resolved he therefore changed the left Wing of his Army for his right which he had composed of the strongest and ablest Men and encountered with the Enemies Army a-thwart At last he routed the Africans and easily forced the Spaniards who in the Retreat stood still as Lookers on to surrender themselves 2. Philip King of Macedo fighting against the Illyrians saw that the Front of the Enemies Army was very close together and composed of the choicest men taken out of the whole Army which caused the sides to be but weak he therefore placed his best and stoutest Men in his right Wing and with them assaulted the left of the Enemies Army routed and disordered them and got the Victory 3. When Permenes the Theban Captain took notice of the Persian Army that their strongest Troops were in their right Wing he drew up his Men in the same manner he appointed all his Horse and the ablest of all his Foot to be in the right Wing and opposed the weakest of his against the strongest of the Persians and commanded them that at the first Charge they should save themselves by Flight and retreat into the Woods and rocky Places By this means he disappointed the strength of the Enemies Army and with the best part of his Troops in the right Wing he encompassed about the Persians and overthrew them 4. When P. Cornelius Scipio who was afterwards firnamed Africanus made War against Asdrubal the Carthaginian General in Spain he led out his Army for several days so ordered in Battel that the Body or Battalion in the middle was composed of his strongest Men but when the Enemy also came forth constantly disposed in the same manner Scipio that very day that he had appointed to fight changed the Order of his Battel and placed his stoutest Souldiers namely his Roman Legions in the Wings and his Men who were slenderly armed in the middle but something behind the rest By this means he assaulted with his two Wings that were strongest and appearing like a half Moon the weakest part of the Enemies Army and easily routed them 5. Metellus in that Battel wherein he overcame Herculeius in Spain when he understood that his Enemies Troops that were esteemed the stoutest were placed in the middle caused his Battalion that was opposite to draw back that they might not come to fight with the Enemy untill their Wings were routed and their main Body enclosed in on both sides 6. Artaxerxes marching against the Grecians who were entred into Persia because he exceeded them in number of Men he stretched out his Army farther than the Enemies and placed his Horse in the Van and such as were lightly armed in the Wings and thus he marched softly on purpose with his middle Battalion that he might encompass them which when he had done he cut them all in pieces 7. Hannibal observed a contrary order in the Battel of Cannae for he caused the middle Battalion to advance before and kept back the Wings by this means he overpower'd their Men at the first Charge For this same General caused his Souldiers to fight close together and the Wings to wind about in the manner of a Half-Moon and to march on at his Command so that when the Enemy was earnest in the pursuit he enclosed them into the middle of his Army fell upon them and cut them in pieces on all sides for his Souldiers were well acquainted with this manner of fighting after a long experience None but such Souldiers as are well skill'd and able to answer to every thing can possibly perform and observe this kind of Warfare 8. Livius Salinator and Claudius Nero when in the second Punick War Hasdrubal was unwilling to fight and therefore had drawn up his Army upon a stony Hill behind a Vineyard led their Forces up on all sides surrounded him on every hand and without shelter assaulted and overcame him 9. When Hannibal had been in many Battels overpower'd by Claudius Marcellus at last in his Marches he so placed his Camp that he had the Assistance and Defence either of some Hill or Marsh Ground or some other convenient place and did draw up his Army in such a manner that when the Romans had the Advantage he could retreat with them into his Fortifications with little or no loss and when they were beaten it was in his power and choice to pursue them 10. Xanthippus the Lacedaemonian General in Africa against M. Attilius Regulus placed his Men slenderly armed in the Van and the Strength of his Army next to second them commanding his Auxiliary Troops assoon as they had cast their Darts to give Ground to the Enemy and when they were retreated within their own Ranks to run immediately to the sides and to charge from both Wings the Enemy that was at handy Blows with the Body of their Army and to surround them in 11. Sertorius practiced the same thing in Spain when he was fighting against Pompei 12. Cleandridas the Lacedaemonian General against the Lucani drew up his Men close together that they might appear but a small Body and more contemptible to the Enemy but when the Battel was begun he caused his Men to open and having encompassed in the Enemy he routed them 13. When Gastron the Lacedemonian went to succour the Aegyptians against the Persians and understood that his Grecian Troops were stoutest Souldiers and most feared of the Persians he caused them to change their Arms and to march in the Van and when they encountered with the Persians with equal Advantage he sent a Party of Aegyptians to second them when the Persians who were fighting with those Grecians whom they thought to be Aegyptians perceived the coming in of the Multitude whom they esteemed to be also Grecians they run away for fear 14. Cn. Pompcius in Albania because the Enemy was powerful in Horse and numbers of Men commanded his Souldiers to cover their Head pieces in a streight place near a Hill for fear they should be discovered by their shining in the Sun and he commanded his Horse-men to go down into the Plain and cover the Foot and at the first Onset of the Enemy to give back till they were returned to the Foot and then to place themselves in the Wings which being accordingly performed the Roman Army arose encounter'd with those that were unadvisedly got in so far who meeting with an unexpected Resistance were cut all in pieces 15. M. Antonius General against the Parthians commanded his Men to stop when an innumerable company of Arrows were discharged upon them and to cover themselves over with their Targets upon which when the Arrows fell did no Injury to the Souldiers and the Enemy was thereby exhausted 16. When Hannibal encounter'd with Scipio in Africa because he had an Army composed of Carthaginians and Auxiliary Troops some being come from divers Countries and from Italy also behind fourscore Elephants which he caused to march before his Army to disorder the Roman Ranks he placed
double Phalanx or Body of Pikemen to charge in the middle surrounded with Souldiers lightly armed and on both Wings the Macedonian Horse Against this Order the Roman General divided his Army into three great Bodies with some small Companies drawn up in the form of a Wedge between them he placed his Souldiers lightly armed when he perceived that this did not profit him he resolved to give Ground that by this means he might draw the Enemy into stony and broken places which he had chosen on purpose But the Macedonians mistrusting the Retreat of the Romans to be out of Design marched forward with their Body of Pikes in good order then he commanded his Horse to ride undiscover'd out of sight of the Macedonian Phalanx and on the left hand of them and to assault them with full speed that he might by the Furiousness of the Charge and the goodness of their Army break and turn back the Enemies Pikes which accordingly succeeded so well that these Weapons were render'd useless to the Macedonians so that they were forced to turn their Backs and fly 21. When Pyrrhus King of Epirus assisted those of Tarentum near Asculum according to the Saying of Homer which teacheth to place the most Souldiers in the middle of a Battel he appointed the Samnites and his own Country-men to be in the right Wing in the left the Brutii and Lucani together with the Salentini but in the middle he drew up the Tarentini and ordered his Horse and Elephants to stand as a Reserve But the Roman Consuls in opposition to him placed their Horse excellently well in the Wings the Legions in the Van and Rear and amongst them they mixed their Auxiliary Troops In each Army it is certain there was forty thousand men Pyrrhus lost half his Army and the Romans about five thousand 22. When Cn. Pompeius encounter'd with C. Caesar in the Fields of Pharsalia he divided his Army into three Bodies and every Body had ten Ranks in Latitude the strongest Legions according to their Valour he placed in the Wings and between them in the open spaces he fill'd up with the new rais'd Troops in the right Wing he ordered only six hundred Horse because of the River Enipeus that overflowing its Banks had made Holes and Trenches on that side of the Country The rest of his Horse he drew up in the left Wing with all his Auxiliaries that he might encompass in on that side Caesar's Army Against this Array Julius Caesar appeared with three Bodies of an Army having put his Legions in the Front and that he might not be enclosed in he had on his left side a marsh Ground in the right Wing he placed his Horse mingled with the nimblest of his Foot-men who were used to fight with the Horse behind them he drew up some Companies of Foot to second them and to be employed on sudden Occasions but the right Wing he caused to turn winding that he might better receive the Onset of Pompey's Horse which Order contributed very much to the getting the Victory for when Pompey's Horse were broken in upon them they sallied out unexpectedly turned them aside and exposed them to the Fury of Caesar's Foot 23. The Emperour Caesar Germanicus when the Catti a People of Germany fled into their Forests and assaulted the Romans only with their Horse commanded his Horsemen assoon as they were come to the Baggage to leap from their Horses and to fight on foot By this means he brought to pass that in every place he obtain'd the Victory not without Wonder 24. C. Duillius seeing that the heaviness of his Ships suffered the Carthaginian Navy easily to avoid and pass by them because of their Nimbleness and Lightness and that the Courage and Valour of his Men profited him nothing invented the iron Grapples which assoon as it had taken hold of an Enemies Ship there was a Bridge cast over and the Roman Souldiers encounter'd with them in their own Vessels and cut them in pieces CHAP. IV. Of disordering an Enemies Army Example 1. WHen Papyrius sirnamed Cursor the Consul's Son saw that he encounter'd with the obstinate Samnites with equal Advantage he commanded Spurius Naucius privately and unknown to his own Men to take with him a few Servants and Mule-drivers riding on their Mules with Branches of Trees drawn on the ground in their hands and to run down a Hill which was over against them with great noise which assoon as he perceived he cried out to his Men That his victorious Partner was come to his Assistance and that now they should prevent him and get to themselves the Honour of the day By this means the Romans were filled with Confidence and Resolution and furiously assaulted the Enemy and put them all to flight 2. F. Rutilius sirnamed Maximus being the fourth time Consul in the Country of the Samnites having tried all means to break through the Enemies Battel at last he drew off all his Pikemen from the Ranks and sent them about with his Lieutenant General Scipio commanding him to take a Hill from whence they might break in upon the Backs of their Enemies which being done accordingly the Romans took Courage and the Samnites were frighted and seeking to fly they were cut in pieces 3. When Minutius Rufus was General against the Scordisci and the Daci being likely to be overcharged by the numbers of their Men that exceeded his sent his Brother with a few Horse-men together with all his Trumpeters and commanded them that assoon as the Battel was begun they should suddenly shew themselves in divers places with their Trumpets sounding in such places of the Mountains as might return and encrease the Eccho This Appearance of a vast Multitude put such a Terror into the Enemies that they turned their Backs and fled 4. Attilius Glabrio Consul marching against the Army of Antiochus which was coming into Achaia through the Streights of Thermopylae had been stop'd by the Enemy with confiderable loss because of the disadvantage of the place of Battel had he not sent round about M. Porcius Cato who at that time being made a Collonel by the People of Rome was in the Army He sent him with a Party to assault the Aetolians who held the Top of Mount Callidromus with a Guard so that on a sudden he appeared behind the King's Camp upon a high Hill which so terrified the Army of Antiochus that they suffered the Romans to break in upon them on all sides they fled and left their Camp to their Enemies Pleasure 5. C. Sulpitius Petreius the Consul warring against the Gauls commanded his Mule-keepers to go privately into the next Mountains and from thence assoon as the Fight was begun to shew themselves to the Armies riding as so many Horsemen This Sight made the Enemy believe that some Assistance was come to the Roman Army which caus'd them to yield the Victory when they had almost obtain'd it 6. When Marius was to give Battel the next day to the
6. In the Carthaginian War some Cities purposed to forsake the Romans and joyn with the Carthaginians but having given Hostages they desired to recover them first into their hands before they fell away they therefore pretended that there was a Sedition amongst the Neighbours which the Roman Ambassadors ought to appease whom being sent they kept them in lieu of their Hostages and would not suffer them to depart till they had their own return'd back 7. When the Roman Ambassadours were sent to King Antiochus who had with him Hannibal after that the Carthaginians were subdued to make use of his advice against the Romans by frequent visiting and Discourses with Hannibal they made him to be suspected by the King who otherwise would have highly favoured him and to whom he had been very useful because of his subtilty and knowledge in War 8. Q. Metellus making War against Jugurtha prevailed with Money upon the King's Ambassadors to betray their Master and when others were sent he corrupted them also and likewise the third but the business succeeded not so far as to get Jugurtha into his hands for he desired to have him delivered alive nevertheless many things happened from thence for when the Letters which he writ to the Kings Friends were intercepted he caused them all to be put to Death whereby he was deprived of good Counsel and could not get nor procure to himself any other Friends 9. When C. Caesar understood by a certain Water-bearer which he had intercepted that Afranius and Petreius would by night remove and march out of their Camp that he might without any trouble to his Men hinder the purpose and intent of his Enemies in the beginning of the night he commanded his Souldiers to give the signal for the taking up and loading of their Baggage and the Mules to be driven along by the Enemies Camp with noise and hurry This caused them to keep in their Camp for they imagined that Caesar was marching away 10. Scipio Africanus for the more convenient receiving of Supplies of Men and Provisions sent Venticius Thermus to Hannibal to treat with him while he in the mean space went to help their landing 11. Dionysius the King of Syracuse when a vast number of Africans were to pass over into Sicily to fight him sortified several Castles in many places and commanded the Garrisons to deliver them to the Enemy assoon as they should come and to return secretly to Syracuse The Africans were forced to keep Guards in the Castles that they had taken so that when he saw the rest reduced to that small number that he desired he with equal Forces assaulted and overcame them for by this Policy he gathered all his Strength together and scattered the Enemies 12. When Agesilaus the Lacedaemonian made War upon Tisaphernes he pretended to invade the Country of Caria as the fittest place being full of Mountains to encounter with the Persians who were numerous in Horse By the divulging of this Design he caused Tisaphernes to wait for him in Caria while he broke into Lydia where the chief City of that Government was Having therefore overcome such as were left there he got into his Possession the King's Treasury CHAP. IX Of pacifying the Seditions of Souldiers Example 1. A Manlius the Consul understanding that the Souldiers who were in their Winter Quarters in Campania had plotted together to cut the Throats of their Landlords and to plunder their Goods sent word that another Party should be there in the same Winter Quarters By this means he spoil'd the Purpose of the Conspirators freed the Country from the danger and took occasion to punish the Offenders 2. L. Sylla when some Legions of the Roman Citizens broke out furiously into a dangerous Sedition restored them again to a peaceable Temper by this Policy He caused the News to be quickly spread that the Enemies Army was at hand and a noise to be made to run to their Arms and the Signal of the Battel to be given by this means the Sedition ended and all joyned together to encounter the Enemy 3. Cn. Pompeius when his Army had killed the Senate of Milan that he might not cause any tumult by calling to him only such as were guilty commanded some that had no hand in the Crime to come together with the Murderers who were the less afraid because they were not separated from the rest neither did they seem to be called out because of their Fault They all appeared and they who were guiltless were careful to keep the Criminals from an Escape lest they should be blamed for their Flight 4. C. Caesar when some of his Legions were so furiously seditious as to threaten the death of their Leaders dissembled his fear and went strait to his Souldiers who desired to be discharged which he granted with an angry Countenance When they were at liberty he oblig'd them to Repentance to give satisfaction to him their General and to become more obedient for the future in performing all the Duties and Works of a Souldier CHAP. X. How to give a Check to the unseasonable impatience and desire of fighting Example 1. Q. Sertorius having found by experience that he was an unequal Match to the whole Roman Army together that he might make the barbarous and ignorant People of Spain who unadvisedly desired to fight sensible thereof he caused two Horses to be brought the one strong and lusty the other very little and weak and put two Young-men answerable to them the one strong and the other slender To the strong man he commanded to pull off the Tail of the weak Horse at once to the slender person to pluck the Hairs off the lusty Horse one by one when therefore the slender Person had done what he was ordered and the strong Person did strive in vain about the Tail of the weak Horse now saith Sertorius to his Souldiers by this example I have discovered to you the Condition of the Roman Troops they are not to be overcome if you assault them together but you may break and destroy them if you come upon them when separated 2. The same Sertorius when he took notice that his Souldiers unadvisedly demanded the Signal of the Battel and judged that they would break out into a Tumult if they did not fight suffered one Troop of Horse to attack the Enemy when they were over-powered he sent more to assist them thus he received them all safe in their Retreat and without any loss He discovered to them what would have been the issue of the Fight which they desired After this they were much more obedient to his Orders and Command 3. Agesilaus the Lacedaemonian having pitched his Camp upon the Banks of a River against the Thebans and understanding that the Enemy did far exceed him in number was resolved to keep his Men from the desire of a Battel by telling them that the Gods had advised him to fight from the Hills therefore having left a small Guard upon the
sides of the River he marched up to the Hills The Thebans judging it to be done out of Fear passed the River with their Army and easily beat off the Guard and hastily followed after Agesilaus who routed them in a disadvantageous place with a handful of Men. 4. Scorylo the General of the Daci understood that the People of Rome were divided and troubled with Civil Wars yet he thought not convenient to venture against them because Citizens may unite together against a foreign Enemy To make his Countrymen sensible of this he caused two Dogs to fight very eagerly before them and at the same time a Wolf to appear The Dogs immediately left their fighting and run upon the Wolf By this Example he kept back those barbarous and ignorant People from attempting any thing against the Romans CHAP. XI How an Army is to be encourag'd to a Fight Example 1. WHen M. Fabius and Cn. Manlius were Consuls and Generals against the Hetrusci the Army because of the Seditions were very unwilling to fight of their own accord pretended a delay until the Souldiers were forced and animated by the Reproaches of the Enemies to desire the liberty to fight them and to swear that they would never return without the Victory 2. Fulvius the Nobler being necessitated with a small Army to fight with a numerous Army of the Samnites who were proud of their former Successes pretended that a Legion of the Enemies had been by him corrupted and perswaded to revolt and to confirm them in this Belief commanded the Collonels and the Captains of his first Ranks to gather together all the coined Money the Gold and Silver that they had and offer it to the Traitors as their Reward withal he promised them that should lend their Money that when the Victory was obtained he would gratifie and reward them sufficiently which Persuasion and Belief gave such an Alacrity and Confidence to the Romans that it obtained for them a famous Victory and the Conclusion immediately after of the War 3. C. Caesar marching with his Army to give Bartel to Ariovistus told in a Speech to his Souldiers who were troubled with Fear That he would employ that day none but the tenth Legion to fight that by this Testimony and Declaration of exceeding in Carriage they might be obliged to behave themselves manfully and the rest for Shame and Grief that others should carry away the Glory and Esteem of Valour might be forced to fight bravely 4. Q. Fabius Maximus who knew very well that the Romans were of such a generous Disposition that they would be provoked by Contempt and understanding also that there was nothing of Moderation or Justice to be expected from the Carthaginians sent Ambassadours to Carthage to treat about Articles of Peace They brought back such unjust Conditions and so insolent that the Roman Army were thereby incouraged to fight rather than to yield to them 5. Agesilaus the General of the Lacedaemonians having pitched his Camp near the confederate City of the Orthomeni understood that the most part of his Souldiers were securing their most precious things within the Walls he therefore commanded the Citizens not to receive any thing which belonged to his Army that his Souldiers might fight more desperately when they knew that they were to fight for the Preservation of all that they had 6. When Epaminondas the General of the Thebans was to give Battel to the Lacedaemonians that his Souldiers might be encouraged not only by their Strength but also by their Inclinations he declared in a publick Speech That the Lacedaemonians intended if they obtained the Victory to destroy all the Males to lead away into Captivity their Wives and Children and to demolish Thebes This Discovery so stir'd them up and made them so resolved that at the first Onset the Thebans got the Victory of the Lacedaemonians 7. Leotychidas the Lacedaemonian Captain being to fight the same day in which his Confederates had gained a Victory at Sea though he was ignorant of what had been done published abroad that he had received the News that his Friends had got the day that his Souldiers who were to fight might be more courageous 8. A. Posthumius in the Battel against the Latins encouraged his Army with the Appearance of two Young-men on Horseback whom he declared to be Castor and Pollux come to their Assistance By this means he obliged them to return to the Fight 9. Archidamus the Lacedaemonian making War against the Arcadians erected an Altar in his Camp and caused Horses to be led round about it in the Night The next Morning he shewed their Footsteps and told his Men that Castor and Pollux had rid round about and would be assisting to them in the Battel 10. When Pericles the General of the Athenians was to give Battel he took notice that there was a Grove in the view of both Armies of an extraordinary Thickness and very dark and large consecrated to Pluto in this place he put a Man of a large Stature upon very high and big Slippers with a purple Robe and long Hair upon a great Chariot dragg'd by two white Horses that when the Signal for the Battel should be given he might call Pericles by name and encourage him and promise him the Assistance of the Gods which so terrified the Enemies that before the casting of their Darts they fled 11. L. Sylla that his Souldiers might be more ready to fight pretended that the Gods did discover to him things to come And at last in the sight of his Army before they entered into the Conflict he would pray to an Image of a moderate Bigness which he had taken from Delphos saying to it that it should make good and hasten the Victory that it had promised to him 12. C. Marius had a certain Magician Woman out of Syria to tell him of the Success and Events of Battels 13. Q. Sertorius having an Army of barbarous Souldiers not governed by reason led about Portugal with him a white Hind very large and beautiful by which he told them that he understood the things that he was to do and avoid to the end that those barbarous People might obey his Orders as commanded from above We must not make use of this sort of Stratagems only when we are to deal with such as we judge unskilful and ignorant but much more those things are to be invented which may be of that kind that it may be believed that they have been discovered by these things 14. When Alexander the Macedonian was to offer Sacrifice he caused to be written with a Juyce in that hand of the Diviner which he was to put upon the Bowels of the Beast such Letters as did signifie that Alexander should have the Victory which Letters appearing upon the hot Liver was shewn by the King to the Souldiers to encrease their Courage as if the Gods did promise to him the Victory 15. Innides the Soothsayer did practice the same thing when Eumenes
Teutoni a People of Germany near the Waters Sextiae he sent Marcellus with a small Party of Horse and Foot by night to fall upon the Backs of the Enemy and better to shew the Appearance of an Army commanded the Servants and Cooks to go also armed with a great part of the Beasts for Carriage and Carts covered over with course Coverleds the better to shew the likeness of Horsemen He commanded them that assoon as they saw the Battel begun they should come down upon the Backs of the Enemy This Appearance struck so great a Terror into the Enemy that their most valiant men immediately fled 7. M. Licinius Crassus in the War against the Fugitives when he was to lead out his Army near Calamarcum against Castus and Canimocus Captains of the Gauls sent twelve Bands or Cohorts commanded by C. Promptinus and C. Martius Rufus his Lieutenants round about a Hill so that when the Battel was begun this Party came behind the Enemy with a great Noise and routed them in such a manner that instead of fighting they all fled 8. When Marcellus was afraid that the small number of his Men would be discovered by their hollowing commanded all the Followers of his Army to encrease the hollowing by this means he used to fright the Enemy with the Appearance of a great Army 9. Valerius Levinus in a Battel against Pyrrhus King of Epirus having kill'd with his Sword a certain common Souldier held it up all bloody in the fight of both Armies telling them that therewith he had slain Pyrrhus Therefore the Enemies thinking that they had lost their Leader and troubled with this Lye retreated in fear into their Camp 10. Jugurtha fighting in Numidia against C. Marius having the Knowledge of the Latin Tongue by his long living in the Roman Armies advanc'd to the first Ranks and declared with a loud Voice in Latin That he had kill'd C. Marius and by that means troubled many of the Roman Army 11. Mynnides the Athenian commanding in a doubtful Fight against the Thebans suddenly ran to his right Wing and cried out aloud That the left had already got the Victory by this policy he encreas'd the Courage and Chearfulness of his Men and so terrified the Enemy that they fled and left him the Victory 12. When Croesus was to fight against a strong Party of Horse he caused a great Company of Camels to meet them The Horse were so troubled at the strangeness of the Sight that they cast down their Riders ran upon the Ranks of the Foot and gave the Victory to the Enemy 13. When Pyrrhus King of Epyrus was to fight for them of Tarentum against the Romans he made use of his Elephants in the same manner to disorder the Roman Army 14. And the Carthaginians also have often practis'd the same thing in their Fights against the Romans 15. The Camp of the Volsci being seated near Bushes and Woods Camillus caused all that would burn to be carried to their Frenches and there to be set on Fire by this means he drove the enemy from thence 16. M. Crassus in the War of the Confederates was in the same manner surprised with almost all his Army 17. The Spaniards in a Fight against Hamilcar put before them in the Front of the Battel Carts full of combustible matter and Brimstone drawn by Oxen and when the Signal of the Fight was given they set them on fire then driving the Oxen to the Enemies they broke through and discomfited them 18. The Falisci and such as were of the Faction of Tarquinius apparelled many of their men in the Habit of Priests with Torches and Snakes in their hands sending them in a furious manner to disturb and disorder the Roman Army 19. The Vejentes and Fidenates with lighted Torches practised the same Policy 20. When Atheas King of the Scythians was to fight against a greater number of the Triballi than he had in his Army he ordered the Women and Boys and all such as were unfit to fight to drive upon the last Battalion of the Enemy all the Oxen and Asses that he had and to carry up an end Pikes in their hands by which Appearance he caused a Rumour to be spread amongst the Enemies That Succours were come from the farthest part of Scythia to his Assistance which so discouraged them that they were overthrown CHAP. V. Of Ambushes Example 1. WHen Romulus went against the Town of Fidenae he left a part of his Forces in Holes and Caves and by a pretended Flight caused the Enemy to follow unadvisedly so far as his concealed Souldiers who immediately rose up assaulted the unwary and dispersed Enemy on all hands and cut them in pieces 2. Q. Fabius Maximus Consul being sent to aid the Inhabitants of Sutrium against the Hetrusci oblig'd all the Enemies Troops to fall upon him and afterwards in a seeming Fear retreated to a higher Ground and when the Enemy pursued in a disorderly manner to the foot of the Hill he fell upon them and not only routed them but took their Camp 3. T. Sempronius Gracchus General against the Celtiberi a People of Spain pretended a Fear and caused his Army to keep within their Fortifications only he sent out some of his Companies lightly armed to skirmish with the Enemy but upon a sudden he caused them to retreat in again which caused the Enemy to follow in pursuit then did he assault them in good order and made such a slaughter of them that he took their Camp 4. Q. Metellus Consul General in Sicily against Hasdrubal was more wary and careful because of the Enemies vast numbers and one hundred and thirty Elephants which they had in their Army he seemed to be therefore diffident of his own Forces and kept his Army within the Town of Panormus having drawn a Ditch of a very great breadth before his Army but after when he saw in Hasdrubal's Army that in the Front the Elephants did march he commanded the Spear-men to assault them with their Weapons and to retreat immediately back again within their Fortifications The Rulers of the Beasts being moved by this offer of a Fight and disappointed drove the Elephants into the very Ditch in which they were no sooner stop'd and entangled but they were either kill'd by the multitude of Darts cast at them or driven back upon their own Army which they disordered Then Metellus waiting for this Opportunity sallied out of his Trenches with his whole Army assaulted the Carthaginians on all sides routed them and took their Elephants 5. Tamiris Queen of Scythia fighting with Cyrus King of Persia upon an equal Advantage by a pretended Fear led him into certain Streights with which her Souldiers were well acquainted and then turned back on a sudden and by the Assistance of the place overcame him 6. When the Egyptians were to fight a Battel in Fields in which two Marshes met they hid themselves in the Sedge and when the Battel was begun they pretended
neighbouring Wood in the Night so that in the Front they placed the Spaniards lightly armed and fittest for a sudden Surprise and Skirmish next to them such as carried Bucklers and in the Rear the Horsemen and that the neighing of the Horses might not discover the Design he commanded them to rest and keep silence untill the third hour of the day But when Pompey's Souldiers were upon their return loaden with Fodder and secure and that such as kept the Guards were invited by the Quietness of the Enemy to march out and seek also for Forrage first the Spaniards sallied out and fell furiously as the manner of their Nation was upon such as were wandring up and down wounding and cutting them when they least expected it And before Pompey could resist and stop them the Party armed with Bucklers broke out of the Wood and routed such as were rallying together in some order as they were flying the Horsemen were sent out to pursue and slay them all that space that was between them and the Roman Camp and there was care taken that none should escape for the other two hundred and fifty Horsemen being sent galloping before by a nearer way returned and met such as were flying first before they could come to Pompey's Camp Assoon as Pompey understood it he sent out a Legion commanded by Laelius to succour his Men at whose approach the Horsemen drew up on the right hand as if they had given place afterwards they fell by this means upon the back of the Legion at the same time when such as pursued after the Forragers met with it thus was this poor Legion destroyed between two Parties of the Enemy and when Pompey led out his whole Army to assist and relieve it Sertorius also appeared with his Army on the top of the Hills ready for the encounter and hindered Pompey from proceeding farther so that besides a two-fold loss procured by the same Policy he stop'd and made him a Spectator of the Defeat and Destruction of his Men. This was the first Fight between Sertorius and Pompey Ten thousand of Pompey's Army were slain and all their Carriages were lost saith Livius 32. Pompey in Spain having appointed before such as should rise out of a secret place to give the assault pretended that he was afraid and by that means led the pursuing Enemy into difficult places afterwards when he saw his time he set upon them before and on each side and cut them all in pieces and their Captain Perpenna he took Prisoner 33. When the same Pompey was General in Armenia against Mithridates who was the strongest in Horse he hid three thousand lightly armed with five hundred Horsemen in the night in Bushes which were between the two Camps The next Morning betimes he sent out his Horsemen as far as the Enemies Guards so drawn up in Battalia that when he should begin to fight with all the Enemies Cavalry they should in good order give back by degrees untill such time as they might afford time for the Ambuscado to rise behind who were there on purpose All which happening according to his desire with those Troops that seem'd to retreat he cut in pieces the middle Battalion of his Enemy which was out of order and with his Footmen that enter'd Pell-mell he kill'd their Horse so that in that Battel he ruin'd the King's greatest Trust which he repos'd in his Horsemen 34. M. Crassus in the War against the Fugitives near the Mountain Cathena fortified two Camps near that of the Enemies but in the Night chang'd the Souldiers of the one and received them into the other leaving still the General 's Tent in the greatest Camp the better to deceive the enemy he himself drew out all his Forces and made a halt at the foot of the said Mountain and having divided his Cavalry commanded L. Quintius with one part to face Spartacus but not to engage in a Fight with him with the other part of the Cavalry he encounter'd with the Gauls and Germans that were of the Faction of Castus and Gannicus but ordered them to draw them by degrees by a dissembled Fight to the place where he himself stood ready in Battel whom when the barbarous People followed the Cavalry fell into the Wings and suddenly the Roman Army open'd and fell on with a Shout so that thirty five thousand Souldiers were there destroyed with their Commanders as Livius writes five Roman Eagles were recovered six and twenty Colours with much Spoils were taken and amongst them five bundle of Rods with Axes 35. C. Cassius General in Syria against the Parths put his Cavalry forth in the Van but hid his Infantry behind in difficult and steep places afterwards when the Cavalry began to retreat and to save it self by known ways he drew the Parthian Army into the Ambush that was provided for them and cut them in pieces 36. When the Parthians and Labienus were become proud of their Successes and Victories Ventidius the Roman General by keeping in his Army together in their Camp drew them upon him and when he found them in a disadvantageous Post he fell upon them in a Sally and so overthrew them that they forsook Labienus and departed out of the Roman Territories 37. The same Ventidius being General against the Parthians commanded by Pharnastanes and having with him but a small number of Souldiers perceived that the enemies grew more bold because they exceeded them in number therefore he posted at one side of his Camp in a dark Valley eighteen Companies and behind the Foot he drew up his Cavalry then he sent a very few Souldiers to attack the enemy who pretending to fly drew the Parthians who greedily pursued after them beyond the place where the Ambush lay which rising at that instant kill'd the Parthian General Pharnastanes and put the Pursuers to flight 38. C. Caesar when his Camp and that of Afranius stood in two Plains one against another and that it concern'd either of them to be Masters of the neighbouring Hills found it difficult to get them because of the steep Rocks before him he therefore began to retreat back as if he would return to the River Herda The want of Necessaries persuaded Afranius that this was his Purpose but after a little while he took a small compass about to get the Command of the Hills which when the Army of Afranius perceiv'd they were much troubled as if their Camp had been taken they therefore in all haste ran towards those Hills Caesar foreseeing this partly with his Foot which he sent to meet them and partly with his Horse which he appointed to fall upon their Backs he overthrew them 39. Antonius at a City of Italy understanding that the Conful Pansa was come placed an Ambush in the Woods near the Aemilian way assaulted his Troops and put them to flight and gave him such a mortal Wound that he died a few days after 40. King Juba in Africa in the Civil War
being engaged in a Fight against the Vejentes when the Albani forsook the Roman Army and withdrew to the neighbouring Hills and that the Romans were much discouraged he cried out to his Souldiers that the Albani were departed by his Command to encompass the Enemies about which Policy terrified the Vejentes encouraged the Romans and when the Victory was almost lost he recover'd it by this cunning Lye 2. When L. Sylla was in the middle of a Battel and that a chief Commander of his Army withdrew to the Enemy with a considerable Party of Horse declared to his Souldiers that what was done was by his Order in so saying the prevented the Wonder and Trouble of his Men and fill'd them with hopes of some benefit that would follow that Contrivance and Policy 3. The same Sylla when his Auxiliary Troops which were sent by him were surrounded by the Enemy and overthrown fearing that this Loss would terrifie his whole Army he declared to them that these Auxiliaries who had a purpose to forsake him were by him brought in a difficult place purposely to punish them Thus with a pretence of Revenge he covered and concealed an apparent Loss and confirmed and satisfied the Courages of his other Souldiers by this Persuasion 4. Scipio when the Ambassadours of Syphax came to him with this Message from their King That he should not out of Confidence upon his Assistance and Confederacy pass over from Sicily into Africa fearing lest his Souldiers should be discourag'd by the Denial of this foreign help sent hastily the Ambassadours away and spread abroad the Rumour That Syphax of his own Accord had sent for him over 5. Q. Sertorius when he was in the middle of a Fight kill'd a Souldier with his Sword that came to him with the News that Herculeius his Lieutenant was slain that he might not give notice of that loss to others and discourage his Men that were yet fighting 6. Alcibiades the Athenian General when he was beset in a Fight by the Abydeni and on a sudden saw a Messenger running to him with sad News forbad him to deliver his Message openly afterwards being privately questioned by Pharnabazus the Kings Vice-roy he told him that his Fleet was in danger to be taken by the Enemy which concealing from both Enemies and his Souldiers he ended the Battel and immediately after had his Army to free the Fleet from danger and relieve his Men in distress 7. When Hannibal was come into Italy three thousand of the Carpetani a People of Spain forsook his Army and that the rest might not follow their bad example he publish'd immediately abroad That he had sent them away and to verifie this Saying he dispatch'd away a few home to their Houses who were of no great Use in his Army 8. L. Lucullus seeing the Macedonian Cavalry who were come to his Assistance on a sudden to run away to the Enemy commanded the Trumpets to sound a Charge and sent Troops to follow and second them they thinking that the Battel was begun let fly their Darts at the cowardly Macedonians who seeing that they could not be admitted by the Enemy and that their own Party followed them close at the Heels were necessitated in good order to turn and encounter with the Enemy 9. Dutames the Persian General against Autophradates in Cappadocia finding that some of his Cavalry were ready to depart to the Enemy commanded all the rest to accompany him and follow the Run-aways whom when he had overtaken he praised them highly because they had gone before him to meet the Enemy so cheerfully he exhorted them therefore to assault the Enemy with Courage Shame made the Run-aways to repent and to alter their purpose which they conceived was not discovered 10. T. Quintius sirnamed Capitolinus the Consul when the Romans were retreating told them That in the other Wing the Enemies were fled by this Lye he confirmed the Courage of his Souldiers and got the Victory 11. Cn. Manlius fighting against the Hetrusci when his Partner Fabius was wounded in the left Wing which he commanded and that some of the Army retreated because they thought that the Conful had been kill'd met them with a Party of Horse and called out to them that his Partner was yet alive and that in the other Wing he had beaten the Enemy By this Constancy he encouraged his Souldiers and obtained the Victory 12. When Marius march'd against the Cimbri and Teutoni and that the Officers of his Army who were appointed to chuse a place for his Camp had pitch'd upon such a Place through Indiscretion that all their Water was in the Enemies Power and that his Army wanted and ask'd for Water he shewed to them the Enemies Army with his finger and told them that they must fetch it from the Enemies Camp by which Intimation he persuaded his Men to drive them immediately from thence 13. T. Labienus after the Battel of Pharsalia when Pompey's Party was overcome and he fled to Dyrrhachium related the Truth with many Lies He confess'd the Conclusion of the Battel but affirm'd the loss to be equal on both sides by a desperate Wound that Caesar had received By this Invention he confirmed such as remained of Pompey's side and made them more bold 14. When M. Cato unadvisedly landed at Ambracia in a little Boat at the same time that the Ships of his Confederates were assaulted by the Aetolians though he had no Forces with him yet he began to make sign by his Voice and Gesture by which he did seem to call and command some of his Ships to follow him By this Invention he struck a terror into the Enemies as if they were near at hand and in sight The Aetolians therefore forsook the Asfault that they might not be over-power'd by the coming in of the Roman Fleet. CHAP. X. Of restoring and renewing a Fight by Constancy and Courage Example 1. WHen Servius Tullius was a Youth in that Battel in which King Tarquinius encounter'd with the Sabins perceiving the Ensign-bearers behaved themselves slothfully and cowardly he snatch'd the Colours and cast it amongst the Enemies for the Recovery of which they fought so fiercely that with their Colours they got the Victory 2. Furius Agrippa the Consul when his Wing began to fall back took the Colours from an Ensign and cast it amongst his Enemies the Hernici and the Aequi by this means he restored the Fight again for the Romans fell on very cheerfully for the Recovery of their Colours 3. T. Quintius sirnamed Capitolinus the Consul cast a Colours amongst the Enemies the Falisci commanding his Souldiers to recover it again 4. M. Furius Camillus a Tribune of the Souldiers elected in the place of Consuls when his Army stood still in the face of the Enemy catch'd a Colours from an Ensign and march'd against the Enemies the Volsci and the Latins and made all the rest to follow for shame 5. Salvius Pelignus practis'd the same thing in the Persian
War 6. Q. Furius when his Army fled met them and protested that he would receive none of them into his Camp unless they return'd with Victory he led them therefore back and overthrew the Enemies 7. Scipio at the City Numantia in Spain when he saw his Army retreating declared to them That he would treat them as Enemies whosoever did return back into the Camp 8. Servilius Priscus the Dictator when he commanded the Colours to advance against the Enemies the Falisci and that an Ensign delayed to obey him he commanded him to be kill'd This example so affrighted his Souldiers that they assaulted the Enemy courageously 9. Cossus Cornelius Master of the Horse against the Fidenates shewed the same example 10. Tarquinius in the Battel against the Sabins when the Horsemen were loth to fall on took from them their Bridles and commanded them to prick on their Horses and to break through the enemies 11. M. Attilius the Consul in the Samnitick War when part of his Army fled back to his Camp marched against them with another Party telling them that they must either fight with him and their good Citizens unless they would return against the enemy By this means he led them all back into the Fight 12. L. Sylla when the Legions began to yield to the Army of Mithridates led by Archelaus he drew his Sword and ran into the first Battalion and calling to his Souldiers told them If any enquir'd where they had left their General they might answer fighting in Boeotia this made them so much ashamed that they all followed him 13. When Julius Caesar saw his Men give back at Munida he caused his Horse to be led out of his sight and cast himself on foot into the first Battalion The Souldiers being ashamed to forsake their General returned to the Fight again 14. King Philip was afraid that his Men would never be able to resist the Fury of the Scythians he placed therefore behind them his most trusty Horsemen commanding them that they should not suffer any of their Fellow-Souldiers to return out of the Battel and that if any were resolved to fly they should kill them by this threatning he made the most timorous to chuse rather to be kill'd by the enemy than by their own men and got the Victory CHAP. IX Of the prosecuting the remaining part of a War if all things succeed Example 1. WHen C. Marius had overcome in a Battel the Teutoni a People of Germany he encompassed about the rest the next Night that followed the Fight and caus'd a few of his Army to fright them with continual Noise that they might be kept waking all night by that means the next Morning they being tired with watching were more easily brought to yield to him 2. When Claudius Nero had overpower'd the Carthaginian Army which Hasdrubal led out of Spain into Italy he cast the Head of Hasdrubal into Hannibal's Camp by which Action he sorely afflicted and discouraged him with the assurance of the loss of his Brother Asdrubal who was slain and with the despair of Assistance from the approaching Army 3. L. Sylla shewed openly upon Pikes to them of the City Praeneste who were there besieged the Heads of the Captains that were slain in Fight that he might overcome the stiffness of the obstinate Inhabitants 4. In the like manner Arminius the Commander of the Germans caus'd the Heads of them whom he had kill'd in Fight to be held up and shewed near the enemies Camp 5. Domitius Corbulo besieging Tigranocerta perceived that the Armenians were likely to bear the Siege a while he therefore took a certain Man of Megistae in Lycia punished him with Death and shot his Head with a Roman Engine into the Walls of the Town the Head by chance fell in the midst of their Common-Council which was then met together at the sight of which they were so affrighted that they immediately surrendred themselves 6. Hermocrates of Syracuse having overcome in Battel the Athenians was jealous that the great number of Prisoners that he had taken would not be well guarded because the Success of the Fight was like to oblige the Conquerours to give themselves over to feasting and security he therefore spread abroad the Rumour That the next Night the Enemies Cavalry would come upon them which Report made the Guards to be kept with more diligence 7. The same General having had good success in War and for that reason because his Souldiers began to be too secure and to give themselves over to Sleeping and Wine he appointed a Run-away to come into his Camp and to declare That he was escaped thither by Flight to admonish them that there were Ambushes laid for them in every place by the Inhabitants of Syracuse the fear of them brought his Army to a condition of fighting so that when they came to assault him in his Camp they were driven into the Ditehes and were over-powered CHAP. X. Of remedying ill Successes when things happen contrary Example 1. TDidius having had a very fierce Battel in Spain which ended by the coming in of the Night and was remarkable for the great number of Souldiers slain on both sides caus'd many of the dead Bodies of his Men to be buried in the dark Night so that the next day when the Spaniards who went to perform the same Office to their dead Souldiers because they found a greater number of their People slain than of the Romans concluding from thence that they were overcome and yielded to the Articles of the Roman General 2. T. Martius a Roman Knight who commanded the rest of the Army of the two Scipio's who were slain having near him at a few Miles distance two Camps of the Carthaginians encouraged the Souldiers to assault in the dead of the Night the next Camp He found them out of order and secure because of their former Victories so that falling upon them in that condition he left none alive to tell their woful Destruction and Slaughter and the same night having given a little time to his Souldiers to rest he prevented the report of the Execution and assaulted the other Camp so that he had twice the same Success and the Carthaginians were destroyed every where By that means he restored to the People of Rome the Countries of Spain which they had lost CHAP. XI Of preserving such as are wavering in their Obedience and Fidelity Example 1. WHen P. Valerius was afraid of the Perfidiousness of the Inhabitants of Epidaurus because he had but small Forces with him provided at a distance from the Town some Gymnick Plays and when almost all the City went out to see them he shut the Gates and would not suffer the Citizens to return in again till they had delivered some of their principal Men as Hostages 2. Cn. Pompeius having a Jealousie of the Catinienses and fearing that they would not admit his Guards within their Walls intreated them in the mean while to receive his sick men
but of all the Spoils he converted so little to his own use that the Senate gave his Daughter a Portion out of the Publick Treasury CHAP. IV. Of Justice Example 1. WHen Camillus besieged the Falisci in their Town there was a certain School-master that led the Children of some of the Falisci out of the Walls as if he had intended only to walk with them abroad but under that pretence he deliver'd them to Camillus and for the recovery of the Children the City would submit to him Camillus abhorr'd his perfidiousness and caused him to have his hands bound behind and commanded the Children to whip him back into the the Town again to their Parents By this just dealing he obtained the Victory which he desired not to obtain by fraud for this Equitable Proceeding made the Falisci to yield to him willingly 2. The Physitian of King Pyrrhus went to Fabricius General for the Romans promising him that he would give his Master Poison if before-hand he might have the assurance of a considerable Reward Fabricius thinking that he had no need of such a foul Deed to get the Victory discovered the Plot and the Author to the King This caused him to seek and desire earnestly the Roman's Friendship CHAP. V. Of Constancy Example 1. CN Pompeius when his Soldiers threatned to plunder and take his Treasure which was to be carryed in Trumph and Servilus and Glaucia two Romans advised him to divide it amongst them to prevent a Tumult he assured them that he would not ride in Triumph but rather dye than to yield to the Licentiousness of his Soldiers Having therefore reproved them severely in a Speech he cast down before them the Bundles of Rods carryed before him which were crowned with Lawrel bidding them to begin their Plunder by the spoiling of them This proceeding made them so ashamed that they continued in their Obedience 2. C. Caesar in the Heat of the Civil War in a Sedition of his Soldiers when they were therefore the bolder disbanded a whole Legion and cut off the Heads of their Leaders with his Axes but a little after when they who were disbanded petition'd for a Pardon he received them again and they proved to him some of his best Soldiers 3. Postumius who had been Consul encouraged his Soldiers to fight and when they demanded what he would order he cryed out That they would imitate him with that he takes the Colours and marched strait against the Enemy they likewise followed and got the Victory 4. L. Marcellus falling unadvisedly into the hands of the Gauls rid round about to spy out some way to escape and when he found that the Enemies had possessed all the Passages he prayed to the Gods and broke into the midst of his Enemies who were affrighted at his unexpected Boldness and kill'd their Leader so that when there was scarce any appearance to escape with Life he overcame the General and carryed away his Arms. 5. When L. Paulus had lost his Army at the Battle of Cannae Lentulus offered him a Horse to fly but he would not survive his ill Success which had not been occasioned by him but continued upon that Rock where he had been wounded and against which he leaned untill the Enemy came overpowr'd and kill'd him 6. Varro his Partner shewed a greater Constancy after that defeat The Senate and People returned him their Thanks because he had not despair'd of defending the Commonwealth He shewed sufficiently that he preserved himself not out of a desire of living so much as out of a Love for his Country for he let his Beard and Hair grow out to a length and never after would rest to take his Meat And when the People offer'd him Honours he refused them saying That the Commonwealth had need of more successful Magistrates 7. Sempronius Sirnamed Tuditanus and C. Octavius Tribunes of the Soldiers when all was lost at the Battle of Cannae and they were besieged by the Enemy in the lesser Camp perswaded the Soldiers with their Swords in their hands to break through with them the Enemies Guards assuring them that this was their Resolution though none should have the Courage besides themselves There were but Twelve partly Horsemen partly Footmen of all the rest who had the boldness to keep them company and with these they came safe to Canusium a Roman Garrison 8. C. Fontejus Crassus in Spain going out to forage with Three Thousand Men was surrounded in a difficult passage by Hasdrubal He acquainted only the first Ranks of his Soldiers with his Design and in the beginning of the Night when he was least expected he broke through the Enemies Post 9. P. Dicius the Tribune in the Samnitick War when Cornelius Cossus the Consul was caught in a difficult place advised him to send a small Party to possess a neighbouring hill and offer'd himself to lead that Party By this means he drew the Enemy to another place and opened a way for the Consul to escape but in that Station they besieged Derius and surrounded him He in the Night sallyed out of those Streights and came safe with his Soldiers to the Consul 10. The same Policy was practiced under the Command of Attilius Calatinus the Consul by him whose Name is variously recorded Some call him Laberius others Q. Ceditius many Calpurnius Flamma When this Man saw his Army led into such a Valley where all the Hills round about were possessed by the Enemy he desired the Consul to give him the heading of Three Hundred Men which being granted he exhorted them by their Courage to save their Army with this Party he ran down into the middle of the Valley and when the Enemies on all sides came to destroy them he detained them so long in a sharp fight that the Consul had time to draw and lead out his Army 11. C. Caesar marching against the Germans and their King Ariovistus with his Army perceived that his Soldiers were terrified he called them together therefore and told them that he would make use that day of none of his Legions but only of the Tenth Legion By this saying he encouraged the Soldiers of that Legion to behave themselves most manfully and the others were moved with shame to fight that the others might not carry away all the Honour and Glory of the Field 12. A certain Noble Man of Lacedemon when King Philip threatned to punish them with Fines if they did not deliver up their City answered He can never hinder us from dying for our Country 13. Leonidas the Lacedemonian when one told him that the Persians with the multitude of their Arrrows would make a Cloud answered We shall then fight the better in the shade 14. When Caelius the City Praeaor was doing Justice in the Seat of Judicature a Magpy pitcht upon his Head And the Roman Southsayers told him that if he did let go the Bird the Enemies would obtain the Victory over the Romans but if he kill'd the Bird
the Romans Armies would have the advantage but Caelius with all his Family would perish He therefore destroyed the Bird and it happened accordingly the Roman Army got the Victory but Caelius with Fourteen of his Family and Name were killed in that same Fight Some report that it was not Caelius but Laelius and that the Family of the Laely not the Caely were destroyed 15. P. Decius first the Father next the Son being Magistrates offer'd themselves to dye for the Commonwealth for putting spurs to their Horses they charged the Enemy and obtained for their Country the Victory 16. When P. Crussus was engaged in Asia in the War against Aristonicus between Aelia and Myrina he fell in amongst the Enemies Forces and was taken Prisoner which caused him to exclaim against the Roman Consul because of his Captivity but with the Rod that he had in his hand to strike his Horse he put out the Eye of a Thracian who to revenge himself run him through and deliver'd him from his Captivity as he desired 17. M. Cato the Censors Son falling down in a Battle from his Horse when he look'd about and perceived that his Sword was fallen out of the Scabbard he feared the reproach of his own Men he therefore returned to the Enemy and recovering his Sword after he had received some Wounds he returned back to his own Party 18. When the Petilini were besieged by the Carthaginians they cast out of their City their Aged Parents and Children because of the Famine And they endured a long Siege of eleven Months by feeding upon the leaves of Trees upon wet Leather dryed at the Fire and upon all manner of Beasts 19. The Spaniards called Arabricenses suffered the same Misery and would not deliver up the Town to Herculeius 20. When the Cassilini were besieged by Hannibal they suffered so much want that a Mouse was sold for a hundred Pence as it is left upon Record and that he that sold it dyed for want but the Buyer preserved his Life They continued nevertheless in their Fidelity to the Romans 21. When Mithridates besieged Cyzicum he brought forth the Captives of that Town and shewed them to the Besieged imagining that out of Pity and Compassion of their own Men the Towns-People would yield themselves But they exhorting the Prisoners to suffer Death manfully kept their Faith to the Romans 22. The Segobrigenses when their Wives and Children were kill'd by Viriatus chose rather to behold the Torments of their Dear Relations than to fall away from the Romans 23. They of Numantia rather than to yield shut themselves up in their Houses and were famish'd to Death CHAP. VI. Of Affection and Moderation Example 1. WHen Q. Fabius exhorted his Son that he should chuse a convenient place with the loss of a few Men. He answered wilt thou be of the number of those few 2. Xenophon being on Horseback commanded a Party of Foot Soldiers to take the Top of a Hill but when one of them murmur'd That he could easily fitting on his Horse order such a difficult March He alighted and made the Soldier to mount in his stead and he running on foot got up to the Top of the Hill The Soldier being ashamed of what was done when all his Fellows laughed at him alighted They all together could hardly perswade Xenophon to take his Horse again and to preserve himself for the Offices and Duties belonging to a General 3. Alexander leading his Army in the Winter when he was sitting by a Fire to take a view of his Forces as they march'd by him saw a certain Soldier almost dead with Cold he called him and made him sit in his place telling him That if he had been born among the Persians to sit in the Kings Seat would be a Crime worthy of Death but to a Macedonian born it was allowed 4. D. Augustus Vespasianus understanding that a certain young man of Honest Parentage unable for the War because of his great Poverty was brought down to the lowest ranks of Soldiers he appointed him a Pension and freed him from the Militia CHAP. VII Of various Counsels Resolutions and Advises Example 1. Caesar used to say that his Policy was to treat an Enemy as many Physitians do the Distempers of Bodies to overcome them rather by Famine than by Sword 2. Domitius Corbulo was wont to say that an Enemy was to be overcome with a Mattock that is by Works and Trenches 3. L. Paulus was of a Judgment that a General should be Old in Manners that is should follow the most moderate Counsels 4. It is reported of Scipio Africanus that when one told him that he was no Fighter answered My Mother made me a General but no common Soldier 5. C. Marias when a German challeng'd him out to fight him told him That if he were desirous of Death he might go and hang himself And when one shewed him a Gladiator of a low Staure but very old he bid him fight him and if he did overcome he would encounter with him who was the Conqueror 6. Q. Sertorius understanding by experience that he was not able to deal with all the Roman Army together in a Body that he might better be able to teach his Barbarian People who desired earnestly to fight them he brought before them Two Horses the one strong and lusty the other very weak and commanded two Young Men answerable to them to take them in hand to the strong man he appointed the weaker Horse bidding him to pull of the whole Tail but the weaker Young Man he commanded to pull off the Tayl of the strong Horse one Hair after another The Weak Person succeeded in his Enterprize and pulled off all the Tail by degrees but the strong Young Man strived in vain to pull off the Tail of the weak Horse By this example said Sertorius my Soldiers I have discovered to you the Nature of the Roman Army they are not to be overcome if you encounter them all together but you may destroy them by degrees if you take them by Parties 7. Valerius Levinus the Consul having taken within his Camp a Spy of the Enemy out of a confidence he had in his Soldiers commanded him to be led about the Quarters and to terrifie the Enemy he assured him that when they pleased their Spies should have liberty to take a View of his Forces 8. Caelius Principilaris who was chose Captain in Germany over such as remained alive and were besieged after the Defeat of Varrus fearing lest the Enemy should fire the Heaps of Wood joyning to the Trenches and by that means set their Camp in a Flame pretended the want of Wood he sent therefore many to steal Wood every where which when the Germans saw they carryed away all the Heaps of great Wood. 9. Cn. Scipio in the Maritime War cast Pitchers full of Tar and Grease into the Enemies Ships that by their weight they might do mischief and by breaking and shedding what was therein
in Normandy and dividing his Forces into three Bodies he marched into the Country and took several considerable Towns In the French Army were 60000 men of whom 3000 were Barons Knights and Gentlemen The Duke d'Alanson led the Van The Earl of Savoy commanded the Rear and the King of France himself was in the main Battel But the English Army was brought up the Vanguard by the Prince the main Body by King Edward and the Rear by the Earls of Arundel and Northampton the Lords Ross Willoughby St. Albans and Multon In the French Army some remarkable passages happened in the beginning of the Fight which gave a great discouragement to the French Forces They had in their Army 1500 Cross-Bows Genoueses stout and valiant Men. These had beeen placed in the front of the Duke of Alansoas Battel by a wise Commander in the Army but the Duke envying the Honour of that place to those Strangers caused them to be removed to another This discontented these Italians and made some disorder to be in that Battel which being taken notice of by King Edward he immediately commanded the Prince to advance and charge which was performed with that resolution that the French were routed King Philip seeing his Brother worsted by the English came into his Assistance with his Body The Fight was fierce bloudy and doubtful a great while till Philips Horse being killed under him he was conveyed out of the Battel This disdiscouraged all the rest and put them to a retreat When the Prince was engaged in the midst of his Enemies he sent to King Edward to come in but the King refused and bid him expect no help which made the English fight more desperately so that 30000 French were killed of which about 12000 were of great quality with the King of Bohemia and the Earl of Flanders After this great Victory King Edward besieged Chalice and took it In the same year the Queen obtained a great Victory over the Scots commanded by King David 15000 Scots were there slain with many Earls and Lords of Scotland After the winning of Chalice the King understanding the Governour intended to betray the Town for a great sum of Money goes over receives the Money and marched out to encounter with the French Forces in a disguise He was twice dismounted by one Ribomount who being taken Prisoner the King for his Valour released him without ransom CHAP. XXXIX Of the Famous Battel of Poictiers THe English Skill and Courage in War never appeared more in any Fight than in this of Poictiers The Prince had in his Army 2000 Horse and 8000 Archers with some Auxiliaries drawn out of the French Provinces with these Forces he marched out of Bourdeaux towards Poicton and Berry to draw King John out of Normandy When he heard of the Princes March he went to meet him with 30000 Horse and Foot The English wisely entrenched themselves amongst the Vineyards and might have been in time starved there by the French who with their numbers were able to inclose and besiege them round but the Kings Courage and the French fury could not suffer the sight of so small a party without a present Assault 300 of the ablest men of the French Army were ordered to begin and draw the English to a Battel but their defeat encouraged the English to encounter with three Bodies of the French Army the right Wing was commanded by the Constable the left by the Dolphin the main Battle was conducted by King John of France All three Battels were overthrown one after another 5000 were slain The King himself and his Son Philip were taken Prisoners honourably entertain'd and carryed to Bourdeaux and from thence into England The Wisdom and Courage of the Prince was here very remarkable in chusing such a ground to fight as rendred the French's chief strength of Horse useless in sending seasonable Supplies to such as were overpowred and in the disorder of the French Army in falling on with his whole strength How Glorious did the English Valour appear to all Foreign Nations when our Princes and our Gentry were so nobly employed in Foreign Countries and with such wonderful success that two of the greatest Monarchs of Europe commanding over the most Warlike People were at one time taken Prisoners and forced to submit to the Crown of England CHAP. XL. The brave Exploits of Robert Bruce King of Scotland AFter the death of Alexander King of Scotland Baliol and Bruce were Competitors for the Crown To save the Christian Blood the difference was left to the Arbitration of King Edward of England lately returned from the Holy Land Edward minding the encrease of the Honour of the English Crown more than the justness of the Cause grants the Royal Dignity of Scotland to King Baliol upon condition that he would do him homage for it When Baliol had yielded to this he was Crowned at Scone But Bruce with his Party held out in opposition to him and would by no perswasion quit his claim Baliol after his Coronation being discontented with King Edward upon an affront offered to him revolts from the English and takes up Arms but being overcome and taken Prisoner King Edward subdues most part of Scotland and resolves to unite it to the Crown of England The Scotch were soon weary of a Foreign Government they joyn themselves therefore with Bruce and encourage his Title that they might shake off the English Yoak Bruce begins with a small Party but finds Victory and Success which quickly drew to him all his discontented Countrymen John Cuinin Earl of Buchan first gathered an Army to oppose him but durst not venture a Battel which made him desire a Truce shortly after Bruce fell sick and Earl Cuinin taking this opportunity resolved to recover from him what was lost and to fall upon his Army Bruce though so weak that he could not sit on Horseback without being supported by two Servants encourageth his Men by his presence and Conduct for the sight and courage of a chief Commander is of great moment in War Bruce's Forces were so animated by the Kings presence though sick and weak that fearing no danger they fought desperately and routed their Enemies at Ennerury After this Victory Bruce recovered the Country of Arguile and all Galloway with all the Forts held by the English in Scotland and then invaded England from whence he carryed away much plunder and spoil King Edward to be revenged provided an Army of 100000 Men with which he marched into Scotland and at Bannocharn two Miles from Sterling met King Bruce with 30000 Scots The English had some discouragement the day before the Battel for they sent 800 Horse to Sterling but 500 Scots commanded by James Dowglass met with them and overthrew them The night before the Battel the Scots digged many pits and holes in the even ground which was design'd for the Field where they were to fight and in the Pits fixed sharp stakes headed with Irons covered them over with
THE STRATAGEMS OF WAR OR A Collection of the most celebrated Practices and wise Sayings of the Great Generals in former Ages Written by Sextus Julius Frontinus one of the Roman Consuls Now English'd and Enlarged with a new Collection of the most noted Stratagems and brave Exploits of famous and modern Generals and with a short Account of the Weapons offensive and defensive and Engines commonly used in War with their Usefulness and Deficiency By M. D. A. B. D. Licensed July 28. 1685. Ro. L'Estrange LONDON Printed for S. Heyrick J. Place and R. Sare at Grays-Inn Gate and Furnivals-Inn Gate in Holborn 1686. THE PREFACE OF Sextus Julius Frontinus TO HIS First three Books of the Stratagems of WAR HAVING undertaken amongst some other Lovers and Encouragers of the Art of War He writ a Book of the Art of War to prescribe and publish the Rules of that excellent Knowledge I conceive that I have sufficiently accomplish'd my Design according to my Ability but to this Work I judge also that I ought to annex the subtil Practices of great Captains which the Greeks in one Word stile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Stratagems and to gather them together in short and compendious Relations for by this means Leaders may be furnish'd with the Examples of Advice Prudence and Conduct which may encourage their Invention and direct them to the Imitation of the same Exploits and it will undoubtedly prevent their distrust of their own Contrivances when they have approved Examples before their eyes to spur on their Resolutions Now I am not ignorant and cannot deny that the Historians have also comprehended in their Writings the same Passages and have delivered to us all the most remarkable Examples but in my Judgment we ought in this case to consult the Conveniency of such as are reduced to the Necessity of Speed and Action for whom it would be then too tedious to run over all the things which are scatter'd here and there in the large Volumes of Histories And it usually happens that such as have gathered and taken notice of the most noted things do lose and forget them as in a multitude of Matters which confounds the Readers Our Industry therefore shall here endeavour to exhibit and lay down that which is required according to expectation as exactly as the things will suffer for to the general Heads which I have gathered I have prepared fit Advice and Counsel from Examples And that those things which are differing might be placed in good order for the variety-sake of things we have reduc'd them to three Books In the first shall be the Examples which belong to a Battel not yet begun In the second shall be the Examples which relate to a Fight and the concluding of a Peace The third contains the Stratagems teaching how to begin carry on and raise a Siege Now under these general Heads I have placed certain Questions or Propositions as so many Species relating to them nevertheless I may with Reason crave Pardon for this Work from him that shall find me not so curious and exact as to set down every Example for Who is there able and sufficient to reckon up all the Passages and Stories which are delivered to us in Greek and Latin Therefore I have purposely omitted many things which such as have read over the Books of others who have undertaken the same things may understand to have been done not without good cause But it will be no hard matter to reduce every thing to its own Species for as I have undertaken this Work as well as others not so much for my own Commendation as for the Benefit of other Men I shall think my self assisted in my purpose by those who can add to it but in no wise disgrac'd If there be any delighted with the perusal of these Stories let them remember the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the noble Actions of former Generals and their cunning Policies and Stratagems that they may be able to discern and distinguish the like Deeds for all things that are performed by a Leader in a provident useful courageous and a magnificent manner may be stiled generally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Stratagems are more particular Deeds The nature of them consists in that Art and Subtilty used in defending our selves from an Enemy or in overcoming him concerning which things there have been remarkable Consequences of excellent Sayings therefore we have added to the Examples of Actions some noble Expressions Now the things that are to be noted by a General before a Battel may be reduced to these Heads THE INDEX OF THE CHAPTERS Chap. 1. OF concealing Counsels Chap. 2. Of discovering the Counsels of the Enemies Chap. 3. Of settling the state of War Chap. 4. Of leading an Army through a Country in the Power of the Enemy Chap. 5. Of escaping out of most difficult places Chap. 6. Of Ambushes laid in the way Chap. 7. How those things which are wanting to us may be dissembled or concealed and the use other ways supplied Chap. 8. Of streightning an Enemy Chap. 9. Of pacifying the Disorders and Seditions of Souldiers Chap. 10. How to give a check to the unseasonable Impatience of fighting Chap. 11. How to encourage an Army to the Battel Chap. 12. How to expell the Fears which Souldiers may have conceived from ill Omens THE FIRST BOOK Of the Stratagems of WAR OF Sextus Julius Frontinus a ROMAN Consul CHAP. I. Of Concealing Counsels Example 1. MArcus Porcius Cato having a Jealousie that the Cities of Spain which he had conquered would in time rebell out of a Confidence that they had in the strength of their Walls writ to each of them that they should overthrow their Fortifications and threatned them with War if they did not immediately obey his Orders The Letters he caused to be delivered to all the Cities in one day which made every one of them believe that this Command was given to them alone for if they could have had all time to know that they were all threatned and commanded the same thing they would have united together and resisted the General 's Orders 2. When Himilco the Carthaginian Captain resolved to land in Sicily unexpected he never declar'd whither he was sailing but delivered to all the Masters of his Navy sealed Letters wherein was written the place which he was designed for but commanded that no man should read them unless by the violence of a Storm they were driven from the sight of the Admiral 's Ship which carried him 3. When C. Laelius went as an Ambassadour to King Syphax he took along with him some of the Collonels and Captains of the Army in the Garb of Slaves and Servants with an Intention to serve as Spies amongst whom when L. Statorius who had very often been in the same Camp seem'd to be known by some of the Enemies he beat him with his Staff and corrected him
CHAP. II. Of discovering the Counsels of the Enemies Example 1. SCipio Africanus taking an occasion to send an Embassy to King Syphax with Laelius he dispatched some choice Collonels and Captains in the habit of Servants and Attendants to spy out the strength of the Enemy And that they might more freely take a view of the Camp they let loose a Horse for this purpose which they followed and by this means went round the greatest part of their Fortifications of which when they had given an Account to Scipio he made an end of that War by setting Fire to their Camp 2. Q. Fabius Maximus in the Hetrurian War when yet the Roman Captains were not well acquainted with the wisest ways of discovering ordered his Brother Fabius Caeso well learned in the Hetrurian Language to take that Garb and to go into the Forest of Ciminia unknown before to the Roman Souldiers in which Embassy he behaved himself with so much Prudence and Industry that he drew the Vmbri Camertes a considerable People who were not averse to the Roman Common-wealth to joyn in Society and League with them 3. When the Carthaginians saw that Alexander's Power did so wonderfully increase and that he did threaten Africa also they appointed a subtle Person one of their Citizens named Hamilcar of Rhodes to go to the King in the disguise of a banish'd Man and by all means to insinuate himself into his Acquaintance and Friendship which when he had obtained he reveal'd to his Citizens all the Designs and Resolutions of this Conquerour 4. The same Carthaginians sent some of their own Citizens as Ambassadours to remain a considerable time at Rome that they might understand the purposes of the Romans 5. When M. Cato was in Spain and could no other ways come to the knowledge of the Enemies Designs he ordered three hundred Souldiers to make an Assault upon them in their Post and to take one of them by force and carry him into his Camp who being put to the Torture revealed all the Secrets of his own People 6. C. Marius the Consul in the Cimbrick and Teutonick War sent Letters to the Gauls and Lygurians to know whether they continued faithful to the Roman State In the beginning he commanded them that they should not unseal nor read what was clos'd up untill a prefixed time And before that time he sent to demand the same Letters which when he sound to be unseal'd he understood that they intended to joyn with the Enemy There is also another way of Discovery by which Generals without any outward help have been able to foresee things of themselves For Example 7. Aemilius Paulus or rather L. Aemilius Papus Consul in the Hetrurian War being at the head of his Army to lead them into a Plane saw a far off a great number of Birds rise swifter than ordinary out of a Wood by that he understood that there was some Ambuscade hid because the Birds were disturb'd and because many rose up together he sent out therefore Scouts who brought him Intelligence That ten thousand of the Helvetians called Boii were there ready to receive the Romans which News caused him to march with his Legions another way than was expected to Attack them 8. Likewise Tisamenes the Son of Orestes understanding that the Enemy held the top of a Mountain which was strong by Situation he sent some to inquire out the Truth who brought word that it was no such thing as he imagin'd but proceeding on in his way he saw a vast number of Birds to fly together out of that Mountain that would not pitch by them he perceived that the Enemies Troops were there hid he led therefore his Army another way and escaped the Ambushes that were laid for him 9. Asdrubal the Brother of Hannibal understood too late that Livie's Army and Nero's were joyned together though they endeavoured to conceal it by lodging together in the same Camp for he saw their Horses look thin with the Journey and took notice of the Bodies of them bearing the colour of the High-ways through which they had travelled CHAP. III. Of setling or chusing the state of War Example 1. ALexander of Macedon having a lusty Army of stout men to follow him did always chuse to fight his Enemy in a pitch'd Battel 2. C. Caesar in the Civil War had an Army of old Souldiers but he knew that his Enemies were but raw and unexperienced he endeavoured therefore always to give the Battel 3. Fabius Maximus being General against Hannibal who was grown insolent and proud with the Successes of the former Fights resolved to avoid the doubtful Hazards of a Battel and only to defend his Country He deserved therefore the Name and Renown thereby of a wise General 4. They of Byzantium shun'd all occasions of fighting with King Philip's Army and forsook also their Borders to shelter themselves within the Walls of their City which caus'd the Macedonians impatient of the Delays of a Siege to depart away 5. Hasdrubal the Son of Gisgon commanded an Army in Spain in the second Punick War when Scipio prest upon him he disperst his Army and sent them to the Cities by this means Scipio was forced to lead away also his Army into their Winter Quarters that he might not divide his by the Siege of many Towns at once 6. When Xerxes was entring into Greece with his Army Themistocles judged that the Athenians were not able to fight him by Land nor to defend their Borders nor to maintain their Walls he advis'd them therefore to transport their Wives and Children to Troezenum and other Cities to forsake their Town betake themselves to their Ships and resolve to fight by Sea 7. This was the same Advice that Pericles gave to the same City in War against the Lacedaemonians 8. When Hannibal was in Italy Scipio sailed over with his Army into Africa and compell'd the Carthaginians to call back Hannibal by this means he removed the Seat of War from his own Country into the Enemies Borders 9. The Lacedaemonians having taken and fortified a Castle of the Athenians called Decelea from whence they did much mischief to them sent their Navy to land and spoil the Peloponnesus by this means they oblig'd the Lacedaemonian Army which was at Decelea to be call'd home to defend their own Country 10. The Emperour Caesar Domitianus Augustus when the Germans according to their Custom made sudden Onsets upon the Romans out of their Woods and secret Retreats returning immediately back in safety in the bottom of their Copses he set Guards round at 120000. Paces from one another and thus alter'd the manner of War oblig'd the Enemy to surrender themselves when he had deprived them of their Retreats CHAP. IV. Of leading an Army through a Country in the Power of the Enemy Example 1. AEMilius Papus Consul leading his Army against the Luceni in a narrow Passage where the Navy of Tarentum waited in Ambush to discharge upon their Troops a
was to fight with the Gauls 16. Epaminondas the Theban encountring with the Lacedaemonians did think to encrease the Confidence of his Men with a Trick of Religion The Arms and Weapons which were hung up to adorn the Temples he caused to be secretly taken away in the Night and persuaded his Souldiers that the Gods had done it to follow and assist them in their Fight 17. Agesilaus the Lacedaemonian having taken some Persian Captives whose Garb when it was worn by them did strike a terror to his men was wont to shew them all naked that they might behold their white Skin and their groundless Fear together 18. Gelo King of Syracuse having proclaimed a War against the Carthaginians and taken many of them Captives was wont to produce the weakest of them all naked chiefly of the Auxiliaries who were black and swarthy that his Souldiers might thereby learn to contemn them 19. Cyrus the Persian King that he might stir up the Minds of his Country-men wearied them a whole day in cutting down a certain Wood and the next day invited them to a most plentiful Feast and asked them which was most pleasing to them when they answered that the present things were most grateful he replied By this alone you may attain to these things you can never be free nor happy unless you overcome the Medes By this perswasion he encouraged them to the desire of fighting 20. L. Sylla fighting against Archelaus a General of Mithridates near Pirea had in his Army very lazy Souldiers but by wearying them in working he forced them to desire from him the Signal to fight 21. Q. Fabius Maximus fearing lest his Souldiers should have such a Confidence in their Ships unto which they could fly for shelter that this might hinder them in fighting commanded them to be burned before he entered into the Battel CHAP. XII How to expell the Fears which Souldiers may have conceived from ill Omens and contrary Accidents Example 1. WHen Scipio transported his Army from Italy over into Africa he fell down at his landing upon the Ground and saw that his Souldiers were thereat astonished but he by the greatness and constancy of his Courage turned it to their Encouragement by saying you may now go to play Souldiers I have already overcome and taken Africa 2. C. Caesar falling down by chance as he was landing out of a Ship cried out I hold thee fast O Mother Earth By which Interpretation he seemed to return to those Lands from whence he was departed 3. T. Sempronius Gracchus Consul having drawn up his Army against the Picentes the ancient Inhabitants of the Marca de Acona there happened at that instant a trembling of the Earth or an Earthquake which terrified both Armies but he by a Speech confirmed and encouraged his Men to attack his Enemies while they were frighted with Superstition and over-came them 4. Q. Sertorius when the Bucklers of his Horsemen on the outside and the Breasts of their Horses appeared in a prodigious manner on a sudden to be bloody he interpreted that it was a sign of their obtaining the Victory because those parts used to be sprinkled with the Enemies Blood in fighting 5. When Epaminondas the Theban saw his Souldiers grieved because the Wind had taken off from his Spear an Ornament that hanged down as a Ribband and cast it on the Tomb of a certain Lacedemonian I would not have you said he be troubled and affrighted my Souldiers this signifies the Death of the Lacedemonians for their Sepulchres are adorned for their Funerals 6. The same Epaminondas when a Flame fell from the Sky in the Night and terrified those that were present told them that this Light did discover the Gods 7. The same General when he was ready to fight with the Lacedemonians fell down in the Chair in which he was feated which Accident was commonly interpreted for an ill Omen and his Souldiers being thereat troubled he told them we are now forbidden to sit any longer 8. L. Sulpitius Gallus when an Eclipse of the Moon was at hand that his Souldiers might not mistake it for a Prodigy gave them an account of it before with the Reasons and Causes of the Eclipse 9. When Agathocles the Syracusan warred against the Carthaginians there happened a like Eclipse of the Moon the Night before the Battel and seeing his Souldiers troubled as at a great wonder he acquainted them with the Reasons of the Eclipse and told them that whatever should happen did relate to the nature of things and did not concern their Purpose 10. When there fell a Thunder-bolt into the Camp of Pericles which terrified the Souldiers he gathered them together and before them all he beat two Stones one against another and struck Fire and by that means quieted their Minds telling them that in the like manner by the violent motion of the Clouds the Thunder is produced 11. It happened to Timotheus the Athenian when he was to fight against the Inhabitants of Corcyra that the Master of his Vessel had commanded the Signal to be given to stop the Fleet ready to set fall because one of the Men at the Oar began to sneeze Dost thou wonder said Timotheus that amongst so many thousand men there is one man that shivers or sneezes for cold 12. When Chabrias the Athenian was ready to fight at Sea with his Fleet there fell a Thunderbolt at the head of his Ship which affrighted his Souldiers who looked upon it as a prodigious thing Now said he we ought chiefly to begin to fight when the greatest of the Gods Jupiter hath given us a sign to our Fleet that he will be present and assist us THE SECOND BOOK Of the Stratagems of WAR OF Sextus Julius Frontinus a ROMAN Consul A Short Introduction IN the first Book we have already plac'd in order the Examples fit in my Opinion for a Captain to understand in relation to those things that are to be perform'd before a Battel we shall now give an account of what is wont to be done in a Battel and afterwards those things that are acted in the conclusion of a Fight or War Now these are the Particulars which belong to a Fight or Battel CHap. 1. Of the time to be chosen for a Battel Chap. 2. Of the place to be chosen for a Battel Chap. 3. Of the marshalling and ordering an Army Chap. 4. How to disorder an Enemies Army Chap. 5. Of Ambushes Chap. 6. Of suffering an Enemy to depart for fear that out of despair he should renew the Fight Chap. 7. How to dissemble ill Successes Chap. 8. Of restoring a Battel by Constancy and Courage Chap. 9. Of those things that are practis'd after a Fight if all things succeed and of the finishing a War Chap. 10. Of remedying ill Successes if things happen contrary Chap. 11. How to preserve such as are wavering in their Fidelity and Allegiance Chap. 12. The things that are to be done about a Camp if we have not
Confidence enough in our present Forces Chap. 13. Of the manner how to make an Escape CHAP. I. Of the time to be chosen for a Battel Example 1. P. Scipio when he was in Spain understood that Hasdrubal the Carthaginian General had commanded his Army out to fight without their Breakfast he therefore kept in his Men till the seventh hour of the day and ordered them in the mean while to rest and refresh themselves with food and when the Enemy tir'd with Hunger Thirst and waiting were marching again into their Camp he led out suddenly his Army gave them Battel and routed them 2. When Metellus Pius General in Spain against Herculeius saw that he brought forth his Men by break of day before his Camp in the hottest Season of the Year he kept in his Forces within his Camp till the sixth hour of the day and when they were tired with the fervency of the Sun he easily overcame with his fresh men such as were thus wearied out 3. The same Metellus having joyned his Forces with those commanded by Pompeius against Sertorius in Spain often drew up his Army in order of Battel the Enemy in the mean while not judging himself able to encounter with both Generals At last when he saw that the Souldiers of Sertorius demanded very furiously to fight lifting up their Shoulders and stretching out their Launces he advised to give way for that time to their unusual Fervency and to retreat into his Camp with his men and perswaded Pompey to do the like 4. Posthumius the Consul in Sicilia encamped about three Miles from the Carthaginian Army Their Generals drew up every day their Troops in order before the Fortifications of the Romans but he entertained them always with small Parties and light Skirmishes before his Works untill the Enemy began to despise and grow insolent by this Custom Then having provided all things needful in the night according to his former Custom he resisted the Onsets of his Enemies with a few of his Men and kept them in Play longer than ordinary When they were sufficiently tired out after the sixth hour of the day and they were ready to sound a Retreat being very hungry with his fresh Men he soon routed them that were overcome before with the forementioned Evils 5. Iphicrates the Athenian understanding at what time the Enemies were diligently taking their Food commanded his Men to dispatch their eating sooner that he might lead them out to Battel And having assaulted the Enemy he so entangled them that they could neither fight nor escape At last towards the Evening he retreated with his Army but kept them in Arms. The Enemies being weary with standing upon their Guard and Hunger immediately hasted to refresh themselves with Rest and Food Then did Iphicrates lead out his Army and assault the disorder'd Enemy in their Camp 6. The same Person being General against the Lacedaemonians pitched his Camp near to the Enemies and when both Parties were accustomed to march out at set times to bring in Wood and Forrage on a certain day he sent out a Party of Servants and Scullions to perform this Office and kept in his Souldiers and when the Enemies were scattered to provide the same things he took their Camp and when they ran back in haste at the noise of the Tumult with their Burdens he easily cut them in pieces or took them Prisoners 7. Veriginius the Consul amongst the Volsci when he spied the Enemy running to them from far in disorder commanded his men to rest with their Javelins fixed in the Ground then when they were out of Breath he charged them with the fresh Companies of his Army and routed them 8. Q. Fabius Maximus knowing that the Gauls and the Samnites were used to prevail in the first Onset and that the Courage of his Men was not to be wearied out but increas'd the more by the delays of fighting commanded them to be content in the first Encounter to defend themselves that by degrees they might weary the Enemy which accordingly succeeded he then came on to assist them with the reserve and in the first Battalion with all his Forces he routed the oppressed Enemy 9. King Philip in the Battel of Cheronca knowing that his Souldiers were hardned by their long use of Arms purposely drew in length the Fight that he had with the Athenians which was fierce indeed but without experience and sharp because of their furious Assault but when the Athenians began to faint he advanc'd more speedily with his Colours and cut them in pieces 10. The Lacedaemonians understanding for certain that the Messenians were so enraged that they were come to fight against them with their Wives and Children delayed the Fight till another time 11. C. Caesar in the Civil War when the Army of Afranius and Petreius was enclosed in by him and wanted Water and therefore provok'd to fight when they had destroyed all their Carriages to enter into the Battel he kept in his men judging it no fit time to fight when he had provok'd his Enemies to Anger and Despair 12. Cn. Pompeius desiring to force Mithridates who was flying to fight him chose to encounter him in the Night and to stop him in his Retreat and thus being well prepared he drove him suddenly to the Necessity of a Battel and so drew up his Army that Mithridates his men had the light of the Moon in their Faces which shewed to the Romans more plainly their Enemies in the night 13. It is certain that Jugurtha not unmindful of the Romans Skill and Courage in Arms was always wont to begin a Fight towards the evening that if his Men were beaten they might have the advantage of the night to hide themselves 14. Lucullus General against Mithridates and Tigranes in Armenia the greater near Tigranocerta finding that he had in his Army only fifteen thousand fighting men and that his Enemies were an innumerable multitude but unexperienc'd and unfit for Fight made use of their Weakness encounter'd them when they were out of order and suddenly routed them in such a manner that the two Kings were forced to cast away their Royal Ornaments and to fly 15. Cl. Tiberius Nero fighting against the Pannoni when those barbarous People marched out furiously to the Battel by break of day kept in his Men and staid till the Enemy was well beaten with Storms and Rain which happened that day to be frequent At last when he saw that they fainted both in Courage and Strength by standing in the Rain he gave the Signal charged and routed them 16. When C. Caesar was General amongst the Gauls he understood that Ariovistus the King of the Germans had resolved and appointed this as a Law to his Souldiers not to fight when the Moon was in its Decrecency He therefore then chiefly having appointed the Battel when the Enemy was hindred by Superstition overcame them 17. D. Augustus Vespasianus assaulted the Jews on their Sabbath-day when it was
unlawful for them to act any thing of Moment and overcame them 18. Lysander the Lacedaemonian General against the Athenians at the Town of Aegospotamos resolved at certain times to break in upon the Athenian Navy and to retreat back again with his Ships which having performed often when the Athenians after his Departure were scattered to gather their Forces together he according to his former Custom stretch'd out his Navy in length and again commanded them together And when the greater part of the Enemies according to custom were departed he assaulted the rest destroyed them and took the whole Fleet. CHAP. II. Of the Place to be chosen for a Fight Example 1. WHen M. Curius saw that he could by no means resist the Phalanx or the Body of ten thousand Pikes of King Pyrrhus when they were joyned together in an open Field ordered the matter so that he was to fight in a streight and narrow place where being close together they might be an hinderance to one another 2. Cn. Pompeius in Cappadocia chose a place for his Camp in the higher Ground that the proclivity of the Hill might assist the charging of his Souldiers so that by their running down he easily overcame Mithridates and his Army 3. When C. Caesar was to fight against Pharnaces the Son of Mithridates he drew up his Men in Battel on a Hill which much facilitated the gaining of the Victory for the Roman Souldiers casting their Darts from the higher Ground upon the Enemy quickly caused them to turn their Backs 4. When Lucullus was to encounter with Mithridates and Tigranes in the greater Armenia near Tigranacerta he got possession in haste of a plain Ground which was on the top of a Hill with part of his Troops and then assaulted the Enemy which was under charged their Horse in the Flanks and having driven part of them and pursued them when they ran in and disordered their Foot he obtain'd a most famous Victory 5. Ventidius General against the Parthian Army would not lead out his Souldiers to the Fight till the Enemy was within fifty Paces and then by running suddenly upon them he closed in with them so near that he frustrated their Arrows which they made use of at a distance by this proceeding he shewed such an appearance of Confidence and Courage that he quickly overcame those barbarous People 6. When Hannibal was to fight against Marcellus at Numistro he plac'd his Army amongst the Pits and broken ways on one hand and made use of the nature of the place as a Wall and a Defence Thus he got the Victory and overcame a most famous Captain 7. When the same Hannibal at the Battel of Cannae understood that the River Volturnus beyond the nature of other Rivers yielded strong Winds in the Morning which raised up great Clouds of Sand and Dust he drew up his Army in such a manner that all the violence of the Wind beat upon the Backs of his Men and into the Faces and Eves of the Romans by these Inconveniencies which wonderfully incommoded the Roman Army he got that remarkable Victory 8. Marius having appointed a day to fight against the Cimbri and Teutones placed before his Camp his Souldiers strengthened with Food that by the little distance that was between them and their Enemies their Army might be first overcome by their labour in gaining it and besides their weariness in running this space he gave them another Trouble he drew up his Men so that the Army of those barbarous People had the Sun the Wind and the Dust in their Faces 9. Cleomenes the Lacedaemonian General against Hippias the Athenian who was the stronger in Horse caused Trees to be laid along the Plane where they were to fight and rendered it unpassable to the Horse 10. The Iberi were received by a vast multitude of the Enemies and fearing that they should be surrounded marched to the sides of a River which in that Country had high Banks Thus being defended behind by the River and excelling the Enemy in Valour they assaulted the first Ranks and destroyed the whole Army of their Enemies 11. Xanthippus the Lacedaemonian changed the Fortune of the Carthaginian War only by the change of a place for when the Carthaginians were almost reduced to despair they hired him to be their General When he took notice that the Africans who excelled and exceeded the Romans in Horse and Elephants drew up on the Hills and that the Romans whose Strength consisted in their Foot held the Valleys he led the Carthaginians down to them with his Elephants he disordered their Ranks and with the Numidian Horse he pursued the dispersed Souldiers and routed their Army winning the same day a Victory both by Sea and Land 12. When Epaminondas the Theban General was leading his Army against the Lacedaemonians he caused a Party of Horse to ride up and down before that they might raise a great Dust before the Enemies eyes when they expected the Horse to fall upon them he led about his Foot Souldiers from that side where the Horse were riding against the Enemy and fell upon them suddenly in the Rear and overcame them 13. Three hundred Lacedaemonians held and defended the Streights called Thermopylae against an innumerable multitude of Persians because those Streights would not suffer a greater number to fight at once near at hand by this means they being equal in number to those barbarous People but excelling them in Valour and Courage cut in pieces a great many of them neither could they have been overcome if it had not been for a Traitor named Epialtes of Trachinia who led the Persians round about upon their Backs and overpower'd them 14. Themistocles the Athenian General when he saw that it would be very much for the Advantage of Greece to fight with Xerxes his numerous Navy in the Streights of Salamini and could not perswade his Citizens by craft he brought to pass that the Grecians were forc'd to comply with this Advantage for pretending himself a Traitor he sent to Xerxes to signifie to him that his Countrymen were ready to fly away and that it would be far more difficult for him to assault every City by a Siege By this means he brought to pass that the Persian Navy was first disquieted while they were watching all night afterwards in the Morning he with his fresh men encounter'd with the said Persians tired with want of Rest in a streight place as he desired in which Xerxes could not make use of his numbers in which he did exceed CHAP. III. Of ordering and drawing up an Army in Battel c. Example 1. CN Scipio General in Spain against Hanno at the Town of Indibile took notice that the Carthaginian Army was so ordered that the Spaniards were to fight in the right Wing who were indeed the stoutest Souldiers but mercenary and warred not for themselves but for others and that in the left Wing were the Africans a weaker sort of Men but more
the Gauls the Ligurians the Baleares and the Moors that they might not be able to fly away the Carthaginians being next behind that they might in the first encounter with the Enemy disturb or weary them after them he placed his own Men and the macedonians who might receive the tired Romans afresh and in the Rear he put the Italians whose Constancy and Courage he suspected because he had drawn many of them out of Italy against their Wills Scipio against this Order drew up the strength of the Legions in three Battalions in the Front dividing them into Hastati Principes and Triarii that is first Spear-men next such as were of a gentile and noble Descent last another sort of Souldiers of the Roman Army who did commonly march and fight in the Rear Neither were the Companies close together but he left a space between every one that the Elephants that were driven against them by the Enemy might pass by without disordering the Ranks and those Intervals he fill'd up with such Souldiers as were lightly armed and nimble in Onsets and Retreats This he did that his Army might not appear divided into several Bodies He commanded these nimble Souldiers that at the first approach of the Elephants they should retreat and march to the sides of the Battalions He placed next his Horse and divided them into two Wings the right being Roman Horsemen he assign'd to Lelius over the left compos'd of Numidians he appointed King Massanissa which prudent Order was no doubt the Cause of the Victory It will not be unpleasing to the Reader to give here a short Account of the drawing up of Scipio's Army which procured him one of the most famous Victories of Antiquity together with the Honour of the Triumph and to the Romans the Dominion over their false Carthaginian Neighbours T. Livius describes this Battel l. 30. c. 33. in the same manner as Frontinus The Strength and good Successes depended upon the good Order and Preservation of the Ranks of their Army which was made up of several distinct Legions The Legion in Scipio's time had in it 4200 Souldiers 1200 Hastati or Spear-men 1200 Principes 600 Triarii 1200 Velites or lightly arm'd The Legion was divided into ten Cohorts or distinct Companies in which were 120 Hastati 120 Principes 60 Triarii and 120 Velites Scipio's Cohors belonging to every Legion is thus represented The Hastati 120 40 The Velites The Principes 120 40 The Triarii 60 40 In every Cohors or Company were three Manipuli or small Bands each under one Captain or Centurion I find some difference in the Roman Authors in the numbers of their Legions and in their ordering of an Army Romulus their first Founder as he was but a little Prince his Army was but small and his Legion less With the increase of their Empire their Legions and Cohorts did increase in number The Legion as in Caesar's time had 6000 men in it and so proportionably their Cohorts were more numerous than formerly but that which gave them a great Advantage over all other Nations was their Skill in drawing up of their Armies according to the Place and Enemy with whom they were to fight Scipio in this Battel appointed the Strength of his Legions to be in the Front whereas other Generals use to place their chiefest Men in the Rear or to keep them for the Reserve Take here a Scheme of each Legion of Scipio's Army according to the Description of Frontinus and Livy The Legion of 4200 Souldiers divided into thirty Bands or Companies under their distinct Leaders or Captains with that order and space between each Company that was observed by Scipio when he overcame Hannibal in Africa 1. The Battalion of Spear-men or Hastati 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 2. The Principes 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 3. The Triarii 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 Â The Intervals or Spaces between were filled up and made good with Velites or Souldiers lightly armed They had that excellent way that let the ground be never so unfit for a pitch'd Battel they would bring them up in that order that one Company was to second another and relieve such as were weary or over-power'd who could easily retreat without damage and fall in the Rear And though the difference of Arms now causeth us to differ much from their way yet the wisest Generals as Spinola Prince Maurice and others have profess'd themselves to be indebted to the Romans for some of their skill and cunning in ordering an Army 17. Archelaus fighting against Sylla in the Front of the Battel appointed Carts armed with Sythes to break and disorder the Roman Ranks in the second he placed his Macedonian Phalanx or 10000 Pikemen in the third Battalion were according to the Roman Method the Auxiliary Troops mingled with the Fugitives come out of Italy in whose Courage and Resolution he had a great Confidence In the Rear he drew up a Body of Souldiers lightly armed and in the Wings he placed his Horsemen of whom he had a great number and ordered them to enclose in the Enemy But Sylla on the contrary side caused a large Ditch to be dig'd on each hand of his Army and at the end of the Ditches he raised a Bulwark to defend it to this end that he might not be shut in with the vast numbers of the Foot and chiefly of the Enemy's Horse who were stronger than his Next he divided his Foot into three Bodies leaving Spaces between for the Souldiers lightly armed and for his Horse he drew them up in the Rear that when time should serve he might send them out to charge the Enemy and commanded the first Ranks of the second Battel to fix fast in the Ground many sharp Stakes thick together so that when the Carts armed with Sythes drew near he caused the foremost of the Romans to retreat within the Stakes before their Cohors commanding at that instant the whole Army to give a shout and the forlorn Hope to cast their Darts By this means the Enemies Carts were either stopped with the Stakes or terrified with the extraordinary Shout and sudden Assault so that they turned back upon their own Men and disordered the Macedonian Array which caused them to give ground whereas Sylla maintain'd his Archelaus at that moment charg'd with his Horse but when the Roman Horsemen encounter'd with them they put them to flight and compleated the Victory 18. C. Caesar prevented in the same manner with Stakes fixed in the Ground the Carts of the Gauls which were armed with Sythes 19. Alexander at the Battel of Arbella fearing the numbers of his Enemies and knowing the Courage of his own men drew up his Army so as to receive the Enemy on every side that in case he was encompassed in they might fight every way 20. When Aemilius Paulus march'd against Perses King of Macedonia he saw that he had placed a
caused Curio the Roman General to rejoyce when he made as if he would return into his own Country Curio being deceived by that vain Confidence pursued after Sabora the King's Commander so far that he came into open Fields where he was beset with the Numidian Cavalry lost his Army and his Life also 41. Melanthus the Athenian Captain when he was challenged by Xanthus the Boeotian the Enemies King and came to fight him in a Duel assoon as he drew near cried to him Thou dost basely Xanthus and against our Agreement for thou art come followed by a Second to encounter with one single man when he began to wonder and look back who it was accompanied him he run him in behind and kill'd him 42. Iphicrates the Athenian General understanding at the Chersonesus of Greece that Anaxibius the Lacedaemonian Commander led an Army by Land took out of his Ships a very strong Party of Souldiers and laid them in Ambush but all the Ships he caused to sail away as if they had been loaden with Souldiers and when the Lacedaemonians were secure and never dreamed of an Assault in their March he fell upon them in the Rear and routed them 43. When the Liburni a People of Dalmatia besieged certain marish and shelvy Places by the Sea they discovered only their Heads and made the Enemy believe that it was the wide Sea by that means they took a Galley that in pursuit of them stuck fast in the quick-sand or Bank 44. Alcibiades the Athenian Commander in the Heilespont against Numidarus the Lacedaemonian General having a numerous Army and many Ships landed a Party of his Men in the night and some of his Ships he caused to lye concealed behind a certain Promontory or High-land whilst he with a few only fit to provoke the Enemies Contempt fled before them till he had brought them into the Snare he then forc'd them to fly and to save themselves on Land but as they went on Shore he cut them off by that Party that he had landed on purpose 45. The same Alcibiades being ready to fight a Battel at Sea fixed a certain number of Masts in a High-land that advanc'd into the Water commanding those who were there to keep Guard that assoon as the Battel was begun they should hang out their Sails By this means it happen'd that the Enemies imagining that there was another Fleet coming to his Assistance fled away 46. Memnon of Rhodes having in his Fleet two hundred Ships ready for a Sea-fight and desirous to draw the Enemies to a Battel commanded that but a few of his Vessels should have their Masts up and that they should sayl before When therefore the Enemies saw the number of the Masts and by them judged of the number of the Ships they boldly came out to fight but were easily over-power'd by the greater number of Vessels 47. When Timotheus the Athenian General was to fight at Sea against the Lacedaemonians and that their Fleet came forward well provided for the encounter he sent twenty of his nimblest Ships which by all means should sail here and there and weary the Enemy in the pursuit which assoon as he perceived was effected and that they began to be heavy he then set upon them and easily overcame such as were out of order and wearied out CHAP. VI. Of giving the Enemy liberty to escape lest he should out of despair renew the Fight Example 1. WHen the Gauls after that Battel which was given when Camillus was General desired Boats and Vessels to pass over the Tiber the Senate gave order that they should be furnish'd with Boats and Provisions for their Journey And when some of the same People fled through the Country Pomptinus there was a way allowed them which is now called Gallica 2. L. Martius the Roman Knight whom the Army made General after the two Scipios were killed surpris'd and overcame the Carthaginians but lest they should fight more fiercely out of Despair he caused his Ranks to be opened and gave them liberty to escape and when they were scatter'd and fled he destroyed them behind without any damage or hazard to his Army 3. When C. Caesar had shut in the Germans and that they did fight more stoutly he gave them liberty to depart and in the Flight he fell upon them with more advantage 4. Hannibal at the Lake Thrasymenus inclosed in a Party of Romans who resisted him most desperately he therefore opened them a way to escape and as they were flying he cut them in pieces without any damage to his Men. 5. Antigonus King of Macedonia besieged a Party of Aetolians and brought them to so great a Famine that they resolved to sally out and dye valiantly He therefore gave them a way and opportunity to fly away by that means having disappointed their impetuous Resolution he followed them in the Rear and destroyed them 6. Agesilaus the Lacedaemonian fighting in a Battel against the Thebans and understanding that the Enemy being shut up by the narrowness of the place fought out of Despair more furiously open'd the Ranks of his Army and gave them liberty to depart but after he pursued them fell in upon their Rear and routed them 7. Cn. Manlius the Consul returning from the Fight found that the Roman Camp was taken by the Hetrurians he ordered therefore all the Gates to be so well guarded that the Enemies when they were shut in were so furiously exasperated that they killed him in the heat of the Fight which when his Lieutenants took notice of they caused on one side the Guards to be withdrawn and a Passage for the Hetrurians to escape but they fell upon them in their Retreat and by the coming in of the other Consul they cut them in pieces 8. Themistocles when Xerxes was overthrown hindered the Grecians from breaking the Bridge as they had resolved because it was more Wisdom to expell and shut him out of Europe than to force him out of Despair to fight he therefore sent a Messenger to him to advise him in what danger he was in unless he made more speed to pass over into Asia 9. Pyrrhus King of Epirus having taken a certain City and finding by the shutting of the Gates that he had reduced such as were within to such Despair that they did fight the more desperately he gave them liberty to depart 10. The same Pyrrhus amongst the other Directions given to a General in his Book he recommends this That we must nor press nor pursue after an Enemy that is in Flight too unmercifully first lest he should be driven out of necessity to resist and stop a victorious Course secondly that thereby we might oblige an Enemy at another time to yield the Day the sooner and at an easier rate when he shall consider that the Conquerours will not pursue too eagerly after the Lives of such as are forced to fly CHAP. VII How to dissemble ill Successes Example 1. TVllius Hostilius King of the Romans
been forced to pass under the yoak in sign of submission to continue out of the Camp and Works that they having no defence might be used to the Dangers and be the bolder to encounter with the Enemy 19. P. Comelius Nasica and Decimus Junius the Consuls condemned such to be publickly whipped with Rods and to be sold as Slaves as had forsaken the Army 20. Domitius Corbulo in Armenia caused Two Troops of Horse and Three Companies of Foot who had given back in assaulting of a Castle to continue and lodge out of the Trenches until by their continual Labour and happy encounter they had wiped off their disgrace 21. Aurelius Cotta the Consul when out of necessity he commanded the Horsemen to labour in the Works and that some of them refused to obey him he complained of it to the Censors and caused them to be punished And afterwards he obtained of the Senate that they should lose all their pay that was then due to them 22. The Tribunes of the People likewise consulted them in this business and by a general consent this Discipline was establisht 23. Q. Metellus Sirnamed Macedonicus in Spain commanded five Companies who had been beaten back by the Enemy to make their Wills and sent them back to recover the place threatning them that he would never receive them again till they had got the Victory 24. P. Valerius being Consul the Senate commanded the Army that had been overcame at Siris to be led to Firmius and there to fortifie a Camp and abide in Tents all the Winter 25. The Senate decreed when their Soldiers were shamefully put to flight that no assistance should be sent to them till they had beaten and taken the Enemy Aud that those Legions which had refused to fight in the Punick War should be transported over into Sicily and there remain seven years and live upon barley bread 26. L. Piso condemned Titius the Captain of a Company to stand every day bare-foot before his Tent when the Watch went the Rounds with his Gown torn about him and a loose Cassack and that he should abstain from bathing and feasting because he had retreated back and given ground to the Fugitives with whom he encountred 27. Sylla when the Enemy broke in upon a Company and the Commanders were upon the Guard he ordered them to stand before the Generals Tent without Arms and Belts 28. Domitius Corbulo General in Armenia condemned Aemelius Rufus Leivtenant-General of the Horse to have his Garments broken and cut by a Sergeant and in that shatter'd Habit to stand before the Generals Tent amongst the Principes until they were discharged because he had given back and retreated from the Enemy and because a party of his Horse was but ill furnished with Arms. 29. Attilius Regubus going out of Samnium into the Country of Nuceria with his Army met with the Enemy that drove him back He comcommanded therefore a Party of his Men behind to kill all such as should offer to retreat and deal with them as with Fugitives 30. Cotta Consul in Sicilia caused Valerius Nobilis a Collonel descended of the Family Valeria to be punished by whipping him with Rods. 31. The same Cotta condemned P. Aurelius his near Kinsman whom he had left to command in his absence at the Siege of Lipara when he was gone to Messina to enquire about the success of the War to be beaten with Rods to be listed amongst the Common Soldiers and to perform all their Duties because some of the Works belonging to the Camp had been fired by the Enemy and the Camp it self had been taken in his absence 32. Fulvius Flaccus the Censor put out of the Senate his own Brother Fulvius because he had without the consent of the Consul dismist and sent away a Legion over which he was the Collonel 33. When M. Cato was sailing away with his Fleet from the Enemies shoar where he had remained some few days having given and hang'd out before the Sign of his departure and that one of his Soldiers being left behind called out and made sign to the Ships to be taken in he turned about with his whole Fleet took the Soldier and put him to death and made him an Example to the rest rather than to leave him to be destroyed by the Enemy for his Negligence 34. Appius Claudius was wont to take the Tenth Man of those who did offer to give ground to an Enemy by lot and beat them with Clubs 35. Fabius Rollus the Consul caused the lot to be cast upon two Legions which had retreated from the Enemy and those upon whom the lot fell to be beheaded in the presence of the rest of the Soldiers 36. Aquirius took the third man out of the Companies that had suffered their Guards to be faced by the Enemy and caused them to lose their Heads with an Ax. 37. M. Antonius when a Mount that he had raised had been burnt by the Enemy decimated two Colonies or Companies of Soldiers that were to defend the Works and punished likewise a Centurion or Captain of each Cohors he sent away the Lievtenant Collonel with disgrace and commanded the surviving part of the Legion to feed upon Barly Bread 38. The Legion which plundred and destroyed the Town of Rhegium without the Generals orders was punished in this manner Four Thousand of them were imprisoned and there put to death Beside the Senate commanded that none of them should be buryed or mourned for 39. L. Papyrus Sirnamed Cursor being Dictator treated Fabius Rutilius master of his Horse in this manner because he had encountred with the Enemy against his command though with success He required him to be beaten with Rods with an intention to strike off his Head with an Ax neither could he be prevailed upon by the Endeavors and Prayers of his Soldiers to remit the Punishment and when Rutilius fled to Rome he pursued him neither would he there forgive him untill Fabius with his Father fell upon their Knees to him and the whole Senate and People spoke for him 40. Manlius who afterwards was Sirnamed the Imperious cut off his Sons Head with an Ax after that he had been beaten with Rods in the presence of the whole Army because he had joyned in Battle with the Enemy against his Orders though he came off with Victory 41. Manlius the Son when the Army for his sake were ready to rise up in Sedition and disorder against his Father told them that no Man was of that Worth that for him the Discipline of War ought to be neglected he therefore obliged them to suffer him to be punished 42. Q. Fabius Maximus cut off the Right-Hands of such as had run away from his Army 43. Q. Curio the Consul in the Dardanick War when one of his five Legions about Dirrachyum rose up in Rebellion and refused to march against the Enemy saying that they would not follow their Foolish General in a dangerous and troublesom Enterprise He commanded
the Four other Legions to march out and to stand in order with their Arms ready as for a Battle Afterwards he led out the Seditious Legion without Arms and Belts and in the view of the rest he forced them to but Straws and the next day he obliged the Soldiers likewise with Girdles to dig a Ditch and could never be prevailed upon by the prayers of the Legion nor stopt from taking away their Colours blotting out the name of their Legion and from distributing the Soldiers as a supplement and in Recruits to the other Legions 44. Q. Fulvius and Appius Claudiuus being Consuls the Soldiers who where left after the Battle of Cannae and had been banished into Sicily made request to M. Marcellus that they might be led against the Enemy When he had informed the Senate with their Petition the Senate answered that they did not like to leave the Defence of the Commonwealth to them who had forsaken it But they appointed Marcellus to do as he judged expedient upon condition that none of them should be freed from Duty nor be rewarded with Honour or Gifts nor be brought back into Italy while any of the Carthaginians were there 45. M Salinator of the order of Consuls was condemned by the People because he had not divided the Prey equally amongst his Soldiers When Q. Pecilius the Consul was kill'd by the Ligures in a Battle the Senate decreed that the Legion where the Consul was when he fell should be disbanded deprived of a years pay and all remembrances of that Legion should be blotted out CHAP. II. Of the good effect of the Discipline of War Example 1. IT is reputed that the Armies of Brutus and Cassius in the Civil Wars when they marched together through Macedonia and that Brutus came first to a River over which they were to make a Bridge nevertheless Cassius's Army made more speed in building the Bridge and in hastning to pass over and got before the Army of Brutus This was the effect of their Discipline and good Government which caused the Army commanded by Cassius to excel those of Brutus's Army both in working and in the encounter with an Enemy 2. C. Marius having Liberty to chuse his Army either that which was commanded by Rutilius or the other under Metellus which afterwards was govern'd by himself desired rather to have that which Rutilius kept under Discipline and good order though the lesser of the Two 3. When Domitius Corbulo had reformed the Discipline of the Roman Army with Two Legions and a few Auxiliary Troops he encountred with the Parthians 4. Alexander King of Macedon assaulted the whole World with 40000 Men who had been well trained up by King Philip and overcame vast numbers of his Enemies 5. Cyrus in the War against the Persians master'd many difficulties with Fourteen Thousand armed Men. 6. Epaminondas General of the Thebans with four Thousand Men among whom were but Four hundred Horsemen overcame the Lacedemonian Army of Four and Twenty thousand Foot and Sixteen hundred Horse 7. By fourteen Thousand Greeks which were sent to help Cyrus against Artaxerxes an hundred thousand Persians were overcome in Battle 8. The same Fourteen Thousand having lost in a Fight their Chief Commander left the Care of their Conduct homewards to one of their Number Xenophon by name who was of Athens and they returned safe through difficult and unknown Regions and Countries 9. Xerxes was stopt by Three hundred Lacedemonians at the Streights of Thennopyle And when he could scarce destroy them with all his Army he confesled that in this he perceived his own error that in Truth he had many men at his Command but stout and Valiant and careful to observe the Discipline of War he had none CHAP. III. Of Continency Example 1. IT is reported of M. Cato when he was going General into Spain that he drank of no other Wine but such as was for the Saylors 2. Fabricius when Cyneas the King of Epyrus's Embassadour offered him a great Sum of Gold refused it with this saying That he had rather command such as had Mony than to have it himself 3. Attilius Regulus when he was Chief Commander was so poor that he maintain'd himself his Wife and Children with a small Field which was manur'd and manag'd by a Country-man of whose Death when he had heard he writ to the Senate to send him a Successor because his Family would be in want by the Death of his Servant and that his Presence was needful at home 4. Cn. Scipio after that he had many successes in Spain fell into a very great Poverty and so dyed that he had not Mony sufficient left for the Marriage of his Daughters wherefore the Senate appointed them Portions out of the Publick Treasury 5 The Athenians dealt in the same generous manner with the Children of Aristides who deceased very poor after that he had excellently well behaved himself in his Government 6. Epaminondas the Theban General was so sparing in the Field that there was nothing found in the Field amongst his moveables but a Pot to boyl Meat and one Spit 7. Hannibal was wont to rise by night never went to rest before it was dark at the dawning of the day he used to go to Supper and he never had more than two Beds for him and his Domesticks 8. The same Hannibal when he was at the Wars under Hasdrubal the General for the most part slept upon the bare ground with his Armour about him 9. It is reported that Scipio Aemilianus was wont to eat Bread walking in a Journey with his Friends 10. The same thing is said of Alexander the Macedonian 11. And we read of Massinissa that when he was Ninety years old he would stand and walk before his Tent and eat Meat 12. When M. Curius had overcome the Sabins and that the Senate for his good Services appointed for him a Portion of Land which old Soldiers use to receive was contented with the share of a common Soldier and said that he was but an ill Citizen when that would not suffice which was sufficient for others 13. Remarkable also hath the moderation bin of whole Armies as that under M. Scaurus For Scaurus writes that in fixing his Camp there was an Apple-Tree loaden with Fruit within his Fortifications which the next day when the Army removed was not so much as toucht and had lost no Apples 14. When the Emperor Caesar Domitianus led his Army in the German War which Julius Civilis stirr'd up the most wealthy City of Leige which revolted to Civilius was afraid of Caesar's coming the Soldiers would plunder them But when they saw contrary to their expectation that nothing had been taken away by violence and that they had not lost any thing of their Goods returned to their obedience and deliver'd to him seventy Thousand armed Men. 15. L. Mummius when he had taken Corinth adorned not only all Italy with Statues and Pictures bat also all the Province
contained they might afford an encouragement to the Fire 10. Hannibal shewed to King Antiochus how he should cast Pots full of Vipers into their Enemies Ships which so affrighted the Soldiers that they were thereby hindred from resisting and from the Government of their Ships 11. Prusias practiced the same Policy when his Fleet gave back 12. When M. Parcius in a furious manner broke though the Enemies Fleet the Carthaginians were thereby troubled and out of order Porcius took an advantage of it causing his Men to take the Carthaginian Arms and hang out their Colours by that means under the appearance of Friends he deceived and sunk several of their Ships 13. When the Athenians had been assaulted by the Lacedemonians in their Festival days which were kept in Honour of Minerva out of the City they continued the appearance of such as were wont to honour the Goddess only under their Coats they had hid their Weapons When they had performed their accusiomed Worship they returned not immediately to Athens but from thence in a speedy manner they hasted to Lacedemon at that time when they were least expected and plundered all their Enemies Country at their pleasure whereas a little before they had been plunder'd by them 14. Cassius took some Ships of burden which were scarce useful and firing them he sent them before the Wind amongst the Enemies Fleet and set them all a Fire 15. M. Lucius having defeated Hasdrubal some advised him to pursue the Enemy till they had totally destroyed them pray said he let some of them remain alive who may declare our Victory to the Enemy 16. Scipio Africanus was wont to say That it was good Policy not only to give the Enemy a way to escape and fly but also to secure it to them 17. Pericles the Athenian promised his Enemies that they should be safe if they would cast down their Weapons which when they had done he commanded all that had in their Armour Iron Bucklers to be slain 18. When Hasdrubal was entred into the Borders of Numidia to subdue them and that the Inhabitants prepared to resist him he told them that he was come only to hunt Elephants which were plentiful in Numidia and if they would suffer him he promised to do them no harm They believed him and called back their Forces then did they assault and subdue them 19. Alcetas the Lacedemonian that he might more easily surprize a Convey of Victuals sailing to Thebes unexpected provided some Ships in a secret place shewing but one Galley in which by turns he exercised his Marriners But in a convenient time when the Thebans were sailing by he sent out all his Ships against them and took all their Provisions 20. Ptolomeus having but a weak Army when he marched against Perdicas who was the stronger in Forces took all sorts of Beasts and caused them to draw behind them Carts and to be driven forward by a few Horsemen In the mean while he marched before with what Troops he had with him so that the dust raised by the Cattle gave an appearance of a vast Army that followed behind which thought so terrified the Enemy that they were put to flight 21. Myronides the Athenian going against the Thebans who were more numerous in Horse when his Foot came into the plain Fields he told them that if they did keep their grouod they would be safe but if they yielded they would be destroyed by this Speech he confirmed his Soldiers and got the Victory 22. L. Pinarons being Governour in Sicily of the Town Ennae when the Magistrates of the City desired him to deliver up the Keys of the Gates which he had in his Custody to them he had a jealousie of them that they intended to turn to the Carthaginians he desired therefore one Nights space to consider of it informing secretly his Soldiers of the treachery of those Greeks he commanded them to be ready the next day and expect the Signal The next morning in the Presence of his Soldiers he told the Magistrates that he would deliver up the Keys if all the Inhabitants desired it for that purpose all the Citizens being call'd into the Theater demanded the delivery of the Keys By this he understood of their purpose to revolt to the Enemy he immediately therefore gave order to his Soldiers to fall on and kill all the Inhabitants 23. Iphicrates the Athenian General took the Colours at the appearance of the Enemies Fleet and sailed to a Town of which he had a jealousie and when at his landing he was received with great Expressions of joy he found out their unconstancy and plunder'd the Town 24. Tiberius Gracchus declared publickly that he would give liberty to all the Volunteers who behaved themselves manfully but that he would crucifie the Cowards When therefore four thousand of those who had been sloathful in the Fight for fear of the Threatned Punishment were gathered together on the Top of a Hill he sent to tell them that his whole Army of Volunteers in his judgment had got the Victory seeing the Enemy was fled By this saying he deliver'd them from the fear of Punishment and kept them in their Obedience 25. Hannibal after the Battle at the Lake of Thrasginerus where the Romans received so great a Loss when he had got into his Power six thousand of his Enemies by an agreement he sent away all the Confederates of the Latine Country and spoke graciously to them saying that he was come into Italy to make War to free the Country from the Roman Slavery and by their means some of the People surrendred themselves to him 26. Magro when the Locri were besieged by Crispinus Admiral of the Roman Fleet caused a Report to be spread abroad in the Roman Camp that Hannibal had kill'd Marcellus and was coming with his Army to raise the Siege of the Town having therefore secretly sent out a Party of Horse he order'd them to shew themselves on the top of the Hills which were in sight when Crispinus saw them he imagined that Hannibal was really coming he therefore hasted with his Army on Shipboard and fled 27. Scipio Aemilianus at the Battle of Numantia placed his Bow-men and Slingers not only between his Cohortes but also between every Century or Company of Foot 28. Pelopidas Thebanus being put to flight by the Thessalians and having sounded the depth of a River over which he had hastily cast a Bridge that the Enemy might not make use of it also to pass over he commanded the Rear of his Army to burn the Bridge 29. When the Roman Cavalry could by no means encounter with the Horsemen of Campania Q. Naevius a Captain in the Army of Fulvius Flaccus the Proconsul found a way to strengthen them He caused out of all the Army some of the nimblest Footmen to be chosen who were of a middle Stature He furnished them with round and little Bucklers with Headpieces Swords and seven Spears every one about four Foot
take the Arms of the Persians and in their Ships to sail into Pamphilia towards the Enemy into the River Eurymedon The Persians who were there knowing the Ships and thinking the Men upon the Decks to be their own never suspected any thing till they were assaulted and suddenly overpowred and the same day they were overcome both by Sea and Land FINIS A COLLECTION OF THE Brave EXPLOITS AND Subtil STRATAGEMS Of several Famous GENERALS SINCE THE Roman Empire With a Discourse concerning Engines of WAR By M. D'A LONDON Printed for S. Heyrick J. Place and R. Sare Booksellers at Grays-Inn-Gate and Furnivals-Inn-Gate in Holborn 1686. TO ALL MILITARY SOULS OF THE English NATION 'T IS for your Perusal that this Treatise is publish'd To you I dedicate these Collections as the most sutable to your Generous and Martial Dispositions No Nation under the Sun have taken a greater Delight in War than ours and none have been more successful in former Ages and purchased more Honour in the Field than the English But this is remarkable in History that their Notable Victories were gotten more by their plain Valour than by their Policies The Strength of other Nations consists in Subtilties and Ambushes there are are few that dare face an assaulting Enemy in the open Field and oppose their naked Breasts to the Showrs of the Murthering Shot Behend a Hedge a Ditch or a Breast-work and when they have the Advantages of Number and the Ground they may venture a Battel But the English have been taken notice of for their Vndaunted Courage in the midst of the greatest Difficulties and have often snatcht the Victory out of the Hands of their Insulting Enemy But if the English Courage alone without the Assistance of Art hath been so Victorious what Wonders would it not be able to perform if it were seconded by Policy and Craft I conceive therefore it may not be useless to you my Brave Countrymen to have an Abstract or a Collection in your own Language of the Stratagems which have been practiced in War by the most experienced Commanders that when you may happen into the same Difficulties and Dangers you may understand what others have done to wind themselves out and by what means they have purchased Safety Honour and Victory to themselves and Followers I doubt not but some of you may have as sharp and subtile Wits as good Courages and that you will be able to use both in the business of War But I believe none can deny but a Collection of such Examples as these both Antient and Modern will be able to advise direct and encourage your Invention to ingenious Contrivances For that purpose I have Translated Frontinus who being a Roman Warriour and of the Order of the Consuls Collected the most remarkable Stratagems of the Persisians Greeks Romans and Carthaginians Their manner of Fighting and Weapons differ much from ours I confess nevertheless we may learn from them and be directed by them in many cases for we meet with Enemies subject to the same Passions and Infirmities as they and we may improve the same Accidents and Opportunities which happened to them But for the compleating of this Treatise I have added a Collection of the most approved Histories of divers brave Exploits and cunning Stratagems successfully employed by later Generals for the purchasing of Victory that you might have here a Prospect of the Warlike Policies of the first and latter Ages together and that in the perusal of the Noble Actions of our brave Predecessors you may see the ready and path-way to Honour You know not how soon the Interest of the Kings Majesty and of this Kingdom may call you my Valiant Countrymen into the Field It is therefore your Wisdom now amongst the Delights of Peace not to forget the difficulties and dangers of War and to mind a judicious preparation for the latter as well as the Enjoyment of the former You especially are in reason to be ready for the Service of your Prince and Country whose brave Ancestours have by their Valour purchased for you Titles of Honour and Estates together You who are to be Examples of Virtue and Courage and who have the greatest Interest in the Country where you live This Preparation ought to consist not only in Warlike Provisions in good Arms and in the understanding the Duties and Arts of Officers and Soldiers but if you be or expect to become Leaders of Men the Knowledge of the Warlike Stratagems of former Captains and how to ensnare an Enemy without hazard will furnish you with an excellent Skill for the Services that may be required from you I shall only desire that you would employ the Arts and Policies which you may learn from this Compendium for the Advancement of the Glory of your God for the Preservation of the publick Peace Quiet and Happiness of the Nation for the Security and Honour of our King and for the Defence of the Interest of the Royal Family which God of his Mercy Bless with all increase of Temporal and Spiritual Blessings This shall always be the Prayer of him who wishes that your Religious and Loyal Vndertakings may ever be Crowned with Victory and Success M. D. A Collection of the Brave Exploits and Subtil Stratagems of several famous Generals since the Roman Empire CAAP. I. The Exploits of Ardaburius General to Theodosius the II. Emperor of Constantinople Anno Domini 400. WHen Baratanes had succeeded his Father Isdigerdes in the Kingdom of Persia Socrat. Schol. lib. 7. cap. 18. and through the persuasion of some Magicians persecuted the Church of Christ planted in that Country And for their defence the Roman Emperor Theodosius the II. sent a famous General of those days Ardaburius with a sufficient Army against the Heathen Prince and Narsaeus his chief Captain After the first Battel where the Roman Soldiers came off with Victory Narsaeus cunningly retreats and invades the Province of Mesopotomia belonging to the Roman Empire to make that the Seat of the War When therefore he had gathered so great a power that he seem'd able to encounter the Romans he sent a messenger to Ardaburius to desire a parley that they might appoint between them when and where to fight a Battel Ardaburius wisely answered the Embassadors thus Tell Narsaeus from me That the Emperors of Rome use not to wage Battel at Narsaeus his pleasure The Persian Prince had then all his Forces together which exceeding the Romans in number caused the Citizens of Constantinople and the whole Empire to doubt of the success and fortune of the War But there happened one thing which much encouraged them and the Soldiers to fight valiantly Certain Travellers going out of Bythinia towards Constantinople met as they reported with a company of Angels who desired them to salute and hearten the Inhabitants of Constantinople in their names advising them to pray to and put their trust in God with this assurance that they were sent as Celestial Recruits
and noble Captain over his Eastern Army named Martianus whom he sent with new raised Forces against the Persians and to the Siege of Nisibis Martianus was but badly provided of necessaries yet by his extraordinary diligence he came upon an Army of the Persians before the rest were ready to fight and routed them The Roman General laid Siege to Nisibis but Cosroes made all hast to relieve the City sending Adaarmanes a Captain of the wild Arabians to wast and spoil the Roman Territories which he performed with less opposition because at that time Justin the Emperor had sent Acatius a proud â—â—ector but a cowardly and ignorant Soldier to be Geneneral instead of Martianus This un-advised Act discontented the Army that most of them fled and forsook the Siege of Nisibis and suffered Adaarmanes to spoil the Country with Fire and Sword to take and burn Apamia and by the help of Cosroes to plunder Daras Much more mischief would have ensued had not the Empress sent an Embassadour in season to Cosroes to stop his Victorious Army and revengeful Hands for no great good can be expected from an Army when Generals want Experience when Officers and Soldiers have no confidence in one another when the chief Commander is look'd upon as a Coward dis-esteem'd for his Folly Pride Cruelty or any other Imperfections of Body or mind The Roman Empire was then in a sad Condition invaded by many Barbarous Nations on all its Borders so that the Empress to remedy the Evils that threatned the State perswaded Justin to make Tiberius a Valiant and Wise Man Partner with him in the Empire He immediately listed a Stout and Numerous Army and the Treasure which formerly had bin converted to Debauchery he employed to pay his Soldiers Over them he appointed a discreet General named Justinianus and sent him to give a Check to Cosroes and the Persians proceedings who were then in Cappadocia The two Armies met but when Cosroes was loath to venture the hazard of a Battel because of the Numbers and Stoutness of the Roman Army Curs a Scythian Captain of the Right Wing of the Romans gave such a furious Charge upon the Persians that they were put to flight and he pursued them to the place where the Kings Treasure and Carriages were kept which he brought away with him The King took the advantage of the next night to fall upon one part of the Roman Army which he did with some success but when both parts were united they pursued him to the River Euphrates where were killed and drowned most part of his Forces A just reward for his Insolency and Contempt of the Roman Empire which he had plagued with continual Wars many years But at last was overthrown and his Army cut in pieces by Justinianus a Worthy General and the Emperour Tiberius CHAP. VII Of Mauritius General under Tiberius the Emperour Ann. Dom. 580. who afterwards was chosen Emperour THis General is represented to us a very Valiant and Politick Commander free from Lust and Debauchery diligent and careful in his Business watchful over the Enemy and wary in all his Undertakings steady and couragious in all his Resolutions He had great Success in his Wars against the Persians for he took from them many Cities and Castles upon the Borders and enriched the Roman Army with Spoils and Plunder Famo Cosroes a Persian General assisted by Adaarmanes met him with their Forces but they were both overthrown by the Wisdom and Policy of Mauritius and by the Romans Courage and Valour when they were forsaken by some of their Auxiliary Troops for such a disappointment when an Army depends upon the assistance of others who either run away or fly to the Enemy to encrease their Power is able to give great discouragement and to dishearten the most Couragious Minds Now when some Generals have had such Jealousie of any of their Forces they have by Policy or some cunning Invention clapt a Plaister to the wound wisely prevented before the mischiefs which such Treachery or Cowardise would otherwise bring upon the rest of their Army for a wise General must be furnished against all Casualties and be ready to meet an Encounter with all the un-expected Accidents which in his reason may possibly happen in a Battel His undaunted Courage alone is able to give life to his dying Army and snatch from an Enemy the Honour of the Day Mauritius was a Politick Commander as may appear by a Stratagem whereof he was the Author When he was Emperour Caganas King of the Avari a Northern People invaded the borders of Thracia and after many cruel Fights besieged Priscus the Praetor in a Castle Mauritius not being able to raise the Siege because his Army was otherwise employed sends a Letter to Priscus to will him to hold out stoutly for some few days for that his Fleet which was now destroying the Country of Caganus with Fire and Sword by his order would speedily return and relieve him Caganus intercepts this Letter as it was going into the Castle he believes the Contents to be true therefore the fear of his own Territories made him in hast to rise from the Siege to save his Country from the supposed Ruine and Destruction Caganus return'd again and in six years time took and burnt about 40 good Towns of Dalmatia belonging to the Emperor Mauritius whose rare Virtues might have prevented these Mischiefs had not his neglect of his Army and the base Vice of Covetousness a Vice unbecoming a Prince procured him the hatred of his stoutest Soldiers CHAP. VIII Of Mahomet and his Successes their first Arts and Policies beginning A.D. 610. OF all the Impostors since the Creation of the World none hath been so successful as Mahomet and done more mischief to the Humane Race His damnable Superstition hath bin assisted with so much Policy Interest and Power amongst rude and ignorant Nations that the wonder of its great Successes appears less to a Judicious Eye Mahomet's Birth was but mean but having the advantage of serving a Rich Merchant after his Decease he marryed his Mistress and became suddenly very Wealthy His Mother was a Jew his Father a Saracen descended from Ishmael but by Religion it is reported by some that he was an Heathen his Name was Abdala This subtile Impostor perceiving how ignorant the Men of his Country were of Religion the general Debauchery that reign'd amongst Christians their Feuds Malice and continual Quarrels he took from thence an occasion and was thereby encouraged to proclaim himself a Prophet and to set up a Religion of his own The Mysteries of the Christian Religion he could not well relish he was therefore opposed and called in question for his dangerous and hellish Opinions at his first appearance at Medina and forced to fly and hide himself in a Cave where Secgius a Westonian Monk assisted him to compose the Alcoran the rule of the Mahometans Faith and Religion which is politickly and subtilely made up of such
to the King of Denmark and by her had two Sons Prince Henry who was the great expectation of the Enlish Nation but suddenly snatcht away by death Prince Charles and the Lady Elizabeth marryed to the Prince Palatine of the Rhine Prince Charles Successour to his Father and Heir of three flourishing Kingdoms after many Battels where he shewed his undaunted Courage as well as Piety in his Afflictions was by a most unnatural most devillish and unparalell'd Rebellion murdered by his Subjects Never any Prince was better qualified for a Crown never any more patient in distress Instead of the Imperial Crown of these Realms Providence bestowed upon him the Crown of Martyrdom and his memory will ever continue precious in the remembrance of all his Loyal Subjects He was too much a Christian to continue long in Peace Governour over such a tumultuous People This Nation hath been happy many years in excellent wise and valiant Princes who have protected us and our Estates from forrein and intestine Enemies Our late King Charles the II. of ever blessed Memory was drawn into the Field betimes to contend with Cruelty Rebellion and Tyranny when to the loss of his Patrimony was added the loss of so good a Father and the Banishment of his Friends his excellent Courage was not dejected but under so many aggravations of Sorrow under so many pressing and grievous Afflictions as were sent to welcom him into the World he endeavour'd to recover by his Valour and Conduct his Kingdoms and Crowns In Scotland when he was to struggle with a seditious and troublesome Generation and was to encounter with a Victorious Army of Enemies his Wisdom preserved his divided party from that ruine into which they were falling by their needless Factions and at the unhappy Battel of Worcester King Charles shewed himself to be a wise and diligent Commander and an undaunted Soldier by the confession of his greatest Enemies But that which this brave Prince attempted to obtain by his just Arms Providence procured to him by a Miracle I mean the Restauration of the Royal Family to their Dignities and Estates without any effusion of Bloud when there were so many Enemies both at home and abroad to oppose them In this short summary of the Heroes of the Royal Family I cannot but mention our present King James the II. whose great Courage undaunted Spirit and Noble Mind hath been sufficiently tryed both at at home and abroad both by Sea and Land against Foreign Enemies in the Field and furious and unreasonable Combitations of sactious Spirits within the Kingdom Victory and success hath always attended upon him and may this most Excellent Prince long continue over us in all prosperity and happiness and may his Enemies lick the dust CHAP. XLIV Of the Conquest of France by King Henry the V. and several other Remarkable Passages in that famous War KIng Henry the V. for the recovering of his Right to the Crown of France which was denyed to him upon the pretence of the Salick Law sent over the Duke of Exeter his Unkle with several Noble Men and 500 Horse to Charles the VI. of France to demand the Crown and with it the Princess Catherine the French Kings Daughter The Dolphin in contempt of King Henry's youthful days sent him in scorn a Tunn of Tennis Balls to play with The King was so sensible of this scornful present that he swore That he would toss so many Iron Balls in France that the strongest Rackets in that Kingdom should not be able to return them back It is no Wisdom to provoke the weakest Enemy nor safe to contemn the meanest Power for that which is wanting in Ability may be made good by diligence and policy King Henry for the obtaining of his purpose transported over an Army into France Harflew was besieged and within six Weeks taken The Soldiers had liberty to plunder it A sudden distemper happened in the English Army which destroyed many of the stoutest Soldiers who are as much subject to death in their Tents as in the midst of the Enemies Swords and the showres of shot The King left a Garrison in Harflew and resolved by land to march to Chalice with Two Thousand Horse and Thirteen Thousand Archers The Dolphin with above Thirty Thousand at Rohan resolved in Council to sight the English At Agencourt the Constable of France came to the Dolphin with Ten Thousand Horse and some Foot The French as their manner is boasted of the Victory before they had got it but they presumed so much upon their numbers that they thought to swallow up the English King Henry had wisely provided all things for a Fight He had got a number of Stakes strengthned with sharp Irons at each end with them he fences in his Foot that they might find in case of necessity some defence against the multitudes of the Enemies Horse The French Army was divided into three Battalions the first consisting of 16000. was lead by the Constable the second by the Dukes of Alanson and Barr the third was commanded by the Earls of Mark and Damp. The English Vanguard was brought up by the Duke of York the main Battel in which were the strongest Bill-men by the King assisted by the Duke of Glocester the Earls of Oxford and Suffolk The Rear was marshalled by the Duke of Exeter the Kings Unkle An Ambush of English Archers was placed within a new hedge to receive and surprize the French at their first approach They did such good service with their showres of Arrows which fell upon the Van of the French Army consisting for the most part of Horse that they were overthrown and helped to trample upon and disorder their Foot In that hurly burly the English Bill-men fell upon them with such fury that they were forced to fly but at the coming in of the French main Battel the English retreated in order within their Stakes and where then followed by the French Horse with more hast than discretion for they found themselves so entangled that many of the most furious lost their Lives Here the King fought hand to hand with the Duke of Alanson and beat him down and would have spared his Life had not his Guard killed him before he was aware When the two first Battalions were overthrown the third had no stomack to go on to the charge and though they were the greater number they fled and craved quarter which was granted but when a dreadful noise was heard from the English Camp occasioned by 600 Horse that fell in to plunder the English behind their Backs the King imagining that another Army was coming on to assault him and that so many thousand Prisoners might rise up and endanger his Army in the Rear commanded them all to be flain for which he ever after was heartily sorry In this Battel sell the Constable and Admiral of France the Dukes of Alanson Brabant and Barre many Earls 25 Barons 8000 Knights Esquires and Gentlemen and many
thousand common Soldiers Though the Enemy was fled the King for the publick safety commanded his Army to stand in Array for the Earl of Faulconbridge suddenly appeared with 600 Horse to take the English upon an advantage but they were soon routed After this Solemn thanks was given there to God and the Soldiers had then liberty to take the Plunder of the Field From thence King Henry marched to Chalice loaden with Riches and Honour The next year with a new Army he landed in Normandy besieged and took Caen and all the chief Towns invited by the Kings promises yielded without resistance only Rohan being well manned and fortified held out so long till Famine scal'd the Walls and deliver'd it to the English Bedford and the Earl of Huntington returned likewise with Victory over the French Fleet. In the beginning of this War the English had no assistance but from their own Skill and Valour and from the divided State of France and the discontent of the Grandees who commonly find fault with one another in an unsuccessful War But there happened an Action which mightily increased the strength of the English The Duke of Burgundy the Dolphins Enemy sought to be reconciled to him for the publick good The Dolphin though he professed much kindness took his advantage and murdered the Duke The Earl of Carolois the Dukes eldest Son sought to be revenged on the Murderers and therefore from thence favoured King Henry's Claim A peace was concluded by which King Henry was proclaimed Regent and Heir apparent of France and he marryed with Catherine the French Kings Daughter All these sudden successes of the English were owing to the young Duke of Burgundy's revenge the French Kings weakness and the Dolphins unjust dealing for he had purchased to himself many Enemies by the illegal murdering of great men chiefly the Duke of Burgundy A Foreign Enemy hath a great advantage in a strange Country when a Potent Person or a considerable Party joins with or assists them in their Conquest The Dolphin though he was discouraged by the French Kings rejection and the defection of many Towns he gathered his Forces and put a period to the English Victories and Joys by the gain of a Battel wherein 2000 English were surprized and slain with the Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother the Earls of Tankerville and Kent and the Lord Ross only for want of a right intelligence of the Enemies state and numbers The Duke being perswaded by a deceitful Scout to leave behind him the strength of his Army and engage the French Army only with his Horse Too much Confidence and Valour hath been the ruine of the stoutest and best Generals of former Ages The Dolphin to be revenged upon Burgundy employs Fire and Sword to destroy his Country but the King of England pursued him from one City to another till he fell sick by the way in marching towards Burgundy which caused him to be carryed back to Bois d'Vnicermes where after he had given order for the preservation of his Kingdom and returned thanks to God for his Conquests he departed this troublesome life leaving by his Queen a young Henry born at Windsor whom he committed to the Protection of his good Brother Humfrey Duke of Glocester but the Regency of France was left to his Brother John Duke of Bedford After the Kings Death Montacute Earl of Salisbury and the Lord Talbot were the most noted Champions and the most successful Commanders for the English Salisbury surprised the Town of Pont-Melance and raised the Siege of Cravant in Burgundy with the destruction of 8000 of the Enemy He took several other Towns and at the Battel of Vernoyle between the Regent and the Duke of Alanson who was assisted by William Stuart and a strong party of Scots this brave Commander routed the French Army kill'd 7000 French 2700 Scots with many of the chief Nobility so dreadful was his name to the French Nation that when St. James in Benyon was besieged by the Constable of France with 40000 men about 600 English sallying out of the Town and crying out St. George a Salisbury put the whole French Army to flight and took 14 great Guns with much of their Baggage and Ammunition In the prosecution of this War many Towns were lost and taken on both sides several sharp encounters happened between the English and the French Garrisons The French King was Crowned at Rheims and young King Henry at Paris where he received the Homages from the Nobility and Citizens The English Affairs prospered mighty well whilst there was a good agreement between the chief Commanders whilst they humoured the Duke of Burgundy and treated the French with Civility and kindness but when discord happened to be between the English Lords and they suffered the the Soldiers to oppress the Natives of France the Cities fell away from them apace Yet Lord John Clifford took Pouthois when the English Interest began to decay In a Snowy and Frosty Night he caused all his party to cloath themselves in White and in that colour he scal'd the Walls undiscover'd put most part of the Inhabitants to the Sword and plundered the Town Yet for all the brave Exploits and couragious endeavours of several English Commanders within a few years all France was lost with Aquitain and Normandy through the division of the English the cruelty of the Soldiers the Falshood and Treachery of the Natives and the presumption and negligence of some great Captains CHAP. XLIII Of Alexander Duke of Parma and his successful Stratagems WHen this excellent General came first to the Government of the Netherlands the King of Spain of the Seventeen Provinces was in possession but of three of the least but in a few years Parma by his industry and skill in Arms recovered almost all Holland and Zealand excepted This Prince had given the first Specimen of his Courage and Understanding in War in the Famous Battel of Lepanto against the Turks where he adventur'd to board a great Commanders Vessel named Mustapha the Treasurer of the Turks and after a bloudy Fight he took that Gally and another that came in to assist the former with unknown Riches in both But when John of Austriae was sent Governour into the netherlands he invited Alexander the young Duke of Parma into the Low Countries At the Battel of Gemblack between John of Austria and the States Alexander perceiving the Enemies Horse to march in a crooked and uneven way gave notice of it to the General and without expecting any return caused some Spanish Commanders to assault them in the Front and upon the Flanks which was performed with that Gallantry that they were put to flight and run back upon their Foot which they broke and disorder'd so that 10000 were there slain and taken in half an Hours time and but nine of the Spanish Army were found wanting All their Carriages and Guns were there taken with their General and several Noblemen This great Victory
procured the Duke of Parma the favour and esteem of all the Spanish Army But as the chief skill of a General consists not only in knowing when and how to overcome an Enemy but also in understanding how to preserve his Army and saving it from a dangerous post or drawing it out of the unexpected Ambushes of a powerful Enemy this was performed by the Duke of Parma at the Battel of Mechlin for John of Austria the Spanish General having suffered a considerable part of his Army to fall upon the Enemies they retreated to their great Guns and had encompassed the Spaniards round so that they had been all cut in pieces had not Parma secured their Retreat which he did by placing behind the Hedges some Companies of Musketiers to stop the pursuing Enemy and causing some Troops of Horse furiously to charge whilst he gave a private sign for a Retreat and drew away the Body of Foot in danger to be lost into the narrow ways lined with his Musketeers In the mean while orders were given to the rest of the Army to keep their Ranks and to stand ready to shelter their Fellows at their return for fear the Enemy following close at the Rear should disorder and rout the whole Army as it hath often happened in such like cases When John of Austria was dead Alexander succeeded him in the Government of the Netherlands and in the chief command of the Army Maestricht was first besieged by him where he so cunningly enclosed in the Town with Forts and Works by Land and two Bridges over the River Mosa that it was not in the power of the Prince of Orange and of his Army either to relieve the Town or force him in his Trenches At last after a notable Siege the City was taken and miserably plundred by the Dukes Army By his Policy and Valour he recover'd the most part of the Netherlands defeated the Troops of Casimirus the Saxon Prince who with his German Forces assisted the Prince of Orange and the States He compelled several great Towns to yield to him Tourney Aldenard Dunkirk c. He drove the Duke of Alanson out of the Netherlands and often beat the French Auxiliaries after their unhappy endeavour to surprize Antwerp and the chief Towns which they assaulted at noon day by the orders of the Duke of Alanson who attempted to take and plunder Antwerp by Treachery But Parma's excellent skill in War never appeared more than in the famous Siege of Antwerp With ten or eleven thousand men he beleagur'd that great City full of People defeated all the Auxiliary Forces sent to relieve the Town and at the same time compelled Five other strong Cities to yield to him Gant Brussels Mechlin Nimeguen and Teneramund In this Siege he built a Famous and most Ingenious Bridge over the River of Scala This Bridge was in part blown up and broken by Ships let down the Stream from Antwerp by a notable Ingenier but such was the diligence and Courage of the Duke of Parma that he caused some Beams Planks and Vessels to be laid in that Breach and Drums and Trumpets there to sound to blind and deceive the Holland Vessels that were coming up the River the next morning to relieve Antwerp with Provisions so that notwithstanding this discouragement and the loss of his Soldiers killed in the blowing up of the Bridge he continued the Siege until the Citizens were forced by Famine to yield up their City He reduced the States of Holland to the necessity of imploring Queen Elizabeth's Aid She sent sent the Earl of Leicester with a brave Army but the Duke of Parma proceeded on in the Conquest of the Netherlands and the taking of several Towns both from the Dutch and English But no Action of this Prince deserves more the admiration of Men than his expeditions into France The first was for the relief of Paris besieged by Henry the IV. The Duke was ordered by the King of Spain to march thither with his Army Henry was forced to call together all his Troops and rise from the Siege to meet the Duke with an intent to fight him But when he understood that Paris was supplyed with Provisions he entrenched himself in such an advantagious Post that the King did not dare to beat him from thence He afterwards retreated back into the Low Countries and in view of the French Army far more numerous than his stormed and took the Town of Lagny and though the French followed him close at the Heels yet he ordered his Retreat so subtilely that they could never fight him The next expedition was for the Relief of Rohan besieged by same King Henry the IV. The Duke of Parma with an Army of about 15000 Old Soldiers Spaniards and Walloons and 8000 French under the Duke of Mayenne went to Rohan and obliged King Henry to depart with his Army Parma at the request of the Citizens assaulted Caudebeck and took it In the mean while King Henry had gathered together his dispersed Forces and finding himself as strong as his Enemies resolved to pursue and fight them They were then about Tuepot in the Chalky Country of Normandy having the great River of Seine between them both The Dukes Army was much distressed for want of Victuals and had received some loss by the French Army in Skirmishes and King Henry had taken great care to cut off all provisions from them But the Duke of Parma in one night deliver'd his Army from the danger both of the Enemy and of Famine He caused great Boats covered over with Beams and Planks to fall down the River from Rohan to his Camp where he caused two Forts to be raised with some Redoubts to favour and defend his passage over the River which in this place is half a League over Upon these Boats he conveyed over all his Cannon and Carriages his Bag and Baggage with Horse and Foot so that the next day when the French Army was preparing to assault the Spaniards in their Tents they saw only Prince Ranuse Farnese with 1500 Men with the rest of their Canon going over to the Dukes Army on the other side and it was not in the Kings power to follow him for want of Boats or a Bridge By this means the Duke returned back with leisure into the Low Countries relieved two great Cities against a powerful King and without venturing his Army to the great wonder of all Europe performed what he had undertaken CHAP. XLIII How the Marquis de Monte defeated five Companies of Foot and Seven Hundred Horse with Seventy Lances and Twenty Five Carabins THis excellent Commander by the Duke of Parma's order marched out of Lovain where he was Governour towards Maestricht to discover the Enemy and by chance met with five Companies of Foot and Seven Hundred Horse At the first sight his men began to fear the in-equality of the number but the Marquiss finding himself too far advanced and so near that he could not well
so that the Prince was never able to force him to a Fight And when all his Forage and Provisions were spent he was driven by that means to the necessity of departing out of the Country into Germany again CHAP. XLIX Of certain times convenient to fight an Enemy and other times wherein it is Wisdom to refuse a Battel IF an Armies Reputation depends wholly upon a speedy success as in many cases If the Enemy be gathering together greater Forces and expects a speedy supply of Horse or Foot If the Country be so at his devotion that the longer he delays the stronger he grows or if Victuals or Money begin to fail then a General should seek all fit opportunities for a speedy Encounter while the Enemy is not too strong and his own party in a condition and resolution to give Battel But if a General hath more Forces coming into him or if he knows that by delaying he may shorten or cut off his Enemies Provisions or if Sickness and Diseases do daily lessen the number of his Enemies then by delaying he may do as much service as by venturing a Battel At the Isle of Rhee the Freuch Army would never offer to fight with the English till they perceived them in a confusion by reason of their orders to Embark But they always followed them close at the Heels till this opportunity was offered to them and then with all their Forces of Horse and Foot they fell furiously upon the English and cut off a great many Likewise in the War between Don John of Austria and the Estates of the Netherlands he endeavour'd to fight the Army commanded by Count Bossute because he understood that Duke Cassimire with 5000 Horse and 6000 Foot with other Forces were coming into the Earls Camp within a few days But the Earl would by no means suffer his Men to venture out of their Trenches CHAP. L. How Lewis King of France stopt the Assistance which the Dukes of Burgundy and Britany were going to send to the Duke of Normandy THe French King understanding that these three Dukes had made a League Offensive and Defensive against him their common Enemy and having an intent to assault and fight them single When he led his Army into Normandy he feigned Letters from that Duke to the Duke of Burgundy signifying that he was loath to run the hazard of a War that he had accepted of the Kings offers and concluded an agreement with him for 60000 Franks and therefore he desired him to forbear sending of his Forces to his Assistance as had been formerly promised These Letters the King caused to be sent by an Herald to the Dukes of Burgundy and Brittany who though they suspected them to be false yet because they received a confirmation from the Contents from other hands but by the procurement of the King they caused their Armies to be speedily disbanded By this means the King obtained by policy what otherwise he could not well get by Force without the hazard of his Army for he having thus weakned his Enemies made with them what agreement he thought convenient and they were forced to yield to his Terms of peace CHAP. LI. A Policy used by a French General to destroy the Neapolitan Army strongly Encamped WHen there was a dispute between Ferand King of Naples and Charles King of France about the Crown of that Kingdom Ferand understanding that the French Army was too potent for him to encounter with only with his faint-hearted Neapolitans resolved to entrench himself between certain Hills The French General finding him in that advantagious Post that he did not dare to meddle with him divided his Army secretly in the night and sent a strong Party round about to assault King Ferand behind whilst he in the Interim with small Parties skirmished and kept them in continual play At last when the party of Men which were to surround the Neapolitan Army and to fall upon their Backs were come to the appointed place the French assaulted the Enemy behind and before entred their Trenches and routed them Xerxes in the same manner recovered the Streights of Thermopyle in Greece defended by a handful of Lacedemonians under Leonidas their Captain CHAP. LII How Prince Maurice took the Town of Gertrudenberg WHen the Prince of Orange besieged Gertrudenberg by Sea and Land he understood by a Prisoner taken from the Enemy that once every day the Governour with the chief Magistrates were wont to go up privately to take a view of the Hollanders Trenches and of the Country round about that they might see for an opportunity to sally out upon them immediately he took advantage of this Information and secretly ordered a Gentleman of his Army to run away to the Town under pretence that he had murdered a Man and therefore fled to save his Life The Gentleman according to appointment discover'd to the Princes Army by playing upon a Pipe when the Governour was in the Steeple The great Guns being then ready and waiting for the purpose were all immediately discharged at one time and battered down the Steeple killed the Governour with the Magistrates which as soon as the Prince suspected he caused a sudden assault to be made and carried the Town for want of a Governour and Orders to defend it For such a Consternation that must needs happen at the unexpected destruction of a Chieftain either in an Army or in a Garrison the Soldiers Hearts must needs be broken and before orders can be given to supply his place by another the Enemy hath a great advantage upon the party that he commands CHAP. LIII How the States of Holland took the Town of Breda by surprize THey hired a certain Master of a Boat who was wont to carry into the City Provisions of Bread and Beer and other necessaries for maintenance of the Garrison In this Boat they stored a Company of Stout and Valiant Gentlemen and covered them over with Turves and other things The Boatsman according to his custom brings strong Liquors upon the Guard makes them all drink plentifully till they were drunk whilst they were in that Condition he passeth the Guard and enters into the Town with his Company of Men who immediately gave notice to their Friends without by casting up a Ball of Wild-fire to fall on A Gate was broken open for them then did they disperse themselves about the Town killed all that resisted and mastered the Guard Such surprizes have been made with Carts full of Corn Hay c. wherein have been hid Soldiers and sometimes a Cart hath been purposely broken and out of order at the Gate of a Town to hinder the shutting of it and a party of the Enemy hath then set upon and entred the Town CHAP. LIV. How the Garrison of the Skonse at Zutphen was surprized THe Spaniards to strengthen the more the City of Zutphen in Gelderland had built a very strong Skonse in such a place as hindred any Enemy from making their approaches
to besiege or annoy the Town for it was erected on the Banks of the River Issell When therefore Prince Maurice had a design upon that place he procured a dozen young Gentlemen of a Feminine Gountenance to be apparelled as Country Maids and to carry thither Butter Eggs Poultry and other such Country-Commodities to be sold to the Garrison Soldiers They coming to the Walls to buy these Provisions sound the Disguised Virgins very tractable and judging them fit for their Lust they received them into the Fort and offered them drink to make them more pliable for their purpose As the Soldiers were busie in their Courtship these young and stout Soldiers drew from under their Petticoats a long Knife made for the purpose and stabb'd the Soldiers who sat next to them then rising together with such Arms us they siezed next to thems they encountred with the rest of the Guard and cut them all off delivering the strong Port to their Companions who waited near at hand to give them their ready Assistance The taking of this Skonse so discouraged the Garrison of the Town that they yielded in few days after to the States of Holland Such Disguises have often proved successful when the business and design hath been managed with care and discretion wariness and Courage Another Town in the Low-Countries was taken by a party of Soldiers apparalled as Country Maids and by them the Guard was suddenly overpowred and a Gate seized to let in the Enemy at hand but the least disappointment spoils all the Design and destroys the bold Adventurers who must expect no pardon or Quarter after such a dangerous Hipocrisie CHAP. LV. How Spinola 's Army was like to be routed when they first sat down before the Walls of Bergen-op-Zone THe Governour of the City a politick Commander resolved to sally out upon the Spaniards at their first coming to besiege the Town and to terrifie them the more he encreased the appearance of his Army with a shew of Armed Troops besides those that he had real His Horse and Foot were to attack the Enemy out of one Gate and out of Another he caused all the Weak Jades of the Town being mounted by Boys and useless Fellows to march leisurely out and shew the appearance of other Forces These were to discover themselves at a distance after the first or second Charge when the Enemy was weary The Spaniards had beaten back the Defendants but the unexpected sight of these deceitful Forces so troubled them that they suddenly left the Chase and retired behind their Trenches in some disorder and had the States Soldiers been provided with Ammunition and Bullets to have given at that instant another Charge Spinola's Army had been then totally routed and the City freed from a troublesom Siege CAAP. LVI How an Army hath been discouraged in the midst of a Fight AT Muscleborough Field when both Armies were fiercely engaged there was cunningly a rumour spread amongst the Enemies that their General was slain in the other Wing and part of their Forces cut off and routed which Report so terrified them that they immediately gave Ground and began to run This Policy hath been often used when it was known that the General was not present And sometimes after the first Charge an Army hath cryed out Look how they run in the Rear Such Words and false Reports have disordered and defeated the best and most resolute Armies for the least sear discourages Soldiers in such a critical time and disinables them from pursuing the Victory So that as it hath always been the practice of well advised Generals by sudden Attempts Stratagems Rumours and other Arts to terrifie their Enemies it hath been the endeavour of wise Commanders to prevent fear from discouraging their Forces and to secure their minds against all suddain Accidents which they could foresee by their advice and command and by the steadiness of their own Resolutions and wise Orders CHAP. LVII How the States of Holland got the Possession of a piece of Ground which they knew was fit for them to build a Fort to distress the Enemies Towns and stop the passage of two great Rivers THere is between the Wale and the Leck two great Rivers a piece of ground advancing into the Sea The Hollanders perceiving that it might be beneficial to them and their designs against the Spaniards if they could get it resolved by policy to gain possession of it Round about were the Enemies Castles and Garrisons which would infallibly oppose any such motion if they came to understand it Therefore to conceal their intent from them they dealt with a Country Fellow named Skinks to hire that piece of ground for some years to feed his Colts and to secure them the better they ordered him to raise a Wall and dig a deep Ditch from one River to the other which was about 400 Rod being the only passage by Land to that place When this was finished the Hollanders came by night sailing up the River and landed such Forces as were able to defend the place until they had builded a strong Fort or Skonse to secure it from the Spaniards who finding themselves outwitted and perceiving the Importance of the place they labour'd to re-take it again This was that Fort named Skinks Skonse so famous for a long Siege in the late Holland War CHAP. LVIII How the Town of Manheim was surpriz'd by Duke Bernard of Saxonweymar THis Town is scituate upon the great River of Rhine and one of the strongest of the Pallatinate Duke Bernard desired earnestly to have it in his possession but was loath to venture his Reputation with his Army in besieging it knowing the Strength of the Town and the Resolution of the Garrison he therefore endeavoured to get it by policy He took with him five hundred men in the night and so ordered his march that he came before the Gates of the Town in the morning an hour or two before day and sent in word to the Governour that he was a Commander of a neighbouring Garrison of their side naming his name and that having adventur'd out with a party upon some important design he was overpowred and beaten in by a stronger party of Swedes who followed him and therefore forced to seek a Refuge within the Walls of Manheim from the Swedish Violence desiring him earnestly to cause his Gates to be opened to let him and his Soldiers in with speed because the Swedes were then at hand ready to fall upon and cut off his Rear Maravelli the Governour believed all this to be true and commanded the Gates to be opened and a passage to enter into the Town As soon as the Duke was within he cut off the Main Guard with three hundred Soldiers took the Governour Prisoner and the chief Officers and won the Town which could not have been otherwise taken without a chargeable and long Siege CHAP. LIX Tamerlan 's Policy to oblige the Towns to yield to him with speed IT
to fly but in the Flight brought into their Ambush the Enemy who running furiously in unknown Ground stuck fast in the Mire and by that means were circumvented 7. Viriatus who of a Robber turned General of the Celtiberi a People of Spain seemingly fled before the Roman Cavalry untill he had led them into a place full of Pits and craggy with which he was so well acquainted that he escaped with his Party through a firm Path then did he fall upon the Romans when they were fast in the mire and in a ground which they knew not and cut them in pieces 8. Fulvius General in the Cimbrick War having his Camp near adjoyning to the Enemies commanded his Cavalry to ride up to their Trenches to provoke them to fight and then to pretend to fly and retreat back When he had practised this Policy for certain days the Cimbri followed them furiously so that he took notice that their Camp was not so well mann'd as before therefore with part of his Army he caused his usual Custom to be observed with another Party of light-harnessed Souldiers he marched to the other side of the Enemies Camp undiscovered and when he saw that they were gone out in Pursuit as their manner was he suddenly assaulted them broke through the Trenches that were forsaken and took the Camp 9. Cn. Fulvius when an Army of the Falisci far greater than the Romans was entered into their Borders caus'd certain Houses far from his Camp to be set on fire by some of his Souldiers and the Enemies thinking that they had been done by some of their Men in hopes of Booty march'd out into several Parties which weaken'd the main Body 10. Alexander marching out of Epirus against the Illyrians placed a small Party in Ambush and caused some of his own Men in the Habit of Illyrians to destroy and burn his own Country of Epirus which when the Illyrians saw they began to scatter and to plunder every where and the more confidently because the Spoilers served them as Scouts who purposely decoyed them into an uneven ground and set upon them and routed them 11. Leptenes also General of Syracusa against the Carthaginians commanded his own Country to be destroyed and certain Villages and Castles to be set on fire that the Carthaginians might think that this was done by their own Party which caused them to march out to help and to fall into an Ambush that routed them 12. Maharbal being sent General against the Rebellious Africans knew that they were greedy of Wine He therefore caused a Vessel of Wine to be seasoned with Mandrake that hath a stupifying Vertue next to Poison Afterwards when he came to skirmish a little with the Enemy he sounded a Retreat out of design and in the dead of the night having left in his Camp some of his Baggage and all his Wine poisoned with that Ingredient he pretended to fly When the barbarous Enemy had taken his Camp they gave themselves over to rejoycing and to drink freely of the poisoned Wine which caused them to lye on the Ground stupified as dead At that Instant Maharbal returned with his Army took and slew them without resistance 13. Hannibal knowing that his own and the Romans Camp was in a place that wanted Wood lest behind him purposely in a desart place many Heads of Cattel within his Camp of which when the Romans had taken possession in this great want of Wood loaded themselves with raw and unwholsome Meat Then did Hannibal return in the night with his Army and finding them secure and distempered with raw Flesh he made a great slaughter of them 14. When Tiberius Gracchus was General in Spain he understood that the Enemy was poor and wanted Trade he left therefore his Camp furnished with all manner of Dainties for Food which when the Enemy had taken and fill'd themselves without measure he brought back his Army and suddenly over-power'd them 15. They who made War against the Erythraeans took one of their Scouts standing in an Enemies place and kill'd him giving his Cloaths to one of their own Souldiers who made such Signs to the Erythraeans as that they were brought thereby into an Ambuscado 16. Whereas the Arabians have a noted Custom amongst them to signifie the coming of an Enemy by day with Smoak by night with Fire they therefore ordered this to be continually practis'd but when the Enemy was approaching to forbear the Custom who when they saw no Fires imagined that their Coming was not known they entering therefore too hastily into the Borders were destroyed 17. Alexander the Macedonian when the Enemy had fortified their Camp in a high Wood took a Party of his Men commanding those who were left behind to kindle Fires as formerly and to shew the Appearance of the whole Army in the mean while he led that select Party by unknown ways round about to the higher Ground from whence he assaulted and drove away the Enemies 18. Memnon King of Rhodes being stronger than the Enemy in Calvary and they abiding on Hills for shelter resolved to bring them down with this Policy He sent some of his Souldiers into their Camp as Run-a-ways to inform them that Memnon's Army was already vexed with a sore Sedition and that some part of it was already gone and that he might confirm them in that belief he ordered some little Forts in every side to be fortified in the Enemies sight as if they intended to refuge themselves there who were at variance when they who were in the Mountains heard of this they came down upon the plain Ground and while they were assaulting the Castles and Forts they were surrounded by the Cavalry of Memnon 19. Harridas King of the Molossi being at Wars with Ardies the Illyrian who had a more numerous Army sent away all his weak People into the neighbouring Country of Aetolia to disperse the same that he intended to deliver up his Cities and Wealth into the hands of the Aetolians in the mean while he placeth all such as could bear Arms in Ambush in the Mountains and rocky Places The Illyrians fearing lest the Aetolians should take possession of all that belong'd to the Molossi hasted to the Plunder without order Then did Harridas come out of his Ambush assaulted them unawares and scattered up and down routed and put them to Flight 20. T. Labienus while he was Caesar's Lieutenant against the Gauls before the Arrival of the Germans whom he knew would come to their Assistance desired to fight with them but made shew of being jealous of his own Forces for that purpose he planted his Camp on the other side of the River and appointed to march away on the next day The Gauls thought that he had fled away they resolved therefore to pass over the River that was between them But while they were busie in passing over the River he had brought about his Army upon them and cut them in pieces 21. When Hannibal understood that