others And in these tents they lay by rankes by which they tyed their horses and Asses and in which they laid vp their victualls treasure and such things as they had For in them were found golde silver raiment blue silke purple and great riches Before they remooved there was Ios 1. 10 11. 3 2 3 4 Iud 7 19 1 Mach 12 27. warning given throughout the whole host and it was tolde them what they should doe Till they remooved they set diligent watch and carefully keepe it especially when they thought an enemie ready to set vpon them CHAPTER XXI Of ordering an host in drawing neere to the Enemie and what is else to bee done and considered of before the comming of the battell DAvid sending out an Army to subdue his proud rebellious son Absolom divided the whole host into 3. 2 Sa. 18. 2. parts and set principall Commanders over the same Ioab over one Abishai over the other and Ittai over the third So did Iudas divide his Army into three Companies 1 Mach 5. 33. 2 Mach 8. 21. and sometimes into foure parts Against Cendebeus he divided his men and set his horse in the midst of the foote because the Enemies horse were very many Bachides in his battell against Iudas divided his horse into two troupes and put his slingers Ca. 16. 7. and Archers before the host and in the foreward were all the mighty men and Bachides himselfe in the right wing Wise and experienced 1 Mach 9. 11 12. Commanders know how to order and embattaile their men The Enemy the place the occasion offered are in this matter seriously to bee weighed Hanuibal ordered his Army some time one way and sometime Liv 30. 31. 23. 29. another as reason led him And so did the Romanes Caesar and others Saul set his battaile in aray against the Philistims but the manner how is not â—et dovvne 1 Saâ—â— 7. 2. 23. Before the joyning of battell foresight and great vvisedome is required For 1. here lyeth at stake the precious liues of men 2. These â—â—â— errour may bring great damage 3. The due commendarions of all former preparations deliberations and wary proceedings is here reteined or lost 4. The victory procureth renowne and causeth triumph and ioy 5. But the overthrow bringeth sorrow disgrace and the prisoners taken captiue to be at their enemies will the very conceit whereof in some hath beene so contrary to their minds as they rather haue desired death then to fall into an enemies hand This made Saul to kill himselfe which he did saith Iosephus In the wars of the Iews because he was a faint-hearted coward Ziâ—ri did burne his pallace over his owne head And Razis acted 2 Mach 14. 42. 46. a desperate part vpon this ground In Numantia where 4000 souldiers who held out â—4 yeares against many thousand Romanes yet wearied at length they resolved vpon a strange and desperate end which was to gather all their Armes monies and goods together and to set them on fire and to burie themselues in the flame that so Scipio might not haue any of them captiues to triumph over This maketh many stout courages in battell desperate to fight like Lyons and will not yeeld till the fatall wound come and they be deprived of life Great consideration therefore must be had before a Generall put all to hazard 1. Of his owne number and strength and then of his Enemies 2. Of the quality and condition of his souldiers whether young and raw or old and experienced for it s not number but valour and skill which chiefly prevaileth 3. Of their fitnesse to fight if it be after travell when they be hungry thirst and Liv. 44. weary perhaps against fresh liuely and a well prepared Enemie Aemilius would not charge vpon Xenâ—ph in exped Cyr. Perseus in Macedonia because of his souldiers vnfitnes by travell though they desired to fight vntill the next day Clearchus would not set vpon his enemie because he perceived his souldiers to bee saint and hungry Therefore the Romanes before they Liv 28 21 entred battell refreshed well their men with victualls and rest as Vespatian did when he encamped about Warres of the Iewes Iorpata where in Iosephus was So Hannibal would haue his men dine well to lye warme and take rest before they fought with the Romanes at Trebia Such commonly as haue fought when their Army was wearied with travell for want of â—est or faint for food haue miserably perished As did Asdrubals army at Metaurus and so the Gaules Historia de troubl de Fra. l. 13. by the Romanes Puigallâ—re his men were cut off by La Nove when he would needes set vpon the Protestants after two dayes and nights continuall march 4. The Generall is to consiâ—er whether feare possesse the hearts of his souldiers It s Liv 26. 37. a great hinderance to the victory It s threatned as a punishment fainting of heart seized vpon the Canaanites Ios 2. 9. 24. and gaue courage and assurance of victory to Iosua A trembling through feare is a signe of destruction We never reade of Sauls daunt of spirit and fearfulnesse in 1 Sa 28. 5 all his many battells but onely before the last in which he and his were overthrowne then it s said that he was afraid and his heart greatly trembled Some feare may possesse the heart of a Commander sometime but a sodaine and vnwonted feare in a General as Saul is an ill token as it was in one of the Kings of Hungary when he put on his helmet to goe against the great Turk In which battell he lost his life and the chiefe City of the Kingdome A great feare over a whole host at the sight of the Enemy foretelleth their overthrow as it happened with the host of Timotheus consisting of 120000 foote and 2500 horse at the sight of Iudas 2 Mach 12 20 22. with a handfull and as it hapned to the Army of Sigismund vpon which fell a panick feare when Zisca was but comming neere Till feare was removed Caesar would not set forward against Ariovistus and the Germanes Iudas Machibeus would needs fight when many of his company was in feare and conveyed theÌ„selues out of the host but it cost him his life 1 Mach 9. 6. 10 18. Therefore to prevent or remoue feare the Lord himselfe spake to his Generals exhorting them not to feare to Moses to Iosua to Gideon yea he sent his Prophet sometime to encourage Deut 3 2 Ios 1 8. 10 8 11 6. Iud 6 4 2 Cro 20 Deut 20 3 4 them and appointed a sermon or set speech for the Priests to deliver before the host went out Hence it was that Kings made Orations to their Captaines and Souldiers and so did other Generals Histories humane are full of them and very many spâ—eches are recorded in the Bible the scope whereof was to remoue feare to encourage
holy Writ I thinke I may write of Hoc instituto meo alienum esse non putavi The Priests of God went out with the Lords Hosts in former times and that by his appointment Iohn the Baptist spake vnto Souldiers they asked him what they should doe and he advised them in some things I haue laboured for your good bonâ saltem intentione I pray my endeavour may not be reckoned minoris pretii quia ego Minister The worth of a true Souldier I haue ever honoured I prize at an high rate a Man os valour and hee well deserues it I wish ex animo that illustrious eminency may ever attend him that is by vertue Valiant I doubt not therefore but that this Work from the word not hitherto published by any will be favourably accepted of you That if it make you not Souldiers according to Men because perhaps more you know already by practise and experience yet am I sâ—re it may make you vertuously valiant and good men according to God And being so then though you die here in Battell you may hereafter liue in blessednesse Which I heartily wish you may attaine vnto there to triumph for ever Yours in his prayer and at command in all Christian Services RICH BERNARD The Contents of every Chapter in this Booke CHAP. I. OF the excellency of the Historie of the warres in Holy Writ CHAP. II. Of the warres of God with man CHAP. III. Of the warres of man with man and of the lawfulnesse of such warres CHAP. IV. Of the honourable calling and employment of a right Souldier CHAP. V. Of the iust causes and true grounds of making warre CHAP. VI. Of necessary warre CHAP. VII Of the chiefe Authority moving to warre and of Kings going out with their Hosts CHAP. VIII Of Prest men and Voluntaries CHAP. IX Of the mustering and choice of Souldiers CHAP. X. Of the Armes in olde times the view of them and of the exercise before Souldiers goe to warre CHAP. XII Of the Generall over the whole Armie CHAP. XIII Of Counsell for Warre CHAP. XIV Of the disciplining of an Armie and orderly government thereof CHAP. XV. Of the evills to bee avoided in a Campe and to be punished CHAP. XVI Of a convenient Army and of necessaries prepared aforehand to maintaine the same CHAP. XVII Of meanes abroad to be vsed before the warre begin CHAP. XVIII Of the religious preparation before the Army march CHAP. XIX Of laying good grounds aforehand to speede well and of a peaceable and lawfull proceeding against such an Enemie CHAP. XX. Of marching forward and encamping CHAP. I. Of the excellencie of the Historie of warres in Holy writt MOst that delight to reade or almost all so delighted do spend their time in perusesing over humane stories and do highly extoll the histories of the warres of Heathen Commanders as of great Alexander of Iulius Caesar of Pirrhus the Epirote of Hanniball the Carthaginean of Scipio Africanus and many other praise worthy Cheiftaines in warre but doe lightly price the Scriptures Historie of warres the right art militarie indeed which was commanded to bee penned by that great man of warre as Moses stileth him the Exod 15. only cheife and highest commander whose name is the Lord of Hosts And yet this Sacreed story surpasseth al other and is aboue them to be commended for many things as first for the vndoubted truth in all and every thing therein delivered 2. For the antiquitie thereof before all other extant in the whole world 3. For the great authority thereof divine and heavenly 4. For the short and pithy relations 5. For such admirable things as be therein recorded not else where to be fouÌ„d If withall the certainetie of such things be considered as I. The Lords most valiant and religious General never to be matched for fame and glorie Who can compare with Iosua judged to bee one of the Nyne Worthies Who can match with some of the Iudges as Shamgar who slew 600 men with an Oxe goad or Sampson that slew a 1000 with the jaw bone of an Asse Iudg. 3. 31. Or who can compare with David the King another of the Nyne Worthies for wisedome valour and piety Or who hath excelled a third of the nyne worthies Iudas Machabeus for courage for magnanimitie of spirit and vndauntednesse of heart II The Captaines and worthies as David had who among the Heathen like Adino that in one battell slew 800 men with his owne hand Who could breake thorow an whole host of armed men as did only three of Dauids worthies to fetch some water for David to drinke Then worthy Acts are recorded in the 2. Sam. cap 23. and 1. 11. whereto I refer the Reader as not to be paralleld among the true histories of any Heathen or Christian III The set Battels therein mentioned in number found 37 what one Historie hath the like number in so compendious a relation IV The huge Armies set downe The Armie which Gedeon fought which was very great for then aboue 120000 were slaine The Army of Israel against Beniamin was 4â—0000 The Army of the Philistins at one time was 30000 Charets 6000 horsmen and footmen as the sand for multitude Sauls first hoast which 1 Sa 11. 8. he levied against the Ammonites was 330000 Amaziah against Edom had 300000 Shishake the King of Aegipt came against Iudah in Rehoboams dayes with 1200 Charetts 60000 horsemen and footmen without number Ieroboam Abijah brought 2 Ch. into the feild at one time 1200000 the one 800000 the other 400000 Zerah the Ethiopian came against Asa with 1000000 and Asa mett him with 580000 so there was that day in the feild fifteene hundred fourscore thousand men to fight striving who should overcome and be victorious Greater armies I never read nor heard of in any Historie saue only that of Xerxzes the Persian and that of Tamberlain and Baiezett the Turke and Tartar if the relation of the numbers be true as we are sure these all be V. The storie is rare In respect of the incredible slaughters in those Iud. 8. 10. dayes in one foughten feild Gedeon in his warrs did sley of the enemyes 120000 David slew 40000 horsemen 2 Sa 10. 18 in the Syrian hoast with their 2 Ch 3 17. Generall and the men also of 700 Charetts in one battell Ieroboam lost 500000 chosen men in his fightings against Abijah Ahab slew of Benhadads 1 K 20 29 30. Army 100000 besides 27000 that perished by the fall of a wall and 2 Ch. 28. 6. 8. Pekah King of Israell destroyed in one day of the men of Iudah 120000 and tooke captiue 200000 prisoners VI. In regard of the most strange and vnheard of victories some miraculous as when God sett the sword of the enemyes of his people against their owne selues to slaughter and kill one another as hee did the Midianits and Amalakits so the Philistians Iudg. 7. 2â— and likewise the Moabites and Edomites
and Ammonites when they came against Iudah Some other 1 Sa. 14 20 though not such yet so prosperous by Gods protection and ayding power 2 Ch 20. to overcome as the like is no where recorded to omit the victories of Iosua against Og against Sihon against all the Kings of Canaan the victories of Iudah of Ehud Baruk Iudg. 1. Iephte of Saul of David Asa Ahab Amaziah and others I will mention but that one levied host of Israell in number 12000 only which went out against Midian and slew fiue Kings burnt all their Citties and Num. 21. 5 8. 10. 32. 35. 50 Verse 49. goodly Castells with fire and tooke prisoners 32000 persons brought away for bootie and spoyle besides Iewels of gold chaines braceletes rings earings and tabletts 675000 sheepe 72000 beeues and 61000 Asses and yet lost not one man in obteyning this victorie VII To these former may be added the great number of the valiant and matchlesse men not in any Nation vnder heaven to bee found at one time so many as was there There came to David to make him King at once 1222 Captaines and with them in number altogether 1 Ch. 12. 28. 32. 34. 339300 all men of warre very many thousands of them commended to be famous mightie men of valour expert in warr able to keepe ranke and to sett the Battell in aray Besides these there were in valour peerelesse all the 37 worthies of David with many other mighty men such 2 Sa. 2. 22. 1 Ch. 11 12. as could vse both the right and left hand for hurling stones and shoting arrowes out of a bowe yea men of might fit for warre that could handle sheild and buckler whose faces were like the faces of Lyons and as swift as the Roes vpon the mountaines Afterwards when David was settled and Ioab commaunded to number the people throughout the 12 Tribes besides Levy and Beniamin there were found 1570000 men that drewe sword and yet that Nation was not aboue 200 miles long and 50 miles broad not neere the halfe of England by much Yea when the Tribes were divided and onely Iudah Beniamin made a kingdome as much perhapps as two or three of the lesser shires of England yet could Abiiah raise vp of chosen men 400000 Asa had an army of 580000 all mighty men of valour to say nothing of Amaziah his host of 300000 nor of the 2600 chiefe of the Fathers 2 Ch. 26. very valiant men vnder whō was an army of 307500 which made warr with mightie power to helpe 2 Ch 17 King Vzziah against the enemy In the raigne of Iehosaphat was an host of 1160000 men mightie men of valour Of what Nation so little hath been or can be the like truely spoken Lastly the Nation was ever in military exercise by reason of continuall warres at home or abroad In the dayes of Iosua of the Iudges of Saule and David after the peaceable dayes of Salomon Israel Iudah being divided then began warres and almost perpetuall betweene the two kingdomes besides the warrs of forraigne Enemyes the Aegyptians Moabits Ammonites Edomites Philistims Ethiopians Sirians Assirians and Babylonians vntill both kingdomes perished and were led away captiue So as this people could not be but good souldiers for number many in skill by dayly vse exquisite in valour incomparable in braue leaders cheife Captaines and commanders not to bee matched And therefore why may not much art of Souldiary and military knowledge be collected hence at least in many maine points as well yea why not better then som other humaine writers Seeing the relations are most true matter to worke vpon plentifully administred the warrant from God the examples from the people of God which being set for examples before them will put souldiers in minde of the wayes of God to moue them to seeke helpe and ayd of God as those did against their enemyes when we goe out to battell The II. CHAP. Of the warrs of God with man WArre is the opposite to peace and is by the Prophet called evill being Esa 4 5 7 Lev 26 25. the fruite of sinne the punishment for sinne yea so fearefull as David once put to his choice desired rather 2 Sam 24. the pestilence then the sword of an enemy It bringeth with it for the most part innumerable evills even as well to the Conquerours as to the Conquered This warr is either of God with man or of man with man before I speake of the latter I thinke it very fit to say something of the former in the first place that men may consider of another kind of warre then vsually they dream of God hath warre with man yea he hath some where sworne that with some sorts hee will haue warre from one generation to another even for ever there is no peace to Ex 17 16. Esay 57. 21 Ex. 15 3. the wicked God therefore is pleased to be called vir belli a man of warre the Chaldee expresseth the title thus the Lord and victour of warres he causeth warres and maketh an end of them at his owne will Hence it is that he is sayd to be armed Rev. 19 11 Iudg. 5 8. Psal 46 9 Esay 59. 17. and to haue his Armorie which he openeth that hee bringeth forth the weapons of his indignation the Chariots and horse the Army and power that he rideth vpon horses and charets that he mustreth Hos 2. 18. Ier. 50. 25. Esai 43. 17 Hab. 3. 9. Iudg. ◠4. Esay 13. 4. 2 Ch. 25. 8 Esay 46. 10. 11. Ps 24. 8. his hoast and marcheth against his enemyes with assured victory for he hath power to help himselfe and to cast downe such as will resist him his councell doth ever stand what he purposeth that he can bring to passe and he will doe all his pleasure for hee is strong and mightie even the Lord mighty in battell Therefore hath hee the title of King of Kings of King of glory and the Lord of Hoasts a name given him by Esai and Ieremie aboue an hundred times and mentioned in the old Testament aboue 240. times so did the Lord in those times if I may so say giue himselfe to warres and thereby vexed the Nation◠and destroyed 2 Ch. 15. 6 them for their sinnes Now Gods host or army is either more generall or more speciall The more generall consists of foure Regiments The two first fall vpon his enemies covertly sodainely and at vnawares but the other openly in the view of the eye The first is of good Angells called Gen. 32. 2 Luk. 2 13. 2 K. 19 37 2 Ch. 32. 21 for the great numbers Gods host for their quality heavenly souldiers of which such is their power even one was able to sley in one night 185000. and amonge them all the mighty men of valour leaders and Captaines in the campe of the Assirians The Second Regiment is of bad Angels Ps 78. 49. with which hee
plagued the Aegyptians amonge whom he sent Iud. 9. these wicked evill spirits By one of these he vexed and set at odds Abimilech 2 Ch. 29. 23. 1 Sam. 14. 20 and the Sichemites to seeke by a furious and bloudy rage the vtter ruine and destruction of one another And by these it is very like he wrought the deaths of great Iud. 7. 22. Armies when they slew one another the Lord setting euery mans sword against his owne fellow throughout the host The third is of all other his creatures except man this is a very mighty strong and vnresistable Armie with these hee goeth forth in battell He set the starres in their Exo. 9. 23 24. 34. 1 Sa. 7. 10. Ios 10 11. Psal 11. 6. courses to fight against Sisera with thunder lightning raigne and haile mingled with fire he set vpon the Egyptians with great stones from heauen hee slew the Canaanites Iob 38. 22 23. Amos 4. 9. Hag. 2. 8. Num. 16. 35. 31 32. 1 Sa. 14 15 which hailestones he reserueth in his treasury against the time of warre with blâ—sting windes with fire with Earthquakes he consumeth ouerthroweth and deuoureth vp his enemies He shooteth out his arrowes hot thunderbolts with these hee smites them through yea saith the Prophet with thunder earthquake great noyse of storme and tempest Ps 18. 14. Esa 29. 6. 30 30. Ioel 2. 25. 2 Kin. 17. Deu. 32. 24 with the flame of deuouring fire he will rise vp against them and shew the lighting downe of his arme in the indignation of his anger with scattering and tempest and hailestones Hee commeth foorth with his great hosts as Ioel calleth them Canker-wormes locusts Cater-pilpillers and palmer-wormes He armeth the teeth of the beasts and Lyons to fight for him and vseth the poyson of serpents to vexe and slay his enemies Hee sendeth out Ios 24. 12. Exod. 8. frogges flyes and very lice to plague his enemies and hornets to driue them away before him so as he wanteth no meanes to annoy no power to worke the destruction of such as hee shall arme himselfe against The fourth Regiment is of men out Ioel 2. 11. Esa 10. 5. 13. 4 5. of his Church these are his armie or campe as they be tearmed as also the weapons of his indignation These he calleth forth and mustereth them ouer whom he hath appointed his generalls as once oue the Babylonians his Lieutenant and seruant Ier. 25. 9. Esa 45. 1 2 3. Nebuchadnezzar and ouer his host of Medes and Persians his Lieutenant and annoynted Cyrus These his armies of men hee imployeth diuersly as he pleaseth Sometimes seuerall Nations of them one against another as the Babylonians against the Assyrians Egyptians and other Countries the Medes and Persians against these the Grecians against them and the Romans against all So hee armes the Turke against the Persians and so to fight one against 2 Ch. 15. 6. another for when Nations rise against Nations and Cities against Cities Gods hand it is that vexeth them saith a Prophet Sometime hee letteth them agree together euen seuerall Nations and Kings to gather together against the Church and then sends an ill spirit among them to fall together by the eares one with another and vtterly to destroy one another as the 2 Ch. 20. 23. Moabites Ammonites and Edomites did Sometime the Armie of one and the same Nation he sets at oddes and the sword of euery man against his owne fellow as fell out in the great 1 Sam. 14. 20. Iud. 7. 22. host of the Philistims and those enemies against which Gideon went forth But this his host he doth not thus onely imploy one against another their owne selues but he vseth them against his owne people as appeareth by many examples in sacred storie Note this and heerein consider 1. That though these enemies Ioel 3. 11. seeme to come of their owne accord or are gathered together by ill instruments such as the vncleane spirits like frogs be in Reu. 16. 14. or by the diuell set on as Gog and Magog Reu. 16. 16 Ioel 3. 2. Iud. 4. 7. Reu. 20. 8. yet know wee must that God also gathereth them together where and whither he will He did draw Sisera with his Charets and multitude to come forth to the riuer Kishon Gods hand though the enemie thinkes not so is in their conduction 2. The number of the enemie is not at their own will to come forth Esa 13. 4. but the Lord numbereth and mustereth them and so knoweth to a man how many hee sendeth forth against his people 3. These enemies of his Church yet his host he gathereth together he numbreth and mustereth them and bringeth them out against his people for seuerall ends Sometime onely to terrifie his people to make them feare before him to humble themselues with fasting and prayer which being performed he will set himselfe against those their enemies and destroy them as hee did the three Nations 2. Ch. 20. which came against Iehosophat and as he did the proud Spaniards in their great Armado comming against Queene Elizabeth in the yeere 88. to their owne shame and the confusion of their conceited inuincible power Sometime it s to giue his people some glorious victory ouer their Enemies to let them see his power mercy and preseruation of them to stirre them vp to a more zealous seruice of him as he did in the dayes of Asa when the dreadfull host of Zerah the Ethiopian his tenne hundred 2 Ch 14. thousand came against Iudah and were vtterly discomfited Often the Lord hath hardened these enemies hearts against his people that those enemies might be overthrowne Exo 14. Num. 21. Ios 11. 19 20. so he hardened Pharaoh and his Egyptians to follow after Israel that he might drowne them in the sea So delt he with Og and Sihon and withall the King of Canaan that his people might vtterly destroy them In like sort hee dealt 2 Sam 5. 8. 10. with Dauids enemies who made war with him but to their owne ruine and ouerthrow and to the infinite inriching of Dauid and his people the Israelites But some other time he gathereth these Enemies to this end that they may indeede afflict and punish his owne people yea to rule ouer them making them to serue with rigour cruelty and great contempt Thus he sent out the King of Assyria and gaue him a charge to take the spoyle Esa 10. 6. and the prey yea and to tread them downe like the mire in the streetes Yet obserue in this hand of God 1. That the Enemies preuailing against the Lords people as from God Iud. 3. 8. 4. 2. 3 3. 12. Leu. 26. 36 37. himselfe He selleth them into the enemies hands he strengthneth the enemies to get the victorie and if people be weake fearfull fly away be ouercome spoyled it is he that doth it He turneth backe the weapons of
warre in their hand it is hee that giueth Iacob to the spoyle and Ier. 21 4. Esa 42 24. Ier. 21. 5. â— Israel to robbers for hee fighteth sometimes against them with an outstretched hand and a strong arme in anger furie and in great wrath 2. That all this happeneth for sin because his people rebell and vexe his spirit doe euill in his sight and Esa 63. 10 Iud. 3. 12. Leu. 26. 14 15 with v 17 36 37. will not obey nor hearken to his commandements For Idolatry and despising Gods message by his Prophet was Amaziah ouerthrowne in battell Rehoboam for his Idolatry was spoyled by Shishake King of Egypt for Ioash his Apostacie and his murther of Zacharias was a very great host deliuered by God into Esai 42. 34. 2 Ch 25. 12. 2 Ch 24. 2â— the hands of the Sirians a small company For his wickednesse was Ahab brought low and at length Iudah led into captiuity by Nebuchadnezzar 3. That although the Enemies be thus the rod of Gods anger and his Esai 10. 5. indignation the very staffe in his hands to punish his people for their hypocriticall seruice but not to destroy them vtterly yet because the enemies thinke not this that they Esai 10. 13. are onely Gods rod and staffe nor that their power is from him because his people haue sinned but are proud glorying in their owne wisedome and strength and intend in their hearts to destroy the Lords inheritance he will at length turne his wrath vpon them For marke what the Lord saith by his Prophet when the Lord hath performed his whole worke vpon Vers 12. 16 17 24 27. Mount Sion and on Ierusalem hee will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the King of Assyria and the glory of his high lookes And this is Gods manner of dealing when he hath humbled his people then to bring vpon their enemies a day of Ier. 50. 17 18 23 51. 11. Amos 1. 3 6 9 11. 13. vengeance and a time of recompence as he did vpon the Assyrians first and next vpon the Babylonians for their mercilesse cruelty against his people The Lord now afflicteth heauily his Church her enemies preuaile mightily and thinke to deuoure her vp false friends vndermine her wals open enemies assault her and tread her vnder foot in many places but when God hath performed his whole worke he will take his time to gather them together to their destruction and this he foretelleth vs Ioel 3. 2. 11 plainely in Reu. 16. 19. 20. In the meane space let vs humble our selues vnder his mighty hand bee warned by our former great losses by our brethâ—ens calamities by the signes from heauen by the extraordinary stormes and tempests winter thunder and lightning so often and vnusuall by plagues and other punishments fallen vpon vs and if we turne and repent then let vs beleeue 2 Ch. 20. and wait with patience yea then hearken what is said stand still let vs not feare but behold the saluation of the Lord which he will shew vnto vs undoubtedly in that day Amen And thus for the generall hosts of God and the armies of his power in heauen and in earth Now the other more speciall host of this Lord God of Hosts is his trained souldiers the Armie which hee hath in his Church for defence therof Exo. 12. 41 51. 14. 20. 23. 18. 14. 2. 15. 27. Num. 11. 10. 16. or to send out against their enemies and his also for their sakes This Armie was the Israelites comming out of Egypt which are called Gods host and Campe who went vp harnessed their resting places were called encampings and their lodging was in Tents The Lord caused a muster of them and to be numbered and found among them to bee 603550. able men to draw sword all that were 20. yeers old and vpward Hee set them in order in marching and appointed them standards and the seuerall armies to attend the same This Ios 5. 13. Exo. 13. 21. 14. 19. Ps 77. 20. Esa 63. 12. Deut. 33. 5 Ps 18. 32. 34. 38. 144. 1. host was the host of God Christ their Prince and their Conductor His Lieutenant generall Moses who was as a King among them After Moses he set vp Iosua to be generall after him Iudges then Saul and David the King whom the Lord girded with strength to the battell teaching his hands to warre and his fingers to fight so as by hee could by his armes breake a bow of steele Thus he trained him vp to fight his battels This Army of his people is called 1 Sam. 17. 36. Ios 5. 15. Esa 31. 4. Deu 20. 4. 1. Sa. 17. 47 2 Chr. 20. 15. the host of the living God and the Lords host with this he taketh part and for it fighteth as a Lyon with this he goeth to fight against his enemies for the battell is not theirs but the Lords and therfore the Lord was for them to giue them many glorious and incredible victories ouer their enemies And as the Lord was glorified in victories by these so will he assuredly be now also for his Church in his owne good time For albeit the beast must warre with the Saints and for a time ouercome Reu. 11. 2. 13. 7. yet at length shall the lambe with his elect called and faithfull preuaile Reu. 17. 14. He shall ride vpon the white horse with many crownes vpon his head the armies of heauen also following on white horses as triumphing ouer all their enemies for he Reu. 17. 16. is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords And thus of the warres of God with man The III. Chap. Of the warres of man with man and of the lawfulnesse of such warres VVArre is the contention betweene Princes or States by armes or force of men vnder order and good gouernment to obtaine victory and so â—he conquering and subduing of the Dominions bodies and goods of one another to liue the better afterwards in peace and honour For S. Aug ad Bonifac. saith a Father the true seruants of God make warres that the wickâ—d may be restrained and good men be releeued Warre vpon iust cause vndertaken is vndoubtedly lawfull And this is necessary to be knowne and beleeued of all that vndertake warres For there is nothing more for encouragement in any action then to haue conscience satisfied in the lawfulnes thereof Some as the Anabaptists hold it not lawfull for Christians vnder the Gospell to make warre but such are but dreamers for 1. God is pleased to he called a Exo. 15. 3. man of Warre now he neuer admitteth a title of a thing vnlawfull 2. He hath giuen commandement to his people sometimes to fight Numbers 31. 3. 1. Sam. 15. 3. Deut. 2. 24. 3. Hee made lawes for direction to them when they went to warre Deut. 20. 10. 15. 4. Holy men of eminent place and graces haue made warre as
of much gaming a thing that was not in vse in Gods host and good it were that it were lesse in vse in our Campe for God is dishonoured monyes wasted and many evills hâ—ppen thereupon our enemy the Spaniard in time of seruice doth banish al vnlawfull games In the siege of Poytiers the Admirall caused a certaine Ensigne to bee hanged for that he was found playing at Historia de troubl de Fra. li. 8. cards while his company did watch in some perill Manly exercises should be appointed them and such as can reade to get histories of warre and other good bookes to reade and discourse thereof thus the mind and body will be well employed It may be some souldiours would be so well exercised if there were Commanders like Caesar who read much and did write his owne warres or like Pyrrhus the famous Martialist in his time who wrote many books and as Hannibal in whose tents were found many books which he studied braue and generous spirits should be delighted either to reade or heare read the acts of valiant warriers and scorn base play and childish gaming V. The prophanation of the Sabboth Rev. 1. 10. the Lords day as now Saint Iohn calleth it God punisheth this in Num. 15. 32. 36. the campe of Israel the valiant Iudas Machabeus tooke speciall care to keepe the Sabboth with his host 2 Mach. 8. 27. when Nicanor King Demetrius Generall would in contempt of God fight with Iudas on the Sabboth day there were slaine of his men 35000. and he killed his head strucke off Ca 1â— 1. 27. 28. his tongue cut out for his blasphemie and his right hand which hee had stretched out against the Temple with his head sent to Ierusalem Eccl. hist Cent. 12. to be hanged vp vpon a Tower One of the Kings of Denmarke contrary to the dissuâ—sions of Divines would needs ioyne battle with an enemy vpon the day of Pentecost but hee lost the field and his life withall All vaine sports on the Lords day are to be abandoned in a Christian host VI. Is Rebellion against lawfull authority this the Lord punished yea he extraordinarily plagued Rebells Num. 16. 31 11 32 33 41 â—2 49. making the earth to open and swallow vp some and fire to deuoure some others Rebells can looke for no good end see it in Absalom though he had most of Israel to take his part Let the end of him Bichri and Zimri make men take heed of râ—beâ—lion VII Treasonable practises and conspiracies and secret working with the enemy are to be carefully looked vnto and to be prevented and the parties found ouâ— severely to bee punished Ier. 40. for good Gedaliah beeing warned and not making timely inquiry was by trayterous Ismael cruelly murthered So one Quintilius Varus for being too slacke to search out the Treachery of one Narminins of which he had intelligence was slaine with all his company Of such was Nehemiah in danger but his wisedome prevented them and Iudas Machabeus Neh. 6. 17. 10. 2 Mach. 13. 21. had a Rodâ—cus among them a discloser of secrets to the enemy but he was found out Cyrus the yonger executed one Orâ—ntes which went about to betray him to the â—my Marcellus executed many in the City Nâ—la for treason having had secret talk and intelligence with Liv. 24. Hannibal For such worthily deserue death VIII Is Mutinie God punished the murmurings of his people and their malecontentednesse such as cause sedition and stirre vp others Num. 11. 1 9 21. 5 6 to grow rebellious are to be punished Scipio vpon a mutiny of his souldiours in Spaine put to death the chiefe moovers and so pacified Liv. 28. Tacit. 1. the rest so did Tiberius when his did mutinie in Pannouia but it is hard measure to poore starving souldiers for comming and demanding their pay in extreame need to be held mutinous and that onely for this Captaines should hang some to make others willing to dye rather for hunger then any more to complaine Oh vnchristian cruelty and mercilesse inhumanity IX Disobedience to command and to make attempts vpon the Enemie without warrant or when a charge is giuen to the contrary this God suffered not to goe unpunished in the presumptuous Israelites Manlius Num. 14. 41. 45. his dealing with his sonne is before noted and Papirius his purpose and intent towards the Generall of his horse Men vpon their owne heads without command of authority to fight with the enemy seldome Liv. 5. prooue successefull which the Romans found at the siege of Vey with losse of their souldiers yet Ionathan and his Armour-bearer secretly â—et vpon the enemy and prospered and was honoured for it But such an example is extraordinary as souldiers are not to presume upon their owne heads without command so being commanded they might readily obey els all Military order would decay and die We may reade in Livie that a Generall of the Romans Liv. 4. slew an Ensigne-bearer for refusing to advance himselfe forward towards the enemy as he was commanded yea the Isâ—aelites held him worthy death that would refuse to obey Ios 1. 18. the iust commands of their Generall Iosua X. Is enuy and pride and words of reproach the fruits thereof tending to provoke to the breach of peace this God punished in the Prophetesse Miriam this envie pride and Num. 12. â— 9 10. words of contempt are pestilent evils and cause much mischiefe Hence arose the bloudy civill discord and warre betweene Ieptah and the Ephramites of whom were slaine 42000. Hence the slaughtering and Iud. 12. Iud. 9. killing one another betweene Abimelech and the Sichemites caused by the reproachfull and disdainefull words of Gaal these things should be prohibited and sharpely punished XI Is murther and the killing of 1 Kin. 2. 30. 31. one another God gaue a very strait charge against bloud-shed Ioab the Generall being guiltie must die for it even at the Altar God never allowed Asyles for murtherers and men of bloud Captaines may not like rash brained and bloudy men disorderly kill souldiers hee that In l. 18 19. 3. 〈◊〉 remâ—â— shall so doe among the Spaniards dyeth for it the Romans put to death such as stroke their fellowes with a sword if they offered other violence as to throw stones at them such were displaced with shame Quarrels and Chalenges thereupon with acceptances thereof have beene the losse of many liues vnworthily hereby Princes loose their subiects the armie is weaâ—â—ned the enemy hereby advantaged Souldiers lives should be precious one to another their bloud should be spilt in the publike cause against the enemy and not in private quarrels no not if a man put the lye vpon an other Iehu a right 2 K. 9. 12. valiant Captaine marching furiously did not quarrell with the Captaines in his companie when they said it was false which he spake so putting the lye vpon him neither held he
it such a disgrace as now men doe iudge Ieremie said to a Ier. 37. 14. Captaine of the Ward vniustly accusing him that it was falshood or a lye as it is in the Hebrew Text which he spake Gedaliah put the lye vpon Iohanan a Captain a high Ier. 40. 16. Note this and proud spirited man and valiant too yet none of these offered to any of them the stabbe nor did make a quarrell thereof nor did beastlike more then manlike rush vpon one another and kill one another for these quarrelsome fellowes and Spadassiues as one calleth them are not ever the best men Drunkennesse whoring swearing and no doubt but hereupon forswearing are no matters of disgrace to them but forsooth the tearme lye by which the father of all lies deludeth them to make them straine at a gnat and swallow Camels to seeme to detest a lye and yet in their vicious courses to be faithlesse to God and their owne soules Away away with this delusion of Sathan you that are truely valiant and right Christian Souldiers and suffer not your selues to be transported with this conceited disgrace to seeke revenge and so be guilty of bloud a crying sin before God XII Is carelesse negligence and slothfulnesse this is to be punished Ier 48. 10. 1 K. 20. 39 40. the Lord pronounceth a curse vpon him that doth his worke negligently and keepeth backe his sword from bloud when he may slay the Lords enemies It was death by negligence to let an enemy put into a mans custody to escape so for a watchman not to give Eze. 33. 6. Liv. 5. warning the watchman which suffered the Gaules to enter into the Capitol while he slept was thrown from the rocke of the Castle and so punished with death for it the valiant Commander Epaminoâ—das the Theban going the round slew the watchman Plutarch whom he found asleepe by the Roman Law it was death But this is to be meant in time of most necessary watching because of the enemy but noâ— els God forbid that the bloud of poore souldiers should be needlesly shed XIII Is cowardlinesse when a souldiâ—r dare not for feare performe his charge this is to be punished Cowards God put out of his campe when he sent his to warre and so did Machabeus Appius Clandius did behead those souldiers that throwing downe their armes fled from their enemies Licâ—rgus made a law among the Spartans that no man should returne Liv 2. home that turned his backe vpon his enemy Caesar put certaine Ensignes from their places because they lost their ground in an encounter with Pompey at Dirrhacâ—ium The Coward doth not only helpe the enemy but disheartneth his friends The Lacedemonian women would deliver shields to their sonnes exhorting them going to warre eyther to bring them againe or to dye valiantly There was among them one Damatria who hearing that her son had not fought like a Lacedemonian when he came â—lew him so much did women there detest a cowardly spirit XIV Is flying away out of the host to the enemy this is worthy severe punishment such base and traiterous spirits among all the souldiers in Israel I never read of to my remembrance not in all the warres of Iosua nor of the Iudges nor of Saul nor of Dauid The Romans punished such with death Caius Matienus comming â—lâ—ruâ— but home from the army in Spaine without leaue was beaten vnder a gibbet sold for one piece of mony to signifie the base esteeme of such a fugitiue to flye to the enemy is to further them very much by discouering to them the present state of those from whom they run and therefore is to be very sharpely punished XV. Is Fornication Whoredome and fleshly filthinesse in any kind not to be suffered God for this sinne slew in the campe of Israel in one day 24000. Num 25. Phineas in his zeale for this slew Zimry and Cozbie a Prince and Princesse Scipio the younger banished women out of his campe Before is shewed how Alexâ—nder punished this beastly filthinesse in souldiers This sinne is yet nothing now in the thoughts of unbridled lustfull souldiers which yet some haue well payed for The Sicilians enraged against the Gaâ—risons of souldiers for their adulteries Niâ— Gil. Vâ—l. 1. whoredomes and rapes in the reigne of Rodolphus the Emperour tooke armes and vpon Easter day set vpon them and slew them all The Emperour Aurelianus caused a souldier for committing adultery to be tyed by his feet to two trees bent to the earth which being let goe rent him in peeces halfe of him hanging on the one and the other halfe on the other tree XVI Discontentednesse with the allotted prouision convenient and lusting after belly-cheere This euill the great man of warre and discipliner of Armies the Lord God of hostes punished Num. 11. 4. 20. 33. in his Campe. Nothing lesse befits a souldier then the loue of his belly and ease some are like summer locusts which are all belly and live of spoyle strong in warme months but in pinching cold they are gone pind away and dy you haue heard before how basely Lucius Pius was esteemed of by the Romans for his gaining of the Sarmates to obedience with belly-cheere XVI Is theft filching rapine robbery Ios 7. 21. and sacriledge God punished Achans theft yet these are too common with souldiers now For many base fellowes fitter for the Gaole yea the Gallowes then the warres are no sooner prest and in the Kings service but are bold to lay hands vpon other mens goods which they carry away with many a bitter curse year curse is vpon the theefe and the Zach. 5. 3. swearer who also bringeth a curse vpon others as Achan did That one theefe caused the overthrow of the Armie oh what euill will then a multitude of theeves doe in an host Great care must be had of committing sacriledge and robbing of Churches Crassus the Roman for Sabellic li. 4 ca. 3. robbing the Temple of Ierusalem was soone after ouercome by the Parthians Cambyses the King of Persia his armie was destroyed by a tempest going to rob a Temple These by Draco the Athenian Lawgiuer was death So among the Hetrurians and Herod l. 1. Vapisc in vita Aurel. Vacceians The Locrians put out the theeves eyes Aurelianus the Emperor would not suffer his souldiers to take a pullet or chicken from country people his friends Tyberius made one of Suetonius in Tiber. his Guard to be put to death for taking a Peacocke out of a mans yard Tamberlaine caused a souldier to be slaine for taking a poore womans milke and some cheese and not paying for it The Romans vnder Marcus Theat hist Scaurus were so disciplined that they would not pluck the fruit of one tree as they passed by it and left it vntouched Pescenius Niger would haue put to death diuerse souldiers met together feasting themselues with that which they had stollen though
thorow intreaty their lives were spared yet they were punished and their punishment was to lye in Tents during the warre without fire to live onely with bread and water and to make restitution to the husbandmen and the reason given of this severitie was because such acts did tend to rebellion Aurelian writes an epistle to Tribunes and souldiers to keepe their hands from other mens goods But theft is not onely to be restrained in souldiers but also in Captaines and officers which they may many wayes commit 1. In false musters robbing so the state by having pay for moe in the roll then be in service This abuse Guice l. 15 was the ruine of Francis the first before Pavy they that give in false numbers by the Lawes in France suffer Liv. 28. death The Romans payd every souldier by the poll so at musters do now the Spaniards Secondly in robbing poore souldiers of their pay Caesar was severe against Caesar de bâ—llo Civ this villany so as two of his Captaines of horse Roscillus and Aeâ—us having defrauded souldiers of their pay fled to the enemy as soone as they knew that Caesar had notice thereof It s an indelible Character of infamie saith one to defraud a poore souldier of his due Thirdly in taking from a souldier that which is his owne as his weapon Of Capt abusing poore souldiers reade Sir Toh Smiths epistle to the Nobility of England l 3. 6. qui aliena F. de remilita or horse c. Theophiluâ— the Emperour of the East banished a Commander out of his Dominion for taking a souldiers good horse perforce from him for want whereof he was afterwards slaine in battle and withall bestowed the Commanders possession vpon the souldiours widdow albeit that Captaine had bestowed the horse vpon the Emperour himselfe vnwitting to him till the widow claimed him as the Emperour rode on him As Captaines and Officers may not wrong souldiers so souldiers may not rob one another Modestinus iudged him worthy of death that stole his fellowes armes To conclude great care must bee had that souldiers doe no spoyle nor rob such by whom they are permitted to passe by peaceably nor such as bee Merchants and Victuallers of the Campe but such must be suffered to goe and come very securely The Army of the Prince of Orange besieging Florence had like to haue beene famished through the disorder onely of three or foure souldiers which robbed the Merchants and Victuallers which came and went from the Campe but those were therefore hanged and then plenty was brought in The punishing of this sinne in Tamberlaines Campe made his huge Army of many hundred thousands to bee plentifully served XVII And last is the spreading of rumours raising of false reports to dishearten an Army is worthy death This the Lord of hosts punished with death and sent the Num. 14. 37. plague vpon them that brought vpon the land an ill report which daunted the peoples hearts for going forward it set them in a rebellion A false imagination conceiued and rumoured in the host of the Syrians to wit that Iehâ—ram had hyred the Charriots and horses of Pharaoh to come vpon them when they besiâ—dged Samaria and in a manner had won it made them flye suddenly 2 K. 7 6 7. none pursuing and to loose the victory â—ea and what els they had running away as for their lives Rumours of falshoâ—d are often vttered of the enemy â—o worke feare and so to daâ—nt mâ—ns spirits which rumours therefore are not to be beleeued These are those sinnâ—full evills which principally in an army are to be suppressed and punished yet in proceeding against offenders as need must be taken of to much levitie so also beware of too great severitie Luculâ—us vndid himselfe by this and â—as forsaken of his souldiers who went to Pompey to whom they prooued most faithfull and constant Rigour may rule but gaining affection by â—lemency causeth true obedience yet offenders must not goe vnpunished For by suppressing disorders God is honoured the Army strengthned the enemies disheartned neighbours and friends secured and so encouraged to abide constant but vvhere sin doth reigne disorders suffered there all things fall out cleane contrary misery and want will follow to their ruine and overthrow God will bee against them and friends will abandon them as vnvvorthy of aide CHAP. XVI Of a convenient armie and of necessaries prepared aforehand to maintaine the same VEgetius exhorteth those that purpose to begin wars carefully Li. 3 ca. 3. to weigh and consider their store and charges And prouision is to be made long before for in action then to prouide will be too late The Kings of Iudah made 2 Ch 14 8 17 2 26. in the dayes of peace great preparation for warre and had souldiers in readinesse to withstand sudden invasiâ—â—s As may be seene â—n the reigne of Asa Iehosophat Vzziâ—h and other Kings It is the saying of one That Long a praeparatio belli celerâ—m facit victoriam Long preparation by good deliberation maketh quâ—cke dispatch in the execution and speedily getteth the viâ—tory In going to warre first the number Num. 31. 3 â— Ios 8. 1. convenient to be employed is to be considered of both for horse and foot for powers both by sea and land The number is vncertaine somtimes Moses will appoint but twelve thousand the least number sent foorth to speed well sometime Iosua must take all the strong men of warre to fight with the enemy as need is so must be the number The heathen in former times had ever mighty hosts some hundred thousands the Midianites Philistims Ios 10. 11. 4. Canaanites Ethiopians Holâ—phernes host was an hundred and seventie thousand and twelve thousand Arcâ—ers Iudg. 6. 5. 7. 2. 2 Chro. 14 Luk. 14. 31 on horsebacke now according to the power of the Enemy so must we goe out against him if we bee able as Christ reacheth in his parable To subdue enemies it is ever very necessary to have a full army if wee looke for victory for Touching a handfull or small number 3 or 4000 these doe rather injury themselves then the enemy they rather kindle and nourish warre then end it and doe rather hearten the enemy then strike him with feare anger him then hurt him What got Israel vnadvisedly by sending a small number 2 or 3000 against Ai It was but losse to themselves and encouragement to the Enemy The Lacedemonians could do no good against the Athâ—nians as long as their numbers Thuciâ— 1. were smal but did hurt to themselves But now for a full power and to vse our best strength to obtaine the victory many reasons may perswade 1. God taught Iosua to doe when his small number was overthrowne he commanded him to take all the men of warre Ios 8. â— Tâ—ucid â— 2. The heathen Oracle consulted with by the Lacedemonians before the Peloponensian warre to know by what meanes
they might best prevaile gave this answer that the meanes to overcome was to vse their full strength 3. Thus ever did Saâ—l and also David and other Kings in Israel and Iudah when they went against an enemy 1 Sam. 11 8. 15. 4. 2 Sam. 10. 7. they led out mighty forces Saul against the Amalekiâ—es conducted an host of 310000 David sent against the Ammonites all the host of mighty men which were many thousands 4. The Romans in their warres sent forth strong Armies against their enemies 50 thousand or 24 thousand the least 15000 or 12000 as their stories shew The benefit of a strong Army is great it striketh feare where it commeth and if not presently resisted it enricheth it selfe with spoyles if it get the victory it will maintaine it selfe vpon the enemy and abide without feare Caesar maintained his warres in France vpon the French nine yeares Hannibal his Army vpon Italy sixteene yeares Scipio his host vpon Spaine all the time of his stay a strong power prevailing gets confederates to giue ayde and to help with supplyes yea through feare it gaineth from the enemy many falling off from him to the strongest side as the Kings which were servants to Hadarezer did when Daviâ— overcame 2 Sam. 10 19. his host One victory got with a full army is the winning almost of a Country Caesars victory at Alexia drew almost all France to him The French by one victory recovered the Kingdome of Naples It s necessary therefore to put to our strength in warre if we hope to prevaile and not daâ—ly with our Enemy to our owne hurt but yet we must avoide two evils 1. Not to presume of our great strength against a weake enemy as Benhadad the king of Syria and his 1 K. â—0 32. Kings with him did when he came against Ahab which great host of his was overthrowne so was Zerah with his ten hundred thousand 2 Ch. 14. Anno 1588 â— Mach. 3 16. And how soone was the Armado of Spaine called invincible scattered and brought to naught here in our coasts For victory standeth not in the multitude of an host but strength commeth from heaven 2. Not vtterly to despaire if we be inforced to fight with a small power against a proud boasting enemy For in such cases God strangely giveth victory as shall be declared Chap. 18. Thus much for the number Now when an Army of men for the number is resolved vpon necessaries must be provided answerably thereto I. There must be great store of armes such of Zebuâ—un Reubâ—â— God 1 Ch. 12. 33. 37. 2 Ch 26. 14. and Manisses as came to helpe David were furnished with all instruments of warre for battle King â—zzâ—aâ— provided for his men of warre throughout their hosts weapons of warrâ— such as were then vsed spears shields bowes slings and other Armes Gorgius host was strong and well harnessed as the story relateth Scipio going into Africke against the 1 Mac. 4. 7 Liv. 29. Carthaginians any made exceeding prouision of Armes II. Provision of victuals Of this Iud. 20. 10 the Israelites had care before they warred vpon Gibeah Holophernes Iud. 2. 17 18. his great host had plenty of victuals and carriages for all provision that they might not want for indeede hungry bellies can neither fight nor observe order Saul by his rash restraining of his Armie from taking food made them to faint and after through hunger to flye vpon the 1 â—am 14. 24 30 32 33. spoyle and by eating bloud to sinne against God Fames severior est bellâ— Hunger is more sharpe then the sword Alasse how can they have courage that pine with hunger How can they stand against an enemy that want strength to goe vpright Good leaders should take to 2 K. 3. 9 10 heart the distresse of their companie in such a case as even Idolatrous lehoram did But some are like the 1. Sam. 30. 13. Amalekâ—e who left his poore weak Egyptian servant to helpe himselfe or to dye for hunger Alas what service can poore hunger-starved souldiours doe or how can they bee made obedient when belly hath no Bel. Gal Liv. 29 eares Therefore famous Generals have ever seene to this Caesar would not once moove towards the Enemie before hee had provision Scipio landing in Afrike had his store-houses filled with provision Cyrus in his expedition against Xenoâ—h exâ— Cyâ— 1. his brother had besides his ordinarie Carts foure hundred Waggons loaden with victuals not to be spent but in time of necessitie Where provision is not to prevâ—nt famine there the host is overcome without dint of the sword To have victuals bring store be moderate from the first day in the vse give free safe paâ—sage to Marchants and Victuallers to bring and make ready payment what is gotten from the Enemy store it vp procure from confederates fauour â—o make supply in this kind and to summon as a strong Army goeth along the Townes and Villages to bring in victualls and provision vnlesse they would be ruinated III. There must be sufficient money to helpe every way all wants money is the sinewes of warre Holophernes with plenty of food had very Iudeth 2. 8 2 Mac. 3. 28 much gold and silver King Antiâ—châ—s opened his treasure and gaue his souldiers pay for a yeare Souldiers well payed have the better courage councell and money prevaile where force cannot effect By gold Tacius the Captaine of the Sabines got the Capitoll of Rome Asdrubal with money Celtâ—berâ—ans from the Romans Mony may hire souldiers buy victuals and supply what is wanting for the most How to make provision for money reade Dr. Sutchss his booke of war ca. 2. pa. 18. part therefoer wise warriers were not in this carelesse the Carthaginians had in their new Carthage in Spaine a treasure to serve for the wars there Caesar had for his store in Noviodunum For his warres in France But though there be store of mony yet must the Generall see to it that poore souldiers be paid the fraud in Officers must be prevented and severely punished money is not to be turned into provand of which deceit See Sr. Iâ—hâ— Smith preface to hiâ— booke oâ— this cousenage Liv. 28. 2 a skilfull Commander hath written at large Neither should Captaines be paymasters to souldiers least they be as they have beene notoriously abused Scipio in Spaine paid his souldiers man by man Porsena Commander of the Hetruscians stood by while every souldier tooke his owne pay and so were they such that every one had his due see what evils haue hapned by non-payment or slacke paying of Pa. 74. châ— 4. part 9. souldiers in Dr. Sutcliffe his booke CHAPTER XVII Of meanes abroad to be vsed before the warres begin ON Prince nor Nation may presume vpon their owne strength worth and power The Kings of olde time making warre had beside their owne ayde from othere Gen. 14. 1 24. and had
them to fight In Exod 14. 13 14. is Moses speech In Deu. 20. 2 3 4 the priests in Iud. 3. 28. Ehuds in chap. 5. 14. Deborahs in chap. 7. 15 18. Gideons in 2 Sam. 10. 12. 1 Chro. 19. 13. Ioabs in 2 Chro. 20. 15. 17. 20. Iehaziel and Iehosephats in Esai 7. 4. Esaiahs in 2 Chro. 32. 7 8. Hezekiahs in 1 Mach 3. 18. 22. 4. 8. 11. 2 Mach. 8. 16. 9. 44. 11. 7. 13. 14. 15. 8 10. Iuâ—as Machabeus his orations in 1 Mach 9. 44. Ionathans in ca. 13. 3. Simons Out of which may be gathered good matter for a General to speake vnto his souldiers CHAP. XXII Of many things to further the successe in the battell THere are noâ— a few things which may greatly helpe to gain the day if men must fight but if thou darest not then wisely prevent it or if the enemy will flye give him leave King Iohn of France found the mischiefe in forcing the blacke Prince to fight and so Charles the fift lost his armie by intercepting our Henry the fift Hereupon Themistocles would 〈◊〉 permit the Grecians to breake the bridge over Hollespent which Xerxes caused to be made least the enemy having a desire not to fight might want a meanes to retire backe and so bee forced to fight against their wills which will make Cowards valiant But if it be resolutely determined vpon to fight I. Foresee the secret traps layd and ambushments which may in the fight sodainely come vpon the souldiers when they 1 Mach 10 79. 80. 11-68 60 be fighting This Ionathan foresaw and so got the day though at another time not wary enough his host was scattered by an Ambush Hannibal by such a subtletie overthrew the Romans at Trebia and Thrasament bake and was hereby much holpen in the battle at Cannas II. Not to trust too much vpon Associates least they faile as the Celtiberians did the Scipioâ—s in Spaine and the Albanes Tullius Hostilius The Swizers which came in the ayde of Lewis Sforza sold them to his enemy Lewis the twelfth secondly doe not trust fugitives from the enemies for two Spaniards in the warres against the Venetians feigned themselves fugitives with intent to kill the Generall of the Venetians called Alvia as before is noted And 500 Numidian Horsemen at the first encounter betweene the Romans and Hannibal left Hannibal and fled to the Romans leaped from their horses threw away their apparent weapons and humbled themselves at the feet of the Romans who gaue them credit and entertainment but these not now mistrusted having weapons secretly when the Romans were busie in fight came vpon them behind vnexpected and so mightily furthered Hannibal to get the victory at Cannas Lastly trust not such as may iustly be suspected the Lords of the Philistims had learned this and therefore would at â—o hand admit 1 Ch. 12. 19. of David and his companie to goe into battle with them against Israel III. To strive for advantages as much as may be as 1. of the place the Syrians imputed much to the â— K. 20. place making a great difference betweene the hils and the vallyes our victory at Newport was much holden by the benefit of the place secondly of the wind behind them as it was to Hannibals host at Cannas but on the faces of the Romans which being Southeast and somwhat strong carryed the dust into the eyes of the Romans and so did them much hurt By the wind God helped Theodosius against the Tyrant Maximus thirdly get advantage of the Sunne if it be hot and shining foorth it is hurtfull to those that have it vpon Theod. hist Eâ—cl Liv. 35 their faces it fainted the Gaules fighting with the Romans Fourthly take advantage of the discord when it hapneth betweene Commanders and Captains in the Enemies camp By this the Aequians prevailed against the Romans This overthrew Liv. 4. Thucid 6. Slâ—idan the Athenian Army in Sicile this gave the victory to Charles the fift over the Protestants when the Duke of Saxonie and the Lansgrave of Hessen could not agree Through dissention of Captaines the French lost Naples and Amurathes the Turke got Nicopolis thorow the discord of the French and Hungarian Captaines Fiftly make advantage of the Army parted or 1 Mach 4. 1. 4. not the whole met together This advantage Iudas Machabeus tooke at Gorgius comming out from his campe So the Romans set vpon Asdubal to prevent his ioyning with Hannibal in Italy Sixtly when the enemy is out of order seventhly when he is setting his men in array Eightly in the time of encamping then to let vpon them as many wise Commanders have done These and such like advantages are to be observed taken and wisely pursued IV. To vse stratagems so did Ios 8. 2 K 3. 22 23. Iosua yea the Lord himself wrought so a worke miraculously as the host of Israel was refreshed thereby and the enemy strongly deceived by the sunne-shine vpon the water by stratagems Hannibal and Scanderbeg preuailed mightily for inventing whereof they both were very subtle But stratagems must bee such as are not to the breach of oath against godlinesse against the law of nature and nations V. To vse meanes to make the enemy secure that so they may bee surprized vpon a sodaine Thus those of Iabesh Gilead did with Nahash 1 Sam. 11. 3. 10. the king of the Ammonites till Saul came suddenly vpon them and vtterly discomfited them VI. To vse good expedition and suddenly to come vpon an enemy as Saul did upon Nabash Iosua vpon 1 Sam. 11. los 10. 9. 11. 7. 2 Mach 4 1 2. 2 Mach 13 1. the five Kings besieging Gibeon and so vpon foure Kings at an other time By this sodaine rushing vpon Iudas Gorgius hoped to have prevailed but was prevented But Iudas by a sodaine comming before day into the camp of Antiochus Eupater which consisted of an 110. thousand foot of horse 5300 Elephants 22 30 Charets armed with hookes he went to the Kings Tent. and with his company slew 4000 men and the chiefest of the Elephants and so filled the campe with feare and tumult returned with good successe Hannibal speedy comming from far vpon Flaccus overthrew him at Herdonea Sylanus by this Liv 26. 27 meanes chiefly vanquished his enemies in Spaine VII To be all of one heart for God for their King and Country and the safetie of the whole host and so of themselves faithfully endeavouring to performe the trust committed Iud. 20. 21. 8 11. 1 Sa 11. 7. to them every one in their place to the helping of one another for obtaining the victory The great host of 400000 Israelites were gathered together as one man and were knit together as one Israel came out to goe with Saul against Nahash Ios 2. 9. 2 Sam. 10. with one consent as one man The Canaanitish Kings and severall Nations of them could ioyne together as one
with one accord to fight against Iosua Ioab and Abishai consented to succor one another ar need should require We never read that the Commanders iy Israel were at odds to hinder the good counsell of one another but agreed as one man against their enemies Of discord and the mischiefes therof you haue heard before The Iewes though their leader Ionathan was traiterously slaine taken in a trap by the false dissembling Tryphon yet they incouraged 1 Mac 12. 50. 2 Mac. 9 10. one another and went close together to fight being of Iudas mind rather to die manfully for their brethren then to staine their honor VIII To have a watchword as 2 Mac 8. 23 13 15. Iudas gave his bands The helpe of God and at another time victory is of God Lastly be sure of a place of retrait for the wearied to refresh themselves Hannibal even in Afrike neglecting this was overthrowne by Scipio CHAP. XXIII Of such lets and impediments as are to bee avoided and preuented which may either overthrow the attempt or hinder the successe AS there are many furtherances of good enterprises so there may bee not a few hinderances of the same which are carefully to be taken heed of and prevented I. And chiefly take heed of sin and rebellion against God This God warned his people of when they went to warre when the host Deu. 23 9. goeth forth against the enemy then keepe thee from every evill thing saith the Lord. Such sinnes as before Ier 10. 2. in Chap. 15 are recorded as also beware here of all heathenish feares superstitious observations of dayes luckie and vnluckie of the flying and crying of birds beware of divinations inchantments and charmes abhorre Wiâ—ards Figure-casters Southsayers Sorcerers Fortune-tellers Stargazers Astrologers Prognosticatours Interpreters of good and ill successe by casuall accidents weare no superstitions vanities Deut 18. 10 11 12. aa conceited hallowed crosses Amulets and such like heathenish trumperies For God hath straitly forbidden all these abhominations they are the practises of the Heathen Idolaters All such as vse them are Esa 19. 3 4. 47 12 13 8. 9. Eze. 21. 21 abomination to the Lord saith Moses And he hath punished it in the practisers Saul sought to a Witch but did not hee then thriue the Deu. 18. 12. 1 Sa 28. 3. 31 3. 1 Ch. 10. 13. worse did it not then cost him his life Pompey by consulting with wizards made way for his overthrow for Caesar despising such things made vse of his enemies superstitious feares and came vpon them at such times what got Inulia the Apostate or Richard the third of England or Iames the third of Scotland by taking advise of witches and wizards and following their counsells Certaine Iewes in Machabeus his host hoped by some superstitious vanities 2 Mac. 12. 4. which they wore vnder their garments secretly to haue auoyded death but they were deceived they died in battle â— In the yeare 1502. when the French went against Geneua some of them had gotten charmed Amulets about their neckes to saue them but their trust deceiued them for they were found dead in the field Scipio though a Heathen man of whom you haue before heard hee banished Diviners and Figure-flingers out of his campe and when he landed in Africa it was his hap as soone as he came on shore that he slipt and fell forward on the ground which his company held to be ominous and a signe of ill lucke but he turned it another way and willed them to be merry because hee had therby taken possession of the country II. Great care must be had to prevent all discord in the whole host especially betweene Commanders and to effect this the spirit of pride enuie vaine-glory boasting wrath secret grudge and whatsoeuer else may cause dissention must be vtterly layd aside euery one being ready to heare one another to be counselled one of another good and no man to thinke himselfe at this time his owne but now his countries but now the causes for which the warre is vndertaken not now to doe after his owne will but what sound reason true religion the honour of his King the necessitie and fitnesse of time and place and the authoritie of the Generall vpon deliberat aduise and counsell requireth Singular was the praise of vnitie 1 Mac 8. 14 15 16. among the Romane Senators in the dayes of the Machabees For though there were 320 which sate in counsell yet was there neither enuy nor nor emulation among them nor any one in pride overtopping another but all consulted for the generall good and prospered But after through Caesars pride and the evils that hapned through civill dissention the Empire grew weake and at length was overthrowne It s an old saying Viâ— vnita fortior at partes in plures secta peribit of which many examples are given before III. To prevent danger of death to the Generall to have care of his life for the head cut off the body is but a trunke Ahad rashly going into the host to fight was wounded to death and so the people left the field 1 Mach. 7 43 44. â— and went home Absolom slaine the host was scattered when Nicanor was cut off presently his host cast away their weapons and fled On the Generall the life and motion of the Army dependeth For Davids worthies 2 Sa. 18. 3. had speciall care of his safetle sometimes not to let him goe into the field holding him to be worth 10000. of them and if he did goe into battle and was in danger rather â— Sa 21. 16 17. then he should be slaine Abishai will step betweene death and him so precious was the life of a Generall among the Romans that when Q. Petiliâ—s the Consull was slaine in fight against the Ligures the Senat decreed Front li. 4 ca. 7. â— that the legion in whose front hee was slaine should haue no annuarie stipend and there armes should be broken IV. To beware of conceit of strength with contempt of the enemy such seldome or neuer prosper 1 K. 20. 2 Mac. 11. 4 11 12. 12 13 16. this overthrew Benhadad also Lysias going against Iudas and this brought the Citizens of Caspis to confusion Antiochus Eâ—pater though he had a dreadfull Army yet through light reckoning of his enemies haughtines of mind in his owne strength had ill successe The insolency of Senacherib â— Mac. 13 12 9 15 16. his blasphemy against God and base esteeme of Hezekâ—ah was punished by God from heaven V. Not to bee provoked to fight by any instigation of a subtle enemy for he surely knoweth his owne advantages as Themistocles did who incited Plutarch de Themist the Persian by his sons Tutour called Sicinus vnder the shew of secret friendship to come and hemme in the Grecians as fearefull readie to run away which he which he accepted of vâ—aduisedly and so was overthrowne at Salanus But if
a heady and proud enemy puffed vp vaine-gloriously will needs ptovoke as Apollonius 1 Mac. 10. 69 82. Demetriâ—s his Generall did Ionathan may wisely encounter him and humble his pride with his overthrow as did also Hannibal proud Flaminius VI. Not to be circumvented by See exam for some of these in Dr Succl his hooke of warrs ca 14. of Stratagemâ— slights and policies of the Enemy by false rumours of more succours comming to them by feigned reâ—ait or counterfeit flying away by seeming to intend some other course by feigning sicknes by pretences of feare by colour of secret friendship by treaties of peace by vaine shewes by false fugitiues by secret intelligen geneers and such like which Scipio and other Romans and Harnibal also 1 Mac. 1. 10. 27. 2 Mac. 14. 22. 1 Mac. 12. 43 46. 13. 23. practised Bachides and Nicanor vsed deceits and vnder shew of friendship sought to have betraied Iudas but he was aware of them and also stood vpon his guard but honest Ionathan was ouertaken by Tryphons subtlety in feigned loue and slaine VII To take heed of an hyred Ismael Ier. 40 14. 2 Mac. 13 24. by whom good Gedaliah was cruelly and traiterously murthered so also beware of hauing any Rhodocus that giueth secret intelligence to the enemy Lastly make no delay vpon good resolved grounds to execute design ments for nothing is more hurtfull then delayes when aduantage is offered and necessity calleth on Iosua made no delay to helpe the Gibeonites nor Saul Iabesh Gilâ—ad And David vpon Bichri his rebellion held 2 Sa. 20 6 Bâ—â— Gal 2. 7 delay very dangerous Câ—sar his expedition prevented the Belgians in their conspiracy so did it the French at another time by his speedy comming among them On the contrary the Romans delaying to preuent Hannibals comming into Italy made them feele the misery of their â—olly and slacknes 16 yeares together afterwards To loose faire aduantages which are not alwayes offered may bring great losse to themselues which being taken might presse downe an Enemy Delay is a traytor to oportunity and such as either of purpose or of carelesnes or persuasions of others do make delaies may be blamed much and iudged sometime the sale-man of prosperous successe and purchasers of much losse and sorrow All these things are to be carefully auoided if we desire to thriue in our attempts CHAP. XXIV Of going foorth and ioyning battle AT the present going forward to charge the 2 Ch 13 14. Num. 10. 9 Iud. 7. 2 Chr. 13 1 Mach. 4. 13. 5. 31 7 45. 2 Sa. 2. 28 20 22. trumpets did sound This by God was appointed the onely instrument and these they vsed in on sets as did Gideon Abiiah Machabeus in the time of the battle in pursuite of the flying enemies and in a retreat to call back from pursuing The Heathen Romans also vsed trumpets but some other Nations as the Indians vsed Cymbals and Drummes The Saracens drums the Lacedemodians the flute and trumpet the Cretans the harpe Besides the trumpet they vsed their voyces as shouting in the very sight of the Enemy and first charge vttering words sometime as the host of Gideon did saying The 1 Sa 17 20. 4 5 2 Ch. 13. 15 sword of the Lord and Gideon They did shout at the rooting of the enemy and when they thought the enemy was come into their hands Thus the Philistims shouted when Sampson 1 Sa 17 5. 2 was brought bound to them and Warres of the Iewes Iud 15. 14 2 Mac 15 26. the Romans when they saw Iosephus taken taken and brought prisoner into their sight In the on-set they also cryed with prayers for helpe vnto the Lord when the Trumpets sounded When they went towards the Enemy before they came to charge they would sing Psalmes till they came neere him as Iehosophat 2 Chr. 13. 14. 1 Mac. 4. 13 5 33 2 Ch 20. did and Iudah with him yea the Heathen vsed to goe forward with trumpets and songs And least this might seeme a mockery of a too ouer religious Iehosophat who was foretold that he needed not to fight and therefore might well sing or that it might be iudged an act of an addle-headed Nicanor not to be regarded 2 Mac 15. 25. the renownest Lacedemonians vsed it the King after a sacrifice offered commanded all his armie to crowne their heads and the flutes to sound the measure of Castor then he the King himselfe began the Paean a song proper to Apollo and so Cap. Bing on Elians Tacticks pa. 70. went they on as one keeping measure in a stayed pace cheerefully and without astonishment It is to be observed that Iosua in all his Battles gave the first charge and so did Saul Dauid and Ioab his Generall It was the vse of the Romans commonly to begin the battle as doth appeare in the warres of Hist of the troub of France Caesar in France and Scipio in Spain and one noteth it of the Protestants in France that they alwaies preuailed more charging first the Enemy then abiding to be charged which course Dr. Sâ—ctel his booke pa. 177. ca. 22. as one saith is the best if there be a resolution to fight It argueth in those that begin the more courage They may the more easily take the advantages before mentioned and set vpon â—he Enemy where he is weakest yet this first charging must ever be considered thus as that the army be able to wage battle with the Enemy els by first charging they may iustly be charged with folly and pay well for their rashnesse CHAP. XXV Of that ' which os to be done in fighting THe people of God in their fighting had mind of God so as while they 1 Ch 5 20. 2 Mac. 15. 27. strucke him with hands they prayed to him in their hearts and trusted on him and so procured a blessing vpon their encounter They had care to vnderstand the mind and pleasure of their Generall whether manifested Ios 8. 18 19. by words or signes Thus those that were in ambush against Ai observed Ios 4. 7-8 Iosua his stretching out of his speare vnderstood his meaning and speedily executed his will For they remembred his instruction and charge before given to them being Ca. 6. 10 11 16 20 ever obedient to him doing as he would haue them as he himselfe did what God commanded him In the 2 Mac 12 50. 2 Sa. 10. 11 fight they encouraged one another and kept close together and were ready to helpe one another as need should require Here I thinke it not amisse to bring in the words of the Apostle spiritually intended but fetched from warfare and the duty of Captaines and souldiers in the battle against their enemies which omitting the Apostles scope I will handle it after the letter very fitly to this my purpose in hand The Apostle 1 Cor. 16. 13. setteth down foure 1 Cor.
a poore Mariner for his valour and good service was made Admirall of the Turkes Navy The Romanes rewarded Horatius Cocles Liv 2. for repelling the Hetruscians with a statue of Marble and with lands Deciâ—s Liv. 7. had a Crowne of golde and every souldier of double allowance and double apparell for his and their service Scipio gaue Coronets of gold to those that first mounted the walls Liv 26 of new Carthage in Spaine If Generals and Captaines were chosen not for Nobility Gentry friends but for very worth in them and souldiers well rewarded for their valour we should not want Armies of valiant men VII And last is to punish cowardise treachery disobedience mutinies and other offences without partiality The other to wit reward is not to be wanting and this namely due punishment is not to be neglected For what the hope of reward in some base spirits cannot effect yet the feare of this will worke it in them Feare made thousands with one consent to come vnto Saul to goe against the 1 Sa 11. 7. Ammonites By these especiall meanes men shall bee made valiant CHAP. XXVII Of the meanes how to make the basest spirits and Cowards in battell to stand to it and if they doe flie away how to make some vse thereof as some haue wisely done THough never so good choice bee made and meanes vsed yet some will be found faint harted God and good men in the Bible tooke no other course with them but dismission but if they be reteined the courses taken in former times by great Commanders were these I. To hemme them in and environ them with the choisest troupes and so perforce to holde them to it II. When they begin to shrinke back to cut off some of the foremost for example to terrifie the rest â— Attilius Liv. 10. by killing the first with his owne hand when his souldiers gaue ground made the rest to make head against the Enemie The Romane Generall gaue charge to his men that whom Liv. 2. they perceived Cowards and to fly to take them for enemies and thereafter to deale with them For indeed a Coward is a betrayer of his fellowes and an incourager of the enemy to get the victory III. To take from them all hopes of helpe though they should ruâ—â— away And this sometime did wise Commanders though they did not leade knowen or suspected Cowards As General Vere did send away all the ships from shore at the battle at Newport William the Conquerour to make his to fight and hope of no helpe but victory landing here in England he burnt the ships that brought them over So did Tariff the Moore entring into Spaine Charles Martell when he went to encounter the infinite host of the Saracens commanded the City of Tours to keepe the gates shut and to open them no more but to the Victorers The basest spirits haue beene made thus to stand to it But if feare sometime cease vpon better Spirits as it hath done then some rebuke may make them take heart or feare of future shame A speech and example of Caesars valour withall in the last battell that ever he fought which was with Pompeys sonnes in Spaine when his souldiers began to shrinke encouraged them to a new onset and so got the victory onely he said but this Remember that at Munda they had forsaken their Generall The courage and act of the CoÌ„mander will quicken the spirit of such as haue not lost all heart Iudas Machabeus seeing his people fearefull to 1 Mach 16 6. passe a brooke to the Enemie led the way and then they all followed Ionathan when his company fled from him yet standing to it and something prevailing made the runawayes to returne and to pursue the Enemies Lucius Sylla seeing the Legion to giue to Archelaus the Commander of Mithridates forces he drew his sword and made towards the battell and said to his Souldiers If any aske you for your Leader you may tell them that you left him fighting in Boâ—sia At which words they were strucken with shame and went on to the Service M. Furius Camillus seeing his Army slacke to charge the Enemy pluckt the Ensigne out of the hand of the bearer and carryeth it himselfe vpon the Enemie which the Souldiers seeing with much shame set forward after him Thus valiant Leaders haue put courage into the hearts of their company of which ranke with the old and ancient Generals may be reckoned the renowned â—oâ—ice the redoubted Vere and with these the never dying Sidney as one calleth them Sometime trayterous spirits will dare in the face of the Generall to fly to the Enemy whereof some wisely have made good vse When Lucius Lucellus saw the Macedonian horse flying to the Enemy he presently caused an allarum to be given and so sent out other after them by which the enemy supposed the former to make the onset and the followers to bee ready to second them whereupon the Enemy shot at the formost and the Runnawayes seeing their course welcome before them and the danger behind fell in good earnest to fight with the Enemy and so against their intended purpose quit themselves as it were like honest men So one Damates when he perceiued some of his flying to the Enemy presently did follow after and cunningly falleth to commend their forwardnes that they would first charge the Enemy which made them turne their minds and to doe otherwise then they intended even to make indeede the first onset vpon the enemy cleane contrary to their former purposes To conclude this if so be yet that feare happen and that there be great insufficiencie to fight with the Enemy one way also withall be made to auoyde the stroke then it is best not disorderly to flye yet to make a faire retreat or a secret flight as many Roman leaders have done or openly to flye so it be orderly Abner 2 Sa 2. 17 â—9 after a sore battle did flye That compleatly qualified Commander Generall Norice made a retreat at Gaâ—nt To flye well as one saith is as praise-worthy as to fight well For nature reason and religion too doe concur in this that in a manifest peril to save life by lawfull meanes is no disgrace but a duty And what is desperate hazard when there is no absolute necessity to compell thereto but a foolehardnesse a fleshing of a prevailing enemy a losse of serviceable men and discredit to the Commander who cannot but herein haue his wisedome questioned But put case men cannot possibly Quest. flye neither in any humane reason be able to withstand the Enemy what should then be done To answer Answ hereunto there must be considered the nature of the Enemy whether true of his word or false whether mercifull or cruell Againe whether the conditions be honourable or base in which respect death is better then life for it may be they may condition to renounce religion or such a condition as the Ammonite
offered to the 1 Sa. 11. â— men of Iabesh that so they might bring not onely base shame vpon the parties but a reproach vpon the whole nation It s better to dye then to hearken to such conditionr or to such as Benhadad propounded to Ahab 1 King 20 6. which made him adventure the battle as also did our blacke Prince with the King of France whom no reasonable conditions could satisfie moreover it must be weighed whether any succor may in conuenient time come to helpe in such a strait as the men of Iabesh did furthermore whether by adventuring life yet the enemy may receiue more losse by selling to them their deaths more deare then by yeelding and living they may profit-their country These and such like considerations must be had before yeelding but if the enemy be faithfull of his word and mercifull the conditions reasonable no hope remaining of helpe and the adventuring to fight it out in all likelihood to procure little hurt to the Enemy in reason it is better to save life then to lose it Very valiant spirits have yeelded sometimes without any disparagement vnto them CHAP. XXVIII Of getting fully the victory when the enemy is in part subdued AN Enemy may seeme to be overthrowne when he is not therefore to get a full victory I. Beware that the Emies giving way and seeming to flye be not a stratageme as it was in the Israelites to the Beniamites and Iosua with his company to the men of Ai and Bethel by which subtlety he did vtterly overthrow them when they were too confident of the victory Scanderbeg that Prince of Epirus thus overcame Amose his kinsman that had fled from him and brought against him 60000 Turkes from whom be seemed to flye and for feare to leave his country by which apparent flight so farre he made them secure and so after certaine dayes returned backe vpon them secredy overthrew them and tooke his trayterous kinsman prisoner II. If the enemy be routed then to pursue the victory as Abraham did in Gen 14. Ios 7. 25. 8. 11 12 1 Sam 14. 22. 1 Mach. 10 49 50. 4 15. 7. 45. chasing his enemies Gideon the many and mighty Kings with their hostes Saul the Philistims king Alexander sonne to Antiochus Epiphanes king Demetriâ—s host and as Iudas did Gorgias and Nicanors host Caesar obtaining the victory over the Helvetians so pursued them as hee left them not till all yeelded so having foyled Vercingetorix he followed him till he got into Alexia Scipio vanquishing Asdrubal pursued him to the De Bel. Gal l. 1. 7. vtmost coast of Spaine Hannibal in not pursuing his victory gotten at Cannas lost Rome he had skill to overcome but wanted wisedome to vse well the victory III. Yet in the pursuite 1. Beware it be not too heady disorderly and scattered least pursuers fall into Ambushments or come to neer some garrison or give so advantage to the flying Enemy to fall on againe recover their losses and become of Conquered suddenly Conquerours Philopoemen charging the Enemy that Liv 35 too eagerly did chase his men overthrew him Carus the Generall of Segadans having overcome Quintus Fulvius yet by disorderly pursuing and too securely lost his victory was by the same Fulvius horsemen charged suddenly and so Carus himselfe killed and sixe thousand more put to the sword Gaston de fois having foiled the Enemy at Ravenna by advancing himselfe too farre and ill followed lost his life Moses Scanderbegs Generall with other worthy Commanders by too forward pursuit Hist of Scanderbeg of the Turkes were taken prisoners And by Mahomet the mercilesse Tyrant were fleyed alive and that by little and little for the space of 15. dayes together Secondly take heed of pursuing one part routed that an other part of the enemy entire and strong remaine not behind to follow the pursuers This oversight cost worthy Machâ—beus 1 Mach 8. 14. 18 his life Thirdly not to follow too late Ioab followed Abner till night and Alexander 2 Sam 10. 49 50. 1 Mach 10. 49 50 Demetriâ—s but beware of darknesse it hideth many mischiefes not to bee foreseene nor prevented IV. The Enemy once scattered is not to be suffered to recollect his forces for thus Pyrrhus that Noble Warriour yet once herein ouerseene lost his victory over Valerius Lavinus The Carthaginians in Spaine after the deaths of the two Scipioes suffered the reliques of the Romans to Liv 24. breath and gather head againe where hereby at length they were vanquished themselves Alexamenâ—s having slaine Naâ—â—â— yet suffering the Euemy to gather head and to waxe strong was with all his company by them cut in pieces V. To abstaine from spoyle till the enemy be vtterly vanquished driven away and they secure from perill Of this Iudas forewarned his followers in chasing enemy which charge they 1 Mach 17. 23. well observed Hannibal lost a more full victory of the Romanes at Trebia because the Numidian horsemen hastened too soone to the spoyle The Dutch at Gunigast extorted the victory out of the hands of the French which almost they had gotten while they too hastily followed the spoyle The Italians at Taro had foyled the French but that at the beginning Anno 1596 they fell to spoyle the baggage The Germanes at the battle of Erlam in Hungarie having thrice defeated the Turkes were yet at last by vntimely falling vpon the spoile ouerthrowne Therefore Iehoram King of Israel in the strait Siedge of Samaria by the Syrians when hee heard that they were suddenly fled and 2 King 7. left greaâ— store of victuall and treasure behinde them though the Inhabitants were almost all famished yet did he withhold them from falling vpon the spoyle till he certainly vnderstood that hee might with safety doe so VI. Having gotten a full victory and none seene to make head against them yet it is good not to be over secure as were the Amalekites â— Sam 30. when they had burned Ziglag and carryed away all the Inhabitants captive For they beeing carelesse eating drinking dauncing and not suspecting any pursuite after them so farre were suddenly overcome by David The Captives were rescued the prey recovered and all the Enemies almost slaine and so David returned with ioy Neyther may they vnadvisedly while they be in their Enemies Country divide their armie one part from another This was the destruction of the Cimbri who being together three hundred thousand and having overthrowne Manlius and Cepiâ— two Consulls Marius let them passe by his Camp quietly but afterwards when for their easier march over the Alpes they fearing no Enemy divided themselves into three companies he severally set vpon them and put them to the sword CHAP. XXIX Of vsing religiously the Victorie WHen God hath given vs the victory wee should doe as did the Lords people in old times They did see and acknowledge the 2 Cro 20 26 2 Mach 15 29 Gen 14 20 Exod
and his multitude The very Heathen performed this to their slaine enemies for at the request of Scipio Asdrubal did bury the Romane Tribunes Appion To cast out to dogges and fowles the bodies of the slaine and Psa 79. 2 3 not bury them is inhuman cruelty As it was in Tyberius forbidding to bury the dead or to vse crueltie to their bodies as the King of Moab did to the dead body of the Amos 2. 1 King of Edom which hee burned with fire in lyme for which God threatned his destruction Againe concerning the dead when they are looked vpon it must be with humane Tatit in Ann el. 〈◊〉 â—â— compassion The Israelites did weepe for Beniamin because they were destroyed It 's recorded of Epaminondas the Theban that when he came forth the next day after his victorie at Leuctra among his souldiers with a sad countenance the cause being demanded hee answered that he did chastise himselfe for the bloud that was shed Agiselave the Lacedemonian after his victory at Corinth when hee saw a great number of the Corinthians and Athenians lying slaine in sorrow cryed out woe is me for Greece who in civill combustion hath lost so many brave souldiers These men were not like to Charles the ninth in the bloudy massacre in Paris who said oh how good is the smell of the dead enemies An vnsit speech of a Christian but as hee delighted in bloud so came hee to a bloudie end Now concerning the living I. There must be a reverend respect had of men of the Church ever sacred by the law of Nations Nebuchadnezzar gave a charge to Ier. 39. 11 12 looke well to Ieremy and to doe him no hurt II. To keepe good quarter with Ios 1 20 all such as doe yeeld themselves and to whom faith hath beene promised to give them life and to vse them well when Iosephus was taken having yeelded to Nicanâ—â— who in the In the warres of the Iewes name of the Generall Vispasian promised him life and some Romans perswaded Vespasian to kill him but Titus reprooved them for it and held it treason to moove Vespasian to breake Caesarael fidelitie as he called it Cato accused Gâ—â—ba for slaying the Lusitonians after composition made Faithlesnes breach of word in this kind maketh men desperate to sight it out as one man to the death rather then to yeeld as it did the Iews in Iorpata when the Romans were come into the Citie not one yeelded though Iosephus was fled the reason is given because they had heard how a Iew had yeelded to a Roman souldier who had sworne to give him life and yet afterwards slew him perfidiously This vnfaith fulnes caused also others so to deale with them as did the Rebel Eliezar the prime Author of the last warres of the Iewes their vtter destruction with a valiant Roman who had vpon Eliezers oath yeelded himselfe III. To shew mercy to prisoners and Captives and note to be bloud-thirsty The Israelites did not 2 Kings 6. 22 2 Chron 28. 15. slay such as they tooke captives but shewed mercy and great compassion vnto the lame poore and wounded so mercy should bâ—e shewed to women children and old folkes To sley all that are taken as once the Lacedemonians did of the Athenians and the Athenians of them is great crueltie and inhumane of which at length they will be made to repent as those two sorts did as Thuâ—idides writeth To slay poore Thucid. prisoners in cold blood is a note of a savage and implacable nature But here is to be excepted such prisoners taken as doe deserve iustice to be executed vpon them as did Agag 1 Sam 15 32 33. the King of the Amale kites as also such great ones as have caused rebellion as the Princes of Iudah did who counselled Zedekiah to hold out Ier 39. 5 6 against Nabuchadnezer contrary to his oath and the word of God deliver by Ierâ—my These Nabuchadnezzar tooke and gave sentence vpon them Also when there is treacherie found in the Captives or iust cause of feare if the Enemie should make head against them that then they would helpe to worke the Conquerourâ— destruction in such a case Caesarâ— Hist de â—â—h Hâ—span souldiers at Munda in Spaine flew their prisoners and so did the English theirs at Poytiers IV. Among Captives and prisoners to consider persons according to their qualities and to respect them according to their place as Prince Edward did King Iohn of Frace his prisoner attending him at his Table And as Tamberlaine did Baiazel whom first he went out to meet then brought him into his owne Tent and set him downe to meat with himselfe and did him all the honour he possibly could till the proud Tyrant provoked him to deale with him as he would have done with Tamberlaine had he been the Conquerour Great Princes and Commanders should consider what may befall themselves It was Tyrant-like in Adonibezek to vse kings Iud. 1 7 as dogges and cruelly to handle them in cutting off their thumbes and great toes but he was rewarded thereafter It was too great height of heart for King Edgar to be rowed over the river of Doe by seven Kings Tyranes the King of Armenia was too much puffed vp to make so â—re Kings to wait at his Table but most vnmindfull of mutabilâ—ty and regall maiestie was Sesostris who made Kings to draw his Chariot and most inhumane was Albonius a King of the Lombards who vanquished Cuâ—emedâ—â— a King of Iepidi slew him and of his skull made a quaffing Cup. We reade how Iosua commanded his Captaines to tread vpon the necks of Kings but that was extraordinary and it was vpon such as they were commanded to kill whose posterity they were to roote out Nabuchadnezzar did put out the eyes of Zedekiah but he was a periured wretch having contrary to his oath rebelled when Nabuchadnezzar had made him King After victory gotten in the Field over their persons the Army being sufficient and a Conquering host the Generals in olde time were wont to make vse of their victories in the Country I. They tooke the Citties of the Enemies from them as Abijah did from Ieroboam after the battel fought Bethel Ieshanah and Ephraim with the Townes belonging to them Hannibal should haue gone to Rome vpon his victory at Cannas When Scipio overthrew Hannibal he forthwith went to Carthage which made presently composition with him II. They set strong garrisons among 1 Sa 13. 3 10. 5. 14. 2. 4. 2 Sa. 8. 6. them as the Philistims did in Israel and David did in Syria of Damascus to keepe the people vnder and while the army is abroad to haue places of safe retreat III. They disarmed them to keepe them from rebellion when they intended to holde them in subiection Thus did the Philistims with 2 Sam 13 19. 22. Israel and Cyrus thus vsed the Lidians for vpon such a course