues and children As if the Romanes a more warrelike and valiant people did not giue ground to Annibals army in Italy and as if the Gaules were not vanquished in diuers battels by Caesar and the Spaniards in time past by the Carthaginians and Romanes and since that by the Gothes and Mores yea and by the Portugales also their neighbours And not onely our ancesters in the dayes of Edward the third and Richard the second but wee our selues also haue had triall of that enemie both in Galicia and Portugal Hee that 19 Maior spes est maiorque animus inferentis vim quám arcencis Liu. 21. commeth to inuade others fighteth with greater courage then those that are inuaded by the testimonie of Annibal and proofe of experience 20 Illis ignauis esselicet qui receptum habent vobis necesse est fortibus viris esse Liu. 21. They that haue
no hope of life nor escape but in victory can not chuse but fight valiantly Contrariwise they that haue refuge and hope another time to fight more happily which is the case of euery man in his owne countrey will not fight so resolutely The Gaules in their owne countrey gaue ground and fledde before Caesar and other Romane Captaines that in Italy had oft foyled the Romanes And those Africans that in Italy were victorious coulde not withstande Scipio in Afrike Alexander entring into the middest of the Persian Empire ouerthrewe the same vtterly Further it standeth with the Spaniard now as sometime it did with the Carthaginians doth with al that vse mercenary souldiers For so long as they may enioy their countrey reuenues therewith hire most valiant souldiers of other nations so long they are strong but if they be inuaded in their owne countrey both their reuenues will fayle and their owne people not being exercised in warres wil make but slender resistance So that suppose the Spanish army in the Low countreys be strong which notwithstanding hath bene dealt withall by our people yet are wee not to looke for such souldiers in Spaine The Athenians inuading Sicile were ouerthrowen by the disagreement and insufficiencie of the Captaines the disorders of the souldiers and want of things necessary which may be remedied by diligent foresight prouision and gouernement But suppose some did miscary in foreine warres shall we therefore condemne that course there is no reason seeing as warres at home are not condemned because many nations haue bene subdued and vanquished in their owne countrey Betwixt the Athenians or the Achaeans this kingdome there is no comparison in force or greatnesse But if the citie of Athens could subdue all Sicile except one onely citie it is no such difficult matter to inuade the Spaniard as is supposed Finally some in trembling maner demaund what if such an armie so farre caried away should miscary which is a very ridiculous point for men to care more for those mens liues that d ee willingly offer themselues to the aduenture then they doe themselues Seeing they dare venture nothing themselues yet let them not enuie and hinder others that will But suppose the army should miscary yet would the losse be farre lesse then if so many should be lost at home For here the sequele would be great there would be only losse of men which God be thanked this countrey may well spare But what simplicity is it to talke of loosing where men goe with a resolution rather to winne then loose neither Annibal going in Italy nor Scipio into Afrike cast any such doubt Suppose nowe on the other side that the Spaniard should doe that which hee once attempted and God more then our owne force would not suffer him to doe and that an army of Spaniards were prouided to inuade vs these things would fall out not knowing where the enemie will land all the coast must be furnished with souldiers For to thinke that our trayned men would be trayned together in time to make resistance is simplicitie And if any port be left open as good all should be disarmed But this would be double the charge of leuying and furnishing an army for Spaine and the longer the enemy holdeth vs in breath the greater would the charge arise and all this for any thing that I can see without effect seeing it is neither possible to keepe an army from landing nor safety to fight without great aduantage immediatly vpon the enemies landing If the enemy should land as well he may comming with great force we neither haue strong townes nor many great riuers to stoppe his proceedings nor any way to resist but by force of men in open fielde and howe dangerous it is to oppose yong souldiers and almost tumultuary forces against a puissant army of olde souldiers the victories of Annibal in Italy of Scipio in Afrike of the Greekes in Persia of the English in Spaine and infinite Histories declare If the enemy be suffered to take breath who seeth not howe hee will fortifie him selfe if hee be suffered to range without fight who considereth not the wracke and spoyles of the countrey that will folowe When the countrey is all in trouble the reuenues both of the Prince and priuate men either will cease or at least be greatly diminished Ferdinando king of Naples in the inuasion of his State made by the French found it 23 S'annihilauan l'entrate Guicciar lib. 1. true And reason may teach vs that where the husbandmen part by the rapines of the enemy and part by the spoyles of our owne souldiers can not enioy the fruites of their ground their rentes can not be payde and if rentes bee not payd howe will our souldiers be payd suppose then that the charge of an army in a foreine countrey be great yet may it well be borne being equally diuided so long as men enioy their liuings peaceably if that may not be howe shall we mainteine twise so many souldiers at home If when the enemies inuade vs malcontent persons should discouer themselues then as the number of our enemies so the heape of our troubles would increase But suppose for what danger in such a case is not to be forecast that our army should receiue some checke what townes haue wee or straits to arrest the enemy the countrey people being vnacquainted with warres what lawes cankeepe thē in order helpe can wee looke for none our friendes being either not able or not willing to helpe vs for some seeme offended with the spoyles of their shippes others beare vs in hand they will remember our slender helpe aforded to them which notwithstanding is more then they deserued Other secret wounds may not be opened neither needeth it seeing as euery man may perceiue by these reasons which already I haue brought how easy safe profitable and honourable it is to inuade the Spaniard and how disaduatageous it wil be to this land if either we stay with our hands folded together or els deferre to charge the Spaniard with full force vntill such time as he shall come to cut our throtes at home Hiero 25 Liu. 21. king of Sicile when the Romanes were inuaded by Annibal gaue them counsaile to transport an army ouer into Afrike the happy successe of Scipio doing the same fifteene yeeres afterward and by that meanes making an end of the warres doeth confirme that counsell to haue bene most excellent If when Philip 26 Liu. 24. king of Macedonia ioyned in league with Annibal they had not sent an army into Greece to finde him occupied at home hardly could they haue made resistance against the force of two so mightie enemies vnited together The experience of the warres with Annibal in Italy made them more wise afterward and speedy For hearing of Philips of Macedonia and Antiochus his preparatiues to transport their armies into Italy they eased them of the paine and met them in more then halfe
way But what neede examples of foreine nations seeing it hath bene the vse of our ancesters to seeke their enemies alwayes abroade in their owne countreys this course is most honorable most safe yea and that which is nowe most accompted of by some most profitable and least chargeable for vs also Nothing can be more honorable then to defend our religion lawes and countrey against those that seeke to oppresse vs no course more safe then so to hazard that the losse doe not endanger our state no way more profitable then by keeping the enemy farre off to mainteine the reuenues of the Crowne and euery mans priuate liuing and trade at home Wherefore refusing the pernicious counsell of those that babble of I knowe not what peace let the Spaniard rather feele the effects of warre in Spaine then bee suffered be to drawe his vnsatiable sword in England his malice is not lesse then it was But hither to God hath broken his purposes and crossed his designements But if he be suffered quietly to possesse Britein the longer wee differre our warres the more dangerous we shall finde them and our selues more vnable to resist Nowe that hee hath a strong party against him in France and that the Low countreys either stand against him or are weary of his gouernement and that Portugal is malcontent with his newe tyranny is the time to hurt him and preuaile against him If we suffer him to settle his owne affaires and this good opportunitie to passe I feare we shall often wish for the like and hardly finde it CHAP. V. Part. 3. Wherein certaine aduertisements are giuen to our souldiers that are sent in ayde of foreine nations THe best counsell that I can giue my countreymen is to assayle the enemy in his owne countrey but seeing that I cannot I feare perswade them to that is best and safest the next good that I can doe them is to admonish them that being sent in small numbers to succour our friendes oppugned by our common enemy they proceede not rashly First therefore wisedome requireth that they goe strong for that in foreine countreys they are no lesse to feare the practices of double hearted friends then the force of open enemies The Romanes when they sent ayde to their friendes neuer sent lesse then a full army sufficient to encounter the enemy In sending lesse either they should not haue pleasured their friends or els haue endangerd their owne men Besides this it would haue bene dishonor to the name of the Romanes if either they had not bene able to ouercome the enemy or willing to see their friendes long languish in feare or their souldiers ouermatched and not able to looke out into the fielde For this cause being required ayde of the Campanians against the Samnites of the Latins against the Volscians they sent their Consuls Generals forth with a mighty force not only to driue the enemie from the townes but also to fight with him in the fielde And taking vpon them the protection of the Sicilians against them of Carthage they sent thither sufficient strength both by sea and land Caesar going in ayde of the Heduans and other the confederates of the Romanes in France oppressed by the Heluetians Germans led with him a most braue army furnished with all things necessary Neither was it the vse of the Romanes only but of all nations that vnderstood the practise of armes yea and of ours also The Blacke Prince in the dayes of Edward the third going into Spaine in succour of Don Pedro de Castile led thither a most florishing army where with he ouerthrew the power of Spaine and restored the Ring to his seate Likewise the Duke of Lancaster in his expedition into Portugall did not rely vpon the ayde of that nation but caried with him a gallant army of English men And when Edward the fourth went into France to ayde the Duke of Burgundy be caried with him such a power as the heartes of the French trembled to see it and the king rather by money and rewardes then by force sought to cause them to returne If the Romanes had sent three or foure thousand in ayde of their friendes in Sicile or Greece or Asia and so supplyed them by litle and litle the opinion of their wisdome and forces would neuer haue growen so glorious Neither could the Prince of Parma of late times if he had gone into France with a small force haue deliuered his confederates from danger or els broken the purposes of his enemies in that sort hee hath If then wee will not followe the ancient rules of warre yet let vs not shewe lesse iudgement and value in our proceedings then our enemie Whosoeuer therefore meaneth to winne honor in succour of his friends abroad let him as much as he can endeuour to cary with him a sufficient force Small numbers are neither esteemed of enemies nor friends Into the field they dare not come for they are too fewe and too weake being penned vp in cities they famish If our friends be stronger then our ayde then are they commaunded by them If any of their leaders want gouernement our men that are put to all hard seruices pay the prise of their folly If any calamitie happen to their army our people first feele it They shift for them selues being in their owne countrey ours are slayne both of enemies and friendes and if victuals waxe scant they sterue first I neede not shewe this by other examples then by our proceedings in France and the Lowe countries But suppose that by our aide our friendes should be able to ouercome or make peace with the enemy yet are not our people more assured then before When the Protestants in the first ciuil warres by the meanes of our forces had obteined that they would or at least tollerable conditions of peace they ioyned with our enemies to besiege vs in Newhauen and sent vs away without reward or thankes The Spaniards that had restored a Guicciar li. 16. Maximilian Sforza to the Duchie of Millan the warres being ended for their reward had like to haue had their throates cut But they stood so much vpon their gard that the practise of Hierome Moron and the Marquis of Pescara could take no effect In ancient time howe often haue our people bene deluded by the Dukes of Britaine and Burgundy in whose aide they went to venture their liues and doe we thinke that the people of the Lowe countries if once they be deliuered from the feare of the Spaniard will not turne out our garrisons and vse vs in like sort they will be able to doe it and others haue done so before Why then should we thinke our selues priuiledged To assure our selues therefore of our friendes the onely meanes is to haue a force sufficient to master them and correct their disloyaltie The same is the only course to preuaile against our enemies to helpe our friendes and mainteine our selues If that may not be obteined I
see not how our people can mainteine their honor but the next course to assure them selues is to haue cautionary townes or hostages or both deliuered into their handes townes that they may assure them selues of retraite in case of bad dealing hostages that they may be assured of their good dealing Without townes their case is desperate if the enemie preuaile The b Froâ—ssart French that came to aide Galeazzo Duke of Millain vnder the leading of the Countie of Armignac being scattered in the siege of Alexandria were slaine by the Pesants of the Countrey The like happened to those poore Lanceknights that were defeated at c Anno 1569. Moncontour Neither were the Spaniards better vsed that came in aide of the Leaguers being defeated by the present french king neere Dreux anno 1589. This towne that is giuen in caution is to be garded with a sufficient force of English furnished with victuals and munitions in the garde of the garrison and not as in Vlissingen in the keeping of the townesmen vnto whom whosoeuer trusteth shall assuredly be deceiued Thirly let those that haue the gouernment of our men see that they both march and lodge vnited and strong that they be not either disturbed in the night nor betraied vnder colour of frieÌ„dship Strangers that stragle are a spoile not onely to the pesants but to their secrete euil-willers And those that lodge without defence or suffer any to come within them in the night are open to euery enterprise of their enemies That they may both lodge and march hard together order is to be taken that they may haue victuals deliuered them alwaies before hand and that they be not driuen to seeke abroad for them To conclude the onely meanes of safetie is neither to trust enemy nor friend for none are abused but they that trust dissoyall people If that our men can neither haue townes nor hostages nor victuals nor good vsage what should they be sent among such people or why should they trust others being not themselues trusted or why should any succour be sent but such as may command and punish the dissoyall and haue strength to stand vpon themselues Those therefore that are gouernours I trust they will maturely consider of this point if not let them looke for this issue if the enemy be stronger then are our men either to be slaine or famished by the enemie if by our forces our friendes preuaile then for their rewarde shall they either be turned out of the countrey with disgrace or be famished or cut in peeces by their friendes These things considered let vs nowe consequently proceede to declare howe an army after that it is exercised and furnished and that the Generals haue all due considerations both therein and in all other prouision and proceeding required before the marche of the army may march orderly and safely CHAP. VI. Part. I. Of the order and aray of an army marching toward the enemy THe first care of him that meaneth to march safely in the enemies countrey or where an enemie is neere ought to be that his troupes obserue good order and aray and the neerer that he approcheth to the enemy the greater ought his care to be The neglect of this point onely hath bene the ouerthrow of many armies It giueth opportunitie to the enemy to assaile vs and confoundeth yong souldiers when they are ignorant how to come in order to defend themselues Easie it is to be obserued of men that are willing and vnderstand reason and sharpe effects and correction it worketh on the stubborne and wilfull That the General or his officers may put the armie in good order of march first they are to vnderstand what is the aray of the whole armie considered together as one whole body Secondly the places of euery part as of horsemen footemen and of footemen of the diuers sortes of weapons Thirdly the iust distances of souldier from souldier according to euery mans qualitie and weapon Fourthly the places of the Generall and other chiefe Commanders Fiftly of the great Ordonance and munition Lastly of the cariages and baggage and boyes and seruants that attend vpon it and likewise of marchants and victualers and others that followe the army for other causes then to fight The armie consisteth of three partes commonly considered especially as it marcheth for in fighting the orders and parts doe much differ The first part that marcheth wee call vantgard the second the battell the third the arier ward Euery one of these ought to be a perfect body of it selfe hauing both his smal shot and great ordonnance and his horsemen and his pikes targets and halberds placed in good order Oft times I know it is otherwise and that either horsemen or pikes or targets are wanting in some part or other But howe much of these they want so much they want of perfection and due proportion in a iust army For we speake not of 6 or 7 thousand which cannot obserue this order but had better to march vnited but of a ful army of 24 or 30 thousand which number marching in this order so that one part may succour an other I accompt doth march orderly and strongly If one part goe farre before an other it may fall out as it happened to the Protestants in the plaines of S. Clere anno 1569 that one part shall be in route before the other can come to succour The Romanes marched distinguished by legions whose numbers were diuers and which seldome were complete but in effect the aray was one saue that the Romanes commonly made but two partes of their armie and placed their baggage in the midst as did Caesar marching against the Neruians In the order of the partes and placing of horsemen and footemen and sorting of weapons the same reasons haue place for the most part among all nations Before the auantgard light horsemen by ancient prescription may challenge the first place If they be seconded with some shot and targetters lightly armed they may be the bolder to come neere the enemy and to abide his charge These are called auantcoureurs and serue for discouery of the enemies proceedings and of the situation of the Countrey and intercepting of the enemies espials and diuers other vses Vpon the front of the auantgard march small shot and musquetiers after them follow the armed men with the ensignes in the midst or rather somewhat toward the first rankes On either hand and behind the armed men are other companies of shot to be ranged and without the shot somewhat auanced forward argoletiers and then launces take their place If the enemie make countenance as if he would charge some part of our army with his horse they are to be drawne toward the side where the enemie threatneth to giue the charge but if the enemie doe flie before vs and shunne to fight the horsemen of the whole armie would be ioyned together and sent to charge him on the sides or backe and to stay his marche
as Caesar practised first against the a Caes bel Gal. 1. Heluetians then against the b Caes bel Gal. 2. Aduaticans and lastly against Petreius his c Caes bel ciu 1. armie in Spaine By which meanes he ouertooke those that were farre before him But this hath vse where we are stronger then the enemie in horse Howe many horsemen or shot or pikes or targets and other weapons shall march in a ranke I referre to the iudgement of a good Sergiant maior according to the bredth of the waies and approches of the enemie The more doe march in a ranke the lesse paine he shall haue to set them in order when he would place them in order of battell and the stronger the aray is d Guicciar lib. 9. Ten thousand Switzers in Lombardy in the warres betwixt the Spaniards and French marched foure score in a ranke harde by the French armie which seeing their resolution durst not charge them The same course is to be taken in the aray of the battell and arierward marching saue that these two partes following without any great distance betweene neede not light horsemen or auantcoureurs especially where the enemie is before Neither haue they such vse of shot or horsemen as the auantgard where they are vsed for supplies rather then to fight in front In the placing of horsemen footemen in sorting and employing of diuers weapons so that euery sort may doe best seruice consisteth the speciall iudgement of a wise leader For therein are infinite differences according to the diuers strength of the enemie and our owne forces and likewise according to the diuersities of grounds and times Yet commonly in marching this order is obserued first the light-horse seconded if need be with shot and targetters especially where the country is rough and wooddie serue for auantcoureurs Caliuers and musquetiers are not onely to march on the front but also on the sides and backe of the armed men Lances and men of armes are ranged the outmost on the sides for the most part Next to the shot march the pikes of that part of the armie these would bee rāged rather in battaillions according to the fashion of the Romans that the shot and other light armed men might saue themselues and againe make head within the distances then all in one front ioyned togither But this is where the plainnesse of the ground will giue leaue In euery battaillion the ensignes are to bee placed somewhat toward the first rankes garded with good store of targetters and halberds well armed In placing and sorting of weapons the Generall is to consider that the charge of horsemen against shot and targetters is mortall if they be not either garded with pikes or haue the vantage of ditches or hedges or woods where they cannot reach them In which case the shot gauleth the horse if they come within the leuell of the piece Shot and targetters against pikes worke good effects pikes ioined close and standing firme togither doe breake the carriere of horsemen especially where they haue their musquetiers placed neere by them Archers where they haue a defense before them doe good seruice in the field against horsemen These things let the General haue so in mind that he may rather take the aduantage of weapons in the encounter then giue it to the enemie In marching the distances of euery ranke from ranke and of euery souldier from his companion by him are greater then whē they stand ranged in battell readie to fight It skilleth not much what the distance be so they may beare their weapons commodiously march seemelie yet that euery man might know what distance is sufficient what is most seemly it were good that one rule were obserued Shot although in fighting they obserue rather a course then aray and are to stirre vp and downe to espie where they may hit the enemie yet that they may with more ease and speed bee drawen to seruice are to march in distance from ranke to ranke fiue or sixe foote from shoulder to shoulder one foote or a foote and a halfe Argoletiers or Pistoliers in march from horse to horse on the side are distant two foote from ranke to ranke a yarde and a halfe or thereabout The Lancier without bardes rideth in the same distance Pikemen from their fellowes side by them are distant a foote and a halfe or two foote from the pikemen behind and before by reason of the length of their pikes twelue foote Their march to their corps de gard when they hold their pikes vpright which the Italian calleth inalborar is out of this rule Of their distances in charging or receiuing the charge of horse or foote wee shall speake when we come to the place Halbardiers march a foote and a halfe from shoulder to shoulder and seuen foote from ranke to ranke The targetter may obserue the same distance from shoulder to shoulder but hee needeth not such distance from ranke to ranke The Generall as he hath the commandement so he ought to haue the care of all and therefore ought to be in all places But because he cannot bee in all places at one time therefore doeth the practise of warre require that he assigne the guiding of his three battaillions to three of his chiefe officers and commaunders that are men of iudgement and experience to see and commaund in his absence all men in their battaillion to march in order Himselfe may march with the battell vnlesse for some cause it shall please him to march in the vantgard or arierward The Romanes ouer euery legion or regiment of fiue or sixe thousand placed a principall commaunder they called him Legatum the same was of the Generals counsell and in his absence one of his lieutenants Euerie seuerall troupe of horsemen are to haue their seuerall commaunders and euery compaine of shot likewise All which ought to be obedient to the Generall of the horse or Colonell of the footemen which know the Generals counsell The seuerall troupes also of armed men are to haue their seuerall commaunders prouided alwayes that no one companie haue more then one commaunder for auoiding of confusion and that euery of these hearken to their superiours which vnder the Generall haue the chiefe gouernement of euery battaillion The Serieant maior and corporals of the field his officers are to acquaint euery commaunder with the Generals direction which the same is to execute These are therefore suffered to goe vp and downe to see things in order For others it is not good they should leaue their araie unlesse it bee for necessarie causes as sickenesse the necessities of nature and such like The commaunders of euery troupe are to march in the head of their troupes their lieutenants behind the same All other colonels captaines lieutenants and serieants are to keepe their ranke and araie wherein they shall be placed For although ouer their priuate companies when they are single they commaund yet in the armie vnited togither they
are commaunded and onely to see those that follow them where they march to do their dueties which consent vnlesse it be obserued these inconueniences will ensue By contrarie commaundements there will fall out confusion and contention and many captaines lieutenants and serieants will walke out of order and much time will be spent in setting of men in their places which euery souldier ought to doe of himselfe The great ordonance being parted betwixt the vantgard battell and rereward sometime is drawen in head of the a So was it at the battell of Moncontour and in the battell betwixt the Conte Egmont and Thermes by Graueling pikes of euerie battell but for that it must needes trouble those that would march on to fight with the enemie farre better it were if all the great ordonance were drawen on the sides of the vantgard as oft as the enemie made shew of charge and then drawen vpon some hill or some other place of aduauntage In the field it doeth more trouble then seruice the effectes of it is but noyse and foolerie onelie that small townes should not make resistance it is drawen along and also for the vse that it hath in sieges and batteries Concerning the baggage and those seruants and boyes that attend vpon the same and such as follow the armie as merchants or victualers rather to gaine then to fight this rule is generally to be obserued that the same be placed betweene the bataillions so that in a charge the same may best be defended and yet not trouble the araie of the armie The same is to be placed where there is least danger The Greekes returning from the battell betwixt Cyrus b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. exped Cyr. 2. and Artaxerxes being coasted and pursued by the enemie placed their cariages neere the riuer along which they marched and their armed men toward the enemie Caesar marching a Caes bel gal 2. against the Neruians after three partes of foure of his whole forces placed his baggage being garded with the other fourth part following behind At other times when there was lesse suspition of the enemie euery legion marched by it selfe and the baggage thereof after b Praecedunt cohortes sequitur prima legio medijs impedimentis sinistrum latus 19. legio c. Tacit. 2. Germanicus after certaine chosen troupes placed the first regiment or legion and after that hee caused the baggage to follow garded on either side and behind with the rest of the armie If our baggage and impediments be great so much as may be spared is to be left in some strong towne Or if the enemie bee behind The c Caes de bel ciu 3. baggage togither with our hurt men is to bee sent before into some place of safetie as Caesar practised in his retraite from Dyrrhachium This is the common course which is I thinke also best for an armie to vse in marching But if the enemie make countenance or rather doe begin to charge any part of the same then that part which is neerest him is to be made the head or vantgard the other two parts of the armie are to be drawen the one on the right hand the other on the left If the enemie come on front then the rankes of the auantgard are to bee doubled or multiplied according to the capacitie of the ground The battell and rierward are to be drawen vp the one toward the left hand the other toward the right or els one part is to bee drawen vp vntill the same bee equall of front with the auantgard and the other beyng deuided into battaillions to serue for supplie where neede is The shot is to bee placed part in front and the rest on the sides and without them ought horsemen to take their standing expecting their aduauntage and the commaundement of their leaders But if our horsemen bee few and not able to match the enemies cauallerie let them not bee to farre aduaunced vnlesse they bee seconded with shot and halfe pikes armed à le legiere but rather let them bee reserued to chase the enemie beyng foyled by the footemen and placed betweene either ground of aduauntage or battaillions of pikes And this if it be done of those that haue skill ye shall neither heare noise nor see confusion nor time spent about it The souldiers of Caesar beyng suddenly charged by the d Caes de bel gal 2. Neruians as they were newlie come to their lodging did euerie man presently set himselfe in aray to fight And Annibal had so taught his souldiers that euery one issuing out of his lodging coulde fall in aray of himselfe either being ready to fight or to marche And why might not our souldiers also be so instructed and exercised that they might doe the like but some want care some skill and some both Some percase will aske Who gaue me auctoritie to prescribe which are very simple not to see that I prescribe nothing of mine owne but onely declare the auncient practise of warre and proceeding of most famous warriers The Romanes vsed this course and so did the Greekes and Carthaginians First marched the light horse then the light armed after them the armed men The baggage was placed in the midst of the armie This order did Caesar oserue in his marche against the a Caes bel gal 1. Heluetians b Caes Bel. gal 2. Belgians and in c Caes bel Ciu. 1. Spaine against Afranius and Petreius The same did d Liui. 21. Annibal practise in his marching all along Italy The same course for the most part is obserued of those that haue skill in our times but that the differences of groundes and diuers conditions of mens armies make them alter some circumstances Metellus e Metellus cum expeditis cohortibus item funditorum sagittaâ—iorum lecta manu apud primos erat in postremo C. Marius cum equitibus curabat in vtruÌ„que latus auxiliarios equites permistos velites dispertiuerat Salust bel Iugurth marching against Iugurtha placed first certaine choise companies of slingers and archers and after them troupes of armed men without impediments or baggage there himselfe commaunded C. Marius folowed with the horsemen vpon both sides he placed horsemen and light armed of his associats mingled among them guided by certaine captaines of horse the legions marched in the midst Xenophon for that a square battaile in straites is easily disordered did deuide the square into f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph exped Cyr. 3. companies which knowing their places in the square marched few in a ranke in straits and in open ground came into their aray againe His horse and slingers he cast out on the front and sides Corbulo so g Corbulo viae pariter pugnae composuerat exercitum latere dextro 3 legio sinistro 6 incedebat medijs decumanorum delectis recepta inter ordines impedimenta teâ—gum mille equites tuebantur in coâ—nibus pedes sagittaâ—ius câ—tera manus
equitum ibat Tacit 13. marched in his voyage against the Parthians as was both for the marche and fight most safe and fit in the right side marched the thirde Regiment the sixth on the left and the tenth in the midst the carriages were placed betweene the Regiments a thousande horse followed for garde of the Rierwarde vpon the winges were the rest of the horse placed and by them the archers and light armed footemen When the blacke h Froissart Prince marched into Spaine his armie was deuided into three partes vpon the winges marched the horse the archerie being then wel armed made the body of the battaillions The weakenesse of the armies of our time proceede of contempt of military arayes and orders The French among their footemen haue fewe or none armed Before the encountre at Rocheabeille Anno 1569 a Hist. de troubl de Fr. l. 7. the Protestants marched thus the horsemen made the Auantgarde on either side marched certaine troupes of shot seconded by horsemen after the vantgarde followed a battaillion of lansquenets and in front of them were drawne eight field pieces after them followed diuers Regiments of shot representing the battell and on the side thereof another battaillion of lansquenets with some other pieces That which was the strength of the army that is pikes and halberds and targets armed was wanting and shot placed where if they had bene charged they could haue done no seruice Oft times the Vantgarde marcheth and lodgeth so farre from the rest of the partes of the army that it is no hard matter for a vigilant man of warre to cut one in pieces before the other can come to succour This b Hist. de troubl de Fr. was the death of the Prince of Condè and ouerthrow of his auantgarde at the battell of Cognac And the same was the ouerthrow of c Appian de bel Parth. Crassus by the Parthians for his sonne was so farre auanced before the rest of the army that before he could be relieued he and his troupes were defeated And in our times some great commaunders albeit they had but fiue or sixe thousand yet would they needes make three partes forsooth which is the cause of the weakenesse of the whole the Captaines lieuetenants and sergiants which are a good part of the strength of the army stand for the most part out of ranke and will all take vpon them to be leaders because of contrary commaundements no man can tell where to goe while commaunders striue together there is great contention and noyse made And finally a great matter made of nothing and nothing made of all their seruice and matters very easie made difficult For if the army be a body then euery souldier ought to be taught that he may knowe howe to stand in his place as euery member is placed in the body But we haue saide ynough of the aray now therefore let vs talke of the proceeding of an army CHAP. VI. Part. 2. Wherein is declared by what meanes an Army may march safely in the enemies countrey and ouercome all difficulties whereby either in champion or wooddie grounds or els in the passage of riuers or hils and straites the same may be disordered or hindered BEside the common aray of the army in marching which we are as nere as we can to endeuour to vnderstand and keepe if we meane to marche assured we are also to learne the estate of the enemie the site of the countrey where we do marche and how the ordinary aray is to be changed according to the diuersitie of the grounds to the ende that wee may both in champion and in wooddy grounds and also ouer riuers and hils passe safely Chabrias the Athenian captaine a Plutarch Apopth said he deserued not the name of a General that vnderstood not the estate of the enemies And of b Liuy 22. Annibal Liuy giueth report that he vnderstood what was done in the enemies campe as well as themselues The enemies purposes and estate we vnderstand partly by the examination of prisoners taken partly by the report of such as flie from the enemie vnto vs but most assuredly by our owne espials and discouerers which either goe disguised among the enemies or els in warrelike sort approche his lodging or army to see what countenance he hath The situation of the countrey is vnderstoode partly by cardes truely representing the hils straits and riuers and partly by report of the countrey people examined seuerally but most exactly by men of iudgement frō some hie place viewing it c Xenoph. exped Cyr. 1. Xenophon enquired and learned of such prisoners as he had taken both the estate of the enemies and the diuers wayes wherby he might returne into Greece by the same also he vnderstood the situation of the countreys and maners of the people by which he was to passe with his company Ring Edward the d Froisart thirde being in paine to passe the riuer of Some in France by the instruction giuen him by one of his prisoners vnderstood of a foord The Romanes by the examination of diuers prisoners taken in Afrike vnderstood all the proceedings of the enemies Yet must not we giue too great credite to such for subtil persons do often dissemble and desperat villeines wil not sticke to lead vs into trappes Diuers of them therefore are to be examined seuerally streitly and not to be beleeued vnlesse they consent and speake probably a Caes de bel ciu 2. Curio lightly examining a prisoner concerning the force of the enemie was greatly abused and pursuing the enemie vpon his report was himselfe and his companie ouerthrowne Many things are likewise vnderstood by relation of those that flie vnto vs from the enemie By such kinde of men the b Per transfugas cognitum est quos leuitas ingeniorum ad cognoscendas hostium res in omnibus bellis praebet Liui. 31. Romanes discouered the preparatiues of the king of Macedonia against them Annibal partly by such and c Annibalem nihil eorum quae apud hostes gerebantur fallebat perfugis multa indicantibus per suos explorantem Liui. 22. partly by his owne diligence searching out matters continually by his espials vnderstood whatsoeuer the Romanes did King Edward the 3. by Robert of Artois that vpon some displeasure was driuen out of the Court of France vnderstood diuers secrets of that state as also by Godefry d'Harecourt the erle Momfort that fled to him out of Britaine Yet may we not giue light credence to all their words Percase they vnderstand not matters well or els deale doubly d Transfugis non fidens Syllanus speculatores ad hoftem misit Syllanus therefore in Spaine beside the report of those that fled from the enemie sent his espials to see what the enemie did And Annibal vsed to keepe them diligently that reported any thing that if the reports were found vntrue they might be punished The e
noses of them and furnished with shot and targets are first to set forward with equall front and after them other boates laden with piquiers are to folow the ordonance and impediments must come in the midst and the rest of the army afterward But in passing of plaines woods straites mountaines or riuers there is no course more effectual then to vse expedition celeritie In all practises of warre the same is most auaileable For by this meanes the danger is often passed before the enemie be ready to withstande vs. a Caes bel gal 7. Caesar by his expedition had woÌ„derful successe in al his affaires He passed the hils of Auuergne before the enemy had any suspition of his coÌ„ming He passed his army in one day ouer the riuer of Soan which the Heluetians could not do in many By the same he preuented b Caes bel ciu 1. al Pompeyes preparatiues and draue his enemies out of Italy before they had any respit giuen them to take breath c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. exped Cyr. 3. Xenophon taking the tops of the hils before the enemie looked for him passed great dangers with great ease Montgomery in his iourney into Bearne vsed that speede that before the enemies were assembled to resist him he had passed all the riuers straites and mountaines which were in his way No marueile therefore if they do nothing that make such intollerable delayes in all things Loyterers are taken in trappe and made often to flye because they will not runne The army of Afranius in Spaine being nere to the hils where they might haue escaped Caesars hands and marched safely delayed time and suffred Caesars army to come betwixt them and their safetie which was the ruine of that company Yet if the heauens should be ruinated some as it should seeme would not mend their pace CHAP. VII Part. 1. Wherein is declared what trauerses and oppositions the defendants are to make that thereby they may stoppe or hinder the progresse and march of the enemy THis may be vnderstood in part by that which hath bene said already For seeing the difficulties that hinder the proceeding of an army are either wants and weaknesse in it selfe or oppositions made by the enemy that taking the aduantages of hilles or wooddes or straits or riuers is alwayes ready to hurt or hinder it who seeth not that the stronger our oppositions are the slower will the army be able to proceed The principall meanes to breake the course of an army ranging vp and downe the countrey is want of prouision This was the course that Fabius vsed against Annibal in Italy To effect this strait order is to be taken that the a Edictum proponebatur vt quioê° oppida castellaque immunita essent in loca tuta commigrarent ex agris quoque vti demigrarent omnes regionis eius qua Annibal iturus esset tectis priùs incensis ac frugibus corruptis ne cuius rei copia esset Liu. 22. people saue themselues in places of strength and that thither also they conuey their corne prouision and cattell whatsoeuer cannot be carried away the same is to be burned and spoiled all along where the enemy commeth Which order Fabius caused to be proclamed and obserued in the warres in Italy with Annibal b Liu. Philip king of Macedonia not being able to defend the townes countrey of Thessalia transported the people into other places the townes villages he burnt the corne he laid vp safe the cattell he caused to be driuen into places of strength c Pabulatione commeatu Vercing etorix equitatu abuÌ„dans Caesarem prohibere conatus est Caes bel Gal. 7. Vercingetorix the captain of the Gaules seeing himselfe no way able to match Caesars army in open field yet by spoiling the country burning whatsoeuer might be coÌ„modious for the enemy draue him to great extremities and percase had done more if that the necessity of poore people hope to defend townes of no strength had not spared much that should haue bene spoiled The Greeks that returned froÌ„ the voyage of Cyrus into Persia were by nothing hurt more then by the wilfulnesse of the people through whose countries they passed which burning their prouision which they coulde not saue made them go far about suffer great want The duke of Alua had not bene so easily rid of the army which the prince of Orenge brought into the Low countries if he had not without compassion spoiled the country forced him to returne for feare of hunger The duke of Aumale likewise did spoile the country where the Almaines that came to ayd the Protestauts anno 1569 passed If pitie of the poore and fauor of friends will permit vs to execute this without respect there is nothing more auâ—â—lable against a strong enemy for whatsoeuer prouision the euemy bringeth with him yet if he finde no supply in the countrey he cannot long coÌ„tinue there a Adeoque inopia est coactus Annibal vt nisi tum fugâ—â— speciem abeâ—ndo timâ—isset Galliam repetituâ—us suerit Liu. 22. Fabius by following this course brought Annibal with his victorious army into those straits that had it not bene for shame and danger that would haue followed him by flying he would haue returned backe into France Lest the enemy range too farre abroad he is to be restreined with strong garrisons placed in cownes defensible and with a power of horsemen these will intercept straglers and garrisons sallying vpon outriders will keepe them in order It is not the point of a wise Generall to leaue the enemy vpon his backe b Repressus remotus Lucterius quod intrare intra praesidia periculosum putabat Caes Bel. Gal. 7. Lucterius the French capteine would willingly haue spoiled the countrey of the Romans in France but he stayed himselfe fearing to enter among the garrison townes which hee could not doe without apparant danger Caesar c VellaunodunuÌ„ ne quem post se hostem relinqueret oppugnare instituit Caes Bel. Gal. 7. besieged Vellaunodunum that lay in his way for feare the garrison of the enemy left there might doe him some annoyance The army of the Protestants anno 1569 retiring out of Poitou into Gascoigne thence into Dauphinè receiued many algarades of the enemies garrisons in the countrey where they passed but nothing doth keepe the enemy straiter nor more hinder his march then a power of horsemen galling him continually on the sides and watching all opportunities By them d Caes Bel. Gal. 7. Vercingetorix kept Caesars forragers very short Cassiuellanus with his e Pabulatores essedarijs aggressus ne latiùs vagarentur continuit Caes Bel. Gal. 5. essedarians that fought in charets kept the Romanes from going farre on forraging the countrey and f Frumentatum exeunti Annibali diuersis locis opportunè aderat Liu. 22. Fabius with his horsemen meeting at euery turne with such as Annibal had sent out to fetch in
corne and other prouision made them returne many times short home So long as horsemen do hang vpon the sides and taile of an army they make but a slow march Caesar sending his horsemen before to charge the enemies last troups did so trouble them that he ouertooke the g Caes Bel. Gal. 1. Heluetians and h Omnem equitatum qui nouissimuÌ„ agmen moraretur praemisit Caes Bel. Gal. 2. Belgians in France Afranius his army in Spaine although they had gotten farre before him himselfe and his army were so molested by the horsemen of i Hirti de bel Afric Scipio in Afrike that in foure houres he could not march much aboue an hundred paces being driuen to stay and receiue euery charge and stirre as also befell the Romans an other time a Ad crebros â—quitum velitum tumultus signa consistebant Liu. 28. encountring the enemie in his marche The French horsemen that coasted the Almaines that anno 1569. came in aide of the Protestants of France kept them from stragling but if they had bin more and durst haue charged them they had staied them longer in their iourney For if the first marche while those that are behinde fight then are these left to the butcherie as it happened to the b Caes de bel gal 2. Belgians pursued by Caesar Further such straites and hilles as the enemie is to passe if he meane to enter further into the Countrey are to be garded and the wayes to be trenched that both our men may haue a couer and the enemie more difficultie in forcing the passage Leonidas to stoppe the Persian army kept the straites of Thermopylae which was also practised by Antiochus against the Romanes Philip c Liu. 32. purposing to stop the Romane army at the straite of Aous trenched the passage and on the higher ground placed archers and slingers and the rest of his army in conuenient places But it succeeded not for that he suffered the enemie not onely to take the higher ground but also to come on his backe Which also was the ruine of Leonidas and Antiochus Those therefore that keepe hilles and passages are to take heede of three dangers the first that they suffer not the enemie to take the higher ground the second that they doe not so lye open that the enemie may come on their backes and thirdly that their company be not vnable to abide the enemies force or to defende the grounde committed to their charge For in this case those that seeke to stoppe other are often taken in trappe themselues especially if they lye not strong nor looke well to their garde If the enemie enter into a strayte which hath but two or three issues take those issues and garde them strongly and thou hast the enemie enclosed as it were in a nette So were the Romanes enclosed at Caudium and compassed in before and behinde on the sides But take heede that thy garde be strong and watchfull least the same be forced and all thy labour frustrated as happened to Fabius hauing enclosed Annibal at Cales by the weakenesse of the corps de garde placed on the hill Calicula If the king of Macedonia had placed strong garisons in the straites of Athamany and Thessaly and shewed himselfe in head of the Romanes they could d Ne Romani abnuunt se magna clade pugnaturos Liu. 42. neuer haue issued thence without great slaughter and losse There is no greater tryall of a captaine then in the taking of the aduantage of grounds And therefore let him proceede wisely and cause his men to worke diligently that his trenches be sufficient and well furnished with stones and shotte and all things necessarie And especially that he be not enclosed nor beaten from the higher ground Woods are a good couer for any enterprise and therefore wise captaines therein doe place such companies of souldiers as may eyther charge the enemie passing through or by them Yet let them take heede that they haue a place of retrait there that going about to hurt others they be not cutte in pieces themselues The surest defence against the enemies proceeding is a riuer not to be forded ouer but the bridges are to be broken and the botes to be taken from the other side and the bankes where they are most lowe and easy to be raysed with earth and fensed with stakes and the same to be garded with a competent force both of horsemen and footemen with their sconces in coÌ„uenient places By this meanes a Caes bel gal 1. Caesar kept the Heluetians at a baye and stopped them from passing the riuer of Rone notwithstanding their diuers attemptes both by night day the b Praesidia disponebant quibus locis videbatur pontesque rescindebant fluminuÌ„ Liu. 22. Romanes stopped the outcourses of Annibal Which course if the French king had taken the Protestants had not so easely retired from the battell of S. Dennis c Hist de troubl â—e Fr. l. 3. anno 1567 nor had they passed so many Riuers nor taken so many Townes so easely But neither were the Townes garded with souldiers nor the bridges broken nor the bankes garded In garding of Fordes great care is to be taken first that the enemie passe not ouer some other way and so come on our backes secondly that he force not our garde This is preuented by good fortification and that by diligent watch and sufficient number of men He that looketh not to these things is fitter to keepe goslings then the passages of Riuers By these meanes an army is slopped or at least hurt and hindred But for that men are hardely induced to fire their owne goods and fewe men can endure the lamentable flames of his countrey and without a sufficient force of men all other meanes to stoppe an enemie are nothing let there first be a sufficient armie leuied and opposed against the enemie not that I would haue the same to hazard lightly or come to the triall but for that he that hath an army ready may take all aduantages of Hilles Straites Woods and Riuers and cut off such as wander abroade and execute that which priuate men will not doe in spoyling where the enemie is to passe as the practice of Armes requireth a L. Portius Licinius per locâ— alta ducendo exercitum cum modò insideret angustos saltus vt transituÌ„ clauderet modo ab latere aut tergo carperet agmen ludificatus est Asdrubalem omnibus belli artibus Liu. 27. L. Licinius though inferiour in force to Asdrubal in Spaine yet taking the aduantage of hilles and straytes and nowe charging the enemie on the sides then on the backes practised on him all the precepts of warre for which he deserued great commendation The proceeding of Monsieur the French kings brother and lieutenant that disbanded his souldiers and sent them into garrison when he should haue resisted the Almaines that came to succour the Protestants anno
1569. and kept the fielde doeth contrariwise deserue reproofe as contrary to the practice of warre and profite of his Prince For if that Poytiers had not arrested the Protestants and susteined the siege contrary to expectation there had ensued great losse to his partie In the meane while what reason had he to suffer the enemie to spoyle the countrey at his pleasure CHAP. VII Part. 2. Wherein he speaketh of forraging and stopping the enemies forragers HOwe the whole armie may marche assured and what the same is to feare in marching I haue already spoken sufficient The same rules may also serue for direction to those that are sent foorth to spoyle the Countrey and to fetche in corne and forrage For whatsoeuer the Generall is eyther to obserue or to feare in his whole armie the same is he that leadeth a part thereof out to forrage to obserue and to feare He must see that his companie keepe good arraye that they straggle not from the grosse of his troupes He is further to haue good intelligence and espiall vpon the enemies proceeding In passing of Plaines Woods Hilles Straytes and Riuers he is to vse more diligence for that his strength is the lesse Likewise he is to consider that as he goeth safely forward so he may also haue a sure retraite if necessitie force him to returne backward Further he is to make appointment where to meete with the rest of the army that the same be not diuided when the enemie is ready to charge b Caes bel gal 4. Caesar charging the Germanes while their horsemen and some troupes of footemen were gone abroade vpon spoyle found them farre more easie to bee dealt withal a Caes bel ciu 3. Domitius sent by Caesar vpon forrage if he had not mette with the rest of the army vpon an instant could not so wel haue escaped out of a manifest danger the whole enemies power being at hand ready to charge him That he may doe that wherefore he goeth he is to carry with him sithes sicles hookes axes and all necessary instruments and to bring that he findeth safe away he is also to haue with him store of horses and carriages For what auaileth it to finde corne and prouision vnlesse the same be carried away to our vses And little deserue they to haue things necessarie that will not fetche them The b Socordia negligeÌ„tia Campanorum in vehiculis contrahendis ad frumeÌ„rum comportandum rem ab HaÌ„none compositam turbauit famemque quae secuta est fecit Liu. 25. Capuans being in distresse for want of victuals and being willed by Annibal to send carriages to fetche sufficient did send so fewe that it was nothing to relieue their neede Afterward they wished like opportunitie to be offered againe but in vaine For within short time after they were forced by famine to yeelde vp their Citie That his men be not disturbed in their worke by the sudden assaults of the enemie let him place gardes in places conuenient for befence of those that goe abroade and worke In this respect the proceeding of c Marcellus explorato cùm firmisque praesidijs tuto receptu praedatum ierat Liu. 23. Marcellus that wise leader deserueth well to be followed For in no place did he goe before he had diligently discouered the same and assured his retraite and those that wrought by standes of men fitly placed Appius d Appius cum subitarijs legionibus ad popuâ—andum Boiorum agrum nec exploraâ—ò nec stationibus firmis profectus cum legionibus caesus est Liu. 31. ruinated himselfe and his armie for that without search of the countrey and order vsed in such cases he suffered his men to wander vp and downe more mindfull of spoile then of their owne safety The e Liu. 42. forragers of the Romanes marching without suspicion or order or sufficient defence were easely ouerthrowen by Perseus king of Macedonia This hath beene the ruine of many armies not onely of small companies and wil be if better order be not taken It is a common course of the enemie with hope of spoile to bring the army into distresse Therefore let no man be so greedy of spoile but that he see before into the danger and albeit there appeare no danger yet let him keepe most of his troupes in armes that he be not ouerwhelmed with sudden danger The prouision that is to be founde is diligently to be saued and laide vp in those Townes that we doe holde as in part before hath bin declared By this meanes Annibal mainteyned his army by others labours And much more we might haue done then we did if in our iourney into Portugal we could haue saued that we found in Galicia The cattell may he driuen along with the armie and ought to be distributed frugally as our neede requireth But as he is to spoile his enemie so he is diligently to take heede that he couche not his friendes and associates which wrought Annibal much woe But what lawe against necessitie Seeing then that those that marche in the enemies countrey if they proceede wisely may not onely hurt their enemies but also mainteine themselues at the countries charge it behoueth the Generall to be watchfull to keepe order and neuer to say had I wist For he that is entrapped hardly breaketh the snares To auoide danger nothing is better then celeritie and expedition of which I will nowe speake more particularly CHAP. VIII Wherein is prooued that nothing in warres is more aduantageous then expedition or any thing more hurtfull then delayes I Haue shewed this in part already But the detestation that I haue of the delayes of our times and daliance commonly vsed in martiall affaires by those that want skill together with the exceeding losses and dangers that Princes haue incurred and shall further incurre thereby it there be no redresse hath so affected me that although I haue spoken much and often thereof yet I suppose I can neuer say ynough To number all the commodities of expedition or the hurtes of delayes in matters of warre it is not possible though I shoulde speake of them continually those which come to my minde presently I thought good to lay downe in this place Through expedition the enemie is taken vnprouided those places that are opportune for vs are seased where the enemie is most open there haue we commoditie to charge him the malice of the enemie is preuented our speede giueth vs all leysure to prouide our confederates and friendes that stand in feare of inuasion are assured matters are spedde with little charge and good successe Caesar a Caes bel gal 2. hearing of the conspiracie of the Belgians by suddein coÌ„ming vpon them disordered all their counsels and remedied the mischiefe before it was ripe Another great conspiracie of all b Caes bel gal 7. France he dissolued by his speede in taking the heads single before their forces were ioyned Neither the deapth of Winter nor height of
the mountaines nor colde of the weather did stop him Vnlesse he had vsed incredible celerity he coulde not so easely haue driuen Pompey his faction out of Italy hauing the power of the Romane Empire in his hands But he tooke him all vnprouided came vpon him before he looked for him and would not suffer him in any place to gather head Annibal a Magnis itineribus ita vt famam praeueniret ad Herdoneam contendit Liu. 26. with great iourneys and speedy marching cōming vpon Flaccus vpon the sudden ouerthrewe him at Herdonea Claudius Nero in b Liu. 27. 6. daies marched frō Canusium to Sena with 6000. footemen which distance our armies marche not in 16. By which expedition he holpe his companion Liuius to ouerthrowe Asdrubal tooke from Annibal all hope of succour c Celeritate sua hostem imparatū aggressus est Liu. 28. Syllanus by no other meanes vanquished his enemies in Spaine then by inuading them vnprouided which opportunitie his quicke speede did yeelde him If the Romanes had succoured Saguntum in time they had kept Annibal occupied in Spaine auoided the waste of Italy The smart whereof made them more quicke in the warres against Philip of Macedonia against Antiochus Perseus For they no sooner heard of their preparatiues but they caused an army to be transported into their countries to meete with them in the beginning Warres as d Guicciar 1. Alphonsus king of Naples was wont to say haue good successe where we preuent the enemie In a small e Puncto saepè temporis maximarum rerum momenta vertuntur Liu. 3. time there happeneth great alteration of things and therefore it is not safe to loose any moment of time Oftentimes also f In co victoria vertitur si loca opportuna socij praeoccuparentur Liu. 35. victories are made more easy by seasing of opportune places ioyning of confederates vnto vs to helpe our cause The Romanes for their expedition in martiall affaires deserue eternal honor aboue al others A certaine Ptolomeus in Aegypt was surnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or lightning for his quicke dispatch Another was surnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or eagle for his swiftnes But they were but words of vaine flattery This praise it was deserued in the Romanes Scripio in one yere subduedal Afrike to the walles of Carthage Paulus Aemilius in a fewe moneths subuerted the Empire of the Macedonians g Quintius hostibus caesis 9. oppidis captis vicesimo die quam creatus erat dictatura se abdicauit Liu 6. Quintius leuied an army ouercame his enemies in opē field took 9. walled towns all this in one 20. dayes In the second warres of Carthage the Senators of Rome were continually in the Senate to heare the desires reports of their Generals to graunt dispatches When Scipio heard the cowardly determination of Metellus and his cōpanions to forsake their countrey after their ouerthrow at Cannae he drew his h Agendum non consultandum esse dixit Liu. 22. sword entring among them forced them to sweare that they would not forsake their countrey Which quick resolution saued his countrey And true it is that a Consilium tutum celeritas temerarium saepè mora facit Liu. 27. Claudius Nero said that expedition doth make our counsels prooue safe sure when as delaies make thē proue rash and dangerous The b Maturauit Romanus ne praelio vno cum Latino Volscoque contē deret Liu. 2. Romanes hauing diuers enemies making haste fought with them one after another singly and so ouercame them and I would to God the longer we differre to fight with the Spaniard we doe not finde him the stronger A c Malum nascens facilê opprimitur inueteratum sit plerunque robustius Cic. Philip. 5. mischiefe in the beginning is easily remedied in time it getteth strēgth That which comonly is obiected that speedy d Celer poenitētia sequitur praecipitata consilia Liu. 31. repentance foloweth rash counsell maketh nothing against our purpose For great difference there is betwixt speede and temeritie Temeritie is in counsell rashly followed speede is in quicke execution after mature counsell My meaning therfore is not that any should proceede without mature counsael but that after resolution there should follow e Primùm cōsulto posteà maturè facto opus est Salust speedy executiō Cōtrariwise both cōsultation without resolutiō and f Tardae lentoe deliberationes perniciosae Tacit. resolutiō without speedy execution are pernitious in martiall causes Counsels g Cunctando senescunt consilia Liu. 35. drawē in length by delay waxe nought in the end And being vented are no better then as I said before wine that hath taken vent h Belli necessitates non expectat humana consilia Liu. 4. Sometimes the necessities of warre so vrge vs that they will not suffer vs to attend mens counsels When the enemie is cōming vpon vs the i Dilationē pati bellum vicinum non potest Li. 1. warres are at our doores nothing is more pernicious thē delay The Romanes delaying to meete with Annibal in Spaine were afterwards forced to fight for their owne home countrey The delay of k Mora eius diei satis creditur fuisse saluti vrbi imperio Liu. 22. Annibal that after his victory at Cannae brought not presently his army before Rome was the ruine of his cause first beginning of his decay Likewise the delaies slow proceeding of the Carthaginian Senate in sending money supplies to l Post victoriam Cannensē cuncta segniter otiosè gerebat senatus Carthaginensis Liu. 23. Annibal after his victory at Cannae gaue heart leisure to the Romanes to repaire their strength m Flaccus primos hostis conatus per dissimulationem aluit Tac. 20 Delaies dissembling after that once we vnderstand the enemies practices doth helpe thē minister fauour to their proceedings as Tacitus declareth by the example of Flaccus n Bellum aluere quum si institissent egregium titulum per se liberatae Graeciae habere potuere Liu. 32. Attalus and the Rhodians hauing some vantage against Philip of Macedonia folowed it not which delay gaue him leysure to repaire his forces made them to be accōpted the nourishers of those warres which if they had vrged they might haue had the title of deliuerers of Greece themselues o Asdrubali quod celeritate intineris profectum erat id mora ad Placentiam dum frustra obsidet magis quà m oppugnat corrupit Liu. 27. Asdrubal by staying about Placentia lost whatsoeuer commoditie hee had before wonne by his speedy marche I will not say what harme our stay both here in England and at Coronna did vnto vs in the voyage of Portugal The Lauinians proceeding flowly in sending succours to their associates were scarce out of their citie gates when they heard newes that the
the defence At euerie corner especially towardes the enemy there woulde bee made a litle bulwarke or platforme somewhat auanced from the cortine of the campe for the placing of the great ordonance for defence of the ditch and cortaine and clearing of the grounde wythout the campe In the sides there woulde bee lefte two great passages or issues for the army to enter and issue and two lesser on the outsides for the necessarie vses of the campe The compasse is according to the number of the armie allowing tenne foote square for euery horseman and foure foote square for euery footeman or thereabouts There are to be left foure broade streetes in the place for the passing and repassing of souldiers and for the commoditie of victuallers and Marchantes a market place The Generall ought to pitch his tent in the middest of the camp about him are his Gentlemen and garde to bee placed if there bee not place sufficient for them in his tents The horsemen are to be quartered in the middest of the camp for that they are most vnreadie if any sodaine assault should happen but in some conuenient square for the beauty of the campe The shot and archerie are to haue their tentes next to the ring of the campe round about the same within them are the halbardiers targettiers and other short weapons to haue their quarter assigned and betwixt them and the horsemen the pikes So that euery man may know both where to lodge directly and what place to goe vnto if the enemy doe charge vs. The waste places remayning are to bee assigned to the carriages and the boyes and seruants that followe the campe For flaughter of beasts and necessities of nature there are two places to bee assigned eyther in some out place of the campe or without the campe The whole distance and compasse is rather with the iudgement of the eye then with Geometricall instruments to bee cast out Yet must the quarter-master take heede both that his compasse be not too great for that is hardly defended and that it be not too litle For in that case the army shall be straited That souldiers may bee commodioussy lodged in the field without going out of the way to finde townes or villages it is necessarie that euery company haue their a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. paed Cyr. 2. tentes assigned to them of publike charge and carried with them in cartes For to lodge without couer in colde raine or heate is verie intollerable and wood to make cabbanes sufficient in fewe places can bee found and if it could yet were it a matter long for one nightes lodging to make a cabbane of boughes Contrariwise tentes are easilie pitched and not heauie to bee carried nor verie chargeable to bee bought That the souldiers may finish their work with more speed it were necessary likewise that euery company had their spades mattocks axes and other tooles caried along with their tentes and baggage that euery man presently vpon view of his lodging staked out might know where to worke For ease of the souldiers a iudicious Quartermaster will chuse some place neere a wood or a riuer or some hill that with the naturall situation of the place a small fortification may serue If the Quartermaster do chuse some Villages to lodge in yet fâ—â— greedines of couer for his men let him take heed how he do diuide separate the army farre a sunder And further let euery part fortiâ—â— the quarter where they are lodged The cause of the ouerthrow of the Prince of Conde at Cognac in which encounter hee lost also his life was the distance of the lodging of the auantgarde and battell which was so great that the one part being charged by the enemy the other could not come to succour it before it was too late a Histoir de 〈◊〉 bl lib. 4. Dandelot dispersing his companies in Villages was surprised on the sudden by Martigues and put to flight himselfe hardly escaped most of his company were defeated which if his troupes had bene together could not haue happened For his forces were foure times greater then those that ouercame them La Louè might haue bene succoured when the enemy charged him but that he b Hist de troubl lib. 12. lodged so far from helpe that before the same could come he his men were dispatched The cause of the ouerthrow of the Baron Donaw his Almains was for that they lay dispersed without defence c Xenoph. exped Cyr. 3. 4. Xenophon although necessity forced him in his return from the battel against Artaxerxes to lodge his company in diuers Villages yet whensoeuer the enemy made shew to approch hee drew them all together into one place If so be that necessitie driue vs likewise to lodge our armie in Villages let vs know first how vpon neede we may bring them together and next how euery part may susteine the enemies assault vntil helpe come to it This I say is wrought first by trauersing the waies then by trenching places of easy accesse The wayes are to be trauersed by deepe ditches banks for defence of our shot next by palissadaes barres placed ouerthwart the sides are to be viewed and either with trenches or walles to be fortified Those wayes that leade vs into the Village on the backside are to be dammed vp where there is greatest shew that the enimy wil assault vs there gretest store of shot are to be placed in the chambers looking that way The carts baggage conueniently placed may breake the force of the enemies horse make the accesse for footemen also more difficult The Heluetians a Caes bel gal 1. had no other defences of their lodging neither do the Germans at this day vse any other defence or encamping vnlesse the place naturally aforde it But nothing is more weake nor vaine where the enemy commeth resolutely to the charge Scipio his father that ouercame Annibal being foyled by the Carthaginians in Spaine through the trecherie of the Celtiberians that forsooke him thought to shroude him selfe and his b Liu. 25. company vnder the carts packs and such things as he could bring together to make a defence on But it serued for nothing but to linger the enemies victory a litle For in such defences there is no strength If therefore we wil neither fortifie our campe as did the Romans nor barre the Villages where we lodge strongly as is the vse of wise Captaines in these dayes I will neither warrant our troupes nor by my wil keepe among them lying so open The c Philip. Com. French king Duke of Burgundy lying in the suburbes of Liege without trenche or barriquade escaped very narowly in a certaine sally of the townesmen by them besieged Besides the fortification of the campe or lodging it is requisite for the assurance of our company that we place not only sentinels and scoutes within but also good gardes at all the gates
For there is no defence nor fortification such but it may be passed where there is none to defend it and garde it Before our souldiers disarme and euery man goe to his lodging both gardes and sentinels would be placed and not as some vse afterward those that offend in either of these pointes doe for the most part receiue sharp penance The d Ardeates Camillo duce castra Gallorâ—m intuta neglectaque ab omni parte nacti inuadunt nusquam praelium vbique caedes Liu. 5. Ardeatians led by Camillus finding the campe of the Gaules that a litle before had sacked Rome without either watch or sufficient defence slew them downe right without any resistance Philip king of Macedonia lying before Apollonia without either watch or good garde was forced to raise his e Liu. 24. fiege and had diuers of his men slaine by a very few sallying out of the towne in the night The negligent watch and garde of Syphax gaue opportunitie to f Liu. 29. Scipio in the night to enter his campe and fire the same and to make a great slaughter of his men The like security in Nabis his campe gaue entrance to Philopoemen captaine of the Achaeans who fired the tentes and slew his men before they could make head or wel vnderstood their danger The g Liu. 41. Romanes that lay in campe in Istria without feare therefore neither kept good watch nor garde were suddenly surprised by certaine Gaules and driuen to runne for their liues The army of the Capuans resting in their lodgings quietly were slaine by the a Liu. 23. Romanes that inuaded them in the night and tooke them without trenche sentinel or corps de garde The like aduantage Curio vsing against the b Caes bel ciu 2. Numidians that lay dispersed without defence or watch fell vpon them in the night and slew them Neither is it now lesse dangerous then in time past Don Pedro el cruel king of Spaine was slaine with his company by his base brother c Froissate Henriques taking him in the night vnprouided and lying without watch or defence The same negligence was the ruine of the Protestants at Donzerre An. 1569. and of the Spaniards at Corbueil An. 1590. and hath occasioned and brought to passe many surprises which otherwise could neuer haue taken effect The d Guicciar lib. â— Marques of Mantoua and other gentlemen for want of good sentinels were taken by the Venetian stradiots at Scala where they went to refresh them selues It is an easy marter to shewe this also by our owne harmes but that I would we should rather reforme our disorders by calamities of others then shame to heare our selues reprooued and therefore defend them The e What is required in assuring our lodging meanes to assure our selues and to deterre our enemies from these enterprises are these first good banks trenches barriquades palissadaes and such like defences secondly strong gardes wel placed thirdly good sentinels in conuenient distances within the ring of the campe good scoutes on horsebacke foote without fourthly good orders of the campe that no stranger nor person vnknowen lurke in any lodging or other place to discouer our secrets nor that our company lodge disioyned farre asunder the prouision that is to be made is of tentes and all instruments that serue vs for such fortification Where the Captaine is carefull to see these things done and the souldiers willing to labour and take paynes to doe them it is not possible to hurt the army especially â—â—ere the same is strong and in good estate But if the enemy be very â—â—ong and our company weake for number or otherwise and no helpe can come vnto vs then if the enemy doe assault vs in our lodgings so violently that wee are not able long to defende them our last remedy is to drawe our men together towarde the issues of our lodging and so to sally out and to charge the enemy vpon the backe in all places where he maketh resistance The suddennes of this execution if it be done resolutely cannot but worke great effects Ser. a Subitò cruptione omnibus portis facta neque cognoscendi neque sui colligendi hostibus facultateÌ„ relinquunt Caes bel gal 3. Sulpitius being not able to defend his campe any longer against the multitude of the mountaine people that assaulted it sallied forth vpon a sudden at all the gates thereof and surprising his enemies on a sudden made a great carnage of them put the rest to flight The same course did Caesar put in practice at the siege of Alexia where not being able to defend his trenches and workes against the multitude of the enemies that in all partes assaulted him at length b Caes bel gal 7. gathering his men together fallied foorth vpon them not giuing them so much as any time to take breath much lesse to gather their forces together and slew infinite multitudes of them being euery where dispersed and seeking rather to enter in then to defend them selues without But this is not but in time of necessitie to be executed and when we haue no other meanes of defence otherwise it is good safe fighting behinde a banke or other defence Wherefore as at all times so especially in the nightes and carelesse times of others it behoueth the Generall to bee c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer carefull for his people With care watchfulnesse and labour great enterprises may be atchieued if want hurt vs not and without care and labour neither great nor litle can be done with commendation nor can any army either marche safely or rest safely CHAP. X. Wherein is shewed that as the assaylants being entred into the enemies countrey are to seeke that the matter may be tryed by battell in open fielde so the defendants without great aduantage are to auoyde the Generall tryall and by what meanes eche of them may effect their seuerall purposes HE that entreth the enemies countrey without purpose to fight and hazard let him henceforth keepe his head d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Iâ—â—ad warme at home and interteine Ladies Such aduentures are for resolute and hardy men as courage doeth pricke such valiant men forward so their owne profit requireth and necessitie forceth them so soone as they can to come to triall The sooner the better it wil be for them at the first their men are strong their munitions and armes whole and good of victualles and all things necessary they haue sufficient if they haue not the greater is their error Further their men are couragious and full of stomacke and contrariwise the enemy is neither prouided sufficiently of souldiers nor furniture of warre especially if he looke not for it neither is he so resolute to fight And what courage can he haue seeing his countrey flaming round about him that this ought to be the purpose of such as inuade others not only the example of
Annibal who by all meanes prouoked the Romanes to come to fight with him but also of the Romanes inuading the Macedonians of Caesar warring in France and folowing of Pompey into Epeirus and of our Kings transporting their forces into France and generally of all that euer knewe the trade of warre doeth teach vs. To force the enemy to accept that which willingly hee would shun the meanes are these first to pursue him with all conuenient speed If thy horsmen doe once ouertake any part of his army either he must stay to succor his men or els must he leaue them to thy mercy if hee haue so many a Eques carpeâ—â— do nouisâ—imos premendoque iniquis ad transitum locis agmen detinuit Liu. 8. stayes thou canst not chuse but ouertake him To depart farre away from thee is to yeelde the countrey into thy hands then which it were better to hazard many mens liues Caesar by b Caes bel gal 1. this meanes drew the Heluetians backe to fight with him which they would gladly haue passed and by the c Caes bel gal 2. same he so galled the Belgians that they were constreined to fight with disaduantage d Caes bel â—iu â— Afranius would gladly haue recouered the hie countreys with his army but Caesar did so trouble his marche with his horse men that vnlesse he meant to flye he could not runne from him without fighting He that flyeth long before thee without fighting he abandoneth a great countrey without fighting to be spoyled of thee Secondly if the enemy hath any courage by ranging and spoyling and firing whatsoeuer thou canst not saue for thine owne vse thou shalt either drawe him foorth into the fielde or breake his heart By that meanes the e Cos vastandâ—â— maximè agâ—is hostem ad conferoÌ„da propius castra dimicandumque acie exciuir Liu. 2. Romanes forced the Volscians and others to come downe from the hilles into euen ground and to defend their countrey from rauage and spoyle And although another time the force and prouision of the Romane army made the enemies to shut them selues vp within their walles as most safe for them yet when they sawe the spoyles and f Populatione agrorum inceÌ„dâ—js villarum coegit eos egâ—edi vâ—be Liu 5. flames of their countrey they coulde not continue their former deliberation but were forced to come forth and fight When Villages g populando atque vrendo recâ—â— hostium sataque in aciem extraâ—â— Liu. 8. are fired and the corne and the countrey spoyled he must be either very cowardly or very hard hearted that is not drawen foorth to fight Flaminius the Romane Consull could not endure to see the fires which Annibal kindled in Hetruria but would needes succour the countrey and fight with the enemy whatsoeuer it cost him Who can endure to see the enemy to rage spoyle without restraint or who can restreine him without fight The Frenchmen although alwayes vnwilling to deale with the English nation vpon euen hand yet haue bene diuers times forced thereto by vs what with indignitie to see their countrey spoyled and what with feare of further losse and what with necessitie to defend their country Albeit Fabius could in his time endure to see the rauage and spoyle of his countrey yet all haue not that singular patience If neither by celeritie thou canst ouertake the enemy nor by spoyles of the countrey moue him to defend the same yet will hee neuer endure vntill thou hast taken some of his principall cities Shame and necessitie wil in the end force him to come to their succour When the a Post quam Romulum castra ponere ad vrbem necedere VeieÌ„tes accepere egressi sunt obuià m vt potiùs acie decernerent quà m inclusi de tectis moenibusque dimicarent Liu. 1. Veians being beaten before refused to encounter the Romanes in the fielde any more yet when they perceiued that the Romanes made toward their citie they came foorth chusing rather to trye it in playne fielde then to be pend vp and fight for their houses and walles b Metellus vbi se dolis fatigari videt neque ab hoste copiam pugnandi fieri Zamam statuit oppugnate ratus Iugurtham subsidio suis venturum Salust bel Iugurth Metellus forced Iugurtha to come into the fielde by besieging Zama a citie which he specially fauoured albeit hee knew him selfe inferior in strength to the Romanes By like meanes Caesar in Afrike forced c Scipio ad necessitatem adductus dimicandi ne per summum dedecus Thapsitanos rebus suis fidissimos Virgilium amitteret Hirt. de bel Afric Scipio to bring his forces into euen ground least loosing a citie of importance that fauoured him and a Captaine of name hee should dishonor himselfe Philip de Valoys to raise the siege of Calais brought with him the power of France King Edward the third might haue fought with him if hee had would but hee would not fight with him but vpon aduantage The Protestants Anno 1567. by straiting the citie of Paris of victuals forced the king to send a power against them to fight with them Vnwise were they that not vnderstanding this had sent away a great part of their forces which might in that battell which was fought at Saint Denys had greatly ayded them to obteine the victorie If the siege of Poytiers An. 1569. had continued any longer then it did the King should haue bene forced to fight with the Protestants that besieged it But there was no neede that a Kings power should beat them whom want so many disorders had beaten before But if the Generall of the enemies forces be enforced to take a towne for his safegarde much more behoueth it them to come forth into the fielde to relieve him if he be besieged The whole power of France came before a Caes bel gal 7. Alexia to disengage Vercingetorix their Generall there besieged by Caesar Whosoeuer hee is that can be content to loose a citie and refuseth to come to fight with his enemy cannot long endure The reason that the Prince of Orenge so long helde out against the Spaniard was the tyranny of the enemy whom the people could not endure certaine small supplyes that came out of England and the Princes good will to helpe such townes as were distressed the best he could and last of all the libertie of the sea which the enemy could not take from him On the other side the defendants taking a contrary course for the safety of them selues and their countrey ought as much as they can to linger and weary the enemy and not to fight without manifest aduantage This course the Romanes tooke and found to be best not only against Annibal but also against other Barbarous nations that came to inuade them The same did experience teach the Gaules and Briteins to be best against Caesar And the generall practice of warre hath nowe confirmed it
for a precept to be folowed in such cases When b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid. 2. Sitacles King of Thracia inuaded the Macedonians the countrey people not being able to resist fled into strong cities and holdes and as occasion aduantage was offered from thence issued to fight with him as they could Many c Multa bella impetu valida peâ— taedia moâ—as euanuerunt praesertim vbi non est prouisum frumentum nec maiores expectaâ—a copiae Tacit. annal 18. warres that haue bene violent at the first brunt by delayes and tedious lingering haue come to nothing sayth Tacitus And therefore neuer is it good to fight with those that want prouision and looke for no further supply When the Gaules with great forces came into Italy some would haue had the Romane Generall to fight with them foorthwith but the d Dictatori neutiquam placebat cum nulla cogeret res fortunae â—o committere adversus hostem quem tempus deâ—eriorem indies locus alienâ—s faceret sine praeparato commâ—atu sine siâ—mo munimento morantem ad hoc â—js animis corporibusque quorum omnis in impetâ—vis esset parua eadem languesceret mora his coÌ„siliis dictator bellum trahebat Liu. 7. Generall thought it more wisedome to protract time His reasons were for that he dealt with an enemy which euery day waxed weaker by reason he was in another couÌ„trey had dayly more and more hinderances comming vpon him further neither had hee prouision nor towne of retraite therefore must needs be wearied with delayes and decay of himselfe and great folly sayd he were it to fight with men when they are stroÌ„g when they may deale with them when they are weake feeble When Caesar sent Crassus into Aquitany with part of his army to subdue the countrey the enemy being taught by experience would not come into open field but a Duces consuetudine populi Romani loca capere castra munire commeatibus nostros intercludere institâ—unt Romanos se rei frumentarâ—ae inopia recipientes impeditos agmimine sub sarcinis insirmiore animo adoriri cogitant Caes bel gal 3. began to take places of aduantage to fortifie his campe to keepe Crassus from victuals when the army for want should retire then he meant to charge the same being laden with baggage and out of aray in the marche That which Liuy sayth of the b Boij gens ad morae taedium minimè patiens dilapsi sunt Boyans we finde it true in many Northren nations they are impatient of delayes and if they be not fought withall doe scatter of them selues Those that fight with such enemies are like to those that hope to quench fire by throwing on of wood when as if the fire be not supplyed with wood it will goe out of it selfe And therefore our ancesters that haue fought with the Scots haue done valiantly but wisdome would haue perswaded them to let them dissolue of them selues The Romanes by their haste in fighting with Annibal receiued three great ouerthrowes and brought them selues within very litle of their ruine Pompey when he might haue ruinated Caesars army for want of victuals aduenturing to fight at the request of his army ouerthrew himselfe The way to weary the enemy without fight is first with an army consisting most of horsemen shot targets and halberdiers lightly armed to coast him a farre off next to spoyle the countrey where hee passeth and to bring all the cattell corne and prouision that may any way serue his turne into strong townes thirdly to store the townes of warre with prouision and assure them with strong garrisons fourthly to cut the bridges ouer great riuers and to sease all narow and straite passages The army that coasteth the enemy although it may not ioyne battell with him in euen ground yet hath many necessary vses and without it all other impediments are easily passed the same doth bridle the enemies courses that he dare not diuide his army to send the same on foraging It keepeth victuals from him and him from victuals it defendeth the straits and passages of riuers it succoureth such townes as are besieged it is ready to charge the enemy vpon all aduantages The Athenians c Thucid. 3. not being able to fight with the army of the Lacedemonians that came against them tooke this course for their defence they brought their people and all that they had into the citie placed gardes at passages and cut of the straglers with their horsemen Which course d Caes bel gal 7. Vercingetorix also vsed against Caesar in France hee burned the countrey droue away all the cattell kept the passages of riuers The e Custodias ad ripas Ligeris disponere equitatumque omnibus locis ostentare caeperunt Caes bel gal 7. Heduans reuolting from Caesar kept the banks of Loyre with gardes and in all places where the Romanes came charged them with their horsemen But of this matter I haue spoken sufficient where I shewed what trauerses made against the enemie are most effectuall Now I am to shew how the enemie is to be wearied without fight the meanes I haue set downe But this caution thou must vse further that thou keepe thy selfe and thy companie alwayes on the higher ground and take heede that the enemie doe not entrap thee nor compasse thee about Fabius in the warres of the Romanes against Annibal in Italie and Licinius in the warres against Asdrubal in Spaine haue by their example shewed thee what thou art to doe and how warilie thou art to garde thy selfe and to watch thy enemie These precepts haue vse in all countreys with whatsoeuer enemie thou dealest but especiallie where the countrey is full of hils woodes straites and great riuers and also where by force is neere equall to the enemie But if thy power be slender or if thy countrey bee playne and open then presume not to come neere the enemie for thou canst not auoyd but either thou must flie or fight The a Fuga se longinqua ab hosse tutati sunt Galli Liu. 6. Gaules pursued by Camillus seeing themselues vnable to fight with him had no other meanes to auoyd fight but to flie farre from him Neither could Asdrubal haue escaped from b Liu. 27. Scipio but that he fled with his armie from him into the vtmost coast of Spaine After that c Vercingetorix ne contra suam voluntatem dimicare cogeretur magnis iâ—ineribus antecessit Caes bel Gal. 7 Caesar had once passed the riuer of Allier which was betweene him the enemie Vercingetorix was coÌ„strained to go farre before least he might be constrained to fight agaynst his will For where the armies come neere each to other in eauen ground it is hard for the one to auoyd fight where the other seeketh it Antonie forced Cassius to fight at Philippi albeit he auoided it what he could and had the vantage both of ground and trenches The
d Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 9. Admiral at Moncontour would willinglie haue passed the day without fight but being neere the enemie hee could neither passe the riuer without disordering his armie nor retire without manifest danger of being vtterly broken and ruinated Philip of Macedonia albeit hee was encamped vpon the banke of the riuer Aous very strongly and had most high mountaines for his defence vpon his backe yet being charged suddenly from the vpper ground he was both driuen to fight against his will and foyled by Tit. Quintius Wherefore considering the losse and calamities that come of suffering the country to be burned and spoyled the hazard that to wnes besieged by the enemie without hope of succour stand in the discouragement of our people that see and enemie in the countrey whom they dare not encounter I hold it a rule most certaine that no countrey nor state can well be defended against a strong enemie any long time vnlesse the same either haue or can procure an armie to come into the field able to encounter him and not vnwilling also if the same may haue any good aduantage to fight with him And therefore all valiant men that loue their countrey are rather to endeuour to ouercome the enemie by force then dull him and wearie him by patience and delaies which bring with them contempt of those that want an edge and force That wee may fight with aduantage and proceed with reason let vs now examine and see what things are to be foreseene and considered before that the General do bring foorth his armie into the field to fight CHAP. XI Conteining speciall matters to be well considered before the Generall bring foorth his armie to fight with the enemie in open field MAnie things in warre are executed by force and strength of men but seldome doeth force preuaile much without counsell and direction Counsell in all deedes of armes chalengeth a principall place but especially in ioyning battell with the enemie To refuse good counsell therefore in this case is a brutish follie oftentimes seuerely punished The Constable of France peeuishly refusing the good counsell of Coucy that dissuaded him at that time to fight with the Turkes was the cause of the miserable slaughter of Christians at Nicopolis The Frenchmen detest in their histories the pride and insolencie of a certaine Duke of Bourbon who a Froissart being Generall in a certaine enterprise against the Saracens in Afrike ouerthrew the action by disdaining to heare any man speake and refusing all counsell but his owne A man wise inough to ruinate any enterprise Wise captains therefore as they will consider many things themselues so I trust they will not disdaine to vnderstand the experience and aduise of others Before a Generall doeth resolue to fight with the enemie with all his force hee is first diligently to vnderstand both the strength of the enemie and the numbers and strength of his owne men least presuming too much of his owne power or contemning the enemie he doe that which afterward hee may repent a Guicciandin Francis the first of France not knowing how much hee was abused by his moster rolles and supposing his strength to bee greater then it was accepted of the battell of Pauie where himselfe was taken and his armie discomfited b Caes bel ciu ◠Curio not knowing the great strength of the enemies horsemen did rashly leaue the aduantage of the ground and fight with him that in the plaines was to strong for him which was his ruine Cassius in the battell of Philippi not vnderstanding the victorie of Brutus his companion desperately slew himselfe and was the cause of the discouragement of his side and the victorie of the enemie If therefore he shall vnderstand that his enemie is too strong for him let him keepe his aduantage of ground and auoyd fight if his owne power be greater let him not delay it for it is no lesse dishonour to let slip an opportunitie then to aduenture rashly Yong souldiers are not rashly to be brought into the field against an armie exercised and beaten with long practise of warre The Romanes found this true by their owne practise in the warres with their c Veterani exercitus tobore rex Rom. vicit Liu. 1. neighbours and with Annibal Where their armie was well trained they preuailed their fresh souldiers could not endure the force of Annibals beaten men Caesars old souldiers were inuincible With the men that Philip of Macedonia had exercised in many warres Alexander ouerthrew the Persian empire For it is not d Veteres non tam numerosos exercitus habere voluerunt quà m eruditos Veget. l. 3. c. 1. number that preuaileth but experience and skill The e Philip. Comin gallants of Charles Duke of Burgundie bragged that they would doe and venture but when they sawe their enemie they forgot their wordes and ranne away in the encounter with Lewis the eleuenth at Mont le herie Therefore did Caesar wisely that carying ouer with him diuers yong souldiers into Afrike f Noluit conuulncrari exercitum tyronmen Hirt de bel Afric would not put them to the triall before he had made them better acquainted with warres Souldiers likewise when they are faint wearie hungry or thirstie fight but faintly And therefore as there is no trust in young souldiers so there is no strength in souldiers that are faint with labour or want of victuals Doe not therefore rashly encounter the enemie when they men are either wearied with long marching or watching or faint for want of meate or drinke The a Inde cibo corpora firmare iussi vt si longior esset pugna viribus sufficerent Liu. 27. Romanes before they entred the battell refreshed their men with victuals and rest that if the same continued long yet their strength might continue b Syllanus ante pugnam militem cibum capere iubet Liu. 28. Syllanus being readie to charge the enemie commaunded his souldiers to dine first The principall cause of the ouerthrow of the Romanes at Trebia was that Annibal brought foorth his men to fight fresh hauing well dined warmed themselues and rested where as the Romane c Liu. 21. Generall brought foorth his armie fasting and cold by reason they passed a riuer and wearie for that they stoode many howers in armes before the battell began Aemilius in the warres against Perseus in Macedonia albeit his souldiers desired to fight with the d Statuit Aemilius lassitudinem sitim sentientes milites integro hostinon obijcere Liu. 44.214 enemie so soone as they saw him yet considering that by their long march they were wearie thirstie and faint would not fight with the enemie that was fresh and lustie but deferred it to the next day Yea although aduantage be offered yet if our e Furius lassitudini militum timens occasionem rei praeclarè gerendae omisit Liu. 31. souldiers be faint and wearie it is more safe to
on the sides of the place to charge him with aduantage when the battell is begun By which meanes Annibal ouerthre we the Romanes at Trebia and the Thrasimene lake Neither is it sufficient for him onely to prouide that the enemie haue no aduantage nor his owne souldiers any disaduantage but he must consider also if he may take the enemie either in trap or at any disaduantage and that either in vneauen ground or in straites or passing of riuers or any place where his army is disordered either in lodging or marching or fighting If the enemy be beaten out of the fielde by force it is in part the souldiers praise if he be entrapped by the Captaines pollicie that is his hondur In the ioyning of the battell the Generall is likewise to endeuour to take the winde and to haue the Sunne and Moone if the fight be in the night vpon his backe The winde being fauourable driueth our darts arrowes and whatsoeuer we throwe against the enemie with greater force forward and being contrarie doeth diminish their force and stoppeth the souldiers breath and filleth their eies full of dust In the battell betwixt Theodosius and Maximus the tyrant nothing holpe the a Histor Ecclese ast Theodoret. side of Theodosius more then the winde that draue backe the darts arrowes and stones of Maximus his souldiers The b Poeni auersiterga tantùm afflante vento in occaecatum puluere à Vulturno vento hostem pugnabant Liu. 22. Romane souldiers in the battell at Cannae hauing the winde against them had their eies and throates filled with dust which fauoured the Carthaginians blowing vpon their backs The Sunne with great heate frying the bodies of the Gaules made them c Sol ingenti ardore torrebat minimè patientia aestus corpora Gallorum Liu. 35. very faint fighting on a certeine time with the Romanes Vespasians souldiers hauing the d Tacit. l. 19. Moone on their backe when they fought in the night with Vitellius his army seemed greater then they were and did see to strike more directly The same aduantage had the Sicilians against the Athenians in that nights encounter wherein they ouerthrewe them neere Syracusae The season of the yeere also and the weather is to be considered before we range our army to fight Northren people endure colde better then heate And therefore as they are to auoide fighting in the heate of the day and summer season so they are to chuse the coole morning or euening and of the times of the yeere the Spring or drie Winter which Southren people can not brooke The Romanes protracting time vntill the heate of the day did then charge the e Liu. 9. Gaules when with heate and thirst they were of themselues ready to faint which occasioned vnto them a great victorie In rainie weather shot cannot doe almost any seruice that tyme therefore is fittest for armed men targetters and such like to charge them Finally whatsoeuer maketh for the encouragement of our souldiers or discouragement of the enemie the same ought a wise Generall to deuise and practise The strength of the enemy is in wordes to be diminished the goodnes of our cause and strength of our army to be amplified Whatsoeuer a Fama bellum conficit parua momenta in spem metúmque impellunt animos Liu. 27. reportes may hurt the enemy or helpe vs are to be spread abroad Reportes oft times preuaile as much as truth small matters make men in that case both feare and hope as said Claudius Nero. The report of a succour comming did daunt b Tacit. 19. Vitellius his army and confirmed the enemy Which also happened in a certeine incounter betwixt the Romanes and Samnites Wordes also cast out in the time of the battell as that their Generall is slaine or that part of the army flieth and such like profite much Therefore if at any time heere especially the skill and iudgement of a Capteine is to shewe it selfe in taking aduantages auoiding disaduantages preuenting of mischiefes laying ambushes for the enemy and vsing all maner of stratagems and deuises of warre Nowe hauing spent thus much time in considerations and preparatiues of a battell let vs come to the ranging of our battels and to the action it selfe in encountring and vanquishing the enemy CHAP. XII Wherein is discoursed what aray and course is best in charging the enemie THe aray of an army placed and prepared to fight is diuers according to the number and qualities both of the enemies and our owne forces likewise according to our strength in horsemen or footemen in shot or armed men and last of all according to the difference of groundes and places To part a small number into so many partes as we doe a full armie were rather to breake it then orderly to part it and a matter in shewe ridiculous If the enemies force be greater on the corners then in the midst we must haue consideration of that in framing and ranging our army Horsemen in rough ground in woods straits and hilles are vnprofitable If the enemy be stronger then wee in horse wee are to change the place of our horsemen to auance our footmen Where the wayes are strait we cannot spread our army as in open field This and other circumstances being referred to the iudgement of the Generall let vs now consider what aray is best in open field our army being full and hauing all the partes thereto required This I haue touched already where I shewed before how an army marching is suddenly to be drawen into order by what rules the same may be exactly performed remaineth now to be declared The whole army considered without horsemen or shot consisteth of three partes in the front I call them the a That word cōmeth neerest to the sence though not to the proper signification of the word right corner the middle battell and the left corner the Romanes called them Dextrum cornu mediam aciem sinistrum cornu and of two or three partes from front to the backe The first I call the front the second the supply the third if there be a third the last hope The Romanes diuided their aray as it was considered in depth or from front to backe in hastatos principes triarios The shot I would haue placed both before and on the sides and behinde euery of these partes diuided into seuerall troupes and guided by seuerall leaders Without the shot the horsemen would be placed on the winges vnlesse some speciall cause mooue vs to the contrary The three partes of the front may either stand ioyned together or with some distance separated and either may they be framed as one body with rankes continued or els euery of these partes may consist of diuers battaillions or squares of armed men very commodious for the seuerall vse of them and also for the retrait of shot within the distances The breadth and depth may be greater or lesser according to our
number and the ground where they stand As the front is diuided so likewise is the supply and last hope in like sort The supply would be neere so many as the front but it is sufficient if the last hope be halfe so many The distances of the supply would be greater then of the battaillions in front which charging the enemy are to ioyne close together and being wearied may retire within the distances of the supply which two partes ioyned together do then make one front if both be foiled then are they to be receiued within the distances of the last hope which are largest and all the partes to vnite their whole forces together If any doubt of the confusion that may arise in the retiring of the first and second battell backe to the third then may the supply and last hope be drawen vp vpon the sides which will worke the very same effects In the midst of euery battaillion or square somewhat toward the first rankes would the ensignes be placed with their garders well armed and furnished with short weapons Euery battaillion would haue his seuerall leader which would be the first man of the right hand in the first ranke of the square for that the inferior leaders in a maine battell should stand out of ranke is contrary to practise of warres If in euery battaillion there were some part targetters contrary to the moderne vse there might be good vse made of them when the armies come to ioyne both against shot and pikes a Ante signa modico interuallo velites eunt Liu. 38. Before the front of the battell are certeine troupes of shot to take their standing which may not onely defend the head of our army but also anoy whosoeuer offereth himselfe to the charge If they be pressed with horsemen or targetters their retreit is within the distances of the battaillions if the ground affoord them no other defence From thence they are to be drawen eftsoone againe and employed where theyr leaders shall perceiue they may doe most seruice A ranke of mosquetiers vnder the first ranke of pikes may doe good seruice if they be drawen into the distances when the enemy commeth to the charge The horsemen if they be not strong enough to encounter the enemies horse would be seconded with certeine troupes of shot and halfe pikes but diligently are they to take heed that they goe not directly before the front of their owne footmen lest retiring thence they fall vpon their owne pikes The great ordonance if there be any hill in the place either on the right hand or left hand of the army is there best placed both for seeing of the enemy and for feare of disordering our men either going to the charge or retiring backe If the ground be euen it is placed in the head of our army a little before our troupes of shot which after the same is discharged auance themselues while that is drawen within the distances either of the battaillions or of the midbattell and corners For defence of the artillery there are good gardes to be appointed wheresoeuer it standeth If this order cannot be obserued yet this rule is generally to be respected that euery weapon and souldier is there to be placed where he may most anoy the enemy and best defend himselfe The partes are so to be placed that one may succour another and one retire to another Horsemen may not come within the ground of the footmen nor shot within the rankes of pikes but both either on the sides or behinde the battaillions He is most iudicious that can bring most men to fight and stop the way to the enemy that he can not extend his men to hurt him There is no company to be sent forth to ioyne with the enemy but with some to relieue them againe and againe and to receiue them retiring and stop the enemies pursute Horsemen may not charge pikes nor come in ground where they cannot fetch their carriere Other rules in their speciall places shall be prescribed Shot in marching and standing obserue order The distances before I haue shewed In fighting they obserue no order but euery man marking his enemy right before him and shooting at him taketh his best aduantage yet if they obserue not a certeine course where the shot are many they soone fall in disorder Archers for that they shoot and fight standing in ranke obserue better aray their distance from shoulder to shoulder is one foot from ranke to ranke foure foot Some now a dayes doe little esteeme this weapon yet if our archers were armed with plated iackes as in time past neither shotte could abide them in euen ground nor pikes without shotte Against horsemen where they may finde defence of hedges or ditches or stakes or rough ground they do very good seruice Pikemen against a charge of horsemen ought to stand close with the blunt end of the pike in the ground the poynt bent vpon the horse brest Ranke from ranke standeth not more then three foot asunder that many endes of pikes may garde the first ranke That the pikes may be commodiously bent and crossed the first rankes are to bow theyr bodies that they may the better breake the charge of the enemies horse before them they are to haue a ranke of mosquetiers as hath bene said already Where the pikemen go to charge other pikes betweene shoulder and shoulder there would be a foot distance betwixt ranke and ranke so much as charging with the pikes aboue hand and breaking the same they may vse theyr swordes and daggers and either in striking auance forward theyr right legges or els receiuing the enemies blowes draw backe the same Sixe foot I thinke for that purpose to be sufficient The halberdieres bilmen and targetters would haue likewise betwixt shoulder and shoulder one foot betwixt ranke and ranke fiue foot In pikes and short weapons this is generally to be obserued that they stand as close together as may be so they may haue roome to manage themselues and their weapons the lesse roome may serue considering that I would haue all souldiers to strike with the point of their weapon and euery man to succour his fellowes before him and on the sides The horsemen go to the shocke with equall front so neere as they can and runne so close side by side as they may without hurt ech to other If horse be distant from horse two foot and ranke from ranke seuen foot when horsemen goe trotting to the charge the proportion is good The aray of the Frenchmen that charge with single rankes is of no strength neither the orders of the Reiters that goe to the charge in a ring for so soone as they are inuested with lances they are broken and therefore I thinke the former aray better as vsed both by antiquity and the Italian and English caualery which giueth ground at this day to no other The ancient leaders of time past which for their skill in armes are famous to
and left corner the Gaules and Spaniards with their aray in forme of a wedge auanced somewhat forward being in the midst The charge was begunne by the archery and light armed afterward did the left wing of the Gaules and Spanish horsemen meete with the right wing of the Romanes then followed the encountre of the armed men a Liui. 22. In dextro cornu Romanos equites locauit deinde pedites laeuum cornu extremi equites sociorum intra pedites ad medium iuncti legionibus Romanis tenuerunt iaculatores Ex caeteris leuium armorum auxilijs prima acies facta Annibal Balearibus aliáque leui armatura praemissa Gallos Hispanosque equites laeua in cornu aduersus Romanum equitatum dextrum cornu Numidis equitibus datum media acie peditibus firmata ita vt Afrorum vtraque cornua essent interponerentur his cuneo aliquantum prominente medij Galli atque Hispani Pugna leuibus primum armis commissa deinde equitum Gallorum Hispanorumque laeuum cornu cum dextro Romano concurrit deinde peditum coorta pugna Scipio fighting against Asdrubal in Spaine did thus dispose his army he strengthened both the corners of his battell diuided from front to backe after the vsual maner with Romane souldiers his associats he bestowed in the midst his horsemen and light armed hee sent out against the corps de garde of the Carthaginians placed in the gates of their campe and in conuenient places neere When the Carthaginians came foorth against them hee receiued his horsemen and light armed within his battaillions and diuiding them into two partes placed them behinde the corners of the battell Perceiuing where the enemie was weakest hee there beganne the charge with that part of his army that was strongest The first battell of the enemies being discomfited he chargeth the midbattell with his Regiments of Romanes on the sides with his associats that were Spaniards in front and on the backes with his horsmen and so put the same to flight Scipio cornua firmat a Liu. 28. Romano milite socijs in mediam aciem acceptis equites leuem armaturam in stationes Punicas immisit egredientibus Poenis equitatum leuem armaturam in medium acceptam diuisamque in partes duas in subsidijs post cornua locat Cum cornibus vbi firma eius erat acies Poenorum infirma pugnam incipit ea acie fugata mediam Poenorum aciem ipse a latere equites à tergo Hispani à fronte adorti fuderunt Scipioes father encountring the same man their armies were then thus ordered the front of the Romane army stoode vpon three parts the footemen after the maner of the Romanes were part before the ensignes and part behinde the horsemen stoode beyond both the corners of the Auantgard or first battell Asdrubal placed the Spaniards in the midst in the right corner hee ordered the Carthaginians the Africans and other mercenary souldiers in the left his Numidian horsemen hee placed fast by the Carthaginians on that wing where they stoode the rest of his horsemen in the other corner Triplex stetit b Liu. 23. Romana acies peditum pars ante signa locata pars post signa accepta equites cornua cinxere Asdrubal mediam aciem Hispanis firmat in cornibus dextro Poenos locat laeuo Afros mercenariorúmque auxilia equitum Numidas Poenorum peditibus caeteros Afros pro cornibus opponit Scipio he that subdued Annibal encountring with Syphax vsed the vsual aray of the Romanes making his army triple in breadth and in length the Italian horsemen he placed by the right corner of the first squadrons the Numidians ledde by Masinissa by the left Syphax and Asdrubal opposed the Numidian or Barbary horse against the Italian horse the Carthaginians against Masinissa The Celtiberian footemen they placed in the midst opposite against the squadrons of the Romane Regiments c Liu. 30. Romanus hast atorum prima signa post principes in subsidijs triarios constituit Equitatum Italicum ab dextro cornu ab laeuo Numidas Masinissamque opposuit Syphax Asdrubalque Numidis aduersus Italicum equitatum Carthaginensibus contra Masinissam locatis Celtiberos in mediam aciem in aduersa signa legionum accepere In a certaine encounter in Spaine the d Liu. 29. Romans perceiuing that the enemy had left spaces betweene the midbattel those squadrons that made the corners purposing to send out his horsemen by those spaces preuenting him filled those spaces first with their horsmen which both made the enemies horse vnseruiceable and holpe to disorder his footemen Their other aray was ordinary saue that the horsemen made not the outmost wings but the footemen as appeareth by these wordes of Liuy following Cornua dextrum Ilergetes laeuum alij Hispani mediam aciem Ausetani tenuere Inter cornua mediam aciem interualla patentia fecerunt satis lata qua equitatum vbi tempus esset emitterent Romani cùm inter cornua loca etiam patentia fecissent hoc vicerunt quod primi equites inter interualla miserint quod hostium equites inutiles fecit turbauit hostium pedites Yet was not the aray of the Romanes alwaies the same as appeareth by that encounter which the Romane Proconsul Pretor had with Mago in Liguria The Pretors legions made the front of the armie first squadrons the Proconsul placed his legions behind for supply The twelfth legion being almost cut all in peeces the thirteenth was auanced forward to relieue it Mago against this legion opposed fresh men reserued behinde for supply the Elephants comming ouerthwart the first rankes of the eleuenth legion being drawen foorth fought with them with their iauelins a Liu. 30. Praetoris legiones in prima acie fuerunt procos suas in subsidij tenuit Duodecima legione magna ex parte caesa decimatertia legio in primam aciem inducta Mago ex subsidijs Gallos integros legioni opposuit hastati legionis vndecimae pila in Elephantos conijciunt Furius fighting with the Gaules in Liguria placed his army in this sort The souldiers of his associats he diuided into b Wings were so called for that they were placed on the sides of the battell yet were they not so alwaies wings and of them made the front of the battell Two regiments he placed behinde for a supply When the right wing was almost oppressed bringing vp the two regiments on either side of it he garded the same and with his horsemen he charged the enemy vpon the side of his battell c Liu. 31. In alas Furius diuidens socialem exercitum eum in prima acie locauit in subsidijs duas legiones oppressae dextrae posteà alae duas illas legiones circumduxit equites in latus hostium emisit When afterward the Romane Empire was enlarged that the Romanes began to haue diuers nations in their armies although the generall order was still obserued yet there happened in their armies by reason of this
in the left side of his armie set the 9 and 7 regiment the 30 29 13 14 28 and 26. in the midbattell certaine companies of those legions togither with certaine regiments of yong souldiers in the right corner certaine other regiments newly leuied he placed in squadrons behind for a supplie The last hope or third supplie or battell he translated into the left corner of his battell where also he placed his horsemen and the fift legion which seconded his horsemen His light armed disposed in squadrons hee ranged among the troupes of his horsemen b Hirt. de bel Afric Scipio collocabat in fronte legiones Numidas in subsidiaria acie elephantos dextro sinistróque cornu aequalibus interuallis post illos armaturas leues Numidas auxiliares substituerat equitatuÌ„ vniuersum in dextro cornu disposuit iuxta leuis armaturae infinitam multitudinem mille passuum spatio sinistrum cornu oppido Vzita claudebatur Caesar habuit legionem 9 7 in sinistro cornu tricesimam vicesimam nonam decimam tertiam 14 28 26 in media acie aliquot cohortes earum legionum vnà tyronum legiones in dextro cornu tyronum legiones in subsidijs tertiam aciem in sinistrum suum cornu transtulit ibi equitatum collocauer at quintam legionem quae equitatui subsidio esset leuem armaturam inter equites interposuit And thus inough of the Romanes and perchance as some will say too much seeing the orders of warres are now so diuers as they thinke from antiquitie But these men must consider that the reasons remaine alwayes the same and that the vse of horsemen and footemen is now the same that was in times past and that our shot answere to their light armed and that alwayes one part is to succour another and that the army must take heede that it be not compassed round The Greekes yea and barbarous nations mooued with the same reasons haue in effect kept the same aray When a Xenoph. exped Cyr. 1. Clearchus was to fight with Artaxerxes he placed his owne souldiers in the right corner and those of Meno in the left the rest were ranged in the midst Without the corners stood the light armed and then the horsemen equally diuided vtmost In the encounter of the Greekes b Arrian exped Alex. lib. 3. and Persians at Arbela Darius on the wings placed his horsemen of diuers nations and some pretie distance before them his charets with hookes within them his archers and light armed and in the midst the Greekes and Persians which were the strength of the army The same aray did Alexander also obserue in the front of his army but fearing least hee should be compassed about by Darius his horsemen he also prouided another battaillion which if neede be might make head that way also I need not bring many examples seeing in all these matters there is one generall course Let vs therefore now compare the arayes of late time and you shall then perceiue that either they are like to former proceedings in former time or els farre worse The c Froisâ—art blacke Prince in the fight with Henry the vsurper of Castil diuided his army into three partes himselfe ledde the battell the duke of Lancaster the Vantgarde and the king of Maiorca the rest the horsemen were sorted on the sides the same aray was obserued by the enemie When the duke of Burgundie was to fight with Lewis the 11 at Montlehery hee placed his archers first but because his caualery was not placed on the sides but behinde the same going to the charge ouerranne his owne men and killed diuers of them and fewe or none of the enemies In which disorder if Lewis had charged him he could not haue failed of the victorie The Prince of Condè Anno 1567 remayning at S. Denys and vnderstanding the Kings determination to driue him thence resolued in the fieldes betwene Paris and S. Denys to receiue the charge in this order he diuided his horsemen into three partes and did second euery part with shot with the rest of the shot Ienlis beganne the charge Footemen armed which are the strength of the army he had none The partes were so farre sundred that one part could not succour another So that if the armed men of the aduerse party had come on both the horsemen and footemen of the Prince had bene driuen to a poore retraite The Constable hauing 16000 footemen brought fewe or none to the encountre Of this number 6000 Suitzers were there planted in the fielde like so many stakes without giuing any one blow that day At Moncontour the Admiral placed first his a They are the most part Pistoleers on horsebacke Reyters and side by them certaine lances both these hee fensed on the sides with shot behinde these he placed a squadron of Lansquenets flanked likewise with shot and seconded with some fewe horsemen all which made the Auantgard The battell consisted of shot which was likewise flanked and seconded with shot In the head both of the battell and Auantgard were certaine shot placed as enfans perdus wee call them the forlorne hope in which aray there was neither order beautie nor strength There wanted armed men in the battell Horsemen coulde not being so placed come to the charge but they should runne ouer their owne men In some they were so placed that not the hundred person could come to fight But percase the Admirall either coulde not doe as hee would or else carried away with the errour of the French that put all in shot had more of that weapon then coulde doe seruice The enemies Auantgard at the same time stood vpon 4000 Suitzers flanked with certaine Regiments of shot before the Suitzers were 8 fielde pieces placed and before the pieces the forlorne hope beyonde the shot were ranged certaine lances The battell being drawne vp and ranged in equal front with the Auantgard in fashion differed little or nothing from the same Much like course sure no better hath bene vsed in all the battels that haue bene fought since the inuention of artillery So that we see how all wise captaines do goe about in their arayes to resemble the proceeding of ancient time but there is not now the like vnion of the parts nor the like strength of the whole body nor that orderly proceeding that euery weapon may doe his office nor that proportion of the front nor order of supplies that were among ancient warriers And by reason of vniformity in proceeding now wanting hard it is to set men in order hard to bring many to fight and hardest of all to restore an array once broken this is the cause of the weaknesse of the armies of ourtime in disorder no army can fight nor resist Wherefore of two things in this point considerable let vs doubt neither If the enemy be in disorder neither let vs doubt to charge him nor if our army be in order let vs feare to susteine his charge
a Auxilia Iubae impedita ac perturbata quòd nullo ordine essent sine timore iter fecerant in fugam se conjiciūt Caes bel Ciu. 2. Iubaes men being without order were no sooner charged but they fled Cato in his expedition into b Dum Hispani trepidant acie instruenda Cos iam paratis ordinatisque omnibus incompositos aggreditur Liu. 34. Spaine taking the enemy at like aduantage and charging him as he ranne vp and downe to set his forces in array did easily driue him out of the field If the c Liu. 22. Romanes as they passed the riuer before the battell of Trebia had not bene charged by Annibal they could not so easily haue receiued so great an ouerthrow Annibal himselfe albeit a most expert leader and of an army most expert in warre yet receiued losse being charged by Marcellus in that instant when he drew his men out of the campe to set them in order and if by long practise his men could not haue taken their standings themselues they had that day quite bene ouerthrowen by their d Toto passim campo pecorum modo incompositos se fuderunt Liu. 27. disorder The like had also happened vnto Caesars army charged by the e Caes bel Gal. 2. Neruians when it was dispersed and disordered about the fortification of the campe but that the skill of the souldiers that could euery man fall in array of himselfe remedied the disorder The Germanes a long time vsing to charge their enemies with more f Dirigūtur acies pari vtrinque spe nec vt olim apud Germanos vagis incursibus aut disiectas per cateruas quippe longa aduersus nos militia insueuerant signa sequi subsidijs firmari dicta imperatorum accipeic Tacit. annal 2. violence then order assailing them by squadrons seuerally rather then with an ordered army were ouerthrowen by the Romanes oft times but when by long vse they had learned the Romane array and obserued it they preuailed against them Those that come rather furiously then orderly to the charge as did the French at Cressy and Poitiers and both French and Spaniards at Aliubarota in the confines of Portogall where our ancesters of the English natiō obteined great victories are easily ouerthrowen Susteine the first brunt and presently they are cooled Those therefore that goe to charge the enemy let them obserue this a What is to be especially considered and performed before our army begin the charge course first let them set their men in order that euery man may know his place secondly let them giue certeine direction that euery commander may know both what to doe and in case he cannot performe so much where to retire Annibal not thinking of this when he fought with Scipio in Afrike occasionned his owne ouerthrow for when his first battell being wearied would haue retired to the succor there was no place left to retrait into so that the same not being receiued into the second battell began to fight with their owne fellowes and what by the enemy and by friends was most part slaine The French horse at the battell of Poitiers not knowing where to retire fell among their footmen and holpe to set them in disorder Thirdly in giuing directions let the Generall take heed that he employ all sorts of weapons where they may doe most seruice this I meane particularly to declare in the chapter following if he send horse against pikes standing fast or against shot being fenced with a trench he ruinateth his horse if he send shot against horse in open field or pikes against shot he vseth the matter with no iudgement Fourthly let him neuer order either his whole army or part of it without supply Many casualties may at the first discourage our men which being opportunely succored may take courage againe and begin a fresh charge vpon the enemy b Ex secunda acie subsidiarijs cohortibus in pugnam inductis suos accendit hostē fudit Liu. 34. Cato in his warres against the Spaniards relieuing his wearied men with a few fresh companies encouraged them and ouerthrew the enemies When Caesars men began to giue groūd in their battell against the Germanes c Crassus tertiam aciem laborantibus nostris subsidio misit ita praelium restitutum est atque omnes hostes terga verterunt Caes bel Gal. 1. Crassus by supplying them with a fresh company not onely restored the battell but made all the enemies to runne Where all the force of the army is employed at the first brunt and no order is taken for supplies as in a certeine battell betwixt the Romaines and Volscians the successe d Primo praelio non subsidijs firmata acie c. concursum est ideò Romani à Volscis premuntur Liu. 2. seldome is good Among other matters obiected against Fuluius accused as principall causer of the ouerthrow of the Romaine army by Annibal at Herdonea this was chiefe that he did not well order his army nor strengthen the same with supplies nor succours Fiftly looke with what part of the army himselfe is strongest let him there begin to charge the enemy where either by good intelligence or view of the aray or disaduantage of the ground or quality of the weapons he shall perceiue that the enemie is weakest Caesar in the a Caesar à dextro cornu quod eam partem minimè firmam hostium esse animaduerterat praelium commisit Caes bel gal 1. encounter he had with the Germanes beganne to charge them with that part of his armie that was ordered in the right corner for that hee sawe that the enemies were there weakest The same as Liuy testifieth was obserued in a certaine battell which the Romanes had with the Carthaginians in Spaine He is not wise that when he may charge the enemie on the side will goe directly to the front where his greatest force consisteth Sixtly after that hee hath set his men in order let him not stand long in armes before he goeth to the charge if he meane at all to fight By long standing the souldiers waxe wearie faint hungrie and a great part of their courage is thereby abated b Liu. 27. Asdrubal coulde not haue done his men greater wrong then to make them stand so long in armes before the battell begunne at Metaurus Thereof proceeded their faintnesse and contrariwise the courage and strenth of the Romanes for those being faint these came fresh to the battell c Liu. 22. Annibal at the battell of Trebia would not bring foorth his men to fight before hee perceiued the Romanes to be hungrie and almost tyred with long standing Which encreased his owne force and abated much of the courage and force of the enemie Further by no meanes let him suffer the enemie to preuent him in giuing the first charge As in the beginning of warres so in the d Verti in co res videbatur vtri prius arma inferrent Liu.
enemie wholly vanquished a Turbasset vtique nouissimum agmen Liu. 22. Annibal pursuing the Romanes after his victorie at Trebia had sure ouertaken them and disordered their rierward had not the Numidian horsemen turned aside to spoyle the campe of the Romanes And in the time of the Emperours of Rome the Germanes had giuen the b Obstitit vincentibus prauum inter ipsos certamen hoste omisso spolia consectandi Tacit. 20. Romanes a mightie ouerthrowe if leauing them they had not contended among themselues who shoulde first goe to spoyle But howe so euer it was in auncient time the disorder of souldiers in this point is such that with no lawes nor penalties they canne bee kept from following the spoyle which oftentimes maketh them a spoyle to their enemies The French at Guingast had put the Dutch to flight and were almost in possession of the victorie but while they ranne after the spoyle the enemie rallied himselfe and charging them afresh did extorce the victorie out of their handes and put them to flight At c Guicciar li. 2. Taro the Italians had foyled the French returning out of the kingdome of Naples but that in the beginning of the victorie they fell to spoyle the baggage which was the cause of their owne spoyle and ruine The same was the cause of the escape of the d Guicciar lib. 8. French and losse of the Venetians at Treui Gaston de fois at the taking of Brescia made proclamation that vpon paine of death no man shoulde fall to spoyle before licence giuen yet coulde hee not keepe his souldiers fingers in temper The more dangerous effectes doe ensue of this disorder the greater care ought the Generall to haue to preuent it CHAP. XII Part. 2. Wherein the vse of horsemen pikes halberdes and other such weapons also of targets small shotte archers and great ordonance is declared THat which before I promised concerning the vse of horsemen and diuers weapons that is nowe to be performed A matter of great importance and aduantage if it be well considered and therefore not to be omitted You that knowe the traine of armes yeelde here the testimonie of your experience to this discourse and if you heare any cauill against it yet let not such as neuer marched further then out of the kitchin or from the dresser into the hall or parlour censure that which they vnderstand not Horsemen among the Romanes were al of one sort barded horses with men all armed mounted on them they vsed not If they vsed any archers on horsebacke they were beholding to other natiōs for them Nowe vse of late times hath brought in diuers sortes of them which according to their armes and furniture haue diuers names Some horse are barded others without bardes The Frenchmen of armes in time past vsed barded horses for feare of our arrowes Nowe since archerie is not so much reckoned of and bardes are but a weake defence against shotte lanciers leauing their bardes are armed much like to the Albanian stradiots Vpon the borders betwixt vs and the Scots horsemen haue staues for the purpose and for their armes iackes of male The Dutch Reitres although well armed for the most part yet seldome vse lances or staues or other weapon then pistoles and mazes at their saddle bowe Beside these there is an other sort of horsemen lately come in vse We call them carbines pedrinals or argoletiers which vse firelocke peeces on horsebacke and are cōmonly armed to the proofe of their piece Horsemen in warres are most necessary in diuers respects With them we range and spoile the enemies countrey with them we fetch in victuals for our selues with them we discouer the enemies proceedings with them we bridle his courses and stop his forragers with them we both helpe to foyle him in open fielde and pursue him flying from vs. a Caes bel gal 7. Caesar by the enemies horse alwayes coasting him and ready to charge his forragers was driuen to great extremitie for want of victuals In b Hirt. de bel Afric Afrike likewise being a plaine countrey he suffered many algaradaes by the enemies horsemen often charging him and cutting off his victuals If Pompey had not rashly aduentured to fight with Caesar by his horsemen wherein he farre passed him he had famished his armie The Greekes in their returne frō their voyage with Cyrus by experience learned what incommodities followe them that march without horse in the enemies countrey And this is the vse of horsemen out of fight to witte to cut off the enemie from victuals to keepe him short to discouer his proceedings to cut off straglers and to fetche in victuals and prouision for our owne armie Which he that is strong in horsemen cannot want In fighting with the enemie there are diuers vses of horsemen If we charge him on the sides or backe we stop his march as before I haue shewed With a fewe horsemen any number of shotte taken in open fielde may be disordered The Protestants in the encounter at S. Gemme in a Hist de troubl de Fr. li. 13. Poitou with a few horsemen defeated diuers olde companies of shotte led by Puigalliard That was the ruine of the Prince of Parmaes ayde sent to the Duke of Mayne by the horsemen of the present French king by Dreux an 1589. No number of short weapons can resist the carriere of horse in a plaine ground The Sabines saith b Ab equitibus repentè inuectis turbati sunt ordines Sabinorum Liu. 1. Liuy were put out of their araie being suddenly charged by the Romane horsemen The Volscians and c In media primùm acie vinci coepti qua praemissus equitatus turbauerat ordines Liu. 3. Aequians after long fight beganne to giue ground after that the horesemen had broken their array by charging them in the midbattell The force of horesemen for their violence is called a d Procella equestris Liu. 30. tempest The Romane e Dictator immisso equitatu cùm antesignanos hostium turbaffet legionum signa properè inferri iussit Liu. 4. Generall perceiuing the weakenes of the enemies battel by charging them with his horsemen did disorder all to the ensignes after which entrance made he cut the rest in pieces with his armed men The Corinthians in a certaine battell hauing put the f Thucid. 3. Athenian footemen to flight were accoyled and ouerthrowen by a fewe horsemen The reason that the horsemen preuailed so much in time past were two first they seldome vsed any long weapons but targets and iauelins for the most part secondly they did then vse to charge with their horsemen when they sawe the footemen out of array and not otherwise if they did wisely g Reliquos omnes equites nostri consecuti interfecerunt Caes bel gal 1. This is therefore an other vse of horsemen in the battel to charge those that are already disordred The fourth and last vse of them is to execute and
argoletiers are to take heede that they come not neere the lances of the enemy lest they make holes in their horses sides if no worse Where the enemy is in disorder there al sorts of horsemen may do seruice At Cerisoles after that the shot had made way in the enemies battell the French entred with their horse among them and ouerthrew them Pikes are the onely defence of footemen against horsemen if they be taken in plaine ground Yet doe I not thinke it good that there should be such numbers of pikes in our armies as is vsed For that vse excepted which I spake of I see no other great profite they haue For execution is seldome doone by pikes Sometime I grant pikes do charge other pikes but it is not the piquier that maketh the slaughter In woodes and shrubbie or brushie groundes these kinde of long weapons are vnprofitable and vnweldie The Germanes by the disaduantage of their long pikes d being taken in such ground were ouerthrowen by Germanicus and the Romane targettiers In straites likewise when souldiers come to lay handes and haue prize ech on other long pikes cannot a Longae hast 〈◊〉 in syluis inter virgulta non tam aptae quam pila haerentia corpori tegmina gladij Tacit. 2. not be a Nec minor Germanis animus sed genere pugnae armorum superabantur cum ingens multitudo arctis locis praelongas hastas non protenderet nō colligeret Tacit. annal 2. managed as the experience of the Romanes fighting against the Germanes and Macedonians armed with long weapons teacheth vs. Further the assailants in assaults of townes and forts haue small vse of them For there is no vse of horsemen there greatly against which pikes are good neither do the defendants greatly vse them saue in the breach Pikemen are too heauie armed to pursue others and without shot they cannot well garde themselues either against shot or targets At Muscleborough field a fewe shot opened the Scottish squadrons of pikes for those that folowing after inuested them And likewise did the French arquebuziers at Cerisoles deale with the lancequenets among whose battelles making lanes they gaue entrance to the horsemen that presently charged them And so little defence there is in that weapon that not onely the Biscaine buckelers entred within them at the battaile of b In the dayes of Lewis the 12. of France Rauenna where they made a foule tailliada and slaughter but also the Counte of Carmignola dismounting himselfe and his company entred among the squadrons of the Switzers pikes and cut them in peeces in an other encounter in Lombardie The Romanes dealing with the c Sarissae Macedonicae Macedonian pikes both in the warres with Philip and Perseus kings of Macedonia and of Antiochus king of a great part of Asia neuer feared to enter vpon them with their targets nor made reckoning of that weapon And not without cause For who seeth not the strength and effect of the pike being in the point that as soone as targettiers or other armed men enter among pikes the piquiers throwe downe their pikes and take them to their other weapons the Portugalles did perceiue by the experience of that fight with the Moores where Sebastian their king was slaine that fewer pikes would haue serued and other weapons done better effects The Switzers that are for the most part piquiers will not march anie whither without their companies of shot attending on them for their garde At Moncontour the Almaine piquiers abandoned of their shot were miserably shot to death most of them For this cause I would haue onely so many pikes as woulde serue for the defence of the army against the enemies horse The Frenchmen haue but ten pikes to euery companie of shot which is too little yea and sometimes they haue no pikes at all But he is abused that maketh the French precedentes and examples to followe in any practice of warre The first rankes of pikes woulde bee armed with corsalets of caliuer proofe on the breast from the twelfth ranke backeward and inward it is sufficient if they haue anie armes or iackes of male Brassats and other peeces of armes except the head-peece gorgeron and corsalet I thinke to be more then they can eyther wel march with or fight with The Frenchmen in time past had some called a Cruppellarii cōtinuo ferri teg mine inferendis ictibus inhabiles dolabtis securibus à Romani◠caeduntur Tac. 3. Cruppellarii by Tacitus that were armed as they saie de cap en pied at which the Romane souldiers laughed For that they were vnable by reason of the weight of their armes eyther to strike the enemie or to defend themselues Therefore did they hew them downe with billes and pollaxes The pike I would haue if it might be of Spanish Ash and betwixt twentie and two and twentie foote long and by his side euerie piquier would haue sword and dagger and a dagge at his girdle especially in the vtmost ranks The number of targettiers I woulde haue encreased Not onely of such as haue targets of proofe which are vsed of those that stand in the first rankes but also of those that haue light targets These would be made of wood either hooped or barred with yron It would be three foote and a halfe in length for that was the measure of the Romane shield two foot a half in breadth in forme ouall A kinde of armes now disused but most excellent in all seruices saue against horsemen in the plaine field Against archers targets are a sure defence and dangerous to the enemy after that men come to close b Liu. 27. Scipio with his targetters cut the Carthaginian archers and slingars in peeces c Romani tela densatis excipiunt scutis Liu. 28. Targets are a good defence against stones in an assault and whatsoeuer is throwen from hand The same are very effectuall against shot A small number of targetters if once they come to reach shot with their swordes put great numbers of them out of the field Put case that some come shorte yet sure not manie considering that onely the first rankes of shot can discharge and that all doe not hit and few mortally especially if the first targets be of proofe and the men march resolutely to the charge Neither can shot retire where many of them are in the field nor saue thēselues in any place but targetters wil come to them Targetters also are mortall to the pikemen as not onely the Romanes dealing with the Macodonian and Germane pikes but also the Biskaines with their bucklers in the battell of Rauenna and Cirignola declared Targettiers in execution are singular and ready and light if their targets be light in following the chase They may be vsed in all seruices and all groundes In assaults of townes and in sallies in fighting in open field and in streites in woodes and in hils in retraites and in chases there is
did it anie hurte to the footemen by reason of the vneuenesse of the ground For eyther it fell lowe or high If the same be placed in the front of our armie yet can not the same be employed past one or two volies For at the ioyning of the battell it ceaseth And if our men march forward it breaketh their arrayes If the same be placed vpon some hill yet lying out of leuell and shooting downeward it doth no great hurt But let it doe the vtmost that it may being employed by iudicious gunners yet neuer was victorie obtained by great ordonance in open field nor the force of the enemy comming resolutely to the charge thereby stopped a Guicciard lib. 10. Gaston de Fois sallying out of the Castell tooke the towne of Brescia notwithstanding the number of great peeces that in euery streete were bracked against him And little did the Spaniardes that sacked Antwerpe Anno 1576. sallying out of the cittadell esteeme the peeces that barked against them at their first sally The Frenchmen although they had two and twentie peeces of ordonance in their campe at Nouara wherewith they thought themselues safely garded all the wayes and accesses being by them flanked and beaten yet b Guicciar lib. 11. were they broken and put out of their lodging by the Suitzers which came against them without eyther ordonance of shot If then in streetes and waies where artillery hath greatest force the same notwithstanding cannot repel the force of a resolute enemy much lesse vse hath it in open field The Admirall after the vnhappy encounter at Moncontour with the reliques of his army c Hist de troubl de Fr. trauersed the greatest part of France without any one peece of great ordonance Neither did his company being diuers times encountred by the way therefore lesse seruice Very troublesome it is in carriage and no lesse chargeable Guicciardin reporteth that the breach of the wheele of a canon did so long incomber the whole army that it lost a good opportunitie by that delay The vse of great ordonance therefore is first in gardeing of towns or passages some litle vse it hath in flanking the sides of our campe or defending the streets if we lodge in villages secondly in battering of walles or opening of passages For without ordonance sufficient euery petit castle or town wil scorne vs or braue vs. In our battery at Coronna wee felt the want of it but more at Lisbon The last vse is in the field either in the front of the battell or vpon some hill vpon the sides Where if we can see the enemies troupes hit amongst them we shal make them change the ground The great artillery of the French beating amoÌ„g the Italian horse in their campe at Rauenna made theÌ„ come to fight with disaduantage The which paine the French themselues suffered in their campe at Landresie being beaten by the imperials from a hill where they had placed their great ordonance as before I haue shewed Thus you may see how as al weapons may be profitably imploied with good iudgement so without iudgement they serue for nothing but to make a shewe Now forasmuch as Stratagemes doe worke as much as weapons and make weapons more effectuall and because the enemy maketh least resistance when he is most sodainly surprised let vs speake of Stratagems and ambushes which tend also to the obtaining of victorie CHAP. XIII Of Stratagemes and Ambushes STratagems I call those deuises whereby the Generall doeth eyther hurte or discourage the enemy or helpe and incourage his owne men so called because they proceede from the Generalles head and pollicie whom the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ambushes the Italians call emboscate from whence both French and wee borrowe the worde The reason whereof is for that in woodes for the most part such trappes are laide The Romanes doe better terme them insidias and the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that wee doe not onely lay snares for our enemies in woodes but also in hollow groundes and also beyond hilles and in valleis and villages and townes and behind walles and wheresoeuer we can couer our men in such sort that we be not espied vntil we come vpon the enemie vpon a sodayne Stratagemes are infinite and can not bee comprised within any certaine rules For what can be so exactly saide but that the wit of man is able to deuise more and saie more some I will set downe practised by famous captains in former time that by them our Generalles of themselues may learne how to inuent others and not alwayes kill the enemy with downe-right blowes One speciall and yet common Stratageme it is to couer our counsels and enterprises by contrary pretenses For by this meanes the enemy looking or warding one way is often taken and striken mortally in an other place and by other meanes Annibal taking his bedde and giuing out that hee was verie a Liu. 25. sicke which rumour flying to the Romanes made them secure in the night time led out tenne thousand men and comming on a sudden surprised Tarentum To the intent that his enterprise might not be discouered before it tooke effect he vsed diuers other pollicies First he sent out diuers light horsemen to range the countrey to kill such as they met least any should escape and giue notice of his comming and that the enemy seeing them might suppose that they were only certaine outriders hauing an intention to surprise Puteoli he gaue out that he went forth with his army to sacrifice at the lake of a Ad lacum Aâ—uerni per specieâ—â— sacrificandi reâ—â—sa vt tentaret Puteolos quique ibi in praesid o erant descendit Liu. 24 Aruerne But in the night hee turned toward Puteoli b Consul in Lucanos ostendir iter cum peteret Gall. am Liu. 27. Claudius Nero caused a fame to flee abroade that he went to the countrey of the Lucanians when in deede hee went into the part of Gallia Togata that is now called la Marca Vnder colour of treaty of peace many practices of hostility are wrought Scipio sending men to intreat with Syphax of peace caused some to espy his campe c Liu. 29. Which gaue entrance to that enterprice which afterward he executed in the night vpon the same Metellus d Salust bel Iugurth treating of peace with Iugurtha did by fayre promises corrupt most of his folowers Both which practices the Spaniards of late time haue vsed against vs. When they entend any dangerous enterprise then it is bruted that either the king of Spaine or their chiefe Leader is dead or sicke Vnder pretence of warres against the Turke An. 1588. he gathered great forces against vs and nowe I vnderstand that newes is come of great preparatiues in Spaine against the Turke that our eyes may be bleared and not see his preparation against France or vs. By the same deuise hee surprised the realme of Portugal after the
may hurt vs. Sometime the enemy by a feined retrayt is drawen into blinde trenches set with sharp stakes and couered with earth boughs hurdles or vnder walles or banks where our shot lieth ready for him or els into any place of disaduantage which was the ruine of Cyrus his army by Tomyris Queene of Scithia and diuers others that like blinde men folow where their enemies leade them In summe whatsoeuer tendeth to deceiue and abuse the enemy or to incourage giue aduantage to our own souldiers the same ought wise leaders to deuise practice Prouided alway that they neither breake othe nor promise nor offend against piety or the lawes of nations Let such vile facts be practiced of Turks Spaniards that hire wicked men to kill Princes and mainteine no othe or promise further then their profit requireth Such Histories doe feine c Persidia plusquam Punica Annibal to haue bene and diuers of the Carthaginians and d Plutarch Lysander Lysander among the Greekes that tooke pleasure in deceiuing of men with great othes as some take ioy to deceiue children with small toyes The proceedings of the Romanes were farre otherwise They disalowed his fact that would haue betrayed Falisci and sent him bound to Pyrrhus that for money promised to empoyson him Neither did e Val. max. lib. 8. c. 9. Cepio the Romane winne any credit by hyring the Lusitanians to kill their Captaine Viriat This practice of killing the Spaniards learn of certaine bastardly Italians a degenerate ofspring and race issuing of the vagrant natiōs of Lombards Gothes Vandales and of f Liu. 41. Perseus that had murtherers hyred for wages to kil whom he should appoint would haue practiced his trechery vpon the Romans a man of a base disposition and vnworthy so noble a kingdome Those stragegemes commonly take effect that are practiced in matters least feared That which no man careth for is neglected and least can that be g Ad id quod ne timeatur fortuna facit minimè turi sunt homines quia quod neglexeris incautum atque apertum habeas Liu. 25. auoyded which is least feared as sayth Cyrus by diuerting the riuer entred Babylon a way that no mā looked for him Scipio passing the lake tooke new Carthage Great are the effects that are wrought by deuises and surprises but they are discreetly to be gouerned least going about to deceiue the enemy we be our selues abused intrapped by double practice as the a Tratato dop pio Italians cal it So was b Anno 1569. Guerchy and his company ouertaken in the practice about the towne of Bourges where diuers braue men lost their liues while the enemy that knew the practice was ready to receiue them to their losse King Edward the 3. vnderstanding of a plot layd by the captaine of S. c Froissart Omar for the recouery of Calais newly by him wonne turned the same vpon the heads of those that should haue executed it surprised those that would haue surprised others Those therefore that in stratagemes politike surprises folow the example of others let them see that their case be like their strength equall that the matter be handled cunningly executed presently And that the times be wel measured that they come neither too soone nor too late in which case their enterprise vanisheth to nothing d Of ambushes Ambushes likewise well placed and managed woorke the enemie great displeasures not onely in cutting off straglers and such as go on forraging but also in troubling an army marching or fighting Annibal in passing the Alpes lost diuers of his souldiers by the incursions of the people of the Mountaines rising out of their holes charging his army vpon aduantages Sempronius as hath bene shewed drawne into an ambush was slaine with his company The like happened to Marcellus the Consull going to view the side of a hill not farre off But of this point I haue already brought examples sufficient where I discoursed of the danger of those that marche in the enemies countrey without diligent discouery Ambushes wel layd that our souldiers may rise out of them suddenly charge the enemy on the back or sides as he is fighting are yee more dangerous then those wherein he is charged marching By the same Romulus ouerthrew the Fidenians for placing part of his men in ambush in certaine thickets and vnder certain hilles neere the town prouoking the enemy to come forth of the towne he drew him along after him vntill such time as hee was against the ambush c Trahuntur ad locum insidiarū inde subito exorti Romani transuersam inuadunt bostium aciem Liu. 7. Where turning backe vpon him and causing those that lay in ambush to charge him on the sides hee cutte many of the Fidenians in peeces Annibal before he encountred the Romanes at Trebia hid certaine a Mago Numidaeque simul latebras eorum improuida prouida praeterlata acies est exorti à tergo ingentem tumultum ac terrorem fecere Liu. 21. horsemen in the marishes and bushes neere to the places where the armies were to ioyne Whence rising vpon a sudden as the army of the Romanes passed by them they made a great tumult and slaughter and were in part cause of the victory With the like practice he entrapped the Romane army at the lake Thrasimene Behind the hilles vpon the side of the place where he saw the encounter would be he placed diuers light armed and beyond the playne he caused his horsemen to lurke in the valleyes So that Flaminius was no sooner come to the charge but he saw his enemy in front on his sides and on his backe b Liu. 35. Philopoemen charging the enemy with his light armed and afterwarde causing his men to flie backe while the enemyranne disorderly after the chase hee receiued his owne men within the distances of his armed men and with them cut in peeces those that folowed Demosthenes not the Orator but a Captaine that liued during the Peloponnesian warre fearing lest the enemy that in number farre passed him would compasse him round about and charge him on the backe in a certaine valley and bushy ground nere the place where the enemy made shew to giue the charge ranged both armed men and e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid. 3. archers which in the ioyning of the battel rising out of their places should charge the enemy vpon the backe d Caes bel gal 1. Caesar by taking the top of the hill where the Heluetians lay encamped with part of his force had giuen them a greater ouerthrow then hee did but that the mistaking of his men made him loose that aduantage It is the part of a wise leader when hee pursueth or coasteth the enemy to take the aduantage of woods valleys hils strayts riuers and in all places to lay traps for him that hee may neither marche nor
fight nor lodge without danger But yet in dressing of Ambushes he is to take great heede first that the enemy haue no notice of his purpose so prouide against him For by this means traps theÌ„selues are oft entrapped c Caes bel gal 8. Corbey of Beauois lying in waite where he supposed Caesars souldiers would come to seeke prouision was himselfe and his company cut in peeces by a greater number then he looked for which Caesar sent thither hauing intelligence of the matter before hand Secondly those that lie in ambush must rise suddenly and execute speedily and courageously least the enemy putting himselfe in order and gathering courage giue them more then they came for Labienus had placed certaine felowes in ambush that should haue charged a Hiâ—t de bel Afric Caesars army as the same passed by but they came foorth so faintly irresolutely that Caesars horsemen before they could doe any thing had hewen them in peeces Thirdly let them beware least while they thinke to doe the feat the rest of the enemies come on their backes before they can dispatch The b Liu. 41. Dardanians had well hoped to haue executed a part of the Macedonian army which they charged vpon the backe as it passed through the countrey but before they were aware they were them selues charged by them that folowed after and were taken as they say betweene the hammer and anuill and well beaten Fourthly when a part of the army is sent to lie in ambush the rest of the army ought to haue correspondence with it that as those that rise vp in ambush doe charge the enemy one way so the rest of the army may charge him another way and alwayes be ready to succour their men Which if they of c Caes bel gal 8. Beauois had considered they had not suffered their best men to haue bene cut in peeces without reliefe The reason that Ambushes doe preuaile so much are diuers first the terrour that the same strike the enemies minde withall comming vpon them vpon the sudden secondly the disorder and confusion that is in the enemies army surprised suddenly and thirdly the vantage of ground which they chuse and the weaknes of the enemy where they charge him Therefore let all valiant souldiers to whom such executions are committed beware how they protract time or loose their aduantage or by vntimely noyse or stirre giue notice of their purpose to the enemy or by stirring before the time cause the enemy to retire before he come within danger By reason whereof I haue seen some my selfe but haue heard of many more enterprises that haue come to nothing CHAP. XIIII Wherein is shewed how the enemy being vanquished the victory is to be vsed and the conquest mainteined HI therto we haue declared by what meanes the enemy may be vanquished in open fielde a marke whereat all valiant Captaines aime and whereunto they addresse all their actions and â—ounsels Yet all consisteth not so in victory but that they deserue farre more commendation that can vse it to purpose and mainteine that which they winne a Vincere scis Annibal victoria vâ—i nescis saâ—de Maherbal vnto him Liu. 22. Annibal had the happe to ouercome the Romanes in diuers battels but he had not the wisdome or happe to vse the victory And diuers great victories hath God giuen to our nation against the Frenchmen and many partes of France haue our ancesters possessed but we could not vse our time nor Gods graces nor at this day haue we so much grounde in France as to builde a fishers cabane in Therefore seeing it is a miserable thing to say we haue had when wee haue not and b Non minor est virtus quà m quaetere parta tueri wise men no lesse consider how they may keepe them winne let vs see if God would so much fauour vs as to suffer vs to winne any thing hereafter how the victory may be vsed and our purchase assured Least as the Spaniard foyled by sea An. 1588. escaped without pursuite or memorable losse saue of some shippes so hee or any other might escape againe so good cheape and continually returne to inuade vs with hope of victory at the least without feare of pursuite or great losse Either the enemies army is altogether vanquished and dispersed or els some good part there of is retyred entire and whole In both these cases what course the Generall is to take let vs nowe consider beginning with the latter If the enemy be not so vanquished but that some part of his army remaineth sound or at least vnbroken then is the Generall to follow him and vrge him while the terrour of the late affright is not yet out of his minde Caesar hauing obteined a great victory against the Heluetians c Caes debel gal 1. ceased not to pursue the remaynder so long vntill all yeelded And afterward hauing foyled Vercingetorix in the fielde and caused him to retire with the rest of his army hee did not d Caes debel gal 7. leaue him vntill hee had forced him to take Alexia for his defence nor then neither vntill such time as he had the towne and all within it yeelded to his mercy e Caes debel ciu â— Vanquishing Pompey in open fielde he would not suffer him to take Sanctuary in his campe but droue him thence and rested not vntill he had taken his flight nor before the reliques of his army that fledde to the hilles thereby had yeelded being cut from water Gaston de Fois hauing foyled the Spaniards at Rauenna did like a man of iudgement follow the reliques of the enemies army the reason hee had no successe was for that hee charged the pikes with his horsemen which should haue bene done with shot and with small forces auanced himselfe too farre forward being so euill followed which cost him his life If he had charged them with shot and taken the way before them with his horse or staied vntill he had taken them at aduantage in some straite where they could not haue kept their rankes or cut betweene them and their victuals without many blowes they had bene forced to yeelde Scipio after he had vanquished Asdrubal in Spaine and driuen him to retraite he so followed him with his horsemen that the man could finde no rest vntill he came vnto the vtmost coast of Spaine Those that after they haue victorie giue themselues either to pleasures or to rest for a small rest purchase to themselues great labour and sometime losse If a Caes de bel cin 3. Pompey after he had giuen Caesar two repulses at Dyrrhachium had vrged the reliques of his armie not yet being recouered from their late affright his successe had bene farre better The Carthaginians not pursuing their victorie in b Liu. 24. Spaine after the death of the two Scipioes but suffering the reliques of their armies not onely to breath but also to gather head were themselues ouercome not
long after by those whome before they had vanquished When such men erred it is not maruell if diuers errors were committed in these late French braules After the battell of S. Denys both Protestants and the kings side departed quietly each from other and at Moncontour albeit the kings brother gaue the Protestants a great ouerthrowe yet he suffered the Admirall to depart with a great part of his army and to gather newe forces to returne againe the next spring to fight againe But may some say it is not good to driue the enemy to vtter despaire for that constraineth men to aduenture and to try all meanes to escape c Desperatio vltima audere experiri cogebà t Aequos Liu. 3. Desperation saith Liuy caused the Aequians to aduenture and try their last refuge The Hetruscians being entered the campe of the Romanes and being compassed about without way to winde out fought so desperately that they slewe one of the Consuls and many braue men and had done much more d Maiorem cladem nisi data via fuisset dedissent Liu. 2. harme had not some wiser then the rest giuen them way to depart out of the campe quietly Afterward of themselues they fell into disorder and were easily vanquished by the horsemen that pursued them For this cause Themistocles said that a bridge of golde was to be made for an enemie that flieth that he might depart quietly All which I yeelde to be true in such an enemie as flieth without purpose to returne and which cannot be broken without great danger But if he purpose to returne no danger is to be refused nor labour to be shunned that he may be broken which in deede is no difficultie For he that cannot resist whole can euill resist broken And therefore this is a controuersie without firme reason of the contrary cause Yet in pursuing the enemie I would not haue him so stopped but that he may flie nor would I haue desperate men fought withall but I would haue them with hunger and disease forced to accept of their liues and so yeelding their armes to depart Which if the French had practised in the conquest of Naples they had not so ignominiously bene driuen out thence by 3 or 4 thousand Bisognos that they suffered to nestle in 2 or 3 out townes of the Countrey But if the enemies forces be vtterly dispersed and dare not looke vpon vs in the fielde then the next labour is to besiege their chiefe cities and that presently while the smart of their woundes is yet fresh Aswell in a Tam secundis quà m aduersis rebus non datur spatium ad cessandum si se Laelius cum equitatu victóque Syphace Cirtham praecedere sinat trepida omnia se metu oppressurum Liu. 30. good successe as in bad a prudent Capteine may not giue himselfe to rest Masinissa by shewing himselfe and his victorious companie before Cirtha so terrified the same especially vpon view of their king that was taken prisoner that the same yeelded vnto him presently Great is the terrour of a victorious armie and sufficient to make any towne to yeelde The Romanes by the terrour of their victorious troupes led by Quintius Cincinnatus obteined nine townes of the enemies in short space The b Antium paucos dies circumfessum deditur nulla oppugnantium noua vi sed quòd iam inde ab infoelici pugna castrisque amissis ceciderant animi Liu. 2. courage of the Volscians was so cooled after their ouerthrowe by the Romanes that they yeelded their citie for feare without any force Therefore Scipio after the ouerthrowe of Annibals army brought his forces presently before Carthage which he draue to accept of composition If Annibal vpon his victorie at Cannae had brought his victorious army before Rome he had proceeded with more iudgement The Rhodians c Stratoniceam recepissent Rhodij post victoriam nisi tempus in castellis recipiendis triuissent Liu. 33. hauing vanquished the enemy in open fielde spent time in taking of certeine paltry hamlets and castles whereas if they had vrged the enemy as they might haue done they had taken Stratonicea the head citie of the countrey There is no towne that dare holde out without hope of succour But may some say it is a hard labour to take townes well fortified and manned and stored with victuals I grant if armies that besiege them be such as ours and so furnished and the townes haue hope of reliefe otherwise as d Scipio vidit dissipatum bellum circumferre ad singulas vrbes arma diutini magis quà m magni esse operis Liu. 28. Scipio said it is a matter of more time then labour For where the Countrey is spoiled no townes can long holde out But that may be done easily where an army goeth vp and downe victorious without stoppe or encounter The reason that the townes of Holland and Zeland haue so long holden out against the Spaniard is that they haue both the sea open and many good friends and fauours in England A victorious army not only taketh whatsoeuer towne it besiegeth but also seaseth the whole countrey Annibal after the victory at Cannae possessed a good part of Italy After the ouerthrow of their forces by Scipio in Afrike the Carthaginians could not say that they had any one towne remaining in obedience After Caesars victorie at Alexia almost all France yeelded it selfe vnto him so well did he followe the victorie against Pompey in Epeirus against Scipio in Afrike against Afranius and Pompeyes sonnes in Spaine that with one victorie he assured himselfe of the whole Countrey and with one enemie fought no more but once The French by one victorie recouered all the kingdome of Naples and by one ouerthrowe at Gariglian lost it againe Francis the first by his victorie at Marignan came in possession of most of the Duchie of Millain being ouerthrowne and taken at Pauy he lost the same againe The Earle of Warwike after one victorie in the daies of Henrie the sixt assured all England to his Prince Edward the fourth by one victorie recouered the same againe and if that our ancestors had well followed the victories at Cressy Poytiers and Agincourt the French had not so easily dispossessed them of their holde in France But what cannot delaies want of supply and diuision worke in such cases First therefore the armie that is victorious ought not to suffer the enemie to gather head but to scatter his forces Secondly the same ought to besiege the chiefe Citie and to sease the Countrey into their handes not suffering the enemie in any place to rest The French king after his victorie at Moncontour besieging S. Iean d'Angeli lost there the vigour of his armie which might better haue bene emploied about Rochel Thirdly the Generals care ought to be howe to take away the enemies subiects from them and to depriue them of the aide of their confederats A matter not difficult if he proceede wisely in
is to send Colonies of the English nations into the country conquered But forasmuch as both garrisons and sometimes greater forces are required for defence of it the rentes of diuers cities countreys and grounds are that way to bee imploied And to this end the fruits of the roialties are to be conuerted and corne and prouision to be laid vp in storehouses The Romanes taking that course did in all places where they commaunded finde meanes to maintaine their armies without anie great exactions yea oftentimes the fruites of the countrey were so great that beside that charge there came much to the publike treasurie Charles b Guicciard lib. 1. the eight of France hauing conquered the kingdome of Naples and diuided the roialties yea and the publike store among his Fauorites when neede required had almost nothing to maintaine his armie and therefore as vnwoorthie of so good happe presently lost the same agayne Xenophon in the consultation of c Xenoph. Cyr. paed 2. Cyrus and Cyaxaris sheweth that for maintenance of the warres and of countreys vanquishe an armie must bee maintained and that an armie cannot bee maintained vnlesse the reuenues that maintaine it be certaine and continuall That lesse force may serue such as giue suspicion of reuolt are to bee disarmed so a Herodot Cyrus vsed the Lydians The Romanes likewise would not suffer such as were their subiects to b Liu. 8. arme without their commandemeÌ„t Futhermore those that are like to prooue heads of factions are to bee remooued out of the countrey for seldome doe the common people mooue vnlesse they be stirred by factious heads The Romanes hauing conquered the countrey of Macedonia and conuerted it into a prouince for more assurance of peace brought away with them the last c Regis amicos purpuratos ducésque exeâ—cituuâ—â— praefectósque nauium Liu. 45. kings friends and Fauorites and all his captaines both of his armie and nauie and likewise men of apparence and qualitie If so be time or sicknesse doe decaie our forces the same are to bee supplied in time that the rebellious take not occasion by our weakenesse to make stirres For want of this consideration in time past we lost our conquest in France and all that want it cannot chuse but loose For the rest if the gouernours of countreys newlie conquered be carefull and watchfull trust no man without cause vse equalitie in taxations and do good iustice against raueuours bribetakers and rebels they need not feare rebellion if they doe not all force that may bee vsed will not long serue to keepe them in subiection The d Liu. Priuernatians desiring peace of the Romanes and offering to yeeld themselues being demanded how long they would keepe it answered plainelie that if the conditions were reasonable long if vnreasonable and vniust no longer then they were forced For no people can long like of a gouernement wherein they are spoyled vexed iniuried and to say all in one worde pilled and tyrannised CHAP. XV. Containing a discourse concerning the meanes whereby an armie that is foiled or feareth to fight may most safely retire and how the enemie in folowing the course of his victorie may be stopped HOw an armie that is strong in the field may safely march fight with aduantage and vse the victorie I haue spoken sufficient But because the successe of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 warres is doubtfull and Mars as Poets faine fauoureth b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now one then an another To perfite this discourse it remaineth that Ialso declare how when blastes of winde blow contrary wee may either retire from the enemie that seemeth to haue prise and fast hold on vs in marching or fighting or els stop his course that hee proceed no further or els our selues gather new forces It is a matter very difficult for an armie that is broken to rallie it selfe and depart without vtter discomfiture where the enemie knoweth it and vseth his aduantage For nothing can be more hardly remedied then feare and disorder of the multitude if once it enter throughly or the enemie followeth speedilie If the enemie giueth vs respite or our forces be not altogether broken the meanes to saue the rest and succour those that retire are these First if there be any ground of aduantage in the place the same is to bee taken with that part of the armie that remaineth intire which diuided into squabrons may receiue their owne people flying within the distances and repell the enemie from the higher ground In the meane while those that are in disorder are to be brought into order agayne behinde those squadrons The c Vulneribus defesti pedem referre quod mons suberat circiter mille passuum eò serecipere coeperunt Caes bel Gal. 1. Heluetians beyng wearried and foyled in the fight with Caesar retyred to a hill hath by and there making head saued the rest The forragers sent out by Cicero at Vatuca being charged by the Germanes retired and defended themselues well as long as they kept on the higher ground At d Caes bel Gal. 7. Gergouia when Caesars men pressed by the enemie and briuen from the higher ground began to flie hee succoured them and staied the enemies pursuite by placing other squadrous at the foote at the hill with whom they had no courage to encounter Neither did a Antonius cum cohortibus 12 descendens exloco superiore cernebatur cuius aduentus Pompeianos compiessit nostróque firmauit Cael de bel Ciu. 3. Pompeyes men that chased Caesars souldiers at Dyrrhachium pursue them after that they once saw Antony comming with succour from the higher ground If there be no higher ground neere to retrait vnto the next course is for those companies that are pressed to retire within the distances of those squadrons that stand firme For this cause the Romanes did alwayes so range their battels that the squadrons of the first battell might retire within the squadrons of the next and both be releeued within the squadrons of their last In the encounter at S. Clere Anno 1569 where the Kings Auantgard fled the same was succored by the battell that followed which so charged the Protestants that pursued it and draue them downe the hill that if the Lansquenets that stoode at the foote of the hill had not stoode firme many of them had there bene cut in pieces That aduantage which the higher ground giueth the same a deepe trenche or thicke hedge or a straite like wise affordeth so that if our squadrons that stande firme be there placed the rest that are discouraged may runne behinde them and take breath The Romanes retiring oft times within the fortifications of their campe haue there againe made head against the enemy and saued themselues If neither the place where the army is ordered nor the ranging of our battels do admit any such retraite the last remedy is to auance forward either our horsmen or some firme squadron of
wherewith other small cities were so dismaid that they submitted themselues paid such tribute as he imposed on them and translating the warres into Italy he beset and tooke c Taurinum caput gentis expugnat Liu. 21. Taurinum the head city of all the countrey at the foot of the Alpes which made all the townes thereabout to yeeld themselues The Athenians inuading the Iland of Sicile made the attempt against Syracusae being the head city of the countrey first which course both the Carthaginians and Romanes in the Sicilian warres pursued The prince of Parma in the siege of of Antwerpe had like respect and reasons to make him begin there for commonly all the countrey doth follow the condition and proceeding of the capitall city Lautrec in the enterprise of Naples spending time in taking paltry townes by the way when his purpose was to go directly to the siege of Naples did tire his army spend his men and loose time which the enemy spent better in arming himselfe In our iourney to Portugall many do likewise mislike that setting our course for Lisbone we turned aside to Coronna which was no small hindrance to vs and helpe to the enemy In besieging of small townes there is often as much labour and cost as in greater and little or no gaine Those therefore that when they may goe to the head are paltring about small townes or castles are like vnskilfull souldiers that whē the hart lieth open without defence are still striking at the hand or foot but if our force serue not to besiege the strongest towne of the enemies countrey yet before we sit downe before any towne let vs see what commodity we may get by taking it Scipio considering that new Carthage in Spaine was a fit port for ships and the store house of the enemy and a place where his treasure and hostages lay did begin the warres with the siege of that towne Annibal made many attempts against Nola and Naples for the desire he had to haue a port in Italy that lay commodiously against Afrike failing of these at length he got Tarentum and Locri. For the same cause he made reckoning of Salapia for it lay conueniently in the midst of the country and was very commodious for the conueyance of victuals to his army King Edward the third after his victory at Cressi sat downe before Caleis for that it was a commodious port for his enterprises against France Those that spend great labour in winning paltry hamlets as did the French king that was also king of Poland in the winning of Liuron in Dauphinè although they winne the place yet winne nothing but repentance and if they faile scorne and losse Townes are taken diuers wayes viz. either by siege or by assault or surprise or by all or two of these ioyned together in euery of which the proceeding is diuers as the endes are diuers The end of a siege is to strait the towne so that either for want of victualles water munition souldiers hope of succour health or other commodity the same be driuen to yeeld The end of a surprise is slily to enter the towne without knowledge of the enemy The end of an assault is to force the enemy to giue vs entrance This diuersity of endes may teach vs both what to do and what to auoyd The end of sieges being to force the enemy to yeeld for want we are to vse all deuices and meanes to make him spend his store and to increase his want Alexander king of a Liu. 7. Epeirus hauing a purpose to besiege Leucadia suffered all the countrey people that would to enter the towne that they within might sooner spend their victualls When they of b Caes de bel Gal. 7. Alexia besieged by Caesar began to send out women and children and aged persons such as onely serued to spend victualles they could not be suffered to passe The French king that now is did otherwise in the siege of Paris an 1590 mooued with Christianity and pity but the practice of warre required rather rigour in that case In c Non facile est simul misereri sapere which hard it is both to shew mercy and wisedome together Where the defendants are not more politike then ordinary there the assailants may also by false shewes and fained escaladaes make them spend their powder in vaine In these late troubles of France while the braue souldiers within a certeine place shotte all the night at certeine matches conueyed from place to place and at an asse or two that made a stirre in the towne ditch in the morning they began to yeeld for want of powder Caesar by a d Caes bel Gal. 8. mine comming to the vaines of the spring that serued Vxellodunum tooke away the water from the towne and so forced the same to yeeld e Thucid. 1. Megabazus besieging the Athenians in the Iland Prosopis in Aegypt by a deuice turning away the water that ran into the hauen where their ships lay set their ships drie and gaue entrance to his men tooke away all escape from the enemy whose ships were on ground The towne of Chartres in France had likewise for want of water and other necessities bene driuen to great straits in the siege an 1568 the Protestants turning away the riuer out of the channell but that by conclusion of peace the siege was broken vp shortly after Caesar by keeping Pompey in a short compasse of ground by his entrenchments had almost famisht all his horse in which consisted his speciall strength Which gard and diligence if the Protestants anno 1569 had vsed in the siege of Poitiers they had not onely famisht all the horse of the enemy but otherwise hurt him but they did not so much as barre the wayes much lesse other ground so but that he sallied at pleasure There are two meanes principall to stoppe the towne besieged from victuals and things necessarie the one of which must necessarilie be vsed if wee meane to atchieue our purpose the first is to entrench the towne round about if it be a land towne if it stand vpon the water then to cast a banke about it on that part that is toward the land and with ships or boates to garde and stop the way to the sea or water The second is to barre the wayes and vpon all places of easie accesse to make in conuenient distances sconces or fortes The first is more laborious but very effectuall the second is easie but seldome taketh effect vnlesse time the weaknesse of the enemie doe helpe vs. Therefore was that course alwayes vsed of antiquitie this seldome vnlesse it were of such as either knew not what to doe or had not means to doe more The Lacedemonians besieging a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Thucid. 2. Platea cast vp a banke round about the towne the same they garded with turrets built vpon it in equal distances and least any might climbe ouer it they
appointed to scale in all places of easie accesse The same wil trouble the enemy much and diuert his forces In scaling this rule is to be obserued that while the targettiers goe to the walles the shot beate them that stand vpon the walles That there may be supply where neede is the whole army at the time of the assault is to be brought into armes and euerie man to haue his charge assigned Some to defend the lodgings against anie sodaine stirres some to discouer others to stand in their places appointed eyther to pursue the victorie or to fauour the retraite of their fellowes or to go where they shal be appointed The more force is employed the weaker will be the enemies resistance Those that purpose to preuaile by assault are to cōsider further both time place other circūstances To giue the assault that time is most proper whē the enemy is least prouided which cōmonly is at the dawning of the day or at noone time In the a Liu. siege of Heraclea the assailants making fained shews 2. or 3. days of cōming to the assalt yet doing nothing made the defendants so secure that whē they came indeed with al their forces they found them vnready so entred In the place where wee purpose to shew out vtmost force there least noise and shew is to be made and contrariwise greatest stirre where we meane to do least a Hirt. de bel Alexand Caesar making shewe to enter at the place of easiest accesse tooke the campe of the Alexandrians scaling it where they least looked for any such matter That the enemy haue no time to consider our men are to go resolutely to the assault not as Monlucs men did at the siege of b Hist de troubl de Fr. Niort who going to the breach paused being entred the ditch Likewise there ought to be good correspondence that the towne may be scaled and assaulted at the breach both together and that euery parte may be well seconded and supplied If eyther the breach or walles be wonne there let them that enter stay vntil so many be entred as may serue to force the towne and so placing others to garde the entrance and to receiue the rest of their company let them march in good order some to the market place others to the bulworkes and not seuer themselues before their whole companie or so many as is requisite be within the towne c Caes de bel gal 7. Caesar taking Auaricum by scale would not suffer his men to descend into the towne before hee had filled the walles with men If the enemy make resistance in the streetes the houses are to bee fired neere them By this meanes d Liu. 2. Coriolanus made way for his men in the taking of Corioli and the Spaniards cleared the streets in the sacke of Antwerpe If they shewe themselues obstinate they are to be compassed round about and so dealt withall vpon aduantage e Liu. Camillus making proclamation that no man shoulde bee slaine that laide downe his armes tooke a certaine towne which he had entred quietly which otherwise without great slaughter he could not haue obtained Before that euery man in the towne hath laid downe his armes the towne be possessed quietly no man is to be suffered to disband or enter houses or to seeke pillage The last care of the General is how to make vse of the towne that is wonne If he meane to keepe it then ought hee diligently to repaire the breaches and to saue the victuals lay them vp in store with the rest of the spoile to reward those that best deserue If hee meane not to keepe it yet ought he to saue that which may be for the vse of the army to ruinate the walles to fire the towne that the fame serue no more for a nest for the enemy to rest in The f Guicciar hist Duke of Orleance neglecting this care no sooner had taken Nouara but he lost it againe for want of victuals Corbueil in France of late taken by the Prince of Parma not hauing the breach repaired was shortlie after recouered by surprise by the kings side Small townes such especially as haue no great ordonance or no places where to employ it are taken by zapping or digging downe the walles especially if they be hie and without terrasses behind By this a Sub musculo milites vectibus infima saxa turris hostium conuellunt Caes de bel ciu 2. meanes Caesars souldiers ruinated the walles of Massilia and b Annibal 500. Afros cum dolabris ad subruendum ab imo murum mittit Liu. 21. Annibal made a way into Saguntum But before they approch the walles lest the enemy dig their sides with shot or throwe downe stones vpon them the enemy is to be beaten from the wall with shot and the souldiers to be couered with mantellets of wood on the sides ouer the head Then with crows of iron they are al along the wall to pul out the lowest stones lest the same fal on them to vnderprop it with wood The same when al is finished is by gunpouder to be fired By this meanes the townesmen of Sancerre An. 1572. recouered the castle from certaine traitors that were there entred c Hist de troubl de Fr. Bordet in the siege of Chartres An. 1568. wan a corner of a raueline That the breach be not repaired by them within the assailants are to make thēselues ready to go to the assault in that order which before I haue prescribed That this course in sieges surprises and assaults is according to the true practise of armes although in part hath bene shewed yet now shall it further be confirmed and those that haue done otherwise by their euill successe and euill proceeding refuted and their course reprooued d Liu. 24. Annibal pretending to goe to sacrifice at the lake of Auerne did presently go to assault Puteoli and in our times the Prince of Parma making a faire shew as if he meant to besiege Ostend did sodainely sit downe before Scluse This practise is good in this and in all enterprises of warre For thereby the enemy being made vncertaine his forces are deriued an other way and his care diuerted from that which should principally be cared for The Protestants of France Anno 1568. purposing to besiege e Hist de troubl de Fr. An golesme sent Montgomery before with certaine troupes of horsemen to hinder the accesse of victuals to the towne But farre better they had done if before they came with their whole forces they had not discouered their purpose For in the meane time the townesmen prepared and strengthned themselues in the siege and taking of Saguntum Annibal proceeded in this sort a Liu. 21. He enuironed the towne round with trenches by zapping and diuers engins he made a breach in the assault fresh men succeeded them that were hurt and wearied vntill
such time as his men forced the breach From the breach his men marched and tooke a place of aduantage others scoured the streetes and hauing assured himselfe of the towne in the ende he tooke the castell Scipio hauing enuironed the towne of new b Carthage in Spaine Liu. 25. and shaken the walles at noone time when the enemy was at rest sent part of his men by the lake and scaling the towne at one instant in diuers places both from the water and the land entred with part of his men which gaue accesse to their fellows which marching in order cut in peeces such as resisted and in the end tooke the castle The c Corona cinxit vrbem omnibus copiis admotis Liu. 10. Romane Consull besieging and assaulting the towne of Comimium first compassed the same round with all his forces against the gates hee opposed certaine troupes to repell those that should offer to sally out Couering his men with mantellets of wood he broke open the gates with others he scaled the walles marching into the towne with his men in order beat those that had seized the market place and assured himselfe of the walles and streetes In the assault of d Romani signo dato pars eminùs glande aut lapidibus pugnare alii succedere aut murum suffodere scalis aggredi Salust bel Iugurth Zama the Romanes hauing a signe giuen them by the generall at one instant some presented the scale others with slings stones beat the defendants others zapped the walles In the assault giuen to e Liu. 32. â—latia a towne in Greece they made shew to make all their force to enter in at the breach But when they perceiued the townesmen to drawthither they scaled the walles in an other place and so entred the towne The common course which antiquitie vsed in sieges and assaults as I haue declared was to compasse the towne besieged with banks and trenches The hauens or riuers they dammed with ships filled ful of stones and sunken If the same were broad they garded the issues with f Caes de bel ciu 1. towers built in the straitest places vpon which they placed their engins which Caesar practiced at Brundusium Sometimes they crossed the riuer with boats as g Liu. 29. Scipio did the hauen wheÌ„ he besieged Vtica and as h Liu. 2. Porsena did in the riuer of Tyber when he besieged Rome Before they went to assault the i Agger ab vniuersis coniectus ascensum dat Gallis quae in terram occultanerant Romani contegit Caes bel gal 7. walles they filled the ditches with earth The men that laboured they couered with mantellets made of square timber and fensed with occum made of olde ropes these planed the earth these beganne the trenches and bankes In working at their trenches bankes and mounts no man was exempted They neuer assaulted towne but with their whole forces and that in all places together Taking the towne first they assured themselues of the walles and gates and from thence in good order they went to take the open a Vt quisque intrauerat eques ad forum occupandum citato equo pergebat additum erat triariorum equiti praesidium Liu. places of the towne No man might depart from his b Inde signo dato milites discurrunt ad praedam Liu. 25. ensigne nor run to spoile but after a signe giuen And therefore no maruell if they preuailed for the most part as now men faile of their purpose for the most part being so far departed from the lawes of armes What is now the common proceeding in sieges batteries and assaults shall now appeare by the examples following The Protestants going about to besiege and win Poitiers 1569. first made their approches quartered their souldiers in the suburbs which they took at their first arriual for the most part Next they made their trenches mounts gabions for to accommodate their great ordonance Part was placed to batter the walles part to beate the enemy in flanke behind the cortine Certaine small peeces they leuelled against the parapet and certaine defenses made by the enemie vpon the walles Of these peeces some were placed in houses neere the walles others were ranged on the plaine behinde gabions or baskets of earth which they filled there in the night The breach being made 20 pases wide and very plaine the Admirall disposed his men to go to the assault in this order first 700. shot marched after them 300. gentlemen marched with targets on their armes after them followed halberds pikes the rest of the army was ready in armes to succor where neede should be But their errors were so many that these good orders auailed litle first they spent time about Lusignen and other small matters and made not their approch so soone as they might In which meane time the D. of Guise entred with his troupes fortified diuers weake places and prouided diuers thinges necessary secondly their auantgard going before the towne without direction did nothing but giue the enemy warning so returned thirdly they neither trenched nor barred the wayes nor kept such ward or gard but that both succors entred guided by Onoux and diuers times the enemy sallied both on horsebacke and on foote fourthly they did not take the suburbs nor bridge of Rochereuill but suffered the enemy to possesse it yet by reason that it flanked the breach stopped the water was it most necessary to be taken For the water being there stopped regorged vpward the enemy being there lodged had a ful marke at those that went along to the breach fiftly they made their breach beyond the riuer which by reason of the depth of it made them to their great preiudice differ the assalt al other things being ready and broke their arrayes as they went ouer the bridge They might haue done better to haue passed their troupes before had them on the other side before they went to the breach further they considered not that the ground behinde the breach being hie was not to be mounted albeit there had beene no wall And therefore a place euil chosen to make breach in For albeit they wan the breach yet could they not go forward vp the hill lastly they did neither diuert the enemies forces by escalades nor went to the assault with all their forces Of the simple prouision of victuals and bad gouernement in matters of iustice discipline of armes I wil say nothing because such disorders are inseparable companions of ciuil warres Yet was there not much better proceeding in the Kings campe besieging Rochell Anno 1573. which was in this sort The king before he sent his forces before the towne caused two enginers to goe thither about other matters but their purpose was to sound the hauen harbor and to marke the walles places of the towne to draw a plot of it Not loÌ„g after he sent Biron thither with
some forces which he lodged in villages round about Rochel Who first fortified his lodgings with trēches terrasses barriquades neerer to the towne he built certain sorts at diuers corners of it His artillery being about 40. peeces he ranged in 3. places crossing one an other A fourth rank he planted vpon a mount to beate the cortine in flanke For the gard of the peeces and canoniers he caused not onely gabions of earth but also deepe trenches and good bankes to be made with two pieces brought into the ditches he beat the casemates To depriue the townsmen of fresh water he caused the condu it pipes to be cut Monsieur with his ships that ankored in the harbor went about to depriue them of the commodity of the sea Hauing with battery and mines made a breach the kings lieutenant caused diuers assaults to be made in the order vsed commonly Beside that which is common he made diuers mantellets to couer his men and for their easier approch framed a bridge of wood which from the counterscarpe reached to the bulworke neere the breach But all this in vaine For neither were the townesmen so straited by sea or land but that some entred and issued both the wayes Yea sometimes they entred the trenches and cut diuers men in peeces the mine was euill conducted For most of the force broke out backeward vpon the assailants The assault was not generall nor did the cōpanies march with one consent at one time the escalade was but at one place and that weakely performed What for want of victualles and good order and what by reason of winter season the souldiers grew sicke and weake and for want of iustice many bad examples escaped vnpunished finally things were long delayed and disorderly executed The siege battery and assault of Sancerre Anno 1573. passed in this sort The enemy making his approches first planted his artillery some part about 60. pases off and some part neerer 6. peeces beat them in flanke being placed on a hil halfe a mile off On the counterscarpe he placed diuers shot in a trench which he made there From that trench he entred the ground comming vnder the walles with a mine Vnder a frame of wood he brought some to zappe the point of the raueline When the breach was made almost 80. pases wide and the defenses euery where beaten downe hee caused his men to march to the assault in this order first marched the ensigne colonell of Sarrieu garded with targetters and others well armed behinde them and vpon their flankes marched certaine companies of shot these being repulsed the second charge was giuen by the gentlemen of the country thereabout which were likewise seconded by diuers troupes of shot the escalade at the time of the assault was likewise attempted but nothing succeeded The causes were diuers First the shot dragging behind left the armed men almost naked on the front and sides to the shot of the townesmen which they shoulde haue kept occupied Secondly the escalade was faintly executed by one poore company that went naked to the walles What might haue beene done by diuers cōpanies well armed if they hoped to preuaile with one alone Thirdly those that marched to the breach went thinne dispersed which was the cause that the shot so marked them that all returned not to complaine Fourthly the breach was repayred by reason of the discontinuance of the battery for want of pouder Finally the mine could not worke any effect by reason the traine tooke not fire as it should haue doone In no place do I heare of more resolution and expedition then in the siege and assault of Chateleraud Anno 1569. The first day that the enemy approched vnder colour of a skirmish hee caused the walles ditches and defences of the towne to be viewed The artillery arriuing about midnight he had placed and gabionned the same in the night in two diuers rankes and so fitted it that by seuen of the clocke the next morning the same beganne to batter the foote of the wall Wherein such was the diligence of the canoniers and force of the peeces the bullets entercrossing one another in the breach that by two of the clocke in the afternoone in the same day the breach was 60. pases wide and the souldiers readie to march to the assault Wherein if the souldiers within had not bene very resolute and the Frenchmen without very slacke in seconding the Italians that had the point of the assault or if the escalade had withall beene presented at two or three other places they had percase preuailed At Xaintes Scipio the enginer purposing to make a breach discharged a peece where he meant not to batter Which caused the townesmen to spend their earth labour and prouision where no neede was Then a Histoir de troubl de Fr. l. 13. changing the place of his peeces brought them hard to the ditch of the towne where he made a breach threescore pases wide To hinder the reparation thereof he had placed foure coluerins and diuers small peeces vpon a mount to beate them in flanke behind the breach After that there marched to the assault first certaine shot then fortie cuyraces of proofe and last of all certaine other shot The county of Lude did thus dresse the preparatiues to the assault of Niort Anno a thousand fiue hundred sixtie and eight after hee had with his canons placed in two houses neere the walles made a breach thirtie pases wide and had raised two coluerins so high that they might beate the defendants in flanke all along the cortine of the wall three ensignes marched to the breach others presented the escalade These being easily repulsed to the second charge marched first one principall commander and after him twentie targettiers then certain shot after them folowed the ensigne colonell and after it diuers other ensignes with a strong garde of halberdes and pikes The rest of the army stoode ready in squadrons The horsemen were also in armes to represse the townesmen if they should dare to sallie But all this serued not For in the first charge there wanted courage and resolution in the second execution For hauing wet themselues in passing a little riuer most stayed the rest went faintly forward in summe all the brauery which they shewed at the first in the end prooued nothing but a brag If the Protestants had not proceeded more resolutely in the battery and assault of Brouage Anno 1570. they had not so soone preuailed Scipio by trenches made his approches and within thirteene paces of the ditch placed his peeces within a certaine defence for the canoniers made of sacks of wooll and earth With the canon he beat the cortine and bastion towards Oleron With the artillery and shot of the Venetian Carrake which hee caused to be brought along the Hauen and to be placed hard to the Fort or Castle of the towne he so beat them that were within that none could come to the walles or looke
out without danger Which expedition and resolution of the assaylants did so amaze the townsmen that presently they began to fall to composition Thus wee see howe those that proceede carefully diligently resolutely and according to the practice of warre doe seldome fayle of their purpose but either by siege surprise or assault they take the townes which they beset Townes that cannot be taken neither by sleight nor force at the first yet by continuance and perseuerance may be taken at the last by one meanes or other especially if they be weakened in one or two sallyes Annibal by a deuise causing the Locrians to sally out of their towne cut betweene them and their safety and by taking them made the rest to yeelde Hee would haue trained out those that garded the Castle of Tarentum by laying a bayt for them but they were too wise Romulus by a feined retrayt drawing the Fidenians some prety distance from the towne cut most of them in peeces and pursuing the rest entred Pelle Melle with them into the towne Many other stratagemes may be deuised whereby townes may be forced or surprised but seeing the generall reasons are apparent by this which I haue sayd now I will turne my speech to those that aduerse euents driue to defend them selues within townes For practice of warre doeth teach vs not only to force others but also where the enemy pursueth vs to defend our selues CHAP. XVII Wherein certaine obseruations are set downe good to be practiced for the defence and good gouernment of a towne or place besieged battered or assaulted SEeing as places are taken either by want through long siege or by intelligence and trechery or els by force those to whom Princes commit their garde are diligently to encounter these things with prouision of things necessary first then with watchfulnes care and lastly by strength of men walles They that take on them to defend townes neither well prouided nor fenced howsoeuer they shew therein courage yet doe they shewe no iote of wisedome in it for oft times they cast away themselues and hurt their Prince and countrey both in the losse of so many men in giuing courage to the enemy And better it were for them to conuey them selues into some place of safety or to yeelde then to holde out without reason In which case the Prince cannot blame them if they prouide for them selues The Romanes not being able to defend certaine townes of Apulia and Lucania against Annibal gaue them licence to prouide for them selues by composition Which also the French kings in the victories of the English nation in France permitted to their people a Cas de bel ciu 1. Domitius was blamed by Pompey for that he rashly engaged himselfe and his company in Corfinium without his commandement It was the losse of many braue men and a great preiudice to the cause Dandelot hanged vp a certain coÌ„panion that refused to deliuer vp a paltry castle without view of the canon albeit he saw the army of the Protestants And in deede lesse fauour doeth the practice of armes yeeld to those that vnable to defend them selues wil notwithstanding holde out vntill they be forced b Se ipsos conseruaturum dixit Caesar si priusquam aries murum tetigisset se dedissent Caes de bel gal 2. Caesar did not easily spare them that helde out vntill hee had shaken their walles those that otherwise yeelded he vsed with all clemency The first consideration therefore of him that hath a town committed to his gouernment ought to be whether the same may possibly be defended against the force that coÌ„meth against it or no. For c Nec temerè suscipienda eotuÌ„ defensio est quae tueri non potes nec temerè deserenda quae tueri potes Liu. 34. as we are not rashly to abandon a town that may be defended so we are not ignorantly to take vpon vs the defence of towns not tenable The Romans while Annibal ranged vp down Italy burnt those townes which they could not defend the like did Philip of Macedonia The a Cetera praâ—ldiis firmââ—unt Liu. 34. rest they kept with strong garrisons b Liu. Antiochus did foolishly in abandoning Lysimachia which for the prouision strength that was in the place might haue holden the army of the Romans at bay one whole yere The like error did c Transâ—untibâ—â— Romanis claustra à fronte tergo deseruit Liu. 44. 45. Perseus king of Macedonia coÌ„mit who seeing the Romans approch forsooke those strayts which if he had kept he might haue shut them in both behinde before Likewise are the Gaules taxed by d Caes bel gal 7. Vercingetorix for that contrary to his opinion commandement they would needes defend AuaricuÌ„ against Caesar Some do commend the French that in the defence of paltry townes of late yeeres haue willingly hazarded them selues as they did in the defence of Dorat in Limages Lusignen in Poitou Bray vpon Seyne Nogent such like which haue bene taken diuers of them by assault only of shot but they had deserued more commendation if they had not lost them selues in the end Let those therefore that purpose to winne honor by their actions consider what townes may be garded what not what are difficult to garde before they take on them to garde them Great cities are hardly defended against a great force that is able to strayt them keep them from victuals other necessaries That Paris hath holden out of late time the weaknes of their aduersaries their great succours are cause Gant likewise in the dayes of Edward the 3. held out against the Earles of Flanders a long time But the reason was because he could not besiege so great a city but if that such cities may be kept from victuals they can not long endure it When the Protestants in An. 1567. did but hinder the repayre of the countrey people to Paris the city was in extremity farre greater it was in being besieged by this King For such infinite numbers of people no prouision can serue any long time The e Caes bel gal 7. Gaules and f Caes bel gal â— Belgians thought to oppresse Caesar with multitude But when they were come together they saw that such numbers could not be mainteined with victuals therfore not being fought withal were forced to scatter of theÌ„selues But against a smal force great cities are most strong For neither can they be straited of victuals by reason of their multitude of men nor can they be takeÌ„ by assault being so wel able to defend the breach and repaire it So that to a great force great cities are easy to be taken to a small army that can not without danger compasse the same about they are impregnable Contrariwise small piles or castles hardly resist a great force First for that there is no roome within to make retrenchments or defences against the enemies
yet they would needs loose some of them going out to sâ—irmish with the enemie Oftentimes subtill enemies drawing out the townesmen by deuises doe make them come short home as I declared by the practise of Romulus against the Fidenians of Annibal against the Locrians At Nola b Liu. 23. drawing out the townesmen he circumuented a braue troupe of horsemen in an ambush laid for them Sallies therefore are to be made onely when we haue men sufficient and doe see the enemies negligence or other aduantage c Diaphanes Achaeus stationem Antiochi regis ad Pergamum inuadens semisomnem nullis stratis equis aut peditibus paratis fudit Liu. 37. Diaphanes sallying out of Pergamus vpon a corps de gard placed by Antiochus before the towne at such time as the same was negligent cut the same in pieces By opportune sallies many sieges haue bene raised as I declared by the example of Philip lying before Apollonia Souldiers that sallie vpon aduantage doe hinder the approches of the enemie so that he is to win inch after inch but wheÌ„they sallie let them take heed first that they go not too farre least they be drawen into ambush and secondly that they haue some behind to fauour their retrait as Aluarus Sandze obserued in his sallies vpon the Mores in defending a fort in Zerbe Before that the enemie approcheth the Gouernour is to cause all houses and villages neere the towne to be ruinated and fired and all the wood and timber as neere as may be either to be brought into the towne or spoyled Lamentable I confesse it will be to the country but who would not rather spoyle such things then suffer the enemie to vse them against himselfe In stopping of the enemies approches let him vse this course first if there be any narow wayes which the enemie must passe before hee can come before the towne let them bee well trenched and garded when the same cannot longer be garded for feare least the enemie cut betwixt the corps de gard and the towne let them then retire make head in the d The Italians call it Via coperta couert way behind the counterscarpe not onely for the defence thereof but also for defence of the playne before the towne especiallie of that place where the enemie meaneth to range his pieces for the batterie For defence whereof likewise both the great ordonance from the bulwarkes and other shot from the walles are to be imploied In case the enemie by his negligence giue occasion either in the euening or in the night hee may make a sallie vpon those that labour about the plaÌ„ting of the ordonance the gabions If the enemie be so strong that hee is able to take away the a The counterscarpe is the banke that is made all along without the ditch of the fortresse counterscarpe then by traines and b Casemates are defences of earth within ditches or trenches where the souldiers lie couered to shoote at those that present themselues vnto them casemates in the ditch by sallies and shot from the bulwarkes and wals he is to defend his ditch so long as hee can And last of all being beaten out of the ditch his last hope is in the defence of his wals and bulwarkes sustaining them with good terrasses of earth and when they are beaten downe repairing them and when no longer they can be defended by making retrenchments behind them For defence of a breach this course is good and commonly vsed First all along where the enemie maketh his batterie let there bee presently vpon the first shot a retrenchment made the deeper the ditch is and the higher the banke is raysed the better the worke prooueth vpon the banke or els behind the banke let some pieces be placed in counterbatterie In houses neere adioyning and vpon the banke let the small shot be disposed chicke Against the enemies artillerie that beateth in flanke let there be an high terrasse of earth raised On both sides of the breach in places conuenient the armed men are to be placed to repell such as escape the shot If the place haue bulwarkes or towers that looke along the ditch from thence the enemie is to be galled vpon the flankes as they enter the ditch if there be none then mounts or terrasses are to be raysed in such places as most commodiouslie wee may looke into the ditch and toward the breach Walles or bankes are to be cast vp beneath the breach in the ditch Lastly if store of men will permit it a sallie of targetters and other armed men is to bee made out of the towne vpon the sides of those that are vpon the counterscarpe or within the ditch which no doubt will make the enemie make more speed to returne This or the like proceeding both ancient and later practise of warre hath taught vs in the defence of townes besieged and assaulted The Plataeans besieged hauing set order for their prouision and the gouernement of their people to repell the enemies force raysed their walles higher in that part where the enemie made shew to assaile them All along the mount which the enemie built without they made a new wall within their olde When the a Thucid. 2. enemie went about to smother them and to burne their engines vpon the wall they defended themselues with their archerie and slingers and quenched the fire with water and earth and when they could no longer defend the towne in a tempestuous night they passed ouer the banke which the enemie raysed against them The Massilians when they perceiued Caesars intention to besiege them b Frumenti quod inuentum est in publicum conferunt Caes bel Ciu. 1. prouided souldiers brought corne out of the countrey into the citie erected workehouses for armes brought their prouision into the publike store repaired their walles trimmed vp their ships When the enemie began to force them they defended themselues by diuers sallies and engines fitted on the wals The like diligence did the Gaules vse agaynst Caesar besieging Auaricum they frustrated his engines with hookes c Laqueis falces auet tebant Caes bel Gal. 7. and other engines they caused his mount to sinke by vndermining Vpon the wals they made diuers towers by diuers sallies they hindered his workes his mines they opened with crosse mines and filled with great stones The like did the Prenestins d Transuersis cuniculis hostium cuniculos excipiebant Liu. 23. against Annibal Against escalades the e Caes bel Gal. 2. Aduaticans besieged by Caesar placed great stones and pieces of timber vpon the walles and likewise they of f Zamenses saxa voluere sudes pila picem sulphure taedam mixtamardenti mittebant Salust bel Iugurth Zama to resist the enemies assault Vpon those that set the ladders to the walles tumbled downe stones and pieces of timber and cast vpon them pitch brimstone and shot and cast dartes at them In the defence of new
for defence of himselfe and his companie and yet through either long siege or want of supplie or succour can hold the place no longer let him before hee attempt extremities declare his estate to those that gaue him the place to gard After that if he neither receiue succour nor answere let him call the colonels captains and chiefe citizens to counsell and resolue in time what to doe The first point to be resolued is whether by any possibilitie the place may bee defended any longer consideration had of the number of seruiceable men of the want of victuals and munitions and weakenesse of the place that lieth almost open to the enemie likewise of the resolution of the enemie and despaire of succour And if it appeare that the same cannot longer be defended the next point to bee considered is whether the same be to be yeelded vpon honourable composition or to be destroyed and forsaken In this case the qualities of the enemie are to bee respected For better it is to runne into any hazard yea and to die fighting then to yeeld to him that perfourmeth no promise and killeth and massacreth men after yeelding If it bee resolued that it is best to attempt to escape by breaking through the campe the next point to bee considered is by what meanes and at what time and place the same is to bee perfourmed The a Ala equitum Numidarum prae sidio Salapiae relicta eruptionem tentauit Liu. 26. Numidians that were left in garrison at Salapia when the towne was betrayed and entred by the enemie attempted to breake through the enemie A course commendable although it succeeded not They of Plataea driuen to great extremitie by the b Thucid. 3. Lacedemonians that besieged theÌ„ when they could doe no more for want of victuals in a darke and tempestuous night went ouer the enemies trenches and banks and so escaped They of c Acerrani desperata tutela vrbis vbi circumuallari vrbis moenia viderunt priusquam continuarentur hostium opera per inteâ—missa munimenta neglectásque custodias silentio noctis dilapsi sunt Liu. 23 Acerrae despairing the defence of their citie when they sawe the enemie to begin to compasse them round about before that his workes were continued and perfited in the silent night passing through where least resistance was made escaped The same was likewise attempted by the d Caes bel Gal. 7. Gaules besieged by Caesar in Auaricum The people neere the sea coast of France defended themselues so long as they were able against Caesar when they sawe the case desperate conueied themselues and their goods into their ships and so fled away Attilius when he could no longer defend the towne of Locri agaynst Annibal counselling the townesmen to compound with the enemie conueied himself and the garrison away by water Such as had meanes to escape chose rather to compound with the enemy the Romanes in time past did so vtterly mislike that they refused to redeeme those that had yeelded themselues after the ouerthrow of Cannae albeit they might haue ransomed them with very little money Yet those that purpose to breake through the enemies campe are to resolue vpon many things before they put it in execution first of the time secondly of the place where they purpose to passe that they may fill the ditch of his campe if any be and prouide things necessary for that purpose thirdly of the place where to retraite Lastly in what order that both they may force those that resist and escape them that folow after When there appeareth no hope either to holde out or to escape by flight then are we to try what composition we can haue and that in a Publius Sitius ciuitatum obsessarum quae conditiones oblatas recusarant ciues interficit Hirt. de bel Afric time So did the Romanes besieged by the Samnites in the strait at Caudium Neither did the Romanes dislike with the garrison at Casilinum that compounded with Annibal Nay they b Liui. 23. rewarded them for holding out so long hauing no other victuals but nuts and rootes Nicolas Serin refusing necessary conditions of peace offered him by Soliman that besieged him in Sigeth lost himselfe and many other braue men that were with him The fact of c Liui. 32. Aenesidemus gouernour of Argos who when he might haue escaped the citie being surrendred chose rather to die armed himselfe alone in the place then to depart is rather to be lamented then commended or followed Necessarie composition therefore so it be in extremitie is not to be refused But yet while we talke of composition we are to vse great circumspection and care first that the garrison be not discouraged secondly that the same growe not more secure and carelesse thirdly that vnder colour of parley the enemy doe not view the walles or ditches or breach or attempt to sease the breach or the gate or els enterteine some intelligence with some within which things how dangerous they are I haue heretofore declared To auoyd these dangers this course is best the necessitie of the towne and other secrets are to be kept from the knowledge of the souldiers who by good wordes are to be encouraged and made acquainted with so much onely as is necessary secondly such men onely are to be deputed to parley as are well knowne for their sufficiencie and loyaltie thirdly the place of parley is to be appointed farre from the towne that the souldiers within heare nothing Which was practised in diuers parleyes during the last siege of Rochel In capitulations two things are especially to be respected first that the conditions be honourable and fauourable secondly that the same be performed The most reasonable composition that may be is when they within keepe the place still paying onely certaine money or loosing onely some other commoditie So Rome was redeemed from Porsena that besieged it and so they that were besieged by the Gaules in the Capitol redeemed themselues And Rochel escaped the more easily the hands of them that beesiegd the towne by compounding for money Contrarywise of all pointes it is most extreeme to yeeld vp the place to the enemie If the Saguntins would haue yeelded vp their towne to Annibal and consented to haue dwelt some other where they might haue saued themselues and their goods but they would not There is yet a meane betwixt these two when those that yeeld to the enemy do promise him to become his subiects and to pay him certaine tribute and so keepe the place vnder his dominion If then by any summe of money we may redeeme our selues and our citie driuen to such extremitie let vs not prise golde aboue safetie on the other side if we be not in extremitie let vs not sell our aduantages for money When I reade former histories I cannot but wonder at the basenesse of many of our nation that in times past haue bene bought out of their places for money and lament that
some accompted of wel otherwise should therein deale more dishonourably foolishly then other nations For what could be more dishonorable then the surrender of Terwin Torney Bollein other places or the losse of Caleis and what more ridiculous then that our army going to fight should with a few French crownes be bought out and perswaded to returne But if the enemy will heare of no composition without surrender of the place the next consideration is that we may be assured of our liues and depart with our horses and armes without disgrace By the capitulation of S. a Hist de troubl lib. 10. Iean d'Angeli the captaines and souldiers departed with their armes horses and baggage Onely they were driuen to rolle vp their ensignes and to make promise that they would not beare armes in the cause of Religion for the space of foure moneths The garrison of Somieres surrendring the towne to the enemy were suffered to depart with their armes and goods and had seuen dayes respit giuen them to conuey away their goods in Like honourable composition had our men in the late surrender of Scluce The more resolute the garrison sheweth it selfe in standing vpon points the more honourable their composition doth commonly prooue And contrarywise those that will needes compound loose both life and honor The Romanes for the most part would not compound without surrender made of the defendants armes but the ancient faith and loyalty of the Romanes being now lost and gone let it be iudged what wisedome it is for men to put themselues into dissoyall mens handes all naked The greatest difficulty is in procuring of good assurance of the capitulation of surrender made which is most of all to be stood vpon For what auaileth it to haue good words without performance In these late brabbles of France the garrisons of Mucidam and Mailè and diuers other places haue bene cut in pieces contrary to composition And howsoeuer the prince of Parma dealt with our men yet the poore townesmen of Scluce and some of the Dutch complaine that all points were not performed The Protestants of France contrary to the articles of peace were shamefully massacred during the mirth and solemnities of the kinges sisters marriage And now it beginneth to be a rule that no faith nor lawes of warre are to be obserued to heretikes In which rolle seeing the Romanists doe moster all that are not of the Papall faction it behooueth vs to looke about how wee doe trust them especially giuing vs such warning by the feined treaty of Dunkirke Beside all this a certeine Spaniard a great man of law in the Lowe countries affirmeth that all a Baltazar Ayala de iure belli capitulations wherein any thing that belongeth to the state is alienated are voide and of no force Which if it were true then coulde hardly any composition of surrender be good further then they that haue the same surrendred keepe the same by force Wherefore that wee be not heerein abused by treacherous enemies let vs see by what meanes we may assure our selues In times past wee might trust mens wordes if they performed not wordes yet had they regard to writinges and seales b Hist de troubl de Franc. Captaine Piles for the assurance of the composition of S. Iean d' Angeli required only the kinges hand and seale But now such disloyalty is entred into the world that neither with words nor writings nor seales nor yet othes men can stand assured And therefore beside wordes and writing wise men now require sureties pledges and hostages The house of a Guicciard Bentiuogli in Bologna would not capitulate with Caesar Borgia vnlesse the French king and Florentines would giue their words and binde themselues for performance The b Phil. Comines constable of France would not trust Lewis the eleuenth his othe without pledge Both of Lysander in olde time and of Lewis the eleuenth in latter times stories affirme that they had small regard of promise or othe further then their profit required Therefore both in time past the Romanes and of late time others haue required and had other assurance The garrison of Brouage c Anno 1577. capitulating with the enemy about the surrender of Brouage doubting of the performance of couenants demanded and obteined hostages which were conueyed to Rochell before they gaue vp the place they of Somieres had likewise hostages deliuered vnto them such as they did nominate before they did deliuer vp the towne Without this assurance it is not safe for any to commit their heads into their enemies handes and farre more honorable it is to die like braue men in the field with our armes in our handes then like sheepe to haue our throates cut in the handes of perfidious butchers Tit. d Liu. 24. Sempronius seeing himselfe betrayed and that he must needs die exhorted his men to die rather fighting and doing somewhat in which case men haue lesse apprehension of death then vnder the kniues of executioners To auoid all cauilles about wordes the sentence is to be conceiued plainely and all circumstances to be expressed as nere as may be and the redresse of all contrauentions if it may be either by some meanes to be kept in our owne handes or in the determination of honorable persons The e Sleidan Lantgraue that yeelded himselfe and came to the presence of Charles the fift Maurice of Saxony being mediator betwixt them vpon cauill about one word was contrary to his meaning deteined prisoner and had bene longer if that Maurice had not conceiued indignation that vpon his word the good prince should be abused All we can do in this case is too litle For whē princes wil quarrell they can picke occasion and ground themselues vpon euery small point and make many faire pretenses as in the dealings that passed betwixt f Guicciard Lewis Sforza and the house of Medici bewixt pope Iulio the second and Lewis the twelft of France and betwixt them and Ferdinand king of Spaine is euident Of more then we haue in our owne power we can neuer assure our selues when we deale with perfidious enemies And therefore let all braue souldiers consider before hand and prouide that they come not into these straytes and if necessitie enforce them to compound let them deale wisely CHAP. XVIII Of the vse of the Nauy in warres and of diuers pointes to be considered of those that commaund at Sea THose Nations and Cities that haue the commaundement of the Sea howsoeuer they are foyled at land yet can neuer be throughly vanquished before they be beaten from the Sea A matter apparant by diuers examples The Athenians although their countrey was all wasted and the people driuen by the Lacedemonians their enemies to hide thēselues within the walles of the Citie yet so long as they were a Thucid. 1. Exorat Periclis strong at Sea not onely had all things necessarie for themselues but also depriued their
enemies of many commodities and spoyled their coastes by diuers sudden incursions And albeit they had no dominion in firme land yet kept they the Ilands in subiection so long as they kept the Sea The same people before that being inuaded by the Persians comming vpon them with huge array in so much that they thought themselues vnable to resist at land abandoned their Citie and made themselues strong at Sea By which meanes in the ende they vanquished their enemies and recouered their losses with great aduantage both of wealth and honour The Cities likewise on the coast of c Caes bel gal 6. France which is nowe called Briteine although they could not defend themselues against Caesars forces at land yet suffered no great losse as long as they had ships to commaund at Sea Their ships furnished them with things necessarie being besieged the same conueyed the men their goods away being distressed Contrariwise howe strong soeuer a Nation is by land yet cannot the same mainteine it selfe long nor continue in reputation without a sufficient power at Sea The Romanes were driuen to great straytes by the Pirates that kept the rule of the Sea a great time and continued it vntill such time as they were driuen thence by the victory of Pompey the great Sext. Pompeius keeping the Seas with his ships draue Augustus and Antony to a harde cōposition The Lacedemonians could not remedy the spoiles of their countrey made by the incursiōs of the Athenian ships nor could Caesar haue reason of the coast Townes of France before he had prouided a Nauy vanquished them at Sea Neither shall euer the Spaniard obteine his purpose of the Low-countries so long as they can keep the sea but if they faile of that it would goe hard with them This was the cause that made the Romanes albeit before that vnacquainted with sea causes to arme to sea Without their nauy they could neither haue defended their Empire against the Carthaginians first nor afterward against the pyrates nor without strength at sea coulde either Caesar haue subdued the coast townes of France or entred this Iland Nor could Augustus haue vanquished Pompey nor the Lacedemonians preuailed against the Athenians The experience of these nations and great warriers doth teach vs this conclusion that if we meane either to mainteine the honor reputation of our countrey or to defend our selues against the enemie the pursueth vs or to prosecute iniuries done vnto vs or to aide our friends that craue our helpe we must haue diligent regard to our seafaring men shipping that both may be mainteined kept in order Our owne experience diuers reasons may teach vs the same Before that this Nation did vse the sea first the Romanes then the Saxons after them the Danes nowe last of all the Normans haue taken possessed diuers partes of this coūtrey Neither could we wanting sufficient force at sea resist them Sithence that the kings of England haue had the gouernment at sea neither haue forreine nations had like courage to inuade vs nor haue we wanted meanes to defend our selues or aide our friends If that our ships had not had the vantage of sayling when the Spaniard came to inuade vs or that we had wanted shipping God knoweth what would haue bin the issue How much then is it better nowe then when our auncesters had neither nauy to defend their coasts nor to transport their armies to pursue their right or help their friends in the daies of king Edward the 3. and Edward the 4. our nation for want of shipping was beholding to the Flemmings and Hollanders for shipping to transport the English armie into France The vse of the nauy is great in peace greater in warres Thereby trafique entercourse betwixt friends is mainteined victuals that goe to the enemies are stopped our wants of victuals armes munition other necessaries are supplied the enemies coast is spoiled our owne defended the coast townes of the enemies countrey that liue vpon the sea are brought to great extremities our owne mainteined Without the same neither can the trade of marchandize be mainteined nor the sea townes of the enemie be besiged nor their country spoyled nor can we vnderstand the enemies proceedings nor helpe or wel defend our friēds or our selues For three causes especially as a Classem trium rerum causa parauimus vt Africae oram popularetur vt tuta nobis Italiae litota eslent ante omnia ne supplemētum cum stipendio commeatuque a Carthagine Annibali transportaretur Liu. 24. Fabius witnesseth did the Romanes furnish set out their nauy First to spoile the coast of Afrike next to gard the coast of Italy but chiefly to hinder that no supply of men victuals or money should come from Carthage to Annibal with whō then they had great wars Octacilius sayling frō Sicily toward Afrike cōming vpon the coast vpon a sudden first tooke Vtica a rich towne and then spoiled the country returned with 130. ships laden with spoile And all this within 3. or 4. dayes Caius Laelius cōming with his nauy to b C. Laelius nocte ad Hipponē Regium cùm accessistet luce prima ad populandum agrum sub signis milites sociosque nauales duxit Omnibus pacis modo incuriosè agentibus magna clades illata Liu. 29. Hippo on the coast of Afrike landed his men on the sudden and at the breake of day led forth his souldiers mariners in warlike manner vnder their colours and made a great spoile for that as in time of peace the people of the countrey were without care M. Valerius c Liu. 25. Messala sayled into Afrike aswel to spoile the country as to vnderstand the proceedings and purposes of the enemie which he learned by the examinations of diuers prisoners of good accompt which hee tooke there d Liu. 27. The Romanes vnderstanding what spoiles were done vpon their coastes by Pirates and others sent two captaines each of them with 10. ships to defend the coastes and to keepe the seas These vses of shipping although experience hath taught vs yet many will not admit nor beleeue For by reason of their want of skill they thinke that neither the enemie can land here nor we land in the enemies country And if the enemie should attempt any such mattter they verily beleeue that the countrey people with their forkes and the women with their rockes and spits will kill them downe But litle doe they knowe howe small trust there is in such defence nor what great actions may be performed when resolute men land in the enemies countrey vpon a sudden Which in part I haue shewed by the examples of Octacilius Laelius and Messala Neither will any trained men or small garrison helpe the matter as nowe I shall shewe The king of e Vrbem tenebat regium praesidium agrum circa depopulati sunt Romani exscēsione ex nauibus facta Liu. 37. Macedonia did place
ignorance or thinke themselues punished otherwise then they ought I haue for instruction of yong souldiers comprised in writing such matters as for the good gouernment of the campe and armie those that conuerse in the armie I thought most necessary to be knoweÌ„ and published in the campe garrison other places of seruice Neither is the course new or strange The prince of Orenge for the good gouernment of his campe before Florence in the dayes of Charles the 5 by sound of trumpet c Caualier Cicuta published such orders as he would haue obserued The duke of Alua though otherwise cruel yet a man skilfull in matters of warre for reformatioÌ„ of diuers disorders crept in among the d Se debrian promulgar algunos estatutos con cuya osseruantia los soldados particulares y priuados no hisiessen desorden alguna Sanch. de Lond. Spanish souldiers gaue order to SaÌ„cho de Londonno to frame certaine statutes in writing which being published might giue theÌ„ particular notice of their duties The e Puis auoir fait quelques â—ix militaires statuts politics firent iurer la noblesse soldats autres de les entretenir inutolablement Histoir de troubl de Fr. l. 4. Protestants an 1568. hauing made certaine militarie lawes orders for the gouernement of their army did publish the same cause both the nobilitie other soldiers to sweare that they would obserue theÌ„ inuiolably In imitatioÌ„ of others I haue thought good likewise to set down a forme of militarie lawes not that all of them are necessary for all times places nor that I could set down so many as are necessarie but wise gouerners hauing this draught before their eyes may chuse such as are fittest and apply them to their companie and other circumstances Howsoeuer it is whether it be by a Res militaris legibus in tuto collocata L. 1. Cod. de Iustin cod confirmand lawes or without lawes let those that haue the gouernement of souldiers haue care of the obseruance of militarie discipline without which an armie is like a bodie discrazed and disioyned and by which armies beforetime out of order haue bene made victorious Before Scipioes comming into Spayne the Romanes through their disorders had receiued many foiles of their enemies But after that he had b Scipio minor militarem disciplinam reuocans pulcherrimam tulit de Hispanis victoriam Plor epit Liu. l. 58. remooued those disorders of a cowardly and disorderly multitude hee made a most victorious armie Like commendation did Metellus deserue in Afrike who remoouing all instruments and occasions of pleasure e Metellus adiumenta ignauiae sustulit c. Salust bel Iugurth and slouthfulnesse and restoring the strict orders of the Romanes in their marching encamping labours and watches brought Iugurtha to great extremitie which before that time ouercame and contemned the Romane forces Corbulo by like d Legiones Corbulo operum laboris ignaras populationibus laetantes ad veterem morem reduxit Tacit. seueritie causing the Romane souldiers to returne to the obseruance of militarie lawes and to endure labour and to keepe araie and to refraine their outcourses for spoyles obtained diuers great victories against the Parthians and others Neither doe I doubt if the ancient orders of warres might be obserued of our English souldiers but that they should be likewise victorious ouer all their enemies To doe them honour and my countrey good I haue as neere as I could endeuoured to set them downe in termes beginning first with matters concerning religion which howsoeuer it is now neglected and scorned of prophane men yet ought it both in this and other things to haue the first place CHAP. XXI Wherein a forme of Militarie lawes requisite to be published and obserued of our English souldiers and others imploied in publike seruice of their countrey is prescribed The first part of it conteineth lawes concerning religion and morall matters 1 EVerie Morning at the relieuing of the watch and euerie Euening at the setting of the watch all Captains Souldiers others both in campe and garrison either in some speciall place to bee appointed or in their corps de garde or those that watch in their garde the rest in some other place shall assemble to heare prayers and other exercises of Religion 2 No enterprise shal be taken in hand but the companies that are to execute the same shal first commend themselues to God and pray to him to graunt them good successe 3 Euery Sunday the whole company at houres appointed shal meete to serue God so much as the necessities of warres wil permit And for this cause a conuenient number of Ministers are to be enterteined and such as abuse them to be seuerely punished 4 Notorious swearers and blasphemers shal be punished according to the qualitie of their offence yea with death if their faults be heynous 5 All abuses of Gods word and holy Name in cursing banning charming and whatsoeuer other vnlawful practice shal be punished by imprisonment of the offenders and death also if the crime be heinous and the example scandalous 6 Many offences against God and man doe spring of dicing carding and other such vnlawfull games Therefore let all dice and eardes and such like instruments of abuse be taken away as much as may be and let such gamesters be admonished and if they doe not so leaue and reforme themselues let them be imprisoned 7 Common women let them be whipped out of the campe and garrison and such souldiers and others as vse their company let them be imprisoned Officers that giue bad examples of such matters let them loose their places Suspicious women let them be banished the campe or garrison 8 For that God is greatly offended with drunkennes and the abuses that come of it and forasmuch also as campes and garrisons are thereby much disordered and many good men suffer for the abuse of such lewd drunkards therefore such are to be imprisoned and fedde with bread and water so long as the qualitie of their offence shall deserue Annotations and interpretations of the former lawes for the better vnderstanding of them Concerning Religion The name of Religion I know will seeme strange to most of our lustie yong souldiers that in swearing and blaspheming place their greatest brauery accompt it a shame for a souldier to be religious But seeing not onely Religion but reason also may teach them that no good successe can be expected at Gods handes where hee is not serued and that such wicked men as they shew themselues to be are rather to feare the wrath of God then to hope for victory or other fauour let them if they be but motherwise desist from scoffing at Religion if they be Christian-wise let them learne to serue him that is Lord of armies and giuer of victory The very Gentiles albeit ignorant of the true God yet in matters of warre were most deuout and religious The Romanes yelded
the seruice of God among souldiers nor haue made any allowance for the Ministerie among them In so much that in some garrisons in the low Countreyes souldiers haue liued almost without exercise of Religion and in campes without any due exercise of the same This first gaue me occasion by this lawe to excite their care and the care of Generals and captaines both for more deuotion in religious exercises and also for better meanes If there were to euery two Regiments one or two Ministers allowed it were a very commendable course The Papists haue their priestes in their armies nay the very heathen had their exercises of Religion but in our times those that are most curious are in this point least carefull and religious c Que ningun sâ—ldado pâ—nga las manos en ningun sacerdote o religioso ni le tratarè mal'de palabra so pena de ser castigado ala calidad del delicto Sanch. de Lond. The Spaniards vnto euery tertio or Regiment haue diuers Priestes whom they haue in great estimation and punish those that doe violate them either in worde or deede The punishment of the offenders against this lawe is arbitrary according to the qualitie of the offence 4 Notorious swearers c. For that there are diuers sortes of othes and blasphemies in degree one worse then another therefore haue I left the punishment of them to the discretion of the iudges or officers that deale therein respect alwayes being had to the heinousnesse of the fault The Spaniards inflict grieuous a Ningun soldado rintegue ni blaspheme so pena porla primera vez de treinta pias dâ— drision por la seconda vez sesenta de mas de ser trahido a la verguenca câ—n vna mordaza a la lengua y por la tercera puesto en Galera perpetua â—a volundad Sanch. de Lond. penalties vpon them that transgresse in this behalfe and all Christians ought to detest and banish all abuses 5 All abuses c. Vnder this title are comprised all profane scoffes at religion all wicked opinions bolstered out with colours of religion which together with other faultes seuerally named are seuerely to be punished by the gouernors of campes and garrisons being contrary to good proceedinges in warre and in peace for which also they are condemned by ciuill lawes 6 Many offences c. In this point many abuses are committed by our souldiers of which insueth the displeasure of God and many other great inconueniences To furnish themselues at play some sell their armes others their apparell At play they loose their mony which should buy them victualles and other necessaries By losse some are driuen to steale and to vse other vnlawfull practises Some run to the enemy and commit diuers other outrages For this cause the Spaniard in time of seruice doth banish all b Que ningâ—â— soldado iuegue a iuegos illicitos Sanch. de Lond. vnlawfull games The best remedy of all these abuses is first to take away cardes and dice and to forbidde them the campe or garrison the next is to erect some other warlike exercise the third is punishment both of those that play and those also that mainteine such implements of play But as in other matters so in this also example is most auailable 7 Common women c. Among this number all those women that abuse their bodies vnlawfully are to be numbred For auoiding of which abuses no women are to be suffered to follow the campe nor any suspected women to keepe in the place of garrison The c Que ninguâ—â— soldado tenga in casa muger sâ—spechosa c. San. de Lond. Spaniards in their military lawes do restreine officers by losse of their place and common souldiers by other punishment from this abuse Among the Romane souldiers such abuses were seldome heard of but if they were very seuerely were they punished and carefully reformed Scipio the yoonger when military lawes grew in contempt among the souldiers of Spaine did for redresse banish all women out of the campe 8 For that god c. The voyage of Portugall taught vs the inconueniences of drunkennesse by experience but yet reason teacheth vs much more Thereof proceed quarrels iniuries mutinies and many other disorders Drunken men are vnfitte to march to watch to fight or to do any maner of seruice too common it is notwithstanding among common souldiers And I would to God that captaines and officers of companies were free from it In whomsoeuer it is the same may not be passed without punishment Wherein that neither sober men be touched wrongfully nor drunkardes escape scandalously I doe thinke that those deserue to be punished as drunkards which either through drinke commit any excesse which sober men would not commit or els are vnfit to do the seruice required at their handes CHAP. XXI Part. 2. Wherein lawes are set downe tending to the common safetie of the state armie or garrison 1 ALl souldiers or others that conspire against the state or Prince or Generall or go about to betray the Generall or the army or any part thereof or any city or ground in possession of the state or army shall suffer death and torments if the matter be heinous 2 Such as practise and enterteine intelligence with the enemy without direction or knowledge of their superiors shall be punished as traitors 3 Mutinous and rebellious persons are to be punished with death 4 Whosoeuer yeeldeth a towne or fort to the enemy or motioneth any such matter but vpon extremity and that to the Gouernor or in councell let him be executed as a traitor 5 No captaine officer nor souldier may refuse to come being interteined in pay nor depart the campe or place where he is appointed to serue if the enemy be ready to charge vs or we ready to charge the enemy vpon paine of death if it be not in time of seruice vpon paine of imprisonment Except those alwayes that haue licence of the Generall or chiefe Gouernour or other lawfull cause To hurt and sicke persons the Colonell of the regiment or Iudge martiall or other officer appointed may giue licence that they may depart for a time to refresh themselues 6 All that runne to the enemy or attempt to do it as traitors to their countrey are to be put to death 7 No man shall bewray the word to the enemy or giue a false word in time of seruice nor when the enemy is nere shall sleepe in the watch or suffer him to approch without giuing warning vpon paine of death 8 Whosoeuer of wantonnesse or foolery is cause that the enemy hath notice of our disseins and purposes so that some good opportunity of seruice is thereby omitted is to be punished according to the quality of his offence Interpretations and annotations vpon the former lawes 1 All souldiers c. If conspirators deserue death much more do they deserue the same that execute their treasons and conspiracies a Liu. 28.
Scipio killed all the inhabitants of Iliturgi a towne in Spaine and burnt the towne for that they betrayd the garrison and reuolted to the enemy b Xenoph. exp Cyr. 1. Orontes going about to betray Cyrus and his army to the enemy was executed by Cyrus This is nothing but the ordinary practice of the Romanes which as c Tacit. 1. l. 3. § in bello ff de re milit Tacitus affirmeth brought such matters within the compasse of treason 2 Such as practice c. There is no surprise nor dangerous treason wrought against a prince or his army or garrisons but the same proceedeth for the most part from secret practises and intelligence of traitors with the enemy Such practises therefore are not onely diligently to be sought out but also seuerely to be punished d Supra 70 Nolanos damnatos proditionis quod colloquia cum hoste habuissent securi percussit Liu. 24. Marcellus executed seuenty persons of them of Nola for treason and secret talke and intelligence they had with Annibal The Romanes hauing notice of diuers cities in Hetruria and Vmbria that had communed secretly with Annibal e Liu. 28. gaue order that both inquisition might be made and due punishment awarded Neither it is sufficient for any to allege that he is not subiect to our iurisdiction for whosoeuer committeth treason against vs be he Dutch or French is to be punished Quintilius f Tacit. Varus had intelligence how Harminius dealt with him treacherously yet was slacke in making inquisition of the matter which was the ruine of him and his company 3 Mutinous and rebellious c. Mutinous I do not call them that vse bad words to their captaines or that demand their due of them although in tumultuous sort albeit some do so take it and haue practised it yet do I acknowledge that the same is a great offence and to be punished yet not in the degree of mutinie But g Qui atrocē militum seditionem concitat capite plectendus est l. 1. ff ad leg Iul. maiest sin verò intra vociferationem leuē querelam seditio mota sit gradu militiae dejiciendus est l. 3. ff de re milit mutinous persons are those that raise sedition and stirre vp souldiers to rebellion against their gouernours whereby the common cause may receiue detriment and hindrance Hee that raiseth sedition and giueth cause to dangerous stirres is to be punished with death saith Modestinus but if hee proceede no further then to clamorous complaint then is he to be punished with the losse of his place if he be an officer or if no officer with some lesse punishment then death Yet are not all mutinous persons to be punished in one degree Scipio when his army in Spaine mutined vnder colour of want of pay and long seruice with the death a Liu. 28. of thirtie persons which were principall moouers of the sedition did pacifie the matter Caesar dismissed b Hirt. de bel Afrie Fonteius for that hee was a seditious person Suetonius c Sueton. in Caesar testifieth that hee cassed all the tenth legion for the same cause Mutinous I account thē also that dissuade the souldiers from performing any seruice commanded them by the Generall and doe thinke that they deserue no lesse punishment The Marques of Guast cast certeine mutinous companions into the d Paul Iouius sea in sackes for that they dissuaded the souldiers from the enterprise of Afrike whither Charles the fift then led them Such mutinies are diligently to be suppressed in the beginning with the death of the beginners as e Tacit. ◠Tiberius did the mutiny of his souldiers in Pannony or with dismissing some of the principallest f Liu. 25. Fuluius vnderstanding of a secret mutiny among his souldiers in Capua gaue them no leasure to execute their purposes and presently dismissing the most seditious had afterward reason of the rest 4 Whosoeuer yeeldeth c. This is nothing but a transumpt out of the Romane lawes which in like case decree like g Lege Iulia maiestatis tenetur qui arcem nó tenuit aut castra hostibus concessit l. 3. ff ad leg Iul. maiest punishment Pinarius being first prayd then threatned by them of Aenna if he would not depart out of the towne where he was in garrison tolde them that he might not do it for that no man was to h Praesidio decedere apud Romanos capitale Liu. 24. depart or giue vp the towne of garrison vpon paine of death The i Qui Vaccam amiserat condemnatus verberatúsque poenas capite soluit bell Iugurth Salust Gouernour of Vacca a towne in Afrike was condemned and executed to death for that he yeelded the towne to the enemy He that yeelded Pont Charenton to the Protestants vpon the first appearing of their troupes was executed at Paris anno 1567 by expresse commandement of the king Rutilius spared not his owne sonne that by negligence lost the castle of k Val. max. l. 2. c. 7. Taurentum in Sicily So that not onely treachery but cowardise and negligence deserueth in this case to be punished Cotta caused a neere kinsman of his to be beaten with rods and afterward to serue as a common souldier for loosing a place by his default which was giuen him in garde The Carthaginians executed most cruelly him that a Polyb. surrendred vp the castle of the Mamertines to the Romanes There is nothing that can excuse a gouernour in this case but necessitie to wit when either for want of men or victuals or other weaknesse of the place he can hold out no longer So was b Liu. 27. Attilius excused that departed the citie of Locri and the garrison of Scodra that yeelded the towne to the Turke not onely excused but relieued by the Venetians for they held it to the vttermost The Romanes suffered those to compound with Annibal that were not able to resist his force Except the case of necessitie prooued by men of iudgement in few other cases can those that surrender places to the enemie be excused In so much that Alphonso Perrez as the Spanish histories report would rather suffer his sonne taken by the Moores to bee slayne before his face then hee would surrender vp Tariffa into their hands to recouer his sonne Nay it is not lawfull without cause manifested before the counsell so much as to parley or motion any composition with the enemie The women of Athens stoned Cirsilus to death for that he c Iustin went about to perswade the townesmen to yeeld to the king of Persia After the death of d Expedit Cyr. Xenophon Cyrus when the Greekes that went with him being farre from their countrey were in distresse one Apollonides despairing of other means would haue had them to yeeld themselues to the mercie of the enemie but his speach seemed so vnwoorthie the profession of a souldier that he was there disarmed
like a base minded beast laden with baggage How many cities haue vnder colour and in the time of parley bene betraied I haue heretofore declared The very motion of parley doeth daunt the courage of souldiers and therefore such motions are not to bee made but in secret counsell and in extremitie 5 No captaine officer nor souldier c. The first part of this law the Romane souldiers when they were first enrolled did sweare to performe the second part is comprised in the Romane lawes against such as depart the army without leaue A matter very dangerous for by such starting aside of souldiers many garrisons are taken vnprouided and many companies that are full in mosters are very thin in time of seruice And therefore although among vs euery captaine of a companie take on him to giue licence of absence yet is the same against all practise of warre By the lawes of the Romanes no man had a Solus dux exercitus missionem dare potest l. 1. ff de his qui notantur infam power to dismisse souldiers but the General if otherwise it were the army might be dissolued or at least greatly weakened without his priuitie the cause hindered by inferior persons trechery 6 All that runne c. It is a great fault for a souldier in time of seruice to forsake his General But farre greater to turne his hand against his country and friends and to flie to the enemie Such therefore deserue no fauour being not only traitors but enemies The Romanes punished such more b De perfugis grauiùs quà m de fugitiuis consultum nominis Latini qui erant securi percussi Romani in crucem sublati Liu. 30. grieuously then fugitiue slaues and howsoeuer they compounded with others yet alwayes excepted them Sometime they were nailed to gibbets sometime they were c Perfugae omnes virgis in comitio caesi ac de saxo deiecti Liu. 24. throwen downe from hils Those that did but endeuour to flie to the enemie although they perfourmed it not were d Volens transfugere qui deprehensus est capite punitur l. desertorem ff de remilit put to death Yet would I not haue them so depriued of hope of mercy but that they may find fauour if they with any new seruice can blot out their former offence No man fought with more resolution against the Romanes then these reuolters Fabius would not suffer the e Liu. 23. Romanes to punish Altinius that offered to restore Arpi vnto them which himselfe before had caused to reuolt to Annibal Marcellus knowing the purpose of Bantius and that hee meant to flie to the enemie yet by curtesie and liberalitie did chuse rather to draw seruice from him being a man of value then to punish him If then such poore men as by extremitie and want are driuen to flie to the enemie wil voluntarily returne againe and craue pardon I would not haue them debarred from hope of mercie which rigour is due onely to stubborne and wilful rebels 7 No man shall bewray c. This being a difference and somtime as in the darke the only difference whereby souldiers know their fellowes great care is to be taken that the enemie haue no notice of it In the night fight betwixt Vitellius and Vespasians souldiers nothing did more preiudice f Tacit. 18. Vitellius his side then that the enemie came to haue notice of the worde Which happened by the often repetition of it in the darke By the same the enemie either passeth away safe or commeth among vs without resistance Great punishment therefore doeth he deserue that giueth the enemie to vnderstand it by simplicitie or negligence but greater if by trecherie and false dealing Likewise doeth he deserue punishment that neglecteth his watch For seeing that the safetie of those that rest consisteth oft times in the watch who seeth not that they that neglect their watch betray their fellowes safetie the a Liu. 5. watchman that suffered the Gaules to enter the Capitol while hee slept was throwen downe from the rocke whereon the Castle stood there to sleepe for euer By the lawes of the b l. Qui excubias ff de re milit Romanes hee that slept in the watch was put to death Epaminondas going the round slew the c Plutarch in Epaminonda watchman whom he found sleeping affirming that he did him no wrong leauing him as he found him Yet woulde I not that any man in punishing these faults should proceede rashly and without cause spill poore soldiers blood that is so willingly spent in the seruice of their countrey For if the enemie be farre off and the danger little this fault is much lessened 8 Whosoeuer of wantonnesse c. By two meanes especially the enemie cōmeth to haue notice of our purpose against the wil and purpose of him that giueth the notice first by making of noyse and signes which may be heard or seene of the enemie being farre off secondly by talking and prating of matters that ought to be kept secret by either of which meanes many enterprises are broken many good counsels discouered The practise of the protestants against the towne of d Hist. de troubl de Fr. l. 5. Saumur anno 1569 was broken by fiering of certaine houses whereby the enemie had notice of their comming A like enterprise of theirs against Diep the same yeere was discouered by discharging of a pistole In our voyage of Portugall the Spanish horsemen that coasted our companie had fallen into a trappe layd for them if one rash companion had not discharged his piece too soone therby giuen them warning before they entred into danger If that certaine rash fellowes had not risen vp too e Hist. de troubl de Fr. l. 11. soone and discharged their pieces vpon the gallyes of the Baron la garde both he and his company had bene taken at Tonne Charente by Rochel An. 1569. by the babble and prating of a certaine f Philip. Comines Herald sent to the French king he knew more then was conuenient of the estate and proceedings of Edw. the 4. as I before haue shewed Caesar therfore that he g Caes bel Gal. 7. might take the Gaules vnprouided forbade his soldiers in their marche to make fiers And Homer expressing the h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer 3. courage and good order of the Greekes saith they marched with great silence whereas the Troians made a noyse like a flight of cranes Froissart reporteth that in ancient time the English did take an oath that they should not discouer any practise or counsel of their superiors But now it seemeth that custome is out of date for no nation doth march with more noyce or talke more willingly Wherefore although these matters may seeme trifling yet experience sheweth what impediments they bring to our affaires which caused mee in this place seeing other meanes too weake to worke it to forbid discharging of pieces
firing of houses making of noyse in the march without speciall direction and also talking of secrete counsels of our gouernours at any time and to wish that the same were by lawe enacted CHAP. XXI part 3. Conteining lawes concerning the dueties of Captaines and soldiers yet more particularly 1 ALl Captaines souldiers and others shall yeeld their obedience to the lawfull cōmandements of their superiours Neither shall any lift his weapon against his commander correcting him or others for their offences orderly vpon paine of death 2 No Captaine nor officer of a companie shall depart the Campe or garrison without licence nor shall lodge or absent himselfe from his companie in time of seruice or when the enemie is ready to charge vpon paine of loosing his place except those alwayes that haue lawfull excuses of sickenesse or hurtes and haue appoynted sufficient deputies in their place 3 All souldiers that wilfully absent themselues without lawfull cause from their colours or companie that goeth to charge or resist the enemie deserue death 4 No Captaine nor officer shall defraud the souldier or other person of his pay that is committed to his handes to be deliuered vnto him vpon paine of losse of his place 5 No Captaine nor other shall preferre or subscribe to a false mostre rolle or fraudulently giue in more or other names then he hath presently in his companie vpon paine of imprisonment and losse of his place 6 No captaine lieutenant sergeant nor other that ought to be armed shall come into the field without their ordinary armes vpon paine of two armors to be deducted out of their pay the one to their owne vse the other to some other of the company that wanteth 7 No souldier nor other shall goe into seruice without the word and some other marke to be knowen by from the enemy especially in night seruice vpon paine of imprisonment 8 No captaine officer nor other priuate gentleman in pay shall intertaine any others souldier or seruant without consent or lawfull dimission from his former captaine or master vpon paine of losse of a moneths pay Neither shall any souldier or seruant depart from his captaine or master without lawfull cause vpon paine of imprisonment and returning againe of souldiers to their captaines of seruants to their masters 9 Captaines and officers of companies shall watch and ward with their colours and companies vpon paine of losse of a moneths pay 10 No man shal marche with the baggage but the companies appointed neither shall any marche out of his aray or straggle abroad or goe on pilfering when he should marche watch or serue vpon paine of imprisonment Such are also by bastonataes to bee corrected by their officers if they be taken in the maner 11 No companies shall goe on foraging or make any enterprise against the enemy vpon priuate motion without the knowledge and direction of their generall commanders 12 No souldier shall sell or pawne or lend or loose or giue or cast away or play or otherwise make away his horse or armes or weapons or furniture wherewith he is appointed to serue nor shall suffer his horse by his default to decay or his armes to rust or goe to spoile vpon paine of imprisonment and infamie both to him that offendeth and to his abettors and aydors 13 No priuate captaine shall giue Passe-port to his souldier that is able to serue vpō paine of losse of his place neither shal any souldier in time of seruice depart without Passe-port vpon paine of death 14 No souldier nor other being once placed in aray either in marching or fighting shall depart thence without lawfull cause Whosoeuer either to runne to spoile or to fly away doth abandon his ensigne or standing where he is rāged to serue shal suffer death 15 No souldier nor others shall vse any showting or crying or without cause discharge a piece in marching or embatteling or lying in ambush vpon paine of bastonataes presently to be inflicted by the officers vpon the offenders taken in the maner of imprisonment afterward 16 No man shall giue an alarme vnto the army marching or lodging without iust cause and that in quiet sort nor shall any tumultuously runne nor cry vpon an alarme taken vpon such penaltie as the circumstance of the offence shall require 17 He that by negligence or grosse ignorance killeth his fellow with his piece or other weapon let him die the death 18 No man shall challenge another or defie him in campe or garrison nor accept the challenge vpon paine of imprisonment and disarming before his company Neither shall any offer an iniurie to his fellow to prouoke him to fight nor shall others priuately reuenge it vpon paine of imprisonment 19 All braules and quarrels betwixt fellowes are to be punished seuerely Whatsoeuer therefore hee is that in campe or garrison killeth any man in any sudden braule or challenge except hee bee thereto forced for his owne defence or striketh his fellowe beeing placed in array ready to fight let him suffer death for it 20 No souldier nor other shal fraudulently or the euishly take any thing from any mans person or their lodging house or cabane vpon paine of death 21 When any company of souldiers shal be lodged in any village or passe through it or by any dwelling house or other belonging to our friendes they shall not hurt nor iniurie the people in their persons nor goods vpon paine of death or other grieuous punishment according to the qualitie of their offence 22 No man shall burne any corne hay or forrage or destroy any prouision or house barne or cornemill or other building that may serue for the vse of the army vpon paine of death 22 All murthers periuries forgeries forcing of women or maydens cosinages or other disorders whereby the army may any way receiue disgrace or hurt although not comprised in these lawes shall bee punished by such penalties as the ciuill lawes or els common lawes of England enioyne in such cases 24 No souldier nor other shall be mostered or answere in two companies or answere to two names in one company nor shall any victualler or other that is no souldier passe in mosters for a souldier vpon paine of death 25 No souldier that hath victualles deliuered vnto him for certeine dayes shall spoile or spend the same in lesse time then is appointed vpon paine of imprisonment Annotations vpon the former lawes 1 All captaines souldiers c. Obedience is the bond that keepeth all in order without which neither can our owne men be gouerned nor the enemy discomfited If saith a Liu. 24. Papyrius the common souldier might neglect the commandement of his captaine the captaine of his colonell the colonell of his superior commanders all military proceedings would fall out of order The b Dictator signiferum cunctantem signum vt iussus erat inferre occidit Liu. 4. Generall of the Romanes killed an ensigne-bearer that refused to auance himselfe forward among the enemies as he
was commanded Some spared not their owne friendes no nor sonnes neglecting their commandements This generall rule therefore is to be obserued strictly and the offenders to be punished Neither may they or others make c Que si algun soldado hiriere a algun officiale especialmente su superior muera porello resistance against those officers that punish them for their offences Yet on the other side I doe not authorise rash braines to kill or hurt their souldiers There is difference betweene correction and killing By the orders of the Spaniards he that killeth his souldier disorderly dieth for it By commandements in this place are not vnderstood euery captaines priuate pleasures but orderly directions in time of seruice 2 No captaine nor officer c. No man may returne into his countrey without licence but captaines least of all for example sake For if this were lawfull it were not possible to keepe an army together Such as stay frō their garrison are to seeke when they should lead their company to the charge giue iust occasion of this law 3 All souldiers c. These are next in degree to those that flie out of the field For when they should fight then like traitorous cowards they hide themselues and therefore deserue equall punishment with those that flie 4 No captaine nor officer c. A farre greater fault it is that souldiers seldome haue that pay that their prince alloweth But yet may not those capteines officers be excused which of that which is comming to them do cut off some part and pinch them of the rest by diuers fraudes and deuises After that a Stipendio equites fraudātes Caesarem veriti transsugerunt Caes bel Ciu. 3. Caesar had notice how Roscillus and AEgus two captaines of horsemen had defrauded their men of their pay and taken from them their partes of the spoile as soone as they perceiued it fearing punishment they fled to the enemy 5 No captaine nor other c. Many are the incommodities that come of false mosters The prince is defrauded the army weakned seruice neglected opportunity giuen to the enemy Neither is there any thing that in our times more dishonoreth captaines and officers then the suspicion had of some in this behalfe The army of Iulio the second being in the moster b Guicciard l. 9. rolles double the number that it was indeed could doe nothing of those enterprises that were intended The abuse of mosters was the ruine of c Guicciard l. 15. Francis the first before Pauy Guicciardine reporteth that foure thousand d Guicciard l. 17. Suitzers were mostred and payd for sixe thousand and that Lansqueners seldome are halfe so many as are conteined in the moster rolles of which ensueth the spoile of princes without any effect done in seruice This abuse was not knowen in ancient time which maketh me much woonder that no man goeth about to remooue it and more that those that should reforme it in some places doe suffer captaines to haue certeine dead payes which is a meanes to mainteine it and couer it To remedy this abuse there are two meanes first to allow captaines honourable maintenance and to pay euery souldier by the poll as the e Liu. 28. Romanes did and as the Spaniards doe that haue their Pagadores or Paymasters for this purpose the next is that the Generall cause all the army to be mostred at once and all those that giue in false numbers or commit any abuse heerein to be punished most seuerely By the lawes of France they suffer death No captaine lieutenant c. This law may percase to some seeme needlesse for who would thinke that any man woulde come into the field to fight without armes but he that hath seene the disorder in warres in this point and considered how many captaines lieutenants sergeants which are the brauest men of their companies do come without armes defensiue into the field will acknowledge I doubt not that it is more then necessary to be thought vpon and redressed As it is now they onely leade men to fight and when they come neere conuey themselues out of the braule letting their souldiers fight if they will In time past centurions and their options or lieutenants were the first and principall men of their rankes and the strength of the battel and by the vantage of their armes preuailed against their enemies Would not then so many braue captaines lieutenants and sergeants now adde a great strength to the armie if they stoode in their rankes well armed Now standing out of array they serue for nothing but for cyphres in the ioyning of the battell vnlesse it be to giue euill example and to trouble others The Spaniardes at mosters pay none but such as present themselues before their officers with their armes and furniture If then in mosters armes are to be shewed sure more requisit it is that men should come armed into the field For what reason hath he to reproue and checke his souldiers for casting away or loosing their armes that hath no sufficient armes himselfe 7 No souldier nor other c. For want of sufficient markes and cognisances oft times souldiers of one side hurt their fellowes especially where diuers nations serue together This was the death of Ponsenac diuers braue men an 1569. slaine by their fellowes in a skirmish in France and is cause of many disorders Diligently therefore is this point to be looked vnto especially where the enemy and wee speake both one language Pompey himselfe for want of ready pronouncing the worde had like to haue bin slaine of one of his owne souldiers in the warres against Settorius in Spaine For this cause the Protestants in these late troubles in France wore white cassakes and the Dutch that came in their aide scarfes of colours of their Generall 8 No captaine officer c. Of this cause proceede many quarels among captaines and diuers fraudes in mosters and disobedience of souldiers to their superiors Which cannot be auoided if offending one captaine they may finde protection shelter vnder another Therfore both the receiuers they that are receiued deserue to be punished By the orders of the Spanish campe the captaine looseth his place the souldier is banished offending herein Among the Romanes such abuses were not vsuall But if so be the souldier be euill intreated of his captaine or the seruant by his master then vpon proofe the lord marshall or iudge marshal is to set order 9 Captaines officers of cōpanies c. For that the souldiers are oft times charged while their captaines are absent and therupon fly or commit some other error as men without gouernment therefore are a Que se Huuieren de Leuar vanderas a las guardias vayan los capitanes officiales y◠soldados con todas sus armas en orden pena de castigo arbitrario capteins officers to watch with their companies and to see that their soldiers depart not the place nor
there stay in disorder They of the b Eam fraudem noctes ac dies perstando in armis vitastis Liu. 24. garison of Aenna could not haue escaped the dangerous practise of the townesmen against them but by continuall watch day and night in armes The Admirall c Hist de troubl de Fr. li. 8. caused a certaine ensigne to be hanged in the siege of Poytiers for that hee was found playing at cardes while his company watched 10 No man shall march c. no man that hath care of his honor or reputation will be behind while his company is before but because all are not of one mettall and diuers regard not honor to remedie the disorders in marching this law is framed Many inconueniences come of disorderly marching the enemie hath opportunitie giuen him to charge vs particulars that wander among the countrie people are either slaine or taken d Scipio Romanum extra ordinem deprehendens vite extraneum fuste caedebat Flor. Epit Liu. 58. Scipio therefore did chastice such as he espied out of their rankes with a Vine wand if they were Romanes with a cudgell if they were other Cato e Siquis extra ordinem auidiùs procurrit ipse interequitans sparo percutit tribunos centurionesque castigare iubet Liu. 34. riding among the ranks of his soldiers as they were marching strooke those that were out of aray with his leading staffe and commaunded the colonels and captains to chastise them By greedinesse oftentimes of a litle spoile while souldiers range out of order an armie may be defeated The f Samnitium equites auiditate praedae impetum faciunt in impedimenta iis praepediti caesi sunt Liu. 8. Samnites bought dearelie the spoiles which they ranne after being ouertaken by the Romanes in disorder The Romanes therefore among other things when they were enrolled did sweare that they would keepe their araie 11 No companie shall c. Although companies do goe out with the Generals priuitie and sufficient order be taken to second theÌ„ and to fauour their retraite yet many times doe some come short of home What are then they to looke for that goe foorth without direction or succour that the body of the army be not weakened diuers good men lost by their own rashnesse that the enemie take not thereby opportunitie to charge vs let good direction be giuen al dangers be forecast The Romans g A procursationibus quaemultae temerè inter muruÌ„ valluÌ„ fiebaÌ„t edicto ne quis iniussu pugnaret ad opus milites traducti Liu. 5. in the siege of Veij seeing many men lost by sudden skirmishes betweene the towne and the campe forbade their soldiers to fight any more without commandement h Papyrius vincentem magistruÌ„ equâ—tum quòd iniussu pugnauerat caederevoluit Liu. 8. Papyrius would haue executed the generall of his horse for that hee fought contrary to his coÌ„mandement albeit he returned victorious Manlius punished this disobedience by the death of his owne sonne The a Que ningun soldado vaya a correre sin ordeny licencia de quin si la pudiere darque ningun soldado traue escaramuza o vaya a saccomanno sin orden so pena da to castigo arbitrario Sanch. dâ— Lond. Spaniards neither make roade nor skirmish without direction of their superior commanders 12 No soldier shall sell c. To sell away or to throw away their armes b Arma in bello alienare aut amittere capitale l. 3. § miles ff de re milit was capital to the Roman soldiers Appius c Appius armis amissis fugientes milites verborum insuper addita contumelia securi percussit Liu. 2. Claudius did behead those soldiers that throwing downe their armes fledde from the enemie Lycurgus among the Spartans made a lawe that no man should turne home that turned his backe to the enemie And therfore did they banish Archilochus the Poet out of their citie for that he affirmed that it was better for a man to loose his armes then his life The Lacedaemonian women when they deliuered shields to their sonnes d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 going into the warres exhorted them either to bring them backe againe or to die valiantly vpon their shields Epaminondas in the battell of Mantinea hauing receiued his deaths wound asked if his shielde were safe Chabrias when his ship was ready to sinke and he might by e Aemil. prob swimming haue saued himselfe chose rather to die with his armes then to saue himselfe without them In our time few doe cary all armes into the field of those that do few make conscience to loose them Yet did the Romanes carry beside their heauie armes both victuals and certaine stakes and thought it great dishonor to loose their armes Very requisit therefore it were that this law were put in practise Further it is not sufficient to haue armes vnlesse the same be well kept and seruiceable f Arma tersa sint ferramenta sana Vopisc in Aurelian Aurelian did enioyne his soldiers to keepe their armes whole and neate Aemilius g Arma habeat miles apta corpus pernix Liu. 44. required no more of his souldiers then that they should maintaine their bodies in streÌ„gth and their armes fit The h Que ningun soldado sin legitimo impedimento dexe de lleuar en la orden todas las armas con que estuuiere obligado a seruir sâ— pena de ser sacado de la hilera VergoÌ„ cosamente Spaniards haue at this day great care that euery souldier haue all his armes them sound and fit for seruice in which poynt whosoeuer offendeth they draw him out of his ranke with shame 13 No priuat captaine c. long experience hath taught men now to haue more care in this poynt then in time past when any captaines passeport was thought sufficient to dismisse his whole company and great reason there is men shoulde looke vnto it For while this was suffered braue men were dismissed for some little mony and weake persons receiued in their places and the pay of diuers soldiers emboursed by the captaines and the princes i Exercitum coÌ„sul infrequentem commeatibus datis per abitionem culpabat Liu. 40. seruice slackely perfourmed Fuluius k Liu. 40. a Colonell of the Romans was banished his countrey for that hee tooke vpon him without other authoritie to dismisse a legion whereof hee had the commaundemet Caius a C. Matienus quòd exercitum in Hispania deseruisset sub furca caesus nummo sestertio veniit Florus 55. l. epit Liu. Matienus for that he came from the armie in Spaine without pasport was beaten vnder a gibet sold for one piece of money to signifie vnto vs that such fugitiue rascals are of no more value While in the ciuill stirres in France euery souldier came went at pleasure in the seruice in Flanders and France there hath not bin that
order herein that was requisite neither they in France nor others could at any time assure themselues of their number or strength 14 No souldier nor other c. Among souldiers there can be no greater fault then to forsake their ensignes standing so to run out of the field Be it for feare or spoile the same is grieuously to be punished b Liu. 2. Appius beheaded the ensigne bearers centurions that fled away froÌ„ their ensignes To those companies that fled and lost their ensignes in a certeine encouÌ„ter with Annibal c Cohortibus quae signa amiserant hordeum dari iussit centurionesque manipulorum quorum signa amissa fuerat districtis gla dijs discinctos destituit Liu. 27. Marcellus gaue nothing but barly to eate the centurioÌ„s he caused to staÌ„d with their garments loose and swords drawen which among their souldiers was a great shame Caesar did put certaine ensigne bearer froÌ„ their d Caes bel ciu 3. places for that they lost their grouÌ„d in a certaine encounter with Pompey at DyrrhachiuÌ„ Crassus e Appian Alex. causing his souldiers that fled to cast lots put euery tenth man to death which Antony did likewise execute vpoÌ„ his souldiers flying froÌ„ the ParthiaÌ„s Antonius Primus f Vexillarium fugientem transuer berauit hasta Tacit 19. one of Vespasians captaines seeing an ensigne bearer turne his backe stroke him through with a iauelin In this case Clearchus would haue souldiers to feare their captaines more then the enemie The fault of those that runne to spoile is not much lesse then of those that runne away While those that pursued the enemie turned aside to spoile the French were ouerthrowen at Guinguast the ItaliaÌ„s at g Guicciard 1. Taro and the h Liu. 8. Samnites in a certaine encounter by the Romanes that turning head vpon the victors tooke the victorie out of their hands i Caesar à militibus contendit ne in praeda occupati reliqui negotij gerendi facultateÌ„ dimitterent Caes de bel ciu 3. Caesar hauing ouerthrowen Pompey in open field prayed his souldiers that they would not so set their mindes on spoile that they would omit the occasion to atchieue the victorie and perfite other matters The Romanes what with reward what with seueritie wrought so much in the mindes of their souldiers saith k In bello saepiùs vindicatum est in eos qui contra imperium in hostem pugnaueraÌ„t quà m qui signa reliquere aut pulsi loco cedere ausi sunt Salust coniur Catil Salust that they were more often punished for fighting without coÌ„mandement then for flying away or forsaking their ensignes The Lacedemonians banished such cowardly persons Aristotle no souldier but a Philosopher l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist thetoric 2. holdeth it a dishonorable thing for a souldier to flie or to cast away his armes A certaine souldier of Caesar albeit he had vanquished his enemy yet craued pardon for that he was driuen to forsake his shield 15 No souldiers nor others c. the cries tumult and running vp and downe of disorderly persons do much discourage yong souldiers and a Caes bel gal 5. hinder them that they cannot heare the commandements of their leaders and therefore are diligently to be auoyded b Aemilius cum clamoribus omnia confunderentur tribunos militum Primipilo legionis secretuÌ„ edere imperium iussit singulos proximo cuique dicere Liu. 44. Aemilius perceiuing the diuers inconueniences that grew hereof gaue all his directions to the colonels and they to the first man of the legion and he to the Centurions and euery one to his fellow secretly and quietly Among the c Que ningun soldado gritte ni hable en la ordâ—n c. so pena de ser sacado de la hilera vergonçosamente Sancho de Lond. Spaniards no man may cry out nor speake loud either marching or embattelled in squadrons The punishment of the offence among them is shame and infamy Onelie at the ioyning of the battel it is not only lawful but also profitable to beginne with a great noise Of which as it was greater or lesser some haue gathered a d Veget. presage either of losse or victorie 16 No man shall giue an alarme c. False alarmes disquiet the army very much and often trouble those that ought to rest And therfore doth the enemy oftentimes suborne some to keep our men in continuall alarme that more easily he may preuaile against vs being tyred and ouerwatched Those difficulties therefore which the enemie casteth in our way let vs not e Que ninguna persona de arma falsa sin ' erden ded que se la pudiere dar so pena de la vida increase by our vnskilfulnes let vs in our watches and discoueries keepe good order and the rather for that lodging for the most part without strong defence and marching without diligent discouery wee lie open to many surprises and sodaine attempts of the enemy The penaltie is arbitrarie and may be more or lesse according to the qualitie of the offence Yet in auoyding the excesse we must take heede that we runne not into the defect and so for want of warning be taken vnprouided 17. He that by negligence c. If this did not fall out too often amoÌ„g our yong souldiers that either for want of skill or through feare not looking before them do kill hurt their fellowes this law might seeme needles But as now it is I would thinke this law very profitable if by this prouiso the souldiers might be made more wary By the same not only those that hurt others negligently but also much more they that hurt their felows maliciously are to be punished 18 No man shall challenge c. f In l. 18. 19. The Romanes contended among themselues rather who should kill most enemies then who could ouercome most of their fellowes g CommilitoneÌ„ gladio ferire capitale erat lapide percutiens militia reijciebatur l. 3. §. qui aliena ff de re milit Those that stroke their fellowes with their sword died for it those that threwe stones at them were displaced with shame And therefore did seldome anie quarrell or braule arise among companions Among vs nothing is more common neither will any law serue to restraine such disorders Yet do I not doubt but if these lawes whereby not onely the original that is iniurious wordes and deedes but also the meanes that is challenges and acceptance of challenges is taken away were executed and braulers punished that these faults would be lesse common In experience wee finde that these spadassines and common quarellers prooue not most resolute souldiers Many inconueniences come of these quarels For not onely braue men are often lost but also the common cause hindred by them The quarrels betwixt captaines and gentlemen in Tifauges Anno. 1569. caused diuers to depart malecontent of which the enemy hauing
statiuorum mutationes venditauit Fab. Valens foedis pactionibus Tacit. annal 17. mention it in one Fabius Valens as a notorious and singuler griedines and filthy kind of gaine That equallity might be therin obserued Arcadius e Tertia pars domus mil tibus assignabatur l. 2. Cod de metat epid Honorius decreed that no souldier lodging in any mans house should haue more then one third part therof the rest to remaine to the owner his family No souldier by the orders of the Romans might exact so much as salt light or vineger of those where he lodged The lawes of France vpon paine of death forbid their f Petr. Gregor Tholos Syntag. iuris furriers or quartermasters to take any money of any either for lodging or for sparing them for lodging By the law Iulia made against exactions g Lege Iulia repetundarum tenetur qui ob militem legendum mittendumue pecuniam acceperit l. eadem §. lege Iul. ff ad leg Iul. repetundaruÌ„ of Officers hee was banished and condemned to make restitution that either for choosing or dismissing of souldiers receiued mony Cassius caused a reuolt in Spaine by reason of the peoples discontentment For that he h Hiâ—t de bel Alexandr exacted mony of such as would not go with him into Afrike whither he pretended a voyage that rich men being inrolled might redeeme them selues with great summes of mony Of which abuse Caesar had no sooner vnderstanding but he gaue order for to displace him The Romanes condemned those Colonels Captains i Tribunus CeÌ„turio vel alius qui refert falsuna numerum militum stipendia intercipiens condeÌ„natur in quadruplum dâ—gnitate priuatur l vlt. § pro limitaneis Cod. de offic praefect Afric and Officers that brought in false moster rolles or inter cepted the pay of souldiers to pay foure folde and to loose their places By the constitutions of France such as deale in k Petr. Greg. Tholos Syntag. iuris mosters fraudulently whether they be Officers or others are condemned to dye and yet all this is not sufficient to restreine the vnlawfull shiftes and practices that are therein vsed The like seuerity did the Romanes vse against them that dealt fraudulently in any other military charge M. Posthumius and other a Liu. 25. marchants for deceit vsed in prouision of victuals and other necessaries for the army in Spaine and for giuing in false accompts and pretence of losse where in deede they lost nothing were banished the citie of Rome and all their goods confiscate But what should I neede to shew their iustice against fraude and deceit when they vsed to punish and dismisse those that were negligent in their charge Caesar disarmed and dismissed b Hirt. de bel Afric Auienus for that in a ship wherein he should haue transported souldiers into Afrike hee put nothing but his owne priuate seruants and goods And for that diuers of his men and ships were intercepted and taken by the enemy as they passed into Afrike hee c Quos apud Thapsum custodiae causa esse iusserat ob negligentiam ignominiae causa dimittendos ab exercitu curauit Hirt. de bel Afric dismissed his Admirall and others and put them from their charge For by their negligence hee receiued that great losse If then the Romanes when these offences were yet new and rare for repressing them vsed great diligence and seuerity howe much more ought Princes to vse iustice and seuerity herein when scarce any punishment vnles it be very peremptory can restrein mens griedy and vnsatiable desires the principall cause of the neglect of military discipline proceedeth from fraude negligence and insufficiency of Officers He therefore that desireth to bring things into order must begin with reformation of Officers who both first brought in and since haue continued many disorders in the proceeding and practice of armes CHAP. XXI Part. 8. Comprising orders concerning booties spoyles and prisoners taken in warres 1 AFter that the enemy is driuen out of the field or the fortresse or towne besieged is entred yet shall no man leaue his ranke or ensigne to runne to spoyle before licence or a signe giuen vpon paine of death 2 Whatsoeuer aduenturers that serue vpon their owne charge and are not enrolled in companies that receiue pay of the Prince or State shal winne from the enemy by their owne labour that shall they haue diuided among them selues except a fift part that goeth to the Prince If they ioyne with other companies in consort then shall there be a proportion made of the spoyle according the number of aduenturers and other souldiers Prouided alwayes that no aduenturers attempt any enterprise without direction from the Generall or lord Martiall 3 All spoyles taken from the enemy belong to the Prince or State that payeth the army And therefore whatsoeuer any souldier shall take or finde being in value aboue ten shillings the same is to be brought to the Generall or his deputy vpon paine of imprisonment and losse of the double value of the thing concealed By this meanes the Generall may reward the most valiant forward souldiers haue wherewith to make payment of the souldiers wages 4 Euery man shall haue liberty to ransome his prisoner taken in warres at his owne pleasure But if once he compound with his prisoner that composition shall stand if it be made without fraude Also if the prisoner be a Prince or great man then the Generall is to haue the prisoner to make what commodity hee can of him for the benefit of his Prince and countrey allowing to the taker either the valew of the prisoner or an honorable reward Annotations vpon the former lawes 1 After that the enemy c. This hath bene already enacted in former lawes in other termes Yet when I consider the disorders herein committed and griedines of souldiers I thought good more specially to prohibit their disorderly running to spoyle of which I haue by diuers examples shewed the inconueniences a Phil. Comm. Charles Duke of Burgundy hauing in the taking of Liege made proclamation against breaking of Churches killed a certaine souldier with his owne hands for that he tooke him in the manner doing contrary to his commandement 2 Whatsoeuer aduenturers c. This is to be vnderstoode of companies of aduenturers not of euery single person that shal folow the army vpon hope of spoyle likewise of spoiles taken only by their owne prowes and not of spoyles which the enemy forsaketh for feare of the army Such aduenturers we haue few in our warres therefore I say the lesse of them yet because good it were they should be there somewhat I thought good to say of them 3 Al spoyles taken c. Nothing is more equal nor profitable either for the Prince or the souldier then that the spoyle be brought to the Generall For by that meanes the Prince may be eased of some part of his charge and
succour where neede shall require Further thou must fortifie all townes neere where the enemy lyeth This was the proceeding of the Romanes against Annibal and of the Gaules against Caesar Philip the King a Philippus intra Tempe statiuis positis vt quisque locus ab hoste tentabatur praesidia per occasiones summittebat Liui. 31. of Macedonia after his ouerthrow by the Riuer of Aous encamped with his forces in tempe a place of very hard accesse put gardes in the cities rounde about and as any citie or castle was assailed by the enemy so hee succourd the same with men and other necessary prouision But in this course two things we are to take heede of first that we doe not take vpon vs to defend townes either weake by situation or want of defence or els that want things necessary for to susteine a siege Secondly that we doe not suffer the townes that are besieged to languish without hope of supply or succour For mainteyning of our credite with our friends and confederats which commonly yeeld to follow the current of good or bad successe if in the fielde we receiue some checke yet are wee as much as wee can to couer our hurtes and diminish the credite of the enemies victorie Caesar hauing receiued some losses at b Caes de bel Ciu. 3. Dyrrachium yet would hee not acknowledge them to his souldiers but ascribed the slender successe of his enterprise to errour rather then to the enemies force Vercingetorix after the losse of Auaricum where a few onely of many escaped and that in pitifull plight c Caes bel Gal. 7. apparelled them and hid their deformitie and diminished with the best wordes hee could the losse of the towne The Heluetians likewise being foyled by Caesar at the passage of the riuer of Sone did diminish the nomber of those that were ouerthrowne and assigned it rather to casualtie then vertue Nothing doeth more d Charles duke of Burgundy by ambassadors sent to Lewis the 11 of France couered the losse receiued at Morat Phil. comm discourage souldiers then when they see the Generall himselfe by the greatnesse of the calamitie discouraged This caused the souldiers of Domitius to forsake him at Corfinium and to yeelde the towne to Caesar e Liu. 23. Varro the Romane Consul discouering vnto the Capuans the wants of the Romanes and the great calamitie they had receiued at Cannae thereby thinking to mooue pity mooued them rather to reuolt as despairing that the Romanes could euer recouer themselues after such an ouerthrow The a Liu. 31. vgly sight of the Macedonians slaine and mangled by the Romanes which in wisedome the king should haue couered did greatly terrify the army when to praise them he shewed them openly Finally as all calamities ouerthrowes and mishaps do proceed from contempt of religion iustice and military discipline so there is no hope to repaire our losses but by restoring the worship of God by administring of good iustice and strict obseruance of military orders The Romanes as they lost their city and were ouerthrowen by the Gaules at Allia for their contempt of these things so restoring matters to their ancient forme recouered the same againe and afterward had great good successe in all their enterprises Againe when in the times of the latter emperours that state was giuen ouer to all impiety and iniustice and vtterly neglected the lawes of armes by which that empire had growen so great the same fell into vtter ruine For who can expect good successe in warres that neglect the worship of the Lord of hostes the supreme moderator of all warres As long therefore as religion and iustice is troden vnder foot and hypocrisy and shewes of ceremoniall reformation and Iewish toyes goe for good religion and the goods destinate to the seruice of God mainteinance of vertue and learning and reliefe of the poore are made a spoile of harpyes and rauiners and Gods ministers made a scorne of euery leud railing companion and honors are solde for mony and disloyalty and treason and all villeiny redeemed with bribery and glory is placed in stones silkes and strange fashions and men of value contemned for pouerty and vertue despised as dust and wealth esteemed as felicity and learning rewarded with almes and valiant souldiers cast of with proud and disdainfull words and base rascals command and ouerrule vertue and law with wealth and fauor and mens skinnes are not valued at the price of dogges skinnes and no man may do his countrey seruice but he shall therein endanger his honor state and life and no man careth for the common cause but euery man abuseth his honor and authority either to enrich himselfe and his brats or to winne money and wealth to spende the same againe in surfet leachery and excesse so long neither can any nation haue victory nor loosing can euer recouer their losse CHAP. XVI Wherein is shewed how martiall men proceed in the sieges of cities or fortes THus hauing declared what practise of armes requireth in accoiling the enemy that hasteth forward to the obteining of a full victory I am now to returne to speake of him that hauing driuen his enemy out of the field maketh him to take sanctuary within some fort or city for that is rather the beginning of victory then the end of warres and therefore may he not so suffer him to escape nor lay downe armes before he command as well in the townes as in open field Wherein that he may proceed orderly and loose no labor nor cost which of all other actions of warre is greatest in sieges Thucidides reporteth that the Athenians in the siege of Potideaa spent aboue a Thucid. 2. Two thousand talents of Athens passe that summe 350000 pounds sterling first he is to consider what townes are first to be besieged and assaulted secondly by what meanes he may preuaile against them and winne them Of townes therefore that do make resistance against vs those are first to be besieged where the General of the enemies is retired with his forces if he be gone farre away then we are next to beset those townes which for their authority or conuenient situation do cary with them the rest of the countrey and if warres be so managed that our forces will not serue both to besiege the capitall city of the countrey and to represse the courses of our enemies intercepting our vittualles then are we to go on forward orderly in the countrey and to leaue no towne behinde vs that may stop the conueyance of our victualles Caesar pursuing Vercingetorix made him take Alexia for his retrait and there besieged him Annibal to terrify the Spaniards and to enforce them to submit themselues to the empire of the Carthaginians assaulted tooke and sackt b Carteiam vrbē opulentam caput gētis eius expugnat diripitque quo metu perculsae minores ciuitates stipendio imposito imperium accepere Liu. 21. Carteia the principall city of the countrey