warre in their hand it is hee that giueth Iacob to the spoyle and Ier. 21 4. Esa 42 24. Ier. 21. 5. â— Israel to robbers for hee fighteth sometimes against them with an outstretched hand and a strong arme in anger furie and in great wrath 2. That all this happeneth for sin because his people rebell and vexe his spirit doe euill in his sight and Esa 63. 10 Iud. 3. 12. Leu. 26. 14 15 with v 17 36 37. will not obey nor hearken to his commandements For Idolatry and despising Gods message by his Prophet was Amaziah ouerthrowne in battell Rehoboam for his Idolatry was spoyled by Shishake King of Egypt for Ioash his Apostacie and his murther of Zacharias was a very great host deliuered by God into Esai 42. 34. 2 Ch 25. 12. 2 Ch 24. 2â— the hands of the Sirians a small company For his wickednesse was Ahab brought low and at length Iudah led into captiuity by Nebuchadnezzar 3. That although the Enemies be thus the rod of Gods anger and his Esai 10. 5. indignation the very staffe in his hands to punish his people for their hypocriticall seruice but not to destroy them vtterly yet because the enemies thinke not this that they Esai 10. 13. are onely Gods rod and staffe nor that their power is from him because his people haue sinned but are proud glorying in their owne wisedome and strength and intend in their hearts to destroy the Lords inheritance he will at length turne his wrath vpon them For marke what the Lord saith by his Prophet when the Lord hath performed his whole worke vpon Vers 12. 16 17 24 27. Mount Sion and on Ierusalem hee will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the King of Assyria and the glory of his high lookes And this is Gods manner of dealing when he hath humbled his people then to bring vpon their enemies a day of Ier. 50. 17 18 23 51. 11. Amos 1. 3 6 9 11. 13. vengeance and a time of recompence as he did vpon the Assyrians first and next vpon the Babylonians for their mercilesse cruelty against his people The Lord now afflicteth heauily his Church her enemies preuaile mightily and thinke to deuoure her vp false friends vndermine her wals open enemies assault her and tread her vnder foot in many places but when God hath performed his whole worke he will take his time to gather them together to their destruction and this he foretelleth vs Ioel 3. 2. 11 plainely in Reu. 16. 19. 20. In the meane space let vs humble our selues vnder his mighty hand bee warned by our former great losses by our brethâ—ens calamities by the signes from heauen by the extraordinary stormes and tempests winter thunder and lightning so often and vnusuall by plagues and other punishments fallen vpon vs and if we turne and repent then let vs beleeue 2 Ch. 20. and wait with patience yea then hearken what is said stand still let vs not feare but behold the saluation of the Lord which he will shew vnto vs undoubtedly in that day Amen And thus for the generall hosts of God and the armies of his power in heauen and in earth Now the other more speciall host of this Lord God of Hosts is his trained souldiers the Armie which hee hath in his Church for defence therof Exo. 12. 41 51. 14. 20. 23. 18. 14. 2. 15. 27. Num. 11. 10. 16. or to send out against their enemies and his also for their sakes This Armie was the Israelites comming out of Egypt which are called Gods host and Campe who went vp harnessed their resting places were called encampings and their lodging was in Tents The Lord caused a muster of them and to be numbered and found among them to bee 603550. able men to draw sword all that were 20. yeers old and vpward Hee set them in order in marching and appointed them standards and the seuerall armies to attend the same This Ios 5. 13. Exo. 13. 21. 14. 19. Ps 77. 20. Esa 63. 12. Deut. 33. 5 Ps 18. 32. 34. 38. 144. 1. host was the host of God Christ their Prince and their Conductor His Lieutenant generall Moses who was as a King among them After Moses he set vp Iosua to be generall after him Iudges then Saul and David the King whom the Lord girded with strength to the battell teaching his hands to warre and his fingers to fight so as by hee could by his armes breake a bow of steele Thus he trained him vp to fight his battels This Army of his people is called 1 Sam. 17. 36. Ios 5. 15. Esa 31. 4. Deu 20. 4. 1. Sa. 17. 47 2 Chr. 20. 15. the host of the living God and the Lords host with this he taketh part and for it fighteth as a Lyon with this he goeth to fight against his enemies for the battell is not theirs but the Lords and therfore the Lord was for them to giue them many glorious and incredible victories ouer their enemies And as the Lord was glorified in victories by these so will he assuredly be now also for his Church in his owne good time For albeit the beast must warre with the Saints and for a time ouercome Reu. 11. 2. 13. 7. yet at length shall the lambe with his elect called and faithfull preuaile Reu. 17. 14. He shall ride vpon the white horse with many crownes vpon his head the armies of heauen also following on white horses as triumphing ouer all their enemies for he Reu. 17. 16. is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords And thus of the warres of God with man The III. Chap. Of the warres of man with man and of the lawfulnesse of such warres VVArre is the contention betweene Princes or States by armes or force of men vnder order and good gouernment to obtaine victory and so â—he conquering and subduing of the Dominions bodies and goods of one another to liue the better afterwards in peace and honour For S. Aug ad Bonifac. saith a Father the true seruants of God make warres that the wickâ—d may be restrained and good men be releeued Warre vpon iust cause vndertaken is vndoubtedly lawfull And this is necessary to be knowne and beleeued of all that vndertake warres For there is nothing more for encouragement in any action then to haue conscience satisfied in the lawfulnes thereof Some as the Anabaptists hold it not lawfull for Christians vnder the Gospell to make warre but such are but dreamers for 1. God is pleased to he called a Exo. 15. 3. man of Warre now he neuer admitteth a title of a thing vnlawfull 2. He hath giuen commandement to his people sometimes to fight Numbers 31. 3. 1. Sam. 15. 3. Deut. 2. 24. 3. Hee made lawes for direction to them when they went to warre Deut. 20. 10. 15. 4. Holy men of eminent place and graces haue made warre as
holy Writ I thinke I may write of Hoc instituto meo alienum esse non putavi The Priests of God went out with the Lords Hosts in former times and that by his appointment Iohn the Baptist spake vnto Souldiers they asked him what they should doe and he advised them in some things I haue laboured for your good bonâ saltem intentione I pray my endeavour may not be reckoned minoris pretii quia ego Minister The worth of a true Souldier I haue ever honoured I prize at an high rate a Man os valour and hee well deserues it I wish ex animo that illustrious eminency may ever attend him that is by vertue Valiant I doubt not therefore but that this Work from the word not hitherto published by any will be favourably accepted of you That if it make you not Souldiers according to Men because perhaps more you know already by practise and experience yet am I sâ—re it may make you vertuously valiant and good men according to God And being so then though you die here in Battell you may hereafter liue in blessednesse Which I heartily wish you may attaine vnto there to triumph for ever Yours in his prayer and at command in all Christian Services RICH BERNARD The Contents of every Chapter in this Booke CHAP. I. OF the excellency of the Historie of the warres in Holy Writ CHAP. II. Of the warres of God with man CHAP. III. Of the warres of man with man and of the lawfulnesse of such warres CHAP. IV. Of the honourable calling and employment of a right Souldier CHAP. V. Of the iust causes and true grounds of making warre CHAP. VI. Of necessary warre CHAP. VII Of the chiefe Authority moving to warre and of Kings going out with their Hosts CHAP. VIII Of Prest men and Voluntaries CHAP. IX Of the mustering and choice of Souldiers CHAP. X. Of the Armes in olde times the view of them and of the exercise before Souldiers goe to warre CHAP. XII Of the Generall over the whole Armie CHAP. XIII Of Counsell for Warre CHAP. XIV Of the disciplining of an Armie and orderly government thereof CHAP. XV. Of the evills to bee avoided in a Campe and to be punished CHAP. XVI Of a convenient Army and of necessaries prepared aforehand to maintaine the same CHAP. XVII Of meanes abroad to be vsed before the warre begin CHAP. XVIII Of the religious preparation before the Army march CHAP. XIX Of laying good grounds aforehand to speede well and of a peaceable and lawfull proceeding against such an Enemie CHAP. XX. Of marching forward and encamping CHAP. I. Of the excellencie of the Historie of warres in Holy writt MOst that delight to reade or almost all so delighted do spend their time in perusesing over humane stories and do highly extoll the histories of the warres of Heathen Commanders as of great Alexander of Iulius Caesar of Pirrhus the Epirote of Hanniball the Carthaginean of Scipio Africanus and many other praise worthy Cheiftaines in warre but doe lightly price the Scriptures Historie of warres the right art militarie indeed which was commanded to bee penned by that great man of warre as Moses stileth him the Exod 15. only cheife and highest commander whose name is the Lord of Hosts And yet this Sacreed story surpasseth al other and is aboue them to be commended for many things as first for the vndoubted truth in all and every thing therein delivered 2. For the antiquitie thereof before all other extant in the whole world 3. For the great authority thereof divine and heavenly 4. For the short and pithy relations 5. For such admirable things as be therein recorded not else where to be fouÌ„d If withall the certainetie of such things be considered as I. The Lords most valiant and religious General never to be matched for fame and glorie Who can compare with Iosua judged to bee one of the Nyne Worthies Who can match with some of the Iudges as Shamgar who slew 600 men with an Oxe goad or Sampson that slew a 1000 with the jaw bone of an Asse Iudg. 3. 31. Or who can compare with David the King another of the Nyne Worthies for wisedome valour and piety Or who hath excelled a third of the nyne worthies Iudas Machabeus for courage for magnanimitie of spirit and vndauntednesse of heart II The Captaines and worthies as David had who among the Heathen like Adino that in one battell slew 800 men with his owne hand Who could breake thorow an whole host of armed men as did only three of Dauids worthies to fetch some water for David to drinke Then worthy Acts are recorded in the 2. Sam. cap 23. and 1. 11. whereto I refer the Reader as not to be paralleld among the true histories of any Heathen or Christian III The set Battels therein mentioned in number found 37 what one Historie hath the like number in so compendious a relation IV The huge Armies set downe The Armie which Gedeon fought which was very great for then aboue 120000 were slaine The Army of Israel against Beniamin was 4â—0000 The Army of the Philistins at one time was 30000 Charets 6000 horsmen and footmen as the sand for multitude Sauls first hoast which 1 Sa 11. 8. he levied against the Ammonites was 330000 Amaziah against Edom had 300000 Shishake the King of Aegipt came against Iudah in Rehoboams dayes with 1200 Charetts 60000 horsemen and footmen without number Ieroboam Abijah brought 2 Ch. into the feild at one time 1200000 the one 800000 the other 400000 Zerah the Ethiopian came against Asa with 1000000 and Asa mett him with 580000 so there was that day in the feild fifteene hundred fourscore thousand men to fight striving who should overcome and be victorious Greater armies I never read nor heard of in any Historie saue only that of Xerxzes the Persian and that of Tamberlain and Baiezett the Turke and Tartar if the relation of the numbers be true as we are sure these all be V. The storie is rare In respect of the incredible slaughters in those Iud. 8. 10. dayes in one foughten feild Gedeon in his warrs did sley of the enemyes 120000 David slew 40000 horsemen 2 Sa 10. 18 in the Syrian hoast with their 2 Ch 3 17. Generall and the men also of 700 Charetts in one battell Ieroboam lost 500000 chosen men in his fightings against Abijah Ahab slew of Benhadads 1 K 20 29 30. Army 100000 besides 27000 that perished by the fall of a wall and 2 Ch. 28. 6. 8. Pekah King of Israell destroyed in one day of the men of Iudah 120000 and tooke captiue 200000 prisoners VI. In regard of the most strange and vnheard of victories some miraculous as when God sett the sword of the enemyes of his people against their owne selues to slaughter and kill one another as hee did the Midianits and Amalakits so the Philistians Iudg. 7. 2â— and likewise the Moabites and Edomites
and Ammonites when they came against Iudah Some other 1 Sa. 14 20 though not such yet so prosperous by Gods protection and ayding power 2 Ch 20. to overcome as the like is no where recorded to omit the victories of Iosua against Og against Sihon against all the Kings of Canaan the victories of Iudah of Ehud Baruk Iudg. 1. Iephte of Saul of David Asa Ahab Amaziah and others I will mention but that one levied host of Israell in number 12000 only which went out against Midian and slew fiue Kings burnt all their Citties and Num. 21. 5 8. 10. 32. 35. 50 Verse 49. goodly Castells with fire and tooke prisoners 32000 persons brought away for bootie and spoyle besides Iewels of gold chaines braceletes rings earings and tabletts 675000 sheepe 72000 beeues and 61000 Asses and yet lost not one man in obteyning this victorie VII To these former may be added the great number of the valiant and matchlesse men not in any Nation vnder heaven to bee found at one time so many as was there There came to David to make him King at once 1222 Captaines and with them in number altogether 1 Ch. 12. 28. 32. 34. 339300 all men of warre very many thousands of them commended to be famous mightie men of valour expert in warr able to keepe ranke and to sett the Battell in aray Besides these there were in valour peerelesse all the 37 worthies of David with many other mighty men such 2 Sa. 2. 22. 1 Ch. 11 12. as could vse both the right and left hand for hurling stones and shoting arrowes out of a bowe yea men of might fit for warre that could handle sheild and buckler whose faces were like the faces of Lyons and as swift as the Roes vpon the mountaines Afterwards when David was settled and Ioab commaunded to number the people throughout the 12 Tribes besides Levy and Beniamin there were found 1570000 men that drewe sword and yet that Nation was not aboue 200 miles long and 50 miles broad not neere the halfe of England by much Yea when the Tribes were divided and onely Iudah Beniamin made a kingdome as much perhapps as two or three of the lesser shires of England yet could Abiiah raise vp of chosen men 400000 Asa had an army of 580000 all mighty men of valour to say nothing of Amaziah his host of 300000 nor of the 2600 chiefe of the Fathers 2 Ch. 26. very valiant men vnder whō was an army of 307500 which made warr with mightie power to helpe 2 Ch 17 King Vzziah against the enemy In the raigne of Iehosaphat was an host of 1160000 men mightie men of valour Of what Nation so little hath been or can be the like truely spoken Lastly the Nation was ever in military exercise by reason of continuall warres at home or abroad In the dayes of Iosua of the Iudges of Saule and David after the peaceable dayes of Salomon Israel Iudah being divided then began warres and almost perpetuall betweene the two kingdomes besides the warrs of forraigne Enemyes the Aegyptians Moabits Ammonites Edomites Philistims Ethiopians Sirians Assirians and Babylonians vntill both kingdomes perished and were led away captiue So as this people could not be but good souldiers for number many in skill by dayly vse exquisite in valour incomparable in braue leaders cheife Captaines and commanders not to bee matched And therefore why may not much art of Souldiary and military knowledge be collected hence at least in many maine points as well yea why not better then som other humaine writers Seeing the relations are most true matter to worke vpon plentifully administred the warrant from God the examples from the people of God which being set for examples before them will put souldiers in minde of the wayes of God to moue them to seeke helpe and ayd of God as those did against their enemyes when we goe out to battell The II. CHAP. Of the warrs of God with man WArre is the opposite to peace and is by the Prophet called evill being Esa 4 5 7 Lev 26 25. the fruite of sinne the punishment for sinne yea so fearefull as David once put to his choice desired rather 2 Sam 24. the pestilence then the sword of an enemy It bringeth with it for the most part innumerable evills even as well to the Conquerours as to the Conquered This warr is either of God with man or of man with man before I speake of the latter I thinke it very fit to say something of the former in the first place that men may consider of another kind of warre then vsually they dream of God hath warre with man yea he hath some where sworne that with some sorts hee will haue warre from one generation to another even for ever there is no peace to Ex 17 16. Esay 57. 21 Ex. 15 3. the wicked God therefore is pleased to be called vir belli a man of warre the Chaldee expresseth the title thus the Lord and victour of warres he causeth warres and maketh an end of them at his owne will Hence it is that he is sayd to be armed Rev. 19 11 Iudg. 5 8. Psal 46 9 Esay 59. 17. and to haue his Armorie which he openeth that hee bringeth forth the weapons of his indignation the Chariots and horse the Army and power that he rideth vpon horses and charets that he mustreth Hos 2. 18. Ier. 50. 25. Esai 43. 17 Hab. 3. 9. Iudg. ◠4. Esay 13. 4. 2 Ch. 25. 8 Esay 46. 10. 11. Ps 24. 8. his hoast and marcheth against his enemyes with assured victory for he hath power to help himselfe and to cast downe such as will resist him his councell doth ever stand what he purposeth that he can bring to passe and he will doe all his pleasure for hee is strong and mightie even the Lord mighty in battell Therefore hath hee the title of King of Kings of King of glory and the Lord of Hoasts a name given him by Esai and Ieremie aboue an hundred times and mentioned in the old Testament aboue 240. times so did the Lord in those times if I may so say giue himselfe to warres and thereby vexed the Nation◠and destroyed 2 Ch. 15. 6 them for their sinnes Now Gods host or army is either more generall or more speciall The more generall consists of foure Regiments The two first fall vpon his enemies covertly sodainely and at vnawares but the other openly in the view of the eye The first is of good Angells called Gen. 32. 2 Luk. 2 13. 2 K. 19 37 2 Ch. 32. 21 for the great numbers Gods host for their quality heavenly souldiers of which such is their power even one was able to sley in one night 185000. and amonge them all the mighty men of valour leaders and Captaines in the campe of the Assirians The Second Regiment is of bad Angels Ps 78. 49. with which hee
did Gen. 14. Abraham Iosua David and others 5. God would send his spirit vpon them to encourage them to the warre as he did vpon Gideon Ehud Sampson as we may read in the book of Iudges 6. God raised vp some Prophets to comfort and set forward his people to warre thus he mooued Deborah Iud. 4. 2 Ch. 20. 14 15. to call Barak into the warres and Iahaziel to encourage Iudah to goe against their enemies 7. God taught David to play the part of a valiant Capraine and souldier Ps 144. 1. 18 39 40. he made his hands to warre and his fingers to fight and made his arme strong to draw a bow of steele as before is shewed for which David rendered thanks to him yea David often consulted with God aforehand 2 Sa. 5. 19. 23. and had answer from God with promise to giue him victoâ—ie in battell before he went out which he would not haue afforded him in an action sinfull and vnlawfull to be done 8. In Battell when his people rested vpon him and cryed to him he 1 Ch. 5. 20. did helpe them and made them Conquerours Lastly war against Gods enemies and the battle fought against them is called the Lords battle and his work 2 Ch. 20. Ier. 48 10. which they do which God so alloweth of as he denounceth a curse against them that shall doe it deceitfully or negligently Thus we see what warrant warre hath from the Lord of Hosts in the old Testament But they will grant this to be so in that time for then God shewed himselfe a man of warr and was as it were delighted with the title of Lord God of hosts so often giuen to him and seldome hardly once the name of the God of peace But in the new Testament the case Iam. 5. 4. is otherwise for hee is but once or twice at most called there the Lord of Hosts more often the God of peace wee be now vnder the Lord Iesus the Prince of peace and doe professe the Gospell the word of peace which should mooue all Christians to liue in peace and haue warres battell and slaughtering of men It s very true that all men should Ps 34. 14. seek peace and ensue after it as a blessing of God yet iust and necessary warre is not to be condemned for as a Father saith it is a part of iustice by warre to defend our Countrey and Ambros de Of. confederates and such as need ayde from spoylers and oppressors Neither doth the New Testament disallow of war so it be iust 1. Our Prince of peace telleth vs of warrs and is pleased to be set out Mat. 24. Reu 19. 17. as a Captaine of an Host riding on horse backe and subduing his enemies and making a slaughter of them Hereby shewing that his Church shall have warrs and he will take their part and helpe to subdue their enemies as he hath often done and yet will doe 2. When the souldiers asked Iohn Luk. 3. 14. Baptist what they should doe hee did not will them to forsake their calling but admonished to doe violence to none to accuse none falsly and to be content with their wages as allowing the calling but reforming the abuse 3. We find religious souldiers in the new Testament the religious Centurion Cornelius a Captaine Mat. 8. 8 10 Act. 10. 1 2 3 4 7. and a souldier fearing God that waited on him 4. Saint Paul maketh it a fruit of faith to be valiant in battle if the Heb. 11. 34 lawfulnesse of warre had been out of date vnder the Gospell the Apostle would have left that out as now no fruit of faith 5. God hath now appointed Kings to vse the sword not onely Rom. 13. 4. to punish offenders vnder them but also to defend their subiects from violence and wrong at home and abroad 6. The Lord in calling the Gentiles to the Gospell made choise in the first place to begin with one of this calling before another even a Captaine called Cornelius to whom he sent his Angell and after Saint Peter to instruct him and to make him and his the first fruits of the Gentiles so far was he from disesteeming of the calling 7. We must know that the Gospell taketh not away the law of nature to defend our selues by forcible meanes against violent enemies yea with a good conscience may wee take vp armes when there is no safety but in armes And what hindereth Princes and States to recover what is iustly their owne if otherwise not to bee gotten but by force of Armes 8. Hereto adde the practise of all Christian Emperours Kings Princes and States in all ages vsing vpon iust cause armes Militare non est delictum saith Saint Augustine but abuse it yea saith Ambrose a worke it is of righteousnesse when the cause is iust Therefore from all these sayings and former reasons we may conclude warre if not abused to be lawfull IV. CHAPTER Of a right souldiers Honourarable calling and imployment A Right souldier in his vocation well qualified and behauing himselfe worthily like a true souldier indeed liveth in a course of life worthy Honour and his employment in warrlike affaires is very honourable for 1. God himselfe is pleased to carry the name of a souldier God is a man of Warre saith Moses and Gen. 15. 3. Ios 5. 14 15. the Sonne of God professed himselfe to be a Captaine of the Lords host Now titles which great personages beare graceth much that calling which these titles imply though formerly that vocation had beene never so meane and base in esteeme 2. The most renowned in holy Writ and in humane stories have attained to great fame and glory by their valiant Acts and â—eats of armes as we may see in Iosua in Gideon Ehud Baruc Sampson David and his Warriours What speeches are there of the Nine worthies whereof Iosua Dauid Iudas Machabeus are three is it not all for their valour and victories in battell By warres the fame and memorie of Iulius Caesar of great Alexander of Pirrhus of Themistocles of Scipio and Hannibal of Scanderbag of Charles the fift remain immortall with innumerable other both in prophane and diuine storie 3. VVhence came all those so greatly affected titles now in the world rose they not from valour prowess militarie â—â—ployments and exercise of Armes whence came Esquire but by being Armiger of bearing weapons of warre an armor-bearer VVhence came a Knight of old not by scraping of wealth and buying the title but by being Miles a souldier whence a Noble man Eques but from a generous spirit and being a man at armes The title of an Earle Comes was a Lieutenant or Prouost Marshall A Duke Dux came of leading a Company a chiefe captaine in the field yea whence came the highest name of dignity the name of Imperator Emperour but from honour in the field bestowed vpon him that knew how to rule and command an host
Lords command to Officers to give some leave to depart argueth their power otherwise to have reteined them The other sort are tearmed Voluntaries Deu. 20. 5. which are either Natiues or Foreigners That men may offer themselues to the warres and enter into the profession of a souldier it s not to be doubted Ehuds souldiers were all Voluntaries at the sound of a Trumpet So were the three sonnes of Iud. 3. 27. 5. 2. Iesse and such were Davids worthies which came and offered themselves and so was Ittai the Gittite Againe Deborah the Prophetesse praiseth the Voluntaries which came to help Baruk besides she complaineth of such 1 Sam 17. 13. as following their owâ—e private businesse neglected the warâ—es and withall cursed Meroz for not coming to Iud. 5. 14 15 18. helpe the Lord. Moreover that which may bee lawfull by pressing and compulsion may as well be lawfull for Voluntaries if there bee not very iust cause or impediment to hinder these It is the iudgement of Churches reformed beyond the Sea among whom some are trained vp for warre to goe as Voluntaries We know that Princes doe helpe their associates voluntarily what hindereth but that others in their due place and within their power may also freely offer themselves A lawfull calling may bee as well vndergone freely as by compulsion circumstances and other considerations well weighed aforehand And to conclude this how should Princes and States doe that haue not power to presse if Voluntaries might not in good conscience offer themselves But here Voluntaries must know and be resolved of some things 1. Of the calling of a souldier that it is lawfull and that a man may therein live and as well receiue wages as men doe for discharge of their duties in any other lawfull vocation Be content saith Iohn Baptist with Luk. 3. 14. your wages speaking to souldiers therefore may they serve for wages 2. Of the iustice and lawfulnesse of the warre into which hee thrusts himselfe seeing hee goeth not by command of supreame authority for this is another case when men goe not of their owne pleasure and will but when any so doth if the warre be iust a man may serve with a good conscience of his owne accord but if it be apparantly vniust let men beware that they embrew not their hands in bloud going Voluntaries If Princes command the case is altered for private persons may not sit and iudge of Princes actions not notoriously vniust as it was when Christian souldiers vvould not draw their swords against Christians vnder Iulian the Apostate though they served him vvillingly against others Sauls servants vvould not fall vpon the innocent Priests of the Lord to Liv. 12. contra Faust man ca. 7. slay them But vvhere the fact as in such cases is not notorious a good man saith Saint Augustine may serve vnder a sacrilegious Prince for the vniust command shall bind the Prince vvhen the duty of obedience shall make the souldier free 3. They must consider of vvhat religion those be that doe make the vvarre and whom they goe to serve vnder for Iehosophat vvaâ— in danger of his life and reprooued by a Prophet of God for helping Ahab an Idolater who was an hater of God as all Idolaters be though they themselves thinke better of themselues 4. They must haue the leaue of such as have soveraigne authority ouer them for a subiect to one cannot dispose of his owne person to 2. Ch. 19. 2 to the service of an other Prince without leaue but he may put himselfe voluntarily into the service of his owne Soueraigne whose subiect he is 5. Voluntaries are to weigh with themselues what special impediments they haue to vvithhold from going in respect of some particular calling requiring their owne person for discharge of the duties thereof or some charge of a family vvife and children depending vpon their personall being necessarily among them or vvhether apparently their being at home may doe more good to their countrey then their seruice in vvarre 6. Their end must be good Pro lege grege Christi as one saith for defence of religion of the Church of God for releeuing the vniustly oppressed for maintenance of right and such like and withall to learnâ— experience for the good of their country but not to runne in vnaduisedly out of male contentednesse nor of an idle humor nor of foolish vain-glory nor of a bloudie disposition nor of a base mind for prey and booty but as a man of valour for more praise-worthy and better ends Lastly that Voluntaries put themselues vnder the command of authority to doe seruice and to be subiect to rule and discipline obseruing order keeping their places from which they may not in certaine cases depart without leave of such Commanders as they have submitted themselves vnto For though they enter voluntarily yet being vnder authority they may not think themselues then free at all times to depart at their pleasure For if they should vpon necessarie service such wandering starres would fall of and such straglers would vtterly faile the expectation of their Commanders Thus with these considerations men may be Voluntaries and put themselues into military seruice and authority may admit of them as David did of Vriah of Ittai the Gittite with his followers And as others haue done as histories shevv But here yet the Generall and others with him must be caâ—telous and weigh what voluntaries they entertaine I. Beware of such as flye from the Enemy let them be tryed before they be trusted for we may reade in stories that such sometâ—mes have bin sent of the Enemy â—o doe mischiefe Two Spaniards fained themselves fugitiues â—â—iâ—â—iard to the Venetians with a purpose to kill Alvian their Generall So History of Scanderbag did certaine Turks with an intent to kill Scanderbag The Munidians which seemed to forsake Hanâ—ibal and to fall to the Romans in the battle of Canna were a great helpe to Hannibal to get the victory in turning against the Romans vpon a sodaine This wisedome was in the Philistims 1. Ch. 12. 19. going to battell against Saul they would not admit of David and his compâ—nie II. Not to goe too farr in admitting of friends and associates but only to entertaine so many as the Natiues and naturall subiects are able to command and ouerrule least they take advantage of the Natiues fewnesse and haue them in contempt and trusting to themselues make good their owne secret designements and revolt from them as the Gaules did from the Romans because they saw no strength in the Romane Army Tâ— cit 3. but that which was of strangers III. Never to hire or receiue any of a contrary religion Amaziah the 2. Ch. 25. king of Iudah was reprooued for hiring of Idolaters the Israelites to goe with him against Edom whom hee was commanded to cashiere for God is not with such as the Lord by his Prophet told him Before I end
this chapter it may A quest be here asked whether going into warres may spoyle the people of that State against whom they goe to war seeing many thousands of the people and families there liue harmelesly at home and desire to be there in peace and so forth I answer in a iust and Num. 21. 24 25 31. 10 11. necessary warre the conquered are in the hands of the Conquerours lands and goods are then at their disposition whatsoeuer they haue taken or won is iustly theirs God allowed Israel to take what they did wiâ—â—â—n then iust wars therefore 2 Sam. â— 11 12. they possessed the kingdome of Siâ—â—n and of Ogg they tooke the Midianites Pâ—â—oners carryed away infispoyle and burnt their townes and Cities with fâ—re David spoyled the Nations which he subdued It is accounted by the law of Nations a lawfull Lib. de Offiâ— 3. purchase and the practise of all people in time of warre For nothing is proper by nature but either by ancient possession or seisme or victory saith the Heathen Orator The Enemy that State can no otherwise be weakened but first in their Subjects the hands of all which though they be not in warre yet are they in heart and in contributing but if not neuerthelesse they are one body and therefore must bee content to suffer together till their Head make peace and satisfie for that which the iustice of the warre doth require and for which it vvas begun But if any be 1. Sam. 15 6. as were the Kenites among the Amalakites consideration is to bee had of them as Saul had of these for their preseruation and safetie IX CHAPTER Of mustering and the choyse of souldiers WHen a warre is resolued vpon as both iust and necessary thn must souldiers bee leuied a muster and view made of them and their armer The Kings in Israel were somtimes 1 Sam. 1 4. Num. 1. 19. 3 4 2. at the muster Saul gathered his souldiers together and numbred them So did David 2. Sam. 18. 1. So Moses numbred Israel And there was a principall Scribe Ier. 52. 25. of the host which mustered the people of the land for which mustering there was a command went forth to leuie men and to call them together as Saul did and as Dauid appointed 1 Sa. 11. 7 2 Sa. 20. 5. Esai 13. 4. Amasa to doe to this custome God alludeth in his word when he mustered his host In this they considered of the number which were to go into the wars sometimes more sometimes fewer Moses appointed but 12000 to go against Num. 31. 1 Sa. 11. 8. 15 4. 1 Sa. 18. 1. with cap. 17. 24. 1 K 20. 15. 2 K. 3 6. 2 Ch. 25 5 2 K. 20. 25 26. Midian vvhatsoeuer the number was the custome was to number them as Saul did his in Bezek and in Telaim David in Mahanaim Ahab in Samaria Iehoram hee numbered his and Amaziah his Armie and thus did also the Heathen Now in sending foorth an Armie great care must bee had what sorts of persons are to bee sent forth I. Let them bee Natiues and subiects liuing vnder that soueraigne authority that sends them our though they bee of seuerall countries yet subiect to the same power and it were well that they had something to take to at home or friends of whom they expect good For these souldiers are bound by the bond of nature to their King kinred and Countrie These are easie to bee corrected if they should happen to run away These wil therefore bee awed in the field and for feare to be punished at home become more obedient endure more constant be more loyall even when they feele want of necessaries and haue short pay then any other will doe not subjects or hauing nothing or no friends that they care for Israels hosts were of Israel and when the Tribes were diuided into two kingdomes either State furnished themselues of their owne subiects most vsually as may be seene in their battles II. Consider their yeeres such as the Lord held fit for warre were in Israel 20. yeeres old and vpward Num 1. 20 22. 26. 2 2 Ch 25. 5 and such did Amaziah take for younger are hardly growne vp to strength and aboue 46. except some old and expert souldier for skill are not to be admitted because strength decayeth as saith a learned experienenced souldier 3. Touching their bodies in Israel were chosen strong men able to 1 Sa. 14. 52 2 Ch. 17. 14. Deut. 20. 8 Iud. 7. 3. goe to warre men also of valour and courage so they must be stout and strong of a vigorous and couragious mind not fearfull for such were put out of the host by Gods appointment and this did also that valiant Iudas Machabeus for the fearefull the first 1 Mach 3. 56. in ranke of the damned crew what good will they doe but faile in performance Rev. 21. 8. make others to bee faint-hearted and so giue the victory to 2 Sa. 2. 9. 23 24. the enemy Men of a sharpe countenance sinowie armes and legges promise both strength and courage and not the great lusks fleshie lubbers though Pyrrhus and Marius chose men of big and great statures In Israel such as could runne well were commended men swift of foot actiue and nimble as was Asahel Ioabs brother and one of Davids worthis This was also a commendation in Achilles and in Papirius who was called for it the Rinmer In the Cursor Tribe of Gad were men for strength callen men of might for courage to 1 Ch. 12. 8. have had faces like Lyons and for footmanship as swift as the Roes vpon the mountaines IV. For their skill in armes raw and ignorant men are not to bee put sodainly to seruice for not a multitude but art and exercise getteth the victorie for the ignorant souldiers may not onely endanger himselfe but his fellowes too Therefore Iud 20 16. 1 Ch. 1. 40 12 35. 1 Ch 12. 2 ver 32 33. the souldiers in Israel were very expert men In Beniamin were 700. choyse men left-handed that is such as were so skilfull that they durst with their left hands vse their slings against their enemies and were so excellently cunning that they would cast stones at an hayre breadth and not misse In Asher were choise and mighty men of valour apt for warre 40000 In Sauls time were many which could vse both the right hand and the left in hurling of stones and shooting arrowes out of a bow In Issachar were men of great vnderstanding knowing what ought to 2 Ch. 12. be done whose Chiefetaines were 200. In Zabulon such as were expert in warre and could keepe ranke 50000. In Dan expert men 28600. also in the three Tribes beyond Iordan skilfull men there were an hundred and twentie thousand So they then brought no ignorant and raw souldiers into the field Skill heartneth a souldier and encreaseth his
others And in these tents they lay by rankes by which they tyed their horses and Asses and in which they laid vp their victualls treasure and such things as they had For in them were found golde silver raiment blue silke purple and great riches Before they remooved there was Ios 1. 10 11. 3 2 3 4 Iud 7 19 1 Mach 12 27. warning given throughout the whole host and it was tolde them what they should doe Till they remooved they set diligent watch and carefully keepe it especially when they thought an enemie ready to set vpon them CHAPTER XXI Of ordering an host in drawing neere to the Enemie and what is else to bee done and considered of before the comming of the battell DAvid sending out an Army to subdue his proud rebellious son Absolom divided the whole host into 3. 2 Sa. 18. 2. parts and set principall Commanders over the same Ioab over one Abishai over the other and Ittai over the third So did Iudas divide his Army into three Companies 1 Mach 5. 33. 2 Mach 8. 21. and sometimes into foure parts Against Cendebeus he divided his men and set his horse in the midst of the foote because the Enemies horse were very many Bachides in his battell against Iudas divided his horse into two troupes and put his slingers Ca. 16. 7. and Archers before the host and in the foreward were all the mighty men and Bachides himselfe in the right wing Wise and experienced 1 Mach 9. 11 12. Commanders know how to order and embattaile their men The Enemy the place the occasion offered are in this matter seriously to bee weighed Hanuibal ordered his Army some time one way and sometime Liv 30. 31. 23. 29. another as reason led him And so did the Romanes Caesar and others Saul set his battaile in aray against the Philistims but the manner how is not â—et dovvne 1 Saâ—â— 7. 2. 23. Before the joyning of battell foresight and great vvisedome is required For 1. here lyeth at stake the precious liues of men 2. These â—â—â— errour may bring great damage 3. The due commendarions of all former preparations deliberations and wary proceedings is here reteined or lost 4. The victory procureth renowne and causeth triumph and ioy 5. But the overthrow bringeth sorrow disgrace and the prisoners taken captiue to be at their enemies will the very conceit whereof in some hath beene so contrary to their minds as they rather haue desired death then to fall into an enemies hand This made Saul to kill himselfe which he did saith Iosephus In the wars of the Iews because he was a faint-hearted coward Ziâ—ri did burne his pallace over his owne head And Razis acted 2 Mach 14. 42. 46. a desperate part vpon this ground In Numantia where 4000 souldiers who held out â—4 yeares against many thousand Romanes yet wearied at length they resolved vpon a strange and desperate end which was to gather all their Armes monies and goods together and to set them on fire and to burie themselues in the flame that so Scipio might not haue any of them captiues to triumph over This maketh many stout courages in battell desperate to fight like Lyons and will not yeeld till the fatall wound come and they be deprived of life Great consideration therefore must be had before a Generall put all to hazard 1. Of his owne number and strength and then of his Enemies 2. Of the quality and condition of his souldiers whether young and raw or old and experienced for it s not number but valour and skill which chiefly prevaileth 3. Of their fitnesse to fight if it be after travell when they be hungry thirst and Liv. 44. weary perhaps against fresh liuely and a well prepared Enemie Aemilius would not charge vpon Xenâ—ph in exped Cyr. Perseus in Macedonia because of his souldiers vnfitnes by travell though they desired to fight vntill the next day Clearchus would not set vpon his enemie because he perceived his souldiers to bee saint and hungry Therefore the Romanes before they Liv 28 21 entred battell refreshed well their men with victualls and rest as Vespatian did when he encamped about Warres of the Iewes Iorpata where in Iosephus was So Hannibal would haue his men dine well to lye warme and take rest before they fought with the Romanes at Trebia Such commonly as haue fought when their Army was wearied with travell for want of â—est or faint for food haue miserably perished As did Asdrubals army at Metaurus and so the Gaules Historia de troubl de Fra. l. 13. by the Romanes Puigallâ—re his men were cut off by La Nove when he would needes set vpon the Protestants after two dayes and nights continuall march 4. The Generall is to consiâ—er whether feare possesse the hearts of his souldiers It s Liv 26. 37. a great hinderance to the victory It s threatned as a punishment fainting of heart seized vpon the Canaanites Ios 2. 9. 24. and gaue courage and assurance of victory to Iosua A trembling through feare is a signe of destruction We never reade of Sauls daunt of spirit and fearfulnesse in 1 Sa 28. 5 all his many battells but onely before the last in which he and his were overthrowne then it s said that he was afraid and his heart greatly trembled Some feare may possesse the heart of a Commander sometime but a sodaine and vnwonted feare in a General as Saul is an ill token as it was in one of the Kings of Hungary when he put on his helmet to goe against the great Turk In which battell he lost his life and the chiefe City of the Kingdome A great feare over a whole host at the sight of the Enemy foretelleth their overthrow as it happened with the host of Timotheus consisting of 120000 foote and 2500 horse at the sight of Iudas 2 Mach 12 20 22. with a handfull and as it hapned to the Army of Sigismund vpon which fell a panick feare when Zisca was but comming neere Till feare was removed Caesar would not set forward against Ariovistus and the Germanes Iudas Machibeus would needs fight when many of his company was in feare and conveyed theÌ„selues out of the host but it cost him his life 1 Mach 9. 6. 10 18. Therefore to prevent or remoue feare the Lord himselfe spake to his Generals exhorting them not to feare to Moses to Iosua to Gideon yea he sent his Prophet sometime to encourage Deut 3 2 Ios 1 8. 10 8 11 6. Iud 6 4 2 Cro 20 Deut 20 3 4 them and appointed a sermon or set speech for the Priests to deliver before the host went out Hence it was that Kings made Orations to their Captaines and Souldiers and so did other Generals Histories humane are full of them and very many spâ—eches are recorded in the Bible the scope whereof was to remoue feare to encourage