subdued so many kinges and countreyes and extended their Empyre so farre into all the three partes of the worlde yet prosecuteth and thrusteth the same further daylie Now it is to be remēbred that the knowledge and practyse of the actes and feates of armes principallie and properlye are of the profession of noble menne and gentlemen of greate reuenues For and by whiche they were firste ordayned and preferred into that place to be a wall and defence for their countrye For the poore man hath not wheareof to lyue of his owne if hee employe time or expences hearein And thearefore the other ought to geue example bothe by his owne industrye in such practises and also maintayne the same in the meanor sorte Securitye and longe peace breadeth idlenes whiche sucketh the valure out of noble myndes A plaine proofe wheareof of the hurte that groweth theareby ys had by the Romaynes whiche in xxiiij yeares space betwene the first and seconde warres of Carthage weare so farre growen out of vse and good practyse of armes that wheare as before they weare euery wheare Conquerours In the seconde warres they went alwaies to wracke till their sundrye greate losses droue them vnto their olde course Bias againe Thus seeynge the causes of these defectes in Englishe men discouered the cure is the more plaine casie the rather if the remedie vnto the other impediment be applyed that ys want of skill or discipline which proceadinge growing partlie vpon the other cause vz. lacke of practise the reste is also to bee sought for and supplyed For as vse excercise maketh prompt readye skilfull in manye thinges So by most iust sure argumēt the contrarie which is the priuation or lacke theareof worketh causeth cōtrary effectes And yet not alwayes in all thinges doth ex cercise or labour bringe knowledge perfection but theare must be skill with all which in this matter is for the more parte to be obtayned by collection iudgement of the reportes historyes Chronicles written of warres For in matters of importāce which haue many Cauteles difficultyes obseruatiōs yt is necessarie that a way be opened a light geuen vnto him which would be a passynger hearein to directe encline his course vnto this knowledge For otherwise he shal trauail wāder in the darke trades vnknowē pathes like a blynde man which goeth he woteth not whither And proue to that there be diuers groūdes rules stratagemes enstructiōs to be set downe printed obserued in the memory of good souldiers as a plot foūdation of their busines The sūdrie bookes writen of these matters in the latine tongue other lāguages by great learned expert men may be a sufficient argumēt hearein Besides that reason wil easelye discusse that the knowledge of the aūcient orders gouernmēt of warre with the sundrie sortes attyre of battail vsed amonge sundry nations their maners practises the exāples of the antiquitie the experiēce pollicies prudent coūsailes most profitable and pitthye preceptes and admonishmentes moste excellent experimentes instructyons behauiour discipline of the greatest chyeftaines most renoumed conquerours that euer weare be requisite needefull vnto a good Captaine for what is the experience or opynion of one man to the practise iudgement of a great nūber of such as haue conquered in all Countreys vanquished great armyes ouerthrowē many mightie battailes honorablie passed al daūgers of warre whose doinges be iudicially perfectlie noted of most learned and wise men in sundrie great volumes writinges for example profite of the posteritie which the vnlearned can not tast or attayne without some preparatiue by plaine plott drawen or introductiō in apt order made to lead thē into the knowledge therof For accomplishinge wheareof thoughe thoroughe the grossenes of my style lacke of experience and sundrye kindes of knowledge whearewith a writer of so wayghtie a matter ought to be furnished together with my study of breuitie hearein little leasure which from myne other affaires I had one time longe after an other to accomplish this same I shall not sufficientlye in all pointes content the exquisite iudgementes whiche are to deame heareof Yet for the necessitie and scarcitie of writing in this matter A willynge minde and faithful affection to profite my Countreye thrusting me foorth to beare a burthē to bigge for my shoulders This labour of myne may be a beginninge to encourage sume other of their greatest experience to make larger addition or supplie hearein For yet nowe I finde Vegetius one lye an auncient writer Machiauell of these affayres well translated into Englishe whiche aucthours being bothe expert in warres and also verye learned their industrie herein is of so much the more commendation as those two qualityes are rare and seldome mete to gether For suche a one as hath knowledge ioygned with courage experience is a man worthe men maye auayle more then a number Yet for that the saide Machiauel is deamed sum what diffuse in his treatyse his opinions also not altogether agreeinge with all mens iudgementes nor reachinge to many matters mete for the state of our English warres And Vegetius being a writter when warres weare vsed in an other course then they are nowe a dayes Yt is therefore wished more to be done in this behalfe And it is maruail to see how the studies of many men haue ben addicted in this our time hauing store of rype wittes whiche can doe verye well Yet amonge so manye bookes as are written daylie of dreames fantacies introductions to pleasure familier fruiteles talkinges eloquent formall or ations little material of pleasant metinges fables amonge women of Caunterbury or courser tales with diuers iestes vaine deuises in earnest there is least labour layd on that arte wheareby kinges rule are ruled and conquered which erecteth buyldeth establisheth encreaseth beautifieth estates the ende and fruites whereof is honour most highe euen aduaunced to the skyes flowinge wealthe fame neuer faylinge or forgotten victorie and dominion withe out boundes The contrarie and wante wheareof is Captiuitye Ruyne Dishonour and desolation VVhearein to perswade by argument that which euerye man doth plainelye see yt weare waste of wordes and tyme And to styrre anye man to the studye of this knowledge Sith the worthynes theareof allureth and draweth all right English men which by the pricke and inclinatyon of nature doe with great desyre runne theare vnto I will thearefore omitte to spende further speache hearein and drawe vnto the matter whearein to make my course the plainer vnto the Reader I deuide this worke into two bookes Wheareof the first entreateth of the Captayne Souldiours And the seconde of the disciplyne obseruations admonitions of warre which two bookes also for the better helpe of memorye I appointe and distribute into certaine Chapiters braunches or principall pointes touchinge the substaunce of this matter as in my table appeareth beginninge with the
Of iustice Cap. v. THen followeth the third vertue Iustice whych is a deuyne motion or affection of the mind to deale vprightly and to render vnto euery man that which vnto him belongeth Yt may be called a deuyne vertue for that it procedeth principally of the feare of GOD who is the head and fountaine of all Iustice by whom al power is geeuen to bee duely vsed and administred And hee is the most high and aeternall Iudge ouer all This vertue is one of the braunches of pyetie by whych good and vpright men be called godly or like vn to god The other part or braunch of pietye is to serue God religiously and duely which because it ought to bee a ground worke proper vnto euery Christian man therfore haue I not noted the same as a peculier or perticuler vertue heare But I say the more Christian the meater Captaine and the better hee serueth God the better hee shall hys Prince and Countrey In this vertue of Iustice the Captaine ought to bee very diligent and circumspect to see as well the iust rewardes of vertue as the due punishment and correction of tumultes rapyne iniuryes disorder and breach of discipline and lawes of warre wherein the quantitie and qualitie with the circumstances of time person place is to be waighed in iudgement by the paise of wysedome in the balance of endifferency hanging vpon the beame and rule of right that reformation may grow and not confusion follow there of that by example of a feaw many may be warned and yet no such remisse clemencie to be vsed that negligence of Iustice should breake all good order But if by faire meanes or perswasion the euil might be wonne or reformed it is first so to be assayed and when none other remedy then rygour roughly to be extended How be it often times the greatnes of the mischiefe requireth sodaine iustice For in warres the like time of deliberatiō staye in iudgement and execution is not giuen as in peace for the generall affaires and state of the armie maye not be stayed or neglected for priuate causes And therefore the Captaines dome order or sentence in this case of spedie Iustice standeth for law and is called martial lawe This lawe king Artaxerxes vsed towardes Artabanus whē he had slaine his father Xerxes and his brother Darius conspiring also to dispatche him and vsurpe the Empyre After that he had certaine secrete vnder standing thereof because that for the great power of him and his sonnes yt was daungerous to apprehende him he discloseth the same vnto some of his trusty friendes and calling Artabanus out of the armye fayning that he would chaunge his armour with him when he had put of the same the King remayning stil armed thrust him thorough with his swerd and so deliuered his estate from daunger King Aswerus likewise caused Aman his sonnes to be sodainly apprehēded executed because that thorough their great power the stay thereof had bene daungerous How be it this kind of Iustice is in the greatest extremitie But the martiall Law or sentence would be vsed and executed vnder this forme and order that the generall calling vnto him such of the Captaines and principall persons of the Army as he shall thinke conuenient thereunto reciting shortly the maner of the offence the mischiefe that might grow therof the odiousnes and villanye of vnnatural Treason and dissention within an armye tending to the ouerthrowen of most valiant worthy personages of most honorable attemptes and purposes the quayling of most great and high endeuours before in that seruice vsed and to the miserable spoyle of the whole army with the decay and dishonour of the countrey of whence they are and there with all the proofes being heard and openly declared to geeue iudgement according to the nature of the offence and commit ouer order for executing the same And sometime for the better satisfiyng of the army if time permit it is conuenient for the punishment of criminall causes to referre the hearinge thereof to the Captaines of euery bande and certaine of them to speake theyr mindes for the qualitie and odiousnes of the offence with some admonishment at the last to the rest of the hearers And sometime it is policie to commit the same vnto twelue or more of the meaner sort or commen souldiers as circumstances may require And if the partie accused and vnder iudgement be a straunger it is the better order of Iustice that he haue parte of his triall by some of his owne Countrey if the matter be playne that they be not to be suspected of partialitie And the whilest that other haue the handling of this matter the generall may the better attend his greater affaires For the other part of Iustice what course is best to be taken in rewarding the valure and well deseruing of those which with great endeuour labour for same to the honour and aduauncement of their Countrey Hearein the good iudgement of the Captaine is to be exercised for wel noting and right regarding the dispositions endeuours and doinges of each person For some are geeuen not to make challenge or claime of theyr owne proper deedes and vertues other will make large report and ostentation of that which they do setting the same artificially forthe to the vtter most and further sometime clothing themselues with that which they neuer sponne and thrusting into the glorie of other mens desertes And diuers there are of disposition to extenuate and seeme to make lesse the vertues of other whom they cannot matche in valure And therefore sith that honour is the right reward of vertue as the Philosophers agree that Laudata virtus crescit and Honos alit artes commended vertue encreaseth and honour is the nouryce of valure which maketh men to excell in practises the Captaine ought to be wyse to sifte perceiue such knackes cunning colours from substāce that he be a iust distributer of the due salaire and rewarde vnto the vertuous without affection or parciality that they beyng encouraged encrease not discouraged cease from well doinge Moreouer for the maner of rewardes there is cōsyderation to be had of the person thus if he be poore he may be somewhat enryched thereby if he meane to bee a continuer in the seruice of warre to geue him a more highe place greater charge in the armie to call him vnto the more wayghtye secrete affaires If he be one that needeth or seeketh not wealth let him haue credite honour aucthoritye the more vse all curtesye towardes him findinge meanes to knowe hys delighte wherewith most to gladde or gratifie him as with horse Armour some rare Iewell or other acceptable thinge to geue him where euer he goe speache of credite honorable commendation and report If he desier to become expert in the knowledge of warre by all curtesye and meanes to further hym thereunto so that as neare as maye bee euerye man
skilfull in vsynge of weapons is lykelye to prooue a valyaunt and an excellent souldiour But hee that feareth not to receaue hurte excepte he knowe howe to inflicte daunger doe harmes vnto the enemie is not profitable And therefore when there was one cōmended vnto an expert captaine by his manie skarres of woūdes receaued that he was a great souldier a verie man the captaine asked streight where is the man which hurt him thus brynge him vnto mee quod he I will entertayne him presentlie for in this case I like the geeuer better then the taker Nowe are wee next to see what exercyses are most conuenient and expedient to bee vsed of souldiours And generallie suche are moste auaylable in the seruice of warres as cause anie of these effectes that is to saye to harden the bodie to make it nymbler stronger or to bee well breathed as for the purpose wrastlynge shootinge dartynge leapinge castinge of great stones vawting swymminge and to labour in armour heauyer then the commen forte which is vsed in seruice for custome maketh labour lyght as it is pro ued by the practyse of Milo whiche begynninge to carriea Calfe into the fielde to pasture euerie daye on his necke hee continued with the same burthen till it was growen a great Oxe addynge still encrease of goodwil to supplie the daylie growing of hys burthen not sufferyng his force to be sodaynlie so surmounted that he woulde at anie time shrynke or yelde vnto the trauaile burthē of the daye before passed So that custome seemeth to alter or excell nature eftsones Nowe the bodie beeynge made apte and nymble yet doe there twoe other exercyses remayne to bee put into the practise of a souldyour for their skyll order in warres The first is that hee exercyse to handle hys bowe peece pyke or other weapon wherwith he shal be charged nimblie cūningly that he be able to doe his feate thearewith and if he be a horseman skilfullye to vse his horse and staffe to bee readie to mount or alight nymblye at a becke for any purpose or aduauntage to bee taken of the enemye The other practise is to be perfecte in keapynge the arrayes ranckes and orders of warre in marching encampinge fight or pursute of thenemye yea and in reducing and bringinge them selues againe into any fourme of arraye if perchaunce they shal be broken or disordered by force of the enemy that spedelie at the voyce of the Captaine or sounde of Trumpet or Drumme which alwayes stande by him for the same purpose or by any other noyse or certayne signe which hee vseth sometime secretelie and sometime open to geeue out vnderstandinge of his minde as to marche or proceade to retyre to take this waye or that And hearein it is to bee certainlye obserued a thinge by all experience alwaies approued that no force of men prouisyon power industrie or furniture can preuaile without arraye and order of battaile against the well appoynted whereof a feaw shall easelie vanquishe a multitude disordred and confusely clusteringe together The souldiour thus expert and by practise thoroughlye manned furnished and made perfecte mayster and possessour of his Arte shall boldelye and courageouslie proceade into the fielde For feawe men feare or shrinke to doe that whearein they are skillfull and well practized Now for the more endeuour and exercise to bee vsed and had hearein thorough out this lande it is a thinge not after anye other to bee looked vppon and effectuallye considered vnto reformation leaste wee doynge nothinge thinke to do muche beeinge naked vnder a nette suppose our selues armed when wee are nothinge couered For such is the dulnesse of some people I will recyte some Examples of the dilygence vsed by the moste excellent estates hearein First in the foundation of the greatest Monarchye of the worlde vnder Rome what ordynaunces and continuall excersyses of warre Romulus established theare it is not doubtfull For the Romaynes allwayes after vsynge the same orders whiche hee instituted and deliuered vnto their handes vppon the same foundation proceadynge in prowesse attayned to moste highe honour of Armes and erected their famous Empyre Tullus Hostilius and Ancus Martius kinges theare bestowed greate trauayle and industrye in encreasinge the sayde Disciplyne of warre In Lacedaemon a Citye of Grecia which by excellent gouernement grewe to haue dominion ouer dyuers Kingdomes Lycurgus the politique Prince amonge his Lawes and customes whiche hee established theare ordayned that all spare tyme shoulde bee expended in vertuous exercises and principallye in the noble practyses of Armes to gett honour and soueraynetye of the enemyes cleane cuttinge of vnthriftye wastfull ryott abandoninge delycate nycenesse and banyshinge idle and chyldishe Games as commen Cardeplaye Cayles Coytes Slydebourde Bowles and Blowepoynt which weare throwen oute of the commen wealthe From whence also hee dyscarded and expelled Ianglers Iesters Iuglers Puppetplayers Pypers and suche like vnprofitable persons in steade of which weare mayntayned menne of valure frequentynge and exercisynge actiuitye of wrastelinge dartynge throwinge the Barre the sledge vsinge the weapons of Warre in skyrmishes and lyke actes to example the practises exployts of warre as skalynge of Fortes skilfull ridinge runninge at the rynge marchinge eftsoones in arraye of battayle c. And publique places weare appoynted commodiouslye for the commen vsinge of the same and moste actyue menne to bee teachers hearein The honourable exercyses called Olimpiades celebrated in Grecia withe concourse of people from all partes of the worlde to trye valure and wynne the Vyctours Crowne thys contentyon in all practises and qualyties of vertue and commendation caused Grecia first aboue all other nations to floryshe in honour of armes learninge and other laudable trades wheare the righte and excellent Dyscipline and order of VVarre was nouryshed and maintened wythe great soueraintie dominion The famous spectacle of the exercises of Armes in Campus Martius in the latter time of the triumphant estate of Rome was of great industrie actiuitie being alwayes nolesse honourablye then duelie on the holidayes frequented and obserued of al sortes And at this daye vnder diuers estates in Germanye this diligence is vsed in trayning of souldiours preparation for warres they deuide the inhabiters of euerye citie or shire into certaine partes or bādes geuing vnto them the names of such weapons as they will chose to bee charged with for their furniture seruice in the time of warres as Archers Pikemen Demilaunces such like so that theare is no able person exempted out of these orders either for exercise or supplye contribution to the charges of one sorte of these weapons which companies bee thus on their holydaies and spare times duelie trayned and practised The Turke also what numbers hee causeth from verie yonge yeares to bee brought vp and skilfullye practised vnto the feates and seruice of warres and what huge garrisons and armies of Souldiours he continuallie maintaineth it is well knowen and with all no Prince Realme or estate more free
from Rebellion of subiectes and forewarde in victories then he So to conclude God graunt that the examples of others maye stirre the flacke and dull sorte well to vse Armes before their harmes ¶ Of the sundric sortes of weapons vsed by diuers nations in the auncient warres and which are nowe most necessarie with some respectes of pressynge souldiours Cap. xii THe weapons which the antiquitie vsed in their warres were diuers They hadd crossebowes slynges dartes and hatchettes all which the harquebus hath nowe displaced beinge more auaylable for the warres They vsed also malles like our pollaxes glayues hammers and battail axes The Romaines vsed most for their footemen the swerd and target speares or iauelins The Macedonien weapon was a longe speare called Sarissa whych our partizans and pykes well supplie The Parthiens were all light horsemen vsinge bowes and arrowes by which in the large plaine coūtreis where they sought to ioigne battaill they archieued manie notable conquestes In steade of the Parthyens bowe mee thynketh the curryer weare of better vse for some light horsemen for that he shooteth more certainelie and stryketh more daungerouslie then the arrowe and when hee hath dyscharged he maye be gone and remooue lightlie to charge againe but his horse must bee well managed heareunto as vnto all other feates of the warre Moreouer in myne oppinion it were an excellent furniture for the pikeman to haue a dagge or a case of dagges at his girdle for diuers purposes But it is needefull for euerie souldiour in the fielde to haue a good swerde and dagger and for the armed souldiour the same woulde bee but shorte with waightie pomells stronge narrowe poynted One other thinge I woulde saye and conclude for the regarde of souldiours when a power is to be leuied and men prest into the warres if it stande vppon no greater necessitie but that such choyse maye be made it is to be respected that men of occupation husbandmen and suche like which after the warres ended maye retourne to their trades or els haue somwhat of their owne to liue ciuillye with all be first taken Secondlie it is to be considered that men hauinge great charge of children or occupyinge be the rather spared exempted from the warres For Iudas Machabeus the most redoubted Captaine of the hoast of Israell dismissed out of his armie suche as newely maried wyues buylded houses or planted vineardes whereby their hartes beeynge left at home they shoulde be the lesse valiaunt and more lothe to hazarde their lynes Good order must bee taken that the commen wealthe be not pestered wyth idle and vnprofitable men and the same once beeinge purged if none be after taken into the warres but such as by their trades or other staye are lyke to liue conuenientlie by their owne industrie or hauoyr except so manie as maye be maintayned by the warres preferred by pentions or placed in garrisons afterwardes souldiours shall not be discouraged to see manie of that sorte the warres beinge dissolued needie neglected and fallen into miseries For surelie the souldiour that is a ciuill man with all is an especiall member of his countrey to be regarded more then hee which is lesse able to serue the same for it is a blessinge of God both for the vse necessarie of valure worthye estimation And therefore principallie the generall and Captaines ought after the warres ended to retayne their tender affection towardes the souldiours which haue serued them well and to endeuour as they may to preferre them But generallie all good men ought to fauour and further honest souldiours which hath a valiaunt desire to propulse the enemie to purchase honour and sauftie vnto their natiue countryes The seconde booke ¶ Of the disciplyne and admonitions of warre AL bee it that there can not bee rules appointed or prescribed to direct al the doinges affaires of warre as well for that there is no leasure vppon sodaine mischiefes to searche out presidētes or ponder lessons rules as also because of the infinite occasions chaūces that happen beyonde expectatiō It were therefore an infinite I may saye as Hanniball did by the dotinge discourse of olde Formio a madd peece of woorke to prescribe a particuler order for euerie acte to be done in the warres wherein the Captaine must followe the grounde and dyrection of his wisedome and experience But yet some certaine obseruatiōs there are for him most needefull and presidentes of other excellēt captaines in great difficulties maye bee good warninges lessons in the like to make a foundation and plott of politique inuention good iudgement so that the Iron or stuffe thereby maye bee supplyed but the hammer of the Captaines wisedome must worke and frame the same vnto hys seuerall practises and occasiōs Now therefore to goe into the matter let vs see what aduātages policie by good experience and sure grounde of reason hath taught vs to seeke in ioygninge battaile and encounter with the enemie First if he come by sea to aryue take his landynge Cassibellans example sheweth what is best to doe who vnderstandinge of Iulius Caesars cōming out of Fraūce to inuade this land of Britayne he foorth with gathered his power together and ioyning them with the aide of Androgeus king of Kent they proceaded to the Sea side wheare valiauntlie resistinge the arriuall of the Romaines they were repulsed and driuen backe to their shippes well laden with blowes Which declareth that great aduauntage is had to deale with the enemie before he haue discharged all his power out of the shippes being disordered and straighted in rome and standing on slipperie places hauinge some impediment of the water before they can winne the firme shore The like facilitie is there to withstand the enemie at the mouthe or entringe of some streyghtes or at the passinge of highe stepe hilles Leonidas wyth 600. Lacedemoniens keapinge the toppe of the hill where the huge hoaste of the Persiens were to passe and enter into Grecia at the streyghtes of Thermopilae slewe theare more then xx thousād of them Caesar before recited beeing to conueye his Armie ouer a riuer in Fraunce the passage wheareof was defended kept on the other side by Vergintorix leader of the Frenchmen he there fore knowinge how muche the enemie might auoide him before he could gett ouer vsed this policie to beguyle them He caused a portion of hys armie drawen out of diuers bandes to be priuelye lodged in a woode nighe and theare to frame a little bridge on the sodayne to be cast ouer the ryuer thē downe goeth he alonge by the shore as thoughe he sought passage in some other place The Frēchmen seing him remoue bearing the iust nūber of his ensignes not doubting any double dealing followeth wayghting vpō him alonge the other side Caesar by that the bridge was made spede lie retourning passed ouer without lett or trouble The like policye may bee well vsed mee thinketh thus to espy where sum̄ part
of the riuer is shallow or otherwise most conuenientlye to be passed thē to carry away the enemy by colour of some attēpt in another place after to retourne vnto the same by night or secretelie to lodge some sufficiēt parte of the armye behinde to passe the same inuade the enemie on a sodayne at their backe while the other parte of the armye proceadeth before in the viewe gaze of the enemy For the polityke Captayne oughte nothinge lesse to pretende in shewe then that whiche in purpose he intendeth For so haue famous Cityes bene surprised on the sodayne vnprouided while a counterfaite preparation hath bene made by the enemye a power lead an other waye sometime againste a secrete friende being in apparāce an enemy till they haue both ioygned to the mischiefe of a third partye so is it a practise at the syege of a Towne to bende encline al force batterie in shewe to one side of the sāe whē a secrete power is prepared to skale surprise it on sōe other parte little regarded or defended Hanno a Captayne of Carthage being streightlie besyeged within a trenche he enclosed himselfe most stronglye as it seemed on that parte where he purposed to breake forthe which he afterwardes setting on fire escaped thorough wyth his armie the enemies geuing no watche vnto that place Nabides at the syege of Lacedaemon set fire on a parte of the Towne where enemies weare entred by the trouble thereof with a fresh assaulte made of the Townesmen draue thē out agayne Hanniball on a time driuen into a streyght by Fabius the Romayne so that hee was enforced by a great enconueniēce to passe a hill where the armie of Fabius lay on the top thereof he therefore caused linkes brādes to be fastened vnto the hornes of a great nūber of oxen which weare in the campe setting thē on fire by night the cattail were driuē with great noise larum vp to the enemies campe which hearinge the terrible noise of the beastes whē they felt the force of the fire also being ama zed with the sight as though they stoode in doubt to fight with the dyuell that made such a whorlye burlie Hannibal the whilest quietly cōueied ouer his armie Diuers Captaynes whē they haue bene hardlie pursued or let in like passage by the enemy they haue setled their armies and begonne trenches as thoughe they would haue rested theare or ioygned battaile shortlye withe the enemye which markinge obseruinge the same hath encamped made the like preparation whilest that the other haue vsed oportunitie to passe suche ryuers hilles or gayne such groūde as they desired Also the excellent Captaines haue accustomed when they vnderstoode that the enemie had made strongest the front or some other singuler part of his battaile they haue sett against the flanke or weakest side theareof Some other haue suffered them selues to be enclosed by the enemies armie to the ende that the same beeinge brought out of order they woulde breake thoroughe the weakest parte theareof whiche hath happened to the great hurt of the enemie Manye thinges theare are to be obserued which geue great aduaūtage in the ioygninge of battaile as if thou canst trayne thy enemie into a streight or valley thy selfe to possesse the hilles on bothe sides as Hanniball caught the Romaine armie at Cannae And alwayes it is good policie to haue the higher ground of the enemy and to haue the aduauntage of the winde and the sunne for the same being in the face of the enemie thou maist sett furthe a part of thine armye to inuade his battaile on the one side or at the backe that their sight being troubled they shall not perceaue wheare about thou goest wheareby also if thou haue any ambushe in anye trenche wood or couert laide as he shall marche he is more apte to come into the same vndiscouered then sodaine daungers when they be not knowen or perfectlie sene are the more feared As the experience hereof was had by Epaminondas a famous Captayne of Grecia which supplyed this aduantage of the sonne another waye hee caused his light horsemen in verie dustie wayes to make an attempte vpon the enemye and shortlie to withdrawe and gallop backe before thē the whilest Epaminondas came about vppon them on the one syde before they coulde discerne the order of his battaile for the dust that was raysed so easelie vanquished them The like practise maye be by a pyle of wood or olde hedges in the waye of the enemyes sette on fire to rayse a smoke for a impedyment of their sighte till some enterprise bee atchyeued Where the one parte is exceading stronge by store of horsemen or of shott it is vndoubtedlie for the aduantage and sauftie of the other to keepe in rough groundes or neare some bankes hilles or woodes also to keepe their armie close that the horse men or shot be verie nigh vpon them before they bringe foorth their battaill So shall not the shott haue leasure or leuell to discharge likelie to hurte and horses in suche groundes disordered and leapinge one vpon an others backe for lacke of roome shall loose their force to take the starte vpō the enemie Great policie also it is if thou canst come with thy armie freshe vpon the enemie wearied with muche trauaile or beinge in anie mutine amonge thē selues weakened or discouraged by want of victualles or anie other perplexitie or distresse by ill tydinges out of their countrey or some losse else where sustayned before the same bee salued or supplyed by anie later victorye or other good happe fallen vnto them and it hathe been vsed cūninglie to coygne and cast abrode imagined rumours of mischiefes towardes to appall and dismaye the enemie Manie singuler and famous exploytes and victories haue been had done when the enemie hath been surprysed on the sodaine in disorder or by nighte for want of good espyall when hee hathe not doubted anie daunger and therefore it is good to bee circumspect and readie to stande still vpon guarde and defence and little to truste the enemie duringe the warres Titus Didius beinge weaker then his enemie which was remouinge to encoūter a legion comminge into his ayde to staye that purpose hee publyshed thoroughe out all his armie that he entended the next daye to fighte the fielde and suffered certaine prysoners colourablie to escape which freshlie coulde so orthe those newes when they retourned into their campe whereby the enemie stayed and the other sauflie receaued the succour sent vnto him ¶ To breake or disorder the battaile of the enemye Cap. 2. OTher policyes there are to be remembred and practised when a battayle is orderlie sette to breake or trouble the same and this is one to geue out with great noyse duringe the fight that the generall on the other syde is slayne or that parte of hys battaile duringe the fighte flyeth or to make some sodaine shewe to be a terrour
plague the Philistynes with battaile The Assyriens were brought by hym into Iudea for the captiuitye of the people when they ranne at ryot and left to serue the true God whyche moste meruaylouslye had shewen hys power and moste tenderlye his loue vnto them Iudas Machabeus also and Gedeon were leaders of the Israelytes against the enemies of God by his ordinaunces by which also Iehu was mooued to make warres for the destruction of the house of Ahab And who sēt Titus from Rome to enuiron Hierusalem with the most dreadfull and fatall siege the ende ruyne where of was foretoulde by the mouth of the Almightie But for our purpose to shewe howe there maye be iust cause to leuie and prosecute warres to dyscerne of right herein we are to serch for the roote originall thereof The worlde God created gaue vnto the sonnes of men this conditiō the geeuer most iustlie annexed this he enioyned with all that no man shoulde couet that whiche to an other belōgeth and that to euery man belongeth which he without wrong enioyeth For in the beginninge when there was no auncient tytles to be made to landes or lordship possession caused good right this is the lawe of nature and equalitie it is also in the ciuill lawe allowed that those thinges wherein no man hath propertie or interest are his which first possesseth them which he maye lawfullie houlde therefore ought not by force to be dispossessed of the same Muche lesse where possession is planted and setled vppon auncyent ryght or grounded on other good tytle A later lawe there is of the most highe God generallie geuen which endureth the iustice of the first lawe that euerie mā shoulde doe so as hee woulde bee done vnto And this is the iust measure the direct rule certaine boūdes betwene righte wrong which beeinge considered we shall knowe how to vse warres and to dyrecte all our doynges well Now lett vs runne as farre as wee maye into the course of antiquitie to serche the first beginninges and causes of warres that wee may conferre them with the euentes and successe theareof for the better knowledge and iudgement herein We finde that Cain the eldest sonne of Adam in the firste time of the worlde liued so long that diuers lādes in the East partes beyng peopled he buylded a city for feare of his enemies knowinge iuste cause giuen by him to be odious vnto men for the vnnaturall parricy de and murder of his brother For at that time Iaball the sonne of Lamech was growen mightie and excercised armes against such as vsed vniust violence or oppression Tubalcain was thē the first that wrought on Iron forged weapons for that purpose For as yet theare was no kyngdome established nor countrey by conquest subdued the pompe of Princes was not knowen men desired not then soueraintie ouer estates but prepared by armes to shilde their owne in saufetie when they had no lawe to defende them This beginninge of warres was made in the first age and no more we reade of till after the floode when the three sonnes of Noah with their manifolde issue multiplyed possessed the sundrye regions of the worlde Sem setled in Asia Cam came into Afrique and Iaphet inhabited Europe whose ofspring shortlie spred abrode into the sudry partes regiōs prouinces of the same Then waxed Thuball the sōne of Iaphet mightie in power and bare rule aboue the rest This man renued againe the vse of weapons Soone after Nimrod began aduaūced the firste kingdome ouer Chaldea wheare he buylt the citie Babell subduinge people Countreies by oppression and oultrage of warres vnder his dominion And thearefore the same violent Empire lasted not longe but it shortlye sonke was drowned in the great estate which Assur raysed in assirya the lande yet now bearinge his name He buylt the Citye Niniue Rezen others by iust conquestes amplifiynge his seigniorie After him succeaded Ninus in the time of the patriarke Abraham whiche enuironned Babilon withe a stronge wall and muche beawtified the Citie as the chiefe seate of his estate Hee subdued the Bactriens and other nations makinge vnto him selfe a mightie Monarchye aboue other Kinges by honourable not iniurious warres as it may appeare by the continuaunce of thys Empyre whiche remained amonge the Assiryens aboue 1300. yeares vntill the raigne of Sardanapalus whose estate thoroughe his beastlike lasciuyous life was taken from him by Arbactus a Prince of the Medes Abraham him selfe made warres with the kinge of Sodome and fower other Princes vsinge at that time good order and policye in his battaile And thearefore they that affirme Ninus Mars or Hercules to bee the beginners and firste vsers of warres and order of battaile are not learned in reading for that theare is large proofe of those before alleaged And as for Mars he was the sonne of Saturne whiche was kinge of Crete at that time when Ianus raygned in Italye and that was about the time of Mofes And Hercules of Thebes lyued after that in the time of Saull king of Iudea or a little before by sum̄ writers which was soone after the buylding of Troye Mars made warre of ambition and lordlye minde to rule But Hercules the patron of Iustice and champion of noble prowesse thrust him selfe into all daungers of battaile to redresse iniuries represse rapyne oppression to roote out tirantes to maintayne defende right to spred the valyle of prosperous peace and wished saufe securitye ouer the worlde to shewe example of most hyghe vertue and valure punishinge robbers and purginge countryes of mischeuous malefactours and v le persons For whiche his ryghteous affection and iust minde as of deuyne vertue proceadinge he was after hys deathe honoured and holden as a god Romulus to erecte a famous Citie and establishe an happye estate withe excellent lawes orders and gouernement called people together and made warres for the compassinge and encreasinge thereof So dyd the auncient kinge Belus of Assiria and Phoroneus in Grecia subdue people to good order and conuenient course of lyfe geuinge vnto them lawes for their publique benefite and behoufe In like sorte Ianus before recyted and Licurgus in Lacedaemon reduced menne from idlenes and leude lasye lyfe vnto good trades ciuilitye and practyse of vertue for none other cause desirynge soueraigntye but for the good state and profytte of the people To thys ende Minerua Cecrops Cadmus vsed armes in their times before seeing mē to liue in diforder without gouernmēt neither comfortably to thē selues nor cōmodiouslye one for an other they extēded their power dominion ouer thē to refourme them into an happie ciuill sorte of life And diuers nations haue willinglie submitted put them selues vnder the rule scepter of such as they perceaued to be wise wel disposed carefull of the weale of a multitude to be a patron
a refuge by their wisedome experience vnto thē in their troubles neades Thus seeing that inuasion in sum̄ cases is tollerable yelding sufficiēt matter for noble courages to worke vpō so that prowesse shal neuer be so shut vp but it may haue a cōmendable course if theare be a regarde to the feare of God for the vertuous direction good ende theareof the warres for defēce must neades more generallie be allowed whensoeuer wronge is offered by the enemie of anie estate to the losse vexation or empayringe of the same wheareby in bodies goodes mindes possessions fraunchises lawes iurisdictions credit honour or anye thinge that is of profit or contentation vnto thē they be anoyed or hurte the resistinge encountring wheare of is iust honourable necessarye The aūcient warres of Troye Thebes arose vpon great wronges offered the first of them in the time that K. Dauid raygned the other not longe after The Grekes maintained continuall warres for their libertie to preserue their publique states vnder elected gouernours especially to auoyde subiection to anie foreine nation which they esteamed barbarous and rascall in respect of them selues The Scythiens hauinge no riche or delycate possessions of pleasant or frutefull fieldes no substaunce or store of goodes to loose yet they fought fiercelie to defende the tombes of their aūcestours whereof they had their greatest care frō iniuries of the enemie defacing And generallie nature hath geuē to liuinge thinges a desire of defēce resistinge of wronges wherefore that force is better to be allowed of thē inuasion Iudas Machabeus saide to the Israelites let vs fight for our liues our lawes And thus to cut of our course in to the antiquitie of warres seing that it is not my purpose nowe to wryte thereof yet supposinge thus muche not to be impertinent vnto hym that woulde bee a trauayler in the knoweledge and affaires of warres we conclude by plentiful proofe out of the store of histories accordinge to our propositiō That warres iustlie made for the more parte growe to good effecte and the violent empyre lasteth not longe Battail attēpted for pompe or ambitious desire of dominion not regardinge right or wōge seldome hath good successe or els the frutes had thereby soone fade suche victories take no roote But yet it remayneth to aunswere one obiection that seemeth to ouerthrowe and quyte condempne all our warres whiche is that our Lorde Iesus hath sayde that he which striketh with the swerde shall perishe with the same which is to be vnderstoode eyther of wrōgfull striking ' or else betwene pryuate persons which haue the sworde of the prince defēce of the lawe to remedie their wronges Also where it is cōmaūded that he which is strykē on the one eare should turne the other toreceaue the like it is expoūded whereas the exāple of such singuler pacience maye greatlie auaile to make such insolēt oultrage the more odious detestable that there is a law to punish the same otherwise warres armes maye be vsed for maintenance defence of vertue ryght great good grow therof For in the x of the Actes of the Apostles we reade that the cōuersation order of life of the captaine Cornelius was verie well pleasinge acceptable vnto God and in the tenth of saint Mathaew our sauiour saieth I came not to sēd peace into the earth but a swerde which proueth that the same maye be vsed according to the good pleasure of God thus if we serch his will we shall finde it and knowe howe to obserue keepe it ¶ Of vyctories which is the best and what truce maye be honourablye made Cap. ix THat victorie is most to be preferred which maye be soonest compassed obtained with least expence inconuenience losse especiallie of men wherein it is to be cōsidered that the same is made more honourable of greater importāce fame if periurie cruel murthers infamous treasōs poysoninge of victualls or such odious extremities be not vsed therein Fabius had excellent regarde of honour in his conquest when besieginge a citie of the Faliscyens a schoolemaster which had the chiefest mens sonnes of the towne in gouenrmēt teaching trayned them forth on a time apte for his purpose for hope of rewarde brought them into the enemies handes to the ende that thereby their fathers frendes shoulde be fayne to render the towne But Fabius rewarding him not iumpe accordinge to his expectation but duelie for hys desertes he caused the boyes to scurge their schole mayster well with roddes for betrayinge the trust of their parentes and so sent them home together singinge vnto the citizens which hauinge his noble vertue in highe admiration forthwith rendred vnto him the towne Dauid sought not by murder to wrest the kingdome out of the hādes of Saul but punished him which had laide hādes vpon his Lorde anoynted elected of god Caesar procured not Pompeye to be slayne but wept when hee sawe his enemies head Alexander pursued Bessus to reuenge the trayterous murther by him cōmytted vpon his enemie kinge Darius The Romaines generallie had regarde to conquere by valure prowesse wherefore they grewe most great in Em pire were had in honour awe of all nations The Carthagynoys contrarywyse not carynge howe so they had victorie vsinge foule practises infidelitie and all bad shiftes to attaine the same shortlie lost all So that the vertue and honourable dealinge of the generall shall alwaies auayle muche to the prosperous proceadinge of his warres and more easye accomplyshynge of victorye Hee oughte to bee as a tutor or rather as a father tender and carefull ouer the souldiours committed vnto his guyde good order diligent prouidence The excellent captaines of Roome desired rather to saue one citizē in battail thē to destroye manie enemies Crueltie is to be eschued excepte when seueritie sharpelie shewed maye geue great example But where lenitie and prudent meanes maye expresse worke th effecte of rigour euen towardes enemies the same is to be vsed that they seeinge the excellent vertue wisedome and order of gouernment in the conquerour maye the rather bee allured to commit them selues vnto him when by suffringe exchaunge of a ruler thestate of their welfare shall not be ouerthrowen or vndone nor slauerie or vile seruitude more odious then death is not sett before them most obstinatelie desperatelie to bee encountred Nowe touchinge occasiōs of truce intermission of warres it is to be cōsidered that the same be made done without dishonour so that the warres thereby be come not frutelesse or the armie in worse case then before as if the enemie craue that for feare which shall like auaile him and muche encourage the other partie But pollicye willeth not to seeke truce or delaye but by constrainte of necessitie or for sum̄ auantage to be taken as sum̄ ayde looked for or in the meanetime to growe into the secrets of the