souldiers and mariners would now do if mens hands were not bound and their hearts broken whereas men should endeuour to encourage them and whet them to go forward In fighting at seathe Admiral that hath his ships wel trimmed and al things ready must haue care also further that his cōpany may haue the aduantage of the winde and keepe good order in the sayling of the ships that one go not before an other that he range his nauie with supplies and finally that he prouide whatsoeuer else is necessary or requisite for the obtaining of victorie Those that haue the wind on their backes haue thereby many aduantages their shot doth more hurte the side of the enemies ship lying vp then the enemies shot can hurt their ships their fire is easily carried into the enemies vesselles the smoke of the ordonance doth blinde the enemies Among other things the vantage of the winde did greatly further the victory of the Christians against the Turkes in the gulfe of Lepanto The array and good order of the nauie doth bring with it this helpe that one ship is not lightly enuironed by many other and further that one ship is ready to succour another And therefore as in fight at land so at sea likewise an order and array is to be kept of ships sailing to fight The most common array is that the front of the battell be diuided into three parts into the right corner or wing into the mid battell and into the left corner Euery one of these are to haue other ships appointed not onely to succour those that fight but also to fight with those that offer themselues to charge the nauie behinde The maner of sea fight is the same with the whole nauy that ships meeting single do vse First they assaile the enemy with their great shot which would be done only whē the ships come very neere then they charge him with the smal shot Those that suppose themselues to be the stronger do lay hold vpon their enemies ship force thēselues to enter the same In the mean while neither do they that are in the tops of the ships nor others that haue the charge of fire workes cease to do their endeuor And that with great care lest they hurt themselues or their fellows The a Liu. Rhodians in their fight against Antiochus hanging pots of fire flaming at the end of their bowsprits by a deuise they had shaked the same so that when ech boorded other it fel into the enemies ships In fighting disorder is greatly to be feared Which is when our ships are entangled one in anothers tacle or fall aboord one vpon an other or are singled from the rest of the company b Thucid. 3. Eleuen ships of the Athenians discomfited seuenty shippes of the Lacedemonians being in disorder and fallen aboord one of an other Therefore in ancient time did they keepe a curious order in their sea-fights The Athenians comming in aide of them of Corcyra now Corfu against the Corinthians ranged their owne shippes in the right corner the shippes of Corcyra were diuided into three parts euery one of which had his seuerall commander After a signe giuen they charged the enemy Both sides had many armed men aboorde beside archers and slingars and fought so egrely that after they were once grapled they hardly fell off againe The words of Thucidides which I haue here set vnder do describe the same most liuelie a Thucid. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the encounter betwixt the Romanes and Antiochus his Admirall Polyxenidas as soone as he perceiued the approch of the enemy Polyxenidas extended the left wing of his nauy into the sea in the right wing hee ranged his ships so that the vttermost of them were neere the land after that with equall front he sailed forward The Romane Admirall Liuius staying for those shippes that were not come vp ranged his ships in order and set al things in order to fight Himselfe grapling with two of the enemies ships that came on ech side of his ship caused his men to enter them Polyxenidas vbi appropinquare hostes cernit b Liu. 36. sinistrum cornu in altum extendit dextrum ad terram applicat aequa fronte ad pugnam procedebat Romanus armamenta componens opperitur insequentes naues Liuius in duas hostium naues ex vtroque latere praetoriae venientes ferreas iniecit manus Romam in hostium naues transcendunt In the battell of Lepanto first were c Natal Come◠ranged certaine great galliasses of the Venetians some prety distance one from an other Then followed the rest of the nauy ranged in three partes and supplied with others following after them The galiasses hauing put the Turkes in some disorder the rest of the gallies grapled euerie one with those they encountred the men striued to boord them But that euery man may know his place and charge before the nauies ioyne good direction is to be giuen foorth And euery man to be ranged in order and to be exercised that they may knowe out of what place to boord the enemy and what company is to performe it and how that when men should execute they do not stand gazing one vpon another Nabis d Remigem militemque simulachris naualis pugnae exercebat Liu. 35. prouiding for the sea did exercise his souldiers and marriners with fained sea-fights They that obserue not good order commit many faults and hurt one another in boording They of Rochell An. a thousand fiue hundred seuenty two boording a gally in the night disorderly some fel ouer boord other killed their fellows being entred Wherfore seing without prouision and order nothing can be done either at sea or land let all things be prouided that are requisite for the strength and employment of the nauy and let the practise of warre in maritime causes be diligently followed that abuses being reformed we may vanquish those that now scorne vs and contemne vs. CHAP. XIX Wherein speciall matters concerning treaties of peace truce and confederacies and likewise concerning the priuileges of ambassadors and messengers which ordinarily are mediators of peace truce such like treaties are handled AL though the ioy and triumph that is made in victorie be exceeding great yet I accompt him not wise that when al things hang in equal ballance refuseth a reasonable peace with equal conditions vpon hope of a doubtfull victory All that we take a Omnia quae agimus subiecta mille casibus Scipio apud Liu. 30. in hand is subiect to infinit chances and b Mars belli cōmunis vtrinque ferrum vtrinque humana corpora crunt Nusquam minus quà m in bello euentus respondet Annibal apud Liu. 30. successe of battell is common to both parties Both sides haue armes and the strength of warre consisteth but in fraile humane bodies Neither do euents lesse answere our expectation in any thing then in warres Wherefore seeing that peace is the end of
are commaunded and onely to see those that follow them where they march to do their dueties which consent vnlesse it be obserued these inconueniences will ensue By contrarie commaundements there will fall out confusion and contention and many captaines lieutenants and serieants will walke out of order and much time will be spent in setting of men in their places which euery souldier ought to doe of himselfe The great ordonance being parted betwixt the vantgard battell and rereward sometime is drawen in head of the a So was it at the battell of Moncontour and in the battell betwixt the Conte Egmont and Thermes by Graueling pikes of euerie battell but for that it must needes trouble those that would march on to fight with the enemie farre better it were if all the great ordonance were drawen on the sides of the vantgard as oft as the enemie made shew of charge and then drawen vpon some hill or some other place of aduauntage In the field it doeth more trouble then seruice the effectes of it is but noyse and foolerie onelie that small townes should not make resistance it is drawen along and also for the vse that it hath in sieges and batteries Concerning the baggage and those seruants and boyes that attend vpon the same and such as follow the armie as merchants or victualers rather to gaine then to fight this rule is generally to be obserued that the same be placed betweene the bataillions so that in a charge the same may best be defended and yet not trouble the araie of the armie The same is to be placed where there is least danger The Greekes returning from the battell betwixt Cyrus b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. exped Cyr. 2. and Artaxerxes being coasted and pursued by the enemie placed their cariages neere the riuer along which they marched and their armed men toward the enemie Caesar marching a Caes bel gal 2. against the Neruians after three partes of foure of his whole forces placed his baggage being garded with the other fourth part following behind At other times when there was lesse suspition of the enemie euery legion marched by it selfe and the baggage thereof after b Praecedunt cohortes sequitur prima legio medijs impedimentis sinistrum latus 19. legio c. Tacit. 2. Germanicus after certaine chosen troupes placed the first regiment or legion and after that hee caused the baggage to follow garded on either side and behind with the rest of the armie If our baggage and impediments be great so much as may be spared is to be left in some strong towne Or if the enemie bee behind The c Caes de bel ciu 3. baggage togither with our hurt men is to bee sent before into some place of safetie as Caesar practised in his retraite from Dyrrhachium This is the common course which is I thinke also best for an armie to vse in marching But if the enemie make countenance or rather doe begin to charge any part of the same then that part which is neerest him is to be made the head or vantgard the other two parts of the armie are to be drawen the one on the right hand the other on the left If the enemie come on front then the rankes of the auantgard are to bee doubled or multiplied according to the capacitie of the ground The battell and rierward are to be drawen vp the one toward the left hand the other toward the right or els one part is to bee drawen vp vntill the same bee equall of front with the auantgard and the other beyng deuided into battaillions to serue for supplie where neede is The shot is to bee placed part in front and the rest on the sides and without them ought horsemen to take their standing expecting their aduauntage and the commaundement of their leaders But if our horsemen bee few and not able to match the enemies cauallerie let them not bee to farre aduaunced vnlesse they bee seconded with shot and halfe pikes armed à le legiere but rather let them bee reserued to chase the enemie beyng foyled by the footemen and placed betweene either ground of aduauntage or battaillions of pikes And this if it be done of those that haue skill ye shall neither heare noise nor see confusion nor time spent about it The souldiers of Caesar beyng suddenly charged by the d Caes de bel gal 2. Neruians as they were newlie come to their lodging did euerie man presently set himselfe in aray to fight And Annibal had so taught his souldiers that euery one issuing out of his lodging coulde fall in aray of himselfe either being ready to fight or to marche And why might not our souldiers also be so instructed and exercised that they might doe the like but some want care some skill and some both Some percase will aske Who gaue me auctoritie to prescribe which are very simple not to see that I prescribe nothing of mine owne but onely declare the auncient practise of warre and proceeding of most famous warriers The Romanes vsed this course and so did the Greekes and Carthaginians First marched the light horse then the light armed after them the armed men The baggage was placed in the midst of the armie This order did Caesar oserue in his marche against the a Caes bel gal 1. Heluetians b Caes Bel. gal 2. Belgians and in c Caes bel Ciu. 1. Spaine against Afranius and Petreius The same did d Liui. 21. Annibal practise in his marching all along Italy The same course for the most part is obserued of those that haue skill in our times but that the differences of groundes and diuers conditions of mens armies make them alter some circumstances Metellus e Metellus cum expeditis cohortibus item funditorum sagittaâ—iorum lecta manu apud primos erat in postremo C. Marius cum equitibus curabat in vtruÌ„que latus auxiliarios equites permistos velites dispertiuerat Salust bel Iugurth marching against Iugurtha placed first certaine choise companies of slingers and archers and after them troupes of armed men without impediments or baggage there himselfe commaunded C. Marius folowed with the horsemen vpon both sides he placed horsemen and light armed of his associats mingled among them guided by certaine captaines of horse the legions marched in the midst Xenophon for that a square battaile in straites is easily disordered did deuide the square into f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph exped Cyr. 3. companies which knowing their places in the square marched few in a ranke in straits and in open ground came into their aray againe His horse and slingers he cast out on the front and sides Corbulo so g Corbulo viae pariter pugnae composuerat exercitum latere dextro 3 legio sinistro 6 incedebat medijs decumanorum delectis recepta inter ordines impedimenta teâ—gum mille equites tuebantur in coâ—nibus pedes sagittaâ—ius câ—tera manus
and left corner the Gaules and Spaniards with their aray in forme of a wedge auanced somewhat forward being in the midst The charge was begunne by the archery and light armed afterward did the left wing of the Gaules and Spanish horsemen meete with the right wing of the Romanes then followed the encountre of the armed men a Liui. 22. In dextro cornu Romanos equites locauit deinde pedites laeuum cornu extremi equites sociorum intra pedites ad medium iuncti legionibus Romanis tenuerunt iaculatores Ex caeteris leuium armorum auxilijs prima acies facta Annibal Balearibus aliáque leui armatura praemissa Gallos Hispanosque equites laeua in cornu aduersus Romanum equitatum dextrum cornu Numidis equitibus datum media acie peditibus firmata ita vt Afrorum vtraque cornua essent interponerentur his cuneo aliquantum prominente medij Galli atque Hispani Pugna leuibus primum armis commissa deinde equitum Gallorum Hispanorumque laeuum cornu cum dextro Romano concurrit deinde peditum coorta pugna Scipio fighting against Asdrubal in Spaine did thus dispose his army he strengthened both the corners of his battell diuided from front to backe after the vsual maner with Romane souldiers his associats he bestowed in the midst his horsemen and light armed hee sent out against the corps de garde of the Carthaginians placed in the gates of their campe and in conuenient places neere When the Carthaginians came foorth against them hee receiued his horsemen and light armed within his battaillions and diuiding them into two partes placed them behinde the corners of the battell Perceiuing where the enemie was weakest hee there beganne the charge with that part of his army that was strongest The first battell of the enemies being discomfited he chargeth the midbattell with his Regiments of Romanes on the sides with his associats that were Spaniards in front and on the backes with his horsmen and so put the same to flight Scipio cornua firmat a Liu. 28. Romano milite socijs in mediam aciem acceptis equites leuem armaturam in stationes Punicas immisit egredientibus Poenis equitatum leuem armaturam in medium acceptam diuisamque in partes duas in subsidijs post cornua locat Cum cornibus vbi firma eius erat acies Poenorum infirma pugnam incipit ea acie fugata mediam Poenorum aciem ipse a latere equites à tergo Hispani à fronte adorti fuderunt Scipioes father encountring the same man their armies were then thus ordered the front of the Romane army stoode vpon three parts the footemen after the maner of the Romanes were part before the ensignes and part behinde the horsemen stoode beyond both the corners of the Auantgard or first battell Asdrubal placed the Spaniards in the midst in the right corner hee ordered the Carthaginians the Africans and other mercenary souldiers in the left his Numidian horsemen hee placed fast by the Carthaginians on that wing where they stoode the rest of his horsemen in the other corner Triplex stetit b Liu. 23. Romana acies peditum pars ante signa locata pars post signa accepta equites cornua cinxere Asdrubal mediam aciem Hispanis firmat in cornibus dextro Poenos locat laeuo Afros mercenariorúmque auxilia equitum Numidas Poenorum peditibus caeteros Afros pro cornibus opponit Scipio he that subdued Annibal encountring with Syphax vsed the vsual aray of the Romanes making his army triple in breadth and in length the Italian horsemen he placed by the right corner of the first squadrons the Numidians ledde by Masinissa by the left Syphax and Asdrubal opposed the Numidian or Barbary horse against the Italian horse the Carthaginians against Masinissa The Celtiberian footemen they placed in the midst opposite against the squadrons of the Romane Regiments c Liu. 30. Romanus hast atorum prima signa post principes in subsidijs triarios constituit Equitatum Italicum ab dextro cornu ab laeuo Numidas Masinissamque opposuit Syphax Asdrubalque Numidis aduersus Italicum equitatum Carthaginensibus contra Masinissam locatis Celtiberos in mediam aciem in aduersa signa legionum accepere In a certaine encounter in Spaine the d Liu. 29. Romans perceiuing that the enemy had left spaces betweene the midbattel those squadrons that made the corners purposing to send out his horsemen by those spaces preuenting him filled those spaces first with their horsmen which both made the enemies horse vnseruiceable and holpe to disorder his footemen Their other aray was ordinary saue that the horsemen made not the outmost wings but the footemen as appeareth by these wordes of Liuy following Cornua dextrum Ilergetes laeuum alij Hispani mediam aciem Ausetani tenuere Inter cornua mediam aciem interualla patentia fecerunt satis lata qua equitatum vbi tempus esset emitterent Romani cùm inter cornua loca etiam patentia fecissent hoc vicerunt quod primi equites inter interualla miserint quod hostium equites inutiles fecit turbauit hostium pedites Yet was not the aray of the Romanes alwaies the same as appeareth by that encounter which the Romane Proconsul Pretor had with Mago in Liguria The Pretors legions made the front of the armie first squadrons the Proconsul placed his legions behind for supply The twelfth legion being almost cut all in peeces the thirteenth was auanced forward to relieue it Mago against this legion opposed fresh men reserued behinde for supply the Elephants comming ouerthwart the first rankes of the eleuenth legion being drawen foorth fought with them with their iauelins a Liu. 30. Praetoris legiones in prima acie fuerunt procos suas in subsidij tenuit Duodecima legione magna ex parte caesa decimatertia legio in primam aciem inducta Mago ex subsidijs Gallos integros legioni opposuit hastati legionis vndecimae pila in Elephantos conijciunt Furius fighting with the Gaules in Liguria placed his army in this sort The souldiers of his associats he diuided into b Wings were so called for that they were placed on the sides of the battell yet were they not so alwaies wings and of them made the front of the battell Two regiments he placed behinde for a supply When the right wing was almost oppressed bringing vp the two regiments on either side of it he garded the same and with his horsemen he charged the enemy vpon the side of his battell c Liu. 31. In alas Furius diuidens socialem exercitum eum in prima acie locauit in subsidijs duas legiones oppressae dextrae posteà alae duas illas legiones circumduxit equites in latus hostium emisit When afterward the Romane Empire was enlarged that the Romanes began to haue diuers nations in their armies although the generall order was still obserued yet there happened in their armies by reason of this
proceeding and continuance of warres and warlike actions I haue followed in this discourse the order of time setting downe those things first which are first to bee considered prouided and executed and so prosecuting euery action of warre seuerally by it selfe Those that haue done otherwise I see they haue trifled away many words without any small profite They talke of rankes and arayes at large others of building of fortresses that belonging to a good Serieant properly this to a good mason But howe souldiers shal be prouided and how they shall proceede and howe souldiers and fortresses are to be gouerned they scarce mention sure few of them know or can declare Besides these they omit manie other necessarie poyntes of warre wherein the safetie of an armie and a state consisteth Wherefore omitting or slenderly handling those sleight poyntes I haue chosen other matters more important to dilate beginning first with the causes of warres then with the prouision that is made before warres be attemted For although souldiers are the principall actors in these tragicall matters yet before wee drawe an army into the fielde or make leuie of souldiers manie things are to be considered and prouided First wee are to consider that our cause be good and iust For warres without cause are nothing but robbery and violence contrary to humanitie and reason secondly all things necessary for the warres are to be prouided thē are souldiers to be leuied and exercised and so brought into the field to prosecute all other necessary faits of armes 1 First therefore I will God willing declare what causes make warres iust or vniust and what are the effects of lawfull warres and therein also what solemnities or circumstances are to be considered in defiance of our enemies or first attempts of warre 2 Secondly what prouision is to be made of treasure armes munition victuals ships by sea and carriages and tents by land 3 Thirdly that wee are to strengthen our selues with the helpe of confederates and associates so much as we can and to draw what friends or strength wee can from the enemie both before we attempt warres and after 4 Fourthly what partes and qualities are required in a General and what counsell he is to adioyne to himselfe and whether it is better to giue souereigne authoritie in warres to one alone or to more likewise what authority and commission the Generall ought to haue further what is to bee respected in the choyce of Colonels of Captaines of companies and other officers of the army and what in the choyce of common souldiers what othe they are to take and how much the souldiers of our owne nation are to be preferred before strangers what inconueniences ensue of want of pay what numbers of souldiers are required in warres and finally how souldiers are to be exercised that they may be made ready for the warres 5 Fiftly what things are to be considered of those that are to transport an army by sea or by land into an other countrey and whether it is better for the English nation to inuade the Spaniard or any other forreine enemie in his owne countrey then to receiue his assault at home or to stay vntil he come on our coast or within our countrey and lastly what cautions souldiers sent abroade in succour and ayde of other nations are to vse 6 Sixtly what order and aray an army is to obserue in marching and how the same may march safely in the enemies countrey surmounting all difficulties whereby either in champion or wooddy countries or els in the passage of riuers or hilles and straites it may be disordred stopped or hindred 7 And for that we are not onely to offend but also sometimes to defend we are also to shewe what oppositions and trauerses the defendants are to make thereby to stoppe the progression and marche of the enemie and how to send our men safely forth on forraging and howe to stoppe and cut off the enemies forragers 8 For that oft times time is vainely spent in deliberations daliances and delayes to the impouerishing of many states and ouerthrow of many good actions we will shew by many proofes that nothing is more aduantageous then expedition and celerity in preparing marching executing fighting and all enterprises of warre nor any thing more hurtfull or dangerous then delaies 9 What orders are to be obserued in the fortifying defending and gouerning of our campe and lodging that we be not either charged a l'improuista or easily forced to fight 10 We will also shewe that as the assaylants in the enemies countrey are to seeke that the matter may be soone tried by battell so the defendants without great aduantage are to auoyde it and further by what meanes the enemie may be brought to fight and how those that feare to fight may auoyde the encounter with least losse 11 Before the Generall doeth bring foorth his armie into the fielde many things are to be considered all which shal be declared in the eleuenth Chapter 12 In the twelfth we are to discourse of the aray and charge of an armie encountring the enemie in open fielde and therein of the vse of horsemen of pikes halberds targets small shot archerie and great ordonance 13 In the thirteenth shall follow a briefe treatise of stratagemes ambushes and whatsoeuer deuises serue for the more ready atchieuing of our purpose 14 After the victorie once obteined and the enemie vanquished in the next Chapter we are to shew how the victorie is to be vsed and the conquest may best be mainteined 15 And because the hazard of warre is doubtfull in the fifteenth Chapter we purpose to declare by what meanes an army that is foyled or feareth to fight may most safely or with least danger or losse retire and howe the enemie in following the course of his victorie may be stopped 16 The sixteenth Chapter shall conteine precepts and orders for the gouernment of a camp that besiegeth a citie or fort and what course is best in besieging battering assaulting or entring the same 17 For the behoofe of the defendants the 17. shall declare what proceeding is best in the defence and gouernment of a towne or place assayled besieged battered assaulted or demyforced 18 And for that sea townes are not easily defended nor besieged without a nauie at sea in the next place followeth a discourse concerning the vse of ships of warre and how they are to be prouided ranged and managed in sea-fightes 19 Next vnto the execution of warres followeth the treaty of peace truce and confederacies of which we are in the 19. Chapter to intreate and also of the assurance of articles of peace truce and confederacie and likewise of the priuiledges of ambassadors and messengers by which such matters are treated and brought to passe 20 After warres ensue rewardes of such as haue behaued themselues valiantly in the seruice of their countrey and therefore in the 20. Chapter we are to entreat of the rewards of valiant souldiers punishment of
councill and auctoritie to make warres should rest in Princes That warres are to be denounced on the assaylants side diuers reasons perswade vs. g Nullum bellum est iustum nisi quod aut rebus repetitis geritur aut antè denunciarum est indictum Cic. offic 1. There is a iustice in warres to be obserued sayth Tully which iustice requireth that warres be eyther denounced or made after deniall of things demaunded that haue beene vniustly taken from vs. He speaketh of warres made by those that inuade others For to defend our selues without more wordes is lawfull by the lawes both of nature and nations and very ridiculous it were to threaten those that haue begun to strike vs already Those therefore that thinke we haue no warres with the Spaniard because they haue not heard them proclaimed are like to those that will not ward or strike an enemie that commeth vpon them without saying beware Caesar minding to assayle Ariouistus sent a h Caesar perlegatos bellum indixit Ariouisto de bel gal L. 1. defiance to him before hand When Annibal came with an huge army into Italy the Romanes defended themselues without spending time about denouncing or threatning of warres Otherwise those that first begin warres doe vse first to speake before they strike which was not only the course of antiquitie but also of later times Onely the king of Spaine hath thought it lawfull vnder colour of treatie of peace without any defiance to cut our throtes if he could It may be he taketh the Popes excōmunicatiō against that Prince people of this land for a sufficient denuntiation or warrant to inuade vs without other circumstance This he learned of Alphonsus a Castro that determineth warres a Li. 2. de iust haeret puniend against heretikes to be lawfull which he taketh to be defied by auctoritie of the Canon And in his determination b Aial de iur bel lib. 1. Baltazar Aiala a great man among the Spaniards resteth no maruell if they obserue no solemnities in warres against vs whō they hold for heretikes hauing already determined that faith c Concil constant and promise is not to be performed vnto heretikes I neede not to describe the forme wordes vsed in defiances He that will reade the forme in time past vsed by the Romanes let him peruse d Lib. 16. c. 4. Aulus Gellius Later formes are reported in later histories much talked of by Heralds that claime that to be part of their office But litle seemeth it materiall to know that formes of defiances seeing in these times neither forme nor substance is strictly in this behalfe obserued Onely thus much Princes messengers that goe vpon this arrand of defiance are to take heede first that they passe not the words of their cōmission secondly that they vse no words of reproch or scorne It is reported that Frācis the 1. king of France would not heare the Herald sent him from Charles the 5. with defiance before he had caused a gibet to be erected to put him in mind what he should haue if he kept not himselfe within compasse In executing of wars this precept must diligently be had in remembrance that there be no crueltie vsed There is moderation euen in the executiō of iustice not onely in other actions of warre And Caesar in his victory against Pompei cōmanded his souldiers to spare the Romanes to delight in blood is signe of a sauage nature e Con. Faust The desire of doing hurt and crueltie in execution a mind also implacable and sauage is iustly blamed in warres saith S. Augustine those that yeeld themselues are not to be slaine Galba for that he slewe the Lusitanians after that he had taken them vpon composition was iustly therefore accused by Cato It is no victory to kil an enemie disarmed nor iustice to kill our prisoners in colde blood The execution done in the Generals chamber vpon the prisoners after the battel of Cognac an 1569. did greatly blemish his honor Who doth not detest the f Histoire de troubl de Fr. executions that haue bin done vpon men disarmed after cōpositiō at Mailè Mucidan diuers other places during these late troubles of Frāce yet may not prisoners vpon this libertie presume to abuse or attempt any matter against those that haue taken them for then they deserue no fauour Caesars souldiers at a Hirt de bel Hisp Munda in Spaine vnderstanding that if the Townesmen sallyed out vpō them their prisoners would charge them vpon their backes were forced to massacre them likewise were the English forced to kill their prisoners after the battell of Poytiers fearing least they should vse some trechecie when the enemie made shewe to assayle them b Que ningun soldado mate muger ninno vieio ni person inhabil aunque sea en la furia del vincer so pena de la vida ni ponga la mano in tales personas Sancho de Londono Women children and old folkes by the orders of warre obserued nowe in the Spanish campe are exempted from the souldiers furie in the sacke of Townes The present French king deserueth great prayse for suffering the poore and impotent people of Paris to passe through his armie although it were much to his preiudice practice of armes required percase other rigour as appeareth by the crueltie executed by Caesars souldiers at Auaricum and the Sea townes of France on such kind of people thereby to make the besieged eyther sooner to yeelde or to spend their victuals but this best beseemed a Christian king The Turkes saue such for slaues Christians therefore ought to doe that for conscience which Turkes doe for gaine Of this discourse this is the summe that those c What warres are lawfull warres are iust and lawfull which are made by the soueraigne Magistrate for lawfull and iust causes being both orderly denounced in cas◠requisite moderatly prosecuted to the end that iustice may be done and an assured peace obteined In which case it is lawfull for any man with good conscience to serue in warres but if the warres be notoriously vniust let euery man take heede howe hee embrewe his handes in innocent blood The Christian souldiers that serued Iulian the Apostat would not drawe their swordes against Christians although they willingly serued him against all others Yet doe I not make priuate men iudges of Princes factes but what neede any iudgment where the facte is euident and who shall answere for men that execute Princes wicked commaundements before Christes tribunall seate if the iniustice of warres be not notorious the subiect is bound to pay and serue and the guilt shall be laide to his charge that commaundeth him to serue A good man may serue sayth d August lib. 22. con Faust Man c. 7. Saint Augustine vnder a sacrilegious Prince where the iniustice of the commandement shall bind the Prince as the duetie of obedience doth make the souldier innocent
snayle so long as hee keepeth himselfe within his shell is defensed when he putteth out his head he lyeth open to danger So they that in their owne countrey may liue safe by making enterprises abroad oft times receiue blowes and alwayes lie open to danger The 6 Thucid. Athenians were vtterly ouerthrowen in Sicile that before that were well able to defend them selues at home And diuers great armies of Germans and Gaules inuincible if they had bene in their owne countreys were ruinated attempting to inuade forreine countreys Which reasons howsoeuer they seeme plausible in the eares of those that in matters of warres proceede like snayles and care not for any disgrace or future danger so they may enioy present ease yet are built on false grounds and matters mistaken For if we might safely rest at home I thinke him not wise nor sober that would seeke trouble abroad But seeing we can not haue peace the Spaniard hauing begun warres and threatning the destruction of our state the question is whether is better for vs to stay vntill he come vpon vs or to begin with him and seeke him in his owne countrey I say this is best my reasons are these He that first chargeth his enemie hath many aduantages it is his great foly if hee be not well prouided of souldiers mariners armes shippes horses and all prouisions for the warres hee may make choyce where to charge the enemy and proceedeth simply if he doe not there beginne where hee findeth his enemy weakest and most vnprouided He may make likewise choyce of his times take opportunities 7 Con le preuentioni diuersioni si vincono le guerre Guicciar lib. 1. Victorie is obteined by preuention and by the same warres are oft times diuerted as Alphonsus king of Naples sayd but practiced not For if hee had not lingred matters and had met the enemie in the way he had not so easily bene driuen out of his state No man obteineth better conditions of peace then he that first striketh Contrariwise dangerous it is to let the enemie come vpon vs. as 8 Malum nascens facilè opprimitur Inuereratum fit plerunque robustius Cic. Philip. diseases so the attempts and proceedings of the enemy at the first are easily stopped and both in time are strengthened and confirmed And oft times of light beginnings as 9 Tacit. annal 4. Tacitus sayth great troubles arise If thou 10 Veterem feâ—eÌ„do iniuriam inuitas nouam Liu. suffer one iniurie thou doest but giue thy enemy courage to offer thee another The enemy doeth oft times trie our patience and seeing vs patiently to endure iniuries as 12 Liu. 1. Ancus Martius sayd doeth contemne vs. And to 13 Latinos quasinihil non concedentibus Romanis ferociores fecit Liu. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid 1. yeelde in one thing doeth giue the enemy courage to aske more Nothing doeth procure more enemies then patience and 14 Liu. 6. contempt Warre is like a fire if it proceede it embraceth whatsoeuer is neere as the Campamans sayd If 15 Liu. 7. Alexander king of Epeirus comming in succour of the Lucanians had had good successe the Romanes should haue felt his force therefore did they vse at the first to preuent matters Vndestanding that Philip king of Macedonia made preparations to come ouer into Italy they tooke paynes to meete him in his owne Countrey Likewise did they preuent the attemptes of Antiochus Which course if they had taken when Annibal first besieged 16 Cunctati Saguntinis opem ferre de Italia dimicauimus sayd a certaine Romane Senator Saguntum they had deriued the warres into Spaine and escaped the storme which Annibals army brought into Italy Those that feare to assayle the enemy vpon 17 Cauete ne spe pacis perpetuam pacem amittatis Cic. Philip. 7. hope of peace loose oft times peace for euer Tully feared it seeing the Romanes proceede so coldly against Antony and the issue prooued it true The obiect on s that are made are of no moment for admit we neither haue Port nor towne nor friende in the Spanish Dominions yet armes and victory procure all these The coast can neuer be so well garded but that an army may alwayes haue accesse to some Port or landing place or other The Romanes landed diuers times in Afrike during the warres with Carthage and spoyled their townes and countrey nay Caesar landed his army in Epeirus when the enemy with an army prepared helde all the Port townes The Athenians made diuers descentes into Peloponesus notwithstanding the diligent garde that the enemy made Who seeth not then howe easy it is to sease a Port or to land in Spaine the countrey being almost without garde of souldiers if any man doubted before yet since the voyage into Portugal I thinke there is none will make question of that matter Neither did Scipio doubt for want of Portes or friendes to sayle into Afrike or the Persians into Greece or other to inuade his enemy For armes procure friendes and winne Portes so that had we no friends in Spaine yet what resoluce man would refuse to goe against such enemies much more therefore nowe seeing the Portugals are discontent with the Spanish gouernment and Spaine is so stored with men of foreine nations and diuers malcontents As for the distance it is nothing where there is no resistance by the way And what reason haue we to accompt Spaine farre when the Romanes doubted not to transport their armies not onely into Afrike and Spaine but also into Asia which is a farre longer cut If winde and weather serue in three dayes and three dightes the voyage may be perforified The difficulty of supplyes may easily be holpen with prouision made beforehand If the army goe into Spaine well stored there is no such haste of supply but that it may come in good time Why not into Spaine from England as well as from Rome into Spaine Afrike Asia yea and Britein But the Spaniards are valiant at home and will not giue ground fighting for their Countrey wiues and children As if the Romanes a more warrelike and valiant people did not giue ground to Annibals army in Italy and as if the Gaules were not vanquished in diuers battels by Caesar and the Spaniards in time past by the Carthaginians and Romanes and since that by the Gothes and Mores yea and by the Portugales also their neighbours And not onely our ancesters in the dayes of Edward the third and Richard the second but wee our selues also haue had triall of that enemie both in Galicia and Portugal Hee that 19 Maior spes est maiorque animus inferentis vim quám arcencis Liu. 21. commeth to inuade others fighteth with greater courage then those that are inuaded by the testimonie of Annibal and proofe of experience 20 Illis ignauis esselicet qui receptum habent vobis necesse est fortibus viris esse Liu. 21. They that haue
see not how our people can mainteine their honor but the next course to assure them selues is to haue cautionary townes or hostages or both deliuered into their handes townes that they may assure them selues of retraite in case of bad dealing hostages that they may be assured of their good dealing Without townes their case is desperate if the enemie preuaile The b Froâ—ssart French that came to aide Galeazzo Duke of Millain vnder the leading of the Countie of Armignac being scattered in the siege of Alexandria were slaine by the Pesants of the Countrey The like happened to those poore Lanceknights that were defeated at c Anno 1569. Moncontour Neither were the Spaniards better vsed that came in aide of the Leaguers being defeated by the present french king neere Dreux anno 1589. This towne that is giuen in caution is to be garded with a sufficient force of English furnished with victuals and munitions in the garde of the garrison and not as in Vlissingen in the keeping of the townesmen vnto whom whosoeuer trusteth shall assuredly be deceiued Thirly let those that haue the gouernment of our men see that they both march and lodge vnited and strong that they be not either disturbed in the night nor betraied vnder colour of frieÌ„dship Strangers that stragle are a spoile not onely to the pesants but to their secrete euil-willers And those that lodge without defence or suffer any to come within them in the night are open to euery enterprise of their enemies That they may both lodge and march hard together order is to be taken that they may haue victuals deliuered them alwaies before hand and that they be not driuen to seeke abroad for them To conclude the onely meanes of safetie is neither to trust enemy nor friend for none are abused but they that trust dissoyall people If that our men can neither haue townes nor hostages nor victuals nor good vsage what should they be sent among such people or why should they trust others being not themselues trusted or why should any succour be sent but such as may command and punish the dissoyall and haue strength to stand vpon themselues Those therefore that are gouernours I trust they will maturely consider of this point if not let them looke for this issue if the enemy be stronger then are our men either to be slaine or famished by the enemie if by our forces our friendes preuaile then for their rewarde shall they either be turned out of the countrey with disgrace or be famished or cut in peeces by their friendes These things considered let vs nowe consequently proceede to declare howe an army after that it is exercised and furnished and that the Generals haue all due considerations both therein and in all other prouision and proceeding required before the marche of the army may march orderly and safely CHAP. VI. Part. I. Of the order and aray of an army marching toward the enemy THe first care of him that meaneth to march safely in the enemies countrey or where an enemie is neere ought to be that his troupes obserue good order and aray and the neerer that he approcheth to the enemy the greater ought his care to be The neglect of this point onely hath bene the ouerthrow of many armies It giueth opportunitie to the enemy to assaile vs and confoundeth yong souldiers when they are ignorant how to come in order to defend themselues Easie it is to be obserued of men that are willing and vnderstand reason and sharpe effects and correction it worketh on the stubborne and wilfull That the General or his officers may put the armie in good order of march first they are to vnderstand what is the aray of the whole armie considered together as one whole body Secondly the places of euery part as of horsemen footemen and of footemen of the diuers sortes of weapons Thirdly the iust distances of souldier from souldier according to euery mans qualitie and weapon Fourthly the places of the Generall and other chiefe Commanders Fiftly of the great Ordonance and munition Lastly of the cariages and baggage and boyes and seruants that attend vpon it and likewise of marchants and victualers and others that followe the army for other causes then to fight The armie consisteth of three partes commonly considered especially as it marcheth for in fighting the orders and parts doe much differ The first part that marcheth wee call vantgard the second the battell the third the arier ward Euery one of these ought to be a perfect body of it selfe hauing both his smal shot and great ordonnance and his horsemen and his pikes targets and halberds placed in good order Oft times I know it is otherwise and that either horsemen or pikes or targets are wanting in some part or other But howe much of these they want so much they want of perfection and due proportion in a iust army For we speake not of 6 or 7 thousand which cannot obserue this order but had better to march vnited but of a ful army of 24 or 30 thousand which number marching in this order so that one part may succour an other I accompt doth march orderly and strongly If one part goe farre before an other it may fall out as it happened to the Protestants in the plaines of S. Clere anno 1569 that one part shall be in route before the other can come to succour The Romanes marched distinguished by legions whose numbers were diuers and which seldome were complete but in effect the aray was one saue that the Romanes commonly made but two partes of their armie and placed their baggage in the midst as did Caesar marching against the Neruians In the order of the partes and placing of horsemen and footemen and sorting of weapons the same reasons haue place for the most part among all nations Before the auantgard light horsemen by ancient prescription may challenge the first place If they be seconded with some shot and targetters lightly armed they may be the bolder to come neere the enemy and to abide his charge These are called auantcoureurs and serue for discouery of the enemies proceedings and of the situation of the Countrey and intercepting of the enemies espials and diuers other vses Vpon the front of the auantgard march small shot and musquetiers after them follow the armed men with the ensignes in the midst or rather somewhat toward the first rankes On either hand and behind the armed men are other companies of shot to be ranged and without the shot somewhat auanced forward argoletiers and then launces take their place If the enemie make countenance as if he would charge some part of our army with his horse they are to be drawne toward the side where the enemie threatneth to giue the charge but if the enemie doe flie before vs and shunne to fight the horsemen of the whole armie would be ioyned together and sent to charge him on the sides or backe and to stay his marche
as Caesar practised first against the a Caes bel Gal. 1. Heluetians then against the b Caes bel Gal. 2. Aduaticans and lastly against Petreius his c Caes bel ciu 1. armie in Spaine By which meanes he ouertooke those that were farre before him But this hath vse where we are stronger then the enemie in horse Howe many horsemen or shot or pikes or targets and other weapons shall march in a ranke I referre to the iudgement of a good Sergiant maior according to the bredth of the waies and approches of the enemie The more doe march in a ranke the lesse paine he shall haue to set them in order when he would place them in order of battell and the stronger the aray is d Guicciar lib. 9. Ten thousand Switzers in Lombardy in the warres betwixt the Spaniards and French marched foure score in a ranke harde by the French armie which seeing their resolution durst not charge them The same course is to be taken in the aray of the battell and arierward marching saue that these two partes following without any great distance betweene neede not light horsemen or auantcoureurs especially where the enemie is before Neither haue they such vse of shot or horsemen as the auantgard where they are vsed for supplies rather then to fight in front In the placing of horsemen footemen in sorting and employing of diuers weapons so that euery sort may doe best seruice consisteth the speciall iudgement of a wise leader For therein are infinite differences according to the diuers strength of the enemie and our owne forces and likewise according to the diuersities of grounds and times Yet commonly in marching this order is obserued first the light-horse seconded if need be with shot and targetters especially where the country is rough and wooddie serue for auantcoureurs Caliuers and musquetiers are not onely to march on the front but also on the sides and backe of the armed men Lances and men of armes are ranged the outmost on the sides for the most part Next to the shot march the pikes of that part of the armie these would bee rāged rather in battaillions according to the fashion of the Romans that the shot and other light armed men might saue themselues and againe make head within the distances then all in one front ioyned togither But this is where the plainnesse of the ground will giue leaue In euery battaillion the ensignes are to bee placed somewhat toward the first rankes garded with good store of targetters and halberds well armed In placing and sorting of weapons the Generall is to consider that the charge of horsemen against shot and targetters is mortall if they be not either garded with pikes or haue the vantage of ditches or hedges or woods where they cannot reach them In which case the shot gauleth the horse if they come within the leuell of the piece Shot and targetters against pikes worke good effects pikes ioined close and standing firme togither doe breake the carriere of horsemen especially where they haue their musquetiers placed neere by them Archers where they haue a defense before them doe good seruice in the field against horsemen These things let the General haue so in mind that he may rather take the aduantage of weapons in the encounter then giue it to the enemie In marching the distances of euery ranke from ranke and of euery souldier from his companion by him are greater then whē they stand ranged in battell readie to fight It skilleth not much what the distance be so they may beare their weapons commodiously march seemelie yet that euery man might know what distance is sufficient what is most seemly it were good that one rule were obserued Shot although in fighting they obserue rather a course then aray and are to stirre vp and downe to espie where they may hit the enemie yet that they may with more ease and speed bee drawen to seruice are to march in distance from ranke to ranke fiue or sixe foote from shoulder to shoulder one foote or a foote and a halfe Argoletiers or Pistoliers in march from horse to horse on the side are distant two foote from ranke to ranke a yarde and a halfe or thereabout The Lancier without bardes rideth in the same distance Pikemen from their fellowes side by them are distant a foote and a halfe or two foote from the pikemen behind and before by reason of the length of their pikes twelue foote Their march to their corps de gard when they hold their pikes vpright which the Italian calleth inalborar is out of this rule Of their distances in charging or receiuing the charge of horse or foote wee shall speake when we come to the place Halbardiers march a foote and a halfe from shoulder to shoulder and seuen foote from ranke to ranke The targetter may obserue the same distance from shoulder to shoulder but hee needeth not such distance from ranke to ranke The Generall as he hath the commandement so he ought to haue the care of all and therefore ought to be in all places But because he cannot bee in all places at one time therefore doeth the practise of warre require that he assigne the guiding of his three battaillions to three of his chiefe officers and commaunders that are men of iudgement and experience to see and commaund in his absence all men in their battaillion to march in order Himselfe may march with the battell vnlesse for some cause it shall please him to march in the vantgard or arierward The Romanes ouer euery legion or regiment of fiue or sixe thousand placed a principall commaunder they called him Legatum the same was of the Generals counsell and in his absence one of his lieutenants Euerie seuerall troupe of horsemen are to haue their seuerall commaunders and euery compaine of shot likewise All which ought to be obedient to the Generall of the horse or Colonell of the footemen which know the Generals counsell The seuerall troupes also of armed men are to haue their seuerall commaunders prouided alwayes that no one companie haue more then one commaunder for auoiding of confusion and that euery of these hearken to their superiours which vnder the Generall haue the chiefe gouernement of euery battaillion The Serieant maior and corporals of the field his officers are to acquaint euery commaunder with the Generals direction which the same is to execute These are therefore suffered to goe vp and downe to see things in order For others it is not good they should leaue their araie unlesse it bee for necessarie causes as sickenesse the necessities of nature and such like The commaunders of euery troupe are to march in the head of their troupes their lieutenants behind the same All other colonels captaines lieutenants and serieants are to keepe their ranke and araie wherein they shall be placed For although ouer their priuate companies when they are single they commaund yet in the armie vnited togither they
Liui. 6. Romane Consul hauing receiued newes that some of his company would be defeated without present succour and not reteining the messenger fell into an ambush layde for him The most assured way of intelligence is by espials secretly sent or discouerers approching the enemie Annibal f Liuy 30. returning out of Italy to defend his owne countrey against Scipio sent diuers espials into his campe g Pro perfugis speculandi gratia in Caesaris castra mittit Hirt. de bel Afric Scipio in the warres of Caesar in Afrike sent two Getulians to espie Caesars campe disguised as fugitiues But because such persons cannot long stay there without being discouered therefore sometimes vnder colour of parley and sometime vnder colour of buying or selling or other busines souldiers disguised like marchants espie out the enemies proceeding Scipio while the treatie of peace continued betwixt him and h Liui. 29. Syphax sent diuers captaines in slaues apparel which wandering about the enemies campe discouered the accesses and issues of it which being reported to Scipio gaue him the meanes to charge Syphax in the night being quiet and safe as he conceiued in his lodging i Scipio cum equitatu iaculatoribúsque expeditis profectus ad castra hostium exque propinquo copias quantae cuius generis essēt speculandas obuius fit Annibali ipsi cum equitibus ad exploranda circa loca progresso Liui. 21. Scipio this mans father before the battel with Annibal at Trebia drew foorth his horsemen and light armed to view Annibals campe Annibal for the same purpose came against him with other horsmen But because this maner of discouery cannot be made without force therefore did a Equitatum omnem ad numerum 4000 praemittit qui videant quas in partes hostes iter faciant Caes bel Gal. 1. Caesar pursuing the Heluetians send all his horsemen in number 4000 to see what wayes the enemies marched The b Histoir de trou de Franc. lib. 9. Admirall of France hauing receiued some losse in the plaines of S. Clere anno 1569 for want of good espiall sent certeine horsemen to the number of sixteene which going nere and taking some prisoners might vnderstand the enemies resolution but because they were so few they were beaten backe before they could see any thing and returned without effect Yet we thinke we doe much when we send foorth sixe or seuen horsemen badly mounted for some do rashly proceed without them but both courses are contrary to the practise of warre The view of the countrey well described in cards both teach a wise Generall many thinges for there he may see the tract of riuers the distances of places the rising of hilles and many such opportunities The c Mouerat senatum maximè maris terrarumque regionis eius situm demonstrando Liu. 32. Romanes in ancient time vsed when they consulted of any action to view the situation of the countrey layed before them The Counte of Purlitia in his aduertisements to Ferdinand the Emperour and Don Sancho de Londonno stand vpon the same as a necessary point for by view of regions described many thinges appeare that otherwise cannot be conceiued But much better may the countrey be discouered if men of iudgement go before with the horsemen to view the same and to follow the traces of the enemies those that obserue this course both go returne safely Marcellus d Exploratò cunfirmisque praesidijs tuto receptu praedatum ierat Liu. 23. searching out the lurking holes of the enemy and placing strong gards in places conuenient returned safely from forraging the countrey They that march forward blindely without either view of the countrey or knowledge of the enemies proceedinges are subiect to many mishaps The Romane armie at the straits of Caudium compassed in by the enemy on euery side complaineth that like e Non ducem locorum fuisse non exploratorem belluarum modo caecos in foueam missos Liu. 9. brute beastes going on without guide or espiall they were carried headlong as it were into a pit f Liu. 31. Appius spoiling the countrey of the Boians without either discouery or standes of men well placed was drawen into an ambush and slaine together with his army This one point neglected cost many of the Romanes their liues in the warres with Annibal Marcus Marcellus going himselfe with a small company to view the countrey was himselfe drawne into ambush and slaine g Vocula nec aduentum hostium explorauit eoque simul egressus victusque Tacit. 20. Vocula charging the enemy without knowledge of his forces was assoone slaine as he went fast out of his lodging to fight with him The Counte of Aremberge by the brauery of the Spaniard forced to passe the Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 1. riuer before he knew the strength of the enemy which seemed not great was defeated with his company by the Counte Lodwike The Admirals vantgard was broken in the plaines of S. Clere an 1569 b Ibidem lib. 9. for that the same did bluntly charge the enemy of whose forces and number the same was ignorant The carelesse march of Mouuans and Pierregourde that were charged before they vnderstood of the enemies approch was cause of their ouerthrow and hath also both vnto the enemy and to vs wrought many calamities in the Low countries which those that escaped narrowly may remember and can report Dangerous therefore it is to march by night especially in countries vnknowen and where the enemies proceedinges are vnknowen Asdrubal c Liu. 27. in the night lost his guide his way and wearied himselfe and being the next day forced to fight was ouercome by the Romanes at the riuer of Metaurus Puygalliard in these late troubles of France marching all night most of his troupes lost their way the rest the day following were defeated at S. Gemme by a very few Protestants Those that escape by policy out of straits as Annibal did at Cales and Asdrubal in Spaine he driuing away the corps de gard by feare of fire the other escaping during parley of yeelding and likewise they that haue had good successe charging the enemy at all aduentures haue bene more happy then wise Those therefore that march against their enemies are to discouer the countrey and affaires of the enemy diligently and to shun night marches but if necessity force them thereunto yet wisedome admonisheth them to vnderstand the enemies doings perfectly to procure sure guides and to keepe them fast to march close together now and then to make alta that those that lagge may come vp by sure marks to know frends frō enemies and to giue certeine perfect directions Which course while d Liu. 25. Martius did holde in Spaine Scipio in Afrike he ouercame the Carthaginians and dislodged them twise e Liu. 29. Scipio foiled Syphax and burnt his campe and slew his people in the night The countrey and proceeding of the
enemy discouered let vs next consider the differences of groundes The plaine champion country is to be chosen of those that desire to fight and are stronger then the enemy Those that are vnwilling to fight let them shunne such ground so much as they can therein there is no feare of ambushes nor impediment to breake the aray of the army which in this ground is no lesse to be obserued in marching then in fighting The champion countrey being without hedges or ditches is aduantageous for horsemen whose force in that ground without a hedge of resolute pikes of no number of other armes can well be susteined Two thousand a Cohortes 4 câ—tratorum à Caesaris equitibus in planitie depreheÌ„sae concisae sunt Caes bel Ciu. 1. targetters ouertaken by Caesars horsemen vpon a plaine were all cut in pieces neither could Afranius their Generall succor them b Curio ex locis superioribus copias deducens à Iubae equitatu circumfusus occiditur Caes de bel Ciu. 2. Curio Caesars lieutenant in Afrike leauing the aduantages of the hilles and descending downe into the plaines being compassed about with Iubaes caualery was slaine together with his army Caesar hauing great aduantage against Afranius and Petreius in his horsemen did force them for their safegard to forsake the plaines For how can can an army c Eques leuisque armatura nunc ab tergo nunc ab lateribus occurrendo fatigabat morabaturque Liu. 28. march in the plaines so long as the enemy with his horsemen and light armed chargeth the same now on the sides and then on the backe Caesar marching in Afrike where he was inferior to the enemy in horse was much by their charges encombred and hindred in his march The Romanes d Equitatu melior erat Poenus ob id campi patentes quales sunt inter Padum Alpesque bello gerendo Romanis apti non erant Liu. 21. perceiuing Annibals strength in horse yeelded to him the plaines and kept themselues vpon the higher grounds If therefore we desire to keepe the plaines we must prouide a competent force of horsemen to match the enemies if we be weake in horse let vs keepe our places of aduantages but if necessity force vs to march through plaine and open countries then must wee make head against the horsemen with our pikes and mosquets disposing our army so that not onely the footmen but the horsemen also may haue succour of the battaillions of pikes and shotte Caesar by this meanes repulsed the enemies horse in the plaines of Afrike and charging them with some few horse seconded with halfe pikes put them to the gallop If our horsemen be not too much inferiour to the enemy then if wee mingle some shotte and halfe pikes lightly armed with doublets plated or other light armour among them and second them with some battaillions of pikes wee need not greatly feare to encounter the enemies horsemen By this e Liu. 26. mixture and aray the Romanes ouerthrew the Capuan horsemen in the siege of Capua which before that they durst not vpon euen hand encounter Afranius had no other meanes to breake the charge of Caesars f Caesaris equitatu Afranianos premente expeditae cohortes extremum agmen claudebant Caes bel Ciu. 1. horsemen pursuing him in Spaine but by opposing against them in the rierward certeine companies of halfe pikes lightly armed and ready not being laden with baggage By this onely deuice Caesar with 2000 horse all weried and faint put 7000 of a Caes de bel Ciuil lib. 3. Pompeyes horsemen to flight for no horsemen will endure the point of the halberd or halfe pike The Prince b Histoire de troubl de France of Condey in the encounter at S. Denis in these late troubles of France assigning to euery company of horse a company of shot which should discharge when the enemy came to charge the Princes horse by this deuice preuailed against the enemy which otherwise he was not able to encounter Wooddy countries and thicke bushes are not to be passed either with our horse or pikes before we haue cleared them with our shot and targetters and short weapons for as in those groundes horse for that they cannot there fetch their carreire and pikes by reason of their length are vnseruiceable so they are exposed to the shot of the enemy which in such places commonly lie hidden The c Tacit. Annal. Romanes taking the Germanes with their long pikes in a certein wooddy couÌ„trey taught them that such groundes were not for them Caesar pursuing his enemies into d Caes bel gal 2. the wooddes would not follow them before the wayes were made and the woods cut downe Hilles and straits are yet more difficult to passe then woods for in woods short weapons and shot may do seruice in hilles and straits possessed by the enemy neither horsemen nor pikes nor any sort of weapons can do seruice but with great disaduantage In surmounting whereof these cautions are to be vsed first that we do not enter a strait before we haue assured our selues of an issue either before or behinde or at least on the sides The e Liu. 9. Romanes not vsing this caution entring the strait at Caudium were so compassed in by the enemy on euery side that they could neither goe forward nor backeward but must there compound for their liues Cornelius the f Liu. 7. consul had likewise bene entrapped and compassed about in a valley by the Samnites if that Decius a valiant man with certeine troupes had not taken the hill aboue their heades and driuen them from thence by his owne danger opening a passage to the rest of the army If we be not assured to force the enemy before vs yet let vs assure our selues of the highest groundes both behinde and vpon the sides of the army and keepe them vntill the passage before be opened Which course Annibal taught vs by his example passing the Alpes and the Pyrenean mountaines Being g Liu. 22. brought into a strait by the mistaking of his guide he forced the passage in the night and deliuered his armie safe out Cyrus perceiuing the danger of his armie in passing the straites and hils of Cilicia taken and kept by the enemie remooued him thence by sending certaine troupes farre about another way to charge him on the backe In passing of mountaines garded by the enemie we are further to take heed that our companies doe not march vp to the hill directly before that our shot and light armed haue either taken the higher ground if any be or els some euen ground either vpon the sides or the backes of the enemie Annibal a Liu. 21. perceiuing that the inhabitants of the Alpes had seased the passages in the night time marching vp with the lustiest yong men hee had tooke the ground aboue their heads and so draue them from the places which otherwise by rolling downe of stones might haue
corne and other prouision made them returne many times short home So long as horsemen do hang vpon the sides and taile of an army they make but a slow march Caesar sending his horsemen before to charge the enemies last troups did so trouble them that he ouertooke the g Caes Bel. Gal. 1. Heluetians and h Omnem equitatum qui nouissimuÌ„ agmen moraretur praemisit Caes Bel. Gal. 2. Belgians in France Afranius his army in Spaine although they had gotten farre before him himselfe and his army were so molested by the horsemen of i Hirti de bel Afric Scipio in Afrike that in foure houres he could not march much aboue an hundred paces being driuen to stay and receiue euery charge and stirre as also befell the Romans an other time a Ad crebros â—quitum velitum tumultus signa consistebant Liu. 28. encountring the enemie in his marche The French horsemen that coasted the Almaines that anno 1569. came in aide of the Protestants of France kept them from stragling but if they had bin more and durst haue charged them they had staied them longer in their iourney For if the first marche while those that are behinde fight then are these left to the butcherie as it happened to the b Caes de bel gal 2. Belgians pursued by Caesar Further such straites and hilles as the enemie is to passe if he meane to enter further into the Countrey are to be garded and the wayes to be trenched that both our men may haue a couer and the enemie more difficultie in forcing the passage Leonidas to stoppe the Persian army kept the straites of Thermopylae which was also practised by Antiochus against the Romanes Philip c Liu. 32. purposing to stop the Romane army at the straite of Aous trenched the passage and on the higher ground placed archers and slingers and the rest of his army in conuenient places But it succeeded not for that he suffered the enemie not onely to take the higher ground but also to come on his backe Which also was the ruine of Leonidas and Antiochus Those therefore that keepe hilles and passages are to take heede of three dangers the first that they suffer not the enemie to take the higher ground the second that they doe not so lye open that the enemie may come on their backes and thirdly that their company be not vnable to abide the enemies force or to defende the grounde committed to their charge For in this case those that seeke to stoppe other are often taken in trappe themselues especially if they lye not strong nor looke well to their garde If the enemie enter into a strayte which hath but two or three issues take those issues and garde them strongly and thou hast the enemie enclosed as it were in a nette So were the Romanes enclosed at Caudium and compassed in before and behinde on the sides But take heede that thy garde be strong and watchfull least the same be forced and all thy labour frustrated as happened to Fabius hauing enclosed Annibal at Cales by the weakenesse of the corps de garde placed on the hill Calicula If the king of Macedonia had placed strong garisons in the straites of Athamany and Thessaly and shewed himselfe in head of the Romanes they could d Ne Romani abnuunt se magna clade pugnaturos Liu. 42. neuer haue issued thence without great slaughter and losse There is no greater tryall of a captaine then in the taking of the aduantage of grounds And therefore let him proceede wisely and cause his men to worke diligently that his trenches be sufficient and well furnished with stones and shotte and all things necessarie And especially that he be not enclosed nor beaten from the higher ground Woods are a good couer for any enterprise and therefore wise captaines therein doe place such companies of souldiers as may eyther charge the enemie passing through or by them Yet let them take heede that they haue a place of retrait there that going about to hurt others they be not cutte in pieces themselues The surest defence against the enemies proceeding is a riuer not to be forded ouer but the bridges are to be broken and the botes to be taken from the other side and the bankes where they are most lowe and easy to be raysed with earth and fensed with stakes and the same to be garded with a competent force both of horsemen and footemen with their sconces in coÌ„uenient places By this meanes a Caes bel gal 1. Caesar kept the Heluetians at a baye and stopped them from passing the riuer of Rone notwithstanding their diuers attemptes both by night day the b Praesidia disponebant quibus locis videbatur pontesque rescindebant fluminuÌ„ Liu. 22. Romanes stopped the outcourses of Annibal Which course if the French king had taken the Protestants had not so easely retired from the battell of S. Dennis c Hist de troubl â—e Fr. l. 3. anno 1567 nor had they passed so many Riuers nor taken so many Townes so easely But neither were the Townes garded with souldiers nor the bridges broken nor the bankes garded In garding of Fordes great care is to be taken first that the enemie passe not ouer some other way and so come on our backes secondly that he force not our garde This is preuented by good fortification and that by diligent watch and sufficient number of men He that looketh not to these things is fitter to keepe goslings then the passages of Riuers By these meanes an army is slopped or at least hurt and hindred But for that men are hardely induced to fire their owne goods and fewe men can endure the lamentable flames of his countrey and without a sufficient force of men all other meanes to stoppe an enemie are nothing let there first be a sufficient armie leuied and opposed against the enemie not that I would haue the same to hazard lightly or come to the triall but for that he that hath an army ready may take all aduantages of Hilles Straites Woods and Riuers and cut off such as wander abroade and execute that which priuate men will not doe in spoyling where the enemie is to passe as the practice of Armes requireth a L. Portius Licinius per locâ— alta ducendo exercitum cum modò insideret angustos saltus vt transituÌ„ clauderet modo ab latere aut tergo carperet agmen ludificatus est Asdrubalem omnibus belli artibus Liu. 27. L. Licinius though inferiour in force to Asdrubal in Spaine yet taking the aduantage of hilles and straytes and nowe charging the enemie on the sides then on the backes practised on him all the precepts of warre for which he deserued great commendation The proceeding of Monsieur the French kings brother and lieutenant that disbanded his souldiers and sent them into garrison when he should haue resisted the Almaines that came to succour the Protestants anno
1569. and kept the fielde doeth contrariwise deserue reproofe as contrary to the practice of warre and profite of his Prince For if that Poytiers had not arrested the Protestants and susteined the siege contrary to expectation there had ensued great losse to his partie In the meane while what reason had he to suffer the enemie to spoyle the countrey at his pleasure CHAP. VII Part. 2. Wherein he speaketh of forraging and stopping the enemies forragers HOwe the whole armie may marche assured and what the same is to feare in marching I haue already spoken sufficient The same rules may also serue for direction to those that are sent foorth to spoyle the Countrey and to fetche in corne and forrage For whatsoeuer the Generall is eyther to obserue or to feare in his whole armie the same is he that leadeth a part thereof out to forrage to obserue and to feare He must see that his companie keepe good arraye that they straggle not from the grosse of his troupes He is further to haue good intelligence and espiall vpon the enemies proceeding In passing of Plaines Woods Hilles Straytes and Riuers he is to vse more diligence for that his strength is the lesse Likewise he is to consider that as he goeth safely forward so he may also haue a sure retraite if necessitie force him to returne backward Further he is to make appointment where to meete with the rest of the army that the same be not diuided when the enemie is ready to charge b Caes bel gal 4. Caesar charging the Germanes while their horsemen and some troupes of footemen were gone abroade vpon spoyle found them farre more easie to bee dealt withal a Caes bel ciu 3. Domitius sent by Caesar vpon forrage if he had not mette with the rest of the army vpon an instant could not so wel haue escaped out of a manifest danger the whole enemies power being at hand ready to charge him That he may doe that wherefore he goeth he is to carry with him sithes sicles hookes axes and all necessary instruments and to bring that he findeth safe away he is also to haue with him store of horses and carriages For what auaileth it to finde corne and prouision vnlesse the same be carried away to our vses And little deserue they to haue things necessarie that will not fetche them The b Socordia negligeÌ„tia Campanorum in vehiculis contrahendis ad frumeÌ„rum comportandum rem ab HaÌ„none compositam turbauit famemque quae secuta est fecit Liu. 25. Capuans being in distresse for want of victuals and being willed by Annibal to send carriages to fetche sufficient did send so fewe that it was nothing to relieue their neede Afterward they wished like opportunitie to be offered againe but in vaine For within short time after they were forced by famine to yeelde vp their Citie That his men be not disturbed in their worke by the sudden assaults of the enemie let him place gardes in places conuenient for befence of those that goe abroade and worke In this respect the proceeding of c Marcellus explorato cùm firmisque praesidijs tuto receptu praedatum ierat Liu. 23. Marcellus that wise leader deserueth well to be followed For in no place did he goe before he had diligently discouered the same and assured his retraite and those that wrought by standes of men fitly placed Appius d Appius cum subitarijs legionibus ad popuâ—andum Boiorum agrum nec exploraâ—ò nec stationibus firmis profectus cum legionibus caesus est Liu. 31. ruinated himselfe and his armie for that without search of the countrey and order vsed in such cases he suffered his men to wander vp and downe more mindfull of spoile then of their owne safety The e Liu. 42. forragers of the Romanes marching without suspicion or order or sufficient defence were easely ouerthrowen by Perseus king of Macedonia This hath beene the ruine of many armies not onely of small companies and wil be if better order be not taken It is a common course of the enemie with hope of spoile to bring the army into distresse Therefore let no man be so greedy of spoile but that he see before into the danger and albeit there appeare no danger yet let him keepe most of his troupes in armes that he be not ouerwhelmed with sudden danger The prouision that is to be founde is diligently to be saued and laide vp in those Townes that we doe holde as in part before hath bin declared By this meanes Annibal mainteyned his army by others labours And much more we might haue done then we did if in our iourney into Portugal we could haue saued that we found in Galicia The cattell may he driuen along with the armie and ought to be distributed frugally as our neede requireth But as he is to spoile his enemie so he is diligently to take heede that he couche not his friendes and associates which wrought Annibal much woe But what lawe against necessitie Seeing then that those that marche in the enemies countrey if they proceede wisely may not onely hurt their enemies but also mainteine themselues at the countries charge it behoueth the Generall to be watchfull to keepe order and neuer to say had I wist For he that is entrapped hardly breaketh the snares To auoide danger nothing is better then celeritie and expedition of which I will nowe speake more particularly CHAP. VIII Wherein is prooued that nothing in warres is more aduantageous then expedition or any thing more hurtfull then delayes I Haue shewed this in part already But the detestation that I haue of the delayes of our times and daliance commonly vsed in martiall affaires by those that want skill together with the exceeding losses and dangers that Princes haue incurred and shall further incurre thereby it there be no redresse hath so affected me that although I haue spoken much and often thereof yet I suppose I can neuer say ynough To number all the commodities of expedition or the hurtes of delayes in matters of warre it is not possible though I shoulde speake of them continually those which come to my minde presently I thought good to lay downe in this place Through expedition the enemie is taken vnprouided those places that are opportune for vs are seased where the enemie is most open there haue we commoditie to charge him the malice of the enemie is preuented our speede giueth vs all leysure to prouide our confederates and friendes that stand in feare of inuasion are assured matters are spedde with little charge and good successe Caesar a Caes bel gal 2. hearing of the conspiracie of the Belgians by suddein coÌ„ming vpon them disordered all their counsels and remedied the mischiefe before it was ripe Another great conspiracie of all b Caes bel gal 7. France he dissolued by his speede in taking the heads single before their forces were ioyned Neither the deapth of Winter nor height of
Romanes had ouerthrowen them For which small iourney one of the company told them that the a Pro paulula via magnaÌ„ mercedem Liu. 8. Romanes would make them pay deare Delayes of times vsed by Cecinna Tacitus b Per varias moras prima prodidit hostibuâ— tempora belli Tac. 18. calleth becraying of opportunitie c Inutil i cunctatione agendi teÌ„pora consultando consumpsit Tacit. 19. Fabius Valens going against Vespasians army with hurtfull delayes spent times of seruice in vnprofitable consultations The Athenians not stopping the proceedings of Philip of Macedonia at the first suffered him to grow so strong that all Greece could not in the end withstand his force I pray God that delayes of Christian Princes to resist Philip of Spaine doe not worke like effect in our times Delaies are not good in any time of seruice The times of d Non expectant belli tempora moras dilationes imperatoruÌ„ Liu. 31. warre doe not attend vpon the captaines or counsels pleasures Occasion e Si in occasionis momento cuius praeteruolat opportunitas cunctatus fueris nequicquam mox amissam querà ris Liu. 25. presenteth it selfe vnto them vpon a sudden but if thou embracest it not it passeth without returning though oft thou wish for it againe All which notwithstanding in our times deliberations in matters of warre are flowe the arrestes vncertaine the executions vaine They are like the globe of Saturne that finisheth his course but once in 30. yeeres That which others in time past called loosing of time some call winning of time and that which proceedeth either froÌ„ feare or couetousnes that they begin nothing that will they haue to proceede froÌ„ wisdome and maturity Fabius complained that the yeere passed while the f Nobis in apparatu ipso ac tantùm inchoantibus res annus circumagitur Liu. 24. Romanes were in their preparatiues against Annibal what would he say now if he liued to see some men neither prepare nor beginne any thing To excuse themselues they beare men in hand that they stay to see how matters will fall out and when the king of Spaine will die Vnto whom I say for answere as one of the AtheniaÌ„s said sometime that they that looke for the g Qui euentus expectamus praeda victoris erimus Liu. 32. eueÌ„ts of warre are coÌ„monly a spoile to the conqueror This course is that which as Pontius the Samnite said neither winneth friendship nor doth hurt to the enemie Those that are slowe to helpe others must looke for slowe friendship at others hands in their neede But say they still stay It is not good to be too rash h Vnus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem Ennius Fabius by his staied proceeding restored the Romane Empire to the auncient estate that was shaken by others hastie heady rashnesse Then which example there is nothing can worse fit them Fabius in his time was a wise and resolute coÌ„mander ripe in counsell speedy in execution Annibal could turne nowhere but he was by him al his deuises he speedily preueÌ„ted Onely for this he was accompted flow that hee woulde not rashly venture the Romane Empire vpon one battell Yet when his collegue Minutius was in danger hee was ready to succour him He differred not to prouide an army nor to furnish it he would not suffer the enemy to do what he list What these men are and what they do I list not to report neither is it necessary being so wel knowen I pray God that as in other things so in this also they be not vnlike Fabius For he restored that which was shaken these are rather like to shake that which is sound by their cold delayes CHAP. IX Of orders to be obserued for the good gouernement and assurance of the campe or lodgings of the army AS in diuers other pointes so in the lodging of our army wee are farre declined from the true practice of armes The name of Campe remayneth but the thing is quite decayed and gone Seldome doth the army lie in the field vnlesse it be in the sieges of townes Wherein notwithstanding we bestow so many as we can in houses and villages In marching for the most part the companies are distributed in diuers villages and that three or foure miles asunder if not more The lodgings are seldome fenced vnlesse it be with a barriquade or barrier or small trench ouerthwart the wayes The watch is not so strong nor so diligent as it shoulde bee the confusion and noise is great the prouision of things necessary very small and seldome other then the souldiers can finde The which disorders make the army to lie open to camisadoes and many enterprises if the enemy be strong and iudicious For auoiding whereof the practise of warre requireth that the army do rest in no place but vnited nor without sufficient defence and garde Before that the practice of armes was brought to perfection the army lodged as nowe it doeth without trenches or defenses Pyrrhus seeing the default therein beganne first to fortifie his campe by entrenchment Which the Romanes receiuing from him did in short time excell their master Onely barbarous people commonly lay as before open and without defence which gaue the Romanes such aduantage against them And I doubt not but if the right order of encamping were recalled by anie man of iudgement that he should haue like aduantage against these of our times Many are the commondities that an army receiueth by their lodging well fortified They fight not but when they list and see their aduantage they sleepe soundly without feare and rest safely without danger such a Casta victori receptaculum victo persugium multi exercitus victi eruptione pugnantes hosteÌ„ pepulerunt Liu. 44. defenses are a receite to the conquerour a refuge to the vanquished and a porte and harbour to returne vnto in a storme Many armies saith Paulus Aemilius he that vanquished Perseus being foyled in open field haue retired into their campe and saued themselues and afterward fallying out vpon their enemies haue preuailed and vanquished them Therefore would hee no fight with the enemy before he had entrenched his campe Caesar albeit the was charged vpon the way by the Heluetians returning backe vpon him yet had no lesse care to fortifie his campe then to sustaine the enemies charge And therefore hauing set his army in order b Sarcinas in vnum locum conferri cum ab ijs qui in superiore acie constiterant muniri iussit Caes bel gal 1. he commanded the baggage to be brought into one place and the same to be entrenched by those that stoode last and on the highest ground while the vantgarde and the rest fought with the enemy And such was Caesars care therein that where the enemy was neere he would not suffer his chiefe c Ab opere singulisque legionibus singulos legatos Caesar discedere nisi muniâ—is castris vetuerat bel gal 2.
commanders and counsell to depart from legions or regiments before the worke fortification of the camp was finished Neither could the countenance of Afranius his army in Spaine making shew as if the same would sight deterre him but that he d Cas bel ciu 1. fortified his lodging keeping the rest in armes to receiue the enemies charge The barbarous Gaules by their many losses perceiuing the aduantages that the Romans had vpon them in this point at length by the counsel of Vercingetorix their leader began to e Caes bel gal 7. fortifie their camp as they saw the Romandes do He that doth not so lie entrenched goeth oftentimes out of his may to seeke ease for his souldiers lodgeth with his army disioyned looseth time and labour and lastly may not if hee be wise lodge neere an enemy as strong as himselfe that hath the vantage of ground and trenches He that chargeth an army that lyeth wel entrenched receiueth seldome honour of his rashnesse The Frenchmen because they vnderstoode not so much before were taught it of Prospero Colonna at the Bicocke in Lombardy For aduenturing rashly to fight with a Guicelardin Prospero and his company that lay strongly fortified within certaine bankes made for the keeping of the riuer within the channell they were tumbled into the ditch as fast as they came vp the bankes and many of them slaine That such fortification may be made orderly and strongly diuers rules are to be obserued and some prouision like wise is to be made more then ordinarie First a conuenient place in the way where the army marcheth is to be marked and staked out by the Quarter-master generall which woulde bee a man of iudgement with him also may bee sent other men of iudgement All these with a garde ought to goe b Centuriones exploratoresque praetermittit Caesar qui locum castris idoneum deligant Caes bel gal 2. before that at the comming of the army to the place euery man may knowe the gates and the sides and the places of the campe Within that presently they may begin to worke euerie man may know where to pitch his tent or make his caban to discharge the impediments and baggage and where the ordonance is to be placed This may seeme intricat at the first but with practice it may be made most easie Further to the end that our men be not disturbed when they are at their worke good espialles and discouerers would be sent before to see that the enemy lie not in ambush neere that place where wee meane to lodge Which happening to Caesar in the expeditioÌ„ against the Belgians did more endanger him then the enemies open force For his men c Caes bel gal 2. hauing laide downe their burthens and being scarâ—eâ—ed to fetch stakes earth and stones â—odainly the enemy appeareth out from vnder a hil there by and chargeth him The same was the ruine d Liu. 10. of Fabius his â—ieutenant For going to take a hil alreadie possessed by the enemy without espial he was there slaine in the place with al his comany For defence of those that worke one good part of the army woulde be kept in armes especially where the enemy is neere And those that worke are to haue euery man his sword and dagger girded to him and his other armes fast by him Which not only Caesar a master in these matters but al the Romanes generally obserued There is no time more pâ—oper for the enemies assault nor more daâ—gerous for vs then when wee are newly come to our lodging For then most are secure and put off their armes and either rest themselues or runne about to seeke things necessarie The e Castra ponentes Romanos Poeni aggressi sunt turbassentque munientes ni abditi post tumuluÌ„ opportunè ad id positi à Scipione equites in effusos incurrissent Liu. 28. Romanes as they were pitching their tentes were charged by the Carthaginians in their warres in Spaine and had beene soyled had not Scipio fearing such a matter run through theÌ„ with his horsemen which very opportunely hee had couered vnder a hill in the way as they came to the charge At that time also Caesar was set vpon by the Neruians and lost diuers braue men The Venetians were no sooner arriued in their a Conte de Purlilia ad Ferdinand lodgings at Trent and disarmed but the enemy obseruing his time commeth vpon them and forced them to seeke an other lodging Yet not all for many were lefte behinde to take vp their lodging in that place for euer The place most commodious for lodging is where our companie may not onely haue wood water good ayre and for horses forrage and if it may be some reliefe of victualles for our men but also aduantage of the ground fit to be wrought and hardly to be taken from vs by the enemy Wood may not be wanting for fire stakes and â—abans and lesse water for our men and cattell A riuer also doeth oftentimes ease our men of trauell Especially if it be deepe For that the campe is well fensed on that quarter Good ayre is necessarie for the health our souldiers especially when me lie long in a place The aduantage of ground is requisite for the defending of our lodging Which opportunities those that haue wanted haue beene driuen to great extremities b Caes bel ciu 1. Afranius his army was driuen to yeeld to Caesar in Spaine for want of water And by like necessitie Caesar forced the reliques of Pompeys army which hee c Caes bel ciu 3. besieged on a hill and excluded by trenches from the water to flie to his mercie Himselfe in d Hirt. de bel Alexandr Alexandria had beene driuen to great extremity for want of fresh water had hee not by digging of pits found store In hie and drie countries water is hard to be found vnlesse it be in valle is and deepe botcomes that shewe signes of moisture Lautrecke in the fiege of Naples lodging his army in the lowe grounds brought great contagion among his people and of New hauen and other places want of water and the filthy keeping of our lodgings which cannot be kept too cleane bred the pestilence among our men and wrought the victory to out enemies The disaduantage of the ground at Landresie not considered by the French had sike to haue taught them a lamentable lesson For being lodged in the lower ground they were continually amoyed by the artillery of the imperiallâ—s placed vpon a hill that comntâ—â—ed the French campe and almost forced them to fight with great disaduantage The Italians and Spaniardes were by the French forced to fight against their willes at a Guicciard Rauenna in Lewis the twelft his time for that being lodged in the lower and open ground they were beaten with the enemies great ordonance that continually stroke among their horsemen Which inconuenience coulde not be remedied so but that is was the
occasion of their ouerthrow But howsoeuer the place be chosen aduantageous yet there is alwayes some part that lieth open which is to bee assured with trenches and palissadaes The lesse aduantage that the nature of the ground yeeldeth the more labour our souldiers are to take in working and trenching the same And that with a trench and banke sufficient if not such as the Romanes vsed yet such as may couer the defendants and hinder the ascent of the assailants without ladders Caesar in the b Castra in altitudinem pedum 12. vallo fossaque 18. pedum muniuit Caesar bel gal 2. warres against the Belgians enuironed his campe neere Soissons with a banke twelue foote high and a ditch eighteene foote broade If the danger were great the Romanes vsed to make their bankes higher and trenches deeper It would be incredible if I should report all those bankes trenches and workes which Caesar made about Alexia in France and at Dyrrhachium in the warres against Pompey and other places and howe hee cast trenches of great depth tenne or eleuen miles compasse Which was also the vse of all the Romanes Whose workes yet remaining in England in diuers places because it seemeth incredible they should be doone by men are called diuelles ditches and supposed by them to be cast That this fortification may be made with more ease and greater speed euery man is to worke eyther with mattock or spade I know our men will at first refuse it and discharge themselues vpon pionniers but why should they disdaine to doe that which the Romanes did and why shoulde anie refuse to worke to saue his life and the liues of their company Let them consider howe such idle fellowes that woulde not fortifie their lodgings haue beene vsed c Castra procos habebat nee loco satis tuto posita ne◠praesidiis firmata hac negligentia fretus cum incautum Annibal opressit Liu. 27. Fuluis the Romane Proconsul neither for place nor defence nor garde lay strongly enough with his army which was no sooner brought to Annibal but marching thither with his army he tooke him at vnawres and ouerthre we him and all his companie La Loüe and his companie lying secure and carelesse without trench or barriquade had their throates cut by the garrison of Montpellier in the night being asleepe in their lodging Anno one thousand fiue hundred sixtie and nine Neither did the companie that vnder Napoleon Vrsini a Guicciard came to the succor of Florence besieged by the Prince of Orenge in the daies of Charles the fift escape better cheape to teach others percase to make better barriquades and trenches and to keepe better watch If the Protestantes durst haue charged Charles the fift before his campe was fortified at Englestat they had b Natal com l. 1. no doubt foyled him Neither is it sufficient to trench the wayes if wee lie open on the sides Euerie waie must haue some defence Strossi c Hist. de troubl de Er. li. 7. stiffely defending a certaine valley by Rocheabeille Anno one thousand fiue hundred sixtie and nine fensed onely in front with a weake palissade was inuested on the sides and forced by the Protestantes In which disastre himselfe was taken and most of his troupes distrouped and slaine If his defence had beene strong in all places hee had saued himselfe and foyled his enemy Q. Cicero d Caes bel gal 5. one of Caesars lieutenants by the fortifications of his campe abode diuers assaults of the whole power of France and held out vntill such time as Caesar succoured him And well befell it Prospero Colonna that his lodging was strong at the Bicocke For otherwise he and his companie had beene drawen out thence not by the eares but by the legges There is none so small a fortification but it may doe vs fauour in such a case The Spaniardes making a trench betweene themselues and the French at e Guicciard li. 5. Cirignola and bordering the same with their shot made them to this day remember what daunger it is to passe a trench resolutely defended In these late braules of France captaine Granry f Hist de troubl de Fr. li. 6. lodging in Esse a village vpon the riuer of Vienne gaue the enemy a rude welcome comming to see him in his lodging in the night His safetie was in a double barrier and trench made by him at the endes of the streetes Yet let euery man take heede howe hee presume vpon euery small defence and rather let him cause his men to take more paines It is no base labour that is vndertaken for the defence of our liues and little doth he deserue his life that will not digge a few turfes to saue it Ludouike of Nassau the brother to the Prince of Orenge presumed too much vpon a little bad ditch betwixt him and the Duke of Aluaes army If it had beene but sixe foote deeper hee had repulsed the enemy with great slaughter a This happeued anno 1568. For idlenesse and want of skill he and his company were ouerthrowen and driuen to take Embden for their succour And yet not warned herewith when hee brought a supplie out of Germanie to aide his brother b Mich. ab Islael◠lying in a village without sufficient defence hee was charged by the enemie and there slaine and with him Christopher the Prince Palatins sonne a Prince vnworthy that disastrous death and with them most of the company That the campe may with more ease be trenched and fortified the worke is equally to be diuided amongst the company That equitie the Romanes taught vs and c Singula latera castrotū singulis attribuit legionibus munienda Caes bel gal 1. Caesar practiced diuiding the ground among his regiments to be wrought And shame it is among vs seeing as the vse of warres teacheth vs the great profite of labour in banking and trenching that wee put it ouer to a sort of men called Pionniers vnknowen among the Romanes whose workes were alwayes d They are commonly termed Opera militum done by souldiers This is the cause of the great charge of Princes and slow proceeding and slender effects of warres Therfore they that will not worke and take paines rather then die shamefully let them die But let not the idlenesse of such preiudice the state or the safety of braue men But let such defend themselues as well with bankes as with weapons and not follow the slouthful pride of athers The forme of the campe is much according to the site and lying of the ground Among the Romanes it was made for the most part foure square But it skilleth not though it bee three or fiue square So the bankes woulde bee made tenne e Lesse depth bredth wil serue but this maketh the bankes sufficient or twelue foote hie the ditch sixeteene or eighteene foote broade The deeper the ditch and higher the banke is the more assured is
the defence At euerie corner especially towardes the enemy there woulde bee made a litle bulwarke or platforme somewhat auanced from the cortine of the campe for the placing of the great ordonance for defence of the ditch and cortaine and clearing of the grounde wythout the campe In the sides there woulde bee lefte two great passages or issues for the army to enter and issue and two lesser on the outsides for the necessarie vses of the campe The compasse is according to the number of the armie allowing tenne foote square for euery horseman and foure foote square for euery footeman or thereabouts There are to be left foure broade streetes in the place for the passing and repassing of souldiers and for the commoditie of victuallers and Marchantes a market place The Generall ought to pitch his tent in the middest of the camp about him are his Gentlemen and garde to bee placed if there bee not place sufficient for them in his tents The horsemen are to be quartered in the middest of the camp for that they are most vnreadie if any sodaine assault should happen but in some conuenient square for the beauty of the campe The shot and archerie are to haue their tentes next to the ring of the campe round about the same within them are the halbardiers targettiers and other short weapons to haue their quarter assigned and betwixt them and the horsemen the pikes So that euery man may know both where to lodge directly and what place to goe vnto if the enemy doe charge vs. The waste places remayning are to bee assigned to the carriages and the boyes and seruants that followe the campe For flaughter of beasts and necessities of nature there are two places to bee assigned eyther in some out place of the campe or without the campe The whole distance and compasse is rather with the iudgement of the eye then with Geometricall instruments to bee cast out Yet must the quarter-master take heede both that his compasse be not too great for that is hardly defended and that it be not too litle For in that case the army shall be straited That souldiers may bee commodioussy lodged in the field without going out of the way to finde townes or villages it is necessarie that euery company haue their a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. paed Cyr. 2. tentes assigned to them of publike charge and carried with them in cartes For to lodge without couer in colde raine or heate is verie intollerable and wood to make cabbanes sufficient in fewe places can bee found and if it could yet were it a matter long for one nightes lodging to make a cabbane of boughes Contrariwise tentes are easilie pitched and not heauie to bee carried nor verie chargeable to bee bought That the souldiers may finish their work with more speed it were necessary likewise that euery company had their spades mattocks axes and other tooles caried along with their tentes and baggage that euery man presently vpon view of his lodging staked out might know where to worke For ease of the souldiers a iudicious Quartermaster will chuse some place neere a wood or a riuer or some hill that with the naturall situation of the place a small fortification may serue If the Quartermaster do chuse some Villages to lodge in yet fâ—â— greedines of couer for his men let him take heed how he do diuide separate the army farre a sunder And further let euery part fortiâ—â— the quarter where they are lodged The cause of the ouerthrow of the Prince of Conde at Cognac in which encounter hee lost also his life was the distance of the lodging of the auantgarde and battell which was so great that the one part being charged by the enemy the other could not come to succour it before it was too late a Histoir de 〈◊〉 bl lib. 4. Dandelot dispersing his companies in Villages was surprised on the sudden by Martigues and put to flight himselfe hardly escaped most of his company were defeated which if his troupes had bene together could not haue happened For his forces were foure times greater then those that ouercame them La Louè might haue bene succoured when the enemy charged him but that he b Hist de troubl lib. 12. lodged so far from helpe that before the same could come he his men were dispatched The cause of the ouerthrow of the Baron Donaw his Almains was for that they lay dispersed without defence c Xenoph. exped Cyr. 3. 4. Xenophon although necessity forced him in his return from the battel against Artaxerxes to lodge his company in diuers Villages yet whensoeuer the enemy made shew to approch hee drew them all together into one place If so be that necessitie driue vs likewise to lodge our armie in Villages let vs know first how vpon neede we may bring them together and next how euery part may susteine the enemies assault vntil helpe come to it This I say is wrought first by trauersing the waies then by trenching places of easy accesse The wayes are to be trauersed by deepe ditches banks for defence of our shot next by palissadaes barres placed ouerthwart the sides are to be viewed and either with trenches or walles to be fortified Those wayes that leade vs into the Village on the backside are to be dammed vp where there is greatest shew that the enimy wil assault vs there gretest store of shot are to be placed in the chambers looking that way The carts baggage conueniently placed may breake the force of the enemies horse make the accesse for footemen also more difficult The Heluetians a Caes bel gal 1. had no other defences of their lodging neither do the Germans at this day vse any other defence or encamping vnlesse the place naturally aforde it But nothing is more weake nor vaine where the enemy commeth resolutely to the charge Scipio his father that ouercame Annibal being foyled by the Carthaginians in Spaine through the trecherie of the Celtiberians that forsooke him thought to shroude him selfe and his b Liu. 25. company vnder the carts packs and such things as he could bring together to make a defence on But it serued for nothing but to linger the enemies victory a litle For in such defences there is no strength If therefore we wil neither fortifie our campe as did the Romans nor barre the Villages where we lodge strongly as is the vse of wise Captaines in these dayes I will neither warrant our troupes nor by my wil keepe among them lying so open The c Philip. Com. French king Duke of Burgundy lying in the suburbes of Liege without trenche or barriquade escaped very narowly in a certaine sally of the townesmen by them besieged Besides the fortification of the campe or lodging it is requisite for the assurance of our company that we place not only sentinels and scoutes within but also good gardes at all the gates
For there is no defence nor fortification such but it may be passed where there is none to defend it and garde it Before our souldiers disarme and euery man goe to his lodging both gardes and sentinels would be placed and not as some vse afterward those that offend in either of these pointes doe for the most part receiue sharp penance The d Ardeates Camillo duce castra Gallorâ—m intuta neglectaque ab omni parte nacti inuadunt nusquam praelium vbique caedes Liu. 5. Ardeatians led by Camillus finding the campe of the Gaules that a litle before had sacked Rome without either watch or sufficient defence slew them downe right without any resistance Philip king of Macedonia lying before Apollonia without either watch or good garde was forced to raise his e Liu. 24. fiege and had diuers of his men slaine by a very few sallying out of the towne in the night The negligent watch and garde of Syphax gaue opportunitie to f Liu. 29. Scipio in the night to enter his campe and fire the same and to make a great slaughter of his men The like security in Nabis his campe gaue entrance to Philopoemen captaine of the Achaeans who fired the tentes and slew his men before they could make head or wel vnderstood their danger The g Liu. 41. Romanes that lay in campe in Istria without feare therefore neither kept good watch nor garde were suddenly surprised by certaine Gaules and driuen to runne for their liues The army of the Capuans resting in their lodgings quietly were slaine by the a Liu. 23. Romanes that inuaded them in the night and tooke them without trenche sentinel or corps de garde The like aduantage Curio vsing against the b Caes bel ciu 2. Numidians that lay dispersed without defence or watch fell vpon them in the night and slew them Neither is it now lesse dangerous then in time past Don Pedro el cruel king of Spaine was slaine with his company by his base brother c Froissate Henriques taking him in the night vnprouided and lying without watch or defence The same negligence was the ruine of the Protestants at Donzerre An. 1569. and of the Spaniards at Corbueil An. 1590. and hath occasioned and brought to passe many surprises which otherwise could neuer haue taken effect The d Guicciar lib. â— Marques of Mantoua and other gentlemen for want of good sentinels were taken by the Venetian stradiots at Scala where they went to refresh them selues It is an easy marter to shewe this also by our owne harmes but that I would we should rather reforme our disorders by calamities of others then shame to heare our selues reprooued and therefore defend them The e What is required in assuring our lodging meanes to assure our selues and to deterre our enemies from these enterprises are these first good banks trenches barriquades palissadaes and such like defences secondly strong gardes wel placed thirdly good sentinels in conuenient distances within the ring of the campe good scoutes on horsebacke foote without fourthly good orders of the campe that no stranger nor person vnknowen lurke in any lodging or other place to discouer our secrets nor that our company lodge disioyned farre asunder the prouision that is to be made is of tentes and all instruments that serue vs for such fortification Where the Captaine is carefull to see these things done and the souldiers willing to labour and take paynes to doe them it is not possible to hurt the army especially â—â—ere the same is strong and in good estate But if the enemy be very â—â—ong and our company weake for number or otherwise and no helpe can come vnto vs then if the enemy doe assault vs in our lodgings so violently that wee are not able long to defende them our last remedy is to drawe our men together towarde the issues of our lodging and so to sally out and to charge the enemy vpon the backe in all places where he maketh resistance The suddennes of this execution if it be done resolutely cannot but worke great effects Ser. a Subitò cruptione omnibus portis facta neque cognoscendi neque sui colligendi hostibus facultateÌ„ relinquunt Caes bel gal 3. Sulpitius being not able to defend his campe any longer against the multitude of the mountaine people that assaulted it sallied forth vpon a sudden at all the gates thereof and surprising his enemies on a sudden made a great carnage of them put the rest to flight The same course did Caesar put in practice at the siege of Alexia where not being able to defend his trenches and workes against the multitude of the enemies that in all partes assaulted him at length b Caes bel gal 7. gathering his men together fallied foorth vpon them not giuing them so much as any time to take breath much lesse to gather their forces together and slew infinite multitudes of them being euery where dispersed and seeking rather to enter in then to defend them selues without But this is not but in time of necessitie to be executed and when we haue no other meanes of defence otherwise it is good safe fighting behinde a banke or other defence Wherefore as at all times so especially in the nightes and carelesse times of others it behoueth the Generall to bee c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer carefull for his people With care watchfulnesse and labour great enterprises may be atchieued if want hurt vs not and without care and labour neither great nor litle can be done with commendation nor can any army either marche safely or rest safely CHAP. X. Wherein is shewed that as the assaylants being entred into the enemies countrey are to seeke that the matter may be tryed by battell in open fielde so the defendants without great aduantage are to auoyde the Generall tryall and by what meanes eche of them may effect their seuerall purposes HE that entreth the enemies countrey without purpose to fight and hazard let him henceforth keepe his head d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Iâ—â—ad warme at home and interteine Ladies Such aduentures are for resolute and hardy men as courage doeth pricke such valiant men forward so their owne profit requireth and necessitie forceth them so soone as they can to come to triall The sooner the better it wil be for them at the first their men are strong their munitions and armes whole and good of victualles and all things necessary they haue sufficient if they haue not the greater is their error Further their men are couragious and full of stomacke and contrariwise the enemy is neither prouided sufficiently of souldiers nor furniture of warre especially if he looke not for it neither is he so resolute to fight And what courage can he haue seeing his countrey flaming round about him that this ought to be the purpose of such as inuade others not only the example of
for a precept to be folowed in such cases When b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid. 2. Sitacles King of Thracia inuaded the Macedonians the countrey people not being able to resist fled into strong cities and holdes and as occasion aduantage was offered from thence issued to fight with him as they could Many c Multa bella impetu valida peâ— taedia moâ—as euanuerunt praesertim vbi non est prouisum frumentum nec maiores expectaâ—a copiae Tacit. annal 18. warres that haue bene violent at the first brunt by delayes and tedious lingering haue come to nothing sayth Tacitus And therefore neuer is it good to fight with those that want prouision and looke for no further supply When the Gaules with great forces came into Italy some would haue had the Romane Generall to fight with them foorthwith but the d Dictatori neutiquam placebat cum nulla cogeret res fortunae â—o committere adversus hostem quem tempus deâ—eriorem indies locus alienâ—s faceret sine praeparato commâ—atu sine siâ—mo munimento morantem ad hoc â—js animis corporibusque quorum omnis in impetâ—vis esset parua eadem languesceret mora his coÌ„siliis dictator bellum trahebat Liu. 7. Generall thought it more wisedome to protract time His reasons were for that he dealt with an enemy which euery day waxed weaker by reason he was in another couÌ„trey had dayly more and more hinderances comming vpon him further neither had hee prouision nor towne of retraite therefore must needs be wearied with delayes and decay of himselfe and great folly sayd he were it to fight with men when they are stroÌ„g when they may deale with them when they are weake feeble When Caesar sent Crassus into Aquitany with part of his army to subdue the countrey the enemy being taught by experience would not come into open field but a Duces consuetudine populi Romani loca capere castra munire commeatibus nostros intercludere institâ—unt Romanos se rei frumentarâ—ae inopia recipientes impeditos agmimine sub sarcinis insirmiore animo adoriri cogitant Caes bel gal 3. began to take places of aduantage to fortifie his campe to keepe Crassus from victuals when the army for want should retire then he meant to charge the same being laden with baggage and out of aray in the marche That which Liuy sayth of the b Boij gens ad morae taedium minimè patiens dilapsi sunt Boyans we finde it true in many Northren nations they are impatient of delayes and if they be not fought withall doe scatter of them selues Those that fight with such enemies are like to those that hope to quench fire by throwing on of wood when as if the fire be not supplyed with wood it will goe out of it selfe And therefore our ancesters that haue fought with the Scots haue done valiantly but wisdome would haue perswaded them to let them dissolue of them selues The Romanes by their haste in fighting with Annibal receiued three great ouerthrowes and brought them selues within very litle of their ruine Pompey when he might haue ruinated Caesars army for want of victuals aduenturing to fight at the request of his army ouerthrew himselfe The way to weary the enemy without fight is first with an army consisting most of horsemen shot targets and halberdiers lightly armed to coast him a farre off next to spoyle the countrey where hee passeth and to bring all the cattell corne and prouision that may any way serue his turne into strong townes thirdly to store the townes of warre with prouision and assure them with strong garrisons fourthly to cut the bridges ouer great riuers and to sease all narow and straite passages The army that coasteth the enemy although it may not ioyne battell with him in euen ground yet hath many necessary vses and without it all other impediments are easily passed the same doth bridle the enemies courses that he dare not diuide his army to send the same on foraging It keepeth victuals from him and him from victuals it defendeth the straits and passages of riuers it succoureth such townes as are besieged it is ready to charge the enemy vpon all aduantages The Athenians c Thucid. 3. not being able to fight with the army of the Lacedemonians that came against them tooke this course for their defence they brought their people and all that they had into the citie placed gardes at passages and cut of the straglers with their horsemen Which course d Caes bel gal 7. Vercingetorix also vsed against Caesar in France hee burned the countrey droue away all the cattell kept the passages of riuers The e Custodias ad ripas Ligeris disponere equitatumque omnibus locis ostentare caeperunt Caes bel gal 7. Heduans reuolting from Caesar kept the banks of Loyre with gardes and in all places where the Romanes came charged them with their horsemen But of this matter I haue spoken sufficient where I shewed what trauerses made against the enemie are most effectuall Now I am to shew how the enemie is to be wearied without fight the meanes I haue set downe But this caution thou must vse further that thou keepe thy selfe and thy companie alwayes on the higher ground and take heede that the enemie doe not entrap thee nor compasse thee about Fabius in the warres of the Romanes against Annibal in Italie and Licinius in the warres against Asdrubal in Spaine haue by their example shewed thee what thou art to doe and how warilie thou art to garde thy selfe and to watch thy enemie These precepts haue vse in all countreys with whatsoeuer enemie thou dealest but especiallie where the countrey is full of hils woodes straites and great riuers and also where by force is neere equall to the enemie But if thy power be slender or if thy countrey bee playne and open then presume not to come neere the enemie for thou canst not auoyd but either thou must flie or fight The a Fuga se longinqua ab hosse tutati sunt Galli Liu. 6. Gaules pursued by Camillus seeing themselues vnable to fight with him had no other meanes to auoyd fight but to flie farre from him Neither could Asdrubal haue escaped from b Liu. 27. Scipio but that he fled with his armie from him into the vtmost coast of Spaine After that c Vercingetorix ne contra suam voluntatem dimicare cogeretur magnis iâ—ineribus antecessit Caes bel Gal. 7 Caesar had once passed the riuer of Allier which was betweene him the enemie Vercingetorix was coÌ„strained to go farre before least he might be constrained to fight agaynst his will For where the armies come neere each to other in eauen ground it is hard for the one to auoyd fight where the other seeketh it Antonie forced Cassius to fight at Philippi albeit he auoided it what he could and had the vantage both of ground and trenches The
d Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 9. Admiral at Moncontour would willinglie haue passed the day without fight but being neere the enemie hee could neither passe the riuer without disordering his armie nor retire without manifest danger of being vtterly broken and ruinated Philip of Macedonia albeit hee was encamped vpon the banke of the riuer Aous very strongly and had most high mountaines for his defence vpon his backe yet being charged suddenly from the vpper ground he was both driuen to fight against his will and foyled by Tit. Quintius Wherefore considering the losse and calamities that come of suffering the country to be burned and spoyled the hazard that to wnes besieged by the enemie without hope of succour stand in the discouragement of our people that see and enemie in the countrey whom they dare not encounter I hold it a rule most certaine that no countrey nor state can well be defended against a strong enemie any long time vnlesse the same either haue or can procure an armie to come into the field able to encounter him and not vnwilling also if the same may haue any good aduantage to fight with him And therefore all valiant men that loue their countrey are rather to endeuour to ouercome the enemie by force then dull him and wearie him by patience and delaies which bring with them contempt of those that want an edge and force That wee may fight with aduantage and proceed with reason let vs now examine and see what things are to be foreseene and considered before that the General do bring foorth his armie into the field to fight CHAP. XI Conteining speciall matters to be well considered before the Generall bring foorth his armie to fight with the enemie in open field MAnie things in warre are executed by force and strength of men but seldome doeth force preuaile much without counsell and direction Counsell in all deedes of armes chalengeth a principall place but especially in ioyning battell with the enemie To refuse good counsell therefore in this case is a brutish follie oftentimes seuerely punished The Constable of France peeuishly refusing the good counsell of Coucy that dissuaded him at that time to fight with the Turkes was the cause of the miserable slaughter of Christians at Nicopolis The Frenchmen detest in their histories the pride and insolencie of a certaine Duke of Bourbon who a Froissart being Generall in a certaine enterprise against the Saracens in Afrike ouerthrew the action by disdaining to heare any man speake and refusing all counsell but his owne A man wise inough to ruinate any enterprise Wise captains therefore as they will consider many things themselues so I trust they will not disdaine to vnderstand the experience and aduise of others Before a Generall doeth resolue to fight with the enemie with all his force hee is first diligently to vnderstand both the strength of the enemie and the numbers and strength of his owne men least presuming too much of his owne power or contemning the enemie he doe that which afterward hee may repent a Guicciandin Francis the first of France not knowing how much hee was abused by his moster rolles and supposing his strength to bee greater then it was accepted of the battell of Pauie where himselfe was taken and his armie discomfited b Caes bel ciu ◠Curio not knowing the great strength of the enemies horsemen did rashly leaue the aduantage of the ground and fight with him that in the plaines was to strong for him which was his ruine Cassius in the battell of Philippi not vnderstanding the victorie of Brutus his companion desperately slew himselfe and was the cause of the discouragement of his side and the victorie of the enemie If therefore he shall vnderstand that his enemie is too strong for him let him keepe his aduantage of ground and auoyd fight if his owne power be greater let him not delay it for it is no lesse dishonour to let slip an opportunitie then to aduenture rashly Yong souldiers are not rashly to be brought into the field against an armie exercised and beaten with long practise of warre The Romanes found this true by their owne practise in the warres with their c Veterani exercitus tobore rex Rom. vicit Liu. 1. neighbours and with Annibal Where their armie was well trained they preuailed their fresh souldiers could not endure the force of Annibals beaten men Caesars old souldiers were inuincible With the men that Philip of Macedonia had exercised in many warres Alexander ouerthrew the Persian empire For it is not d Veteres non tam numerosos exercitus habere voluerunt quà m eruditos Veget. l. 3. c. 1. number that preuaileth but experience and skill The e Philip. Comin gallants of Charles Duke of Burgundie bragged that they would doe and venture but when they sawe their enemie they forgot their wordes and ranne away in the encounter with Lewis the eleuenth at Mont le herie Therefore did Caesar wisely that carying ouer with him diuers yong souldiers into Afrike f Noluit conuulncrari exercitum tyronmen Hirt de bel Afric would not put them to the triall before he had made them better acquainted with warres Souldiers likewise when they are faint wearie hungry or thirstie fight but faintly And therefore as there is no trust in young souldiers so there is no strength in souldiers that are faint with labour or want of victuals Doe not therefore rashly encounter the enemie when they men are either wearied with long marching or watching or faint for want of meate or drinke The a Inde cibo corpora firmare iussi vt si longior esset pugna viribus sufficerent Liu. 27. Romanes before they entred the battell refreshed their men with victuals and rest that if the same continued long yet their strength might continue b Syllanus ante pugnam militem cibum capere iubet Liu. 28. Syllanus being readie to charge the enemie commaunded his souldiers to dine first The principall cause of the ouerthrow of the Romanes at Trebia was that Annibal brought foorth his men to fight fresh hauing well dined warmed themselues and rested where as the Romane c Liu. 21. Generall brought foorth his armie fasting and cold by reason they passed a riuer and wearie for that they stoode many howers in armes before the battell began Aemilius in the warres against Perseus in Macedonia albeit his souldiers desired to fight with the d Statuit Aemilius lassitudinem sitim sentientes milites integro hostinon obijcere Liu. 44.214 enemie so soone as they saw him yet considering that by their long march they were wearie thirstie and faint would not fight with the enemie that was fresh and lustie but deferred it to the next day Yea although aduantage be offered yet if our e Furius lassitudini militum timens occasionem rei praeclarè gerendae omisit Liu. 31. souldiers be faint and wearie it is more safe to
passe it f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. Clearchus seeing his souldiers faint and hungrie would not charge the enemie albeit good occasion was offered The prince of Conde bringing his men that had watched for the most part all the night into the field before Saint Denis anno 1567. found what faintnesse watching worketh Asdrubal being charged at Metaurus when his owne souldiers were wearie and sleepie by the reason of his nights march and his enemies fresh and lustie was ouerthrowen with a mightie slaughter The g Sitis calor hiantes caedendos capiendósque Gallos praebebat Liu. 27. Gaules gaping for thirst and heate and being wearied with trauell and watching were slaine or taken Puigalliard in these late troubles of France causing his troupes to march continually two dayes and two nights thinking by his speed to surprise the Protestants at S. h Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 13. Gemme was himselfe the cause that his men were cut in pieces by la None not being able for want of sleepe and rest to doe any seruice But least cause hath he to venture whose souldiers stand in feare of the enemies forces Caesar therefore would not begin his iourney against a Caes bel Gal. â— Ariouistus and the Germanes before he had resolued his men that stoode in feare of them to fight And hauing had euill successe in one or two encounters at Dyrrhachium which much dismated his souldiers he remooued from thence and would not fight vntill such time as his souldiers were confirmed He that doubteth any such thing in his men is first to confirme them with hope and report of their former valiant actions and with declaration of the enemies wantes and weakenes and disaduantages he is to encourage them with promises and hope of rewarde to feare them with shame and plainely to declare vnto them that there in no hope but in victorie and therefore that if not for their honour yet for b Virture pares necessiâ—ate superiores Liu. 21. sauing of themselues they ought to fight valiantly Necessitie c Nusquam nisi in virtute spes est milites Liu. 34. enforceth men to fight and the example of their Commanders ready to abide with them in all danger maketh them ashamed to flie Much did it encourage Caesars souldiers when they sawe him in the battell against the Heluetians put his horse from him ready to take the common hazard with them and a very coward he is that neither with persuasion nor example will be encouraged The souldiers for their persons strength and courage being such as they should be the next consideration of a Generall that purposeth to fight is that they haue their armes fitted and all baggage and impediments that may hinder them remooued Alexander before he fought with d Plutarch Darius forgat not so much as to giue order that the haire of his souldiers heades and beardes should be cut lest the enemie might take holde by it Small matters you will say but in this not the smallest matters are to be contemned But yet nothing is more to be respected then the ground where thou purposest to abide the enemie There is great aduantages in hedges ditches and the higher ground Caesars e Milites e loco superiore pilis missis facile hostium phalangem perfregerunt Caes bel Gal. 1. souldiers throwing their iauelins from the higher ground and following the same did easily breake the rankes of their enemies troupes f Pharnaces aduersus collem subiens detruditur vincitur Hirt. de bel Alexandr Pharnaces leading his men against the hill where Caesars armie stoode ranged was presently thrust downe and vanquished Caesar wondered at his rashnes The enemie hauing seased a hill by Rome the Consul g Temerè aduerso Ianiculo Seruilius ad castra hostium aciem erexit soedéque inde pulsus est sed interuentu collegae ipse exercitusque seruatus est Liu. 2. Seruilius mooued with the indignitie of it did rashly cause his troupes to march vp the hill against him which aduantage the enemie taking had ouerthrowne him and his armie had not his Collegue come in the instant and fauoured his retraite Marius a Plutarch in vita Marij ouerthrewe the Germanes and Danes more easily taking them mounting vp the higher ground Certeine of the Admirall of France his companies foolishly striuing to winne the hill neere the plaines of S. b Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 9. Clere were driuen backe with losse and had vtterly bene defeated if the Almanes belowe had not kept their ground and arrested the formost of the enemies that pursued them A smal c Exiguum loci ad decliuitatem fastigium magnum habet momentum Caes bel Gal. 7. aduantage in the vneauennes of the ground is much saith Caesar in the furthering of the victorie At Auaricum albeit he had the victorie in his handes and had foiled the enemie yet would he not followe them up the hill for feare of the discommoditie of the ground At Gergouia he lost many braue souldiers that contrary to his commandement would needes pursue the enemie vp the hill him selfe was neuer in greater danger to loose the fielde then at Munda in Spaine which happened by the forwardnes of his men that needes would d Hirt. de bel Hispanic charge the enemie standing on the higher ground That care that a Generall hath in the first charge of the enemie the same he ought also to continue in the pursuite of his victorie that his men descend not downe into the lower ground nor be too eger following them vp the hill The e Romanus cedentem hostem effuse sequendo in locum iniquum pertractus acie fusus Liu. 6. Romanes following the enemie without order and being drawne into a lowe valley were discomfited and slaine the enemie turning backe vpon them The Corinthians not looking before them in their retraite fell into a f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hollowe bottome of ground which the Athenians perceiuing and that there was no issue out compassed them round about with their light armed and slingers and stoned them all to death The Romanes entring the straite of Caudium were entrapped by the Samnites Annibal g Liu. 21. susteined many losses by the people of the mountaines that tooke the toppes of the hilles and rolled downe stones vpon his souldiers marching along the sides of the hilles Which difficulties h Xenoph. exped Cyr. 4. Xenophon also prooued in passing the mountaines of the Carduchians All difficulties which hinder the armie in marching as woods hilles straites riuers and such like are farre more dangerous if they be obiected against vs in fighting And therefore let the Generall take heede that he be not charged in passing of riuers or straites or at any like disaduantage Further let him diligently view and search the Countrey that the enemy haue not bestowed some part of his army in some wood or beyond some hil behinde or
on the sides of the place to charge him with aduantage when the battell is begun By which meanes Annibal ouerthre we the Romanes at Trebia and the Thrasimene lake Neither is it sufficient for him onely to prouide that the enemie haue no aduantage nor his owne souldiers any disaduantage but he must consider also if he may take the enemie either in trap or at any disaduantage and that either in vneauen ground or in straites or passing of riuers or any place where his army is disordered either in lodging or marching or fighting If the enemy be beaten out of the fielde by force it is in part the souldiers praise if he be entrapped by the Captaines pollicie that is his hondur In the ioyning of the battell the Generall is likewise to endeuour to take the winde and to haue the Sunne and Moone if the fight be in the night vpon his backe The winde being fauourable driueth our darts arrowes and whatsoeuer we throwe against the enemie with greater force forward and being contrarie doeth diminish their force and stoppeth the souldiers breath and filleth their eies full of dust In the battell betwixt Theodosius and Maximus the tyrant nothing holpe the a Histor Ecclese ast Theodoret. side of Theodosius more then the winde that draue backe the darts arrowes and stones of Maximus his souldiers The b Poeni auersiterga tantùm afflante vento in occaecatum puluere à Vulturno vento hostem pugnabant Liu. 22. Romane souldiers in the battell at Cannae hauing the winde against them had their eies and throates filled with dust which fauoured the Carthaginians blowing vpon their backs The Sunne with great heate frying the bodies of the Gaules made them c Sol ingenti ardore torrebat minimè patientia aestus corpora Gallorum Liu. 35. very faint fighting on a certeine time with the Romanes Vespasians souldiers hauing the d Tacit. l. 19. Moone on their backe when they fought in the night with Vitellius his army seemed greater then they were and did see to strike more directly The same aduantage had the Sicilians against the Athenians in that nights encounter wherein they ouerthrewe them neere Syracusae The season of the yeere also and the weather is to be considered before we range our army to fight Northren people endure colde better then heate And therefore as they are to auoide fighting in the heate of the day and summer season so they are to chuse the coole morning or euening and of the times of the yeere the Spring or drie Winter which Southren people can not brooke The Romanes protracting time vntill the heate of the day did then charge the e Liu. 9. Gaules when with heate and thirst they were of themselues ready to faint which occasioned vnto them a great victorie In rainie weather shot cannot doe almost any seruice that tyme therefore is fittest for armed men targetters and such like to charge them Finally whatsoeuer maketh for the encouragement of our souldiers or discouragement of the enemie the same ought a wise Generall to deuise and practise The strength of the enemy is in wordes to be diminished the goodnes of our cause and strength of our army to be amplified Whatsoeuer a Fama bellum conficit parua momenta in spem metúmque impellunt animos Liu. 27. reportes may hurt the enemy or helpe vs are to be spread abroad Reportes oft times preuaile as much as truth small matters make men in that case both feare and hope as said Claudius Nero. The report of a succour comming did daunt b Tacit. 19. Vitellius his army and confirmed the enemy Which also happened in a certeine incounter betwixt the Romanes and Samnites Wordes also cast out in the time of the battell as that their Generall is slaine or that part of the army flieth and such like profite much Therefore if at any time heere especially the skill and iudgement of a Capteine is to shewe it selfe in taking aduantages auoiding disaduantages preuenting of mischiefes laying ambushes for the enemy and vsing all maner of stratagems and deuises of warre Nowe hauing spent thus much time in considerations and preparatiues of a battell let vs come to the ranging of our battels and to the action it selfe in encountring and vanquishing the enemy CHAP. XII Wherein is discoursed what aray and course is best in charging the enemie THe aray of an army placed and prepared to fight is diuers according to the number and qualities both of the enemies and our owne forces likewise according to our strength in horsemen or footemen in shot or armed men and last of all according to the difference of groundes and places To part a small number into so many partes as we doe a full armie were rather to breake it then orderly to part it and a matter in shewe ridiculous If the enemies force be greater on the corners then in the midst we must haue consideration of that in framing and ranging our army Horsemen in rough ground in woods straits and hilles are vnprofitable If the enemy be stronger then wee in horse wee are to change the place of our horsemen to auance our footmen Where the wayes are strait we cannot spread our army as in open field This and other circumstances being referred to the iudgement of the Generall let vs now consider what aray is best in open field our army being full and hauing all the partes thereto required This I haue touched already where I shewed before how an army marching is suddenly to be drawen into order by what rules the same may be exactly performed remaineth now to be declared The whole army considered without horsemen or shot consisteth of three partes in the front I call them the a That word cōmeth neerest to the sence though not to the proper signification of the word right corner the middle battell and the left corner the Romanes called them Dextrum cornu mediam aciem sinistrum cornu and of two or three partes from front to the backe The first I call the front the second the supply the third if there be a third the last hope The Romanes diuided their aray as it was considered in depth or from front to backe in hastatos principes triarios The shot I would haue placed both before and on the sides and behinde euery of these partes diuided into seuerall troupes and guided by seuerall leaders Without the shot the horsemen would be placed on the winges vnlesse some speciall cause mooue vs to the contrary The three partes of the front may either stand ioyned together or with some distance separated and either may they be framed as one body with rankes continued or els euery of these partes may consist of diuers battaillions or squares of armed men very commodious for the seuerall vse of them and also for the retrait of shot within the distances The breadth and depth may be greater or lesser according to our
number and the ground where they stand As the front is diuided so likewise is the supply and last hope in like sort The supply would be neere so many as the front but it is sufficient if the last hope be halfe so many The distances of the supply would be greater then of the battaillions in front which charging the enemy are to ioyne close together and being wearied may retire within the distances of the supply which two partes ioyned together do then make one front if both be foiled then are they to be receiued within the distances of the last hope which are largest and all the partes to vnite their whole forces together If any doubt of the confusion that may arise in the retiring of the first and second battell backe to the third then may the supply and last hope be drawen vp vpon the sides which will worke the very same effects In the midst of euery battaillion or square somewhat toward the first rankes would the ensignes be placed with their garders well armed and furnished with short weapons Euery battaillion would haue his seuerall leader which would be the first man of the right hand in the first ranke of the square for that the inferior leaders in a maine battell should stand out of ranke is contrary to practise of warres If in euery battaillion there were some part targetters contrary to the moderne vse there might be good vse made of them when the armies come to ioyne both against shot and pikes a Ante signa modico interuallo velites eunt Liu. 38. Before the front of the battell are certeine troupes of shot to take their standing which may not onely defend the head of our army but also anoy whosoeuer offereth himselfe to the charge If they be pressed with horsemen or targetters their retreit is within the distances of the battaillions if the ground affoord them no other defence From thence they are to be drawen eftsoone againe and employed where theyr leaders shall perceiue they may doe most seruice A ranke of mosquetiers vnder the first ranke of pikes may doe good seruice if they be drawen into the distances when the enemy commeth to the charge The horsemen if they be not strong enough to encounter the enemies horse would be seconded with certeine troupes of shot and halfe pikes but diligently are they to take heed that they goe not directly before the front of their owne footmen lest retiring thence they fall vpon their owne pikes The great ordonance if there be any hill in the place either on the right hand or left hand of the army is there best placed both for seeing of the enemy and for feare of disordering our men either going to the charge or retiring backe If the ground be euen it is placed in the head of our army a little before our troupes of shot which after the same is discharged auance themselues while that is drawen within the distances either of the battaillions or of the midbattell and corners For defence of the artillery there are good gardes to be appointed wheresoeuer it standeth If this order cannot be obserued yet this rule is generally to be respected that euery weapon and souldier is there to be placed where he may most anoy the enemy and best defend himselfe The partes are so to be placed that one may succour another and one retire to another Horsemen may not come within the ground of the footmen nor shot within the rankes of pikes but both either on the sides or behinde the battaillions He is most iudicious that can bring most men to fight and stop the way to the enemy that he can not extend his men to hurt him There is no company to be sent forth to ioyne with the enemy but with some to relieue them againe and againe and to receiue them retiring and stop the enemies pursute Horsemen may not charge pikes nor come in ground where they cannot fetch their carriere Other rules in their speciall places shall be prescribed Shot in marching and standing obserue order The distances before I haue shewed In fighting they obserue no order but euery man marking his enemy right before him and shooting at him taketh his best aduantage yet if they obserue not a certeine course where the shot are many they soone fall in disorder Archers for that they shoot and fight standing in ranke obserue better aray their distance from shoulder to shoulder is one foot from ranke to ranke foure foot Some now a dayes doe little esteeme this weapon yet if our archers were armed with plated iackes as in time past neither shotte could abide them in euen ground nor pikes without shotte Against horsemen where they may finde defence of hedges or ditches or stakes or rough ground they do very good seruice Pikemen against a charge of horsemen ought to stand close with the blunt end of the pike in the ground the poynt bent vpon the horse brest Ranke from ranke standeth not more then three foot asunder that many endes of pikes may garde the first ranke That the pikes may be commodiously bent and crossed the first rankes are to bow theyr bodies that they may the better breake the charge of the enemies horse before them they are to haue a ranke of mosquetiers as hath bene said already Where the pikemen go to charge other pikes betweene shoulder and shoulder there would be a foot distance betwixt ranke and ranke so much as charging with the pikes aboue hand and breaking the same they may vse theyr swordes and daggers and either in striking auance forward theyr right legges or els receiuing the enemies blowes draw backe the same Sixe foot I thinke for that purpose to be sufficient The halberdieres bilmen and targetters would haue likewise betwixt shoulder and shoulder one foot betwixt ranke and ranke fiue foot In pikes and short weapons this is generally to be obserued that they stand as close together as may be so they may haue roome to manage themselues and their weapons the lesse roome may serue considering that I would haue all souldiers to strike with the point of their weapon and euery man to succour his fellowes before him and on the sides The horsemen go to the shocke with equall front so neere as they can and runne so close side by side as they may without hurt ech to other If horse be distant from horse two foot and ranke from ranke seuen foot when horsemen goe trotting to the charge the proportion is good The aray of the Frenchmen that charge with single rankes is of no strength neither the orders of the Reiters that goe to the charge in a ring for so soone as they are inuested with lances they are broken and therefore I thinke the former aray better as vsed both by antiquity and the Italian and English caualery which giueth ground at this day to no other The ancient leaders of time past which for their skill in armes are famous to
posterity howsoeuer in some circumstances they departed from these rules yet neuer did they neglect the Generall reasons of them neither ought they to be neglected of any as I will make manifest by particulars Scipio in the encounter betwixt him and Annibal in Afrike according to the Romane guise diuided his army from front to backe into three parts placing first those which they called hastatos next principes last triarios All these albeit at the first their armes were different yet when the Romane empire was come to the height were armed much after one sort with plated iackes which they called Loricas morions on their heads a shield on their left arme a sword well poynted and sharpe by their side and a iaueline which they called pilum in their right hand which they threw at the enemy when they ioyned battell and then fought with their sword and target Some had also defences for theyr thighes and legges and shooes plated in the soles that they might not be pearced with nayles The light armed by them called Velites which stood not among the armed men had onely a head piece and a target and sword or els if they were slingers onely a head piece a sting and a sword The Triarij that stoode last were the oldest and most tried and best armed souldiers and next them Principes that stood before them the hastati were yongest and of least experience first in place but last in accompt The front where the hastati were placed Scipio made not of Regiments ioyned together and placed before the ensignes but of companies of two hundred made into litle battaillions or squares distant one from another some space that the Elephants of the enemie receiued within these distances might not disorder the aray He placed Laelius with the Italian horsemen without on the left corner Masinissa and the Numidian horsemen on the right corner The distances betweene the battaillions he filled with the first troupes of the light armed which were arches and slingers commanding them when the Elephants came forwarde on them either to retire behinde the first battaillions or standing fast to the sides of them to giue the Elephants way and to throw their iauelins at them as they passed Liuyes words I haue set downe for the satisfaction of those that vnderstande the tongue which course I haue also in other examples out of him and other authors obserued If my translation answere not worde for worde yet doeth it answere the Romane vse of warre The wordes I could not translate precisely if I meant that any should vnderstand mee the termes of warre then and now being so different a Liu. 30. Instruit deinde primos hastatos post cos principes triarijs postremam aciem clausit Non confertas autem cohortes ante sua quámque signa instruebat sed manipulos aliquantum inter se distantes vt esset spatium quò Elephanti hostium accepti nihil ordines turbarent Laelium cum equitatu Italico ab sinistro cornu Masinissam Numidásque ab dextro opposuit Vias patentes inter manipulos antesignanorum velitibus compleuit dato praecepto vt ad impetum Elephantorum aut post rectos refugerent ordines aut in dextram laeuámque discursu applicantes se antesignanis viam qua irruerent in ancipitia tela belluis darent Annibal placed first his Elephants then the Ligurians Gaules hired to ayde the Carthaginians Among their troupes and before them he placed slingers and archers which were Mores and of the Ilands of Maiorca and Minorca In the second battel he set the Carthaginians and Africans and Macedonian Regiment ioyned in one aray and after them a litle way distant he placed his last hope or third battell consisting of Italians The Carthaginian horsemen were placed on the right wing the Numidians on the left His error if any error may be thought to haue bene in such an expert Captaine and not rather in the execution of his directions was this that not making any distances in his second battell for the first to retrayte into the first battell being repulsed was for the most part slaine and returning backe vpon the Carthaginians standing in the second battell had almost disordered them Percase he thought that seeing no place of retraite they would haue fought more desperatly But what can wearied and hurt men doe or who can animate men altogether discouraged Scipio contrarywise drawing backe the hurt and wearied men of his first battaillions auanced the second battel where those stoode which the Romanes called Principes on the one hande and the thirde battell which they termed Triarios on the other hande and so ioyntly charging the enemie on front with his footemen and on the backe with his horsemen he foyled Annibal and his army which before that had alwayes bene victorious a Liui. 30. Annibal primum Elephantos instruxit deinde auxilia Ligurum Gallorumque Balearibus Maurisque adiunctis in 2 acie Carthaginenses Afrósque Macedonum legionem modico interuallo relecto subsidiariam aciem Italicorum militum instruxit equitatum circumdedit cornibus dextrum Carthaginenses sinistrum Numidae tenuerunt At Trebia Annibal brought into the field first his archery and slingers of the Ilands of Maiorca and Minorca about 8000. men then his armed men ten thousand horsemen hee disposed by the right and left corners of the first battell and without them his Elephants diuided equally into two partes When the Romane legions vrged the light armed he drew them backe lightly into the spaces betwixt the midbattell and the right and left corner Afterwards hauing foyled and put to flight the Romane horsemen the archers slingers came forward charged the Romanes vpon the flanks of the armed men b Liui. 21. Annibal Baleares leuem armaturam 8 ferme millia hominum erant locat ante signa deinde grauiorem armis peditem in cornibus circumfundit decem millia equitum ab cornibus in vtrámque partem diuisos Elephantos statuit Balearibus cum maiore robore resisterent legiones diductae properè in cornua leues armaturae sunt Baleares pulso equite iaculabantur in latera The army of the Romanes and Carthaginians at the famous encoūter of Cannae by Liuie is thus described On the right corner stood the Romane horsemen and within them footemen the horsemen of their associats were ranged on the left corner within them footemen in the midst were placed the Romane legiōs diuided after their vsual maner into three parts hard before them ioyning with them were archers and slingers placed and before them other archers and slingers and other light armed souldiers of which consisted the first range of the battel Annibal set his slingers archers and light armed foremost on the front of the battell the Spanish and French horse he placed on the left wing against the Romane horsemen the Numidian horsemen on the right The midbattel he strengthened with footemen placing the Africans equally diuided in the right
a Auxilia Iubae impedita ac perturbata quòd nullo ordine essent sine timore iter fecerant in fugam se conjiciūt Caes bel Ciu. 2. Iubaes men being without order were no sooner charged but they fled Cato in his expedition into b Dum Hispani trepidant acie instruenda Cos iam paratis ordinatisque omnibus incompositos aggreditur Liu. 34. Spaine taking the enemy at like aduantage and charging him as he ranne vp and downe to set his forces in array did easily driue him out of the field If the c Liu. 22. Romanes as they passed the riuer before the battell of Trebia had not bene charged by Annibal they could not so easily haue receiued so great an ouerthrow Annibal himselfe albeit a most expert leader and of an army most expert in warre yet receiued losse being charged by Marcellus in that instant when he drew his men out of the campe to set them in order and if by long practise his men could not haue taken their standings themselues they had that day quite bene ouerthrowen by their d Toto passim campo pecorum modo incompositos se fuderunt Liu. 27. disorder The like had also happened vnto Caesars army charged by the e Caes bel Gal. 2. Neruians when it was dispersed and disordered about the fortification of the campe but that the skill of the souldiers that could euery man fall in array of himselfe remedied the disorder The Germanes a long time vsing to charge their enemies with more f Dirigūtur acies pari vtrinque spe nec vt olim apud Germanos vagis incursibus aut disiectas per cateruas quippe longa aduersus nos militia insueuerant signa sequi subsidijs firmari dicta imperatorum accipeic Tacit. annal 2. violence then order assailing them by squadrons seuerally rather then with an ordered army were ouerthrowen by the Romanes oft times but when by long vse they had learned the Romane array and obserued it they preuailed against them Those that come rather furiously then orderly to the charge as did the French at Cressy and Poitiers and both French and Spaniards at Aliubarota in the confines of Portogall where our ancesters of the English natiō obteined great victories are easily ouerthrowen Susteine the first brunt and presently they are cooled Those therefore that goe to charge the enemy let them obserue this a What is to be especially considered and performed before our army begin the charge course first let them set their men in order that euery man may know his place secondly let them giue certeine direction that euery commander may know both what to doe and in case he cannot performe so much where to retire Annibal not thinking of this when he fought with Scipio in Afrike occasionned his owne ouerthrow for when his first battell being wearied would haue retired to the succor there was no place left to retrait into so that the same not being receiued into the second battell began to fight with their owne fellowes and what by the enemy and by friends was most part slaine The French horse at the battell of Poitiers not knowing where to retire fell among their footmen and holpe to set them in disorder Thirdly in giuing directions let the Generall take heed that he employ all sorts of weapons where they may doe most seruice this I meane particularly to declare in the chapter following if he send horse against pikes standing fast or against shot being fenced with a trench he ruinateth his horse if he send shot against horse in open field or pikes against shot he vseth the matter with no iudgement Fourthly let him neuer order either his whole army or part of it without supply Many casualties may at the first discourage our men which being opportunely succored may take courage againe and begin a fresh charge vpon the enemy b Ex secunda acie subsidiarijs cohortibus in pugnam inductis suos accendit hostē fudit Liu. 34. Cato in his warres against the Spaniards relieuing his wearied men with a few fresh companies encouraged them and ouerthrew the enemies When Caesars men began to giue groūd in their battell against the Germanes c Crassus tertiam aciem laborantibus nostris subsidio misit ita praelium restitutum est atque omnes hostes terga verterunt Caes bel Gal. 1. Crassus by supplying them with a fresh company not onely restored the battell but made all the enemies to runne Where all the force of the army is employed at the first brunt and no order is taken for supplies as in a certeine battell betwixt the Romaines and Volscians the successe d Primo praelio non subsidijs firmata acie c. concursum est ideò Romani à Volscis premuntur Liu. 2. seldome is good Among other matters obiected against Fuluius accused as principall causer of the ouerthrow of the Romaine army by Annibal at Herdonea this was chiefe that he did not well order his army nor strengthen the same with supplies nor succours Fiftly looke with what part of the army himselfe is strongest let him there begin to charge the enemy where either by good intelligence or view of the aray or disaduantage of the ground or quality of the weapons he shall perceiue that the enemie is weakest Caesar in the a Caesar à dextro cornu quod eam partem minimè firmam hostium esse animaduerterat praelium commisit Caes bel gal 1. encounter he had with the Germanes beganne to charge them with that part of his armie that was ordered in the right corner for that hee sawe that the enemies were there weakest The same as Liuy testifieth was obserued in a certaine battell which the Romanes had with the Carthaginians in Spaine He is not wise that when he may charge the enemie on the side will goe directly to the front where his greatest force consisteth Sixtly after that hee hath set his men in order let him not stand long in armes before he goeth to the charge if he meane at all to fight By long standing the souldiers waxe wearie faint hungrie and a great part of their courage is thereby abated b Liu. 27. Asdrubal coulde not haue done his men greater wrong then to make them stand so long in armes before the battell begunne at Metaurus Thereof proceeded their faintnesse and contrariwise the courage and strenth of the Romanes for those being faint these came fresh to the battell c Liu. 22. Annibal at the battell of Trebia would not bring foorth his men to fight before hee perceiued the Romanes to be hungrie and almost tyred with long standing Which encreased his owne force and abated much of the courage and force of the enemie Further by no meanes let him suffer the enemie to preuent him in giuing the first charge As in the beginning of warres so in the d Verti in co res videbatur vtri prius arma inferrent Liu.
2. beginning of the battell there is great aduantage And as Pinarius saide to his men lying in garrison in Aenna a Citie of e Qui prior strinxerit ferrum cius victoria erit Liu. 24. Sicile so it falleth out very often that hee that draweth the sworde soonest first obteineth the victorie They that first beginne seeme to haue greater courage then those that stand still as it were to warde their blowes There is many aduantages in beginning the battell They may more easely take the aduantage of the winde and Sunne of the grounde and of the sort of weapons wherewith they fight then those that stand still which are forced to turne which way soeuer the enemie commeth They may there beginne where the enemie is weakest and themselues strongest and therefore the vse of the Romanes was first to begin the charge as appeareth both in the warres of Scipio in Spaine and Caesar in France A certaine f Lez consederez remanquet qu'en touts lez combus passez ils ont mieulx fait chargeans lez premiers que quand ils en◠attendu la desmarcke catholique Hist de troubl de Fr. Frenchman albeit he vnderstood not the reason yet by obseruation vnderstoode this poynt For sayth he in the warres of France it hath beene noted that the Protestants did alwayes preuaile more charging the enemies first then attending the enemies demarche and charge It appeareth both in the braule at Moncontour anno 1569. and diuers other skirmishes which they call battels Those that charge first take the aduantage of any disorder committed by the enemie which others let slippe Whatsoeuer can be deuised to encourage our owne souldiers or to discourage the enemie as at all times so especially in the hazard of battell is to be practised by cryes reportes shewes wordes spoken in the hearing of the enemie and whatsoeuer else can be imagined If there lye any wood or hollowe grounde neere the enemie the same is to be seased that in the heate of the fight our men suddenly arising thence may more amaze and hurt the enemie But of this point we shall haue better occasion to speake at large in the treatise of stratagemes and ambushes Least by flying of some cowardly companions the rest might be discouraged order is to be taken that whosoeuer in the fight beginneth to turne his backe bee presently slaine The a Cohorti suae dictator dat signum vt quem suorum fugientem viderint pro hoste habeant Liu. 2. Romane Generall by this strict commaundement and execution appointing certaine troupes to execute it made his armie stand resolutely Of Attilius it is reported that when his army beganne to giue ground by b Liu. 10. killing the first with his owne hands he made the rest to make head against the enemie which Annibal likewise practised in his battel with Scipio in Afrike albeit he had not like successe This is the case wherein Clearchus the Lacedemonian c Plutarch saide that souldiers ought more to feare their owne Generall then the enemie Finally when by his good direction and the valiantnesse of his souldiers the Generall shall perceiue the enemie to beginne to shrinke and giue ground then must he be most carefull first that he giue him no time to recouer himselfe or to supplie that which is broken secondly that hee keepe his souldirs from spoyle vntill such time as he hath assured himselfe of the victorie When the enemie beginneth to shrinke and to be dismaide any little force more maketh him to runne in a small time he recouereth himselfe againe Therefore d Orant vt perculsos inuadant nec restitui aciem sinant Liu. 29. then is he to bee vrged with the rest of our strength that remaineth entire and not to be suffered to escape Scipio in the battell with Asdrubal in Spaine when the e Liu. 28. Carthaginians disliking the party would haue retyred wholly together did so presse them on all sides that before they could recouer any place of safetie they were forced to change their pace and euery man to flye for his life In the a Caes de bel ciu 3. battell betwixt Caesar and Pompey when Pompeyes horsemen were driuen out of the fielde by those halfe pikes that hee had ordeined for succour of his owne horse with the same men he cut in pieces Pompeyes archers and light armed men That done with the same troupes he charged Pompeies battell that yet stoode firme vpon the backe And after he had driuen the enemie out of the fielde yet rested he not vntill such time as hee had taken his campe and dispersed the reliques of his armie Yet may some say it is not good to presse the enemie too farre and that a bridge of golde is to bee made to those that flie away Gaston de fois was ouerthrowen and slaine pursuing the Spaniards that retired after the battell of Rauenna And diuers others driuing the enemie to dispaire that otherwise would haue fledde haue hurt themselues But this is to be vnderstoode of an enemie that would so flye as he would also yeelde the victorie and contende no more in which case Themistocles perswaded the Greekes that meant to dissolue Xerxes his bridge to suffer the same to continue that thereby he might runne away Others that meane to fight againe are to be pursued diligently with all our forces Gaston de fois had not beene slaine but that hee was badly followed and too farre auaunced Neither coulde the Spaniards haue escaped if they had beene charged with shotte or taken at aduantage and kept from victuals The Romanes had so certaine an order in this point that they doubt not to accuse their b Ex subsidiis quòd tardiùs successissent signum equitibus tardiùs datum Cos accusatus Liu 35. General of trecherie for that when the enemie staggered hee gaue not the worde to the horsemen to charge nor aduaunced his footemen in time to supplie those that were wearie c Victor equestri praelio rex paruo momento si adiuuisset debellare potuit Liu. 42. Perseus for that hauing foyled the Romanes with his horse and hauing the victorie in his hand he did not pursue the rest of their troupes and breake them but suffered them to passe a Riuer quietly is condemned for a man of no iudgement in warres The same errour was committed by the Carthaginians in Spaine who hauing slain the two Scipioes foyled their armie gaue them selues to rest while the Romanes gathering head againe were able afterwarde to matche them and foyle them Those that cannot thrust the enemie downe that is already falling will be lesse able to doe it when he standeth vpright And therefore let wise captaines pursue their enemie to the vtmost and not suffer him when hee once beginneth to looke backe to turne head againe and take breath And in any case let him take heede that his souldiers runne not to spoyle before the victorie be assured and the
enemie wholly vanquished a Turbasset vtique nouissimum agmen Liu. 22. Annibal pursuing the Romanes after his victorie at Trebia had sure ouertaken them and disordered their rierward had not the Numidian horsemen turned aside to spoyle the campe of the Romanes And in the time of the Emperours of Rome the Germanes had giuen the b Obstitit vincentibus prauum inter ipsos certamen hoste omisso spolia consectandi Tacit. 20. Romanes a mightie ouerthrowe if leauing them they had not contended among themselues who shoulde first goe to spoyle But howe so euer it was in auncient time the disorder of souldiers in this point is such that with no lawes nor penalties they canne bee kept from following the spoyle which oftentimes maketh them a spoyle to their enemies The French at Guingast had put the Dutch to flight and were almost in possession of the victorie but while they ranne after the spoyle the enemie rallied himselfe and charging them afresh did extorce the victorie out of their handes and put them to flight At c Guicciar li. 2. Taro the Italians had foyled the French returning out of the kingdome of Naples but that in the beginning of the victorie they fell to spoyle the baggage which was the cause of their owne spoyle and ruine The same was the cause of the escape of the d Guicciar lib. 8. French and losse of the Venetians at Treui Gaston de fois at the taking of Brescia made proclamation that vpon paine of death no man shoulde fall to spoyle before licence giuen yet coulde hee not keepe his souldiers fingers in temper The more dangerous effectes doe ensue of this disorder the greater care ought the Generall to haue to preuent it CHAP. XII Part. 2. Wherein the vse of horsemen pikes halberdes and other such weapons also of targets small shotte archers and great ordonance is declared THat which before I promised concerning the vse of horsemen and diuers weapons that is nowe to be performed A matter of great importance and aduantage if it be well considered and therefore not to be omitted You that knowe the traine of armes yeelde here the testimonie of your experience to this discourse and if you heare any cauill against it yet let not such as neuer marched further then out of the kitchin or from the dresser into the hall or parlour censure that which they vnderstand not Horsemen among the Romanes were al of one sort barded horses with men all armed mounted on them they vsed not If they vsed any archers on horsebacke they were beholding to other natiōs for them Nowe vse of late times hath brought in diuers sortes of them which according to their armes and furniture haue diuers names Some horse are barded others without bardes The Frenchmen of armes in time past vsed barded horses for feare of our arrowes Nowe since archerie is not so much reckoned of and bardes are but a weake defence against shotte lanciers leauing their bardes are armed much like to the Albanian stradiots Vpon the borders betwixt vs and the Scots horsemen haue staues for the purpose and for their armes iackes of male The Dutch Reitres although well armed for the most part yet seldome vse lances or staues or other weapon then pistoles and mazes at their saddle bowe Beside these there is an other sort of horsemen lately come in vse We call them carbines pedrinals or argoletiers which vse firelocke peeces on horsebacke and are cōmonly armed to the proofe of their piece Horsemen in warres are most necessary in diuers respects With them we range and spoile the enemies countrey with them we fetch in victuals for our selues with them we discouer the enemies proceedings with them we bridle his courses and stop his forragers with them we both helpe to foyle him in open fielde and pursue him flying from vs. a Caes bel gal 7. Caesar by the enemies horse alwayes coasting him and ready to charge his forragers was driuen to great extremitie for want of victuals In b Hirt. de bel Afric Afrike likewise being a plaine countrey he suffered many algaradaes by the enemies horsemen often charging him and cutting off his victuals If Pompey had not rashly aduentured to fight with Caesar by his horsemen wherein he farre passed him he had famished his armie The Greekes in their returne frō their voyage with Cyrus by experience learned what incommodities followe them that march without horse in the enemies countrey And this is the vse of horsemen out of fight to witte to cut off the enemie from victuals to keepe him short to discouer his proceedings to cut off straglers and to fetche in victuals and prouision for our owne armie Which he that is strong in horsemen cannot want In fighting with the enemie there are diuers vses of horsemen If we charge him on the sides or backe we stop his march as before I haue shewed With a fewe horsemen any number of shotte taken in open fielde may be disordered The Protestants in the encounter at S. Gemme in a Hist de troubl de Fr. li. 13. Poitou with a few horsemen defeated diuers olde companies of shotte led by Puigalliard That was the ruine of the Prince of Parmaes ayde sent to the Duke of Mayne by the horsemen of the present French king by Dreux an 1589. No number of short weapons can resist the carriere of horse in a plaine ground The Sabines saith b Ab equitibus repentè inuectis turbati sunt ordines Sabinorum Liu. 1. Liuy were put out of their araie being suddenly charged by the Romane horsemen The Volscians and c In media primùm acie vinci coepti qua praemissus equitatus turbauerat ordines Liu. 3. Aequians after long fight beganne to giue ground after that the horesemen had broken their array by charging them in the midbattell The force of horesemen for their violence is called a d Procella equestris Liu. 30. tempest The Romane e Dictator immisso equitatu cùm antesignanos hostium turbaffet legionum signa properè inferri iussit Liu. 4. Generall perceiuing the weakenes of the enemies battel by charging them with his horsemen did disorder all to the ensignes after which entrance made he cut the rest in pieces with his armed men The Corinthians in a certaine battell hauing put the f Thucid. 3. Athenian footemen to flight were accoyled and ouerthrowen by a fewe horsemen The reason that the horsemen preuailed so much in time past were two first they seldome vsed any long weapons but targets and iauelins for the most part secondly they did then vse to charge with their horsemen when they sawe the footemen out of array and not otherwise if they did wisely g Reliquos omnes equites nostri consecuti interfecerunt Caes bel gal 1. This is therefore an other vse of horsemen in the battel to charge those that are already disordred The fourth and last vse of them is to execute and
h Maxima pars ab equitibus in flumen acti sunt Liu. 1. pursue those that are put to flight But those that leade horsemen are to proceede with great caution they may not charge pikemen standing resolutely together The price of their folly that did otherwise our men did somewhat vnderstand at Muscleborough field Neither may they charge shot or archers that haue a defence either of a trench or a hedge or a wall or certaine rankes of pikes before them For in the case they make them selues markes to the enemie whom they cannot come at Further they had better charge the enemie disarrayed by shotte or other weapons then when the armie standeth close together For against an armie well empaled with pikes yea with halberds close set and well backed with shotte horse cannot preuaile whatsoeuer a certaine a Histoire de troubl de Fr. l. 2. French man in his glorious stile vaunteth of the strength of the French men of armes Against men out of order in open fielde horsemen worke great effectes and so no doubt they haue done in these late disorderly braules of France and did alwayes among b Arist polit barbarous nations which fought out of order But against an army well ordered they can do but little And any small impediment doth make them vnseruiceable The Romanes although their pikes were not halfe so long as ours yet did they not feare any numbers of horse Against the Macedonian pikes the Persian horse could doe no seruice Neither will the French horsemen looke vpon our pikes well backed with musquets if they be wise notwithstanding their great crakes Nay our archers at Agincourt fielde founde them not so rough in handling as they would seeme Horsemen therefore in all expeditions I accompt very requisite for the causes aboue rehearsed and for that without them albeit we could foyle the enemie yet we cannot kill many nor preuaile against him that is swifter of foote then we as c Xenoph. exped Cy. 2. Clearchus both said and proued by experience in the warres against Artaxerxes At the bridge of Burgos in Galicia where the Spaniards ranne so lightly before vs we felt what want we had of horse Of horsemen I thinke it requisite also to haue some part lances some light armed like to our borderers and some carbines The barded horsemē both for their heauines great charge I thinke not very needefull When Lucullus his men were much afraide of Tygranes his barded d Plutarch in Lucullo horses he willed them to be of good cheere for that there was more labour in spoyling them being so armed then in foyling thē they were so vnweldy And so it came to passe For I neuer read that euer they did any seruice but in diuers places that they were foiled e Xenoph. exped Cyr. 1. Cyrus had diuers barded horses in his iourney against his brother but there is not any mentiō of any seruice that they did Darius had multitudes of them in the encounter betwixt him and Alexander a Arrian exped Alex. 3. at Arbela and Antiochus in the battell against b Liu. Scipio but scarce did they giue one blowe to hinder the course of the enemies victorie The armour of the c Cataphracti inhabiles ad resurgendum humi dilabentes caduntur Tac. annal 17 man and the horse is so heauie and so boisterous that if they fall there they lye stopping the way to those that come after Neither can they auoide it but many shall lye vpon the ground especially if the pikes stand close and be well flanked or backed with mosquettiers shooting ouer their heades If we haue fewe horsemen or not so many that wee may therewith match the enemie we are then to followe the prudent deuise of Caesar both here in Briteine and in Afrike and Greece shewed him by valiant men before him Before Capua the Romanes not being able to match the enemie with horse seconded their men with certeine lusty young men armed lightly and weaponed with short pikes Which while their men were at the charge did so gall the enemie with their pikes that presently they turned visage Caesar by reason that his shippes wherein his horse were helde not their course comming into this Iland had onely 30. horse yet foyling the enemie with his footemen with those fewe horses and the lustiest of his young men he so pursued them that many remained behinde their company In Afrike likewise he susteined the charge of the enemies horsemen with his footemen and after that he had made them turne their backes did so charge them with some fewe horsemen which he had that they had no desire to returne thither againe Seconding his horsemen with certaine halfe pikes lightly armed he not only repelled Pompeis horsemen in Albany and Scipioes in Afrike but also vanquished their forces By the same d Caes bel gal 7. deuise before time he foyled 7000. Gaules well horsed with a very fewe of his owne ayded and seconded by his footemen e Xenoph. exped Eyr 3. Xenophon charging the enemie that would haue fled from him with a few carriage horses shewed vnto vs that bad horses serue for a shift to follow the chace and run better then good footemen In the warres of Naples 12. Italian horsemen fighting in steccato as they call it with so many Frenchmen the Italians f Guicciard 1. preuailed by this meanes In the place where they met the Italians let fal certain iauelins which those that were first vnhorsed by the French tooke vp ioyning with their companions striking the French in the faces preuailed against them The Admirall of France at the encounter of S. Denis by Paris being ouermatched by the enemy in horsemen placed behinde euery company a company of shot which following the horsemen going an easy trot to the charge vpon the approch of the enemy auanced themselues forward and discharged so thicke and full vpon him that all his companie came not to the charge and those that came were more gentle in handling then otherwise they would haue beene This may serue those that are inferior to the enemy in horsemen For this nation I trust this discourse is needelesse For albeit we haue hitherto had great want of horsemen in our expeditions in France Flanders and Portugal yet there is no reason that this land should want hereafter hauing such meanes There onely wanteth liberall mindes and good order that some part of that is now spent in surfet silkes golden laces and other vanities may be employed in keeping horses for seruice Lances and Carbines haue like vse in following the victory and chase But while the enemy standeth lances are best employed against shot and carbines against pikes But yet must they take heed how they do inuest them In discouering the enemy and fetching in of victualles and brideling the enemies forragers both lances and carbins and archebuziers on horsebacke would be ioyned together But carbins and
vse of them Pikes and horsemen of which the French make such reckoning are but for plaine ground and for some few vses shot can doe nothing in the crowde for that they want defensiue armes onely targettiers armed haue this priuiledge that in all places and at all times they may be employed of iudicious leaders The Romanes with their great targets and swordes and iauelins which they called Pila subdued the worlde Other armes as corsalets and iackets plated and morions were common to others these were proper to the Romanes and those that folowed their vse of warres a Germani genere pugnae armorum superabantur Tac. 2. The aduantage of their armes experience prooueth to haue beene great The Germanes excelled them in strength of bodie and stature the b Britanni ingētibus gladiis breuibus cetris à scutatis Agricolae caeduntur Tacit. in vit Agric. Brytaines Gaules and Spaniards were superior to them in number and equall in courage but in their furniture and armes and manner of fight they were inferior All Romane souldiers both on horse and foote for the most part vsed a kinde of targets But the light armed wanted maled iackets and had lighter targets as not onely appeareth by their images in marble yet to be seene at Rome but also in their c Hic miles tripedalem parmā habet in dextra hastas quibus eminus vtitur Hispaniensi gladio est cinctus quod si pede collato pugnandum est translatis in laeuam hastis gladium stringit Liu. 38. 31. histories So would I haue our targetters some armed with light corsalets and morions heauy targets other onelie with light targets plated doublets sufficiēt to beare the thrust of a sword And if thereto some had short halfe pikes also the same woulde bee effectuall to throwe at footemen and good to stand against horsemen Halberds and blacke billes pertisans borespeares and pollaxes and all such like weapons to be vsed in hand haue one and the same vse with swordes and targets But neither are the men that vse them so well defended against shot and pikes nor is that sort of weapon so effectuall If the enemy giue ground they are proper for execution and may be employed in open field in straites in woodes in assaultes sallies and many seruices Their armes are eyther corsalets and gorgerons or plated doublets or iackes with skirts for defence of the thighes and morrions on their heades The Romanes vsed few of these weapons The Dutch place diuers rankes of them among their pikes and commonly they are planted by the ensignes The shot is diuided into mosquetters caliuers and archers The vse of shot is diuers In open field therewith wee defend our pikes and with the same offend the enemies pikes Where the same hath a defence against the force of horsemen it is verie profitably employed against them In the defence of a towne forte or passage it is excellent Likewise for the assailantes therewith to cleare the walles while their armed men mount by breach or by scale But the same must take heede of the force of the horse and charge of armed men which without defence of pikes or other naturall wall or banke the same cannot sustaine The force of shot is greater in skirmish then in set battelles For shot if they bee driuen to stand thicke haue no vse As the vnprofitable number of shot at the battell of Moncontour and Dreux and other incounters in the late warres of France declare sufficiently As oft as the enemies shot make coūtenance to charge our armed men so oft must our shot encounter them and driuing away the enemies shot are mortall if they strike right thicke among the enemies pikes For pikes against shot arrowes being heauy armed haue no defence As the disastre of the a Thucid. 4. Lacedemonians at Pylos of the Romanes at b Liu. 24. Trebia of the c Thucid. 3. Athenians compassed by the light armed Aetolians of Titurius Sabinus and his d Caes bel gal 5. company at Vatuca of the Almanes at e Histoir de troubl de Fr. Moncontour where heauie armed men destitute of shot and light armed were compassed about and slaine by shot archers and slingars doth declare In rainie weather they cannot doe almost anie seruice Yet some say that at Rocheabeille firelockes did I know not what seruice in the raine But neither in raine nor out of raine are shot assured against horse or targets or armed men but where they haue a defence and retrait So that I maruell what the French meane to bring into the field so many shot and so few armed men At the incounter of Rocheabeille the Protestants had 14000. shot and f De long bois peu ou point Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 7. scarce anie pikes But percase they could not otherwise do Archers in assaults and defence of townes cannot do like seruice to mosquetiers and caliuers For neyther can they hit so right nor so mortally In pight fields I thinke them nothing inferiour to them For being armed with iackes as they shoulde bee when they come to gripes they driue the shot to his feete and shooting manie rankes one ouer an others head twelue arrowes shall fall before one boullet For onely the first rankes of shot discharge vnlesse they meane to pierce their fellowes Nowe then that the shot are disarmed and archers armed who seeth not that two thousand archers in open field may preuaile against three thousand shot especially seeing as archers may keepe ranke and not shot and archers may fight standing thicke but shot cannot file their rankes if they stand thick Archers therefore in open field may be employed against shot and likewise against horsemen and pikes But if against horsemen they must haue a defence of stakes or trenches or pikes And likewise dealing against armed men they had neede to haue a front of armed men The archers at Agincourt field and at manie other battelles haue made the name of this nation famous for the seruice they did against the enemie But then they had a defence of stakes and trenches a Xenoph. Cyr. paed 2. Cyrus in his array placed behinde euerie dozen rankes of armed men certaine archers by which deuise when his enemies came to ioyne battell with him hee preuailed against them not being able to abide the arrowes that comming ouer the formost rankes light in their faces and other bare places And therefore whatsoeuer some say of the vse of bowes and arrowes which they haue not seene tried I woulde that among others our Generalles that goe in seruice into other countries woulde also employ some archers Great artillery against troupes standing thicke and in euen ground worketh great effectes But in other places and against men ranged otherwise the sound is greater then the hurte At Moncontour the Kings ordonance beating among the horsemen ranged hedge-wise did not in twentie shot hit once Neither
death of the Cardinal king Vnder colour of parley of peace at Dunkirke hee brought his Nauy vpon our coast before we looked for it and I may say before some were well prouided for it These pretenses though false yet make shewe and are beleeued of some and take simple people before they be prepared For when Scipio had put men aborde and prouided many things as for a siege e Vt ab eo quod parabat in alterius rei curam cōuerteret animo◠Liu. 29. Syphax beleeued that as the brute went he meant in deede to besiege Vtica but being in the night inuaded and seeing his campe all fired hee learned with the losse of his army one point of warre neuer to trust the enemy when hee giueth out such reportes Some vnder colour and during the treaty of composition haue wound them selues out of danger Asdrubal being taken by the Romanes at an aduantage promised that if he might be assured to depart out of that place hee would cary his army out of Spaine but while the Romanes were secure thinking that he would not stirre during the treaty of composition the man by litle and litle had gotten out of the snare into a safe ground The king of Macedonia sending messengers to treate with the Romanes for the buriall of his souldiers that lay slayne by their campe in the meane time of the parley remoued his campe out of a strayt and so escaped The Massilians besieged by Caesars souldiers began to treat of composition But when by diuers dayes vaine talke they perceiued their negligence and securitie they sallied vpon the sudden and burnt their engins works which cost them much labour Vnder colour of treaty of peace a Liu. Marcellus espied the walles of Syracusae and another time entred the towne of Salapia seasing a gate Nothing is more commodious for dressing of enterprises against a towne besieged The L. b In the dayes of Q. Marie Grey by the trechery of the French entring the trenches and ditches of Guines during the parley escaped narowly a great danger Rumours of succours comming encourage our souldiers discourage the enemy The c Liu. l. 9. 10. Romane Consull giuing out a report at the time of the beginning of the battell that another army was comming to charge the enemy vpon the backe made the enemy hearing it to doubt and his own souldiers to fight more courageously Vaine shewes doe often deceiue the enemy Caesar mounting certaine slaues and horse boyes vpon cariage horses and mules at Gergouia and causing them to shewe them selues a farre off made the d Caes bel gal 7. enemy feare least a company of horsemen were comming vpon them to charge them vpon the backe Which being practiced long before against the Samnites e Sp. Nautius mulos detractis clitellis alarijs impositis circumduxit quod Samnitibus terrorem attulit Liu. made them feare looke about Annibal not being able to force the garde that kept the passage of Calicula binding fagots on the heads of oxen setting them on fire driuing them toward the place what through wonderment what through feare made them to giue way Martigues seeing the inconuenience of his lodging neere f Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 5. Pampron An. 1568. at the shutting of the euening caused all his company to displace went away safely abusing the enemy with fires made and peeces of matches tyed among bushes which made the enemy suppose hee had bene there still The which practice he seemeth to haue learned of Annibal who fearing least he shoulde bee charged as hee remoued his campe left diuers tentes standing toward the enemy some souldiers armes as if the rest had bin stil there which long before had gained ground were gone Wordes making for vs comming to the enemies eares doe often strike a terror in them Quintius the a Quintius dicens Volscotum alterum cornu fugere pepulit Volscos Liu. 1. Romane Generall crying out aloud that the other corner of the battel of the Volscians fled made that where he stood to flie in deede Valerius Leuinus speaking aloud saying that he had slaine Pyrrhus with his owne hands holpe to discourage the enemy Annibal causing one of his owne men in the Romane Generals name to command the Romanes to flee to the hils next adioyning had done them some hurt but that the guile was perceiued I haue heard some say that a certaine voyce raised in the eares of the Scots at Muscleborough field how their company fled made them both feare and flie False sounds also signes doe often abuse those that are credulous Annibal hauing slaine the Romane Consul with his ring scaled diuers forged letters whereby he had deceiued some if the other Consul had not giuen the cities round about warning of it Hauing taken Tarentū he caused one to sound an alarme after the Romane note which caused diuers Romanes to fal into his hands and the Tarentines to imagine that the Romanes meant to betray them more harme it had done but that the trumpet sounded vnskilfully Suborned messengers are dangerous if credit be giuen vnto them A certaine Lucanian while Annibal warred with the Romanes in Italy led Sempronius a famous leader among them into an ambush promising him to bring him to the speech of his countrymē of whom he feined himself to be sent vnto him b Liu. Annibal causing them of Metapontus to write letters to Fabius as if they were purposed to deliuer vp their citie into his hands had almost drawne him into an ambush where with his army he lay ready to welcome him to the towne Men disguised like women or like countrey people or c Danaûm insignia nobis aptemus Chorabus apud Virgil. armed like the enemies entring within their strength doe now and then abuse them and giue their felowes meanes of entrance In d Hist de troubl de Fr. l. 12. these late troubles of France diuers negligent Gouernors haue by these practises bene surprised Enemies pretending friendship play many odious partes therefore not lightly to be credited Before the battell of Cannae certaine Numidians suborned by Annibal pretending discontentment and seeming to reuolt from him in the middest of the hurly burly charged the Romanes vpon the backe and greatly preiudiced them Ambiorix vnder colour of friendly counsell trayned Titurius Sabinus out of his strength and taking him at aduantage flew him and most of his company Such was a Metuo Danaos dona ferentes Virg. Sinons counsell who as Poets feigne betrayed Troy To auoyde these traps these rules are to be obserued first no b Inimicorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 counsell is to be trusted that proceedeth from the enemy for who can beleeue that he will counsell vs well that seeketh onely to doe vs hurt secondly if any reuolt from the enemy yet is he not to be trusted nor suffered to remaine among vs armed especially if he
may hurt vs. Sometime the enemy by a feined retrayt is drawen into blinde trenches set with sharp stakes and couered with earth boughs hurdles or vnder walles or banks where our shot lieth ready for him or els into any place of disaduantage which was the ruine of Cyrus his army by Tomyris Queene of Scithia and diuers others that like blinde men folow where their enemies leade them In summe whatsoeuer tendeth to deceiue and abuse the enemy or to incourage giue aduantage to our own souldiers the same ought wise leaders to deuise practice Prouided alway that they neither breake othe nor promise nor offend against piety or the lawes of nations Let such vile facts be practiced of Turks Spaniards that hire wicked men to kill Princes and mainteine no othe or promise further then their profit requireth Such Histories doe feine c Persidia plusquam Punica Annibal to haue bene and diuers of the Carthaginians and d Plutarch Lysander Lysander among the Greekes that tooke pleasure in deceiuing of men with great othes as some take ioy to deceiue children with small toyes The proceedings of the Romanes were farre otherwise They disalowed his fact that would haue betrayed Falisci and sent him bound to Pyrrhus that for money promised to empoyson him Neither did e Val. max. lib. 8. c. 9. Cepio the Romane winne any credit by hyring the Lusitanians to kill their Captaine Viriat This practice of killing the Spaniards learn of certaine bastardly Italians a degenerate ofspring and race issuing of the vagrant natiōs of Lombards Gothes Vandales and of f Liu. 41. Perseus that had murtherers hyred for wages to kil whom he should appoint would haue practiced his trechery vpon the Romans a man of a base disposition and vnworthy so noble a kingdome Those stragegemes commonly take effect that are practiced in matters least feared That which no man careth for is neglected and least can that be g Ad id quod ne timeatur fortuna facit minimè turi sunt homines quia quod neglexeris incautum atque apertum habeas Liu. 25. auoyded which is least feared as sayth Cyrus by diuerting the riuer entred Babylon a way that no mā looked for him Scipio passing the lake tooke new Carthage Great are the effects that are wrought by deuises and surprises but they are discreetly to be gouerned least going about to deceiue the enemy we be our selues abused intrapped by double practice as the a Tratato dop pio Italians cal it So was b Anno 1569. Guerchy and his company ouertaken in the practice about the towne of Bourges where diuers braue men lost their liues while the enemy that knew the practice was ready to receiue them to their losse King Edward the 3. vnderstanding of a plot layd by the captaine of S. c Froissart Omar for the recouery of Calais newly by him wonne turned the same vpon the heads of those that should haue executed it surprised those that would haue surprised others Those therefore that in stratagemes politike surprises folow the example of others let them see that their case be like their strength equall that the matter be handled cunningly executed presently And that the times be wel measured that they come neither too soone nor too late in which case their enterprise vanisheth to nothing d Of ambushes Ambushes likewise well placed and managed woorke the enemie great displeasures not onely in cutting off straglers and such as go on forraging but also in troubling an army marching or fighting Annibal in passing the Alpes lost diuers of his souldiers by the incursions of the people of the Mountaines rising out of their holes charging his army vpon aduantages Sempronius as hath bene shewed drawne into an ambush was slaine with his company The like happened to Marcellus the Consull going to view the side of a hill not farre off But of this point I haue already brought examples sufficient where I discoursed of the danger of those that marche in the enemies countrey without diligent discouery Ambushes wel layd that our souldiers may rise out of them suddenly charge the enemy on the back or sides as he is fighting are yee more dangerous then those wherein he is charged marching By the same Romulus ouerthrew the Fidenians for placing part of his men in ambush in certaine thickets and vnder certain hilles neere the town prouoking the enemy to come forth of the towne he drew him along after him vntill such time as hee was against the ambush c Trahuntur ad locum insidiarū inde subito exorti Romani transuersam inuadunt bostium aciem Liu. 7. Where turning backe vpon him and causing those that lay in ambush to charge him on the sides hee cutte many of the Fidenians in peeces Annibal before he encountred the Romanes at Trebia hid certaine a Mago Numidaeque simul latebras eorum improuida prouida praeterlata acies est exorti à tergo ingentem tumultum ac terrorem fecere Liu. 21. horsemen in the marishes and bushes neere to the places where the armies were to ioyne Whence rising vpon a sudden as the army of the Romanes passed by them they made a great tumult and slaughter and were in part cause of the victory With the like practice he entrapped the Romane army at the lake Thrasimene Behind the hilles vpon the side of the place where he saw the encounter would be he placed diuers light armed and beyond the playne he caused his horsemen to lurke in the valleyes So that Flaminius was no sooner come to the charge but he saw his enemy in front on his sides and on his backe b Liu. 35. Philopoemen charging the enemy with his light armed and afterwarde causing his men to flie backe while the enemyranne disorderly after the chase hee receiued his owne men within the distances of his armed men and with them cut in peeces those that folowed Demosthenes not the Orator but a Captaine that liued during the Peloponnesian warre fearing lest the enemy that in number farre passed him would compasse him round about and charge him on the backe in a certaine valley and bushy ground nere the place where the enemy made shew to giue the charge ranged both armed men and e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid. 3. archers which in the ioyning of the battel rising out of their places should charge the enemy vpon the backe d Caes bel gal 1. Caesar by taking the top of the hill where the Heluetians lay encamped with part of his force had giuen them a greater ouerthrow then hee did but that the mistaking of his men made him loose that aduantage It is the part of a wise leader when hee pursueth or coasteth the enemy to take the aduantage of woods valleys hils strayts riuers and in all places to lay traps for him that hee may neither marche nor
fight nor lodge without danger But yet in dressing of Ambushes he is to take great heede first that the enemy haue no notice of his purpose so prouide against him For by this means traps theÌ„selues are oft entrapped c Caes bel gal 8. Corbey of Beauois lying in waite where he supposed Caesars souldiers would come to seeke prouision was himselfe and his company cut in peeces by a greater number then he looked for which Caesar sent thither hauing intelligence of the matter before hand Secondly those that lie in ambush must rise suddenly and execute speedily and courageously least the enemy putting himselfe in order and gathering courage giue them more then they came for Labienus had placed certaine felowes in ambush that should haue charged a Hiâ—t de bel Afric Caesars army as the same passed by but they came foorth so faintly irresolutely that Caesars horsemen before they could doe any thing had hewen them in peeces Thirdly let them beware least while they thinke to doe the feat the rest of the enemies come on their backes before they can dispatch The b Liu. 41. Dardanians had well hoped to haue executed a part of the Macedonian army which they charged vpon the backe as it passed through the countrey but before they were aware they were them selues charged by them that folowed after and were taken as they say betweene the hammer and anuill and well beaten Fourthly when a part of the army is sent to lie in ambush the rest of the army ought to haue correspondence with it that as those that rise vp in ambush doe charge the enemy one way so the rest of the army may charge him another way and alwayes be ready to succour their men Which if they of c Caes bel gal 8. Beauois had considered they had not suffered their best men to haue bene cut in peeces without reliefe The reason that Ambushes doe preuaile so much are diuers first the terrour that the same strike the enemies minde withall comming vpon them vpon the sudden secondly the disorder and confusion that is in the enemies army surprised suddenly and thirdly the vantage of ground which they chuse and the weaknes of the enemy where they charge him Therefore let all valiant souldiers to whom such executions are committed beware how they protract time or loose their aduantage or by vntimely noyse or stirre giue notice of their purpose to the enemy or by stirring before the time cause the enemy to retire before he come within danger By reason whereof I haue seen some my selfe but haue heard of many more enterprises that haue come to nothing CHAP. XIIII Wherein is shewed how the enemy being vanquished the victory is to be vsed and the conquest mainteined HI therto we haue declared by what meanes the enemy may be vanquished in open fielde a marke whereat all valiant Captaines aime and whereunto they addresse all their actions and â—ounsels Yet all consisteth not so in victory but that they deserue farre more commendation that can vse it to purpose and mainteine that which they winne a Vincere scis Annibal victoria vâ—i nescis saâ—de Maherbal vnto him Liu. 22. Annibal had the happe to ouercome the Romanes in diuers battels but he had not the wisdome or happe to vse the victory And diuers great victories hath God giuen to our nation against the Frenchmen and many partes of France haue our ancesters possessed but we could not vse our time nor Gods graces nor at this day haue we so much grounde in France as to builde a fishers cabane in Therefore seeing it is a miserable thing to say we haue had when wee haue not and b Non minor est virtus quà m quaetere parta tueri wise men no lesse consider how they may keepe them winne let vs see if God would so much fauour vs as to suffer vs to winne any thing hereafter how the victory may be vsed and our purchase assured Least as the Spaniard foyled by sea An. 1588. escaped without pursuite or memorable losse saue of some shippes so hee or any other might escape againe so good cheape and continually returne to inuade vs with hope of victory at the least without feare of pursuite or great losse Either the enemies army is altogether vanquished and dispersed or els some good part there of is retyred entire and whole In both these cases what course the Generall is to take let vs nowe consider beginning with the latter If the enemy be not so vanquished but that some part of his army remaineth sound or at least vnbroken then is the Generall to follow him and vrge him while the terrour of the late affright is not yet out of his minde Caesar hauing obteined a great victory against the Heluetians c Caes debel gal 1. ceased not to pursue the remaynder so long vntill all yeelded And afterward hauing foyled Vercingetorix in the fielde and caused him to retire with the rest of his army hee did not d Caes debel gal 7. leaue him vntill hee had forced him to take Alexia for his defence nor then neither vntill such time as he had the towne and all within it yeelded to his mercy e Caes debel ciu â— Vanquishing Pompey in open fielde he would not suffer him to take Sanctuary in his campe but droue him thence and rested not vntill he had taken his flight nor before the reliques of his army that fledde to the hilles thereby had yeelded being cut from water Gaston de Fois hauing foyled the Spaniards at Rauenna did like a man of iudgement follow the reliques of the enemies army the reason hee had no successe was for that hee charged the pikes with his horsemen which should haue bene done with shot and with small forces auanced himselfe too farre forward being so euill followed which cost him his life If he had charged them with shot and taken the way before them with his horse or staied vntill he had taken them at aduantage in some straite where they could not haue kept their rankes or cut betweene them and their victuals without many blowes they had bene forced to yeelde Scipio after he had vanquished Asdrubal in Spaine and driuen him to retraite he so followed him with his horsemen that the man could finde no rest vntill he came vnto the vtmost coast of Spaine Those that after they haue victorie giue themselues either to pleasures or to rest for a small rest purchase to themselues great labour and sometime losse If a Caes de bel cin 3. Pompey after he had giuen Caesar two repulses at Dyrrhachium had vrged the reliques of his armie not yet being recouered from their late affright his successe had bene farre better The Carthaginians not pursuing their victorie in b Liu. 24. Spaine after the death of the two Scipioes but suffering the reliques of their armies not onely to breath but also to gather head were themselues ouercome not
is to send Colonies of the English nations into the country conquered But forasmuch as both garrisons and sometimes greater forces are required for defence of it the rentes of diuers cities countreys and grounds are that way to bee imploied And to this end the fruits of the roialties are to be conuerted and corne and prouision to be laid vp in storehouses The Romanes taking that course did in all places where they commaunded finde meanes to maintaine their armies without anie great exactions yea oftentimes the fruites of the countrey were so great that beside that charge there came much to the publike treasurie Charles b Guicciard lib. 1. the eight of France hauing conquered the kingdome of Naples and diuided the roialties yea and the publike store among his Fauorites when neede required had almost nothing to maintaine his armie and therefore as vnwoorthie of so good happe presently lost the same agayne Xenophon in the consultation of c Xenoph. Cyr. paed 2. Cyrus and Cyaxaris sheweth that for maintenance of the warres and of countreys vanquishe an armie must bee maintained and that an armie cannot bee maintained vnlesse the reuenues that maintaine it be certaine and continuall That lesse force may serue such as giue suspicion of reuolt are to bee disarmed so a Herodot Cyrus vsed the Lydians The Romanes likewise would not suffer such as were their subiects to b Liu. 8. arme without their commandemeÌ„t Futhermore those that are like to prooue heads of factions are to bee remooued out of the countrey for seldome doe the common people mooue vnlesse they be stirred by factious heads The Romanes hauing conquered the countrey of Macedonia and conuerted it into a prouince for more assurance of peace brought away with them the last c Regis amicos purpuratos ducésque exeâ—cituuâ—â— praefectósque nauium Liu. 45. kings friends and Fauorites and all his captaines both of his armie and nauie and likewise men of apparence and qualitie If so be time or sicknesse doe decaie our forces the same are to bee supplied in time that the rebellious take not occasion by our weakenesse to make stirres For want of this consideration in time past we lost our conquest in France and all that want it cannot chuse but loose For the rest if the gouernours of countreys newlie conquered be carefull and watchfull trust no man without cause vse equalitie in taxations and do good iustice against raueuours bribetakers and rebels they need not feare rebellion if they doe not all force that may bee vsed will not long serue to keepe them in subiection The d Liu. Priuernatians desiring peace of the Romanes and offering to yeeld themselues being demanded how long they would keepe it answered plainelie that if the conditions were reasonable long if vnreasonable and vniust no longer then they were forced For no people can long like of a gouernement wherein they are spoyled vexed iniuried and to say all in one worde pilled and tyrannised CHAP. XV. Containing a discourse concerning the meanes whereby an armie that is foiled or feareth to fight may most safely retire and how the enemie in folowing the course of his victorie may be stopped HOw an armie that is strong in the field may safely march fight with aduantage and vse the victorie I haue spoken sufficient But because the successe of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 warres is doubtfull and Mars as Poets faine fauoureth b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now one then an another To perfite this discourse it remaineth that Ialso declare how when blastes of winde blow contrary wee may either retire from the enemie that seemeth to haue prise and fast hold on vs in marching or fighting or els stop his course that hee proceed no further or els our selues gather new forces It is a matter very difficult for an armie that is broken to rallie it selfe and depart without vtter discomfiture where the enemie knoweth it and vseth his aduantage For nothing can be more hardly remedied then feare and disorder of the multitude if once it enter throughly or the enemie followeth speedilie If the enemie giueth vs respite or our forces be not altogether broken the meanes to saue the rest and succour those that retire are these First if there be any ground of aduantage in the place the same is to bee taken with that part of the armie that remaineth intire which diuided into squabrons may receiue their owne people flying within the distances and repell the enemie from the higher ground In the meane while those that are in disorder are to be brought into order agayne behinde those squadrons The c Vulneribus defesti pedem referre quod mons suberat circiter mille passuum eò serecipere coeperunt Caes bel Gal. 1. Heluetians beyng wearried and foyled in the fight with Caesar retyred to a hill hath by and there making head saued the rest The forragers sent out by Cicero at Vatuca being charged by the Germanes retired and defended themselues well as long as they kept on the higher ground At d Caes bel Gal. 7. Gergouia when Caesars men pressed by the enemie and briuen from the higher ground began to flie hee succoured them and staied the enemies pursuite by placing other squadrous at the foote at the hill with whom they had no courage to encounter Neither did a Antonius cum cohortibus 12 descendens exloco superiore cernebatur cuius aduentus Pompeianos compiessit nostróque firmauit Cael de bel Ciu. 3. Pompeyes men that chased Caesars souldiers at Dyrrhachium pursue them after that they once saw Antony comming with succour from the higher ground If there be no higher ground neere to retrait vnto the next course is for those companies that are pressed to retire within the distances of those squadrons that stand firme For this cause the Romanes did alwayes so range their battels that the squadrons of the first battell might retire within the squadrons of the next and both be releeued within the squadrons of their last In the encounter at S. Clere Anno 1569 where the Kings Auantgard fled the same was succored by the battell that followed which so charged the Protestants that pursued it and draue them downe the hill that if the Lansquenets that stoode at the foote of the hill had not stoode firme many of them had there bene cut in pieces That aduantage which the higher ground giueth the same a deepe trenche or thicke hedge or a straite like wise affordeth so that if our squadrons that stande firme be there placed the rest that are discouraged may runne behinde them and take breath The Romanes retiring oft times within the fortifications of their campe haue there againe made head against the enemy and saued themselues If neither the place where the army is ordered nor the ranging of our battels do admit any such retraite the last remedy is to auance forward either our horsmen or some firme squadron of
footemen especially shot and targetters vpon the flanke of the enemy that chaseth our men and if hee stay not then resolutely to charge him In the meane time those that flie are to be rallyed againe Annibal in that last battell which hee fought with the Romanes in Afrike thrise rallyed his forces and so many fresh charges gaue he vnto them If his souldiers had bene answerable vnto him or els if the Romanes had not followed very orderly he might percase haue broken them b Liui. 35. Philopoemen charging the enemy that followed the chase of his men too egerly did ouerthrow him At Rauenna the c Guicciatâ— Spaniards that remained after the battel vnbroken retiring in good order and vsing the aduantage of the ground did so receiue the enemy that charged them that they slew the General and diuers of his company Those therefore that retire Iet them marche resolutely and orderly the shot let them approch neere to the flanks of the squadrons of pikes There also is the defence of targetters against horse The pikes let them not disdeine the helpe of shot and short weapons The horse are to bee ranged behinde the squadrons or on the flankes Which if they be vnited in one body are not easily broken nor rashly to be charged If being neere the enemy thou desirest to depart without fight at least without Iosse thy best course is to make him vncertaine of thy purpose by pretending that which thou meanest not By making of fires hauging of matches in bushes and standing of tentes the enemy is oftentimes abused especially in the night That thy companies may make more speede thou art before thou beginnest to dislodge to sende thy hurt and sicke together with the baggage and great ordonance before thee and then to followe with the rest a Sauciorum aegrorum habita ratione impedimenta omnia silentio prima nocte ex castris Apolloniam praemittit Ac conquiescere ante iter confectum vetuit his vna legio praesidio missa est Caes de bel Ciu. 3. Caesar departing from Pompey at Dyrrhachium that he might not be charged at disaduantage in his marche tooke this course The sicke hurt and baggage of the campe hee sent away first garded with one Regiment Other Regiments he caused to marche after them some good distance with two legions that remained hee followed last And hauing marched so much as he meant to doe that day and making shewe to lodge there when the enemy that followed was not aware and vnreaby hee departed presently and that day got so much ground that after ward hee ould neuer be ouertaken before hee came whither hee meant to goe If the enemy be ready in armes to follow it is hard to goe from him vnlesse the neerenesse of hils or straites doe fauour thy retraite Lest thou be charged in retiring with the enemies horse or shot or disordered in some straite great care must be vses To represse the force of horsemen vse either thy horsemen entermingled with some shot or squadrons of pikes flanked with musquetiers against shot vse horsemen in the plaine and shot and targetters in straites If thou fearest to be charged in some straite take the vpper ground with thy shot and targets and seeke those aduantages which before I haue shewed thee in the discourse of the vse of diuers weapons and aduantages of ground To stoppe the enemies pursuite where he must passe a straite before be come at thee it is a good course to cut downe trees and woods and to set them on fire For horse will hardly passe through the fire nor can lightly passe but in hye wayes or made wayes By this meanes Xenophon retired safe with his men from b Xenoph. exp Cyr. 5. Dryla and the a 〈…〉 Bellouacians escaped the handes of Caesar in the warrâ—s of France Pompey being to take shippe at Brundusium and fearing least if he abandoned the walles Caesar would enter the towne and charge his men as they went on boord b Pottas obstruit vias platealque inaedificat sâ—sâ—ar transuersas vijs perducir ibique sodes stipiésque praeacutos defigir haec ciatibus teriaque ina quat aditus ad portus maximis trabibus praesepit Milites silentio naues conscendunt expediti ex euocatiâ— sagittarijs in muro collocantur quibus certo loco actuarias naues relinquens signo dato renocat Caes de bel Ciu. 1. stopped and dammed vp all the gates and wayes saue one and in the streetes made blinde trenches staked them and couered them on the walles he placed his archery and light armed for defence of them vntill the rest were all shipped when all the rest were on boord then did these runne toward the porte where there were boates and fregates readie to receiue them That there may be some ende of flying either thou art to direct thy course to the hils and there to make head as aduantage is offered vnto thee or els to take some strong towne for thy safegard The Romanes keeping with their army in the higher ground wearied Annibals victorious army and cut betweene the same and prouision So long as the c Caes bel Gal. 7. Gaules kept on the higher ground and straited Caesars victuals hee coulde not hurt them D. Brutus in taking of Mutina arrested Antonies army that was going into France The retraite of Vercingetorix into Alexia stayed Caesar a great time in that siege in which meane time the Gaules leuied newe forces The siege of townes doe oftentimes breake the force of an army The Protestants finding no resistance in open fielde were harrassed and tyred out in the siege of d Hist de troubl de Fr. Poytiers and like hap had the aduerse party For being victorious at Moncontour they lost all vigour and strength at the siege of S. Iean d'Angeli That thou doe not receiue dishonour by retiring two things thou art especially to haue regard vnto first that thou doe not leaue behinde thee thy sicke and hurt men secondly that thou doe not loose thy carriages and baggage nor leaue them For without them thou canst neither commodiously cary armes nor victuals with thee nor mainteine thy company To do whatsoeuer in this case is requisite nothing is more auaileable then expedition By that thou dispatchest all impediments thou winnest ground thou preuentest the enemy thou sanest thy selfe and thy friends And therefore if in good successe much more in calamitie ought we to vse all celeritie Afranius being almost past all danger yet for idlenesse suffered the enemy to come betweene him and his retraite which e Caes de Bel. Ciuil lib. 1. was his ruine These things they hinder and stoppe the enemies proceeding for sometime But if thou meanest to driue him out of the countrey or to hinder him for winning any more ground newe forces must be leuied and an army sent into the fielde if not to fight with him vpon eauen grounde yet to watche all aduantages and to
that in some places the Princes shipping haue for the most part speciall instructions not to graple Matters very ridiculous to those that haue but any small skill at sea For it is not alwayes in their power to take and leaue as the lamentable experience of some of late hath declared Where the enemies shippes are swifter then thine he may if he find thee at sea and list to fight force thee against thy will to fight or to yeeld Yea admit he hath only some ships swifter then thine yet will it suffice to force thee to a generall fight vnlesse thou meanest shamefully to abandon to the enemies curtesie such ships as are slower of saile then the rest For we may not thinke that alwayes we shal meete with such a General as the duke of Medina Sidonia that alwayes fled and neuer made head againe or with those that haue commission to flie and not to fight Which if we do then beware those that are hindermost Besides this our ships may be taken sometimes in harbour or at some aduantage whē they cannot flie frō the enemie Were it not expediēt in this case that thy ships were wel prouided forgrapling al maner of defence vnlesse they be so furnished how can they abide a brunt or stay a time vntil they be succored or how can they be succored vnles the succors be prouided for grapling Finally suppose all thy nauy were swifter then the best ships of the enemy which cannot be and that thou haddest alwayes sea-roome which cannot be hoped yet all this maketh little to fighting but rather to flying The Parthians that shot backeward flying yet did not alwayes flie but now and then charge the enemy if aduantage were offered Sure in this kinde of fight of shippes there is altogether no honour no nor profite For how can they that flie subdue the enemy that commeth to spoile their coasts Howe can they hinder him but that hee may goe whither hee listeth and returne when hee listeth the winde and weather seruing him Suppose that by shot thou shouldest sincke a shippe yet the men may still be saued Those therefore that thus fight shooting and neuer come neere are like vnto those that strike the enemie downe but dare not set their feete vpon him and dispatche him As for those that thinke to worke wonders with great shot they doe onely feede themselues with imaginations that the enemie is like to women or children that feare the noise of great peeces For other great hurte it doeth not vnlesse it be to Marchants shippes heauy laden and where the men within cannot come to stop leakes if the sea moue neuer so little twentie to one but the shot falleth eyther hie or lowe vnles the ships come very neere which in fight with a nauy of ships I suppose no one ship wil and many cannot for feare of grapling which they forsweare I would gladly knowe of these men how many ships they haue knowen to haue bin taken with this maner of fight Don Pedroes ship although abandoned of all her fellows yet would neuer haue yeelded but that they within imagined they should be boorded of all the fleete Those ships that fell among the flats before Vlishingen being a remainder of the Spanish fleete yet abode a charge and would not yeeld but vpon feare they should haue beene inuested Did not our men at Coronna beate a great Biskaine ship from the land within mosquet shot a whole day with diuers great peeces yet could they neyther sinke the ship nor force the men to yeeld before that with their boats they made countenance either to fire her or to boord her They of Rochel An. 1569. besieging Brouage brought the great Venetian carrake hard to the side of the castle whence a man might haue spit into her not only hit her and shot into her Yet could not they of the castle with all their canon shot eyther sinke her or greatly hurt her but shee hurte them much more By grapling I haue heard of many ouercome at sea both in ancient time and also of late dayes as in the gulfe of Lepanto where the christians ouer came the Turkes and in the encounter betwixt the a Guicciard hist Spaniards and Philip Doria where Hugh Moncada and many Spaniards died of the sword not of the bullet But if great ordonance could do so much as is supposed yet where should we haue shot and pouder to furnish the continuall shot of our shippes when in the encounter betwixt the Spaniard and vs at sea in one two daies most of the shippes had spent all their pouder without any sensible losse to the enemy How shall we driue the Spaniard out of our ports without grapling if he come once againe as he threatneth How can we succour any towne by him besieged by sea without fighting Caesars shippes were heauy of saile yet lying before Massilia they could not be remoued nor could anie victualles enter into the towne by them Neither had the Spaniard beene so easily remooued from before Caleis but that God stroke them with feare without euident cause Those that are afraide to venture their shippes of warre a goodly colour for such cowards they may also be afraid to venture in the defence of their country For without aduenturing not only of timber but also of mens liues which howsoeuer some now in our time do not value thousands of men at the price of one rotten ship are far more pretious our country cannot be defended nor the prince serued These men therefore let them keepe their decayed wits and ioyntes warme and let them not henceforth tell vs of things impossible ridiculous yea and very dangerous For the way to hazard our ships is not by boording but by sparing of mony when they are not as they should be furnished for fight but must needes fall into the enemies hands if euer they be taken at any disaduantage by the breaking of their mastes tearing or burning of their sailes or cutting of their tacle This is a feare that neither the Romanes nor Athenians nor other nation euer feared and yet fire was then as dāgerous as now Neither the Spaniards French nor Dutch feare any such matter neither do our men of warre that go to sea forecast it Wherfore then should our best shippes and such as should be best furnished feare more then others this course especially being so fit to make the nauy of England vnprofitable to giue the enemy the victory if this be not so let it be shewed where the Queens ships haue taken any ship of warre by canonades but of marchants ships other men of warre we haue heard of diuers that by boording haue preuailed Let vs therefore so prouide that wee neede not to feare any such danger and that we may not onely ouercome the enemy with flying but with fighting as our ancestors did in the dayes of Edward the third and Henry the 8. famous kings of this land and as our
the seruice of God among souldiers nor haue made any allowance for the Ministerie among them In so much that in some garrisons in the low Countreyes souldiers haue liued almost without exercise of Religion and in campes without any due exercise of the same This first gaue me occasion by this lawe to excite their care and the care of Generals and captaines both for more deuotion in religious exercises and also for better meanes If there were to euery two Regiments one or two Ministers allowed it were a very commendable course The Papists haue their priestes in their armies nay the very heathen had their exercises of Religion but in our times those that are most curious are in this point least carefull and religious c Que ningun sâ—ldado pâ—nga las manos en ningun sacerdote o religioso ni le tratarè mal'de palabra so pena de ser castigado ala calidad del delicto Sanch. de Lond. The Spaniards vnto euery tertio or Regiment haue diuers Priestes whom they haue in great estimation and punish those that doe violate them either in worde or deede The punishment of the offenders against this lawe is arbitrary according to the qualitie of the offence 4 Notorious swearers c. For that there are diuers sortes of othes and blasphemies in degree one worse then another therefore haue I left the punishment of them to the discretion of the iudges or officers that deale therein respect alwayes being had to the heinousnesse of the fault The Spaniards inflict grieuous a Ningun soldado rintegue ni blaspheme so pena porla primera vez de treinta pias dâ— drision por la seconda vez sesenta de mas de ser trahido a la verguenca câ—n vna mordaza a la lengua y por la tercera puesto en Galera perpetua â—a volundad Sanch. de Lond. penalties vpon them that transgresse in this behalfe and all Christians ought to detest and banish all abuses 5 All abuses c. Vnder this title are comprised all profane scoffes at religion all wicked opinions bolstered out with colours of religion which together with other faultes seuerally named are seuerely to be punished by the gouernors of campes and garrisons being contrary to good proceedinges in warre and in peace for which also they are condemned by ciuill lawes 6 Many offences c. In this point many abuses are committed by our souldiers of which insueth the displeasure of God and many other great inconueniences To furnish themselues at play some sell their armes others their apparell At play they loose their mony which should buy them victualles and other necessaries By losse some are driuen to steale and to vse other vnlawfull practises Some run to the enemy and commit diuers other outrages For this cause the Spaniard in time of seruice doth banish all b Que ningâ—â— soldado iuegue a iuegos illicitos Sanch. de Lond. vnlawfull games The best remedy of all these abuses is first to take away cardes and dice and to forbidde them the campe or garrison the next is to erect some other warlike exercise the third is punishment both of those that play and those also that mainteine such implements of play But as in other matters so in this also example is most auailable 7 Common women c. Among this number all those women that abuse their bodies vnlawfully are to be numbred For auoiding of which abuses no women are to be suffered to follow the campe nor any suspected women to keepe in the place of garrison The c Que ninguâ—â— soldado tenga in casa muger sâ—spechosa c. San. de Lond. Spaniards in their military lawes do restreine officers by losse of their place and common souldiers by other punishment from this abuse Among the Romane souldiers such abuses were seldome heard of but if they were very seuerely were they punished and carefully reformed Scipio the yoonger when military lawes grew in contempt among the souldiers of Spaine did for redresse banish all women out of the campe 8 For that god c. The voyage of Portugall taught vs the inconueniences of drunkennesse by experience but yet reason teacheth vs much more Thereof proceed quarrels iniuries mutinies and many other disorders Drunken men are vnfitte to march to watch to fight or to do any maner of seruice too common it is notwithstanding among common souldiers And I would to God that captaines and officers of companies were free from it In whomsoeuer it is the same may not be passed without punishment Wherein that neither sober men be touched wrongfully nor drunkardes escape scandalously I doe thinke that those deserue to be punished as drunkards which either through drinke commit any excesse which sober men would not commit or els are vnfit to do the seruice required at their handes CHAP. XXI Part. 2. Wherein lawes are set downe tending to the common safetie of the state armie or garrison 1 ALl souldiers or others that conspire against the state or Prince or Generall or go about to betray the Generall or the army or any part thereof or any city or ground in possession of the state or army shall suffer death and torments if the matter be heinous 2 Such as practise and enterteine intelligence with the enemy without direction or knowledge of their superiors shall be punished as traitors 3 Mutinous and rebellious persons are to be punished with death 4 Whosoeuer yeeldeth a towne or fort to the enemy or motioneth any such matter but vpon extremity and that to the Gouernor or in councell let him be executed as a traitor 5 No captaine officer nor souldier may refuse to come being interteined in pay nor depart the campe or place where he is appointed to serue if the enemy be ready to charge vs or we ready to charge the enemy vpon paine of death if it be not in time of seruice vpon paine of imprisonment Except those alwayes that haue licence of the Generall or chiefe Gouernour or other lawfull cause To hurt and sicke persons the Colonell of the regiment or Iudge martiall or other officer appointed may giue licence that they may depart for a time to refresh themselues 6 All that runne to the enemy or attempt to do it as traitors to their countrey are to be put to death 7 No man shall bewray the word to the enemy or giue a false word in time of seruice nor when the enemy is nere shall sleepe in the watch or suffer him to approch without giuing warning vpon paine of death 8 Whosoeuer of wantonnesse or foolery is cause that the enemy hath notice of our disseins and purposes so that some good opportunity of seruice is thereby omitted is to be punished according to the quality of his offence Interpretations and annotations vpon the former lawes 1 All souldiers c. If conspirators deserue death much more do they deserue the same that execute their treasons and conspiracies a Liu. 28.
so at sea if colonels captaines and masters do not execute the Generalles commaundement there can be no performance of seruice If ships may straggle from the company and go on pilfering or vpon euery light occasion returne and leaue their Generall at sea or if priuat men may take vpon them to dissuade men from doing that which the Generall hath commanded and all this without feare of punishment as hath bene doone in some countries but too much heretofore in voyages at sea there can be no better hope of successe then hath beene had heretofore 6 Whatsoeuer captaine c. This law hath two parts the first is against such as attempt matters without direction by which meanes they either endanger themselues going single or else breake the general purpose of the action the second is against cowards and traitors that looke on while their fellowes fight against which no punishment can be deuised sufficient b Liu. 1. Metius Suffetius was drawne in peeces by force of horses for that while Tullus Hostilius encountred with the enemy it pleased him to stand by and giue aime And not much lesse punishment had Laetus one of the captaines of c Herodian Seuerus his army for that while the rest fought he caused his men to make alta d Lib. 25. Amminian Marcellin reporteth that certaine horsemen of the Romanes were disarmed had their horses takeÌ„ from them and were driuen to serue with the baggaglioes of the camp for that they retired when their fellows went to charge the enemy The like reason is in fight at sea For if wheÌ„ one ship entreth the battel the rest do not second her or if when one ship is charged the rest come not to succor there is no hope that any great seruice can be done at sea The lawes of this section that folow are plaine enough of themselues and most of them like to those that are ordained for good seruice at land and therfore I purpose not to spend words in explaning that whose reasons euery man may easily conceiue of himselfe CHAP. XXI Part. 6. Wherein there is conteined certaine orders concerning adueÌ„tures at sea 1 WHere men do aduenture at sea vpon their owne charge there the prises taken are to be diuided into three parts whereof the first belongeth to the ship and captaine the second to the victuallers the third to the souldiers and marriners Some allot a third part to the ship alone but there seemeth therein to be no iust proportion If by reason of the charge otherwise then is ordinary bestowed other agreement bee made the same is to be obserued and kept 2 Where two or more do ioyne in consort the diuision of the prize shal be made according to the composition that is made among them if none be made according to the greatnes and goodnes of the ships and furniture prouided alwayes that where a ship is forced those that first boord her and doe most valiantly be first rewarded and their hurtes and losses repaired at the common charge 3 Al aduenturers that ioyne in consort and submit themselues to one mans gouernement or to more shall to them yeelde obedience and of them receiue iustice according to the laws of armes and customes of sea gouernement CHAP. XXI Part. 7. Wherein an order is set downe concerning the officers of the army or nauy or that haue charge to make any prouision for either 1 WHatsoeuer commissary or officer appointed for leuy or muster of souldiers or prouision of victuals munition armes weapons cariages ships or other matter doth deale therein fraudulently or negligently let him be imprisoned fined and make satisfaction and if the crime deserue it let him suffer death for it Annotations vpon this last law The ancient Captaines of the Romans as in skil and experience in warres so in care also and labour farre excelled the men of our times And therefore neither had they nor needed they so many lieutenants and petit officers as now are vsed to beare together with them the seueral parts of their charge Themselues saw their souldiers leuied mostered exercised payd lodged prouided of armes and victuals and other necessaries and had seldome any commissioners for leuies of men and neuer any moster-masters nor sergeant maior nor special officers of iustice nor quartermaster nor trenchmaster nor scoutmaster nor commissaries for prouision of armes nor victualles nor such matters For the pay of the souldiers sauing of the spoile they vsed a a They called him Quaestorem treasurer The tribunes or colonels did execute the office of the campmaster and sergeant maior The Generalles themselues with their counsell did ouersee the workes of the souldiers in their mines bankes trenches and other military labours Now the general care of al matters belongeth to the Generall But to assist him seuerall men are deputed to euery seuerall charge Who if they behaue themselues fraudulently or negligently his generall care auaileth him nothing Great care therfore ought the to haue that his officers be not onely loyall but also carefull and sufficient to discharge that office that is imposed vpon them If they be not such that hee see them not onely remoued but also punished according to their deserts For if souldiers be not leuied in time or els if sufficient men be dismissed for money the sâ—umme of the people put in for souldiers or if yong souldiers be not trained and fashioned by light skirmishes or if that souldiers be famished or not furnished or haue not their armes or victuals in order or that military orders be not obserued or souldiers vnpaid or vnprouided for by fraud or the country ransomed by Captaines and quartermasters or the honour of the Prince solde for mony or other abuse coÌ„mitted finally if those that deale in these offices may do what they list without punishmeÌ„t or controlmeÌ„t whatsoeuer labour and paines is taken otherwise yet is it to no purpose AmoÌ„g the Romans those that dealt in publike charges were very sufficient men for the most part and dealt therein loyally But if at any time they did otherwise they were most seuerely punished L. a Liu. 38. Scipio and his Officers were condemned fined for ransacking the friends and associates of the Romans in Asia Aquilius hardly escaped condemnation for his concussions exactions in Spaine and Sicile Against the exactions and fraudes of Officers they framed diuers lawes whereby they not only punished b ff ad leg Iul. repetundaâ—um the offenders but caused restitution and reparation of damages to be made Hee that by occasion of c Qui occasione transitus ab vibibus vel praediis per concussioneÌ„ quid accipit tenetur in â—upium Authent de traÌ„sit milit col 10. passing his army by any city or countrey extorted any thing was bound to restore double The examples of those that tooke money for redemption of lodging and passing of souldiers are rare Tacitus doth d Irinerum spatia