number and the ground where they stand As the front is diuided so likewise is the supply and last hope in like sort The supply would be neere so many as the front but it is sufficient if the last hope be halfe so many The distances of the supply would be greater then of the battaillions in front which charging the enemy are to ioyne close together and being wearied may retire within the distances of the supply which two partes ioyned together do then make one front if both be foiled then are they to be receiued within the distances of the last hope which are largest and all the partes to vnite their whole forces together If any doubt of the confusion that may arise in the retiring of the first and second battell backe to the third then may the supply and last hope be drawen vp vpon the sides which will worke the very same effects In the midst of euery battaillion or square somewhat toward the first rankes would the ensignes be placed with their garders well armed and furnished with short weapons Euery battaillion would haue his seuerall leader which would be the first man of the right hand in the first ranke of the square for that the inferior leaders in a maine battell should stand out of ranke is contrary to practise of warres If in euery battaillion there were some part targetters contrary to the moderne vse there might be good vse made of them when the armies come to ioyne both against shot and pikes a Ante signa modico interuallo velites eunt Liu. 38. Before the front of the battell are certeine troupes of shot to take their standing which may not onely defend the head of our army but also anoy whosoeuer offereth himselfe to the charge If they be pressed with horsemen or targetters their retreit is within the distances of the battaillions if the ground affoord them no other defence From thence they are to be drawen eftsoone againe and employed where theyr leaders shall perceiue they may doe most seruice A ranke of mosquetiers vnder the first ranke of pikes may doe good seruice if they be drawen into the distances when the enemy commeth to the charge The horsemen if they be not strong enough to encounter the enemies horse would be seconded with certeine troupes of shot and halfe pikes but diligently are they to take heed that they goe not directly before the front of their owne footmen lest retiring thence they fall vpon their owne pikes The great ordonance if there be any hill in the place either on the right hand or left hand of the army is there best placed both for seeing of the enemy and for feare of disordering our men either going to the charge or retiring backe If the ground be euen it is placed in the head of our army a little before our troupes of shot which after the same is discharged auance themselues while that is drawen within the distances either of the battaillions or of the midbattell and corners For defence of the artillery there are good gardes to be appointed wheresoeuer it standeth If this order cannot be obserued yet this rule is generally to be respected that euery weapon and souldier is there to be placed where he may most anoy the enemy and best defend himselfe The partes are so to be placed that one may succour another and one retire to another Horsemen may not come within the ground of the footmen nor shot within the rankes of pikes but both either on the sides or behinde the battaillions He is most iudicious that can bring most men to fight and stop the way to the enemy that he can not extend his men to hurt him There is no company to be sent forth to ioyne with the enemy but with some to relieue them againe and againe and to receiue them retiring and stop the enemies pursute Horsemen may not charge pikes nor come in ground where they cannot fetch their carriere Other rules in their speciall places shall be prescribed Shot in marching and standing obserue order The distances before I haue shewed In fighting they obserue no order but euery man marking his enemy right before him and shooting at him taketh his best aduantage yet if they obserue not a certeine course where the shot are many they soone fall in disorder Archers for that they shoot and fight standing in ranke obserue better aray their distance from shoulder to shoulder is one foot from ranke to ranke foure foot Some now a dayes doe little esteeme this weapon yet if our archers were armed with plated iackes as in time past neither shotte could abide them in euen ground nor pikes without shotte Against horsemen where they may finde defence of hedges or ditches or stakes or rough ground they do very good seruice Pikemen against a charge of horsemen ought to stand close with the blunt end of the pike in the ground the poynt bent vpon the horse brest Ranke from ranke standeth not more then three foot asunder that many endes of pikes may garde the first ranke That the pikes may be commodiously bent and crossed the first rankes are to bow theyr bodies that they may the better breake the charge of the enemies horse before them they are to haue a ranke of mosquetiers as hath bene said already Where the pikemen go to charge other pikes betweene shoulder and shoulder there would be a foot distance betwixt ranke and ranke so much as charging with the pikes aboue hand and breaking the same they may vse theyr swordes and daggers and either in striking auance forward theyr right legges or els receiuing the enemies blowes draw backe the same Sixe foot I thinke for that purpose to be sufficient The halberdieres bilmen and targetters would haue likewise betwixt shoulder and shoulder one foot betwixt ranke and ranke fiue foot In pikes and short weapons this is generally to be obserued that they stand as close together as may be so they may haue roome to manage themselues and their weapons the lesse roome may serue considering that I would haue all souldiers to strike with the point of their weapon and euery man to succour his fellowes before him and on the sides The horsemen go to the shocke with equall front so neere as they can and runne so close side by side as they may without hurt ech to other If horse be distant from horse two foot and ranke from ranke seuen foot when horsemen goe trotting to the charge the proportion is good The aray of the Frenchmen that charge with single rankes is of no strength neither the orders of the Reiters that goe to the charge in a ring for so soone as they are inuested with lances they are broken and therefore I thinke the former aray better as vsed both by antiquity and the Italian and English caualery which giueth ground at this day to no other The ancient leaders of time past which for their skill in armes are famous to
argoletiers are to take heede that they come not neere the lances of the enemy lest they make holes in their horses sides if no worse Where the enemy is in disorder there al sorts of horsemen may do seruice At Cerisoles after that the shot had made way in the enemies battell the French entred with their horse among them and ouerthrew them Pikes are the onely defence of footemen against horsemen if they be taken in plaine ground Yet doe I not thinke it good that there should be such numbers of pikes in our armies as is vsed For that vse excepted which I spake of I see no other great profite they haue For execution is seldome doone by pikes Sometime I grant pikes do charge other pikes but it is not the piquier that maketh the slaughter In woodes and shrubbie or brushie groundes these kinde of long weapons are vnprofitable and vnweldie The Germanes by the disaduantage of their long pikes d being taken in such ground were ouerthrowen by Germanicus and the Romane targettiers In straites likewise when souldiers come to lay handes and haue prize ech on other long pikes cannot a Longae hast 〈◊〉 in syluis inter virgulta non tam aptae quam pila haerentia corpori tegmina gladij Tacit. 2. not be a Nec minor Germanis animus sed genere pugnae armorum superabantur cum ingens multitudo arctis locis praelongas hastas non protenderet nō colligeret Tacit. annal 2. managed as the experience of the Romanes fighting against the Germanes and Macedonians armed with long weapons teacheth vs. Further the assailants in assaults of townes and forts haue small vse of them For there is no vse of horsemen there greatly against which pikes are good neither do the defendants greatly vse them saue in the breach Pikemen are too heauie armed to pursue others and without shot they cannot well garde themselues either against shot or targets At Muscleborough field a fewe shot opened the Scottish squadrons of pikes for those that folowing after inuested them And likewise did the French arquebuziers at Cerisoles deale with the lancequenets among whose battelles making lanes they gaue entrance to the horsemen that presently charged them And so little defence there is in that weapon that not onely the Biscaine buckelers entred within them at the battaile of b In the dayes of Lewis the 12. of France Rauenna where they made a foule tailliada and slaughter but also the Counte of Carmignola dismounting himselfe and his company entred among the squadrons of the Switzers pikes and cut them in peeces in an other encounter in Lombardie The Romanes dealing with the c Sarissae Macedonicae Macedonian pikes both in the warres with Philip and Perseus kings of Macedonia and of Antiochus king of a great part of Asia neuer feared to enter vpon them with their targets nor made reckoning of that weapon And not without cause For who seeth not the strength and effect of the pike being in the point that as soone as targettiers or other armed men enter among pikes the piquiers throwe downe their pikes and take them to their other weapons the Portugalles did perceiue by the experience of that fight with the Moores where Sebastian their king was slaine that fewer pikes would haue serued and other weapons done better effects The Switzers that are for the most part piquiers will not march anie whither without their companies of shot attending on them for their garde At Moncontour the Almaine piquiers abandoned of their shot were miserably shot to death most of them For this cause I would haue onely so many pikes as woulde serue for the defence of the army against the enemies horse The Frenchmen haue but ten pikes to euery companie of shot which is too little yea and sometimes they haue no pikes at all But he is abused that maketh the French precedentes and examples to followe in any practice of warre The first rankes of pikes woulde bee armed with corsalets of caliuer proofe on the breast from the twelfth ranke backeward and inward it is sufficient if they haue anie armes or iackes of male Brassats and other peeces of armes except the head-peece gorgeron and corsalet I thinke to be more then they can eyther wel march with or fight with The Frenchmen in time past had some called a Cruppellarii cōtinuo ferri teg mine inferendis ictibus inhabiles dolabtis securibus à Romani◠caeduntur Tac. 3. Cruppellarii by Tacitus that were armed as they saie de cap en pied at which the Romane souldiers laughed For that they were vnable by reason of the weight of their armes eyther to strike the enemie or to defend themselues Therefore did they hew them downe with billes and pollaxes The pike I would haue if it might be of Spanish Ash and betwixt twentie and two and twentie foote long and by his side euerie piquier would haue sword and dagger and a dagge at his girdle especially in the vtmost ranks The number of targettiers I woulde haue encreased Not onely of such as haue targets of proofe which are vsed of those that stand in the first rankes but also of those that haue light targets These would be made of wood either hooped or barred with yron It would be three foote and a halfe in length for that was the measure of the Romane shield two foot a half in breadth in forme ouall A kinde of armes now disused but most excellent in all seruices saue against horsemen in the plaine field Against archers targets are a sure defence and dangerous to the enemy after that men come to close b Liu. 27. Scipio with his targetters cut the Carthaginian archers and slingars in peeces c Romani tela densatis excipiunt scutis Liu. 28. Targets are a good defence against stones in an assault and whatsoeuer is throwen from hand The same are very effectuall against shot A small number of targetters if once they come to reach shot with their swordes put great numbers of them out of the field Put case that some come shorte yet sure not manie considering that onely the first rankes of shot can discharge and that all doe not hit and few mortally especially if the first targets be of proofe and the men march resolutely to the charge Neither can shot retire where many of them are in the field nor saue thēselues in any place but targetters wil come to them Targetters also are mortall to the pikemen as not onely the Romanes dealing with the Macodonian and Germane pikes but also the Biskaines with their bucklers in the battell of Rauenna and Cirignola declared Targettiers in execution are singular and ready and light if their targets be light in following the chase They may be vsed in all seruices and all groundes In assaults of townes and in sallies in fighting in open field and in streites in woodes and in hils in retraites and in chases there is
cowards and disorderly persons 21 In the last Chapter for that our souldiers are for the most part raw and ignorant and would haue things expressed and taught them plainely I haue gathered together certaine militarie orders some concerning religion manners others concerning especially tending to the common safetie of the state armie or garrison or els concerning the speciall dueties of captains or common souldiers others respecting the campe or towne of garrison others specially belonging to sea causes and aduentures at sea others to the Officers of the army or fleete others concerning booties spoyles and prisoners and some concerning the execution of lawes and administration of iustice out of which I would haue so many as are fitting for the seruice in hand to be chosen out and put in writing and proclaymed openly and deliuered vnto euery captaine or colonell that euery man may vnderstand some part of his duetie and what punishment is due for his offences These things I haue for thy sake not without great labour brought together and layde foorth in this forme which I haue declared Reade them therefore with indifferencie and weigh them with iudgement and say not this can not be so for I neuer sawe it the authoritie is drawen from those which haue seene more then thy selfe and standeth vpon better reason then without experience thou canst imagine if thou allowest and likest my reasons followe them and vse them if not yet proceede not against reason my only desire was to profit my countrey and to content and profit thee other boone or reward I craue none but that I doe not receiue at thy hands disgrace for my diligence nor reproofe or scorne for my good will which because common humanitie forbiddeth me to feare I will bid thee a dieu and begin to addresse me to my purpose ¶ The right practice proceedings and lawes of Armes CHAP. I. What causes make warres iust or vniust and what are the effectes of lawfull warres and what solemnities or circumstances are to be considered in defiance of our enemies and first attempts of warres IT is needelesse as I suppose to dispute whether it be lawfull either for Christian Princes to make warres or for christians to serue in warres Those that thinke it vnlawfull as men deuoyd of iudgement in religion and state are declared long since to be both heretical and phrenetical persons The lawfulnes there of is apparent for that most godly and religious princes as Iosuah Dauid Iehosaphat Iudas Macabeus were great warriers their warres so allowed that the spirit of God calleth them the warres or battels of the Lord neither was the same altered by Christes comming as the Anabaptists dreame The holy a Rom. 13. Apostle sheweth that the Magistrate carrieth not the sword in vaine But he should carry it in vaine if hee might not as lawfully repell publike force as he may punish therewith priuate wrongs Iohn Baptist when the souldiers came vnto him he exhorted them not to giue ouer their manner of liuing but to content themselues with their wages to do wrong to no mau b Act. 9. Cornelius the Centurion notwithstanding his souldiers profession hath a notable testimony of the holie Ghost to be a man that feared God and if he had not beene such hee had not receiued the holie Ghost The true seruants of God sayth S. c Ad Bonifac. Augustine make warres that the wicked may be restrained and goodmen be relieued Beside this what state in this notable corruption malice of mens nature could endure any time if warres against violent persons were vnlawfull without warres who can warrant vs against spoyle and iniury it is the law of nature and nations that putteth weapons in our hands for our defence without warres ciuill lawes against rebellious subiects cannot be executed and so should remaine without edge S. a Ambr. de offic Ambrose saith that it is the office and parte of iustice by warre to defend our country from the enemy our confederates and such as by reason of their weakenes neede our aide from spoylers and oppressors Wherefore taking this as granted that some warres are lawfull let vs proceede to examine what those things are that giue vs iust cause of warres which is a matter much to be regarded vnlesse we will be accompted among those tyrants that rage and vexe men without cause If the cause of him that warreth be good the issue cannot be euill saith b Bern. de nou mil. Bernard the c Frangit attollit vires in milite causa Ouid. cause as it is good or euill so either abateth and breaketh or whetteth the souldiors courage d causa iubet superos melior sperare secundos Lucan and good and iust causes make men hope ro receiue fauour of God in the issue and triall e Euentus belli velut aequus iudex vnde ius stabat ei victoriam dabat Liui. 21. the euent oftentimes is according to the iustice and qualitie of the cause and f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip Electr. seldome do they returne in safety that go forth to draw their swordes in euill quarrels Dionysius of g Lib. 2. antiq Halicarnassus sayth that the Romanes therefore preuayled for the most part for that they enterprised no warres without iust causes contrariwise the h Ius in armis ferebant Liu. 5. Gaules which accompted that iustly gotten which they could winne with their sworde though otherwise very valiant receiued many great foiles for this cause as sayth Philip of i Phil. Com. li. 4. Commines Princes when they list to quarrel with their neighbors pretend honest causes although oft times vntrue The French that with some colour they might receiue such as in Gascoigne or Guienne rebelled against the kings of this realme suborned certaine Gascoignes and Poicteuins to complaine of vniust taxations made by the English in the dayes of Edward the third and Richard the second And Lewis the eleueuth of France instigated certaine rebelles to complaine of k Philip of Commines Charles duke of Burgundie that vnder colour of doing iustice he might with more reason inuade his territories These pretenses shewes make great disputes betwixt princes and states while euery man will seeme to make his cause good and to do nothing without iust causes Let vs therefore now consider what causes are sufficient to iustifie the taking of armes what are counterfeit and insufficient First it is lawfull to vse â—orce and take armes in defence of our country true religion our goodes or liberty a Hoc ratiodoctis mos gentibus feris natura ipsa praescripsit vt omnem semper vim a corpore a capite a vita iua propulsarent Cic. pro Mil. Reason teacheth the learned and custome instructeth all nations thus much which euen the instinct of nature printeth in wilde and sauage beastes that it is lawfull to repell force offered to our life to our person and the
are commaunded and onely to see those that follow them where they march to do their dueties which consent vnlesse it be obserued these inconueniences will ensue By contrarie commaundements there will fall out confusion and contention and many captaines lieutenants and serieants will walke out of order and much time will be spent in setting of men in their places which euery souldier ought to doe of himselfe The great ordonance being parted betwixt the vantgard battell and rereward sometime is drawen in head of the a So was it at the battell of Moncontour and in the battell betwixt the Conte Egmont and Thermes by Graueling pikes of euerie battell but for that it must needes trouble those that would march on to fight with the enemie farre better it were if all the great ordonance were drawen on the sides of the vantgard as oft as the enemie made shew of charge and then drawen vpon some hill or some other place of aduauntage In the field it doeth more trouble then seruice the effectes of it is but noyse and foolerie onelie that small townes should not make resistance it is drawen along and also for the vse that it hath in sieges and batteries Concerning the baggage and those seruants and boyes that attend vpon the same and such as follow the armie as merchants or victualers rather to gaine then to fight this rule is generally to be obserued that the same be placed betweene the bataillions so that in a charge the same may best be defended and yet not trouble the araie of the armie The same is to be placed where there is least danger The Greekes returning from the battell betwixt Cyrus b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. exped Cyr. 2. and Artaxerxes being coasted and pursued by the enemie placed their cariages neere the riuer along which they marched and their armed men toward the enemie Caesar marching a Caes bel gal 2. against the Neruians after three partes of foure of his whole forces placed his baggage being garded with the other fourth part following behind At other times when there was lesse suspition of the enemie euery legion marched by it selfe and the baggage thereof after b Praecedunt cohortes sequitur prima legio medijs impedimentis sinistrum latus 19. legio c. Tacit. 2. Germanicus after certaine chosen troupes placed the first regiment or legion and after that hee caused the baggage to follow garded on either side and behind with the rest of the armie If our baggage and impediments be great so much as may be spared is to be left in some strong towne Or if the enemie bee behind The c Caes de bel ciu 3. baggage togither with our hurt men is to bee sent before into some place of safetie as Caesar practised in his retraite from Dyrrhachium This is the common course which is I thinke also best for an armie to vse in marching But if the enemie make countenance or rather doe begin to charge any part of the same then that part which is neerest him is to be made the head or vantgard the other two parts of the armie are to be drawen the one on the right hand the other on the left If the enemie come on front then the rankes of the auantgard are to bee doubled or multiplied according to the capacitie of the ground The battell and rierward are to be drawen vp the one toward the left hand the other toward the right or els one part is to bee drawen vp vntill the same bee equall of front with the auantgard and the other beyng deuided into battaillions to serue for supplie where neede is The shot is to bee placed part in front and the rest on the sides and without them ought horsemen to take their standing expecting their aduauntage and the commaundement of their leaders But if our horsemen bee few and not able to match the enemies cauallerie let them not bee to farre aduaunced vnlesse they bee seconded with shot and halfe pikes armed à le legiere but rather let them bee reserued to chase the enemie beyng foyled by the footemen and placed betweene either ground of aduauntage or battaillions of pikes And this if it be done of those that haue skill ye shall neither heare noise nor see confusion nor time spent about it The souldiers of Caesar beyng suddenly charged by the d Caes de bel gal 2. Neruians as they were newlie come to their lodging did euerie man presently set himselfe in aray to fight And Annibal had so taught his souldiers that euery one issuing out of his lodging coulde fall in aray of himselfe either being ready to fight or to marche And why might not our souldiers also be so instructed and exercised that they might doe the like but some want care some skill and some both Some percase will aske Who gaue me auctoritie to prescribe which are very simple not to see that I prescribe nothing of mine owne but onely declare the auncient practise of warre and proceeding of most famous warriers The Romanes vsed this course and so did the Greekes and Carthaginians First marched the light horse then the light armed after them the armed men The baggage was placed in the midst of the armie This order did Caesar oserue in his marche against the a Caes bel gal 1. Heluetians b Caes Bel. gal 2. Belgians and in c Caes bel Ciu. 1. Spaine against Afranius and Petreius The same did d Liui. 21. Annibal practise in his marching all along Italy The same course for the most part is obserued of those that haue skill in our times but that the differences of groundes and diuers conditions of mens armies make them alter some circumstances Metellus e Metellus cum expeditis cohortibus item funditorum sagittaâ—iorum lecta manu apud primos erat in postremo C. Marius cum equitibus curabat in vtruÌ„que latus auxiliarios equites permistos velites dispertiuerat Salust bel Iugurth marching against Iugurtha placed first certaine choise companies of slingers and archers and after them troupes of armed men without impediments or baggage there himselfe commaunded C. Marius folowed with the horsemen vpon both sides he placed horsemen and light armed of his associats mingled among them guided by certaine captaines of horse the legions marched in the midst Xenophon for that a square battaile in straites is easily disordered did deuide the square into f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph exped Cyr. 3. companies which knowing their places in the square marched few in a ranke in straits and in open ground came into their aray againe His horse and slingers he cast out on the front and sides Corbulo so g Corbulo viae pariter pugnae composuerat exercitum latere dextro 3 legio sinistro 6 incedebat medijs decumanorum delectis recepta inter ordines impedimenta teâ—gum mille equites tuebantur in coâ—nibus pedes sagittaâ—ius câ—tera manus
enemie wholly vanquished a Turbasset vtique nouissimum agmen Liu. 22. Annibal pursuing the Romanes after his victorie at Trebia had sure ouertaken them and disordered their rierward had not the Numidian horsemen turned aside to spoyle the campe of the Romanes And in the time of the Emperours of Rome the Germanes had giuen the b Obstitit vincentibus prauum inter ipsos certamen hoste omisso spolia consectandi Tacit. 20. Romanes a mightie ouerthrowe if leauing them they had not contended among themselues who shoulde first goe to spoyle But howe so euer it was in auncient time the disorder of souldiers in this point is such that with no lawes nor penalties they canne bee kept from following the spoyle which oftentimes maketh them a spoyle to their enemies The French at Guingast had put the Dutch to flight and were almost in possession of the victorie but while they ranne after the spoyle the enemie rallied himselfe and charging them afresh did extorce the victorie out of their handes and put them to flight At c Guicciar li. 2. Taro the Italians had foyled the French returning out of the kingdome of Naples but that in the beginning of the victorie they fell to spoyle the baggage which was the cause of their owne spoyle and ruine The same was the cause of the escape of the d Guicciar lib. 8. French and losse of the Venetians at Treui Gaston de fois at the taking of Brescia made proclamation that vpon paine of death no man shoulde fall to spoyle before licence giuen yet coulde hee not keepe his souldiers fingers in temper The more dangerous effectes doe ensue of this disorder the greater care ought the Generall to haue to preuent it CHAP. XII Part. 2. Wherein the vse of horsemen pikes halberdes and other such weapons also of targets small shotte archers and great ordonance is declared THat which before I promised concerning the vse of horsemen and diuers weapons that is nowe to be performed A matter of great importance and aduantage if it be well considered and therefore not to be omitted You that knowe the traine of armes yeelde here the testimonie of your experience to this discourse and if you heare any cauill against it yet let not such as neuer marched further then out of the kitchin or from the dresser into the hall or parlour censure that which they vnderstand not Horsemen among the Romanes were al of one sort barded horses with men all armed mounted on them they vsed not If they vsed any archers on horsebacke they were beholding to other natiōs for them Nowe vse of late times hath brought in diuers sortes of them which according to their armes and furniture haue diuers names Some horse are barded others without bardes The Frenchmen of armes in time past vsed barded horses for feare of our arrowes Nowe since archerie is not so much reckoned of and bardes are but a weake defence against shotte lanciers leauing their bardes are armed much like to the Albanian stradiots Vpon the borders betwixt vs and the Scots horsemen haue staues for the purpose and for their armes iackes of male The Dutch Reitres although well armed for the most part yet seldome vse lances or staues or other weapon then pistoles and mazes at their saddle bowe Beside these there is an other sort of horsemen lately come in vse We call them carbines pedrinals or argoletiers which vse firelocke peeces on horsebacke and are cōmonly armed to the proofe of their piece Horsemen in warres are most necessary in diuers respects With them we range and spoile the enemies countrey with them we fetch in victuals for our selues with them we discouer the enemies proceedings with them we bridle his courses and stop his forragers with them we both helpe to foyle him in open fielde and pursue him flying from vs. a Caes bel gal 7. Caesar by the enemies horse alwayes coasting him and ready to charge his forragers was driuen to great extremitie for want of victuals In b Hirt. de bel Afric Afrike likewise being a plaine countrey he suffered many algaradaes by the enemies horsemen often charging him and cutting off his victuals If Pompey had not rashly aduentured to fight with Caesar by his horsemen wherein he farre passed him he had famished his armie The Greekes in their returne frō their voyage with Cyrus by experience learned what incommodities followe them that march without horse in the enemies countrey And this is the vse of horsemen out of fight to witte to cut off the enemie from victuals to keepe him short to discouer his proceedings to cut off straglers and to fetche in victuals and prouision for our owne armie Which he that is strong in horsemen cannot want In fighting with the enemie there are diuers vses of horsemen If we charge him on the sides or backe we stop his march as before I haue shewed With a fewe horsemen any number of shotte taken in open fielde may be disordered The Protestants in the encounter at S. Gemme in a Hist de troubl de Fr. li. 13. Poitou with a few horsemen defeated diuers olde companies of shotte led by Puigalliard That was the ruine of the Prince of Parmaes ayde sent to the Duke of Mayne by the horsemen of the present French king by Dreux an 1589. No number of short weapons can resist the carriere of horse in a plaine ground The Sabines saith b Ab equitibus repentè inuectis turbati sunt ordines Sabinorum Liu. 1. Liuy were put out of their araie being suddenly charged by the Romane horsemen The Volscians and c In media primùm acie vinci coepti qua praemissus equitatus turbauerat ordines Liu. 3. Aequians after long fight beganne to giue ground after that the horesemen had broken their array by charging them in the midbattell The force of horesemen for their violence is called a d Procella equestris Liu. 30. tempest The Romane e Dictator immisso equitatu cùm antesignanos hostium turbaffet legionum signa properè inferri iussit Liu. 4. Generall perceiuing the weakenes of the enemies battel by charging them with his horsemen did disorder all to the ensignes after which entrance made he cut the rest in pieces with his armed men The Corinthians in a certaine battell hauing put the f Thucid. 3. Athenian footemen to flight were accoyled and ouerthrowen by a fewe horsemen The reason that the horsemen preuailed so much in time past were two first they seldome vsed any long weapons but targets and iauelins for the most part secondly they did then vse to charge with their horsemen when they sawe the footemen out of array and not otherwise if they did wisely g Reliquos omnes equites nostri consecuti interfecerunt Caes bel gal 1. This is therefore an other vse of horsemen in the battel to charge those that are already disordred The fourth and last vse of them is to execute and