Selected quad for the lemma: rest_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
rest_n	file_n	leader_n	left_a	4,778	5	11.1713	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31706	The commentaries of C. Julius Cæsar of his warres in Gallia, and the civil warres betwixt him and Pompey / translated into English with many excellent and judicious observations thereupon ; as also The art of our modern training, or, Tactick practise, by Clement Edmonds Esquire, ... ; where unto is adjoyned the eighth commentary of the warres in Gallia, with some short observations upon it ; together with the life of Cæsar, and an account of his medalls ; revised, corrected, and enlarged.; De bello civili. English	Caesar, Julius.; Edmondes, Clement, Sir, 1566 or 7-1622. Observations upon Caesars commentaries of the civil warres.; Hirtius, Aulus. De bello Gallico. Liber 8. English.; Edmondes, Clement, Sir, 1566 or 7-1622. Manner of our modern training or tactick practise.; Caesar, Julius. De bello Gallico. English.	1655 (1655)	Wing C199; ESTC R17666	660,153	403

thus commanded at sometimes to turn his face to the right or left hand or about the Battallion standing in order that is according to the distance before named so the whole Battallion being reduced into their close order is commanded to turn as one body to the right or left hand It is performed thus Imagine the Battallion stand first in order it shall be commanded that they close their files to the right hand when the right file standing still the rest turning their faces to the right hand march into their close order and return as they were next that they close their ranks from behind when every follower marcheth forward to his leader unto his rapiers point as is said before This done the leader of the right file standing immoveable all the rest as the body of a ship or a great gate turn about that leader as about the hinge or center every one keeping the same distance and order wherein they were first placed as if they were but one entire body When the same Battallion is to be restored into the same station wherein it was first it is commanded Faces about to the left hand and march into your order from whence you were closed Then let your leaders or first ranks stand still and the rest turning faces about march ranks in order as before then turn as you were and you are restored When the whole Battallion being in their close order should turn about and make the Rere the Front it is done by a double turning or declination and commanded to wheel about which is answerable to the former faces about or mutation There is also another wheeling in this sort when the front changeth the aspect thrice for as wheeling about maketh the Front the Rere so this wheeleth from the right hand to the left or contrariwise which fashion is so seldome used that we scarce afford it a name In all such motions and alterations it is most fit that all men perform their directions with their pikes advanced being in that sort most easie to be commanded as also lesse troublesome to their followers and leaders Countermarching Files and Ranks THere is also another means to prevent the enemy his assaulting us in the rere or flank lest he should find our worst men least able to make resistance and this is performed by countermarching both files and ranks three divers wayes apiece The first was used by the Macedonians after this fashion First the leader turneth his face about towards the right or left hand and so the next follower marching behind his leader turneth also and so the third and fourth untill the bringer up have carried himself out into a new place in the rere further from the enemy as he was before next unto him But this neither was nor is accounted safe or secure because it doth somewhat resemble a flying or running away from the enemy which might give him no small incouragement and therefore it is not much in practise Only at some times the bringers up marching throughout beyond the leaders untill they possesse the same space before them which they did behind them all turning their faces about make their leaders to affront the enemy who were before farthest from them The Lacedamonians used the contrary as it were pursuing the enemy the bringer up first being turned face about and so the next marching before him and so the third untill the leader himself became also turned and in the foremost front unto the enemy Which with us is somewhat otherwise but yet both affronting and as it were pursuing the enemy because our leaders first begin this motion and so countermarching through on the right or left hand become in the front in a new space of ground who were before in the rere The third and last was invented by the Persians whom when the place or near approch of the enemy would not suffer to change their ground they were wont to countermarch the front to the right or left hand and being come unto the depth of the bringers up to stand still untill the other half file had likewise marched forth and fallen upon their leaders in every file In all these it is especially commanded to march still in the same distance and by whole ranks to prevent confusion which especially the enemy at hand must needs be most dangerous and therefore carefully to be avoided In like sort the ranks may countermarch when either the right wing would be strengthened by the left or the left by the right alwayes marching by whole files towards the right or left hand according as they shall have the direction either changing the ground or upon the same ground as in the former countermarches There is used also another kind of strengthening both the front and flank when occasion shall be offered viz by doubling either files or ranks And this either by doubling the number of souldiers in the same files or ranks keeping still the same breadth and depth of ground or else by doubling the ground keeping the same number of souldiers The files are doubled when the second file shall insert it self into the first the leader thereof putting himself a follower unto the leader of the first and the next follower follower to the next in the first file and so forwards And likewise the fourth file inserting it self into the third and the sixth into the fifth And this is to be performed when the Battallion standeth in his order To double the place or depth is when the same number of men shall put themselves out of their order into their open order either by advancing forward or by falling backwards as they shall be commanded The ranks are doubled two manner of wayes either by inserting the second into the first to the right or left hand as before in the files or else the enemy being at hand by joyning whole troups together to the right or left wing according as occasion shall be offered and this is held to be the safest when the enemy is near to avoid confusion It is performed either in the same ground or by doubling the ground when either we desire to exceed the front of our enemy his battallion or to prevent lest we our selves be included The terms to both are Double your files or ranks to the right or left hand and when you would have them return again into their proper places it is commanded As you were The ordinary directions which are especially given in these martial exercises are first that no man in the time of exercising or marshalling shall be lowder then his Officer but every one attending to his place when he is commanded shall diligently hearken to such directions as shall be given The Captain in the front shall speak and the Sergeants in each flank shall give the word unto the Lieutenant or Ensigne

of his successfull designs having been founded thereupon there being great advantage in the attempting them for that he which ass●ileth hath more courage then he which is assailed and alwayes believeth the assailant to be the stronger not knowing what part he will assail and ever jealous that he hath some secret intelligence Briefly all that a well-exercised and well-disciplined army is able to do in such a case is to defend it self but where are new-levied souldiers fall out great disorders which was the reason he took so much care to fortify his camp very strongly to the end he might defend it and all his baggage with a few men and might without danger execute many brave designes being alwayes assured of his retreat Let us farther take view of the siege of Uxellodunum which Caesar judging to be impregnable by ●orce and knowing it to be well provided of corn undertaketh by a great dangerous labour to keep them from water which was from a fountain without the town from whence they were only supplied which the besieged perceiving having set fire on Caesar's works by a sally they hindred him from quenching it Caesar not being able to repulse them by reason of the advantage of the place resolveth to make an assault upon the town which apprehension caused them to retreat THE MANNER OF OUR MODERN TRAINING Or TACTICK PRACTISE By CLEMENT EDMONDS Remembrancer of the City of LONDON FOrasmuch as my purpose was to make this task of Observations as a parallel to our modern Discipline I did not think it fit to mingle the Tactick Practise of these times with the use of foregoing ages but rather to shut up these Discourses therewith as the second line of this warlike parallel which is thus drawn in the best fashion of modern Art In the knowledge of marshalling an Army there is nothing more especially to be regarded then that from a confused company of men having chosen the fittest for the wars we should so place and digest a convenient number of them that in marches in incamping in battels we may be able with a few well ordered to incounter a farre greater army in confusion and to overthrow them From hence Aeneas did define the Art of war to be the knowledge of warlike motions Before this unexpert army shall be able to be moved in such fashion it shall not be amisse to acquaint it with the most usuall terms wherewith they shall be often commanded into diverse postures as occasion shall be offered For as in the art of Fencing no man shall be able to turn and wind his body for his best advantage to offend his enemy or defend himself unlesse first his master shall instruct him in the severall parts and postures thereof so every souldier or the whole troup as one body or one souldier shall never be readily instructed to transform or turn it self by divers motions into different forms unlesse they first understand what is meant by Fronts and Flanks by Files and Ranks what by Leaders and Followers by Middlemen and Bringers up By this means each souldier understanding what the terme doth signifie shall readily both apprehend and execute such commandments as the Captain or Officer shall direct him A File is a certain number of men following singly one Leader unto the depth of 8 or 10 as they shall be commanded The ancients have called this File Seriem ordinationem or decuriam It consisteth of Leaders and Followers placed according to their worth and valour and especially there ought to be regarded the Leader or Decurio the fifth sixth or Middlemen and the tenth and last called the Bringer up or Tergiductor First therefore every souldier being aptly fitted unto his severall armes according to his worth age and stature they are to be disposed into severall files wherein every one is especially to acknowledge his leader or foremost man to be the authour of all his motions therefore duely attending what directions shall be commanded each follower shall according to the motions of his leader or foremost man order his own and is to be excused if he attend the motions of his leader before he move himself When many files are thus disposed together all the leaders making one and the same front and their followers observing likewise one and the same proportion of distance before and after and on each side these Files thus joyned make one Battallion the front whereof is called a Rank and so likewise the second and third in depth according to the number of men in each file The first second and third and so forward in each file are called Sidemen in respect of the same numbers in the next file Neither must every souldier onely regard the motions of his Leader but he must also diligently respect his sidemen and such as shall be placed on his right and left hand called his ranks so that both in files and ranks he may alwaies be found in the same distance wherein he is commanded It should be impertinent to the purpose to prescribe a certain number of souldiers unto these Battallions onely thus much for the proportion that it ought never to exceed so much but that it may easily upon any occasion be changed into such a form or fashion to fight as may be thought fittest for the present The length of this Battallion is diversly tearmed amongst the Latines as Frons Fac●●s Adstructio Jugum c. but in our modern practise most familiarly the Front or Rank The breadth of the Battallion which is from the leader to the bringer-up with the distance between all the followers is said to be the length or depth of one file or flank In the disposing of souldiers into files and ranks besides their observing a right line in their places and standing we must likewise especially respect the different worth and quality of the souldiers that every one according to his worth may be suted unto his proper place and accordingly receive advancement as the death of his Leaders and true value of his desert by his Commander shall give occasion First therefore there must be especiall choice made of the leaders of each file or first front or ranks of the Battallion of the most expert ablest and best-armed men because that as from them the rest are to receive directions of their after-motions so in them the greatest hope of the day doth consist Next unto the first it must be provided that the bringers up or last rank called Tergiductores be little inferiour well experienced wise and valiant that they may both know when to reprehend their former Ranks and urge them forward if they see them declining or yielding upon false occasions as also to be able upon any sudden alarm given in the rere to turn faces about and make themselves a Front for the best resistance Neither must it be neglected concerning the second and ninth ranks that they also

may be furnished with the next most sufficient men both because of their nearnesse unto danger as also that if their leaders or bringers up shall either be slain or disabled by wounds they may presently succeed in their places and make them good There is also a good decorum to be observed in the middlemen or fifth and sixth ranks both for the men themselves and their armes that in our marches when the middlemen or sixth ranks shall be called up to front with their leaders they may in some sort and proportion answer their places as also when we double our front by calling up middlemen to fight in a greater breadth they may not be unsutable but especially in marches that they may be able to make the best resistance when they shall become the flanks of the Battallions As these respects ought to be observed in ranks so the files also are not without their different degrees of dignity As the leader of the right-hand file is accounted to have the first place of honour in the Battallion for he doth not onely lead the rest in his own file but he is the author and beginner of the motions of the whole Battallion The leader of the left-hand file hath the next place because that he with the leader of the right-hand file do alwaies in their marching and imbattelling rectifie or rank the whole front of the battallion and so consequently all the next of their files as they stand in order even untill the middle who are accounted the last in dignity The Battallion being thus disposed into files and ranks and each file and rank according to his worth and experience rightly advanced it followeth that there should be a just distance proportioned between either that at all times upon all occasions they might be found ready and in comeliest fashion either to offend their enemy or defend themselves These distances which every follower must observe in respect of his leader and every leader and follower in respect of the sidemen may be reduced unto three severall Orders as followeth The first is called open Order the distance whereof is twelve foot between every follower and his leader or between every rank and six foot between them and the sidemen or between every file This order is commonly used upon marches when the enemy is known to be farre off as also in private exercising of souldiers for their severall managing of their armes It differeth somewhat from the Ordinatus Miles amongst the Romans who alwayes observed but four cubits in files and ranks The second distance is called Order when we contract the battallion both in length and breadth and gather the souldiers within a nearer scantling both in files and ranks that is by observing six feet in their files between the follower and leader and three feet between the ranks or sidemen This distance is used when we march toward an enemy near at hand or in marches by reason of the opportunity of the place suspiciously dangerous This is also near unto Densatus ordo but onely that that was but two cubits in both files and ranks The third and last order is when either we attend the enemy his present assault or that we intend to charge him upon our securest and best distance when every follower standeth three feet or his rapier length behind his leader and a foot and a half from the sidemen or files or when every souldier occupieth but one foot and a half for his own station joyning pouldron to pouldron or target to target This differeth from Constipatus ordo because that alloweth but one cubit for files and ranks and this close order alloweth one cubit in the file but two in the ranks This distance doth agree also best with the length of our piles of 15 or 16 feet long For it is thought fit oftentimes that the battallion consisting of ten ranks there should not charge more at one time then the 5 formost so that the pikes of the fifth rank might be three foot over the formost shoulder and the other five ranks should in this close order or nearer if it be possible follow the other charging with their pikes advanced untill some occasion should require their charge In the mean time they should perform their dutie in keeping the five formost ranks from retiring and besides adde strength unto the charge or shock The manner of exercising of composed Battallions with their different motions THe files and ranks being thus understood disposed and ordered and all parts and members of the battallion being joyned in their just proportion and distance able and fit to be altered upon any sodain occasion as if it were but one entire body into severall and divers postures and to make resistance unto what forces soever shall oppugne the same it might be thought needlesse to have made the disposition of the members so exact unlesse by continuall practise and exercise they might be made nimble and ready not onely to defend themselves and their whole body on all sides but also to be able to offend whensoever they shall espie the least occasion of advantage The terms of direction or command which are commonly used in this modern discipline of martiall exercise as they are not many onely answering to the different postures which are required in the Battallion so they are and must be short and perspicuously plain that by this means being sodainly uttered easily apprehended and understood they may as speedily be put in execution by those which shall be commanded First therefore that the Battallion may be commanded into some one fashion or posture from whence it shall be fit to convert it self into all other the Captain or Officer shall bid them stand in front When every particular souldier composing himself after his foremost leader standeth comely in file and rank fronting unto some certain place or to the Captain as shall be thought best for the present In this and all other directions whatsoever it shall be especially observed that every follower attending what is commanded mark his next leader and accordingly move himself as he shall see him move first The Battallion therefore thus fronting if the enemy should suddenly either assault the right or left flank it shall be commanded to turn faces to the right or left hand when every souldier observing his leader shall turn his face and make his flank his front according to the direction There is also a doubled motion or declination to the right or left hand when every souldier observing his leader shall turn their bodies twice to the right or left hand and by that means become turned with their faces where their backs were as if they expected an enemy in the rere or being to perform some other motion that may be offered beginning this alteration from the right or left hand as shall be commanded As every particular souldier in the troup is

in the rere who as in his proper place seeth all things executed accordingly as the Captain shall command It shall be unpossible to performe any thing herein unlesse first every one do exactly observe his leader and his sideman and to this purpose it is often commanded Keep your files Keep your ranks Of Marches IN champains there needs no great labour to marshall particular troups for their after-marches because they may march either by whole divisions observing onely their course of indifferency that every division may every third day have the vantgard or else in such form and fashion as the Generall hath proposed for a day of battell according as the danger of an expected enemy shall give occasion But because all countries will not afford a champain for the marching of an army and therefore not possible to march far with many troups in front nor many files of any one troup or division by reason of often straights and passages betwixt hills woods or waters It is provided though by long induction the whole army shall be extended into a thin length and few files yet the souldiers well disposed shall be as readily able to defend themselves and offend the enemy on their flanks from whence only in such streights the danger is imminent as if they were to affront an enemy with an entire battallion in a champain country First therefore a division or Battallion being ordered and drawn before the Quarter into one even front of just files ten in depth the musketiers equally divided on the right and left slanks of the pikes all standing in their order that is to ●ay six feet distant in files and ranks the Captain carefully provideth that the first fifth sixth and tenth ranks be alwayes well filled and furnished with his most able and best-armed souldiers Which done he commandeth first the middlemen or half files to come a front with their leaders so that the division becometh but five in depth Next he commandeth to turn faces to the right or left hand as direction shall be to march from that quarter and so the whole division resteth ready in his fashion to march five in front the one half of the musketiers in the vantguard and the other in the rere the pikes in the battell and both flanks well furnished with the ablest best men to offend or defend as there shall be occasion that is to say the right flanks with the first and fifth ranks and the left with the sixth and tenth ranks If occasion afterwards shall be given of a halt in a champain or before the quartering the Captain commandeth first unto all they being first closed into their order Faces as you were next unto the half files Faces about and march out and fall again upon your files By which means the division becometh again reduced into the same front and fashion from whence it was first transformed ready to encounter an enemy or to be drawn into the Quarter When pikes are to charge pikes in a champain it useth to be performed two severall wayes First the whole division being commanded into their close order the five first ranks charging their pikes every follower over his leaders shoulder directeth his pike as equally as he can the first rank shall have three feet of his pike over the formost shoulder The other five ranks with their pikes advanced follow close up in the rere either ready to second the formost or to be employed in the rere as occasion shall be offered Otherwise and most usuall when the whole depth of the files throughout the division shall charge together all fast locked and united together and therefore most able to make the strongest shock offensive or defensive provided alwaies that none mingle their pikes in others files but the whole file one in anothers shoulder In charging with musketiers it is observed no way convenient that there should be too many in a rank or that the ranks should be too long For the first rank is commanded to advance ten paces before the second and then to discharge and wheeling either to the right or left hand falleth into the rere and so the second advancing to the same distance dischargeth and wheeleth as before and likewise the third and so forward as long as the Officer shall be commanded Which shall not so well be performed the ranks being extraordinary long because it will require so long a time to wheel from the front that the second may succeed unlesse by direction the rank may divide it self the one half to the right hand and the other to the left in wheeling to the rere In the retreat the whole ranks having turned their faces about are to march three or four paces forward their chief officer coming in the rere first commandeth the last rank to make ready and then to turn faces about discharge and wheel about to the head or front of the division and being clearly passed the next rank to perform as much and so the rest in order Where the passages are narrow and the division cannot come to charge in front as between two waters or woods the manner of charging is different for there being five or ten files led in the induction that file which flanketh the enemy dischargeth first onely and the rest marching continually forwards it standeth firm untill the last rank be passed and then sleeveth it self on the left flank and makes ready and so the second file and the third so long as the enemy shall continue there being a continuall discharging by files as before by ranks Unlesse it be in the pases of Ireland meeting with an irregular enemy where they use to intermingle their files of shot with pikes that the one may be a defence for the other when the enemy shall come up to the sword as they use there very often How directions are delivered in the warres ALl directions in the wars have ever been delivered either by signes subject to the eye by word of mouth or the sound of a drumme or some such warlike instrument Concerning those visible signes displayed unto the souldiers the falling of mists the raising of dust showers of rain snow the beams of the Sun hilly uneven and crooked passages by long experience have found them to be most doubtfull and uncertain as also because as it was a matter of great difficulty to invent different signes upon all sodain occasions so it is almost an impossibility that the common souldier who oftentimes is found scarce capable of the understanding of plain words distinctly pronounced should both apprehend and understand sodainly and execute directly the true sense and meaning of his Commanders signes The Drum and Trumpet are yet used But because many different sounds are not easily distinguished in souldiers understanding without some danger of confusion we onely command by the inarticulate sounds to arm to march to troup to

to hold it in as great reputation as any weapons whatsoever which may be thought worthy executioners of the deeds of Armes THE SECOND OBSERVATION IN the second place we may observe that there was no Nation so barbarous for I understand the Germans to be as barbarous in regard of the motions of religion as any known Nation of that time being in a Climate so near the North that it afforded no contemplation at all that could not make use in their greatest affairs of that superstition to which their mind was naturally inthralled and forge prophesies and divinations as well to stirr up as to moderate the irregular motions of a multitude according as they might best serve to advantage their proceedings Neither did Caesar let slip the occasion of making use of this their religion for understanding by their prisoners that their divinations forbad them to fight before the new Moon he used all the means he could to provoke them to battell that their religious opinion of mischieving might prejudice their resolution to return Conquerers Which may serve to prove that a superstitious people are subject to many inconveniences which industry or Fortune may discover to their overthrow It is recorded that Columbus being Generall of some forces which Ferdinando king of Castile sent to discover the West Indies and suffering great penury for want of victuals in the I le of Jamaica after that he had observed how the Ilanders worshipped the Moon and having knowledge of an Eclipse that was shortly after to happen he told the inhabitants that unlesse they would furnish him with such necessaries as he wanted for the time the wrath of their God should quickly appear towards them by changing his bright shining face into obscurity and darknesse which was no sooner happened but the poor Indians strucken with a superstitious fear of that which the course of nature required kept nothing back that might assist their enemies to depopulate and over-run their own Country Chap. XIX Caesar seeketh meanes to give them battel and the Germans dispose themselves thereunto THe next day Caesar left a sufficient Garrison in each of his Camps and forasmuch as the number of his legionary souldiers was small in respect of the multitude of the Germans he placed all the Auxiliarie troups for a shew before the lesser Camp and putting his legions in a triple battell he marched towards the Camp of Ariovistus And then at length were the Germans constrained to bring out their power setting every Tribe and people by themselves in like distance and order of battell as the Harudes Marcomans Triboces Vangiones Nemetes Sedusians and Swevians and environing their whole Army with Carts and carriages that there might be no hope at all left to save any man by flight And in these they placed their women that they by their out-stretched hands and teares moving pity might implore the souldiers as they descended by course to the battell not to deliver them into the bondage and thraldome of the Romans Caesar assigned to every legion a Legat and a Questor that every man might have an eye-witnesse of his valour and he himself began the battell with the right Cornet forasmuch as he perceived that part of Ariovistus Army to be the weakest THE FIRST OBSERVATION THe Romans even from the infancy of their state were ever zealous admirers of true honour and alwayes desired to behold with the eye to what measure of vertue every man had attained that the tongue with greater fervency of spirit might sound out the celebration of Macte virtute which imported more honour then any wealth that could be heaped upon them Neither was this the least part of their wisedome considering that the most pretious things that are lose much of their worth if they be not suted with other correspondent natures whose sympathy addeth much more excellency then is discerned when they appear by themselves without such assistance For how small is the beauty which Nature hath given to the eye-pleasing Diamond when it is not adorned with an artificiall form or what perfection can the form give without a foile to strengthen it or what good is in either of them if the light do not illuminate it or what avail all these where there wanteth an eye to admire it a judgement to value it and an heart to imbrace it Such a union hath Nature imprinted in the diversitie of creatures concurring to perfection and especially in morall actions in whose carriage there is a far greater exactnesse of correspondencie required to approve them honourable then was requisite to make the jewel beautifull And this did Caesar in all his battels amongst the rest that at Alesia is particularly noted in this manner Quod in conspectu imperatoris res gerebatur neque recte aut turpiter factum celari poterat utrosque laudis cupiditas timor ignominiae ad virtutem excitabat And when Livie would expresse how valiantly an action was carried he saith no more but in conspectu imperatoris res gerebatur which is as much as to say that forasmuch as the Romans were diligent observers of every mans worth rewarding vertue with honour and cowardise with reproch every man bent his whole endeavour to deserve the good opinion of his Generall by discharging that duty which he owed to the Commonwealth with all loyalty and faithfulnesse of spirit THE SECOND OBSERVATION THe Romans had four formes of the front of their battell The first was called Acies Recta when neither the cornets nor the battell was advanced one before another but were all carried in a right line and made a straight front this was their most usuall manner of imbattelling The second forme of the front was called Obliqua when as one of the cornets was advanced nearer unto the enemy then the rest to begin the battell and this was commonly as Vegetius noteth the right cornet for the right cornet of an Army had great advantage against the left of the enemies in regard of their weapons and furniture But Caesar did it in this place because he perceived that the enemy was weakest in that part following a Maxime of great authority That the weakest part of an enemy is in the beginning to be charged with the strength of an Armie for so favourable are mens judgements to that which is already happened that the sequele of every action dependeth for the most part upon the beginning Dimidium facti qui bene coepit habet saith a Poet and not without great reason so forcible continually is the beginning and so connexed to the sequele by the nature of a precedent cause that the end must needs erre from the common course when it doth not participate of that quality which was in the beginning Neither can there be any good end without a good beginning for although the beginning be oftentimes disastrous and unluckie and the end fortunate and happy yet before it came to that end there was a fortunate beginning

of these great difficulties which came so suddenly upon him he knew there was no help to be had but that which the vertue of his mind would afford him and therefore calling a councell a little before the evening he adhorted them to excoute such things as he commanded both with diligence and industry and so taking the ships which he had brought from Melodunum he divided them amongst the Roman horsemen and after the first watch he commanded them to go four miles down the river in silence and there to attend him He left five cohorts which he thought to be too weak for any fight as a garrison to the camp and sent the other five cohorts of the same legion about midnight with all the carriages up the river commanding them to make a great noise and tumult as they went He sought out all barges and boats and sent them up the river with much noise and beating of oars and a little while after he himself went quietly with three legions to the place where he had commanded the ships to abide him At his coming thither the enemies discoverers which were disposed on all parts of the river were suddenly and at unawares surprised by our men by reason of a sudden tempest that did rise in the mean time and the army and the horse were by the diligence of the Roman Knights to whom he had committed that businesse carried over At the same time a little before day-light the enemy had intelligence that there was an extraordinary noise and tumult in the Roman camp and a great troup went up the river and the beating of oars was heard that way and a little below the souldiers were carried over Which being known forasmuch as they judged that the legions were carried over in three places and that they were so perplexed at the revolt of the Hedui that they fled away they divided their forces also into three parts for a garrison being left right over against the Roman camp and a small band sent towards Glossendium which was to go so far as the boats went they carried the rest of their army to meet Labienus By the dawning of the day all our men were carried over and the enemy was discovered ranged in battel Labienus adhorting the souldiers to bethink themselves of their ancient vertue and to recall the memory of their fortunate battels and to suppose that Caesar himself was present under whose leading they had oftentimes overthrown the enemy he gave the sign of battel Upon the first affront on the right wing where the seventh legion stood the enemy was beaten back and put to flight in the left cornet where the twelfth legion was the former ranks of the enemy being pierced through and beaten dead down with the piles the rest notwithstanding did stoutly resist neither did any man give suspicion of flying Camulogenus the Generall was present with his men and encouraged them to sight the victory being uncertain When the Tribunes of the seventh legion understood what was done in the left wing they shewed the legion behind on the back of the enemy and there began to charge them and yet none of them for sook his place but were all inclosed and slain Camulogenus ending his dayes by the same fortune Such of the enemy as were left over against the Roman camps understanding that the battel was begun came to second their fellowes and took a hill but were not able to abide our conquering souldiers but joyning themselves to the rest that fled were neither protected by the woods nor the mountains but were all slain by the horsemen This businesse being ended Labienus returned to Agendicum where the carriages of the whole army were left and from thence came to Caesar with all the forces THE FIRST OBSERVATION LAbienus being to passe the river of Seine which was strongly guarded by the Galles was forced to seek a means out of the vertue of his mind as Caesar saith and to lay such a project as might amuse the enemy and keep him in suspence what way to take to prevent his passage untill he had effected that which he desired Which bringeth to our consideration the saying of Epaminondas the Theban that there is nothing more necessary or behovefull for a Generall then to understand the purposes of the enemy A point so much the more commendable by how much it is in it self difficult and hard to be discovered for it were hard to understand their secret deliberations which for the most part are only known to the Generall or to such chief Commanders as are near about him when then very actions which every man knoweth and such things as are done in the open view of the world are oftentimes doubtfull to an enemy Livie hath a notable story to this purpose Sempronius the Roman Consul giving battel to the Aequi the fight continued untill the night parted them not without alteration of fortune sometimes the Romans prevailing and sometimes the Aequi the night coming on both sides being weary and half routed they forsook their camps and for their better safety took each of them a hill The Roman army divided it self into two parts the one part followed the Consul and the other a Centurion named Tempanius a fellow of great spirit and had shewed much worth in the battel The next morning the Consul without further inquiry made towards Rome and so did the Aequi withdraw their army back into their country either of them deeming themselves overthrown and casting victorie upon each others shoulders It happened that Tempanius with that part of the army that kept with him inquiring after the enemy found him to be overthrown and fled whereupon he first went to the Roman camp and made that good and then marched to the camp of the Aequi which he took and ri●●ed and so returned victor to Rome The morning following the battell of Agincourt Mont●oy the French Herald coming to enquire for prisoners King Henry asked him who had won the field To which he answered That the French had lost it which was unknown known to that worthy Conquerour Plutarch writeth that Cassius killed himself upon the like errour not knowing the fortune of the right wing of his army And therefore it must needs be a commendable matter to understand the deliberations of an enemy when the issue of a battell is oftentimes so uncertain THE SECOND OBSERVATION CAmulogenus hath the report in this place of singular knowledge and experience in matter of war and being of a grea age he fought as resolutely as the youngest gallant of them all which may bring to our consideration the fittest age of life to be wished in a General for the atchieving of noble and worthy exploits Wherein we are to consider that the youth and former years of a mans age are plentifully stored with hot bloud and nimble spirits which quickly apprehend the conceptions of the mind and carry them with such violence to execution that they

congratulation of them that had escaped such imminent dangers and of us that seemed to have effected such great matters without bloudshed Insomuch as Caesar in all mens judgement reaped great fruit of his accustomed clemency and mildnesse and his counsell was generally approved of by all men THE OBSERVATION THis Chapter containeth a passage of that note and eminency as the like is not read in any story For if we search the records of all Nations from the very birth of Bellona unto times of later memory it will no where else appear that a Generall spared an advantage to purchase a victorious name by the bloudshed and ruine of his enemy especially contrary to the will and desire of his Army that had undergone such difficulties and hazzards to give an end to that war contrary to his knowledge and late experience of the mutability and change of time and fortune contrary to the surest rule of war Dolus an virtus quis in hoste requirit Valour or Craft who cares which in a Foe and contrary to the use of Arms which are alwaies bent against an enemy to subdue him This is the fruit of that other part of Military knowledge which men do rather admire then attain unto no lesse concerning the honour of a Commander Consilio superare quam gladio to overcome by counsell and good direction rather then by the sword and was a main step to raise him to the Empire For howsoever the souldier to prevent further labour stood hard for bloud not respecting that of the Comick Omnia prius experiri verbis quam armis sapientem decet a wise man should try all fair words before he brings the businesse to blowes yet if Caesar had been so injurious to Nature as to have left them to their own desires and suffered their fury to have violated the law of humanity more then was requisite for victory they would afterwards have loathed themselves and cursed their swords for such unseasonable execution and may be doubted would have revenged it upon his head before the time came to strike the fatall stroak of the eversion of that State Caesar esteemed it also a part of divine power to save men by troups according to that of Seneca Haec divina potentia est gregatim ac publice servare It is a divine power that saves men by troups and all at once And therefore he chose rather to displease the souldier for the present then to lose that honour which attendeth the sparing of home-bred bloud whereof forreign enemies are not altogether so capable CHAP. XXIV Petreius breaketh off the Treaty and new sweareth the Souldiers to the Party AFranius being advertised of these passages left the work which he had begun and withdrew himself into the Camp prepared as it seemed to take patiently whatsoever should befall him But Petreius was no way disma●ed thereat for having armed his houshold family he went flying with them and a Pratorian cohort of Buckler-bearers together with some few stipendary horse of the barbarous people whom he was wont to keep about him as a guard to his person and came suddenly and unlooked for to the Rampier brake off the souldiers treaty thrust our men off from the Camp killing such as he could apprehend The rest got together and affrighted at the suddennesse of the danger wrapt their coats about their left arms and with their sword drawn defended themselves from the Buckler-bearers and horsemen and trusting to the nearnesse and propinquity of their Camp they took courage and got safely thither being protected by the Cohorts that had the guard at the Camp gates This being done Petreius weeping about to the Maniples calling the souldiers and beseeching them not to leave forsake him nor yet Pompey their Generall that was absent nor to deliver them over to the cruelty of their adversaries Presently thereupon a great concourse of souldiers was about the Praetory requiring that every man might take an oath not to abandon or betray the Army or their Generalls nor yet to enter into private consultation thereof without consent of the rest He himself first took an oath to this effect and caused Afranius to take the same The Tribunes of the Souldiers and Centurions followed in order and after them the souldiers were brought out according to their Centuries and were sworn the same oath They caused it also to be proclaimed that whosoever had any of Caesar's souldiers should cause them to be brought out and being brought forth they ●lew them publickly before the Praetorian Pavilion But most men concealed such as were with them and in the night time sent them out over the Rampier Whereby it came to passe that the terrour wherewith the Generalls had affrighted them the cruelty they had shewed in punishment together with the vain religion of the new oath had taken away all hope of yielding for the present and quite changing the souldiers minds had reduced the matter to the former course of war Caesar for his part caused diligent inquiry to be made of such souldiers as came into his Camp during the time of the treaty and sent them away in safety But of the Tribunes of the souldiers and Centurions many of their voluntary accord remained with him whom afterwards he held in great honour and advanced the Centurions and such Roman Knights as were of the better rank to the place and dignity of Tribunes The Afranians were sorely laid unto in their forraging and watered likewise with great difficulty Many of the legionary souldiers had store of Corn being commanded to take provision with them from Herda for twenty two daies But the Buckler-bearers and Auxiliary forces had none at all having but small means to provide and furnish themselves and their bodies not being used to carry burthens for which cause a great number fled daily to Caesar THE FIRST OBSERVATION THat every man is the maker of his own fortune is evidently seen in the severall carriages of these two Generalls For Afranius gave way to the souldiers treaty and resolved to suffer whatsoever that transaction should cast upon him But Petreius opposing himself to their desires raised new troubles had further designs and another fortune Wherein forasmuch as the event of things riseth according as they are first directed either by weak or strong resolutions it better suteth the temper of souldier howsoever the successe fall out with our desires rather to be stiffe in what he wisheth then to make his own easinesse the ready means of his adversaries happinesse THE SECOND OBSERVATION VErtue at all times hath had this priviledge in the difference and degrees of state and condition to make a Noble mans word equall to a Common mans oath but the integrity of former ages had a more generall prerogative avouching every mans promise for the strictnesse an oath Hence it was that the Romans upon their inrollment for a war gave but their promise to

legion that had lost many Centurions and was very weak in souldiers towards Pompey's legion and the lesser camp in a double battel Neither did his opinion deceive him for he came thither before Pompey could perceive it And albeit the fortifications of the Camp were great yet assaulting it speedily with the left Cornet wherein he himself was he drave Pompey's souldiers from the Rampier There stood a Turn-pike in the Gate which gave occasion of resistance for a while and as our men would have entered they valiantly defended the Camp T. Pulcio by whose means C. Antonius Army was betraied as we have formerly declared fighting there most valiantly Yet neverthelesse our men overcame them by valour and cutting up the Turn-pike entered first into the greater Camp and afterwards into the Castle and slew many that resisted of the legion that was forced thither But Fortune that can do much in all things and specially in warre doth in a small moment of time bring great alterations as it then happened For the Cohorts of Caesar's right Cornet ignorant of the place followed the Rampier which went along from the Camp to the River seeking after the Gate and taking it to be the Rampier of the Camp but when they perceived that it joyned to the River they presently got over it no man resisting them and all the cavalry followed after those cohorts OBSERVATIONS POmpey having cleared his Army of that siege it booted not Caesar to prosecute his purpose any longer for when the end is missed for which any course is undertaken it were folly to seek it by that means We must rather chuse new wayes that may lead us to the end of our hopes then follow the old track which sorted to no effect And yet neverthelesse the sufficiency of the Generall is no way disabled for albeit a wise man doth not alwayes keep one pase yet still he holdeth one and the same way Secondly that of Xerxes appeareth to be true that great attempts are alwaies made with great difficulty and danger Wherein the wisdome of the heathen world ascribed all to Fortune as the sole cause of all remarkable events and that which filled up both the pages of all the Books wherein men noted the course of things Clades in bello acceptae non semper ignaviae sed aliquando Fortunae temeritati sunt imputandae Losses received in war are not alwayes to be imputed to slothfull carriage but oftentimes to the temerity of Fortune saith Archidamus and is that which is aimed at by Caesar CHAP. XXIIII The ●ight continueth and Caesar loseth IN the mean while Pompey after so long a respite of time having notice thereof took the first Legion from their works and brought them to succour their fellows and at the same time his Cavalry did approch near our horsemen and our men that possessed the Camp did discover an Army imbattelled coming against them and all things were suddenly changed For Pompey's legion assured with a speedy hope of succour began to make resistance at the Decumane gate and voluntarily charged our men Caesar's Cavalry being got over the rampier into a narrow passage fearing how they might retreat in safety began to fly away The right Cornet secluded and cut off from the left perceiving the terrour of the horsemen least they might be indangered within the fortifications betook themselves to the other side from whence they came and most of them least they should be surprised in the straights cast themselves over works of ten foot high into the ditches and such as first got over being troden under foot by such as followed after the rest saved themselves in passing over their bodies The souldiers of the left Cornet perceiving from the Rampier that Pompey was at hand and that their own side fled away fearing lest they should be shut up in those straights having the Enemy both without and within them thought it their best course to return back the same way they came Whereby there happened nothing but tumult fear and flight insomuch as when Caesar caught hold with his hand of the Ensignes of them that sled and commanded them to stand some for fear left their Ensigns behind them others forsaking their horses kept on their course neither was there any one of them that would stand Notwithstanding in this so great a calamity and mishap these helps fell out to relieve us when the whole army was in danger to be cut off that Pompey fearing some treachery for that as I think it happened beyond his expectation who a little before saw his men flie out of his camp durst not for a good while approach near the fortifications and our men possessing the narrow passages and the Ports did hinder the horsemen from following after And so a small matter fell out to be of great moment in the carriage of that accident on either side For the Rampier which was carried from the Camp to the River Pompey's Camp being already taken was the only hinderance of Caesar's expedite and easy victory and the same thing hindering the speedy following of their horsemen was the onely safety and help of our men In those two fights there were wanting of Caesar's men nine hundred and threescore and horsemen of note R. Felginas Tuticanus Gallus a Senatours sonne C. Felginas of Placentia Agravius of Puteolis Sacrativirus of Capua ten Tribunes of the souldiers and thirty Centurions But the greatest part of these perished in the Trenches in the fortifications and on the River banks prest to death with the fear and ●light of their fellows without any blow or wound given them There were lost at that time thirty two military Ensignes Pompey upon that sight was saluted by the name of Imperator which title he then obtained and so suffered himself to be stiled afterward howbeit he used it not in any of his Missives nor yet wore any Laurell in the bundle of Rods carried before him Labienus having begged all the Captives caused them for greater ostentation to be brought out in publick and to give the more assurance to such as were fled thither from Caesar's party calling them by the name of fellow-souldiers in great derision asked them whether old souldiers were wont to flie and so caused them all to be slain Pompey's party took such an assurance and spirit upon these things that they thought no farther of the course of war but carried themselves as though they were already Victors not respecting as the cause of all this the paucity of our men nor the disadvantage of the place and the streightnesse thereof the Camp being possessed and the doubtfull terrour both within and without the works not yet the Army divided into two parts in such sort as neither of them were able to help or succour the other Neither yet did they adde to this that the fight was not made by any valiant incounter or in form of battell but that they received more hurt from the

often intended not to deceive the opinion which other men had of their prowesse and valour Labienus seconding this speech as contemning Caesar's forces extolled Pompey's resolution to the skies Do not think Pompey saith he that this is the Army wherewith he conquered Gallia or Germania I was present my self at all those battells and do not speak rashly what I am ●gnorant of There is a very small piece of that Army remaining a great part of them are dead as it cannot otherwise be in so many battells The P●stilence the last Autumn in Italy consumed many of them many are gone home and many are left in the Continent Have ye not heard that the Cohorts which are now at Brundusium are made and raised of such as remained behind there to recover their healths These forces that ye see were the last year gathered of the Musters made in the hither Gallia and most of them of the Colonies beyond the Po and yet all the flower and strength of them was taken away in the last two overthrows at Dyrrachium When he had spoken these things he took a solemn oath not to return into the Camp but with victory exhorting the rest to do the like Pompey commending him took the same oath neither was there any man that refused it These things being thus carried in the councell they rose up and departed with great hope and joy of all men as having already conceived victory in their minds and the rather because they thought that nothing could be spoken vainly by so skilfull a Commander in so weighty and important a Cause OBSERVATIONS COncerning the fashion of the Cavalry in which either Party reposed so much confidence we are to note that the Romans had two sorts of horsemen the one compleatly armed according to their manner and incorporated in the body of their Legions whose entertainment was thrice as much as the footmen Aeque impotens postulatum fuit saith Livie ut de stipendio equitum merebant autem triplex ea tempestate aera demerentur It seemed as unreasonable a motion that the horsemens pay which at that time was triple should be lessened And the other were as light-horsemen which they called Alarii The first sort were thus armed as Josephus witnesseth They wore a sword on their right side somewhat longer then that of the footmen and carried a long staffe or spear in their hand a Target at their horse side and three or more Darts in a quiver with broad heads and not much less then their staves having such head pieces and corselets as the foot-men had The light-armed men had either light Darts or Bow and Arrows And doubtlesse their chiefest service was with their casting weapons And accordingly Tully putteth his son in mind of the praise he had got in Pompey's Army where he commanded a wing of horse Equitando jaculando omni militari labore tolerando in riding casting darts and undergoing all military duty And as their service consisted in breaking their Staves upon an Enemy and in casting their Darts so we exercise the practice of the former in our triumphs at Tilt and the Spaniards the later in their Iocuo di cane The Pistolier that will do somewhat to purpose doth come up close to the other discharge his Pistoll in his enemies neck or under the corselet about the flank or seat of a man and commonly misseth not I have seen a device to use a Musket on horse-back which if it prove as serviceable as is by some conceived will be of great advantage CHAP. XXXI The manner of imbattelling their Armies AS Caesar approached near unto Pompey's Camp he observed his Army to be imbattelled in this manner There were in the left Cornet two legions which in the beginning of these broils were by order and decree of Senate taken from Caesar whereof one was called the first and the other the third and with them stood Pompey Scipio had the middle squadron with the legions he brought out of Syria The Legion of Cilicia joyned with the Spanish Cohorts which Afranius brought with him made the right Cornet These Pompey held to be very strong The rest of the troups were interlaced between the middle Squadron and the Cornets All made one hundred and ten Cohorts which amounted to fifty five thousand men besides two thousand old souldiers and men of note whom he had called out to that war and dispersed them over all the Army The rest of the Cohorts which were seven he had left in the Camp or disposed about the forts near adjoyning The right Corn●t was flanked with a River that had high and cumbersome banks and thereupon he put all his Cavalry together with the Archers Slingers in the left Cornet Caesar observing his former custome placed the tenth legion in the right Cornet and the ninth in the left albeit they were very much weakened in the fights at Dyrrachium but to this he so joyned the eighth that he seemed almost to make one of two and commanded them to succour each other He had in all about eighty cohorts which made twenty two thousand men two cohorts he left to keep the Camp He gave the left Cornet to Antonius the right to Pub. Sylla and the middle Squadron to Cn. Domitius and put him self opposite to Pompey And withall having well observed these things according as I have formerly declared fearing least the right Cornet should be inclosed about with the multitude of the Cavalry he speedily drew six cohorts out of the third battell and of them he made a fourth to incounter the horsemen and shewed them what he would have done admonishing withall that the victory of that day consisted in the valour of those cohorts commanding the third battell and likewise the whole Army not to joyn battell without order from him which when he thought fit he would give them notice of by an Ensigne And going about to incourage them to fight according to the use of war he put them in mind of his favours and his carriage towards them from time to time and specially that they themselves were witnesses with what labour and means he had sought for peace as well by treaty with Vatinius as also by employing A. Clodius to Scipio and likewise how he had endeavoured at Oricum with Libo that Embassadours might be sent to treat of these things Neither was he willing at any time to misspend the souldiers blood or to deprive the Common-wealth of either of those Armies This speech being delivered the souldiers both requiring and longing with an ardent desire to fight he commanded the signe of battell to be given by a Trumpet OBSERVATIONS COncerning the order used in disposing these Armies for the triall of this Cause it appeareth by the storie that Pompey set two Legions in his left Cornet which are here named the first and the third Howbeit Lucan saith that those Legions were the first and the fourth Cornus tibi