saved his Army and his honour What vigilancy and circumspection should this teach a Generall to eschew the like deceite for although an Enemies countenance be never so faire yet his heart is treacherous Contrarily how should it animate a Commander to set his wits abroch when hee is in straights to wind out of them with safety and honour CHAP. CCXX How Haniball by using of a Politique Stratagem in parting of his Horse-troopes the one part falling upon the Reare of the Romans the other into their Campe gained a victory from Fulvius IN the Warres of Spaine betwixt Haniball and Cn. Fulvius the Proconsull whose Army lay before Herdonia Hanibal having intelligence useth scelerity and with his Horsemen and Light-footmen had made his approaches neere the Towne before the fame of his comming was knowne and to put the Romans in more feare hee appeared in good array of Battell most suddenly with his Colours displayed Fulvius prepares to oppose him in like manner and joyned Battell with him Hanibal setting his policies abroach commanded his Horsemen that after a signe or token to them made whilst the Romans were busie in Battell against the Foot-men of Haniball and every mans eye was occupied busily that that they should secretly coast the Field and a part of them set upon the backe of his Enemies the other part of them to invade the Enemies Campe and Tents with a great noyse and slaughter proclayming that they did not question to vanquish this Fulvius as they had done one of his name not long before so soone as the Horse-men assailed the Reare of the Romans which caused a great feare and slaughter Immediately from the Campe was heard a mighty cry and uprore which so terrified the Romans that some fled and many more were slaine among which the said Fulvius and twelve Tribunes with 13000 Romans and their Campe and stuffe taken This teacheth Generalls to make use of sceleritie the wings of Conquests and likewise it teacheth Souldiers not to be daunted by any Stratagem nor to take notice of uprores which will betray their valours but rather to stand firme to their tackling and fight manfully for their freedome for so long as a flocke of sheepe keepe intyre the Wolfe feares to seize on them but once severed by flight every bawling curre will destroy them CHAP. CCXXI How by the wisedome of Crispinus the Politique Stratagem of Haniball was prevented and a like Stratagem returned upon him by which the Towne of Salopia was freed and his owne men slaine MArcellus with divers of his Souldiers being slaine by Hanibals Ambushes hee findes Marcellus Ring with his Signet by this hee thought to put some exploit in action whereupon he causeth divers Letters to bee counterfeited in Marcellus name and sealed with his Signet the Contents were that the night following Marcellus would privily come to the Citie of Salopia wherefore hee commanded the Captaines and Souldiers to bee in a readinesse against his comming to know his further pleasure what was to bee done this Letter posted speedily to the Governour of Salopia But in the meane time Crispinns mistrusting this deceit sent post to all the Townes adjoyning that Marcellus was slaine and Haniball had his Signet for otherwise this project had taken effect Whereupon those of Salopia made use of the intelligence returning the Messenger with a gentle answer but in the meane time the Salopians provided for his comming upon the night prefixed keeping an extraordinary strong Watch they made no question but to pay Haniball with his owne coyne Not long before breake of day comes Haniball with his Troupes close to the Ports hee having appointed sixe hundred Romans which were fled to him and could speake the Language well to call to the Porter and to enter the Gates first The Watch opening the Ports and drawing up the Portcullis the said Romans entred as fast as they might but being entred the Guard let fall the Portâ—ullis with a great noyse The Salopiansâ—â—ue â—â—ue them that were entred with small dificulty for they entred without feare bare their Armes hanging upon their shoulders dreaming of no such Banquet those without the Ports were likewise chased away Thus was Haniball taken in his owne Trappe This may informe Commanders in the first place when they have a fit opportunity to set a project afoot to make use of scelerity for had Haniball put this immediatly in execution before Crispinus had given them intelligence it had taken effect Secondly they must use all indeavours to prevent intelligence for had Haniball belayed the passages hee could not have mist of this Nuntio whereby hee might have beene the more confident that his Designe would have taken effect In the next place a Commander must make use of intelligence and accordingly to regulate his actions so that an Enemy may be wounded with his owne weapons This may be tearmed a golden Stratagem to extract from an Enemies pollicie his utter confusion CHAP. CCXXII A Policie whereby Scipio had 300 Romans armed and instructed without the charge of the Generall SCipio having obtained an Army to make warres in Africa many of the young men of Armes of Sicilia grudged to undertake this journey with him wherefore to secure himselfe hee spake thus If there bee any man here unwilling to venture his person in these honourable warres let him now speake and I will gladly heare for I had rather you should now confesse your unwillingnesse then you should be drawne forth against your wills and become unprofitable Souldiers unto me and to the Common-wealth Whereunto answer was made by some particular Souldiers that if it might bee in their choyce they would not venture themselves in those Warres Scipio replyed Since you have plainly without dissimulation declared your mindes I will appoint others in your places to whom you shall deliver your Horses Harnesse and other necessary instruments of warre whom you shall take home with you to your houses and there instruct teach and exercise them in the feates of warre untill I send for them the young Gallants were glad and joyfull delivering them their Armes By this device hee trained up 300. willing Souldiers without his charge CHAP. CCXXIII. A politique Stratagem used by the French whereby they vanquish'd Lucius Posthumus and all his Army as they marched through a Wood. LVcius Post-humus having wars with the French and they being to march through the passage of a wide wood called Littana the French provided against their comming cutting all their Timber-trees on both sides of the way so that being not moved they would stand firme but being moved they would presently fall all together Post-humus had 25000. in his Troopes the French-men had bestowed their Troopes round about the circumference of the wood and when the Army of the Romans was well entred the wood they cast downe the furthest part of the trees growing on the borders of the wood which being once moved fell one upon another through the wood having no stay throwing downe
is sayd it is necessary to send before the Army certaine Troopes to discover which may be of strength to resist if occasion be and in this they must be very inquisitive of the country people whether they have seene any of the enemies troopes lately and how and which way they ordered their march Likewise the more woody and hilly the country is the willinger the enemy will lay his ambushes which being discovered they cannot be hurtfull but if not foreseen whereby the Army falls suddenly amongst them tenne to one but they ruine them It is easie to perceive where an enemy marcheth by the dust they raise and by the wondring of fowles and birds which will flye about and not light which is a great signe that an ambush lyes there Concerning the second case of the enemies trayning an Army into danger there must be great wisedome not suddenly to beleeve such things as in mans sense seeme not reasonable to be indeed as they shew for for under the bait lies the hook as for example if many of the enemies troopes be put to flight by a few of thy own men or if a few of the enemies troopes assaile a number of thine or by making a sudden flight without a charge in these cases there can nothing but deceit be expected for we are to note that to march through an enemies countrey is more dangerous then to fight a pitcht Battell wherefore in these cases a Generall must have a secret inward cautelousnesse and feare of surprizing which his souldiers must not take notice of lest they should be discouraged Likewise in the same predicament a Generall must use lofty scornefull words in way of undervaluing his enemy which will animate his Souldiers to fall on therefore for the better and safer conduct of an Army it is most necessary to have an exact Mappe of the countrey you intend to march through in which may be discovered all places of difficulty and danger that so they may bee the easilyer prevented also those Guides which are chosen for the conducting of the Army ought severally to be questioned withall whether there knowledge be good and compare their relation with the Mappes whereby the errors may be discovered and above all things secrefie is to be commended If in your march you light upon deepe and unpassible rivers and having no means to make Bridges to waft over the Army you are to march further to the heads of the rivers where you may passe at ease if the current be over big so that the Army cannot wade over you must cut out the same river in divers places and turne it into the land whereby you may the easier passe over Every Officer must cause his souldiers to march according to the beate of the drumme for if one part of the Army should march too fast and the other part too slow it may breed confusion We are further to observe if it should happen in a march that the enemy opposeth and seeke to give you Battell and you finding your selfe too weak for to joyne in Battell a principle point then is how to get safely off from the enemy without blowes of all the points of warre this is most dangerous to be practised by reason it hath a shew of undervaluing your owne potency and your enemy is puft up with a selfe conceit of transcendent worth and thereby is animated to stretch his valour to the uttermost period whereas the courages of your owne men fall away being surprised with feare which will make them tumble into confusion Therefore as formerly hath beene said a Generall must set a faire glosse causing his souldiers to beleeve that such retreates are for other advantages and to accomplish some other designe of further consequence and not that you retreat to avoyd the combate wherefore some reasons that favour of likely-hood must bee used to the Souldiers Sir Walter Rawlyes advice was to dislodge in the dead of the night in such a quiet still manner that the enemy should not perceive it Marquesse Spinola made use of this when he broke up his Leaguer before Bergen-up-zone when his Excellencies Army lay at Rossandell ready to have assaulted his trenches But the safest way of all is to retreat before the enemy be too neere for if the enemy be in view although you should march forwards to gaine some place of more security yet unhappily there may be some ill passages and straights to hinder your quicke passage whereby the enemy may take his advantage to rout you for it is farre greater honour to retreate in the darke than to bee beaten in the light And as Monsieur Bellay adviseth such as retreat by day must place there horsemen upon two sides like unto hedges leaving a way betwixt them through the which the footmē are to retreat by which meanes the enemy shall not perceive them they being shaddowed by the Horse and as every particular Battalia is passed the principall place of danger then they are immediately to intrench themselves or otherwise one Battalia is to stay for another they being past danger and the enemies sight untill they are all stolne away in safety but this must be understood that it must be performed in some plaines or covert places where the enemy hath not the advantage of a Hill to discover them but those that intend to retreat in the night first send strong Guards to defend the passages fearing the enemy should prevent them and then leaving sufficient fires in the quarters hanging out light matches and stuffing old cloathes with straw and setting them in the place of the Sentinells leaving Dogges howling Beastes lowing Horses neying Cockes crowing in the Quarters so that the enemy may not suspect your departure if your Ordnance cannot conveniently be drawne away it is best to dismount it from the Carriages and bury them secretly in the earth further saith he when an Army is reduc'd to this exigent of extremity it is much better for to be carefull in saving the men albeit that the Ordnance Baggage and other moveables should bee lost than to hazard men for a thing that may so easily afterwards bee regained If an Army be pollitickly stolne out from their Quarters they are to make no stay but to continue the march resting as little as may be but if it be so that of necessity they are constrained to stay upon the way then let them make choice of some place that is naturally fortified alwayes remembring to have certaine fleete horses to stay behind the Army to discover a farre of from some Hills whether the enemy pursues which if he doth the surest way for prevention is to barricado up the passages with trees It is likewise safe to quarter your Army in some wood felling the trees one over another round about it which will be an excellent safeguard both from the enemies horse and foote Likewise a Generall may lay ambushes upon places convenient which must be such souldiers as
hee comes at Massilla where hee left Brutus to subdue them which he did Caesar after a few incounters drives Petreius and Affranius to a composition and having tamed Spaine hee returnes for Italy where leaving all to the charge of Servillius Isauricus his fellow Consull hee prepares to goe into Macedonia against Pompey himselfe When hee came to Brundusium though hee wanted sufficiency of shipping with those hee had hee embarqued seven Legions and though it were in winter yet hee put out to Sea and landed the next day about the hills of Epirus and other dangerous places and forthwith sent his Navie backe to Brundusium for the residue which were left with Antonius which staying somewhat to long impatient of delay in such important affaires he embarqued himselfe at midnight in a Frigot and though the Seas went high yet would hee needes venter over The Master of the vessell perceiving how boysterous the Seas were grew fearefull and would have returned which Caesar perceiving presently starts up saying quid times Caesarem vebis When all his forces were come together hee hasted to Dirrachium with purpose to surprize it thither also come Pompey to defend it their Camps now being somewhat neere many skirmishes happened in one of which the valour of Scena was wondrous in whose shield was found sticking 140 darts Neverthelesse in the meane space some overtures of Peace were made by Caesar but none would bee granted by the Pompeyans For Labyenus cried out Definite ergo de compositione loqui nam nobis nisi Caesaris capite relato pax esse nulla potest Whereupon Caesar provoked his Adversaries to the battell but Pompey knowing Caesars wants and himselfe having the benefit of the Sea to relieve his Army chose rather to draw the Warre out in length and to waste his Adversary without putting his owne estate in hazard But this liked not his Associats the Souldiers blame lying idle the confederates crie out upon delay the great Lords taxe him with ambition so that contrary to his owne opinion hee is in a manner forced to give battell in the Champion field of Philippi After that both the Generalls had put their Armies in Aray Pompey gives these admonitions to his Souldiers that when the right Wing of Caesars battell drew neere they should assaile it on the Flancke so might they chase the disordered Army being oppressed in the reare before themselves came to cast a dart in the face of the enemie neither is this thing very hard to bee done saith hee cum tantum equitatu valeamus Caesar observing the order of his enemies Battels doubted that his right Wing might be oppressed with the multitude of the enemies horse wherefore from his 3. Battell he drew certaine choise companies which he opposed to the enemies horse shewing them what he had appointed them to doe affirming that the victory that day depended upon the valour of these Cohorts The signall of Battell being given in Caesars Armie Crastinus a man of tryed valour one that the yeare before had the leading of the Primipili in the tenth Legion was called forth to begin the fight He forthwith encourageth the appointed bands saying Follow me you that have beene my Maniples performe that duty to your Emperour that you have promised there onely remaines this one Battell which finished both he shall recover his dignity and we our liberty They looking upon Caesar he sayd Facâ—am hodie Imperator ut aut vivo mihi aut mortuo gracias agas after which he marched against his enemies The charge being given all Pompey's horse according to his direction passed from his left wing and and forced Caesars Cavallery to quit the field and then begun the troopes to set upon his battels in the Flancke Which Caesar perceiving he made a signe to those selected Cohorts which for that purpose he had set apart from the other squadrons to charge upon the enemies Cavallery which they performed with such force and fury striking them according to Caesars directions no where but in the face which Pompey's horsemen unable to endure turned head and fled to the Mountaines Which service finished with the like force and fury these Cohorts invaded the reare of Pompey's left Wing also at the same time Caesar commanded his three Battalia's to charge which as yet had not moved so that Pompey's men being now with fresh Companies charged both in the front and reare were not able any longer to sustaine the Battell but all of them turned their backes and fled The victory being gotten in the Field Caesar followed Pompey to the Campe which he easily tooke and then Pompey fled for his life first to Larissa from thence to the shore of the Aegean Sea where finding a Merchants ship he sayled to Mitylene in the Iâ—le of Lesbos where remained his Wife and family from thence he sayled into Egypt where he was murthered by the sword of Septimius his fugitive before the eyes of his Wife and Children This victorie being gotten and Pompey slaine the warre was not presently ended new troubles did arise in Africa thither many principall Romans which had escaped from the battell of Pharsalia resorted to wit Publius Cornelius Scipio Marcus Petreius Afranius Quintus Varus Marcus Portius Cato Labienus and Lucius Cornelius Faustus sonne to Silla the Dictator these had associated to them Juba King of Mauritania and altogether had raised a great Army whereof Scipio was made Generall Cato having refused that honour Caesar hearing of their preparations hastens into Italy and from thence waftes over into Africa lands about Adrumentum and from thence marcheth to the Citie Leptis where he is received and while he lyes thereabout Labienus comes against him with his multitude thinking to distresse Caesars small numbers Caesar perceiving his intents resolves to deale with him rather by cunning than force And first he chargeth his men not to stirre above foure foot from their standards which the horsemen of Labienus perceiving presently compassed them about so that Caesars people were compelled to fight as it were in a circle There Labienus shewes himselfe unto them having uncovered his face saying withall to one whom he saw most forward Why are you so arrogant O you fresh-water souldier I much pity your hard fortune for sure I am Caesar hath brought you into eminent danger To whom the souldier replyed I would thou shouldest know Labienus that I am no freshman but an old souldier of the tenth Legion and forthwith he threw at him his dart saying Decumanum militem qui te petit scito esse Caesar in the meane while seeing himselfe incompassed drawes out his Armie in length and divides the circle in the middle excluding the one part from the other on both sides charging with his horsemen on the inner part of the circle and with his footmen their darts being throwne he puts them to flight Caesar after this Battell perceiving the multitude of his enemies sends
be eschewed or upon absolute advantages in such a case he is both to adventure his honour and his souldiers lives to the hazard of the mercilesse sword alwayes remembring that upon unadvisednesse and yeelding unto dishonourable termes though at first 〈◊〉 fares like a greene sore yet afterwards he shall finde paine enough for dishonour frecs to the bone Also there is great knowledge by reading and practice required in him whereby he may give advice for the sundry sorts of Imbattelling Encamping Fortifying and to use or prevent all kind of stratagems for by the reading of History a man may learne and conceive more in a yeere then he possibly can see practised in his life time by reason whereof the worthies of ancient times were portraited with a Booke in one hand and a Sword in the other And because there is no Generall but is limited by his Prince in his Commission he is therfore to observe literally every tittle of it not to exceed the limits of it although a victory might be attained in the like kinde all inferiour Officers are bound to obey their Generall in all things he shall please to command which obedience and observancy made King Philip of Spaine protest that the true observing of his Commission by his Generall the Count de Medina in 88. was farre more pleasing to him than the losse of his Invincible Navy caused griefe Generalls must be very circumspect in making choice of their Officers not electing them for their outward shew but for their vertuous conditions and approved experience for favour may be prejudiciall in these affaires and greatnesse of birth is not to be expected as the sole thing to qualifie a man and to beget in him the habit of a souldier Also a Generall is not to be unmindfull to honour and reward the vertuous and valiant as well as to be severe in punishing the vitious and imbellick persons for he that correcteth the offender and rewardeth not the well deserver will soone be disesteemed of Hythlodaeus in his Vtopia bitterly invayeth against such kinde of proceedings he holdeth it very unfitting for Commanders to make the sentence of death the guerdon for theft and mischiefe and doth not rather first carefully provide to prevent the occasions Cum multò potius providendum fuerit uti aliquis esset proventus vitae ne cuipiam sit tamen dira fur andi primùm deinde pereundi necessitas Also deserts of right ought to be gratified with gifts and advancements for it is the surest tie to knit a man to his superiour which being not performed breedes impatience discontents and heart-burnings and for the most part apt to breake forth into dangerous attemps Milites ditate reliquos omnes spernite A Generall ought to be very circumspect in Marching his Army in difficult wayes especially if the enemy be at hand for an enemy will waite his occasion and take the best opportunity to fall on for prevention whereof the horse-troopes are to March before which will discover the enemy and hold them play untill all the foote divisions are drawne into Battalia also in Marching over Plaines or Heathes at every stand the Companies must draw up into severall divisions which are as so many limmes ready to frame the body of the Army upon a sudden The danger of being pestered and troubled with carriages and luggage is very great and to be avoyded for it hath been the confusion of diveâ—s Armies as first of Malchome King of Scots likewise Sebastian King of Portugall in his warres against Abdeâ—â—elec King of Morocco Likewise a Generall is upon all occasions to call to counsell his chiefe Officers to debate of all affaires and designes taking every mans opinion at large onely reserving his resolution to himselfe in all secrefie that none or very few should be made partakers before the execution A Generall ought to know the situation of every countrey by his insight in the use of Maps and take a true survey of all such parts as his Army is to march thorow whether they be plaines or champions or woody and full of waters whether or not furnished with strong Townes and Forts so that accordingly he may proportion his Horse and Foot for in Champion Countries Horses are of greatest use if situated upon Straights and strong Forts the Army must consist most of Footmen He is also to gaine perfect intelligence how his enemy is appointed how and in what kinde his Army is demeaned for it is no pollicy to follow a light-footed enemy with an heavy Army Also a Generall must take notice if any matter of feare or muttering be in the Army upon the rumor of giving Battell Exercitum terrore plenum Dux ad pugnam non ducat also a further principle in warre must be observed Si Duces necessaâ—â— cum multitudine pugnare cogantur Consilium ect noctis tempore Belli fortunam tentare A Generall ought also not onely to have expert Enginers and men of exquisite knowledge in the arte of fortification both of Forts Campes conducting of Mynes planting of Batteries and disposing of all kind of Trenches but also to have therein himselfe absolute judgement and knowledge otherwise he may be wondrous misled frustrating his designes which will redound to his great dishonour He is also to have a speciall consideration of the place he meaneth to incampe and continue his Army in first respecting the healthfulnesse of the ayre then the drynesse of the ground the conveniency of wood and water and that the enemy may have no advantage to intercept the releefe and provision that is to be conveyed to the Campe either by water or land that no hills be neere to annoy the Campe and that no waters be cut out to drowne it A Generall must cause his souldiers to take good rest and competent food before he presumes to give Battell for it is a principle in warre In pugna milites validius resistunt si cibo potuque referti fuerint Nam fames intrinsecus magâ—â— pugnat quâ—â— ferrum exteriâ—â— Souldiers doe better stand to it in fight if they have their bellye 's full of meat and drinke for hunger within fights more eagerly than steele without Also he is to stirre up their drooping spirits with some brave Heroick Oration that shall inflame their spirits that like lightning they may consume where they goe A Generall is to command his Officers daily to exercise their Companies which will inable their bodies and preserve their healths and although the enemy should be far remote yet duly to observe watches guards and setting forth their Sentinells as carefully as if the enemy were neere at hand this will breed an habit and custome to their bodies so that it will not seeme grievous to them when as they shall performe those duties in earnest A Generall must be very circumspect in giving an expresse command to his Officers that no abusive drinking be used amongst his Officers nor Souldiers par vinonolentiam crudelitas sequitur
which both Generall and Officers must make use of in the time of fight or skirmish HAving collected the best Observations that my poor indevours could attain unto for the fitting of all thing requisite before the time of fight now it remains to discourse of such necessary principles as are convenient to be used in the time of fight so that there may bee nothing omitted which may bee an inducement or furtherance to a victory Wherefore presupposing that the Battell Standards are pitcht and the Army ranged accordingly as before is shewed the first thing that is to be done is to draw out a certain company of Horse and Foot to surprize the enemies Ordnance in which they are not bound to keep any array or order but to run disbanded and fall pell mell upon the enemy whereby his Ordnance will be disabled from shooting above once In the mean time the Forlorn Hopes and such disbanded Shot are to skirmish with the enemy partly to see if they can disorder any of their Divisions or gain some prisoners whereby the Generall may learn how they are imbattelled and what Stratagems they intend to use with the true number both of their Horse and Foot so as he may the better fit himself for them as also by their first onset to breed courage in his own men and to make them disdain their enemy The Forlorn Hope is duly to bee supplyed with men and munition either from the Wings of the main-Battel or else some Maniples appropriated for that purpose according as they prevail against the enemy so they are to be strengthned if the enemy bee too potent for them then they are to retrait behind the main-Battell and when the two Battels joyn these are to sally out and charge the enemies Flanks Some Stratagem or other ought to bee put in practice at the first encounter for a small matter if it comes unexpectedly will discourage an enemy If there be any Ambuscado's secretly laid for to charge the enemies in the Flanks or Rear let them execute their charge when the two Battels joyn in fight whereby they may be disheartned If in case the enemy take the charge and make a retrait those Officers that lead up the Forlorn Hopes to skirmish must not pursue the retrait nor suffer the souldiers to follow the enemy no further since that this skirmishing is to no other end than to breed a certain impression and good opinion in the minds of your own souldiers The absolutest way to disorder the enemies Troops is to charge their Battalia's either with your Horse or Foot both in Flank and Front * and then having certain Troops of Horse ready formed in manner of a wedge-Battell that shall indevour to enter the point of the Battell and so disorder their Ranks The Generall is to cause it to bee given out in the time of fight that hee hath a new supply of men comming unto him and may make a shew of some matters like a truth that may signifie his Succours to be neer at hand This may take effect to discourage them so that with little difficulty they may be vanquish'd Sulpitius put all the servants and labourers belonging to the Army upon beasts unfit for fight causing them to bee ranged in such sort that they seemed afar off to be a great number of Horse-men whom he sent up upon a mountain some what neer unto his enemies Army commanding them to keep themselves close untill the Battell was begun and that then they should shew themselves in many Troops like Horse-men faining to march down to charge the Rear of the enemies Army this put the enemy to flight But if the Countrey be plain so that no Ambush can be laid then there must be Trenches digged and men laid privily in them and covered over with green boughs Also such kind of Ditches may be digged and covered over slightly with boughs and earth laid slightly over and certain firme places bee left betwixt the Trenches with good marks for to find them at which places they may retire that are sent to charge the enemy faining to be afraid in their speedy retrait to cause the enemy to follow them the faster and so to fall into the snare Note that upon the disordering of the enemy the main-Battell is not to follow the pursuit but certain Troops of each Wings both of the Horse and Foot are to pursue the victory If any accident should happen unto the Generall during the Combat which might dismay his souldiers it is a point of great wisdome for to cover it and to make the best of it presently as Hostilius who seeing that his assistants which should have entred Battell with him went their waies without striking stroke hee knowing their departure would have greatly dismaid his souldiers caused it to be given out through all the Army that they went away through his commandement this did not only appease the people but did moreover incourage them that they were victorious Sylla having part of his Troop slain fearing lest his Army should be discouraged hee said he sent them of purpose to be slain in regard they conspired against him In the Battell of Flanders when the enemy had cut off the whole Regiment of Scots that were sent to guard a passage one only man brings the newes of it his Excellency caused him to be slain lest he should have frighted the Army by the report of so sudden an accident A Generals care must ever be to avoid confusion of fight which is to begin before your time which causeth such inconveniences as are cause oftentimes of losse Therefore in the beginning of your fight take great heed you invade not nor fight confusedly wheras every part of the Army hath his ordinary time to fight neither suffer any part of your Army to fight with your enemy in any other fashion than you appointed them At your first onset in charging the enemy the Army must give a mighty terrible shout to dishearten the enemy and then afterwards keep great silence that the sounds of the Drums and Trumpets may be heard and distinguished as also such commands as Officers shall give If your Horse-men be oppressed with your enemies Horse-men send for succour a supply of Musketires who may scattering and out of order as occasion shall serve shoot at the oppressors and upon occasion retire and returne very often to these you may send a guard of Pikes for rescue the better to bring them off safe But if you invade your enemy with Musketires with your guard of Pikes send some Horse so that both may defend them from invasion of the enemies Horse-men Likewise to give the enemie his hands full follow him with a Battalion resolutely to put all or one of his Battalions to rout and having discomfited any one of his Battels send only a small or convenient company to pursue the chase and with the rest invade quickly some part of his Army fighting with any one
of your Battells this must of necessity be done for sundry Victories have been lost upon this occasion that when one Battell hath overthrown his first encountred enemies Battell it hath immediately followed the chase and not holpen his own fellowes in danger Likewise in your first joyning of Battell if your Fore-ward gain the Victory joyne other Battels immediately whilst comfort is on your side and your enemies disheartned This got Bucoy the victory at Prague If your Foot-men be vehemently oppressed with your enemies Foot-men send your Horse-men to invade the Flanks of your enemies and with them some Shot to hold them play but if you can plant a Peece of Ordnance against their Flanks it will gall them shrewdly If your enemies main Battell doe urge very valiantly your Fore-ward and his other Battels be not ready to help or rescue cause both your other Battels one on the one side and the other on the other side freshly to invade your enemies main Battel and herein you shall do wisely imitating our brave English at Poytirs When the Generall perceiveth he hath a greater Army than his enemy minding to compasse him about before he be aware let the Front of the Battell be ranged equall to the Front of the enemies and so soon as the fight is begun let him make the Front by little and little to retire and the Wings to advance a little forwards and then charge the enemy upon the Flanks By this many Armies have been vanquish'd It hath been a thing of great importance whilst the fight continueth to give out the word that the Generall or some chief Commander of the enemies is slain or that one Wing or other of their Army is vanquish'd Also the Chivalry of the enemies is to be feared with some strange fights or by some fire-works by which they may bee made unserviceable Now if the enemy have any Peeces of Ordnance in the Rear of their Army if their Battalia's suddenly divide themselves you are to doe the like for bee sure they intend to discharge upon you If the enemy should endanger the taking of your Baggage by no means suffer any of your Troops either Horse or Foot confusedly to run to relieve the same but advisedly send a sufficient Strength to perform that Service when the enemy shall bee most busie in ransacking the Waggons whereby they may be easily vanquish'd Where the enemy comes most potently and furiously upon any part of your Army be sure there to discharge your Ordnance at the thickest of them and being thereby disperst let your Horse charge them taking the advantage of their disorder If the enemies Horse charge any of your Battalia's in the midst of it bee ready to give way to them by making a passage for them and as they passe through charge them upon either Flank by which means they will have the worst of it Lastly to end with Machiavils Rules of Warre which hee hath set down for Maximes to be observed by all Commanders as followeth 1 The same that helpeth the enemy hurteth thee and the same that helpeth thee hurteth the enemy 2 He that shall be in the War most vigilant to observe the devises of the enemy and shall take most pains to exercise his Army shall incur least perils and may hope most of the victory 3 Never conduct thy men to fight the field if first thou hast not confirm'd their minds and knowst them to be without fear and to be in good order for thou oughtst never to enterprize any thing of danger with thy souldiers but when thou seest they hope to overcome 4 It is better to conquer the enemy with famine than with yron in the victory of which fortune may doe much more than valour 5 No purpose is better than that which is hid from the enemy until thou hast executed it 6 To know in the Warre how to understand occasion and to take it helpeth more than any other thing 7 Nature breedeth very few strong men but industry and exercise maketh many 8 Discipline may doe more in Warre than fury 9 When any depart from the enemies side for to come to serve thee when they be faithfull they shall be unto thee alwaies great gains for that the power of the adversaries are more diminished with the losse of them that run away than of those that are slain although that the name of a Fugitive be to new friends suspected and to old odious 10 Better it is in pitching the field to reserve behind the first Front aid enough than to make the Front bigger to disperse the Souldiers 11 Hee is difficulty overcome which can know his own power and the same of the enemy 12 The valiantnesse of the souldiers availeth more than the multitude 13 Sometimes the situation helpeth more than the valiantnesse 14 New and sudden things make Armies afraid slow and accustomed things bee little regarded of them Therefore make thy Army to practise and to know with small fights a new enemy before thou come to fight the Field with him 15 He that with disorder followeth the enemy after that his Battalia's be broken will do no other than to become of a Conquerour a Loser 16 He that prepareth not necessary victuals to live upon is overcome without yron 17 Hee that trusteth more in Hors-men than in Foot-men or more in Foot-men than in Horse-men must accommodate himself with the situation 18 When thou shalt understand there is a Spie from the enemy come into the Camp cause every man to goe to his lodging 19 Change purpose when thou perceivest that the enemy hath fore-seen it 20 Consult with many of those things which thou oughtest to doe the same that thou wilt after doe conferre with few 21 Souldiers when they abide at home are maintained with fear and punishment after when they are led to the Wars with hope and reward 22 Good Captains come never to fight the Field except necessity constrains them and occasion calls them 23 Cause that the enemy know not how thou wilt order thy Army to fight and in whatsoever manner thou ordainest it make that the first Battell may be received of the second and the second of the third 24 In the fight never make use of the Battell to any other thing than to the same for which thou hast appointed it if thou wilt make no disorder 25 The sudden accidents with difficulty are removed or remedied those that are thought upon with facility 26 Men yron money and bread be the strength of the Warre but of these four the first two bee most necessary because men and yron find money and bread but bread and money find not men and yron 27 The unarmed rich man is a booty to the poor souldier 28 Accustome thy souldiers to despise delicate living and lascivious apparrell Thus much I thought good to collect concerning this subject which I hope will give any discreet Souldier content RULES AND OBSERVATIONS TO BE VSED AFTER FIGHT SECT XXI CHAP. X.
fresh Souldiers seeing so many of his deare friends put to death began to conjecture that hee was called for rather to partake with his friends in their punishment then with Alexander in the Warfare Wherefore hee most wickedly plotted with his Sonnes Cassander Philip and Iolas attendants on the Kings Person about his poysoning which was afterwards performed at the house of one Thessalus who had invited the King to a Banquet they all giving it out that hee died of a feaver caused through excessive drinking His sicknesse lasted the space of eleven dayes during which time their happened a tumult amongst the Souldiers who suspected the King was poysoned this hee himselfe pacified by shewing himselfe unto them and permitting such as hee saw weeping graciously to kisse his hand yea when all about him fell a weeping yet was hee without any signe of griefe Adeo sicut in hostem ita in mortem invictus animus fuit When as those about him perceived no hope of his recovery they desired to know whom hee would assigne for his Heire and successor in the Empire hee answered the most worthy Such was the greatnesse of his minde that passing by his owne Sonne Hercules his brother Arideus and his Wife Roxana great with childe hee declares the most worthie Person to bee his Heire quasi nefas esset viro forti alium quam virum fortem succedere And this had like to have set all together by the eares every one of the great Captaines esteeming himselfe most worthie begun privately to procure to themselves the Souldiers favour But this growing dissention also was pacified by Alexander himselfe for upon the sixth day of his sicknesse when his speech failed him hee tooke his Ring from his finger and delivered it to Perdiccas by which signe it appeared that hee appointed him for his Successor After the death of Alexander some time was spent in setling the affaires of Estate for this purpose they met in the Royall Pallace at Babylon and being set in Councell they were divided into three severall opinions First Perdiccas was of opinion that they should expect till Roxana the late Wife of Alexander who was great with childe should bee delivered and if shee brought forth a Man-childe hee should bee declared Successour to his Father But Meliager was of another minde for he thought it not safe to suffer their certaine consultations to depend upon an uncertaine childe-birth neither is it fit saith hee that wee should expect till a King bee borne when as wee may have one that is borne already and if a Child will please you there is Hercules the Sonne of Alexander begotten of Arsine if a young man will like you better there is Arideus Brother and companion of Alexander in the Campe and one that is beloved of all not onely for his owne sake but for his Father King Philips And furthermore for Roxana hee sayd shee was descended of the Persian bloud and was it right that they should appoint a King to rule over the Macedonians which should spring from them whose Kingdome they had now conquered Ptolemy differed in opinion from both the former and first hee utterly rejected Arideus and that not onely for the basenesse of his Mother for hee was begotten by Philip ex Larisco Scorto but also for a greater infirmity want of wit for as Ptolemy sayd if hee were admitted to the Crowne Ille nomen Regis alius Imperium teneret for his part hee thought it better that out of those who for their vertue and prowesse were neere unto Alexander some should bee elected to governe the Provinces and manage the Warres Of these three opinions the first was best approved generally wherefore it was agreed upon that they should expect till Roxana were delivered and if shee brought forth a Sonne Leonatus Perdiccas Craterus and Antipater should be his Guardians Confestrimque in tutorum obsequia jurant The same oath of Allegeance was also given to the Horse-troopes But the footmen perceiving that there advice was not required in those great affaires tooke it in ill part wherefore they proceeded to a new election and saluted Arideus King and appointed him a Guard out of their own Troops which thing so soone as the Horse-men heard of they sent two of the Nobility to wit Attalus and Meleager to pacifie their mindes But these two desiring to increase their owne power by the flattery of the common Souldiers omitted their Ambassage and conspired with them And now that they had gotten a head they presently armed themselves with purpose to breake into the Pallace for the discomâ—ture of the Horsemen which being once knowne the Horsemen in feare departed the City and having fortified their Campe the footmen themselves also began to doubt of the successe Perdiccas who commanded in chiefe amongst the Horsemen perceiving the danger likely to ensue upon this division resolutely went unto the footmen and having called an assembly he spake unto them as followeth Souldiers and fellowes in Armes I desire you would consider what an horrible crime you now commit in arming your selves and raising a sedition Remember I pray you against whom you attempt these things they are not Persians but Macedonians not enemies but Citizens and for the most part of your owne bloud and kindred Fellow-souldiers of the same Campe and Companions of the same dangers together with you Consider betimes I advise you what an egregious spectacle you are about to set forth to the view of your Adversaries the Persians looke how much they grieve to see themselves vanquished by your conquering armes so much will they rejoyce to see you embruing your swords in the bloud one of another by which meanes it will come to passe that they shall offer sacrifice with your owne bloud to the soules of those enemies which you have slaine With this Oration the footmen were so moved as that presently they approved his councell chose him their Captaine and by his meanes also were accorded with the Horsemen but yet so as that Arideus should have the Empire and onely a portion thereof should be reserved for Alexanders Child if it happened to be a Sonne These matters being thus composed the Empire is divided into many Lieutenantships but there were foure chiefe ones who were more remarkable then the rest Qui Reges ex perfectis facti magnes opes non sibi tantum paranerunt Verum posteris reliquerunt And these were first Ptolemy Sonne of Logus who possessed Aegypt Secondly Seleucus who possessed Babylon as Iosephus saith Cum vicinis gentibus Thirdly Antigonus who possessed Asia the lesse And fourthly Antipater and after him Cassander who possessed Macedonia and Greece By this wee see the Prophecie of Daniel fulfilled for hee had long before Prophecied that the great horne of the Goate being broken For it should come up foure notable ones Dan. 8. 8. Which prophecie is expounded in the 21. and 22. verses of the same Chapter in this manner The Rough
them favours and curtesies and giving them large gifts to those that would yeeld to maintaine Disputes factions and contentions against Authoritie he thus exercising his wits but one Winter gained more Townes and Provinces then hee and his potent Army could conquer of them in ten yeares warres Factions Murmures Mutinies contestations oppositions detractions disloyalty and disobedience are farre more dangerous in an Armie then they possibly can be in a settled Kingdome in regard the members of an Army are to bee ready prest to goe upon execution upon every sudden occasion being alwayes in action tending towards the finishing of the designe it was provided for so that if any Mutinies or detractions should be it would fare with that Army as with a Traveller that by some dangerous slippe in his earnest journeyes over a dangerous Forrest is taken lame so that he is disappointed of his expected ariving being exposed to the dangers of the night and bereaved of his meanes of defending himselfe from the cruelty of devouring Beasts which most certainly will take the present opportunitie to fall upon and devour him Whereas in a State no Forraine enemies being neere such distempers bruses and dislocations time it selfe may weare out the mallady or some soveraigne course may be used to supple and lythen such dislocated joynts and stiffe members so that use may be obtained of them before any urgent occasion shall command their assistance It is not the least of all things to be thought of if occasion should offer it selfe to make use of the Commonaltie for a speedy defence against an approaching enemy those that have beene so offward and refractary in obeying the Edicts of Soveraigne authority and in yeelding the least of their assistance in contributing towards the mighty charge which is expended both by Sea and Land for our peaceable and safe preservations how strange shall these men bee found in subjecting themselves to Marshall lawes and to such Commanders as shall â—ee in command over them or how will they venter their flesh which were scrupulous in venturing a few shillings Besides their ignorance in the use of Armes and no marvell because our Yeomondry scorne to subject themselves under a Captaine to bee taught but put their servants into the List And the cheifer sort that should bee the strength of our Kingdome slip their neckes out of coller and every silly poore mecanicke fellow must make the Souldier Thus dishonouring our Soveraigne and weakening our State by putting trust in a company of poore â—â—eas that have neither estate nor reputation to loose but are fitter subjects to entertain mutinies or commit mischiefes then to bee brought into orderly subjection You may give Officers leave to complaine being too well acquainted with their wonderfull disorders in our daily musters which being not redrest will bee pernicious to our Kingdome Moreover our people are so metamorphiz'd from that true worth which in former ages was inherent to our English but now so effeminiz'd by their voluptuous living that they are not fit to undertake the paines and care of a Souldier their hearts melting like butter upon the supposition of meeting death in the face as was seene not many yeares since by the manly carriages of brave fellowes when the rumour was of the Enemies landing at Wackring betwixt Maulden and Lee in Essex what uproares and disorders it bred two or three â—estriding a Horse to eschew the danger partly naked fearing least the Enemy should have over-taken them being so stupid that many of them knew that it was so farre from affording an Enemie a landing that a Goose might bee gravelled before shee could obtaine shoare And I thinke the two fearefull mistakings of the Enemies approaches at Wethersfield in Essex the people being Congregated in a time of Fast at the discharging of a poore Pistoll by a Horseman returning from Trayning all the Church was in such a strange uproare every one running to hide himselfe tearing the Ayre with their shrikes and cries deeming they had seene their Neighbours slaine when they in their hast tumbled one over another some running a Mile or two before they durst looke backe Likewise some few yeares after in the same Church at the running downe of the waight of the Clocke which made to their thinking a fearefull noyse caused such an uproare as if the Divell and a lease of Beares had beene amongst them these things plainely shewes the pusillanimity and imbellick constitution that Peace and security with the laciviousnesse of the times hath hatcht in them it would have beene hard for a Generall or Captain to have gotten these people to have made a stand and opposed the Enemy at push of Pike if occasion had beene of the Enemies landing A County might have been pillaged before they would have assumed the countenance of a Souldier they being so fearefully affrighted If wee did but truely weigh these things it would make every man more forward in his contribution towards the maintenance of the Navie which must secure us from these panicke feares The ancient Gaules accounted no man further worthy then to serve in the affaires of the house that was not publickly called and generally thought worthy and meete to beare Armes and being Armed before the generall Counsell then hee was acknowledged a Common-wealthes man and fit to bee employed to doe his Country service And these were of the best and cheefest sort that strived to obtaine these honours How farre are wee dissenting from those yet wee would bee accounted good Common-wealths men but wee must first leave our factious jarres and disputes by which wee thinke to attribute to our selves the name of good Common-wealths men and as the Gaules did betake our selves to the service of our King and the good and safety of our Countrey Tacitus makes mention that the youth in those dayes did use no other recreation but in preparing themselves and fitting themselves for the Warres having that expertnesse that they would leape voluntarily being naked against swords and Iavelins opposed against them wherein they had an Art to disarme their Enemies and defend themselves Hee adds moreouer that they would play upon such dangerous adventures as would make a man blush to bee a spectator The Ancient Romans upon their Theaters tutored up valiant young men in the Art of Fencing and when they grew expert and hardy they were renowned with the name of Gladiators our Gentry and Yeomen are not of that mettall for either they through coveteousnesse are adicted like Boares to roote up the earth to scrape base drosse together which they deifie as their god or else they swimme in a more dangerous streame of drunkenesse and riotousnesse which weakens both their bodies and estates making them not fit to doe neither King nor Countrey service for it may truely bee sayd of those that sayle in these extreames that they are ignorant to what end they were borne into the World which next their duty to God they are
It will bee hard for a Prince to finde a man fit and sutable for this imployment Next the Generall the Lord Marshall is sayd to have the supreame command of the whole Army wherefore usually his Trumpet is first in the morning to discharge the Watch and his Troope ought first of all to be mounted for it is an honour due to his place and allowed him by the Army by reason of the infinite paines which hee taketh in his owne particular person neither ought his Troope to Watch or Ward but are freed of that duty by reason of their more serious occasions After he and his Troope are mounted he maâ—cheth to the out-mâ—st borders of the Campe and 〈…〉 his stand untill the whole Army are Râ—â—ged neither â—â—its his station untill the last man be Marcht away Hee is himselfe in all things both assistant and directive to the Generall of the Horse and the Serjeant Major Generall all the day long hee is tyed to no Battalion but at his pleasure may dispose of his owne Person sometimes accompanying the Generall and sometimes conducting his owne Troopes and indeed alwaies where the greatest occasion of necessity is and where the Enemy is most likelyest to assayle there hee should be to make resistance Also as his Person so is his Troope not tyed to any especiall or certaine place but may vary and alter as danger shall offer it selfe for them to oppose still supplying whatsoever is weakest and ever ready to entertaine the Enemy upon all his approaches upon all Retreats the Reare is his place which he is to bring up with safety and to defend it with courage When the Army is to bee Incamped he stayeth untill every man be dismounted and the whole Army lodged then he with his Troope dismounteth he taketh order for the Scouts he adviseth with the Serjeant Major for the Guards vieweth the strength of the Campe c. When the Army is to be Incamped in any new place the Serjeant Major Generall the Quarter Master Generall the Serjeant Major of Regiments the Scout-Master and all inferiour Quarter Masters with a sufficient Guard of the best Horsemen are to attend the Lord High Marshall and he out of his owne power with the discreet advise of the Serjeant Major Generall and the Scoute Master Generall shall assigne the Campe where the fittingest place is to pitch it in the manner forme and proportion it shall carry the bounds it shall containe and the distinction of every place and commodity advantage strength or discommodity which it shall please him to annex unto the same and according to his pleasure and demonstration so shall the Quarter Master Generall see it divided leaving the Intrenchments to the Trench-Master and the other inferiour divisions to the Serjeant Major Generall the Serjeant Major of Regiments and their Quarter Masters It is in the power of his Office also after the Army is Incamped having taken a survey of all the convenientest places for the Guards to appoint all the Regiments in what manner they shall place their Corps-du-guards the Scouts and Sentinellâ— so as no man may passe either in or out but to be continuall upon their discovery and likewise to provide for the raysing of all Out-workes as Skonses and Redouts upon all passages and Fordes for the safety of the whole Army And as in the constant settling of the Army so in the Marching and removing thereof the Lord Marshall is to have a speciall regard to his strength and ability to encounter with the Enemy and whether it be meet to enter into the face of Battell or no or whether the time bee mature and ripe for matters of execution or else to deferre and prevent all occasions of encounters in which if he find himselfe the weaker hee shall order his March through woody places and places inaccessible thereby to adde a naturall strength to his Army and to hinder the execution of the Enemies Horse he is to have the lighter sort of Horsemen to March so neere unto the Enemy that continually upon every alteration hee may have sudden intelligence of the Enemies designes But if the necessity of the March bee through the Champion and Plaines where the nature of the ground affordeth no assistance then the Lord Marshall must so order his Horse Troopes in such sort to make them shew great and innumerable for to a maze and distract the Enemy in his approaches Hee is to have a most speciall regard in removing his Campe whether it bee by night or by day it is very bold and audacious to remove a Campe in the day if the Enemy bee neere hand but to remove in the night it argues a weakenesse and diâ—ability in the Army for it is little better then a flight Wherefore there must be great licie used with silence and diligence and the March and good Array to bee held with all care and industry and therefore it requireth all the skill and Art of the Marshall and all the care and obedience that can bee required in a Souldier for it is a Rulâ— in Martiall Discipline that no remove by night can be absolutely secure It is the Office of the Lord Marshall to give order to the Master of the Ordnance both for his March and his passage both where when and which way all his Provision shall goe for the best advantage and safety And at the planting oâ— Artillery or making of Batteries the Marshall is to oversee the proceedings and to give directions upon any doubt or misse-adventure Hee is to give order unto the Victuall Master Wagon-master and all Officers of their natures both for their allodgements stores and all other necessary accommodations and against all violence and injuries which shall be offered them he is to see carefull and speedy reformation The Lord High-Marshall is the supreame and onely powerfull Iudge in all causes of life and death in criminall offences and controversies in the Army of all manner of natures and provideth for the due execution of all the Lawes Articles and Institutions which shall be appointed by the Generall to be observed and to see due punishment executed for any breach of the same Wherefore he ought to be exceedingly well read and learned in all Marshall Lawes the custome of Countries the degrees of Honour and the distribution of Blouds places and imployments and that he may the better proceed in these affaires he is to be assisted with divers learned and experienced Officers under him as the Iudge-Marshall and Provost-Marshall an Auditor and two Clerkes the under-Provost c. He is to have twenty or thirty Gentlemen for a continuall guard about him the Iudge-Marshall is to assist him in all difficult and curious interpretations of the Law and in deciding such controversies as shall happen in the taking of Prisoners c. He is to direct the Scout-master in all his proceedings and to receive from him all the intelligence and observations which he hath found out in his discoveries
their horses so that to everytroope of 120. there is 132. men allowed CHAP. CX How a single Troope of horse ought to be drawne into Ranke and File NOw it remaynes wee should make entrance into the discourse of Exercising a single Troope Therefore supposing our Troope to consist of one hundred and twenty horse wee must first order them into Rankes and Files Rankes are a number uncertaine and hapens according to the quantitie of souldiers be they more or lesse A File is a number certaine consisting of sixe persons viz a Leader two Middle men a Bringer up a Follower betweene the Leader and the Middleman to the Reare and a Follower betweene the Middleman to the Front and the Bringer up which is the last man in the File called the Reare A File differs from a Ranke because they stand face to backe and never above sixe deepe A Ranke differs from a File in regard they stand even a breast shoulder to shoulder and have no certaine extent The order of a File you shall see in this discription following 0 Leader 1 Follower 0 Middleman to the Reare 0 Middleman to the Front 1 Follower 0 Bringer up The description of a Ranke you shall understand by this demonstation following where you shall suppose twenty in Ranke and sixe deepe in File Sixe in File Reare CHAP. CXI What Orders and distances a horse Troope should observe in exercise NOw let us take notice what Orders or Distances these Files and Rankes are to observe in exercising where note that in horse Troopes there are but two sorts of distances or orders either in Ranke or File viz. close order and open order Close Order in Files is knee to knee Open Order in Files is sixe foote which is accounted a horses length Likewise close Order in Rankes is to the Horses crooper so that little or no distance remaines betweene the head of the Follower and the crooper of the Leader Likewise open order in Rankes is sixe foote above which they must never open CAAP. CXII The motions which the Cavalrie are to observe in their exercise THe Motions of the Cavallrie are of foure kindes as namely first Facings secondly Doublings thirdly Counter-Marches fourthly Wheelings The use of Facing is to make the company perfect to be suddenly prepared for a charge on either of the Flankes or the Reare Doubling of Rankes or doubling by halfe Files or Bringers up is used upon occasion of strengthening the Front Doubling of Files or Doubling by halfe Rankes serveth to strengthen the Flankes Counter-Marches serve either to reduce the File-leaders into the place of the Bringers up and so to have the best men ready to receive the charge of an Enemy in the Reare or to bring one Flanke into the place of the other or Front and Reere or either Flanke into the middle of the body The use of Wheeling is to bring the Front which is all wayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be ready to receive the charge of the Enemy on either Flanke or Reere CHAP. CXIII The Manner how a Commander over 120. Horse besides Officers should Troope with them into the Field to be exercised NOw wee are to suppose this Troope of 120. horsemen are to be ordered in Ranke and File fit to draw into the Field for exercise where note they are five in Ranke and sixe deepe in File and every Officer marching in his due place as appeares by this subsequent demonstration Captaine Trumpet Cornet Eld. Corporall Second Corporall Yongest Corporall Livetenant Trumpet CHAP. CXIV How a Commander should draw this Troope of Horse into a body in manner of Battalia standing at their open Order or Distance of sixe foote YOur Troope of horse being drawne into the Field before you can exercise them you must draw up the dimissions into an even body in manner of Battallia viz. the first devision led by the Captaine being come to a convenient place of Exercise is to stand firme Then the Cornet is to leade up the second Division upon the left side of the former fronting even and keeping even destances both in Ranke and File Thirdly the Eldest Corporall is to leade up his Devision upon the left side of the Cornets fronting them even with the former Lastly the second Corporall brings up his last Division upon the left hand of the eldest corporall observing their due orders and proportions both in Rankes and Files And being thus drawne in Battallia there shall be consequently be in the Front the Captaine whose place is to stand upon the right hand before the Front of the first Division The eldest Trumpet and Cornet before the Front of the second Devisions The eldest Corporall before the Front of the third Division The second Corporall before the Front of the fourth Division And in the Reare the Lievetenant the youngest Corporall and youngest Trumpet Trumpet Second Corporall Eldest Corporall Cornet Captaine Front Reare Livetenant Trumpet Corporall CHAP. CXV How Souldiers are to be made to understand their Commanders intention in time of skirmish BEfore wee can proceede to the Exercising of this Troope of Horse wee must take notice how and by what meanes the souldiers should understand their Commanders 〈◊〉 that accordingly they may immediatly act and put in execution such things as are commanded And this is to be performed by the Commander three severall wayes First by the immediate command of the Captaine either so that every souldier heares the word of Command distinctly himselfe or by Tradition from inferiour Officers whose office is to eccho such commands throughout the Troope and this is termed vocall Secondly when the Captaine commands the Trumpet to sound such points of warre as are generally knowne to every particular souldier this is termed Semivocall The first point of warre the Trumpet sounds is Butte Sella this is the warning to clappe on the Saddles The second is Mountè Cavallo that is the warning for the souldiers to mount upon horse backe The third is Tucquet that is the warning for a March. The fourth is Carga Carga that is a command for to charge the Enemy The fift is Alâ— Standâ—rdo that is a command for to retreate to the Colours The sixt and last is Auquet that is a command for the souldiers to repaire to their Watch or Guards or for the discharging of the Watch or Guards In the third place when the Commander shall make such perfect signes pregnant to the sight as by charging with his Trunâ—ion or Pistoll or by holding up the colours whereby the souldiers take notice by the first to charge on and by the second to make a stand and this is termed Mute wherefore you may perceive it is a thing of great consequence to accustome your souldiers to these things without which a world of inconveniences and confusion must of necessitie betide you in times of skirmishing Further in regard the exercising a Troope of Horse is tedious and painefull for a
the second ranke hath tenne this ranke makes two sides parrallell to the two former sides of the Rhombe as the Figure shewes the third must be 17. and so forwards to one the whole Battell hath in it 121. horse with the Officers the Figure followeth Front Reare CHAP. CXXII The Manner and forme of imbattelling the third kinde of Rhombe consisting of Files but not of Rankes THe third kinde of Rhombe which Files but Rankes not you are to order your Troope after this manner following First you must make a File of any Number the Captaine of the Troope being File-leader and the Reare Commander the last of the File To both the Flankes of this File you are to lay two other Files either of them one lesse in number than the first these you must begin to place even with the middest of the distances of the first file on both sides as suppose 11. in the first File the next file on either side must have 10. a peece and the next after them 9. a peece and still one the lesse in all the rest after plac't Files and so it shall prove to file but not ranke This forme is advantagious and profitable for turning of faces when neede shall require from one point of the Rhombe to another turning to the right hand is called turning to the staffe turning to the leâ—â— is called turning to the Raynes but in these our moderne warres we use to command them to face to the right or to the left hand as occasion shall offer the figure of this discourse followeth the Troope of horse consisting of 121. with the Officers The Front Reare CHAP. CXXIII The manner of imbattelling the fourth kinde of Rhombe which Rankes and Files not THis last kinde of Rhombe whose property is to Ranke and not to File is made by a conâ—rary way to the former The presedent Rhombe which shewed to File but not to Ranke began at the Front point and Reare point and proceeded to the Flankes This beginneth at the Flanke points and proceedth to the Front and Reare First therefore a Ranke is to be layed of what number you please to the distances of this Ranke you must lay two Rankes more one on either side whose number must be one lesse a peece than the former Ranke thus continue laying of Rankes towards the Front and Reare and in every paire of Rankes diminish one a peece untill you come to the points either of which have but one namely the Captaine and Lievetenant by this meanes the Rhombe will ranke but not file the figure followeth Front Reare CHAP. CXXIIII The manner of Framing the Battell called the Wedge or halfe Rhombe used by the Macedonians THe forme of this Battell called the Wedge plainely appeares in the Rhombe which both Rankes and Files for the halfe of that Rhombe is a Wedge Wherefore first you must beginne with a Ranke of an uneven number as suppose 15. horse before that Ranke you must place another Ranke of 13. having two lesse than the former and so you are to proceede untill you end with one which is the place of the Captaine this was the Invention of King Philip of Macedon who placed his best men before that by them the weaker might be held in and inabled to charge Elian giveth reasons why the Wedge was in those times accounted better than a Square forme which we now have in use in regard it is apt and proper artificially to breake the Enemies Square battels for he Compares a Square Battle to an Axe for although it be sharper than a Wedge yet having the edge drawne out in length it cannot possibly by strength be driven farre into the Wood but by redoubling of strokes The Wedge being once entred insinuateth it selfe the point being Narrow and it holdeth what it getteth untill at last it divides the Square forme in Sunder although never so tough Polybius reports lib 4. 278. that the Thessalians being Imhatteled in this kinde of forme they could not be resisted by the Gracians and Persian Squares Moreover the Wedge is of greater strength than the Rhombes because it bringeth more hands to fight for the hinder part of the Rhombe is of no use but to avoyde surprises for it avayleth nothing in charging whereas all parts of the Wedge are effectuall viz. the point to enter and the sides even to the flanke corners where the reare endeth doth dispart and dissever and utterly disorder the Enemie whereby victory is gained And questionlesse this forme of a Wedge were of excellent use in our warres especially when an enemie is charged in Flanke and Reare or Front and Flanke then this Battell in forme of a Wedge to come full upon the point of the enemies Battalia where they shall finde an easie place for entrance in regard the foote Troopes are constrained to make a double resistance both to Front and Flanke so that there will be a space open for entrance and then the sides of this Wedge battell will give such a Valley upon the point that of necessity they cannot be able to withstand it The Cornet in this Wedge forme of imbattelling is to take his place right before the Lievetenant in the second Ranke from the Reare the figure followeth this Troope consists of 121. Horse Front The Leivetenant CHAP. CXXV The reason why we retaine the custome of Ranking five deepe in File WEE have learned from Generalls in former ages the framing of Square Battels in regard they were oppinionated that forme was the easiest to be framed and best for Motion besides the ablest men were plac't in Front and had all the principall Commanders to lead them on to give the Enemie a charge the weapons which the Horsemen used were Speares of such a wonderfull length to to Match their Enemies Pikes which as Leo reports Chap. 25. that they were 16. Cubtis in length that is 24. foote and Livy verifies the same that their Pikes were very unwildy in regard of their bignesse and length and then they for the most part did order their horse Troopes eight deepe in File as Polybius speaketh plainely who was Generall of the Horse of the Achaeans besides Leo in his seventh Chapter writeth after this manner If there be many horse saith he viz. above twelve thousand then let them be ordred tenne deepe in File if but few then let it be no more than five further he saith too much shallownesse maketh a Battalia weake and ready to be broken by this we may conjecture that the filing of Troopes five deepe was not a thing inforc't of necessitie untill such times as they found the inconvenience of their over-long Speares so that the Macedonians caused their Speares to be but 15. or 16. foote in length and then five horse in depth was rather at the most then otherwise to make use of those short weapons to offend the Enemy in their charge They further aimed to order their Battells so that the Battalias might
them he caused certaine Counter-trenches and secret Mines to be made wherein he layed divers Firkings of Powder and other murthering fire-balles hee upon the assault given retyred himselfe suffering the Enemy in great number to enter onely maintaining the inward workes seeing his opportunity he gave fire to the Mines and made a mighty slaughter of the Enemy sallying out upon them in their disordered routes put them to flight and raiâ—ed their Siege This was practised also at Mastriche the last Siege but one CHAP. CCIII A Policie used by the Prince of Orange to drowne the Enemy out of his Trenches and then to releeve the Towne by Boates. THe Prince of Orange hath taken the opportunity to cut thorow certaine Bankes letting in the Sea which hath forced the Enemy to break up his Siege and for his safety retyre to such Hills as were neere and in the meane time he hath releeved the Towne by Boats with Men and Munition which otherwise must have yeelded to the Enemies mercy CHAP. CCIIII A Policie used by the Spaniards against the French to prevent the power of their Horses against their Foote THe Spaniards in a Battell against the French at Lyrignola finding themselves too weake in Horse-men thought it wisedome for them to retire themselves for their better safety among the Vines Groves and such like uneven ground whereby they prevented the execution of the Horse which otherwise would have freedome by this for the Foote in plaine grounds where they might have used their beene too hard devise they got the better of the French Some have made secret Trenches covering them with Hurdles and greene swardy Turfe CHAP. CCV A Politique Stratagem whereby the Lord Poynings gained a Castle at Samerduboys in France there being no accesse to it with Ordaance THe Lord Poynings at Samerduboys in France having summoned a Castle strongly Scituated upon a Hill environed with marish ground in such sort that it was thought impossible for to bring the Cannon to batter it and therefore the Captaine of the Castle refused to yeeld untill hee saw the Cannon wherefore the Lord Poynings caused secretly a Cannon to be made of wood artificially and coloured over placing hurdles on the Marish with divers Horses to draw the Carriages as though with great difficulty they had drawne a CaÌ„non indeed then threatning that if he caused him to shoot according to the Law of Armes they should all be put to the Sword whereupon the Captaine abused by this policie delivered up the Castle by Composition which otherwise could not have beene gained ever since no Fort is to yeeld upon Composition unlesse the Cannon discharges twice or thrice CHAP. CCVI. A Policie used by Monsieur Lautreck in the Warres at Naples to make his Forraine assistance to fight MOnsieur Lautreck in the Warres at Naples having his Army composed of sundry Nations thought it wisedome to order every Nation separately into sundry Battalions placing in the Front of the Battell those Forraine aydes and in the time of fight hee caused it to be given out that such a Nation had the Victory whereby the rest inflamed did most valiantly fight and by this devise was victorious which otherwise happily would have left him in the suddes CHAP. CCVII. How Scipio by his policie defeated the Carthaginians of their Designe SCipio drew his Army to Tunis being within the prospect of Carthage the Carthaginians made out a great Fleete to incounter with Scipio in the Haven Scipio tooke his Shippes and Hulkes and fastned them together with the tackling belonging to them causing the Masteâ— to serve for Rafters to fasten them together whereupon hee placed his Souldiers to maintaine the Bridge Hee left certaine places open where small 〈◊〉 might swiftly sayle out and in to fight at pleasure by this device their enterprise was impeached CHAP. CCVIII A Politique Stratagem used by Philopoemen against Nabis whereby hee cut off divers of his Souldiers and after tooke his Campe and by a second Stratagem destroyed all his men PHilopoemen Generall of the Athenian Army being incountred with a mighty Army under the conduct of Nabis and fearing his owne strength tooke the advantage of a Forde where Nabis Forces were to March over to make their approches against his Campe Philopoemen layed privily an Ambush neere the water who taking the advantage of their disordered passage sâ—ue many of the Assaylants and losing no opportunity hee presently caused one of his Souldiers to runne to Nabis Campe who lay strongly intrencht as a Fugitive and told him that the Athenians had a purpose to get betweene him and Lacedemon whereby they would hinder his Retreite into the City and also that he had a sure plot to stirre up the Citizens to rebell whereby they might regaine their freedome Nabis beleeving this marched secretly away in the darke only leaving a few Companies behind to shew themselves upon the Rampâ—â—s making great lights in their quarters the better to conceale his March But Philopoemen assaulted the Campe and chased Nabis into the Woods where he expected the favour of the night Philopoemen dreaming they would steale into Lacedemon in the darke drew certaine of his fresh Souldiers laying them in Ambuscado upon two of the principall passages that conducted to the City and causing in his owne Campe store of great lights to be made whereby they thought all at rest they ventured to creepe home by small Troopes where most of them were slaine by Philopoemens Souldiers CHAP. CCIX. A politique Stratagem to prevent an Enemy from entring the Ports being blowne open THe Duke of Burgundy comming before Bevis in France had blowne open the Ports Yet being discovered the Souldiers of the Towne made a valiant resistance the whilst others above upon the Wall threw downe many fiery Fagots that burnt downe the Bridge whereupon hee speedily retreated CHAP. CCX A politique Stratagem used by Maximilian King of the Romans whereby he tooke in the Towne of Arras MAximilian King of the Romans having promised Henry King of England to assist him in the Warres of France meeting at Bulloigne a Peace was concluded with the French by King Henry whereby Maximilian lost his journey yet thinking to get something for his penny he came to the speech of a Smith that had a poore house built upon the Wall of the Towne called Arras and by gifts and large promises made him agree to liquor the Souldiers upon the Guard and as for the Governour he was no afternoone-man this project was cleanly performed and in their drunken security the Towne was surprized CHAP. CCXI. A Policie to prevent mischiefe when two great Princes 〈◊〉 to discourse IF great Princes should capitulate upon any Articles of peace it might prove very dangerous to hazard their Persons unlesse in wisedome they make choyce of some River betweene them and their two Armies where a Bridge is to bee made over with a grated Gate on the midst to keepe them a sunder and yet may discourse thorow it also on
feates and ever escaped unslaine the Porter and Mayor of the City they used very kindly giving unto them part of their prey for their courtesie and paines being so forward and vigilant to open the Ports for their going out and in the residue they bestowed upon the Governour for his love and leave the Porter was so accustomed that at their first whistle at all times of the night the Gates were opened unto them all things being brought to a good passe for the accomplishing of their project Hanibals Army lying within foure dayes journey from the Towne he feigned himselfe very sicke and that it was the onely reason he stayed there so long this was bruited abroad the night being appointed Haniball made choise of ten thousand Horse and Foot of the lightest armed and removed from his Campe in the night making speed untill he came within fifteene miles of the City of Tarrent where he secretly abode charging his men in no wise to breake their array and order but to be ready to performe what was commanded wherefore he first set forth to palliate his removing and to the intent that none of the Country should descrie his Army he sent fourescore Numidian horsemen to go before him commanding them to over-run the Country by which his Army should passe and those they overtooke to bring back and if they met with any they should kill them to the intent they should be taken by the Inhabitants for Robbers and Theeves and not men of Warre the fame of these Robbers came to the eares of the Governour of Tarrent who smally regarded it because he thought Haniball was sick and his Army so farre a distance from the Town He intended the next morne to send forth some men of Armes to drive back those Robbers the same night removed Haniball his Army to Tarrent having Philomenes with him for his guide being arrived neere the Towne it was appointed that Philomenes according to his custome should enter the Towne with a number of armed men he having awaked the Porter telling him hee had brought a mighty Bore which hee had slaine at the first call hee opened the Gates and two young men of his companions first went in then entred hee and other his servants plucking in the great Bore the Porter being glaring at his greatnesse Philomenes slue him with his Bore-speare and incontinent let in thirty other Souldiers armed who slue the other Watchmen at the same Port and without noyse let in the rest of the Army and secretly brought them into the Market-place where they abode without noyse in the meane time Haniball with a sufficient strength arrived at another Port and first having made a great fire afarre off which was the signe betwixt him and Nico who abode with other his accomplices ready within the Towne looking for his comming which so soone as Nico perceived hee answered him with another fire notice being taken on both sides the fire was put out and Haniball approacht to the Gates Nico also within the Citie came to the Ports guard and slue all the Watch and opened the Ports so as Haniball with his Army entred his Horse were commanded to remaine in Batalia without hee being arrived in the Market-place with Philomenes and his other company then had hee two thousand French-men which hee divided into three parts and sent them to divers parts of the City the residue he commanded to keepe the most accustomed streetes of the Towne and to slay the Roman Souldiers the Alarme being given they saw there was no way but death or yeelding wherefore the greatest number fled to a Castle in the Towne which was of great strength and upon all advantages they might Sallyed out into the Towne Wherefore Haniball had another Project at his fingers ends he caused his Men to raise a Wall to hemme them in and dreaming they would issue out of the Castle to hinder the worke hee placed an ambush in a secret and convenient place which should cut them off and disable them from anoying the Towne And accordingly it hapned for the worke-folkes gave suddenly back at their approch which heartened them to go on the further so as the Ambushment surprized the greatest part of them but suddenly there came Ships of Warre from Metapontus and entred the Haven and relieved the Castle and kept all provision from the Towne so as the Towne was like to indure want before their Enemies hee presently summoned a Councell it was found there was no way to hinder those Shippes but by a greater force of Shipping and that no shipping could enter the mouth of the Haven because they had fortified against them whereupon hee devised to hale their Shippes out of a creeke and by Engines and Wheeles to draw them thorow the spacious streetes and so convey them into the Haven which hee performed and made gimselfe Master both of Towne and Castle I have beene the more tedious in relating this Project because in it there is nothing but is of great consequence to be observed by a Souldier CHAP. CCXXX The Policie of Xenophon in electing of Hostages SEuthes having taken divers Hostages of the Thynes which were old and unserviceable men not respected of them which caused the Thynes not to regard their promise nor Hostages but layed a Camizado to take Seuthes and Xenophon and to destroy the Army the Thynes dâ—â—ming those Hostages would have made Seuthes Army secure Wherefore they tooke opportunity of the night to fall upon their Guards and to fire their quarters but being manfully repulsed they besought afterwards to bee taken into favour againe Sayes Xenophon I would counsell the Seuthes hereafter in taking Hostages to take of the principallest and those that were ablest to doe you most harme and to leave the old men at home lest you be gulled in the like kind CHAP. CCXXXI A Policie used by Xenophon whereby he deluded his Enemy with his small Army causing them to thinke his Army to bee of a mighty strength which made them to leave their Siege and steale away by night THe Arcadians being besieged by the Thracians Xenophon intending to releeve them His Army being very weake hee commanded his Horsemen to disperse themselves and to set fire upon all things that were combustible as they went forwards that by the multiplying of flames the Enemy might thinke their Army was of great strength The Foot performed the like upon every Hill that might bee descryed to the Enemies quarters so that the whole Countrey seemed on a light fire and the Army to bee of a wonderfull extent and Potencie these fires were in the Evening commanded to be put out this did so amaze the Thracians that they verily thought the lights being out that Xenophon and his Army did march towards them and would suddenly fall upon their quarters this feare made them leave their Siege and abandon the place so they stole away in the night out of their quarters without the losse of any man to the
Sutlers belonging to every Company may march with their Waggons between the Companies whereby they may the sooner be relieved with meat and drink which otherwise they cannot come unto but once a day but this must be when there is no fear of the enemy It is requisite to have good Guides for direction of the best and safest way Likewise those Horse-men that are commanded to bee Vant-currers for the discovering of the enemy their dutie is also to view the passages and to take notice of the breadth of every straight way the Quarter-Masters are to doe the same and to give intelligence that the Army may march accordingly As for example suppose the way bee eighteene foote broad the Armie must bee commanded to march six men in Rank or Brest because every Foot-man will have three foot in breadth between File and File and six foot at the least between Rank and Rank so that twentie foure foot in breadth and foure Miles in length will but containe an Army marching of three or foure and twenty thousand When an Army is constrained to march thus in length the straight passages hindring from marching in divisions may prove very dangerous if extraordinary intelligence bee not hourely had of the enemies proceedings for should an enemy watch his opportunity to fall on the Front Flank or Rear of the Armie there could bee very little help expected for the Front were not able to succour the Rear no more than the Reare could the Front and being charged upon the Flank there could bee but a poor resistance made But the best and safest way in such an unexpected danger is either to draw as many Companies as may possibly bee gotten into such closes of ground as shall bee strongly fenced and there order them in Battalia where they shall bee able to make a good resistance untill the residue of the Army provides for its safety Or otherwise if the enemy chargeth upon any of the sides then it is best to file all the Musketires upon that Flank the enemy strives to charge so that every Souldier shall give fire over the hedge as hee marches and so passe along But if an enemy should chance to break into the high-way with their Horses bee it in the Front or Reare of the Army there is no way but to barricado up the way with Waggons or fell trees crosse the way or by fyring a great quantitie of feare-wood to hinder the enemies execution untill the Army be drawn out of the way into the fields where they may so order themselves that the enemy cannot possibly rout them if a few Troops should bee assaulted by the enemies Horse in their March the dimond Battell or the crosse Battell is of greatest strength otherwise if an Army opposeth another Army upon the plaines then a Battell so framed that most hands may be brought to fight and succours to releeve them is best alwayes having the advantage of Winde and Sunne with Woods Rocks Rivers Ponds or great Ditches either on Flanck or Reare or both It is a thing unsufferable for souldiers to ramble from their Colours to laze or pillage but to march orderly in their rancks for the Provost-Marshall by his Commission and authority ought to hang up such fellowes the next bough they come at for the whole Army to see and be warned by as they shall passe by them in their March for the inconveniences are many and dangerous to an Army The enemy by taking them gaineth intelligence of the state of the Army besides the mischiefe which such fellowes doe commit in robbing and pilfering whereby a friend-people will bee incenst and ready to be treache rous to an Army seeing themselves abused and bereft of their goods It is policy if an Army marches in an enemies countrey to ruine destroy and burne whatsoever may be advantagious to the enemies livelyhood providing alwayes sufficiently for your owne Army If there should be any suspition that the enemy strives to gaine some places of advantage to hinder the march it is convenientest to send speedily certaine Horse-Troopes likewise Shot and Pikes upon Bedees in manner of Dragons or tenne or twelve men in a waggon hurry them speedily to prevent the enemy from fortifying themselves in such places of advantage The Lord Montpezat in his march from Fossar was put to a dangerous plunge he being constrained to take his way through the Valley Pratgella the entrance into which was most difficult in regard the Hilles and Mountaines were held and possest with the enemy whereby hee lost divers of his men wherefore hee sent certaine Forces under the conduct of Monsieur Dambres to get the higher ground and force his enemy to a retreat which they did excellently performe by which policy hee marcht safe without the losse of a man The wedge-Battell is the absolutest forme to enter a straight for the Shot comes so fluent and peircing that the enemy cannot possibly resist unlesse the passage be Barricadoed up If any Enemy be farre stronger both in Foote and Horse then thy Army is provide that he assaults thee not on every side but be sure of some place of safeguard as Woods Bogges or Rivers for if the enemy be not three times as strong as thy Army is he shall shew himselfe of very poore judgement to divide his Army and weaken it for to assault thee in divers places which may purchase his owne overthrow Machiavill in his Art of Warre adviseth Generalls to accustome their souldiers to march and in marching to joyne in Battalia ready for fight and so draw out into a march againe then to face about into the Reare and draw up into Battalia againe the like also to performe on either Flanck so that upon all occasions suddenly they might understand to order themselves and range themselves into any forme of Battell but where there is no place of safeguard or advantage the quadrate forme of imbatttelling is safest for he durst not devide his forces to charge that kinde of forme upon all sides It were very commendable and very advantagious to the strengthning of our kingdome if every Lord Lieutenant might draw all the forces of the shire together unto some convenient place in the midst of it taking a convenient time of the yeere that neither Hay-time nor Harvest may hinder wheresuch troops may be drawn into all formes of Battell and learne to understand all advantages in march If an Army marches through the enemies land or farre from the water so that provision may not be conveyed by shipping the best way is to drive after the Army herdes of Beeves and Sheepe which being alive cannot much cumber the Army all other provision is to be conveyed by Waggon A Generall must be very vigilant and circumspect in his march to discover all Ambushes by which he may two wayes incurre danger viz. either by marching into them or through the enemies policy trained into them unawares For the avoyding of the first perill as before
proper to be used in the Champion where there is no refuge either naturall or artificiall the enemy exceeding in strength both in Horse and Foot THE figure of the Battell following is invented for the safe retire of the Shot being over-powred and repulsed by the Horsemen of the enemy or otherwise who may at eight severall places retire into these Squadrons which stand in the proportion of a Fortresse There are thirty seven Maniples of Shot orderly plac'd the distance betwixt each are three paces in every Maniple are contained 130. Shot which amounts to in grosse 4810. the residue being 190. are equally plac'd to attend the Ordnance being 23. at each Platforme so there is only six remaines to be imployed upon messages or to guard the Powder These Maniples or Battalia's of Shot are Impaled with the Pikes which are thus ordered each Flanke hath 850. also the Front and Reare takes up 800. each corner takes up 425. these amount to 5000. Pikes being ordered ten deep in file In either corner of this Battell are two spaces for the Shot to sally out upon the enemy and to retreate in againe for their safety The Ordnance being discharged upon the enemies Troopes are to be drawne in at these spaces and plac'd within the Reare of the Pikes so that when the enemy chargeth the Pikes may close themselves into one maine Square by causing the Flanks to March up to the corners of the Squares which as occasion shall offer may disclose againe and let out the Shot to skirmish with the enemy The Squares of Pikes at each corner doth much strengthen the Battell especially if the enemy chargeth it on Front and Flanke at once it is all in all to strengthen the corners of any Battell whatsoever for in the corners lyes all the weaknesse Moreover if the enemy chargeth upon two sides at once yet those passages furthest from them may have Shot sally out and give fire upon them and safely retrait in againe There is no wise Generall will adventure to charge such a Battell as this is upon all foure sides at once except his Army were foure times stronger in men and horse If need be Shot may be drawne continually round under the Pikes which may give fire upon the enemy and so fall in againe and be continually releeved CHAP. XV. A fourth figure of Imbattelling an Army consisting of twenty thousand Foot and two thousand Horse IN Marshalling this Battell this course is to bee observed the Pikes consisting of 4000. must be ranged into eight Battalia's each Battalia hath 460. Pikes viz. 46 in ranke and 10. deep in file which amounts to in the whole summe 3680. so there remains 320. Pikes of the 4000. which are thus disposed of upon the right Sleeve in the Front is 120 Pikes which are either to guard the Ordnance or to assist the Horse as occasion shall serve likewise there is as many on the left Sleeve to be imployed as the former in the Reare are 80. more plac'd for the guarding of the Ordnance as you may see at each Platforme 40. In the next place the foure thousand Shot are thus to bee Marshalled each Flanke of the Pikes hath six hundred twenty foure Shot ranged eight in depth and seventy eight in Ranke or Brest that is one thousand two hundred forty eight upon both Sleeves for from the Front of the Pikes to the Reare is fifty two paces and the spaces or distances betwixt each Battalia is five paces and the three Battalia's occupieth forty two paces of ground viz. in each Battalia fourteene paces so that every souldier occupieth seven foot of ground betwixt Ranke and Ranke which makes fifty two paces In the next place there is thirty six Squadrons of Shot each Squadron containing seventy men in the Front there are twenty one Squadrons and in the Reare fifteene the whole number amounts unto two thousand five hundred and twenty Shot so their remaines still three hundred and twenty Shot of which are plac'd on each Sleeve or Wing above in the Front by the Pikes one hundred and twenty these are to joyne with those Squadrons of Pikes that attend the Ordnance and upon all occasions they may be drawne out to assist the Horse if the enemy should over-powre them also in the Reare each Platforme of Ordnance hath forty Shot to aide the Pikes for the securing of the same The two hundred Horse are plac'd upon each Flanke in three severall Battalia's the first Battell consists of three hundred the second being Curassiers hath foure hundred the third being Carbines hath as the first had three hundred so that in all there is two thousand the Horse are to charge the enemies Horse and being put to retreat by them those loose Shot and Pikes are to be in a readinesse to give fire upon them which being disordered by them the Horse are immediatly to recharge them if the enemy be still to strong then let the foure hundred Curassiers being fortified on each Flanke with the Harquebuziers and Carbines charge them all on brest these Horses being sufficiently lined with shot and in the meane time the Squadrons of Shot must disband themselves and give fire upon the enemy and if need be those Squadrons in the Reare may easily releeve them in the Front through those passages of the Pikes If all resistance be to no purpose but the Shot must retreat into those spaces and so to order themselves in the void space in the midst of the Battalions of the Pikes then after their retreat the Battalia's must close themselves making a firme Front every way and the Impalement or Wings of Shot must be drawne round under the Pikes which being so drawne will make just foure rankes they must discharge upon their knees and so safeguard themselves The Horse must secure themselves on the Flanks or in the Reare So soone as the enemy is driven to retreat then the Pikes are to open their divisions and let out the Shot to assaile them in the same manner as before This forme of Imbattelling hath beene used in former times and questionlesse it may be very prevalent in two necessities as in the night when a Generall knowes not in what kinde or manner the enemy will assaile him or if his Army should be weake in Horse and his Army should be suddenly set upon by them upon some spatious ground which should be advantagious for the enemies Horse to surprise them then this forme of Imbattelling may be very defensive From this forme of Imbattelling as also from all other if the Generall sees reason he may alter it into what order he pleaseth this very subject deserves a discourse by it selfe the which if I should here treat of it would be too tedious but any ingenious Souldier at the first view will conceive how to transmute any Battell decyphered into any other forme the condition of the Battell will best admit and thus much for this CHAP. XVI A fifth way of Imbattelling an
and how to bring home your own men in safety and if a fore game cannot possibly be attained then the wise Gamesters seek by policie to disband their men so that they may bee hit which in the winding up many times turns the wheel of Fortune so that hee that had lost in all likelyhood hath now gained an after-game beyond releefe for as in this game there are two principall things which attend the winner viz. Cunning in handling his Dice and Judgment in placing his men so it is in a well fought Battell to atchieve the victory For I must compare Shot to the Dice which by their cunning and quick discharge and the multiplicitie of volleys that one side gives more than the other is for the most part a principall cause of victory Wherefore where most Shot are or may bee brought to fight there is the most likelyhood of successe What wonderfull effects hath Shot wrought by discovering of suspected places and by laying of Ambushcadoes there being two kinds of Ambushments as first those that are cunningly laid to endammage the enemies Battell in time of fight which are to be compounded both of Pikes and Shot and many times Horse are joyned with them These have fallen upon the Flanks or Rear of the enemies Troops and have much dismaid them Or such Ambushes as are laid in Woods Mountains Forrests Rocks Banks of Rivers Caves hollow Pits Hils deep Waies and the like these are usually either Muskets or Fire-locks and are fittest for that service because their quicknesse and expedition giveth them advantage to assail their enemies although the ground be never so unequall And lastly for the stopping guarding or securing any Passage which the enemy may take for his advantage if it bee of any far distance from the Army there are none so fit as the light-armed unlesse you have some Troops of Dragones for they may soon travell a long way riding behind the Horsemen which most usually are sent with them for their succour these may with far more speed and ease be conveyed than the Pikes in regard their Armes are more cumbersome and cannot but make great noise by their clattering whereby the designe may be discovered Wherefore let us conclude that Shot are the principall members as the armes are to the body of an Army if they bee wisely and advantagiously plac'd and made use of And to conclude this Chapter with the advice of Monsieur la Noüe those Battels saith he that dare stand the third charge of the enemy they shall never need to fear the rest for he that first flieth is surest to perish for then every cowardly Curre will run after and worrye a whole flock of Sheep which so long as they face him and keep their standings dares do nought but bark at them And as formerly I have said that at the famous Battell of Dreux a Battalia of valiant Switzers which stood to their tackling after all the rest of their Army was routed taking their opportunitie charged their enemy and gained the victory And thus much concerning this subject of the use and commodity of Maniples of Shot the next Chapter shall more largely treat of all kinds of Battels with such observations as the famous Generals in former ages observed as most advantagious CHAP. XXVI Divers and severall Observations of the ancient Grecians in framing of Battels with severall uses and circumstances belonging to them as also the order and rules by going paces to know any seat or peece of ground how to imbattell either Horse or Foot thereon according to the proportion thereof I Having formerly treated of divers things considerable both before and after Battell and having described both by Word and Figure severall Formes In this Chapter I intend to discourse more fully of the Nature of framing of Battels with severall uses and circumstances belonging unto them And by the way I shall touch such kind of Battels as the Ancients did frame for advantage to oppose one the other And although in this later age experience hath found out stranger weapons than former ages were acquainted with as the Musket and great Ordnance and wee have rejected the ancient Bowes and Bils whose forme to imbattell them was far different from ours yet wee must retain their policie in distinguishing which form of Battell is most prevalent to oppose any kind of Figure that shall be by the enemy marshalled against us Wherefore first take speciall observation that there is no kind of imbattelling but upon some speciall occasion may bee suddenly reduc'd and framed into another forme and so haply from one forme into divers Now the learned Generall is not to seek his principall skill when hee should make use of it and as before I have said if I should discourse of these severall wayes of reducing one forme into another it would deserve a Treatise by it selfe Wherefore let us be content to be as briefe as the subject shall permit in discoursing of the advantages one kind of forme of Imbattelling may have of another Now both reason and experience tels us that if a Battell be so framed that it may over-Front the enemies there is great advantage in it as Aelian in his Tacticks doth plainly shew and this may bee performed two wayes especially as first if the breadth of the formost or main Battell extends its Wings wider than the enemies then it is easie either for the body of the main Battell to retrait orderly and the two Wings to stand firme whereby the enemy may bee intrapt unawares or otherwise the Wings advancing forward and this likewise may be two wayes performed either by having the outmost Maniples of the Wings double the depth in File to the Body which being advanc'd forwards towards the Flanks of the enemy there will bee ten Ranks before the Body which may charge the enemy upon the Flanks or else being of an even depth with the Body the File-leader of the outmost File of each Wing is to advance a distance before the File-leader of the second File and so the second before third and the like of the rest of the Files inwards towards the Body of the Battell which causeth them to stand in apt form to charge the enemies Flanks So that reason shewes the charging an enemy in Front and Flank is ods two to one A second ods the Grecians found out by framing their Battel called Hyperkerasis and this only differs from the former in that they advance forwards only but one Wing which chargeth the enemy upon the Flank and this is thus performed in a double respect either because there is a want of men to extend the Front of the Battell in such breadth as that they may over-Front them on both the Wings or haply the situation will not permit them But this questionlesse is a great advantage and ought not to be neglected if it possibly may be put in execution These two are the only forms for advantage