of the riuer is shallow or otherwise most conuenientlye to be passed thē to carry away the enemy by colour of some attēpt in another place after to retourne vnto the same by night or secretelie to lodge some sufficiēt parte of the armye behinde to passe the same inuade the enemie on a sodayne at their backe while the other parte of the armye proceadeth before in the viewe gaze of the enemy For the polityke Captayne oughte nothinge lesse to pretende in shewe then that whiche in purpose he intendeth For so haue famous Cityes bene surprised on the sodayne vnprouided while a counterfaite preparation hath bene made by the enemye a power lead an other waye sometime againste a secrete friende being in apparāce an enemy till they haue both ioygned to the mischiefe of a third partye so is it a practise at the syege of a Towne to bende encline al force batterie in shewe to one side of the sāe whē a secrete power is prepared to skale surprise it on sōe other parte little regarded or defended Hanno a Captayne of Carthage being streightlie besyeged within a trenche he enclosed himselfe most stronglye as it seemed on that parte where he purposed to breake forthe which he afterwardes setting on fire escaped thorough wyth his armie the enemies geuing no watche vnto that place Nabides at the syege of Lacedaemon set fire on a parte of the Towne where enemies weare entred by the trouble thereof with a fresh assaulte made of the Townesmen draue thē out agayne Hanniball on a time driuen into a streyght by Fabius the Romayne so that hee was enforced by a great enconueniēce to passe a hill where the armie of Fabius lay on the top thereof he therefore caused linkes brādes to be fastened vnto the hornes of a great nūber of oxen which weare in the campe setting thē on fire by night the cattail were driuē with great noise larum vp to the enemies campe which hearinge the terrible noise of the beastes whē they felt the force of the fire also being ama zed with the sight as though they stoode in doubt to fight with the dyuell that made such a whorlye burlie Hannibal the whilest quietly cōueied ouer his armie Diuers Captaynes whē they haue bene hardlie pursued or let in like passage by the enemy they haue setled their armies and begonne trenches as thoughe they would haue rested theare or ioygned battaile shortlye withe the enemye which markinge obseruinge the same hath encamped made the like preparation whilest that the other haue vsed oportunitie to passe suche ryuers hilles or gayne such groūde as they desired Also the excellent Captaines haue accustomed when they vnderstoode that the enemie had made strongest the front or some other singuler part of his battaile they haue sett against the flanke or weakest side theareof Some other haue suffered them selues to be enclosed by the enemies armie to the ende that the same beeinge brought out of order they woulde breake thoroughe the weakest parte theareof whiche hath happened to the great hurt of the enemie Manye thinges theare are to be obserued which geue great aduaūtage in the ioygninge of battaile as if thou canst trayne thy enemie into a streight or valley thy selfe to possesse the hilles on bothe sides as Hanniball caught the Romaine armie at Cannae And alwayes it is good policie to haue the higher ground of the enemy and to haue the aduauntage of the winde and the sunne for the same being in the face of the enemie thou maist sett furthe a part of thine armye to inuade his battaile on the one side or at the backe that their sight being troubled they shall not perceaue wheare about thou goest wheareby also if thou haue any ambushe in anye trenche wood or couert laide as he shall marche he is more apte to come into the same vndiscouered then sodaine daungers when they be not knowen or perfectlie sene are the more feared As the experience hereof was had by Epaminondas a famous Captayne of Grecia which supplyed this aduantage of the sonne another waye hee caused his light horsemen in verie dustie wayes to make an attempte vpon the enemye and shortlie to withdrawe and gallop backe before thē the whilest Epaminondas came about vppon them on the one syde before they coulde discerne the order of his battaile for the dust that was raysed so easelie vanquished them The like practise maye be by a pyle of wood or olde hedges in the waye of the enemyes sette on fire to rayse a smoke for a impedyment of their sighte till some enterprise bee atchyeued Where the one parte is exceading stronge by store of horsemen or of shott it is vndoubtedlie for the aduantage and sauftie of the other to keepe in rough groundes or neare some bankes hilles or woodes also to keepe their armie close that the horse men or shot be verie nigh vpon them before they bringe foorth their battaill So shall not the shott haue leasure or leuell to discharge likelie to hurte and horses in suche groundes disordered and leapinge one vpon an others backe for lacke of roome shall loose their force to take the starte vpō the enemie Great policie also it is if thou canst come with thy armie freshe vpon the enemie wearied with muche trauaile or beinge in anie mutine amonge thē selues weakened or discouraged by want of victualles or anie other perplexitie or distresse by ill tydinges out of their countrey or some losse else where sustayned before the same bee salued or supplyed by anie later victorye or other good happe fallen vnto them and it hathe been vsed cūninglie to coygne and cast abrode imagined rumours of mischiefes towardes to appall and dismaye the enemie Manie singuler and famous exploytes and victories haue been had done when the enemie hath been surprysed on the sodaine in disorder or by nighte for want of good espyall when hee hathe not doubted anie daunger and therefore it is good to bee circumspect and readie to stande still vpon guarde and defence and little to truste the enemie duringe the warres Titus Didius beinge weaker then his enemie which was remouinge to encoūter a legion comminge into his ayde to staye that purpose hee publyshed thoroughe out all his armie that he entended the next daye to fighte the fielde and suffered certaine prysoners colourablie to escape which freshlie coulde so orthe those newes when they retourned into their campe whereby the enemie stayed and the other sauflie receaued the succour sent vnto him ¶ To breake or disorder the battaile of the enemye Cap. 2. OTher policyes there are to be remembred and practised when a battayle is orderlie sette to breake or trouble the same and this is one to geue out with great noyse duringe the fight that the generall on the other syde is slayne or that parte of hys battaile duringe the fighte flyeth or to make some sodaine shewe to be a terrour
vnto them As Caius Sulpitius caused a manie of Pages vnder Romaine ensignes with bad cast horses cartes trumperie to make a great muster shew sodainelye vpon a hyll within sight whyle he was a fightinge with the Frenchmen whiche thereby being discomfited he obtayned the victorie But it is of greater effecte if in deede there be a troupe closelie conueyed or an ambushe layed on the sodaine to inuade the enemyes fightynge at their backe whiche maye most conuenientlie be done where there be hilles or couert nyghe Hanniball in a battaile against kynge Eumenes threwe earthen pottes full of snakes and vipers amonge his enemies wherewith they were presentlie frighted and disordered The Spaniardes against the armie of the Carthaginoys led by Amilcar put in their fronte Cartes full of Towe drawen with Oxen and ioygninge to fighte they kyndeled fire in the same by force whereof the Oxen thrust furth into the battaile of the enemyes and opened it The lyke hathe been done with Cartes full of hookes by great power enforced and dryuen vppon the fronte of the enemies For the auoydinge whereof Sylla the Romaine planted Pyles stakes before his battaile whereby the Cartes were stopped and dyd not hurte The lyke daunger maye bee auoyded by geeuynge waye vnto suche engyns thorough spaces prepared in the fronte or first rankes till they may bee turned a syde by which practise also great power and fierce assaulte of horsemen hath beecome vayne Nowe to remedie sodaine mischiefes whiche maye fall and to staye the armie from fearefull flight before there be cause there bee two firme and necessarie rules constantlie to bee kepte the one is that no man for anie sodaine chaunce terrour shewe by any practise or assault of the enemie made by daye or by night take anie other waye or purpose but to fight couragiouslie till there be certaine signe geuen by the generall to retyre or otherwise to deale The other rule is that the Captayne circumuented or deceaued by the enemie seeme to doe the same willinglie whiche hee is enforced vnto Tullus Hostilius in battayle seinge howe a bande of his hyred souldiours was tourned vnto the enemye whereby hys menne were muche troubled and affrayed hee foorthwith gaue vnderstandinge throughe oute the armie that there was nothinge done but by his commaundemēt and for a good purpose Scipio goinge to inuade Affryke hadde before made league and frendship with Syphax kinge of Numidia whiche afterwarde reuoltinge sent him worde that he woulde be a frende vnto the other parte but Scipio concealed this message from his souldiours and sayde that hee sent vnto him to make haste on the iourneye Moreouer yf parte of the armye flye be-before the whole battayle be moued and broken the wise and valiaunt Captaine may by vehemēt perswasions meanes bringe thē backe especially the hardynes noble courage of the general may auayle hearein As Lucius Silla in a battayle againste Mithridates certayne of hys legions or bandes beinge put to flyght he gott before thē with his swearde drawē crying if any aske you of your Captaines saye we lefte him in the fielde figh ting Phillip king of Macedon vnderstanding that his men feared the Scythiās placed behinde his armie certaine of his most trustie horsemen gaue commaundement to keape in and turne vpon the enemyes such as shoulde flye that they might bee slayne both of them and of their friendes wheareby his souldiours determininge rather to dye honourablye to the benefite of their Countrey thē with shame to the hurt thereof they became Conquerours Some Captaines to geue occasion to the souldiours to vse greater endeuour and to put out their force thoroughlye haue throwen an ensigne amongest the enemyes and appointed rewarde to him which could recouer it againe And whē they enemye lodgeth within streyghtes trenches or places enuirōned with hilles meanes may bee founde to prouoke him to battaile by cuttinge of his foragers and prouision of victualles or to faine that thou remouest to some other enterprise withdrawinge till hee be dislodged But Paulus Aemilius in Macedonia to encounter and deale with the Armye of Perses restinge at the foote of the hill Olympus in a place maruailouslye by nature enuironned by arte fortified hee conueyed his armye secretelye by night vp the stepe vnhaunted wayes of the hill not suspected or watched of the enemye so that he came downe the more sodainlie vppon them to their greater spoile losse Cato Maior by the verie same means came vpon Antiochus beinge stronglye guarded defended in the streyghtes of Thermopylae in Graecia at which enterprise the kinge Antiochus being greatly hurte with a stone his armie fledde Scipio the excellent Captaine goinge to subdue Afrique procured in so great warres the aide of K. Masinissa whom shorthe after his arryuall there he sēt to prouoke Hanno generall on the other side for the Carthaginois to fight who seing the small number with Masinissa led proceaded against him with all his power on a heape and the other after a feawe blowes fayninge to flye brought the enemy foorth vnto Fooles baye vpō the hoast of Scipio which he had arrayed and sett in excellent order of battaile readye to receaue the enemie So was Hanno there slayne and his disordered Armie put to flyghte Then Scipio purposinge the syege of the Citye Vtica and hearinge of the comminge of Hasdruball and Syphax with a myghtye power agaynst him hee planted his Armye vpon an hyll wheare he might saue and defende his nauye and also with sum̄ aduauntage fighte wyth the enemye And when he had vnderstandynge that the enemyes had setled bothe their campes nyghe and that their tentes weare made wythe woode and bull rushes warme for the wynter time he sent Masinissa and. C. Laelius to sett fire on thē by night and with all to assayle Syphax whyche done the fire also taketh Hasdruballes campe the Carthaginoys runninge foorth in heapes vnto the broyle they fell all into the Romaynes hādes So that theare weare then slaine almost xl thousande of them Thus mightie powers be by policie smothelie vanquished and great estates lyghtlie ouerthrowen wyse men seing the rocke wheareon other men wracke are warned and waxe ware taking by their losse a lesson to guyde their owne affayres ¶ Aduertysementes how the armye that is weaker then the enemyes may growe stronger or saue it selfe Cap. 3. IT is a policie in this case to drawe vnto thee sum̄ of the enemyes friendes or ayde by promise of great thinges hope of large dominyon benefites to follow or by practise to sowe discētion or mislike betwene thē as when Siphax king of Numidia had ioygned league with the Romaines to ayde thē in the warres of Afrique the Carthaginois sent Ambassadours vnto him declaringe the ambition of the Romaines howe by litle litle they sought cūninglie to subdue al other Princes being once entred into Afrique that they would not cease till they had obtayned it all wheareof his Countreye was
kept they might in the meane time receaue in ayde of mē or victuals And therefore the siege ought not to be slacked by suche pretence but good watche to be alwaies abrode For it hath chaūced that an army lying at the siege of a towne hath ben on the sodaine inuaded of enemies at the backe withall they of the towne haue issued foorth vpon them to their ouerthrowe It must be alwaies holden of the good captaine as a principall grounde that hee haue diligent espyall of the enemies doynges keepe his owne secrete And therefore hee consulteth and conferreth with manie what is best to be done but that which he determineth to doe hee reuealeth to fewe or none Hee must also haue regarde that his custome or certaine order vsed in some doinges disclose not anie of his purposes vn to the enemie and therefore the same must bee often varied and chaunged It is good also to encampe in suche place as the enemie see not what is done within the campe For if he perceaue that thou receaue in anie ayde or encrease of power or sende foorth anie troupe to anie attempte or exploycte he armeth him selfe and prouideth accordinglie For as sodaine daūgers be more dreadful so a man warned before is saide to be armed ¶ Howe the excellent Captaynes haue encouraged their souldiers vnto battail made thē hardie valiant in fight Ca. 6. IT is to be carefullie considered of the captaine that his souldiers be not afrayde when he goeth to battaill but that they maye valiauntlie desire to encounter the enemie And therefore such meanes as maye remooue from them doubte or distruste and put into them courage and hope are expedient for him to finde As for the purpose some people doe stumble muche at sygnes or tokens which fall before battaill cōiecturinge there by the determination of God and euente or successe of the battaile wherefore the wyse captayne will chearefullye expounde all suche chaunces for hys aduauntage as if an auncient happen to fall vppon the Captaines head before the battaill he sayeth the same is a happie sygne of the victorye fallinge vnto him For they which haue the substance of vertue are not to bee feared by the shadowe of coniectures It is written of Scipio that at his landing in Affryque his feete slipped so that he fell downe to the grounde where at when hee sawe diuers of his armie dismayed he laughed sayinge all is our owne I haue heare taken possession of the lande Other haue vsyd by some fayned dreame or olde prophecy to put their souldiours in firme hope expectation of victorye Marius when he was to deale with the Dutchmen an enemie not accustomed vnto the Romaines beynge tall bigge men of person they were not in cleane quiet conscience with the matter but somewhat afrayde whiche Marius perceauinge sayde those longe bodies shewe a sure signe that they be slowe lasye lowtes so stayed the battaill some dayes why lest that the Romaynes by custome of often syght some skirmishes had with them were established in stomacke desired to fight with thē It is written of a captaine when his armie was in the fielde ready to ioygne battail some of the formost ranke beinge afrayde seeinge the braue marching of the enemies he extēded helde his cloke before their faces sayinge nowe you see nothing to feare you are saufe by that meanes reprouing thē not to dreade beefore there was cause Alexander the great whē he was in the fielde with his plaine souldiours in his first warres manie of them beeinge poore fellowes hauinge woodden shyeldes and olde weapons vsed before in his father Phillip his warres whiche seeinge the huge hoste of Darius his enemie with the brauerie of the people their armure and all thinges glisteringe and gorgeous the noyse of a multitude of charyottes and horses also beinge terrible vnto them he saide to his men our enemies are come to make a shewe or maske therefore we must make them daunce runne also See you those golden armures gaye weapons and goodlie geare it is better to haue woodden shyeldes then woodden men to beare them the spoyle of this glorious hoste will make you riche gallant fellowes for all that you see is yours if you playe the men and whatsouer kinge Darius hath besides Also thinke you that thys dayes battaile maye geeue vs the dominion seigniourie ouer all the worlde For who can withstād vs if we conquere the great kinge Darius the fame of whiche victorie will moste swyftlie flye into Graecia and to the moste hyghe honour of your countrey all Prynces nations shall knowe the manhoode and prowesse of the Macaedoniens and where soeuer you goe the fame thereof shall followe you Nowesyth that hyther wee are come foorthe to wynne honoure lett not our longe trauayles bee frustrate or fruitelesse and wee to runne home deluded and laden wyth shame Our countrey shall then wyth dysdayne behoulde you remembringe howe your auncestours vnder my father by force euen on their shoulders lifted vp the dominion thereof ouer diuers natiōs your selues hunted chased home shal be ashamed to see your frindes And thearefore if we bee here repulsed wheare shall wee without reproche bee receaued So that to rest vpon wee haue but two wayes wheare of we must determine to take one that is either to wynne the victorie or to dye heare with honour By these perswasions wheare as Darius thought by his great pompe trayne of men to haue daunted dismayed the enemie Alexander turned the same to be a great encouragement vnto his armye Furthermore if the souldiour be afrayde by store of terrible ordinaunce straunge engins or daungerous deuyses of the enemie the same must be by like inuention industrie preuented or encountred as by setling sum̄ ambush priuelie to surprise the same or by settinge on sum̄ bande of horsemen to interrupte the plantinge theareof or to make sum̄ like exployte as noysome vnto the enemie that the battaile may come on before the same can take effecte to doe anye great hurt Thus must the politique captaine make readie an Oliuer for a roulāde to remoue all stumblinge blockes and impedimentes from the good courage of the Souldiour so that without stickinge most valiauntlie he maye marche to assaile the enemie Iulius Caesar excelled other for trayninge and makinge valiaunt noble minded souldiours by notable examples politike instructions and practises which he vsed to enduce thē thereunto and to aduaunce their courages to attempte and atchyeue moste highe and honorable thinges And with all he shewed such courtesie and good affection towardes thē that neuer any man had souldiours of greater endeuour and valure or more faithfull towardes their Captayne As it appeared a little before the great and finall battayle betwene him and Pompeye when his armie was in such necessitye of victualles that they hadde no foode but onelie of mylke and rootes as they coulde mingle the same Yet made they
diffinition of warres Firste in the porche or entrye of this worke to be vnfoulded before we enter into the particuler inner partes theareof beinge the matter wherevpon this buyldinge is founded and framed Vale. Errata Pag. Leafe Lyne Faultes Correccion 1 1 4 For it is a contention Reade it is defined a cōtention 2 2 1 Tvvo for Tenne 1 4 30 Heard of for Hard 2 18 24 Nobis for Orbis 1 27 27 Auoyde for Annoye 2 42 23 Endureth for includeth FINIS The Table or contentes of the chapters contayned in the first booke 1 OF the diffinition of Warre of an Armye Fol. 1 2 Of the valure of the generall Fol. 2 3 Of the vertues and qualities requisite for the function of the Captaine or generall Fol. 3 4 Of magnanimitie and provvesse in the Generall Fol. 4 5 Of Iustice. Fol. 5 6 Of Prudence Fol. 8 7 Of the loue good affection of the Captaine to his souldiours Fol. 10 8 Whether it bee more expedient to haue one Generall or manye Fol. 12 9 Of the aucthoritye of the Generall and vvhat ought to be his chiefe desire vvished fruites ende of vvarres vvhat person of vvhat qualities oughte to be deamed the best and most honourable Captayne Fol. 13 10 Of a Souldier the qualities vvhich he ought to haue Fol. 18 11 Of vvhat constitution of bodye trade and sorte of lyfe the meetest souldiour is to bee chosen vvhat exercises and practises are profitable for him to vse Fol. 21 12 Of the sundrye sorte of vveapons vsed by diuers nations in the auncient vvarres and vvhiche are novve most necessarie vvythe sume respectes of pressing of souldiours Fol. 25 The Table of the seconde Booke Capit. 1. OF the disciplyne and admonitions of vvarre Folio 26 2 To breake or disorder the battaile of the enemye Fol. 29 3 Aduertismentes hovv the Armye that is vveaker then the enemyes maye grovve stronger or saue it selfe Fol. 32 4 Hovv to conducte an armye proceade vvith the same in a foreine Countreye and of the necessaries thereunto Fol. 33 5 Whether it bee more profitable to seeke for the greate Tovvne or the lesse and hovve best to vvynne the same Fol. 36 6 Hovve the excellent Captaynes haue encouraged their Souldiours vnto battayle and made them hardye and valiaunt in fight Fol. 37 7 Hovv to vse victorie vvhat clemencie is to be vsed tovvardes the conquered of the hurte that commeth by securitie Fol. 40 8 Of the beginninge and iust cause of vvarre Fol. 41 9 Of victories vvhich is the best vvhat truce maye behonourablye made Fol. 45 10 Of the vse and ende of vvarres of preparation therefore in time of peace Fol. 47 FINIS ¶ The first booke ¶ Of the diffinition of warre WArre generallye is sayd to bee the exercyse of armes agaynst enemies But properlye it is a Contention between princes or estates by armes and force of men vnder orders and gouernment to obtaine victorye Victorie consisteth in three pointes in Conquering and subduyng the dominions bodyes or goodes of the enemies The endes of warres are twayne Immediate to obtaine victory Mediate to liue the better afterwardes in peace and honour ¶ The diuision of warre VVarre is deuyded into three sortes or kindes In the open fielde By Incursiō or skirmish By battel ioyned VVithin wall or trench of place fortified By Nauie on the Sea. THe skill and knowledge of all which are verie necessarie for our nation but especially of the first the last Now for explanation of the diffinition aboue I wil go vnto the singuler partes there of Warre is first sayd to be a contencion which is deryued of the latine woord tendo it signifieth properly to bēde so that with this particle Con it is by the Etymologie or Interpretation of the woord a bēdyng of the forces an inclinyng of al endeuour a striuinge vnto some purpose betwene what parties it followeth betwene princes or estates for if it be betwene subiectes without aucthoritie of the prince it is a faccion if the same be vsed agaynst the prince it is a rebellion a contention against lawe duetye naturall allegeaunce and agaynst the cōmon wealth By what meanes and instrumentes is this stryfe made and pursued By armes and force of menne whych are to bee vsed for the defence of the Realme Territories Lawes bondes libertyes and rightes of the same And this same power of men which is the pythe and matter of the warre is also to receyue some forme which shapeth things in their perfecciō that therein is guyde gouernment for without order and conduct thys force is not woorthye the name of warre but it is a tumulte route or assemblie of people prepared not for victorie but rūnynge headlong or rather tumblinge headlesse into Ruine So that it is to bee concluded that a prynce for the ordayninge and waginge of warre is to prepare and gather together a power of men vnder orders and gouernmentes whych power so appoynted is called an armye the seuerall bandes and partes whereof must haue sundrie guydes and Captaynes and ouer the whole bodie of the armie there is to be constituted and ordained one generall head or gouernour ¶ Of the generall WIth the head of thys armye wee will beginne our second chapter for that the same consystyng of a Captayne and souldiours the captaine is the pryncipall part thereof vppon whom the greatest wayght and hope of the warres lyeth not in the force of hys personne whych is but one singuler man but in hys policie and skyll in leadynge and orderynge of his armie in vsing the aduantages and foreseeynge the preiudices of warre As by sundrie examples wee shall well prooue who hath not read that Ninus kynge of the Assiryens by industrie and deedes of armes wherein hee caused his souldiers to bee practysed raysed thereby set vp the first Monarchy or greatest estate of the worlde And agayne it is as well knowne that the same nation beeing effeminate vnder the dissolute raigne of Sardanapalus for want of discipline and good guyde of warre was subdued by the Medes whom beefore they had conquered and their empire earst honourablie aduaunced now shamefullie lost and taken from them where they were lordes they became vssalles and captyues by the valure and good partes of a Captaine Milciades of Athens hauinge the conduct of twelue thousand menne ouerthrewe and vanquished an army of an hundred thowsand footemen and twoe thowsand horsemen sent by the first Darius sonne of Hydaspis to inuade Grecia And not longe after the greatest armie that euer was assembled by report of histories lead by Xerxes king of Persia for the same purpose that the other of Darius was before into Grecia amoūting nighe to the number of tenne hundred thousand men by the consent of the best wryters was by the politike and valiant Themistocles vanquished first in a battaile on the Sea afterwards his captaine Mardonius with his whole
parte and by other such enducementes withdrewe him from the Romaynes with all his power to assiste them The like deuise had Hannibal after to wynne Antiochus kinge of Macedonia and Prusias kinge of Bithynia to the aide of the Carthaginoys Also it profiteth no lesse to geue occasion vnto the enemye to distrust or displace their best friendes or Captaines The Atheniens weare alwayes victours till they banished their excellent Captaine Alcibiades and shortlye after weare subdued by the Lacedaemoniens And if the Romaines had not banished Coriolan The Volsciens before subdued had not afterwardes put Rome in daūger of ruyne vtter ouerthowe Alcibiades vsed the like practise to make a iarre betweene Duke Tissaphernes and his mayster the kinge of Persia. Hanniball wasted and spoyled wheare euer he went in Italye sauinge onelye the possessions of Fabius vntouched which he dyd to cause the Romaines to houlde their best Captaine suspected Some haue vsed to the same ende to make manye priuate conferēces with the Generall of the enemyes sending sundry letters secretelye sometime presentes working also that some suspitious letter of an imagined conference or practise betwene thē may come to the Princes hādes vnder whom such Generall is deputed By these meanes haue excellēt Captaynes bene displaced warres stayed and the weaker parte in the meane tyme hathe gathered strength Other wayes there are to detracte battaile and to saue an armie at neede frō the greater power of the enemie which is to encampe stronglie within some trenche or lyke place or else to bee backed with some fenne maryshe steepe hyll or ryuer so that the enemye haue but one waye vnto them and that beinge the streyghter is the more aduauntage for the fewer number Fabius vsed this waye with Hanniball seekinge and endeuoutinge daylie for thauoydinge of dyuers enconueniences to fighte wyth him but Fabius encamped alwayes so cunninglie and with suche aduauntages for the fielde that the other without great daunger coulde not deale with him Marius thus encamped at the mouthe of the ryuer Rhodanus the infinite multitude of the Duchemen durst not inuade him till hee brought foorth his armie into the fieldes But two other wayes there are more certaine to bee saufe from the enemie The one is to puruey thy campe distant at the leaste a dayes iourneye from hym remoouinge alwayes in the open countrey that thou bee not stayed by hilles or ryuers c to passe vnto the sea syde or suche place where thou desyrest to rest thyne armie The other helpe is if thou bee wylling to assaye the force of the enemie without anie great losse and to abyde him in the fielde then it is best for thee to keepe thy selfe neare vnto some strong towne of thine owne or thy frendes where thou mayst withdrawe thine armie from pursute of the enemie if he prooue the stronger in battaile So did Eumenes saufelie retyre into the Cytie Nora from the armie of Antigonus It is good to prouyde for the woorst as it is common lie saide for the best will saue it selfe ¶ Howe to conducte an armie proceade with the same in a foreyne countrey of the necessaries thereunto Cap. 4. IT is first to be considered that armed men victualls and moneye be the accidentes inseperable or rather the substaunce and strengthe of warres There must bee prouyded also for an armie store of Iron and staffe tymber to make weapons of all sortes with sundrie artificers for dyuers purposes powder must bee had with plentie carriages and cattaill good store to followe the campe for necessaryes with vtensyles and suche like And if an armie be led into a foreyne countrey there must be the greater store of this prouision and forage also to bee had and yet maye not the campe bee pestered with caryages for then it can not so lightlie remoue as occasions maye require Also when souldiours haue muche carriage beinge greatlie enritched with spoyles their mindes are sometime more vppon their baggage thē vpon battaill And if they sende often of the same into their countrey their hartes be also at home Great Alexander therefore seeinge his armie one time so laden with booties and pryses he burned all the surplusage of the carriages whiche myght encumber them beinge of a great substance But a more politike and profitable waye it weare to pro uyde to haue some one stronge towne or twayne where the warres are to conuey the same into which shal bee moreouer a maker of great benefite vse daylie vnto the armie and to the state of the warres dyuers wayes as for reliefe of suche as bee hurte from time to time also to receaue suche ayde of men victualles or other necessaries as shal be sent from home to keepe the same till it maye be saufelie conueyed into the armie and not surprysed of the enemie by the waye Also it is a necessarie place to soiourne in wynter time for the wynter warres be more noysome tedious then profitable or to withdrawe into when the armie or store of thinges is spent or worne with warres there it is a good restinge place till supplie be had of their wantes And if the same be neare vnto the Sea syde and towardes home It is farre the more commodious Nowe the waye to obtayne and wynne suche a towne or herbour the more easelie is in the begynninge to make thyne aryuall so dayne and in a place vnlooked for that the enemye maye bee surprysed vnfurnyshed And it is not best to spende muche of thy store of menne or pouysion in the wynninge of manye Townes at the fyrste For fyue battayles haue beene fougheten wyth losse of fewer menne them some one Cytye is wonne withall and therefore will not the wise Captayne so weaken him selfe before the great necessitie mayne force of battayle For it is to be considered withall that manie townes taken requyre ma nie garrisons to bee assigned for the defence and keepinge of the same all whiche dismember an armie and put it downe as muche as anie practise of the enemie against the same maye do For the armie is the assurāce of warres without which thou canst little annoye or terrifie the enemie nor yet longe maintaine or defende thy walled townes from hym for if hee possesse the countrey with his men hee shall cutt of tyllage and stoppe all trades vnto the townes by whiche they onely maye liue and be maintained And therefore that Prince that possesseth stronge townes and dareth not or hath not power to keepe the fielde and defende his countrey by battaile if he be cunninglie dealt with will vndoubtedlie prooue a pesant And therefore the knowledge to guyde an armie into the fielde and to order make battaile with skill and aduauntage is misteresse of all dominion and victorye for thereunto all warres maye bee brought in the ende And in passinge foorth with his armie let the generall auoide streightes obserue good orders and choose his grounde and wayes commodious as he goeth Nowe let vs see
accordynge to hys desyre and mynde bee contented And this due fourme of iustice obserued with the conformitie of his other dealinges shal be vnto the Captaine a foundation of most highe enterprises For the generall performing towardes the souldiers al that on his part is to be perfourmed he may the better expostulate and requyre in them their endeuours and duityes which also they will the more willingly doe if they be wel paied of their wages which principally must be prouided for for money is the synewes of warre the Captaine ought not to suspende or delaye the paye of the same any time except for especiall occasion When the generall oweth not vnto the souldier but he hath his wages payed he may franklye cōmaund him to any seruyce of the warres Furthermore this vertue of Iustice chiefelie preserueth the dygnitie of the Captaine that the souldyers loue him feare him and reuerence him for this is the hoope and bande that bindeth fast together and strengthneth all the state and affaires of the warre This Iustice in the Captaine includeth two other vertues that he be liberal where cause is and to be temperate and continent of his lust and affections to any other vanitie Temperance is generally defined in this Latine verse Est virtus placitis abstinuisse bonis A vertue of refrayning or abstinence from alluring euils whether it be couetousnes ambition wanton pleasures or such like For modestie of Magistrates or Gouernours due obseruation of Iustice and iust distributing of honours preserueth states from sedition This vertue greate Alexander to his greatest honour vsed towardes the captiue daughters of Darius And Scipio after the expugnation and winnyng of new Carthage in Spayne the wyfe of Luceius a Prince of that Countrey of most rare excellent beawtye beyng brought vnto him he sent her and all that she had saufe and vntouched very honorablie also accompanied home vnto her husband The fame of whose singuler vertue knightlye parte afterwardes procured him great honour of the Spanierdes with much helpe and furtherance in his warres there The wante of which vertue caused Marcus Antonius to be surprised in the dalyance of Cleopatra neglecting his warres and defence whereby he was ouerthrowen of Augustus Caesar. Holifernes by like vice was curtoled of his head and the huge hoste of the Assyrians dyspersed The valure of Sampson by like doting was cut of The Empires and Monarchyes of the Assyriens and Persians sonke in delicate pleasures and in intemperance were lost all is the spoyle of the hardie manlike and martial souldier which ough tlike the noble knight Hypolitus to flye the baytes of effeminate wantonnesse and synke of intēperance seking to reach the Banner of renowme in the highest toppe of vertues tower following valiant exercises which maketh the bodie stronge and healthye and the person honorable the other hath contrarie effectes ¶ Of Prudence the fourth vertue in a Captaine PRudence is an excellent vertue as necessarye as any thing for our Captaine which by good aduise prudent foresight guydeth the presēt affaires in the best course and state conferring them with thinges past and prouidinge for thinges to come This Prudēce must haue deliberate cōsideration of all circumstāces by iudgement to soūde and search the depthe of that which is doubtful it is the Rule almost of all his doinges whereby he deuiseth disposeth and ordereth them as for due consideration of the quality of his souldiers good araye of his Battailles diligent espyall of his enemies doynges due estimation of thē for the oportunitye and occasion of takyng of any aduan̄tage and for the auoydinge of all inconueniences for the prouision of all necessaries for the campe for vsynge the endeuours of euery one as he is most mete for the assocyatinge vnto his weighty and secrete counsailes and practises men of iudgement wise of inuention politike and trust approued And how to trye and finde the trustye prudence also by meanes discerneth For all thy deuises except they be concealed and close kept from the enemy til the time of practise of the same they be seeldōe auailable oftentimes hurtful And as the good cōsideration iudgemēt of a Captaine is to be sene in those pointes before remēbred ought euer to accompanye his doinges So is inuention requysite vnto hym to deuyse how to cutt of the strength of the enemye or circumuent hym for by this manie thinges haue ben atchieued which force could not winne What the policye of Cinon and Vlisses at the battaill of Troye and Zopyrus amonge the Babilonians auayled it is notoriouslye knowne This inuentiō and cunninge to entrapp the enemye Hanniball had at will and oftentymes plagued the Romaines there with all but at the last when he had remayned diuers yeares in Italye wastinge and destroyinge of the coū trey the Romaynes could by no meanes dryue him foorthe Cornelius Scipio founde out the waye to ryd him geuinge this prudent aduise vnto the Romaines that they should sende an armye to inuade Affricke and besyege Carthage whiche was the head of the enemies Empyre shewinge that the stroke at the head as it is most daungerous so it is most feared as when the harte is afrayde the bloud resorteth from other partes vnto the comforte thereof as the principall storehouse of lyfe So sayd Scipio the Carthaginoys pinched with warres at home will sende for their powers abroade to succour them kepe saufe the home stall Which hapned and fell out accordinglye that Hanniball leauinge Italye and retourninge into Affricke to defende his owne countrey and resist the Romaine armye ledd thither by Scipio was there by him ouerthrowne Carthage taken and Affricke subdued So remooued he the daunger ruine by excellent inuention from Roome and caryed the same vnto Carthage was it not a famous policie of Henrie the fifth at the battaill of Agincourt when the power of the French mē stoode most vpon horsemen armed with heauie armour to cause the fielde to bee pitched full of sharpe stakes when they should inuade his battail which withdrawinge till they were come vppon the stakes then had hee placed his archers in an Iland or plott so inuironned or surrounded that they might saufelie shoote at the enemie and hee not come to hurte them by which traine and order the French hoste tumblinge downe in disorder was ouerthrowne whiche inuention is the more honorable for that it is credible to be of the kynges owne deuisinge About the time of the takinge of Bullen by kynge Henrie the eyght this practise was vsed by a noble Englyshe Captayne for the winninge of a towne which was defēded on the weaker parte thereof by a marishe so that ordynaunce could not bee planted to batter the same he caused pieces of light wood to be secretlie made and cunninglye painted like gunnes and layinge bordes vppon the marishe so conueyed ouer his disguysed ordinaunce by terror whereof at the first summons hastelie made with great manasse and shewe of the pretended
all valure the victorious and most redoubted army of Hanniball wallowinge one wynter in the pleintifull pleasures and fine fashyons of the curyous Citizens of Capua wheare they soiourned by which the iuste reproofe followed and was imputed vnto their Captayne that hee hadde the skill and way to conquere but he knewe not how to vse and prosecute his victories For if hee had pursued the Romaynes after the great ouerthrow which he gaue them at Cannae and not runne his Armye on the rocke of ryott restinge out of time and waxinge restife by pleasures in Capua Roome had neuer rysen in seigniorye or Empyre to bee the loftye Ladie and Regient of the world which then beeinge downe when hee oppressed not by his slackenes shee toke breath agayne and recouered to his ruyne By ryott and carelesse rest in lascyuious lasye pleasures Marcus Antonius the moste valyaunt Captayne with his Armye was spoyled and vanquished The great empyre of the Affiryens sonke in this vice vnder their Prince Sardanapale and was subdued Darius drowned the Persian state in delycate lyfe Italye of later time setled in loose and licentious lyuinge geeuinge ouer all vertue and woorthye excercyses hath offered occasion to be so often ouercome by the Hunnes Gotthes Sayffers Spanyerdes and Frenchmen and so haue fallen and shall decaye as manye Nations as geeue ouer them selues to lyke effeminate beastelyke and flewthfull lyfe And thearefore those Princes which raygne in reste onelye by fortune stande vppon wheeles roulinge towardes ruyne But the state whiche hath the foundatyon and defence theareof vpon vertue is firme saufe and permanent Good Souldyours shoulde lyfte vp their courages to atchyue moste hyghe and hard thynges treadynge abiecte ease poorishe pesauntlike idlenes vnder foote and flying lasciuyous lewde intemperaunce as from a Scorpion They ought to contempne dayntines as a womanlike and childishe thinge for the gluttons bodye or minde is apte for no good purpose And yet am I not of his mynde which woulde haue the souldiour in warrefare to eate no other breade or meate but suche as hym selfe baketh and dresseth for time serueth not euerie man alwayes so to doe and some beinge more vnhandsome in handlinge of the same their foode should be the lesse healthsome And other perchāce would be ouer curious and employe more time thearein then in the most weyghtie affaires But it is necessarye that for a neade euerye souldiour knowe howe of meale egges otemeale oyle or butter to bake and make his foode Men haue had sustinaunce for a time onely by rootes and that without any hurt of health He is not woorthy to enioye the bountifull benefites plentyfull prouision which GOD hath ordayned for the wellfare of men that cannot sometime without grudging endure some hardnes For all sortes of men are subiecte vnto necessities trauayle and payne or els this weare no worlde wherein we lyue but a Heauen and two heauens a Christian man is not to looke for Moreouer it is the duetye of a souldiour with all affection to loue and honour hys Captaine not to forsake him for any daunger he ought to keape close the secrete affayres that bee committed vnto him and for no cause to conceate any thinge from him that maye be hurtfull vnto him or the estate of the armie but hee ought to stretch al his synewes alwaies to profit the same He must not be ouermuche scrapinge or couetous of spoyles for so diuers victorious armyes haue bene spoyled and destroyed whilest they onelie respectinge their gaine haue neglected the enemie till they haue fallē euen in his mouthe for sometyme the enemie hath left hys campe for a trayne that the other in spoylinge thereof might be surprysed in disorder and easelie vanquished to mocke thē with Tantalus his apple as the Prouerbe is plucking the bone or possessd praye out of their iawes Great Alexāder whē he sawe his hoast ladē surcharged wearied with riche spoyles also the more sharpelie vrged of the enemy for desire thereof he caused all the surplusage of the carryages stuffe to be burned first beginning with his owne Be moderate therefore good souldiour in thy doings and prynt euery parte of thy duetie in prōpt memory for surely I write not these wordes of course but of trothe with my careful study serchynge and faythfullye examinynge the poyntes needefull for thy profite and I trust our most gracious God will geue fruites of our labours to his honour and our countreys good seruice whose fauour and blessinge bee with all them whiche of noble courage zeale of vertue and coūtryes loue desire to vse armes well ¶ Of what constitution of bodye trade and qualitie of lyfe the best souldiour is to bee chosen and what exercyses and practises are needefull of hym to be vsed Cap. 11. NOwe for the choyse of our good souldiour for the lykelihode of his strength courage and actiuitie to sett downe a precyse order for the same by his shoulders brest armes thyghes feete or composition of anie other parte of the bodye I houlde it most vayne seeinge that good iudgement by the eye discerneth thereof playnelie and wysedome easelye findeth out fitte exercyses for certayne proofe and tryall hereof and it is not possible to haue a great armie of men so framed in all pointes but the courage mynde is as much to bee respected as the bodye But it is necessarye to bee considered of what age trade and maner of lyuinge best choyse of souldiers maye be made For their age the lustiest time of youth for strength and to endure trauaile is meetest as betwene the yeares of two and twentye and towardes fiftie How be it great Alexander had manie of hys best souldiers aboue those yeares of age And for their exercyse or trade of lyfe first it is cleare that the stronger better breathed and harder man of bodie by nature or custome is the more auaylable for warres and therefore it is to conclude that men of suche occupations as are accustomed most to labour with the strength of their armes are to bee preferred for this purpose as smythes butchers masons dyggers in mynes Carpenters most principallye the husbandman both for his wonted enduringe of hardnes in fare and of all weathers and toyle in the fielde beeinge also for the more parte of honest inclinatiō thriftie which be good partes in a souldier And the daintier sorte of seruinge men riotous fellowes are least profitable herein But the cōmō speache of fencers that they be neuer good souldiours proceadeth not of iudgemēt For though there be of them as of other men some faynte fellowes yet for the more part that inclynation delight in the vse of weapons sheweth some manlike courage the practise skill therein breadeth hardines and albeit there be other sortes of weapons vsed in warres yet the exercyse of these causeth nimblenes actiuitye to handle anie other And therefore if he bee not otherwise vnrulie or naughtelye geuen he that is practysed and
from Rebellion of subiectes and forewarde in victories then he So to conclude God graunt that the examples of others maye stirre the flacke and dull sorte well to vse Armes before their harmes ¶ Of the sundric sortes of weapons vsed by diuers nations in the auncient warres and which are nowe most necessarie with some respectes of pressynge souldiours Cap. xii THe weapons which the antiquitie vsed in their warres were diuers They hadd crossebowes slynges dartes and hatchettes all which the harquebus hath nowe displaced beinge more auaylable for the warres They vsed also malles like our pollaxes glayues hammers and battail axes The Romaines vsed most for their footemen the swerd and target speares or iauelins The Macedonien weapon was a longe speare called Sarissa whych our partizans and pykes well supplie The Parthiens were all light horsemen vsinge bowes and arrowes by which in the large plaine coūtreis where they sought to ioigne battaill they archieued manie notable conquestes In steade of the Parthyens bowe mee thynketh the curryer weare of better vse for some light horsemen for that he shooteth more certainelie and stryketh more daungerouslie then the arrowe and when hee hath dyscharged he maye be gone and remooue lightlie to charge againe but his horse must bee well managed heareunto as vnto all other feates of the warre Moreouer in myne oppinion it were an excellent furniture for the pikeman to haue a dagge or a case of dagges at his girdle for diuers purposes But it is needefull for euerie souldiour in the fielde to haue a good swerde and dagger and for the armed souldiour the same woulde bee but shorte with waightie pomells stronge narrowe poynted One other thinge I woulde saye and conclude for the regarde of souldiours when a power is to be leuied and men prest into the warres if it stande vppon no greater necessitie but that such choyse maye be made it is to be respected that men of occupation husbandmen and suche like which after the warres ended maye retourne to their trades or els haue somwhat of their owne to liue ciuillye with all be first taken Secondlie it is to be considered that men hauinge great charge of children or occupyinge be the rather spared exempted from the warres For Iudas Machabeus the most redoubted Captaine of the hoast of Israell dismissed out of his armie suche as newely maried wyues buylded houses or planted vineardes whereby their hartes beeynge left at home they shoulde be the lesse valiaunt and more lothe to hazarde their lynes Good order must bee taken that the commen wealthe be not pestered wyth idle and vnprofitable men and the same once beeinge purged if none be after taken into the warres but such as by their trades or other staye are lyke to liue conuenientlie by their owne industrie or hauoyr except so manie as maye be maintayned by the warres preferred by pentions or placed in garrisons afterwardes souldiours shall not be discouraged to see manie of that sorte the warres beinge dissolued needie neglected and fallen into miseries For surelie the souldiour that is a ciuill man with all is an especiall member of his countrey to be regarded more then hee which is lesse able to serue the same for it is a blessinge of God both for the vse necessarie of valure worthye estimation And therefore principallie the generall and Captaines ought after the warres ended to retayne their tender affection towardes the souldiours which haue serued them well and to endeuour as they may to preferre them But generallie all good men ought to fauour and further honest souldiours which hath a valiaunt desire to propulse the enemie to purchase honour and sauftie vnto their natiue countryes The seconde booke ¶ Of the disciplyne and admonitions of warre AL bee it that there can not bee rules appointed or prescribed to direct al the doinges affaires of warre as well for that there is no leasure vppon sodaine mischiefes to searche out presidētes or ponder lessons rules as also because of the infinite occasions chaūces that happen beyonde expectatiō It were therefore an infinite I may saye as Hanniball did by the dotinge discourse of olde Formio a madd peece of woorke to prescribe a particuler order for euerie acte to be done in the warres wherein the Captaine must followe the grounde and dyrection of his wisedome and experience But yet some certaine obseruatiōs there are for him most needefull and presidentes of other excellēt captaines in great difficulties maye bee good warninges lessons in the like to make a foundation and plott of politique inuention good iudgement so that the Iron or stuffe thereby maye bee supplyed but the hammer of the Captaines wisedome must worke and frame the same vnto hys seuerall practises and occasiōs Now therefore to goe into the matter let vs see what aduātages policie by good experience and sure grounde of reason hath taught vs to seeke in ioygninge battaile and encounter with the enemie First if he come by sea to aryue take his landynge Cassibellans example sheweth what is best to doe who vnderstandinge of Iulius Caesars cōming out of Fraūce to inuade this land of Britayne he foorth with gathered his power together and ioyning them with the aide of Androgeus king of Kent they proceaded to the Sea side wheare valiauntlie resistinge the arriuall of the Romaines they were repulsed and driuen backe to their shippes well laden with blowes Which declareth that great aduauntage is had to deale with the enemie before he haue discharged all his power out of the shippes being disordered and straighted in rome and standing on slipperie places hauinge some impediment of the water before they can winne the firme shore The like facilitie is there to withstand the enemie at the mouthe or entringe of some streyghtes or at the passinge of highe stepe hilles Leonidas wyth 600. Lacedemoniens keapinge the toppe of the hill where the huge hoaste of the Persiens were to passe and enter into Grecia at the streyghtes of Thermopilae slewe theare more then xx thousād of them Caesar before recited beeing to conueye his Armie ouer a riuer in Fraunce the passage wheareof was defended kept on the other side by Vergintorix leader of the Frenchmen he there fore knowinge how muche the enemie might auoide him before he could gett ouer vsed this policie to beguyle them He caused a portion of hys armie drawen out of diuers bandes to be priuelye lodged in a woode nighe and theare to frame a little bridge on the sodayne to be cast ouer the ryuer thē downe goeth he alonge by the shore as thoughe he sought passage in some other place The Frēchmen seing him remoue bearing the iust nūber of his ensignes not doubting any double dealing followeth wayghting vpō him alonge the other side Caesar by that the bridge was made spede lie retourning passed ouer without lett or trouble The like policye may bee well vsed mee thinketh thus to espy where sum̄ part
whether policie counsayleth as soone as thou arte entered into the enemies countrey and that he will offer battaile to receaue the same and shortlie to trye the matter Herein I am not of opinion that it is generally best to detracte battail except there be some aduantage to be taken and vsed in ioygning of the same for so the one may goe about the other longe enoughe to little purpose But other circumstances and accidentes are to be considered in this generaltie For commonlye it is for the behoufe of him whose Countrey is inuaded to seke battaile for auoydinge spoyle of the same But yet it is to be considered that if the other bee like shortely to be wearied or be neare some mischiefe by mutine or for some wantes forced to forsake the coūtrey that it shoulde be daungerous to deale wyth him for his force then policye perswadeth to protracte battaile on that parte And generallye the inuader as longe as he proceadeth with spoyle to plage the enemy to enritche himselfe hath not necessity to hasten battaile but maye take the time best for his aduauntage How be it occasions may growe on otherwise and be vrgent vnto him to ioygne battaile spedelye as by encrease of ayde comminge towardes the enemie or casuall empayring of his owne present power Moreouer vnto him which hath manye hyered souldiers it is more requisite to make hast vnto battaile and to end the warres as well for the great charge of that retinue as for the daylie daunger of their vnsure seruice and doubt of reuoltinge vnto the enemye being money men by corruption or for a greater paye they lightlie leaue their mayster in his greatest neade For seldome haue theare bene greate conquestes made by force of hyred menne The Romaynes and the Grekes warred withe their owne Souldiours against all nations Great Pompeye withe the natiue people of Italie ouercame Mithridates with hys huge Armye of more then twentye Nations Of later tymes the estates of Italye haue bene vsurped and ouerrunne by vsinge the helpe of hyred Souldiours And the Venetiās hauing otherwise moste excellent gouernement and plentyfull prouisyon of all thinges both for peace warre but for thys cause onelye had growen to haue greate Empyre This Realme of Britayne hath sum̄ experience of these hurtes beinge sumtime oppressed by the hyred Saxons vnder Hengistus But nowe to trie the truste and faithe of hired Souldiours before their infidelitie or defection maye greatlie hurte It is good before thy greate neade and daye of battaile to sende them foorthe wythe a feawe of thyne owne approued men to sum̄ exploite supposed to bee of greate importaunce and to plante priuelie by the waye or to sende after them a sufficient number of trustye Souldiours to doe the same feate if the other shoulde bee false or faile in the same Also it is policye for the same purpose to conferre with the Captaynes of them that are suspected of suche matters as thou entendest not to doe but in shewe to see if they wyll keape the same secrete or geue priuye aduertysement theareof vnto the Enemye The like proofe is made by delyuering to the leader of thē letters sealed pretending great wayght and purportinge little to bee sent foorthe to sum̄ friende to see whether the same should be opened or not saufelye conueyed in tyme. ¶ VVhether it be more profitable to seeke the great Towne or the lesse and how best to wynne the same Cap. 5. NOw is it further to bee knowen for takinge of houldes within the enemies dominiō that the larger be rather to be sought for thē the lesse And thearefore the Citie which is of greatest trade to enriche the enemie or such large towne as is so scituate that it may most annoye him if thou be able to furnishe the same with garrisons is most auaylable for diuers causes Alcibiades the excellēt Captaine entrynge Sicilia to make warres theare first tooke the greate Citye Rhegium nexte besyeged Catina not farre from Syracuse the chiefe Citye of the Realme Scipio began hys warres in Spayne withe the syege of newe Carthage the principall citie there both of trade power And in like sorte inuadyng Afrique he foorthwith layde syege vnto Vtica a famous citie stāding on the sea side wheare he also harboured and kept his shippes so that he might cut of all ayde succoure both by lande sea frō the towne Now for the maner of subduing holdes it is to be agreed that the best waye of wyn ning is that whych is with moste speade leaste losse And thearefore if a Towne maye not be surprised and taken by sum̄ trayne or policie it is lesse daunger to inuade and force the enemye by famine then with the swearde How Zopyrus suttlelie caughte the Babiloniens fayninge him selfe fledde from his Prince for crueltie shewed vnto him and being of them vnder fayned friendshipe receaued betrayed their Citie the maner theareof is declared at large in the first booke This shift also hath bene vsed when a Captayne had vnderstandynge of ayde looked for by the besyeged he hath apparelled a troupe of his owne souldyours vnder the ensigne of those whiche shoulde come vnto them and so to haue taken the Towne Cimon of Athens besieginge a Towne by nighte sett fire on a temple in the suburbes of the same whearefore sum̄ of the Townes men rashelie runninge out to succour it the enemie entered in vpon thē Also the besieged are more easelie enduced to yelde by signifiynge vnto them sum̄ great victorie latelye hadde against their Prince or other streightes that he is brought into Sum̄ haue practised to haue friendes within a towne to perswade them to issue out vpon the enemie or to doe sum̄ other acte vnto their owne ouerthrowe And such persons haue geuen intelligence by letters fastened to arrowes and shote foorthe vnto the enemies of the state and dealinges within the Towne as of the weakest parte theareof or least defended of the custome of the watche when and howe they maye be deceaued that the enemie maye enter vpō them vnware The Frenchmen corrupted Tarpeia a mayden to lett them in by a little posterne doore into the Capitall of Roome But in this case diligent examination must be made by captaines for double dealinge that they be not abused in their practises the same beinge disclosed vnto the enemie which hath sometime suffered parte of the aduersaries power to ēter within his houlde to their destructiō hauinge prepared sodainlie to repulse and shutt out the rest For the takinge of a stronge towne by famine it is a good waye to winne sum̄ weaker-nighe to tourne out the inhabitauntes thereof that they may be receaued into the other so their victualls the soner consumed Fabius suffered thē of a towne whom he woulde besiege to sowe their fieldes to the entēt that they shoulde haue the lesse corne in store Sometime townes be sieged haue desired a parle or truce for a time to the ende that the siege not beinge straightlie
a refuge by their wisedome experience vnto thē in their troubles neades Thus seeing that inuasion in sum̄ cases is tollerable yelding sufficiēt matter for noble courages to worke vpō so that prowesse shal neuer be so shut vp but it may haue a cōmendable course if theare be a regarde to the feare of God for the vertuous direction good ende theareof the warres for defēce must neades more generallie be allowed whensoeuer wronge is offered by the enemie of anie estate to the losse vexation or empayringe of the same wheareby in bodies goodes mindes possessions fraunchises lawes iurisdictions credit honour or anye thinge that is of profit or contentation vnto thē they be anoyed or hurte the resistinge encountring wheare of is iust honourable necessarye The aūcient warres of Troye Thebes arose vpon great wronges offered the first of them in the time that K. Dauid raygned the other not longe after The Grekes maintained continuall warres for their libertie to preserue their publique states vnder elected gouernours especially to auoyde subiection to anie foreine nation which they esteamed barbarous and rascall in respect of them selues The Scythiens hauinge no riche or delycate possessions of pleasant or frutefull fieldes no substaunce or store of goodes to loose yet they fought fiercelie to defende the tombes of their aūcestours whereof they had their greatest care frō iniuries of the enemie defacing And generallie nature hath geuē to liuinge thinges a desire of defēce resistinge of wronges wherefore that force is better to be allowed of thē inuasion Iudas Machabeus saide to the Israelites let vs fight for our liues our lawes And thus to cut of our course in to the antiquitie of warres seing that it is not my purpose nowe to wryte thereof yet supposinge thus muche not to be impertinent vnto hym that woulde bee a trauayler in the knoweledge and affaires of warres we conclude by plentiful proofe out of the store of histories accordinge to our propositiō That warres iustlie made for the more parte growe to good effecte and the violent empyre lasteth not longe Battail attēpted for pompe or ambitious desire of dominion not regardinge right or wōge seldome hath good successe or els the frutes had thereby soone fade suche victories take no roote But yet it remayneth to aunswere one obiection that seemeth to ouerthrowe and quyte condempne all our warres whiche is that our Lorde Iesus hath sayde that he which striketh with the swerde shall perishe with the same which is to be vnderstoode eyther of wrōgfull striking ' or else betwene pryuate persons which haue the sworde of the prince defēce of the lawe to remedie their wronges Also where it is cōmaūded that he which is strykē on the one eare should turne the other toreceaue the like it is expoūded whereas the exāple of such singuler pacience maye greatlie auaile to make such insolēt oultrage the more odious detestable that there is a law to punish the same otherwise warres armes maye be vsed for maintenance defence of vertue ryght great good grow therof For in the x of the Actes of the Apostles we reade that the cōuersation order of life of the captaine Cornelius was verie well pleasinge acceptable vnto God and in the tenth of saint Mathaew our sauiour saieth I came not to sēd peace into the earth but a swerde which proueth that the same maye be vsed according to the good pleasure of God thus if we serch his will we shall finde it and knowe howe to obserue keepe it ¶ Of vyctories which is the best and what truce maye be honourablye made Cap. ix THat victorie is most to be preferred which maye be soonest compassed obtained with least expence inconuenience losse especiallie of men wherein it is to be cōsidered that the same is made more honourable of greater importāce fame if periurie cruel murthers infamous treasōs poysoninge of victualls or such odious extremities be not vsed therein Fabius had excellent regarde of honour in his conquest when besieginge a citie of the Faliscyens a schoolemaster which had the chiefest mens sonnes of the towne in gouenrmēt teaching trayned them forth on a time apte for his purpose for hope of rewarde brought them into the enemies handes to the ende that thereby their fathers frendes shoulde be fayne to render the towne But Fabius rewarding him not iumpe accordinge to his expectation but duelie for hys desertes he caused the boyes to scurge their schole mayster well with roddes for betrayinge the trust of their parentes and so sent them home together singinge vnto the citizens which hauinge his noble vertue in highe admiration forthwith rendred vnto him the towne Dauid sought not by murder to wrest the kingdome out of the hādes of Saul but punished him which had laide hādes vpon his Lorde anoynted elected of god Caesar procured not Pompeye to be slayne but wept when hee sawe his enemies head Alexander pursued Bessus to reuenge the trayterous murther by him cōmytted vpon his enemie kinge Darius The Romaines generallie had regarde to conquere by valure prowesse wherefore they grewe most great in Em pire were had in honour awe of all nations The Carthagynoys contrarywyse not carynge howe so they had victorie vsinge foule practises infidelitie and all bad shiftes to attaine the same shortlie lost all So that the vertue and honourable dealinge of the generall shall alwaies auayle muche to the prosperous proceadinge of his warres and more easye accomplyshynge of victorye Hee oughte to bee as a tutor or rather as a father tender and carefull ouer the souldiours committed vnto his guyde good order diligent prouidence The excellent captaines of Roome desired rather to saue one citizē in battail thē to destroye manie enemies Crueltie is to be eschued excepte when seueritie sharpelie shewed maye geue great example But where lenitie and prudent meanes maye expresse worke th effecte of rigour euen towardes enemies the same is to be vsed that they seeinge the excellent vertue wisedome and order of gouernment in the conquerour maye the rather bee allured to commit them selues vnto him when by suffringe exchaunge of a ruler thestate of their welfare shall not be ouerthrowen or vndone nor slauerie or vile seruitude more odious then death is not sett before them most obstinatelie desperatelie to bee encountred Nowe touchinge occasiōs of truce intermission of warres it is to be cōsidered that the same be made done without dishonour so that the warres thereby be come not frutelesse or the armie in worse case then before as if the enemie craue that for feare which shall like auaile him and muche encourage the other partie But pollicye willeth not to seeke truce or delaye but by constrainte of necessitie or for sum̄ auantage to be taken as sum̄ ayde looked for or in the meanetime to growe into the secrets of the
enemie to sifte his purposes by conference had with him to vndermine his doings if he be not very well aduised to serch the state of his force gouernmeÌ„t And withal the good captaine must be vigilaÌ„t close in his owne affaires Thus shal not the time be detracted the armie with great charges maintayned without good purpose or profit ¶ Of the vse and ende of VVarres and of preparation therefore in time of peace Cap. 10 NOw is it to be determined that the vse of warres ought to be applyed for the defence of right to shyelde from iniuries to plant settle a coÌ„modious state of life this vse respecteth hath regarde vnto a further effecte to growe thereof which is the verie finall ende of warres that after valiauÌ„t victorie or reuenge had of the enemie peace may follow and be maintained with honour free froÌ„ violeÌ„ce hostile oppression So that other natioÌ„s seing the discipline martial prowesse of an estate so wel appointed defeÌ„ded may feare to offer theÌ„ iniuries gladlye desire to haue league fauour there wheÌ„ things in this good stay sauflie are coÌ„fourmed established theÌ„ shall learning trades florishe craftes men in cuÌ„ning encrease GouldeÌ„ quiet shal plante good order to foster frugality bringe foorth the fruites of plenty where by the laÌ„d wel peopled good gouernmeÌ„t shal spred the happie state of a prosperous coÌ„men weale ouer al. Good excercises shal be honourablie frequeÌ„ted vertue with all desire coÌ„tention endeuoured in which excellent course of life we shal finde our selues most happie doe our Lord God best seruice so that our felicitie may hereafter endure for euer One thinge more I would saye so coÌ„clude that is for the prouision of all thinges neadeful in time of peace for the mayntenance of warres for peace is the nourice of store encrease of thinges in which time if by good prouidence respecte be not had to haue readie furniture of armour weapons money munition menne prepared bothe in mindes by excercise trayned for this seruice it will cause fainte warres the affaires whereof being premeditate before hande proceade the better withe out stickinge or straungenesse as the iourneye where the waye is plaine and well knowen The time of warres is troublesome to take counsaile in and more vnfitte for exactions but most of all it is vnmete then to take order and to haue thinges to seke when they shoulde bee occupied Also this preparation furniture for the warres woulde bee had of euerie priuate manne accordinge to his abilitie as well as in comen stores of corporations and companies And suche person as is of wealthe and lesse able by his persone or good counsaile for the seruice and defence of his Countrey oughte to extende his good will and forwardnes the further for good purueyance to arme and furnishe others theareunto For he that is so sotted in simplicitye and drowned in basenes of minde that hopinge still vpon peace will neuer aduaunce his consideration or care for defence in time of warres but employe all his endeuour vnto his owne priuate gaine or pleasure and not laye out anye money for the behoufe of the comen state is like by his policye to saue a fether lose the birde while hee snatched at a shadowe he loseth the substaunce And the example of such grosse carelesse securitie is verye pernicious vnto a comon weale for diuers of them which haue the wealthe of the Realme beinge slacke negligent in this point it is not a feawe of the other though they weare neuer so careful or wel disposed appointed to serue that can sustaine the brunte of warres the poore man can little auayle hearein being thoroughe wante of abilitie naked both of armour experience hauing no spare time for the excercise of armes wheÌ„ all his endeuour emploied to purueye for his necessarie lyuinge can skantlie suffice theareunto but his trust is that thoroughe the circumspecte prouidence of them which haue whearewithall to doe good hearein hee shall enioye his pouertye saufe from captiuitye So if the other bee vnfurnished at the time of neade what doth he but bringe ruyne vpon him selfe and hys deare Countrey Is it not the wished wellfare and a right happye state wheare euerye man may enioye his owne quyetlie vnder their naturall and gratious Prince moste carefull and tender ouer the Countreye and people vsynge suche lawes as the wyse menne of the Realme can best deuyse and finde oute to bee moste profitable for all sortes of menne And an horrible miserye more odyous then anye deathe to haue oure Lawes lyues goodes and what soeuer is deare vnto vs at the lyst and vnder the contempte and rule of the insolent and cruell enemye to bee spoyled by force pylled by exactyons and trybutes to liue laden with seruitude villanyes If we will haue these auoyded then must theare be defence prepared for the good prosperous estate Els is the same by peace enriched vnto spoile and fatted fitt for the tothe of the enemie For yet neuer was theare great famous estate whearein armes and lawes ciuill gouernement and martiall prowesse florished not together And now for suche as shall serue in the warres that they might liue honestlie and ciuillye after the same ended whereby they should lesse feare to put them selues forth in dauÌ„gers if there weare in euery shire of this realme a house ordayned for maymed souldiours men worne in the warres withe suche prouision that they might be able to lyue theare not idlelye as lasye lorells haue done heretofore vnder cloke of religion but orderlie duelye to serue God at certaine feastes times conuenient to be leaders vnto the countrey men in the orders arraye of warre and teachers to the ignorant in the best vse of martiall weapons practises This I suppose should be well pleasinge vnto almightie GOD also right honourable profitable vnto the Realme FINIS ¶ Tout poiar louange a Dieu Amen Practise skyll Dido obtay ned somuch grounde to buylde the Citie vpon as might be compassed vvith an oxes hyde and that she cut in thonges Henrye the fifthe G. Scanderbeg Baiazet The arte of Nobilitie The diffinition of an armie Ninus Sardanapal â–ª Milciades Darius Xerxes Mardonius Cymon of Lacedaemon Alcibiades Mindaerus Pharnaebazus Leonidas with 4000. as some write Celtae BreÌ„niê° Belinus English men sonnes of Donwallo a Saxon King. Furius Camillus Martius Coriolanus Hanniball Fabius Scipio Alexander Paulus Emelius Perseus For this purpose great Alexander caried Homer alwaies in his pocket Heroicum of most high noblesse or valure Pius in deum in homines VVhen martiall lawe is to be vsed and how Exod. 18. Iethro gaue counsaile vnto Moyses to make the like distribution and coÌ„mission of the comen affaires vnto other that being eased of a great part of that burden he might better attend to the more waightie causes Ambition disturbeth wel ordered states Enuious and peruerse men of disposition VVyse Ianus is paynted with two faces one loking towardes things past the other to that which is to come Causes of affection and fryndship Arist. polit 3. He loseth the name of a good Citizen which preferreth priuat profit before the commen weale Deutero 20. Effeminatenes is contrarye to force manlynesse Moderate dyet One trayned souldiour worth ten untrayned Vegetius sayth that Gentlemen to whom the profession of armes is proper as their arte ought from their cradel to their graue to be practised thearein Plaut Feliciter is sapit qui alieno periculo sapit Samuel ca. 13 The Isralites for want of weapons vsed their matocks cowlters See also Deut. 20. 24. Formio a philosopher Leonidas and the armye of Xerxes Plutarch in vita Hannibalis Carts hooked Horsemen Stakes Tu ne cede malis sed coÌ„tra audentior esto Virg. Martius against the Dutchmen Flaminiê° against Phillip kinge of Macedon conueyed a troupe vp a hill to come downe vpon the enemy at their backes while they were in fight belowe It is written that Hanniball shoulde vse the same speache to kinge Antiochus leadinge his galant armye against the Romaines See Deut. 20. Iosua King Saul Sampson Iudas Mach. Gedeon Iehu Titus sonne of themperour Vespatien Cain Iaball Thubalcain Semin Asia Cam in Afrique Iaphet in Europe Thuball Nimrod Assur Sardanapalê° Arbactê° Abraham Ninus Mars Hercules Romulus Belus Phoroneus Ianus Licurgus Minerua Cecrops Cadmus Plato Magistratus excellens Pastor populi Math. 26. Act. Apost 10. Mathaew 10. Bellum gloriosum Paci turpi antefevendum Plato Optimè tum ciuitates instituuntur cum singuli suis operibus incumbunt Plaut Libertatem nemo bonus nisi cum anima simul amittit A happye coÌ„men weale wheare good lawes and armes are duelye vsed Iustice and chiualrye maintained