euery man shall haue three foot distance from other in ranke double them twice the file hath but foure men and euery mans distance in ranke is no more then a foot and halfe which as it is allowable in close order so admitteth it no third dou 〈…〉 wherein the space betwixt man and man cannot exceed three quarters of a foot As therefore the second doubling of ranks in a Phalangarchy albeit it extend the front of the battell leaueth yet too small a depth to the Plagiophalange or broad-fronted battaile it containing no more then foure men in depth so the doubling of files twice fitteth not the Orthiophalange or Herse as hauing 64 in depth and as many in length which number neither holdeth proportion of the depth manifold to the length of the Orthiophalange or Herse nor yet by reason of the length hath conueniency to apply it selfe to streight waies a thing that containeth the principall vse of that manner of battaile which was the cause that antiquity vsed another course If the march were to be made out of a Plagiophalange or broad-fronted battaile they framed a Herse by putting forth out of the right or left wing first one Tetratchy or other body which might march whole according to the largenesse of the ways and after it followed from the same wing the rest of the Army in the same kinde If contrariwise a Plagiophalange or broad-fronted battaile were to be framed out of an Orthiophalange or a Herse they caused the body which had the vaunt to stand firme and the rest following to sleeue vp by it on the right or left hand till they all came to an euen front Xenophon sheweth the manner in a Company whose words are these in English Then he Cyrus the elder beheld another Captaine leading his Company from the river side to dinner one souldier following another in a single file who when hee thought â—it commanded the second and third and fourth file to sleeue vp and make an euen front with the first the file-leaders being new in front hee commanded the halfe files to double the front so that new the Decadarches or leaders of halfe files stood in front Againe when it seemed good he commanded the quarter files to double the front so the Pempedarches or leaders of the quarter of files led vp and the files marched on being diuided into foure parts When they were come vnto the Tent doore hee commanded the first file to single out againe and to enter in and the second to follow it single in the reare and so the third and fourth till all were within the Tent. To cleare these words of Xenophon It is to be vnderstood that the Company or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here mentioned consisted of 100 men and was diuided into foure files or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 each file containing twenty foure men The file had fiue Officers the file leader the Decadarch two Pempedarchs and the bringer vp At the head of the file stood the file-leader and behinde him directly fiue men next after them stood the first Pempedarch and fiue men that followed him in the middest of the file that is after the Pempedarch and his fiue was placed the Decadarch who â—ed the hinder most halfe file and after him fiue men more Lastly the second Pempedarch and fiue more after him the last of which was the bringer vp Now when Xenophon saith that the whole Company followed by one or file wise he meaneth that the foure files were cast into one file and followed one another in a right line and by that meanes had 100 in depth and but one in front To bring it therefore to conuenient length from this depth the Captaine commanded the first file leader to make Alte or to stand and the second file leader with his file to aduance and to sleeue vp on the left hand and to front with the first file leader and so both files to stand euen fronted in open order The like he commanded the third and fourth file to doe so that the foure files being laid one to another and fronting equally the front or length of the body had foure men the depth 24. Then because he held this depth disproporcionable to the length in so small a body he againe enlarged the front by doubling commanding the halfe files to double their front The Decadarchs hereupon marched vp to the front and ranked with the file leaders and the halfe files following them ranked with the front-halfe files man to man Now was the front eight in length the flanke or depth twelue To enlarge againe the front and to make the length exceede the depth he commanded the quarter-files to double the front hereupon the Pempedarchs aduanced marching vp with their quarter files after them till they fronted with the file leaders and Decadarchs and each man of the quarter files ranked with the rest so that the front came to be of 16 men in length the flanke six men in depth and each man in ranke had a foot and halfe distance in file six foot And thus the Company from one file as it were from an Orthiophalange or Herse was formed into a long body somewhat resembling a Plagiophalange or broad-fronted battaile To reduce it againe to an Orthiophalange or Herse the Captaine at the entry into the Tent where the whole Company was lodged together first directed the first file to march out namely by the file leader with his fiue then the first Pempedarch with his fiue after him the Decadarch with his fiue lastly the second Pempedarch with his fiue which drawing out of the Officers one after another in depth with the parts of the file Commanded by them immediately brought the file to the iust depth of 24. This being done the second file followed the first in like order and the third the second last of al came the fourth and this was the manner of changing one forme into another and albeit the example be but of a Company yet is the reason all one in a Phalange or battaile for as a company is compacted of many files so is a phalange of diuers companies and as one file in the example before was led after another filewise so is or may one company or other body be led after another making thereby an Orthiophalange or Herse and as one file aduanced to front with another to the intent to alter the forme of the Orthiophalange so must the bodies or companies sleeue vp one by another to make a plagiophalange or broad-fronted battaile yet want there not Examples in the Greeke History of turning the Orthiophalange or Herse into a plagiophalange or broad fronted battaile and by consequence the plagiophalange into an Orthiophalange Cherisophus in the returne of the 10000 Grecians that followed Cyrus the yonger into Persia had the leading of the Vant-gard all the way He in his march in Armenia perceiuing the Chalybes Taochians and Phasians had taken
his horse into two parts the one he tooke to himselfe and obserued Eumenes the other hee gaue to Python willing him to charge the the Argiraspides and siluer targateers old soldiers of Alexanders depriued of the aide of the horse but they casting themselues into a Plinthium retired safely to the riuer Aelian remembreth nothing concerning the vse of the Plinthium But wee may learne by the examples rehearsed that it was then practised when the enemy was too strong and able to charge euery way and it is one of the foresided battailes that is mentioned in the 36 37 Chap. and vsed principally against horse but sometimes against horse and foot Philip the father of Alexander the Great being to take armes against the Illyrians who vsurped many Cities of his kingdom leuied 10000 foot 600 horse and with them entred the enemies countrey Bardilis the Illirian King met him with as many foot and 500 horse when the armies came together and with shouts ioyned battaile Philip hearing the right wing and the best Macedonian souldiers commanded the horse to fall on and charge the enemy in flanke himselfe giuing vpon the front began a strong fight The Illyrians ordering themselues into a Plinthium valiantly abode the onset and at the first the fight was equall and so continued a good while by reason of the valour shewen on both sides afterward the horse plying hard the reare and flanke and Philip with his choice valiantly laying at the front the multitude of the Illyrians were forced to fly Heere the Plinthium resisted both horse and foot I will ad one example more of repulsing horse the army being cast into a Plinthium Marcus Antonius seeking to subdue Persia and to reuenge the losse which Craesus receiued by the Parthians for in that warre Craesus himselfe was slaine and his army defeated and hauing laid siege to a great City called Phreata and finding not the successe he looked for determined to dis-march and lead his arm out of the Countrey hauing first â—adâ—truce with the King of Persia proceeding on his iourney he was set vpon by the Parthians but being repulsed they retired that day Antonius hereby resolued what to doe and strenthening his reare and flanks with many darters slingers he formed hâ—s army into a Plinthium and willed his horse â—o fall out and repulse the eâ—nmy but not to follow the chase too farre The Parthians the next foure daies began to be more coole and neither charged nor were charged and making winter their pretence were glad to retire â—o their houses By this president wee may see that the Parthians who were mighty in horse were fierce vpon the Romans as long a they held their ordinary kinde of march but after they had ordered themselues into a Plinthium so that the Parthians could not come vp to them without much indangering themselues they thought it best to let them quietly passe and goe whither they would And thus much of the Diphalange Homoiostomus and of the Plinthium Words of direction in the Homoiostomus 1 Wheele your battailes if they stand in euen front to the right or left hand 2 March one battaile after the other To restore to the first Posture 1 Fâ—â—e about to the right or left hand 2 Wheele the battailes to the right or left hand according as the case requireth 3 Face as you were at first Cap. 43. The Diphalange Heterostomus The File-leaders The bringers-vp For the Plinthium If there be 4 battailes standing togethler in an euen Front this I would hold the fittest way to make a Plinthium 1 Let the first battaile stand firme or march on in going forward wheele to the right hand in falling backe vse the Lacedemonian countermarch 2 The 3 countermarch the front with a countermarch then wheel to the left hand then march forward and place it selfe behind the right hand flanke of the first that the Front of it may be in a right line with the said flanke 3 The 4 in going forward countermarch the reare with a Macedon countermarch then wheele your battaile to the right hand face abount then wheele to the left hand then march and apply it selfe to the point of the strst battaile as the third did to the right then face about and stand thus 4 The 2 countermarch to the right or left hand then march on til it be beyond the left point of the 4 battaile then face to the left hand and march vp to lay the right-hand-point eueÌ„ with the right point of the 1 battaile and face to the right hand to make the reare of the Plinthium thus The seuerall bodies being brought into a Plinthium must front euery way as long as they make Alte. When they march in a Plinthium they are all to face toward the head of their march that is the right and left flanke battailes are to face the one to the left the other to the right hand The reare battaile is to face about to which hand it list and so march on The battailes beside haue euery one their place of dignity the first battaile hauing the front the 2 battaile the reare the 3 battaile the right flanke the 4 the left flanke Of the Diphalange Heterostomus CHAP. XLIII 1 A Diphalange Heterostomus is that which proceedeth by deduction hauing the leaders of the former Phalange in a right-handdeduction and of the following Phalange in a left-hand Deduction so that the battailes march counterchangeably one hauing the leaders in one flanke the other in the other NOTES 1 A Diphalange Heterostomus As the Homoiostomus consisted of two Phalanges both proceeded by deduction so must this forme They differ in this onely that the first had all the file-leaders on one side either on the right or left this the file-leaders of one battaile on the right of the other on the left hand For if the leading Phalange haue the file-leaders on the right-hand the following Phalange shall haue them on the left If the first haue them on the left the other shall haue them on the right See the figure The vse of this form is when the enemy sheweth himselfe on both flanks of our march and of it the double sided battaile whereof Aelian spake in the 36 and 37 Chapters may be made by the sleeuing vp the latter to the former and ioyning reare to reare and if the leading battaile haue the file-leaders in the right-flank it is to make alte when the enemy commeth neer and the following battaile to sleeue vp by the reare of it to make an euen front with the leaders of the first Contrariwise if it haue the file-leaders on the left hand Besides this orme hath further vse and you may frame of it a Diphalange Antistomus by sleeuing vp the following battaile on that side where the file-leaders of the leading battaile march for by such sleeuing the file-leaders of both I halanges shall be in the middest Words of direction in the Heterostomus There
to charge him in front and on both flanks at one time But the conuexe halfe Moone auoiding that danger meeteth the enemy with the bearing out of the halfe circle and giueth the two wings of the Epicampios enough to doe being not to be annoyed with the depth of the hollownesse which remaineth a pretty distance more backward then the points of the wings So that this forme is fit to be opposed against the Epicampios and looseth no aduantage of embattailing and it auoideth the perill of the hollow front by not entring and yet maintaineth the fight against the two wings that are thruâ— out to encompasse being of sufficient strength to encounter the Epicampios either of them not dissoluing their forme or notwithstanding that the wings of the Epicampios retire as Aelian prescribeth when they are ouerpressed or else the body of the hollownesse aduance to make an equall front with the wings and so vnite their force Howbeit I haue not read in the Greeke hiâ—tory examples of this forme set against the Epicampios or vsed otherwise in fight onely I finde in Polybius at the battaile of Canne that Hannibal practised it against the Romans not trusting to the strength of the forme but rather with the shew thereof couering a further drift to beguile and bring them into his snare His words are in effect these Hanniball saith he embattailed his army thus He placed on the left hand the Spanish and Celtish horse right ouer against the Roman horse next to them of foot halfe the Lybian heauy armed then the Spaniards and Celts next them the other halfe of the Lybians On the right wing he ordered the Numidian horse After he had framed an euen front of the whole Army he aduanced the middle Spaniards and Gauls and cast them into a conuexe halfe Moone gathering vp the depth therewith and making it thin meaning to hide the Lybians with it and disposing the Lybians behinde them as seconds And a little after he declareth the manner of fight Then the heauy-armed foot succeeding the light armed encountred together The Spaniards therefore and Gauls a while brauely maintained their order and fight against the Romans but being ouer-pressed they turned their backs and retired dissoluing the forme of their halfe Moone The Roman Cohorts couragiously following easily broke asunder the battaile of the Celts which at first was ordered in a small depth themselues transferring the thicknesse of their battaile from the wings of the middest where the fight was for the middest and the wings fought not at the same time The middest began the fight first because the Celts ranged in a halfe Moone bore much more forward the the wings hauing not the hollownes but the prominent swelling of the half-Moone lying out toward the enemy So the Romans following running together to the middest where the enemy gaue grouÌ„d entered so far into the enemies battaile that they had the heauy-armed Lybians on either of their flanks of whom those of the right wing facing to the Target charged them on the right those of the left wing facing to the pike gaue vpon their left side occasioÌ„ it selfe shewing what was fit to be done so that it chaÌ„ced as Anniball had foreseene that after the defeat of the Celts the Romans pursuing the victory should fall out to be enclosed in the middest of the Lybians So Polibius of the prominent halfe moon or Cyrte which Annibal vsed to which of purpose he gaue to make thinnesse because it should be broken beaten and the enemy drawn into the snares as it were and ambush of the seconds that is of the Lybian heauy armed If it had had the due proportion of depth it might haue stood a longer time against the efforts of the enemy and disputed the victory against the broad-fronted phalange against which if it may be opposed there is no question but it may be set against the Epicampios because the broad-fronted phalange hath all her forces vnited together the Epicampios fighteth onely with her two wings the middest of the battaile being farre from ioyning vnlesse a man be compelled to enter into the hollownesse of the front in which case both the front and the wings may annoy him Words of direction for the Cyrte or conuexe halfe Moone First order the body into a long square or Plagiophalange 1 Then let the two file-leaders in the middest of the square march out with their files 2 The next two on either hand moueright forward one foot short of the first keeping distance in flanke as before 3 So the next foure two oâ— each side the two next one foot short of the last the other two one foot short of them 4 Then the next foure two on each side each two foot short of other 5 Then the foure last two on each side each three foot short of the other Of the Tetragonall Horse-battaile and of the wedge of foot to be opposed against it CHAP. XLVIII 1 THe Tetragonall horse-battaile is square in figure but not in number of men For in squares the number is not alwaies the same and the Generall for his aduantage may double the length to the depth The Persians Sicilians and most of the 〈…〉 s doe affect this forme and take it to be easie in framing and better in vse 2 Against it is opposed the Phalange called Embolos or Wedge of foot all the side consisting of armed men This kind is borrowed of the horse-mans wedge And yet in the wedge of horse one sufficeth to lead in front where the foot-wedge must haue three one being vnable to beare the sway of the encounter 3 So Epaminondas the Theban fighting with the Lacedemonians at Mantinaea ouerthrew a mighty power of theirs by casting his army into a wedge 4 It is fashioned when the Antistomus Diphalangy Cap. 48. The Horsbattaile square in figure not in horse The foote wedge The front in marching ioyneth the front of the wings together holding them behinde like vnto the letter A. NOTES 1 THis Chapter containeth the description of two battails one of horse the other of foot to be opposed in fight one against another namely the square of horse and the wedge of foot Of which the tetragonall horse-battaile square in figure or ground for all is one is described in my notes vpon the 18. Chapter of Aelian as also the wedge of horse from which this wedge of foot as Aelian saith is deriued It will be therefore needlesse to repeat what is there written about the formes and diuersity of them or to make comparison of their vse and aduantage Against the Rhombe of horse if they come to charge foot he hath set downe two formes of foot to receiue them the Cressant and the hollow-fronted battaile called Epicampios emprosthia which vpon this â—eason because they are hollow in front both and the Rhombe shooteth forth and chargeth in a point must of necessity by receiuing that point into their hollownesse and plying it with
your army into a hollow square wherein the baggage is to be couched and to be desended on all sides For if the ground be open enough to cast your selfe into a square hee holdeth the forme the safest to giue security to your baggage These be his words Place all four carriage seruants and baggage and prouision in the middest of your army And in another place speaking of a retreat to be made after an ouerthrow receiued he writeth thus You shall order your whole power into two Phalanges or battailes or into one square Plinthium in the middest whereof you shall put the carriage beasts and baggage and without them the souldiers in order and without them the archers and so retire and depart in safety Againe he saith In marches the enemy approaching it is necessary to haue your carriage in the middest lest being vnguarded it be spoyled and rifled With Leo doth Xenophon agree His words haue this shew I will not wonder if as fearfull dogges are wont to follow and bite such as passe by if they can and to flye from such as follow them so the enemy hang vpon our reare Therefore we shall perhaps march the safer if making a Plesium of the armed the carriage and vnprofitable multitude be throwne into the middest for more security And if it be now determined who shall command the front of the Plesium and who the two wings and who the reare wee shall not need to consult when the enemy approacheth but execute that which is resolued vpon This is Xenophons counsell for the march in open ground when the enemy aboundeth in number of souldiers which counsell was often put in practice and the Grecians being but 10000 secured themselues against infinite multitudes of Persian horse that charged them on all sides and also preserued and led their carriage sate in dispite of the enemy The like was practised by Xenophon afterward in the last warlike action of the Grecians in their returne out of Persia He setteth downe the history after this manner Now was it time viz. after they had assaulted a fort in vaine the enemy of the country gathering head to thinke vpon a faire retreat and conueâ—ing the oxen and sheep they had taken and likewâ—se the slaues into a Plesium they quickly dismarched not so much esteeming their prey as fearing in case they left it behind their departure might seeme a plaine running away and the enemy gathâ—r heart the Grecian souldiers be discouraged So now they departed fighting as it were about the prey The Souldiers with Xenophon being shrewdl annoyed wiâ—h bowes slings cast themselues into a ring to the end to oppose their targets against the shot of the enemy and with much adoe passed the riuer Caicus the one halfe of them being wounded Agasias also the Stymphalian Captaine was hurt whilest hee maintained fight with the enemy during the whole retreat Yet they all returned safe to the Campe bringing with them about 200 slaues and sheepe enough for Sacrifice Here Xenophons souldiers figured themselues first into a Plesium couching their prey in the middest afterward being ouerlayed with the enemies shot they conuerted their Plesium into a Ring in which forme they tecouered their Came notwithstanding the molestation and often charging of a great multitude of horse and foot that were enemy and followed them Of the forme of Rings I finde not many examples amongst the Grecians the Romans vsed them often when they found themselues encompassed by the enemy as Vegetius hath and may bee seene in Caeâ—ars Commentaries And let thus be said of the foure manners of placing the carriage in a march Of the words of Command and certaine obseruations about them CHAP. LII LAst of all we will briefly repeate the words of direction if we admonish first that they ought to be short then that they ought to be without double signification For the Souldiers that in haste receiue direction had neede to take heede of doubtfull words lest one doe one thing and another the contrary As for the purpose If I say turne your face some it may be that heare me will turne to the right some to the left hand and so no small confusion follow Seeing therefore these words Turne your face import a generall signification and comprehend turning to the right or left hand we ought in stead of saying turne your face to the pike to pronounce it thus To your pike turne your face that is we ought to set the particular before and then inferre the generall for so will all doe alike together Like reason is if you say Turne about your face or countermarch for these are also generall words and therefore wee should doe well to set the particular before As to the pike turne your face about or to the target turne your face about Likewise the Lacedemonian Countermarch not the countermarch Lacedemonian For if you place the word countermarch first some of the Souldiers will happily fall to one kinde other to another kinde of countermarch For which cause words of double sence are to be auoided and the speciall to be set before the generall NOTES IF we admonish first that they ought to be short The ordering and motions of an army ought to be quickly performed the rather because the transmutations of the body and the occasions of them are sudden for the most part And therefore the meanes to worke the transmutations commanded these meanes are the words of direction ought to suite to the nature of the motions themselues and to be applyed to celerity by shortnesse of speach Short speach is better carried away and sooner put in execution then speech that is longer Yet is not such a shortnesse to bee affected as will bring with it obscurity according to the saying of the Poet Breuis esse laboro Obscurus fio I labour to be short and so become obscure And therefore I take the practice of French Commanders when they command Facing in these words A droie a gauche to the right to the left without adding face and likewise of the Netherlanders in imitation of the French Reehes om slinks om and of some English in these words To the right to the left not pronouncing the motion which is to be made to the hand appointed These I say I take to be without the warrant of reason and of all antiquity from which Aelian draweth this rule For the command of right and left alone sheweth that the Commander would haue a motion performed to the named hand but leaueth vncertaine what the motion should be so that albeit some souldiers fall to a countermarch some other to wheeling or to doubling or to facing they are to be reputed blamelesse and to haue performed that which their direction willed them to doe because the command was of mouing to the right or left hand onely not shewing what motion should be made to either hand Shortnesse therefore is required by Aelian but such a Shortnesse as
a battaile and to behold a direct space betwixt files and rankes For that is the grace and beauty as I may terme it of a Phalange ordered for fight This proportion cannot be maintayned without obseruing distance curiously Open order is sixe foot both in ranke and file betwixt man and man euery way If then any souldier in file gather vp to his leader and stand at distance of three foot it is manifest that his ranke is thereby disturbed and made vneuen although the file continue streight Contrariwise if he beare himselfe out of his place three foot toward either of his side-men by this meanes he disordereth his file and maketh it crooked This fault if it were committed by many a generall disorder would follow in the body and therefore Aelian well aduiseth to keepe the first distances especially till you be commanded to the second or third distance which will often fall out in the foure motions Of which Facing is the first and the words of direction in it are these as before in Aelian 12 Face to the Pike That is Face to the tight hand For the pike was alwayes borne in the right hand 14 Face to the Target The Pike-men in the Macedonian army bore targets on their left armes or on the left side so that facing to the target is all one with the word of command Face to the left hand 16 Face about to the pike or target That is face about to the right or left hand But where hee addeth moue a little further he signifieth that the direction is not fully accomplished and he would haue the souldiers continue their motion till their faces were fully come about to the reare and then hee willeth them to stand so because they haue gayned their place These facings here expressed by Aelian are of the whole body Other facings of the parts he hath not set downe which notwithstanding are oftentimes of great vse For say the enemy charge in front and reare your front must continue as it did but the word for the reare is Halfe files face about to the right or left hand If the enemy charge you on both flankes then is the word of command Halfe rankes face to the right halft to the left hand If in front and one flanke the front standeth firme and the word for the flanke that is charged is Halfe rankes of the right or left flanke Face to the hand named If in front and both flankes the front is to stand firme and both the flanks to face to the enemy And this is done in a hollow square or Plesium and the word is Flankes face one to the right the other to the left hand If on all sides or round about it is as before for the flankes but for the reare The reare face about to the right or left hand Now in Countermarch of the reare the ranke of file-leaders is oftentimes commanded to face about to the right or left hand In countermarch of the front the ranke of bringers vp must doe the like as wee shall see in Countermarch Doubling is the second motion vsed in battaile the precept of it in this in Aelian 18 Double your depth The word in our exercise for this motion is Double your files because files measure the depth of the battaile or rankes measure the length This doubling is made many wayes The first is when the euen files that is the 2. 4. 6. 8. 10. file fall into the odde As if the doubling be to the right hand the right hand corner-file standeth firme and is the first after doubling the third is the second file the fifth the third and so the rest of the odde files in order But the manner is that the leaders of the second file fall directly behind the leader of the first file and the second man of the second file behind the second man of the first and so the rest of those two files The same order is for the rest of the euen files when they double the odde files And the word is Double your files to the right or left hand Another manner is when halfe the body of files conueyes it selfe into the spaces oâ— the other halfe of the body be it to the right or left hand according to direction giuen so that the first ranke of the halfe body which is to moue fals into the space next after the first ranke of the halfe body that standeth and so the rest of the rankes of the halfe body that moueth and the word is Halfe the body double your files to the right or left hand Another is when files are doubled by a countermarch As if the second file of the right or left hand as it is appointed countermarch and the leader of that file place himselfe behind the bringer vp of the corner file to that hand to which the doubling is to be made and so the rest of the files of euen number behinde those of odde number as the second behind the first the fourth behind the third the sixt behind the fifth and so the rest The word is Double your files by countermarch to the right or left hand The next word in Aelian is Double your length That is double your rankes or front For as I before noted the rankes make the length of the battaile which likewise is many wayes done The first is when the rankes of euen appellation as the 2. 4. 6. 8. c. fall out into the spaces of the odde namely into the spaces of the 1. 3. 5. 7. c. which stand before them and place themselues euen with them in ranke The word is Double your rankes to the right or left hand Another way is when the bringers-vp their halfe files following them by countermarch aduance vp to the front and place themselues in the spaces betwixt the file-leaders to the hand appointed and the rest of the ranks accordingly namely the ninth ranke in the spaces of the second the eight in the spaces of the third the seuenth in the fourth the sixth in the spaces of the fifth And the word is Bringers vp double your front by countermarch to the right or left hand Another is when the reare-halfe-files one halfe face to the right the other to the left hand and diuiding themselues march out till they bee past the flankes of the standing halfe-files Then facing to the front sleeue vp and front with the standing halfe-files Then the word is Reare halfe-files double your front by diuision to the right and left hand Another way is when the reare-halfe-files vndiuided face to the hand appointed and being beyond the flanke of the rest of the body face to the front and sleeue vp and ioyne in front with the standing halfe-files The word is Reare-halfe-files enter double your front to the right or left hand It is to be obserued that in all these motions of doubling rankes or front the souldiers are to returne after
seene in the Riuer and of the height and steepenesse of the banks as also for that the enemies horse ordered in a phalange will be ready to charge vs whilest we disorderly and wingwise which is the weakest kinde of fight endeauour to scamble vp the bankes Thus Arrian vsing the words before recited and noting the difference of both the formes Leo hath the like passage instructing his Generall how in the night to surprize an Enemy in his lodging His words are these in effect When you march saith he to the intent that no tumult or confusion of noise be heard nor the stretching out of your battaile into a great length breede error and inequality in marching and hereupon cries and loud commands arise so that the Enemy may easily perceiue the accesse of your Armie It behoueth you to march not in front that is in a large extension of breadth but wingwise that is to say in a deepe forme of Embattailing as if one file should follow in the reare of another obseruing still to maintaine the depth or thicknesse of the battaile His meaning is That in the night an Army ought not to be led in a broad-fronted Phalange because the places are wayes through which you are to march are sometimes large sometimes streight sometimes rough sometimes plaine and so you cannot preserue an euen front but must change the forme and disorder it but in a Herse or deepe Phalange which will fit all passages and in the greatest inequality of way maintaine the forme of the battaile entire And so much of the signification of the words marching in a Wing and marching in a Phalange 5. Euery thing is called Paramekes It is to be obserued that there is a difference betweene Paramekes and Heteromekes I thought good to note it because Aelian in diuers places mentioneth both Paramekes is the figure according to Aelian wherein the length many times exceeds the depth it may be Heteromekes albeit it be but twice as long as deepe I am not ignorant that Euclyde nameth all foure sided figures that haue right angles and vnequall sides Heteromekes But Aelian though hee apply Heteromekes sometimes to the front sometimes to the flanke yet he giues no more then a double proportion either of front to flanke or flanke to front 6. Orthion Albeit the word Orthium properly signifie things rising in a height yet in military discourse it is applied to the dimension of the depth of a battell and not of the length Here a Phalange is termed Orthia and in Leo in the place last by me cited mention is made of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— deep embattailing and in Xenophon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Company stretched out in depâ—◠〈…〉 Polyen also and Arrian and Appian Polyen hath besides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for an army that is cast into a great depth and into a narrow 〈…〉 Therefore as Paramekes signifieth the length of the front so Orthion signifies the depth of the flanke of any battell ordered as is aforesaid Thus much of the names of the two battels It remaines to shew the Vse of them and how one may be transformed into the other The Plagiophalange or broad-fronted battell bringeth most hands to fight with conueniency and therefore is accounted the better forme and as neere as opportunity of ground would giue leaue the ancient Generals principally affected and sought to put this forme in vre It hath the commodity to ouerfront the aduerse battell and is safe it selfe from ouerfronting vnlesse the Enemy bring a greater multitude then you haue to ouer-match your Army The Macedonian Phalange was for the most part of this forme as all the fields Alexander fought euidently declare So ordered he his troopes at Granicus so at Issos so at Gangamelos so in other places if the ground would serue This Caution notwithstanding was obserued that the depth held proportion with the length otherwise the length profiteth not so much as the thinnesse of the depth hurts by giuing meanes to the enemy to breake through and put the aduerse battell in a rout I haue noted it before out of Leo. The Herse or deepe Phalange was thought the weakest kinde to fight in Parmenio one of the chiefest Commanders Alexander had distrusted it as I haue shewed a little before Cyrus the elder in the embattailing of the Egyptians derided it yet cannot the forme of the broad-fronted Phalange be so exactly taken vp but that necessity will sometime force the other In straight places it hath beene often vsed So Darius in the battaile of Issos by reason of the straightnesse of ground was forced to this forme So Boâ—ilâ—ar the Carthaginian was faine in a straight place to make a narrow front of his phalange and to extend it in depth And Acilius Glabrio the Roman Consall in the streights of Thermopyle against Antiochus and P. Scipto in Spaine against the Illergets Therefore in large grounds the first forme is to be chosen in narrow and rough places the other The Herse is also fit for Marches because in a March you are assured to meet with variety of ground sometimes with woods sometimes with bushes sometimes with streight wayes with riuers with hils with pits with bridges with ditches and such like impediments so that the front of your broad-fronted phalange must needs be dissolued whereas no difficulty of wayes can hinder the passage of a Herse the front whereof may be narrowed according to the ground you march in as you list Alexander being to lead his Army against the Thracians that had planted themselues in the mount Aemus was â—â—ine to narrow the front of his phalange according to the way that led vp to the Mount The same did Agesilaus passing through the streights of Mantina the History is by me recited before in my notes vpon the 26 Chapter Panimenes likewise leading his Army through Phoâ—is toward â—hebes and finding that the Enemy had taken and possessed a place called Philoâ—aeoton that had two streights leading toward it one of which the Enemy held with a gard casting is troopes into a Herse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making the bulke of his Army slender and â—it to march shaped himselfe to the right hand as though he ment to hold on to that passage The Enemy therefore leauing the left hand streight which they had in gard ran with all speed to the right hand to stop his passage but hee taking the opportunity speeded hastily to the left and conueyed his Army thorough without danger Many like examples of Herses accommodated to streight wayes where a broad-fronted Phalange cannot march are to be found in Histories The Orthiophalange or Herse was also muchâ—sed in an ascent against a hill which the enemy possessed and in this sence are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deepe Companies takes in the Greeke writers especially when a
Enemy If the Enemy come sodainely vpon vs he must direct himselfe either against our front or our reare or our flankes If against our front we neede no other motion then that whereby we may strengthen our front which is vsually done by doubling of rankes we march for the most part in a herse in which forme there cannot come many hands to fight and that is the reason why it is accounted the weakest forme to ioyne with the Enemy Doubling of rankes helpeth that defect and bringeth as many hands to fight as the proportion of forces will allow If against the reare and time streight you not and your battell be in open order you haue the vse of countermarch which bringeth the best hands to fight for the File-leaders are esteemed the flower of the Army your battaile being in order or close order you are to wheele it about to your right or left Cap. 32. The action of wheeling Cap. 32. The manner of wheeling The first posture Closing of files Closing of rankes forward The Front Cap 33 Os Cloinges Closing to the middesâ— The front after closing yâ— right action Closing to yâ— left â—and Closing to yâ— right â—and The Front before closing The Front of yâ— battaile before closing hand and so to oppose the front against the Enemy But in both these motions the caution of Aelian is that the Enemy surprize you not whilest you are in the a 〈…〉 ion of countermarch or wheeling lest taking his aduantage hee charge you being in disorder Therefore if he come so neere that you haue no liberty to countermarch or wheele your onely refuge is to face about to the right or left hand for so he shall not be able to giue vpon your backe If the enemy appeare vpon any flanke countermarch of the Front will not auaile much lesse doubling against the flanke of ranks or files but you must either wheele your Front to the flanke or if you haue not time enough so to doe you are to face your battell to that hand The vse of these motions hath been handled in their seuerall Chapters more at large Of the Signes of Direction which are to be giuin to the Army and of their seuerall kindes CHAP. XXXV 1 WE are to acquaint our Forces both Foot and Horse perfectly with the 2 voice and perfectly with 3 visible signes that whatsoeuer is fitting may be executed and done as occasion shall require 4 Some things also are to be denounced by the Trumpet for so all directions will be fully accomplished and sort to a desired effect 5 The signes therefore which are deliuered by voice are most euident and cleere if they haue no impediment 6 But the most certaine and least tumultuous signes are such as are presented to the eye if they be not obscured The voice sometime cannot bee heard by reason of the clashing of â—rmour or trampling or neying of Horses or tumult of carriage or noise and confused sound of the multitude The visible signes also become many waies vncertaine by thicknesse of ayre by dust by raine or snow or sun-shine or else through ground that is vneuen or ful of trees or of turnings And sometimes it will not be easie to find out signes for all vses occasions eftsoones presenting new matter to which a man is not accustomed yet can it not so fall out that either by voice or by signall we should not giue sure and certaine direction NOTES 1 THe ordinary motions in a Phalange are all represented by Aelian Now commeth hee to speake of Signes which direct and are meanes of effecting all these motions and without which the Army is no Army but remains a body vngouernable and may aptly be resembled to a Shippe that hath no rudder For as a Ship in a tempest is driuen by all windes tossed by waues throwne euery way vpon rockes vpon sands vpon dangerous shoares that is not guided by the Master who standeth and moueth at the helme So an Army not directed by signes and forecast of the General is carried away through ignorance and violence of affection sometimes of anger sometimes offeare sometimes of reuenge and other vnbridled desires and breaketh or else falleth into confusion through disorder working little against the enemy may rather giuing him meanes of a certaine victory The shippe is like the Army the Generall like the Master the words of Direction like the Rudder guiding all and euery motion of the Army For the Army being a body of many heads whereof euery one hath a seuerall sense hangeth together not by the naturall coherence and knitting of one member to another but by artificiall ioyning of man to man file to file body to body whereby it is gathered together into one Masse and figured into many members and ioynts and ruled not by the reason and iudgement of it selfe but by the reason and vnderstanding of the Generall So that no man is to demand why this or that is commanded but is to execute it alone for this Cause because it is commanded The Generall then being to Command and direct the actions of the whole Army ought to finde out meanes to speake and discourse with them all at once in such a language as it were that all may vnderstand at once For the occurrence of warre being oftentimes sudden and once slipt by irrecouerable require sudden meanes of speedy direction that nothing fall out so vnlooked for but the Army may haue notice how to preuent and auoid or else to turne it to their most aduantage the rather because in warre safety and life come in question in losse of which no pardon of negligence can be admitted And seeing there are two principall sences of aduertisement the eare the one the other the eye the eare to heare all manner of sounds the eye to discerne all manner of colours and shapes it hath been the witty inuentions so antient Generals to informe their Armies by the one and by the other by the eye when there was no vse of the eare by the eare when the eye could not be informed The true obseruation and vse of these signes auaile much in warre Vegetius saith that nothing profiteth more to victory then to obey the admonition of signes Former experience hath taught that the neglect or error of signes hath brought in great inconueniences and quite ouerthrowne the enterprises in hand Polybius remembreth it in Aratus the elder a Generall of the Achaeans Cratus saith hee the Generall of the Achaeans seeking to get the Cyâ—ethian City by a plot agreed with those of his party within the Citie vpon a certain time to come by night to the riuer that runneth by Cynethe there refreshing and staying his Army a while and that those within taking their time should send about mid-day out of the gate secretly one of their companions to stand in a cloake by a hill appointed which was not farre from the Citie to giue aduertisement to Aratus to
charge the reare But since vpon better consideration I thinke there is a fault in the text and where it is written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it should be corrected and written as I take it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie the flankes of the battaile Iulius Pollux testifieth in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The forepart of those that fight is called the front the rankes and the face the outward parts on each side 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the flanks the wings the right and the left the middest the nauell the depth the parget or wall The like doth Leo in many places and as farre as I can read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the plurall number is generally taken for the flankes albeit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the singular number I deny not to be vsed for the reare sometimes as in Xenophon who describing a fight betwixt the Corcyreians and Lacedemonians hath thus Mnasippus the Lacedemonian Generall embattailing his army put the enemy that was neere the gates to flight and followed the chaâ—â— They being come neere the wals turned againe and threw and cast darts from the mountaines other running out of the other gates in good numbers fell vpon the reare of the Lacedemonians who being ordered but 8 deep and thinking the reare of the Phalange to be but weake endeauoured to retire and fall off The enemy no sooner saw them giue ground but presently fel on more eagerly imagining they fled neither did they turne their faces any more and they who stood next vnto them soughe with all speed to saue themselues by flight Mnasippus could giue no aid to his destressed souldiers by reason hee was hardly laid to by the Corcireans that came to hands with him and his number by little and litle decreased at last the enemy in great numbers pressed them sore that stood about Mnasippus who were now reduced to a very few And the armed foot of the Citty seeing what was done abroad issued out and after they had slaine Mnasippus they followed the chace all of them together Thus Xenophon And thus you may see 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the singular number taken for the reare of the Phalange howsouer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the plurall signifieth the flanks The Antistomus Phalange therefore differing from the Amphistomus in this only because the last maintaines fight in front and reare the first in both flanks and Aelian in this Chapter describing the battel which maintaines the fight in the flanks it seemeth that the inscription ought to be of the Phalange Antistomus and that the text ought to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It may after a sort appear by Aelian himselfe in the next Chapter where making a difference betwixt these two battailes he saith plainly that the Antistomus fighteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Read then in the text Those in the flanks make head against the enemy in stead of these words Those in front and reare and all the rest will agree to the Phalange Antistomus 3. It is of great vse The vse of this battaile is principally against horse as Aelian giueth to vnderstand because they are quicke and speedy and can suddenly turne diuide themselues and charge where they list And the flanks of the battell being the weakest part for your best men are placed in the front and reare it is needfull to finde out some meanes to defend them which is to instruct your Souldiers how to receiue the charge by turning their faces to the flankes In front you are alwaies ready because faces and weapons are bent that way Effect the like in the flankes and you shall be able to resist any charge of the enemy For foot the danger is not so great because your men shall be able to face euery way as readily as the enemy giue them only exercise and acqaint them with that manner of fight 4. And principally practised against the Barbarians That it was much vsed amongst the Grecians I find not in there history yet is there no doubt but the vse may be great in it as well as in the Amphistomus But I take the reason why it was seldome put in practice to be because the flankes of pikes in the Grecian battell were for the most part garded with horse and light-armed The front and reare hauing no such defence were commonly attached by the enemy seeking all aduantage to distresse them and in case the horse and light-armed bee absent the flankes are the fairest marke of the enemy which can by no other meanes be secured but by facing that way where he giueth on which may be euidently seene by the fight Cyrus the elder had against Craesus which example you shall see set out in my notes vpon the 46. Chap. page 79. 5. Those are broad squares That which I heere translate a broad square is in the Greeke Heteromekes of which forme I haue spoken in notes vpon the 30. Chapter Cap. 39 The Phalange Antistomus Front Wordes of direction for the Phalange Antistomus for that forme is described in this Chapter 1. Halfe rankes face to the right and left hands 2. Charge your Pikes To restore to the first Posture 1. Aduance your Pikes 2. Face as you were 1 Of the Phalange antistomus CHAP. XXXIX 1 THe Phalange Antistomus is like to the Amphistomus the forme being a little altered so that it accustometh the Soldier to resist the seuerall kindes of incursions of horse All that hath beene spoken of the former Phalange both for foot and horse agreeth with this figure also Heerein they differ that the 2 Amphistomus receiueth the charge in front and reare the Antistomus in flanke but as well in the one as the other they fight with long pikes as doe the Alans and Sauromatans and the one halfe of the souldiers in the files haue their faces bent forward the other halfe backward so that they stand backe to back This forme hath two fronts the one before where the-file leaders the other behinde where the bringers vp stand And being also diuided into a 3 Diphalange it maketh the forefront with one the after-front with the other Phalange NOTES 1 AS the title of the former Chapter was mistaken so is the title of this Chapter The other should haue beene of the Antistomus as I haue before shewed this of the Amphistomus That it should be of the Amphistomus the very wordes following in this Chapter will proue which are these The one halfe saith he of the armed souldiers in the files haue their faces bent forward the other halfe backward so that they stand back to backe and the battell hath two frontes one before where the file-leaders the other behind where the bringers vp stand He describeth the two fronts by the file-leaders and bringers vp whose proper places are the front and reare not the flanks and further
darters running out of the Roman army according to their custome threw many and forcible darts at the Celtes the Celtes of the reare found good vse of their coates and breeches but those that fought naked in the front this accident happening contrary to their expectation were troubled out of measure and wonderfully perplexed for the Gaulish target being not of sufficiency to couer a mans body the greater and nakeder their bodies were the more were they subiect to wounds and the lesse the weapons missed the marke At the last being not able to saue themselues from the light-armed who plied them a farre off nor from the multitude of dartes that fell amongst them and being troubled and confused with their present state some of them out of a rage and brutishnesse ranne vainly vpon the enemy and willingly offered themselues to slaughter other retiring leasurely to their friendes and shewing manifest tokens of feare disordered them behinde Thus the Roman light-armed allaid the pride of the Gesates But the multitude of the Insubrians Boyans and Tauriscans after the Romans had receiued their light-armed into their battell and aduanced the cohorts of armed to ioyne hand to hand maintained a stout fight and albeit they receiued many woundes yet fainted they not in minds being onely inferior both generally and particularly in the kinde of armes they bore For both their targets in defence and their swords in offence had a great difference by reason the Gaulois sword is onely fit to strike withall But when the Roman horse from the hill hasted downe in wing and stoutly came to handy stroakes with them the foot-men of the Celtes were cut in pieces in the places where they fought and the horse tooke themselues to flight There dyed therefore of the Celtes 30000 and 10000 were take prisoners amongst whom was Concolitan one of the Kings the other K. Aneroestus flying to a certaine place with a few killed himselfe and his friends that were about him This example hath Polibyus of the Amphistomus Phalange wherein he both sheweth the form and the vse of it namely that it hath a front both waies to receiue the enemies charge before and in the reare Arrian hath another example in the battaile between Alexander the Great and Porus a king of India his words are to this effect Alexander was now come within the reach of missiue weapons when he sent his Archers on horsebacke against the left wing of the Indians to molest the enemy on that side both with multitude of arrows and with incursion of the horse and himselfe also hauing with him the troupes of Companies spurring on against the same wing vsing all celerity to fall vpon them who were yet out of order and in a wing before they could reduce themselues into a Phalange In the meane time the Indians knitting together their whole power of horse made head against Alexander with all speed giuing their horse a full carriere Then Caenus as was commanded shewed himselfe at their backes The Indians seeing this were forced to order their horse in an Amphistomus opposing one part the most and strongest to Alexander the other to Caenus and his troopes which thing troubled the array and mindes of the Indians And Alexander taking hold of the opportunity charged those which were opposed to him in the instant while the other were facing about to Caenus The Indians endured not the charge but fled to the Elephants as to a castle that was friend Hitherto Arrian In these two examples is liuely set forth the nature and fashion of the Amphstomus phalange And albeit both the parties that vsed it were beaten yet the cause rested not in the forme but in the valour of them that fought against it if the Romans in one example of Alexander in the other Alexander himselfe vsing this very forme in the battel of Gaugamela obtained the famous victory against Darius which is described by Arrian in his third book as did also Scipio against Asdrubal in Spaine so then by that which hath beene said the difference betweene the Antistomus and Amphistomus phalange may easily appeare which albeit they either of them fight against the enemy in two places of the Phalange at once and are like ore to another in that respect yet they differ in the places of the fight the one receiuing the charge in both the flanks other in front and reare They are both defensiue statary and if moue with you either of them during the charge of the enemy you presently break the form and lay the backe of the soldiers open to be annoied especially if the enemy ouertop you in number otherwise it will be no inconuenienceto diuide the battell and to fight apart with both For that the Antistomus may be diuided Aelian teacheth in the next Chapter for the Amphistomus hee saith the like in this Chapter in these words 3 And also being diuided into a Diphalange A Diphilange is when a Phalange is diuided into two and being in one body it is called a Phalange in two bodies a Diphilange About the Diphilange Amphistomus there is variance amongst the writers of this Art Aelian would haue it to bee framed of a Phalange Amphistomus disioyned and in the middest diuided into two parts so that the fore-front is made with one of the hinder front with the other Phalange The Treatise of Military Appellations annexed to the end of Suidas saith that that is a Diphilange Amphistomus which hath the file-leaders on the outsides of both the flanks in a deduction and the bringers vp within I take Aelian to be in the right for if the Amphistomus Phalange must haue the front and reare opposed to the enemy what reason is there why the Amphistomus Diphalangy should not be of the same nature considring Cap. 40. A Diphalange Antistomus The Horsmans Wedge Front that the Diphalangy Antistomus hath the leaders in the flankes as the Phalange Antistomus hath which appeareth not only in the next Chapter but also in diuers other places of this Booke neither doe I reade any where that the Antistomus hath to do with the front and reare nor the Amphistomus with the flanks The words of direction in the Amphistomus The hinder 1 Halfe files face about to the right or left hand 2 Charge the Pikes both waies in front and reare To restore to the first Posture The hindermost 1 Aduance your Pikes 2 Halfe files face as you were Of the Diphalange Antistomus CHAP. XXXX A Diphalange Antistomus is that which hath the file-leaders placed not in a deduction outwardly but inwardly face to face one against another and the reare-Commanders without one halfe in right the other halfe in a left deduction This forme is vsed against Horse which giue on and charge wedge-wise for the wedge shooting forth in a point and hauing the Commanders following in the flanks and indeauouring to disseuer and breake the Front of the foot the Leaders of the foot fore-seeing their
the front of the enemy Agis and his troopes stood in the middest Aratus after he had imparted his purpose to the Arcadians fled himselfe and with him that part of the army which he commanded as if he feared the impression of the Lacedemonians in giuing backe hee brought the army into the forme of an halfe moone The Lacedemonians and Agis thinking they had the victory in their hands pursued Aratus and his troopes more egerly The wing followed the King esteeming it no small conquest to haue soyled Aratus In the meane time they perceiued not the Arcadians that were at their backe and the Lacedemonians being encompassed round about lost both many other of their army and Agis also their King the sonne of Endamidas was flaine Leo also in sea fight giueth his Generall counsell how to entrap his enemy with a shew of flight in giuing backe with fashioning an halfe moone These be his words in effect If a Generall be to retire before the enemies Nauy let him retire fashioning his Nauy into a battaile Menoeides anasailyng with his poupes forward and so seeme to shunne the enemy For if he flye not but retire fighting hee shall haue his ships ready to turne vpon the enemy with their prowes bent against him And if need require he may retire with his poupes toward the enemy for the enemy shall not dare to enter into the hollownesse for feare of being encompassed So Leo. The Menoeides therefore may be framed during fight but this caution is to be remembred that in sudden transmutations of battailes you vse not the seruice of raw souldiers but of such as haue experience lest all be brought into confusion and the enemy charge you while you are changing your forme Now as formes of aduantage are to be sought against the enemy so is it needfull to aduise what best opposition is to be made against such battailes in case the enemy vse them The Rombe of horse was of old time accounted a forcible figure against foot the horse therein had the better The Menoeides was inuented to resist and ouerthrow the horse The foot had beene the better what was then best for the horse to abstaine from charging saith Aelian and to ply the foot with missiue weapons to the end to force them to break their strong forme of embattailing So now they stand vpon equall tearmes and the foot can with their shot annoy the horse as well as the horse can annoy the foot Aelian then sheweth a meanes for the horse to auoide the danger of this manner of embattailing for foot vsing this forme against foot hee sheweth no remedy I will set downe what I finde and here I neede not to repeat the remedy that Epaminondas vsed against the Lacedemonian halfe-moone it is related at large in my Notes vpon the 30 Chap. Onosander giueth this aduise Diuide your battaile saith hee into 3 parts with the two outwardest charge the Enemies winges the third that is ordered against the middle and as it were the bosome of the Cressant aduance it not but let it stand firme for either they that are placed in the middest of the Cressant shall standidle or else aduancing in an euen front will throng one another and breake their battaile For the two fronts fighting in the winges and keeping their place it is not possible for the halfe circle to come forward with an euen front when they are therefore confused and haue broken their array let the third battaile that remained in the middest for seconds charge them as they disorderl aduance If they still keepe their place in the bottome of the hollownesse oppose the light-armed and darters against them who will exceedingly distresse them with their missiue weapons likewise you may doe well to frame a Loxe-phalange of your whole Army and with your two Loxes charge the winges preuenting so the circling and encompasing of the Menoeides For the Enemy being a long while hindered from comming to blowes with his whole Army shall bee kept in play with a few none fighting but those onely that are in the winges which first of necessitie must ioyne because of the oblique onset It will not bee a misse also leisurely to retire with the Army sometimes as though you were in feare or else facing about to make your retreat orderly as if you fled and afterward turning sudd onely to meete the Enemie that presseth vpon you For sometimes the Enemie being ouer-ioyed in the imagination of a true flight doth follow vnaduisedly and make a disorderly pursuit euery man pressing to be formost vpon whom you may returne without danger and againe chase them that follow you who will be struckes with a fear in that you dare contrary to their expectation turne again make head against them Onosander giueth here three wayes to resist the Menoeides one by diuiding your battaile into a Triphalange opposing two phalanges against the two wings of the Cressant forbearing and standing firme with the third till opportunity be to moue which is the battaile that Aelian opposeth against the Caelembolos The second by vsing the Loxe-phalange against it as did Epaminondas at the battaile of Leustra against the Lacedemonian halfe moone as I haue shewed elsewhere namely Chap. 30. § 7. The third in making semblance of flying for the halfe moone is a forme which in standing may well be kept whole in mouing will soone be broken and fall into disorder as Cicuta an Italian writer noteth very well If then you faine to flye keeping your men in order the Menoeides following you will breake of it selfe and so you haue good opportunity to returne and in all likelihood to win the day against it especially being in disorder Leo giueth the same aduise to his Generall onely he speaketh of Sea matters Onosander of Land seruice Words of direction for the Rhombe For the forming of the Rhombes see the 19 Chapter and my Notes vpon that Chapter § 6. For the Cressnnt First order your body into a long square Plagiophalanx 1 The 2 file-leaders in the middest of the square stand 2 The next 2 on either hand mooue forward one foot before the other two their files mouing withall and holding their distance 3 So the 4 next file-leaders each before other on either side a foot 4 Then two more on either side aduance before the rest that mooued two foot a peece 5 Then the 2 next on either side 3 foot apeece To restore to the first Posture Face about Moue all at once excepting the 2 middle files and take your first ground Of the Horse-battaile Heteromekes and the Plagiophalange to bee opposed against it CHAP. XLV 1 THE horse-battaile Heteromekes is that which hath the depth double to the length It is profitable in many respects 2 For seeming to bee but a few in so small a breadth it deceiueth the Enemie and easily breaketh his forces with the thicknesse strength of the embattailing and may without perceiuing