it on the other side with his Waggons 12. When they cannot preuaile against the Enemy by strength then let them minister and breed causes of discord amongst their Souldiers for no Army though it be very little can quickly be destroyed of the Enemies except it be consumed with priuate dissentions and hatred within it selfe This is practised to this day and is tollerated by our chiefes of Warre who prefer policy before strength therefore let it be followed The old Spartan that had conquered by policie offered an Oxe but he that preuailed by force offered only a Cocke because the greater sacrifice of thankfulnesse was due to the gods from him for the one and the greater praise and reward was due vnto him from the State for the other But this is the greatest glory of all to driue out the naile of their Enemies practise with a stronger of their owne and to blow him vp in his owne Mine Policie against force deserueth much and preuaileth often but by Stratagem to preuaile against Policy is euer excellent Behold it in this The Souldiers of Ferdinand plotted with some of the French Garrison in Gifon-Castle neere San-Seuerino to betray the place vnto them the French entertained the motion and assigned an houre and the manner for the execution In the meane while they acquainted the Gouernour The Arragoneses came at the time appointed found a Port open and enter they were taken in the trap seuen hundred part horse and part foot were slaine on the place the rest were taken prisoners Thus Stratagem did preuaile against Policy Stratagem and Policie are of great force and in Warre may be lawfully vsed It is vsuall and allowable by the Law of Armes saith Sir Robert Dallington for a publique and professed enemy to attempt that by stratagem fraud or suborned treachery Sir Rob. Dall in his Aâ—horisme chap. 37. which cannot be got by fine force without long time vttermost danger and extreame charge for this way the purchase is sooner made and at lesse rate Therefore let them vse all stratagems and policies that may be to circumuent and ouerthrow an enemy let them vpon fit occasion corrupt the enemies men with money let them by cunning meanes and fained letters cause the enemies Captaines to be suspected Let them bring the Generall himselfe into more dislike if hee bee disliked of his Souldiers So they may bee rid of him by policie whom they could not be rid of by force I will shew you the euents of all these by presidents The first example of presidenâ— shewing how to corrupt the Enemies men with money Monsieur Trimouille Monsieur de Ligny and Iohn Iaques Triultio being to warre with Lodowick Sforza Duke of Milan in the behalfe of Lewis the twelfth the French King thought with themselues there was no quicker way to end the Warre than to corrupt Lodowicks Souldiers with money He had entertained many Swissers into pay and these Swissers were valiant men of their hands but very couetous and easie to be corrupted with gold therefore they sent priuily to the Colonels of the Swissers profering them great summes of money to forsake Lodowicke or to betray him into their hands They being tickled with these proffers stirred all the rest to mutiny taking their occasions that their payes were not performed at the iust dayes that were promised The Duke ran to the stirre in person bringing forth vnto them all his siluer plate and vessels desiring them to rest contented but till the money came from Milan yet they would not yeeld but said they would depart suddenly into their Countrey The Duke not being able neither with prayers nor with teares nor by infinite promises to pacifie any whit their barbarous disloyalty recommended himselfe wholly vnto them to the end that at the least they would lead him to a place of safety But because they had contracted with the French Captaines Guichiardin lib. 3. pag 108. to goe their wayes and not to lead him with them being not willing to grant vnto his full demand yet they consented that he should march away amongst them taking the habit of one of their footmen and so if he were not knowne to saue himselfe by the helpe of his fortune The which conditions being accepted of him for a last necessitie was not sufficient for his safety for that marching by direction through the midst of the French Armie he was knowne by the diligent espiall of such as were assigned to that charge or rather disclosed by the Swissers themselues as he marched in a Squadron of Foot attired and armed in all points as a Swisser and was by that meanes made prisoner Guichiardin lib. 3. pag. 108. Here you see the French Pistolets could doe more than their men at Armes ouercomming him who stiled himselfe the sonne of Fortune From these acute and politique French we take our next president or example by fained letters to cause our enemies Captaines to be suspected Burbon and Triuultio the King of France his Generals The second example or president shewing how by cunning meanes and fained Letters wee shall cause our enemies Captaines to be suspected being besieged and very hardly distressed within Milan by the Emperor Maximilian deuised this policie to free themselues They sent a seruant of Triuultio's who spake the Swissers tongue perfectly well with fained letters vnto the Captaines of that Nation then seruing in Maximilians Campe thereby to make them to be suspected and doubted the which fained messenger being taken by the Sentinels and Watches cunningly like Sinon of Troy humbly beseeched them his life and pardon and that he would deliuer them certaine things which he had to deliuer to the Colonels and Captaines of the Swissers the which being granted him hee drew out of his shooe the deuised letters which hee carried to cause a suspition to grow vpon these Captaines the which being seene and read by the Emperor holding for certaine their contents to be true and mistrusting some treason as they had before vsed vnto Lodowicke Sforza raised presently his Campe and withdrew himselfe with lesse constancie and credit then to his honour and reputation was conuenient Here was a way made without a golden bridge Here was a fetch fit for a Carthaginian Haniball from whom we take the last president or example how to bring our enemies Generall into further dislike by adding fuell to the former fire Haniball being in Italy did such hurt to the Romanes The third example or president shewing how to bring a Generall into further dislike then he was in before as they were almost at their wits end not knowing what to doe nor what Consull to choose at length they sent against him Quintus Fabius Maximus who was both their Dictator and Generall one both skilfull and politique and by delay meant to prolong the Warre so to haue wearied Hanibals strength and power out for hauing increased his pouerty by his long stay spending his owne stocke he
Captaynes Lieuetenants Antients and Sergeants so that all the trayned bands in London Midlesex are furnished with able sufficient Officers out of both these Schooles to your honours that were the Founders I the last in degree of inferior officers had my first egresse from the Artillery Garden In that Schoole I spent Foure yeares compleat to gayne the little knowledge which I haue neuer presuming to shew my skill much lesse to contend with others in it vntill the Scollers of another Schoole Low-Country-like banded together for tryall of skill vrged me thereunto Then for the honour of my Schoole put on by my owne Schoole fellowes I entred the List to play my Schollers Prize And I haue now done it but whether I haue performed it ill or well resteth not in me the Scholler to iudge but in you the Maisters of Science most skilfull in the Art Military Iudge then and Censure Your Friend Edward Cooke To the worthy Company and whole body of Noble Souldiers seruing in the Fift Cautionarie or Trayned Band of Midlesex otherwise called Captayne Perts Company WHere a generall voyce warrants an approbation worthie Gentlemen and Souldiers there euery seruice is a Duty The truth of it concernes inuites mee to write a peculiar Epistle vnto you and therein to extoll your worth And none will discommend me for it that either imitates your vertues or would be praysed as you for worth Your worth Implyes your rare parts your rare partâ— though many may bee Epitomized in Foure 1. Your pronesse of mind to beare Armes 2. Your actiuenesse in all Millitary motions 3. Your Subiugated wills to obey your Officers 4. Your Damon and Pythian like affection one to another The three first are rare but the fourth and last is the most rare and excellent For as a Diamond fairely set in Gold it giues luster to all the rest and makes me stile you Philonida or Philonis a bande of friends or true friendship or indeed the Holy band Plutarch telleth of an holy band errected by one Gorgidas Plutarch in the life of Pelopidas which did consist of three Hundred chosen men entertayned by the state kept within the Castle of Cadmea called the Townes band as you the Kinges band This band was neuer broken nor ouerthrowne before the battaile of Chaeronea where they were all slaine found lincked together with cordes of silke arme in arme Pikes sticking in their brests Philip King of Macedon Father to Alexander the great King Philip their enemie shedding teares for them and causing them to bee buried together who in death would not be parted Thus the louing Holy Band Fell by the Macedonians hand Each one dying for his Frend Keeping Friendship to the end From whose ashes doth arise You that them doth Sympathize Neuer to dissolue together Nor like God to liue for euer For one by one be sure to die Time takes away time will supply And as he brought you to the Wombe So backe hee leads you to your Tombe Yours in life and death Edward Cooke To his Brother in Law Thomas Chamberlaine a louer of Armes and an expert Souldier WHen I first made entrance into this worke you know worthy Brother that there was no speech made in the Citty or Subburbes of Plague or Pestilenc But when I had almost finished it the Plague began amongest vs. Then was both speech complaint too in an vncessant manner So I least of Inâ—ited by you in the heate thereof to finish it least dying and leauing it an abhortiue it should vtterly fayle and come to ruine But what auailed it mee to write of warlike â—tratagemes and Policies to oppose opugne repell an humaine Enemie in the field when tht Lord God of Hosts great in powâ—r whom none could resist was entred the field destroying Thousands on his right hand Ten Thousand on his left hand and all the Kingdome in generall had not his mercy exceeded his Ivstice Then it was for mee not to write but to pray not to forcast where to flie from the sword of the Lord but how to submit my selfe to the sword of the Lord which when the Lord saw he manifested his power to me preseruing me that I might hereafter trust in him and declare his goodnesse to the Sonnes of men Thus the Presse of the Lord went forth it tooke away whole families it contynued many Moneths together in the Subburb in be Citty The Citty was almost desolate yet not desolate because she had a gracious God with a flaâ—ming sword purging not consuming her A blessed Sauiour interceding for mercy not Iustice A King on earth as Hezekiah weeping and praying in secret for her calling vpon his Lordâ—â—pirituall and Temporall on all the Moyseses and Arons in the Kingdâ—me to ioyne with him in Prayer as they had in fasting to crye mightily vnto the Lord to spare this Citty the holy Citty the Citty where his name was called vpon Nay shee had a carefull Magistrate in her whom diuine prouidence did preordayne to that place to do hâ—r good Sâ—r John Gore was then Lord Mayor of London And Alderman Heylyne and Alderman Parkebust were Shriefes who went in person to visite her releining her relinquished members readie to starue for want of foode Sending his two worshipfull Brothers the Shrieues to doe it for him if his Lordship was otherwaies imployed These two good Samaritans came into the Suburbes among the poore Trinobantes of Saint Sepulchers inquiring their number their estate their wants their greiuances finding them great past their expectation they returned with melting hearts condoling their miserie and informing the Lord Mayor of it who by them through their meanes sent instantly a supply of Fourteene Poundes for their reliefe commanding information weekely to be giuen of their wants they should be relieued Which was done by me and performed by them euen till the sicknesse was mightily decreased our Gentlemen returned home so they left off being seconded by M. George Allington Esquier and one of the Maisters of the Pipe office who sent them Fortie shillinges as formerly he had done at other times weekely This money was truly distributed though it came not to my hands The money that came to my handes from the Lord Mayor Sheriffes and Churchwardens was Twenty Fiue Poundes Ten shillinges So when all this was discharged and the plague quite ceased and thankes rendered to Almighty God for our deliuerance I betooke my selfe to Penn and Paper againe to fininsh what before I vndertooke which by Gods helpe I haue effected and would not haue published it to the world had not some Low Country-like forced You brotherlike perswaded Now if any good come thereby let such as reape it thanke you who would not let me rest till I had finished then printed it If none at all then let them blame me not you if not excuse me thus he had a good intention but hee failed of the execution in this I rest and resting rest
the face of the enemie and be brought forth to battell CHAP. IIII. How Souldiers must bee Armed Souldiers must be Armed in euery kind according as they are diuided The Dragons are light horse men otherwise called Harqnebusiers Armes of a Pikeman Souldiers are deuided into two kinds Foot and Horse The foot againe are of two kindes Pikemen and Musketeirs The Horse men againe into two kindes Curassiers and Dragones The Armes of Pickemen are a Gorget Curace Headpeece Pike Sword G rdle and hangers Armes of a Muskateire The Armes of Muskateirs are a Musket a Rest Bandeleires Headpeece Sword Girdle and hangers Armes of a Horseman Curassier The Armes of a Horseman Curassier are a Gorget Curace Cutases Pondrons Vambraces a Left-hand Gauntlet Taces Cushes a Caske a Sword girdle and hangers a case of Pistolles firelockes Saddle Bridle Bitt Petrell Crooper with the leathers belonging to fasten his Pistolles and his necessarie sacke of carriage and a good Horse to munt on The Armes of a Dragone which hath succeeded in the place of alight Horseman are a good Harquebus or Dragone The Armes of a Dragon fitted with an yron worke to be carried in a belt a Belt with a flaske priming boxe Key and Bullet bagge an open headpeece with cheekes a Buffe coate with deepe skirts Sword girdle and hangers a Sadle Bridle Bitt Petrell Crooper with straps for his Sacke of necessaries and a horse of lesse force and lesse price then the Curassiers As Souldiers were diuided into two kindes so are their Armes into two forts Defensiue and offensiue Offensiue Armes are such as they indeauor to wound and kill Offenciue Armes withall as Muskets Hargabuses or Dragones Pistolls Pikes Swords and Rapiers c. Defensiue Armes Defensiue Armes are such as they weare to resist the force and charge of the enemie of this sort are the Headpeece Gorget Curace Vambraces Gauntlet and Taces c. Defensiue Armes are preferred before the Offenciue Captaine Bingham in Aelian in that they bring safety to him that beareth them whereas the other are imployed in anoying the enemie onely These Defensiue Armes should be made strong fit and with all comely Strong to protect or anoye fitte to sit close to the body and be manageable comelie to grace such as weare them When Souldiers are thus prouided of Armes let them be carefull to weare them for by often wearing them their bodies will bee strong and their Armour will be no more cumbersome vnto them then the cloathes on their backe The Romans did so inure their bodies to beare Armes Example Vegetivs lib. 1. Chap. 20. that as Vegetius doth report of them they would both wrastle and run races in their Armour and were so strong of body by continuall vse thereof that they made nothing of it But when field exercises through negligence and sloth was giuen ouer Armour began to grow heauie because it was seldome put on Their bodies being weakened by idlenesse they made suite to the Emperour that they might weare no more Cataphracts nor Corslets Afterwards that they might lay away their Helmets and so when they should goe to fight against the Goathes being naked on their breasts hauing nothing for their heads they were oftentimes by the multitude of Archers vanquished and ouercome Therefore let Souldiers still accustome themselues to weare their Armour and when want of Imployments bids them cast them off let them not forget to vse exercise at home to keepe their bodies still in strength so when they shall reasume their Armes againe their bodies will be strong and able to beare them The next Chapter shewes what exercises they should vse when they want imployment CHAP. V. What exercises Souldiers should vse at idle Times when they want imployment BEcause Souldiers may want imployment and want of imployment may breede idlenesse and idlenesse procure a stiffenesse in the ioynts therefore they must vse at idle times such exercises as may put life into them which may make them strong and healthfull Vegetius Lib. 3. Chap. 2. for exercise is more auaileable then Physitions The bodie by idlenesse ingendereth many grose and cold humors which will be very painefull to lazie Souldiers but moderate exercise taken in time will not onely preuent it but when they are come expelle them soone and giue them ease Therefore let Souldiers vse exercise and such exercises as haue in them the tokens of courage and feates of actiuity As Running Leaping Valting and Swiming The vse of them followeth in the 6. 7. 8. and 9. Chapters CHAP. VI. Why Souldiers must vse running THe ancient Romans did exercise their young Souldiers to running that so with greater violence they might set vpon their enemies gayne the commodious places from the enemie or preuent them if they would doe the like Vegetius Lib. 1. Chap. 9. For this cause saith Vegetius they were often exercised to runne that so being set out for Scouts they might more chearefully goe forward more readily returne and more easily ouertake their Enemies when they fled We that doe imitate the Romans in those thinges which be vsefull doe louingly incite our Souldiers at vacant times to vse running that so they may be the better breathed and the more able to helpe vs when we call for it The enemie being too strong in shot for vs we command them to runne ☜ that so we may ioyne with him sooner Thereby auoyding the inconuenience of playing vpon our battaile hee hauing libertie to dispose of his shot as he list himselfe The enemie seeking to gayne some hill or strong place by vs ☜ we command them to runne that so he may be preuented The enemie flying we command them to pursue him running not in disorder but in good order for their safety Thus must of running now of Leaping and the vse CHAP. VII Why Souldiers must vse Leaping SOuldiers must vse Leaping for passing of deepe places that when such kind of dificulties happen they may goe ouer without all manner of trouble Pompey the great excelled herein touching whom Salust in this wise seemeth to make mention With the lightest in Leaping with the swiftest in running with the strongest he stroue in casting the Barre Our gratious Soueraigne King Charles as a second Pompey excelleth in this Thus much of Running and Leaping now of Valting and the vse CHAP. VIII Why Souldiers must vse Vaulting SOuldiers must vse Vaulting to make them ready nimble and quicke on horsebacke The ancient Romans sayth Vegetius had horses of wood Vegetius Lib. 1. which in winter was set in a house in somer in the open field Vpon these the young Souldiers were compelled to mount at the first without Armour afterwards with Armour when being perfect they could with swords and long poles in their hands get vp vpon any side Let Souldiers then vse vaulting to make them ready nymble and quicke on horsebacke that if it should so chance that they were vnhorsed in
all maladies and that which lengtheneth a mans life Socrates by Sobrietie had alwaies a strong body and liued euer in health whereas Alexander by his drunkennesse dyed in the flower of his age though he were better borne and of a sounder constitution than Socrates All the greatest Personages of the world haue beene Sober So was Cyrus the elder so was Caesar so was Iulian the Emperor Therefore let all Souldiers be sober and embrace Sobriety for it will make them as Kings and Princes to gouerne their passions and to bridle their insatiate appetite To Sobrietie let them adde Temperance Temperance Temperance is a rule that sweetly accommodateth al things vnto Nature Necessity Simplicity Facility Health Constancie Temperance will weane their soules from the sweet milke of the pleasures of this world and make them capable of a more solide and soueraigne nourishment These two will highly aduance them in the fauour of their Generall and raise them in time to great preferment whereas drunkards and vntemperate persons are contemned of all men and no matter of importancie to be committed vnto them Reade Garrards Art of Warâ—e The Turkes are famous for their Sobriety A certaine Gentleman at his returne from Constantinople did declare vnto the Earle of Salma that he had seene foure miracles in the Turkish Dominions which was first an infinite Armie almost without number consisting of more than foure hundred thousand men Secondly that amongst so many men bee saw not one woman Thirdly that there was no mention made of wine Lastly at night when they had cried with a high voice Alla which is God there continued so great a silence thorow the whole Campe that euen in the Pauilions they did not speake but in a low voice A thing worthy to be admired and imitated though from Turkes The next Qualitie required in a Souldier is Valour Valour Valour is the greatest the most generous and heroycallest vertue for a Souldier of all other it consisteth in the stoutnesse of his heart in the resolution and stayednesse of his minde grounded vpon the dutie the honesty and iustice of the enterprise which resolution neuer slacketh whatsoeuer hapneth vntill he haue valiantly ended the enterprise or his life Here is Valour let Souldiers striue to be thus valiant some doe seeke this vertue in the body and in the power and strength of the limmes But they are mistaken for it is not a qualitie of the body but of the minde a setled strength not of the armes and legs They terme it but of the courage This Valour is Philosophicall not altogether humane being an impregnable bulwarke a compleat armour to incounter all accidents arming a man against his owne aduerse fortune Peter Charron of Wisdome lib. 3. pag. 499. and making him to brooke the constancy and vertue of his enemy containing Magnanimity Patience and other chiefe heroicall vertues All other helps are strange and borrowed strength of armes legs is the quality of a Porter to make an enemy to stoope to dasle his eyes at the light of the Sunne is an accident of Fortune He whose courage faileth not for feare of death quelleth not in his constancy and resolution and though he fall is not vanquished of his Aduersary who perhaps may in effect be but a base fellow but of Fortune and therefore he is to accuse his owne vnhappinesse and not his negligence ☞ The most valiant are oftentimes the most vnfortunate Seeing it is so Let no man be disheartned especially a Souldier seeing he must be brought vnto some honourable enterprise and therefore not to aduenture is cowardnesse to aduenture on valour be the euent what it will Many are accounted valiant who haue no sparke of true Valour in them such are all our Thrasonicall Braggadoshes Ragamuffin Rorers who will quarrell with any man they meet with for the Wall and send their challenges abroad as oftentations of their Valour But such are not to be dealt withall being but rash men bastardly Valorous Peter Charron of Wisdome lib. 3. pag. 500. as they call it True Valour though it be Humane is a wise Cowardlinesse a Feare accompanied with foresight to auoid one euill by another and such men as are thus valorous will not venture their life vpon any sleight occasion These are wise and are to be commended the other vnwise and are to bee discommended Cato the elder hearing many to commend a hare-braind fellow for his Valour wittily taunted the applausers thus My friends quoth he I wonder why you should esteeme Valour so much and Life so little Plutarch against heady Rashnesse speaketh to this effect and saith That when King Pyrrhus sent his Herald vnto King Antigonus to challenge him to fight Antigonus made him this answer That he made Warres as much with Time as with Weapons and if Pyrrhus were weary of his Life there was enough open to put himselfe to death Thus you see how heady Rashnesse is to be contemned and auoided But this doth no whit impeach Valour for Valour executed in fit time and place hath produced wonderfull effects Quintus Curtius saith of Alexander that hee got the Victory at Arbella more by his owne Vertue than by any Fortune and that with Valour and hardnesse more then through any aduantage of ground Plutarch in the life of Corâ—olanus Plutarch saith of Cains Martius That by his meere Valour and manhood he tooke the City of Corioles and after was the cause of the Consul Cominius victory against them which came to the rescue of it For the Volfes fearing the taking of the City came from all parts of the Countrey to saue it and had diuided themselues into two parts to hold the Romanes play in two seuerall places Therefore Martius hauing taken their City left the spoile thereof to his obstinate Souldiers which stayed behind and with a few that willingly offered themselues to goe he went to aide the Consul Cominius against the rest When he came he asked him how the Order of the Enemies Battell was and on which side they had placed the best fighting men The Consul made him answer that he thought the Bands which were in the Vaward of their Battell were those of the Antiates whom they esteemed the warlikest men and which for courage would giue no place to any of the Hoast of their Enemies Then prayed Martius to bee set directly against them the Consul granted him greatly praising his courage Then Martius when both the Armies came almost to ioyne aduanced himselfe a good space before his Company and went so fiercely to giue charge on the Vaward that came right against him that they could stand no longer in his hands he made such a lane through them and opened a passage into the Battell of the Enemies The Romanes preuailing against their foes besought Martius that he would returne to the Campe because they saw he was able to doe no more hee was already so wearied with the great paine
he had taken and so faint with the great wounds he had vpon him But Martius answered them that it was not for Conquerors to yeeld nor to bee faint-hearted and thereupon began afresh to chase them that fled vntill such time as the Army of the Enemies was vtterly ouerthrowne and numbers of them slaine and taken prisoners The next morning betimes Martius went to the Consul Cominius who highly commended him for his Valour and proffered him many giâ—ts but Mâ—rtius refused all Therefore the Consul did order and decree that he should henceforth be called Coriolanus in lieu of the noble seruice he had done for his Lion-like courage Tâ—uâ— much of Valour The next Vertue required in a Souldier is Loyalty Loyalty Loyalty is a transcendent Vertue and passeth my power to expresse It consisteth in the faithfulnes of Subiects to their Prince of Souldiers to their General of one friend to another For without faith no friendship Faith is the band of all humane society the foundatioÌ„ of all Iustice aboue all things ought to be religiously obserued The Romanes were wont to exact it from their Souldiers by an oath the foâ—me whereof in Vegetius time did run thus Vegetiâ—â—â—â—b 2. cap. 5. We sweare by God the Father by Christ his Sonne and by the Holy Ghost to do all thing valiantly which the Emperour or Prince doth command vs we will neuer forsake the warre neither refuse death for the Romane Common-wealth This shewes what manner of man a Souldier should be loyall and faithfull such a one by nature not by Arte or obligation therefore let all Souldiers striue to attaine this excellent vertue of Loyalty which will so arme them against all the temptations of the Enemy as he shall neuer be able to make them Traitors ☜ What Souldier would become a Traitor to betray his Generall or Captaine into the hands of his Enemy if he did consider the penalty of the same it may bee from him that sets him on worke I will instance it in the Argyraspides They loue the Treason but they hate the Traitor Plutarch in the life of Eumenes Plutarch in the life of Pausanias The Argyraspides were old Souldiers of Macedon who did deliuer their good Captaine Eumones aliue into the hands of Antigonus his deadly enemy But Antigonus who set them a worke commanded euery mothers sonne of them to be slaine in recompence of their Treason saith Plutarch in the life of Eumenes Treason is a horrid fact and the iustice of God will not let it passe vnpunished be the committer neuer so great I will instance it in Pausanias This Pausanias was Generall of the Lacedemonians when the Persians ouer-ran Greece and wasted all the Country before them he receiued of Xerxes King of Persia fiue hundred Talents of gold promising him to betray Sparta but his Treason being discouered Agesilaus his father pursued him into the Temple of Minerua called Chalciaecos where he fled for Sanctuary where he caused the doores of the Temple to be mured vp with bricke and famished him to death his mother tooke his corps and cast it forth to the dogs not suffering it to bee buried saith Plutarch in the life of Pausanias These examples being set before their eyes will not only make them to detest Treason but to become more faithfull vnto their Commanders Of all Souldiers none euer were more faithfull to their Commanders than the Romans ye shall not read in any History of any faithfuller Souldiers than they haue beene When their Consull Crassus was endangered by the Parthian Arrowes which flew thicke about his eares they did compasse him about and brought him into the middest of them then covering him round with their Targets they told him That neuer Arrow of the Parthians should touch his body before they were all slaine one after another fighting it out to the last man in his defence Plutarch in the life of Otho the Emperour Plutarch reports a more admirable act of theirs than this The Emperour Otho saith he was forsaken of all his Captaines who had yeelded themselues to Vitellus the new Emperour his Souldiers notwithstanding forsooke him nor neither went they to submit themselues to their enemies the Conquerours neither tooke they any regard of themselues to see their Emperor in that despaire but all ioyntly together went vnto his lodging and called for their Emperour when hee came out they fell downe at his feet prostrated thus on the ground they did kisse his hands with the teares running downe their cheekes and besought him not to forsake and leaue them to their enemies but to command their persons whilest they had one drop of blood left in their bodies to doe him seruice ☞ Then one of the poore Souldiers drawing out his sword said vnto him Know O Caesar that all my Companions are determined to dye in this sort for thee and so slew himselfe These were faithfull and loyall Souldiers worthy to bee remembred to all posterities They were constant to their friends faithfull to one another not refusing death for the Romane Common-wealth Let all Souldiers imitate them in faithfulnesse Faithfull Souldiers are a Captaines bulwarke Caesar was safer in the Campe then in the Senate Thus much of loyalty The next quality required from a Souldier is freedome from bribes It is a dishonourable thing for a Souldier to receiue a Bribe and it is the more dishonourable because the law of Armes doth forbid it wherefore doth the law of Armes strictly forbid it with a penalty to the same but because those men whose nature is most prone to take bribes are the most fittest to be made Traytors On them the enemy will lay golden bookes to draw them to his purpose vpon any occasion Thus Xerxes dealt with Arthmius Plutarch in the life of Themisticles borne at Zelbâ—a who by gold was to corrupt the Graecians to make him way into Greece But Arthmius was thereupon noted of infamy not alone but his children with their posterity after Thus he dealt with Pausanius Generall of the Lacedemonians Xerxes corrupted Pausanius with 500 talents of gold to betray Sparta Plutarch in his Morals and in the life of Pausanius to whom he gaue fiue hundred Talents of gold to betray Sparta into his hands but Pausanius being too much gorged with gold was mured vp in a Temple and famished to death as I haue already declared Good reason therefore it is that the law of Armes should so strictly forbid the taking of bâ—ibes seeing the whole Army may be endangered thereby And the law of Armes doth likewise include all acceptance of gifts as vnlawfull for any to receiue of a professed enemy that is or hath beene or may be guessed at to bee hereafter whether they be giuen him in lieu of his desert or to recompence him for his Ambassage he must not I say accept them of him forfeare of bringing himselfe into danger Haue not many bin brought into suspition by it
Your louing Brother Edward Cooke ⧠The Index or Table briefely poynting out the seuerall Contents of euery perticular Chapter Of Armes and Men And of the choise of Men for Souldiers Chap. 1. Out of what Clymate or place Souldiers may be most Conuenyently taken Chap 2. Of what Age Souldiers should be allowed either for present seruice or Muster Chap 3 How they must be armed Chap 4. What Exercises they must vse when they want Imployment Chap. 5 viz. Running Leaping Vaulting and Swymminge Why Souldiers must vse Runninge Chap 6. Why Souldiers must vse Leapinge Chap. 7. Why Souldiers must vse Vaultinge Chap. 8. Why Souldiers must vse Swimminge Chap. 9. Vnto what younge Souldiers must be disciplyned and how often trayned in a Moneth Chap 10 When Souldiers must be brought into the fieild for Battell Chap. 11. What the beats of the drumme are which Souldiers must Know Chap. 12 What the distances in fiiles and Rankes are which Souldiers must know Chap. 13. How a fiile and a Ranke is distinguished for a Souldier to know Chap. 14 What the fiights are which Souldiers must be expert in Chap. 15 What the qualities are which befitt Martiall Men. Chapter 16. Of wisdome and pollicie The vse of it how it may be attained with a breife Summary of Stratagems and pollicyes pertynent for these tymes Chap. 17 Of the vse of Faceinge Chap. 18 The words of Command for it Chap. 19 Of the vse of wheeling Chap 20 The words of Commande for it Chap 21. Of the vse of Countermarch and the words of Commande for it Chap. 22 Of the vse of doublinge Chap. 23. Of the distances to be obserued in Battaile Of their vse and how to be Commanded Chap 24. The words of Commande by which the length or depth of a Battaile may be doubled in place or number Chap. 25. A platforme of Exercising for those that would but are not exquisite Chap. 26. The Postures of the Musket in that forme as it was prescribed vnto vs by his Maiestie and his most honorable privie Counsell Chap. 27 The seuerall Postures of the Pike abstracted from that Booke which the Prince of Orange his Excellencie did allowe of Chap. 28. Chapter the first OF ARMES AND MEN. WARRE is my Subiect and therefore my first discourse shall be of Armes and Men because in them consisteth whatsoeuer belongeth or appertayneth to Warre that is vnto Land seruice As Cato the singuler and notable Author amongst the Latines doth testifie Marcus Cato I am not ignorant of Vegetius definition Vegetius Lib. 2. Chop 1. saying that whatsoeuer appertayneth to Warre is diuided into three parts Horsemen Footmen and Navies Horsemen to keepe the playnes Footmen to keepe the Hilles Citties Champion ground and also steepe places Navies to keepe the Seas and waters But Vegetius implyes herein both Land and Sea seruice I onely here but Land seruice With Sea seruice I will not intermedle with Land seruice by Gods helpe I will and so I begin with Armes Armes doth vphold Kingdomes States and Lawes Of Ames The first thought therefore of a Prince or State that is resolued to put an Army into the field ought to prouide Armes Armes are the security of their owne Soldiers the terror of the Enemie the assured and ordinary meanes of Victory The antiquitie of Armes is all one with the beginnig of Warre For when of ancient times mighty men puffed with Pride and led by Ambition Captaine Bing ham in his notes vpon Aelia◠sought to bring vnder subiection their bordering Neighbours they were forced to fly to the inuention of Armes without which no victorie could be obtayned Since Armes haue been taken vp for defence also Necessity the mother of Arts inuenting away to withstand Ambition Now Armes are Implicitly taken for Headpeeces Gorgets Curaces Vambraces Gauntlets Taces Swords Pikes Muskets Hargabuses Petronells Pistolls Frontlets and Pectoralls for horses with many other necessaries appertayning and going vnder the name of defensiue and offenciue Armes Of these a Prince or State ought to haue store For warlike Nations and victorius haue euer sought to haue aduantage of their enemies by aduantage of Armes This our Nation knowes to be true and therefore by continuall suply of of Armes they make way for new victories The next care of a Prince or State is to prouide Men. All men are not fit for warre therefore there must be a choyse of Men. This is likewise premeditated vpon in the thoughts of a Prince or State before they vndertake Warre As is apparant by the ancient Romanes who had their Muster Masters for the choyse of their men their Tribunes Centurions to make them Souldiers These taught their young soldiers the vse of all their Armes and were present at their exercises Making them runne leape vault shoot cast darts fling stones of a pound weight foyne and thrust with the sword not to strike downe wright Such as were expert they rewarded preferring them to places of desert giuing them wheaten bread the vnexpert barly bread keeping them from preferment vntill they could do some thing as well as the best Then they were preferred as Souldiers for a Legion This did the Romanes Care then ought to be had you see in the choyse of men and Armes The burthen of which care doth rest on the discreet and honest Muster-maister whom the Prince or State for some good cause doth repose their trust in And therefore all his wits must bee set on worke for this seruice Question But there may a question arise whether a Muster master should chuse more for stature or strength To this I answer staturo and strength are both seruiceable but curage ioyned to them is more auailable Therefore currage is more to be regarded then stature Vegetius Lib. 1. Chap. 5. Marius I confesse being Consull of Rome alwaies chose yong Souldiers of tall stature so that he would allow none for horsemen in the wings or front of his Battaile but such as were Sixe foot high or fiue and tenne inches at the least But then there was saith Vegetius mor plenty of people and more that followed the Warres And now the Philosepher with his saying is iustified The longer the world doth continue the lesser bodies it will produce Therefore let Muster-maisters doe as they may and rather chuse for strength then stature And that they are not herein deceiued they haue Homer for witnesse who declareth that Tideus was but small of stature but yet of good courage and stomach Then more requisite it is that Souldiers should be strong and valient then huge and great If that all our Muster-maisters would chuse thus what strong valiant Souldiers should our State haue But either through negligence or to curry fauour or for want of knowledge they doe that as they may be ashamed of But to take away all excuses of want of knowledge I will out of Vegetius shew them how they should chuse them Let the young man therefore that
out on the other party doe either see or suspect which way they are intended to goe and many times there wanteth not Runnagates or Traitors In the next place it shall be declared how these things at hand may be preuented and resisted 3. When they are vpon their march they must send most trustie and fine witted men with the best tried horse which must search the places thorow which they must take their iourney before and behinde on the right hand and on the left hand lest the enemie goe about to set an ambushment and lie in wait to deceiue them 4. When they haue discried an Ambush they must compasse the same about politikely so it shall suffer more perill and danger than it went about to doe 5. When they approach nigh vnto the enemie they must be inquisitiue to know what manner of man their aduersarie is what his Companions are and Leaders whether they be rash and hastie or warie and circumspect whether they be hardy or fearefull cunning in the feats of warre or such as are wont to fight at all aduenture whether they excell or exceed them in number of men or munition and fence of armour whether they can doe more with footmen or horsemen with Piâ—emen or Musquetiers whether by night or in the dawning of the day or in the 〈◊〉 of repast their custome be to assaile their wearied enemies Then to debate and treat of their owne power what may be done in this case whether it be more profitable to prolong the vrgent necessitie of battell or to fight it out of hand If they know themselues to haue the better Horsemen the better Footmen the better Souldiers the better furnished in many things let them not deferre the conuenient and fit occasion of fighâ—ing But if they perceiue their enemies to be the better let them auoid the open and set battell for a few in number and weake in strength oftentimes vnder good Captaines haue obtained the victory by sudden inuasions and lying priuily in waiâ— which they may doe taking time 6. When they are resolued to aduenture a set battell with the enemie they are first to sound the mindes and dispositions of their Souldiers whether they stand affected to fight or no it being as they would haue it they must begin to forecast how to get the Sunne the Wind and Dust in the face of the enemie The higher ground likewise to the intent the enemie may fight both against them and the place for these are not the least meanes of obtaining the victorie 7. When they hope for victory through Footmen against the Horsemen of their enemies they must chuse ruffe places vneuen and full of hils But if they looke to gaine the victory through Horsemen against the Footmen of their enemies they must chuse such places as be indeed somewhat higher but plaine and open encumbred neither with woods nor sennes 8 When they haue cunningly incompast the battels of their enemies they must leaue them some way whereby they may flie for if a passage to depart away be once opened as soon as the minds of all doe agree to runne away they are slaine and murdered like beasts Neither is there any danger to pursue them when they haue flung downe their weapons and will fight no longer but being so inclosed that they haue no way to flie they fight stoutly and become desperately desperate because they looke for no safetie or life so you haue no oddes at all but are both indifferent alike For they are as couragious and as desperate to fight as you rather more by the occasion Therefore young Scipio's counsell is to be followed ☜ The way whereby the enemie may flie must not bee fortified 9 When they are not resolued to fight but to depart away from the enemie the Souldiers must not know that they doe it to shunne battell but they must bee brought in beliefe that they are called back for this policie That the enemie may be allured vnto a more conuenient place that he may be the more easily vanquished and intrapped by them Vegetius lib. 3. cap. 21. This they must not faile to doe for Vegetius saith they will be readie to flie if they perceiue their owne Capaines to despaire 10 When their enemies doth perceiue their flight then their care must be to send some before to possesse the places of greatest aduantage which the enemie doth couet that the rest may the better passe in safety and the enemy be frustrated of his purpose Others behind must lie in ambush to intrap the enemy who comes on with boldnesse no whit suspecting this policy The rest must be preadmonished to be euer in readinesse lest the sudden coÌ„ming of their enemies make them fearefull 11 When they are in feare to bee inclosed by the number of their enemies they must either seeke some place of naturall defence or make the place so by art I will explaine both by examples How to choose a ground to fight with an enemie when you feare to come into the champion to be inclosed by his number Plutarch in the life of King Ageslaus Agesilauâ— being in Aegypt and hauing to do with a great multitude of Aegyptians of whom he stood in feare of to abide them battell in the champion by reason of their multitude did thus He brought his men into the field One while hee made as though hee fled and inticed them to follow him suddenly againe he would turne this way and that way in fine he brought all this multitude into a strait sluce walled about on either side with great broad ditches full of running water so that euen when they were in the middest of it he suddenly stopped their passage with the front of his battaile which he cast to the breadth of the sluce and thus made the number of his fighting men equal with the number of his enemies who could neuer compasse him in behinde nor flanke him on the sides ☞ This he did by choosing a place fit for his purpose How to fortifie a pl ce by art The place may be helped by art in case it be otherwise too open and fit for the enemy that abounds in number to incompasse them on euery side So Caesar a Caesar â—e bello Gall. lib. 2. 36. lib. 3. 323. being to fight against multitudes of Gaules drew a deepe Trench on both the Flankes of his army to secure it from the charge of the enemie The like did Sylla b Plutarch in Syla Aâ—iâ—n in bello Mitbridates against Archelaus the Generall of Mithridates in the battell of Orchomene and both of them so securing their armies from circumuention became Masters of the Field and Conquerours of their enemies Of latter times Iohn Huniades the Hungarian c Turkish Hist 297. §. 2. King being to fight against the huge armie of the Turke gained a noble battell against them by placing his armie on the one side against a Fenne and inclosing
should at last haue beene forced of his owne accord to haue forsaken Italy to the great glory of this man who by policy and wisdome might haue beene said to haue ouerthrowne Haniball for this he was despised of the Romanes and counted a coward and confronted by them But Haniball most of all feared him and therefore craftily put this tricke vpon him â—anibals craftiâ—esse against â—abius Hee commanded his Souldiers when they came neere any of Fabiâ—s lands that they should burne and destroy all round about them but gaue them charge in no wise to meddle with Fabius lands nor any thing of his and did purposely appoint a Garrison to see that nothing of Fabius should miscarry nor take hurt This was streight carried to Rome which did wonderfully incense the people against him by the meanes of Metellus their Tribune who made them an Oration in which he taxed him no more of Cowardlinesse but of flat Treason accusing the Nobility and greatest men of Rome saying that from the first beginning they had laid a plot to draw these Warres out at length only to destroy the Peoples power and authority hauing brought the whole Common-weale into the state of a Monarchy and into the hands of a priuate person who by his remisnesse and delayes would giue Haniball leisure to plant himselfe in Italy and in time giue open passage to the Carthaginians at their pleasure to send Haniball a second aide and Armie and to make a full conquest of all Italy perswading the people therefore to take the Tyrannicall power of Dictatorship from him and to put their affaires into the hands of Minutius Generall of their Horsemen who would and could tell how to bring them safely to passe The people were tickled maruellously with these seditious words but yet they durst not force Fabius to resigne his Dictatorship Plutarch in the life of Fabius the Dictator though they bare him a great grudge and were angry with him in their hearts Howbeit they ordained that Minutius should thenceforth haue equall power and authority with the Dictator in the Warres a thing that was neuer seene nor heard of before Now say Was not this a braue policie of Haniball to bring Fabius into such dislike at Rome and Rome it selfe into such an vprore vpon it Surely it was and it had as good successe as might be Therefore hauing sufficient presidents for these things feare not to put them in execution when you see fit time I conclude now as I began that all these policies and more are to be attained with learning and often reading of Histories as by all braue Commanders which euer were yet may well be vnderstood And therefore let no man thinke but a Souldier ought to be learned and read the which ioyned with experience makes him a perfect man of Warre and without this learning and reading a Souldier may haunt the Warres many yeeres and neuer attaine to the deepe points of Souldiery In Barrets art of Warre lib. 8. pag. 173. the which by much reading and few yeeres of experience may be farre better perfected as may be seene by Lucullus the Romane Commander and many others of other Nations Thus much of Policie and of the qualities which befits Martiall men The next eight Chapters following declares the vse of Facing the vse of Wheeling the vse of Counter-marching the vse of Doubling the vse of those Distances which are to be obserued in Battell naturally arising out of Doubling with the words of command for either CHAP. XVIII Of the vse of Facing IN exercise we commonly prefix vnto our selues this method or order First to face and stand Secondly to face and march When we face and stand ☜ Of facing and standing it is to shew our Souldiers how they should defend themselues if they should be set vpon in Front in Reare in Flankes by transferring their faces that way to receiue them closing or sering themselues together at a conuenient distance and bearing out a a This is liuely expressed in the Hollow battell called Plaesium wherâ— the Musketier are in the middest the Pikes outwardly FroÌ„ted euery way and charginâ— ouer-hand to shelter the Musketiers Apian in the Warres of Siria and Capt. Bingham multitude of Pikes euery way vpon them as that Phalange of Antiochus the Great did when Domitius Scipio's Lieutenant encompassed it round with horse-men and light armed I cannot doe amisse in relating the manner of it vnto you it being so pertinent for my purpose and so fit for the vnderstanding of the motion Therefore out of Apian I will dilate it thus As soone as the horse and chariots of Antiochus were put to flight by the Romane Horse-men and by Eumenes his Phalange of foot being destitute of horse first opened and receiued the light armed that had all the while fought in the Front into the middest of it Then afterwards againe closed And when Domitius Scipio's Lieutenant incompassed it about with horse and light armed which he might easily doe by reason it was thrust vp in a thicke * This Plinthâ—um was a greaâ— square battell full of men and not the hollow Plinthium spoken of in Xâ—nophon The depth oâ— this Plinthium was 32. in depth The light armed in the middest Plinthium it was driuen to great distresse being neither able to charge the enemie nor yet to countermarch in so great a depth as it carried It grieued them much that their long experience nothing auailed them to annoy the enemy and that notwithstanding they were subiect to Arrowes and Darts at all hands Yet bearing out a multitude of Pikes on euery side of their square they called the Romans to come to handle blowes and still made a countenance as though they meant to charge keeping themselues for all that within their Rankes as being foot-men and heauy armed and the rather because they had to doe with an Enemy on horse-backe Besides they were loath to breake the thicknesse of their battell which forme they could not now alter The Romanes also Durst not approach them and come to sword fearing their experience in War and closenesse of Aray and desperation But running about here and there plyed them with Arrowes and Darts whereof none was throwne in vaine falling amongst a troupe so closely put together that they could neither auoid and decline any thing throwne nor giue a way albeit they saw it comming At last being weary and irresolute what to doe they retired easily with a threatning countenance notwithstanding and in good order and not deliuering the Romanes of feare who durst not yet come neare but sought to annoy them aloofe till the Elephants placed in the Macedonian Phalange being affrighted and not to be ruled by their gouernours troubled all and gaue occasion of flight Hitherto Appian Whereby you may see how suddenly they did face maintaining a Charge as it were vpon a stand and when the Romanes would not come to handy strokes with them they angerly yet
leasurely retreated and when they were distressed made as though they would charge holding out a multitude of Pikes euery way to the amazement of the Romanes who durst not approach them The like may be done by our c That is the Hollow square wheâ—e the Pikes are without and the Musketiers within Battell if it should be charged as that was Thus much to face ane stand Now to face and march ☞ Off facing and Marching When we face and march it is to shew our Souldiers how we can vpon deliberation as occasion serues preuent the enemie from Falling on our right or left Wing by bringing it to some Riuer or such like place of strength for succour wherby the enemy can haue no way to encoÌ„passe it which we do by bidding them first to face then to march to the place afterwards to face againe And so they are reduced to the first posture and the Front is as it was at the first This we continually vse in our Trainings at home to make ouâ— men fit for it in the face of the Enemie Howsoeuer some may be ignorant in the vse of the motion yet they cannot bee vnskilfull in the motion it selfe by reason of the practise No Battell can well be without this motion especially in the field where the enemy doth seeke aduantage Let me therefore shew you some other excellent vses thereof that it may bee the beter esteemed and the oftner practised This motion as it is performed marching The vse of Facing as it is performed marching is of this singular vse not onely to giue an assault vpon the aduerse wing of the enemy but to fail any way off from the enemy and suddenly againe to turne vpon him with an euen front to his front that is Pikes to his Pikes Shot to his Shot whereby he is preuented from falling either on the Flankes or on the Reare comming on with one maine Bodie Manie other vses it hath as partly this To Captaine Binghâ—m in his notes vpon Aelian chaâ— 25. shunne a dangerous ground on which an enemie hath strewed Calthrops or laid a secret trap this was found practised by Alexand. the great when he fought with Darius at Arbela Arrian describes it thus * Arrian lib. 4. Alexand. 17. saith he Alexander hauing imbattelled his Army to fight with Darius had intelligence that Darius had strewed the ground betwixt the two Armies with Calthrops hee commanded therefore the right Wing which himselfe led to turne faces to the right hand and to follow him to the end to goe round about and avoid the places that were strewed with Calthropes Darius marching against him to the left hand disioyned his troopes of horse and Alexander taking the aduantage and gâ—uing in quickly betwixt the spaces put Darius to flight Here you see the euent of it and what a victory Alexander gained thereby If he had faced and stood still what would it auailed him Had hee marched fore-right hee had falne vpon the Calthropes but by facing and then marching vpon it hee effected all First he auoided the ground where the Calthropes lay by facing and marching forth then hee reduced them againe to their first posture by facing them to the left hand Afterwards taking his aduantage hee went on to the charge and so defeated the enemie Why Alexander made choice onely of this motion is not to be wondred at because necessity made him to make vse of this motion when no other would serue Countermarch had bin ridiculous so had doubling wheeling had bin in vaine nay it was impossible for him to haue wheeled the ground being so scantie betweene him and the Calthropes his Phalange of so great a bredth and the enemie so nigh Yet say he had wheeled hauing had ground sufficient hee must haue beene forced hauing wheeled to haue faced withall and marched further out then wheeled againe or else to no purpose so haue failed of his expedition Thus you see how fit this motion serued Alexanders turne and by it may learne to make like vse of it vpon like occasion Another singular vse of this motion is to get the vpper ground from the enemie This was found practized by Philopaemen the Achaean Generall When Machanidas the Lacedemonian Tirant had put his left wing to flight yet he by this meanes restored the battell and withall obtained the victory Polibius lib. 11. 634 Polibius describes the manner of it thus The fight being begunne betweene Machanidas the Lacedemonian Tirant and Philopaemen the Achaean Generall it happened that Machanidas had the better for he hauing put the left Wing of the Achaean Mercenaries to flight followed hard the chase Philopaemen as long as there was any hope endeauored to stay his men when he saw them vtterly defeated hee hasted to the right Wing and perceiuing the enemy busie in the chase and the place voide where the fight had bin commanding the first * A Merarchy consisteth of 2048 men Merarchies to turn their faces to the right â—â—and he led them on with high speed not yet breaking the order of their imbattelling and quickly seizing vpon the forsaken ground hee both cut betwixt them that gaue chase and home and withall got the aduantage of the vpper ground against the left wing of the armed whereby hee obtained the victorie Captain Bingham vpon the same motion Aelian chap. â—5 If Philopaemen had in this action vsed wheeling of his Battell which onely was the other motion which would haue serued his turne besides the troublesomnesse of the winding about he should haue bin forced to haue vsed two wheelings and so failed of the celeritie which was at time requisite faces were turned in a trice and he made himselfe master of the ground hee desired before hee could haue wheeled once his Battell Besides to haue Fac'd and stood still had beene to no purpose but Facing and Marching on was to some purpose as you haue heard Thus you see what Facing is Of the vse of Facing in generall How it is the easiest of all Motions but of no lesse importance or necessitie How it may be done in a trice though the Enemy come very suddenly vpon vs Though he encompasse both our Wings Though hee enuiron vs round with Foot and Horse yet we may Face vpon him and make him resistance How that there is no Battell but hath need of this Motion So that when we finde our Enemies to encompasse our right Wing wee turne our Faces and Weapons that way to receiue them To the left when they come to charge vs on that side If on both sides then wee turne Faces halfe to the right and halfe to the left hand But being to remoue the Battell from any of the Flanks we cause Faces to be turned to that Flanke so we lead on vpon the Enemy either to assault him or to preuent him where he would assault Which if we cannot doe we make a stand and so receiue him All this I
the same ground If we Counter march by Files it is to oppose the enemie appearing in the Reare with our best men If by Rankes it is to bring one Wing into the place of the other or all our best men into the middest of the Battell If we Counter-march by Files or Rankes to change our ground we do it either by the Macedonian the Lacedemonian oâ— the a The modern Counter-march standing is thus performed The Fyle-leaders counter-march to the right the next Ranke stands til they be past then they follow the like do all the rest transferring themselues to a new ground moderne Counter-march which was inuented for that purpose and to be performed standing If to maintaine ground then we doe it by the Choraean Counter-march which makes the File-leaders to take the ground of the Bringers vp and the Bringers vp the same ground in the which the File-leaders stood The like in the Wings These Counter-marches namely the Macedonian the Lacedemonian and the Choraean are described by Aelian thus The Macedonian Counter-march b Aelian chap. 20 of the Macedonian Crunter-march by Fyle by File is said to be when the File-leader turneth about his face all the rest with the Bringer-vp goeth against him on the right or left hand and passing on to the ground before the Front of the Battell place themselues in order one after another according as the File-leader himselfe hath turned his face This Counter-march you see transferreth the whole File to another place equall to the first by taking the ground that lyeth before the Front in lieu of that it lost behinde It likewise maketh Shew to the enemy appearing in the Reare of running away but it is of excellent vse Say that before thy Battell lay a Riuer The vse of the Macedonian Counter-march by Fyle and betweene the Riuer and thee a faire plot of ground higher than that thou standest vpon the enemy appearing in the Reare and compelling thee to fight the only way to oppose him with the best men and to got this ground for thy aduantage is this Macedonian Counter-march This Counter-march was first Inuented by Philip King of Macedon Father of Alexander the Great The Lacedemonian Counter-march by Fyle is Of the Lacedemonian Counter-march by Fyle described by Aelian chap. 28. when the Bringer vp turneth his face about and all the rest turning also their faces and proceeding forward together with their Fyle-leader order themselues proportionably in the ground which was behind the reare of the Battell Or else when the Bringer-vp turneth his face about and hee that stood next before him passiing by on the right or left hand is placed againe next before him and the rest following are placed one before another in their former order till the Fyle-leader bee first In this Counter-march you see the proceeding is contrary to the former that tooke the ground before the Phalange or Battell this takes the ground after In that the moouing was from the reare to the front in this from the front to the reare * Captaine Bingham in his notes vpon Aelian chap. 28. Aelian preferreth the Lacedemonian Counter-march before the Macedoman because in it the Soldiers seeme to fall on and charge wherin the Macedonian they seeme to flie There is notwithstanding times as Captaine Bingham notes when it is better to vse the Macedonian As when you seeke to gaine some ground of aduantage or in case you mean to march on and not to fight with the Enemy vnlesse you be compelled for the Macedonian continueth still the march and staieth not the Lacedemonian returneth vpon the Enemie and so looseth ground in marching There is likewise times say I when it is more requisite to vse this Lacedemonian Counter-march than any other As in case you haue passed the ground which the enemy following seekes to gaine and to charge you suddenly the onely way to possesse it againe and to fight with him with your best men is thus to Counter-march the Macedonian here will doe no good Aeâ—ian chap. 28. The Lacedemonians haue another Counter-march which bears the name and that is this the Fyle-leaders begin the Countermarch and euery one in their Files follow them orderly This is no other then our modern Counter-march now in vse The * Of the Choraean Counter-march by Fyle otherwise called Persian or Cretan Choraean Counter-march by Fyle is said to be when the Fyle-leader turning about to the right hand precedeth the Fyle and all the rest follow till the Fyle-leader haue the place of the Bringer-vp and the Bringer-vp the place of the Fyle-leader This Counter-march saith Aelian is called likewise Persian Cretan Persian and Câ—etan saith Captaine Bingham because it was vsed among the Persians and Cretans Captaine Bingham in his notes vpon Aelian chap. 28. Choraean also for the similitude it had with the solelmne Grecian daunces vpon Stages the company that shewed themselues in such daunces being called Chorus who in their daunces ordered themselues into syles and rankes as Souldiers doe in battell and moouing themselues to the brinke of the Stage when being straightned by the place they could passe no further they retired one through the rankes of the other exceeding not the bounds of the place as is done in this Counter-march The words of command for the Choraean Cuunter-march by Fyle It may be commanded thus Fyle-leaders Counter-march to the place of the Bringers-vp and stand and let your Files follow you keeping your distance Or thus Fyles Counter-march and maintaine ground The Lacedemonian may be commanded thus * The words of command for the Lacedemonian Counter-march by File deliuered in Captaine Binghams owne words Bringers-vp turne your faces about to the right hand the rest turne your faces about and beginning at them that are next the Bringers-vp Counter-march and place your selues in your distances before the Bringers-vp and one before another till the Fyle-leader be first Or thus Face all to the Reare Bringers-vp stand the next Ranke passe through by their right hand and place your selues before them keeping your distances all the rest moue with them placing your selues one before another till the Fyle-leader be first When your men are perfects you need but say The Lacedemonian Counter-march and it is enough This gaines the ground lying after the Reare as the Macedonian the groundlying before the Front Now the Macedonian may be thus commanded File-leaders turne your faces about to the right hand Words of command for the Macedonian Counter-march by File Aelian chap. 28. the rest of euery Fyle passe through in order one after another and place your selues at your distances after your Leaders turning your faces about and so stand Looke what these Counter-marches doe by Fyle the very same they doe by Ranke for like aduantage The Macedonian Counter-march by Ranke taketh the ground that lyeth on the side of the contrarie Wing beginning to moue at the corner of the Wing
which is nearest the enemie seeming therfore to him to runne away because it dismarcheth from him as that of the Fyle did before The words of command for it may be these The right hand corner File face to the left Words of command for the Macedonian Counter-march by Rank the rest of each File passe through to the left and place your selues orderly behind your side-men keeping your distance The vse This gaineth the ground lying on the side of the right Wing farthest of from the Enemy The Enemy appeared to the left Wing Bâ—â—his Counter march you may set the strongest part of your Battell against the Enemy and apply the weakest vnto some Riuer Lâ—ke Hill or such like place so that the Enemy cannot come to encompâ—sse it Of the Lacedemonian countermarch by ranke The Lacedemonian Counter-march by Ranke taketh the ground that lieth on the side of that Wing which is towards the Enemy and bringeth the best Wing to be formost against the Enemy comming still on vpon him without any shew of running away and by these words of command may be effected Words of command for the Lacedemonian Counter-march by ranke The vse Left hand corner File where the Enemy appeareth turne your faces to the left hand the rest of each Ranke turne your faces and passe thorow to the left hand and place your selues before your side-men keeping your distances Thus when our forces are able to encounter the enemy and we desire to bring our best wings to fight then we proceed after this manner to oppose him Of the Choraean Countermarch by ranke The Choraean Countermarch by ranke keepeth the same ground the battell had at first and bringeth one Wing into the place of the other or else the Sections to possesse the place of the Wings thereby to strengthen the midst of the battell These two may be effected as the other by seuerall words of Command The first by this word of command Words of command for the Choraean Countermarch by ranke Rankes to the right hand Countermarch and maintaine ground The second by this word of command Countermarch the Wings into the midst of the battell The way to doe it is this First they are to face to the right and left hand by diuision Then to Countermarch into the midst of the battell After they are to face to their Commander and so the Countermarch is effected The vse Thus we strengthen the midst of our battell with our best men bringing them to fight with the enemie which is the end of Countermarch Wherein notwithstanding there is a Caution to bee held that if the enemie be very neare that we cannot conueniently Countermarch before he come vpon vs we forbeare lest we fall into disorder and in disorder be easily defeated In which case the best remedie is to turne faces and so receiue him As Countermarches are not to be done vnlesse the enemie be aloofe off so neither can they well be done but at open order When then your files and rankes are at six foot which is your first distance Then you haue sufficient roome to Countermarch any way But in Countermarch obserue this If the word be for the right hand then step forth with the right legge and bring the left legge ouer If to the left then step forth with the left legge and bring the right ouer But if the Word be to the right and maintaine ground then stand fast with the right legge and bring the left ouer Thus much of Countermarching Now of Doubling CHAP. XXIII Of the vse of Doubling THere is two kinde of Doubling the one of Rankes the other of fiâ—es The first doth double the a The length of the batell is the Ranke the depth is the File Rankes stretch forth in length Files in depth saith Suidas Length the second the Depth of your battell The Length of your battell may bee doubled in Place or Number In b Doubling of the length of a battell in place place when euery file doth open from three foot to six foot which is your open order in files By this meanes the Front possesseth double ground to that it had before There is another way to double the Front in place as you shall heare anon The Length of your battell is c Doubling of the length of a battell in Number doubled in Number when of twentie in a ranke it is made fortie and of fortie fourescore So that you haue twice as many men in the Front as you had before This doubling of the Length of your battell by number may be done vpon fit occasion either in open order or in order In open order by doubling of Rankes by middle men doing the same By bringers vp doubling the front either to the right or left hand at discretion In order by middle men doubling of the Front either to the right or left hand intire or by deuission to both Which doth likewise double the length of a Battell not onely in number but in place also as Captaine Bingham doth obserue in his notes upon Aelian chap. 29. Chap. 29. Two Causes are assigned for the doubling of the length of your Battell both in number and place The one to ouerwing the enemie The other to auoid ouerwinging Two wayes you may auoid ouerwinging One is by making choise of such a ground as may giue you this aduantage of the enemie That he can neuer compasse you in behinde Pâ—â—tarâ—â— in the liues of Aâ—esâ—laus and S lla pag. 630. 478. nor flanke you on the sides Now if you cannot finde such a ground vse art Cast a trench vpon each flanke or Waggons on either Wing As Syila and Huniades did fearing to be encompassed by the multitude of their enemies The second way to auoid ouerwinging is by placing of Aides in the Reare of your Battell or by laying them in Ambush aloofe off that so vpon a word giuen they may suddenly start out vpon the Enemy as Caesar made his to doe at the Battell of Pharsalia where he put Pompey the Great to flight These Aides must be of the most chiefest Souldiers you haue with Officers appointed for their conduct as was vsed by the auntient Romanes before and in Vegetius time Vegetius lib. 3. cap. 17. who did alwaies res rue many of these Aides when their number was inferior to their Enemies their Battell lesse pitched and they in danger to be ouerwinged But when they had plenty of fighting men they by Doubling would make their Battell equall in length and depth to their Enemies So that they could not breake through or ouerwinge them Thus much to aâ—oid ouerwinging And for the doubling of the length of a Battell in plâ—ce and number Doubling the depth of a Battell in place The depth of your Battell is doubled in place when euery Ranke from the swords point opens to three foot from three foot to six foot from six foot to twelue foot which is
the word is giuen This is the way to doe it and I will name no more All this variety of waies helpes such as would be exquisite in exercising I say would are not already I presume not to teach any that knowes more then my selfe Nor such as knowes lesse then my selfe yet scornes to be taught but such as knowes little it may be nothing yet haue a a desire to learne To such I that know some thing to others but little doe impart that little which I haue And in the next chapter will teach them how to exercise a company as I my selfe haue beene taught in the Artilery Garden or elsewhere for I haue attained nothing but by paines taking much cost and reading But first obserue my Method in Exercising My Method in Exercising is not at this time to Intermeddle with new formes of battells various fights sundry kindes of Inductions and the like But to apply my selfe somewhat to that which hath been deliuered practized in former times agreeing with our moderne discipline and at this time in vse beginning at the first principle of all to order a company of men into a battell that are at first confused one among another and to doe it by distinct words of Command whereby they may order themselues into a body without helpe of a Sergeant taking their first distance of six foot in square both in file and ranke in which we commonly vse at the first to exercise our Motions in All this I meane to doe and the Chapter following will shew it CHAP. XXVI This Chapter sheweth a young Commander how he should begin to order his Company How to command the same properly by seuerall distinct words of Command And to obserue true Distance in euery Motion Whether it be to Face to Wheele to Charge to Counter-march or double THus then he may Command when the Company is vnordered intermingled one with another parted from their Armes and lying in sundry places Separate your selues To your Armes File and Ranke your selues Euery File-leader know his place Aduance your Pikes Shoulder your Muskets Fall into a body and flanke your Pikes with Muskets Take your first distance six foot both in File and Ranke Order your Pikes Rest your Muskets Stand Right in your Files Stand right in your Rankes Marke your Directions Silence Face to the right hand as you were Face to the left hand as you were Face to the right hand about as you were Face to the left hand about as you were Rankes to the right hand double as you were Rankes to the left hand double as you were Files to the right hand double as you were Files to the left hand double as you were Middle men to the right hand Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men to the left hand Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men to the right hand Intire Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men to the left hand Intire Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men double your Front to the right and left hand by diuision Middle men as you were Bringers vp to the right hand Double your Front Bringers vp as you were Bringers vp to the left hand Double your Front Bringers vp as you were Now they must aduance their Pikes and so Counter-march Rankes to the right hand Counter-march Rankes to the left hand Counter-march Files to the right hand Counter-march Files to the left hand Counter-march a The second Distance is for Wheeling and charging Files close to your Order Three foot in File and Ranke Rankes close to your Order Three foot in File and Ranke Wheele to the right hand Wheele to the left hand Charging vpon a stand when their Pikes are aduanced Wheele to the right hand about Wheele to the left hand about Charge to the right hand As you were Charge to the left hand As you were Charge to both by diuision As you were Charge to the Front As you were Charge to the Reare As you were Charge to both by diuision As you were Charge Front Reare and Flankes As you were Open yâ—ur Files to your open Order Six foot Open your Rankes to your open Order Six foot Order your Pikes March Shoulder your Pikes March Charge to the right hand Marching and charging from the shoulder at oâ—â—n then open Oâ—deâ— Do all this by the beat of the Drumme As you were March Do all this by the beat of the Drumme Charge to the left hand Do all this by the beat of the Drumme As you were March Do all this by the beat of the Drumme Charge to the Reare Do all this by the beat of the Drumme As you were March Do all this by the beat of the Drumme Beare-vp your Pikes and Counter-march to the right hand This was done by Captaine Bingham in the Artillery Garden Beare-vp your Pikes and Counter-march to the left hand Aduance your Pikes marching Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Port your Pikes marching Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Traile your Pikes marching Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Cheeke your Pikes from the traile Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Make a stand Marke your Directions The right hand file lead forth the rest follow in sequence one after another Lay your Pikes on the outside one of another Recouer Marching and aduance your Pikes Stand. File-leaders bring vp your Files into a body Files open to the right hand Open order Six foot Files close to the left hand to your Order Three foot To the 〈…〉 A foot and a halfe In Fâ—le Râ—nkes open backward to your double Distance Twelue foot Rankes File to the right hand Rankes as you were Rankes File to the left hand Rankes as you were Rankes File to the right and left hand Close your Rankes to six foot Open your Files to six foot Being reduced to your first Distance Order your Pikes Lay downe your Pikes Take vp your Pikes and order Thus much for Exercising and of the Postures of the Pike therein vsed The seuerall Postures of the Musket followeth in the next Chapter CHAP. XXVII Of the Postures of the Musket THe Postures of the Musket are sundry and many Some make 32. some 40. some 43. some more some lesse All which are for Military instruction in the time of Trayning and to make the Souldier most exquisite and perfect But in time of present seruice before the face of the enemy or in fight then all this great number of Postures they reduce into three only and no more viz. 1. Make ready 2. Present 3. Giue fire All the other they wittily and properly sort into foure kindes or orders To be performed Standing Marching Charging and Discharging as is to be seene in Captaine Pantons Table all which must be obserued Thus much of them The Postures or words of Command which we must vse in ordinary Training or daily exercising of Souldiers agreeing to the Prince of Orange forme and by order from his Maiesties most Honourable Priuy Councell are these March with your Musket shouldred and the Rest in your right hand March and with the Musket carry the Rest Sinke your Rest and vnshoulder your Musket Poyse it in your right hand and let it sinke into the left In your left hand hold your Musket and carry your Rest with it Take your Match in the right hand betweene the second finger and thombe Hold your Match fast and blow your coale Cocke your Match Try your Match Guard your pan and blow your match Open your pan Present Giue fire Dismount your Musket and carry it with your Rest Vncocke your match and returne it betweene your fingers Cleare your pan Prime your pan Shut your pan Cast off your loose powder Blow your pan Cast about your Musket Traile your Rest Open your charge Charge with powder Draw out your scowring sticke Shorten your sticke Ramme in your powder Draw out your sticke Charge with Bullet Ramme in your Bullet Draw out your sticke Shorten your sticke and put it vp Bring your Musket forward with your left hand Poyse it in your right hand and recouer your Rest Shoulder your Musket March and carry your Rest with your Musket Vnshoulder your Musket Lay your Musket in the Rest Stand Rested Your saluting Posture as you were In the right hand take your Match betweene the second finger and the thumbe Blow your Match Cocke your Match Try your Match Guard your pan and be ready This last is the Sentinell Posture Thâ—s I haue run ouer the Postures of the Musket after the Low Couâ—tâ—y foâ—me first marching then discharging then câ—aâ—ging after standing Adding three more vnâ—o them because thâ— charging with the bullet was left out which I hope will giue oftence to none As for the gesture of the body hand and foot to grace the Posture I referre you to the booke expressing it by Figures Or to â—â—e Aâ—tillery Gaâ—den or Military Yâ—rd where it is done by some â—xâ—â—â—â—â—y buâ— neuer to be obtained without practise You may likewâ—â—â—â—egin wheâ—e you please for this forme is not so strictly ob erâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Artillery Garden B caâ—â—â—ou had the Postures of the Pâ—ke implicite and not distiâ—â—â— but mixt with other kindes of Motions different from thâ—m I will in the next Chapter shew them seuerall and conclâ—dâ— CHAP. XXVIII Of the seuerall Postures of the Pike THe seuerall Postures of the Pike saith Sargeant Trussell are in number twelue Three are to be done standing six marching â—â—d three charging The three which are to be done standing he expresseth thus Lay dâ—wâ—â— yâ—ur Piâ—â— Tâ—kâ— vp yâ—ur Pike â—â—der your Pikâ— The siâ— which are to be done Marching he expresseth thus Aâ—â—ance your Pike Shoulder your Pike Leuell your Pike Slope your Pike Cheeke your Pike Traile your Pike The three which are to be done charging he expresseth thus Poâ—t Charge ouer hand Charge at the right foot for Horse This is the briefe Epitome of the Postures which that Gentleman tooke from Captaine Pantons Table Captaine Panton from the Booke published by the most Excellent Prince the Count Maurice of Nassau and I from both So I end my Booke Let God haue the glory Amen Exodus 15 3. The LORD is a man of Warre His name is IEHOVAH FINIS
shall bee a Souldier not looke drowsely let him be straight necked broad breasted Vegetius lib. 1 Chap. 6. let his shoulders bewell fleshed let him haue strong fingers long armes a gaunt bellie slender legges the calfe and the feet not to full of flesh but knit fast with hard and strong sinewes Finding these tokens in a Souldier he may proue good For Pirhus would often say to his Muster-maisters chuse you good bodies and I will make them good Souldiers But well say he haue all these and yet be of no occupation or science shall wee chuse him may they say why not Vegetius I confesse would haue none to bee called to the warres but Smithes Carpenters Butchers Hunters of the Hart and the wild Boares excluding from the Campe all Fishers Fowlers Pasturers Lynnen weauers and whosoeuer that dealeth with any thing that belongeth to womanish nicenesse But what is Trade to man-hood yet Vegetius Iudgement is sound For what men are more beneficial to a Campe then Smithes Carpenters and the like A Romane Legion being as a well furnished Citty stored with all kindes of Artificers The strength of that Realme and to say truth the name of the Romans laie in this choyse Their many discomfeictures damages by the enemie Vegetius imputes to their carelesse neglect of those men and is bold to tell the Emperour Valentinian in playne words That neuer sped that Army well in battell whereof hee that tooke the muster was any whit negligent in allowing the Souldiers I forbeare to speake more for feare of giuing offence and I proceede forward to the next Chapter to shew out of what Clymate Place Citty or Country young Souldiers should be chosen or taken most conueniently CHAP. II. Out of what Clymate Place Citty or Country young souldiers should be chosen or taken most conueniently As Vegetius notes Lib. 1. Chap. 2. THe temperatnes of the Clymate sayth the learned doth very much auaile not onely to strengthen the body but also the mind and therefore they are of oppinion that those people that are farthest off from the parching power of the Sunne are for their temperature the best of all to make Souldiers for say they those Nations which bee nigh to the Sunne parched and dried with ouer much heate haue more wit indeede but yet lesse blood within them And for this cause they dare not manfully and boldly stand vnto it when they fight well knowing how little blood they haue and feare much therefore wounding Contrariwise the people of the North whom the Sunne burneth not so neere being more rash and vnaduised yet a great deale better blouded are most readie of all and desirous of warre What these men haue approued I will not altogether contradict though I leaue it to iudgement Now it remaines that you know out of what place namely whether out of the Citty or out of the Country you may most conueniently chuse them Vegetius would haue you to take them out of the Country vnlesse necessity doth otherwise constrayne you and his reason is that none euer douted but that these common rude sort of people were alwaies fittest for the warre being brought vp abroad vsing to take paynes abiding Sun-burning passing not for the shade knowing neuer what Bathes meant Vegetius Lib 1. Chap. 3. ignoraÌ„t of dilicatnes symple of mind content with a little hardned in euery part to abide beare labour least fearing death hauing least tasted of pleasure This is Vegetius iudgement which may hold in some but not in all I passe it ouer True it is and must bee graunted that they of the Country who are farthest off from the Citty haue likely the ablest bodies to make Souldiers and therefore are fittest for the warres But whether they haue the best capacities to conceiue of Souldierie is to be doubted surely they haue not rather it is to bee expected from theÌ„ of the Citty or adioyning to the Citty who haue commonly the ripest wittes to apprehend and to increase in Souldierie But bee it as it wil neither of them are naturally borne Souldiers the one may incline to warre more then the other but the skill cometh not without industery and paynes Plutarch sayth that it is neither Eurotus Plutarch in the â—ise of Pelopidas nor the place betwixt Babix and Gnacion that bringeth forth valiant and warlike men but they are to be found in all places where youth is brought vp in the shame of vice and boldnesse to vndergoe perills for vertues sake Vegetius himselfe sayth Vegetius Lib. 3. Chap. 26. that nature bringeth foorth few valliant men but diligence doth make many by good instruction and discipline that in all places both cowards and hardy men are bred And that some Nations yeelds better Soldiers then other Vegetius Lib. 1. Chap. 3. Hence I inferre that Citty and Country may yeeld both good and bad Souldiers yet the one may as farre excell the other in feats of warre as the other excells in strength of body Chuse then your Souldiers out of Cittie and Countrie Often exercise the one for the is dull hard to learne make the other strong for he is actiue may get strength Let him learne to toyle and trauell ☜ to runne too and fro to carry burthens to abide the Sunne and dust Vegetius Lib. 1. Chap. 3. let him fare hardly and homely bee kept farre off from the allurements of the Citty and by this meanes both the strength of his body mind shall be increased The next chapter shall shew of what conuenient age he should be either for present seruice or Muster CHAP. III. Of what age Soldiers should bee of for present seruice ond about what age young Souldiers should appeare for Muster IF vpon a sudden you are to raise an Army for expedition my counsell is that you will make choice of such as are of mature age about Eighteene Twenty Thirty Forty and more strong and lusty able to abide heate and cold to performe the duty of Souldiers Vegetius 1. Lib. But if after the Romane manner you will haue young men to muster the time that they must appeare at muster must be so soone as they grow any thing to mans estate this will be when they are about the age of 14. 15. or 16. yeares Then not onely more speedily but also more perfectly all thinges are learned the sooner the better For Vegetius sayth truly that it is better that a young man exercised should alleage that his age to fight is not yet come then that hee should truly lament that the same were allready past Let young men then be exercised betimes for it is readinesse gotten by former practise that maketh a Souldier ☞ Hauing in the three former Chapters discussed at large of Armes and men and selected them forth to be made Soldiers I will in the other 12. Chapters following fit them with Armes and times of exercise and discipline that so they may be desirous of