both by Counsel and Armes the land became a counsell of war and an army of valorous counsellors Fourthly the successe of the war doth often follow the vertue of the commander To omit other examples witnes the Kings of Iudah While they were good they pevayled against their enemies as David Ezekiah c. 2. King 16 but by the contrary against the bad Kings the enemies prevailed instance Achas branded by the Lord for a bad one this is that Achas 2. Chron 28 and he had as bad successe For evidence whereof reade the places quoted It is often noted of that King and great Commander Moses that he was the servant of God Deut. 34.5 Rev. 15.3 and that not onely for his authoritie and fidelitie in his place but also for his pietie And this indeed is the greatest honour that any Commander can attaine to to be Gods servant So did David esteeme it It is said of Cornelius the Centurion that he was a devout man fearing God Thus you see then that it is not enough for a man to haue a good cause authoritie in his hand but if he will thriue and haue the same to prosper Application he must be good himselfe It then condemneth to hell from whence it came that hellish principle of Matchiavell that a Prince or great One should endeavor rather to be esteemed religious 2. part mâ—x 1. then to be so indeed He hath to many apt Schollers in this especially but is not this to extinguish the light of nature to mocke God and to play the damnable hypocrite What gaines he by this First that which is not in graine cannot hold Secondly when once he commeth to dance in a nett and the colour is cast to the eyes of all men then he turnes from hypocrisie to open impietie he takes on the Lyons skin when the foxes will not serve which is a mayne instance of this Matchiavillian rule and he maintayneth that with open tyranny which he could not cover with hypocrisie Lastly when the Lord hath made him thus vile Pompon 〈◊〉 Lae. t in Iul he makes his grave in a field of shame All these may be instanced in Iulian a grand hypocrite while his uncle Constantine lived but as great in Aposiate and as cunning an Atheist after his death But his end was answereable to his courses Such ends made Gaius Caligula that errant Atheist and Herod Agrippa that truell murtherer yet the one dissembled paynim devotion and the other the profession of true religion as might appeare by his solliciting Tiberius for the Iewes when he was incenst against them Let Christian Princes then follow Abraham walke with God and be upright and in peace and warre God shall blesse them Now as the CommaÌ„der must be such such also should the souldiers be as Cornelius was a devout man himselfe so he called unto him with his two servants a devout souldier also God himselfe in Deuteromy Act. 10.7 giues lawes concerning the puritie of a Campe when the Campe goeth forth against thine enemies Deut. 23.9.10 Numb 5.23 then keepe thee from every evill thing which after he calls uncleannes because sin defileth He here forbiddeth all morall civill legall uncleannes the former two concerne all campes So in Numbers the leper and uncleane were put out of the Campe. Of all Iepers the sinner is the foulest and of all sinners the wicked souldier is the greatest One Achan made the whole army fare the worse Ios 7. Vnholy Armies although they be for a good cause and war under lawfull authoritie yet through their exorbitant courses they incourage the hearts and inarmes the hands of the enemies I will produce but one instance because I must labour to abridge my self The Turkes advantage by our sinnes having many things to goe through Aventinus relateth how they of Rhodes wrote to Frederick the third the Princes Electors how the great Turke being disswaded by his Nobles from making war against the Christians especially against the Germans his answere was as he feared no Christians so least of all the Germans and that for 4 reasons First their disagreement amongst themselves like the five fingers of a mans hand which seldome come together Secondly they are dissolute in their lives by whooring drinking and all manner of riot delighting more in great plumes of fethers then martiall armes Thirdly they are disorderly in their proceedings Fourthly they neglect all laws of government not punishing the bad or rewarding the good As the Turke putteth these imputations upon a natioÌ„ once second to none as they gaue good proofe to Caesar so I wish that they all Europes armies could quit themselves of these better then indeed they can for howsoever the envious Turke with Lamia his eyes seeth much abroad and nothing at home yet our home bred evils which he thus taxeth are more hurtful to us then all his forces De sacro foedere l. 5. as witnesseth Folieta in a speech to the same effect upon that victory obtained by the Christians in a Sea-fight against Assanus Bassa where he observerh that they stand not so much by their own forces as by our sloth negligence and discord Oh then that vvee vvould make a holy Warre indeed that is to be holy in our selues and then neither Gog nor Magog should prevaile against us To this end the Lord biddeth us sanctifie a war By which phrase hee vvills Jer. 6.4 that all that vvill vvar for him should be holy As this serveth to direct us what manner of souldiers in a just warre are required so it discovers the blasphemy of that Matchiavillian principle of Atheism wherein with open mouth Machiavils blasphemy he preferreth Paganism in souldiers to true Religion because Religion saith he makes men humble pusillanimious or weak-minded and more apt to receiue injurie then to repell it Before I come to the answer let me say thus much of him once for all if that Atheistly burn paper and blinde bayard had lived amongst the Heathens and had dealt with their feyned gods as he hath dealt with the true God they vvould haue made him an example to the world and would haue burned his blasphemous papers in the fire but as they humored exceedingly his lewd Countrimen so they flew over the Alpes yea and the Seas also infecting France and all the rest of Christendome Insomuch as the Sybillin oracles were the refuge of the Painims for their direction so most Princes and their affaires now are guided by Matchiavel Are not men now of divilish pates and deep reaches to the evill and such as are acquainted with the depth of Satans policie the onely men of service as they call them Yea say they be but very beetles and block-heads yet if their brains vvill serue to hatch toades they will serue the turn as well as can be if he can swear horribly and blaspheme fearfully vvith termes not to be named if he can roare
and quarrell and out-face heaven and earth by his sinnes he is fitter to be a souldier saith the Matchiavillist then he that will say surely and truely and so forth because such a one is a meer Puritan and so weak and faint-hearted that the enemy doth not fear him To come then to the answer of the point there is nothing more impious then the Position and nothing falser then the reason For the first is there any thing more impious then to prefer Paganism to Piety If this had been good in vain had Iohn perswaded the doubtfull Souldiers to take a holy course Likewise the reason that true Religion maketh men cowards it is against all reason against the nature of true magnanimity the power of Religion and the experience of time Standeth it with reason that hee that hath the strongest on his side should haue the least courage True magnanimity makes a man couragious to undertake the good and hate and abhor the evill as a base thing unworthy of such a spirit Who but the religious doe so The power of religiō Also the power of religion doth tie a man that hath it to his God assuring him if he loose this life he shall haue a better The souldier thus perswaded in his conscience and bearing Arms for a good cause as for the glory of God the defence of Religion the good of his Countrey and credit of his Prince will not loue his life unto death in the doing of his service Caesar tells us that the ancient Gaules were a generous and warlike people wherof he giues this ground that they resolutely beleeved the immortality of the soule Haue not all the true Worthies of the world bin religious ones Who more truly magnanimious Who more valorous victorious then David yet a man for zeal piety according to Gods own heart Who more couragious then holy Constantine who vanquished Licinius bringing peace to the Gospell and establishing the Gospel of peace What glorious victories had godly Theodosius who was Gods gift to the Church indeed against the Barbarians and other enemies of the Empire I could bring many other instances but these will suffice The wicked errant Cowards And as none more worthy then such so none more unworthy then irreligious Athiests the openly prophane or rotten hypocrite Was there ever a greater coward then Gajus Caligula Sueton. in Calig ca. 51 Dion in Calig who would hide his head at the Thunder And marching one time on foot through a streight with his Army was put in mind by one if the enemy should charge them what fear they might be in like a cowardly Atheist he mounts himselfe in an instant and fled with all his might though no man pursued him Let the word a witnesse beyond all exception determine this question The sinners in Syon are afraid fearfulnesse hath surprized the hypocrites Esa 33.14 For how can that man stand who is pursued by God and an ill conscience Other instances I might giue of great Tyrants yet starke Cowards but I can giue but a touch onely let me commend to you an instance of this kind worth your observation As the Kings of Iudah were holy and religious so they were valorous and victorious they were as God promised they should be the head and not the tayle but on the contrary as they were impious and idolatrous so they became degenerous and cowardly and so they became as God threatned the taile and not the head And as it is with Commanders so it is with souldiers The vertue of a souldier Xiphil apud Dion in Marc Anto. remarkeable and miraculous was that blessing that God gaue to Marcus Anthonius the Philosopher and his Army and that by means of the Christian companies that warred under him in his war against the Marcomans and Quadians He and his whole Army were inclosed in a dry country having no means to come by water but through a streight passage which the enemy kept and were like to be lost without one strok the Emperours Generall in this distresse told him that he had a Legion of Christians in his Army which could obtain any thing of their God that they prayed for the Emperour hereupon thought himselfe not too good to intreat them this office which they willingly and heartily performed in the name of Christ God as hee is ready to hear answered their desires with lightning upon their enemies and plenty of rain upon themselus which they kept in their Targets and Head-peeces and drunk Whereupon such fear fell upon their enemies that through terrour they were vanquished without stroke wherefore the Emperour called them The Thundering Legion and honoured them ever after and all Christians for their sakes But some will object object doe we not see and reade that men monstrously wicked haue behaved themselues to death so valorously in the field that their names haue no mean place in the book of valour I answer answ ambition may provoke a man to buy a bed of earthly honour vvith his dearest bloud or unadvisedly he may adventure not counting what it may cost him but if he should compare this life with eternall death attending after it upon all those that are not in Christ he durst not for a world be so prodigall of this life except he knew of a better yea he would quake and tremble at the verie thought of death Then to conclude this point as Ioshu◠had a resolution that he and his house would serue the Lord and as David would haue the faithfull to serue him so let those that will be Gods warriours be good warriours For as the evill carriage of Souldiers both Popish and Protestant haue laid Christian Kingdoms open to the Turkes tyrannie so we must confesse to our shame that our unworthy walking and walking after the flesh betrayes our good cause into the hand of the man of sin whose souldiours doe not prevaile because their carriage is better then their cause for both are starke naught but hee cannot endure that in his own Numb 2.31 which for a time he will in his enemies The Midianites that caused the Israelites to sin vvere vvorse then the Israelites but God first corrected his own people and then vexed the Midianites Last of all object 2 If any say that this my frame of a Souldier is like Sir Thomas Moore his Vtopia or Tully his Orator shewing rather what should be then what possible can be I answer it is true answ if we respect the perfection of the thing but it doth not follow that we should not labour for perfection No phisicall rules can be laid down nor receipts given to reduce the body to a perfect latitude of health yet still the Phisitians prescribe and study On all hands Valeat quātum valere potest Aut tales inveniant aut faciant Let bee done what can be done And first let one labour to be such and if they cannot finde such let them striue to make
them such And let us all pray that our Camps may be holy Camps and our Warres sanctified to the Lord. CHAPT VI. Of the Fitnesse of the Souldier THE third personall circumstance is the fitnesse of the Souldier It is not enough in warre to be a good man but he must also be a good Souldier Ten Souldiers are better as the French-man saith then twenty Ramesets Agamemnon wished but ten such Souldiers as Nestor to foil all his enemies in Phrigia and to make the Greeks return victoriously to their Nation These were precious Iewels in the eyes of the worlds Worthies This was the difference betwixt Alexander the Great and Phillip his father hee looked for the best Souldiers and his father for the best money of whom one saith prettily that Phillip wan all Greece tanquam Mercator as a Marchant but Alexander wan all Asia tanquam Victor as a Conquerour It is without controversie as the Wise obserue that money is the belly of an army the sinews of war and the body of a Souldier but yet without the animall spirit of cunning and the vitall spirit of valour a golden souldier may become a leaden slaue but with these many times a moneylesse souldier may become a commander both of men and money An instance of this for many wee haue in the Graecians compared with the Persians their delicate fare glorious furniture and exceeding great wealth with themselves were a prey to the †In omni autem praelio non tam mullitudo birtus in docta quam ars excercitrum solent praestare victoriam Veg. de re militari lib. 1. caâ— 1. Imo miles inexercitatuâ— foemina Exod 15.3 Grecian valor In every war saith that great and learned souldier it is not so much the unskilfull and rude multitude as art and exercise that getteth the victorie which he instanceth in the Romanes subduing of the Gaules Germans and Spaniards It is a groundles conceit against all experience that a multitude without Art is enough wherewith to conquer for an unskilfull souldyer is not onely himselfe subject to danger but he indangers others also Yea an unskilfull souldiour is no better then a woman It is to be observed that amongst the rest of Gods excellencies this is reckoned up that Iehovah is a man of war that is an excellent warriour who by his pollicie prudence and skill turnes all to the best advantage of his owne How this skill should be attayned unto it is neyther my end nor my art to manifest in particular Militarie motions postures distinction of orders distances marches countermarches such like I leaue to the Tactiks or maisters of armes Magistri ArmoruÌ„ Reading and use requisit for Armes as Vegetius calles them Onely for the generlal to make an exquisit souldier reading and use must concurre Let no good souldier detract from eyther Meere exercise without reading is empyrisme and meere reading without excercise is but imagination Yea a meerely read souldier is like unto a Shipmaster onely by the booke Therefore saith Vegetius an unaeâ—ercised souldier is alwayes a meere novist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet without learning the excercised is not a compleat souldier because particuâ—ars say they be many are the obiect of sense but universals be the obiect of understunding Our great souldiers were not onely Tacticks but also writers of tacticks As Pyrrhus Caesar Aelian Frontin Cyrus Xenophon yea the greatest schollers haue been the greatest souldiers The Poet Homer is observed to be the first at least that we reade of that was skilled in the inbatâ—ing of an armie Epist Fam libro 9. Epist 15. much admired by that martialist Mnestines Tullie said he became a great Generall by the reading of Papirius his letters Cyrus his father could tell him the Tactickes would not availe Xenophon without the knowledge of arts invented for the use of war Yea Generall Veres use of learning in the battel of Nowport learning hath carryed it out in a pinch when bare practise hath been at its wits end To omit other instances take that remarkable one of the battle of Newport Anno 1600 where our forces hauing got the rize of the sandy hilles the Spanish forces were betwixt them and Ostend in a low place It was generally thought the best to charge the enemie by descending to them But the English Generall wisely would not condiscend to loose the advantage of the place citing for his judgement from Caesars Commentaries the like practice of Caesar against the Caules And it had the very like successe For the Spaniard charging ours against the advantage of the ground had such hot entertayment from aboue that it brake their forces exceedingly at the first and so they lost the day This militarie learning made great Pompey so much admire the Philopher Possidonius that after the victorie over Mithridates he came to his house and honored him much Caesar then we see should be able to write Commentaries and Cicero in some measure if neede be to order an armie And if you would haue the picture of a compleat souldier Let Caesar in himselfe give it you ex utroque Caesar CHAP. VII Of Discipline in Generall THe last personall circumstance but not the least is discipline which is the key of all This in all the passages of war from the levying of souldiers till they be dismissed is duely to be looked unto On the wings of this did the Romanes soare from small beginings as Vegetius observeth †Disciplina parentibus Romanis antiquior fuit quam salus quam salus liberorum Disciplina optime exercitus munitur to be conquerors of the world This as a Civilian observeth was dearer to them then the life of their childreÌ„ Cassiodorus observeth that it is the strongest guard that an armie can have By discipline men doe not onely attayne their ends but they keep that The use neglect of Discipline with the effects by it whereunto they attayne As in the strict law of discipline the weale of Armies and Kingdoms doe confist so from the want of this or remisse and loose execution of it ariseth the ruine of Armes and the advancement of the enemies Disciplina majorum Remp. tenet quae si dilabatur nomen Romanum imperium amittemus In orat ad milites apud Lamp In Epitom Dioni In stitut cap. 8 Iosephus de bello Iudaico lib. 3. cap. 5. This testifieth Alexander Severus as great a souldier as an Emperor being so called for his strict exercise of militarie Discipline The Discipline of our ancients saith the Emperour preserveth the common-wealth which if wee let slip never so litle wee loose both our name and Empire Evagrius in effect hath the same observation By the wisdome of Commanders and strict discipline with obedience amongst souldiers how great things are effected But if either of these or both be wanting then all is undone Lactantius relateth the loosness of militarie discipline as one of the
great deal of blasphemy It followeth in incamping what things are to be lookt into And first for the formes of the Campes which with the Israelites I haue shewed to be round which of all is the most perfect and therefore the most capacious forme This is fittest for them that would obscure their forces and haue them seeme lesser But there be other formes or figures used as quadrangular to make them seeme bigg Prout locâ— qualitas aut necessitas postulaverit Veget. lib. 1 cap. 23. triangular for a bigger shew and halfe round for the biggest shew of all But to a be brief according to the nature of the place the qualitie of the service the shew they would make and the necessitie of occurrences they may fashion or change the fashion of their Campes to their best advantage It is likewise meete that a camp be fortified witnes the practise of the Israelites with their Cartes and baggage Amongst the heathens Pirrhus is said to be the first that devised the fortifying of a Campe whom the Romanes overcomming they possessed his Campe Frontin lib. 4. cap. 1. and seeing the order of it they were content to imitate the same As Frontine witnesseth As for the place it selfe the sweetnesse of the ayre the fertilitie of the soyle and the advantage of the ground should be sought for as much as may be At least this must be looked to that they leaue not a better place to the enemy Primum auxilium ex loco qui tanto utilior quanto superior Veget. lib. 3. cap. 13. then they haue chosen for themselves The advantage of the ground is holden a main helpe for commodions encamping which how much the higher so much the better As it is better for encamping so likewise for ioyning battle witnesse the testimonie of Livi Frontine Caesars victories and others by this meanes Praeter virtutem locus adjuvat Plini lib. 7 Take for instance that remarkable victory against Pharnaces Mithridates his sonne who notwithstanding of inequalitie of place put Caesar and his forces so to their valour that all was litle enough with Caesars owne experience and testimonie wee haue his continuall care to take and keepe this advantage the great moment whereof doth manifest it selfe by this that both the Armies contending for it haue begun their fight for the possessing of it Of the further ordering of those things spoken of or any other particular for the weal of encamping Praefecti castrorum I will say no more but refer them to the carefull industry and industrous skill of the Camp Masters CHAPT XVI The Fixing of the Coulours THE Campe thus being fitly seated Et signa constituunt lib. 1. cap. 23. the ensignes or colours are therein to be fixed The word used by Stuchius well expresseth the action for the Ensigne-staffe being sharpe at the lower end was fixed fast into the ground And this must needs be materiall in war because God gaue this in particular in charge to his people The Sonnes of Israel incampe every man by his standard Numb 2. Againe in the colours a great deale of majestie matter of command and conservation of order is alwayes implyed Thus much is well exprest in the Chaldee word Tekes a Standard alluding to the Greeke vvord Taxis vvhich as it signifieth any order so â—athexochen or by vvay of excellencie that excellent ordering of vvar Nii venerabilius est eorum majestate militibus Coelius lib. 3 As for the Majesty begetting due regard in the eyes of the souldiers there is nothing more venerable saith one in the eyes of souldiers then the Majesty of the colours Yea it appeareth most in this that our blessed Saviour is called by the name of an Ensigne In that day the roote of Iesse shall stand for an Ensigne of the people Esa 11.10 The vvhich prophesy the Apostle to the Romanes expoundeth by that commanding povver that is in the Ensigne Chap. 15.12 The roote of Iesse shall rise to raigne ouer the gentiles Doth not the Armie march or stand as their colours Command them Further the noble souldier loues not his life unto death in regard of the colours A memorable instaÌ„ce wee haue of this in that battle of Tarquinius king of the Romanes against the Sabines Where Servius Tullius a gallant sparke perceiving the Ensignes to grow cold in the fight he snatcheth the colours out of the Ensignes hand flings them in the middle of the enemies for the recovery whereof both the Ensigne himselfe and the whole forces did so charge the enemy Frontin Strat. lib. 2. cap. 8. that they gayned both their colours and the victory You may reade many other examples in the place quoted In the last place I may ad that as the colors are stately to their Armies so they are terrible to the enemy as appeareth by that metaphore used by the spirit in that spirituall battle of the Church against the devill all her other enemies Christ saith Cant. 6.4 his Spouse is terrible as an Army of banwers And so much for the generall Now to giue a touch of the particular colours Every Company had their owne particular colours with some significant signe in them for distinction and instruction As amongst the Romans the Legionarie Auxilliarie and Pretorian companies had divers colours So the 12 tribes had their twelve distinct colours with significant signes in them But the particularities of their colours were left to their choyce and what they were the scripture doth not expresse The Rabbins tell us that Reuben had a man Iuda a Lion Ephraeim an Oxe and Dan an Eagle together with their distinct colours and empresses The chiefe amongst the Romanes was the Eagle but they had others to the number of thirty The same libertie of choyse is left now to the discretion of the Commander Generall who in his choyse is to take heed to 3 things First that his colours be voide of crueltie The Angels carry in their colours the most excellent creatures but the persecuters of the Church described by Daniel haue their colours embellished with crueltie Ch. 7.67 as the Beare hauing 3 ribbes in his mouth the Leopard with 4 heads The fourth monster with Iron teeth tearing all the rest in peeces The Dragon was one of ancient Romes chiefest colours and the Companie draconarij milites were under the same As Rome hath and doth make warr with Christ in his members So the Frogges of Egypt march under the same colours and they may be called Draconarij milites or Dragons themselves First for their originall for as the Dragon is a kind of Serpent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which must eat up another Serpent before it be a Dragon and the originall of the Dragon in the Romane coulors was from the death of the Serpent Pithon so the Iesuites must in their trayning up in Ignatius his Conclaue be fed with nothing but Serpents as that Indian maid sent to Alexander
manifest token of Gods wrath against them Iudges 17.6 Thirdly this is the height of all peoples ambition except they be given up to a Sybaritical securitie Yea Gods greatest enemies are carefull and circumspect in this to the damage and disgrace of Gods people being not so carefull and circumspect in this point Our defect is rather in want of care then in want of able persons Let the Philiâ—tim bragge of his Goliah and the Spaniard of his Viriatus yet they shall well know ere they haue done that Gods people haue both a couragious Pompey and a Graue Metellus that will â—eate them home to their owne dores Mee thinke they â—hould eyther blush or tremble to thinke upon the name of that ever victorious Sisca Charles the fift was as a great soulâ—ier as any they had and yet he was so mated by the valour of Germany that his heart failed him cleere from setting up for another game The euill of an ill leader Lastly as the want of a good is the woâ— of a common-wealth so the having of an ill one theâ—â— greatest unhapines It may be said of an ill leader as it is saiâ— of an ill Lawyer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alium deteriorem inveniri posse nullum at hunc meruisse Constantinopolitanorum vitia One chife Commander in war he is a plague to the common-wealth such a onâ— is an ill Leader Yea the very stampe seale of Gods wratâ— So God gaue the Israelites Saul in his wrath Cedrenus writeâ— how a religious man in the raging of Phocas did expostulaâ—â— the matter with God by way of complaint why he woulâ— set such a wicked tyrant ouer Christians It is said he heard 〈◊〉 voice answering but saw nothing They had him because neveâ— a worse could be found and this they had deserved for their sinnes Concerning this point it is further to be observed that asâ— chiefe Commander is necessary so there must be but one It is an axiom of very good use ‘ Plurimum imperium bello semper inâ—tile est Stach pag. 113. lib. 4.5 The chiefe command of mâ—â—â— then one in warre is euer hurtfull Vpon this ground wheâ— any consull being Generall did leaue a Legate in his place he had his full power to his returne which the Consull 〈◊〉 turning did resume the Legates place was altogether void Livi discovereth the euill that commeth upoÌ„ the ioint command of more from that example of more Tribunes ioyntly in command and authorized with popular power The same Author relateth the like of two Consulls Paulus and Varro whose contrarietie of judgemeÌ„t in a matter of weight made great dissention in the Army Paulus for his time at no hand would haue theÌ„ passe the river Varro the next day without consulting with his colleague Commanded the colours to be advanced Lib. 31. Lib. 30. adversat Turnebus also observeth from Livi and Polibius that in one Legion there were six Tribunes whereof each commanded by turnes for two moneths But the Romanes perceiving the euill that did insue from this emulation of this ioint command did ordayne that the command of all their forces in one place should be in one supreme Commander from whom all subordinate officers should hold a subordinate command and to him be accomptable in their places The souldier was under the Centurion he under the Tribune the Tribune under the Legat Dictatâ—r a perpetua via ad imperium the Legat under the â—onsull the Consull under the Maister the Horse and all â—der the Dictator who was the highest Officer and the â—â—xt stept to an Emperour Corruptiâ— boni pessima And questionlesse as a Moâ—â—rchy in peace is the Head and Chiefe of all governments â—owsoever accidentally or through abuse it may become â—e worst So it is likewise in war And for my owne part â—thinke saving the judgement of the judicious that the â—wer of a worthly Generall though he be subordinate Legati cum libero mandato â—ould be like in commission to the Roman Legates that is with freedome to deale as they did upon occasion but with â—ese cautions that they should haue a sound and iudicious â—ouncell and strictly observe the lawes of Armes For what serveth the head and heart of a Generall if his hands be tyed â—e may loose occasion being the life of action which for 〈◊〉 heart bloud againe he cannot redeeme As I haue often 〈◊〉 thought much regrated the bad requitall of the GreciaÌ„ Generals the particulars whereof I shall hereafter touch so I â—â—ue thought it the highest point of their unhappines to be â—ver-topt in their doings by a various and unruly multitude What glory they got abroad it was not onely eclipsed but exâ—â—nguished at home had Aristides Themistocles Pausanias and â—paminondas with whom I will ioyne Haniball been free from the countermands and controulments of their heady and harebraind States they had euery one beene likely 〈◊〉 haue proved a Monarch And on the contrary here I must â—â—ke occasion to commend the good temper and the due reâ—ect of the Romanes to their Generalls that howsoever their government was mixed yet they were not of a coalting â—umor towards their Commanders in this they are secoÌ„ded â—y the States of HollaÌ„d whose due respect to that well deserving Youthy the Prince of Orange hath made their Armies terrible 〈◊〉 the enemies of God and their flourishing state a nursery â—f Armes But so much for this point wherein I haue taken â—eaue to be somewhat large because it is the head peece The rest of the parties that make up the Camp are souldiers and subordinat Commanders Subordinat Commanders souldiers As an army without 〈◊〉 Leader is like Poliphemus without his eyes or a great beâ— without a head so a Generall without fit souldiers is like 〈◊〉 head without a body or a Lyon ouer a company of Harts 〈◊〉 fit Commanders a speciall care is to be had because they are the eyes of the Generall Caesar Alexander Philip were veâ—â— happy in their Commanders so Edward the third the blackâ— Prince Henry the 5. and Henry the 8. Neyther was Generâ— Vere unhappy in this at the battle of Newport Philip having slept longer then he used to doe in the camp put it off with this that he slept in saftie when Antipater was awake shewing thereby that the saftie of a Generall and army consisteth much in the skill and vigillancie of the Captaines The like necessitie there is of good souldiers The integrall parts of an Armye Iphycrates giving the integrall parts of an Army It must haue saith he the Phalaux or body for the breast the wings for the armes the horse 〈◊〉 the feete Bruc lib. 4. cap. 33. the Generall for the head Cesar made no reckoning of going against Pompey because he was a Generall without an Army It was Pyrrhus his ill lot to want good souldiers which if he had had as he was the greatest souldier both for
Waines loaden with wood which the Army droue before them as they came toward the enemy who counted it a foolish toy but eveâ— in the joyning battle they fired the wood and droue the Oxen and Waines so fired upon the enemy whose forceâ— were broken and Army quite disordered so that the Spanish Appian Alexandrin de Bello Hispan following the advantage slew Amilcar and many oâ— his Army Out of this Stratagem no doubt did Hanibaâ— pick the other The next thing following advantagious to fight The taking and keeping of a fit place is the opportunity of place which as they are to take so they are to take heed they loose it not by circumvention as some haue done to their own undoing Praeter virtutem locus quoque adjuvat Vt arma librata ponderibus figantur lib. 7. Qui adversus nitatur clivo duplex subit cum hoste cum loco certamen lib. 3. c. 13. PugnanduÌ„ saepe non quia tu velis sed quia hostes iubeÌ„t Besides strength and valour saith Livi the place helps much He giveth a reason that Armes being used with advantage from aboue may fix their blowes with their own waight Vegetius hath the same position whereof he giveth this reason He that goeth against the height hath a double enemy to deale with namely both the adversary and the ground This aduantage was well looked to by Marcus Curius against Pirrhus and by Pompey against Mithridates Lucullus against Tigranes Caesar against Pharnaces and Hanibal against Marcellus all these by advantage of place defeated their enemies But as I said of Encamping so I say of the place for fight It is not alwaies in the Commanders power to make choyce for sometimes in March they are charged by the enemy and then being forced to fight not because they would but because it pleaseth the adversary they must take the place as it falleth out but if the place be incommodious they must labour by all means to gain a better detracting fight all that they can till they obtain it Publius Decius Tribune of the souldiers obtained leaue of the Conâ—sul Cornelius being to figh with the Samnites that with some few forces he might adventure the taking of an Hill that was nigh hand by which he did indeed to their own gain and the enemies losse The sole disadvantage of the place lost the Earle of Anguise the field against Edward the first The second branch of this point The keeping of a fit place concerneth the keeping of a fit place already taken The wise enemy perceiving the odds of the place will detract fight by all means and labour to shift his adversary from his place and then giue him battle All the cunning in this kind that I haue read affoordeth not a fitter instance then that of Hanibal against Fulvius the Roman Generall who being seated for fight very commodiously was more negligent in watching and rash in skirmishing then he should haue been Hanibal perceiving his humour in the very dark of the dawning presenteth a Perdiu to the Watch who giving an alarum Fulvius with his forces breaketh out whereupon Hanibal by the most of his forces laid in ambush interceps the place chargeth them on their backs and slew 8000 of the bravest souldiers that Rome affoorded Not unlike to this was that Stratagem of the English against the Scottish at the Field of Floudon King Iames was counselled by his Nobles to seat himselfe beyond the river of Til where by the opportunity of the bankes and of the river unpassable but at one bridge they might saue themselues and haue the enemy at their mercy for planting their Ordinance toward the bridge they might let some of the English forces passe as though they neglected the bridge and therafter cut the bridge with the Ordinance when they would and so divide their enemies forces which they might easily foile without danger to themselues but this counsell could not finde place with a man hastening to destruction yet counsell or common sense so farre prevailed with him as to fortifie himselfe in the next fittest place namely on a hill at the foot of a great hill called Zevist the place was no where pervious but by a strayt and narrow passage which they did fortifie on either side with their Munition they stood no lesse then need of this advantage for they were far fewer in number then the English who understanding by their Spyes that there was no comming at them in that place without eminent danger they remoue their Camp making shew as though they went toward Barwick or otherwise into Scotland to quit the dammage they had sustained which the King fearing especially quits the place sets fire in the shiels and such things as they could not carry the smoke deprived them of the sight of the English who fet a compasse about and crossed Till with all their Ordinance comming on the backs of the Scots whom they found in an equall plain called Floudon Thus the Scots drawn out of their strength having their Ordinance to transplace at the very incounter with two Battalions either of them consisting of as many as all their Forces they were forced to fight at all disadvantages where in a hot and bloudy fight as most hath been heard of they held it out till night overtook them Great was the losse on both sides and for number equall but the Scottish losse exceeded in quality of person for they lost as Royall a King and illustrious Nobilty as any Europe could affoord and all as you see upon neglect of good counsell and want of taking heed Neither would I haue any so to presume of opportunity of place as without valour and vigilancy it could secure them for the enemy may adventure beyond all reason and expectation and so surprise them in the same wheron they doe presume Pharnaces charged Caesar so hotly and unexpectedly against the steep of a Hill that had not their inexpugnable valour quit them they had lost both the place and themselues Thus being placed they are to inure their rawest souldiers under some good Leaders to light skirmishes as the Romans inured their Gally-men first to use their oares by rowing on the sands Further in keeping place for the annoyance of the enemy men must take heed of false fears suggested by the enemy So was Fabius hood-wincked by Hanibal Ne terror error transferant It is good for a Generall to haue a Lyons eye for his Symboll with this inscription Let not fear nor errour transport you CHAP. XXXIII The ordering of the Battell NOW it followeth that I come to a point of no small importance namely the ordering of the battell in the undertaking whereof it may be justly said to me as Pirrhus said to one that would undertake to teach him the Art of imbattling I stand not need saith he of a Commander whose eares did never tingle at the sound of a Trnmpet Therfore let me apologie my
our selues indeed all our hopes may be on a sandy ground and then that of the Lord by Ieremy be verified of us Ah Lord God Ier. 4.10 surely thou hast greatly deceeived this people and Ierusalem saying Peace shall be unto you whereas the sword reacheth unto the soule the word doth signifie in our Language to put a trick upon them and so he may doe indeed for the many we haue put upon him But God giue these words to work upon our hearts I haue been the longer in this point because in it lyeth the strength of all our forces for pray well and repent well and you cannot chuse but fight well Prevaile once with God and it must needs follow that you shall prevaile with men CHAP. XXXV The Fight it selfe I Come now to the very point at length which doth determine all and that is the fight it selfe Men must not onely pray but they must also fight against the enemy they must not onely speak but they must also strike Strokes and words will doe well together Moses and Aaron prayed against Amalecke Ioshua and Israel fought against them Amalecke is a smiter and he must be smitten It is a generall fault amongst us that professe Christ that wee can discharge a few prayers against Antichrist but a heart to abhor him and a hand to smite him even so far as our places reach we haue not wee are too too like that white livered Roman in Tully who under excuse to keep the Camp stayed back from the battle to whom Africanus said well hee could not endure officious seeming Souldiers Non amâ—nimium diligentes in quit Africanus whom indeed doe starke nothing When Moses cryed hard to God Israel being in a great strait the Lord answered Wherefore cryest thou unto me speak unto the children of Israel that they may goe forward He doth not check Moses because hee prayed Exod. 14. but because he went not on with the people as he was commanded and therefore God reneweth the charge The Ancients commend the Lacedemonians that with their prayers their hands were prompt to fight To this effect was the speech of that ancient Roman that by bare wishes and woemanish cryes we must not look from God to overcome but by counsell â—â—lâ—stianus 〈◊〉 watchfulnesse and doing which are the secundary means whereby God hath appointed us to help our selues we must looke to overcome In comming to the very shock what part of the enemies battalion and with what forces it is first to be charged is at the Generals discretion As for that Military cry used and commended by many in the joyning bartell yet holden as a base and barbarous thing of others I will not much contend onely this as it is a thing most used by Turkes Barbarians and Savages in their fight so it rather spendeth spirit then she weth spirit The Barbarians haue this observation against this crying that dogs that barke much doe not bite much True fortitude consisteth in a stout heart and in an able hand Of this mind was Regulus Mauritanus and others As for the Israelites using of it Ios 6 it was the Lords command and they had little opposition in the fight As for Cato his commendation and Casars approbation of the use of the voyce in his Commentaries I take them not to mean hollowing and hooping but rather a couragious stirring up of one another and daunting of the enemy with high words and austerity of looks Howsoever let the souldier remember not to be daunted at the encounter of such as come on with a cry CHAP. XXXVI The Generals and Souldiers part in Fight NOW the Battell being joyned The duety of General souldiers in fight as the Generall and the souldiers as head and body are to perform the charge so to each of those in particular somewhat belongeth as to the Generall with the spirit of wisedom and magnanimity to command and incourage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that as Xenophon said of Clearchus with a pleasant and cheerefull countenance which will refresh and incourage his Souldiers in their greatest dangers Boni duces publico certamine nuÌ„quam nisi occasione aut nimia necessitate conf ligunt lib. 3. c. 25. Front li. 4. cap. 7. but hee must not fight at all except necessity driue him to it Vegetius setteth it down as the property of a good Generall not to fight except necessity compell him When it was objected against Scipio Africanus that hee was no great fighter he was not ashamed to answer That his mother bare him not to be a Fighter but a Commander The Romanes were so carefull of their Commanders that Q. Petilius the Consull being slain in the fight against the Ligures the Senate decreed that that Legion in whose front he was slaine Ibi. l. 4. c. 1 should be neglected they should haue no annuary stipend and their Armes should be broken In Pelopida Rashnesse in a Generall deserveth rather blame then commendation Marcellus and Pelopidas two great Captains and very famous for their exploits yet as Plutarch telleth us by adventurous rashnesse they lost both their repute and their liues As this rule of warinesse is given by Vegetius to a General that he should not onely haue a care of the whole Army that he may bring them off as he leadeth them on but also of himselfe so Iphicrates giveth a good reason from a similitude taken from the head which is the fountaine of life and motion if it be cut off the body is but a trunck so the losse of the Generall Caeso duce facile vincuntur milites 2 Sam. 18.3 is the losse of the Army Agreeable to this is that speech of that loyall people of Israel to David their King disswading him from going forth to battell Thou art worth ten thousand of us Yet for all this upon necessity when honour life and victory lyeth upon it the Generall must as many Noble ones haue done put his life in his hand and sometimes with Pompey take the lot of a common Souldier M. Furius Camillus a man of Consular dignity perceiving his Army to slack the charging of the enemy he layeth hold on the Ensigne and carryeth him upon the enemy whereat the Souldiers being ashamed they went on Lucius Sylla seeing the Legions giue way to Mithridates forces under the leading of Archelaus drawing his sword he made toward the body of the battle telling his souldiers that if any asked for their Leader they should say they left him fighting in Boesia at which the souldiers being ashamed they went on to their service I could instance the like attemps in a number of our own nation as the renoumed Norice the redoubted Vere and the never dying Sidney but let these suffice Now as the Generall from whom the life and motion of the service dependeth must be carefull of his souldiers of himselfe that he expose not them to any desperate service nor himselfe to danger beyond his
place so all the souldiers must be carefull to quit themselves in their places for the defence of their head the maintenance of their good cause the glory of their nation the good of all that depend upon them their owne honour and reputation For militarie directions in fight I think there be no better rules then that of the Apostle Paul though in another kind namely a spirituall fight The termes are borrowed from a bodily fight and therefore they are the fitter for the purpose The words of the rule are very significant and emphaticall and therefore I set them downe watch yee stand fast 1. Cor. 16 13. quit you like men be strong The words as they are applyed by the Apostle expresse the whole use of every part of the spirituall Armor unfolding fully all the cunning and dexteritie of a spirituall fight So the words in themselves are as so many rules out of which every souldier may reade his duetie in fight All things required of a souldier in fight may be reduced to those fiue heads Vigilancie Fidelitie Five things required of soulciours in fight Valorous Magnanimitie Promptitude Perseverance All these are included â—n theforesaid termes First then there must be a wise heedie watchfulnes especially in subordinate Commanders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even from the file-leader â—o the highest in subordination that thereby they may take or giue command Nil magis ad victoria facit quam monitis obtemperare signorum lib. 3. cap. 5. Interest quoque non parum ut milites in praelii confusione de ducis consilio certiores fiant In Veget. pag. 216. by or from signall cryer or trumpet oâ— from the motion of the Commander which is an excellent director for all militarie motions As there is nothing according to Vegetius more avayling to victory then the true taking and observing of command by what meanes soever iâ— be given so there is nothing more dangerous then the mistake of the mind of the Commander It is a matter of no small consequence saith Stuchus for the souldiers in confusion of fight to be well possessed of the Generalls mind and by the contrary the mistaking of his mind may mar all Appiâ—nus giveth a pregnant instance of this in Hanibal who being in fight and seeing some troupes of French and Spaniâ—â— horses goe to the ascent of an hill he made towards theâ— to bringe them on for renewing of the fight the souldieâ— and Commanders not understanding his intent but supposing him to flee presently forsooke fight and routing themselves fled without any order not after their Generall buâ— whether each one listed By this you see what shame confusion followed upon a contrarie construction of the Generalls intent At the battle of Newport as I haue been informed there was a foule mistake full of danger in Lieutenant Yakslie who having his command from General Vere tâ— bring up such forces for such a service was so takeÌ„ up eyther with a jealous emulatioÌ„ of Lieutenant Honywood with whom that very morning he should haue fought or with some other transporting cogitation that he quite mistooke the matter and brought on such as were not any way fiâ— for that service which the Generall perceving in grief anger gaue him this farewell Goe on Yakslie said he and adieu for thâ—â— hast lost this day all the honour that ever thon hast got in thy life The Lieutenant being brought to this strayt that there was no place for retreat nor opportunitie for change was forced to lead them on howsoever who being to weake to entertaine the charge of the enemie gave presently backe and would not for any thing he could doe or say stand to it whereat the Commander being vexed exceedingly and being ashamed to come off live with the blot of that misscarriage desperately threw himselfe in the gulfe of the enemies fury to the pittifull losse of a noble souldier and a very brave Commander and all as you see upon a mistake Thus then in fight it is first required that the souldier haue a good eye and a good eare both being given in charge under the word watch Now to the second thing required which is fidelitie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inioyned in the word stand this is as much here as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be resolutely bent to endure the worst or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to stay by it faithfully and not to flee a foot for as men must overcome the devill not by flying or shifting so must souldiers their enemies And this word here is properly opposite to flight which is holden by the currant of all millitarie lawes very â—ignominious and if it be to the enemies very treacherous Vegetius as Stuchus expoundeth him hath the very same in effect to fly beastly or to be taken cowardly Illa ad ignominiaÌ„ pertinet haec Remp. prodit Lib. 1. cap. 20. pag. 44. In praeliis maxime timentibus maximum est periculuÌ„ is ignominious to the partie that doth it but to flie to the enemie is to betray the cause and the country hurting with those same Armes and hands the very parties that haue inarmed them Againe as they endanger all the rest so they are so far from exempting themselves from danger as the same Author observeth that they are in most danger of all others and therefore he calleth it madnesse in men to flee if they can doe any other The case may so stand and such may be the adversary that men had better dye like men in fight then to forsake their colours and be at length made subjects of the enemies tyrannie Wee read of the Romans in fight that when it was told the Tribunes of the seventh Legion that the left wing was cleere defeated their colours taken by the enemies Caeser 7. Belli Gall. Mercinaâ—ia fides unnquam durat in adversiâ—â— who were charging them upon their backes they gaue not way one foote but stood to it till they were slaine every man But because there is too much mercinarie faith which never endureth in a strayt Generalls haue taken course somtimes to tye the run-awayes to their service Lucius Lucellus preceiving the Macedonian horse to flee to the enemie caused presently an alarum to be given and sendeth some out after them the enemie conceiving that they were comming against him entertained them with a flight of darts When the fugitives preceived that they were pursued by their owne encountred with the enemie they fell upon the enemie and quit themselves like honest men against their willes So Datames following his fugative troupes commended them out of cunning that they would first charge the enemie with which speech they being ashamed they did it indeed It was very frequent with the Romanes to inviron such as were suspected of cowardize or infidelitie with their choycest troupes who might eyther cause them for feare to stand to it or cut them off if they attempted
themselues against the disordered pursuers doth alter the case and killeth them right downe as conquered that ere while were the conquerors This change of fight by way of a proverbiall speech is called osculana pugna or a battle wherein they which before had the victory are now overcome as though victory with a kisse had saluted them and so forsaken them So it fell out with Pirrhus who having in a manner overcome Valerius Laevinus the Roman Commander was by him in the same battle by the recollection of forces overcome A notable instance of this Historians give in Q. Fulvius that noble Roman Commander who being overcome by Carus Generall of the Segadans and hauing lost six thowsand he observed the disordered pursute of the enemy out of his too too much pride and confidence as though there had bene no danger of re-encounter whereupon he commanded some troupes of Horse being laid to keepe the strayts to charge the disorderly purfuying enemie who presently-unhorsed killed the Generall Carus Appienus de bello Hispanie being in the front of the followers besides him they slew 6000 and pursued the victory till night Yet with this caution another extreme is to be avoided namely the slacking so of the pursuite that they loose more which they might haue then that which they obtayne is worth This neglect of Hanibal at the battle of Cannas lost Rome which would haue been the crowne indeed of the Charthaginian war had he according to the counsell of his friends flowne to the marke that is pursued the defeated and routed Romanes into the cittie he might haue taken the prey of which againe he had never so faire an offer neither doe I thinke though otherwise a great Commander that he could giue any good account of his neglect oâ—â—ely this generall might excuse him no man is wise at all times Nemâ— omnâ—â—â—s boris sapit Vincere scis Hâ—mbâ—l victorâ—a utinesâ—â— For this Barchab the Carthaginian gaue him this Motto to his ever lasting blemish thou canst overcome Haniball but thou canst not use the victory to thy best advantage The second observation is that they abstayne from spoyle till â—hey haue fully secured themselues Aviâ—itate praeâ—ae saepe exercuus victoriam camiserunt Hantbal Scotus Placentinus from any further re-attempt of the enemie some snatching at the prey before the victory insured haue often lost both prey victory Tacitus giveth an instance in the Germanes who onely out of their greedines of the prey were overthrowne by the Romanes at the battle of ‘ Lib. 1. Aunal Horminius Therefore Saxo Gramaticus giveth a good rule for this with †Auro spreto anrâ— dâ—mâ—nos in sequiminâ— contempt of gold it self pursue the pâ—ssessors of the gold Many examples there be of this kind let this one more suffice The Germans at the battle of Erlam in Hungarie Anno 1596 having thrice defeated the Turkes yet through untimely falling on the spoile were themselues defeated And so much for the insuring of the victory CHAP. XXXIX Of the true Vsofe Victory THus having shewed you as well as I can Fiue things to be observed in the true used of victory Acknowledge victory to be of God be thankfull for the sâ—me how to secure the victory I come now â—o the true use of the victory being thus secured The true use or good carriage of the victory consisteth in these fiue particulers Thankfulnesse to God moderation of themselues Câ—emencie toward the conquered Lawfull usage of the creatures and due respect to their owne souldiers Now to the first wherein there be two things to be noted First an acknowledgment of the victory to come of God and next to be thankfull to God for it For both those there be plentie of testimonies both in Goods booke and other writers the former of these two all men will easily acknowledge in word except they be Atheists but the neglect of the latter sheweth the former in the most to be but verbal for if men would acknowledge that victory were from God indeed they would never carry themselues so insolently in their victories against God as they doe But to come to some proofs First that all victories are of God Samuel speaking of the victories that David and his worthies obtayned 2. Sam. 23.10 Gen. 14.20 Iosuab 11.6 Exod. 15. Iudg. 5. and the Lord wrought a great victory that day God is said to giue AbrahaÌ„ the victory ouer his enemies So to giue Iosua his enemies into his hands So you may see in that song of Moses and in the song of Deborah As victory is of God so all the Saints of God haue attributed their victories to God thanked God for them as may appeare at large in the aforesaid songs Blessed be the most high God saith Melchizedeck to Ahraham which hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand Moses after the victory obtayned over the Amalekits in token of his thankfullnes erecteth an Altar to the Lord which he calleth by the name of Iehovah is my banner Iâ—hovab Nissi Exo. 17.5 The Prophet David at Gods commandement having smitten the Philistins attributed all the power unto God for the victory giveth him all the prayse The Lord hath broken forth saith he upon mine enemies as the breach of many waters therefore he called the name of the place Baal Perazin where observe how he asâ—ribeth the victory wholly to the power of God and in token of his thankfulnes for the same obtayned he leaveth a monument thereof in the name of the place calling it Baal Perazin or the plain of division or broken assunder because he brake in upon them by the power of God like the inundation of waters To this purpose the 22 of the second of Sam is worth your reading The very heathens who were ignorant of the true God yet did acknowledge their victories to be of God and therefore laboured to intice from their enemies their tutelar gods to get them on their side that they might the easier ouercome them Of that mind were the Philistims in that battle against the Israelites when they perceived that the Ark of God was come into the Campe though he were not there himselfe yet were they exceedingly afraid and said God is come into the Camp and they said woe unto us 1 Sam. 4.6.7 who shall deliver us out of the hand of those mighty Gods c. They spake not this out of any true fear or yet out of any true knowledge that they had of God but onely they feared that the Gods of Israel for so they called the Ordinances would plague them as the Aegiptians were plagued by them but God in just wrath gaue his people into their hands which victory they attributed to their god Dagon and in token of their thankfulnesse they sacrificed the best of their spoiles to him namely the Arke of God which they had taken from the Israelites The Thracians though a warlike people yet