thus commanded at sometimes to turn his face to the right or left hand or about the Battallion standing in order that is according to the distance before named so the whole Battallion being reduced into their close order is commanded to turn as one body to the right or left hand It is performed thus Imagine the Battallion stand first in order it shall be commanded that they close their files to the right hand when the right file standing still the rest turning their faces to the right hand march into their close order and return as they were next that they close their ranks from behind when every follower marcheth forward to his leader unto his rapiers point as is said before This done the leader of the right file standing immoveable all the rest as the body of a ship or a great gate turn about that leader as about the hinge or center every one keeping the same distance and order wherein they were first placed as if they were but one entire body When the same Battallion is to be restored into the same station wherein it was first it is commanded Faces about to the left hand and march into your order from whence you were closed Then let your leaders or first ranks stand still and the rest turning faces about march ranks in order as before then turn as you were and you are restored When the whole Battallion being in their close order should turn about and make the Rere the Front it is done by a double turning or declination and commanded to wheel about which is answerable to the former faces about or mutation There is also another wheeling in this sort when the front changeth the aspect thrice for as wheeling about maketh the Front the Rere so this wheeleth from the right hand to the left or contrariwise which fashion is so seldome used that we scarce afford it a name In all such motions and alterations it is most fit that all men perform their directions with their pikes advanced being in that sort most easie to be commanded as also lesse troublesome to their followers and leaders Countermarching Files and Ranks THere is also another means to prevent the enemy his assaulting us in the rere or flank lest he should find our worst men least able to make resistance and this is performed by countermarching both files and ranks three divers wayes apiece The first was used by the Macedonians after this fashion First the leader turneth his face about towards the right or left hand and so the next follower marching behind his leader turneth also and so the third and fourth untill the bringer up have carried himself out into a new place in the rere further from the enemy as he was before next unto him But this neither was nor is accounted safe or secure because it doth somewhat resemble a flying or running away from the enemy which might give him no small incouragement and therefore it is not much in practise Only at some times the bringers up marching throughout beyond the leaders untill they possesse the same space before them which they did behind them all turning their faces about make their leaders to affront the enemy who were before farthest from them The Lacedamonians used the contrary as it were pursuing the enemy the bringer up first being turned face about and so the next marching before him and so the third untill the leader himself became also turned and in the foremost front unto the enemy Which with us is somewhat otherwise but yet both affronting and as it were pursuing the enemy because our leaders first begin this motion and so countermarching through on the right or left hand become in the front in a new space of ground who were before in the rere The third and last was invented by the Persians whom when the place or near approch of the enemy would not suffer to change their ground they were wont to countermarch the front to the right or left hand and being come unto the depth of the bringers up to stand still untill the other half file had likewise marched forth and fallen upon their leaders in every file In all these it is especially commanded to march still in the same distance and by whole ranks to prevent confusion which especially the enemy at hand must needs be most dangerous and therefore carefully to be avoided In like sort the ranks may countermarch when either the right wing would be strengthened by the left or the left by the right alwayes marching by whole files towards the right or left hand according as they shall have the direction either changing the ground or upon the same ground as in the former countermarches There is used also another kind of strengthening both the front and flank when occasion shall be offered viz by doubling either files or ranks And this either by doubling the number of souldiers in the same files or ranks keeping still the same breadth and depth of ground or else by doubling the ground keeping the same number of souldiers The files are doubled when the second file shall insert it self into the first the leader thereof putting himself a follower unto the leader of the first and the next follower follower to the next in the first file and so forwards And likewise the fourth file inserting it self into the third and the sixth into the fifth And this is to be performed when the Battallion standeth in his order To double the place or depth is when the same number of men shall put themselves out of their order into their open order either by advancing forward or by falling backwards as they shall be commanded The ranks are doubled two manner of wayes either by inserting the second into the first to the right or left hand as before in the files or else the enemy being at hand by joyning whole troups together to the right or left wing according as occasion shall be offered and this is held to be the safest when the enemy is near to avoid confusion It is performed either in the same ground or by doubling the ground when either we desire to exceed the front of our enemy his battallion or to prevent lest we our selves be included The terms to both are Double your files or ranks to the right or left hand and when you would have them return again into their proper places it is commanded As you were The ordinary directions which are especially given in these martial exercises are first that no man in the time of exercising or marshalling shall be lowder then his Officer but every one attending to his place when he is commanded shall diligently hearken to such directions as shall be given The Captain in the front shall speak and the Sergeants in each flank shall give the word unto the Lieutenant or Ensigne
may be furnished with the next most sufficient men both because of their nearnesse unto danger as also that if their leaders or bringers up shall either be slain or disabled by wounds they may presently succeed in their places and make them good There is also a good decorum to be observed in the middlemen or fifth and sixth ranks both for the men themselves and their armes that in our marches when the middlemen or sixth ranks shall be called up to front with their leaders they may in some sort and proportion answer their places as also when we double our front by calling up middlemen to fight in a greater breadth they may not be unsutable but especially in marches that they may be able to make the best resistance when they shall become the flanks of the Battallions As these respects ought to be observed in ranks so the files also are not without their different degrees of dignity As the leader of the right-hand file is accounted to have the first place of honour in the Battallion for he doth not onely lead the rest in his own file but he is the author and beginner of the motions of the whole Battallion The leader of the left-hand file hath the next place because that he with the leader of the right-hand file do alwaies in their marching and imbattelling rectifie or rank the whole front of the battallion and so consequently all the next of their files as they stand in order even untill the middle who are accounted the last in dignity The Battallion being thus disposed into files and ranks and each file and rank according to his worth and experience rightly advanced it followeth that there should be a just distance proportioned between either that at all times upon all occasions they might be found ready and in comeliest fashion either to offend their enemy or defend themselves These distances which every follower must observe in respect of his leader and every leader and follower in respect of the sidemen may be reduced unto three severall Orders as followeth The first is called open Order the distance whereof is twelve foot between every follower and his leader or between every rank and six foot between them and the sidemen or between every file This order is commonly used upon marches when the enemy is known to be farre off as also in private exercising of souldiers for their severall managing of their armes It differeth somewhat from the Ordinatus Miles amongst the Romans who alwayes observed but four cubits in files and ranks The second distance is called Order when we contract the battallion both in length and breadth and gather the souldiers within a nearer scantling both in files and ranks that is by observing six feet in their files between the follower and leader and three feet between the ranks or sidemen This distance is used when we march toward an enemy near at hand or in marches by reason of the opportunity of the place suspiciously dangerous This is also near unto Densatus ordo but onely that that was but two cubits in both files and ranks The third and last order is when either we attend the enemy his present assault or that we intend to charge him upon our securest and best distance when every follower standeth three feet or his rapier length behind his leader and a foot and a half from the sidemen or files or when every souldier occupieth but one foot and a half for his own station joyning pouldron to pouldron or target to target This differeth from Constipatus ordo because that alloweth but one cubit for files and ranks and this close order alloweth one cubit in the file but two in the ranks This distance doth agree also best with the length of our piles of 15 or 16 feet long For it is thought fit oftentimes that the battallion consisting of ten ranks there should not charge more at one time then the 5 formost so that the pikes of the fifth rank might be three foot over the formost shoulder and the other five ranks should in this close order or nearer if it be possible follow the other charging with their pikes advanced untill some occasion should require their charge In the mean time they should perform their dutie in keeping the five formost ranks from retiring and besides adde strength unto the charge or shock The manner of exercising of composed Battallions with their different motions THe files and ranks being thus understood disposed and ordered and all parts and members of the battallion being joyned in their just proportion and distance able and fit to be altered upon any sodain occasion as if it were but one entire body into severall and divers postures and to make resistance unto what forces soever shall oppugne the same it might be thought needlesse to have made the disposition of the members so exact unlesse by continuall practise and exercise they might be made nimble and ready not onely to defend themselves and their whole body on all sides but also to be able to offend whensoever they shall espie the least occasion of advantage The terms of direction or command which are commonly used in this modern discipline of martiall exercise as they are not many onely answering to the different postures which are required in the Battallion so they are and must be short and perspicuously plain that by this means being sodainly uttered easily apprehended and understood they may as speedily be put in execution by those which shall be commanded First therefore that the Battallion may be commanded into some one fashion or posture from whence it shall be fit to convert it self into all other the Captain or Officer shall bid them stand in front When every particular souldier composing himself after his foremost leader standeth comely in file and rank fronting unto some certain place or to the Captain as shall be thought best for the present In this and all other directions whatsoever it shall be especially observed that every follower attending what is commanded mark his next leader and accordingly move himself as he shall see him move first The Battallion therefore thus fronting if the enemy should suddenly either assault the right or left flank it shall be commanded to turn faces to the right or left hand when every souldier observing his leader shall turn his face and make his flank his front according to the direction There is also a doubled motion or declination to the right or left hand when every souldier observing his leader shall turn their bodies twice to the right or left hand and by that means become turned with their faces where their backs were as if they expected an enemy in the rere or being to perform some other motion that may be offered beginning this alteration from the right or left hand as shall be commanded As every particular souldier in the troup is
in the rere who as in his proper place seeth all things executed accordingly as the Captain shall command It shall be unpossible to performe any thing herein unlesse first every one do exactly observe his leader and his sideman and to this purpose it is often commanded Keep your files Keep your ranks Of Marches IN champains there needs no great labour to marshall particular troups for their after-marches because they may march either by whole divisions observing onely their course of indifferency that every division may every third day have the vantgard or else in such form and fashion as the Generall hath proposed for a day of battell according as the danger of an expected enemy shall give occasion But because all countries will not afford a champain for the marching of an army and therefore not possible to march far with many troups in front nor many files of any one troup or division by reason of often straights and passages betwixt hills woods or waters It is provided though by long induction the whole army shall be extended into a thin length and few files yet the souldiers well disposed shall be as readily able to defend themselves and offend the enemy on their flanks from whence only in such streights the danger is imminent as if they were to affront an enemy with an entire battallion in a champain country First therefore a division or Battallion being ordered and drawn before the Quarter into one even front of just files ten in depth the musketiers equally divided on the right and left slanks of the pikes all standing in their order that is to â—ay six feet distant in files and ranks the Captain carefully provideth that the first fifth sixth and tenth ranks be alwayes well filled and furnished with his most able and best-armed souldiers Which done he commandeth first the middlemen or half files to come a front with their leaders so that the division becometh but five in depth Next he commandeth to turn faces to the right or left hand as direction shall be to march from that quarter and so the whole division resteth ready in his fashion to march five in front the one half of the musketiers in the vantguard and the other in the rere the pikes in the battell and both flanks well furnished with the ablest best men to offend or defend as there shall be occasion that is to say the right flanks with the first and fifth ranks and the left with the sixth and tenth ranks If occasion afterwards shall be given of a halt in a champain or before the quartering the Captain commandeth first unto all they being first closed into their order Faces as you were next unto the half files Faces about and march out and fall again upon your files By which means the division becometh again reduced into the same front and fashion from whence it was first transformed ready to encounter an enemy or to be drawn into the Quarter When pikes are to charge pikes in a champain it useth to be performed two severall wayes First the whole division being commanded into their close order the five first ranks charging their pikes every follower over his leaders shoulder directeth his pike as equally as he can the first rank shall have three feet of his pike over the formost shoulder The other five ranks with their pikes advanced follow close up in the rere either ready to second the formost or to be employed in the rere as occasion shall be offered Otherwise and most usuall when the whole depth of the files throughout the division shall charge together all fast locked and united together and therefore most able to make the strongest shock offensive or defensive provided alwaies that none mingle their pikes in others files but the whole file one in anothers shoulder In charging with musketiers it is observed no way convenient that there should be too many in a rank or that the ranks should be too long For the first rank is commanded to advance ten paces before the second and then to discharge and wheeling either to the right or left hand falleth into the rere and so the second advancing to the same distance dischargeth and wheeleth as before and likewise the third and so forward as long as the Officer shall be commanded Which shall not so well be performed the ranks being extraordinary long because it will require so long a time to wheel from the front that the second may succeed unlesse by direction the rank may divide it self the one half to the right hand and the other to the left in wheeling to the rere In the retreat the whole ranks having turned their faces about are to march three or four paces forward their chief officer coming in the rere first commandeth the last rank to make ready and then to turn faces about discharge and wheel about to the head or front of the division and being clearly passed the next rank to perform as much and so the rest in order Where the passages are narrow and the division cannot come to charge in front as between two waters or woods the manner of charging is different for there being five or ten files led in the induction that file which flanketh the enemy dischargeth first onely and the rest marching continually forwards it standeth firm untill the last rank be passed and then sleeveth it self on the left flank and makes ready and so the second file and the third so long as the enemy shall continue there being a continuall discharging by files as before by ranks Unlesse it be in the pases of Ireland meeting with an irregular enemy where they use to intermingle their files of shot with pikes that the one may be a defence for the other when the enemy shall come up to the sword as they use there very often How directions are delivered in the warres ALl directions in the wars have ever been delivered either by signes subject to the eye by word of mouth or the sound of a drumme or some such warlike instrument Concerning those visible signes displayed unto the souldiers the falling of mists the raising of dust showers of rain snow the beams of the Sun hilly uneven and crooked passages by long experience have found them to be most doubtfull and uncertain as also because as it was a matter of great difficulty to invent different signes upon all sodain occasions so it is almost an impossibility that the common souldier who oftentimes is found scarce capable of the understanding of plain words distinctly pronounced should both apprehend and understand sodainly and execute directly the true sense and meaning of his Commanders signes The Drum and Trumpet are yet used But because many different sounds are not easily distinguished in souldiers understanding without some danger of confusion we onely command by the inarticulate sounds to arm to march to troup to
charge and to retreat with all which severall notes the souldier is so familiarly to be acquainted that so soon as he hears them beaten he may be ready sodainly to put them in execution as if he heard his Captain pronouncing as much The directions by word of mouth are infinite according to the different occasions which shall be offered yet alwayes with this caveat that they be short yet perspicuous without all ambiguity and plainly pronounced first by the Captain then derived by the Sergeants through the division or Battallion Though infinite yet the most usuall are these To your armes Keep your files keep your ranks Follow your leader Leaders look to your files Keep your distance Faces to your right hand Faces to your left hand Close your files Close your ranks Stand as you are As you were Faces about to the right hand Wheel about to the right or left hand Double your ranks Double your files Leaders countermarch through to the right or left hand Leaders countermarch to the right or left hand and stand Middlemen come forth and fall upon your leaders Besides many fit terms commanded in managing particular armes as pikes and muskets which are omitted And thus much touching the Tactick practise of our modern wars which I have the rather added in regard that diverse souldiers as unacquainted both with the manner and the value thereof do think a heap of people unmartialled to be as available for a great designe as any other number distinguished in files and parts and disposed for facile and easie motions according to the powerfull circumstances of time and place Wherein howsoever the practise of the Turk and the Hungarian may seem to give warrant to that opinion yet the use of Armes amongst the Graecians and the Romans whose conquering armies are pregnant witnesses of the excellency of their militarie discipline shall speak sufficiently for order and Tactick motion as most necessary parts in a well-ordered war FINIS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lib. 3. Saluâ—â— de bello Jogur Suitzers Mâ—tronâ— Sâ—quara Curardum viâ—inâ—s populis 〈…〉 inâ—â—r 〈◊〉 â—opulos col 〈◊〉 Caesar * Sâ—voyards The omission in the Helvetian expedition Caesar * Rome Caesar * So ne 〈◊〉 The manner of their watch Caesar Caesar 〈…〉 Places oâ— advantage in the Romane wars Their manner of victualling Caesar The manner of their imbattelling By tripleâ— Aâ—ies Lib. 1. de bello Civili Lib. 3. de bello Civili Lib. 5. de militia Romana A Phalanx dâ—â—â—ribed Caesar Speeches of incouragement before they gave battel Lib. 7. de bello Gallico The Roman Pile described Lib. â— de militia Romans Lib. 5. Salusâ— The Ensignes of the Romans The division of their day Caesar Langres Periculum 〈…〉 Caesar Caesar Caesar Tthe authority of the Roman Generals Liv. lib. 8. Lib. 3. de bello Civili Caesar Caesar le Doux Caesar Whether men have greater coâ—rage in their own or in a straâ—gers Country Caesar Footmen intermingled amongst horsemen Lib. 6. Lib. 3. de exâ—id Lib. 3. De bello Africano Caesar Caesar Caesar The use of lots Caesar Caesar a The countrey about Bâ—auvois b The countrey about Soâ—ssons c The people about Tournay d Arras e Amiens f Vermandois g Tervenne h Liege 308000. in all * La Disne Caesar A legion what it was Lib. 4. De vita Romuli Liv. lib. 22. Taciâ—us â— hist Velites Hastati Principes Triarii Lib. 〈◊〉 Lib. 1. de mil. Rom. The use of this division The distinction of their companies Manipuli Ordines Cohors Lib. 3. de re â—ust A legion ranged in battell The first order 3 De bello civili Prima cohorâ— The benefit of this discipline The benefit of small battalions and the disadvantage of great squadrons * Bray in the county of Reâ—ell To take a town by surprise A Testudo described Lib. 44. Lib. 4â— The necessity of good discovery * Now England The order which is to be observed in discovery Slingers with their art and use Lib. â— Lib. 2. 〈◊〉 quest 〈◊〉 Caesar * Noâ—on Caesar * Soyssons Agger or mount Towers or Turrets described Caesar The Bellovaci taken to mercy The Ambiani yield up themselves The Nervii * Sambre near Namur The manner of the Roman march The two respects which Caesar had in ordering a mâ—râ—h 1 Safety 2 Conveniency Agmen quadratum * Lib. 8. de bel Gall. * 60. Epist Lib 6. Agmen longum Lib. 5. de bello Gall. The use that may be made of this in our modern wars Caesar The descript on of the Roman Camp with all the parts belonging unto it The lodging of the legions Quintana Principia The tents of the Tribunes The space between the tents and the rampier Contubernium The ditch and the rampier Agger Vallum Praetoria porta Portae Decumana Portae principales Laeva Dextra Castra Aestiva Hiberna The commodity of this incamping The ceremonies which they used in their preparation to battel Caesar And therefore I rather take it be something else then a word The place and offices of 〈◊〉 Primipile The Target described Lib. 16. cap. 40. Caesar Lib. de Militia Ju. Cae. * Either Doway or Boldaâ— in Brabant Caesar Circumvallatio In the seventh Commentary Aries or the Ram. Cales Aries simplex Aries composita To give notice of an Alarme by fire Lib. 25. The punishments which the Romans laid upon a conquered Nation Caesar Of this suppliâ—â—tion I â—ill speak in the latter end of the fourth book Caesar Caesar The force of novelty turning the fortune of a battel Caesar * Savoyards * Le Perche * Cornoaille in Bretaigne 〈◊〉 * Vannes The weaknesse of our judgement inâ—egâ—â—rd of the knowledge of 〈…〉 The Authority of example Caesar * Ligâ—ris The grounds of that reverent opinion which is held of Embassadours Caesar Lendriguer Lisieux Nantes Auren be Leâ—â—doâ—â— Cities in Little Britain * Triers Caesar The causes of the ebbing and flowing of the sea Springâ—ides The manner of their shipping Lib. 28. The manner of sea-sights Lib. 2. de bello civili Caesar The force of industry * La Perchâ— Caesar * Roane * Eureux The use which the Romans made of a counterfeit fear Lib. 5. Caesar * Evocati Evocati Lib. 7. de Bello Gall. Caesar Sertorius Two meanes to atchieve victory and to over-master our enemies Tuba 〈◊〉 by war and Naamah by the floud Not to forgoe an advantage The place where suspected forces are best bestowed in battel Caesar Lib. 3. Avertimen to secundo Lib. de bello Gallico Caesar * Tâ—roane * Clâ—ve and 〈◊〉 * Those of Zutphen * Of Hassia Caesar Caesar * Geldres and Cleve Salust Tacit. 1. Annal. Caesar * Liege * Coâ—oâ—ia Agrippina * Wael Vincitur haud gratis jugulo qui provocat hostem Liv. lib. 9. Liv. lib. 7. Caesar Caesar Csar Lib. de Machin Caesar Caesar Caesar * 〈…〉 Monstrâ—ul Caesar Ansâ—er to the first objection The answer to the second reason The
a hill of great advantage he began to encamp himself in the top thereof which Pharnaces perceiving being lodged likewise with his camp upon a mountain confronting the Romans imbattelled his men marched down from his camp into the valley and mounted his forces up the hill where the Romans were busied about their intrenchments to give them battel All which Caesar took but for a bravado and measuring the enemy by himself could not be perswaded that any such fool-hardinesse could carry men headlong into so dangerous an adventure untill they were come so near that he had scarce any time to call the legions from their work and to give order for the battel which so amazed the Romans that unlesse as Caesar himself saith the advantage of the place and the â—â—nignity of the gods had greatly favoured them Pharnaces had at that time revenged the overthrow of Pompey and the Senate and restored the Roman Empire to liberty Which may learn us how necessary it is besides experience which in Caesar was infinite to perfect our knowledge with variety of chances and to meditate upon the effects of other mens adventures that their harms may be our warnings and their happy proceedings our fortunate directions And alâ—eit amongst so many decads of History which pregnant wits have presented to these later ages we seldome or never meet with any one accident which jumpeth in all points with another of the like nature that shall happen to fall out in managing a war or setting forth of an army and so do seem to reap little benefit by that we read and make small use of our great travell yet we must understand that in the Audit of Reason there are many offices which through the soveraign power of the discursive faculty receive great commodities by whatsoever falleth under their jurisdiction and suffer no action to passe without due triall of his nature and examination of his state that so the judgement may not be defrauded of her revenues nor the mind of her learning For notwithstanding disagreeing circumstances and differences of forms which seem to cut off the priviledge of imitation and frustrate the knowledge we have obtained by reading the intellectuall faculty hath authority to examine the use and look into the inconveniences of these wants and diversities and by the help of reason to turn it to her advantage or so to counterpoise the defect that in triall and execution it shall not appear any disadvantage For as in all other sciences and namely in Geometry of certain baâ—e elements and common sentences which sense admitteth to the apprehension the powers of the soul frame admirable Theorems and Problems of infinite use proceeding with certainty of demonstration from proposition to proposition and from conclusion to conclusion and still make new wonders as they go besides the strangenesse of their Architecture that upon such plain and easy foundations they should erect such curious and beautifull buildings so in the Art Military these examples which are taken from histories are but plain kind of principles on which the mind worketh to her best advantage and useth reason with such dexterity that of inequalities she concludeth an equality and of dissimilitudes most sweet resemblances and so she worketh out her own perfection by discourse and in time groweth so absolute in knowledge that her sufficiency needeth no further directions But as Lomazzo the Milanese in that excellent work which he writ of picturing saith of a skilfull painter that being to draw a portraiture of gracefull lineaments he will never stand to take the symmetry by scale nor mark it out according to rule but having his judgement habituated by knowledge and perfected with the variety of shapes and proportions his knowledge guideth his eye and his eye directeth his hand and his hand followeth both with such facility of cunning that each of them serves for a rule whereby the true measures of nature are exactly expressed The like may I say of a skilfull Souldier or any Artizan in his faculty when knowledge hath once purified his judgement and turned it to the key of true apprehension And although there are many that will easily admit a reconciliation of this disagreement in the resemblance of accidents being referred to the arbitrement of a well-tempered spirit yet they will by no meanes acknowledge that those monstrous and inimitable examples of valour and magnanimity whereof antiquity is prodigall and spendeth as though time should never want such treasure can any way avail the manners of these dayes which if they were as they ought to be would appear but counterfeit to the lustre of a golden age nor yet comparable to silver or brasse or the strength of iron but deserve no better title then earth or clay whereof the frame of this age consisteth For what resemblance say they is between the customs of our times and the actions of those antient Heroes They observed equity as well in war as in peace for vertue rather flourished by the naturall disposition of men then by law and authority the greatest treasure which they esteemed were the deeds of armes which they had atchieved for their country adorning the temples of their gods with piety and their private houses with glory pardoning rather then persecuting a wrong and taking nothing from the vanquished but ability of doing injury But the course of our times hath another bias for covetousnesse hath subverted both faith and equity and our valour affecteth nothing but ambition pride and cruelty tyrannize in our thoughts and subtilty teacheth us to carry rather a fair countenance then a good nature our meanes of getting are by fraud and extortion and our manner of spending is by wast and prodigality not esteeming what we have of our own but coveting that which is not ours men effeminated and women impudent using riches as servants to wickednesse and preventing natures appetite with wanton luxury supplanting vertue with treachery and using victory with such impiety as though injuriam facere were imperio uti and therefore the exemplary patterns of former times wherein true honour is expressed may serve to be gazed upon but no way to be imitated by this age being too subtile to deal with honesty and wanting courage to incounter valour I must needs confesse that he that compareth the history of Livie with that of Guichardine shall find great difference in the subjects which they handle for Livie triumpheth in the conquests of vertue and in every page erecteth trophees unto valour making his discourse like Cleanthes table wherein vertue is described in her entire majesty and so sweetned with the presence and service of the graces that all they which behold her are rapt with admiration of her excellency and charmed with the love of her perfection but Guichardine hath more then Theseus task to perform being to wind through the labyrinths of subtilty and discover the quaint practices of polititians wherein publike and open designes are oftentimes but shadows of more
of greater danger to the defendant then such as afterward are made in the sequele of the war for after the first brunt the heat of the enemy is much abated as well through the nature of a hot desire which is most violent in the beginning and afterward groweth cold and remisse as also with the harms and peril which they meet with in the incounter and on the contrary side the defendants having withstood the first fury wherein there is most terrour and distrust grow more confident and better assured of their manhood and in experience of their strength stand firm against any charge whatsoever CHAP. XIX The Nervii besiege Cicero with a ditch and a rampier and work means to set fire on their Tents THe Nervii disappointed of this hope carried a ditch and a rampier round about the camp the rampier was eleven foot high and the ditch fifteen foot deep which they had learned of the Romans partly by being conversant among them certain years before and partly by the prisoners and captives which they had taken But they had no iron tools fit for that purpose but were driven to cut up turf with their swords and gather earth with their hands and carry it away with their Mantles and Gaberdâ—nes Whereby may be gathered what a multitude of men there were at the siege for in lesse then three hours they finished the fortification of fifteen miles in circuit The dayes following the enemies built towers to the height of the rampier prepared great hooks and strong penthouses or safegards of boards and timber according as the captives had given them instruction The seventh day of the siege being a very windy day they cast hot bullets of clay out of slings burning darts upon the cabines of the Romans which after the manner of the Galles were thatâ—hed with straw These cabines were quickly set on fire which by the violence of the wind was carried over all the camp The enemy pressing forward with a great clamour as though the victory were already gotten began to bring their Turrets and Testudines to the rampier and to scale it with ladders But such was the valour of the Roman souldiers that albeit they were scorched on all sides with fire and over-charged with multitude of weapons and saw all their wealth burned before their face yet no man forsook the rampier or scarce looked back at that which had happened but they all fought valiantly and with an 〈◊〉 courage â—his was the sorest day the Romans had and yet it had this issue that a very great number of the enemies were slain and wounded for they haâ— so thronged themselves under the rampier that the hindmost hindred the foremost from retiring back The flame at length abating and the enemies having brought on one of their towers to the very works the Centurions of the third cohort drew back themselves and their men from the place where they stood and with signs and voices called to the enemies to enter if they thought good but none of them durst approach Then did they by casting stones from all parts beat them from the works and set their tower on fire OBSERVATION THis one example may serve to shew the excellency of the Roman discipline and the wisedome of the first founders of that Art For they perceiving that the fortune of wars consisted chiefly in the mastering of particular occurrences trained their souldiers in that forme of discipline as might struggle with inconveniences and strong oppositions of contradicting accidents and so overwage all difficulties and hinderances with a constant perseveration and a courage invincible For the great attempting spirit of an ambitious Commander that seeketh to overtop the trophies of honour with the memory of his exploits will quickly perish by his own direction if the instruments of execution be weaker then the means which lead him to his designments For where the weight is greater then the strength the engine will sooner break then lift it up Let a discreet Leader therefore so levell his thoughts that his resolution may not exceed the ability of his particular means but first let him be well assured what his souldiers can do before he resolve what he will do or otherwise let him so inable them by discipline and instructions according to the example of the old Romans that their worth may answer the height of his desires and follow his aspiring mind with a resolution grounded upon knowledge and valour and so making their ability the ground of his designs he shall never faile of means to perform what he intendeth The want of this consideration hath within these late years repaied our Commanders in many parts of Christendome with losse and dishonour when as they have measured the humour of their poor needy and undisciplined souldier by the garb of their ambitious thoughts and so laid such projects of difficulty as were very unsutable in the particularity of occurrences to that which their souldiers were fit to execute CHAP. XX. The emulation between two Centurions Pulfio and Varenus with their fortunes in the incounter THere were in that legion two valiant men Titus Pulfio and L. Varenus Centurions coming on apace to the dignity of the first orders These â—wo wâ—re at continuall debate which of them should be preferred one before another and every year contended for place of preferment with much strife and emulation Pulfio at a time that the fortification was very sharply assaulted called to Varenus and asked him why he now stood doubtfull or what other place he did look for to make triall of his manhood This is the day saâ—th he that shall decide our controversies And when he had spoken these words he went out of the fortification and where he saw the Enemy thickest he fiercely set upon them Then could not Varenus hold himself within the rampier but for his credite sake followed after in a reasonable distance Pulfio cast his pile at the enemy and struck one of the multitude through that câ—me running out against him He being slain the enemies cover him with their shields and all cast their weapons at Pulfio giving him no respite or time of retreat Pulfio had his target struck through and the dart stuck fast in his girdle This chance turned aside his scabbard and hindered his right hand from pulling out his sword in which disadvantage the enemy pressed hard upon him Varenus came and rescued him Immedâ—ately the whole multitude thinking Pulfio to be slaâ—n with the dart turned to Varenus who speediâ—y betook him to his sword and caâ—e to handy-stroaks having slain one he put the rest somewhat back But as he followed over-hastily upon them he fell down Him did Pulfio rescue being circumvented and in danger so both of them having slain many of the enemy retired to their Camp in safety to their great honour Thus Fortune carried as well the contention as the encounter of them both that being Enemies they neverthelesse gave help to save
had brought out of Aquitain OBSERVATIONS IT semeth by this place that France in those dayes did favour archery for as the story saith they had great store of Archers amongst them but of what value they were is not here delivered The use they made of them followeth after in this Commentary which was to intermingle them amongst the horse and so they fought as light-armed men In the times that our English nation carried a scourging hand in France the matter between us and them touching archery stood in such tearms as gave England great advantage for I have not heard of any bow-men at all amongst them whereas our Nation hath heretofore excelled all other as well in number of bow-men as in excellent good shooting and hath made so good proof thereof against the French as it needeth not any long dispute Concerning Archery I finde these things considerable First that every man be so fitted with bow and arrowes as he may be apt for strong and quick shooting wherein I cannot so much commend these livery bowes being for the most part heavy slugs and of greater weight then strength and of more shew then service Secondly that in a day of service the bow-men endeavour so to deliver their quivers that the whole band or sleeve of shot may let go all at one instant of time for so the shower of arrows will be more fierce and terrible and more available against an enemy Thirdly the fittest form of imbattelling for bow-men which must not at any hand be deep in slank for so such as are in the hindmost ranks will either shoot short or to no purpose And therefore the fittest form of imbattelling for Archery hath ever been accounted a long-sided square resembling a hearse broad in front and narrow in flank Fourthly their defance in a day of battell which must either be a covert woody place where the horse of the enemy cannot come at them or a trench cast before them or the place must be fortified with galthrops and stakes such as were devised by Henry the fifth at Agincourt field or some other means to avoid the cavalry The last thing is the effects which the bowmen worke which are two first the galling of the enemy and secondly disorder Touching the galling of the enemie there cannot be a better description then that which Plutarch maketh of the overthrow of the Romans by the Parthian arrowes The Roman souldiers hands saith he were nailed to their targets and their feet to the ground or otherwise were sore wounded in their bodies and died of a cruell lingring death crying out for anguish and pain they felt and turning tormenting themselves upon the ground they brake the arrowes sticking in them Again striving by force to pluck out the barbed heads that had pierced farre into their bodies through their veins and sinews they opened the wounds wider and so cast themselves away The disorder or routing of an enemy which is caused by the bow-men cometh from the fearfull spectacle of a drift of arrowes for a shower of arrowes well delivered and well seconded for a while is so terrible to the eye and so dreadfull in the success that it is almost unpossible to keep the enemy from routing The two great victories which our Nation had in France at Cressie and Agincourt next to the valour of the English are attributed to our archery and the effect of our archery at those times was first disorder and consequently slaughter In the battell of Cressie the King of Bohemia fighting for the French caused his horsemen to tie the bridles of their horses together in rank that they might keep order notwithstanding the galling which he feared from our English archery but it fell out as ill as if he had tied their heads and their tails together in file for the drift of arrowes fell so terribly amongst them that they ran together on heaps with such confusion as made the slaughter great and their particular destinies most miserably fortuned At Agincourt the number of prisoners which every souldier had was admirable to speak of for some report that many of our English had ten prisoners apiece which hapned chiefly from the disorder which fell amongst the French and that disorder came by our archery And doubtless if ever we should have occasion to go against an enemy that so aboundeth in horse as the French do there could be no better means against such horse then our English bow-men I know it hath been said that now the times are altered and the harquebuse and musket are so generally received and of such reputation in the course of our modern wars that in comparison of them bow-men are not worth the naming Wherein I will not go about to extenuate the use of either of these weapons as knowing them to be both very serviceable upon fit and convenient occasions nor take upon me to determine which of them is most effectuall in a day of service but onely deliver my conceit touching their effects and leave it to the consideration of wise and discreet Commanders And first touching shot A wing of musketiers is available against an enemy onely in such bullets as do hit for such as do not hit pass away insensibly without any further fear and the crack is but as the lose of the bow Of such bullets as do hit the greatest part do not strike to death but are oftentimes carried untill the skirmish be ended before the party do feel himself hurt so that an enemy receiveth no further hurt by a charge of shot then happeneth to such particular men as shall chance to be slain outright or sore hurt But a sleeve of Archers is available against an enemy as well in such arrowes as do not hit as in such as do hit for whereas the cloud of arrowes is subject to our sight and every arrow is both suspected and able to bring death sitting on the head an enemy is as much troubled at such arrows as come fair upon him and do not hit as at those that do hit for no man is willing to expose his flesh to an open and eminent danger when it lieth in his power to avoid it And therefore whilest every man seeketh to avoid hurt they fall into such confusion as besides the loss of particular men the enemy doth hardly escape disorder which is the greatest disadvantage that can befall him Moreover the arrowes having barbed heads although they make but a light hurt yet they are not easily pulled out which maketh the souldiers not to intend the fight untill they be delivered of them and the horse so to fling and chafe that it is impossible they should either keep their rank or be otherwise managed for any service And thus much touching bow-men and archery which is a weapon as ancient as the first and truest History and is of the number of such weapons as
the same time also came Domitius into Macedonia and as Embassadours began to come thick unto him from divers States of that Province it was told him that Scipio was at hand with the legions and came with great fame and opinion of all men which is oftentimes a fore-runner of novelties He making no stay in any part of Macedonia marched directly with great fury towards Domitius and when he came within twenty miles of him turned his course suddenly to Cassius Longinus in Thessalia which he did so speedily that newes came together of his coming and of his arrivall For to the end he might march with greater expedition he left M. Favonius at the River Haliacmon which divideth Macedonia from Thessalia with eight cohorts to keep the carriages of the legions where he commanded them to build a Fort. At the same time the Cavalry of King Cottus which was wont to keep in the Confines of Thessalia came flying suddenly to Cassius Campe. Whereat he being astonished understanding of Scipio's coming and seeing the horsemen whom he thought to be his made towards the hills which inclose Thessalia and from thence marched towards Ambracia And as Scipio made hast to follow after Letters overtook him sent from Favonius that Domitius was at hand with the legions and that he could not hold the place wherein he was left without Scipio's help Upon the receipt of which letters Scipio altered both his purpose and his journey leaving Cassius made hast to help Favonius so that continuing his journey night and day he came unto him in very good time For as the dust of Domitius Army approaching was seen to rise the fore-runners of Scipio his Army were likewise discovered Whereby it happened that as Domitius industry did help Cassius so did Scipio his speed save Favonius OBSERVATIONS CAesar being now ready with his forces to proceed against Pompey the first thing he did was to make triall of the provinces of Greece and to get their favour and assistance for his better furtherance in contesting his Adversary For as an Army standeth firm by two speciall means first in themselves as they are able to resist any opposing force and secondly through the favour of the Countrey wherein they are ingaged so on the other side their overthrow either proceedeth from their own weaknesse or otherwise when the Provinces adjoyning do refuse such mutuall respects as may relieve the wants of a consuming multitude And therefore having got all the forces together which he looked for or could any way expect he sent out to try the affection of the Countrey and to alter that in a moment which Pompey had been settling for a year together and then resolved to attack him nearer And doubtlesse if Scipio had not by chance interrupted their course upon his coming out of Asia to aide Pompey they had as easily got all Thessalia and Macedonia as they did Aetolia and were neverthelesse so ordered and disposed as they got more honour of Scipio then he could win of them CHAP. XIII The Passages between Domitius and Scipio SCipio aboad two daies in his standing Camp upon the River Haliacmon which ran between him and Domitius Camp The third day as soon as it began to be light he passed his Army over the River by a Foord and incamped himself The next day in the morning he imbattelled his forces before the front of his Camp Domitius in like manner made no difficulty of bringing out his legions resolving to fight And whereas there lay a field of six miles between both the Camps he led his troups imbattelled under Scipio's Camp who neverthelesse refused to move any jot from his standing yet for all that Domitius souldiers were hardly kept from giving battell but specially a River lying under Scipio's Camp with broken and uneasie banks did hinder them at that time Scipio understanding of their alacrity and desire to fight suspecting it might happen that the next day he should be forced to fight against his will or with great dishonour keep himself within his Camp having with great expectation in the beginning gone on rashly and unadvisedly was now dishonoured with a reproachfull end For in the night-time he rose without any noise or warning for the trussing up of the baggage and passing the River returned the same way he came and in an eminent place near unto the River he pitched his Camp A few daies after he laid an ambushment of horsemen in a place where our men had formerly accustomed to forrage And as Q. Varus Generall of the horse in Domitius Army came out according to his ordinary use they set upon him at a suddain But our men did valiantly sustain the onset and every man betaking himself speedily to his rank they all together of their own accord charged the Enemy and having slain fourscore they put the rest to flight with the losse onely of two of their men OBSERVATIONS IT appeareth here that to shew a readiness and resolution to fight upon such grounds as are justifiable by the rules of War is no small advantage to the prosperous carriage of the same For albeit Scipio was great in his own strength and as great in the opinion and expectation of men yet when he found such an alacrity in the Enemy to give and take blows and a desire to entertain seriously all occasions of giving battell he was so far from prosecuting what he had pretended as he rather chose the fortune of a safe retreat and consequently to turn the advantage which the world in opinion had given to his Army to his own reproach and disadvantage Whereas on the other side to be found for the most part unwilling to hazard the triall of a Field or indisposed to fight upon any occasion doth invite an Enemy to attempt that which otherwise he would not and giveth them courage to beat him from all his purposes as knowing the resolution of their Adversary and the means they have either to take or leave at their pleasure CHAP. XIV Domitius draweth Scipio to a losse by an Ambushment Young Pompey's attempt upon Oricum AFter these things Domitius hoping that Scipio might he drawn to fight he made as though he were in great want and scarcity of Corn and thereupon rising from the place wherein he was incamped with the usuall cry of removing according to the custome of War and having marched three miles he lodged all his Army with the Cavalry in a convenient and secret place Scipio being ready to follow after sent his horsemen and a great part of his light-armed souldiers to discover what way Domitius took who marching forward as the first troups came within the Ambushment suspecting somewhat by the neighing of the horses they fell back again Those that followed after seeing the former troups so suddainly to retire stood still Our men finding themselves discovered and thinking it in vain to attend the rest having got two troups of horse within their reach they contented
Councell of the chiefest and wisest men of the Court who had such credit and authority as it pleased him to give them They being assembled he commanded every man in the Kings name to say his mind touching the receiving of Pompey whether the king should receive him or not It was a miserable thing to see Photinus an Eunuch of the Kings and Theodotus of Chio an hired Schoolmaster to teach the young king Rhetorick and Achillas an Aegyptian to consult among themselves what they should do with Pompey the Great These were the chiefest Councellours of all his Eunuchs and of those that had brought him up Now did Pompey ride at anchour upon the shore side expecting the resolution of this Councell in the which the opinions were divers for some would not have him received others consented that he should be received But the Rhetorician Theodotus to shew his eloquence perswaded them that neither the one nor the other was to be accepted For quoth he if we receive him we shall have Caesar our enemy and Pompey our Lord and if we do deny him on the other side Pompey will blame us for refusing him and Caesar for not keeping of him therefore this would be the best resolution he told them to send to kill him for thereby they should win the good will of the one and not fear the displeasure of the other And some say moreover that he added this mock withall A dead man bites not They being determined of this among themselves gave Achillas commission to do it He taking with him Septimius who had charge aforetime under Pompey and Salvius another Centurion also with three or four souldiers besides they made towards Pompey's Gallies about whom were at that time the chiefest of his train to see what would become of this matter But when they saw the likelihood of their entertainment and that it was not in Princely shew nor manner nor nothing answerable to the hope which Theophanes had put them in seeing so few men come to them in a fisher-boat they began then to mistrust the small account that was made of them and counselled Pompey to return back and to launch again into the sea being out of the danger of the hurling of a Dart. In the mean time the fisher-boat drew near and Septimius rose and saluted Pompey in the Roman tongue by the name of Imperator as much as sovereign Captain and Achillas also spake to him in the Greek tongue and bade him come into his boat because that by the shore side there was a great deal of mud and sand banks so that his Galley should have no water to bring him in At the very same time they saw afar off divers of the Kings Gallies which were arming with all speed possible and all the shore besides full of souldiers Thus though Pompey and his company would have altered their minds they could not have told how to have escaped and furthermore shewing that they had mistrusted them then they had given the murderer occasion to have executed his cruelty So taking his leave of his wife Cornelia who lamented his death before his end he commanded two Centurions to go down before him into the Aegyptians boat and Philip one of his slaves infranchised with another slaves called Scynes When Achillas reached out his hand to receive him into his boat he turned him to his wife and son and said these verses of Sophocles unto them The man that into Court comes free Must there in state of bondage be These were the last words he spake unto his people when he left his own Gally and went into the Aegyptians boat the land being a great way off from his Gally When he saw never a man in the boat speak friendly unto him beholding Septimius he said unto him Me thinks my friend I should know thee for that thou hast served with me heretofore The other nodded with his head that it was true but gave him no answer nor shewed him any courtesy Pompey seeing that no man spake to him took a little book he had in his hand in which he had written an Oration that he meant to make unto King Ptolemy and began to read it When they came near to the shore Cornelia with her servants and friends about her stood up in her ship in great fear to see what should become of Pompey So she hoped well when she saw many of the Kings people on the shore coming towards Pompey at his landing as it were to receive and honour him But even as Pompey took Philip his hand to arise more easily Septimius came first behind him and thrust him through with his sword next unto him also Salvius and Achillas drew out their swords in like manner Pompey then did no more but took up his gown with his hands and hid his face manly abode the wounds they gave him onely sighing a little Thus being 59 years old he ended his life the next day after the day of his birth They that rode at anchour in their ships when they saw him murthered gave such a fearfull cry that it was heard to the shore then weighing up their anchours with speed they hoised sail and departed their way having wind at will that blew a lusty gale As soon as they had gotten the main Sea the Aegyptians which prepared to row after them when they saw they were past their reach and unpossible to be overtaken they let them go Then having stricken off Pompey's head they threw his body over-board for a miserable spectacle to all those that were desirous to see him Philip his enfranchised bond-man remained ever by it untill such time as the Aegyptians had seen it their bellies full Then having washed his body with salt water wrapped it up in an old shirt of his because he had no other shift to lay it in he sought upon the sands found at length a piece of an old fishers boat enough to serve to burn his naked body with but not all fully out As he was busie gathering the broken pieces of this boat together thither came unto him an old Roman who in his youth had served under Pompey and said unto him O friend what art thou that preparest the funeralls of Pompey the Great Philip answered that he was a bondman of his infranchised Well said he thou shalt not have all this honour alone I pray thee yet let me accompany thee in so devout a deed that I may not altogether repent me to have dwelt so long in a strange Country where I have abidden such misery and trouble but that to recompence me withall I may have this good hap with mine own hands to touch Pompey's body and to help to burie the onely and most famous Captain of the Romans The next day after Lucius Lentulus not knowing what had passed coming out of Cyprus sailed by the shore side and perceived a fire made for funeralls Philip standing by it whom he knew not at the
high a hill to climb up unto them and yet he thought to come so near them with his host as that they might not depart out of the place where they were without danger our men being hard at hand ready to fall upon them Therefore whereas he perceived that the troublesome marish parted Camp from Camp the difficult passage whereof might hinder the speedy pursuit of our enemies and that the same ridge of the hill which went from the farther side of the marish almost to the camp of the enemies was parted from their said camp with a small valley he made bridges over the marish and passing over his army got quickly into the plain of the said ridge the which on two sides was fortified with a steep descent There embattelling his men he came to the farthest end of the ridge and ordered his battels in such a place from whence with an engine artillery might be shot amongst the thickest of the enemies The Galles trusting to the advantage of the place when they would neither have refused the encounter if perchance the Romans should have adventured up the hill against them nor yet durst by little and little diminish their battel by severing themselves lest when they had been out of array they might hap to have been set upon kept themselves in order of battel Whose wilfulnesse Caesar perceiving kept twenty Cohorts in a readinesse and pitching his tents in the same place commanded his camp should be fortified As soon as the works were finished he set his Legions in array before the Rampier and appointed the horsemen to their standings with their horses ready bridled When the Bellovaci saw the Romans in a readinesse to pursue them and that themselves could not without perill either lodge that night or continue any longer in the same place where they were they devised this shift to recover themselves In the place where they were set together for it is declared in Caesar's former Commentaries how the Galles are wont to sit down in the battel they received from hand to hand one of another bundles of straw and fagots whereof there was great store in their camp and cast it all on a heap before their battell and in the later end of the day at a watch-word that was given they set it on fire all at one instant by means whereof the continuall flame suddenly took away the sight of all their army from the Romans and therewithall the savage Galles fled away as fast as their legs could bear them Albeit that Caesar could not perceive the departing of his enemies by reason of the flame that was betwixt them yet notwithstanding forasmuch as he suspected it to be a deceit practised by them that they might the safelier fly away he marched his footmen forward and sent his â—orsemen to pursue them Howbeit for fear of treachery in the businesse least perhaps his enemies should abide still in the same place and only draw us forth into a ground of disadvantage he went the slower pace His horsemen fearing to venture into the smoke and thick flame and if any were so resolute as to enter it they could scarce see the fore-parts of their own horses lest they should be intrapped gave the Bellovaci free liberty to recover themselves whither they would Thus our enemies by their flight which was mixt with fear and subtilty escaping without any losse went but ten miles off and encamped themselves in a very advantageous ground From whence by laying ambushes both of horse and foot in divers places they did the Romans great displeasure as they went a forraging After this had happened many and sundry times Caesar learned of a captive that Corbeus Captain of the Bellovaci had chosen out of his whole host six thousand of the valiantest footmen and a thousand horsemen which he had laid in ambush in the same place whether for the plenty of provision and corn that was there he judged the Romans would send to forrage This being known Caesar bringeth forth more legions then usuall and sendeth his horsemen before as he was wont to do to safe-conduct his forragers Among them he mingleth for their assistance many light-armed footmen and himself with his legions followeth as near as possibly he might The enemies that were laid in ambush having chosen a field for their purpose not above a mile over every way environed round about either with cumbersome woods or else a very deep river beset it with their ambushment as it had been with a toil Our men forasmuch as they were privy to the design of their enemies beforehand being ready both with heart and hand to fight seeing their legions followed hard after them would refuse no encounters but went rank by rank down into the said place At whose coming Corbeus thinking an occasion of doing some good to be fallen into his hands first discovereth himself with a small number and giveth charge upon the next troups Our men stoutly withstand the brunt flock not many into one place at once which in skirmishes of horse is wont commonly to happen through fear and their clustering together turneth to their own losse They being thus engaged in small parties and having a care still that their fellows should not be circumvented the rest brake out of the woods while Corbeus was fighting Then was the encounter hot and doubtfull After it had continued indifferent a good space by little and little came their footmen in array out of the woods which compelled our horsemen to give back But they were quickly relieved again by the light-armed footmen which as was said were sent before our legions who being intermixed among the horsemen fought stoutly The encounter continued a good while doubtfull But as the course of warre requires they that had withstood the first brunt of them that lay in ambush for them had thus much the advantage that they received not unawares any foil at their hands In the mean while our legions drew nearer and divers messengers brought word both to our men and to our enemies at one and the same time that the Generall was at hand with his army in battel array Which thing being known our horsemen trusting to the help of the Cohorts lay about them very eagerly lest if they should have delayed the matter they might have given the footmen part of the honour of the victory Upon this our enemies hearts began to fail and they sought to fly by severall wayes but all was in vain For by the disadvantage of the same places in which they would have inclosed the Romans were they themselves taken tardy and could not get out Notwithstanding being vanquished and altogether out of heart when they had lost the greatest part of their company like men amazed they betook themselves to â—light and some made toward the woods others toward the river where being overtaken by our men that followed eagerly after them they were all slain In the mean time Corbeus whose heart could by no
of his successfull designs having been founded thereupon there being great advantage in the attempting them for that he which assâ—ileth hath more courage then he which is assailed and alwayes believeth the assailant to be the stronger not knowing what part he will assail and ever jealous that he hath some secret intelligence Briefly all that a well-exercised and well-disciplined army is able to do in such a case is to defend it self but where are new-levied souldiers fall out great disorders which was the reason he took so much care to fortify his camp very strongly to the end he might defend it and all his baggage with a few men and might without danger execute many brave designes being alwayes assured of his retreat Let us farther take view of the siege of Uxellodunum which Caesar judging to be impregnable by â—orce and knowing it to be well provided of corn undertaketh by a great dangerous labour to keep them from water which was from a fountain without the town from whence they were only supplied which the besieged perceiving having set fire on Caesar's works by a sally they hindred him from quenching it Caesar not being able to repulse them by reason of the advantage of the place resolveth to make an assault upon the town which apprehension caused them to retreat THE MANNER OF OUR MODERN TRAINING Or TACTICK PRACTISE By CLEMENT EDMONDS Remembrancer of the City of LONDON FOrasmuch as my purpose was to make this task of Observations as a parallel to our modern Discipline I did not think it fit to mingle the Tactick Practise of these times with the use of foregoing ages but rather to shut up these Discourses therewith as the second line of this warlike parallel which is thus drawn in the best fashion of modern Art In the knowledge of marshalling an Army there is nothing more especially to be regarded then that from a confused company of men having chosen the fittest for the wars we should so place and digest a convenient number of them that in marches in incamping in battels we may be able with a few well ordered to incounter a farre greater army in confusion and to overthrow them From hence Aeneas did define the Art of war to be the knowledge of warlike motions Before this unexpert army shall be able to be moved in such fashion it shall not be amisse to acquaint it with the most usuall terms wherewith they shall be often commanded into diverse postures as occasion shall be offered For as in the art of Fencing no man shall be able to turn and wind his body for his best advantage to offend his enemy or defend himself unlesse first his master shall instruct him in the severall parts and postures thereof so every souldier or the whole troup as one body or one souldier shall never be readily instructed to transform or turn it self by divers motions into different forms unlesse they first understand what is meant by Fronts and Flanks by Files and Ranks what by Leaders and Followers by Middlemen and Bringers up By this means each souldier understanding what the terme doth signifie shall readily both apprehend and execute such commandments as the Captain or Officer shall direct him A File is a certain number of men following singly one Leader unto the depth of 8 or 10 as they shall be commanded The ancients have called this File Seriem ordinationem or decuriam It consisteth of Leaders and Followers placed according to their worth and valour and especially there ought to be regarded the Leader or Decurio the fifth sixth or Middlemen and the tenth and last called the Bringer up or Tergiductor First therefore every souldier being aptly fitted unto his severall armes according to his worth age and stature they are to be disposed into severall files wherein every one is especially to acknowledge his leader or foremost man to be the authour of all his motions therefore duely attending what directions shall be commanded each follower shall according to the motions of his leader or foremost man order his own and is to be excused if he attend the motions of his leader before he move himself When many files are thus disposed together all the leaders making one and the same front and their followers observing likewise one and the same proportion of distance before and after and on each side these Files thus joyned make one Battallion the front whereof is called a Rank and so likewise the second and third in depth according to the number of men in each file The first second and third and so forward in each file are called Sidemen in respect of the same numbers in the next file Neither must every souldier onely regard the motions of his Leader but he must also diligently respect his sidemen and such as shall be placed on his right and left hand called his ranks so that both in files and ranks he may alwaies be found in the same distance wherein he is commanded It should be impertinent to the purpose to prescribe a certain number of souldiers unto these Battallions onely thus much for the proportion that it ought never to exceed so much but that it may easily upon any occasion be changed into such a form or fashion to fight as may be thought fittest for the present The length of this Battallion is diversly tearmed amongst the Latines as Frons Facâ—â—s Adstructio Jugum c. but in our modern practise most familiarly the Front or Rank The breadth of the Battallion which is from the leader to the bringer-up with the distance between all the followers is said to be the length or depth of one file or flank In the disposing of souldiers into files and ranks besides their observing a right line in their places and standing we must likewise especially respect the different worth and quality of the souldiers that every one according to his worth may be suted unto his proper place and accordingly receive advancement as the death of his Leaders and true value of his desert by his Commander shall give occasion First therefore there must be especiall choice made of the leaders of each file or first front or ranks of the Battallion of the most expert ablest and best-armed men because that as from them the rest are to receive directions of their after-motions so in them the greatest hope of the day doth consist Next unto the first it must be provided that the bringers up or last rank called Tergiductores be little inferiour well experienced wise and valiant that they may both know when to reprehend their former Ranks and urge them forward if they see them declining or yielding upon false occasions as also to be able upon any sudden alarm given in the rere to turn faces about and make themselves a Front for the best resistance Neither must it be neglected concerning the second and ninth ranks that they also
Luc. lib. 4. Imprudentium fiducia est fortunam sibi spondere Seneca de beneficiis Incauta semper nimia praesamptio sui negligens Egâ—sip lib. 1. de Instit Cyri. Caesar Thucyd. lib. 7. Caesar â—aetis hâ—nc nâ—mine rebus Ciescendi posuere modum Lucan Eodem ubi laserunt navigia forbentur Seneca Epist 4. Non est in bâ—llo bis peccaâ—e Pluâ—aâ—ch Nullo contectus Curio busto Luc. Homer Iliad 8. Caesar Lib. 6. de comitiis Lib. 5. Anno 〈◊〉 701. Liv. lib. 7. Liv. lib. 9. * Four gallons and a half Plin. l. 35. cap. 12. * Lib. 39. Lib. 1. offic Nec enim 〈◊〉 vehementius rempub contiâ—t quam sides Lib. 2. offic In the life of Julius Caesar Lib. 7. Lib. 7. 2. Offic. Vetus urbi foenebre malum seditionum discordiarumque crebeâ—rima causa Annal. 6 Tull 2. offic Pecuniae quâ—renâ—â—â— ratio naturae consentanea omnibus est à fructibus animalibus de repub lib. 1. cap. 10. Caesar Gen Latinae Feriae Lib. 4 de Antiquit. Rom. Lib. 4. cap. 2 Appian lib. 4. Caesar Iliad 6. 12 Metam Iust lib. 1. Herodot lib. 2. Trebell Pol Sigism Baâ—in Muscâ—â— Quod Fonestias quam â—xoâ—iâ—m levamentum 〈◊〉 Tac. l. 3. Annal. Vix praesenti custedia manere illaesa conjugiâ— â—odem Iudg. 9. Anno 1595. Caesar Qui sapiunt bellum absolvunt celeriter pace fruâ—ntur quam possant dâ—utissime Appian Leges à victoribus 〈…〉 a victis lib. 4. 〈◊〉 in aeqâ—abi itate motâ—m in inaequalitate sâ—mper constitâ—imâ—s In Timâ—o Caesar Timendum ne sub pacis nomine involutum bellum Cicero 〈◊〉 7. Poedus Pacis Foedus Commercil Foedus mutuâ— Auxâ—lii 1. Reg. 22. In Veâ—rem The publication of their seâ—ulâ—r Plaâ—es was criâ—d in these words Convenice ad Iudos spâ—ctandâ—s quos nâ—qâ—e spectavit quisquam nec spectâ—tutus est Sueâ—on in Claudio Nolenteâ— amicum câ—pere difficile Xenoph. de factis dict Socrat. Caesar Frustra sapit qui sibi non sapit Aeneid â— Lib. 16. Successum fortuna experientiam laus sequitur Vaâ—râ— ex Gellio Salust Caesar * Rostra Omnia 〈◊〉 facilias quam 〈…〉 De Mechaniâ—is Livie lib. 8. Plutarch Caesar Incertae sunt res bellicae Thucyd. Caesar Aeneid 2. Homer 9. Iliad 〈◊〉 lib. 8. de bello Gallico Uladislaus Audaces fortuna iuvat Virtus omnia potest Virtute faciendum est quicquid in rebus bellicis est gerendum Plutarch 6 Metamâ—â— Nunquam ita quilquam bene subducta ratione ad vitam fait quin res aetas usus sen 〈◊〉 aliquid 〈…〉 Tâ—ren 〈◊〉 Multi homines pauâ—i viâ—i Herod lib. 7. 〈◊〉 saith that the Romans 〈◊〉 the siege of Veâ—ente being out of humane hope turned their eies to Fate and the hope they had in Destiny Caesar Caesar A hill separating Syria from Cilicia Columnaria Ostiâ—â—â— Propter Aurum Argentum nunquam pacem facit Ferrum lib. 14. Epist 93. Ferrum omnis artis instrumentum Aurum atgentum mortis mancipia Epictetus Capitatio Ostiaria Columnariae 31 ad Atticum Epist 1. In the Paâ—pacy of Sixt. Quinâ—us Fiscus reipub lien quod eo câ—escente artus reliqui tabescunt Sext. Aurelius Victor In Paraeâ—et 2 de Offic. Plutarch Bella sustentantuâ— pecuniâ—rum 〈◊〉 Dion 〈…〉 6. Ann. l. 13. Caesar Quae libera appellabatur * Lepâ—nto In Macedonia quae velint sibi candida nasci ad Haliaâ—monem ducere quae â—ugra 〈◊〉 ad Axium Caesar Caesar * Biremes 〈◊〉 hostium discessiones semper suspectas habere cap. 5. 5 Cyropaed Caesar 〈…〉 Petram Lucan Actus activorum in patientis sunt dispositione Arist Metaph. Caesar ex subâ—â—actis cen conibus Contemprares est homo nisi supra humana se â—rexit 〈◊〉 ratione i 〈…〉 iâ—â— Caesar Caesar Plâ—taâ—ch Lib. 3. c. 59. Labor militiae assidua frâ—ga itatis conâ—â—â—tudine factlior est Iustin Cyâ—us contented with bread and water Xenophon Aequalem oportet semper esse Imperatoris animum mâ—tari enim pro terum varieâ—atibus mentis instabilis argumentum efficitur Agapâ—tus Unus homo nobis cunctando restitute Rem Enn. Lib. 6. de Cyropaed There is a great part of the history in this place omitted Caesar Alâ—ae sunt Legati parâ—es atque Imperatoris â—vocati Millibus ducentis aeris Prinâ—ipilus Solon Plat. â— de 〈◊〉 Liviâ— lib. 4. Lib. 6. In vita Caeâ—â—is In repub multo praestat beneficii qâ—â—m maâ—â—ficii immemorem esse bonus segnior â—it ubi negligas mâ—â—as improbior Sal. Iugâ—r Caesar Et morâ—u spoliare nemus lethumqâ—e minantes Vellere aâ— ignotis dubias radicibus â—erbas Si bonam dederitis fidam perpetuâ—m 〈…〉 diuturâ—â—m Liâ— lib. 8. 〈◊〉 est quod non expâ—gnet pertâ—nâ—â—x opera intenta diligens cura Senec. lib. 6. Epist 51. Plin. lib. 4. cap. 4. Caesar Poenam semper anâ—e oculos versari putent qui peccaverunt Cic. â—n â—rat 〈◊〉 Milone Lib. 5. Cyâ—op Caesar Arma alienasse grave â—rimâ—n est â—a poeâ—a deâ—ertioni exâ—quatur utique si tota alienâ—vit Lib. 14. § de re militari Vir virtute ex miâ—s aliquâ—ndo fortuna semperâ—a imo maximus Caesar * Eâ—itius Sapiens non semper itâ— uno gradu 〈…〉 Herodot 〈◊〉 omnia expensa omnia feruntur accepâ—aâ—â— in tota ratiore mortalium sâ—la uttâ—â—que paginam facit Plin. lib. 2. cap. 7. Caesar Humanaâ—um rerum â—â—â—culus est qui roâ—atus semper â—osdem fortunatos esse non sinit Herodot lib. 1. Habet has vices conditio mortalium ut advâ—rsi ex secundis secunda ex adversis nascantur Pâ—in in Paneg. Herodot lib. 1. Lâ—â—vento è spesso judice non imperito delle cose Guicâ— lib. 5. Caesar The Philosophâ—â— Câ—ator was wont to say that 〈…〉 occasion of an ill 〈◊〉 is a great comfort in any 〈◊〉 of advâ—â—sity Plaâ— in câ—ns Apo. 〈…〉 Prae â—orum delâ—cta 〈◊〉 non acâ—â—piunt Veâ—â—t lib. 1. cap. 14. Finem dolendi qui consilio non fecerit tempore invenit 〈◊〉 Epist 64. Lib. 2. Livie 31. Livie 27. Lib. 2. de bello Civili Front lib. 1. cap. 1. Caesar Lib. 5. de Milit. Ro. cap. 14. Lib. 1. cap. 1 Caesar Humanâ—tum actionum felâ— itas infeli 〈…〉 rerum particulis quae multae sunt varie sed ex eventis judi intuâ— Dionys Hal. lib. 9. Caesar After three of the clock in the afternoon Lib. 5. Obsidio ejus urbis quam cito capere velis utgenda premenda Lib. 6. de Instit Cyri. Bello lex acquirendi justissima Dionys 〈◊〉 in exper legat Polyb. lib. 8 Caesar Comineus In orat pro Plaâ—â—o Virtus felicitatis mensura non foâ—tuna Dio. Hâ—licarn lib. 2. Caesar Prima egregiorum ducum sapientia victoriam siâ—e periculo comparare Polyae lib. 1 stratag Lib. 7. Lib. 3. Excid 2. Offic. 〈◊〉 In manibus vestris quantus sit Caesar habetis Lucan lib. 7. Lib. 2. cap. 3 Singulas cohortes detraxit Lib. 2. cap. 3. Caesar Plutarch Lucan lib. 4. Homer Iliad 3. Lib. 4. cap. 2. Lib. 7. Lib. 4. cap. 7. In the life of Pompey Florus Lib. 4. Infelix quanta Dominum virtute paraâ—â—â— Caesar Utilis tuta res dilato Dionys Halicar lib. 8. Non commitruntur regâ—â—is trireâ—es aut loca aut legiones aut arces sed verba tempora Demost de falsa legatione 1. Labor in nâ—gotio 2. fortitudo in periculo 3. induâ—tria in agendo 4. celeritas in consiciendo were Caesars properties Caesar Interdâ—â— majores copiae sternuntur à minoribus 〈…〉 lib. 8. Lib. 8. Caesar Pompeius Trogus lib. 6. Lib. 8. Caesar Pompâ—ius 〈…〉 esse non poâ—et risi beneficio servitutis 5. de 〈◊〉 16 5. Polit. Nil nimium cupito was writ in golden letters at Delphos Justum bellum esse iis quibus nisi in armis spes nulla est Machiav Nusquana gâ—ntium râ—peritur qui possit penibus approbart Mors omnium par est per quae venit diversi sunt id in quod definiâ—unam est Epist 67. Homines sicut pomi aâ—t matura caduâ—t aut 〈◊〉 Plut. in viâ—a Rompeii Mors Naturae lex est Mors tribuâ—um officiumque mortalium Seneâ—â— natural quaest â— Fabius dictus Maximus Scipio magnus Polyaenus lib. 8. Epist 100. This thaâ—â— fâ—lloweth seemeth of another stile The Prieâ—ts of Egypt said That whensoever the Axe and the bundle of Rods came into Alexandria the power of their Kings should presently case according as it was written in a Columne of gold at Memphis Lib. 2. Ep. 8. Lib. 15. cap. 18. Lib. 5. cap. 9. A File The Leader Battallion A Rank or Front Sidemen The number of souldiers in a Battallion unâ—â—rtain The length Breadth oâ— depth Dignities in places to be observed The first rank The bringers up or Tergiductores or last rank The second and ninth ranks The fifth and sixth ranks Files The right-hand file The left-hand file Distances between files and ranks Open order Order Close ordeâ— pouldron to pouldron The manner of câ—arging with five ranks Stand in front In arrectostate Faces to the right or left hand Declinate in hastam vel in scutum Faces about to the right or left hand Duplicatâ— declinatio or mutatio Wheel to the right or left hand Conversio in hastam vel scutum As you were Revolutio Reversio Wheel about Inflexio militum Reflexâ—o Files From the rere 〈◊〉 â—volutio Macedonica From the front through Laconica evolutio From the front and stand Choâ—ica evolutio Countermarching of ranks The doubling of files to the right or left hand By men Duplicare altitudinem By ground Doubling of ranks by inserting or adding new troups Duplicare longitudinem Silence to be kept In a champain In streights or narrow passages How to 〈◊〉 a division for such a maâ—ch To reduce them 〈◊〉 in into theâ—r first front The manner of chaâ—ging pikes with pikes Five ranks onely By the whole depth To charge with musketiers There must not be too many in a rank In the retreat The manner of charging by â—iles in narrow passages In the pases of Ireland By signes By drum or trumpet By word of mouth The most usual directing terms in exercising a baâ—â—allion or division