in the rere who as in his proper place seeth all things executed accordingly as the Captain shall command It shall be unpossible to performe any thing herein unlesse first every one do exactly observe his leader and his sideman and to this purpose it is often commanded Keep your files Keep your ranks Of Marches IN champains there needs no great labour to marshall particular troups for their after-marches because they may march either by whole divisions observing onely their course of indifferency that every division may every third day have the vantgard or else in such form and fashion as the Generall hath proposed for a day of battell according as the danger of an expected enemy shall give occasion But because all countries will not afford a champain for the marching of an army and therefore not possible to march far with many troups in front nor many files of any one troup or division by reason of often straights and passages betwixt hills woods or waters It is provided though by long induction the whole army shall be extended into a thin length and few files yet the souldiers well disposed shall be as readily able to defend themselves and offend the enemy on their flanks from whence only in such streights the danger is imminent as if they were to affront an enemy with an entire battallion in a champain country First therefore a division or Battallion being ordered and drawn before the Quarter into one even front of just files ten in depth the musketiers equally divided on the right and left slanks of the pikes all standing in their order that is to â—ay six feet distant in files and ranks the Captain carefully provideth that the first fifth sixth and tenth ranks be alwayes well filled and furnished with his most able and best-armed souldiers Which done he commandeth first the middlemen or half files to come a front with their leaders so that the division becometh but five in depth Next he commandeth to turn faces to the right or left hand as direction shall be to march from that quarter and so the whole division resteth ready in his fashion to march five in front the one half of the musketiers in the vantguard and the other in the rere the pikes in the battell and both flanks well furnished with the ablest best men to offend or defend as there shall be occasion that is to say the right flanks with the first and fifth ranks and the left with the sixth and tenth ranks If occasion afterwards shall be given of a halt in a champain or before the quartering the Captain commandeth first unto all they being first closed into their order Faces as you were next unto the half files Faces about and march out and fall again upon your files By which means the division becometh again reduced into the same front and fashion from whence it was first transformed ready to encounter an enemy or to be drawn into the Quarter When pikes are to charge pikes in a champain it useth to be performed two severall wayes First the whole division being commanded into their close order the five first ranks charging their pikes every follower over his leaders shoulder directeth his pike as equally as he can the first rank shall have three feet of his pike over the formost shoulder The other five ranks with their pikes advanced follow close up in the rere either ready to second the formost or to be employed in the rere as occasion shall be offered Otherwise and most usuall when the whole depth of the files throughout the division shall charge together all fast locked and united together and therefore most able to make the strongest shock offensive or defensive provided alwaies that none mingle their pikes in others files but the whole file one in anothers shoulder In charging with musketiers it is observed no way convenient that there should be too many in a rank or that the ranks should be too long For the first rank is commanded to advance ten paces before the second and then to discharge and wheeling either to the right or left hand falleth into the rere and so the second advancing to the same distance dischargeth and wheeleth as before and likewise the third and so forward as long as the Officer shall be commanded Which shall not so well be performed the ranks being extraordinary long because it will require so long a time to wheel from the front that the second may succeed unlesse by direction the rank may divide it self the one half to the right hand and the other to the left in wheeling to the rere In the retreat the whole ranks having turned their faces about are to march three or four paces forward their chief officer coming in the rere first commandeth the last rank to make ready and then to turn faces about discharge and wheel about to the head or front of the division and being clearly passed the next rank to perform as much and so the rest in order Where the passages are narrow and the division cannot come to charge in front as between two waters or woods the manner of charging is different for there being five or ten files led in the induction that file which flanketh the enemy dischargeth first onely and the rest marching continually forwards it standeth firm untill the last rank be passed and then sleeveth it self on the left flank and makes ready and so the second file and the third so long as the enemy shall continue there being a continuall discharging by files as before by ranks Unlesse it be in the pases of Ireland meeting with an irregular enemy where they use to intermingle their files of shot with pikes that the one may be a defence for the other when the enemy shall come up to the sword as they use there very often How directions are delivered in the warres ALl directions in the wars have ever been delivered either by signes subject to the eye by word of mouth or the sound of a drumme or some such warlike instrument Concerning those visible signes displayed unto the souldiers the falling of mists the raising of dust showers of rain snow the beams of the Sun hilly uneven and crooked passages by long experience have found them to be most doubtfull and uncertain as also because as it was a matter of great difficulty to invent different signes upon all sodain occasions so it is almost an impossibility that the common souldier who oftentimes is found scarce capable of the understanding of plain words distinctly pronounced should both apprehend and understand sodainly and execute directly the true sense and meaning of his Commanders signes The Drum and Trumpet are yet used But because many different sounds are not easily distinguished in souldiers understanding without some danger of confusion we onely command by the inarticulate sounds to arm to march to troup to
sent out two other Cohorts to succour them who making distance between them as they stood the court of guard retired it self in safety through that space into the Camp Otherwise we never find that the first battel made any retreat into the allies between the maniples of the second battel but when it failed in any part the second and third went presently to second them as appeareth in the battel following with Ariovistus and in divers others Concerning the use of this triple battel what can be said more then Lipsius hath done where he laieth open the particular commodities thereof as far forth as a speculative judgement can discern of things so far remote from the use of this age which never imitateth this triple battel but only in a march for then commonly they make three companies a Vangard a Battel and a Rereward but in imbattelling they draw these three Companies all in front making two cornets and the battel without any other troups to second them But let this suffice concerning Caesar his manner of imbattelling and his triplex Acies untill I come to the second book where I will handle more particularly the parts of a legion and the commondity of their small battalions THE SECOND OBSERVATION THe Macedonian Phalanx is described by Polybius to be a square battel of Pikemen consisting of sixteen in flank and five hundred in front the souldiers standing so close together that the pikes of the fifth rank were extended three foot beyond the front of the battel the rest whose pikes were not serviceable by reason of their distance from the front couched them upon the shoulders of those that stood before them and so locking them in together in file pressed forward to hold up the sway or giving back 〈◊〉 the former ranks and so to make the assault more violent and unresistable The Graecians were very skilful in this part of the Art Militarie which containeth order and disposition in imbattelling for they maintained publick professours whom they called Tactici to teach and instruct their youth the practise and Art of all formes convenient for that purpose And these Tactici found by experience that sixteen in flank so ordered as they were in a Phalanx were able to bear any shock how violent so ever it charged upon them Which number of sixteen they made to consist of four doubles as first unitie maketh no order for order consisteth in number and pluralitie but unitie doubled maketh two the least of all orders and this is the double which doubled again maketh the second order of four souldiers in a file which doubled the third time maketh eight and this doubled maketh 16 which is the fourth doubling from a unite and in it they staied as in an absolute number and square whose root is four the Quadruple in regard of both the extremes For every one of these places the Tactici had severall names by which they were distinctly known But the particular description requireth a larger discourse then can be comprehended in these short observations He that desireth further knowledge of them may read Aelianus that lived in the time of Adrian the Emperour and Arianus in his historie of Alexander the great with Mauritius and Leo Imperator where he shall have the divisions of Tetraphalangia Diphalangia Phalangia unto a unite with all the discipline of the Grecians The chiefest thing to be observed is that the Grecians having such skill in imbattelling preferred a Phalanx before all other formes whatsoever either because the figure in it self was very strong or otherwise in regard that it fitted best their weapons which were long pikes and targets But whether Caesar termed the battell of the Helvetians a Phalanx in regard of their thick manner of imbattelling onely or otherwise forasmuch as besides the form they used the naturall weapon of a Phalanx which was the pike it remaineth doubtfull Brancatio in his discourses upon this place maketh it no controversie but that every souldier carried a pike and a target The target is particularly named in this historie but it cannot so easily be gathered by the same that their offensive weapons were pikes In the fight at the baggage it is said that many of the legionarie shouldiers were wounded through the cart-wheeles with tragulae and materae which are commonly interpreted Speares and Javelins and I take them to be weapons longer then common darts but whether they were so long as the Sarissas of the Macedonians I cannot tell Howsoever this is certain that the Helvetians have ever been reputed for the true Phalangitae next unto the Macedonians and that in their thick and close imbattelling they failed not at this time of the form of a Phalanx for they roofed it so thick with targets that Caesar saith they were sore troubled because many of their targets were fastened and tied together with piles darted through them Which argueth that their Phalanx was very thick thronged whatsoever their weapon was Chap. VIII Caesar sendeth away all the horses of ease exhorteth his men and beginneth the battell CAesar to take away all hope of safety by flight first caused his own and then all the private horses of ease to be carried out of sight and so using some motives of courage began the battel The souldiers casting their Piles with the advantage of the hill did easily break the Helvetians Phalanx and then with their swords betook themselves to a furious close THE FIRST OBSERVATION THe ancient Sages found it necessary to a faithfull and serious execution of such an action to prepare the minds of their men with words of encouragement and to take away all scruple out of their conceits either of the unlawfulnesse of the cause or disadvantage against the Enemie for if at any time that saying be true that Oratio plus potest quam pecunia it is here more powerfull and of greater effect For a donative or liberanza can but procure a mercenarie endeavour ever yielding to a better offer and do oftentimes breed a suspicion of wrong even amongst those that are willingly inriched with them and so maketh them slack to discharge their service with loyaltie yea oftentimes of friends to become enemies But inasmuch as speech discloseth the secrets of the soul and discovereth the intent and drift of every action a few good words laying open the injurie which is offered to innocencie how equity is controlled with wrong and justice controlled by iniquitie for it is necessary that a Commander approve his Cause and settle an opinion of right in the mind of his souldiers as it is easie to make that seem probable which so many offer to defend with their bloud when indeed every man relieth upon anothers knowledge and respecteth nothing lesse the right a few good words I say will so stirre up their minds in the ferventnesse of the cause that every man will take himself particularly ingaged in the action by the title of Equitie and the rather
of his successfull designs having been founded thereupon there being great advantage in the attempting them for that he which assâ—ileth hath more courage then he which is assailed and alwayes believeth the assailant to be the stronger not knowing what part he will assail and ever jealous that he hath some secret intelligence Briefly all that a well-exercised and well-disciplined army is able to do in such a case is to defend it self but where are new-levied souldiers fall out great disorders which was the reason he took so much care to fortify his camp very strongly to the end he might defend it and all his baggage with a few men and might without danger execute many brave designes being alwayes assured of his retreat Let us farther take view of the siege of Uxellodunum which Caesar judging to be impregnable by â—orce and knowing it to be well provided of corn undertaketh by a great dangerous labour to keep them from water which was from a fountain without the town from whence they were only supplied which the besieged perceiving having set fire on Caesar's works by a sally they hindred him from quenching it Caesar not being able to repulse them by reason of the advantage of the place resolveth to make an assault upon the town which apprehension caused them to retreat THE MANNER OF OUR MODERN TRAINING Or TACTICK PRACTISE By CLEMENT EDMONDS Remembrancer of the City of LONDON FOrasmuch as my purpose was to make this task of Observations as a parallel to our modern Discipline I did not think it fit to mingle the Tactick Practise of these times with the use of foregoing ages but rather to shut up these Discourses therewith as the second line of this warlike parallel which is thus drawn in the best fashion of modern Art In the knowledge of marshalling an Army there is nothing more especially to be regarded then that from a confused company of men having chosen the fittest for the wars we should so place and digest a convenient number of them that in marches in incamping in battels we may be able with a few well ordered to incounter a farre greater army in confusion and to overthrow them From hence Aeneas did define the Art of war to be the knowledge of warlike motions Before this unexpert army shall be able to be moved in such fashion it shall not be amisse to acquaint it with the most usuall terms wherewith they shall be often commanded into diverse postures as occasion shall be offered For as in the art of Fencing no man shall be able to turn and wind his body for his best advantage to offend his enemy or defend himself unlesse first his master shall instruct him in the severall parts and postures thereof so every souldier or the whole troup as one body or one souldier shall never be readily instructed to transform or turn it self by divers motions into different forms unlesse they first understand what is meant by Fronts and Flanks by Files and Ranks what by Leaders and Followers by Middlemen and Bringers up By this means each souldier understanding what the terme doth signifie shall readily both apprehend and execute such commandments as the Captain or Officer shall direct him A File is a certain number of men following singly one Leader unto the depth of 8 or 10 as they shall be commanded The ancients have called this File Seriem ordinationem or decuriam It consisteth of Leaders and Followers placed according to their worth and valour and especially there ought to be regarded the Leader or Decurio the fifth sixth or Middlemen and the tenth and last called the Bringer up or Tergiductor First therefore every souldier being aptly fitted unto his severall armes according to his worth age and stature they are to be disposed into severall files wherein every one is especially to acknowledge his leader or foremost man to be the authour of all his motions therefore duely attending what directions shall be commanded each follower shall according to the motions of his leader or foremost man order his own and is to be excused if he attend the motions of his leader before he move himself When many files are thus disposed together all the leaders making one and the same front and their followers observing likewise one and the same proportion of distance before and after and on each side these Files thus joyned make one Battallion the front whereof is called a Rank and so likewise the second and third in depth according to the number of men in each file The first second and third and so forward in each file are called Sidemen in respect of the same numbers in the next file Neither must every souldier onely regard the motions of his Leader but he must also diligently respect his sidemen and such as shall be placed on his right and left hand called his ranks so that both in files and ranks he may alwaies be found in the same distance wherein he is commanded It should be impertinent to the purpose to prescribe a certain number of souldiers unto these Battallions onely thus much for the proportion that it ought never to exceed so much but that it may easily upon any occasion be changed into such a form or fashion to fight as may be thought fittest for the present The length of this Battallion is diversly tearmed amongst the Latines as Frons Facâ—â—s Adstructio Jugum c. but in our modern practise most familiarly the Front or Rank The breadth of the Battallion which is from the leader to the bringer-up with the distance between all the followers is said to be the length or depth of one file or flank In the disposing of souldiers into files and ranks besides their observing a right line in their places and standing we must likewise especially respect the different worth and quality of the souldiers that every one according to his worth may be suted unto his proper place and accordingly receive advancement as the death of his Leaders and true value of his desert by his Commander shall give occasion First therefore there must be especiall choice made of the leaders of each file or first front or ranks of the Battallion of the most expert ablest and best-armed men because that as from them the rest are to receive directions of their after-motions so in them the greatest hope of the day doth consist Next unto the first it must be provided that the bringers up or last rank called Tergiductores be little inferiour well experienced wise and valiant that they may both know when to reprehend their former Ranks and urge them forward if they see them declining or yielding upon false occasions as also to be able upon any sudden alarm given in the rere to turn faces about and make themselves a Front for the best resistance Neither must it be neglected concerning the second and ninth ranks that they also
to hold it in as great reputation as any weapons whatsoever which may be thought worthy executioners of the deeds of Armes THE SECOND OBSERVATION IN the second place we may observe that there was no Nation so barbarous for I understand the Germans to be as barbarous in regard of the motions of religion as any known Nation of that time being in a Climate so near the North that it afforded no contemplation at all that could not make use in their greatest affairs of that superstition to which their mind was naturally inthralled and forge prophesies and divinations as well to stirr up as to moderate the irregular motions of a multitude according as they might best serve to advantage their proceedings Neither did Caesar let slip the occasion of making use of this their religion for understanding by their prisoners that their divinations forbad them to fight before the new Moon he used all the means he could to provoke them to battell that their religious opinion of mischieving might prejudice their resolution to return Conquerers Which may serve to prove that a superstitious people are subject to many inconveniences which industry or Fortune may discover to their overthrow It is recorded that Columbus being Generall of some forces which Ferdinando king of Castile sent to discover the West Indies and suffering great penury for want of victuals in the I le of Jamaica after that he had observed how the Ilanders worshipped the Moon and having knowledge of an Eclipse that was shortly after to happen he told the inhabitants that unlesse they would furnish him with such necessaries as he wanted for the time the wrath of their God should quickly appear towards them by changing his bright shining face into obscurity and darknesse which was no sooner happened but the poor Indians strucken with a superstitious fear of that which the course of nature required kept nothing back that might assist their enemies to depopulate and over-run their own Country Chap. XIX Caesar seeketh meanes to give them battel and the Germans dispose themselves thereunto THe next day Caesar left a sufficient Garrison in each of his Camps and forasmuch as the number of his legionary souldiers was small in respect of the multitude of the Germans he placed all the Auxiliarie troups for a shew before the lesser Camp and putting his legions in a triple battell he marched towards the Camp of Ariovistus And then at length were the Germans constrained to bring out their power setting every Tribe and people by themselves in like distance and order of battell as the Harudes Marcomans Triboces Vangiones Nemetes Sedusians and Swevians and environing their whole Army with Carts and carriages that there might be no hope at all left to save any man by flight And in these they placed their women that they by their out-stretched hands and teares moving pity might implore the souldiers as they descended by course to the battell not to deliver them into the bondage and thraldome of the Romans Caesar assigned to every legion a Legat and a Questor that every man might have an eye-witnesse of his valour and he himself began the battell with the right Cornet forasmuch as he perceived that part of Ariovistus Army to be the weakest THE FIRST OBSERVATION THe Romans even from the infancy of their state were ever zealous admirers of true honour and alwayes desired to behold with the eye to what measure of vertue every man had attained that the tongue with greater fervency of spirit might sound out the celebration of Macte virtute which imported more honour then any wealth that could be heaped upon them Neither was this the least part of their wisedome considering that the most pretious things that are lose much of their worth if they be not suted with other correspondent natures whose sympathy addeth much more excellency then is discerned when they appear by themselves without such assistance For how small is the beauty which Nature hath given to the eye-pleasing Diamond when it is not adorned with an artificiall form or what perfection can the form give without a foile to strengthen it or what good is in either of them if the light do not illuminate it or what avail all these where there wanteth an eye to admire it a judgement to value it and an heart to imbrace it Such a union hath Nature imprinted in the diversitie of creatures concurring to perfection and especially in morall actions in whose carriage there is a far greater exactnesse of correspondencie required to approve them honourable then was requisite to make the jewel beautifull And this did Caesar in all his battels amongst the rest that at Alesia is particularly noted in this manner Quod in conspectu imperatoris res gerebatur neque recte aut turpiter factum celari poterat utrosque laudis cupiditas timor ignominiae ad virtutem excitabat And when Livie would expresse how valiantly an action was carried he saith no more but in conspectu imperatoris res gerebatur which is as much as to say that forasmuch as the Romans were diligent observers of every mans worth rewarding vertue with honour and cowardise with reproch every man bent his whole endeavour to deserve the good opinion of his Generall by discharging that duty which he owed to the Commonwealth with all loyalty and faithfulnesse of spirit THE SECOND OBSERVATION THe Romans had four formes of the front of their battell The first was called Acies Recta when neither the cornets nor the battell was advanced one before another but were all carried in a right line and made a straight front this was their most usuall manner of imbattelling The second forme of the front was called Obliqua when as one of the cornets was advanced nearer unto the enemy then the rest to begin the battell and this was commonly as Vegetius noteth the right cornet for the right cornet of an Army had great advantage against the left of the enemies in regard of their weapons and furniture But Caesar did it in this place because he perceived that the enemy was weakest in that part following a Maxime of great authority That the weakest part of an enemy is in the beginning to be charged with the strength of an Armie for so favourable are mens judgements to that which is already happened that the sequele of every action dependeth for the most part upon the beginning Dimidium facti qui bene coepit habet saith a Poet and not without great reason so forcible continually is the beginning and so connexed to the sequele by the nature of a precedent cause that the end must needs erre from the common course when it doth not participate of that quality which was in the beginning Neither can there be any good end without a good beginning for although the beginning be oftentimes disastrous and unluckie and the end fortunate and happy yet before it came to that end there was a fortunate beginning
therefore it was called agmen quadratum or a square march inasmuch as it kept the same disposition of parts as were observed in quadrata Acie in a square body For that triple forme of imbatteling which the Romans generally observed in their fights having respect to the distances between each battel contained almost an equall dimension of front and file and so it made Aciem quadratam a square body and when it marched Agmen quadratum a square march Polybius expresseth the same in effect as often as the place required circumspection but altereth it somewhat in regard of the carriages for he saith that in time of danger especially where the country was plain and champain and gave space and free scope to clear themselves upon any accident the Romans marched in a triple battel of equall distance one behind another every battell having his severall carriages in front And if they were by chance attacked by an enemy they turned themselves according to the opportunity of the place either to the right of left hand and so placing their carriages on the one side of their Army they stood imbattelled ready to receive the charge The contrary form of marching where the place afforded more security and gave scope to conveniency they named agmen longum a long march or train when almost every maniple or order had their severall carriages attending upon them and strove to keep that way which they found most easy both for themselves and their impediments Which order of march as it was more commodious then the former in regard of particularity so was it unsafe and dangerous where the enemy was expected and therefore Caesar much blamed Sabinus and Cotta for marching when they were deluded by Ambiorix longissimo agmine in a very long train as though they had received their advertisements from a friend and not from an enemy And albeit our modern wars are farre different in quality from them of ancient times yet in this point of discipline they cannot have a more perfect direction then that which the Romans observed as the two poles of their motions Safety and Conveniencie whereof the first dependeth chiefly upon the provident disposition of the leaders and the other will easily follow on as the commodity of every particular shall give occasion Concerning safety in place of danger what better course can be taken then that manner of imbattelling which shall be thought most convenient if an enemy were present to confront them for a well-ordered march must either carry the perfect forme of a battel or contain the distinct principles and elements thereof that with little alteration it may receive that perfection of strength which the fittest disposition can afford it First therefore a prudent and circumspect Leader that desireth to frame a strong and orderly march is diligently to observe the nature and use of each weapon in his Army how they may be placed for greatest use and advantage both in respect of their different and concurring qualities as also in regard of the place wherein they are managed and this knowledge will consequently inferre the best and exactest disposition of imbattelling as the said forces are capable of which if it may be observed in a march is no way to be altered But if this exactnesse of imbattelling will not admit convenient carriage of such necessary adjuncts as pertain to an Army the inconvenience is to be relieved with as little alteration from that rule as in a wary judgement shall be found expedient that albeit the form be somewhat changed yet the principles and ground wherein their strength and safety consisteth may still be retained Neither can any man well descend to more particular precepts in this point he may exemplify the practices of many great and experienced commanders what sort of weapon marched in front and what in the rereward in what part of the Army the Munition marched and where the rest of the carriage was bestowed according as their severall judgements thought most expedient in the particular nature of their occurrences But the issue of all will fall out thus that he that observed this rule before prescribed did seldome miscarry through an unsafe march Let a good Martia list well know their proper use in that diversity of weapons in his Army how they are serviceable or disadvantageous in this or that place against such or such an Enemy and he will speedily order his battel dispose of his march and bestow his carriages as shall best fall out both for his safety and conveniency Caesars custome was to send his Cavalry and light-armed footmen before the body of his Army both to discover and impeach an Enemy for these troups were nimble in motion and fit for such services but if the danger were greater in the rereward then in the front the horsemen marched in the tayl of the Army and gave security where there was most cause of fear But if it happened that they were found unfit to make good the service in that place as oftentimes it fell out and especially in Africa against the Numidians he then removed them as he best found it convenient and brought his legionary souldiers which were the sinews and strength of his forces and marched continually in the bulk of the Army to make good that which his horsemen could not perform And thus he altered the antique prescription and uniformity of custome according as he found himself best able to disadvantage an Enemy or make way to victory Chap. IX The Romans begin to fortify their camp but are interrupted by the Nervii Caesar maketh hast to prepare his forces to battell THe Roman horsemen with the slingers and archers passed over the river and encountred the Cavalry of the Enemy who at first retired back to their companies in the wood and from thence sallied out again upon them but the Romans durst not pursue them further then the plain and open ground In the mean time the six legions that were in front having their work measured out unto them began to fortify their camp But as soon as the Neâ—vii perceived their former carriages to be come in sight which was the time appointed amongst them to give the charge as they stood imbattelled within the thicket so they rushed out with all their forces and assaulted the Roman horsemen which being easily beaten back the Nervii ran down to the river with such an incredible swiftnesse that they seemed at the same instant of time to be in the woods at the river and charging the legions on the other side For with the same violence having passed the river they ran up the hill to the Roman camp where the souldiers were busied in their intrenchment Caesar had all parts to play at one instant the flag to be hung out by which they gave the souldiers warning to take Arms the battel to be proclaimed by sound of trumpet the souldiers to be recalled from their work and such as were gone farre
first met withall there they stayed least in seeking out their own companies they should lose that time as was to be spent in fighting The Army being imbattelled rather according to the nature of the place the declivity of the hill and the brevity of time then according to the rules of art as the legions incountred the enemy in divers places at once the perfect view of the battel being hindred by those thick hedges before spoken of there could no succours be placed any where neither could any man see what was needfull to be done and therefore in so great uncertainty of things there happened divers casualties of fortune The souldiers of the ninth and tenth legion as they stood in the left part of the Army casting their piles with the advantage of the hill did drive the Atrebates breathlesse with running and wounded in the incounter down into the river and as they passed over the water slew many of them with their swords Neither did they stick to follow after them over the river and adventure into a place of disadvantage where the battel being renewed again by the Enemy they put them to flight the second time In like manner two other legions the eleventh and the eighth having put the Veromandui from the upper ground fought with them upon the banks of the river and so the front and the left part of the camp was well-near left naked For in the right cornet were the twelfth and seventh legions whereas all the Nervii under the conduct of Boduognatus were heaped together and some of them began to assault the legions on the open side and other some to possesse themselves of the highest part of the camp At the same time the Roman horsemen and the light-armed footmen that were intermingled amongst them and were at first all put to flight by the Enemy as they were entering into the camp met with their enemies in the face and so were driven to fly out another way In like manner the pages and souldiers boyes that from the Decumane port and top of the hill had seen the tenth legion follow their enemies in pursuit over the river and were gone out to gather pillage when they looked behind them and saw the enemy in their camp betook them to their heels as fast as they could At the same time rose a great hubbub and outcry of those that came along with the carriages who being extremely troubled and dismayed at the businesse ran some one way and some another Which accident so terrified the horsemen of the Treviri who for their prowesse were reputed singular amongst the Galles and were sent thither by their State to aid the Romans first when they perceived the Roman camp to be possesst by a great multitude of the Enemy the legions to be overcharged and almost inclosed about the horsemen slingers and Numidians to be dispersed and fled that without any further expectation they took their way homeward and reported to their State that the Romans were utterly overthrown and that the Enemy had taken their carriages Caesar departing from the tenth legion to the right cornet finding his men exceedingly overcharged the ensignes crowded together into one place and the souldiers of the twelfth legion so thick thronged on a heap that they hindred one another all the Centurions of the fourth cohort being slain the ensign-bearer kill'd and the ensign taken and the Centurions of the other cohorts either slain or sore wounded amongst whom Pub. Sextus Baculus the Primipile of that legion a valiant man so grievously wounded that he could scarce stand upon his feet the rest not very forward but many of the hindmost turning taile and forsaking the field the Enemy 〈◊〉 the other side giving no respite in front although he fought against the hill nor yet sparing the open side and the matter brought to a narrow issue without any means or succour to relieve them he took a target from one of the hindmost souldiers for he himself was come thither without one and pressing to the front of the battel called the Centurions by name and incouraging the rest commanded the ensignes to be advanced toward the enemy and the Maniples to be inlarged that they might with greater facility and readinesse use their swords THE FIRST OBSERVATION THis Publius Sextus Baculus was the chiefest Centurion of the twelfth legion being the first Centurion of that Maniple of the Triarn that was of the first Cohort in that legion for that place was the greatest dignity that could happen to a Centurion and therefore he was called by the name of Centurio primipili or simply Primipilus and sometimes Primiopilus or Primus Centurio By him were commonly published the mandates and edicts of the Emperour and Tribunes and therefore the rest of the Centurions at all times had an eye unto him and the rather for that the eagle which was the peculiar ensign of every legion was committed to his charge and carried in his Maniple Neither was this dignity without speciall commodity as may be gathered out of divers Authours We read farther that it was no disparagement for a Tribune after his Tribuneship was expired to be a Primipile in a legion notwithstanding there was a law made I know not upon what occasion that no Tribune should afterward be Primipile But let this suffice concerning the office and title of P. S. Baculus THE SECOND OBSERVATION ANd here I may not omit to give the Target any honour I may and therefore I will take occasion to describe it in Caesars hand as in the place of greatest dignity and much honouring the excellency thereof Polybius maketh the Target to contain two foot and an half in breadth overthwart the convex surface thereof and the length four foot of what form or fashion soever they were of for the Romans had two sorts of Targets amongst their legionaries the first carried the proportion of that figure which the Geometricians call Ovall a figure of an unequall latitude broadest in the 〈◊〉 and narrow at both the ends like unto an egge described in plano the other sort was of an equall latitude and resembled the fashion of a gutter-tile and thereupon was called Scutum imbricatum The matter whereof a target was made was a double board one fastened upon another with lint and Buls glew and covered with an Oxe hide or some other stiffe leather the upper and lower part of the target were bound about with a plate of iron to keep it from cleaving and in the midst there was a bosse of iron or brasse which they called Umbo Romulus brought them in first among the Romans taking the use of them from the Sabines The wood whereof they were made was for the most part either sallow alder or fig-tree whereof Plinie giveth this reason forasmuch as these trees are cold and waterish and therefore any blow or thrust that was made upon the wood was presently contracted and shut up again But forasmuch as the
and raised of earth as the best defence against the fury of the artillery But forasmuch as the old manner of fortification is here in part delivered by Caesar give me leave to have a word or two touching the fortifications of these times And first touching the art it self in respect of the matter and the manner it is a member of architecture but the end is military for to fortify is nothing else but to make a building answerable to necessity and the occurrences of war Neither is it the end of fortification to make a place inexpugnable or unpossible to be taken for so it were Ars artium but to reduce it to a good and reasonable defence Wheresoever then any such defence is required the mystery of fortification is to raise such a fort and to apply such a figure answering the quality and site of that place as may give greatest strength thereunto for as all places are not capable in the disposition of their best strength of all sorts of figures so there is a difference of strength between this and that figure And as the place wanteth the advantage of motion and agility for its own defence so is it requisite it should be furnished with the best means and commodities both to annoy the enemy and to defend its own people And in that respect all circular forms as compounded of parts of one and the same nature are unfit for fortification for where a fort ought so to be disposed that it may have as many hands to strike as Briarâ—us and as a Hydra never to want a head it is necessary that the figure thereof be of different and unlike parts as apt to work divers effects For unlesse it be able to discover a far off to command the country about as far as the artillery will play to stop the passages to hinder approaches and assaults to damnify the enemy at hand and far off sometimes with the artillery sometimes with small shot sometimes with fire-works and other times by sallies it hath not that perfection as is requisite Admitting therefore composition of parts next unto the circle the triangular fortresse is most unperfect first in regard it is a figure of lesse capacity then any other of equall bounds which is a great inconvenience in a hold when the souldiers shall be pinn'd up for want of room and through the straightnesse of the place not to be able to avoid confusion Secondly the bulwarks of all such triangular fortresses have alwayes such sharp cantons as are easily subject to breaking which giveth the enemy means to approach them without disturbance from the fort The quadrangle fortresse hath almost the same imperfection of angles as the triangle hath but is more spacious within and of greater capacity And therefore Pentagons or Hexagons or any other that hath more angles is fittest for fortification understanding the place to be capable of them as being of a greater content and having their angles more obtuse and by consequence more solid and strong A plain champain level doth admit all sorts of figures and may take the best having these advantages it easily hindereth an enemy from approaching near unto it or incamping before it and is not subject to mines by reason of the water rising in such levels But on the other side a small troup will besiege it and battery may be laid to divers places of it it is alwayes subject to mounts of earth and needeth many bulwarks â—ditches and much cost to keep it A fortresse upon a hill hath these advantages an enemy can hardly lodge near unto it or lay battery against it it requireth more men to besiege it and is not subject to mounts The disadvantages are that it is not in our choice to make it in the best form of strength but must give it such a figure as may best fit the place being sometimes too large and spacious and sometimes too strait The enemies artillery hath greater force against it playing upward and the artillery of the fort playeth not so sure downward The hands of all forts are the bulwarks from whence the artillery playeth the supplements to the bulwarks are the ravelins the platforms the casmates and the cavaleros The walls are made in scarp canting inwards the better to bear the weight of the earth with this proportion that to every five foot and half or six foot in height there be one foot allowed in scarp The counterscarp is another wall outward to the first and stopeth inward in the same manner as the former And thus much touching the generall view of fortification which is as much as may well be comprehended in these short observations reserving the further consideration thereof to a particular treatise by it self CHAP. XII The siege of Avaricum continued THe siege being hindered by so many disturbances and the souldiers afflicted all the time with cold and continuall rain yet they overcame all these lets with continuall labour and in five and twenty dayes they raised a mount of three hundred and thirty foot in breadth and fourscore in height When it came almost to touch the wall Caesar himself attending the work as his custome was and encouraging the souldiers to omit no time from the same a little before the third watch of the night the mount was seen to smoak the enemy having set it on fire with a mine And at the same instant of time a shout being taken up by them that stood upon the wall they made a sally out at two gates on both sides the towers Some cast firebrands and dry matter from the wall unto the mount pouring pitch and other things to nourish the fire that no man knew whither to run first or where to give help Notwithstanding forasmuch as Caesar had appointed two legions by turn to watch before the camp and two other to follow the works it happened and that quickly that some were ready to confront the sallies and others to draw back the towers from the front of the mount and to cut the mount asunder the whole multitude coming out of the camp to quench the fire The rest of the night being now spent the fight continued every where and ever the enemy took new spirits and had hope of victory the rather because they saw the sheds or hovels belonging to the towers burnt and that the souldiers could not come near the said towers to manage them as was fitting without shelter and covert and that they ever sent fresh men to take the rooms of such as were weary and over-laboured supposing the safety of all Gallia to consist in that instant of time There happened our selves beholding it an accident worthy memory which I think not fit to omit A certain Gall before the gate of the town casting with his hands balls of tallow and pitch to increase the fire right over against the tower was shot through the right side
of them fought on each side entring valiantly the enemies ships killing a great number of the Highlanders and Shepheards Part of the ships they sunk some they took with the men and the rest they beat back into the Haven That day the Massilians lost nine ships with those that were taken This news was brought to Caesar at Ilerda THE FIRST OBSERVATION I Have formerly observed the manner of their sea-fight consisting of three parts The first was their nimble and skilfull managing of their ships either forcibly to assault or to lavire and bear off as might fall for their best advantage wherein the Massilians by reason of the skilfulnesse of their Pilots had great confidence The second was their fight before they came to grappling as well with great engines such as were their Balistae and Catapultae casting stones and logs of wood one against another as also with slings arrows and daâ—ts resembling our great artillery and small shot for which purpose their ships were built with fore-caâ—â—les and turrets and other advantages of height for their casting weapons The third was their grappling and forcible entry wherein forasmuch as the matter was referred to the arbitrement of valour the legionary souldier carried the cause Whence we may observe that their legioâ—s were the 〈◊〉 of their valiant and worthy men as well for the sea as the land being â—itted by the discipline of their Military exercises to undertake any service subject to humane industry whereof they gâ—ve an account worthy the School wherein they were instructed Neither is 〈◊〉 at any time but that such kingdomes as 〈…〉 to train up their men in Academies of vertuous Actualâ—y do alwaies keep then honour at a high 〈◊〉 affording at all times men of absolute and compleat carriage both for designment and performance THE SECOND OBSERVATION I Have a little before shewed out of Livie that the Antesignani were ordinarily taken for the Hastati which being the easiest sort of souldiers according to the generall division of a legion doth seem to contradict the passage in this Chapter Sed delectos ex omnibus legionibus fortissimos viros Antesignanos Centuriones Caesar ei classi attribuerat But Caesar having pickt the valiantest of the Antesignani out of all the Legions put them into this Fleet as Centurions For the better clearing whereof we are to note that as the Hastati or first battel of a legion were generally taken for the Antesignani as standing before the Eagle and other the chiefest Ensignes which were alwaies amongst the Principes or second battell so every Maniple having an Ensign in the midst of the troup the souldiers that stood in front before the Ensign were likewise called Antesignani and were the best souldiers in the Company for the Centurion standing alwaiâ—s in the head of the troup was accompanied with the valiantest and worthiest men the rest filling up the rere consorted with the Lieutenant who thereupon was called Tergi-ductor Whence we may admire the temperature and disposition of a Roman Army being first generally divided into three battels whereof the meanest were in the vantguard to make triall of their strength and to spend the heat of their young bloud in the first affront of an enemy The Veterani or old souldiers being left in the rereward to repair any losse which either force or casualty should cast upon their Leaders And again to counterpoise themselves in such a manner as the weakest might not alwaâ—â—s go to the wall their private Companies were so ordered that the best men were alwayes in front Whereby they made such an exquisite temper as kept every part of the Army in their full strength CHAP. XX. Upon the making of the Bridge at Ilerda the Enemy resolveth to transferre the warre into Celtiberia VPon Caesar's making of his Bridge Fortune suddenly changed The enemy fearing the courage and valour of our cavalry did not so freely range abroad as they had wont to do sometimes seeking forrage within a small distance of the Camp to the end they might find a safe and easy retreat if occasion required sometimes fetching a great compasse about to avoid the guards and stations of our horsemen And if they had received but the least check or had but descried the Cavalry afarre off they would have cast down their burdens and fled away At last they omitted forraging for many dayes together and which was never used by any Nation sent out to seek it in the night In the mean time those of Osca and Calaguris being in league together sent Embassadours to Caesar with offer of their service in such sort as he should please to command it Within a few dayes the Tarraconenses Lacetani and Ausetani together with the Illurgavonenses which border upon the River Ebrus followed after Of all these he desired supplies of Corn and provision which they promised to furnish and accordingly got horses from all quarters and brought grain into the Camp In like manner the Regiment of the Illurgavonenses understanding the resolution of their State left the Enemy and came unto him with their Colours and suddenly a great alteration of things appeared The bridge being perfected five great Cities and States being come in unto him a course settled for provision of Corn and the rumour blown over of the succours and legions which Pompey was said to come withall by the way of Mauritania many other towns farther off revolted from Afranius and clave to Caesar's party The enemy being much affrighted and abashed at these things Caesar to avoid the great circuit by which he continually sent his horsemen about by the bridge having got a convenient place resolved to make many trenches of thirty foot in breadth by which he might drain some part of the river Sicoris and make it passable by a foord These trenches being almost made Afâ—anius and Petreius did thereupon conceive a great fear lest they should be cut off altogether from victuall and forrage forasmuch as Caesar was very strong in horse and therefore they determined to leave that place and transferre the warre into Celtiberia being the rather thereunto induced for that of those two contrary Factions which in the former warre had stood for L. Sertorius such Cities as were subdued by Pompey did yet stand in aw of his Name and Authority and such as from the beginning had continued firm unto him did intirely love him for the great benefits they had received from him amongst whom Caesar's name was not known There they expected great succours both of horse and foot and made no doubt but to keep the warre on foot untill winter This advice being agreed upon they gave order to take up all the boats that were on the river Iberus and to bring them to Octogesa a town sited upon Iberus twenty miles from the Camp There they commanded a bridge of boats to be made and transporting two legions over Sicoris fortified their Camp with a rampier of twelve foot
or any other way to which I referre the Reader CHAP. XXII Asranius seeketh to take the Straights between certain Mountains but is prevented by Caesar THe next day following Petreius went out secretly with a few horse to discover the Countrey and for the samepurpose some went likewise out of Caesar's Camp L. Decidius Saxa was sent with a small troup to view the site of the Place And either party returned with the same report that for five miles the way was open and champain and afterwards very rough and mountainous and whosoever first took those straight might easily impeach the enemy from going further The matter was disputed in the Councell of war by Petreius and Afranius the time of their setting forward was debated Most of them thought it fit to take their journey in the night for by that means they might come to those straights before it were perceived Others were of opinion that it was not possible to steal out in the night as appeared by the cry of rising taken up the night before in Caesar's Camp upon their removing and Caesar's horsemen did so range abroad in the night that all places and passages were kept and shut up Neither were they to give occasion of night fights but to avoid the same by all the means they could forasmuch as in civile dissension the ordinary souldier would rather suffer himself to be over mastered by fear then continue firm in the allegiance which he had sworn unto whereas in the day time every man hath shame and dishonour before his eyes together with the presence of the Centurions and Tribunes with which respects a souldier is restrained and kept within the bounds of duty And therefore the attempt was by all means to be undertaken in the day time and although it â—ell out to some losse yet neverthelesse the body of the Armie might pass in safety and possesse that place which they sought for This opinion prevailing in their consultation they determined by break of day the next mornning to set forward Caesar having diligently viewed the Countrey as soon as day began to appear drew all his forces out of his Camp and marched forward in a great circuit keeping no direct way For the waies which led to Iberus and Octogesa were taken up with the Enemies Camp insomuch as they were to passe over great and difficult vallies And in many places broken Rocks and stones did so hinder them that they were necessarily forced to give their weapons from hand to hand the souldiers lifting up one another and so they passed most part of the way Howsoever no man thought much of the labour for that they hoped to give an end to all their travell if they could keep the enemy from passing over the River Iâ—erus and cut off his â—â—â—ualls At the first Afranius souldiers ran joyfully out of their Camp to see the Army casting out words of derision and reproch that for want of victuall they fled and returned to Ilerda for the way they held was quite contrary to that they intended whereby they seemed to go back again and the Commanders themselves did much approve their own counsell that they had kept their troups within the Camp For that which confirmed them in their opinion was that they perceived they were come out without their carriages whereby they hoped necessity would not suffer them to continue long there But when they saw the troups by little and little to wind to the right hand and that they perceived how those that were in front had fallen backward beyond their Camp there was no man so dull but thought it expedient presently to march out and make head against them Whereupon they cried to Arme and all their forces excepting some few cohorts which were left to keep the Camp went out and marched directly towards Iberus The whole business consisted in speed and celeritie which of the two should first take the straights and possesse the hills Caesar's Army was hindered by the difficulty of the way and Afranius partie was retarded by Caesar's Cavalry The matter was come to that upshot that if Afranius party did first get the hills they might haply quâ—â— themselves of danger but the baggage of the whole Army and the cohorts left in the Camp could not be saved for being intercepted and sâ—â—luded by Caesar's Armie there was no means to relieve them It 〈◊〉 that Caesar first attained the place and being come out from among those great Rocks into a plain champain put his Army in order of battell against the enemy Afranius seeing the enemy in front and his rereward hardly charged by Caesar's Caâ—alry got the advantage of a small hill there made his stand and from thence sent four cohorts bearing round bucklers unto a Mountain which in all mens sight was higher then the rest commanding them to run as fast as they could and possesse that hill intending to follow after with all his forces and altering his course to get along the ridges and tops of the Mountains to Octogesa As the cohorts were advanced forward by an oblique circuit Caesar's Cavalry perceiving their intendment set upon them with such violence that they were not able any time to bear their charge but were surrounded by them and all cut in pieces in the fight of both Armies THE FIRST OBSERVATION PEtreius and Afranius in their Councell of war resolved by all means to shun night encounters as a thing full of hazard and uncertainty and apt for looseness and disobedience for the night being neither a discoverer of errours nor yet a distinguisher either of actions or persons but wrapping up both the vertuous and the faultie in her Mantle of obscuritie doth not admit of directions to follow an opportunity or to help a mistaking but rather giving way to impunitie and licentious confusion leaveth no hope of what is wished Whereas the light is a witness of every mans demeanour and hath both honour and rebuke to make dutie respected For which causes Curio as it followeth in the next Commentarie in his harangue before that untimely expedition against king Juba thus rejected their advice that would have had him set forward in the night At etiam ut media nocte proficiscamur addunt quo majorem credo licentiam habeant qui peccare conantur namque hujusmodi res aut pudore aut metu tenentur quibus rebus nox maxim adversaria est Further then this they advise us to set out in the middle of the night that so I think those men who have a mind to do mischief may take the greater liberty for in the day-time they would be restrain'd either through shame or fear to both which the darkness of the night is a great adversary And that the danger may appear as well by effect as by discourse let the Reader take notice of that battell by night between Antonius Primus on the behalf of Vespasian and the Vitellian legions near unto
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