to betray to them the Castle if they would raise the Siege and if Abdurachman would return to the Castle Walls with some few Followers and observe her Directions All things being agreed upon according to her orders the Siege was raised Abdurachman comes to the place appointed with a chosen Company The young Gentlewoman fails not to meet him at midnight and brings him into the Castle shews him the Paters Lodge where he kill'd him and let in his Followers who immediately dispersed themselves about and took the Captain and all the Garrison Prisoners for they had been very Jovial the day before for the supposed departure of the Turks from before their Castle and were then most of them secure and asleep Thus was the strong Castle of Abidas taken by the Infidels in whose possession it hath remained to this day Abydus is over against Sestos in Europe at the Mouth of the Hellespont and these two Castles are now called Dardanelli and are maintained by the Turks as a Bar to hinder the Christian Ships from saying through into the Pontick Sea or from invadling suddenly their great City of Stambul or Constantinople For that purpose they are furnished with mighty great Guns After this surprizal of Abydus Soliman the Son of Orthanes sent over two Captains Ezes-beg and Fazil-beg with sufficient Forces into Europe They landed not far from Sessos where by the direction of a Greek Prisoner they took the Castles of Coiridocastron and Maditus and next Callipolis with many other considerable places CHAP. XXIII How Amurath the Third King of the Turks took Didymotichum and Adrianople by Craft AS soon as Amurath came to succeed in his Fathers Kingdom he concluded a Peace with the Christians The Governour of Didymotichum taking advantage of this time of Peace resolved to fortifie his City and for the better carrying on of his Work with speed entertained all the Masons Carpenters and Workmen he could possibly get When Amurath understood his purpose he secretly caused two hundred lusty Workmen to come over out of Asia and to offer their service to the Governour He tho' he had been forewarned by some to take heed of the Asian Workmen hired them but appointed to them their Lodgings out of the Walls every night When Amurath had intelligence of all particulars he sent Chasis-Ilbeg with thirty other stout Soldiers to desire work of the Governour and serve as Labourers to carry Stones and Mortar The Governour trusting too much to the Faith of the Faithless Turks in that time of Peace employed them awhile At last Chasis steals away to Amurath gives him an account of all passages and tells him that if he had any more help he would endeavour to surprize one of the Gates of the City to let in a greater number if they were at hand Amurath ordered all things according to his desire and sent him back to Didymotichum to put his device in execution Chasis at his return watches an opportunity When the Christians were at dinner then did he cause the Turkish Workmen and Labourers to counterfeit a Brawl and to fall from Words to Blows whilst they were thus quarrelling one party of them ran suddenly to one of the Gates of the City where they took hold of the Weapons of the Guard as if it had been to defend themselves from their pursuing Companions but they turned them against the Soldiers keeping Guard and being assisted by a party of Turks who waited near the Town for that purpose they overpowred the Citizens and took Didimotichum together with Rhodestum by assaulting the Walls of the latter in the night The Turks generally have had great success by employing such subtile Plots against the Christians and taking them at an advantage The same Amurath took the City of Adrianopolis by policy He sent Chasir-Ilbeg one of his great Captains and perswaded him to run away with some other trusty Fugitives to Adrianople and to complain and exclaim against the cruelty and hard usage of their Lord Amurath This Chasis-Ilbeg with his Turks in several Sallies behaved himself right valiantly against the Soldiers of Amurath which purchased him a great Esteem Favour and confidence with the Governour who trusting too much whilst they were at a secret appointment with their Lord when they should betray one of the Gates to him For Chasis according to his custom came once at break of day only with ten Followers as if he had bin going out to hunt when the Gates were opened he assaulted the Soldiers that were upon the Guard and having at hand all his Fugitive Turks they took possession of the Gates which they kept till such as were sent from Amurath came to their assistance then they fiercely charged the Citizens The Fight continued from Morning till Night but the Tarks at last by their continual Recruits got the Victory and with it the Noble and Rich City of Adrianople where the Othoman Emperors have since kept a Seraglio At this time lived in Amuraths Court Cara Rustemes a Doctor of the Mahometan Law He perswaded his Lord to take every fifth Captive of the Christian Youth of about 12 or 15 years old from his Soldiers when they returned from the plundring of the Christian Countries These Youths were sent over into Asia to be bred up in the Houses of the Country Farmers and employed in hard Labour for two or three years that they might be instructed in that time in the Turkish Religion and Language After this they were sent for and trained up in the exercise of Arms that they might serve the great Turk in his Wars and wait upon his Person as his Foot Guard These were named Janizaries that is new Soldiers who had thence their first beginning As the Mamalucks also in Aegypt had their original from Captivity and Bondage for they were Slaves brought thither by Merchants into Scitia and other Countries and sold to the Sultans of Aegypt to be brought up in the Art of War These as the Janizaries are now to the Turkish Emperours were the best Soldiers of the Prince and their Stoutest Men in War Amurath enlarged his Dominions both in Asia and Europe He invaded Servia took Appolonia and many great Cities conquered Caramania and in a notable Battel killed Lazarus Despot of Servia but it happened after the Fight when Amurath was taking a view of the dead Bodies one Miles Cobelitz sorely wounded rose from the ground where he lay and went staggering towards Amurath The Turks thought he had been come to kiss Amuraths Feet and to do him reverence or to beg his Life but Cobelitz had another purpose for with a short Dagger hid under his Coat he stabb'd him in the Belly and kill'd him CHAP. XXIV How Tamerlan overcame Bajazets Army TAmerlan understanding that Bajazet was at hand and with a resolution to fight him resolved to keep his Army in large Plains not far from Sebastia which he had before taken and destroyed because he had a greater number of
waste and consume their Victuals 6. When Phalaris of Agrigentum had a Design upon certain Places of Sicily which were very well fortified he pretended an Agreement with the Inhabitants and stored up with them all the Wheat that he said he had but he gave order at the same time that the Tiling of the Granaries where the Wheat was put should be so broken that it might let in the Rain The Inhabitants trusting to this Provision which they had with them were careless of their own Stores so that in the beginning of the Summer he assaulted them and obliged them by Famine to yield CHAP. V. How to persuade that a Siege will continue long Example 1. WHen Clearchus the Lacedaemonian had understood that the Thracians had carried all things belonging to Food into the Mountains and that they were also fed with the Hopes that for want of Necessaries he would be forced to depart at that time that their Ambassadours came to him he caused one of his Prisoners to be kill'd before them and to be cut in pieces with a Pretence that they were to be distributed amongst the Souldiers for their Food The Thracians therefore believing that he would do any thing to continue there who would not scruple to make use of such abominable Food surrendred themselves 2. Tiberius Gracchus when the Lusitani or Portugals declared that they had Food sufficient for ten Years and therefore were not afraid of a Siege answered Then I will take them in the eleventh Year At this Expression the Lusitani were so much afraid that though they were well provided with Victuals yet they yielded to him 3. When A. Torquatus besieged a Greek City and that the Inhabitants boasted that their Young-men were well skill'd in the use of Bow and Arrows and Darts answer'd I will sell them the dearer when I shall overcome them CHAP. VI. How to destroy the Enemies Garisons Example 1. Scipio when Hannibal was returned into Africa found that there were many Towns which in reason would be useful to him if taken defended by strong Garisons of the Enemy he therefore sent several Parties to block them up at last he went thither with his Army as if he had intended to sack the Cities afterwards he seem'd to be afraid and departed from them Hannibal imagining that his Fear was real called together all his Garisons as if he intended to engage in a Battel By that means Scipio had what he desired for by the Assistance of Massinissa and his Numidians he took those Cities when their Garisons were gone 2. P. Cornelius Scipio understanding how difficult it was to take Delminium because it was defended by a Concourse of People from all Parts assaulted first other Towns which caused every one to depart and defend his own City by that means Delminium was emptied of Souldiers and forced to yield to him 3. Pyrrhus King of Epirus fighting against the Illyrians when he earnestly desired to get the chief City of the Nation into his hands but not judging it feasible went to assault the other Towns By that means he brought it to pass that the Enemies conceiving that their chief City was sufficiently fortified went to the relief of the rest Then did he call together all his Forces and finding the chief City empty of its former Garrisons he took it by force 4. Cornelius Rufinus the Consul having besieged a little while the City of Frotona to no purpose because a resolute Party of the Lucani being enter'd into the Garrison defended it He pretended to raise the Siege and with a great Reward persuaded one of his Prisoners to go to the City as if he had escaped out of Prison to persuade them that the Romans were gone The Inhabitants imagining that this was true sent away their Auxiliary Troops and when their Garison had lest them before they were aware he easily overcame and took them 5. Mago General of the Carthaginians having beaten Cn. Piso and forced him to fly for Refuge to a certain Tower believed that some Forces would come to relieve him he therefore sent a certain Traitor to meet the Succours that were coming and to tell them that Piso was already taken by this means he discouraged them and compleated the Victory 6. Alcibiades in Sicilia desiring to take the City of Syracuse sent out of Catania where he was with his Army to Syracuse a certain cunning Fellow who being brought into their Assembly persuaded them that the Inhabitants of Catania were grievously offended with the Athenians So that if they could be assisted by them of Syracuse they would quickly over-power the Athenians with their General With this Persuasion they of Syracuse marched with all their Forces towards Catania and left their City which Alcibiades assaulted another way and finding it empty as he expected he soon master'd it Cleonymus the Athenian assaulting the Traezenii who held a Town with a Garrison commanded by Cratenus sent into the Walls some Arrows upon which it was written That he was come to deliver their Commonwealth and at the same time shewed himself kind to his Prisoners whom he sent into the City to speak ill of Craterus By this Policy he caused them to fall out amongst themselves so that with his Army he overcame them and took the City CHAP. VII Of turning aside of Rivers and the spoiling of Waters Example 1. P. Servilius having turned away a River which supplied the Enemy with Water forced the Town of Isaura to yield for Thirst 2. C. Caesar amongst the Gauls reduced the City of the Gadurci to the want of Water though it was encompassed about with a River and had many fresh Springs in it for he dried up the Fountains by mining and drove them away from the River by his Archers 3. L. Metellus in the hither Spain turn'd down a River from the higher Ground upon the Enemies Camp which was seated in the lower and when they were disturbed with the sudden overflowing of the Water he cut them in pieces with Parties which he had appointed for that purpose 4. Alexander at Babylon which was divided into two parts by the River Euphrates dig'd a Ditch and raised a Bank that the Enemies might imagine that they were made for his own use but suddenly he turn'd the River out of his Course and through the old Channel which then being dried up yielded an Entrance he march'd into the City 5. Semiramis is said to have practis'd the same thing by turning aside the River Euphrates at the same place 6. Clisthenes the Sycionian broke an Aquaduct or Conduit which conveyed Water into the Town of Crisa and when the Inhabitants were vexed with Thirst he caused the Water to run again in the same Conduit but poson'd it with Hellebore or the Juyce of Bears-foot of which they who made use fell into a Flux and Madness so that by that means he took them and their Town CHAP. VIII How to terrifie the Besieged Example 1. WHen Philippus could by no
Crown of France to him and his Posterity of the House of Bourbon for the Ligenrs were never after in power to meet him in a Field A DISCOURSE OF ENGINES USED IN WAR THere is no art nor knowledge where the Wit of Man hath been more active than in that of War and found out more wonderful and strange Inventions both for Offence and Defence to inable him to perform things beyond his ordinary and natural Strength Either the greatness of the Rewards and advantage proposed or the necessities unto which he hath bin reduced or the importance of War upon which depend ostimes the happiness or misery of whole Kingdoms and Nations have sharpned his contriving Faculty in this more than in other concerns of this humane Life The Romans for the encrease of their Empire and the subduing many Warlike Nations overcame them by the politick order of their Militia and took their strongest Castles by Inventions of the Wits of that Age. At the first besieging of a Town they were wont to fortifie themselves in their Trenches to prevent all sudden Surprizes or Sallies then did they encompass in the Town with Forts Lines and Trenches to hinder all Supplies and Provisions from going to the besieged Afterwards they made use of their Engines to force them to yield They raised a high Mount with Earth and Faggots higher than the Walls to fight with greater advantage this was called Agger They used also Towers of Wood which they could draw so near the Enemies Walls that they often leaped from them into the City Lucanus mentions them both at the Siege of Marseilles by Coesar Lib. 3. Stellatis Axibus Agger erigitur geminasqe equantes maenia Turres accipit hae nullo fixerunt robore terram sed per iter longam repsere latenti Their Balistae were Inventions to cast great Stones of a vast bigness or a number of Arrows with that strength that nothing could well stand before them for the weight of the stones cast violently upon the Enemy did crush and beat them to pieces and the showrs of Arrows flying out of this Engine with an incredible Violence did great execution The same Poet describes it Tenso Ballistae turbine rapta Haud unam contenta latus transire quiescit Sed pandens perque arma viam perque ossa relicta Morte fugit superest telo post vulnera cursus At Saxum quoties ingenti ponderis ictu Excutitur qualis rupes quam vertice montis Abscidit impulsu ventorum adjuta vetustas Frangit cuncta ruens nec tantum corpora pressa Examinat totos cum sanguine dissipat artus Testudo was another Invention to secure their way to the Walls or to their Towers from the Enemies Arrows It was made like a Penthouse supported with Beams and covered over with raw Hides but this word is often taken for a continued number of Bucklers held up together by the Soldiers when they were marching under the Enemies Walls by which they did protect their Heads from great Stones and other weighty things cast upon them The Romans Vinea was another Engine used by them when they were to undermine or work at the foot of the Walls to overthrow them It was made of Hurdles and Planks and sometimes covered over with raw hides to prevent burning The Soldiers were secured under it from the Enemies Darts and violent endeavours But when the Army gave a general Assault they had another Invention named Musculi to cover their Bodies in the approach Pluteus was another Engine not much unlike to a Vinea These differing names are borrowed from the shapes and forms which these several Contrivances had Now for offence besides the fore-named Balistae they made use of an Engine called Onager to cast Stones with great violence and another Invention named Scorpio to fling Darts against the Enemies and Falces Murales to pull down the Stones of a Wall and level the breach for a more commodious Assault But there was no Instrument more useful to them than their Aries so named because it was headed with Iron not much unlike to Rams Horns it was a great beam weighed and lifted up and forced against the Walls of a Town sometimes by the strength of the Soldiers with Ropes and Powlies sometimes by another Contrivance This Aries did commonly batter down the strongest and thickest Walls of Morter and Stone therefore Coesar observes that some of the Cities of the Gauls were builded with Beams across to strengthen them against the violent impulse of this great and strong Engine of which the Poet speaks Nunc Aries suspenso fatior ictu Incussus densi compagem solvere muri Tentat impositis unum subducere saxis Most of these Engines and others used by the ancient Greeks and Romans in their Wars are now out of date because our Warfare in these days is altogether another thing by reason of the Invention of Gunpowder and Guns And the Wit of Man hath proceeded further than ever they did to find out strange Instruments of a greater strength and more powerful operation I shall here give a brief account of the most modern Engines and Inventions now commonly us'd in War Of Great Guns Since the Invention of Gunpowder Guns have been found to be more serviceable and easie to command and procure then other Weapons before used in their stead And for Great Guns they strike a Terror into the Enemy with their dreadful noise and thundering and are more commodious than either the Romans Ram or their Balista for to do execution upon Men or Walls but though it is of great use yet there is this defect in Great Guns that they cannot be so easily managed as to be brought to play so soon and so speedily as sudden occasions may require Their Fury is to be avoided by the nimbleness of the Foot or by the Galloping of the Horse If therefore it were possible to find out such an Invention as may add to the strength of a Great Gun the swiftness of a Horse I conceive there is no body of Horse or Foot could be able to resist a small party furnished therewith Such things may be found out as may be of great use in time of need But there are several sorts of great Guns these are the ordinary Names with their usual proportions The Canon is about 11 12 or 13 foot long of 9 10 11 12 13 or 14 Inches Diameter If the Shot weighs 110 pounds there is required of Corn Powder 76 Pounds for to charge the Gun and so proportionable of the bigger or lesser Cannon The Dragon of Double Culvering weighs 14000 pounds and shoots 357 paces level 4252 paces at random The whole Culvering weighs 8500 pounds is about 13 Foot and a quarter long shoots level 415 paces and at random about 3700 paces The Demi-Culvering weighs 4600 pounds is about 9 or 10 Foot long shoots level 235 paces The Saker Ordinary is about 9 Foot and a half long weighs 2650 pounds shoots
as his Servant only to conceal from them his Condition 4. Tarquinius Superbus the Father resolving to have the chief of the Gabians destroyed would not intrust this Secret with any Person and answered nothing to his Son's Messenger that was sent to him but with his Rod struck off before him the heads of the highest Poppies as he was then by chance walking in his Garden The Messenger at his return without a verbal Answer told the young Tarquinius what he observ'd that his Father did He understood that he was to deal in the same manner with the most noted Persons of his Government 5. C. Caesar being in Egypt suspected the Egyptians Faith but to make them believe that he trusted them he visited their chief City and Works frequented their merry Feasts seem'd to be much delighted with the conveniency of the Places and to imitate the Customs and manner of living of the Citizens of Alexandria but during all this Dissimulation he was providing his Succours and Troops to take possession of the Kingdom of Egypt 6. When Ventidius in the Parthian War marched against King Pacorus and understood that a certain Pharneus of Cyrrhestre in Syria who was amongst his Auxiliaries did give Intelligence to the Parthian Army whatsoever was acted and resolved in the Roman Camp he took occasion to make an advantage of the Traitor's Perfidiousness for that which he most desired to be done he pretended that he was afraid that it should happen and that which he feared would come to pass he seem'd to wish for Therefore fearing that the Parthians would pass over the River Euphrates to fight him before his Legions could come up to him out of Cappadocia from the other side of Mount Taurus he sollicited the Traytor to a double Treachery to perswade the Parthians to carry their Army over that part of Euphrates that bears the Name of Zeugma where the River leaving its strait Channel turns aside for if they came the nearer way he assured them that Ventidius would make use of the Hills to defend himself and Army from the Parthian Arrows but that he was very much afraid if they took the plain and open Fields This Information oblig'd them to march the under way and to bring their Army round about They spent above forty days in siding along the larger Banks in building of laborious Bridges and in the carriage of their warlike Instruments In the mean space Ventidius had time to call together his Troops and before the Parthians were in sight they had been with him three days By this means he overcame the Parthians in Battel and kill'd their King Pacorus 7. When Pompey had begun to draw a Trench to compass in Mithridates with his Army he prepared himself to fly the next day but better to conceal this Design from the Romans he caused his men to forage far and near and to the places adjoyning to the Enemies Camp and appointed a Conference the next day with several of Pompey's men and commanded more fires to be made every where in his Trenches but in the second Watch of the Night he led out his whole Army along by the Enemies Camp and escaped 8. The Emperour Caesar Domitianus Augustus sirnamed Germanicus having an intent to surprise the Germans that had took up Arms and knowing that they would make a greater Preparation if they knew of the coming of so great a Captain he pretended the Taxation or the mustering of the Gauls to be the cause of his Departure In this manner he overcame them by an unexpected War tamed the fierceness of barbarous Nations and provided for the preservation and safety of the Roman Provinces 9. When Claudius Nero desired to cut in pieces the Army of Asdrubal before he could joyn with his Brother Hannibal he endeavour'd by hasty Marches to unite with the other Consul Livius Salinator who was appointed to oppose Asdrubal because he mistrusted the Forces that were under his Command yet would not he suffer Hannibal whom he was to oppose to have any Intelligence of his Departure For that purpose he chose ten thousand of the stoutest Souldiers of his Army and commanded his Lieutenants whom he left behind that they should place the same Sentinels and Watches every where keep the same Fires burning and observe the same order in the Camp as when he was present that Hannibal might not suspect any thing nor attempt upon the small number that was left behind for his part he went by secret ways into Vmbria now called Spoletto and joyn'd himself to his Partner but gave Order that the Camp might not be enlarged that Asdrubal might not know of his coming nor refuse to fight the Forces of both Consuls By this means he overcame him and his Army and with his increased Troops having over-powered him unawares returned back to wait upon the motions of Hannibal before he could have any knowledge of the Victory Thus he dealt with two of the most subtle Generals of the Carthaginians the one he overcame by concealing his purpose the other by his Valour he destroyed 10. Themistocles the Athenian Captain advised his Citizens to build up with all speed the Walls which the Spartans had commanded to be pull'd down and to the Lacedaemonian Ambassadours which were sent to interrupt the Work he answered That he would go himself to Sparta to give an account of this proceeding and satisfie the Citizens At his Arrival he pretended himself sick and by that means spun out some time at last when he perceived that they suspected and understood his delays he affirmed to them that they had heard false Reports and desired them to send some of their chief men who might give them a true Account of the Fortifications of Athens And at the same time he writ to his Citizens privately to detain such as should come untill their Works were finished that he might then declare to the Lacedaemonians that Athens was fortified and that their Citizens should not be returned back unless they gave him liberty to be gone which the Lacedaemonians easily granted for fear that one mans Death should be punished with the loss of many 11. L. Furius having brought his Army into a very inconvenient place he resolved to conceal the trouble of his Mind for fear of giving an Apprehension to others and at the same time gave Orders to his Army to march aside a little as if he had intended only to take a compass about and fall upon the Enemy In this manner he brought out his Army ignorant both of the Danger and of the Intent of his Orders into a safer Post 12. When Metellus Pius was asked in Spain what he would do the next day he answered That if his Wastcoat could tell it he would immediately cast it into the fire 13. M. Licinius Crassus gave this Answer to one that asked him at what time he would remove his Camp Art thou afraid that thou shalt not hear the Sound of the Trumpet or the Signal
into a difficult place he resolved to conceal the trouble of his Mind that the rest might not be afraid commanding his Men to march a little aside as if he had intended to assault the Enemy by taking a greater compass about but by turning his Army round who knew nothing of the matter he brought them into safety 14. P. Decius the Tribune in the Samnetick War persuaded Cornelius Cossus the Consul who was surprised by the Enemy in a dangerous Place to command a small Party to seize upon a neighbouring Hill and offered himself to command that Party for by this means the Enemy being resolved to oppose this motion suffered the Consul to escape but surrounded and besieged Decius but in the Night he also sallied out of those Streights After some Contest he arrived in Safety with his Souldiers and joyned the Consuls Army 15. The same Course was observed under the Command of Attilius Calatinus Cons by him whose Name is variously written some call him Laberius some Q. Caeditius most write that he was named Calpurnius Flamma This Captain finding that his Army was led into such a Valley that on every side the Enemy had taken possession of the higher ground desired and obtained of the Consul three hundred men whom he encourag'd by their Valour to save the whole Army With this Party he marched into the midst of the Valley and immediately all the Enemies ran down upon them to cut them off so that while he was busied in a very fierce and long Combate he gave opportunity and leisure to the Consul to draw off his Army 16. L. Minutius the Consul in Liguria having led his Army into a streight place and every one did yet remember the sad Destruction of the Romans called Caudinae Clades commanded the Numidians his Auxiliary Troops who were despicable in regard of the Deformity of their Persons and of their Horses to ride up and down about the narrow Passage that led out of the Streights which was defended by the Enemy first they fearing to be provok'd to Battel stood to their Station and kept their Post but the Numidians endeavour'd to cause themselves to be despised by falling purposely from their Horses and in playing strange Tricks as in sport At this unusual sight the Ligurians began to open their Ranks and to mind nothing but the seeing of the Play The Numidians perceiving this drew nearer and nearer at last clapping the Spurs to their Horses they broke through the neglected and open Ranks or Stations of their Enemies and then falling upon the neighbouring Country forced the Ligurians to depart and defend their Dwellings and to suffer the Romans quietly to march out 17. L. Sylla in the War of the Confederates near the City Esernia in Italy was surprised in a streight place therefore he sent to the Enemies Army commanded by Duillius for a Parley and began to treat of the Conditions of Peace without any Success but perceiving the Enemy to be grown more negligent because of the Truce departed in the night leaving behind him his Trumpeter who was to divide the Watches as long as any should remain behind and at the fourth Watch should follow him Thus he brought away all his Army with all their baggage and warlike Instruments into safety 18. The same Sylla in the War against Archelaus Mithridates's General in Cappadocia was worsted by the multitude of his Enemies in an incommodious place he therefore propos'd to them Articles of Peace and obtain'd a time of Truce by this Diversion of the Enemies Intentions he escap'd out of the danger 19. Hasdrubal Hannibal's Brother being not able to get out of a Wood whereof the Passages were stop'd by Claudius Nero began to treat with him and to promise that if he might be suffered to depart he would leave Spain Afterwards he spent some days in finding fault with the Conditions imposed In the mean while by certain narrow Paths which were therefore neglected he sent away his Souldiers by Parties and at the last he himself escaped with the rest that were the compleatest part of his Army 20. Spartacus marched over a little Trench with which M. Crassus had inclosed him in by filling it up in the night with the Bodies of his Captives and of Beasts 21. The same Person being besieged in Mount Vesuvius escaped over the steepest and most craggy part which was not therefore guarded by twisting together some Field Withies of which he made Chains to slide down and afterwards he so terrified Claudius on another side that some of his Troops were put to flight by seventy four Fencers 22. The same Spartacus being shut up by L. Varinus the Proconsul fixed Stakes at some little distance from one another at which he tied dead Bodies standing upright and clothed with their Arms that such as should look at a distance might fancy it to be a Party in Guard and caused besides Fires to be kindled about his Camp every where Whilst his Enemy was deceived with this vain Appearance he led out in the night all his Army peaceably 23. Brasidas the Lacedaemonian Captain was surprised about Amphipolis by a great Multitude of Athenians which he was not able to resist he therefore suffered himself to be shut in by them that by extenuating their Body in a round Circle he might break out through some part of their Body where they were thinnest 24. Iphicrates in Thracia having placed his Camp in a low ground understood that the Enemy had taken the next Hill from which a Party was come to cut them off He commanded his men to make many Fires and left a few within his Camp in the Night for that purpose In the mean while he led out his Army and placed them along the ways on both sides through which he suffer'd the Enemy to pass and caught them in the same disadvantageous place in which he was before Thus he cut off some part of their Rear and took the rest in the Camp 25. Darius to hide from the Scythians his Departure left behind him in his Camp the Dogs and the Asses which while the Enemy heard barking and braying they thought that Darius was yet there 26. The Ligurians deceived the Romans with a like Subtilty In divers places they tied to the Trees wild Bullocks which being left behind by their frequent bellowing shewed the appearance of an Army to the Enemy 27. Hanno being shut in by the Enemy set on fire a great deal of light and combustible stuff in that place which was fittest for him to sally out And when he saw the Enemy gone to defend the other Passages he led his Souldiers through the Flames advising them to cover their Faces with their Bucklers and their Legs with their Cloths 28. Hannibal to escape out of an incommodious and barren place being pursued by Fabius Maximus in the night tied dry Faggots of Wood to the Horns of Oxen which he set on Fire and sent them out the Flame increasing by
unlawful for them to act any thing of Moment and overcame them 18. Lysander the Lacedaemonian General against the Athenians at the Town of Aegospotamos resolved at certain times to break in upon the Athenian Navy and to retreat back again with his Ships which having performed often when the Athenians after his Departure were scattered to gather their Forces together he according to his former Custom stretch'd out his Navy in length and again commanded them together And when the greater part of the Enemies according to custom were departed he assaulted the rest destroyed them and took the whole Fleet. CHAP. II. Of the Place to be chosen for a Fight Example 1. WHen M. Curius saw that he could by no means resist the Phalanx or the Body of ten thousand Pikes of King Pyrrhus when they were joyned together in an open Field ordered the matter so that he was to fight in a streight and narrow place where being close together they might be an hinderance to one another 2. Cn. Pompeius in Cappadocia chose a place for his Camp in the higher Ground that the proclivity of the Hill might assist the charging of his Souldiers so that by their running down he easily overcame Mithridates and his Army 3. When C. Caesar was to fight against Pharnaces the Son of Mithridates he drew up his Men in Battel on a Hill which much facilitated the gaining of the Victory for the Roman Souldiers casting their Darts from the higher Ground upon the Enemy quickly caused them to turn their Backs 4. When Lucullus was to encounter with Mithridates and Tigranes in the greater Armenia near Tigranacerta he got possession in haste of a plain Ground which was on the top of a Hill with part of his Troops and then assaulted the Enemy which was under charged their Horse in the Flanks and having driven part of them and pursued them when they ran in and disordered their Foot he obtain'd a most famous Victory 5. Ventidius General against the Parthian Army would not lead out his Souldiers to the Fight till the Enemy was within fifty Paces and then by running suddenly upon them he closed in with them so near that he frustrated their Arrows which they made use of at a distance by this proceeding he shewed such an appearance of Confidence and Courage that he quickly overcame those barbarous People 6. When Hannibal was to fight against Marcellus at Numistro he plac'd his Army amongst the Pits and broken ways on one hand and made use of the nature of the place as a Wall and a Defence Thus he got the Victory and overcame a most famous Captain 7. When the same Hannibal at the Battel of Cannae understood that the River Volturnus beyond the nature of other Rivers yielded strong Winds in the Morning which raised up great Clouds of Sand and Dust he drew up his Army in such a manner that all the violence of the Wind beat upon the Backs of his Men and into the Faces and Eves of the Romans by these Inconveniencies which wonderfully incommoded the Roman Army he got that remarkable Victory 8. Marius having appointed a day to fight against the Cimbri and Teutones placed before his Camp his Souldiers strengthened with Food that by the little distance that was between them and their Enemies their Army might be first overcome by their labour in gaining it and besides their weariness in running this space he gave them another Trouble he drew up his Men so that the Army of those barbarous People had the Sun the Wind and the Dust in their Faces 9. Cleomenes the Lacedaemonian General against Hippias the Athenian who was the stronger in Horse caused Trees to be laid along the Plane where they were to fight and rendered it unpassable to the Horse 10. The Iberi were received by a vast multitude of the Enemies and fearing that they should be surrounded marched to the sides of a River which in that Country had high Banks Thus being defended behind by the River and excelling the Enemy in Valour they assaulted the first Ranks and destroyed the whole Army of their Enemies 11. Xanthippus the Lacedaemonian changed the Fortune of the Carthaginian War only by the change of a place for when the Carthaginians were almost reduced to despair they hired him to be their General When he took notice that the Africans who excelled and exceeded the Romans in Horse and Elephants drew up on the Hills and that the Romans whose Strength consisted in their Foot held the Valleys he led the Carthaginians down to them with his Elephants he disordered their Ranks and with the Numidian Horse he pursued the dispersed Souldiers and routed their Army winning the same day a Victory both by Sea and Land 12. When Epaminondas the Theban General was leading his Army against the Lacedaemonians he caused a Party of Horse to ride up and down before that they might raise a great Dust before the Enemies eyes when they expected the Horse to fall upon them he led about his Foot Souldiers from that side where the Horse were riding against the Enemy and fell upon them suddenly in the Rear and overcame them 13. Three hundred Lacedaemonians held and defended the Streights called Thermopylae against an innumerable multitude of Persians because those Streights would not suffer a greater number to fight at once near at hand by this means they being equal in number to those barbarous People but excelling them in Valour and Courage cut in pieces a great many of them neither could they have been overcome if it had not been for a Traitor named Epialtes of Trachinia who led the Persians round about upon their Backs and overpower'd them 14. Themistocles the Athenian General when he saw that it would be very much for the Advantage of Greece to fight with Xerxes his numerous Navy in the Streights of Salamini and could not perswade his Citizens by craft he brought to pass that the Grecians were forc'd to comply with this Advantage for pretending himself a Traitor he sent to Xerxes to signifie to him that his Countrymen were ready to fly away and that it would be far more difficult for him to assault every City by a Siege By this means he brought to pass that the Persian Navy was first disquieted while they were watching all night afterwards in the Morning he with his fresh men encounter'd with the said Persians tired with want of Rest in a streight place as he desired in which Xerxes could not make use of his numbers in which he did exceed CHAP. III. Of ordering and drawing up an Army in Battel c. Example 1. CN Scipio General in Spain against Hanno at the Town of Indibile took notice that the Carthaginian Army was so ordered that the Spaniards were to fight in the right Wing who were indeed the stoutest Souldiers but mercenary and warred not for themselves but for others and that in the left Wing were the Africans a weaker sort of Men but more
to fly but in the Flight brought into their Ambush the Enemy who running furiously in unknown Ground stuck fast in the Mire and by that means were circumvented 7. Viriatus who of a Robber turned General of the Celtiberi a People of Spain seemingly fled before the Roman Cavalry untill he had led them into a place full of Pits and craggy with which he was so well acquainted that he escaped with his Party through a firm Path then did he fall upon the Romans when they were fast in the mire and in a ground which they knew not and cut them in pieces 8. Fulvius General in the Cimbrick War having his Camp near adjoyning to the Enemies commanded his Cavalry to ride up to their Trenches to provoke them to fight and then to pretend to fly and retreat back When he had practised this Policy for certain days the Cimbri followed them furiously so that he took notice that their Camp was not so well mann'd as before therefore with part of his Army he caused his usual Custom to be observed with another Party of light-harnessed Souldiers he marched to the other side of the Enemies Camp undiscovered and when he saw that they were gone out in Pursuit as their manner was he suddenly assaulted them broke through the Trenches that were forsaken and took the Camp 9. Cn. Fulvius when an Army of the Falisci far greater than the Romans was entered into their Borders caus'd certain Houses far from his Camp to be set on fire by some of his Souldiers and the Enemies thinking that they had been done by some of their Men in hopes of Booty march'd out into several Parties which weaken'd the main Body 10. Alexander marching out of Epirus against the Illyrians placed a small Party in Ambush and caused some of his own Men in the Habit of Illyrians to destroy and burn his own Country of Epirus which when the Illyrians saw they began to scatter and to plunder every where and the more confidently because the Spoilers served them as Scouts who purposely decoyed them into an uneven ground and set upon them and routed them 11. Leptenes also General of Syracusa against the Carthaginians commanded his own Country to be destroyed and certain Villages and Castles to be set on fire that the Carthaginians might think that this was done by their own Party which caused them to march out to help and to fall into an Ambush that routed them 12. Maharbal being sent General against the Rebellious Africans knew that they were greedy of Wine He therefore caused a Vessel of Wine to be seasoned with Mandrake that hath a stupifying Vertue next to Poison Afterwards when he came to skirmish a little with the Enemy he sounded a Retreat out of design and in the dead of the night having left in his Camp some of his Baggage and all his Wine poisoned with that Ingredient he pretended to fly When the barbarous Enemy had taken his Camp they gave themselves over to rejoycing and to drink freely of the poisoned Wine which caused them to lye on the Ground stupified as dead At that Instant Maharbal returned with his Army took and slew them without resistance 13. Hannibal knowing that his own and the Romans Camp was in a place that wanted Wood lest behind him purposely in a desart place many Heads of Cattel within his Camp of which when the Romans had taken possession in this great want of Wood loaded themselves with raw and unwholsome Meat Then did Hannibal return in the night with his Army and finding them secure and distempered with raw Flesh he made a great slaughter of them 14. When Tiberius Gracchus was General in Spain he understood that the Enemy was poor and wanted Trade he left therefore his Camp furnished with all manner of Dainties for Food which when the Enemy had taken and fill'd themselves without measure he brought back his Army and suddenly over-power'd them 15. They who made War against the Erythraeans took one of their Scouts standing in an Enemies place and kill'd him giving his Cloaths to one of their own Souldiers who made such Signs to the Erythraeans as that they were brought thereby into an Ambuscado 16. Whereas the Arabians have a noted Custom amongst them to signifie the coming of an Enemy by day with Smoak by night with Fire they therefore ordered this to be continually practis'd but when the Enemy was approaching to forbear the Custom who when they saw no Fires imagined that their Coming was not known they entering therefore too hastily into the Borders were destroyed 17. Alexander the Macedonian when the Enemy had fortified their Camp in a high Wood took a Party of his Men commanding those who were left behind to kindle Fires as formerly and to shew the Appearance of the whole Army in the mean while he led that select Party by unknown ways round about to the higher Ground from whence he assaulted and drove away the Enemies 18. Memnon King of Rhodes being stronger than the Enemy in Calvary and they abiding on Hills for shelter resolved to bring them down with this Policy He sent some of his Souldiers into their Camp as Run-a-ways to inform them that Memnon's Army was already vexed with a sore Sedition and that some part of it was already gone and that he might confirm them in that belief he ordered some little Forts in every side to be fortified in the Enemies sight as if they intended to refuge themselves there who were at variance when they who were in the Mountains heard of this they came down upon the plain Ground and while they were assaulting the Castles and Forts they were surrounded by the Cavalry of Memnon 19. Harridas King of the Molossi being at Wars with Ardies the Illyrian who had a more numerous Army sent away all his weak People into the neighbouring Country of Aetolia to disperse the same that he intended to deliver up his Cities and Wealth into the hands of the Aetolians in the mean while he placeth all such as could bear Arms in Ambush in the Mountains and rocky Places The Illyrians fearing lest the Aetolians should take possession of all that belong'd to the Molossi hasted to the Plunder without order Then did Harridas come out of his Ambush assaulted them unawares and scattered up and down routed and put them to Flight 20. T. Labienus while he was Caesar's Lieutenant against the Gauls before the Arrival of the Germans whom he knew would come to their Assistance desired to fight with them but made shew of being jealous of his own Forces for that purpose he planted his Camp on the other side of the River and appointed to march away on the next day The Gauls thought that he had fled away they resolved therefore to pass over the River that was between them But while they were busie in passing over the River he had brought about his Army upon them and cut them in pieces 21. When Hannibal understood that
Parthians because that very Morning when he began to move forward he was sorely vexed with their Arrows and pursued by them he delayed the time of his Departure till the fifth Hour and settled his People in their Fidelity Resolution and Courage which caused the Parthians to withdraw themselves so that afterwards he could perform his Journey and march the rest of the day without any Lett or Hinderance 8. When Philippus was vanquished in Epirus that the Romans might not press upon him in his Flight he desired and obtained a Truce to bury the slain which made the Roman Guards to be the more negligent and give him an opportunity to escape 9. When Publ. Claudius was overcome in a Sea-fight by the Carthaginians because he could not avoid to pass through or hard by the Enemies Army he caused the remaining part of his Navy being twenty Ships to be trimmed and adorned as if they had been victorious At this sight the Carthaginians fancied that the Romans had gotten the Advantage of them therefore for fear they suffered them to escape 10. When the Carthaginians were overcome by Sea they endeavoured to put the Roman Navy by and to Sail from them they made therefore a shew as if they had run their Ships upon banks of Sand by this means the Conquerours fearing the same mishap withdrew and gave them liberty to fly away 11. Comminius of Arras being overcome by Julius Caesar and endeavouring to escape out of France into Britany arrived safe to the Sea side when the Wind was favourable but at low Ebb so that his Ships stuck fast in the Sand nevertheless he commanded the Sails to be spread which when Caesar saw afar off in his pursuit after him and that the Ships were already under Sail imagined it was impossible to recover him By this Policy Comminius escaped out of his hands THE THIRD BOOK Of the Stratagems of WAR OF Sextus Julius Frontinus a ROMAN Consul The Introduction IF the former Books are so happy as to answer the Title of their Chapters and to deserve the Reader 's Perusal I shall now produce the Stratagems of War which have been practised in the Besieging and the Defence of Towns I shall not insist upon any Preface but only deliver the Subtilties that have been used in the taking of Cities and Policies which may serve the Besieged in some stead setting aside all the Works and Engines which are sufficiently known and found out so that I see no possibility to deliver any new thing concerning them But in relation to the taking and defence of Towns we shall treat upon these several Heads The Contents of the Chapters CHap. 1. Of a sudden Assault Chap. 2. Of deceiving such as are besieged Chap. 3. Of drawing and perswading some to Treachery Chap. 4. By what means the Enemies may be streightned with want Chap. 5. By what Art the Besieged may be brought to believe that the Siege will continue long Chap. 6. Of the destroying the Enemies Garison Chap. 7. Of the turning aside of Rivers and the spoiling of Waters Chap. 8. Of striking a Terror into the Besieged Chap. 9. Of giving an Assault in more places than is expected Chap. 10. Of Ambushes to draw out the Besieged Chap. 11. Of the Pretence to raise a Siege On the contrary the Contents that relate to the Defence of the Besieged Chap. 12. How to oblige a Party to Vigilancy Chap. 13. How to send out and receive Messengers Chap. 14. How to bring in Succours and supply a Town with Necessaries Chap. 15. How those things that are wanting may seem to abound Chap. 16. How to prevent Run-aways and Traitors Chap. 17. Of sallying out Chap. 18. Of the Constancy of the Besieged CHAP. I. Of a sudden Assault Example 1. T. Quintius the Consul having overcome in Battel the Aequi and the Volsci People of Italy he resolved to take the Town of Antium he therefore made a Speech to his Army and shewed them how needful and easie it was for them if they went on without Delay In that Heat and Courage which he had caused by his Speech he set upon the Town and took it 2. M. Cato in Spain perceived that he might get into his Hands a certain Town if he did assault the Inhabitants before they were aware he therefore performed in two days the March of four through difficult and desart ways and places and came upon the Enemies before they feared him and overcame them and when his Men had happily succeeded and asked of him the cause of such an easie Performance he told them that then they began to be Conquerours when in two days they performed the March of four CHAP. II. Of deceiving such as are besieged Example 1. WHen Domitius Calvinus besieged the Town of Luca belonging to the Ligurians which was strengthened not only by the Scituation and Fortifications but also by the Number and Courage of the Defendants resolved to surround the Walls many times with all his Army and then to retreat as often into his Camp By this Custom the Townsmen were perswaded that the Romans did practise this only to exercise themselves and when they never feared any thing from this constant March the General turned the Walk into a sudden Assault in which they took the Walls and obliged the Inhabitants to surrender themselves and their Town 2. C. Duillius the Consul likewise by exercising the Souldiers and his Seamen he brought the Carthaginians into that Security because his former Custom had done them no harm that suddenly he run upon them with his whole Fleet and took their Fortifications 3. Hannibal master'd many Towns in Italy by sending before some of his own People in the Garb of Romans who had got the Latin Tongue by the long continuance of the War 4. The Arcades besieging a Castle of the Messinians made certain Arms in the resemblance of their Enemies and at that time that they found that their Guards were relieved they furnished some of their own Party in the Habit of those that were expected and by this Mistake being received in as Companions they got Possession of the Place with the Slaughter of their Enemies 5. Cimon General of the Athenians having plac'd an Ambuscado for a certain City in Caria set on fire in the Night unexpectedly a Temple of Diana much reverenced by the Inhabitants with a Grove adjoyning which was without the Walls when therefore the Citizens came out to extinguish the fire he took the Town being almost empty of its Inhabitants 6. When Alcibiades the General of the Athenians besieged the City of the Agrigentini which was very well fortified he desired to parley with them in their Assembly he discours'd a long time with them about common things in their Theatre where according to the Grecians Custom is the usual place of Deliberation And while he entertained the multitude under a pretence of consulting with them the Athenians whom he had provided for that Purpose took Possession of
swimm'd over the River Tiber and came safe to the City Vejos and having deliver'd his Message he returned by the same way to the Besieged 2. When they of Campania were besieged by the Romans who watched and guarded all the Passages they sent one whom they persuaded to run away to the Romans and hid a Letter under his Belt which when he found an opportunity he carried to the Carthaginian Army 3. Some have sown Letters in the Bodies of Beasts taken in hunting and other Creatures which Letters were written in Parchment or thin Skins 4. Some have driven Beasts on the contrary side whilst they have been passing the Enemies Guards 5. Others have written their Letters in the inside of a Sheath 6. L. Lucullus when the Cyziceni were besieged by Mithridates that he might make his arrival known to them tho the Enemies kept the entrances of the City with strong Guards He commanded one of his Souldiers a little skill'd in swimming and in the Art of Navigation to lean upon two Skins or Bladders filled with Wind which had Letters stitched in the inside having in the lower part two strait Sticks fasten'd to them to keep the Bladders at a distance and in this manner to go over a Streight of seven miles at that place where but one narrow and small Bridge joyned an Island to the main Land Which was so dexterously perform'd by this common Souldier who steer'd his course with his Legs hanging in the Water that such as saw him at a distance and that were upon the Guard thought him to be a Sea-Monster 7. Hircius the Consul sent often Letters to Decius Brutus who was besieged by Antonius at Mutina written in Lead and fasten'd to the Arms of Souldiers who swam over the River Scultenna 8. The same Hircius made use of Pidgeons to convey Letters He shut them up in the dark and suffer'd them to be very hungry then did he fasten Letters to their Necks bound them with a big Hair and from the nearest place to the Walls of the City he let them fly They being desirous of Light and Food mounted on high to go to the loftiest Houses where Brutus took them and by that means he was made acquainted with all Passages for after that he put Food for the Birds in certain places and so made the Pidgeons to sly thither CHAP. XIV How to put in Succours into a besieged Place and supply it with necessary Food Example 1. IN the Civil War when Ategua a City in Spain that held for Pompey was besieged Maurus or Martius the Viceroy made as if he had bin a Trumpeter of one of Caesar's Collonels appointed to visit the Guards some he rous'd up with his Trumpet others he shun'd and courageously went through the middle of Caesar's Army and led into the Town a Garison of Pompey 2. When Hannibal besieged Casilinum a City of Campania in Italy the Romans sent down the stream of the River Vulturnus Hogs-Heads full of Meal to relieve the besieged which when Hannibal did stop with a long Chain over the River they scatter'd and flung Nuts into the Water which the Current carried to the Town and by that means they supplied the wants of their Fellows 3. Hirtius the Consul when they of Mutina were besieged by Antonius sent to them some Salt which they wanted down the River Saniturnus put up in Pipes 4. The same Consul sent down the Stream some Cattel which relieved the besieged CHAP. XV. How to make such things as are most wanting seem to the Enemy to abound Example 1. THE Romans when they were besieged in the Capitol by the Gauls and were in the greatest want of Bread were wont to fling some to the Enemy By that means they made them believe that they had plenty of Provisions so that they patiently endur'd the Siege till Camillus was come to relieve them 2. The Athenians besieged by the Lacedemonians are said to have done the like 3. They who were besieged at Casilinum by Hannibal were thought to have bin reduc'd to a great Famin because that between his Camp and the City he had spoil'd all the Herbs that could serve for Food by plowing up the Ground but they flung Seed into the Earth prepar'd and turn'd up By that means they seem'd to have enough to keep them alive untill the next Harvest 4. They who remained alive after the Defeat of Varras and his Army because the Enemy believed that they wanted Bread caused the Prisoners to be led round about their Granary all Night then having cut off their Hands they sent them away who when they came to their own Men that besieged the Romans they assured them that there was no hopes of a speedy Surrender by the famishing of the Romans because they had such a great quantity of Food yet remaining 5. The Thracians besieged in a steep and high Mountain unto which the Enemies could not ascend gathered from every Man a small quantity of Corn and Cheese with which they fed their Cattel which they drove and sent down to the Enemies Guards when they had killed them and found some signs of Wheat in their Guts they imagin'd that they had yet a great quantity of Corn remaining seeing that they fed their Cattel with it They departed therefore from the Siege 6. Thrasybulus Captain of the Milesii when his Souldiers were wearied with a long Siege by Aliattes who expected that they would be forced to a Surrender by Famin when the Ambassadours of Aliattes were comming he caused all the Corn of the City to be brought into the Market and about that time appointed Feasting to be in several places of the City and the Tables to be covered with Meats by that means he persuaded the Enemy that he had yet plenty of Food to help them to bear a longer Siege CHAP. XVI By what means one may prevent Traitors and Run-aways Example 1. L. Marcellus understanding the Design of Batteus of Nola who endeavoured to persuade his Country-men to fall away to Hannibal whom he favoured because by him he had been cured of his Wounds received at the Battel of Cannae and had been sent home from his Captivity and because he was afraid by his Punishment to stir up them of Nola to Revenge and dared not to kill him he sent for him and told him that he was a most stout Souldier which he understood not before and that he desired that he would continue and abide with him To his Words he added an Honour for he bestowed upon him an Horse By this gracious proceeding he obliged not only him to be true to him but also his Country-men who were governed by him 2. Hamilcar General of the Carthaginians when several of their Gallic Auxiliaries did often run away to the Romans and that they were wont to be received as their Friends he persuaded some that were most faithful to him to pretend also to fly to them who killed some that were sent out to receive
and rescue a Party of the Roman Army which Policy did not only help Hamilcar and caused him to succeed in his present Design but for the future it made all true Run-aways to be suspected by the Romans as false 3. Hanno General of the Carthaginians in Sicily understanding that four thousand of the Mercenary Gauls had agreed to run away to the Romans because they wanted the Pay of some few Months and because he was afraid to punish them for fear of a Sedition he promised that he would reward liberally the injury of a Delay Therefore the Gauls having returned him thanks he delayed the performance of his Promise for a while till he could send a most faithful Servant to Otacilius the Consul to run away to him for other Reasons who told him that the next Night four thousand Gauls who were to be sent out to Plunder might easily be surprised Otacilius did not give credit suddenly to the Run-away neither did he think this News was to be neglected he therefore placed a choice Company of his Men in Ambush By them the Gauls being received accomplished Hanno's two Designs in destroying the Romans and themselves for they were all cut off 4. Hannibal was revenged of the Deserters of his Army in the same manner for knowing that some of his Men would run away the next Night and that he had in his Camp Intelligencers and Spies of the Enemy He declared publickly that the Souldiers which were sent by him to understand the Designs of the Enemy ought to be named most cunning Souldiers what the Spies had heard from him they delivered to their own Party which caused the Romans to take the Run-aways to cut off their Hands and send them back to Hannibal's Army 5. Diodorus commanding the Garrison of Amphipolis with a Party had a jealousie of two thousand Thracians who had a mind to Plunder the City he pretended therefore that some few of the Enemies Ships were come near a neighbouring Shore and that it was possible to take them the hopes of this Advantage so incouraged the Thracians that they march'd out of the City then did he cause the Gates to be shut and would entertain them no longer CHAP XVII Of Sallies Example 1. THE Romans who were in Garrison at Palermo when Hasdrubal came to besiege that City caused on purpose very few to appear on the Walls to defend them the smalness of their number was so contemn'd by the Enemy that Hasdrubul assaulted the Walls where he was slain in a Sally 2. Aemilius Paulus when all the Ligurians made an attempt unexpectedly upon his Camp he seem'd for fear to keep in his Souldiers till the Enemy had sufficiently wearied themselves then did he sally out of his four Gates and overthrew and took them Prisoners 3. When Velius a Roman Captain commanded the Castle of Tarentum he sent Messengers to Hasdrubal that he would suffer him to depart in safety By this Pretence he made the Enemy so secure that when he sallied out he defeated them 4. Cn. Pompeius did not only deliver his Men besieged in the City of Dyrrachium but after a Sally which he made in a very convenient Time and Place he surrounded Caesar who furiously broke out of a Castle which was furnished with a double Fortification and encompassed him in round so that between the besieged and Pompey's Army that was without he was in the middle in no small danger and received a considerable loss of Men. 5. Flavius Fimbria fighting in Asia against the Son of Mithridates near the Town of Rhyndacus drew a Trench half way on both sides of his Camp and a Ditch before keeping his Souldiers quiet on the Rampires until the Enemies Horse were enter'd into the streightest place of his Works then did he sally out and cut off six thousand of them 6. C. Caesar amongst the Gauls when the Forces under Titurius Sabinus and Cotta his Lieutenants were defeated by Ambiorix and that Q. Cicero who was likewise besieged sent him this sad News made haste to him with two Legions but when the Enemy turn'd to meet him he seem'd to be afraid and kept his Souldiers within his Camp which he had purposely made streighter than ordinary the Gauls as if they had been certain of the Victory and were come to plunder the Roman Camp began to fill up the Trenches and to pull down the Palisadoes then did Caesar send out his Forces on a sudden and cut the Gallic Souldiers in pieces 7. Titurius Sabinus when a vast Army of the Gauls came against him kept in his Souldiers within his Fortifications and made them believe that he was afraid And that he might strengthen that belief he sent out a Run-away to tell them that the Roman Army was in despair and resolved to fly The Enemy being encouraged with the hopes of Victory loaded themselves with Faggots and Bones to fill up the Trenches and with full speed ran up to the Romans Camp which was scituate on a Hill from whence when Titurius had sent out his whole Army he overthrew the Gauls and took many of them Prisoners 8. The Inhabitants of Asculum when Pompey came to besiege the Town caused a few old and sick Folk to shew themselves from the Walls which made the Roman Army to be more secure and careless so that when the Towns-men sallied out they put them to flight 9. They of Numantia when they were besieged drew up none of their Forces before the Walls but kept themselves within so close and quiet that Popilius Lenas had the Confidence to scale the Walls And then suspecting a Design and an Ambush for at that instant he met with no resistance he sounded a retreat Then did the Inhabitants sally out and assaulted the Romans as they were coming down and drawing back CHAP. XVIII Of the Constancy of the besieged Example 1. THE Romans when Hannibals Camp was before their Walls to express their Confidence sent out by another Gate a supply and a recruit to their Army which was then in Spain 2. The same Romans when the Proprietor of the Field where Hannibal had pitch'd his Camp was by chance dead sold it at a higher rate than it was bought by him before the Wars 3. The same Romans being besieg'd by Hannibal at the same time that their Army besieged Capua resolved and decreed that their Army should not come away from thence untill they had taken that City THE FOURTH BOOK Of the Stratagems of WAR OF Sextus Julius Frontinus once a ROMAN Consul The Introduction IN the three former Books according to my promise as I suppose I have placed in order not without a great deal of Care and Diligence the Stratagems of War which I have gathered from the perusal of many Histories In this Book I shall now set down those things which could not fitly nor properly be placed under the former Heads and which may be rather called the Examples of Generals and Captains of War than of Stratagems
they had a steep Hill In this unfortunate Battel Huniades put to flight with his Transilvanian and Valachian Horsemen both Wings of the Turks Army and brought the main Body where Amurath himself was in very great danger so that when he saw the grievous Slaughter and Flight of his Men he plucked out of his Bosom a Copy of the League made by King Vladislaus and looking upon the Image of Christ Crucified in the Banners of the Voluntary Christians he cryed aloud Behold thou Crucified Christ this is the League thy Christians in thy Name have made with me which they have without Cause Violated If thou be a God as they say thou art revenge the Wrong now done unto thy Name and shew thy Power upon thy Perjurious People He had no sooner spoken those Words but the Turks took Courage made head against the Hungarians who nevertheless broke in upon the Janizaries where a French Knight of Rhodes wounded Amurath in the Thigh and Vladislaus having lost his Horse was there slain his Head struck off by Ferises Bassa and presented to Amurath who commanded it to be carryed upon a Lance with Proclamation That there was the Head of the Christian King His death discouraged the rest of the Christian Army so that Huniades after many couragious endeavours to rally his Men was forced to yield to the necessity of the day Julian the Cardinal with two thirds of the Army were slain and a greater number of the Turks which made Amurath ever after lament his dear bought Victory of Varna The Hungarians after the loss of Vladislaus chose Ladislaus a young Infant the Son of Albert and appointed Huniades during his Minority to be Governour of the Kingdom Huniades had another unfortunate Fight with Old Amurath at Cossova where for three days together the Hungarians notably maintained their Ground against the Turks vast numbers but at last oppressed with continual and fresh Supplies they fled leaving behind him 17000. and almost all the Hungarian Nobility dead under the heaps of the slain Turks to the number of 40000. Huniades after much difficulty and danger returned safe into Hungary gathered together his Forces and made another Army with which he marched to the Relief of the Despot of Servia who was assaulted by Fritze-beg and Jose-beg two of Amuraths Generals But as soon as they espied the Ensigns of Huniades in the Field the Turks fled for fear and lost many who were killed in the Retreat and their General Fritze-beg was taken Prisoner This Victory was got only by the dreadful name of Huniades Afterwards in the Reign of Mahomet the great he defended Belgrade against the Turks beat their Fleet upon the River Danubius and routed the Turks Emperour and Army with a great slaughter of 40000. and the loss of all his great Ordinance This happened in the year 1456. in which Huniades dyed in Peace CHAP. XXVII Of the Famous and never to be forgetten Scanderbeg and his Adventures NExt to Huniades none deserves more to be mentioned than the Noble Scanderbeg Prince of Egyrus In his youthful days he lived in the Turks Court of Amurath then King and for his dexterity in Arms was highly favoured by the Tyrant who had poysoned his elder Brethren and taken away the Inheritance of his Fore-Fathers At the Battel of Moravia where Carambeg was taken he was a Commander amongst the Turks In the general Rout he closely followed aster the Generals chief Secretary till he found him in a place fit for his purpose which he had imparted to some of his most trusty Friends and Countrymen chiefly to Amesa his Kinsman a stout Soldier They all together agreed to set upon the Turks when they found them few in number and to kill them The Secretary he carryed aside and forced him for fear of present Death to write a Letter in his Masters Name who was Grand Vizir to the Governour of Croia the chief City of Epirus to command him by Amuraths order to deliver on sight of the Letter his Charge and Government to Scanderbeg the new Governour as appointed by Amurath to succeed him adding several other things on purpose to gain more credit to the Letter and Messengers As soon as he had thus forced from the Secretary this Letter he killed him and as many of the Turks as he could meet with that they might not give intelligence of his Designs and Proceedings to Old Amurath And having with him under his Command three thousand Epirots his Countrymen who resolved to follow his Fortune and fight for the Honour and Liberty of their Native Country He marched with all speed towards Epirus and to the chief City of Croia He ordered the most part of his Soldiers to go in the night and by secret ways through the Woods and Mountains to draw as near to Croia as they could unperceived until he had an opportunity to bring them into the City to master the Turkish Garrison In the mean while he took with him a few only to wait upon him and went the direct way to Croia sending before him Amesa with two Servants to certifie the Governour of his coming Amesa behaved himself with that Wisdom and Discretion that the Governour could not perceive any deceit much less when he saw the great Bassa's Letter written by his Secretary but immediately delivered up the command of the Town and departed the next day for Adrianople The same Night Scanderbeg brought into the City his Soldiers who were appointed to be near at hand with their assistance he set upon the Turks and slew them The recovery of Croia caused all Epirus to yield to Scanderbeg and the Country People with great joy gave him their assistance to kill all the Turks that were left in his Dominions the Governour also of Croia was overtaken by the Epirots and murthered with his Retinue Only some strong places and Garrisons were not so easie to be mastered but Scanderbeg having called his Subjects to his Assistance he in few days gathered together 12000 Men with whom he besieged and took Petrelta a strong City by the subtile Tale of a Country Fellow sent thither on purpose by Scanderbeg to tell the Garrison that Amurath had been lately so defeated by the Hungarians that he could not relieve them and that they might have any Honourable Terms granted if they would submit to Scandberbeg After this he took possession of Petra Alba Stellusa and besieged Srifegrade but could not recover that City therefore rising from that Siege he wasted all the Borders of Macedonia and spoiled the Country round Alis Bassa was sent with an Army of forty thousand to punish him and recover Epirus Scanderbeg to defend himself chose 8000 Horse and 7000 Foot and with this small Army he waited upon the Borders near Dibra for the Bassa's coming but he had placed three thousand Men with Amesa in Ambush in a Wood near the great Road where the Bassa was to pass with his Army commanding them not to stir until
such time as they should see that the Fight was begun and that then they should fall upon the Rear of the Turks This order was so exactly obeyed that the Turks having the Enemy before and behind were beset by a small number yet they did fight valiantly until a fresh supply from the Rear came and broke in upon the Turks forced them to fly killing in the pursuit and Battel two and twenty thousand and two thousand taken Prisoners with all the Turks Tents and Riches After this great Slaughter Scanderbeg mounted his Footmen upon the Turks Horses and with all his Army he plundred miserably a great part of Macedonia and enriched his Soldiers This great Victory made Scanderbegs Name to be famous all over the Courts of the Christian Princes so that in a general Confederacy between them for the opposing of Amurath Scanderbeg was entreated to be one of the party for that purpose he raised an Army and intended to assist Vladislaus at the great and unhappy Battel at Varna but his passage was stopt by the faithless Despot of Servia After that Overthrow Amurath sent Ferises Bassa to spoil Epirus with 9000 Horse but Scanderbeg having notice of his speedy coming he put 1500 stout Footmen in Ambush upon the Mountains and narrow ways that led into the Valley of Mocrea where the Turks were to pass These Footmen set upon the Turkish Cavalry in such places where they could not use their Horses that they were all routed and slain and pursued by two thousand Horse which Scanderbeg had there for the purpose Ferises saved himself by Flight with his broken Troops When Amurath heard of this Overthrow he sent one Mustapha another Captain with a Recruit of 6000 Horse to succeed Ferises in his Government with orders to burn and spoil as much of Epirus as he could Mustapha a wary Captain came with his Troops into the Valley of Moerea where he lay strongly encamped in his Trenches every night having placed Scouts and Sentinels all round upon the Hills to discover the Enemies coming with 4000 Horsemen he kept his Camp and sent out the rest in parties to spoil the Country with express orders upon pain of death to repair to him upon the first notice of an Enemy Scanderbeg being informed by his Spies of Mustapha's wariness resolves to deal with him by plain Force therefore with 4000 Horse and a 1000 Foot he speedily marched through the Valley to the Turks Camp where he kill'd many that were retreating with their plunder and then assaulted the Trenches with that Fury and Resolution that the Turks were beaten 5000 were killed and 300 taken Prisoners with the loss only of twenty Horsemen and fifty Foot Mustapha fled with the rest of his Forces to his Government of Macedonia to give an account of Scanderbegs Valour and of his own loss to Old Amurath who resolved to suffer awhile this dreadful Enemy to live in Peace therefore he commanded Mustapha not to molest the Borders of Epirus but only to defend his own Government It happened at that time that there was a Quarrel between Scanderbeg and the Venetians and an open War proclaimed When Mustapha saw that Scanderbeg's Forces were employed against the Venetians he begg'd leave of Amurath to try once more his Fortune against Scanderbeg For that purpose with a numerous Army he entred into Epirus when Scanderbeg was besieging the Town of Dayna where he left some Forces with Amesa to continue the Siege and with 500 Horse and 1500 Foot he went to find out Mustapha encamped in the upper Country of Dibra Out of the Garrisons he recruited and encreased his small number to 4000 Horse and 2000 Foot all old Soldiers When both Armies were drawn up in Battalia a Turk advantagiously mounted came out of the Turks Army to challenge any Christian to fight with him his name was Caragusa One Paul Manessi desired Scanderbeg that he might be the Man to encounter with this Turk which being granted at the first blow he wounded him grievously in the Head and cut it off which when he had done he took his Spoils and return'd with great Acclamations of the Christian Army to Scanderbeg who seeing how much this had encouraged his Men set forward against the Turks and with an invincible Courage beat them out of the Field took Mustapha Prisoner killed 12000 Men whereas of his own Army there was but 300 slain The Plunder of the Enemies Camp he always bestowed upon his Soldiers who met there with great Riches and according to his Custom entred again into the Turks Dominions to plunder and burn the Country Amurath grieved at so many losses resolves with a mighty Army to march into Epirus himself and try his own Fortune against this crafty Warriour Scanderbeg who having notice of his coming made all things ready he craved Aid of all his Christian Neighbours filled his Towns with Food Provision and Arms repaired all the decayed Fortifications and gathered an Army of 10000 Men to attend upon him leaving sufficient Garrisons in every City Amurath had in his Army one hundred and fifty thousand Men. He sent forty thousand before him to Stifegrade to make preparation for his coming Scanderbeg marched thither with 4000 Horsemen a thousand Foot and strongly encamped himself within Seven Miles of the City from his Camp he went up with some of his Captains to the top of a Hill as near as he could to see how the Turks lay before Stifegrade at his return he drew out his small Army and placed them in the Woods not far from the City unto which he sent Moses and Musachi with about 30 Horsemen to drive some Horses loaden with Corn as if they had purposed secretly to get into the City When the Turks Scouts perceived them they charged them but were beaten back with the loss of five men which gave the Alarm to the Turks who marched out to pursue them in number about 4000. Moses politickly drew them away from their Camp to the place where Scanderbeg lay in Ambush He rose with his Men set upon them with that Fury that he killed 2000. and took a thousand Horse with the loss of two and twenty of his own Men. Amurath came before Stifegrade in May 1449. he battered and assaulted the Town with the slaughter of vast numbers of his best Men during which time Scanderbeg often brake into one part or other of his Camp making a terrible destruction and then again retreated with little or no loss At one time when Amurath was giving an assault to the City Scanderbeg was discovered drawing near to the Turks Camp and by Amuraths order was met with by Feri-Bassa who long desiring to fight with Scanderbeg was by him slain and his Army routed with great loss but because all the Turks Army were at hand he speedily retreated from thence with his Victorious Army Stifegrade was afterwards betrayed and surrendred but Amurath lost before the City 30000 of his best Men. At his
so that the Prince was never able to force him to a Fight And when all his Forage and Provisions were spent he was driven by that means to the necessity of departing out of the Country into Germany again CHAP. XLIX Of certain times convenient to fight an Enemy and other times wherein it is Wisdom to refuse a Battel IF an Armies Reputation depends wholly upon a speedy success as in many cases If the Enemy be gathering together greater Forces and expects a speedy supply of Horse or Foot If the Country be so at his devotion that the longer he delays the stronger he grows or if Victuals or Money begin to fail then a General should seek all fit opportunities for a speedy Encounter while the Enemy is not too strong and his own party in a condition and resolution to give Battel But if a General hath more Forces coming into him or if he knows that by delaying he may shorten or cut off his Enemies Provisions or if Sickness and Diseases do daily lessen the number of his Enemies then by delaying he may do as much service as by venturing a Battel At the Isle of Rhee the Freuch Army would never offer to fight with the English till they perceived them in a confusion by reason of their orders to Embark But they always followed them close at the Heels till this opportunity was offered to them and then with all their Forces of Horse and Foot they fell furiously upon the English and cut off a great many Likewise in the War between Don John of Austria and the Estates of the Netherlands he endeavour'd to fight the Army commanded by Count Bossute because he understood that Duke Cassimire with 5000 Horse and 6000 Foot with other Forces were coming into the Earls Camp within a few days But the Earl would by no means suffer his Men to venture out of their Trenches CHAP. L. How Lewis King of France stopt the Assistance which the Dukes of Burgundy and Britany were going to send to the Duke of Normandy THe French King understanding that these three Dukes had made a League Offensive and Defensive against him their common Enemy and having an intent to assault and fight them single When he led his Army into Normandy he feigned Letters from that Duke to the Duke of Burgundy signifying that he was loath to run the hazard of a War that he had accepted of the Kings offers and concluded an agreement with him for 60000 Franks and therefore he desired him to forbear sending of his Forces to his Assistance as had been formerly promised These Letters the King caused to be sent by an Herald to the Dukes of Burgundy and Brittany who though they suspected them to be false yet because they received a confirmation from the Contents from other hands but by the procurement of the King they caused their Armies to be speedily disbanded By this means the King obtained by policy what otherwise he could not well get by Force without the hazard of his Army for he having thus weakned his Enemies made with them what agreement he thought convenient and they were forced to yield to his Terms of peace CHAP. LI. A Policy used by a French General to destroy the Neapolitan Army strongly Encamped WHen there was a dispute between Ferand King of Naples and Charles King of France about the Crown of that Kingdom Ferand understanding that the French Army was too potent for him to encounter with only with his faint-hearted Neapolitans resolved to entrench himself between certain Hills The French General finding him in that advantagious Post that he did not dare to meddle with him divided his Army secretly in the night and sent a strong Party round about to assault King Ferand behind whilst he in the Interim with small Parties skirmished and kept them in continual play At last when the party of Men which were to surround the Neapolitan Army and to fall upon their Backs were come to the appointed place the French assaulted the Enemy behind and before entred their Trenches and routed them Xerxes in the same manner recovered the Streights of Thermopyle in Greece defended by a handful of Lacedemonians under Leonidas their Captain CHAP. LII How Prince Maurice took the Town of Gertrudenberg WHen the Prince of Orange besieged Gertrudenberg by Sea and Land he understood by a Prisoner taken from the Enemy that once every day the Governour with the chief Magistrates were wont to go up privately to take a view of the Hollanders Trenches and of the Country round about that they might see for an opportunity to sally out upon them immediately he took advantage of this Information and secretly ordered a Gentleman of his Army to run away to the Town under pretence that he had murdered a Man and therefore fled to save his Life The Gentleman according to appointment discover'd to the Princes Army by playing upon a Pipe when the Governour was in the Steeple The great Guns being then ready and waiting for the purpose were all immediately discharged at one time and battered down the Steeple killed the Governour with the Magistrates which as soon as the Prince suspected he caused a sudden assault to be made and carried the Town for want of a Governour and Orders to defend it For such a Consternation that must needs happen at the unexpected destruction of a Chieftain either in an Army or in a Garrison the Soldiers Hearts must needs be broken and before orders can be given to supply his place by another the Enemy hath a great advantage upon the party that he commands CHAP. LIII How the States of Holland took the Town of Breda by surprize THey hired a certain Master of a Boat who was wont to carry into the City Provisions of Bread and Beer and other necessaries for maintenance of the Garrison In this Boat they stored a Company of Stout and Valiant Gentlemen and covered them over with Turves and other things The Boatsman according to his custom brings strong Liquors upon the Guard makes them all drink plentifully till they were drunk whilst they were in that Condition he passeth the Guard and enters into the Town with his Company of Men who immediately gave notice to their Friends without by casting up a Ball of Wild-fire to fall on A Gate was broken open for them then did they disperse themselves about the Town killed all that resisted and mastered the Guard Such surprizes have been made with Carts full of Corn Hay c. wherein have been hid Soldiers and sometimes a Cart hath been purposely broken and out of order at the Gate of a Town to hinder the shutting of it and a party of the Enemy hath then set upon and entred the Town CHAP. LIV. How the Garrison of the Skonse at Zutphen was surprized THe Spaniards to strengthen the more the City of Zutphen in Gelderland had built a very strong Skonse in such a place as hindred any Enemy from making their approaches
drew up his Army amongst the Vines and broken ground where the Horse could not well ride up and down And having a stout Infantry he charged the French Forces so bravely that they retreated and fled In such like cases others have fixed Stakes sharpned at both ends in the ground others have digged holes covered over with Turves others have encompassed in their Foot with Craw-Feet a Swedish Invention good to stop the Cavalry for there is always a sharp Iron that stands above ground about three Inches which way soever you fling it Others have marched with a Wall of Pikes round their Body and a party of Foot in the middle to line and secure them against the fury of the Shot of the Cavalry Many other Inventions there are to be used to defend the Foot against the Horse so that many times a small party of Foot by Art have routed a considerable Body of Horse CHAP. LXX How the Lord Poynings took at Samerdubois in France a Castle which was thought to be impregnable THe Lord Poynings at his first coming before the Castle summons it but finding it very strongly scituated upon a Hill that was encompassed round with deep Marish Ground and that the Governour and Garrison had such confidence in its inaccessible Scituation that they would not hearken to a Surrender He caused a great Cannon to be made of Wood and drew it over the wet ground with many Horses as if it had been of Metal and of a great Weight so near the Castle that it must needs do execution if had been as they lookt upon it to be Then again the Lord Poynings when his Battery was made sent another Summons to the Governour with this Threatning That if he suffered the Canon to be discharged they should all be put to the Sword but if he would yet hearken to a Composition he might have fair and Honourable Terms granted The Captain being deceived by this Policy yielded up his strong hold upon Articles and departed out when it was not in the Power of the Lord Poynings to have forced him CHAP. LXXI How Monsieur Lawtreck in the Neapolitan War forced all his Auxiliary Troops which were of other Nations to fight valiantly IN the Neapolitan War Lawtreck was General of the French Army unto whose assistance came several other People of Italy who were in League with their King Lawtreck to oblige them all to be valiant separates them and draws them all up in distinct Battalions in the Fight and when the two Armies were engaged he rode about to those whom he saw most backward telling them that such and such Battalions had already got the Victory they therefore out of emulation were forced to fight by this means he put the Enemy to Flight CHAP. LXXII How a Scottish King obliged his discomfited Army to fight against the Picts THe Annals of Scotland make mention of a certain King of Scots who having been often beaten and lost many Battels against the Picts saw that his people were altogether discouraged and unwilling to try again the hazard of another Fight and that he could not by any persuasion oblige them to it until he had made use of this Imposture He apparell'd certain of his Men in Scales and Seals Skins which shine very bright in the Dark and put into their hands Truncheons of rotten Ash Wood causing them in that Garb to awaken his Chief Officers at midnight and to tell them That they were Messengers sent from Heaven to advise them to sight once more against their Enemies assuring them of a notable Victory The Captains the next Morning came to their King and related to him and the whole Army what they had seen and and heard and that 't was their opinion to fight couragiously for that God would assist them seeing he had sent them such a comfortable Message The Scotch Army upon this considence engaged with the Picts and beat them out of their Country CHAP. LXXIII How the Marquis of Spinola had Intelligence of all the Passages of the Prince of Oranges Army and of the Town of Breda then besieged by Spinola SPinola besieged the Town of Breda but not knowing in what condition the Garrison was he perswaded a subtile Country-Fellow to carry Butter and Cheese and other necessary things into the Town The Fellow pretended that he had narrowly escaped the Guards and Sentinels and was very welcom to the Soldiers and to the Governour in hopes by his means to send a Letter to the Prince of Orange The Country Fellow at first shewed himself unwilling because of the danger but at last suffered himself to be wrought upon by rewards and promises to carry a Letter which he deliver'd to Spinola who sealed it up and gave it to the same Country Fellow to carry to the Prince The Fellow informed him of all passages and told him how he had escaped through the Guard The Prince judged that he could not employ a fitter Man to carry back an answer to the Town which he undertook to perform for a Sum of Money but when he had the Princes Answer he carryed it to the Marquis to peruse and received from him a good reward When Prince Maurice was dead Henry his Brother succeeded him in his Employment and when the Marquis could not understand of the Enemies Condition he sent for his Country Fellow and caused him to counterfeit a Sickness which he pretended he had got by travelling in Winter and Frost to serve the Prince of Orange The Countrymans Wife goes to Prince Henry and complains of her Hufbands sad condition desiring him to pay him that stipend which his Brother had promis'd for his former Services The Prince was well pleased to find the Man that could carry Intelligence to the besieged Town and willed her to fetch him promising to pay not only that Money but much more if he would serve him as he had served his Brother After many great promises the Peasant was brought to the Prince and charged with a Letter to the Governour of Breda but instead of carrying it to the Town he brought it to the Marquis by this means he understood his Enemies purposes and conditions and knew how to prevent their Designs CHAP. LXXIV How the Duke of Alanson was like to have surprized Mons. THe plot was laid in this manner That a thousand Horse having with them a thousand Musketeers behind them should in the night hide themselves in the Woods near to the City to be ready to hasten to the Gates at the first call About thirty young Soldiers without Beards were to be apparelled like Country Girls with their Weapons privately hid about them to these some old Soldiers were added to accompany them in the garb of Country Clowns carrying with them Provisions for the Market for that day was chosen to surprize the City They were to have a Cart with them loaden with Country Commodities which some Walloons were to drive the better to procure an entrance without
suspicion The Cart was to be driven to the second Gate and there to be disordered by letting fall the Wheel whilst the Carter was to be busie about his Cart the disguised Soldiers were to take the first and second Gate to kill the Watch and to give a sign to the Ambushes in the Wood to come speedily to their Assistance which being let into the City would easily take and keep it for the French But this plot was discovered and by that means prevented CHAP. LXXV How Prince Maurice endeavour'd to take Antwerp Gastle by surprize PRince Maurice without dispute was one of the most successful Generals of his time at the Battel of Newport he obtained a great Victory over the Spaniards and being bread up amongst Armies and Soldiers he proved a most wise and subtile Commander Antwerp Castle was attempted by him in this manner He being at Breda with his Army commanded all the passages of his Camp to be narrowly watched and secretly drew some Companies of Foot from some Neighbouring Garrisons putting them under the command of a discreet Collonel in whom he could conside The Soldiers knew nothing of his purpose only the Officers and that he might the better conceal his March from the Country he ordered his Men to take off their Orange Colours and change them for Red such as the King of Spains Soldiers used to wear and his Waggons likewise had a Burgundian Cross as Spinola's And as his Soldiers passed through the Country they were to say That they belonged to the King of Spain and were marching to Antwerp for Provisions By this disguise and invention a party of a 1000 Foot and 200 Horse went undiscovered in the dark night to the Walls of Antwerp Castle where they got as far as the Bridge and were ready to blow open the Gates had they not bin perceived by the Vigilancy of a Spanish old Soldier named Andreas Cea who gave the Alarm to the Garrison and prevented their entrance CHAP. LXXVI Of the Battel of Diep between Henry the Fourth of France and the Army of the Ligne commanded by the Duke of Mayenne THe King had in his Army about eight or nine thousand Men. The Duke had twenty five thousand Foot and eight thousand Horse the King intrenched himself about three Miles from Diep at a Village called Arques with his small number but he gave such wise Orders that he secured both his Camp and the Suburbs of the City from the invading Enemy who on the 16th of September 1589. gave a furious assault to the Kings Forces but were beaten back with great loss The Duke of Mayenne having continued quiet in his Camp three days gave another Assault but to as little purpose only the Regiments of Colalt and Tremblecour called to the Kings Forces that they would be of their side at which offer they were received within the Trenches and they promised to serve the King faithfully if they might have any assurance of their pay which was promised by the King but whilst this brave Prince was busily employed in looking to every quarter these Treacherous Villains turned their Weapons against them who had taken them in let in more of the Dukes Forces into that part of the Camp so that if the Duke in that consternation that the Kings Army was then in by the unexpected Treachery had speedily fallen upon them and seconded with all his Forces these two Regiments he had undoubtedly carryed and mastered the Trenches but whilst the Duke delayed the Count de Castillon the Duke of Montpensier and La Nove excellent Commanders of the Kings Army ran with their Men to assist the Kings discouraged party and charged the Enemy within the Trenches so briskly that they were forced to fly out and leave that great advantage they had gained by a Stratagem After this good success the King with his small party gave so many Alarms to the Dukes Camp that he found himself with his great Army besieged by the Kings small numbers and reduced to many Wants and to the necessity at last of departing to a more secure and commodious Neighbourhood CHAP. LXXVII Of the Famous Battel of Jury between Henry the 4th and the Duke of Mayenne THe Duke designed to relieve the Town of Dreux besieged by the Kings Army which as soon as the Duke began to draw near they were ordered to retreat as if they had been in fear This dissimulation so encouraged the Commanders of the Dukes Army that they would not be quiet till they had forced him against his Judgement to a Battel Both Armies were drawn up in Battalia in an even Plain near the Tillage of Jury The Kings Army had about ten thousand Foot and three thousand Horse drawn up in this manner The King appeared first at the Head of a Squadron of six hundred Horse most Lords and Gentlemen which was flanked on the right hand with a Battalion of two Regiments of Switzers and on the left by two other Regiments of the same Country These Battalions were followed by the Regiments of the Guards and three other Regiments The Duke of Montpensier marched next on the Left with a Squadron of six huudred Horse between two Regiments of Germany and Switzerland seconded by two other Bodies of Foot chosen out of the French Infantry The Marshal d'Aumount closed up the Left Wing with three hundred Horse and two Regiments of French Infantry at his sides and two Troops before him of Light Horsemen commanded by the great Prior and by Giury Mareschal de Camp These were assisted on the Right by the Baron of Biron who had the charge to protect four Canons and some Field Pieces on the other side marched the Marshal of Biron with another Squadron of Horse between two Regiments of French Foot next to the Regiments of Guards but a little behind that they might be as a reserve to that Body which was commanded by the King in person next to them on the right hand shewing the appearance of a Cressant was a Squadron of German Horse slanked by two small Bodies of French Infantry led by the Count Scomberg This excellent order of the Kings Army together with the Judicious management of the Artillery by the Master of the Ordinance contributed much to the Victory for the several Bodies into which the Kings Army was drawn up found a means to inclose in a body of Dutch Horse whom they charged so furiously on the Flanks that they were routed and forced to fall back upon the Infantry of the Ligne The King himself acted the part of an excellent Commanmander and a stout Soldier for when he was to encounter with eighteen hundred Lances commanded by the Duke of Mayenne he with his Pistol and Sword in his hand was engaged in the midst of that great Squadron and totally defeated it with a small party that followed him close by his sides The King took all the Bag and Baggage Canon and Ammunition By this Battel Henry the 4th secured the
departure Scanderbeg followed and cut off many of his Army assaulting him sometimes in the Rear sometime in the Van as place and occasion would suffes him The next Spring Amurath returned intr Epirus with an of Army 160000 Men seading beo fore Sebali as a wise Captain with 40000 Horse to beleagure the City of Croia After a furious Battery it was assaulted by the Turks but Vranacontes the Governour so encouraged his Soldiers and Citizens that they stoutly defended it whilst they were then busie in the assault Scanderbeg with 5000. broke into their Camp killed 500 Men and was spoiling of their Tents This gave an Alarm to the whole Army so that the Bassa Seremet and Prince Mahomet with his Guard hasted to rescue their Camp and to deliver it from such troublesome Guests Scanderbeg in his Retreat being inclosed in by the Turks broke through several Bodies of them safe but with great danger of his Life During this Siege he had strongly encamped himself upon the Mountain Tumenist not far from the Turks that he might be more ready to plague his Enemies and assist his Subjects besieged in Croia Mahomet to prevent Scanderbeg for the future had drawn all the best Soldiers of his Army on that side where he was wont to assault them but he having good Intelligence caused an Alarm to be given by Moses there whilst he in the mean while with a strong party of 8000 Men at Midnight entred their Camp at the farther end and made a very great flaughter of the Turks Amurath after many cruel Assaults given to the City and furious Attempts to no purpose through the Vigilancy of the Governour and Courage of the Defendants dyed for Grief under the Walls of Croia His Death caused the Siege to be raised by his Son and Successor Mahomet whose Army was followed and miserably cut off by Scanderbeg in their return homewards at all places of advantage But to keep him in continual Play Mahomet sent one Amesa a Turk with 12000 Horsemen to wast Epirus Scanderbeg laid for him an Ambush upon the Mountain Modrissa where Scanderbeg's Infantry fell upon those Horsemen and killed 7000 men with the loss of the Turks General taken Prisoner who was afterwards ransom'd at 13000 Duckats by Mahomet The Money was distributed amongst the Christian Soldiers After this one Debreas a Valiant Captain requested Mahomet to be sent against Scanderbeg who hearing of his coming went to meet him in the Turks Dominions with 6000 choice men Debreas had 14000. Scanderbeg thought to have come upon him unawares but he was prevented and discovered therefore the two Armies drew up and after a sharp engagement Scanderberbeg slew Debreas with his own Hands as he was riding about to encourage his Men. The whole Army at the loss of their General fled and left behind them 4120. slain by the Christians Mahomet endeavour'd next to corrupt some great Man of Scanderbegs Army Moses Golemus of Dibra was the person pitched upon He fled to the Turks and returned with an Army of 15000 men into Epirus where he was encountred by his late Prince and 11000 of his Soldiers killed with the loss of one hundred Epirots In this Battel Ahemaze a Turk challenged Zacharias Groppa a Christian and was by him killed and beheaded before the Fight Moses at his return to Constantinople was so derided by the Turks that he preferr'd to cast himself upon the mercy of Scanderbeg who received him again and pardoned him restoring to him all his Goods which had been confiscated Turks won next Amesa a Nephew of Scanderbegs promising him the Crown of Epirus With him Isaak the Great Bassa was sent with 50000 men to proclaim him King of Epirus Scanderbeg had provided a good Army but came in sight of the Enemy only with 6000 Horse with whom he took the way of Lyssa a Town of the Venetians as if he had despaired of keeping of Epirus any longer and had fled thither for the safety of his Person The Turks rejoiced as if they had no Enemy to deal with or to fear When Scanderbeg saw the Turks secure and that they had the day before ranged about the Country for Plunder and Spoil he divided his small Army into three Parties and came upon them before they expected him for they had not time to bridle their Horses Amesa making Head first was taken Prisoner and his Party defeated The Bassa was overthrown by Moses and Tanusius two of Scanderbegs Captains and driven out of Epirus He lost about 20000 men and Scanderbeg but 60. All the Bag and Baggage and Tents of the Enemies were there taken with great Riches by the Epirots Three years after Sinam and Hamur two other Captains were ordered by Mahomet to disturb the quiet of Scanderbegs Kingdom but Sinam with 20000 men was overthrown and his Successor Asambeg with 30000. was defeated next in the Plains of Ocrida himself wounded and taken Prisoner by Scanderbeg One Jussembeg with 18000. entring into Epirus lost part of his Army and was glad to save himself by flight with the rest Their misfortune caused one Caraza-beg an old Companion of Scanderbegs to request Mahomet to venture an Army with him He trusted him with 40000 men but when Carazabeg had near 4000 Horse who were cut in pieces by an Ambush at his first entrance into Epirus and been wearyed out with continual Alarms by Scanderbeg in the Night the weather proving very Tempestuous and full of Rain he returned back to Mahomet with less loss than any before him A Peace afterwards was concluded between Mahomet and Scanderbeg but it lasted not long because of Injuries received on both sides Mahomet to defend his Territories bordering upon Epirus sent Seremet Bassa with fourteen thousand Soldiers but he was routed in the Plains of Ocrida and 10000 Turks slain Balabanus Badera an Epirot born was the next great Captain who invaded Epirus with 15000 Horse and 3000 Foot He sought to ingratiate himself with Scanderbeg by Messengers and Gifts but because he was born a Peasant Scanderbeg sent him a Shovel a Mattock and a Flail This Balabanus was three times overthrown in Battel by Scanderbeg and his Armies routed and cut in pieces At his return he perswaded Mahomet to send two Generals with 40000 men against Scanderbeg so that he and one Jacub Amauth entred into Epirus Balabanus was first defeated and forced to fly with great slaughter Jacub next was killed by Scanderbeg himself and his Army dispersed Mahomet went into Epirus next and sent Balabanus with 80000 men to besiege Croia before him but was perswaded to return back Constantinople and leave the command of the Siege to Balahanus who riding up to the Gates of Croia to offer them Honourable conditions was shot in the Throat and dyed in his Camp The Army fled after the death of their General out of Epirus leaving behind them their Tents and Carriages But Mahomet the next Spring returned with a vast Army to the Siege of Crota but