resolved he therefore changed the left Wing of his Army for his right which he had composed of the strongest and ablest Men and encountered with the Enemies Army a-thwart At last he routed the Africans and easily forced the Spaniards who in the Retreat stood still as Lookers on to surrender themselves 2. Philip King of Macedo fighting against the Illyrians saw that the Front of the Enemies Army was very close together and composed of the choicest men taken out of the whole Army which caused the sides to be but weak he therefore placed his best and stoutest Men in his right Wing and with them assaulted the left of the Enemies Army routed and disordered them and got the Victory 3. When Permenes the Theban Captain took notice of the Persian Army that their strongest Troops were in their right Wing he drew up his Men in the same manner he appointed all his Horse and the ablest of all his Foot to be in the right Wing and opposed the weakest of his against the strongest of the Persians and commanded them that at the first Charge they should save themselves by Flight and retreat into the Woods and rocky Places By this means he disappointed the strength of the Enemies Army and with the best part of his Troops in the right Wing he encompassed about the Persians and overthrew them 4. When P. Cornelius Scipio who was afterwards firnamed Africanus made War against Asdrubal the Carthaginian General in Spain he led out his Army for several days so ordered in Battel that the Body or Battalion in the middle was composed of his strongest Men but when the Enemy also came forth constantly disposed in the same manner Scipio that very day that he had appointed to fight changed the Order of his Battel and placed his stoutest Souldiers namely his Roman Legions in the Wings and his Men who were slenderly armed in the middle but something behind the rest By this means he assaulted with his two Wings that were strongest and appearing like a half Moon the weakest part of the Enemies Army and easily routed them 5. Metellus in that Battel wherein he overcame Herculeius in Spain when he understood that his Enemies Troops that were esteemed the stoutest were placed in the middle caused his Battalion that was opposite to draw back that they might not come to fight with the Enemy untill their Wings were routed and their main Body enclosed in on both sides 6. Artaxerxes marching against the Grecians who were entred into Persia because he exceeded them in number of Men he stretched out his Army farther than the Enemies and placed his Horse in the Van and such as were lightly armed in the Wings and thus he marched softly on purpose with his middle Battalion that he might encompass them which when he had done he cut them all in pieces 7. Hannibal observed a contrary order in the Battel of Cannae for he caused the middle Battalion to advance before and kept back the Wings by this means he overpower'd their Men at the first Charge For this same General caused his Souldiers to fight close together and the Wings to wind about in the manner of a Half-Moon and to march on at his Command so that when the Enemy was earnest in the pursuit he enclosed them into the middle of his Army fell upon them and cut them in pieces on all sides for his Souldiers were well acquainted with this manner of fighting after a long experience None but such Souldiers as are well skill'd and able to answer to every thing can possibly perform and observe this kind of Warfare 8. Livius Salinator and Claudius Nero when in the second Punick War Hasdrubal was unwilling to fight and therefore had drawn up his Army upon a stony Hill behind a Vineyard led their Forces up on all sides surrounded him on every hand and without shelter assaulted and overcame him 9. When Hannibal had been in many Battels overpower'd by Claudius Marcellus at last in his Marches he so placed his Camp that he had the Assistance and Defence either of some Hill or Marsh Ground or some other convenient place and did draw up his Army in such a manner that when the Romans had the Advantage he could retreat with them into his Fortifications with little or no loss and when they were beaten it was in his power and choice to pursue them 10. Xanthippus the Lacedaemonian General in Africa against M. Attilius Regulus placed his Men slenderly armed in the Van and the Strength of his Army next to second them commanding his Auxiliary Troops assoon as they had cast their Darts to give Ground to the Enemy and when they were retreated within their own Ranks to run immediately to the sides and to charge from both Wings the Enemy that was at handy Blows with the Body of their Army and to surround them in 11. Sertorius practiced the same thing in Spain when he was fighting against Pompei 12. Cleandridas the Lacedaemonian General against the Lucani drew up his Men close together that they might appear but a small Body and more contemptible to the Enemy but when the Battel was begun he caused his Men to open and having encompassed in the Enemy he routed them 13. When Gastron the Lacedemonian went to succour the Aegyptians against the Persians and understood that his Grecian Troops were stoutest Souldiers and most feared of the Persians he caused them to change their Arms and to march in the Van and when they encountered with the Persians with equal Advantage he sent a Party of Aegyptians to second them when the Persians who were fighting with those Grecians whom they thought to be Aegyptians perceived the coming in of the Multitude whom they esteemed to be also Grecians they run away for fear 14. Cn. Pompcius in Albania because the Enemy was powerful in Horse and numbers of Men commanded his Souldiers to cover their Head pieces in a streight place near a Hill for fear they should be discovered by their shining in the Sun and he commanded his Horse-men to go down into the Plain and cover the Foot and at the first Onset of the Enemy to give back till they were returned to the Foot and then to place themselves in the Wings which being accordingly performed the Roman Army arose encounter'd with those that were unadvisedly got in so far who meeting with an unexpected Resistance were cut all in pieces 15. M. Antonius General against the Parthians commanded his Men to stop when an innumerable company of Arrows were discharged upon them and to cover themselves over with their Targets upon which when the Arrows fell did no Injury to the Souldiers and the Enemy was thereby exhausted 16. When Hannibal encounter'd with Scipio in Africa because he had an Army composed of Carthaginians and Auxiliary Troops some being come from divers Countries and from Italy also behind fourscore Elephants which he caused to march before his Army to disorder the Roman Ranks he placed
double Phalanx or Body of Pikemen to charge in the middle surrounded with Souldiers lightly armed and on both Wings the Macedonian Horse Against this Order the Roman General divided his Army into three great Bodies with some small Companies drawn up in the form of a Wedge between them he placed his Souldiers lightly armed when he perceived that this did not profit him he resolved to give Ground that by this means he might draw the Enemy into stony and broken places which he had chosen on purpose But the Macedonians mistrusting the Retreat of the Romans to be out of Design marched forward with their Body of Pikes in good order then he commanded his Horse to ride undiscover'd out of sight of the Macedonian Phalanx and on the left hand of them and to assault them with full speed that he might by the Furiousness of the Charge and the goodness of their Army break and turn back the Enemies Pikes which accordingly succeeded so well that these Weapons were render'd useless to the Macedonians so that they were forced to turn their Backs and fly 21. When Pyrrhus King of Epirus assisted those of Tarentum near Asculum according to the Saying of Homer which teacheth to place the most Souldiers in the middle of a Battel he appointed the Samnites and his own Country-men to be in the right Wing in the left the Brutii and Lucani together with the Salentini but in the middle he drew up the Tarentini and ordered his Horse and Elephants to stand as a Reserve But the Roman Consuls in opposition to him placed their Horse excellently well in the Wings the Legions in the Van and Rear and amongst them they mixed their Auxiliary Troops In each Army it is certain there was forty thousand men Pyrrhus lost half his Army and the Romans about five thousand 22. When Cn. Pompeius encounter'd with C. Caesar in the Fields of Pharsalia he divided his Army into three Bodies and every Body had ten Ranks in Latitude the strongest Legions according to their Valour he placed in the Wings and between them in the open spaces he fill'd up with the new rais'd Troops in the right Wing he ordered only six hundred Horse because of the River Enipeus that overflowing its Banks had made Holes and Trenches on that side of the Country The rest of his Horse he drew up in the left Wing with all his Auxiliaries that he might encompass in on that side Caesar's Army Against this Array Julius Caesar appeared with three Bodies of an Army having put his Legions in the Front and that he might not be enclosed in he had on his left side a marsh Ground in the right Wing he placed his Horse mingled with the nimblest of his Foot-men who were used to fight with the Horse behind them he drew up some Companies of Foot to second them and to be employed on sudden Occasions but the right Wing he caused to turn winding that he might better receive the Onset of Pompey's Horse which Order contributed very much to the getting the Victory for when Pompey's Horse were broken in upon them they sallied out unexpectedly turned them aside and exposed them to the Fury of Caesar's Foot 23. The Emperour Caesar Germanicus when the Catti a People of Germany fled into their Forests and assaulted the Romans only with their Horse commanded his Horsemen assoon as they were come to the Baggage to leap from their Horses and to fight on foot By this means he brought to pass that in every place he obtain'd the Victory not without Wonder 24. C. Duillius seeing that the heaviness of his Ships suffered the Carthaginian Navy easily to avoid and pass by them because of their Nimbleness and Lightness and that the Courage and Valour of his Men profited him nothing invented the iron Grapples which assoon as it had taken hold of an Enemies Ship there was a Bridge cast over and the Roman Souldiers encounter'd with them in their own Vessels and cut them in pieces CHAP. IV. Of disordering an Enemies Army Example 1. WHen Papyrius sirnamed Cursor the Consul's Son saw that he encounter'd with the obstinate Samnites with equal Advantage he commanded Spurius Naucius privately and unknown to his own Men to take with him a few Servants and Mule-drivers riding on their Mules with Branches of Trees drawn on the ground in their hands and to run down a Hill which was over against them with great noise which assoon as he perceived he cried out to his Men That his victorious Partner was come to his Assistance and that now they should prevent him and get to themselves the Honour of the day By this means the Romans were filled with Confidence and Resolution and furiously assaulted the Enemy and put them all to flight 2. F. Rutilius sirnamed Maximus being the fourth time Consul in the Country of the Samnites having tried all means to break through the Enemies Battel at last he drew off all his Pikemen from the Ranks and sent them about with his Lieutenant General Scipio commanding him to take a Hill from whence they might break in upon the Backs of their Enemies which being done accordingly the Romans took Courage and the Samnites were frighted and seeking to fly they were cut in pieces 3. When Minutius Rufus was General against the Scordisci and the Daci being likely to be overcharged by the numbers of their Men that exceeded his sent his Brother with a few Horse-men together with all his Trumpeters and commanded them that assoon as the Battel was begun they should suddenly shew themselves in divers places with their Trumpets sounding in such places of the Mountains as might return and encrease the Eccho This Appearance of a vast Multitude put such a Terror into the Enemies that they turned their Backs and fled 4. Attilius Glabrio Consul marching against the Army of Antiochus which was coming into Achaia through the Streights of Thermopylae had been stop'd by the Enemy with confiderable loss because of the disadvantage of the place of Battel had he not sent round about M. Porcius Cato who at that time being made a Collonel by the People of Rome was in the Army He sent him with a Party to assault the Aetolians who held the Top of Mount Callidromus with a Guard so that on a sudden he appeared behind the King's Camp upon a high Hill which so terrified the Army of Antiochus that they suffered the Romans to break in upon them on all sides they fled and left their Camp to their Enemies Pleasure 5. C. Sulpitius Petreius the Consul warring against the Gauls commanded his Mule-keepers to go privately into the next Mountains and from thence assoon as the Fight was begun to shew themselves to the Armies riding as so many Horsemen This Sight made the Enemy believe that some Assistance was come to the Roman Army which caus'd them to yield the Victory when they had almost obtain'd it 6. When Marius was to give Battel the next day to the
neighbouring Wood in the Night so that in the Front they placed the Spaniards lightly armed and fittest for a sudden Surprise and Skirmish next to them such as carried Bucklers and in the Rear the Horsemen and that the neighing of the Horses might not discover the Design he commanded them to rest and keep silence untill the third hour of the day But when Pompey's Souldiers were upon their return loaden with Fodder and secure and that such as kept the Guards were invited by the Quietness of the Enemy to march out and seek also for Forrage first the Spaniards sallied out and fell furiously as the manner of their Nation was upon such as were wandring up and down wounding and cutting them when they least expected it And before Pompey could resist and stop them the Party armed with Bucklers broke out of the Wood and routed such as were rallying together in some order as they were flying the Horsemen were sent out to pursue and slay them all that space that was between them and the Roman Camp and there was care taken that none should escape for the other two hundred and fifty Horsemen being sent galloping before by a nearer way returned and met such as were flying first before they could come to Pompey's Camp Assoon as Pompey understood it he sent out a Legion commanded by Laelius to succour his Men at whose approach the Horsemen drew up on the right hand as if they had given place afterwards they fell by this means upon the back of the Legion at the same time when such as pursued after the Forragers met with it thus was this poor Legion destroyed between two Parties of the Enemy and when Pompey led out his whole Army to assist and relieve it Sertorius also appeared with his Army on the top of the Hills ready for the encounter and hindered Pompey from proceeding farther so that besides a two-fold loss procured by the same Policy he stop'd and made him a Spectator of the Defeat and Destruction of his Men. This was the first Fight between Sertorius and Pompey Ten thousand of Pompey's Army were slain and all their Carriages were lost saith Livius 32. Pompey in Spain having appointed before such as should rise out of a secret place to give the assault pretended that he was afraid and by that means led the pursuing Enemy into difficult places afterwards when he saw his time he set upon them before and on each side and cut them all in pieces and their Captain Perpenna he took Prisoner 33. When the same Pompey was General in Armenia against Mithridates who was the strongest in Horse he hid three thousand lightly armed with five hundred Horsemen in the night in Bushes which were between the two Camps The next Morning betimes he sent out his Horsemen as far as the Enemies Guards so drawn up in Battalia that when he should begin to fight with all the Enemies Cavalry they should in good order give back by degrees untill such time as they might afford time for the Ambuscado to rise behind who were there on purpose All which happening according to his desire with those Troops that seem'd to retreat he cut in pieces the middle Battalion of his Enemy which was out of order and with his Footmen that enter'd Pell-mell he kill'd their Horse so that in that Battel he ruin'd the King's greatest Trust which he repos'd in his Horsemen 34. M. Crassus in the War against the Fugitives near the Mountain Cathena fortified two Camps near that of the Enemies but in the Night chang'd the Souldiers of the one and received them into the other leaving still the General 's Tent in the greatest Camp the better to deceive the enemy he himself drew out all his Forces and made a halt at the foot of the said Mountain and having divided his Cavalry commanded L. Quintius with one part to face Spartacus but not to engage in a Fight with him with the other part of the Cavalry he encounter'd with the Gauls and Germans that were of the Faction of Castus and Gannicus but ordered them to draw them by degrees by a dissembled Fight to the place where he himself stood ready in Battel whom when the barbarous People followed the Cavalry fell into the Wings and suddenly the Roman Army open'd and fell on with a Shout so that thirty five thousand Souldiers were there destroyed with their Commanders as Livius writes five Roman Eagles were recovered six and twenty Colours with much Spoils were taken and amongst them five bundle of Rods with Axes 35. C. Cassius General in Syria against the Parths put his Cavalry forth in the Van but hid his Infantry behind in difficult and steep places afterwards when the Cavalry began to retreat and to save it self by known ways he drew the Parthian Army into the Ambush that was provided for them and cut them in pieces 36. When the Parthians and Labienus were become proud of their Successes and Victories Ventidius the Roman General by keeping in his Army together in their Camp drew them upon him and when he found them in a disadvantageous Post he fell upon them in a Sally and so overthrew them that they forsook Labienus and departed out of the Roman Territories 37. The same Ventidius being General against the Parthians commanded by Pharnastanes and having with him but a small number of Souldiers perceived that the enemies grew more bold because they exceeded them in number therefore he posted at one side of his Camp in a dark Valley eighteen Companies and behind the Foot he drew up his Cavalry then he sent a very few Souldiers to attack the enemy who pretending to fly drew the Parthians who greedily pursued after them beyond the place where the Ambush lay which rising at that instant kill'd the Parthian General Pharnastanes and put the Pursuers to flight 38. C. Caesar when his Camp and that of Afranius stood in two Plains one against another and that it concern'd either of them to be Masters of the neighbouring Hills found it difficult to get them because of the steep Rocks before him he therefore began to retreat back as if he would return to the River Herda The want of Necessaries persuaded Afranius that this was his Purpose but after a little while he took a small compass about to get the Command of the Hills which when the Army of Afranius perceiv'd they were much troubled as if their Camp had been taken they therefore in all haste ran towards those Hills Caesar foreseeing this partly with his Foot which he sent to meet them and partly with his Horse which he appointed to fall upon their Backs he overthrew them 39. Antonius at a City of Italy understanding that the Conful Pansa was come placed an Ambush in the Woods near the Aemilian way assaulted his Troops and put them to flight and gave him such a mortal Wound that he died a few days after 40. King Juba in Africa in the Civil War
being engaged in a Fight against the Vejentes when the Albani forsook the Roman Army and withdrew to the neighbouring Hills and that the Romans were much discouraged he cried out to his Souldiers that the Albani were departed by his Command to encompass the Enemies about which Policy terrified the Vejentes encouraged the Romans and when the Victory was almost lost he recover'd it by this cunning Lye 2. When L. Sylla was in the middle of a Battel and that a chief Commander of his Army withdrew to the Enemy with a considerable Party of Horse declared to his Souldiers that what was done was by his Order in so saying the prevented the Wonder and Trouble of his Men and fill'd them with hopes of some benefit that would follow that Contrivance and Policy 3. The same Sylla when his Auxiliary Troops which were sent by him were surrounded by the Enemy and overthrown fearing that this Loss would terrifie his whole Army he declared to them that these Auxiliaries who had a purpose to forsake him were by him brought in a difficult place purposely to punish them Thus with a pretence of Revenge he covered and concealed an apparent Loss and confirmed and satisfied the Courages of his other Souldiers by this Persuasion 4. Scipio when the Ambassadours of Syphax came to him with this Message from their King That he should not out of Confidence upon his Assistance and Confederacy pass over from Sicily into Africa fearing lest his Souldiers should be discourag'd by the Denial of this foreign help sent hastily the Ambassadours away and spread abroad the Rumour That Syphax of his own Accord had sent for him over 5. Q. Sertorius when he was in the middle of a Fight kill'd a Souldier with his Sword that came to him with the News that Herculeius his Lieutenant was slain that he might not give notice of that loss to others and discourage his Men that were yet fighting 6. Alcibiades the Athenian General when he was beset in a Fight by the Abydeni and on a sudden saw a Messenger running to him with sad News forbad him to deliver his Message openly afterwards being privately questioned by Pharnabazus the Kings Vice-roy he told him that his Fleet was in danger to be taken by the Enemy which concealing from both Enemies and his Souldiers he ended the Battel and immediately after had his Army to free the Fleet from danger and relieve his Men in distress 7. When Hannibal was come into Italy three thousand of the Carpetani a People of Spain forsook his Army and that the rest might not follow their bad example he publish'd immediately abroad That he had sent them away and to verifie this Saying he dispatch'd away a few home to their Houses who were of no great Use in his Army 8. L. Lucullus seeing the Macedonian Cavalry who were come to his Assistance on a sudden to run away to the Enemy commanded the Trumpets to sound a Charge and sent Troops to follow and second them they thinking that the Battel was begun let fly their Darts at the cowardly Macedonians who seeing that they could not be admitted by the Enemy and that their own Party followed them close at the Heels were necessitated in good order to turn and encounter with the Enemy 9. Dutames the Persian General against Autophradates in Cappadocia finding that some of his Cavalry were ready to depart to the Enemy commanded all the rest to accompany him and follow the Run-aways whom when he had overtaken he praised them highly because they had gone before him to meet the Enemy so cheerfully he exhorted them therefore to assault the Enemy with Courage Shame made the Run-aways to repent and to alter their purpose which they conceived was not discovered 10. T. Quintius sirnamed Capitolinus the Consul when the Romans were retreating told them That in the other Wing the Enemies were fled by this Lye he confirmed the Courage of his Souldiers and got the Victory 11. Cn. Manlius fighting against the Hetrusci when his Partner Fabius was wounded in the left Wing which he commanded and that some of the Army retreated because they thought that the Conful had been kill'd met them with a Party of Horse and called out to them that his Partner was yet alive and that in the other Wing he had beaten the Enemy By this Constancy he encouraged his Souldiers and obtained the Victory 12. When Marius march'd against the Cimbri and Teutoni and that the Officers of his Army who were appointed to chuse a place for his Camp had pitch'd upon such a Place through Indiscretion that all their Water was in the Enemies Power and that his Army wanted and ask'd for Water he shewed to them the Enemies Army with his finger and told them that they must fetch it from the Enemies Camp by which Intimation he persuaded his Men to drive them immediately from thence 13. T. Labienus after the Battel of Pharsalia when Pompey's Party was overcome and he fled to Dyrrhachium related the Truth with many Lies He confess'd the Conclusion of the Battel but affirm'd the loss to be equal on both sides by a desperate Wound that Caesar had received By this Invention he confirmed such as remained of Pompey's side and made them more bold 14. When M. Cato unadvisedly landed at Ambracia in a little Boat at the same time that the Ships of his Confederates were assaulted by the Aetolians though he had no Forces with him yet he began to make sign by his Voice and Gesture by which he did seem to call and command some of his Ships to follow him By this Invention he struck a terror into the Enemies as if they were near at hand and in sight The Aetolians therefore forsook the Asfault that they might not be over-power'd by the coming in of the Roman Fleet. CHAP. X. Of restoring and renewing a Fight by Constancy and Courage Example 1. WHen Servius Tullius was a Youth in that Battel in which King Tarquinius encounter'd with the Sabins perceiving the Ensign-bearers behaved themselves slothfully and cowardly he snatch'd the Colours and cast it amongst the Enemies for the Recovery of which they fought so fiercely that with their Colours they got the Victory 2. Furius Agrippa the Consul when his Wing began to fall back took the Colours from an Ensign and cast it amongst his Enemies the Hernici and the Aequi by this means he restored the Fight again for the Romans fell on very cheerfully for the Recovery of their Colours 3. T. Quintius sirnamed Capitolinus the Consul cast a Colours amongst the Enemies the Falisci commanding his Souldiers to recover it again 4. M. Furius Camillus a Tribune of the Souldiers elected in the place of Consuls when his Army stood still in the face of the Enemy catch'd a Colours from an Ensign and march'd against the Enemies the Volsci and the Latins and made all the rest to follow for shame 5. Salvius Pelignus practis'd the same thing in the Persian
long placing them amongst the Horse commanded them to march as far as the Walls of the City In this order they accompanyed the Roman Horse when they encountred with the Enemy and did a great deal of Mischief to them chiefly to their Horses that were thereby soon disordered and obliged to leave the Victory to the Romans 30. P. Scipio in Lydia seeing the Army of Antiochus that had suffered much by the Rains that fell coutinually during a Night and a Day and that not only his Men fainted but also some of their Horses became unserviceable and their Bow-strings being wet were become useless He encouraged his Brother the next day to give them Battle though it was a Religious day which advice being followed he obtained the Victory 31. When Cato was plundering of Spain the Embassadours of the Hergeti who were confederates with the Romans came to him to beseech him to send them Help He being loath by denying assistance to alienate the minds of his Friends or by dividing his Army to weaken his Forces commanded a third part of his Army to provide themselves with Victuals and to get a Shipboard but gave them privately orders to return back again and pretend that the Wind was contrary The report of Succours that were a coming encouraged the Hergeti to defend themselves and disappointed the designs of their Enemies 32. C. Caesar knowing that Pompey had in his Army a great number of Roman Knights who by their skill in Arms would overcome his Soldiers commanded his men to aim with their Swords at their Faces and Eyes by this Policy he obliged them to turn away their Eyes and to give back 33. When the Vaccei were fighting against Sempronius Gracchus and sorely handled by his Army they enclosed themselves round with their Waggons full of their stoutest Men in Womens Apparel which made Sempronius more bold to assault them thinking them to be but Women but they charged his men so stoutly that they put them to flight 34. Eumenes Cardianus one of the Successors of Alexander being shut up in a Castle so close that he could not exercise his Horse caused their Legs to be tyed up every day at certain Hours that standing upon their Hinder Legs and their fore Feet lifted up on high their desire and endeavour to stand on their fore Feet made them yield a Sweat all about their joynts 35. M. Cato when the Country People promised him Guides to lead him and convey him if he would give them a considerable sum of Mony he freely offered it to them for he hoped when he should obtain the Victory to pay them with the Plunder of their Enemies or if it happened that they were killed he expected then to be free from his promise 36. Q. Maximus when Statilius a Noble Knight of excellent Abilities was resolved to run away to the Enemy sent for him and desired to be excused because through the envy of his fellow Soldiers he was not well acquainted with his rare Virtues He therefore gave him a Horse and Mony and sent him away who come to him afraid to be punish'd joyful of his Rewards and made him doubtless for the future a Faithful as well as a Stout Soldier 37 When King Philip understood that a certain good Warriour named Pythia hated him because having three Daughters to maintain he was Poor and could not well provide for them and the King gave him no assistance beside some warned him to take heed of him he answered What if I should have some part of my Body diseased would I not rather heal it than cut it off He sent therefore for this Pythia secretly enquired of his Estate and Condition and furnished him with Money By this means he obliged him to be both a better and more Faithful Friend and Servant than before 38. T. Runitius Crispinus after the unhappy encounter with Hannibal in which he lost his Partner Marcellus and understanding that the Conqueror had got the Seal of the slain Consul sent Letters all over Italy not to give credit to the Letters that were sealed with the Signet of Marcellus By this seasonable advice he prevented the cunning of Hannibal who endeavour'd in vain to get into his hands the Town of Salapia and other places of Italy 39. After the defeat of Cannae the Roman Courages were so abated that some Authentick Authors have left upon Record that a great many that remain'd alive put it in deliberation whether they should forsake Italy Then did P. Scipio a very young man offer Violence to him who propos'd such a thing in an Assembly and publickly declar'd that he would kill him with his own hand unless he did swear that he had a resolution never to forsake the Commonwealth when this man had first bound himself by an Oath he drew his Sword and threatned Death to a near Kinsman unless he did also take the same Oath He forced him for fear and all the rest were led by the same example to swear the same thing 40. When the Camp of the Volosci were near to a Wood and a place full of Briars and Thorns Camillus carryed all that would take fire as far as their Works and set them in a Flame and drove them from their Camp 41. P. Crassus in the War of the Confederates in the same manner was surprised and undone with almost all his Forces 42. When Q. Metellus was to remove his Camp in Spain and that the Soldiers who were to march kept themselves still in their Camp Hennocrates hath related that they were ordered to abide till the next day and by that short rest became more fit for the Fight than his People so that by this means Metellus made an end of the War 43. Miltiades when he had put to flight a vast number of Persians at the Battle of Marathon obliged the Athenians who were willing to continue there some time to rejoice at the Victory to depart and speedily relieve their City against which the Persian Fleet was sailing He prevented them and filled the Walls with Armed men When the Persians came they imagined the Athenians to be very numerous and that they had yet an Army at Marathon as well as at Athens therefore they suddenly turned about and sailed back into Asia 44. Pisistratus the Athenian when he had taken the Fleet of Megara brought by Night Eleusis to catch the Athenian Dames who used to do Honour to the Goddess Ceres and made a great slaughter of the Enemy took their Ships and filled them with Athenian Soldiers placing upon the Decks some of the Women in the Garb of Prisoners with which appearance they of Megara being deceived and imagining that their Men were returned with success came thronging out of the City to meet and welcome them Then did Pisistratus fall upon them unarmed and again made a great destruction of them 45. Cinion the Athenian General when he had overcome the Persian Fleet at the Isle of Cyprus caused his Men to
Horse and Foot than Bajazet Some reckon 300000 Horse and 400000 Foot in Tamerlans Army whereas in Bajazets Army were 140000 Horse besides 30000 Mamalucks and 30000 Janizaries and above 100000 other Soldiers but old and experienced in War Tamerlan therefore resolved to fight on Horseback and so to draw up his numerous Army that they might all be serviceable in their order and weary the valiant Enemy with the Assaults of fresh men This wise and politick manner of Fight undoubtledly obtained for him the Victory for having always a fresh Body of men both of Horse and Foot ready to fall on instead of such as were either discouraged or broken he kept the Turks so long in play that they were tired and sorced to yield to the greater number CHAP. XXV The Stratagems of Alis Bassa the Great Minister of State under Sultan Soliman Bajazets Eldest Son in the War against Mahomet the 5th King of the Turks AFter the departure of Tamerlan out of Natolia the Children of Bajazet made themselves Masters of much of his Dominions Soliman took that part which lay in Europe Isa and Mahomet shared what they could keep from Tamerlans Lievtenants in Asra But when their common Enemy was retreated they fell out amongst themselves Isa contended with his Brother Mahomet three times in Bloudy Fights and was as often worsted and forced to fly for safety into Caramania where he lived and dyed in obscurity Soliman the other European Brother made ready a strong Army and passing over into Asia took the Royal City of Prusa but the Castle was defended by Jacub-beg a stout Captain who being reduced to the necessity of submitting to Soliman without speedy relief sent a Messenger to inform Mahomet of his distress Mahomet dispatched back the Messenger with a Letter to Jacub and assured him of his Assistance The Messenger was taken by Solimans Soldiers and brought to Alis-beg his Great General When he had read the Letter he counterfeited others in the name of Mahomet wherein he commended the Faithfulness and Courage of Jacub but because he could not yet send him any Succours he gave him liberty to deliver the Castle upon Honourable Terms This counterfeit Letter Alis-beg found means to send secretly to Jacub-beg into the Castle when he had read it he hanged out a Flag of Truce and desired a Parley with Soliman and according to the direction of the Letter he deliver'd up his Castle to the great Grief of Mahomet who was within one days Journy of Prusa ready with a stout Army to fall upon the Besiegers and force his way to the Castle Soliman after the surrender of this strong place dispersed his Army As soon as Mahomet heard of it he made speed to surprize his Brother who minded more his Pleasure than the War But Soliman being advertized by one of his Commanders of his Brothers coming at that time when he could not well resist him consulted how to run away and sail over into Europe but from such a disgraceful flight he was disswaded by Alis-Bassa his great Councellor because 't was like to discourage all his Friends in Asia and ruine his interest there but he advised him to make speed and post himself with his small Company about the Streights of Neapolis there to keep the passages of the Country which good advice he followed and beat off his Brother Mahomet whom he hindred from passing any further Whilst he there lay Alis-beg doubting of his Masters strength resolved to try what he could do by cunning He sent one of his Trusty Servants to Mahomet to inform him that most of his Great Captains had designed and agreed amongst themselves to deliver him up to Soliman his elder Brother and the undoubted Heir of his Father and therefore willed him to stand upon his Guard Notwithstanding this advice he caused several assaults to be made to the Passages of the Mountains but was as often repulsed At last when one of his menial Servants fled to Soliman he began to be jealous of the rest therefore fearing Treachery and being otherwise incommodated by the Wet Weather he departed back to Amasia and deliver'd his Brother from a great fear of being taken by him This Civil War lasted several years first between Isa and Mahomet next between Mahomet and Soliman then between Soliman and Musa who took and strangled Soliman in Europe At last the contention was between Musa and Mahomet who after the Death of all his other three Brothers succeeded to all the Dominions of old Bajazet deceased in Chains CHAP. XXVI The Brave Exploits of Huniades the Hungarian in defence of his Country against the Turks HVniades by his Valour and Wisdom raised himself in the esteem and favour of Vladislaus first King of Poland and afterwards chosen King of Hungary about the year 1440. so that Vladislaus made him Vayvod of Transilvania At his first coming to the Government he secured all the Passages and Borders with good Garrisons because he had an unquiet and cruel Neighbour Isa-beg who commanded in Rascia and the upper part of Servia for Amurath This Isa-beg had often by the command of his Prince invaded the Christians Country and put all to Fire Sword and woful Desolation the more to distress Belgrade and other Frontier Cities of Hungary Huniades with one Nicholas Vilach raised a considerable Army of Horse and Foot and marched with them into Isa's Government between Belgrade and Sinderovia to requite the Turks Cruelties Isa met him with such Forces as he had then not inferiour in number to the Christians At the first Onset Huniades's Army retreated behind the Men at Arms whose fierceness and undaunted Courage the Turks could not long endure but were forced to fly so that Isa to save himself returned to Sinderovia with more speed then he came from thence Huniades after a great slaughter of the Enemies and much Rich Spoil and many Prisoners returned to Belgrade where Amuraths Displeasure Isa's Loss and Defeat would not suffer him to rest long for this angry Turk having raised a numerous Army of Valiant Soldiers sent with them Mesites his General to spoil and subdue Transilvania Mesttes came into the Country on a sudden before Huniades was well able to oppose him He put all to the Sword at his first Entrance and destroyed by Fire the Towns and Villages to make himself more dreadful to the Inhabitants Huniades in this distress was forced to fly to Alba Jula to the Bishop of that City George Lepe with an intent by his Assistance to raise an Army but being followed by the Turks speedy March before they could be provided they were both besieged in the City by the Enemies who spoiled all the Country round about Huniades and the Bishop sallies out upon them but were forced by an Ambush to retreat The Bishop was slain but Huniades saving himself went all about his Government and gathered what Power he could make up perswading the People to venture themselves in the just Defence
such time as they should see that the Fight was begun and that then they should fall upon the Rear of the Turks This order was so exactly obeyed that the Turks having the Enemy before and behind were beset by a small number yet they did fight valiantly until a fresh supply from the Rear came and broke in upon the Turks forced them to fly killing in the pursuit and Battel two and twenty thousand and two thousand taken Prisoners with all the Turks Tents and Riches After this great Slaughter Scanderbeg mounted his Footmen upon the Turks Horses and with all his Army he plundred miserably a great part of Macedonia and enriched his Soldiers This great Victory made Scanderbegs Name to be famous all over the Courts of the Christian Princes so that in a general Confederacy between them for the opposing of Amurath Scanderbeg was entreated to be one of the party for that purpose he raised an Army and intended to assist Vladislaus at the great and unhappy Battel at Varna but his passage was stopt by the faithless Despot of Servia After that Overthrow Amurath sent Ferises Bassa to spoil Epirus with 9000 Horse but Scanderbeg having notice of his speedy coming he put 1500 stout Footmen in Ambush upon the Mountains and narrow ways that led into the Valley of Mocrea where the Turks were to pass These Footmen set upon the Turkish Cavalry in such places where they could not use their Horses that they were all routed and slain and pursued by two thousand Horse which Scanderbeg had there for the purpose Ferises saved himself by Flight with his broken Troops When Amurath heard of this Overthrow he sent one Mustapha another Captain with a Recruit of 6000 Horse to succeed Ferises in his Government with orders to burn and spoil as much of Epirus as he could Mustapha a wary Captain came with his Troops into the Valley of Moerea where he lay strongly encamped in his Trenches every night having placed Scouts and Sentinels all round upon the Hills to discover the Enemies coming with 4000 Horsemen he kept his Camp and sent out the rest in parties to spoil the Country with express orders upon pain of death to repair to him upon the first notice of an Enemy Scanderbeg being informed by his Spies of Mustapha's wariness resolves to deal with him by plain Force therefore with 4000 Horse and a 1000 Foot he speedily marched through the Valley to the Turks Camp where he kill'd many that were retreating with their plunder and then assaulted the Trenches with that Fury and Resolution that the Turks were beaten 5000 were killed and 300 taken Prisoners with the loss only of twenty Horsemen and fifty Foot Mustapha fled with the rest of his Forces to his Government of Macedonia to give an account of Scanderbegs Valour and of his own loss to Old Amurath who resolved to suffer awhile this dreadful Enemy to live in Peace therefore he commanded Mustapha not to molest the Borders of Epirus but only to defend his own Government It happened at that time that there was a Quarrel between Scanderbeg and the Venetians and an open War proclaimed When Mustapha saw that Scanderbeg's Forces were employed against the Venetians he begg'd leave of Amurath to try once more his Fortune against Scanderbeg For that purpose with a numerous Army he entred into Epirus when Scanderbeg was besieging the Town of Dayna where he left some Forces with Amesa to continue the Siege and with 500 Horse and 1500 Foot he went to find out Mustapha encamped in the upper Country of Dibra Out of the Garrisons he recruited and encreased his small number to 4000 Horse and 2000 Foot all old Soldiers When both Armies were drawn up in Battalia a Turk advantagiously mounted came out of the Turks Army to challenge any Christian to fight with him his name was Caragusa One Paul Manessi desired Scanderbeg that he might be the Man to encounter with this Turk which being granted at the first blow he wounded him grievously in the Head and cut it off which when he had done he took his Spoils and return'd with great Acclamations of the Christian Army to Scanderbeg who seeing how much this had encouraged his Men set forward against the Turks and with an invincible Courage beat them out of the Field took Mustapha Prisoner killed 12000 Men whereas of his own Army there was but 300 slain The Plunder of the Enemies Camp he always bestowed upon his Soldiers who met there with great Riches and according to his Custom entred again into the Turks Dominions to plunder and burn the Country Amurath grieved at so many losses resolves with a mighty Army to march into Epirus himself and try his own Fortune against this crafty Warriour Scanderbeg who having notice of his coming made all things ready he craved Aid of all his Christian Neighbours filled his Towns with Food Provision and Arms repaired all the decayed Fortifications and gathered an Army of 10000 Men to attend upon him leaving sufficient Garrisons in every City Amurath had in his Army one hundred and fifty thousand Men. He sent forty thousand before him to Stifegrade to make preparation for his coming Scanderbeg marched thither with 4000 Horsemen a thousand Foot and strongly encamped himself within Seven Miles of the City from his Camp he went up with some of his Captains to the top of a Hill as near as he could to see how the Turks lay before Stifegrade at his return he drew out his small Army and placed them in the Woods not far from the City unto which he sent Moses and Musachi with about 30 Horsemen to drive some Horses loaden with Corn as if they had purposed secretly to get into the City When the Turks Scouts perceived them they charged them but were beaten back with the loss of five men which gave the Alarm to the Turks who marched out to pursue them in number about 4000. Moses politickly drew them away from their Camp to the place where Scanderbeg lay in Ambush He rose with his Men set upon them with that Fury that he killed 2000. and took a thousand Horse with the loss of two and twenty of his own Men. Amurath came before Stifegrade in May 1449. he battered and assaulted the Town with the slaughter of vast numbers of his best Men during which time Scanderbeg often brake into one part or other of his Camp making a terrible destruction and then again retreated with little or no loss At one time when Amurath was giving an assault to the City Scanderbeg was discovered drawing near to the Turks Camp and by Amuraths order was met with by Feri-Bassa who long desiring to fight with Scanderbeg was by him slain and his Army routed with great loss but because all the Turks Army were at hand he speedily retreated from thence with his Victorious Army Stifegrade was afterwards betrayed and surrendred but Amurath lost before the City 30000 of his best Men. At his
procured the Duke of Parma the favour and esteem of all the Spanish Army But as the chief skill of a General consists not only in knowing when and how to overcome an Enemy but also in understanding how to preserve his Army and saving it from a dangerous post or drawing it out of the unexpected Ambushes of a powerful Enemy this was performed by the Duke of Parma at the Battel of Mechlin for John of Austria the Spanish General having suffered a considerable part of his Army to fall upon the Enemies they retreated to their great Guns and had encompassed the Spaniards round so that they had been all cut in pieces had not Parma secured their Retreat which he did by placing behind the Hedges some Companies of Musketiers to stop the pursuing Enemy and causing some Troops of Horse furiously to charge whilst he gave a private sign for a Retreat and drew away the Body of Foot in danger to be lost into the narrow ways lined with his Musketeers In the mean while orders were given to the rest of the Army to keep their Ranks and to stand ready to shelter their Fellows at their return for fear the Enemy following close at the Rear should disorder and rout the whole Army as it hath often happened in such like cases When John of Austria was dead Alexander succeeded him in the Government of the Netherlands and in the chief command of the Army Maestricht was first besieged by him where he so cunningly enclosed in the Town with Forts and Works by Land and two Bridges over the River Mosa that it was not in the power of the Prince of Orange and of his Army either to relieve the Town or force him in his Trenches At last after a notable Siege the City was taken and miserably plundred by the Dukes Army By his Policy and Valour he recover'd the most part of the Netherlands defeated the Troops of Casimirus the Saxon Prince who with his German Forces assisted the Prince of Orange and the States He compelled several great Towns to yield to him Tourney Aldenard Dunkirk c. He drove the Duke of Alanson out of the Netherlands and often beat the French Auxiliaries after their unhappy endeavour to surprize Antwerp and the chief Towns which they assaulted at noon day by the orders of the Duke of Alanson who attempted to take and plunder Antwerp by Treachery But Parma's excellent skill in War never appeared more than in the famous Siege of Antwerp With ten or eleven thousand men he beleagur'd that great City full of People defeated all the Auxiliary Forces sent to relieve the Town and at the same time compelled Five other strong Cities to yield to him Gant Brussels Mechlin Nimeguen and Teneramund In this Siege he built a Famous and most Ingenious Bridge over the River of Scala This Bridge was in part blown up and broken by Ships let down the Stream from Antwerp by a notable Ingenier but such was the diligence and Courage of the Duke of Parma that he caused some Beams Planks and Vessels to be laid in that Breach and Drums and Trumpets there to sound to blind and deceive the Holland Vessels that were coming up the River the next morning to relieve Antwerp with Provisions so that notwithstanding this discouragement and the loss of his Soldiers killed in the blowing up of the Bridge he continued the Siege until the Citizens were forced by Famine to yield up their City He reduced the States of Holland to the necessity of imploring Queen Elizabeth's Aid She sent sent the Earl of Leicester with a brave Army but the Duke of Parma proceeded on in the Conquest of the Netherlands and the taking of several Towns both from the Dutch and English But no Action of this Prince deserves more the admiration of Men than his expeditions into France The first was for the relief of Paris besieged by Henry the IV. The Duke was ordered by the King of Spain to march thither with his Army Henry was forced to call together all his Troops and rise from the Siege to meet the Duke with an intent to fight him But when he understood that Paris was supplyed with Provisions he entrenched himself in such an advantagious Post that the King did not dare to beat him from thence He afterwards retreated back into the Low Countries and in view of the French Army far more numerous than his stormed and took the Town of Lagny and though the French followed him close at the Heels yet he ordered his Retreat so subtilely that they could never fight him The next expedition was for the Relief of Rohan besieged by same King Henry the IV. The Duke of Parma with an Army of about 15000 Old Soldiers Spaniards and Walloons and 8000 French under the Duke of Mayenne went to Rohan and obliged King Henry to depart with his Army Parma at the request of the Citizens assaulted Caudebeck and took it In the mean while King Henry had gathered together his dispersed Forces and finding himself as strong as his Enemies resolved to pursue and fight them They were then about Tuepot in the Chalky Country of Normandy having the great River of Seine between them both The Dukes Army was much distressed for want of Victuals and had received some loss by the French Army in Skirmishes and King Henry had taken great care to cut off all provisions from them But the Duke of Parma in one night deliver'd his Army from the danger both of the Enemy and of Famine He caused great Boats covered over with Beams and Planks to fall down the River from Rohan to his Camp where he caused two Forts to be raised with some Redoubts to favour and defend his passage over the River which in this place is half a League over Upon these Boats he conveyed over all his Cannon and Carriages his Bag and Baggage with Horse and Foot so that the next day when the French Army was preparing to assault the Spaniards in their Tents they saw only Prince Ranuse Farnese with 1500 Men with the rest of their Canon going over to the Dukes Army on the other side and it was not in the Kings power to follow him for want of Boats or a Bridge By this means the Duke returned back with leisure into the Low Countries relieved two great Cities against a powerful King and without venturing his Army to the great wonder of all Europe performed what he had undertaken CHAP. XLIII How the Marquis de Monte defeated five Companies of Foot and Seven Hundred Horse with Seventy Lances and Twenty Five Carabins THis excellent Commander by the Duke of Parma's order marched out of Lovain where he was Governour towards Maestricht to discover the Enemy and by chance met with five Companies of Foot and Seven Hundred Horse At the first sight his men began to fear the in-equality of the number but the Marquiss finding himself too far advanced and so near that he could not well
to besiege or annoy the Town for it was erected on the Banks of the River Issell When therefore Prince Maurice had a design upon that place he procured a dozen young Gentlemen of a Feminine Gountenance to be apparelled as Country Maids and to carry thither Butter Eggs Poultry and other such Country-Commodities to be sold to the Garrison Soldiers They coming to the Walls to buy these Provisions sound the Disguised Virgins very tractable and judging them fit for their Lust they received them into the Fort and offered them drink to make them more pliable for their purpose As the Soldiers were busie in their Courtship these young and stout Soldiers drew from under their Petticoats a long Knife made for the purpose and stabb'd the Soldiers who sat next to them then rising together with such Arms us they siezed next to thems they encountred with the rest of the Guard and cut them all off delivering the strong Port to their Companions who waited near at hand to give them their ready Assistance The taking of this Skonse so discouraged the Garrison of the Town that they yielded in few days after to the States of Holland Such Disguises have often proved successful when the business and design hath been managed with care and discretion wariness and Courage Another Town in the Low-Countries was taken by a party of Soldiers apparalled as Country Maids and by them the Guard was suddenly overpowred and a Gate seized to let in the Enemy at hand but the least disappointment spoils all the Design and destroys the bold Adventurers who must expect no pardon or Quarter after such a dangerous Hipocrisie CHAP. LV. How Spinola 's Army was like to be routed when they first sat down before the Walls of Bergen-op-Zone THe Governour of the City a politick Commander resolved to sally out upon the Spaniards at their first coming to besiege the Town and to terrifie them the more he encreased the appearance of his Army with a shew of Armed Troops besides those that he had real His Horse and Foot were to attack the Enemy out of one Gate and out of Another he caused all the Weak Jades of the Town being mounted by Boys and useless Fellows to march leisurely out and shew the appearance of other Forces These were to discover themselves at a distance after the first or second Charge when the Enemy was weary The Spaniards had beaten back the Defendants but the unexpected sight of these deceitful Forces so troubled them that they suddenly left the Chase and retired behind their Trenches in some disorder and had the States Soldiers been provided with Ammunition and Bullets to have given at that instant another Charge Spinola's Army had been then totally routed and the City freed from a troublesom Siege CAAP. LVI How an Army hath been discouraged in the midst of a Fight AT Muscleborough Field when both Armies were fiercely engaged there was cunningly a rumour spread amongst the Enemies that their General was slain in the other Wing and part of their Forces cut off and routed which Report so terrified them that they immediately gave Ground and began to run This Policy hath been often used when it was known that the General was not present And sometimes after the first Charge an Army hath cryed out Look how they run in the Rear Such Words and false Reports have disordered and defeated the best and most resolute Armies for the least sear discourages Soldiers in such a critical time and disinables them from pursuing the Victory So that as it hath always been the practice of well advised Generals by sudden Attempts Stratagems Rumours and other Arts to terrifie their Enemies it hath been the endeavour of wise Commanders to prevent fear from discouraging their Forces and to secure their minds against all suddain Accidents which they could foresee by their advice and command and by the steadiness of their own Resolutions and wise Orders CHAP. LVII How the States of Holland got the Possession of a piece of Ground which they knew was fit for them to build a Fort to distress the Enemies Towns and stop the passage of two great Rivers THere is between the Wale and the Leck two great Rivers a piece of ground advancing into the Sea The Hollanders perceiving that it might be beneficial to them and their designs against the Spaniards if they could get it resolved by policy to gain possession of it Round about were the Enemies Castles and Garrisons which would infallibly oppose any such motion if they came to understand it Therefore to conceal their intent from them they dealt with a Country Fellow named Skinks to hire that piece of ground for some years to feed his Colts and to secure them the better they ordered him to raise a Wall and dig a deep Ditch from one River to the other which was about 400 Rod being the only passage by Land to that place When this was finished the Hollanders came by night sailing up the River and landed such Forces as were able to defend the place until they had builded a strong Fort or Skonse to secure it from the Spaniards who finding themselves outwitted and perceiving the Importance of the place they labour'd to re-take it again This was that Fort named Skinks Skonse so famous for a long Siege in the late Holland War CHAP. LVIII How the Town of Manheim was surpriz'd by Duke Bernard of Saxonweymar THis Town is scituate upon the great River of Rhine and one of the strongest of the Pallatinate Duke Bernard desired earnestly to have it in his possession but was loath to venture his Reputation with his Army in besieging it knowing the Strength of the Town and the Resolution of the Garrison he therefore endeavoured to get it by policy He took with him five hundred men in the night and so ordered his march that he came before the Gates of the Town in the morning an hour or two before day and sent in word to the Governour that he was a Commander of a neighbouring Garrison of their side naming his name and that having adventur'd out with a party upon some important design he was overpowred and beaten in by a stronger party of Swedes who followed him and therefore forced to seek a Refuge within the Walls of Manheim from the Swedish Violence desiring him earnestly to cause his Gates to be opened to let him and his Soldiers in with speed because the Swedes were then at hand ready to fall upon and cut off his Rear Maravelli the Governour believed all this to be true and commanded the Gates to be opened and a passage to enter into the Town As soon as the Duke was within he cut off the Main Guard with three hundred Soldiers took the Governour Prisoner and the chief Officers and won the Town which could not have been otherwise taken without a chargeable and long Siege CHAP. LIX Tamerlan 's Policy to oblige the Towns to yield to him with speed IT
suspicion The Cart was to be driven to the second Gate and there to be disordered by letting fall the Wheel whilst the Carter was to be busie about his Cart the disguised Soldiers were to take the first and second Gate to kill the Watch and to give a sign to the Ambushes in the Wood to come speedily to their Assistance which being let into the City would easily take and keep it for the French But this plot was discovered and by that means prevented CHAP. LXXV How Prince Maurice endeavour'd to take Antwerp Gastle by surprize PRince Maurice without dispute was one of the most successful Generals of his time at the Battel of Newport he obtained a great Victory over the Spaniards and being bread up amongst Armies and Soldiers he proved a most wise and subtile Commander Antwerp Castle was attempted by him in this manner He being at Breda with his Army commanded all the passages of his Camp to be narrowly watched and secretly drew some Companies of Foot from some Neighbouring Garrisons putting them under the command of a discreet Collonel in whom he could conside The Soldiers knew nothing of his purpose only the Officers and that he might the better conceal his March from the Country he ordered his Men to take off their Orange Colours and change them for Red such as the King of Spains Soldiers used to wear and his Waggons likewise had a Burgundian Cross as Spinola's And as his Soldiers passed through the Country they were to say That they belonged to the King of Spain and were marching to Antwerp for Provisions By this disguise and invention a party of a 1000 Foot and 200 Horse went undiscovered in the dark night to the Walls of Antwerp Castle where they got as far as the Bridge and were ready to blow open the Gates had they not bin perceived by the Vigilancy of a Spanish old Soldier named Andreas Cea who gave the Alarm to the Garrison and prevented their entrance CHAP. LXXVI Of the Battel of Diep between Henry the Fourth of France and the Army of the Ligne commanded by the Duke of Mayenne THe King had in his Army about eight or nine thousand Men. The Duke had twenty five thousand Foot and eight thousand Horse the King intrenched himself about three Miles from Diep at a Village called Arques with his small number but he gave such wise Orders that he secured both his Camp and the Suburbs of the City from the invading Enemy who on the 16th of September 1589. gave a furious assault to the Kings Forces but were beaten back with great loss The Duke of Mayenne having continued quiet in his Camp three days gave another Assault but to as little purpose only the Regiments of Colalt and Tremblecour called to the Kings Forces that they would be of their side at which offer they were received within the Trenches and they promised to serve the King faithfully if they might have any assurance of their pay which was promised by the King but whilst this brave Prince was busily employed in looking to every quarter these Treacherous Villains turned their Weapons against them who had taken them in let in more of the Dukes Forces into that part of the Camp so that if the Duke in that consternation that the Kings Army was then in by the unexpected Treachery had speedily fallen upon them and seconded with all his Forces these two Regiments he had undoubtedly carryed and mastered the Trenches but whilst the Duke delayed the Count de Castillon the Duke of Montpensier and La Nove excellent Commanders of the Kings Army ran with their Men to assist the Kings discouraged party and charged the Enemy within the Trenches so briskly that they were forced to fly out and leave that great advantage they had gained by a Stratagem After this good success the King with his small party gave so many Alarms to the Dukes Camp that he found himself with his great Army besieged by the Kings small numbers and reduced to many Wants and to the necessity at last of departing to a more secure and commodious Neighbourhood CHAP. LXXVII Of the Famous Battel of Jury between Henry the 4th and the Duke of Mayenne THe Duke designed to relieve the Town of Dreux besieged by the Kings Army which as soon as the Duke began to draw near they were ordered to retreat as if they had been in fear This dissimulation so encouraged the Commanders of the Dukes Army that they would not be quiet till they had forced him against his Judgement to a Battel Both Armies were drawn up in Battalia in an even Plain near the Tillage of Jury The Kings Army had about ten thousand Foot and three thousand Horse drawn up in this manner The King appeared first at the Head of a Squadron of six hundred Horse most Lords and Gentlemen which was flanked on the right hand with a Battalion of two Regiments of Switzers and on the left by two other Regiments of the same Country These Battalions were followed by the Regiments of the Guards and three other Regiments The Duke of Montpensier marched next on the Left with a Squadron of six huudred Horse between two Regiments of Germany and Switzerland seconded by two other Bodies of Foot chosen out of the French Infantry The Marshal d'Aumount closed up the Left Wing with three hundred Horse and two Regiments of French Infantry at his sides and two Troops before him of Light Horsemen commanded by the great Prior and by Giury Mareschal de Camp These were assisted on the Right by the Baron of Biron who had the charge to protect four Canons and some Field Pieces on the other side marched the Marshal of Biron with another Squadron of Horse between two Regiments of French Foot next to the Regiments of Guards but a little behind that they might be as a reserve to that Body which was commanded by the King in person next to them on the right hand shewing the appearance of a Cressant was a Squadron of German Horse slanked by two small Bodies of French Infantry led by the Count Scomberg This excellent order of the Kings Army together with the Judicious management of the Artillery by the Master of the Ordinance contributed much to the Victory for the several Bodies into which the Kings Army was drawn up found a means to inclose in a body of Dutch Horse whom they charged so furiously on the Flanks that they were routed and forced to fall back upon the Infantry of the Ligne The King himself acted the part of an excellent Commanmander and a stout Soldier for when he was to encounter with eighteen hundred Lances commanded by the Duke of Mayenne he with his Pistol and Sword in his hand was engaged in the midst of that great Squadron and totally defeated it with a small party that followed him close by his sides The King took all the Bag and Baggage Canon and Ammunition By this Battel Henry the 4th secured the
showre of poisoned Arrows from their Engines he covered them as they marched on the side of the Navy with their Captives for whom the Enemies had so great a respect that they stop'd their Arrows 2. Agesilaus the Lacedaemonian returning out of Phrygia loaden with Spoils was closely pursued by his Enemies who taking the advantage of a certain Place fell upon his Troops which made him to rank all his Prisoners on both sides of his Army while the Enemy spared them the Lacedaemonians had time and space to escape out of the danger 3. The same General when the Theban Army had possessed themselves of the Streights through which he was to pass he turn'd aside as if he had been to go directly to the City of Thebes which so affrighted the Thebans that they forsook their Stations to defend their Town This caus'd Agesilaus to return back and to proceed on the way that he had designed without any Disturbance 4. Nicostratus the General of the Aetolians making War against them of Epirus finding that the Passages into that Country were very narrow made shew as if he intended to assault them in one place where he left some few of his Souldiers to maintain the Appearance of an Army whilst he with the rest of his Troops enter'd into the Country by another way where he was least expected 5. Autophradates the Persian marching with his Army into Pisidia found certain straight Passages possessed by the Inhabitants which made him to dissemble an Unwillingness to pass further and to resolve to return back the Pisidians believed that he had been in earnest but he in the night sent a very strong Party to master that place and the next day he pass'd through with his whole Army 6. Philip King of Macedonia intending to go over into Greece heard that the Streights called Thermopylae were possessed by the Enemy at the same time the Aetolian Ambassadours Lords of those Streights came to him to treat about Conditions of Peace Philip secur'd them and with all speed marched with his Army to the Thermopylae where he found the Guards secure expecting the return of their Ambassadours Thus he seis'd upon those Streights and unexpected past through with his Army 7. Iphicrates the Athenian General fighting against Anaxibius the Lacedaemonian Captain in the Hellespont about the Town Abydos was forced to pass with his Army through certain places which were guarded by the Enemy for in one side of the Passage were high and steep Mountains in the other the Waves of the Sea He stopt some small time till a day happened to be colder than ordinary and therefore most fit to conceal his purpose He chose a select number of his strongest Souldiers whom he warm'd with Wine and Oyl commanding them to march along the Sea-shore and to climb over the steepest Places Thus he surprised the Guards behind unexpected and mastered them 8. When Cn. Pompeius could not well pass his Army over a River because of the Enemies Troops he often brought forth his Army out of their Trenches and as often led them in again that he might persuade the Enemy that the Romans could find no way to march forwards Then upon a sudden he gave an Onset and gain'd the Passage 9. When Porus the Indian King stop'd Alexander the Macedonian with his Army from passing the River Hydaspes he commanded his Greek Troops to run against the Stream and when by that Proceeding Porus was brought to take most heed and care of the other side of the River on a sudden he past over with his Army a little higher than was expected The same Alexander being hinder'd in the Passage of another River by the Enemy he commanded that several Troops of Horse should appear in several places on the sides of the Water and offer to pass over By that means he kept the Enemy employed and expecting his motion there whilst he got into his Power an Island at a distance first with a small Guard after with a greater and from thence he commanded them to pass over to the other side of the River When all the Enemies were marching to encounter and destroy this small Party he had the Ford at liberty to get over with all his Army to joyn with his men on the other side 10. Xenophon in his March found that the Armenians stood on the other side of a River to impede his Passage he therefore commanded his men to seek out two Fords and when he was opposed by the Enemy at the lower Ford he returned to the higher when likewise he was encountred there by the Enemy he went back to the lower Ford commanding a Party of his Men to remain there While therefore the Armenians continued to defend the lower Ford he pass'd over at the higher but they imagining that all would come down they were deceived by those that remain'd for these when the Ford was at liberty they got on the other side without hinderance and became a defence to all the rest of their men whilst they marched thro' the River 11. P. Claudius Cons in the first Punick War being not able to pass over with his Army from Rhegium to Messana in Sicily whilst the Carthaginians kept the Streights caused a Report to be spread about That he could no longer continue in this War because it was begun without the Consent of the People of Rome and that he would sail with his Fleet back into Italy when the Carthaginians were departed who believed that he was really gone he return'd suddenly and landed in Sicily 12. When the Lacedaemonian Generals intended to sail to Syracuse and were afraid of the Carthaginian Fleet sent to intercept them they ordered ten Ships of Carthage which they had taken to sail before with others drag'd and tied behind and on the sides as if they had been overcome in Fight by which Appearance the Carthaginians that waited for them were deceived and they arrived safe to their Haven 13. When King Philip could not pass over the Streights called Cyanea because of the Athenian Fleet which guarded that convenient place he writ to Antipater one of his Generals that the Province of Thracia having destroyed the Garrisons that he had left there was in Rebellion and therefore that leaving other Business he should follow him which Letter he caus'd to be intercepted by the Enemy The Athenians judging that they had understood the Secrets of the Macedonians sailed away with their Fleet and Philip without resistance freed these Streights from the Enemy The same King being hinder'd in his Design upon Cherronesus which was belonging to the Athenians because not only the Ships of Byzantium but also of Rhodes and Chios were in the Passage endeavoured to gain their Friendship by restoring to them the Ships that he had taken offering to make them Judges and Mediators of the Peace between him and them of Byzantium who were the causes of the War In this Negotiation he spun out craftily a long time always adding
into a difficult place he resolved to conceal the trouble of his Mind that the rest might not be afraid commanding his Men to march a little aside as if he had intended to assault the Enemy by taking a greater compass about but by turning his Army round who knew nothing of the matter he brought them into safety 14. P. Decius the Tribune in the Samnetick War persuaded Cornelius Cossus the Consul who was surprised by the Enemy in a dangerous Place to command a small Party to seize upon a neighbouring Hill and offered himself to command that Party for by this means the Enemy being resolved to oppose this motion suffered the Consul to escape but surrounded and besieged Decius but in the Night he also sallied out of those Streights After some Contest he arrived in Safety with his Souldiers and joyned the Consuls Army 15. The same Course was observed under the Command of Attilius Calatinus Cons by him whose Name is variously written some call him Laberius some Q. Caeditius most write that he was named Calpurnius Flamma This Captain finding that his Army was led into such a Valley that on every side the Enemy had taken possession of the higher ground desired and obtained of the Consul three hundred men whom he encourag'd by their Valour to save the whole Army With this Party he marched into the midst of the Valley and immediately all the Enemies ran down upon them to cut them off so that while he was busied in a very fierce and long Combate he gave opportunity and leisure to the Consul to draw off his Army 16. L. Minutius the Consul in Liguria having led his Army into a streight place and every one did yet remember the sad Destruction of the Romans called Caudinae Clades commanded the Numidians his Auxiliary Troops who were despicable in regard of the Deformity of their Persons and of their Horses to ride up and down about the narrow Passage that led out of the Streights which was defended by the Enemy first they fearing to be provok'd to Battel stood to their Station and kept their Post but the Numidians endeavour'd to cause themselves to be despised by falling purposely from their Horses and in playing strange Tricks as in sport At this unusual sight the Ligurians began to open their Ranks and to mind nothing but the seeing of the Play The Numidians perceiving this drew nearer and nearer at last clapping the Spurs to their Horses they broke through the neglected and open Ranks or Stations of their Enemies and then falling upon the neighbouring Country forced the Ligurians to depart and defend their Dwellings and to suffer the Romans quietly to march out 17. L. Sylla in the War of the Confederates near the City Esernia in Italy was surprised in a streight place therefore he sent to the Enemies Army commanded by Duillius for a Parley and began to treat of the Conditions of Peace without any Success but perceiving the Enemy to be grown more negligent because of the Truce departed in the night leaving behind him his Trumpeter who was to divide the Watches as long as any should remain behind and at the fourth Watch should follow him Thus he brought away all his Army with all their baggage and warlike Instruments into safety 18. The same Sylla in the War against Archelaus Mithridates's General in Cappadocia was worsted by the multitude of his Enemies in an incommodious place he therefore propos'd to them Articles of Peace and obtain'd a time of Truce by this Diversion of the Enemies Intentions he escap'd out of the danger 19. Hasdrubal Hannibal's Brother being not able to get out of a Wood whereof the Passages were stop'd by Claudius Nero began to treat with him and to promise that if he might be suffered to depart he would leave Spain Afterwards he spent some days in finding fault with the Conditions imposed In the mean while by certain narrow Paths which were therefore neglected he sent away his Souldiers by Parties and at the last he himself escaped with the rest that were the compleatest part of his Army 20. Spartacus marched over a little Trench with which M. Crassus had inclosed him in by filling it up in the night with the Bodies of his Captives and of Beasts 21. The same Person being besieged in Mount Vesuvius escaped over the steepest and most craggy part which was not therefore guarded by twisting together some Field Withies of which he made Chains to slide down and afterwards he so terrified Claudius on another side that some of his Troops were put to flight by seventy four Fencers 22. The same Spartacus being shut up by L. Varinus the Proconsul fixed Stakes at some little distance from one another at which he tied dead Bodies standing upright and clothed with their Arms that such as should look at a distance might fancy it to be a Party in Guard and caused besides Fires to be kindled about his Camp every where Whilst his Enemy was deceived with this vain Appearance he led out in the night all his Army peaceably 23. Brasidas the Lacedaemonian Captain was surprised about Amphipolis by a great Multitude of Athenians which he was not able to resist he therefore suffered himself to be shut in by them that by extenuating their Body in a round Circle he might break out through some part of their Body where they were thinnest 24. Iphicrates in Thracia having placed his Camp in a low ground understood that the Enemy had taken the next Hill from which a Party was come to cut them off He commanded his men to make many Fires and left a few within his Camp in the Night for that purpose In the mean while he led out his Army and placed them along the ways on both sides through which he suffer'd the Enemy to pass and caught them in the same disadvantageous place in which he was before Thus he cut off some part of their Rear and took the rest in the Camp 25. Darius to hide from the Scythians his Departure left behind him in his Camp the Dogs and the Asses which while the Enemy heard barking and braying they thought that Darius was yet there 26. The Ligurians deceived the Romans with a like Subtilty In divers places they tied to the Trees wild Bullocks which being left behind by their frequent bellowing shewed the appearance of an Army to the Enemy 27. Hanno being shut in by the Enemy set on fire a great deal of light and combustible stuff in that place which was fittest for him to sally out And when he saw the Enemy gone to defend the other Passages he led his Souldiers through the Flames advising them to cover their Faces with their Bucklers and their Legs with their Cloths 28. Hannibal to escape out of an incommodious and barren place being pursued by Fabius Maximus in the night tied dry Faggots of Wood to the Horns of Oxen which he set on Fire and sent them out the Flame increasing by
6. In the Carthaginian War some Cities purposed to forsake the Romans and joyn with the Carthaginians but having given Hostages they desired to recover them first into their hands before they fell away they therefore pretended that there was a Sedition amongst the Neighbours which the Roman Ambassadors ought to appease whom being sent they kept them in lieu of their Hostages and would not suffer them to depart till they had their own return'd back 7. When the Roman Ambassadours were sent to King Antiochus who had with him Hannibal after that the Carthaginians were subdued to make use of his advice against the Romans by frequent visiting and Discourses with Hannibal they made him to be suspected by the King who otherwise would have highly favoured him and to whom he had been very useful because of his subtilty and knowledge in War 8. Q. Metellus making War against Jugurtha prevailed with Money upon the King's Ambassadors to betray their Master and when others were sent he corrupted them also and likewise the third but the business succeeded not so far as to get Jugurtha into his hands for he desired to have him delivered alive nevertheless many things happened from thence for when the Letters which he writ to the Kings Friends were intercepted he caused them all to be put to Death whereby he was deprived of good Counsel and could not get nor procure to himself any other Friends 9. When C. Caesar understood by a certain Water-bearer which he had intercepted that Afranius and Petreius would by night remove and march out of their Camp that he might without any trouble to his Men hinder the purpose and intent of his Enemies in the beginning of the night he commanded his Souldiers to give the signal for the taking up and loading of their Baggage and the Mules to be driven along by the Enemies Camp with noise and hurry This caused them to keep in their Camp for they imagined that Caesar was marching away 10. Scipio Africanus for the more convenient receiving of Supplies of Men and Provisions sent Venticius Thermus to Hannibal to treat with him while he in the mean space went to help their landing 11. Dionysius the King of Syracuse when a vast number of Africans were to pass over into Sicily to fight him sortified several Castles in many places and commanded the Garrisons to deliver them to the Enemy assoon as they should come and to return secretly to Syracuse The Africans were forced to keep Guards in the Castles that they had taken so that when he saw the rest reduced to that small number that he desired he with equal Forces assaulted and overcame them for by this Policy he gathered all his Strength together and scattered the Enemies 12. When Agesilaus the Lacedaemonian made War upon Tisaphernes he pretended to invade the Country of Caria as the fittest place being full of Mountains to encounter with the Persians who were numerous in Horse By the divulging of this Design he caused Tisaphernes to wait for him in Caria while he broke into Lydia where the chief City of that Government was Having therefore overcome such as were left there he got into his Possession the King's Treasury CHAP. IX Of pacifying the Seditions of Souldiers Example 1. A Manlius the Consul understanding that the Souldiers who were in their Winter Quarters in Campania had plotted together to cut the Throats of their Landlords and to plunder their Goods sent word that another Party should be there in the same Winter Quarters By this means he spoil'd the Purpose of the Conspirators freed the Country from the danger and took occasion to punish the Offenders 2. L. Sylla when some Legions of the Roman Citizens broke out furiously into a dangerous Sedition restored them again to a peaceable Temper by this Policy He caused the News to be quickly spread that the Enemies Army was at hand and a noise to be made to run to their Arms and the Signal of the Battel to be given by this means the Sedition ended and all joyned together to encounter the Enemy 3. Cn. Pompeius when his Army had killed the Senate of Milan that he might not cause any tumult by calling to him only such as were guilty commanded some that had no hand in the Crime to come together with the Murderers who were the less afraid because they were not separated from the rest neither did they seem to be called out because of their Fault They all appeared and they who were guiltless were careful to keep the Criminals from an Escape lest they should be blamed for their Flight 4. C. Caesar when some of his Legions were so furiously seditious as to threaten the death of their Leaders dissembled his fear and went strait to his Souldiers who desired to be discharged which he granted with an angry Countenance When they were at liberty he oblig'd them to Repentance to give satisfaction to him their General and to become more obedient for the future in performing all the Duties and Works of a Souldier CHAP. X. How to give a Check to the unseasonable impatience and desire of fighting Example 1. Q. Sertorius having found by experience that he was an unequal Match to the whole Roman Army together that he might make the barbarous and ignorant People of Spain who unadvisedly desired to fight sensible thereof he caused two Horses to be brought the one strong and lusty the other very little and weak and put two Young-men answerable to them the one strong and the other slender To the strong man he commanded to pull off the Tail of the weak Horse at once to the slender person to pluck the Hairs off the lusty Horse one by one when therefore the slender Person had done what he was ordered and the strong Person did strive in vain about the Tail of the weak Horse now saith Sertorius to his Souldiers by this example I have discovered to you the Condition of the Roman Troops they are not to be overcome if you assault them together but you may break and destroy them if you come upon them when separated 2. The same Sertorius when he took notice that his Souldiers unadvisedly demanded the Signal of the Battel and judged that they would break out into a Tumult if they did not fight suffered one Troop of Horse to attack the Enemy when they were over-powered he sent more to assist them thus he received them all safe in their Retreat and without any loss He discovered to them what would have been the issue of the Fight which they desired After this they were much more obedient to his Orders and Command 3. Agesilaus the Lacedaemonian having pitched his Camp upon the Banks of a River against the Thebans and understanding that the Enemy did far exceed him in number was resolved to keep his Men from the desire of a Battel by telling them that the Gods had advised him to fight from the Hills therefore having left a small Guard upon the
sides of the River he marched up to the Hills The Thebans judging it to be done out of Fear passed the River with their Army and easily beat off the Guard and hastily followed after Agesilaus who routed them in a disadvantageous place with a handful of Men. 4. Scorylo the General of the Daci understood that the People of Rome were divided and troubled with Civil Wars yet he thought not convenient to venture against them because Citizens may unite together against a foreign Enemy To make his Countrymen sensible of this he caused two Dogs to fight very eagerly before them and at the same time a Wolf to appear The Dogs immediately left their fighting and run upon the Wolf By this Example he kept back those barbarous and ignorant People from attempting any thing against the Romans CHAP. XI How an Army is to be encourag'd to a Fight Example 1. WHen M. Fabius and Cn. Manlius were Consuls and Generals against the Hetrusci the Army because of the Seditions were very unwilling to fight of their own accord pretended a delay until the Souldiers were forced and animated by the Reproaches of the Enemies to desire the liberty to fight them and to swear that they would never return without the Victory 2. Fulvius the Nobler being necessitated with a small Army to fight with a numerous Army of the Samnites who were proud of their former Successes pretended that a Legion of the Enemies had been by him corrupted and perswaded to revolt and to confirm them in this Belief commanded the Collonels and the Captains of his first Ranks to gather together all the coined Money the Gold and Silver that they had and offer it to the Traitors as their Reward withal he promised them that should lend their Money that when the Victory was obtained he would gratifie and reward them sufficiently which Persuasion and Belief gave such an Alacrity and Confidence to the Romans that it obtained for them a famous Victory and the Conclusion immediately after of the War 3. C. Caesar marching with his Army to give Bartel to Ariovistus told in a Speech to his Souldiers who were troubled with Fear That he would employ that day none but the tenth Legion to fight that by this Testimony and Declaration of exceeding in Carriage they might be obliged to behave themselves manfully and the rest for Shame and Grief that others should carry away the Glory and Esteem of Valour might be forced to fight bravely 4. Q. Fabius Maximus who knew very well that the Romans were of such a generous Disposition that they would be provoked by Contempt and understanding also that there was nothing of Moderation or Justice to be expected from the Carthaginians sent Ambassadours to Carthage to treat about Articles of Peace They brought back such unjust Conditions and so insolent that the Roman Army were thereby incouraged to fight rather than to yield to them 5. Agesilaus the General of the Lacedaemonians having pitched his Camp near the confederate City of the Orthomeni understood that the most part of his Souldiers were securing their most precious things within the Walls he therefore commanded the Citizens not to receive any thing which belonged to his Army that his Souldiers might fight more desperately when they knew that they were to fight for the Preservation of all that they had 6. When Epaminondas the General of the Thebans was to give Battel to the Lacedaemonians that his Souldiers might be encouraged not only by their Strength but also by their Inclinations he declared in a publick Speech That the Lacedaemonians intended if they obtained the Victory to destroy all the Males to lead away into Captivity their Wives and Children and to demolish Thebes This Discovery so stir'd them up and made them so resolved that at the first Onset the Thebans got the Victory of the Lacedaemonians 7. Leotychidas the Lacedaemonian Captain being to fight the same day in which his Confederates had gained a Victory at Sea though he was ignorant of what had been done published abroad that he had received the News that his Friends had got the day that his Souldiers who were to fight might be more courageous 8. A. Posthumius in the Battel against the Latins encouraged his Army with the Appearance of two Young-men on Horseback whom he declared to be Castor and Pollux come to their Assistance By this means he obliged them to return to the Fight 9. Archidamus the Lacedaemonian making War against the Arcadians erected an Altar in his Camp and caused Horses to be led round about it in the Night The next Morning he shewed their Footsteps and told his Men that Castor and Pollux had rid round about and would be assisting to them in the Battel 10. When Pericles the General of the Athenians was to give Battel he took notice that there was a Grove in the view of both Armies of an extraordinary Thickness and very dark and large consecrated to Pluto in this place he put a Man of a large Stature upon very high and big Slippers with a purple Robe and long Hair upon a great Chariot dragg'd by two white Horses that when the Signal for the Battel should be given he might call Pericles by name and encourage him and promise him the Assistance of the Gods which so terrified the Enemies that before the casting of their Darts they fled 11. L. Sylla that his Souldiers might be more ready to fight pretended that the Gods did discover to him things to come And at last in the sight of his Army before they entered into the Conflict he would pray to an Image of a moderate Bigness which he had taken from Delphos saying to it that it should make good and hasten the Victory that it had promised to him 12. C. Marius had a certain Magician Woman out of Syria to tell him of the Success and Events of Battels 13. Q. Sertorius having an Army of barbarous Souldiers not governed by reason led about Portugal with him a white Hind very large and beautiful by which he told them that he understood the things that he was to do and avoid to the end that those barbarous People might obey his Orders as commanded from above We must not make use of this sort of Stratagems only when we are to deal with such as we judge unskilful and ignorant but much more those things are to be invented which may be of that kind that it may be believed that they have been discovered by these things 14. When Alexander the Macedonian was to offer Sacrifice he caused to be written with a Juyce in that hand of the Diviner which he was to put upon the Bowels of the Beast such Letters as did signifie that Alexander should have the Victory which Letters appearing upon the hot Liver was shewn by the King to the Souldiers to encrease their Courage as if the Gods did promise to him the Victory 15. Innides the Soothsayer did practice the same thing when Eumenes
was to fight with the Gauls 16. Epaminondas the Theban encountring with the Lacedaemonians did think to encrease the Confidence of his Men with a Trick of Religion The Arms and Weapons which were hung up to adorn the Temples he caused to be secretly taken away in the Night and persuaded his Souldiers that the Gods had done it to follow and assist them in their Fight 17. Agesilaus the Lacedaemonian having taken some Persian Captives whose Garb when it was worn by them did strike a terror to his men was wont to shew them all naked that they might behold their white Skin and their groundless Fear together 18. Gelo King of Syracuse having proclaimed a War against the Carthaginians and taken many of them Captives was wont to produce the weakest of them all naked chiefly of the Auxiliaries who were black and swarthy that his Souldiers might thereby learn to contemn them 19. Cyrus the Persian King that he might stir up the Minds of his Country-men wearied them a whole day in cutting down a certain Wood and the next day invited them to a most plentiful Feast and asked them which was most pleasing to them when they answered that the present things were most grateful he replied By this alone you may attain to these things you can never be free nor happy unless you overcome the Medes By this perswasion he encouraged them to the desire of fighting 20. L. Sylla fighting against Archelaus a General of Mithridates near Pirea had in his Army very lazy Souldiers but by wearying them in working he forced them to desire from him the Signal to fight 21. Q. Fabius Maximus fearing lest his Souldiers should have such a Confidence in their Ships unto which they could fly for shelter that this might hinder them in fighting commanded them to be burned before he entered into the Battel CHAP. XII How to expell the Fears which Souldiers may have conceived from ill Omens and contrary Accidents Example 1. WHen Scipio transported his Army from Italy over into Africa he fell down at his landing upon the Ground and saw that his Souldiers were thereat astonished but he by the greatness and constancy of his Courage turned it to their Encouragement by saying you may now go to play Souldiers I have already overcome and taken Africa 2. C. Caesar falling down by chance as he was landing out of a Ship cried out I hold thee fast O Mother Earth By which Interpretation he seemed to return to those Lands from whence he was departed 3. T. Sempronius Gracchus Consul having drawn up his Army against the Picentes the ancient Inhabitants of the Marca de Acona there happened at that instant a trembling of the Earth or an Earthquake which terrified both Armies but he by a Speech confirmed and encouraged his Men to attack his Enemies while they were frighted with Superstition and over-came them 4. Q. Sertorius when the Bucklers of his Horsemen on the outside and the Breasts of their Horses appeared in a prodigious manner on a sudden to be bloody he interpreted that it was a sign of their obtaining the Victory because those parts used to be sprinkled with the Enemies Blood in fighting 5. When Epaminondas the Theban saw his Souldiers grieved because the Wind had taken off from his Spear an Ornament that hanged down as a Ribband and cast it on the Tomb of a certain Lacedemonian I would not have you said he be troubled and affrighted my Souldiers this signifies the Death of the Lacedemonians for their Sepulchres are adorned for their Funerals 6. The same Epaminondas when a Flame fell from the Sky in the Night and terrified those that were present told them that this Light did discover the Gods 7. The same General when he was ready to fight with the Lacedemonians fell down in the Chair in which he was feated which Accident was commonly interpreted for an ill Omen and his Souldiers being thereat troubled he told them we are now forbidden to sit any longer 8. L. Sulpitius Gallus when an Eclipse of the Moon was at hand that his Souldiers might not mistake it for a Prodigy gave them an account of it before with the Reasons and Causes of the Eclipse 9. When Agathocles the Syracusan warred against the Carthaginians there happened a like Eclipse of the Moon the Night before the Battel and seeing his Souldiers troubled as at a great wonder he acquainted them with the Reasons of the Eclipse and told them that whatever should happen did relate to the nature of things and did not concern their Purpose 10. When there fell a Thunder-bolt into the Camp of Pericles which terrified the Souldiers he gathered them together and before them all he beat two Stones one against another and struck Fire and by that means quieted their Minds telling them that in the like manner by the violent motion of the Clouds the Thunder is produced 11. It happened to Timotheus the Athenian when he was to fight against the Inhabitants of Corcyra that the Master of his Vessel had commanded the Signal to be given to stop the Fleet ready to set fall because one of the Men at the Oar began to sneeze Dost thou wonder said Timotheus that amongst so many thousand men there is one man that shivers or sneezes for cold 12. When Chabrias the Athenian was ready to fight at Sea with his Fleet there fell a Thunderbolt at the head of his Ship which affrighted his Souldiers who looked upon it as a prodigious thing Now said he we ought chiefly to begin to fight when the greatest of the Gods Jupiter hath given us a sign to our Fleet that he will be present and assist us THE SECOND BOOK Of the Stratagems of WAR OF Sextus Julius Frontinus a ROMAN Consul A Short Introduction IN the first Book we have already plac'd in order the Examples fit in my Opinion for a Captain to understand in relation to those things that are to be perform'd before a Battel we shall now give an account of what is wont to be done in a Battel and afterwards those things that are acted in the conclusion of a Fight or War Now these are the Particulars which belong to a Fight or Battel CHap. 1. Of the time to be chosen for a Battel Chap. 2. Of the place to be chosen for a Battel Chap. 3. Of the marshalling and ordering an Army Chap. 4. How to disorder an Enemies Army Chap. 5. Of Ambushes Chap. 6. Of suffering an Enemy to depart for fear that out of despair he should renew the Fight Chap. 7. How to dissemble ill Successes Chap. 8. Of restoring a Battel by Constancy and Courage Chap. 9. Of those things that are practis'd after a Fight if all things succeed and of the finishing a War Chap. 10. Of remedying ill Successes if things happen contrary Chap. 11. How to preserve such as are wavering in their Fidelity and Allegiance Chap. 12. The things that are to be done about a Camp if we have not
unlawful for them to act any thing of Moment and overcame them 18. Lysander the Lacedaemonian General against the Athenians at the Town of Aegospotamos resolved at certain times to break in upon the Athenian Navy and to retreat back again with his Ships which having performed often when the Athenians after his Departure were scattered to gather their Forces together he according to his former Custom stretch'd out his Navy in length and again commanded them together And when the greater part of the Enemies according to custom were departed he assaulted the rest destroyed them and took the whole Fleet. CHAP. II. Of the Place to be chosen for a Fight Example 1. WHen M. Curius saw that he could by no means resist the Phalanx or the Body of ten thousand Pikes of King Pyrrhus when they were joyned together in an open Field ordered the matter so that he was to fight in a streight and narrow place where being close together they might be an hinderance to one another 2. Cn. Pompeius in Cappadocia chose a place for his Camp in the higher Ground that the proclivity of the Hill might assist the charging of his Souldiers so that by their running down he easily overcame Mithridates and his Army 3. When C. Caesar was to fight against Pharnaces the Son of Mithridates he drew up his Men in Battel on a Hill which much facilitated the gaining of the Victory for the Roman Souldiers casting their Darts from the higher Ground upon the Enemy quickly caused them to turn their Backs 4. When Lucullus was to encounter with Mithridates and Tigranes in the greater Armenia near Tigranacerta he got possession in haste of a plain Ground which was on the top of a Hill with part of his Troops and then assaulted the Enemy which was under charged their Horse in the Flanks and having driven part of them and pursued them when they ran in and disordered their Foot he obtain'd a most famous Victory 5. Ventidius General against the Parthian Army would not lead out his Souldiers to the Fight till the Enemy was within fifty Paces and then by running suddenly upon them he closed in with them so near that he frustrated their Arrows which they made use of at a distance by this proceeding he shewed such an appearance of Confidence and Courage that he quickly overcame those barbarous People 6. When Hannibal was to fight against Marcellus at Numistro he plac'd his Army amongst the Pits and broken ways on one hand and made use of the nature of the place as a Wall and a Defence Thus he got the Victory and overcame a most famous Captain 7. When the same Hannibal at the Battel of Cannae understood that the River Volturnus beyond the nature of other Rivers yielded strong Winds in the Morning which raised up great Clouds of Sand and Dust he drew up his Army in such a manner that all the violence of the Wind beat upon the Backs of his Men and into the Faces and Eves of the Romans by these Inconveniencies which wonderfully incommoded the Roman Army he got that remarkable Victory 8. Marius having appointed a day to fight against the Cimbri and Teutones placed before his Camp his Souldiers strengthened with Food that by the little distance that was between them and their Enemies their Army might be first overcome by their labour in gaining it and besides their weariness in running this space he gave them another Trouble he drew up his Men so that the Army of those barbarous People had the Sun the Wind and the Dust in their Faces 9. Cleomenes the Lacedaemonian General against Hippias the Athenian who was the stronger in Horse caused Trees to be laid along the Plane where they were to fight and rendered it unpassable to the Horse 10. The Iberi were received by a vast multitude of the Enemies and fearing that they should be surrounded marched to the sides of a River which in that Country had high Banks Thus being defended behind by the River and excelling the Enemy in Valour they assaulted the first Ranks and destroyed the whole Army of their Enemies 11. Xanthippus the Lacedaemonian changed the Fortune of the Carthaginian War only by the change of a place for when the Carthaginians were almost reduced to despair they hired him to be their General When he took notice that the Africans who excelled and exceeded the Romans in Horse and Elephants drew up on the Hills and that the Romans whose Strength consisted in their Foot held the Valleys he led the Carthaginians down to them with his Elephants he disordered their Ranks and with the Numidian Horse he pursued the dispersed Souldiers and routed their Army winning the same day a Victory both by Sea and Land 12. When Epaminondas the Theban General was leading his Army against the Lacedaemonians he caused a Party of Horse to ride up and down before that they might raise a great Dust before the Enemies eyes when they expected the Horse to fall upon them he led about his Foot Souldiers from that side where the Horse were riding against the Enemy and fell upon them suddenly in the Rear and overcame them 13. Three hundred Lacedaemonians held and defended the Streights called Thermopylae against an innumerable multitude of Persians because those Streights would not suffer a greater number to fight at once near at hand by this means they being equal in number to those barbarous People but excelling them in Valour and Courage cut in pieces a great many of them neither could they have been overcome if it had not been for a Traitor named Epialtes of Trachinia who led the Persians round about upon their Backs and overpower'd them 14. Themistocles the Athenian General when he saw that it would be very much for the Advantage of Greece to fight with Xerxes his numerous Navy in the Streights of Salamini and could not perswade his Citizens by craft he brought to pass that the Grecians were forc'd to comply with this Advantage for pretending himself a Traitor he sent to Xerxes to signifie to him that his Countrymen were ready to fly away and that it would be far more difficult for him to assault every City by a Siege By this means he brought to pass that the Persian Navy was first disquieted while they were watching all night afterwards in the Morning he with his fresh men encounter'd with the said Persians tired with want of Rest in a streight place as he desired in which Xerxes could not make use of his numbers in which he did exceed CHAP. III. Of ordering and drawing up an Army in Battel c. Example 1. CN Scipio General in Spain against Hanno at the Town of Indibile took notice that the Carthaginian Army was so ordered that the Spaniards were to fight in the right Wing who were indeed the stoutest Souldiers but mercenary and warred not for themselves but for others and that in the left Wing were the Africans a weaker sort of Men but more
the Gauls the Ligurians the Baleares and the Moors that they might not be able to fly away the Carthaginians being next behind that they might in the first encounter with the Enemy disturb or weary them after them he placed his own Men and the macedonians who might receive the tired Romans afresh and in the Rear he put the Italians whose Constancy and Courage he suspected because he had drawn many of them out of Italy against their Wills Scipio against this Order drew up the strength of the Legions in three Battalions in the Front dividing them into Hastati Principes and Triarii that is first Spear-men next such as were of a gentile and noble Descent last another sort of Souldiers of the Roman Army who did commonly march and fight in the Rear Neither were the Companies close together but he left a space between every one that the Elephants that were driven against them by the Enemy might pass by without disordering the Ranks and those Intervals he fill'd up with such Souldiers as were lightly armed and nimble in Onsets and Retreats This he did that his Army might not appear divided into several Bodies He commanded these nimble Souldiers that at the first approach of the Elephants they should retreat and march to the sides of the Battalions He placed next his Horse and divided them into two Wings the right being Roman Horsemen he assign'd to Lelius over the left compos'd of Numidians he appointed King Massanissa which prudent Order was no doubt the Cause of the Victory It will not be unpleasing to the Reader to give here a short Account of the drawing up of Scipio's Army which procured him one of the most famous Victories of Antiquity together with the Honour of the Triumph and to the Romans the Dominion over their false Carthaginian Neighbours T. Livius describes this Battel l. 30. c. 33. in the same manner as Frontinus The Strength and good Successes depended upon the good Order and Preservation of the Ranks of their Army which was made up of several distinct Legions The Legion in Scipio's time had in it 4200 Souldiers 1200 Hastati or Spear-men 1200 Principes 600 Triarii 1200 Velites or lightly arm'd The Legion was divided into ten Cohorts or distinct Companies in which were 120 Hastati 120 Principes 60 Triarii and 120 Velites Scipio's Cohors belonging to every Legion is thus represented The Hastati 120 40 The Velites The Principes 120 40 The Triarii 60 40 In every Cohors or Company were three Manipuli or small Bands each under one Captain or Centurion I find some difference in the Roman Authors in the numbers of their Legions and in their ordering of an Army Romulus their first Founder as he was but a little Prince his Army was but small and his Legion less With the increase of their Empire their Legions and Cohorts did increase in number The Legion as in Caesar's time had 6000 men in it and so proportionably their Cohorts were more numerous than formerly but that which gave them a great Advantage over all other Nations was their Skill in drawing up of their Armies according to the Place and Enemy with whom they were to fight Scipio in this Battel appointed the Strength of his Legions to be in the Front whereas other Generals use to place their chiefest Men in the Rear or to keep them for the Reserve Take here a Scheme of each Legion of Scipio's Army according to the Description of Frontinus and Livy The Legion of 4200 Souldiers divided into thirty Bands or Companies under their distinct Leaders or Captains with that order and space between each Company that was observed by Scipio when he overcame Hannibal in Africa 1. The Battalion of Spear-men or Hastati 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 2. The Principes 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 3. The Triarii 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 Â The Intervals or Spaces between were filled up and made good with Velites or Souldiers lightly armed They had that excellent way that let the ground be never so unfit for a pitch'd Battel they would bring them up in that order that one Company was to second another and relieve such as were weary or over-power'd who could easily retreat without damage and fall in the Rear And though the difference of Arms now causeth us to differ much from their way yet the wisest Generals as Spinola Prince Maurice and others have profess'd themselves to be indebted to the Romans for some of their skill and cunning in ordering an Army 17. Archelaus fighting against Sylla in the Front of the Battel appointed Carts armed with Sythes to break and disorder the Roman Ranks in the second he placed his Macedonian Phalanx or 10000 Pikemen in the third Battalion were according to the Roman Method the Auxiliary Troops mingled with the Fugitives come out of Italy in whose Courage and Resolution he had a great Confidence In the Rear he drew up a Body of Souldiers lightly armed and in the Wings he placed his Horsemen of whom he had a great number and ordered them to enclose in the Enemy But Sylla on the contrary side caused a large Ditch to be dig'd on each hand of his Army and at the end of the Ditches he raised a Bulwark to defend it to this end that he might not be shut in with the vast numbers of the Foot and chiefly of the Enemy's Horse who were stronger than his Next he divided his Foot into three Bodies leaving Spaces between for the Souldiers lightly armed and for his Horse he drew them up in the Rear that when time should serve he might send them out to charge the Enemy and commanded the first Ranks of the second Battel to fix fast in the Ground many sharp Stakes thick together so that when the Carts armed with Sythes drew near he caused the foremost of the Romans to retreat within the Stakes before their Cohors commanding at that instant the whole Army to give a shout and the forlorn Hope to cast their Darts By this means the Enemies Carts were either stopped with the Stakes or terrified with the extraordinary Shout and sudden Assault so that they turned back upon their own Men and disordered the Macedonian Array which caused them to give ground whereas Sylla maintain'd his Archelaus at that moment charg'd with his Horse but when the Roman Horsemen encounter'd with them they put them to flight and compleated the Victory 18. C. Caesar prevented in the same manner with Stakes fixed in the Ground the Carts of the Gauls which were armed with Sythes 19. Alexander at the Battel of Arbella fearing the numbers of his Enemies and knowing the Courage of his own men drew up his Army so as to receive the Enemy on every side that in case he was encompassed in they might fight every way 20. When Aemilius Paulus march'd against Perses King of Macedonia he saw that he had placed a
Teutoni a People of Germany near the Waters Sextiae he sent Marcellus with a small Party of Horse and Foot by night to fall upon the Backs of the Enemy and better to shew the Appearance of an Army commanded the Servants and Cooks to go also armed with a great part of the Beasts for Carriage and Carts covered over with course Coverleds the better to shew the likeness of Horsemen He commanded them that assoon as they saw the Battel begun they should come down upon the Backs of the Enemy This Appearance struck so great a Terror into the Enemy that their most valiant men immediately fled 7. M. Licinius Crassus in the War against the Fugitives when he was to lead out his Army near Calamarcum against Castus and Canimocus Captains of the Gauls sent twelve Bands or Cohorts commanded by C. Promptinus and C. Martius Rufus his Lieutenants round about a Hill so that when the Battel was begun this Party came behind the Enemy with a great Noise and routed them in such a manner that instead of fighting they all fled 8. When Marcellus was afraid that the small number of his Men would be discovered by their hollowing commanded all the Followers of his Army to encrease the hollowing by this means he used to fright the Enemy with the Appearance of a great Army 9. Valerius Levinus in a Battel against Pyrrhus King of Epirus having kill'd with his Sword a certain common Souldier held it up all bloody in the fight of both Armies telling them that therewith he had slain Pyrrhus Therefore the Enemies thinking that they had lost their Leader and troubled with this Lye retreated in fear into their Camp 10. Jugurtha fighting in Numidia against C. Marius having the Knowledge of the Latin Tongue by his long living in the Roman Armies advanc'd to the first Ranks and declared with a loud Voice in Latin That he had kill'd C. Marius and by that means troubled many of the Roman Army 11. Mynnides the Athenian commanding in a doubtful Fight against the Thebans suddenly ran to his right Wing and cried out aloud That the left had already got the Victory by this policy he encreas'd the Courage and Chearfulness of his Men and so terrified the Enemy that they fled and left him the Victory 12. When Croesus was to fight against a strong Party of Horse he caused a great Company of Camels to meet them The Horse were so troubled at the strangeness of the Sight that they cast down their Riders ran upon the Ranks of the Foot and gave the Victory to the Enemy 13. When Pyrrhus King of Epyrus was to fight for them of Tarentum against the Romans he made use of his Elephants in the same manner to disorder the Roman Army 14. And the Carthaginians also have often practis'd the same thing in their Fights against the Romans 15. The Camp of the Volsci being seated near Bushes and Woods Camillus caused all that would burn to be carried to their Frenches and there to be set on Fire by this means he drove the enemy from thence 16. M. Crassus in the War of the Confederates was in the same manner surprised with almost all his Army 17. The Spaniards in a Fight against Hamilcar put before them in the Front of the Battel Carts full of combustible matter and Brimstone drawn by Oxen and when the Signal of the Fight was given they set them on fire then driving the Oxen to the Enemies they broke through and discomfited them 18. The Falisci and such as were of the Faction of Tarquinius apparelled many of their men in the Habit of Priests with Torches and Snakes in their hands sending them in a furious manner to disturb and disorder the Roman Army 19. The Vejentes and Fidenates with lighted Torches practised the same Policy 20. When Atheas King of the Scythians was to fight against a greater number of the Triballi than he had in his Army he ordered the Women and Boys and all such as were unfit to fight to drive upon the last Battalion of the Enemy all the Oxen and Asses that he had and to carry up an end Pikes in their hands by which Appearance he caused a Rumour to be spread amongst the Enemies That Succours were come from the farthest part of Scythia to his Assistance which so discouraged them that they were overthrown CHAP. V. Of Ambushes Example 1. WHen Romulus went against the Town of Fidenae he left a part of his Forces in Holes and Caves and by a pretended Flight caused the Enemy to follow unadvisedly so far as his concealed Souldiers who immediately rose up assaulted the unwary and dispersed Enemy on all hands and cut them in pieces 2. Q. Fabius Maximus Consul being sent to aid the Inhabitants of Sutrium against the Hetrusci oblig'd all the Enemies Troops to fall upon him and afterwards in a seeming Fear retreated to a higher Ground and when the Enemy pursued in a disorderly manner to the foot of the Hill he fell upon them and not only routed them but took their Camp 3. T. Sempronius Gracchus General against the Celtiberi a People of Spain pretended a Fear and caused his Army to keep within their Fortifications only he sent out some of his Companies lightly armed to skirmish with the Enemy but upon a sudden he caused them to retreat in again which caused the Enemy to follow in pursuit then did he assault them in good order and made such a slaughter of them that he took their Camp 4. Q. Metellus Consul General in Sicily against Hasdrubal was more wary and careful because of the Enemies vast numbers and one hundred and thirty Elephants which they had in their Army he seemed to be therefore diffident of his own Forces and kept his Army within the Town of Panormus having drawn a Ditch of a very great breadth before his Army but after when he saw in Hasdrubal's Army that in the Front the Elephants did march he commanded the Spear-men to assault them with their Weapons and to retreat immediately back again within their Fortifications The Rulers of the Beasts being moved by this offer of a Fight and disappointed drove the Elephants into the very Ditch in which they were no sooner stop'd and entangled but they were either kill'd by the multitude of Darts cast at them or driven back upon their own Army which they disordered Then Metellus waiting for this Opportunity sallied out of his Trenches with his whole Army assaulted the Carthaginians on all sides routed them and took their Elephants 5. Tamiris Queen of Scythia fighting with Cyrus King of Persia upon an equal Advantage by a pretended Fear led him into certain Streights with which her Souldiers were well acquainted and then turned back on a sudden and by the Assistance of the place overcame him 6. When the Egyptians were to fight a Battel in Fields in which two Marshes met they hid themselves in the Sedge and when the Battel was begun they pretended
the Camp of Fulvius the Roman General was negligently and ill provided and that he was apt to attempt many things without Discretion by break of Day when the thick Mists caused the Air to be dark he shewed a few Souldiers to the Roman Sentinels against whom Fulvius immediately marched with his Army in the mean while Hannibal assaulted and took the Camp of Fulvius on the other side By that means falling upon the back of the Romans he cut off eight thousand of their stoutest Souldiers with their General 22. The same Hannibal when the Roman Army was divided between the Dictator Fabius and Minutius the Master of the Horse and that Fabius waited for a fair Opportunity but Minutius desired earnestly to fight him he placed his Camp in a Plain that was between the two Armies and hid a Party of Foot amongst craggy Rocks whilst he sent out some Troops to invite forth the Enemy and take possession of an higher Ground near adjoyning when Minutius led forth his Army to cut them off the Ambush which Hannibal had plac'd rose up on a sudden and had defeated and destroyed Minutius's Army if Fabius had not succour'd them in their need 23. The same Hannibal when at the River Trebeia he had in fight the Camp of the Consul Sempronius Longus a River running between them placed in Ambush in the coldest time of Winter Mago with a select Company whilst he had ordered the Numidian Cavalry to ride about the Roman Camp to work upon the Credulity of Sempronius commanding them at the first Assault of the Romans to retreat back through the known Fords to his Army when the Consul had unadvisedly assaulted and followed them with his fasting Army through the River in a most bitter cold Season which made the Roman Souldiers shake then did Hannibal encounter them with his Men whom he had prepared with Fire Oyl and Food when the Enemy was benum'd with Cold and in want of Necessaries and Mago fail'd not to play his part for he fell upon them behind in good order 24. The same Hannibal at the Lake Thrasymenus finding a narrow way that led to the Foot of a Mountain and into open Fields pretended to fly and through the Streights he escaped into the level Ground where he encamped but in the night he appointed some Souldiers and plac'd them about the Hill which was over him and in the sides of the Streights the next Morning by break of day being favour'd by a Mist he drew up his Army Flaminius followed him as if he had fled but when he was in the Streights he foresaw not the Ambush till he found himself encompassed in before behind and on all sides and till his Army was totally destroyed 25. The same Hannibal fighting against Junius the Dictator in the middle of the Night commanded six hundred Horsemen divided into several Troops in their turns without ceasing to shew themselves about the Roman Camp by that means when the Romans were tired by watching all night and standing upon the Rampires in the Rain which then happened to fall continually and when Junius began to sound a Retreat then did Hannibal lead on his Souldiers well refreshed and assaulted the Roman Camp 26. Epaminondas the Theban General when the Lacedaemonians defended at Athmos the Peloponnesus with a Fortification in the same manner he disturbed the Enemy all night by a few light armed Souldiers and afterwards by break of day he drew up his Men when the Lacedaemonians were retreating and suddenly with his whole Army which he kept quiet he broke thro' their Fortifications naked of Defendants 27. Hannibal having drawn up his Army at the Town of Cannae commanded six hundred Numidian Horsemen to fly to the Romans and for a greater assurance to them delivered to them their Swords and Bucklers falling back into the last Ranks but when the Battel was first begun they drew their short Swords which they had concealed for the purpose and taking up the Bucklers of the slain they fell upon the Back of the Roman Army and destroyed them 28. Japyges a People of Calabria when P. Licinius was Proconful delivered up their Towns as if they had yielded themselves to the Romans but being received and placed in the hindermost Ranks they fell upon their Backs 29. Scipio Africanus having against him two Camps of Enemies one commanded by Syphax the other belonging to the Carthaginians resolved to assault Syphax's Camp in the night and to set it on fire for there was there much combustible matter that he might from his own Camp cut off the Numidians in the Hurly-burly and because he knew that the Carthaginians would adventure to go out to succour their Companions he laid an Ambush to receive them All this fell out according to his Expectation and Desire 30. Mithridates having been often overcome by the Valour of Lucullus assaulted him in an Ambuscado when he had corrupted and persuaded a certain man of great Strength named Adathas to fly to the Enemy This Traitor promised and engaged his Faith to the Romans that he might perform his intended Wickedness which he stoutly endeavoured but in vain for being admitted by Lucullus into the number of his Horsemen he was secretly watch'd because they did not give suddenly credit to a Run-away neither was it fit to discourage others from coming over to them afterwards in many Sallies and Encounters having done good Service he got himself into Credit He chose a time when the Principes were sent away and they were retired to the innermost Rooms of the General 's Quarters and all was quiet in the Camp An accident favour'd Lucullus for he found him at that time departed to his Rest weary with his evening Cares and Employments having entertain'd Company very late when therefore he offered to go in as if he would reveal some sudden and important Matter he was resolutely kept out by the Servants who were mindful of their Lords Health and Repose which caus'd him to doubt that he was suspected he therefore took Horse which he had ready before the Gate and returned without effecting any thing to Mithridates 31. When Sertorius in Spain near the Town of Lauro had his Camp adjoyning to the Camp of Pompey and that there was but two Countries only there able to furnish them with Fodder one near the other at a distance he caused his Souldiers lightly armed frequently to visit that Country that was nearest but forbad them so much as to enter into that which was at a distance by this means he made his Enemies believe that the farthest Country was the safest which when the Souldiers of Pompey went to visit he sent Octavius Graecimus with ten Companies armed in the Roman manner and ten other Companies of Spaniards lightly armed with Tarquinius Priscus at the head of two thousand Horse to lye in Ambush for the Forragers They punctually and courageously performed their Orders for having well understood the Country they hid these Forces in a
War 6. Q. Furius when his Army fled met them and protested that he would receive none of them into his Camp unless they return'd with Victory he led them therefore back and overthrew the Enemies 7. Scipio at the City Numantia in Spain when he saw his Army retreating declared to them That he would treat them as Enemies whosoever did return back into the Camp 8. Servilius Priscus the Dictator when he commanded the Colours to advance against the Enemies the Falisci and that an Ensign delayed to obey him he commanded him to be kill'd This example so affrighted his Souldiers that they assaulted the Enemy courageously 9. Cossus Cornelius Master of the Horse against the Fidenates shewed the same example 10. Tarquinius in the Battel against the Sabins when the Horsemen were loth to fall on took from them their Bridles and commanded them to prick on their Horses and to break through the enemies 11. M. Attilius the Consul in the Samnitick War when part of his Army fled back to his Camp marched against them with another Party telling them that they must either fight with him and their good Citizens unless they would return against the enemy By this means he led them all back into the Fight 12. L. Sylla when the Legions began to yield to the Army of Mithridates led by Archelaus he drew his Sword and ran into the first Battalion and calling to his Souldiers told them If any enquir'd where they had left their General they might answer fighting in Boeotia this made them so much ashamed that they all followed him 13. When Julius Caesar saw his Men give back at Munida he caused his Horse to be led out of his sight and cast himself on foot into the first Battalion The Souldiers being ashamed to forsake their General returned to the Fight again 14. King Philip was afraid that his Men would never be able to resist the Fury of the Scythians he placed therefore behind them his most trusty Horsemen commanding them that they should not suffer any of their Fellow-Souldiers to return out of the Battel and that if any were resolved to fly they should kill them by this threatning he made the most timorous to chuse rather to be kill'd by the enemy than by their own men and got the Victory CHAP. IX Of the prosecuting the remaining part of a War if all things succeed Example 1. WHen C. Marius had overcome in a Battel the Teutoni a People of Germany he encompassed about the rest the next Night that followed the Fight and caus'd a few of his Army to fright them with continual Noise that they might be kept waking all night by that means the next Morning they being tired with watching were more easily brought to yield to him 2. When Claudius Nero had overpower'd the Carthaginian Army which Hasdrubal led out of Spain into Italy he cast the Head of Hasdrubal into Hannibal's Camp by which Action he sorely afflicted and discouraged him with the assurance of the loss of his Brother Asdrubal who was slain and with the despair of Assistance from the approaching Army 3. L. Sylla shewed openly upon Pikes to them of the City Praeneste who were there besieged the Heads of the Captains that were slain in Fight that he might overcome the stiffness of the obstinate Inhabitants 4. In the like manner Arminius the Commander of the Germans caus'd the Heads of them whom he had kill'd in Fight to be held up and shewed near the enemies Camp 5. Domitius Corbulo besieging Tigranocerta perceived that the Armenians were likely to bear the Siege a while he therefore took a certain Man of Megistae in Lycia punished him with Death and shot his Head with a Roman Engine into the Walls of the Town the Head by chance fell in the midst of their Common-Council which was then met together at the sight of which they were so affrighted that they immediately surrendred themselves 6. Hermocrates of Syracuse having overcome in Battel the Athenians was jealous that the great number of Prisoners that he had taken would not be well guarded because the Success of the Fight was like to oblige the Conquerours to give themselves over to feasting and security he therefore spread abroad the Rumour That the next Night the Enemies Cavalry would come upon them which Report made the Guards to be kept with more diligence 7. The same General having had good success in War and for that reason because his Souldiers began to be too secure and to give themselves over to Sleeping and Wine he appointed a Run-away to come into his Camp and to declare That he was escaped thither by Flight to admonish them that there were Ambushes laid for them in every place by the Inhabitants of Syracuse the fear of them brought his Army to a condition of fighting so that when they came to assault him in his Camp they were driven into the Ditehes and were over-powered CHAP. X. Of remedying ill Successes when things happen contrary Example 1. TDidius having had a very fierce Battel in Spain which ended by the coming in of the Night and was remarkable for the great number of Souldiers slain on both sides caus'd many of the dead Bodies of his Men to be buried in the dark Night so that the next day when the Spaniards who went to perform the same Office to their dead Souldiers because they found a greater number of their People slain than of the Romans concluding from thence that they were overcome and yielded to the Articles of the Roman General 2. T. Martius a Roman Knight who commanded the rest of the Army of the two Scipio's who were slain having near him at a few Miles distance two Camps of the Carthaginians encouraged the Souldiers to assault in the dead of the Night the next Camp He found them out of order and secure because of their former Victories so that falling upon them in that condition he left none alive to tell their woful Destruction and Slaughter and the same night having given a little time to his Souldiers to rest he prevented the report of the Execution and assaulted the other Camp so that he had twice the same Success and the Carthaginians were destroyed every where By that means he restored to the People of Rome the Countries of Spain which they had lost CHAP. XI Of preserving such as are wavering in their Obedience and Fidelity Example 1. WHen P. Valerius was afraid of the Perfidiousness of the Inhabitants of Epidaurus because he had but small Forces with him provided at a distance from the Town some Gymnick Plays and when almost all the City went out to see them he shut the Gates and would not suffer the Citizens to return in again till they had delivered some of their principal Men as Hostages 2. Cn. Pompeius having a Jealousie of the Catinienses and fearing that they would not admit his Guards within their Walls intreated them in the mean while to receive his sick men
and suffer them to refresh themselves amongst them which being granted he sent the stoutest of his Souldiers in the Habit and Garb of sick men and with them took the City and kept it for his Use 3. When Alexander had overcome and conquered Thrasia and he was to pass over into Asia because he feared that after his Departure they would take up Arms against him he took with him with an honourable Pretence their Kings their Governours and all such as did seem to be concerned for the Recovery of the Liberty that they had lost he left behind the common People and appointed them Governours out of the meanest of them By this means he obliged their Princes by many good Deeds so that they would not rebell against him and for the common People they were not able to do him mischief when they were deprived of the Assistance of their Princes 4. When Antipater saw the first Army of them of Nestos which upon the News of the Death of Alexander were gathered together to disturb his Government he pretended that he knew not the intent of their coming but gave them Thanks because he supposed that they designed to assist Alexander against the Lacedaemonians and assured them that he would give the King an Account by Letter of their Readiness to serve him But because he had then no need of their help he advis'd them to depart home to their Houses By this subtle Speech he delivered himself from the danger of a Rebellion that threatned him 5. Scipio Africanus being in Spain had a Prisoner amongst the rest a noble Lady and a Virgin of a rare Beauty brought to him which ravish'd the Eyes of all that beheld her he caus'd her to be very well guarded and to be delivered to her Spouse named Luceius and besides he gave the Gold that her Parents brought to him for her Ransom to her Beloved as an Addition to her Dowry By which several Expressions of his Bounty the whole Nation was overcome and yielded to the Roman Empire 6. It is also reported of Alexander the Great that he very carefully preserved a Captive Virgin of a rare Beauty which had been espoused to a neighbouring Prince and would not so much as see her but sent her to her Husband and by this good Deed he got the Favour and the Hearts of the whole Nation 7. When the Emperour Caesar Augustus sirnamed Germanicus in that War in which he overcame the Enemies and purchased to himself the Name of Germanicus was in the Borders of them of Collen and built certain Castles commanded that the Value and Price of the Fruits of those Places which he inclosed within his Fortifications should be paid to the right Owners by the Report of his Equity and just dealing he obliged and confirmed all that Country in their Obedience CHAP. XII What is to be done in a Camp if we have not sufficient Confidence in the present Forces Example 1. T. Quintius the Consul when the Volsci were ready to assault his Camp kept only a Company upon the Guard and sent the rest of the Army to sleep and take their rest only the Trumpeters he ordered to ride about the Fortifications and to sound their Trumpets by which Appearance and Dissimulation he detained and kept off the Enemy all night and the next Morning when they were weary with watching he suddenly sallied out and easily overcame them 2. Q. Sertorius in Spain being too weak for the Enemies Cavalry which was wont to ride up to the sides of his Camp caused in the night Holes to be dig'd in the Ground and drew up his Army before them At last when the Troops of Horse returned according to their former Custom he told his Men that he had found that the Enemies had prepared an Ambush for them and therefore they should not depart from their Colours nor forsake their Ranks which being observ'd according to the Discipline of War he fell by chance into the true Ambushes which because he had foretold his Souldiers they were the more courageous 3. Chares the Athenian General expected some Recruits but was afraid that the Enemy in contempt of his slender Forces would in the mean while assault his Camp he therefore sent a great many of the Souldiers that he had with him on the other side of his Camp away in the Night and commanded them that they should return to him again in the most visible manner to his Enemies and shew the Appearance of Recruits and fresh Succours By this appearance of Recruits he kept off the Enemy untill he was really relieved according to his expectation 4. Iphicrates the Athenian having his Camp in plain Fields and understanding that the Thracians intended to invade and plunder his Camp and that they would come down the Hills by one way that led from the top to the bottom he privately led his Army and placed them on both sides of the way through which the Thracians were to pass and when the Enemy came running down to the Camp where many Fires were purposely made by a few to shew the appearance of the Army continuing there he assaulted them on both sides and overthrew them CHAP. XIII Of Escaping Example 1. WHen the Gauls were to fight with Attalus they delivered to certain Guards all their Gold and Silver and ordered them that if they were put to Flight they should scatter it in the way that whilst the Enemy was busie in gathering it up they might more easily escape them 2. Triphon King of Syria being overcome in Battel scattered in all the way where he fled his Money by that means he detained the Horsemen of Antiochus that pursued him and escaped from them 3. Q. Sertorius being overcome by Q. Metellus Pius and forced to a Retreat and not judging his Flight to be safe commanded his Souldiers to scatter and depart and acquainted them with the place where he advis'd and ordered them to meet all again together 4. Viriatus General of the Lusitanior Portugals escaped from the Roman Army and out of a difficult place in the same manner as Sertorius by scattering his Army and gathering it again together 5. Horatius Cocles when he was pursued by the Army of Porsenna ordered his Souldiers to return into the City over the Bridge and to break it down that the Enemy might not follow which while it was in doing he exposed his Life as the Defender of his City to keep off such as pursued after him And when he had heard the noise of the Bridge falling down he cast himself into the River and pass'd over it loaden not with Arms but with Wounds 6. When Afranius in Spain at the City of Ilerda fled from Caesar who pursued him at the Heels he pitch'd his Camp and when Caesar had done the like and had sent out a Party of his Men for Forrage he suddenly gave a Command to his Army to march 7. When Antonius retreated with his Army which was followed by the
been forced to pass under the yoak in sign of submission to continue out of the Camp and Works that they having no defence might be used to the Dangers and be the bolder to encounter with the Enemy 19. P. Comelius Nasica and Decimus Junius the Consuls condemned such to be publickly whipped with Rods and to be sold as Slaves as had forsaken the Army 20. Domitius Corbulo in Armenia caused Two Troops of Horse and Three Companies of Foot who had given back in assaulting of a Castle to continue and lodge out of the Trenches until by their continual Labour and happy encounter they had wiped off their disgrace 21. Aurelius Cotta the Consul when out of necessity he commanded the Horsemen to labour in the Works and that some of them refused to obey him he complained of it to the Censors and caused them to be punished And afterwards he obtained of the Senate that they should lose all their pay that was then due to them 22. The Tribunes of the People likewise consulted them in this business and by a general consent this Discipline was establisht 23. Q. Metellus Sirnamed Macedonicus in Spain commanded five Companies who had been beaten back by the Enemy to make their Wills and sent them back to recover the place threatning them that he would never receive them again till they had got the Victory 24. P. Valerius being Consul the Senate commanded the Army that had been overcame at Siris to be led to Firmius and there to fortifie a Camp and abide in Tents all the Winter 25. The Senate decreed when their Soldiers were shamefully put to flight that no assistance should be sent to them till they had beaten and taken the Enemy Aud that those Legions which had refused to fight in the Punick War should be transported over into Sicily and there remain seven years and live upon barley bread 26. L. Piso condemned Titius the Captain of a Company to stand every day bare-foot before his Tent when the Watch went the Rounds with his Gown torn about him and a loose Cassack and that he should abstain from bathing and feasting because he had retreated back and given ground to the Fugitives with whom he encountred 27. Sylla when the Enemy broke in upon a Company and the Commanders were upon the Guard he ordered them to stand before the Generals Tent without Arms and Belts 28. Domitius Corbulo General in Armenia condemned Aemelius Rufus Leivtenant-General of the Horse to have his Garments broken and cut by a Sergeant and in that shatter'd Habit to stand before the Generals Tent amongst the Principes until they were discharged because he had given back and retreated from the Enemy and because a party of his Horse was but ill furnished with Arms. 29. Attilius Regubus going out of Samnium into the Country of Nuceria with his Army met with the Enemy that drove him back He comcommanded therefore a Party of his Men behind to kill all such as should offer to retreat and deal with them as with Fugitives 30. Cotta Consul in Sicilia caused Valerius Nobilis a Collonel descended of the Family Valeria to be punished by whipping him with Rods. 31. The same Cotta condemned P. Aurelius his near Kinsman whom he had left to command in his absence at the Siege of Lipara when he was gone to Messina to enquire about the success of the War to be beaten with Rods to be listed amongst the Common Soldiers and to perform all their Duties because some of the Works belonging to the Camp had been fired by the Enemy and the Camp it self had been taken in his absence 32. Fulvius Flaccus the Censor put out of the Senate his own Brother Fulvius because he had without the consent of the Consul dismist and sent away a Legion over which he was the Collonel 33. When M. Cato was sailing away with his Fleet from the Enemies shoar where he had remained some few days having given and hang'd out before the Sign of his departure and that one of his Soldiers being left behind called out and made sign to the Ships to be taken in he turned about with his whole Fleet took the Soldier and put him to death and made him an Example to the rest rather than to leave him to be destroyed by the Enemy for his Negligence 34. Appius Claudius was wont to take the Tenth Man of those who did offer to give ground to an Enemy by lot and beat them with Clubs 35. Fabius Rollus the Consul caused the lot to be cast upon two Legions which had retreated from the Enemy and those upon whom the lot fell to be beheaded in the presence of the rest of the Soldiers 36. Aquirius took the third man out of the Companies that had suffered their Guards to be faced by the Enemy and caused them to lose their Heads with an Ax. 37. M. Antonius when a Mount that he had raised had been burnt by the Enemy decimated two Colonies or Companies of Soldiers that were to defend the Works and punished likewise a Centurion or Captain of each Cohors he sent away the Lievtenant Collonel with disgrace and commanded the surviving part of the Legion to feed upon Barly Bread 38. The Legion which plundred and destroyed the Town of Rhegium without the Generals orders was punished in this manner Four Thousand of them were imprisoned and there put to death Beside the Senate commanded that none of them should be buryed or mourned for 39. L. Papyrus Sirnamed Cursor being Dictator treated Fabius Rutilius master of his Horse in this manner because he had encountred with the Enemy against his command though with success He required him to be beaten with Rods with an intention to strike off his Head with an Ax neither could he be prevailed upon by the Endeavors and Prayers of his Soldiers to remit the Punishment and when Rutilius fled to Rome he pursued him neither would he there forgive him untill Fabius with his Father fell upon their Knees to him and the whole Senate and People spoke for him 40. Manlius who afterwards was Sirnamed the Imperious cut off his Sons Head with an Ax after that he had been beaten with Rods in the presence of the whole Army because he had joyned in Battle with the Enemy against his Orders though he came off with Victory 41. Manlius the Son when the Army for his sake were ready to rise up in Sedition and disorder against his Father told them that no Man was of that Worth that for him the Discipline of War ought to be neglected he therefore obliged them to suffer him to be punished 42. Q. Fabius Maximus cut off the Right-Hands of such as had run away from his Army 43. Q. Curio the Consul in the Dardanick War when one of his five Legions about Dirrachyum rose up in Rebellion and refused to march against the Enemy saying that they would not follow their Foolish General in a dangerous and troublesom Enterprise He commanded
but of all the Spoils he converted so little to his own use that the Senate gave his Daughter a Portion out of the Publick Treasury CHAP. IV. Of Justice Example 1. WHen Camillus besieged the Falisci in their Town there was a certain School-master that led the Children of some of the Falisci out of the Walls as if he had intended only to walk with them abroad but under that pretence he deliver'd them to Camillus and for the recovery of the Children the City would submit to him Camillus abhorr'd his perfidiousness and caused him to have his hands bound behind and commanded the Children to whip him back into the the Town again to their Parents By this just dealing he obtained the Victory which he desired not to obtain by fraud for this Equitable Proceeding made the Falisci to yield to him willingly 2. The Physitian of King Pyrrhus went to Fabricius General for the Romans promising him that he would give his Master Poison if before-hand he might have the assurance of a considerable Reward Fabricius thinking that he had no need of such a foul Deed to get the Victory discovered the Plot and the Author to the King This caused him to seek and desire earnestly the Roman's Friendship CHAP. V. Of Constancy Example 1. CN Pompeius when his Soldiers threatned to plunder and take his Treasure which was to be carryed in Trumph and Servilus and Glaucia two Romans advised him to divide it amongst them to prevent a Tumult he assured them that he would not ride in Triumph but rather dye than to yield to the Licentiousness of his Soldiers Having therefore reproved them severely in a Speech he cast down before them the Bundles of Rods carryed before him which were crowned with Lawrel bidding them to begin their Plunder by the spoiling of them This proceeding made them so ashamed that they continued in their Obedience 2. C. Caesar in the Heat of the Civil War in a Sedition of his Soldiers when they were therefore the bolder disbanded a whole Legion and cut off the Heads of their Leaders with his Axes but a little after when they who were disbanded petition'd for a Pardon he received them again and they proved to him some of his best Soldiers 3. Postumius who had been Consul encouraged his Soldiers to fight and when they demanded what he would order he cryed out That they would imitate him with that he takes the Colours and marched strait against the Enemy they likewise followed and got the Victory 4. L. Marcellus falling unadvisedly into the hands of the Gauls rid round about to spy out some way to escape and when he found that the Enemies had possessed all the Passages he prayed to the Gods and broke into the midst of his Enemies who were affrighted at his unexpected Boldness and kill'd their Leader so that when there was scarce any appearance to escape with Life he overcame the General and carryed away his Arms. 5. When L. Paulus had lost his Army at the Battle of Cannae Lentulus offered him a Horse to fly but he would not survive his ill Success which had not been occasioned by him but continued upon that Rock where he had been wounded and against which he leaned untill the Enemy came overpowr'd and kill'd him 6. Varro his Partner shewed a greater Constancy after that defeat The Senate and People returned him their Thanks because he had not despair'd of defending the Commonwealth He shewed sufficiently that he preserved himself not out of a desire of living so much as out of a Love for his Country for he let his Beard and Hair grow out to a length and never after would rest to take his Meat And when the People offer'd him Honours he refused them saying That the Commonwealth had need of more successful Magistrates 7. Sempronius Sirnamed Tuditanus and C. Octavius Tribunes of the Soldiers when all was lost at the Battle of Cannae and they were besieged by the Enemy in the lesser Camp perswaded the Soldiers with their Swords in their hands to break through with them the Enemies Guards assuring them that this was their Resolution though none should have the Courage besides themselves There were but Twelve partly Horsemen partly Footmen of all the rest who had the boldness to keep them company and with these they came safe to Canusium a Roman Garrison 8. C. Fontejus Crassus in Spain going out to forage with Three Thousand Men was surrounded in a difficult passage by Hasdrubal He acquainted only the first Ranks of his Soldiers with his Design and in the beginning of the Night when he was least expected he broke through the Enemies Post 9. P. Dicius the Tribune in the Samnitick War when Cornelius Cossus the Consul was caught in a difficult place advised him to send a small Party to possess a neighbouring hill and offer'd himself to lead that Party By this means he drew the Enemy to another place and opened a way for the Consul to escape but in that Station they besieged Derius and surrounded him He in the Night sallyed out of those Streights and came safe with his Soldiers to the Consul 10. The same Policy was practiced under the Command of Attilius Calatinus the Consul by him whose Name is variously recorded Some call him Laberius others Q. Ceditius many Calpurnius Flamma When this Man saw his Army led into such a Valley where all the Hills round about were possessed by the Enemy he desired the Consul to give him the heading of Three Hundred Men which being granted he exhorted them by their Courage to save their Army with this Party he ran down into the middle of the Valley and when the Enemies on all sides came to destroy them he detained them so long in a sharp fight that the Consul had time to draw and lead out his Army 11. C. Caesar marching against the Germans and their King Ariovistus with his Army perceived that his Soldiers were terrified he called them together therefore and told them that he would make use that day of none of his Legions but only of the Tenth Legion By this saying he encouraged the Soldiers of that Legion to behave themselves most manfully and the others were moved with shame to fight that the others might not carry away all the Honour and Glory of the Field 12. A certain Noble Man of Lacedemon when King Philip threatned to punish them with Fines if they did not deliver up their City answered He can never hinder us from dying for our Country 13. Leonidas the Lacedemonian when one told him that the Persians with the multitude of their Arrrows would make a Cloud answered We shall then fight the better in the shade 14. When Caelius the City Praeaor was doing Justice in the Seat of Judicature a Magpy pitcht upon his Head And the Roman Southsayers told him that if he did let go the Bird the Enemies would obtain the Victory over the Romans but if he kill'd the Bird
the Romans Armies would have the advantage but Caelius with all his Family would perish He therefore destroyed the Bird and it happened accordingly the Roman Army got the Victory but Caelius with Fourteen of his Family and Name were killed in that same Fight Some report that it was not Caelius but Laelius and that the Family of the Laely not the Caely were destroyed 15. P. Decius first the Father next the Son being Magistrates offer'd themselves to dye for the Commonwealth for putting spurs to their Horses they charged the Enemy and obtained for their Country the Victory 16. When P. Crussus was engaged in Asia in the War against Aristonicus between Aelia and Myrina he fell in amongst the Enemies Forces and was taken Prisoner which caused him to exclaim against the Roman Consul because of his Captivity but with the Rod that he had in his hand to strike his Horse he put out the Eye of a Thracian who to revenge himself run him through and deliver'd him from his Captivity as he desired 17. M. Cato the Censors Son falling down in a Battle from his Horse when he look'd about and perceived that his Sword was fallen out of the Scabbard he feared the reproach of his own Men he therefore returned to the Enemy and recovering his Sword after he had received some Wounds he returned back to his own Party 18. When the Petilini were besieged by the Carthaginians they cast out of their City their Aged Parents and Children because of the Famine And they endured a long Siege of eleven Months by feeding upon the leaves of Trees upon wet Leather dryed at the Fire and upon all manner of Beasts 19. The Spaniards called Arabricenses suffered the same Misery and would not deliver up the Town to Herculeius 20. When the Cassilini were besieged by Hannibal they suffered so much want that a Mouse was sold for a hundred Pence as it is left upon Record and that he that sold it dyed for want but the Buyer preserved his Life They continued nevertheless in their Fidelity to the Romans 21. When Mithridates besieged Cyzicum he brought forth the Captives of that Town and shewed them to the Besieged imagining that out of Pity and Compassion of their own Men the Towns-People would yield themselves But they exhorting the Prisoners to suffer Death manfully kept their Faith to the Romans 22. The Segobrigenses when their Wives and Children were kill'd by Viriatus chose rather to behold the Torments of their Dear Relations than to fall away from the Romans 23. They of Numantia rather than to yield shut themselves up in their Houses and were famish'd to Death CHAP. VI. Of Affection and Moderation Example 1. WHen Q. Fabius exhorted his Son that he should chuse a convenient place with the loss of a few Men. He answered wilt thou be of the number of those few 2. Xenophon being on Horseback commanded a Party of Foot Soldiers to take the Top of a Hill but when one of them murmur'd That he could easily fitting on his Horse order such a difficult March He alighted and made the Soldier to mount in his stead and he running on foot got up to the Top of the Hill The Soldier being ashamed of what was done when all his Fellows laughed at him alighted They all together could hardly perswade Xenophon to take his Horse again and to preserve himself for the Offices and Duties belonging to a General 3. Alexander leading his Army in the Winter when he was sitting by a Fire to take a view of his Forces as they march'd by him saw a certain Soldier almost dead with Cold he called him and made him sit in his place telling him That if he had been born among the Persians to sit in the Kings Seat would be a Crime worthy of Death but to a Macedonian born it was allowed 4. D. Augustus Vespasianus understanding that a certain young man of Honest Parentage unable for the War because of his great Poverty was brought down to the lowest ranks of Soldiers he appointed him a Pension and freed him from the Militia CHAP. VII Of various Counsels Resolutions and Advises Example 1. Caesar used to say that his Policy was to treat an Enemy as many Physitians do the Distempers of Bodies to overcome them rather by Famine than by Sword 2. Domitius Corbulo was wont to say that an Enemy was to be overcome with a Mattock that is by Works and Trenches 3. L. Paulus was of a Judgment that a General should be Old in Manners that is should follow the most moderate Counsels 4. It is reported of Scipio Africanus that when one told him that he was no Fighter answered My Mother made me a General but no common Soldier 5. C. Marias when a German challeng'd him out to fight him told him That if he were desirous of Death he might go and hang himself And when one shewed him a Gladiator of a low Staure but very old he bid him fight him and if he did overcome he would encounter with him who was the Conqueror 6. Q. Sertorius understanding by experience that he was not able to deal with all the Roman Army together in a Body that he might better be able to teach his Barbarian People who desired earnestly to fight them he brought before them Two Horses the one strong and lusty the other very weak and commanded two Young Men answerable to them to take them in hand to the strong man he appointed the weaker Horse bidding him to pull of the whole Tail but the weaker Young Man he commanded to pull off the Tayl of the strong Horse one Hair after another The Weak Person succeeded in his Enterprize and pulled off all the Tail by degrees but the strong Young Man strived in vain to pull off the Tail of the weak Horse By this example said Sertorius my Soldiers I have discovered to you the Nature of the Roman Army they are not to be overcome if you encounter them all together but you may destroy them by degrees if you take them by Parties 7. Valerius Levinus the Consul having taken within his Camp a Spy of the Enemy out of a confidence he had in his Soldiers commanded him to be led about the Quarters and to terrifie the Enemy he assured him that when they pleased their Spies should have liberty to take a View of his Forces 8. Caelius Principilaris who was chose Captain in Germany over such as remained alive and were besieged after the Defeat of Varrus fearing lest the Enemy should fire the Heaps of Wood joyning to the Trenches and by that means set their Camp in a Flame pretended the want of Wood he sent therefore many to steal Wood every where which when the Germans saw they carryed away all the Heaps of great Wood. 9. Cn. Scipio in the Maritime War cast Pitchers full of Tar and Grease into the Enemies Ships that by their weight they might do mischief and by breaking and shedding what was therein
departure Scanderbeg followed and cut off many of his Army assaulting him sometimes in the Rear sometime in the Van as place and occasion would suffes him The next Spring Amurath returned intr Epirus with an of Army 160000 Men seading beo fore Sebali as a wise Captain with 40000 Horse to beleagure the City of Croia After a furious Battery it was assaulted by the Turks but Vranacontes the Governour so encouraged his Soldiers and Citizens that they stoutly defended it whilst they were then busie in the assault Scanderbeg with 5000. broke into their Camp killed 500 Men and was spoiling of their Tents This gave an Alarm to the whole Army so that the Bassa Seremet and Prince Mahomet with his Guard hasted to rescue their Camp and to deliver it from such troublesome Guests Scanderbeg in his Retreat being inclosed in by the Turks broke through several Bodies of them safe but with great danger of his Life During this Siege he had strongly encamped himself upon the Mountain Tumenist not far from the Turks that he might be more ready to plague his Enemies and assist his Subjects besieged in Croia Mahomet to prevent Scanderbeg for the future had drawn all the best Soldiers of his Army on that side where he was wont to assault them but he having good Intelligence caused an Alarm to be given by Moses there whilst he in the mean while with a strong party of 8000 Men at Midnight entred their Camp at the farther end and made a very great flaughter of the Turks Amurath after many cruel Assaults given to the City and furious Attempts to no purpose through the Vigilancy of the Governour and Courage of the Defendants dyed for Grief under the Walls of Croia His Death caused the Siege to be raised by his Son and Successor Mahomet whose Army was followed and miserably cut off by Scanderbeg in their return homewards at all places of advantage But to keep him in continual Play Mahomet sent one Amesa a Turk with 12000 Horsemen to wast Epirus Scanderbeg laid for him an Ambush upon the Mountain Modrissa where Scanderbeg's Infantry fell upon those Horsemen and killed 7000 men with the loss of the Turks General taken Prisoner who was afterwards ransom'd at 13000 Duckats by Mahomet The Money was distributed amongst the Christian Soldiers After this one Debreas a Valiant Captain requested Mahomet to be sent against Scanderbeg who hearing of his coming went to meet him in the Turks Dominions with 6000 choice men Debreas had 14000. Scanderbeg thought to have come upon him unawares but he was prevented and discovered therefore the two Armies drew up and after a sharp engagement Scanderberbeg slew Debreas with his own Hands as he was riding about to encourage his Men. The whole Army at the loss of their General fled and left behind them 4120. slain by the Christians Mahomet endeavour'd next to corrupt some great Man of Scanderbegs Army Moses Golemus of Dibra was the person pitched upon He fled to the Turks and returned with an Army of 15000 men into Epirus where he was encountred by his late Prince and 11000 of his Soldiers killed with the loss of one hundred Epirots In this Battel Ahemaze a Turk challenged Zacharias Groppa a Christian and was by him killed and beheaded before the Fight Moses at his return to Constantinople was so derided by the Turks that he preferr'd to cast himself upon the mercy of Scanderbeg who received him again and pardoned him restoring to him all his Goods which had been confiscated Turks won next Amesa a Nephew of Scanderbegs promising him the Crown of Epirus With him Isaak the Great Bassa was sent with 50000 men to proclaim him King of Epirus Scanderbeg had provided a good Army but came in sight of the Enemy only with 6000 Horse with whom he took the way of Lyssa a Town of the Venetians as if he had despaired of keeping of Epirus any longer and had fled thither for the safety of his Person The Turks rejoiced as if they had no Enemy to deal with or to fear When Scanderbeg saw the Turks secure and that they had the day before ranged about the Country for Plunder and Spoil he divided his small Army into three Parties and came upon them before they expected him for they had not time to bridle their Horses Amesa making Head first was taken Prisoner and his Party defeated The Bassa was overthrown by Moses and Tanusius two of Scanderbegs Captains and driven out of Epirus He lost about 20000 men and Scanderbeg but 60. All the Bag and Baggage and Tents of the Enemies were there taken with great Riches by the Epirots Three years after Sinam and Hamur two other Captains were ordered by Mahomet to disturb the quiet of Scanderbegs Kingdom but Sinam with 20000 men was overthrown and his Successor Asambeg with 30000. was defeated next in the Plains of Ocrida himself wounded and taken Prisoner by Scanderbeg One Jussembeg with 18000. entring into Epirus lost part of his Army and was glad to save himself by flight with the rest Their misfortune caused one Caraza-beg an old Companion of Scanderbegs to request Mahomet to venture an Army with him He trusted him with 40000 men but when Carazabeg had near 4000 Horse who were cut in pieces by an Ambush at his first entrance into Epirus and been wearyed out with continual Alarms by Scanderbeg in the Night the weather proving very Tempestuous and full of Rain he returned back to Mahomet with less loss than any before him A Peace afterwards was concluded between Mahomet and Scanderbeg but it lasted not long because of Injuries received on both sides Mahomet to defend his Territories bordering upon Epirus sent Seremet Bassa with fourteen thousand Soldiers but he was routed in the Plains of Ocrida and 10000 Turks slain Balabanus Badera an Epirot born was the next great Captain who invaded Epirus with 15000 Horse and 3000 Foot He sought to ingratiate himself with Scanderbeg by Messengers and Gifts but because he was born a Peasant Scanderbeg sent him a Shovel a Mattock and a Flail This Balabanus was three times overthrown in Battel by Scanderbeg and his Armies routed and cut in pieces At his return he perswaded Mahomet to send two Generals with 40000 men against Scanderbeg so that he and one Jacub Amauth entred into Epirus Balabanus was first defeated and forced to fly with great slaughter Jacub next was killed by Scanderbeg himself and his Army dispersed Mahomet went into Epirus next and sent Balabanus with 80000 men to besiege Croia before him but was perswaded to return back Constantinople and leave the command of the Siege to Balahanus who riding up to the Gates of Croia to offer them Honourable conditions was shot in the Throat and dyed in his Camp The Army fled after the death of their General out of Epirus leaving behind them their Tents and Carriages But Mahomet the next Spring returned with a vast Army to the Siege of Crota but
in Normandy and dividing his Forces into three Bodies he marched into the Country and took several considerable Towns In the French Army were 60000 men of whom 3000 were Barons Knights and Gentlemen The Duke d'Alanson led the Van The Earl of Savoy commanded the Rear and the King of France himself was in the main Battel But the English Army was brought up the Vanguard by the Prince the main Body by King Edward and the Rear by the Earls of Arundel and Northampton the Lords Ross Willoughby St. Albans and Multon In the French Army some remarkable passages happened in the beginning of the Fight which gave a great discouragement to the French Forces They had in their Army 1500 Cross-Bows Genoueses stout and valiant Men. These had beeen placed in the front of the Duke of Alansoas Battel by a wise Commander in the Army but the Duke envying the Honour of that place to those Strangers caused them to be removed to another This discontented these Italians and made some disorder to be in that Battel which being taken notice of by King Edward he immediately commanded the Prince to advance and charge which was performed with that resolution that the French were routed King Philip seeing his Brother worsted by the English came into his Assistance with his Body The Fight was fierce bloudy and doubtful a great while till Philips Horse being killed under him he was conveyed out of the Battel This disdiscouraged all the rest and put them to a retreat When the Prince was engaged in the midst of his Enemies he sent to King Edward to come in but the King refused and bid him expect no help which made the English fight more desperately so that 30000 French were killed of which about 12000 were of great quality with the King of Bohemia and the Earl of Flanders After this great Victory King Edward besieged Chalice and took it In the same year the Queen obtained a great Victory over the Scots commanded by King David 15000 Scots were there slain with many Earls and Lords of Scotland After the winning of Chalice the King understanding the Governour intended to betray the Town for a great sum of Money goes over receives the Money and marched out to encounter with the French Forces in a disguise He was twice dismounted by one Ribomount who being taken Prisoner the King for his Valour released him without ransom CHAP. XXXIX Of the Famous Battel of Poictiers THe English Skill and Courage in War never appeared more in any Fight than in this of Poictiers The Prince had in his Army 2000 Horse and 8000 Archers with some Auxiliaries drawn out of the French Provinces with these Forces he marched out of Bourdeaux towards Poicton and Berry to draw King John out of Normandy When he heard of the Princes March he went to meet him with 30000 Horse and Foot The English wisely entrenched themselves amongst the Vineyards and might have been in time starved there by the French who with their numbers were able to inclose and besiege them round but the Kings Courage and the French fury could not suffer the sight of so small a party without a present Assault 300 of the ablest men of the French Army were ordered to begin and draw the English to a Battel but their defeat encouraged the English to encounter with three Bodies of the French Army the right Wing was commanded by the Constable the left by the Dolphin the main Battle was conducted by King John of France All three Battels were overthrown one after another 5000 were slain The King himself and his Son Philip were taken Prisoners honourably entertain'd and carryed to Bourdeaux and from thence into England The Wisdom and Courage of the Prince was here very remarkable in chusing such a ground to fight as rendred the French's chief strength of Horse useless in sending seasonable Supplies to such as were overpowred and in the disorder of the French Army in falling on with his whole strength How Glorious did the English Valour appear to all Foreign Nations when our Princes and our Gentry were so nobly employed in Foreign Countries and with such wonderful success that two of the greatest Monarchs of Europe commanding over the most Warlike People were at one time taken Prisoners and forced to submit to the Crown of England CHAP. XL. The brave Exploits of Robert Bruce King of Scotland AFter the death of Alexander King of Scotland Baliol and Bruce were Competitors for the Crown To save the Christian Blood the difference was left to the Arbitration of King Edward of England lately returned from the Holy Land Edward minding the encrease of the Honour of the English Crown more than the justness of the Cause grants the Royal Dignity of Scotland to King Baliol upon condition that he would do him homage for it When Baliol had yielded to this he was Crowned at Scone But Bruce with his Party held out in opposition to him and would by no perswasion quit his claim Baliol after his Coronation being discontented with King Edward upon an affront offered to him revolts from the English and takes up Arms but being overcome and taken Prisoner King Edward subdues most part of Scotland and resolves to unite it to the Crown of England The Scotch were soon weary of a Foreign Government they joyn themselves therefore with Bruce and encourage his Title that they might shake off the English Yoak Bruce begins with a small Party but finds Victory and Success which quickly drew to him all his discontented Countrymen John Cuinin Earl of Buchan first gathered an Army to oppose him but durst not venture a Battel which made him desire a Truce shortly after Bruce fell sick and Earl Cuinin taking this opportunity resolved to recover from him what was lost and to fall upon his Army Bruce though so weak that he could not sit on Horseback without being supported by two Servants encourageth his Men by his presence and Conduct for the sight and courage of a chief Commander is of great moment in War Bruce's Forces were so animated by the Kings presence though sick and weak that fearing no danger they fought desperately and routed their Enemies at Ennerury After this Victory Bruce recovered the Country of Arguile and all Galloway with all the Forts held by the English in Scotland and then invaded England from whence he carryed away much plunder and spoil King Edward to be revenged provided an Army of 100000 Men with which he marched into Scotland and at Bannocharn two Miles from Sterling met King Bruce with 30000 Scots The English had some discouragement the day before the Battel for they sent 800 Horse to Sterling but 500 Scots commanded by James Dowglass met with them and overthrew them The night before the Battel the Scots digged many pits and holes in the even ground which was design'd for the Field where they were to fight and in the Pits fixed sharp stakes headed with Irons covered them over with
escape by flight resolved to encourage his small party to stand the encounter For that purpose he caused his Carabines to march up to the top of the Hill in sight of the Enemy and there to stand ready for a charge whilst he divided his Lances into three parts which he caused at a signal given to ride from three several places furiously towards the Enemy When they saw from divers places several Troops of Horse riding up to charge them and hearing the sound of the Trumpets which the Marquiss caused to be sounded in the Vallies as if there were a greater Body of Men coming up to charge them they all run away and gave an easie Victory to the Marquiss who in half an hours time killed a great many in the pursuit took three Colours two hundred Horses and and one hundred Prisoners Thus by the mistake and deceit of the eye-sight was this party routed and when fear causeth Men to fly away a small number is sufficient to continue the chase and hinder them from rallying CHAP. XLIV Of Henry de Lorain Duke of Guise and how he defeated the great Army of Germans in France THe Protestant Princes of Germany being sollicited by the King of Navar sent abouut five and twenty thousand men under the command of the Baron de Dona and the Duke of Boillion to his assistance The Duke of Guise with a flying Army of four or five thousand men waited upon them from the borders of Lorain to cut off Provisions and at all advantages to ruine and destroy them In their march towards the fruitful Country of Beauste the Germans came near Mountargis and the Baron with a strong party of Horse quartered at a small Town called Vimory The Duke having intelligence of the disposition of the Enemies Army marched out of Montargis by night with his small party through a long Plain and arrived at Vimory before day The Duke of Guise having divided his Infantry into three Battalions of about a thousand men apiece under the command of these Captains St. Paul Joannes Cheurers and Pontsenac and his Cavalry into four Squadrons led by the Dukes of Mayenne de Elbeut and Aumale The Duke of Guise led the fourth which consisted of 300 Horse When they were near to Vimory they sent four Horsemen to discover the entry in of the Village and found neither Scouts nor Guards nor Perdues nor any Baricado to hinder the Assault of an Enemy so secure these Germans lay Therefore the Duke of Guise entring the great Street of the Town which was full of Carts and Waggons belonging to the German Army soon overpowred those that first made resistance and then setting Fire to the Houses burnt and killed above a thousand Germans and took from them a great deal of Plunder with 1200 Horse But when the Baron de Dona had rallyed his Troops to make resistance the Duke of Guise fearing to be surrounded retreated back to Montagis with rich Spoils and much Honour This Loss though it was not great yet destroyed the whole German Army by breeding a discontent between Officers and Soldiers and causing them to distrust the capacity of their General who from Vimory led them into Beauste to the Town of Anneau where there was a Castle which a certain Captain had undertaken to defend against all the German Army The Duke of Guise with a very small party pursues them and resolves to beat up their Quarters once more And for that purpose having agreed with the Captain of the Castle to receive in by Night his Infantry he with all his Cavalry round about the Town stood ready to cut in pieces those that should offer to save themselves by Flight The Infantry at break of day sallying out of the Castle into the Town surprized the Germans unprovided kill'd about 3000 of them took five hundred Priseners with their Bag and Baggage and their Waggons and Plate The rest of the Army that quartered in the Neighbouring Villages were so discouraged that they sent to agree with King Henry the 3d. to suffer them to return home into their own Country So that of this great Army scarce 4000 were left alive for in their return they were destroyed by the Country People CHAP. XLV Of Gustavus Adolphus King of Swedeland and his brave Actions in Germany and Poland THis Prince has been successful in all his Wars first against the Muscovite and Polander for the King of Poland claimed the Crown of Swedes as his natural Inheritance The War continued very fierce many years but the Swedes for the most part had the Victory and took several Towns from the Poles Newburg and Straisburg were taken by a new Invention of a certain Ingineer named Elias Tripus who shewed the King how to shoot great Shot with Leathern Guns to batter the Enemies Walls During this War between the two Kinsmen the Kings of Sweden and Poland the Emperor of Germany gave Assistance to the Poles and made War against the Swedes from whom he took divers Towns Therefore as soon as the peace was concluded with the Polander the Swedish King proclaims a War by his Manifesto against Coesar who in Favour of the Roman Bishops had abridged the Protestant Liberties all over Germany taken from the Prince Palatine his ancient Inheritance plundred the Lutheran Cities invaded the Countries of Saxony and other reformed Territories and joining with the Spaniard resolved to promote and advance the Popish perswasion with Fire and Sword The King of Sweden a rigid Lutheran as he found himself engaged by many Obligations in this War against Germany he met with great Assistance and Encouragements from divers Princes and Cities who had been harassed and plundred upon the account of Religion In the year 1630. he entred the Isle of Rugia Stetin the chief City of Pomerania yielded to the Swedes so did the Castles of Wolgasten and Damgart and the Towns of Ribbenitza Winshem Colberg Griffenhage and all Pomerania Gustavus proceeded on in his Conquests and restored several exiled Princes to their Patrimonies in Saxony The Elector himself being grievously impoverished by the Imperial Army entreated Assistance from the King who at Lipsick joins with the Duke against Count Tilly. A furious Battel was here fought The King had the leading of the Right Wing the Duke of Saxony governed the Left At the first encounter the Imperialists had the Advantage of the Sun and Wind but the King of Sweden cunningly wheel'd about and got that benefit from them and to strengthen his Troops of Horse he caused some Ranks of Musketeers to be mingled amongst them which did notable service in that Station The new raised Forces of Saxony gave ground but they were soon relieved by General Horns Foot who were placed in Ambush in a little Wood. The Fight was obstinate and bloudy fifteen thousand lay dead upon the place but the Victory inclined to the Swedes and Saxons who the next day prepar'd again to Fight but when they understood that the Imperialists
so that the Prince was never able to force him to a Fight And when all his Forage and Provisions were spent he was driven by that means to the necessity of departing out of the Country into Germany again CHAP. XLIX Of certain times convenient to fight an Enemy and other times wherein it is Wisdom to refuse a Battel IF an Armies Reputation depends wholly upon a speedy success as in many cases If the Enemy be gathering together greater Forces and expects a speedy supply of Horse or Foot If the Country be so at his devotion that the longer he delays the stronger he grows or if Victuals or Money begin to fail then a General should seek all fit opportunities for a speedy Encounter while the Enemy is not too strong and his own party in a condition and resolution to give Battel But if a General hath more Forces coming into him or if he knows that by delaying he may shorten or cut off his Enemies Provisions or if Sickness and Diseases do daily lessen the number of his Enemies then by delaying he may do as much service as by venturing a Battel At the Isle of Rhee the Freuch Army would never offer to fight with the English till they perceived them in a confusion by reason of their orders to Embark But they always followed them close at the Heels till this opportunity was offered to them and then with all their Forces of Horse and Foot they fell furiously upon the English and cut off a great many Likewise in the War between Don John of Austria and the Estates of the Netherlands he endeavour'd to fight the Army commanded by Count Bossute because he understood that Duke Cassimire with 5000 Horse and 6000 Foot with other Forces were coming into the Earls Camp within a few days But the Earl would by no means suffer his Men to venture out of their Trenches CHAP. L. How Lewis King of France stopt the Assistance which the Dukes of Burgundy and Britany were going to send to the Duke of Normandy THe French King understanding that these three Dukes had made a League Offensive and Defensive against him their common Enemy and having an intent to assault and fight them single When he led his Army into Normandy he feigned Letters from that Duke to the Duke of Burgundy signifying that he was loath to run the hazard of a War that he had accepted of the Kings offers and concluded an agreement with him for 60000 Franks and therefore he desired him to forbear sending of his Forces to his Assistance as had been formerly promised These Letters the King caused to be sent by an Herald to the Dukes of Burgundy and Brittany who though they suspected them to be false yet because they received a confirmation from the Contents from other hands but by the procurement of the King they caused their Armies to be speedily disbanded By this means the King obtained by policy what otherwise he could not well get by Force without the hazard of his Army for he having thus weakned his Enemies made with them what agreement he thought convenient and they were forced to yield to his Terms of peace CHAP. LI. A Policy used by a French General to destroy the Neapolitan Army strongly Encamped WHen there was a dispute between Ferand King of Naples and Charles King of France about the Crown of that Kingdom Ferand understanding that the French Army was too potent for him to encounter with only with his faint-hearted Neapolitans resolved to entrench himself between certain Hills The French General finding him in that advantagious Post that he did not dare to meddle with him divided his Army secretly in the night and sent a strong Party round about to assault King Ferand behind whilst he in the Interim with small Parties skirmished and kept them in continual play At last when the party of Men which were to surround the Neapolitan Army and to fall upon their Backs were come to the appointed place the French assaulted the Enemy behind and before entred their Trenches and routed them Xerxes in the same manner recovered the Streights of Thermopyle in Greece defended by a handful of Lacedemonians under Leonidas their Captain CHAP. LII How Prince Maurice took the Town of Gertrudenberg WHen the Prince of Orange besieged Gertrudenberg by Sea and Land he understood by a Prisoner taken from the Enemy that once every day the Governour with the chief Magistrates were wont to go up privately to take a view of the Hollanders Trenches and of the Country round about that they might see for an opportunity to sally out upon them immediately he took advantage of this Information and secretly ordered a Gentleman of his Army to run away to the Town under pretence that he had murdered a Man and therefore fled to save his Life The Gentleman according to appointment discover'd to the Princes Army by playing upon a Pipe when the Governour was in the Steeple The great Guns being then ready and waiting for the purpose were all immediately discharged at one time and battered down the Steeple killed the Governour with the Magistrates which as soon as the Prince suspected he caused a sudden assault to be made and carried the Town for want of a Governour and Orders to defend it For such a Consternation that must needs happen at the unexpected destruction of a Chieftain either in an Army or in a Garrison the Soldiers Hearts must needs be broken and before orders can be given to supply his place by another the Enemy hath a great advantage upon the party that he commands CHAP. LIII How the States of Holland took the Town of Breda by surprize THey hired a certain Master of a Boat who was wont to carry into the City Provisions of Bread and Beer and other necessaries for maintenance of the Garrison In this Boat they stored a Company of Stout and Valiant Gentlemen and covered them over with Turves and other things The Boatsman according to his custom brings strong Liquors upon the Guard makes them all drink plentifully till they were drunk whilst they were in that Condition he passeth the Guard and enters into the Town with his Company of Men who immediately gave notice to their Friends without by casting up a Ball of Wild-fire to fall on A Gate was broken open for them then did they disperse themselves about the Town killed all that resisted and mastered the Guard Such surprizes have been made with Carts full of Corn Hay c. wherein have been hid Soldiers and sometimes a Cart hath been purposely broken and out of order at the Gate of a Town to hinder the shutting of it and a party of the Enemy hath then set upon and entred the Town CHAP. LIV. How the Garrison of the Skonse at Zutphen was surprized THe Spaniards to strengthen the more the City of Zutphen in Gelderland had built a very strong Skonse in such a place as hindred any Enemy from making their approaches