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
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
Target was of such reputation among the Roman Armes and challenged such interest in the greatnesse of their Empire let us enter a little into the consideration of the use commodity thereof which cannot be better understood then by that comparison which Polybius hath made between the weapons of the Romans and the Macodonians and therefore I have thought good to insert it in these discourses And thus it followeth Of the difference of the Roman and Macedonian Weapons I Promised in my sixth book that I would make a comparison between the weapons of the Romans and Macedonians and that I would likewise write of the disposition of either of their Armies how they do differ one from another and in what regard the one or the other were either inferiour or superiour which promise I will now with diligence endeavour to perform And forasmuch as the Armies of the Macedonians have given so good testimonies of themselves by their actions by overcoming the Armies as well of Asia as of Greece and that the battels of the Romans have conquered as well those of Africa as all the Eastern countries of Europe it shall not be amisse but very profitable to search out the difference of either especially seeing that these our times have not once but many times seen triall both of their battels and forces that knowing the reason why the Romans do overcome and in their battel carry away the better we do not as vain men were wont to do attribute the same to fortune and esteem them without reason happy victours but rather looking into the true causes we give them their due praises according to the direction of reason and sound judgement Concerning the battels between Hannibal and the Romans and concerning the Romans losses there is no need that I speak much For their losses are neither to be imputed to the defect of their Armes or disposition of their Armies but to the dexterity and industry of Hannibal But we have intreated thereof when we made mention of the battels themselves and the end it self of that warre doth especially confirm this our opinion for when they had gotten a Captain equall with Hannibal even consequently he with all his victories vanished And he had no sooner overcome the Romans but by and by rejecting his own weapons he trayned his Army to their weapons and so taking them up in the beginning he continued them on unto the end And Pyrrhus in his war against the Romans did use both their weapons and order made as it were a medly both of the cohort and phalanx but notwithstanding it served him not to get the victory but alwayes the event by some means or other made the same doubtful concerning whom it were not unfit that I should say something least in being altogether silent it might seem to prejudice this mine opinion But notwithstanding I will hasten to my purposed comparison Now touching the phalanx if it have the disposition and forces proper to it nothing is able to oppose it self against it or to sustain the violence thereof as may easily by many documents be approved For when an armed man doth stand firm in the space of three foot in so thick an arraie of battel and the length of their pikes being according to the first basis or scantling sixteen foot but according to the true and right conveniency of them fourteen cubites out of which are taken four allowed for the space between the left hand which supporteth the same and the butt end thereof whiles he stands in a readinesse to attend the encounter being thus ordered I say it is manifest that the length of ten cubites doth extend it self before the body of every armed man where with both his hands he doth advance it ready to charge the Enemy By which meanes it followeth that some of the pikes do not only extend themselves before the second third and fourth rank but some before the foremost if the phalanx have his proper and due thicknesse according to his naturall disposition both on the sides and behind as Homer maketh mention when he saith that one target doth enclose and fortify another one head-piece is joyned to another that they may stand united close together These circumstances being rightly and truly set down it must follow that the pikes of every former rank in the phalanx do extend themselves two cubites before each other which proportion of difference they have between themselves by which may evidently be seen the assault and impression of the whole phalanx what it is and what force it hath consisting of sixteen ranks in depth or thicknesse The excesse of which number of ranks above five forasmuch as they cannot commodiously couch their pikes without the disturbance of the former the points of them not being long enough to enlarge themselves beyond the foremost ranks they grow utterly unprofitable and cannot man by man make any impression or assault but serve only by laying their pikes upon the shoulders of those which stand before them to sustain and hold up the swayes and giving back of the former ranks which stand before them to this end that the front may stand firm and sure and with the thicknesse of their pikes they do repell all those darts which passing over the heads of those that stand before would annoy those ranks which are more backward And farther by moving forward with the force of their bodies they do so presse upon the former that they do make a most violent impression For it is impossible that the foremost ranks should give back This therefore being the generall and particular disposition of the phalanx we must now speak on the contrary part touching the properties and differences as well of the Armes as of the whole disposition of the Roman battel For every Roman souldier for himself and his weapon is allowed three foot to stand in and in the incounter are moved man by man every one covering himself with his target and mutually moving whensoever there is occasion offered But those which use their swords do fight in a more thin and distinct order so that it is manifest that they have three foot more allowed them to stand in both from shoulder to shoulder and from back to belly that they may use their weapons with the better commodity And hence it cometh to passe that one Roman souldier taketh up as much ground as two of those which are to encounter him of the Macedonian Phalanx so that one Roman is as it were to oppose himself against ten pikes which pikes the said one souldier can neither by any agility come to offend or else at handy blowes otherwise annoy And those which are behind him are not only unable to repell their force but also with conveniency to use their own weapons Whereby it may easily be gathered that it is impossible that any battel being assaulted by the front of a phalanx should be able to sustain the violence thereof if it have
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
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
but all being triviall and imaginary we forbear further disquisition and passe to our observations upon his MEDALLS Observations upon CAESAR'S MEDALLS Vpon the first Medall THe effigies of Venus Genitrix with a globe or world before her without any inscription though Occo and Vrsinus mention one inscrib'd with L. BUCA the other side hath Venus giving Anchises a meeting near Mount Ida this it should seem Caesar caused to be done out of flattery to himself in that it served both to make his originall more illustrious and as a monument of that happinesse and good fortune which this Goddesse had procured him in all his enterprises For it was his ambition to have descended in a right line from Anchises and Venus by whose indulgence he had conquered the Universe as being his directrix in all his designes as is represented by the globe or world whereof this Goddesse was thought to be in some sort the Protectresse as being esteem'd the Sovereign Genius of Generation according to Solinus Tu foetibus auges Cuncta suis totus pariter tibi parturit orbis And her worship was questionlesse very ancient For it was the head of Venus Genitrix that the Saracens and Ishmaelites worshipped alledging that Abraham had by the means of it enjoy'd Hagar from whom proceeded a great generation as Enthymius Zigabenus in his table of the opinions of that Nation and the anonymous Greek Authour of the Saracen History have observed So have we here the same Goddesse accosting that great Heros to have issue by him The Genius destin'd to further the establishment of the Roman greatnesse hath a Scepter in his hand to signify the future Majesty of that Monarchy The second Medall L. SEPULIUS MACER Venus standing with a Victory in her right hand and a pike in the other being the otherside of that which bore the effigies of Caesar and the starre of this Goddesse Servius quoting an observation of Varro sayes upon the first of the Aeneids that when this Heros lest Troy looking up into the sky he presently perceives Venus in the day-time she shining then purposely to direct him to Laurentum the place for which the Destinies had design'd him The Aegyptians represented this starre by the figure of a most beautifull woman it being thought the brightest in the firmament whence it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pulcherrima being nam'd in the morning Phosphorus or Lucifer in the evening Vesper This starre therefore that was Aeneas's conductresse was no other then that midwife of the Light Venus being the same which the Saracens call Cubar or Kabar which word signifies great being also otherwise called Astarte Vrania or Coelestis by all which names is meant no other but this Genetrix under which epithet the Lacedemonians ador'd and invok'd her as an advancer of Generation The Romans in the Circensian games brought forth the statue of Caesar in pompe having the Planet Venus on his head Now this Vrania because of her procreative influence was held in particular devotion by the women as divers Medalls of the Empresses discover being commonly inscrib'd Veneri coelesti and having that Starre Gualterus furnishes us with an inscription of a certain priestesse of hers out of the ancient monuments of Sicily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diodotus Titieli filius Appeiraeus sororem suam Minyram Artemonis filiam Sacerdotem Veneris Coelestis She was also inscribed Venus Coelestis Augusta possibly in favour of some Empresse as also Invicta Coelestis The third Medall CAESAR DICT PERP. Caesar perpetuall Dictator A Venus Victrix naked holding an Helmet and a Buckler There is before her a Pillar upon which is plac'd an Eagle and behind a military Ensign The meaning is this We have Venus here naked with a Helmet in her hand to signify her victorious over Mars by her charming attractions as if that God had quite lost all courage delivering up his Armes and rendring himself her Prisoner Thus Menelaus casts away his pike sword and buckler having had but a glimpse of the delicate breast of the fair Hellen. But in this Medall Venus denotes that she had so fortunately assisted Caesar the minion of all her progeny in all his warlike enterprises that he had obtained absolute Victory over all his enemies whereof the Helmet Buckler and military Ensign being the marks Caesar had consecrated them to her in acknowledgement of her favours The Eagle pitched upon a pillar signifies that his Victories have assured him the Roman Empire which should be his eternally The Eagle denotes Empire and Royalty and presages and signifies absolute Victory It signifies also that the Empire shall be assur'd to him maugre all the force and opposition of the Galles and Germans or any other whatsoever whom he should despise as this bird doth thunder for that of all creatures it can ascend above the clouds where it can suffer no injury The fourth Medall GERMAN INDUTI III. A River lying by a mountain side pours out his water having a boat or bark near him This Medall seems to have been stampt purposely to exercise our divinations We conceive it should be read GERMANA INDUTIA and that the number three stands for nothing else but the year taking the word INDUTIA to signify a Colony of Germans disposed into that place by Caesar's order This name indeed is not found among the Geographers onely Pliny mentions a Town called INDUSTRIA situated along the Apennine upon the famous River of Po. Now there is a great conformity between the situation of this Town and this Medall and possibly it may be an erratum in Pliny and that it should be read INDUTIA instead of INDUSTRIA which is not so likely to be the name of a City For the three points III. they may signifie the year of the establishment of that Colony or of the foundation of the City There is another Medall hath four IIII. denoting the fourth year but it hath withall the devise of an Ox with his head stooping and his knee bent which posture implies the establishment and foundation of a City In this posture doth Nonnus describe the Oxe of Cadmus Upon both these Medalls there is a Venus Victrix on one side and what is before recited on the other whence it is inferr'd that the planting of this Colony happened after Caesar's most remarkable Victories against the Germans The fifth and sixth Medalls WE have these two Medalls from Goltzius whereof one in Greek hath a Tripod and two starres the inscription of the head the other side is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Caesar Imperator Pontifex maximus Augur This Tripod of Apollo hath something in it more particular Apollo Augur or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is here design'd by one of the starres which accompanies that of Venus Genetrix or Coelestis shewes that Caesar was assisted in his charge of Augur and his study of Astrologie and presaging whereof the Lituus and
according to the custome he took his chair in the Senate The first came up to him was one Celer who while he was entreating him to release a Brother of his that was in captivity the rest came up to him whereat he suspecting some violence cryed out what force is this To which the above-mentioned Atilius Cimber answered him with a wound in the throat which the rest of the Conspiratours seconded with others But that which amazed him above all was to see Brutus among them one whose authority was great and one whom he had obliged beyond all expression of gratitude when a conquered enemy upon which he could not but break forth into these words And thou son Brutus art thou one Whereupon seeing there was no possibility of escaping he remembred to keep the honour of his person covering his head with part of his robe and with his left hand settling his cloaths about him and so having received 23. wounds he fell to the ground a sacrifice to the publick Liberty near the base of Pompey's statue which was noted as a judgement of the Gods Caesar having neither Son nor Daughter legitimate at his death had by his will before adopted his Nephew Octavius Caesar who was afterwards called Octavianus Augustus who studied in Apollonia at the time of this murther of Caesar and expected to go with him to the war against the Parthians being then about 17. yeares of age This death as all extraordinary accidents must needs beget tumult and confusion in the City All Offices ceased the Temples and Courts of Justice were shut up Caesar's friends were afraid of the Conspiratours they reciprocally of them This Tumult somewhat startled the Conspiratours who seeing the design took not with the people as they expected to secure themselves seized the Capitoll crying as they went Liberty Liberty Liberty Whereupon Antonius and Lepidus being all this while in Armes divers treaties of accommodation passed between them whereby it was at last agreed the Senate should sit whither Brutus and Cassius came Antonius's Sons being hostages for their return The Senate approves the fact the people dissemble their satisfaction for as the Authority of Brutus and Cassius with the name of Liberty was very charming on one side so the horrour of the fact and the love some bare Caesar exasperated them against the Murtherers But Mark Antony endeavouring to trouble the waters as much as he could among other things got Caesar's testament to be opened wherein he had bequeath'd to the people of Rome certain gardens and heritages near the River Tiber and to every Citizen of Rome a certain summe of money which being known it re-enflamed their old affection to Caesar and raised a compassion and a regret for his death The day appointed for his funerall the ceremony whereof was to burn his body in the field of Mars Antonius being to make the Oration brought with him the robe wherein Caesar was assassinated which being all bloudy he shewed to the people using some expressions which raised in them both indignation and pity insomuch as before the solemnity of the funerall was ended they all departed in great fury with the brands of the same fire to set afire the houses of Brutus and Cassius and the rest of the Conspiratours whom they sought running up down the streets In which fury they killed Aelius Cinna mistaking him for Cornelius Cinna who indeed was one of them This Tumult forced Brutus Cassius and all who conceived themselves guilty of Caesar's death to depart from Rome whereupon Antonius took occasion to dispense with the decree of the Senate and assuming Caesar's power and authority persecuted them all he could Brutus and Cassius went into Greece to govern those Provinces which Caesar whom they had murthered had conferred on them which were Macedonia and Syria and in like manner were all the rest dispersed and that so unfortunately that within the space of three yeares they all came to violent deaths He was slain in the 56. year of his age somewhat above four years after the death of Pompey 700. years after the foundation of Rome 3010. years after the Creation but according to the 70. Interp. 5157. in the 184. Olympiad and 42. years before the birth of Christ Having made himself perpetuall Dictator he enjoyed it 3. years 4. months and 6. dayes Thus have we traced this transcendent Personage through all his great and incomparable actions and atchievements we have viewed him in his distresses and extremities and we have also seen him in his victories triumphs expressing the same greatnesse that is the same equality of mind in both we have surveyed him in all his excellencies and abilities both of mind and body we have considered the invincibility of his spirit his incomparable courage his clemency magnanimity his policy vigilance prudence conduct we have as near as we can enumerated the many battels he fought the many victories obtained the many people and provinces reduced the many Kings and Countries subdued so to figure a person imitable in all things that may be called great or vertuous not exceedable in any we have described and dilucidated his Medalls wherein if we have committed any offence it hath been in studying brevity purposely omitting many things that might have been said and forbearing the multitude and particularity of citations least it might be thought a vanity lastly we have accompanied him to his funerall pile the fire whereof consumed his murtherers and enemies while he himself is carried up by the same element to shine eternally a starre of the first magnitude in the firmament of famous and heroick spirits And there we leave him recommending the Reader to see and find him haply farre greater then our commendations in his own everlasting COMMENTARIES FINIS THe second and seventh pages of this Life of Caesar being rashly put to working at the Press before they were corrected the Reader is desired to take notice of these ensuing faults with their emendations and to think never the worse of the rest of the book In pag. 2. lin 1. after be killed read as if even vertue may be excessive and a crime as he c. l. 20. for paint ever paint over l. 33. for Cisalphina Cisalpina l. 35. for Lacedemonia Lacedaemon l. 37 38. for Sardynia Creeta Candia Cypres Rhodes and Negrepont Sardinia Creet Cyprus Rhodes and Negropont In pag. 7. l. 1. for which four with four l. 9. for gulf Venice gulf of Venice l. 14. for their forts their efforts l. 15. for Curius Curio l. 19. for that Consull that Consul l. 28. for Boetia Lacedaemonia Creeta in some copies Baeotia Lacedaemon Creet l. 38. for deferred him deterred him l. 46. for takes it takes in With some literall faults and ill pointing IULIUS CAESAR Reading and Discourse are requisite to make a souldier perfect in the Art militarie how great soever his knowledge may be which long experience and much practice of Arms hath gained WHen I
to hold it in as great reputation as any weapons whatsoever which may be thought worthy executioners of the deeds of Armes THE SECOND OBSERVATION IN the second place we may observe that there was no Nation so barbarous for I understand the Germans to be as barbarous in regard of the motions of religion as any known Nation of that time being in a Climate so near the North that it afforded no contemplation at all that could not make use in their greatest affairs of that superstition to which their mind was naturally inthralled and forge prophesies and divinations as well to stirr up as to moderate the irregular motions of a multitude according as they might best serve to advantage their proceedings Neither did Caesar let slip the occasion of making use of this their religion for understanding by their prisoners that their divinations forbad them to fight before the new Moon he used all the means he could to provoke them to battell that their religious opinion of mischieving might prejudice their resolution to return Conquerers Which may serve to prove that a superstitious people are subject to many inconveniences which industry or Fortune may discover to their overthrow It is recorded that Columbus being Generall of some forces which Ferdinando king of Castile sent to discover the West Indies and suffering great penury for want of victuals in the I le of Jamaica after that he had observed how the Ilanders worshipped the Moon and having knowledge of an Eclipse that was shortly after to happen he told the inhabitants that unlesse they would furnish him with such necessaries as he wanted for the time the wrath of their God should quickly appear towards them by changing his bright shining face into obscurity and darknesse which was no sooner happened but the poor Indians strucken with a superstitious fear of that which the course of nature required kept nothing back that might assist their enemies to depopulate and over-run their own Country Chap. XIX Caesar seeketh meanes to give them battel and the Germans dispose themselves thereunto THe next day Caesar left a sufficient Garrison in each of his Camps and forasmuch as the number of his legionary souldiers was small in respect of the multitude of the Germans he placed all the Auxiliarie troups for a shew before the lesser Camp and putting his legions in a triple battell he marched towards the Camp of Ariovistus And then at length were the Germans constrained to bring out their power setting every Tribe and people by themselves in like distance and order of battell as the Harudes Marcomans Triboces Vangiones Nemetes Sedusians and Swevians and environing their whole Army with Carts and carriages that there might be no hope at all left to save any man by flight And in these they placed their women that they by their out-stretched hands and teares moving pity might implore the souldiers as they descended by course to the battell not to deliver them into the bondage and thraldome of the Romans Caesar assigned to every legion a Legat and a Questor that every man might have an eye-witnesse of his valour and he himself began the battell with the right Cornet forasmuch as he perceived that part of Ariovistus Army to be the weakest THE FIRST OBSERVATION THe Romans even from the infancy of their state were ever zealous admirers of true honour and alwayes desired to behold with the eye to what measure of vertue every man had attained that the tongue with greater fervency of spirit might sound out the celebration of Macte virtute which imported more honour then any wealth that could be heaped upon them Neither was this the least part of their wisedome considering that the most pretious things that are lose much of their worth if they be not suted with other correspondent natures whose sympathy addeth much more excellency then is discerned when they appear by themselves without such assistance For how small is the beauty which Nature hath given to the eye-pleasing Diamond when it is not adorned with an artificiall form or what perfection can the form give without a foile to strengthen it or what good is in either of them if the light do not illuminate it or what avail all these where there wanteth an eye to admire it a judgement to value it and an heart to imbrace it Such a union hath Nature imprinted in the diversitie of creatures concurring to perfection and especially in morall actions in whose carriage there is a far greater exactnesse of correspondencie required to approve them honourable then was requisite to make the jewel beautifull And this did Caesar in all his battels amongst the rest that at Alesia is particularly noted in this manner Quod in conspectu imperatoris res gerebatur neque recte aut turpiter factum celari poterat utrosque laudis cupiditas timor ignominiae ad virtutem excitabat And when Livie would expresse how valiantly an action was carried he saith no more but in conspectu imperatoris res gerebatur which is as much as to say that forasmuch as the Romans were diligent observers of every mans worth rewarding vertue with honour and cowardise with reproch every man bent his whole endeavour to deserve the good opinion of his Generall by discharging that duty which he owed to the Commonwealth with all loyalty and faithfulnesse of spirit THE SECOND OBSERVATION THe Romans had four formes of the front of their battell The first was called Acies Recta when neither the cornets nor the battell was advanced one before another but were all carried in a right line and made a straight front this was their most usuall manner of imbattelling The second forme of the front was called Obliqua when as one of the cornets was advanced nearer unto the enemy then the rest to begin the battell and this was commonly as Vegetius noteth the right cornet for the right cornet of an Army had great advantage against the left of the enemies in regard of their weapons and furniture But Caesar did it in this place because he perceived that the enemy was weakest in that part following a Maxime of great authority That the weakest part of an enemy is in the beginning to be charged with the strength of an Armie for so favourable are mens judgements to that which is already happened that the sequele of every action dependeth for the most part upon the beginning Dimidium facti qui bene coepit habet saith a Poet and not without great reason so forcible continually is the beginning and so connexed to the sequele by the nature of a precedent cause that the end must needs erre from the common course when it doth not participate of that quality which was in the beginning Neither can there be any good end without a good beginning for although the beginning be oftentimes disastrous and unluckie and the end fortunate and happy yet before it came to that end there was a fortunate beginning
therefore it was called agmen quadratum or a square march inasmuch as it kept the same disposition of parts as were observed in quadrata Acie in a square body For that triple forme of imbatteling which the Romans generally observed in their fights having respect to the distances between each battel contained almost an equall dimension of front and file and so it made Aciem quadratam a square body and when it marched Agmen quadratum a square march Polybius expresseth the same in effect as often as the place required circumspection but altereth it somewhat in regard of the carriages for he saith that in time of danger especially where the country was plain and champain and gave space and free scope to clear themselves upon any accident the Romans marched in a triple battel of equall distance one behind another every battell having his severall carriages in front And if they were by chance attacked by an enemy they turned themselves according to the opportunity of the place either to the right of left hand and so placing their carriages on the one side of their Army they stood imbattelled ready to receive the charge The contrary form of marching where the place afforded more security and gave scope to conveniency they named agmen longum a long march or train when almost every maniple or order had their severall carriages attending upon them and strove to keep that way which they found most easy both for themselves and their impediments Which order of march as it was more commodious then the former in regard of particularity so was it unsafe and dangerous where the enemy was expected and therefore Caesar much blamed Sabinus and Cotta for marching when they were deluded by Ambiorix longissimo agmine in a very long train as though they had received their advertisements from a friend and not from an enemy And albeit our modern wars are farre different in quality from them of ancient times yet in this point of discipline they cannot have a more perfect direction then that which the Romans observed as the two poles of their motions Safety and Conveniencie whereof the first dependeth chiefly upon the provident disposition of the leaders and the other will easily follow on as the commodity of every particular shall give occasion Concerning safety in place of danger what better course can be taken then that manner of imbattelling which shall be thought most convenient if an enemy were present to confront them for a well-ordered march must either carry the perfect forme of a battel or contain the distinct principles and elements thereof that with little alteration it may receive that perfection of strength which the fittest disposition can afford it First therefore a prudent and circumspect Leader that desireth to frame a strong and orderly march is diligently to observe the nature and use of each weapon in his Army how they may be placed for greatest use and advantage both in respect of their different and concurring qualities as also in regard of the place wherein they are managed and this knowledge will consequently inferre the best and exactest disposition of imbattelling as the said forces are capable of which if it may be observed in a march is no way to be altered But if this exactnesse of imbattelling will not admit convenient carriage of such necessary adjuncts as pertain to an Army the inconvenience is to be relieved with as little alteration from that rule as in a wary judgement shall be found expedient that albeit the form be somewhat changed yet the principles and ground wherein their strength and safety consisteth may still be retained Neither can any man well descend to more particular precepts in this point he may exemplify the practices of many great and experienced commanders what sort of weapon marched in front and what in the rereward in what part of the Army the Munition marched and where the rest of the carriage was bestowed according as their severall judgements thought most expedient in the particular nature of their occurrences But the issue of all will fall out thus that he that observed this rule before prescribed did seldome miscarry through an unsafe march Let a good Martia list well know their proper use in that diversity of weapons in his Army how they are serviceable or disadvantageous in this or that place against such or such an Enemy and he will speedily order his battel dispose of his march and bestow his carriages as shall best fall out both for his safety and conveniency Caesars custome was to send his Cavalry and light-armed footmen before the body of his Army both to discover and impeach an Enemy for these troups were nimble in motion and fit for such services but if the danger were greater in the rereward then in the front the horsemen marched in the tayl of the Army and gave security where there was most cause of fear But if it happened that they were found unfit to make good the service in that place as oftentimes it fell out and especially in Africa against the Numidians he then removed them as he best found it convenient and brought his legionary souldiers which were the sinews and strength of his forces and marched continually in the bulk of the Army to make good that which his horsemen could not perform And thus he altered the antique prescription and uniformity of custome according as he found himself best able to disadvantage an Enemy or make way to victory Chap. IX The Romans begin to fortify their camp but are interrupted by the Nervii Caesar maketh hast to prepare his forces to battell THe Roman horsemen with the slingers and archers passed over the river and encountred the Cavalry of the Enemy who at first retired back to their companies in the wood and from thence sallied out again upon them but the Romans durst not pursue them further then the plain and open ground In the mean time the six legions that were in front having their work measured out unto them began to fortify their camp But as soon as the Neâ—vii perceived their former carriages to be come in sight which was the time appointed amongst them to give the charge as they stood imbattelled within the thicket so they rushed out with all their forces and assaulted the Roman horsemen which being easily beaten back the Nervii ran down to the river with such an incredible swiftnesse that they seemed at the same instant of time to be in the woods at the river and charging the legions on the other side For with the same violence having passed the river they ran up the hill to the Roman camp where the souldiers were busied in their intrenchment Caesar had all parts to play at one instant the flag to be hung out by which they gave the souldiers warning to take Arms the battel to be proclaimed by sound of trumpet the souldiers to be recalled from their work and such as were gone farre
his due and proper composition What then is the cause that the Romans do overcome and that those that do use the phalanx are voyd of the hope of victory Even from hence that the Roman Armies have infinite commodities both of places and of times to fight in But the phalanx hath onely one time one place and one kind whereto it may profitably apply it self so that if it were of necessity that their enemy should encounter them at that instant especially with their whole forces it were questionlesse not only not without danger but in all probability likely that the phalanx should ever carry away the better But if that may be avoyded which is easily done shall not that disposition then be utterly unprofitable and free from all terrour And it is farther evident that the phalanx must necessarily have plain and champain places without any hinderances or impediments as ditches uneven places vallies little hils and rivers for all these may hinder and disjoyn it And it is almost impossible to have a Plain of the capacity of twenty stadia much lesse more where there shall be found none of these impediments But suppose there be found such places as are proper for the phalanx if the Enemy refuse to come unto them and in the mean time spoil and sack the Cities and country round about what commodity or profit shall arise by any Army so ordered for if it remain in such places as hath been before spoken of it can neither relieve their friends nor preserve themselves For the convoies which they expect from their friends are easily cut off by the Enemy whiles they remain in those open places And if it happen at any time that they leave them upon any enterprise they are then exposed to the Enemy But suppose that the Roman Army should find the phalanx in such places yet would it not adventure it self in grosse at one instant but would by little and little retire it self as doth plainly appear by their usuall practice For there must not be a conjectur of these things by my words only but especially by that which they do For they do not so equally frame their battel that they do assault the Enemy altogether making as it werebut one front but part make a stand and part charge the Enemy that if at any time the Phalanx do presse them that come to assault them and be repelled the force of their order is dissolved For whether they pursue those that retire or fly from those that do assault them these do disjoyn themselves from part of their Army by which meanes there is a gap opened to their Enemies standing and attending their opportunity so that now they need not any more to charge them in the front where the force of the phalanx consisteth but to assault where the breach is made both behind and upon the sides But if at any time the Roman Army may keep his due propriety and disposition the phalanx by the disadvantage of the place being not able to do the like doth it not then manifestly demonstrate the difference to be great between the goodnesse of their disposition and the disposition of the phalanx To this may be added the necessities imposed upon an Army which is to march through places of all natures to encamp themselves to possesse places of advantage to besiege and to be besieged and also contrary to expectation sometimes to come in view of the Enemy For all these occasions necessarily accompany an Army and oftentimes are the especiall causes of victory to which the Macedonian phalanx is no way fit or convenient forasmuch as neither in their generall order nor in their particular disposition without a convenient place they are able to effect any thing of moment but the Roman Army is apt for all these purposes For every souldier amongst them being once armed and ready to fight refuseth no place time nor occasion keeping alwayes the same order whether he fight together with the whole body of the Army or particularly by himself man to man And hence it happeneth that as the commodity of their disposition is advantageous so the end doth answer the expectation These things I thought to speak of at large because many of the Graecians are of an opinion that the Macedonians are not to be overcome And again many wondered how the Macedonian phalanx should be put to the worse by the Roman Army considering the nature of their weapons Thus far goeth Polybius in comparing the weapons and embattelling of the Romans with the use of Arms amonst the Macedonians wherein we see the Pike truly and exactly ordered according as the wise Gracians could best proportion it with that form of battel which might give most advantage to the use thereof so that if our squadrons of Pikes jump not with the perfect manner of a phalanx as we see they do not they fall so much short of that strength which the wisdome of the Grecians and the experience of other nations imputed unto it But suppose we could allow it that disposition in the course of our warres which the nature of the weapon doth require yet forasmuch as by the authority of Polybius the said manner of imbattelling is tied to such dangerous circumstances of one time one place and one kind of fight I hold it not so profitable a weapon as the practice of our times doth seem to make it especially in woody countries such as Ireland is where the use is cut off by such inconveniences as are noted to hinder the managing thereof And doubtlesse if our Commanders did but consider of the incongruity of the Pike and Ireland they would not proportion so great a number of them in every company as there is for commonly half the company are Pikes which is as much as to say in the practice of our wars that half the Army hath neither offensive nor defensive weapons but onely against a troup of horse For they seldome or never come to the push of pike with the foot companies where they may charge and offend the enemy and for defence if the enemy think it not safe to buckle with them at hand but maketh more advantage to play upon them afarre off with shot it affordeth small safety to shake a long pike at them and stand fair in the mean time to entertain a volley of shot with the body of their battalion As I make no question but the pike in some services is profitable as behind a rampier or at a breach so I assure my self there are weapons if they were put to triall that would countervail the pike even in those services wherein it is thought most profitable Concerning the Target we see it take the hand in the judgement of Polybius of all other weapons whatsoever as well in regard of the divers and sundry sorts of imbattelling as the quality of the place wheresoever for their use was as effectuall in small bodies and centuries as in grosse troups and great
why all this was spoken as also what had put him besides his former resolution yet rather then spend the summer in those parts having all things in readinesse for his British war he commanded Induciomarus to come to him and bring two hundred hostages with him Induciomarus did as Caesar commanded and withall brought along with him his son and all that had any near relation unto him whom Caesar bade be of good chear and exhorted to continue firme in his duty and fidelity After this calling to him the chief of the Treviri man by man he reconciled them to Cingetorix as well looking at the desert of the man himself as at his own interest and advantage to have such a man bear the chief sway in his city who had expressed so notable affection and goodwill towards him in this businesse It troubled Induciomarus not a little to find his respect and authority thus impaired insomuch that he who before was no friend to us being vexed at this became a bitter enemy Things thus setled here Caesar came with his legions back to the port called Itius where he understood that forty ships which were built amongst the Meldae were hindred by tempests that they could not keep their course but were forced back from whence they came the rest were well provided and ready to set saile Hither also were gathered all the cavalry in France to the number of four thousand and the chief men of every city some few of which whose fidelity Caesar had had experience of he intended to leave at home and to take the rest along with him for hostages lest in his absense they should begin any new stirs in Gallia Amongst the rest was Dumnorix the Heduan formerly mentioned Him of all the rest Caesar intended to take with him knowing him to be a man desirous of change greedy of rule a man of courage and resolution and one of greatest authority amongst the Galles Besides this Dumnorix had given out at a meeting of the Hedui that Caesar had conferred upon him the government of the city which much troubled the Hedui yet they durst not send any man to Caesar to hinder or revoke it This Caesar came to hear of When he saw he must go with the rest first he besought with all the intreatyes he could that he might stay in Gallia alleging one while that he was afraid of the sea having as yet never been used to sailing another while that he had some religious accounts that kept him here When he perceived this would not serve his turn but go he must he began to deal with the rest of the chief men of the Galles taking them man by man perswading them to continue in their own country telling them that it was not without ground Caesar went about to despoile Gallia thus of its nobility his drift being to carry them over into Britain and there murther them whom he was affraid to put to death amongst their friends at home He went farther to ingage them to fidelity and to tye them by oath to proceed upon joynt consultation to the acting of what should be thought of most concernment and behoof for the good of Gallia These things were by divers persons related to Caesar who as soon as he knew thereof in regard of the great respect he bare to the Heduan State he resolved by all meanes possible to curb and deter Dumnorix from those courses in regard that he saw him thus to increase in his madnesse he thought it seasonable to prevent his endamaging either the Commonwealth or himself So staying in the place where he was about twenty five dayes the North-west wind a wind that usually blowes in those parts all that while hindering his putting to sea he made it much of his business to keep Dumnorix quiet and yet at the same time to spye out the whole drift of his designs At last the wind and weather serving he commanded his souldiers and horsemen on shipboard And whilst every mans mind was taken up about this Dumnorix with the rest of the Heduan horsemen unknown to Caesar had left the camp and were marching homewards Which when Caesar heard he stopt his voyage and letting every thing else alone sent a great part of his cavalry to attach him and bring him back with command that if he stood upon his defense and did not readily obey they should dispatch him For he could not believe that this man could mean any good to him if he once got home since he made so light of his commands when present with him The horse having overtaken him he stood upon his guard and made resistance imploring also the aide of those that were with him still crying out that he was a Free-born man and of a Free city Whereupon they as they were commanded hemm'd him in and so killed him the Heduan horsemen returning every man to Caesar CHAP. III. Caesar saileth into Britain landeth his forces and seeketh the enemy CAesar having prepared all things in readinesse he left Labienus in the Continent with three legions and two thousand horse both to keep the haven and make provision of corne and also to observe the motion of the Galles and to doe according as he saw time and occasion and with five legions and the like number of horse as he left in the continent about sun-setting he put out to sea with a soft south-wind which continued until midnight then ceasing he was carried with the tide untill the morning when he perceived that the Iland lay on his left hand and again as the tide changed he laboured by rowing to reach that part of the Iland where he had found good landing the year before Wherin the souldiers deserved great commendation for by strength and force of Oares they made their great ships of burthen to keep way with the Gallies About high noon they arrived in Britany with all their ships neither was there any Enemy seen in that place but as afterward Caesar understood by the Captives the Britans had been there with a great power but being terrified with the infinite number of shipping which they discovered from the shore for with the ships of provision and private vessels which severall persons had for their own convenience there were in all above either hundred they forsook the shore and hid themselves in the upland country Caesar having landed his men and chosen a convenient place to incamp assoon as he understood by the captives where the enemy lay in the third watch of the night he marched towards them leaving ten cohorts and three hundred horse under Quintus Atrius for a garrison to his shipping which he the lesse feared because it lay at anchour in a soft and open shore He marched that night about twelve mile before he found the Enemy The Britans sending out their horse and chariots to a river that ran between them and the Romans and having the advantage of the upper ground began to hinder
side barbarous and rude Nations that live under generall and slight lawes are as slight and rude in their actions as amongst other things may appear in that the Spaniards thought it no scorn to use the help of bladders in passing over a River as a device coming next to hand which the people of a wise and potent State would not have done but by a sure and substantiall bridge The use of which bladders as it hath been ancient amongst people of that nature so it is continued in the same manner by the Savages inhabiting Groenland and the North parts of America as appeareth by discoveries made of late by the Moscovy Merchants about the North-west passage from whence such as are imployed in those voiages have brought great and large bladders or bagges made of Seal-skins ingeniously devised to be filled and blowed with wind and tied behind at their girdle and at their coller to help themselves in swimming And after the same easy fashion the Indians of Peru as Josephus Acosta writeth instead of wood and stone made their bridges over great Rivers of plaited Reeds which they fastened to the banks on each side with stakes or otherwise of bundles of straw and weeds by which men and beasts if there be any credit in his story passe over with ease Howbeit as when the ancient Greeks would note a man of extreme insufficiency they would say he could neither read nor swim so Caesar seemed of the same opinion by commending the skill of swimming as a thing of much consequence in the use of Armes Whereof he made good experience in Egypt where he cast himself into a small boat for his better safety and finding it over-charged and ready to sink he leapt into the sea and swam to his Fleet which was two hundred paces off holding certain papers in his left hand above the water and trailing his coat of Armes in his teeth that it might not be left to the enemy CHAP. XVIII Afranius marcheth with three legions to cut off a party The scarcitie of victuall in Caesar's Army IT was told Afranius of great troups and convoies that were coming to Caesar but were hindered by the waters and aboad there by the Rivers side for thither were come Archers out of Ruthenia and horsemen out of Gallia with many carres and carriages according to the custome of the Galles There were besides of all sorts about six thousand men with their servants and attendants but without order or any known command for every man was at his own liberty travelling the Countrey without fear according to the former freedome and safety of the wayes There were likewise many young men of good rank Senators sons and knights of Rome besides Embassadours from sundry States and divers of Caesar's Legates All these were kept back by the River Afâ—anius went out in the night time with three legions and all his horse to cut off this party and sending his Cavalry before set upon them unawares Howbeit the Cavalry of the Galles put themselves speedily in order and buckled with them And as long as it stood upon indifferent termes they being but a few did withstand a great number of the enemy but as soon as they discovered the Ensignes of the legions coming towards them some few of them being slain the rest betook themselves to the next hills This small time of encounter was of great consequence for the safety of our men for by this means they had opportunity to take the upper ground There were lost that day two hundred Archers a few horsemen and no great number of the souldiers boyes together with the baggage Victuals by reason of all these things waxed very dear as well in regard of the present want as also for fear of future penury as commonly it happeneth in such cases insomuch as a bushell of Corn was worth fifty pence Whereby the souldiers grew weak for want of sustenance and the inconveniences thereof daily more and more increased For so great was the alteration which hapned in a few dayes that our men were much afflicted with the extreme want of all necessary provisions whereas they on the other side having all things in abundance were held for victors Caesar sent unto those States which were of his party and instead of Corn gave them order to furnish him with Cattell dismissed souldiers boyes and sent them to towns farther off relieving the present scarcity by all the means he could Afranius and Petreius together with their friends inlarged these things in their letters to Rome rumour and report added much hereunto as that the warre was even almost at an end These Messengers and Letters being come to Rome there was great concourse from all parts to Afranius house much congratulation and rejoycing for these things and thereupon many went out of Italy to Pompey some to be the first messengers of the news others that they might not seem to expect the event of the war and so prove the last that came to that party When the matter was brought to these difficulties and extremities and all the wayes were kept by Afranius souldiers and horsemen and no bridges could be made Caesar gave order to the souldiers to make such Boats and Barks as he had in former years taught them the use of in the warre of Britain the keels whereof were built of light stuffe and small timber and the upper parts made with wicker and covered with hides Which being finished he laded them upon Carres and carried them in the night some twenty two miles from the Camp And in those Barks transporting his souldiers over the river upon a suddain he possest himself of a little hill which lay near unto the water side which hill he speedily fortified before the enemy had notice thereof Afterwards he brought over a legion to that place and made a bridge from side to side in two dayes space and so the convoies which had gone forth for provisions and forrage returned back in safety whereby he began to settle a course for provision of Corn. The same day he passed over the the river a great part of his Cavalry who falling unlooked for upon the forragers scattered here and there without fear or suspicion cut off a great number of men and cattell Whereupon the Enemy sending certain Spanish troups bearing little round bucklers to second and relieve the forragers they divided themselves of purpose into two parts the one to keep and defend the booty which they had got and the other to resist and beat back the forces sent to charge them One of our cohorts which had easily run out before the Army was intercepted and cut off the rest returned by the bridge into the Camp in safety with a great booty THE FIRST OBSERVATION THese Rutheni inhabited that part of Provence where Rhodes now standeth amongst whom Caesar had ordinarily a legion or two in Garrison for the better keeping of the Countrey in obedience
legion that had lost many Centurions and was very weak in souldiers towards Pompey's legion and the lesser camp in a double battel Neither did his opinion deceive him for he came thither before Pompey could perceive it And albeit the fortifications of the Camp were great yet assaulting it speedily with the left Cornet wherein he himself was he drave Pompey's souldiers from the Rampier There stood a Turn-pike in the Gate which gave occasion of resistance for a while and as our men would have entered they valiantly defended the Camp T. Pulcio by whose means C. Antonius Army was betraied as we have formerly declared fighting there most valiantly Yet neverthelesse our men overcame them by valour and cutting up the Turn-pike entered first into the greater Camp and afterwards into the Castle and slew many that resisted of the legion that was forced thither But Fortune that can do much in all things and specially in warre doth in a small moment of time bring great alterations as it then happened For the Cohorts of Caesar's right Cornet ignorant of the place followed the Rampier which went along from the Camp to the River seeking after the Gate and taking it to be the Rampier of the Camp but when they perceived that it joyned to the River they presently got over it no man resisting them and all the cavalry followed after those cohorts OBSERVATIONS POmpey having cleared his Army of that siege it booted not Caesar to prosecute his purpose any longer for when the end is missed for which any course is undertaken it were folly to seek it by that means We must rather chuse new wayes that may lead us to the end of our hopes then follow the old track which sorted to no effect And yet neverthelesse the sufficiency of the Generall is no way disabled for albeit a wise man doth not alwayes keep one pase yet still he holdeth one and the same way Secondly that of Xerxes appeareth to be true that great attempts are alwaies made with great difficulty and danger Wherein the wisdome of the heathen world ascribed all to Fortune as the sole cause of all remarkable events and that which filled up both the pages of all the Books wherein men noted the course of things Clades in bello acceptae non semper ignaviae sed aliquando Fortunae temeritati sunt imputandae Losses received in war are not alwayes to be imputed to slothfull carriage but oftentimes to the temerity of Fortune saith Archidamus and is that which is aimed at by Caesar CHAP. XXIIII The â—ight continueth and Caesar loseth IN the mean while Pompey after so long a respite of time having notice thereof took the first Legion from their works and brought them to succour their fellows and at the same time his Cavalry did approch near our horsemen and our men that possessed the Camp did discover an Army imbattelled coming against them and all things were suddenly changed For Pompey's legion assured with a speedy hope of succour began to make resistance at the Decumane gate and voluntarily charged our men Caesar's Cavalry being got over the rampier into a narrow passage fearing how they might retreat in safety began to fly away The right Cornet secluded and cut off from the left perceiving the terrour of the horsemen least they might be indangered within the fortifications betook themselves to the other side from whence they came and most of them least they should be surprised in the straights cast themselves over works of ten foot high into the ditches and such as first got over being troden under foot by such as followed after the rest saved themselves in passing over their bodies The souldiers of the left Cornet perceiving from the Rampier that Pompey was at hand and that their own side fled away fearing lest they should be shut up in those straights having the Enemy both without and within them thought it their best course to return back the same way they came Whereby there happened nothing but tumult fear and flight insomuch as when Caesar caught hold with his hand of the Ensignes of them that sled and commanded them to stand some for fear left their Ensigns behind them others forsaking their horses kept on their course neither was there any one of them that would stand Notwithstanding in this so great a calamity and mishap these helps fell out to relieve us when the whole army was in danger to be cut off that Pompey fearing some treachery for that as I think it happened beyond his expectation who a little before saw his men flie out of his camp durst not for a good while approach near the fortifications and our men possessing the narrow passages and the Ports did hinder the horsemen from following after And so a small matter fell out to be of great moment in the carriage of that accident on either side For the Rampier which was carried from the Camp to the River Pompey's Camp being already taken was the only hinderance of Caesar's expedite and easy victory and the same thing hindering the speedy following of their horsemen was the onely safety and help of our men In those two fights there were wanting of Caesar's men nine hundred and threescore and horsemen of note R. Felginas Tuticanus Gallus a Senatours sonne C. Felginas of Placentia Agravius of Puteolis Sacrativirus of Capua ten Tribunes of the souldiers and thirty Centurions But the greatest part of these perished in the Trenches in the fortifications and on the River banks prest to death with the fear and â—light of their fellows without any blow or wound given them There were lost at that time thirty two military Ensignes Pompey upon that sight was saluted by the name of Imperator which title he then obtained and so suffered himself to be stiled afterward howbeit he used it not in any of his Missives nor yet wore any Laurell in the bundle of Rods carried before him Labienus having begged all the Captives caused them for greater ostentation to be brought out in publick and to give the more assurance to such as were fled thither from Caesar's party calling them by the name of fellow-souldiers in great derision asked them whether old souldiers were wont to flie and so caused them all to be slain Pompey's party took such an assurance and spirit upon these things that they thought no farther of the course of war but carried themselves as though they were already Victors not respecting as the cause of all this the paucity of our men nor the disadvantage of the place and the streightnesse thereof the Camp being possessed and the doubtfull terrour both within and without the works not yet the Army divided into two parts in such sort as neither of them were able to help or succour the other Neither yet did they adde to this that the fight was not made by any valiant incounter or in form of battell but that they received more hurt from the
who came with such a 〈◊〉 upon Pompey's horsemen that none of them were able to stand before them but turning their backs did not onely give place but fled all as fast as they could to the highest Hills whereby the Archers and Slingers being left naked without succour were all put to the sword And with the same violence those Cohorts incompassed about the left Cornet notwithstanding any resistance that could be made by Pompey's party and charged them behind upon their backs At the same time Caesar commanded the third Battell which as yet stood still and were not removed to advance forward by means of which fresh and sound men relieving such as were faint and weary as also that others did charge them behind upon their backs Pompey's party were able no longer to endure it but all turned their backs and fled Neither was Caesar deceived in his opinion that the beginning of the victory would grow from those Cohorts which he placed in the fourth Battell against the horsemen according as he himself had openly spoken in his incouragement to the souldiers For by them first the Cavalry was beaten by them the Archers and Slingers were slain by them Pompey's Battell was circumvented on the left Cornet and by their means they began to flie As soon as Pompey saw his Cavalry beaten and perceived the part wherein he most trusted to be amused and affrighted and distrusting the rest he forthwith left the Battell and conveighed himself on horseback into the Camp And speaking to the Centurions that had the watch at the Praetorian gate with a loud voice as all the souldiers might hear he said Keep the Camp defend it diligently to prevent any hard casualty that may happen In the mean while I will go about to the other Ports to settle the Guards of the Camp And having thus said he went into the Praetorium distrusting the main point and yet expecting the event THE FIRST OBSERVATION POmpey so carried himself in the course of this war as he rather seemed a sufferer then a doer never disposing his Army for any attempt or on-set but onely when he brake out of the place wherein he was besieged at Dyrrachium And accordingly he gave order that in the main action point of triall his souldiers should suffer and sustain the assault rather then otherwise But whether he did well or no hath since been in question Caesar utterly disliked it as a thing contrary to reason Est quaedam saith he animi incitatio atque alacritas naturaliter innata omnibus quae studâ—o pugnae incenditur hanc non reprimere sed augere Imperatores debent There is a certain incitation and alacrity of spirit naturally planted in every man which is inflamed with a desire to fight Neither should any Commander represse or restrain the same but rather increase it and set it forward Agreeable whereunto is that of Cato the Great that in cases of battell and Enemy is to be charged with all violence And to that purpose it is requisite to put the souldiers at some reasonable distance into a posture of vaunting and definance with menaces and cries of terrour and then to spring forward in such manner as may make them fall upon their enemies with greater furie As Champions or Wrastlers before they buckle stretch out their limbs and make their flourishes as may best serve to assure themselves and discourage their adversaries according as we read of Hercules and Antaeus Ille Cleonaei projecit terga Leonis Antaeus Libyâ—i persudâ—t membra liquore Hospes Olympiacae servato more Palaestrae Ille parum â—idens pedibus contingere matrem Auxilium membris calidas infudit arenas The one throws by 's Cleoncan Lion's skin The other 's Libyan and ere they begin The one anoints himself from top to toe As the Olympian Gamesters use to do Not sure his foe would let his feet touch ground Himself with sand Antaeus sprinkles round Howbeit forasmuch as all men are not of one temper but require severall fashions to tune their minds to the true note of a battel we shall find severall Nations to have severall usances in this point The Romans as appeareth by this of Caesar were of ancient time accustomed to sound Trumpets and Hoboies in all parts of the Army and to take up a great clamour and shout whereby the souldiers in their understanding were incouraged and the Enemy affrighted Whereas contrariwise the Greeks went alwaies with a close and silent mouth as having more to do then to say to their Enemies And Thucydides writing of the Lacedemonians the flower of Greece for matter of Arms saith that instead of Trumpets and Cornets to incite them they used the sweet harmony of Flutes to moderate and qualify their passions least they should be transported with unbridled impetuesity It is reported that Marshall Biron the Father seemed to dislike of our English march hearing it beaten by the Drums as too slow and of no encouragement and yet it so fitteth our Nation as Sir Roger Williams then answered as we have divers times over-run all France with it Howsoever the event of this battel is sufficient to disprove Pompey's errour herein and to make good what Caesar commanded THE SECOND OBSERVATION THese six Cohorts which made the fourth battel did so encounter Pompey's Cavalry that they were not able to withstand them It is said that Caesar gave them order not to sling their Piles as commonly they did but to hold them in their hands like a Pike or a Javelin and make only at the faces of those Gallants and men at Arms on horseback For the holding of them in their hands I do not understand it and cannot conceive how they could reach more then the next ranks unto them in that manner But for making at the faces of the Cavalry Florus saith that Caesar as he galloped up and down the ranks was heard to let fall bloudy and bitter words but very patheticall and effectuall for a victory as thus Souldier cast right at the face whereas Pompey called to his men to spare their fellow-Citizens Eutropius in his Epitome of Suetonius affirmeth the same thing both of the one and of the other and Lucan seemeth to averre the same concerning that of Caesar Adversosque jubetferro contundere vultus He bids them strike just at the Enemies face Frontinus hath it thus C. Caesar cum in partibus Pompeianis magna equitum Romanorum esset manus eaque armorum scientia milites conficeret ora oculosque eorum gladiis peti jussit sic adversam faciem cedere coegit Pompey having in his army a great company of Roman Knights who being well-skill'd at their weapons made an end of their enemies Caesar commanded his men to make at their faces and eyes and thereby compelled them to turn away their faces THE THIRD OBSERVATION AMongst these memorialls Crastinus may not be forgotten being the first man that began the battel
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