essentiall f In legitimo duce quinque haec requiro Scientiam virtutem providentiam autoritatem fortunam Lips polit lib. 5. cap. 15. required in an officer namely Knowledge experience valour dexteritie c. To be under command for a time depresseth those vehement passions which nature exciteth especially in young men which would be very dangerous in a chief or commander Moreover it accustometh a man to danger and g Scientia rei bellicae dimicandì nutrit audaciam Veg. lib. 1. c. 15. maketh him couragious so as being suddainly assailed he can recollect himself without astonishment a most necessary thing in a commander Adde to this that by using himself to travell and labour watching hunger thirst rain and frost and by h Mars is therefore called Gradivâ—â— as Festus hath it quia gradatim per ordinèm militatia officia distribuenda sunt And that this was the constant practise of antiquitie is most apparent Rufus diu manipularis dein centurio mox castris prafectus Tacit. lib. 2. c. an orderly ascent by degrees from a Corporall to a Quartermaster from thence to a Cornet and so to a Lieutenant he prepareth himself for a Captains charge He learneth the trick of entertaining his souldiers and to keep them in good affection and reverence towards him He knows their severall dispositions and sufficiencies and accordingly entrusteth them with employments Honour must be his chief end to attain which he must be very vigilant not to lose i Occasio in bello ampliùs solet juvire quà m virtus Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. any occasion of any brave exploit by which means he will be alwayes observing his enemy studying how to prevent him or endammage him alwayes bearing in mind this maxime That in warre no great or remarkable matter can be effected without danger and diligence To this end let him be sure to take heed that he k Qâ—id fieri debeat tractato cum multis quid verò facturus sit cum paucissimis ac fidelissimis vel potiùs ipse recum Veg. lib 3. cap 26. trust not too much to his own judgement and valour without acquainting his officers with his counsels And let him so know the severall inclinations and sufficiencies of his souldiers as to take particular notice of such as deserve well and to reward them accordingly and to rid himself of base and debauched fellows and cowards He must alwayes aspire in way of l For this Caesar recordeth a memorable example in Pulfio and Verenus lib. 5. cap. 19. virtuous emulation to higher degrees of honour m Sit celso adversùs pecuniam animo Plutarch in Philop. Covetousnesse he must hate for nothing will better continue his souldiers good affections towards him then liberalitie Gaming he must detest n Philopoemenes pubem ad se armandum impulit deinde delicias luxum eorum optimè invertit Omnes inflammavit ut quotidianis repressis in corpus sumptibus gestâ—ent in militari bellico ornatu ostentare se splendidos Profusio impensa in hujusmodi res rohorat animum extollÃtque Plutarch in Philop. In stead of costly apparell let him delight in good arms and horses wherein oftentimes both his life and honour consisteth He must be continent and sober not given to luxurie nor o The States edict of Marshall law provideth that such as in their drunkennesse shall commit any offence shall not therefore be any way excused but the more severely punished Art 67. drunkennesse but alwayes be as a good example to his souldiers for otherwise he cannot have that requisite libertie to chastise them for those vices Which his own conscience will accuse himself to be guiltie of Above all let him set before his eyes as the originall and foundation of all perfection the fear of God carrying himself so farre as may be internally and externally inculpable For the horrour of a guiltie conscience and the imminent danger and apprehension of death meeting together take away all courage and valour And thus having reformed himself he shall the more easily reform his souldiers and make them fit for every honourable enterprise CHAP. II. Of Officers in particular Of the Generall of horse TOuching the particular officers the p Iphictates resembled an army to a mans body calling the heavy armed the body the light armed the hands the horse the feet and the Generall the head Plutarch Generall of the horse as being one of the principall Chiefs of an armie must be a souldier of extraordinary experience and valour having in charge the nerve of the principall forces and on whom the good successe of many designes and actions dependeth as being most usually executed by the Cavallrie especially in battels where the charging of the enemie in good order usually giveth victorie and contrarywise the q Witnesse the battel of Gembloâ—rs described by Meteren lib. 8. where the Infanterie is overthrown by their own horse So did the Burgundians Les hommes d'armes Bourguignons rompirent leurs propres Archers Phil. de Comines lib. 1. cap. 3. disorders of the Cavallrie often disturb and disband the whole armie The Generall of the horse was wont to supplie the place of Lieutenant Generall of the army and in the Lord Generalls absence to command the whole armie True it is that the Lord Marshall forasmuch as he giveth the orders used to have some superioritie of command according to the opinions of some whence it cometh that the Lord Generall absenting himself from the armie used to take along with him either the Generall of horse or the Lord Marshall to avoid the occasions of competition It is his office to take particular notice not onely of the Captains and officers but also of those private souldiers which are carefull and punctuall in their service r Perserutaberis qui se in billo strenuè gesserint illisque idoneos â—onores habebis ignavos autem quo par est supplicio constâ—mges Leo. Tact. cap. 16. rewarding and Å¿ Monsieur de la Nolle reporteth that in his time in the regiment of Colonel Pedro de Pas consisting of 23 companies of Spaniards there was more then 1200 crowns a moneth given for extraordinary services and signall acts Whence he draweth this observation Qui est un bon tesmoignage quil estoit rempli d'hommes valeureux Discourse Polit. Milit. honouring them in publick when they perform some signall act and advancing them to offices without partialitie On the other side t Omnes culpas lâ—gibus vindicet nulli errantium credatur ignoscere Veg. lib. 3. cap 10. he must chastise delinquents and such as are wanting in their endeavours by which means he shall be reverenced and loved of good men and feared of such as are bad It belongeth to his care that the Cavallrie be in good equipage and fitted with all necessaries requisite And that the companies being to march be provided of nags without which the souldiers can hardly preserve their
to take some Sentinell or some disbanded souldier in some of the houses thereabout And because it well may fall out that after the taking of some prisoner the troop shall be charged by the enemie the Chief which must be valiant d How abundant Antiquitâ—e was in stratagems all their histories testifie Frontine a man of consular dignitie among the Romanes hath written foure books of stratagems being collected out of divers authors Greek and Romane and yet many by him let slip as himself acknowledgeth in praefatione ad lib. 1. also Polianus In stratagems Hannibal is said to have excelled and abundant in resolutions and inventions of stratagems to make his retreat by some woodie place shall send or first there leave them foure of his best and best mounted souldiers with a Trumpet with order that when they see the troop coming charged by the enemie they shew themselves the trumpet sounding For it being an usuall thing in militarie courses to go and observe who they be which appear the enemie by this means makes Alto or a stand for fear of some embuscado which gives leisure to the troop to advance their retreat and the said foure souldiers may make their retreat either severally or together safe enough by reason of their good horses If the enemie be likely to come from divers parts the like number would be sent to each suspected place These should be sent before with the Quartermasters which go to make the quarters that so they might have two or three houres refreshment before they go to take intelligence If the armie be lodged in a very suspicious place after the first troop so sent out a second shall be sent but neither of them knowing of each others sending out If the armie be to march the next day the chiefs of the said troops must know towards what place the march is intended CHAP. III. Of the order of Marching THe Commissarie Generall grounding himself upon good informations is to give the orders in writing for the manner of marching as well of the souldiers as the baggage Every Captain is to receive his written directions overnight that so the signe given he may appear at the Rendez-vous in such rank and place as shall be commanded him a Epoi lodata consuetudine il dividar â—li esserciti in tâ—e squadroni cioè vanguardia Battoglia retroguardia che ogni gioâ—ngto si venga mutando Cataneo di fort cap. 8. Alternis dichus altera legio alterum coâ—nu praecedunt eadémque rursus sequuntur mutantes semper ordinem ut alternatim primi incedant Polyb. Every armie is divided into three parts The vanguard battel and rear That part of the armie which is most exposed to the enemie and that most usually is the front should be the best and therefore all chiefs desire the vanguard The manner therefore is for generall satisfaction that they which this day had the van to morrow have the rear and they which had the rear the battel So changing alternatively except the Lord Generalls guard consisting of two troops as Melzo hath it or the Generalls regiment according to C. Bingham which hath alwayes the vanguard And if the enemie should change place and from your front become to be upon your rear whereby the rear as most dangerous becomes most honourable that Captain which to day hath led the battaillon to morrow in stead of the vanguard may challenge the rear The scouts alter their course also and attend the enemies proceedings on the rear If occasion be in time of march to send out one or more troops for some service they are to observe the same orders But the armie being come to their quarter and occasion being to send out b When all or a good part of the horse are employed in some exploit without Infanterie it is called a Cavalcado Such was that when the States men surprised the castle of Crapoel in Limburg c. Meteren lib. 23. all or part of the Cavallrie upon some exploit that troop which first appeareth at the place of Rendez-vous shall be appointed by the Commissarie Generall who is to be there to the first place the second to the second place If two troops come together at the same instant they shall cast lots By this means every man desiring honour they will be the readier to appear in due time The same course shall be taken when the troops are to be sent upon some embuscado convoy or the like If the march be but of one day he which commandeth shall appoint the best experienced and ablest to lead c Others hold it much better to observe the same order in the dismarch which was used in the march so that companie which went out first comes in first who is to be in the rear returning back to the quarter And these may have private order to be at the place of Rendezvous sooner then the rest to avoid jealousies The vanguard battaillon and rear must be divided from each other 300 paces CHAP. IIII. Of Scouts or Discoverers TO be secured from unexpected assaults of the enemie neither the armie nor the Cavallrie alone no not a companie must march without a These the Romanes called exploratores or speculatores See Veg. lib. 3. cap. 22. Nè secreta noceant ducis praestat industria quem â—mnia prâ—â—s convenit explorare Idem lib. 3. c. 6. discoverers which must be sent out not onely by the direct way where the enemie is like to come or you are to march but to scoure all the by-wayes on either side And sometime the first discoverers are seconded by a second companie to secure the march They that shall be employed in this service must be choice men valiant vigilant and discreet such as neither fear nor misconceit can easily distract They must see that with their own eyes which they inform the least errour of theirs misleading the whole bodie Those select men appointed for this service are to be b P. Considiâ—â— qui rei miliaâ—â— peritissimus habebatur in exerciui L. Sylla postea in M. Crassi fuerat cum exploratoribus praiâ—tâ—itur Câ—es Comment lib. 1. cap. 5. led by an able officer it being a task so difficult that many have lost that reputation by it which they had been long in gaining of This officer shall send word of what he discovereth and what he seeth not himself he is to signifie it as so reported to him and having seen it then to certifie it as for certain CHAP. V. Of the order of marching by day THe a Omni curâ omnÃque diligentiâ providere debei dux nè proficiscens pâ—â—tiatur meursum vel si non facilè at sine damno â—â—pellâ—t illâ—um Veg. ibid. march must be so ordered as the companies may readily from that order be brought into a good form of battel upon occasion of a sudden charge The Cavallrie supposed to consist of 40 troops and the
hardly tell where to find bridle or saddle or light so as the enemy is upon their jacks before they can mount or at least unite themselves together These things oftentimes happen but are justly derided by good souldiers b Castrorum munitio curanta mihil enâ—â—â—equae tam salutare neque tam nâ—cessarium in venitur in bello Idem lib. 1. c. 21. and therefore all diligence must be used at all times as if the enemy were at hand ready to set upon the quarters every moment CHAP. IIII. Of the manner of securing the quarters ALl the diligences used about securing of the quarters seem onely to serve for the gaining of time a Subita conterrent hostes usitata vilescunt and that the enemy may not charge you on the sudden so as the souldiers have not convenient time to arm themselves mount their horses and assemble at the place of arms To effect this there is no better way then to b The Romanes manner of fortifications about their camps for security are fully described by Veget. lib. 1. c. 24. If the enemie were near all the army stood ready for battell to guard them which behind them wrought about the trenches And this was done by every century by turns every souldier becoming a pioner for the time Ibid. cap. 25. make sure the enemies approches If the quarter be in a suspected place the companies of Harquebusiers are to be quartered in the advenues of the village the Lances if any be and Cuirassiers in the middle At the entrances of all the streets either trees or c For a sudden defence of the quarter if being in a champain countrey destitute of any other it hath been usuall to enclose the quarter with waggons and carts So did the Helvetians now called Swissers as Cesar recordeth it Communt cap. 10. And to this purpose vide Veget. lib. 3. cap. 10. Persae imitantes Romanos ductis fossis castra constituunt quia arenosa sunt propt omnia saccos quos iâ—â—es pertavâ—rant 〈◊〉 pulverulenta quae effoditur terra complent â—orúmque câ—â—nulo aggerem faciunt Ibid. waggons are to be placed acrosse giving order to the Harquebusiers to guard those passages and that none of them mount on horseback without speciall order that so the rest may have time to assemble at the place of arms if the enemy come THis Regiment consisteth of foure troops of horse viz. two of Cuirassiers and two of Harquebusiers which Regiment containeth in breadth or front from A. to B. 700. foot and in depth or length from B. to C. 300. foot from A. to D. is 205 foot in breadth for one company of Cuirassiers which consisteth of 80 horse together with 80 nags which have five files of huts and five files of horse which Curassiers are quartered or lodged on the right hand of the Regiment From E to Z is 115 foot in breadth for a company of Harquebusiers which consisteth of 100 horse and it hath three files of huts and horses From A to G is the space of ground where the Collonell of the Regiment is lodged on the right hand of these foure companies and the said enclosure for the Collonel is 70 foot broad from A to G. From G to H is 40 foot in depth or length for the said enclosure for the Collonell and so are all the other enclosures of the Officers From H to I is 20 foot in breadth for the street between the Collonells Enclosure and the Enclosure for the Lieutenant and Cornet of the said Collonells company which are both lodged in one Enclosure marked I K which hath also 70 foot in breadth as that of the Collonel which Enclosure is divided into two parts The Lieutenant being lodged on the right hand and hath 40 foot in breadth for his Enclosure And the Cornet on the left hand with one of the Trumpeters having the other 30 foot in breadth of the said Enclosure which maketh 70 foot for them both From K to L is another street of twenty foot broad to the enclosure marked L M. L M is the enclosure where the Quartermaster is lodged with two other horsemen which he pleaseth to admit of which is 25 foot broad and 40 foot long as the rest Their hut within the said Enclosure being 12 foot square for them three and their stable is 25 foot broad for their six horses From M to N is 30 foot for the street between the Quartermasters enclosure and the first hutts for the horsemen marked N. From N to O is 180 foot for the quartering of the files of huts for the horsmen viz. for 16 huts and their 32 horses in a file agreeable to the Regiments of Infantery That so where the Regiments of Cavallry are to be lodged in the champaine ground among the Infanterie they might all make one and the same line before and behind the Regiments And through the said two Troops of Cuirassiers there be two streets marked P. which streets are of 13 foot broad and the huts of the horsemen are ten fort broad and 8 foot long for one horseman and his boy And between two huts there is two foot of space for the drain of rain water dropping from the thatch or covers of the huts These huts have their chief doores or passages towards the heads of their horses and a small one opening into the street where they lay their hay and straw every one behind his own hut Q are two streets of twelve foot broad which passe through the troops of Harquebusiers R is a street of five foot broad between the horsmens huts and the mangers for their horses S is ten foot for the Stables for their horses which horses are placed with their heads toward their huts and every horse hath 4 foot in breadth for his litter and 8 foot for the two horses according to the length of their huts And more ground then eight foot they must not take for otherwise it would cause a great disorder and confusion not observing the said precise measures T is a street of 20 foot broad between the heels of their horses in which street they mount and alight off their horses which street they are bound to keep clean and to carry away the dung every two or three dayes V is 30 foot in breadth for the street called the Victuallers or Sutlers street W are the Sutlers huts being ten foot square and more room they must not take unlesse when they have many Pensioners the Quartermaster give them a foot or two more in breadth but not in depth to observe the measure of 300 foot in the depth of the Regiment as the Infantery X is ten foot of ground behind the Sutlers huts for a place for the Sutlers the horsmen and their wives to dresse their victuals And in no other place of the Quarter must any fire be made Neither are they to cast any filth c. within the Quarter but to carry it to the place appointed thereunto
give some allowance extraordinary Out of his company he is to choose his Lieutenants Cornets c. weighing onely every ones merit without any passion whereby he shall give content and encouragement to his souldiers and shall be sure not to be crossed by the Generall in the confirmation of the said officers The charge of the troops used to be given to the Captains of lances as having a prerogative above other Captains of horse or to the eldest Captain yet the Chief ought to have regard to their sufficiency for command and to give the charge to them that are ablest to perform it In absence of the Captains of lances when they were in use the Captains of cuirassiers commanded and in their absence the Captains of harquebusiers The Lieutenants observed the same rules CHAP. VII Of the Lieutenant IT is necessary that the Lieutenant of a troop of horse be a man of abilitie and experience nourished and educated in Cavallrie To this office such were usually raised which for their deserts had been Corporalls and Cornets a So much his name implieth for the French word Lieutenant signifieth one which supplieth the place of another In the Captains absence he commandeth the company upon whom usually all difficulties do rest because oft times the companies are given to young gentlemen which want experience He must be strict in seeing the souldiers do their service with all fitting punctualitie and to have a care of their horses and arms b The Lieutenant with antiquity was called Tergidux that is Rear-commander and therefore the rear is fitly assigned him as his proper place He alwayes marcheth in the rear of the companie causing the souldiers to follow the Captain and Standard or Cornet in good order well closed together and to suffer none to depart from the troop Upon occasion of fight he is still to be on the rear with his sword drawn encouraging the souldiers and killing any that shall offer to flie or disband but in case of the Captains absence he shall take the Captains place appointing an officer to be in the rear In the ordinary marching of the company or passing by some place or going to the allarm-place or to the parado the Lieutenant must not take the Captains place but march in the rear because the lances and cuirassiers have their Cornets to lead them at the head of the company Among the harquebusiers the Lieutenant was wont to take the Captains place according to Melzo and Basta because then they had no c As the Velites among the Romanes qui nec signa propria habuere nec duceâ— Lips ad Polyb. lib. 2. Cornets but these last warres having given them Cornets the rule holdeth for them as for the lances and cuitassiers d The Romanes required it in their private souldiers and to cast account also In quibusdam notorum peritia calculandi computandique usus exigitur Veg. lib. 2. cap. 19. He must of necessitie be able to write and reade because he keepeth the list of the names and sirnames of the souldiers of the companie and by reason of orders or letters sent to him from his superiours which he must not shew to others He must know the sufficiencie of every souldier and upon occasion make use of them accordingly The company going to the guard in any place and approching near it the Lieutenant goeth before to take notice of the Corps-du-guard and speaking with the Lieutenant of the company which is to change informeth himself by him of the place of the sentinells for day and night what wayes he must scoure and of all other things requisite He must himself go and place the sentinells visiting them often and using all diligence keeping himself alwayes armed at least with the breast and cask and his horse bridled when he hath the guard The company being lodged in some village he must cause the billets to be signed by the Quartermaster of his company to be distributed to the souldiers before the Cornets lodging where the Alto is made to attend the said billets that so in case of an allarm the souldiers may know where to assemble together at their Cornet If they stay longer then a day in one place the Lieutenant is to visit the houses to see good rule kept by the souldiers and being to march away to command them carefully to put out their fires Going to be lodged in a town or fort there to keep their garrison the Lieutenant must accommodate their lodgings according to their degrees and deserts And wheresoever they lodge longer then a day he must write the names of the souldiers on the said billets and keep a register of them that so upon any complaint of their hostes it may be easily remedied by the ready finding and punishing of the delinquents When the company is to march and the trumpets sound to horse he e The good example of a Leader hath ever been observed to be of marvellous efficacy according to that of the Poet Componitur orbis Regis ad exiemplum c. Ipse manu sua pila gerens praecedit anheli Militis ora pedes monstrat tolerare labores Non jubet Lucan 9. de Catone must be first ready and mounted having care that all the souldiers immediately do the same And if he find any lingering either of lazinesse or with a purpose to stay behind to pillage the houses he must chastise them with all severity for example to others He must have knowledge of the countrey and wayes being often sent upon exploits where the guides are not alwayes ready If the company be charged by the enemy the Lieutenant with some of the best mounted souldiers is to remain behind CHAP. VIII Of the Cornet THe Cornet of horse must be couragious In absence of the Captain and Lieutenant he commandeth the company His place of march is in the front before the first rank yet behinde the Captain In fight the Cornet of lances used to march even with the Captain upon his left hand and charging with him strove to break the standard upon his enemy which being so broken and falling to the ground a This is contrary to the use of Infantery among which the preserving of the colours hath ever been prized above life as appeared among others by one Jaques Marteus who finding himself forsaken by most of the souldiers fought so long as he could then wound himself in his colours and died Meteren lib. 4. But if the enemy should get the cornet unbroken then it were a great disgrace Basta lib. 4 he was not to regard to get it up again especially not to alight for it If he were to charge a flying enemy whether horse or foot he was also to assay to break his standard The Cornet of cuirassiers in march hath his place at the head of the company and also presenteth himself in the allarm-place but in fight he is to be in the middle of the troop leaving â…” parts of
the souldiers behind him b Optimus cujúsque decuria praponi duâ—tor caterorum omnium esse debet Aelian cap. 5. Curandum ut etiam jugum secundum milita conilet idoneo Ibid cap. 13. The reason is because the first rank being the edge it must be made good by the second and the rest if occasion be those before him must be of the best armed and most couragious He must also keep a list of the company to send so many to the guard as the Captain or Lieutenant shall appoint Once a day at the Lord Generalls first passing by the troop he is to do obeysance by inclining the cornet towards the ground CHAP. IX Of the particular Quartermasters THe a The particular Quartermasters the Romanes called Metatores Veg. lib. 2. cap. 7. Also Mensores qui in castris ad podismum dimetiuntur loca in quibus milires tentoria figant vel hospitia in civitatibus praestam Ibid. Metatores sive mensuratores praemittes qui castrorum ambitum in quo castra ponentur dimetiantur certam quandam mensuram cum proportione justa unicuique turma tribuant Leo Tact. cap. 9. 7. particular Quartermasters should be men so qualified as reasonably they might pretend the Cornet and in absence of the Cornet might command the company When all the companies are lodged together they accompany the Quartermaster Generall in making the quarters but being to be lodged in severall places as often it happeneth some accompany the Lieutenant Generall others the Commissary Generall Where a Captain commandeth the quarter the particular Quartermaster of that respective company maketh the quarter There is much fidelity required in them in consideration of distributing the word and the billets They use also to distribute the souldiers pay in the King of Spains warres but on the States side the clerks of the company onely meddle with the souldiers pay and account to their Captain having a cuirassiers pay and being exempted from bearing arms or doing the duties of a souldier In going with the Quartermaster Generall to make the lodgings the Quartermaster must be very diligent taking with him one or two souldiers such as the Lieutenant shall appoint him which shall return to their company and conduct them to their quarter CHAP. X. Of the Corporalls COrporalls are very usefull in a troop of horse They must assist the Lieutenant in placing the sentinells when the souldiers of their particular squadron are to perform that service The harquebusiers are usually sent to discover or scoure the high-wayes and to be forerunners or scouts under the charge of one of their Corporalls a Mistakes in such as are sent out to discover do often bring much trouble upon the army and shame upon themselves A memorable example hereof is recorded by Phil. de Comines of the Burgundians who taking a field of great thistles to be a grosse of their enemies lanciers reported it so to their Chiefs and caused a great hurly-burly in the whole army Lib. 1. cap. 11. for which respects he must be a man of experience Some passage or place of importance being to be guarded a Corporall is sent thither with his squadron He must be able to write and reade keeping a list of his squadron The Captain alloweth him half a place of forrage and a share of 10. per cent CHAP. XI Of the Trumpeters IT is not enough that a Trumpeter know how exactly to sound all the severall sounds of the trumpet but he must also be discreet and judicious not onely to be fit to deliver embassies and messages as they ought but at his return to a Ne manco si lasci troppo usare la frequentia di venire trombetti tamburri perche in ques essercito tall'-hora son huomini molto astuti pratichi da poterti nocere assai G. Cataneo di fortif ' cap. 4. report what he hath observed concerning the enemies works and guards and what he hath further gathered and spied To do this he must be wittie and subtile knowing how to invent and affirm things which are not artificially concealing whatsoever passeth among those of his own side He must sound the b That is set on the saddle being the first sound when the horse are to march the next is a chevall that is mount on horseback the third and last is a standart that is repair to your Cornet See chap. 32. boutezselle precisely at the houre appointed him and when the Cornet giveth him the list of the guards he must signifie it unto them One Trumpeter must alwayes lodge with the Cornet to whom the Captain is to give means for his entertainment He must alwayes have his trumpet about him to have it ready at a sudden allarm CHAP. XII Of the Auditor ON the Spanish side in the Low-countreys the Cavallrie have an Auditor by themselves who must be a man of great integritie well seen in the laws and of great practice In the absence or the Auditor Generall he supplieth his place He heareth and judgeth the causes of the Cavallrie and maketh report of all that passeth to the Generall or the Lieutenant Generall in his absence without whose order he cannot execute any of his sentences The Cavallrie lying in garrison he condemneth not to death without reporting first to the Lord Generall and Auditor Generall He is to keep near the person of the Generall or Lieutenant Generall who are to see him duely respected He is to take notice of the prices of victuall which are brought to the quarter of horse that they be sold at a reasonable rate and to see that the victuallers suffer no extortion by the Provost Marshall or his officers But in the States army the horse and foot have but one Auditor or Fiscall Generall who passeth no sentence himself but that is done by the a The Councel of Warre among the Romanes consisted of their Legates Questor Tribunes and the Centurions Convocato concilio c. omniúmque ordinum adhibitis centurionibus Caesar Com. lib. 1. cap. 16. Councel of Warre wherein every Captain hath a voice CHAP. XIII Of the Provost Marshall OF all things in the charge of the Provost Marshall his principall care must be about the victualls He must be an honest man and content with his fees He is to look to the weights and measures and to guard the victuallers or sutlers from insolencies Himself or some of his men must alwayes be in the market-place or where the victualls are sold and he is to inform himself where and at what price the sutlers buy their victuall that the Commissarie and Auditor may tax them accordingly He must cause the orders to be strictly observed which shall be published in the horse-quarters and those quarters must he purge of rogues and thieves He must alwayes carry his staffe or truncheon in his hand the badge of his office and having the same a See the States edict Art 78. it is death for
in the first rank of horse But Walhausen placeth the Lieutenant next after the Trumpeters before the Cornet all others place him as he ought to be in the rear Flamin de la Crote would have them march in foure divisions and every Corporall to lead one but this the Corporalls being leaders of files disordereth their ranks I follow that order which is prescribed to be generally observed by the councel of warre to march they are to be divided into 3 equall parts and each of these is called a squadron according to the number of the Corporalls and these are distinguished by the names of the Captains Lieutenants and Cornets squadron The first squadron to be led by the Captain the second by the Cornet the third by the eldest Corporall The Lieutenant and Quartermaster are to come in the rear And when they come to be exercised or to do service the Captains squadron stands and the other squadrons sleeve up on the left hand and so they become a Battalia As for their marching in grosse that comes to be spoken of in the next part The second Part. Of Marching THE ARGUMENT HAving shewed in the first part how the Cavallrie is to be levied it followeth now to speak of their manner of marching a matter of no small a Plura in itineribus quà m in ipsa acie solent contingere pericula Nam in conflictu armati sunt omnes hostem cominus vident ad pugnandum animo veniunt praeparatâ— In itinere minùs armatus minúsque attentus est miles superveniente impetu velfraude repentè turbatur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. consequence in the well ordering whereof oftentimes especially upon occasion of sudden charges the safetie of the troops or of the whole armie consisteth For the orderly handling whereof I purpose to direct my discourse to these 3 heads 1 the knowledge of the wayes and discoverie of the enemies designes and residence 2 The conducting of the troops to their Rendez-vous and their orders 3 The particular distribution of the whole train upon the way And the scouts or fore-runners And how they are to march in an open or strait countrey by day or night CHAP. I. Of Guides FOr the knowledge of the wayes a a For want of good guides the late Prince of Orenge failed of an Aenslach or enterprise upon Bruges a citie in Flanders For when he had marched all the night himself and many other great personages often riding up to the horses bellies in waters he found himself within half an houres march of the place he landed at The day appearing frustrated the designe and caused him to dismarch re infectâ Mereren lib. 17. matter of great importance either to prevent the taking of one way for another in marching or in pursuing the enemie he having received the charge and flying by unusuall wayes the use of maps may somewhat help but being too generall is not sufficient And therefore the Waggon-master is to provide good guides of the inhabitants of those places where the march is to be which may be able to give certain and particular information concerning the b Dux locorum intervalla non solùm passuum numero sed etiam viarum qualitates perdiscat compendia diverticula montes flumina ad fidem descripta consideret high-wayes and crosse-wayes how many there be of them whether they be even large and free or straight hillie or impeached with difficult passages Also concerning ditches and rivers whether there be bridges or not And if there be divers wayes which is the most safe and shortest or most exposed to the enemies advenues or approches or most commodious for the baggage Whether there be requisite commoditie for the lodgings as forrage water c Insomuch as they may be able to know every hedge or ditch and all other particulars And that you may be assured of their fidelitie and the truth of their informations it is good to have them to be souldiers in pay or where they are not to take them of the c Ad hoc à prudentioribus locorúmque gnaris separatim debet universa perquirere veritatem colligere de pluribus boores or inhabitants as aforesaid from place to place keeping them separated from each other And if they differ either from the souldiers which serve for guides or from each other they must be confronted and by the mutuall consent of all the best way is to be resolved on These guides usually to prevent their running away which they will often do if they see an opportunitie of escaping are led bound d Eósque custodia mancipare additá poena ostentatione vel praenni c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. or at least committed to the custodie of some souldier Recompence is promised them if they do their endeavour and punishment threatned if they direct amisse CHAP. II. Of Intelligence EVery good commander must have these two grounds for his actions 1. the knowledge of his own forces and wants knowing that the enemie may have notice thereof and therefore must he be alwayes studying for remedies if the enemie should come suddenly upon him 2. The assurance of the condition and estate of the enemie his commodities and necessities his counsels and designes thereby begetting divers occasions which afterward bring forth victories a M. Cato in Hispania quia ad hostium consilia aliâ vià pervenire non poterat jussit trecentos milites simul impetum facere in stationem hostium rapiúmque unum ex his in castra perferre incolumem tortus ille omnia suorum arcana confessus est Frontin Stratagem lib. 1. cap. 2. And because the commoditie of spies cannot alwayes be had some of the enemies men must be assayed to be taken from whom there may be drawn a relation of the estate of the adverse part and this exploit is called b The French call it prendre langue taking of intelligence a dutie of great importance whereon the deliberations which are to be taken do depend and also of much travell and danger To effect this an expert officer with 20 or 25 of the c Dux cum agmine exercitûs profeâ—turus fidelissimos argutissimòsque cum equis probatissimis mittat qui loca per quae iter faciendum est in progressa à tergo dextra leváque perlustrent nè aliquas adversarii moliantur insidias Ibid. Veg. best mounted stoutest and hardiest Harquebusiers or mixt of Cuirassiers and Harquebusiers according to Melzo with two Trumpets are to be employed These are to carrie with them some refreshment for themselves and their horses to that purpose retiring themselves into some wood or shadie place placing good Centinells upon trees If they find the enemie marching they shall follow him on either flank as opportunitie shall direct them or on the rear or meet him on the front assaying to take some that are disbanded or some forrager In the night they must approch the enemies armie assaying
with Aelians directions c. 51. Impedimenta c. but alwayes it must be most remote from danger If the danger be in the front it marcheth in the rear c. The Waggon-master or with some the Provost must see that all march in their appointed place and disband not A company of Harquebusiers is to guard the baggage The horse-boyes march after the waggons and must not be suffered to march among the troops The third Part. Of Encamping THE ARGUMENT THe next part to be handled according to our former distribution is Encamping In the skilfull performance whereof the military prudence and good judgement of the Commander of an army chiefly appeareth And herein three things are principally considerable 1. In what place and by whom the quarter is to be made and how distributed 2. The manner of securing the quarter by guards sentinels discoverers spies c. 3. Of dislodging and the way how to perform it CHAP. I. Of making the quarters IN a Castra tuto semper facienda sunt loco ubi lignorum pabuli aquae suppetat copia Et si diutiùs commorandum est loci salubritas eligetur c. Veg. lib. 1. cap. 22 the choise of a fitting place for encamping or quartering regard must be had First to the commoditie of the souldiers Secondly to the situation to be able to resist the enemie For experience teacheth what benefit or losse an army may receive by a good or bad quartering and hereof histories yield a world of examples To lodge or encamp the Cavallrie a speciall care must be had of the commodity of water and where they may be under shelter for one cold or rainy night might ruine the Cavallrie nothing hurting a horse sooner then cold or wet By this means the souldier shall find forrage at hand and needeth not to go seek it abroad with his horse of service all not having nags When the horse be lodged in severall quarters two souldiers of every quarter attend the person of the Generall or the chief Commander to carry any sudden orders to their severall quarters But of such companies as are quartered near him b Unus ex omnibus manipulis imperatori in diem excubat Polyb. one is sufficient When all the Cavallry is lodged together the Lieutenant Generall Commissary Generall and Quartermaster Generall are usually lodged near the Generall for the better distributing of the Generalls orders The appointing of the quarters belongeth to the Commissary Generall and the Marshall by whose directions the Quartermaster Generall proceedeth It is fit for them to have some demonstration on paper of the place beforehand and to know the commodities and discommodities also advenues of the enemy wherein the guides can better direct them then the usuall maps which if not false are too generall When the Quartermaster Generall c Cùm verò appropinqua veâ—int ubi caâ—tra ponenda praeâ—unt Tribunus Centurionum illi qui ad hoc munus semper electi sunt c. Polyb. goeth before to make the quarters not onely the particular Quartermasters but also two souldiers of every company are to go with him which then go back again to conduct their respective companies to their assigned quarters especially in the night The Provost or rather the Waggon-master sendeth one of his men to take notice of the place for the lodging of the baggage who afterward conducteth him thither where he then assigneth the Sutlers or victuallers their quarter and causeth all carts or waggons to be removed out of the streets left an alarm be given CHAP. II. Of distributing the quarters GReat discretion must be used in appointing to every one such quarter as is a Pro gradu legionibus auxilus equitibus peditibus loca deputantur in casâ— is Veg. 3.8 fitting and conformable to the quality of his person and convenience of the place The best way to avoid suspicion of partialitie is that such as be ill lodged now be better accommodated the next time The market-place for the conveniency of all and for safetie is to be in the middle but so as no streets run through it leading to the Rendezvous or place of arms When the quarter is to be in some suspected place it should if possibly it could be made in the day time before the approch of the night that so the fittest place for the alarm place might be made choise of and also for the corps-du-guard also the better to discover and observe the approches of the enemy and to appoint the stands of the Sentinells that so the souldiers finding all things ready be not put to find out their lodgings in the dark with lighted straw in danger to fire the houses besides a Lieutenant with 25 Harquebusiers useth to be sent out before and to place themselves beyond the further side of the village where the quarter shall be placing Sentinells a good distance before them to prevent the enemies sudden approch on that part The best house must be appointed for the Generall as near the Corps-du-guard as may be the rest of the officers are to be accommodated in their order Every Captain must lodge among his souldiers The troops being come near to the quarter make Alto and receiving information by the Quartermaster Generall or one of the particular Quartermasters that the quarters are ready the Chief giveth license to the Captains to enter their quarters They which have the guard are to be conducted to the place by the Quartermaster Generall But if the army be encamped in the field the Cavallrie is to be quartered according to the b The Romanes manner of quartering or encamping is shewed in figure by Lipsius in his book De milit Rom. lib. 5. dial 4. Also by Sir H. Savile in his annotations upon Tacitus And by Sir Cl. Edmonds in his observations upon Cesars Commentaries lib. 2. cap 9. And described by Vâ—get lib 3. cap. 8. manner of quartering of a regiment c For the modern quarterings see S. Stevin his castrametation Also D. de Solemne and others represented in figure 4. part 3. chap. 2. And of the whole army in Figure 5. CHAP. III. Of the necessitie of securing the quarters NOthing sooner deceiveth an unexperienced Captain then to perswade himself that he is superiour in forces and in advantage of place and so farre distant from his enemie as he cannot or dare not assail him Upon which supposition the a Militibus ad capiendum cibum occuparis aut munera facienda dispersis faciâ—è nectuntur insidia Noctis obscuruas necessitas somni pascentium equorum dispersio occasionem supervenâ—nuâ—â— prastat Veg. lib 3.8 surprisings of quarters are often grounded it being no marvell that secure and disordered men should be assaulted by well ordered men and resolute among the Cavallrie especially where the souldier cannot arm himself without help his horse-boy nor himself being scarce themselves as but newly rouzed out of their sleep by the alarm can
to appoint them their ordinary settled garrisons that so they may there leave their baggage and go into the field with the lesse incumbrance which will also make them the better skilled in the knowledge of the countrey and wayes If there be one troop or more of horse laid in garrison in some walled citie where the horse make no guard the Captain of each troop must alwayes keep one of his souldiers in the Corps-du-guard of the governour to give him notice of all occurrences of the enemies approches alarms c. Besides it is fit that a troop of horse having a frontier citie for their garrison should keep fifteen horse upon the guard if there be more companie then twentie five at least to be presently readie upon all occasions while the rest can prepare themselves And alwayes at the c Anno 1584. the town of Zutphon was taken and surprised by certain souldiers which by night had conveyed themselves close to the gates at the opening of which in the morning they violently rushed in and kept it till more supplie came Meteren lib. 12. opening of the gates every morning two or more horses are to be sent out to discover about whether there be any embuscadoes For the securing of your discoverers some ordinance is alwayes kept ready and untill they return none are to be suffered to go out of the gate If the countrey about the garrison be champain happily the enemie lying near may have an embuscadoe two or three leagues off And the better to draw you into it he may send out some horse the day before within sight of your garrison which returning the same way d Virtatus disposito per occulta milite paucos misit qui abigerent pecora Segobrigensium ad quae illi vindicanda cùm frequentes precurristint simulantesque fugam pradatores perseqâ—ereneur deducti in insidias caeisque sunt Frontin Strat. lib. 3. cap. 10. some driving cattel others carrying sacks c. may draw out some of your horse to regain their bootie whereby you might fall into their embuscadoe In such cases you must observe such cautelous diligences as shall be shewed in the e Part. 4. cap. 3. The like stratagems and embuscadoes have been practised in the late warres Anno 1599 Count Lodowick of Nassau by the like device drew the Count Busquoy one of his garrison of Sevenaer upon an embuscadoe where Busquoy himself was taken prisoner among others which cost him 20000 guilders ransome and the town it self taken Meâ—â—ren lib. 21. 433. chapter of embuscadoes If those which you shall send out to discover meet with no boores or that they come not to the garrison as they were wont it is a signe they are stayed by the enemies embuscadoe If an alarm be given in the night those souldiers which have the guard must presently mount their Chief must instantly send two one way and two another way to run about the ramparts of the place to take notice and to report wherefore the alarm was given if the rumour continue the rest are to run thither with all expedition But this diligence of keeping the horse at the Corps-du-guard is not of necessitie in such garrisons which lie within the countrey where there is no fear of surprises or scaladoes CHAP. XI Of Spies THe best and principall means for a Commander to avoid divers inconveniences and to effect many worthy designes are First a Nulla consilia meâ—â—â— sunt quùm illa qua ignora verit adversarius antequam facias Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. Metellus Pius in Hispania interrogaâ— Quid posterâ die facturus esset Tunicam meam siâ—d â—loqia posset inqâ—â— combiererem Proâ—em Stratag lib. 1. cap. 1. Veteres Minotauri signum in legionibus habuerunt ut quemadmodum ille in intimo secretissimo labyrinâ—ho â—â—â—â—us perhibetuâ— â—tà 〈◊〉 consilium semper occultum esset Veg. 3. â— to be sure to keep his own deliberations and resolutions secret b Expâ—â—randum soli liè ut quid hostis moliatur in praesent vel in futurum possimus agnoscere Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. Livius giveth Annibal this commendation Omnia ei hostinem haud secus quam sua nota erant lib. 22. For want of good intelligence many inconveniences have befallen divers commanders Semp. onnis as Livie reporteth having â—ought against the Eqâ—i till night pâ—â—â—ed them thinking himself beaten without further enquirie made towards Rome the Equs also deeming themselves overthrown withdrew their armie into their own countrey The same might be paralleled by divers modern examples for which I referre the reader to our modern historians Secondly to penetrate the designes and intentions of the enemy For which purpose it behoveth him to have good spies which must be exceeding well rewarded that so they may be the readier to expose themselves to all dangers The best and most assured spies are ones own souldiers which feigning some discontent for want of pay or otherwise enter into the enemies service and get themselves into the Cavallry as having best opportunity whether in the field or in garrison to give information Of these it is good to have many and in severall places the one knowing nothing of the other You are to agree with them of the place where they shall convey their letters as some tree gallows or other place easie to find where they also shall find yours giving them order to come in person when their advice is of great importance as if the enemy would fall upon a quarter surprise some place or attempt some other great enterprise There might also divers souldiers be daily sent disguised under severall pretences to observe what is done in the enemies leaguer when it is near The boors use also to serve for spies aswell women as men which being not much regarded nor suspected may have the freer accesse but these are not alwayes to be trusted neither are they so well able to judge of or to pierce into businesse and the lesse assurance and information is to be had by their relations There are also spies which are called double which must be men of great fidelity These to get credit with the enemy must sometimes give him true information of what passeth on the other side but of such things and at such times as they may do no hurt But these kind of spies cannot continue long without being discovered If it be possible such spies must be had as are entertained into domesticall service of the chief officers of the enemy the better to know their intentions and designes On the other side there must be exceeding great care taken to beware of the enemies spies which otherwise may do you as much mischief as you reap benefit by your own To remedy this inconvenience 1. Those which shall be discovered must be punished with extreme rigour which will be a means to deterre others which are or might be so imployed 2. Rogues vagabonds and idle persons must be chased out of
of the day and to place Sentinels in places convenient where they may be unseen some on trees others couched on the ground to discover such places as they cannot descry from the trees The embuscadoe must not be laid much before break of day because otherwise they cannot discover the approch of the enemy but at hand and so the embuscadoe should have no time to come forth and put themselves in order and being so taken on the sudden d Deprehensa subsessa si circumveniatur ab hoste plus periculi sustinet quà m parabat inferre Ibid. c 6. they might be defeated in their own ambush Besides in that remainder of the night many might be overcome with sleep and not use that vigilance which is required The troops must be placed at good distances one from another that so they intermix not nor hinder each other in time of fight In making the embuscadoe with a grosse of Cavallry some number of Infantery must be laid in ambush about the mid-way to sustain the Cavallry in their retreat if need were or otherwise to assist them upon occasion e With antiquity embuscadoes were very frequent and were to be used by either party Vtrique parti in itinere ad subsessas communis occasio est Nam qui pracedit opportunis vallibus vel sylvosis montibus quasi post se relinquit insidias in quas cum inciderit inimicus recurrit ipse adjuvat suos Qui verò sequitur adversis semitis longè antè destinat expeditos ut praecedentem adversarium atceat transitu decepisum quo à fronte à â—ergo concludat Ibid. cap. 22. In marching some horse must be sent out a good way before by the right way and the by-wayes to discover whether there be no ambush of the enemies And indeed to be the better assured of the good successe of an ambush it should be accompanied with some new and extraordinary invention If the Chief of a frontier garrison will attempt to endammage the enemy by an ambush being inferiour in strength to the enemy he must gather together so many of the troops of his neighbour garrisons untill he be superiour And by making embuscadoes two or three times in this manner it will terrifie the enemy in so much as that it may be conjectured that though afterward he make embuscadoes with fewer horse the enemy will not hazard to come forth and so he may the safelier take booty When the army marcheth there is usually some Cavallry left behind in embuscadoe in some eminent place from whence they may discover farre off by that means to be secured from the enemies Cavallry which usually is sent to charge the rear of the marching army to take some prisoners or to get intelligence But these must not go to their place of ambush by the right way but having passed the place they must return to it by some by way lest the enemy following them discover them by their footing To employ all the Cavallry supposed to be 4000 in fourty troops in embuscadoe three troops must be sent before towards the enemy under an able Commander giving notice onely to him and the Captains where the embuscadoe shall be and letting none of the souldiers know that any more horse are to follow them lest any of them in the enemies charge being taken prisoner should reveal it to the enemy Of these three troops one hundred are to be sent to the enemies camp viz. fifty Cuirassiers with their Captain and Lieutenant and fifty Harquebusiers with their Lieutenant Of these Harquebusiers f Pauei equites pramittuntur valida manus per alia mutâ—tur loca primi ubi ad agmen inimicorum pervenerum equites teniant levites atque discedunt c. tunc illa manus superveniens opprimit ignorantes ibid. 25 shall advance before with a good Corporall attempting to take horses prisoners c. as they shall be able In view of these Harquebusiers at the distance of a canon shot 25 Cuirassiers must make Alto under command of their Lieutenant to receive those 25 Harquebusiers when they return with booty The Captain with the other 25 Cuirassiers and 25 Harquebusiers shall keep behind some half league off divided into two troops the Harquebubusiers being placed nearest the enemy in convenient manner partly to succour the said fifty horse which likely will be charged by the horse of the enemies guards and also to make their retreat wherein the Cuirassiers are of principall use These foure troops must still retreat in fitting distance one from another one of them still turning face to the enemie unlesse the enemy so charge them as they must be forced to flie in disorder The other 200 horse being 150 Cuirassiers and 50 Harquebusiers shall enter the embuscadoe with their Chief about half an houres riding off from the other fifty horse which when they see returning and charged they shall issue out the fifty Harquebusiers first giving a charge rank after rank then the Cuirassiers leaving twenty horse in the rear to make the retreat The grosse which had taken another way lest the enemie should perceive by the footing that there was a greater number and so should stay or turn back must be in ambush about an houres march behind the said 200 horse And seeing them return charged as surely they will the enemie thinking himself the stronger shall suffer them to passe and the enemie also that so they may charge them on the rear when they see their time For better assurance it were good to lead out with them as before was intimated some g C. Cassius in Syria adversuâ— Parthos ducens aciem equitem ostendit à fronte cùm à tergo peditem in confragoso loco occultasset cein cedenie equitatie per notae se recipiente in praeparatat insidias perduxit exercitum Parthorum cecedit Frontin Stratagem 2. lib. cap. 5. 500 musketiers and 300 pikes which must be in ambush about a league behind the grosse of Cavallrie on the way by which the said 300 horse should return charged These foot must take heed they be not discovered untill the enemie be come up to them and then shall give them a full vollie to disorder them Upon this the grosse of Cavallrie now issued out shall charge them on the rear and flanks and then the said 300 horse are to face about and sustain the charge by all which means it is not like that the enemie can escape without much losse According to this proportion a greater or smaller number may be ordered so as if you would make an embuscadoe with 100 horse onely 50 of them must be sent before towards the enemies camp or village where he is quartered Of these fiftie fifteen are to advance before the rest to take some prisoners or horses the other thirtiefive shall be in ambush about half a league behind them in some place if it be possible whence they may see those fifteen but if not then