expers belli multitudo Veget. l. 1. c. 1. companie of olde beaten souldiers is better then a multitude of people without knowledge and experience of warres Yong souldiers that haue not heard the noyse of battell nor seene the slaughter of men nor felt knockes will hardly abide them at the first If not in trayned souldiers much lesse in tumultuarie forces ought we to put any confidence The d Liu. 8 9. Latines and Hetruscians seeing the Romanes range their countrey in no great number came foorth by multitudes against them thinking to swallowe them vp But the first were no sooner slaine then the rest fled 500. olde souldiers put all the rascall route of e Tacit. 3. Tacfarinas in Affrike to flight At Liu. 21. Annibals first comming into Italy the countrey people seeing the spoiles he made had thought to haue cut a certaine out wing in pieces But in be ginning the execution 35. thousand were put to flight by a very sew The Spaniards at Puente de Butgos in Galicia assembled together in great numbers fledde from vs vpon the first approche of our men And so it is commonly in all yong souldiers Wherefore the best is to vse olde souldiers the next to mingle newe and olde together and diligently to teache them and trayne them before we hazard our whole state vpon them For albeit much is in mans naturall courage yet the same is much encreased by skill and exercise and that not feyned but in fight with the enemie CHAP. V. Part. 1. Wherein is declared what things are especially to be considered of those that leade an army by land or by sea into a forreine countrey VNcertainty and irresolution as in other actions so in the proceeding of warres worketh no good effect Time may not be spent nor money wasted vainely A wise captaine therefore purposing a iourney into an other countrey wil before hand resolue first what time is fittest to set forward secondly what things be necessary for his seruice that he may haue them ready against that time and thirdly what place is fittest both to make his prouision and to assemble his troupes in The consideration of the time is very materiall for neither is it conuenient to enter in the depth of Winter for that at that time forage for horses is very hard to come by nor in the heate of Sommer for that the time is hurtfull for mens bodyes to trauell in Caesar entring into France in the middest of Winter was driuen to great extremities and albeit hee had good helpe of friendes to relieue him with victuals and other nacessaries yet were his souldiers and horses almost famished Then it is hard to lye without doores the wayes then also are very troublesome The duke of Lancasters army arriuing in a Froistart Portugal in the dayes of king Richard the 2. in the heate of Sommer suffered no lesse through heate then the other through cold Much also did the b He himselfe in that iourney tooke that sicknesse whereof he died blacke Princes army suffer in Spaine through the heate of Sommer Neither did the heate of the Countrey in our late voyage of Portugal further our enterprise The most conuenient time to enter any Countrey with an army is when the same may finde greatest store of victuals for men of forrage for horses and is most temperate so that men may endure trauaile best without endangering their health Of this c Caes bel gal 2. 3. Caesar had respect both in his warres in France and Affrike and other places And euill did it befall those that without consideration of time rashly aduentured to goe in foreine seruices He that considereth not the time must make his prouision the greater The place also woulde be chosen and certainely resolued vpon where both our prouision is to be made our souldiers are to be appointed to meete The Romanes in their warres in Greece asseÌ„bled their forces at the port of d Vti omnes â—â—uenirent Brundusium idibus Maijs Liu. 36. BrundusiuÌ„ sayling into Affrike against the Carthaginians they made their prouision rendeuouz at Lilibaeum which say right ouer against Afrike as the other port was commodious for those that sailed into Greece Cato in his iourney into a Cato ad Lunae portum conuenire iustit Liu. 34. Spaine chose the port of Luna as lying directly against Spaine Annibal b Liu. 21. purposing a voyage into Italy assigned newe Carthage for his men to meete at When c Caes bel gal 5. Caesar entended the inuasion of this Iland he appointed his men to meete and his prouision to bee brought to Caleis and Bollein For that neither the time nor place of meeting was appointed certaine I report mee what hinderance it was to vs in the enterprise of Portugal But greatest care would be had first that we cary with vs force of our owne sufficient and secondly that we haue prouision of armes victuals munitions and all instruments of warre with vs. For in vayne looketh he for helpe of others or of the countrey where he goeth that is not strong of himselfe d Machiauel discors Banished men doe make those that goe in their succour beleeue that they haue great parties in the countrey and that the enterprise is easie but there is no wisedome to giue them futher credite then such men deserue In Portugall we may remember how we were abused or rather abused our selues to thinke that the countrey would reuolt before we had beaten the Spaniard that kept the people in subiection and too late it is to looke for supplie from home of men or victuals when we are presently to vse them The Romanes although they sent diuers times succours to other natioÌ„s as to the Greekes oppressed by the kings of Macedonia to the Sicilians inuaded by the Carthaginians yet neuer sent they lesse then a sufficient armie furnished with all things necessarie Caesar for that hee was driuen to leaue a great part of his armie and prouision behinde him both in his e De bel ciu 3. voyage against Pompey and against Scipio in f Hirt. de bel Afric Afrike was driuen to great extremities and omitted many opportunities before the rest of his armie came at him Hee that hath his men and all things ready with him oppresseth the Countrey before prouision can be made against him Yet may not the Prince that inuadeth others so prouide against the enemie that hee forget to couer and defende his owne Countrey and Coast and frontier Townes against all sudden enterprises Annibal marching towardes Italy before hand prouided one g Partiens curas inferendi arcendi belli Liu. 2 armie for the garde of Afrike another for the garde of Spaine And Caesar pursuing Pompey into Greece committed the a Caes bel ciu 3. guarde of Italy and the port townes thereof vnto Antony If b Liu. 29. Syphax going out of his countrey to warre against the
warres and seeing that wee take armes in hand not to do wrong but that we may recouer or obtaine our owne right let no man refuse reason that may haue it But because many that seeme to offer peace haue nothing but warres in their hearts let vs now that we haue shewed the practise traine of war whose ende is peace declare also how we may assure our selues that we be not abused either with coloured treaties or vnequall conditions or bad assurance of peace which is more dangerous then any warre Metellus in c Verbis pax nunciabatur ceterùm re asperrimum bellum erat Salust bel Ingurth wordes and pretense made semblant that he would make peace with Iugurtha but his doings were the effectes of most sharp warres Maximilian the emperor being demanded what he meant to treate so much of peace with his enemy whom he deadly hated answered that thereby he hoped to giue him a d Per darli colpo mortale Guicciar mortal wouÌ„d when least he looked for it e Pompeius ab Augusto imagine pacis deceptus Lepidus amicitiae specie Tacit. annal 1. Sextus Pompeius by a fained shew of peace was abused by Augustus and Lepidus was ensnared vnder colour of friendship What the Spaniard meant by the treaty of Dunkirke his nauy at the same time comming in hostile manner vpon our coast declareth The very motion and mention of peace doth slake the preparatiues of warre and while men do either hope or desire peace they f Ex mentione spe pacis negligentia vt fit apud Paenos orta crat Liu. 29. stand more negligently vpon their garde Sometime vnder colour of seeking a Philippus de pace agendo nihil aliud nisi moram dilationâ— ad vires colligendas quâ—â—rebat Liu. 32. peace the enemy seeketh delayes vntill such time as he himselfe is ready Philip of Macedonia being foyled by the Romanes seemed very desirous of peace that in the meane time he might againe repayre his forces For this cause b Thucid. 1. Archidamus counselled the Lacedemonians rather to treat of peace then to denounce warre vnto the Athenians vntil such time as they were better prouided The Ambassadors of the c Caes bel gal 4. Tencterians and other Germans desired peace of Caesar that came against them because a great part of their forces was from them Sometimes trechery is wrought vnder colour of treaty of peace Metellus d Salust bel Iugurth during the treaty of peace with Iugurtha corrupted most of his friendes Scipio e Liu. 29. to the intent his men might haue accesse into Syphax his campe pretended the continuance of the treaty of peace albeit he misliked the conditions and meant nothing but to espy his campe and to surprise him at vn wares The messengers of the f Legati per speciem pacis petendae speculatum ad L. Aemilium venerunt Liu 40 Ligurians vnder colour of treaty of peace espyed what Aemilius did in his campe Cotys g Tacit. annal 2. king of Thrace vnder colour of confirming a league was drawen to a banquet and there slaine by his enemy Rhecuporis Caesar Borgia hauing made a solemne league with the Duke of h Guicciard Grauina other Princes of Italy contrary to his othe slew them hauing them once in his hands Therefore in treating of peace wee must first see that wee slacke not our preparatiues of warre nor defer to take any aduantage that is offered i Perseus ni vana spes pacis occaecasset consilia omnia praeparata atque instructa habens cùm nihil haberent Romani suo maximè tempore atque alieno hostibus incipere bellum potuit Liu. 42. Perseus king of Macedonia if a vaine hope of peace had not blinded his eyes might then with aduantage haue begun the warres when him selfe was most ready and the Romanes most vnready and vnprouided k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid 1. Archidamus albeit hee perswaded the Lacedaemonians to talke of peace yet would he not haue them neglect to prouide for warre For peace is not obteined with parley or entreaty vnlesse wee also make ready our forces Secondly heede must be taken that wee trust not the enemy None are more easily abused then those that are light of credit we may not therefore let the enemy see our weaknesse or any thing that may preiudice vs nor commit our selues into our enemies handes either during the treaty or after the conclusion of peace Philip of Comines noteth it as a great simplicitie in our nation that hauing concluded peace with Lewis the French King did so familiarly come into Amiens and conuerse with the French that meant them no good Seeing peace is so easily violated vpon light occasions hee is not wise that will trust the enemy too farre That which certaine Italians perswaded Lewis Sforza that fayth is rather to be violated then wee suffer a Guicciar li. 4. any part of our State to be taken from vs that some doe nowe put in practice And yet breach of promise is oft times b Cosa facile a Principi di iustificar imprese con titoli Ch'apparisconâ— honesti Guicciar 16. iustified with glorious pretenses Wherefore seeing as experience teacheth vs that Princes c Principi si riconciliono piu tosto conle dimostrationi che con li effetti Guiciar lib. 1. are rather made friends in shew then in effect those that deale wisely doe so condition with the enemy that if hee breake they may haue the staffe in their owne handes to chastice him Thirdly great care is to be taken that wee yeelde no aduantage to the enemy The first iniury that we receiue at the enemies handes is but a step to the next as hath bene shewed and he that from the top of the staires descendeth one step shall sooner be thrust downe to the bottome then recouer the top againe Hee that once beginneth to fall is easily ouerthrowen The Africans that yeelded one little peece of ground to them of Carthage were in the end constreined to yeelde them their whole countrey The Germans receiued into France by the Gaules and Saxons into this Iland by the ancient inhabitants did after contend with them for the possession and right of the whole countrey The time to treat of peace which is fourthly to be considered is when both parties haue tasted of the cup of calamities that warres bring with them and yet neither part is ouerthrowen or throughly vanquished When things doe hang in equall ballance then is the fittest time to treat of peace by the iudgement of Annibal and then d Si integer quaÌ„ si victus pacem aequiorem impetrari posse ratus est Liu. 30. most equall conditions are liked of both parties For being vanquished the conquerour giueth rather then receiueth conditions as the Romanes did to the Carthaginians to Philip of Macedonia to Antiochus and to other Princes and nations which they vanquished Further
Com. the 11. Charles duke of Burgundy betweene Edward the 4. the same Lewis and the associats of them two Peace or rather truce was made for 9. yeres the conditions on the French kings part were that he should pay certaine crownes that the Dolphin of France should marry king Edward the 4. his daughter and haue part of Guienne for the maintenance of the two yong married folks But other assurance then othe there passed none Thus the French could feede vs stil with faire wordes buy out our aduantage with a few crownes therefore litle regarded our forces The Carthaginians ioyning in league with Hierome king of Sicile agreed together that after they should haue expulsed the Romans out of Sicile they should diuide the country according to certaine limits agreed vpon betwixt them Like agreement passed betwixt Annibal Philip king of Macedonia concerning their future conquest In the meane time they both couenanted to oppugne the Romans both by sea and land with all their force The g Data vltrò citroque fide cosdē amicos inimicosque habituros iureiurando affirmatur Liu. 29. Carthaginians entred with Syphax into a stricter bond of friendship and both promised eche to other to haue the same for friends and enemies Sometime it falleth out that a mighty Prince or nation doeth for some opportunity or help expected ioyne in league with those that in power are inferior to them Wherein albeit the conditions be not equal vpon both sides yet the weaker neither paieth tribute nor looseth any commodity or liberty So the Romanes ioyned in amity with Attalus Eumenes and the Rodians and in Italy with them of Caere and other townes the Kings of England with the Dukes of Brittein the Kings of Spaine with some weake Princes in Italy In which agreements the weake side had neede to vse great caution that vnder colour of ayd it be not oppressed as the Dukes of Brittein by the French Sforza Duke of Milan by Charles the 5. the States of the Low countrey by king Philip and his Predecessors Dukes of Burgundy The Capuans made peace with Annibal on these conditions that no foreiner either in warre abroad or in peace at home should haue any iurisdiction ouer a citizen of a Liu. 23. Capua that no citizen of Capua should be forced to serue in warres or to beare office against his will nor should be subiect to any other lawes then those of his owne countrey Those that are either equall or inferior in force eche to other doe sometime ioyne in league defensiue sometime in offensiue also against such as are enemies to either and that either with all their forces or with some numbers of souldiers specified them also either payde of those that send them or those that vse them Some nations for feare of their enemies do yeeld them selues into the protection of others with certaine couenants as they b Guicciar li. 3. of Pisa did first to the French king afterward to the Venetians as the Duke of Ghelderland did to the French king In this case as the receiuer doeth binde him selfe to defend those that yeeld them selues into his armes so they either binde them selues to pay money or to do him seruice or to deliuer him vp certaine townes No mā is bound to refuse the protection of others vnlesse it be specially couenanted nay it is a dishonor not to protect those that are wrongfully oppressed much more to abandon those whom they haue takē vpon thē to defend c Guicciar li. 8. Lewis the 12. is taxed for his base minde for that he couenāted to receiue none into protectiō that were the subiects or did depend vpon Iulio the 2. And for that he much more forsook the lord of a Guicciar lib. 5. Piombino Likewise are the Florentins blamed for that they abandoned the house of Riarij at the request of the Pope Contrariwise the Romans in nothing deserue commendation more then that they defended all those that fled to them for protection And in nothing did they dishonor themselues more then in that they were so flow in succouring the Saguntins Neither doe Princes only free States couenant ech with other but also subiects with their Princes Princes with their subiects as the Arragonians with the Spanish king the Protestants of France with the French king Wherein if they proceede no further then to require ech of other that which the lawes of nations require it is more tolerable But that the subiects should prescribe lawes to their soueraigne Princes binde them to inconueniences it sauoureth rather of force then loyaltie and that Princes hestes should be obeyed against reason proceedeth of tyranny neither can any assurance be made of such agreements That couenants of peace association may be wel conceiued and made Princes others are dililgently to consider vnto whom they commit the managing of such affaires to furnish them with good instructions and those likewise are to haue regard that they passe not their commission instructions Without commission no man vnder the degree of those that rule in souerainty is to make peace or league The people of b Liu. Rome held not them selues bound with the treaty made at Caudium or Numantia being made without their autority Princes in the choyce of Ambassadors do respect Nobility are led sometime by fauour but the euent sheweth that wisdome experience vertue are rather to be regarded c Phil. Commin Lewis the 11. sent Oliuer somtime his barber to them of Gant and to the yong Duchesse of Burgundy but the man was heard with scorne and returned without effect Ambassadors and messengers betwixt Princes States are priuiledged by the lawes of all nations insomuch that among the points of weapons such men are suffered to passe safe The Romanes not onely reuenged sharply the death of their Ambassadours slayne by the d Liu. 4. Fidenians and e Florus Illyrians but also the scorne done vnto them by them of Corinth f 2. Reg. 20. King Dauid warred vpon the children of Ammon for no other cause but for an abuse offerd to his messengers g Phil. Comm. Charles Duke of Burgundy put all the garrison of the Castle of Nele to the sword for that they killed his messenger sent to them to treat with them of peace And albeit some do patiently digest al abuses offred to their messengers by the Spaniard who deigned not to giue thē audience yet the Romans a Liu. 42. tooke the matter very heinously at the hands of Perseus king of Macedonia The death of b Quò diligentiùs in reliquum tempus ius Legatorum à barbaris conseruaretur omnem senatum Caesar necauit reliquos sub corona vendidit Caes bel gal 3. Caesars messengers sent to a city vpon the sea coast of Frauce cost all the chiefe of the citizens their liues The rest of that towne Ceasar sold
cowards and disorderly persons 21 In the last Chapter for that our souldiers are for the most part raw and ignorant and would haue things expressed and taught them plainely I haue gathered together certaine militarie orders some concerning religion manners others concerning especially tending to the common safetie of the state armie or garrison or els concerning the speciall dueties of captains or common souldiers others respecting the campe or towne of garrison others specially belonging to sea causes and aduentures at sea others to the Officers of the army or fleete others concerning booties spoyles and prisoners and some concerning the execution of lawes and administration of iustice out of which I would haue so many as are fitting for the seruice in hand to be chosen out and put in writing and proclaymed openly and deliuered vnto euery captaine or colonell that euery man may vnderstand some part of his duetie and what punishment is due for his offences These things I haue for thy sake not without great labour brought together and layde foorth in this forme which I haue declared Reade them therefore with indifferencie and weigh them with iudgement and say not this can not be so for I neuer sawe it the authoritie is drawen from those which haue seene more then thy selfe and standeth vpon better reason then without experience thou canst imagine if thou allowest and likest my reasons followe them and vse them if not yet proceede not against reason my only desire was to profit my countrey and to content and profit thee other boone or reward I craue none but that I doe not receiue at thy hands disgrace for my diligence nor reproofe or scorne for my good will which because common humanitie forbiddeth me to feare I will bid thee a dieu and begin to addresse me to my purpose ¶ The right practice proceedings and lawes of Armes CHAP. I. What causes make warres iust or vniust and what are the effectes of lawfull warres and what solemnities or circumstances are to be considered in defiance of our enemies and first attempts of warres IT is needelesse as I suppose to dispute whether it be lawfull either for Christian Princes to make warres or for christians to serue in warres Those that thinke it vnlawfull as men deuoyd of iudgement in religion and state are declared long since to be both heretical and phrenetical persons The lawfulnes there of is apparent for that most godly and religious princes as Iosuah Dauid Iehosaphat Iudas Macabeus were great warriers their warres so allowed that the spirit of God calleth them the warres or battels of the Lord neither was the same altered by Christes comming as the Anabaptists dreame The holy a Rom. 13. Apostle sheweth that the Magistrate carrieth not the sword in vaine But he should carry it in vaine if hee might not as lawfully repell publike force as he may punish therewith priuate wrongs Iohn Baptist when the souldiers came vnto him he exhorted them not to giue ouer their manner of liuing but to content themselues with their wages to do wrong to no mau b Act. 9. Cornelius the Centurion notwithstanding his souldiers profession hath a notable testimony of the holie Ghost to be a man that feared God and if he had not beene such hee had not receiued the holie Ghost The true seruants of God sayth S. c Ad Bonifac. Augustine make warres that the wicked may be restrained and goodmen be relieued Beside this what state in this notable corruption malice of mens nature could endure any time if warres against violent persons were vnlawfull without warres who can warrant vs against spoyle and iniury it is the law of nature and nations that putteth weapons in our hands for our defence without warres ciuill lawes against rebellious subiects cannot be executed and so should remaine without edge S. a Ambr. de offic Ambrose saith that it is the office and parte of iustice by warre to defend our country from the enemy our confederates and such as by reason of their weakenes neede our aide from spoylers and oppressors Wherefore taking this as granted that some warres are lawfull let vs proceede to examine what those things are that giue vs iust cause of warres which is a matter much to be regarded vnlesse we will be accompted among those tyrants that rage and vexe men without cause If the cause of him that warreth be good the issue cannot be euill saith b Bern. de nou mil. Bernard the c Frangit attollit vires in milite causa Ouid. cause as it is good or euill so either abateth and breaketh or whetteth the souldiors courage d causa iubet superos melior sperare secundos Lucan and good and iust causes make men hope ro receiue fauour of God in the issue and triall e Euentus belli velut aequus iudex vnde ius stabat ei victoriam dabat Liui. 21. the euent oftentimes is according to the iustice and qualitie of the cause and f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip Electr. seldome do they returne in safety that go forth to draw their swordes in euill quarrels Dionysius of g Lib. 2. antiq Halicarnassus sayth that the Romanes therefore preuayled for the most part for that they enterprised no warres without iust causes contrariwise the h Ius in armis ferebant Liu. 5. Gaules which accompted that iustly gotten which they could winne with their sworde though otherwise very valiant receiued many great foiles for this cause as sayth Philip of i Phil. Com. li. 4. Commines Princes when they list to quarrel with their neighbors pretend honest causes although oft times vntrue The French that with some colour they might receiue such as in Gascoigne or Guienne rebelled against the kings of this realme suborned certaine Gascoignes and Poicteuins to complaine of vniust taxations made by the English in the dayes of Edward the third and Richard the second And Lewis the eleueuth of France instigated certaine rebelles to complaine of k Philip of Commines Charles duke of Burgundie that vnder colour of doing iustice he might with more reason inuade his territories These pretenses shewes make great disputes betwixt princes and states while euery man will seeme to make his cause good and to do nothing without iust causes Let vs therefore now consider what causes are sufficient to iustifie the taking of armes what are counterfeit and insufficient First it is lawfull to vse â—orce and take armes in defence of our country true religion our goodes or liberty a Hoc ratiodoctis mos gentibus feris natura ipsa praescripsit vt omnem semper vim a corpore a capite a vita iua propulsarent Cic. pro Mil. Reason teacheth the learned and custome instructeth all nations thus much which euen the instinct of nature printeth in wilde and sauage beastes that it is lawfull to repell force offered to our life to our person and the
state with force and by what other meanes wee can Most iust cause therefore had the Romanes to make warres vpon the Gaules vpon Annibal vpon the Daues and other barbarous nations that came to take away their country from them like cause had the Greeks to withstand the Persians other barbarous people that by armes would haue conquered them and depriued them of their country and liberty the same cause did the ancient Britons defend against the Romanes Saxons Danes and Normans though not with like successe And seeing of late time the Spaniard came vpon our coast with fire and sword menacing the English nation with all the calamities that follow such inuasions I thinke no man will deny but we haue iust cause to put on armes in defence of our countrey religion liues liberties and lawes in this case not onely our cause is iust but the warre is of necessity to be vndertaken which greatly helpeth the iustice of our cause for as the captaine of b Iustum bellum quibus necessarium pia arma quibus nulla nisi in armis relinquitur salus Liu. 9. Samnites said in like case that warre is iust whereto we are inforced and with good consâ—â—nce may we take armes when there is no safety for vs but in armes It is likewise lawfull to represse pirats and publique robbers by force of armes if they will not yeeld themselues to be tried by order of common iustice They are enemies of peace ciuil gouernment and by the lawes defyed and proclaimed as publike enemies of states their bodies may be taken and their goodes spoiled as in warres with other nations The warres made by the Romanes against Spartacus who assembling a mutinous route of rebelles and hindred al trade was iust and necessary in this c ff de iust iure L. fureÌ„ ad L. Corn. de sicar L. itaque case because such do rise and assaile vs vpon a sodaine the law of nature giueth warrant of defence without publike commandement or commission neither is it onely lawful to cleare the sea of pyrates but also honorable d Thucid. Minos made his name famous for that he cleared the sea of pyrats and opened the way for marchants which fact also procured great commendation to Pompey the Great Moreouer if our country be wasted and spoiled and our goods taken away by forreiners it is lawful by force and armes to seeke for restitution if otherwise it cannot be obtained Tully a Quod rebus repetitis geritur offic 1. accompteth that warre iust that is made after demand of things wrongfully taken vniustly deteined these quarrels often fal out betwixt borderers the b Romulus Albanis bellum in tulit quod eorum dictator nollet res raptas reddete Dion Hal. lib. antiq 3. Romans for this cause made diuers roades vpon the Sabins Volscians Albans and others their neighbors Tullus Hostilius had no other causes of his warres against the same people This hath bene the beginning of many contentions betwixt vs and the Scots of the warres betwixt the c Liu. 1. Romans and Sabins there was no other cause but the spoile of the Roman marchants among other causes of the third warres of the d Flor. Epir. Romanes against the Carthaginians the taking of certaine shippes and spoiling of certaine Marchants is alledged as principall The Switzers beganne their braules with the Duke of e Phil. Commin Burgundy for a loade of skinnes taken away by the Countie of Romont likewise it is where at a sodaine roade our goodes are spoyled or driuen away and deteined from vs. for which cause the Romanes warred vpon the f TarquinieÌ„sibus rebus nequicquaÌ„ repetitis quod agrum Rom. populati essent bellum indictum Liu. 7. Hetruscians diuers of their neighbors Iust cause therefore haue wee also in this respect to make warres vpon the Spaniard that without destance of warre stayed our shippes and our marchants and spoiled their goodes were not mens minds â—â—oled and almost frozen with feare and age these iniuries would inflame them howsoeuer it is men ought not to stay vntill the flames of our country enflame them In this case those that first offend do giue iust cause of warres not those that seeke restitution by armes as is euident g Liu. 1. by the example of the Romanes and Albans where the first iniury being offered by the Albans made inst the cause of the Romanes Yet if things taken away be offered againe and satisfaction be promised to bee made for wrongs done it is not iustice nor reason further to prosecute the quarrel begunne it seemeth not reason saieth h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid 1. Archidamus to prosecute him by force that submitteth himselfe to order of lawe and commonly those that refuse reason when it is offered come afterward to wish they had taken it when they can not haue it The French disdaining and scorning the great offers made by the blacke Prince were shamefully by him ouerthrowne at the fielde of Poytiers The i Non suae redditae res non alienae accumulatae satis erant Liu. 9. Romanes refusing the satisfaction made by the Samnites receiued a notable disgrace being by composition disarmed to saue their liues at the streites of Caudium and Philip of Commines conceiueth that Charles duke of Burgundy prospered neuer the better for that he refused the humble submission and satisfaction of the Switzers desiring peace at his hands The iniurie that is done to the subiects redoundeth to the Prince and reproches and contumelies done to ambassadours and messengers returne vpon those that send them both these things minister lawfull cause for Princes states to take armes in hand The Romanes with sharpe wars prosecuted a Appian Alexandr Mithridates for that by one generall proclamation he had caused diuers of their people to be massacred in Asia the same cause armed them against the Latines and Volscians The Volscians againe inuaded the Romans for that reprochfully their people were commaunded out of the Citie at the time of their b Liui. 3. publike games The Heduans rebelled against Caesar vpon c Caes bel Gal. 7. conceit of some wrong offred to their people in the campe of the Romanes And among al causes of warres betwixt Princes this is commonly inserted for one that either their subiects are slaine or wronged as appeareth both in the beginnings of the Romane warres against the kings of Macedonia and also against the people of Carthage and the same was the common pretense of the d Froissart French to inuade vs when we held Gascoigne Guienne and Normandy Yet more neere doth it touch a Prince when his ambassadours are violated forasmuch as that iniurie is thought to be offered to his owne person Therefore did Dauid warre vpon the children of Ammon for the villeny they offered his ambassadors The shamefull reproche which the Corinthians offered the Romane ambassadours was the cause of
of Charles his horsemen The Spaniard is rich in golde yet doth not the English souldiers feare him in the field It is yron not gold that killeth in the encounter Gold can doe much but not all and therefore were it to be wished that wee had more contended with the Spaniard with the sword wherwith we are able to match him then with gold wherein though we spend all we cannot come neere him Wherefore let mony be prouided before hand if not in such abundance as others haue it yet so much as may prouide armes victuals munition horses for a competent army If any man aske how much I answere with b Plutarch Apopth Cleobulus that warres in this case haue no stint nor set bounds this onely may suffice to shew you that if good orders were set downe and executed it would neither be infinit nor the charge so burdensome as now it is The meanes whereby mony may be raised are diuers either it riseth vpon lands belonging to the crowne and that either by inheritance or confiscation or conquest or vpon rents or penalties or imposts or other duties belonging to the Prince or of subsidies taxes contributions and loanes of subiects or vpon our confederates and associats or else vpon ransoms of our enemies persons or countries By which means seing su large reuenues come vnto the Princes of this realme who seeth not that this realme wanteth nothing but good order in dispensing of the treasure and sharpe punishment against those that purloine it Nay if vayne expenses in apparel iewels silkes golden coats and other vanities were cut off or employed in armes and necessary furniture of warre there would be not onely sufficiencie but also abundance The Romanes for maintenance of their publike stock had diuers inuentions and practices Vpon c Agripro pecunia dati in iugera â—sses vectigalâ—s impoâ—â—ti Li. 31. euery acre of ground of a country subdued they imposed an annuall rent The same might haue beene done in Ireland if it had pleased the gouernours to conuert it to publike vses rather then to serue priuate mens desires which notwithstanding by reason of their great disorders reape small commoditie They looked strictly to their impostes Annibal a Annibal vectigalia negligentia dilapsa restituit Liu. 33. after peace made with the Romanes to encounter with the couetousnes of officers restored the impostes at Carthage to their olde order Philip the King of Macedonia purposing to make warres vpon the Romanes did not onely increase his b Vecâ—igalia auxit noua instituit Liu. 39. customes but deuised new for the maintenance of the warres which is to be done onely in case of necessity lest these new deuises of Italian impostes make the Princes odious to their subiects Where the ordinary reuenues were not sufficient there wise gouernors haue had recourse to equall contributions taxes and loanes Asdrubal c Pecunias imperat populis omnibus suae dâ—tionis Liu. 23. purposing to go into Italy with a supply to Annibals army laide a taxe vpon all the people of his gouernement The Duke of Alua in his time and of late yeeres the Prince of Parma knew well how to put this in practise in the low Countries When the city of Rome wanted money in the second warre with them of Carthage d Priuatis in inopia aerarii pecunias conferentibus ita vt Scribae non sufficerent nec remige in supplementum nec stipendio â—esp eguiâ— Liu. 26. priuate men voluntarily lent mony so fast that the deputies appoynted to receiue it could not dispatch them so that by this meanes the Romanes neyther wanted marriners nor pay for souldiers For continuance of the publike treasury they had their lands and goodes rated equally and euery man payed according which equall proportion if it were now obserued I dare say it would greene no good subiect to pay albeit it were twise so much as now they do Euery man brought in the quantitie of his laÌ„d and the value of it vpon his credit likewise the summe of his rentes and money they that onely liued vpon traffike brought in the summe of their mony and cleare gaines yearely with this promise that what was left out was confiscat and forfeit and euery false summe giuen in was punished with double They that were not rated or at the least nuÌ„bred were banished or sold for slaues Such as had nothing were onely numbred in the rolle The most of this is expressely set down in their bookes of law Forma censuali saith e ff de censibus Vlpian cauetur vt agri sic in censum referantur nomen fundi cuiusque in qua ciuitate in quo pagosit quos duos vicinos proximos habeat aruum quod in decem annos proximos satum erit quot esse iugera videatur Vinea quot vites habeat oliuetum quot iugerum quot arbores habeat pratum quoque quod intra decem annos proximos sectum erit quot iugerum pascua esse videantur item sylua caedua omnia ipse qui defert aestimet illam enim aequitatem debet admittere censitor vt officio eius congruat releuare cum qui in publicis tabulis delato modo ex certis causis vti non possit Likewise Liuy where he mentioneth the taxing of the colonies by Nero and Salinator hath these words a Colonies were such townes as the citizens of Rome replenished with their owne people and depended on the mother citie duodecim coloniarum quod nunquam antea factum erat deferentibus coloniarum censoribus censum receperunt vt quantuÌ„ numero milâ—â—uÌ„ quantuÌ„ pecuniâ valerent in publicis tabulis monumeÌ„ta extarent If the like rate and proportion were obserued among vs that euery man might be rated according to his lands farmes rents and goods equally the burthen would be more easily borne lesse complaint made more mony would come to the payment of her maiesties souldiers So many countries as were vnder the protectioÌ„ of the Romans or confederate with theÌ„ did contribute to the common charge wherein such equall taxation and good order was vsed that the countrey where the army was maintained did defray the most of the charge good reason seing it was for their defence it would seeme strange to those that know not their proceedings how Caesar did not onely maintaine his army 9. yeres in France at the charge of the country but also enriched himselfe and his army The Athenians likewise after that the Greekes had driuen out the b Thucid. 1. Persians out of their country for maintenance of their warres against them made an association appointing what euery Iland or city or territory should pay toward the charge Somtimes the enemies being subdued or straited were not only driuen to pay the charge of the army but also great summes of mony into the tresury the c Sâ—ipendium exercitui Rom. ab hoste in cum annum
theÌ„ their insufficiencie Lewis Sforsa passing ouer diuers men of accompt reposed all his trust in c Guicciar lib. 4. Galeaz Sanseuerin a man of small desert Leo the 10. for kinred sake woulde needes employe Lorence Medici in his warres with the Duke of Vrbin both which spedde alike Which examples with diuers other of our time which I will not mention least any man might thinke himselfe interessed thereby may moue vs to haue more care what Generals we doe employe in such seruices In other matters albeit fauour may take place yet sure least ought it to swaye in choyse of the General Nothing is more dangerous then the euill successe of warres What reason therefore haue Princes to chuse d Summo periculo summus quaerendus imperator vt summo periculo summus gubernator Liu. lib. 24. weake men Gouernours of greatest matters in warres seeing as in Sea causes men in greatest dangers are woont to make choyse of most skilfull Masters and Pilots Or what impudencie is it for a man to take charge of a Shippe that cannot see but by others eyes nor iudge but by others direction And why not likewise may they be e Impudentem gubernatorem imperatorem esse qui cum alienis oculis ei omnia agenda sint postulet sibi aliorum capita ac fortunas committi Liu. 26. accompted shamelesse that take vpon them the charge of mens liues and goodes which haue no iudgement but by others report and direction Of the weakenesse of Generals proceede contentions betwixt the chiefe commaunders delayes needelesse expenses disorders disgraces and the ouerthrowe of Armies and States And more shall an armie of Harts doe guided by a f Plutarch Lyon then an armie of Lyons ledde by a fearefull Hart. Caesars g Caes comment bel gal 5. inuincible olde souldiers were ouercome by the cowardise of Sabinus their leader yet such was the skill of Caesar that he could vse young souldiers and obteine great victories by small forces Marcellus with the reliques of the Romane armie ouerthrowne at Canne gaue vnto Annibal a great repulse The Romanes vnder the leading of C. Martius Coriolanus h Volsci duce Martio Coriolano vincentes ostenderunt ducibus potiùs quà m exercitu rem Rom. supetiorem â—â—sse Liu. ouercame the Volscians when the same man exiled vpon displeasure against his Countrey tooke on him to leade the Volscians they diuers times preuailed against the Romanes Which sheweth what moment a skilfull captaine bringeth towarde the obteyning of victorie And in the warres which the Romanes had against the Latines the forces being equall yet the Romanes preuailed by the good direction of their Generall Fabius whose gouernment was such that all men confessed as a Liu. 9. Liuy reporteth that what side soeuer should haue had him for their leader the same must needes haue preuailed In the battell of the Romanes against b Pyrrhus non Epirotae tomanos vicit Fabritius Plutar. apophth Pyrrhus king of Epeirus nowe Albany Fabritius acknowledged that they were ouercome onely by the skill of Pyrrhus more then by the force of his armie And contrariwise little accompt is to be made of an armie that wanteth direction Caesar feared not as himselfe c De bel ciu lib. 1. reporteth the olde companies of Spaine although otherwise much to be esteemed because he knewe their Generals Petreius Afranius to be men of no merite nor skill I haue my self heard some Spaniards greatly complain of the defectes of the Duke of Medina Sidonia the Generall of their Nauy when they came vpon our coast And although God was the authour yet I doubt not but that was some good meanes of their euill successe Wherefore if Princes looke for good successe in their warres let them without affection and partialitie make choise of a sufficient Generall religious skilfull couragious and adorned with such vertues both for warre and peace as the importance of the matters which he manageth requireth In a Generall first I require religion for if the Gentiles did suppose that those affaires succeeded best vnto them which they d Ab Ioue principium Arat. Phaenom began in Gods name shame it were for Christians to haue a worse conceit of that matter And if all other matters sure the hazardes of warre require religion in the chiefe directors God he is Lord of Hostes and giuer of victories and sure it is not probable he will giue it to those that aske it not at his handes God prescribed certaine exercises of religioÌ„ to his people in their wars before them he would haue the Priestes to sound certaine siluer Trumpets Constantine had all exercises of religion in his campe and so proued most victorious The Spaniards in their warres assigne to euery Tertio or Regiment certaine Priestes What should I speake of those that make profession of religion seeing the e Xenoph. exped Cyr. 1. Greekes did seldome attempt any dangerous seruice but their captaines first consulted with their gods f Cic. de Natur. deor Cicero doeth attribute the good successe which the Romanes had in their warres to the religious care they had of the obseruance of holy ceremonies and religion Whatsoeuer mishap came vnto their State or Armie they ascribed the same likewise to the neglect or contempt of religion They esteemed that to be the cause of their ouerthrowe at a Liu. 5. Allia by the Gaules at b Liu. 2.2 Thrasimene by Annibal and in diuers other vnfortunate incounters Machiauels diuinitie that thinketh religion in men of warre foolerie and proposeth that impious Atheist Caesar Borgia for a paterne to a Prince that aspireth to be great to be followed was detested euen of the barbarous nations which in warres attempted nothing but with religious ceremonies as Tacitus and Caesar declare in the Gaules and Germanes and Herodotus and Thucidides in the Thracians and barbarous people Wherefore let the Generall be religious and a mainteiner of religion and forbid blasphemies and other impieties too too common in the common sort if hee expect the fauour of God and good successe in his affaires The Generall ought further to haue knowledge and iudgement in matters of warre The same is the speciall and most proper ornament of a General in c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist polit li. 5. c. 9. whom the same is more respected then all other morall vertues C. Fabritus in the dangerous warres the Romanes had against Pyrrhus in labouring that d Aul. gel l. 4. c. 8. Cornelius a man rauinous but very expert in warre might be chosen Consull or Generall declareth that the skill and experience of a valiant Captaine couereth other faultes This knowledge and iudgement hath many branches the Generall ought to vnderstand as well the enemies estate as his owne he ought to knowe what forces and what prouision of armes horses carriages victuals and other furniture and munition will be sufficient and howe he is to haue the same he
carriages wanted victuals and armes and munitions many things necessary But seeing they haue done such things at such disaduantage they may thinke our men would haue done much more if the party had bin equall or our men better prouided and furnished Beside this souldiers chosen of this nation are bound with a straiter bond to their prince country then any stranger They haue more reason to fight hauing not only the defence of their prince and country but also their religion lawes liberty wiues and children coÌ„mitted to their hands they are more patient in aduersity haue lesse cause to reuolt Wanting of pay or part of their pay which God wot they may percase do oft times they notwithstanding continue constant and loyal If they offend hauing their wiues children landes goods and friends behinde them they are more easily corrected Finally lesse pay doth content our souldiers then any forreine natioÌ„ I doubt not but if that mony which hath bin cast away vpoÌ„ the Dutch and French had bene emploied vpon our poore country souldiers the country had beene better stored with mony and the people better prouided for warres and greater seruice done vpon the enemy Let vs now compare strangers vnto the subiects of this land There is at all no trust in them a Infidas venâ—lésque manus ibi fas vbi maxima merces Their handes are saleable their heartes faithlesse They accompt that cause best where they may haue most hire It is follie saith b Polyb. lib. 2. Polybius and want of iudgement to put trust in strangers beeing more in number and strength then our owne nation The first time that euer the Romanes vsed mercenary souldiers was when the two Scipioes were gouernours of their forces in Spaine Those two being together with their army betrayed and ruinated by the Celtiberians that forsooke them in their neede may be an euident c Liu. 24. document neuer to trust strangers vnlesse wee haue force to commaund them and constraine them Annibal d Liu. 23. abandoned by the Spanish and Numidian horsemen was greatly weakened e Liu. 23. Mutines forsaking the Carthaginians in whose succour hee came out of Numidia disordered all their affaires in Sicile The Romanes giuing themselues to pleasures and ease and vsing forraine forces of Germanes and Gaules ruinated that huge Empire which was left them by their ancestors Which as Tacitus saith were inuincible so long as they vsed their owne souldiers The Gaules f Qua nihil in exercitu Rom. firmum nisi externum Tacit. 3. reuolted from the Romanes because they saw no strength in the Romane army but that which was of straÌ„gers Of whom they presumed that they would not ioyne with the Romans against them The Thessalian horsemen forsaking the Athenians in the battel of a Thucid. 1. Tanagra occasioned the victory to the Lacedemonians their enemies The same had hapned to the b Thucid. 4. Lacedemonians by the treachery of the Macedonians that forsooke them when the Thracians charged them had not the resolution of Brasidas remedied the disorder The departure of c Guicciar 15. 6000. Grisons that left Francis the first of France before Pauy was the beginning of his weakenesse 2000. mercenary men leauing Maximilian the Emperor broke his enterprise against the Venetians d Guicciar 2. Fabritio Prospero ColoÌ„na although highly aduanced by Charles the 8. of France yet in the end reuolted to Ferdinand In the days of Ed. the 3. Rich. the 2. Hen. the 5. and 6 the greatest e Froissart losses we had in France happened by the reuolt of the French which our men without cause trusted When al was lost yet did wée retaine Caleis vntil it was taken from vs by force for that it was kept peopled by the English nation Yet the same was almost betrayed by an Italian to whom Edw. the 3. gaue it in guard How the Germans that came into France of late in aide of the Protestants vnder the Dukes of Bouillion the baron Donaw behaued themselues I report me to the memory of those poore gentlemeÌ„ that by their disloyaltie and treason were left as a spoyle to the enemie Oft times strangers not only forsake their friends but also ioyne with the enemy oppugne them The f Liu. 21. Gaules in the 2. wars with Carthage flew the watch of the Romanes by night fled ioyned themselues with Annibal The Dutchmen that Charles the 8. of France left in the kingdome of g Guicciar lib. 3. Naples for the defence thereof corrupted with mony tooke part with the enemy The b Tacit. 20. Romans betrayed by their associats at one time were slain both by them by the enemy The ancient Britons vsing in time past the help of the Saxons were by them driuen out of their natiue country The like hapned to the i Caes bel gal 1. Sequanians long before For requiring aide of the Germanes against the Heduans their neighbors they were driuen out of their owne possessions by those that came to succour them k Salust bel Iugurth Iugurtha by the trechery of certaine Thracians that serued the Romanes in Affrike entred the Romane campe in the night and made a great slaughter therein The Turkes are now in possession of Constantinople in aide whereof they first came out of Asia Strangers are neuer satisfied with any pay yet seldome do they any seruice The l Dimissi Galli pecuniam ingentem sine labore ac periculo partam retulerunt Liu. 10. Gaules hired by the Hetruscians carried away their mony without doing anie seruice against the Romanes When the French had foyled the enemy then the hired Switzers and Dutchmen crying for mony hindered their victory They tooke mony saith a Guicciar lib. 2. 12. Guicciardin of al hands did seruice to none It is not possible saith he to manage the b Impossible a manegiar li Suizzerisenza denari infiniti Guicciar lib 9. Switzers without infinit treasure It is long to report al the discourses of their insatiable couetousnes treasons Of king Edw. the 3. purposing to recouer his right in France Froissart sayth that with great summes of mony he hired the Dutch to ioyne with him but he got no ayde of them nor other aduancement but a vaine title of Lieutenant to the Emperor Not long since the c Hie duitch or Germanes Dutch calling for mony when they should fight gaue the victorie to the Duke of Alua their enemie and betrayed their Generall the Prince of Orenge There is nothing more cowardly then strangers when they come to seruice They are d Non fide non affectu tenentur Sine pudore flagitii fugiunt Tacit. in vit Agric not reteined by affection nor regard promise and shame not to flye to saue their skinnes Nothing can bee deuised more disorderly nor rauinous The Switzers tooke their owne Captains prisoners in Lombardy and kept them as pledges
noses of them and furnished with shot and targets are first to set forward with equall front and after them other boates laden with piquiers are to folow the ordonance and impediments must come in the midst and the rest of the army afterward But in passing of plaines woods straites mountaines or riuers there is no course more effectual then to vse expedition celeritie In all practises of warre the same is most auaileable For by this meanes the danger is often passed before the enemie be ready to withstande vs. a Caes bel gal 7. Caesar by his expedition had woÌ„derful successe in al his affaires He passed the hils of Auuergne before the enemy had any suspition of his coÌ„ming He passed his army in one day ouer the riuer of Soan which the Heluetians could not do in many By the same he preuented b Caes bel ciu 1. al Pompeyes preparatiues and draue his enemies out of Italy before they had any respit giuen them to take breath c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. exped Cyr. 3. Xenophon taking the tops of the hils before the enemie looked for him passed great dangers with great ease Montgomery in his iourney into Bearne vsed that speede that before the enemies were assembled to resist him he had passed all the riuers straites and mountaines which were in his way No marueile therefore if they do nothing that make such intollerable delayes in all things Loyterers are taken in trappe and made often to flye because they will not runne The army of Afranius in Spaine being nere to the hils where they might haue escaped Caesars hands and marched safely delayed time and suffred Caesars army to come betwixt them and their safetie which was the ruine of that company Yet if the heauens should be ruinated some as it should seeme would not mend their pace CHAP. VII Part. 1. Wherein is declared what trauerses and oppositions the defendants are to make that thereby they may stoppe or hinder the progresse and march of the enemy THis may be vnderstood in part by that which hath bene said already For seeing the difficulties that hinder the proceeding of an army are either wants and weaknesse in it selfe or oppositions made by the enemy that taking the aduantages of hilles or wooddes or straits or riuers is alwayes ready to hurt or hinder it who seeth not that the stronger our oppositions are the slower will the army be able to proceed The principall meanes to breake the course of an army ranging vp and downe the countrey is want of prouision This was the course that Fabius vsed against Annibal in Italy To effect this strait order is to be taken that the a Edictum proponebatur vt quioê° oppida castellaque immunita essent in loca tuta commigrarent ex agris quoque vti demigrarent omnes regionis eius qua Annibal iturus esset tectis priùs incensis ac frugibus corruptis ne cuius rei copia esset Liu. 22. people saue themselues in places of strength and that thither also they conuey their corne prouision and cattell whatsoeuer cannot be carried away the same is to be burned and spoiled all along where the enemy commeth Which order Fabius caused to be proclamed and obserued in the warres in Italy with Annibal b Liu. Philip king of Macedonia not being able to defend the townes countrey of Thessalia transported the people into other places the townes villages he burnt the corne he laid vp safe the cattell he caused to be driuen into places of strength c Pabulatione commeatu Vercing etorix equitatu abuÌ„dans Caesarem prohibere conatus est Caes bel Gal. 7. Vercingetorix the captain of the Gaules seeing himselfe no way able to match Caesars army in open field yet by spoiling the country burning whatsoeuer might be coÌ„modious for the enemy draue him to great extremities and percase had done more if that the necessity of poore people hope to defend townes of no strength had not spared much that should haue bene spoiled The Greeks that returned froÌ„ the voyage of Cyrus into Persia were by nothing hurt more then by the wilfulnesse of the people through whose countries they passed which burning their prouision which they coulde not saue made them go far about suffer great want The duke of Alua had not bene so easily rid of the army which the prince of Orenge brought into the Low countries if he had not without compassion spoiled the country forced him to returne for feare of hunger The duke of Aumale likewise did spoile the country where the Almaines that came to ayd the Protestauts anno 1569 passed If pitie of the poore and fauor of friends will permit vs to execute this without respect there is nothing more auâ—â—lable against a strong enemy for whatsoeuer prouision the euemy bringeth with him yet if he finde no supply in the countrey he cannot long coÌ„tinue there a Adeoque inopia est coactus Annibal vt nisi tum fugâ—â— speciem abeâ—ndo timâ—isset Galliam repetituâ—us suerit Liu. 22. Fabius by following this course brought Annibal with his victorious army into those straits that had it not bene for shame and danger that would haue followed him by flying he would haue returned backe into France Lest the enemy range too farre abroad he is to be restreined with strong garrisons placed in cownes defensible and with a power of horsemen these will intercept straglers and garrisons sallying vpon outriders will keepe them in order It is not the point of a wise Generall to leaue the enemy vpon his backe b Repressus remotus Lucterius quod intrare intra praesidia periculosum putabat Caes Bel. Gal. 7. Lucterius the French capteine would willingly haue spoiled the countrey of the Romans in France but he stayed himselfe fearing to enter among the garrison townes which hee could not doe without apparant danger Caesar c VellaunodunuÌ„ ne quem post se hostem relinqueret oppugnare instituit Caes Bel. Gal. 7. besieged Vellaunodunum that lay in his way for feare the garrison of the enemy left there might doe him some annoyance The army of the Protestants anno 1569 retiring out of Poitou into Gascoigne thence into Dauphinè receiued many algarades of the enemies garrisons in the countrey where they passed but nothing doth keepe the enemy straiter nor more hinder his march then a power of horsemen galling him continually on the sides and watching all opportunities By them d Caes Bel. Gal. 7. Vercingetorix kept Caesars forragers very short Cassiuellanus with his e Pabulatores essedarijs aggressus ne latiùs vagarentur continuit Caes Bel. Gal. 5. essedarians that fought in charets kept the Romanes from going farre on forraging the countrey and f Frumentatum exeunti Annibali diuersis locis opportunè aderat Liu. 22. Fabius with his horsemen meeting at euery turne with such as Annibal had sent out to fetch in
occasion of their ouerthrow But howsoeuer the place be chosen aduantageous yet there is alwayes some part that lieth open which is to bee assured with trenches and palissadaes The lesse aduantage that the nature of the ground yeeldeth the more labour our souldiers are to take in working and trenching the same And that with a trench and banke sufficient if not such as the Romanes vsed yet such as may couer the defendants and hinder the ascent of the assailants without ladders Caesar in the b Castra in altitudinem pedum 12. vallo fossaque 18. pedum muniuit Caesar bel gal 2. warres against the Belgians enuironed his campe neere Soissons with a banke twelue foote high and a ditch eighteene foote broade If the danger were great the Romanes vsed to make their bankes higher and trenches deeper It would be incredible if I should report all those bankes trenches and workes which Caesar made about Alexia in France and at Dyrrhachium in the warres against Pompey and other places and howe hee cast trenches of great depth tenne or eleuen miles compasse Which was also the vse of all the Romanes Whose workes yet remaining in England in diuers places because it seemeth incredible they should be doone by men are called diuelles ditches and supposed by them to be cast That this fortification may be made with more ease and greater speed euery man is to worke eyther with mattock or spade I know our men will at first refuse it and discharge themselues vpon pionniers but why should they disdaine to doe that which the Romanes did and why shoulde anie refuse to worke to saue his life and the liues of their company Let them consider howe such idle fellowes that woulde not fortifie their lodgings haue beene vsed c Castra procos habebat nee loco satis tuto posita ne◠praesidiis firmata hac negligentia fretus cum incautum Annibal opressit Liu. 27. Fuluis the Romane Proconsul neither for place nor defence nor garde lay strongly enough with his army which was no sooner brought to Annibal but marching thither with his army he tooke him at vnawres and ouerthre we him and all his companie La Loüe and his companie lying secure and carelesse without trench or barriquade had their throates cut by the garrison of Montpellier in the night being asleepe in their lodging Anno one thousand fiue hundred sixtie and nine Neither did the companie that vnder Napoleon Vrsini a Guicciard came to the succor of Florence besieged by the Prince of Orenge in the daies of Charles the fift escape better cheape to teach others percase to make better barriquades and trenches and to keepe better watch If the Protestantes durst haue charged Charles the fift before his campe was fortified at Englestat they had b Natal com l. 1. no doubt foyled him Neither is it sufficient to trench the wayes if wee lie open on the sides Euerie waie must haue some defence Strossi c Hist. de troubl de Er. li. 7. stiffely defending a certaine valley by Rocheabeille Anno one thousand fiue hundred sixtie and nine fensed onely in front with a weake palissade was inuested on the sides and forced by the Protestantes In which disastre himselfe was taken and most of his troupes distrouped and slaine If his defence had beene strong in all places hee had saued himselfe and foyled his enemy Q. Cicero d Caes bel gal 5. one of Caesars lieutenants by the fortifications of his campe abode diuers assaults of the whole power of France and held out vntill such time as Caesar succoured him And well befell it Prospero Colonna that his lodging was strong at the Bicocke For otherwise he and his companie had beene drawen out thence not by the eares but by the legges There is none so small a fortification but it may doe vs fauour in such a case The Spaniardes making a trench betweene themselues and the French at e Guicciard li. 5. Cirignola and bordering the same with their shot made them to this day remember what daunger it is to passe a trench resolutely defended In these late braules of France captaine Granry f Hist de troubl de Fr. li. 6. lodging in Esse a village vpon the riuer of Vienne gaue the enemy a rude welcome comming to see him in his lodging in the night His safetie was in a double barrier and trench made by him at the endes of the streetes Yet let euery man take heede howe hee presume vpon euery small defence and rather let him cause his men to take more paines It is no base labour that is vndertaken for the defence of our liues and little doth he deserue his life that will not digge a few turfes to saue it Ludouike of Nassau the brother to the Prince of Orenge presumed too much vpon a little bad ditch betwixt him and the Duke of Aluaes army If it had beene but sixe foote deeper hee had repulsed the enemy with great slaughter a This happeued anno 1568. For idlenesse and want of skill he and his company were ouerthrowen and driuen to take Embden for their succour And yet not warned herewith when hee brought a supplie out of Germanie to aide his brother b Mich. ab Islael◠lying in a village without sufficient defence hee was charged by the enemie and there slaine and with him Christopher the Prince Palatins sonne a Prince vnworthy that disastrous death and with them most of the company That the campe may with more ease be trenched and fortified the worke is equally to be diuided amongst the company That equitie the Romanes taught vs and c Singula latera castrotū singulis attribuit legionibus munienda Caes bel gal 1. Caesar practiced diuiding the ground among his regiments to be wrought And shame it is among vs seeing as the vse of warres teacheth vs the great profite of labour in banking and trenching that wee put it ouer to a sort of men called Pionniers vnknowen among the Romanes whose workes were alwayes d They are commonly termed Opera militum done by souldiers This is the cause of the great charge of Princes and slow proceeding and slender effects of warres Therfore they that will not worke and take paines rather then die shamefully let them die But let not the idlenesse of such preiudice the state or the safety of braue men But let such defend themselues as well with bankes as with weapons and not follow the slouthful pride of athers The forme of the campe is much according to the site and lying of the ground Among the Romanes it was made for the most part foure square But it skilleth not though it bee three or fiue square So the bankes woulde bee made tenne e Lesse depth bredth wil serue but this maketh the bankes sufficient or twelue foote hie the ditch sixeteene or eighteene foote broade The deeper the ditch and higher the banke is the more assured is
warre and iustly after the victorie for as good successe procureth to the Conquerour friends so euery one abandoneth and contemneth the vanquished The Capuans and a great part of Italy reuolted from the Romanes after the infortunate encounter at Cannae Philip king of Macedonia being ouercome by Titus Quintius not onely sawe the departure of his confederates and friendes but also the rebellion of his owne subiects After that the Carthaginians side began to decline in their warres with the Romanes all their friendes forsooke them The same disloyall dealing of subiects and friendes Charles last Duke of Burgundy felt after his disastrous iourney against the Switzers at Granson Hereupon Philip of Comines taketh occasion to tell a long tale howe dangerous it is for a Prince to be ouercome in a pight fielde at which if he had knowne ancient histories he would not haue made such wonderment For there neuer was nor can be other successe looked for in such cases Wherefore after the victorie the Generall is to practise with the friendes and confederates of the vanquished and with good conditions to vnite them vnto him selfe Heerein the opinion of the iustice and good dealing of the Generall shall greatly further his desire as is euident by the example of Scipio and Annibal For Scipio sending vnto euery Citie in Spaine those pledges which the enemie had from them and which he had taken from the enemie he gotte him selfe much friendshippe and Annibal after his victorie dismissing such of the associats of the Romanes as he had taken without ransome and vsing them courteously procured him selfe amongest them great credite of good dealing so that many did adhere vnto him and forsake the Romanes Thus we see howe the victorie is to be pursued Nowe therefore let vs see howe our conquest may be mainteined and assured For want of which consideration we see whereto the victories of this nation in France and otherwhere are come and how hardly and chargeably that which we haue remaining in Ireland is kept in deuotion and what is there to be feared if euer any enemy with resolution and strength doe there assaile vs. To keepe our conquest there are two principall meanes both necessarie Force and Iustice for neither without force can those that are rebellious and desirous of innouation be repressed nor without iustice can the peaceable be defended or contented That Empire sayth a Id firmissimum longèimperiuÌ„ est quo obedientes gaudent Liu. 9. Camillus is most firme and durable which the subiects do willingly embrace and gladly continue And hard it is to keepe men discontent long in subiection by force A countrey a Impâ—rium sâ—cilèâ—js artibus râ—tinetur quibus initio partum est Salâ—st coniur Catilin subdued is kept by the same meanes that it was subdued that is saieth Salust by fortitude industrie iustice The vse of force is diuers First to repell the enemie if hee come againe and to keepe him downe that hee looke not vp Caesar vsed this course in the subduing of France being alwayes readie to represse the disobedient and the same was vsed both in the subduing of Spayne and Afrike and other countreys by the ancient Romanes The French not hauing force readie in Naples and Milan to encounter the Spaniards that came to molest them in their possession soone lost prise Secondly force is necessarie to subdue rebels and mutinous persons that may procure the trouble of the state The Romanes vntill the countrey was quiet which they had vanquished and vntill euery husbandman and other fell to labour kept an armie there continually when the same was pacified they brought away their maine force and placed some of their souldiers inhabitants in some strong places in the countrey which liued vpon the profites thereof and yet kept the same in obedience These townes they called Colonies The Romanes hauing diuers times vanquished the b Ea clade conterritis hostium animis vt etiam vbi ea remisissee terrore aliquo tenerentur Velitris auxere numerum Colonorum Romani Norbae in montes nouam Coloniam quae arx in pomptino esset miserunt Liu. 2. Volscians and Sabines and yet seeing them readie to rebell for to keepe them in order placed Romanes in the towne of Velitri and in the mountaines in Norba to serue as castles among them Afterward when they had vanquished the c Tum de praesidio regionis depopulatae agitari coeptum itaque placuit vt duae coloniae circa Vestinum Falernum agrum deducerentur Liu. 10. Vestinians and spoyled their countrey consulting by what gardes they might best keepe the countrey in deuotion They resolued to send two Colonies into the countrey of the Vestinians and the territorie neere the hill Falernum These townes being peopled with Romanes and placed in countreys of new conquest Tullie calleth propugnacles of the Romane empire Tacitus calleth Cremona a fortresse and d Propugnaculum aduersus Gallos trans Padum agenteâ— Tacit. 9. propugnacle against the Gaules beyond Padus This meanes also other nations haue thought fittest to keepe countreys in subiection And therefore nothing among them was more vsuall then to translate inhabitants from one place into another The kings of Syria hauing vanquished the Israelites placed a Colonie in Samaria The Athenians taking the Island e Thucid. 4. Cythera from the Lacedemonians remooued the old inhabitants and peopled it with their friends And against the f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid 1. Thracians in defence of their conquest they sent ten thousand inhabitants into Strymon The kings of this realme peopling Caleis with English kept the same long in their possession which they lost not but by force If they had likewise peopled Rochel Poitiers Limoges Burdeaux and other townes with this nation they would not haue bene so hard to keepe nor readie to reuolt not doing that they did soone loose the same by treason And if Colonies had now of late bene sent into Ireland not as now scattering and disunited and few in number but in good strength and vnited by lawes and dwelling in townes as the Romanes did I doubt not but the countrey would bee better assured and the charge farre lesser then now it is For the charge of garrisons is great the insolencie of garrison souldiers greater And if an enemie come against them their strength is nothing If any man say that it is hard to dispossesse the ancient inhabitants of the countrey out of their dwellings he considereth not that rebels and enemies are so to bee vsed and that if they bee placed other where it is of mercie rather then desert which notwithstanding in all cases may not bee vsed Hard it is sayd a Plutarch apopth Agesilaus to be mercifull and wise both together Yet if inhabitants when the time was had bene sent into Ireland being voyde in some places diuers English might haue bene placed without iniurie to any To maintaine a force therfore without great charge the meane
made a strong Palissade vpon it and did sticke it ful of stakes The b Thucid. 1. Athenians vsed the same circumuallation about Potidaea which they compassed round with a strong banke deepe ditch Besieging c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucid. 1. MiletuÌ„ that part that was toward the land they compassed with three bankes and so many ditches and with their ships so crossed the hauen that none could enter or issue that way Caesar vsed yet more labour in besieging of townes in France Before Alexia first he made a trench 20 foote broad round about the towne This trench was neerer to the towne then his campe by 400 pases Beside that he made two other trenches without that each of them was 15 foote broad and behind the vtmost of the two d Caes bel Gal. 7. a banke of 12 foote hie with a parapet and crenels vpon it For garde whereof he caused sharpe forked stakes to be made fast in them Vpon the banke he built turrets round about one of them in distance from an other 80 foote in the ditches he pitched sharpe stakes and them couered with hurdles and earth The ground betwixt the trenches he set full of sharpe stakes and boords full of sharpe nailes with the points vpward and all this froÌ„ his campe inward to the towne The like trenches and banks and turrets he made round about his campe without for defence against those that should come to relieue the townsmeÌ„ without Things now incredible to be reported but then coÌ„monly vsed In few daies he compassed the citie e Vallo peâ—um 12 in circuitu 15 millium crebriscum castellis circummuniti erant Aduatici Caes bel Gal. 2. of the Aduaticans with a banke in circuit 15 miles in height 12 foote vpon the same he made turrets without it a deepe trench The same proceeding he vsed in the siege of Vtica in Afrike long before him Scipio besieging the same towne a Fossa vallo vrbem circumdat castella excitat modicis interuallis Liu. 25. Fuluius in the siege of Capua toward the towne did make a ditch of a great breadth and vpon it hee raised an high banke with turrets vpon the same round about the towne and the like defences he made against the enemie without so that not so much as a messenger could goe out nor any succour come in for to helpe the townsmen The same course another Fuluius vsed in the siege of Ambracia as Liuie testifieth The Gaules at length perceiuing the great commodity that these works brought with theÌ„ in effecting their purposes in sieges albeit vnacquainted with labor yet besieging b Caes bel Gal. 5. Quintus Cicero his campe coÌ„passed him in with hie banks and deepe trenches imitating all such works as they had seene the Romanes to make before them Annibal perceiuing that the castle of Tarentum which he besieged had the sea open perswaded the Tarentines to goe to sea and to stop the passage that way which if they could haue done in the end percase they might haue preuailed But the Romanes were too vigilant and sent them within succour in time If Lautrecke likewise had compassed them of Naples round about with banks and trenches and stopped the hauen so that no victuals had bene brought into the towne by sea or by land hee had not failed of his enterprise in taking the citie But now adayes our great commaunders thinke euery litle thing much and our souldiers are so idle and proude that they will not worke If with certaine Pioners they cut the high wayes and make certaine Barriquades vpon them and erect fiue or sixe weake sconces which are euill termed fortes being of no strength nor value they thinke they haue done much yea more then ordinarie either by water or by land they leaue the towne open so that seldome they come to the ende of their desires The French kings brother that was afterward king of Poland besieging Rochell an 1573. did not so much as cut the wayes so but that the townsmen diuers times sallied out vpoÌ„ him both with horse and foote Long was it ere his ships were come to barre the hauen and when they were come yet did they not so well gard it but that both ships with munitions victuals and messengers entred issued diuers times At Poitiers besieged by the Protestants an 1569. matters passed farre worse They neither barred the plaine nor the waies with any sufficient trenches succours entred horsemen and footemen sallied diuers times To this passe idlenes hath brought sieges that few take effect But let not our souldiers be ashamed to doe that which the Romanes did and practise of warre requireth Nay that valiant prince R. Edward the 3 hath shewed them by his example what they should doe for besieging Caleis he compassed it with a sufficient ditche and banke so that none could sally out and for defence of himselfe against such as should come with succour from without he made the like workes outward and in the ende preuailed So likewise townes besieged are to be enuironed with bankes and trenches and with the same our campe is likewise to be fenced The vse of the sea is to be taken from them with shippes as Marcellus did in the siege of Syracusae and Scipio in the siege of newe Carthage and Vtica If the same stand vpon riuers the same are to be barred with bridges as a Liu. 2. Porsena practised in the siege of Rome and not long since the Prince of Parma in the siege of Antwarpe If men will not take the paines to enuirone the towne with bankes and trenches round about yet must all hie waies and streetes and easie accesses at the least be well trenched and defended with bankes and sconces built in diuers places for the hinderance of succours and stopping of sallies The Duke of Alua did so in the siege of Arlem The Prince of Parma in the siege of Maestricht and in diuers other places Those which take diuers castles or els newe builde them two or three leagues distant from the Towne which they besiege thinking thereby to famish the Townesmen besieged seldome effect their purpose The Protestants anno 1567 seasing Pont Charenton Pont S. Clou Busenual S. Denis other places neere Paris thought to keepe it from victuals but the distances from Paris and of one place to another were so great that euen the Countrey people passed out and in betweene almost at pleasure The practise of the Earle of b Froissart Flanders that tooke like course in famishing of Gant in the dayes of Edward the thirde was likewise made frustrate First therefore the townes besieged are to be enuironed either with a banke and trenches or els with sconces very neere to the walles Secondly the same are to be kept with strong gardes and diligent watches that none enter in or passe out for defence whereof the banks are to be made high and well flanked the ditches deepe
appointed to scale in all places of easie accesse The same wil trouble the enemy much and diuert his forces In scaling this rule is to be obserued that while the targettiers goe to the walles the shot beate them that stand vpon the walles That there may be supply where neede is the whole army at the time of the assault is to be brought into armes and euerie man to haue his charge assigned Some to defend the lodgings against anie sodaine stirres some to discouer others to stand in their places appointed eyther to pursue the victorie or to fauour the retraite of their fellowes or to go where they shal be appointed The more force is employed the weaker will be the enemies resistance Those that purpose to preuaile by assault are to cōsider further both time place other circūstances To giue the assault that time is most proper whē the enemy is least prouided which cōmonly is at the dawning of the day or at noone time In the a Liu. siege of Heraclea the assailants making fained shews 2. or 3. days of cōming to the assalt yet doing nothing made the defendants so secure that whē they came indeed with al their forces they found them vnready so entred In the place where wee purpose to shew out vtmost force there least noise and shew is to be made and contrariwise greatest stirre where we meane to do least a Hirt. de bel Alexand Caesar making shewe to enter at the place of easiest accesse tooke the campe of the Alexandrians scaling it where they least looked for any such matter That the enemy haue no time to consider our men are to go resolutely to the assault not as Monlucs men did at the siege of b Hist de troubl de Fr. Niort who going to the breach paused being entred the ditch Likewise there ought to be good correspondence that the towne may be scaled and assaulted at the breach both together and that euery parte may be well seconded and supplied If eyther the breach or walles be wonne there let them that enter stay vntil so many be entred as may serue to force the towne and so placing others to garde the entrance and to receiue the rest of their company let them march in good order some to the market place others to the bulworkes and not seuer themselues before their whole companie or so many as is requisite be within the towne c Caes de bel gal 7. Caesar taking Auaricum by scale would not suffer his men to descend into the towne before hee had filled the walles with men If the enemy make resistance in the streetes the houses are to bee fired neere them By this meanes d Liu. 2. Coriolanus made way for his men in the taking of Corioli and the Spaniards cleared the streets in the sacke of Antwerpe If they shewe themselues obstinate they are to be compassed round about and so dealt withall vpon aduantage e Liu. Camillus making proclamation that no man shoulde bee slaine that laide downe his armes tooke a certaine towne which he had entred quietly which otherwise without great slaughter he could not haue obtained Before that euery man in the towne hath laid downe his armes the towne be possessed quietly no man is to be suffered to disband or enter houses or to seeke pillage The last care of the General is how to make vse of the towne that is wonne If he meane to keepe it then ought hee diligently to repaire the breaches and to saue the victuals lay them vp in store with the rest of the spoile to reward those that best deserue If hee meane not to keepe it yet ought he to saue that which may be for the vse of the army to ruinate the walles to fire the towne that the fame serue no more for a nest for the enemy to rest in The f Guicciar hist Duke of Orleance neglecting this care no sooner had taken Nouara but he lost it againe for want of victuals Corbueil in France of late taken by the Prince of Parma not hauing the breach repaired was shortlie after recouered by surprise by the kings side Small townes such especially as haue no great ordonance or no places where to employ it are taken by zapping or digging downe the walles especially if they be hie and without terrasses behind By this a Sub musculo milites vectibus infima saxa turris hostium conuellunt Caes de bel ciu 2. meanes Caesars souldiers ruinated the walles of Massilia and b Annibal 500. Afros cum dolabris ad subruendum ab imo murum mittit Liu. 21. Annibal made a way into Saguntum But before they approch the walles lest the enemy dig their sides with shot or throwe downe stones vpon them the enemy is to be beaten from the wall with shot and the souldiers to be couered with mantellets of wood on the sides ouer the head Then with crows of iron they are al along the wall to pul out the lowest stones lest the same fal on them to vnderprop it with wood The same when al is finished is by gunpouder to be fired By this meanes the townesmen of Sancerre An. 1572. recouered the castle from certaine traitors that were there entred c Hist de troubl de Fr. Bordet in the siege of Chartres An. 1568. wan a corner of a raueline That the breach be not repaired by them within the assailants are to make thēselues ready to go to the assault in that order which before I haue prescribed That this course in sieges surprises and assaults is according to the true practise of armes although in part hath bene shewed yet now shall it further be confirmed and those that haue done otherwise by their euill successe and euill proceeding refuted and their course reprooued d Liu. 24. Annibal pretending to goe to sacrifice at the lake of Auerne did presently go to assault Puteoli and in our times the Prince of Parma making a faire shew as if he meant to besiege Ostend did sodainely sit downe before Scluse This practise is good in this and in all enterprises of warre For thereby the enemy being made vncertaine his forces are deriued an other way and his care diuerted from that which should principally be cared for The Protestants of France Anno 1568. purposing to besiege e Hist de troubl de Fr. An golesme sent Montgomery before with certaine troupes of horsemen to hinder the accesse of victuals to the towne But farre better they had done if before they came with their whole forces they had not discouered their purpose For in the meane time the townesmen prepared and strengthned themselues in the siege and taking of Saguntum Annibal proceeded in this sort a Liu. 21. He enuironed the towne round with trenches by zapping and diuers engins he made a breach in the assault fresh men succeeded them that were hurt and wearied vntill
for slaues If any of the Romans did wrong to the Ambassadors of other nations the Senate caused such men to be taken to be deliuered vnto them that they might iudge them as it pleased them selues as is apparant not only by iustice done vpon those that did iniury to the Ambassadors of c Qui Legatos Carthaginensiū pulsauerant Carthaginensibus traditi Liu. 38. Carthage but also vpon those that had wronged certaine messengers comming from d Val. max. l. 6. Apollonia Tatius neglecting to do iustice vpon those that had wronged the messengers of the Laurentins was him selfe e Liu. 1. slaine of them when he came among them But this priuiledge as it belongeth to Ambassadors betwixt Princes nations so f Bodin de la repub l. 1. some haue supposed that it belonged not to such messengers as come from rebels And thereupon defend the fact of Charles the 5. that imprisoned the messengers of the Duke of Milan that had reuolted from him And according to this supposall we vnderstand that hard measure hath bene offerd to diuers messengers sent from the Protestants of France to the aduerse party As if Princes should make warres with his subiects with all extremity and not admit the lawes of nations in matters which passe betwixt him and thē I graunt there is a great difference betwixt publike enemies rebels yet necessitie requireth oft times parley and if the Prince looke to haue his Ambassadors to haue good interteinment with them hee must likewise vse their messengers wel The Romans practiced that in the warre which they had against their g Bello sociali associates and did not offer violence to those which were sent by Antony yet there may be I graunt such warres that admit no entercourse of messengers which in the warres among the h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greekes was sometime practiced but that was inhumane cruelty and rather hurtfull to them selues then to the enemy Yet if any purpose to enioy the priuiledge of Ambassadors hee may not passe the bounds of an Ambassadour whose ordinary office is to denounce warre or treate of peace or truce or prisoners and such matters as by Ambassadors are ordinarily handled If Ambassadours come vnder that colour to espie our proceedings the name of their office doeth not warrant their lewd dealing Caesar a Caes bel gal 4. deteined the messengers of the Tenctherians perceiuing that they came for no other purpose but to winne time and to espie his forces The blacke b Froissart Prince caused a messenger that came from the French king to cite him to appeare in the Parliament of Paris to be arested but it was for that he came not as an Ambassador in matters of state but as a somner or bailif to doe him a disgrace Francis the French king the first of that name caused a gibet to be erected before hee woulde heare a certaine messenger that came from Charles the fift fearing that otherwise hee woulde haue abused him in termes That the Romanes did dismisse the c Lin. lib. 2. Ambassadors of Tarquin broching a conspiracie in Rome and the Ambassadors of the d Dionis Halic lib. 6. Volscians that came as espials and that her Maiestie did likewise dismisse Bernardin Mendoza that was an abettor if not a contriuer of great treasons wrought against her it was of speciall clemencie and fauour rather then for that the lawes of armes require it for they warrant none to practise treason nor rebellion nor to abuse a Prince nor to do other matters then belong to the office of Ambassadors The e Doctores in L. vlt. ff de legationibus Lawes of the Romans in matters of publike crimes against the lawes of nations make ambassadors to answere notwithstanding their priuiledge Neither doe any writers excuse the fact of Fabius Ambustus that being sent in ambassage to the Gaules besieging Clusium put on armes and fought against them Thus we see that Ambassadors comming from other Princes vnto vs in such matters as belong to that office are priuiledged but whether our enemies ambassadors going to other princes and nations or contrariwise comming from other princes to our enemies are likewise to be priuiledged it is of some doubted The French complaine that their ambassadors sent to the Turke were slaine by the Spaniard and some do thinke hardly of the fact of Charles the fift that allowed it but without cause For the word Ambassador or Messenger being a word that hath relation to those to whō a man is sent there can be no bond betwixt Ambassadors others to whom they are not sent The Romanes deteined not onely the ambassadors of Annibal sent to Philip king of Macedonia but also Philips ambassadors sent to Annibal And the Athenians put the ambassadors of the Lacedaemonians to death being taken as they were sent by them to require ayde of the king of Persia against the Athenians Ambassadours therefore woulde be well chosen and discreetely ought they to handle their businesse without curious intermedling with affayres that concerne them not Tully iesteth at a certaine Ambassade consisting of three persons one of which was an idiot the second had a great scarre in his head the third had the gout This Ambassade sayd he had neither head brayne nor feete nothing ought they to speake that may preiudice the affaires of the Prince wherein Philip of Comines noteth a certaine English Heralds ignorance whose foolish babbling was no small hinderance to the affaires of Edward the fourth that sent him Charles Duke of Burgundy conceiued great displeasure against Lewes the xi for certaine foolish a Phil. Comin wordes vttered against him by an Ambassador sent from the king to his father The Romanes to the Ambassadors of their enemies gaue audience without the Citie and when they had giuen them their answere sent certaine to conduct them to their shipping to see that they practised with no man The like course did the Athenians followe in hearing and interteining the Ambassadors of the Lacedaemonians Which course they may also folow that feare least vnder such colours cunning fellowes should espye our countrey and our doings And if those that haue the gouernment of garison townes haue care that no messenger shall come into the place but blindfold sure reason would that men should haue an eye also that such messengers as come into other countreys should neither see so much as they doe nor haue that libertie to talke with whom they list as now they haue For by such meanes often time they vnderstand their estate better then they doe themselues CHAP. XXI Wherein is declared that to encourage forward men to doe valiantly nothing is more effectuall then reward nor for maintenance of militarie discipline any thing more requisit then seuere punishment THe course of warres if nothing els did perswade vs yet sheweth vs that after victorie obteined or troubles ended such as haue done valiant seruice are to be