THE Prospective Glass of WAR. Showing you a glimpse of Wars Mystery, in her admirable Stratagems, Policies, Ways; in Victualling of an ARMY, providing Money to pay Soldiers, finding out the Enemy's Purposes, Traps, and Stratagems: Ordering of Marches, Framing of Battles, sundry Fights, Retreats, and the like, to avoid Battle or Fight. Furnished with Argument to encourage, and Skill to Instruct. By C. E. War is a School of necessary Knowledge. LONDON: Printed for Michael Spark, dwelling at the sign of the blue Bible in Greone-Arbor. 1628. TO THE HONOURABLE Sir JOHN COOK Knight, Principal Secretary of State to his Majesty. SIR, AS shape beautifies an Image, so good actions commend a man. That which did commend Lucullus most, was this, * Plutarch in the life of Lucullus. He would rather deliver a Roman Citizen from the hands of his enemy, then win all that his enemies had in their power. Lucullus in this did conquer himself; as Alexander did in containing from Darius his most fair wife and daughters; and Caesar, in sparing to punish his greatest enemies. To whom Cicero said, that in other Victories, Fortune, Policy, & Soldiers, might claim a part, but in this, he alone should have all the glory. Glory, Thirst of prey, and love of Country, were the three things that set all the Romans upon admirable action. The first is counted but a * August. de Civit. dei. li. 5. cap. 3. Vice; the second, no better than Theft; the third, is the Virtue Heroical. In this Virtue Cicero excelled the other three, and therefore was honoured with this Epitaph, Pater Patriae. He was called Father of his Country, because he kept it from decay. All those that in their Consultations do seek the benefit of their Country, do deserve the like like reward and praise. You then Sir, are to be praised and honoured of all men, whose Consultations tend to the benefit of the whole Kingdom: having obtained a Conquest of yourself (being a Christian) far above that of Lucullus and Caesar's. Therefore you shall attain a most sure triumph, the guide of whose Chariot shall be Grace given from above, and Glory, that shall never fail you. It is reported of Roscius (the Tragedian) that men durst not adventure to Act in a Tragedy in his sight, because of his excellency in that faculty. And shall I dare to discourse of War (or any other subject) before so great a Statesman, so learned, exquisite a Mathematician as yourself? Behold I were blanckt, and should stand as Queen Hester did (dead in all men's opinion:) did not your Sceptre of benignity give me life, and tell me that you are a Favoror of Arts and Arms. Therefore I take courage, and prostrate this my poor labour to Kiss your Honourable hands, not as any addition to your uncontroleable and approved knowledge, but as a weak Fabric, which only wanteth the support of your much admired goodness. Pleaseth it you therefore to accept my Book, to peruse and allow of the same, that it may the more safely come abroad, and thereby deserve the better favour and acceptance of all the Readers thereof: as allowed of him, whose Noble acts as well within the Realm, as without, have always from time to time, so well appeared. So I shall be the more boldened, and encouraged to take the like pains hereafter, if good and meet occasion, may serve there unto. Ever vowed to you (Honourable Sir) in all dutiful service, Edward Cook. The Preface to the Reader. judicious Reader: IT is not the least, but the greatest kind of folly, when a man having but a little science, presumeth to teach not only those which have only science, but such as have most certain experience. For mine own part (among many) I am most free from this guilt: though for the good of many I have published this Treatise which will make me thereby seem guilty. Yet I confess the Book or Treatise is a collection of such notes as have been by me selected out of the best Tacticke writers both Ancient and Modern. All which I have illustrated with examples, and precepts, the better to instruct all young Commanders; who by reading them may get much knowledge. But it may be these brave spirits are minded to get knowledge by experience, and not to join experience unto knowledge: therefore they affect the bloody fields of Africa better than the beautiful Schools in Greece. Well, let them do so; but in my opinion it seems a far better and shorter way (for them) to attain to the name of worthy perfect Captains, to join experience unto knowledge, then to get knowledge by Experience. For Man's life is short and subject to many casualties, oftentimes it is cut off before it can come to any such perfection as is required in an excellent man of War; whereas small experience with diligent reading, and perfect learning of feats of War may frame and make many politic Captains in a small time. I do not mean that knowledge without experience can do any great thing at all; but being joined both together, doubtless they may be as able to bring to pass as great and as marvellous things in valiant men in these our days, as they have done to others before our time: To which not only experience alone brought them, but diligent learning and study of the Art of War, written and set forth by Historical Writers and Poets. Innumerable are the Books which this age doth afford of the like subject for their direction: the number of which I have augmented by two; namely, The Character of War, and The Prospective Glass of War. The Character of War, doth instruct them in the use of the Postures, in the use of Facing, Wheeling, Countermarching, Doubling, Distances, and the like. And how to Command a Company. The prospective Glass of War doth instruct them how to Victual an Army, how to provide money to pay Soldiers, how to find out the enemy's purposes, Traps, and Stratagems; how to direct an Army to march either by day or by night; how to embattle; how to behave themselves in battle, when to fight, when to avoid fight, with many other excellent things worthy of their knowledge. Then let them read, and reading they will learn to judge aright of the Author; who puts a difference between the state of Philosophers, and the state of Captains; between the skill to read in Schools, and the knowledge to rule an Army; between the science that wise men have in Books, and the experience that others have in war; between the skill to write with the pen, and others to write with the sword; between one that for his pastime is set round with desks of Books, and another in peril of life, encompassed with troops of enemies. Therefore presumes not to teach any such grave experienced Soldiers; only records what they have done, or can do; which he recounts to others to imitate, who it may be have neither seen nor read them. Spare not then to judge and censure him who will ever remain thine. C. E. Hiss. Hiss. A Battle both with Seconds, and Aids for all attempts; containing 12000. Foot, and 4000 Horse, with Ordnance on the Hills, Rear & Flanks. THE PROSPECTIVE Glass of WAR. CHAP. I. After what manner a Commander or General should best provide Victuals and Movie to content his Soldiers, & how to find out the purposes, Traps, and Stratagems of his Enemy. VIctuals is the Soul of an Army: Money, but the Sinews: without the first your Army cannot at all subsist; without the second, but indifferently: but with both, admirable well. That your Army may have both Soul and Sinews, thereby to subsist long and well, provide for it good store of victuals and money: Likewise pry into the wiles and stratagems of the Enemy in time, that it may go well with your Army. Which that you may well do, these precepts following will direct you aright. But first of Victuals. Victuals consist first in convenient provision of them, then in safe keeping and preserving of them, then in good distributing, or spending, or bestowing of them always. Precepts for provision of victuals. All which you must carefully execute if you would not willingly taste of want. 1. Provide for victuals before you undertake the war, for than is the time of best provision. 2. In your war begun, store yourself with victuals, either near hand or far off. And conduct it with good and strong convoys, lest the Enemy surprise it. 3. In your Towns of war, either without or within, have great store of Milles to grind corn to sustain you the better in a siege: And be sure to look well unto them, & sufficiently to defend them, especially those that are without the Town. 4. If you besieged Towns or Cities, you ought to hurl down all Milles within and without, and to cut of the water from them, if you cannot keep them for your own use. 5. Provide that such neighbours as dwell near unto you, may safely bring victuals into your Camp without danger of the Enemy. 6. In case of necessity send your Soldiers into their Province to abide & be relieved with victuals for a time. Example, Galli being in some distress of victuals, choose the City Attella, a City full of victuals, to stay there until by their friends they might be relieved, both with victuals and Soldiers. In which City their Soldiers for a while were largely relieved and freely, with or at the charges of the Citizens. 7. Seek by all means to intercept your Enemy's victuals; and lay siege to those places from whence their chief relief of victuals doth come. Example, The Captains of Charles the sift, in the wars against the Germans, lacked victuals somewhat, where on the other side, the Germans lying in a plain fertile Country, had plenty of victuals, upon the occasion of the aoundance of the Country, being large; and partly because certain friendly Cities and Countries lay behind them on the otherside of the River. For the same purpose Charles the Emperor went about for to gain the Cities standing about the River from them, and so the advantage of the same River with victuals: which was a brave act. Like this was that of Francis Sforza, who understanding that the Frenchmen, or Army at Novaro, had great comfort of victuals from Biagrassa, he beseidged that Town suddenly, & took it: by which occasion he took from them their chief victuals: And shortly after the French Army was fain to remove. 8. If you are for to journey towards the wars, journey in a plentiful Country, and which hath in long time been in peace. Thus did the French King Charles the eight when he came to the City of Ast. 9 Also you are to journey in your Confederates Country, and who upon very great occasion is to desire your society, for such will aid you liberally. This was likewise practised by Charles the eight when he invaded Naples: For other ways of getting of victuals, and preserving them so got, peruse these precedents. 10. Some Kings, Captains, and Generals, which have either taken, or saved some City which was likely to be lost, have caused their Soldiers to be relieved of victuals in the same; in the houses of them which were their Enemies. 11. Some have used for to send certain Captains of Soldiers into other Cities, for to ease the present spending in the place where they were. 12. Some have used to send all the poor and impotent people out of their City so beseidged, that their victuals might last the longer. 13. Some would suffer none either to return or to have relief of victuals: Which unreasonable hard usage needed not, if Governors would before hand, and before need, prepare both for abundance of victuals, or else withal take order for the moderate spending of their victuals: For negligence of provision of victuals in time, and mispending, or else lack of good keeping or ordering them which you have, should be well seen unto. I pretermit this. And I fall upon the provision of money for the payment of your Soldier's wages. Precepts for the payment of Soldier's wages. Having money sufficient, it is best to pay your Soldiers beforehand, or monthly. 1. If you be bare of money, pay some wages, and procure that the Soldiers may have victuals good cheap all the while you lack money, or employ them where continual spoil may be had. 2. If you have little money, pay a part of that openly in the hands of such soldiers as are most likely to make a Mutiny. 3. Some Generals when as their soldiers have been ready to reuoult or mutiny for lack of pay, have strait way brought them to the battle, for this purpose; if victory happened on their side, they would pay their soldiers of the spoil of their Enemies, or else if their Army were overthrown, than they should be clearly and well discharged of the grievous and dangerous complaint. 4. Some have caused the Citizens of Cities to receive soldiers into their houses for to give unto them meat, drink, and lodging, and to give wages unto the same soldiers. Thus did Anthony de Leva at Milan. This was he that forbade all his Citizens for to eat any bread but only such as should be bought of him: For which purpose he appointed in every street certain houses where bread should be sold, at what price he lusted, and none durst do the contrary. By which kind of means he got into his hands all such kind of money as any Citizen of Milan had in his Chests, or else could make or reserve by any means or ways; with which he paid his soldiers. This was his way, but some have found other ways besides these. Ways to get money to pay Soldiers. 5. Some Generals have gauged all their plate and jewels unto rich moneyed men, to pay their soldiers. Charles the 8. of France. 6. Some Kings have borrowed all the jewels and ornaments of certain great Ladies or Estates, which were their friends and kinsmen, and have pawned the same to Usurers for to pay their soldiers. 7. Borrow largely of your Confederates money, who seeketh your society in his wars: for his special purpose: The French King Charles the 8. could do this passing well. 8. Seek of such a Confederate any other aid or furniture for your wars, which furniture can stay your laying out of much expense. 9 Seem (to such a Confederate) to defer your wars that you may the better wring forth of him greater sums. It may be he may prove like Lodowick Sforza Duke of Milan. This Duke, seeing Charles' the eight make no haste to invade Naples according unto promise, because Lodowick was to work a feat by Charles his coming, which otherwise he was very hardly to do; he sent his son in Law with a brave Captain into France unto the King, offering him money, ships, horsemen, and many other things of great importance, which the King accepted, and for that cause before did stay the war. Thus much of this, which shall suffice for the ways of getting of money to pay soldiers, and likewise for victualling your Army. I will now show the ways by which you may find out your Enemy's purposes, Traps, and Stratagems. To do which, well observe these precepts. Ways to find out the Enemy's purposes Traps, and Stratagems. 1. First, you are to suspect vehemently, or else to fear, how your Enemy hath an invention by some subtlety or politic stratagem, or invention, or else some crafty deceit or wile to entrap, beguile, or overthrow your Army. 2. Next for such intents or purposes, you should entertain very good and sundry espials, who by all means are to be very attentive, inquisitive, curious, liberal, suspicious, and bold. 3. Which especially should remain or abide near the Court of your Enemy, or else near unto the Army of your Enemies, or in some friend's Country of your Enemies, or near some neighbour of your Enemies, or in the way of your Enemies, or else a Common Traveler, or else a Student in the Land of the Enemies, or a subject of reputation in the Land of your Enemies, or else a Merchant or common seller of wares, or a Barber, or a Victualler in your Enemy's Country. 5 Which kind of espials, you are never to trust throughly, but ever to be jealous of them, and to weigh and confer their reports with the reports of other espials, and with likelihoods, oppertunities, and reasons. Have espials continually, if it be possible, in your Enemy's Army. The Langrave, with other Captains of the Germans, (against the Emperor Charles the first by name) had in Charles his Army 100L. good Spials, whereby he almost every hour had certain knowledge what was done or said in Charles his Camp or Tents. Charles the first Emperor lacked good Spials, for which cause he left many things undone, which had been for his singular profit, if he had known of such occasions. Therefore provide you good Espials; which Spials are so necessary in the wars as any thing else: for by them you shall understand how your Enemy will fight, what he will do against your Army, Marching, Fight, or Flying. Which motions, (or rather principal heads of the Art of war) shall be handled in the four next Chapters following. CHAP. II. How a Commander or General should order his March, both by day and night for the safety of his Army: How pass Woods, Hills, and Rivers, beset or not beset with Enemies. With many other necessary circumstances appertaining to Marches. I Am now to enter by degrees upon these four principal heads of the Art of war: namely, Marching, Embattelling, Fight, and Flying from an Enemy. All which I will deliver with as good method, plainness, and brevity as I can. I am to begin with Marching: wherein I pray observe my method and order; which shall be, fiirst by precept to prescribe it: Then by Example to approve it; Example being the life of precept. I begin. Precepts for Marching. 1. In Marching you must be very mistrustful of your Enemy, lest he entrap you with Ambushes. 2. You must therefore appoint some to march before to discover suspected places; as Woods, Mountains, Forests, Rocks, Banks of Rivers, Caves, Hills, hollow and deep ways. The most of which are rough and intricate, and scarce passable for the heavy Armed and horse. 3. The fittest for this service are your Musketeers; I, and your Dragons to join with them, for they may alight from their Horses and serve on foot. 4. You must march sometimes in one form, sometimes in another, according to the place and occasion offered. Example. Alexander at the River Granicus marched with his horse foremost to pass the River, and to assail the Persians, who had opposed their Horse against him on the banks. 5. Marching through the straits to fight the battle of Issos, he marched with his Horse behind his Foot, because he was uncertain how near the Enemy lay, and was loath to put them to hazard before they had liberty of ground to order themselves, and might have assistance of the Foot. At the River of Ister he did the like; for having past the River, he marched through a Corn field, and therefore so marshaled them for fear of an Ambush. Otherwise it was his custom in marching (as it is the manner also at this day) to dispose his Horse half behind, and half before: the Carriage in the midst, or Otherwise. But how to March properly both by day and by night, with your Carriage truly placed, and every thing rightly ordered, is a point worthy to be taken notice of: Briefly thus. Being to March in the day, observe the manner of March now in use. 7. Let some Dragons and Musketeers march before to repress the Enemy's incursions, and to search Woods and Forests for Ambushes, and to surprise strait Ways, Bridges and Fords. Send after them your Pyoneers to mend the ways, to cut the woods that are in the way, least by bad way the Army be tired. 8. Let the Foot of the Vanguard (or right wing) follow, enery battalion there of in order, having half the horse of the Army before them, and all their baggage and Carriage behind them. 9 After let the battalions of the battle follow with all their baggage and carriage in the Rear, as the former. Let the battalions of the Rearward (or left wing) follow, with all their baggage or carriage behind them. Let every one of the battalions have their shoot before and behind. And let the remainder of your Horse bring up the Rear. As for your Ordnance, distribute that (as your Carriage) both behind the Vanguard, the battle, and the Rearward; the better to serve against all attempts. 10. At night, quarter the Battalions of the Vanguard all in one place; those of the Battle all in another; and those of the Rearward all by themselves, but not too far a sunder for fear of danger. 11. In the morning being to dislodge: First shoot off one piece of Ordnance, a little after that another, and so a third in his time. Shooting the first, the Army takes notice you will dislodge; therefore they truss up their baggage and load it. Shooting the second, they take up their Arms and fall into rank: shooting the third, they set forward to march. Thus Grave Maurice did dislodge his Soldiers. Vespasian did it by the sound of a Trumpet (as josephus doth report) in the third Book of his Antiquities, Chap. 3. 12. Being to march in the night observe the Grecian order. Send your baggage and carriage before with a sufficient guard. Then follow, first with your Pikemen, then with your light Armed (being Musketeers;) next with all your Horse in the rear; the better▪ by break of day to come all together into one place, as aught to be. This way your Army in the night is easily kept together, and is soon espied if it break. 13. Being to invade an Enemy's Country, march with your Carriage in the Rear. When you do dismarch from an Enemy's Country, let your Carriage be in the Front, unless great store of Enemies be suspected to intercept it; than you must place it in the midst. 14. Now in fight you may dispose of it five manner of ways; either before the Army, or behind, or on the one flank, or on the other, or in the midst. Before the Army, when you fear to be charged behind: behind the Army, when you lead towards the Enemy: when you fear to be charged in Flank, on the contrary side: in the midst, when a hollow battle is needful and fit. This last was practised by Sr Horatio Vere in the Pallatinate, and by the Grecians (as Zenophon doth record in his third book of the Ascent of Cyrus. 15. Being to march through a wood observe Zenophons' counsel. Let your Foot and Horse in order single themselves as the way falls out, and you shall make your passage the more secure and easy: Zenophon did thus, as you may read in his sixth book of the Ascent of Cyrus. 16. It were not amiss to have some Musketeers to march on the sides of the Wood, to secure the rest within. How to troll an enemy out of a wood. 17. If your Enemy be in a Wood, Fenne, Hill, Fort, Town, or other place of strength, that admitteth no access, send your Musketeers to show themselves, and with a bravado to toll him out of his advantage, and bring him into the field, where he may the more easily be dealt withal: with these Musketeers send some Horse to set upon him, if he dare to venture forth. Example. Alexander leading his Army against the Tribals that had hid themselves in a wood, commanded his Archers and slingers to run out and shoot, and sling among the Barbarians, to see if he could toll them into the plain. The Archers and slingers spared not to let fly, and the Tribals being wounded with arrows, threw themselves out of the wood with all speed, to fall upon the unarmed Archers. Then Alexander with his Horse presently charged them, and being overborne by the Horse they fled through the Wood to the River. 18. Alexander whensoever he was to use expedition, marched away with the Horse and light armed, leaving the Armed to come after. The Armed are for a firm and steadfast fight, not for Concursions. 19 Being then forsome far, yet sudden attempt, leave your Pikemen behind, and march away with your Horse and Musketeers: for when celerity is requisite, who so fit to be employed, as they who have nothing to hinder their speed. 20. Being to march against an Enemy in his own Country, give the word to come to such a Province, but Invade another: by this you shall deceive your Enemy. Plutarch in the life of Agesilaus. Example. Agesilaus to deceive Tisaphernes, made countenance as though he would first invade Caria; whereupon Tisaphernes gathered all his power together; but Agesilaus on a sudden returned back again, and entered into Phrygia, took there many Cities, and won great spoil. 21. Many Generals besides Agesilaus have done the like, then be not you careless of it; for by such a plot the Enemy some other time may perchance be drawn to deceive himself. Example. Agesilaus upon another time gave out that he would enter Lydia, not meaning to deceive Tisaphernes again, but Tisaphernes deceived himself, and thought he would have invaded Caria, a woody Country very ill for horsemen, in which he was the weaker: but Agesilaus took the champion Country of Lydia contrary to his expectation, so that Tisaphernes was enforced to come with all the speed that might be to the rescue thereof: therefore leaving all his Foot behind him, he came stealing upon them with his Horse: Agesilaus understanding by his men that Tisaphernes was come (and had made some slaughter of such as were found straggling abroad out of order) imagined with himself that the footmen of his Enemies could not yet be arrived, therefore with all speed he thrust in among the horsemen (which he had) his light armed footmen, and commanded them strait to charge the Enemy, whilst he caused the heavy armed men to follow at their heels, as they did: but Tisaphernes men fled upon it immediately, and Agesilaus men lustily followed the chase, took his Camp, and made a great slaughter of them that fled. 22. Being in an Enemy's Country, march in battle array, and let your Pioneers work the harder, for a long march here is dangerous. Send Horse and Musketeers a good way before, to search the hills, and to surprise them from the Enemy. 23. In marching between Mountains and Hills, see that your Vanguard succour your Rearward, your Rearward the Vanguard, if your Enemies go about to intercept or molest you marching. Zenophon and Cherisophus did thus against the Carduchans': Observe the manner. The Carduchans by fight took the straits which lay in their way, and endeavoured to hinder and shut up their march: but when they opposed against the Vant, Zenophon from the Reate ascending the Mountains, and gaining the upper ground, removed all the impediments the Enemy could cast upon the way: when against the Rear, Cherisophus ascending up took the upper ground likewise, and freed the way from them that came behind. So they always succoured, and had mutual care one of another. How to pass Rivers. 24. Lighting in your March upon deep and impassable Rivers, and having no Boats (to make Bridges) to waff you over; marching further to the heads of the Rivers, you may go over without wetting your knees: Zenophon in the third Book of the Ascent of Cyrus. 25. Being come to some passable River, where the currant runs exceeding strong; cause your Horse to break the waters, and then let your Foot march over, but sheltered on each side with the Horse. 26. If the currant be over big, so that you cannot weighed over; cut the same River in diverse places, and turn it into the landward with other currants, and you may pass over with ease. 27. Being to pass a great River where the Enemy on the banks stands to intercept your passage; to withdraw him from thence (and to deceive him) seem to leave the attempt, and march away; then having left some behind you to make a Bridge (unknown to the Enemy) return when you see your time, and pass your men over with ease. Example. Caesar having his Army on a bank of a River in France and his passage being let of Vergintorige a Frenchman, the which on the other side of the River, had his men, marched many days along the River, and the like did the Enemy: wherefore Caesar encamping in a woody place, apt to hide men, he took out of every Legion 3. Cohorts, and made them to tarry in the same place, commanding them that so soon as he was departed, they should cast over a bridge, and fortify it, & he and his other men followed on the way: Wherefore Vergintorige seeing the number of the Legions, thinking that there was not left any part of them behind, followed also his way. But Caesar when he supposed the bridge was made, turned backward, & finding all things in order, passed the River without difficulty. ☞ In marching, to avoid contention about place; let every Nation have his honour of place: That which had the Vanguard this day, must have the Rearward the next day; and so of all the rest by turns. Thus much for Marching. CHAP. III. How a Commander or General, should order his Battles, and how behave himself in the time of Fight, and after the Battle lost. THe substance of the Art Military doth subsist in this: How to order your Battle, and how to behave yourself in the time of Fight, and after the Battle lost: To do which, observe these particular precepts, and you will be enabled to do accordingly. I begin with the ordering of your battles. Precepts for the ordering of your Battles. 1. You are to choose your place both for Rainging of your battles before fight, and in the fight of the battle, that the same place be able to contain your whole Army without disturbance. 2. Next in ordering your battles▪ you must consider what dangers are likely, or else may happen by causualtie or fortune, and to provide for remedies by your order beforehand. 3. Likewise you are to consider, that you ought not to order your battles in all cases and respects alike, but very diversely as your case shall require. For you are to order your battles according, partly unto the nature of the ground, partly unto the quantity, quality, or regard of your Enemy's Army, and partly unto such respect as is fittest against such orders or battles of your Enemies best known to yourself for your best advantage. 4. You are to order your Army into convenient parts, and to appoint every one his place, number, and action. 5. You are to order your battles, that no part of your Army be any disturbance to any part of your battles. 6. Your are to choose your place, and to order your Army so, that your Enemies cannot compass you either with their horsemen, or with their shoot, great or small, or otherwise to your hurt. 7. You are with discretion to learn and know the equality and inequality of the number of your Enemy's Army with your own Army. For you can never most aptly order your Army in just battles, for to be ordered according to discipline of war, before you know and consider throughly, the nature, force, and weakness of either of your Armies. 8. Also you are to consider, how you may take any advantage upon any orders, provisions, oractions; of your Enemies present order, weakness, or strength. 9 Consider also what kinds of advantages the times of the year or the day affordeth, which can be had by your Enemies or yourself, or else of the Air, or else of Tempests past or present. 10. Further consider which things first are possible or may be; than which are likely; next which are apparent before your eyes easy to be known or to be provided for. 11. Which well known and considered, you are then to order your battles, to take your ground, for to plant your ordnance, to avoid your dangers, to take your advantages, for to work your stratagems also for your most comfort, and so to fight accordingly. But how to order your battles, and so to fight accordingly, is to be discussed of more largely; for therein is the chief substance of the Art Military, in which some Generals have been more expert than others. Excellent Generals (of old) commonly did use to ordain of footmen apt for to fight, three great battles; a Vanguard, a Battle, and a Rearward; and two wings of their horsemen: And when they came to fight, they did set them for the most part in an even front: The Battle in the midst; on the right hand the Vanguard, which was called the right wing; on the left the Rearward, which was called the left wing. Their order we do in a manner follow: For we have Vanguard, Battle, and Rearward, which we place in Front as they did; only we differ in the kind of Embattailing. By kind of Embattailing, I mean not bills, & bows; but gross Bodies: For they parted their Army into three parts, and Embattled them into three gross Bodies. We divide our Army into three parts, but not into such gross Bodies; as for example, Say we have 12000. Foot, and 4000 Horse; if we bring them into one front without seconds, we do thus. In our Vanguard, or right wing, we put 3000. men, dividing them into three battalions, sometimes into more, as we see occasion. In our Battle we put 6000. men dividing them into three battalions, every one containing 2000 a piece, for the battalions in the Battle, must exceed those in the wings. In our Rearward or left wing, we put 3000. men, dividing them into as many battalions, with as many men in either of them, as was to be in the Vanguard above mentioned. Our horse we place half in the righwinge, and half in the left wing, the ordinary place for horse. For proof of this, look into the ordinary practice of the Netherlands, and you shall see them sometimes to put two Regiments into one battalion, sometimes but one, and sometimes they will make two battalions of one Regiment. We as they are not tied to any certain number, but may vary as we see occasions. Occasions are produced by the Enemy, by the ground, by ourselves to our best advantage, and therefore we do accordingly. If our number be more, we have the more battalions; if less, the fewer, unless some policy be used. Some Generals have Marshalled their Army only into one Battle, some into two, some into three, some into four, some into five, some into six, and some into nine. The Venetians at the battle of Taro, did martial their Army into nine battalions; whereof three was to fight with the Enemy, other three to be aid to the other three fight, and the other three was appointed for sundry other purposes and effects. King Ferdenand, besides his ordinary battalions, had another standing aloof behind his other battles, for to take advantage, or else to help in necessity as occasion served; which were light horsemen. The Earl of Surry, at the battle of Sloddon, had likewise besides his ordinary Battles, one battle of light horsemen, with which he discomfitted james (the fourth) King of Scots. james King of Scots, at the same battle of Sloddon, did martial his Army into six battles, without horse relief, or seconds, which lost him the field. For the English with their horse (when the King had the better) would presently give upon his Flanks, so snatched the victory out of his hands, having neither Horse nor seconds to recover it. The Argonians, have divided their Army into five Battles; which battles in form of strait or direct horns, were extended from the great battle or midle-ward. But these were partly Horse and Foot. The Heluetians, have marshalled their Army into three battles, without Horse or seconds; sometimes into one battle only of footmen, which was their usual form by custom. But not to be imitated. The Spaniard, have marshalled their Army into two battles; one of footmen in one wing, and another of horsemen in another wing, all in an even Front. Now they do otherwise. The Ancient Romans, have marshalled their Armed foot into three Battles. The first subsisting of the Hastatij, the second of the Principes, the third of the Triarij: with Velites to either of them, and Horse in the wings. How their Velites (light Armed men) were placed, being too weak to deal with Horsemen, or armed Foot (without advantage) I will show you hereafter. Some have ordered a weak battle of Foot or horsemen, against a strong battle of their Enemy's Foot or Horsemen, thereby to bring their Enemy's strength into some stratagem, which was wisely done by the great Captain Gonsaluo, against the Frenchmen. This Gonsaluo sent a noble Spaniard called Mondotius, against the General of the Frenchmen to fight with his Rearward; which Mondotius, had a company of light horsemen for to invade the Rear of the Frenchmen, and with him likewise went two Cohorts of Calliver-shot, which kept company in the front almost with them, being extended as in two spread wings. Mondotius horse left these shot, and invaded freshly the hindermost of the French. The French barbed horsemen, with fury set upon Mondotius light horsemen: Mondotius light horsemen retired as though they were not able to encounter the barbed Horsemen: thus flying, caused the barbed horsemen to pursue out of order: Then the Calliver-shot keeping aloof off (about a furlong) and in form of a half Moon, shot of upon the French barbed horsemen, before & on the Flanks. Gonsaluo thereupon sent a company of his barbed horsemen to the aid of his light horsemen flying, & his Callivers fight: Thereupon his light horsemen returned, and joined with their own barbed horsemen that came for aid, and both of them in order, did set upon the Frenchmen out of order; the shot continuing on both sides, and backs as before. Which kind of order (you see) and flying, and aid of the Spaniards, was for to bring first such French force to disorder, and so thereby to discomfort them the easilier, which was done to their minds. The form of the French Kings battle, containing 12000. Foot, and 4000 Horse. The Horse should have been higher placed, and more inclining to the three uppermost field Pieces. Where you shall see 15. battalions of Foot, marshalled in a manner after the French Kings form, viz. In the Vanguard or right wing, are three battalions of 500 a piece, Flanked with Musketeers; before every one of which are ranged ten files of Musketeers; three in the right angle, three in the left, and four in the midst just before them; every file containing ten men, which shot are to make their way through the intervals of the battalions in the Rear of all, there to give upon the Enemy's Flanks. In the Battle are three battalions, containing 3000. men, (a thousand a piece) flankt with Musketeers, and with Musketeers before them in the same fashion as the rest. In the Rearward (or left wing) of the battle, are likewise three battalions of 500 a piece, Embattled as the rest, with Musketeers before them, in the same form as the other: Behind these battalions (for seconds) are four battalions of 500 a piece, standing against the intervals of their opposite battalions; which intervals are 200. foot broad, that the four battalions may the better pass through them. These four battalions have shot before them as the former, which with the rest may march forth to skirmish with the Enemy; or stand still to second them upon their retreat, before the Battles join: after being in the Rear to give upon your Enemy's flanks as the other. The rest of the battalions are in Front but twelve foot distance one from another, and at three foot order. The divisions of Musketeers are allowed six foot, that they may the better fall through, having given fire. In the Rear of all are two battalions, of a thousand a piece, standing just behind the three battalions of the Battle, about a furlong of. On the Flanks of these are 800, Horse, 400. in each flank, oblique wise, the better to start forth and environ the Enemy. In like manner are the Horse marshalled in the outward flanks of the rest, but in greater numbers. peruse the Figure. By the wings of these two battalions are two field Pieces ready turned and bend to the Rear, to discharge upon the Enemy, if he should with Horse or Foot give upon that part; if not, than these field Pieces may be with ease brought from thence to some other place to annoy him other ways. As for the rest of the Ordnance, I have planted them upon two Hills opposite against the Enemy's flanks, thereby to distress him. And for the better performance of this, I have planted 700. Musketeers to guard them; and will aid them with more if need be. Now against this Battle having Ordnance in the Rear, and on the Hills, to distress the Enemy's Flanks, I oppose this Battle following. A Battle of 12000. foot and 4000 horse, with Ordnance in the midst, and on the wings. Described in the next page. The pricks enclosed with lines are 800. shot to surprise the enemy's Ordnance on the hills. Here (or in the Figure going before) you see are sixteen Battalions. The Ordnance planted both in the Wings and in the Front of the main Battle. The Ordnance in the main Battle, hath before them 400. Musketeers, ranged in the same form as the Enemies, the better to hide the deceit: for so soon as the Musketeers are clear of the Battle, the Ordnance are to discharge upon the Enemy to break his main Battle; and then the other Battles are to march on to charge the Enemy in disorder: the Horse are martialled outward on the wings, and stand oblique wise to environ the Enemy. Now before the Horse give the charge, eight hundred Musketties do sally forth to surprise the Enemy's Ordnance, being planting on the hills. The Figure doth demonstrate it as plain as can be, with the number of every battalion; only take notice that the shot before every battalion are to make their passage through the intervals, and sides of the battles, in the Rear of all; from thence to give upon the Enemy's Flanks, if occasion be, otherwise to aid their own men in the Fight. All the shot before the battalions are in number 1200. This appointing of shot for to march before, and to surprise the enemy's Ordnance (in such a place of advantage) was heretofore practised by ancient Generals, and lately by our great Commander Sir Horatio Vere in the Palatinate, though the Battle were unfought. The planting of Ordnance in the Front of the main Battle, between the intervals, to break the Enemy's Battalia, was, and is at this day practised by the Turks, and other Nations. Likewise the placing of Ordnance in the Rear with seconds for all attempts, was, and is at this day practised both by Italians, French, Germans, and other Generals beside. You see then that all this is no crotchet of mine (as the pacing of the shot before every battalion was no crotchet of the French Kings) but the usual custom of all Generals before and in his time. The ancient Romans did continually observe it in placing their Velites before every Maniple. Their Velites were their light Armed, such as used throwing weapons (in Latin Massilia) as Bows, Slings and Darts. To a popular Legion they allotted 1200. Velites. 1200. Hastalij, 1200 Principes, and 600. Triarij. These made up a Legion. This Legion of 4200. foot was divided into 30. Maniples; ten of the Hastatij, ten of the Principes, and ten of the Triarij. The ten of the Hastatij made the first Battle, the ten of the Principes the second Battle, the ten of the Triarij the third Battle: if but one Legion were Embattled. To each of these Battles were allotted 400. Velites, forty to a Maniple: the Battles containing 3000. of well armed men, besides the Velites which were but lightly armed. How these Maniples were placed: how far distant each Battle stood one from another: the order of the Velites: the number of their Horse, and how ranged by Troops, must not be passed over. Briefly thus. The Embattaling of a Roman Legion; showing you how the Velites were first placed, being in number 1200. They are marked with Pricks, being five in rank, eight in depth, 40. before every Maniple. The Maniples of the Hastatij are marked with H. those of the Principes with P. those of the Triarii with T. Five Troupts of horse in the right Wing, five in the left, and 32. in a Troop. Lastly, at a larger distance behind these were the Triarij set, and divided with spaces betwixt every Maniple, which spaces were great enough to receive the Principes in case they retired also: but how big the cross intervals were I cannot truly and sound set down; rather I believe they varied, according to the Forces and will of the General. Polybus noteth that Hannibal in his African Battle removed the third Battle (for so he had divided them according to the Roman fashion) more than a furlong from the second. And although I dare not affirm that the Romans did the like, yet may I probably guess it differed not much, because they had need to have such space to retire, and to avoid the mingling and confusion of Troops. Now the direct ways were indifferent, sometimes of one distance, sometimes of another, as use required: if the Velites were there placed as often as they were, they had need be broad, so large as to receive them with the Maniples; yet not so large as the cross intervals, of which I have spoke. The manner of the Velites fight dismarching from their Maniples, marked with S. with their retreat in the Rear of all behind the Triarii, marked with V. and pricks. The Horse of this Legion were in number 320. divided into ten troops, 32. in a troop: five troops placed on the right wing, five on the left wing, oblique wise, withal closing in the Front, and opening in the Rear, like this letter A put downwards. The manner of the Velites fight with their Retreat into the Rear of all behind the Triary is in the former page figured to the life. With the station of the Horse on the Flanks, to save the Battle from environing, and to charge the Enemy in the Flank, if the Enemy gave the charge with his Horse in the Front. I with justus Lipsus do admire the Roman Embattailing, and will affirm as much as he, that if this ancient discipline were joined with these our new found Arms, the old and new world would be subject to one man: for surely if our light Soldiers (so I call shot) were mixed between the Maniples and before the Maniples of the armed, with intervals and distances for retreat, and that against the Horse and Armed Foot, what Battalia durst assail, nay, what Battalia could resist us? For in regard hereof our men should be always fit to charge, fit to retire for a second charge. All which notwithstanding is to be done with long use and exercise, lest they trouble us in the doing. If any object against the Romans discipline, because such Maniples are not able to cope with great Battaliaes? Let them know, that the Romans did make their Maniples Cohorts; and their Cohorts were sometimes 500 sometimes 600. nay, a thousand if we believe Vegetius: and is not this our number when we Embattle? and will not you imitate them? well, if you will not, yet follow the discipline now in use; a discipline approved for instruction, instructing you to do thus. 1. When your Battalia of Footmen come to join Battaila with your Enemy's Footmen, have a great company of Musketeers before you to hurt and weaken your adversary before you join battle or fight; which shot when they have wrought their effect must have room ready open for them to retreat into the Rear; from whence they may be fetched to serve against the Enemy's Flanks. Your Enemy's Battalia in such case, coming without shot before, hath his next remedy in all haste to join to handy strokes. Your care must ever be to avoid confusion of fight. Confusion of fight isto begin before your time, which causeth such inconvenience, as is cause oftentimes of loss: therefore in the beginning of your Fight take great heed that you invade nor fight confusedly. Whereas every part of the Army hath his ordinary time to fight: neither suffer any part of your Army to fight with your Euemy in any other fashion than you appointed him. And for such casualties and accidents as may happen to you in Battle or Fight, keep these conclusions following in memory and heart, and they will much avail you in time of need. 2. If your Horsemen be oppressed with your Enemy's Horsemen, send for succour a supply of Musketties, who may scattering and out of order, as occasion shall serve, shoot at the oppressors, and upon occasion retire and return very often. 3. To these you may send a guard of Pikes for rescue, the better to bring them off safe: but if you invade your Enemy with Musketeers, with your guard of Pike send some Horse, that both may defend them from invasion of the Enemy's Horsemen. 4. Likewise to give the Enemy his hands full, follow him with a battalion resolutely, to put all or one of his battalions to rout; and having discomfited any one of his Battles, send only a small or convenient company to pursue the chase, and with the rest invade quickly some part of his Army fight with any one of your Battles: This must of necessity be done; for sundry victories have been lost upon this occasion: that when one Battle hath overthrown his first encountered Enemies Battle, it hath immediately followed the chase, and not holpen his own fellows in danger. Likewise in your first joining of Battle, if your forward gain the victory, join your other Battles immediately whilst comfort is on your side, on your Enemy's discomfort. This got Bucoy the victory at Prague. 6. If your Footmen be vehemently oppressed with your Enemy's footmen; send your horsemen to invade the sides of your Enemies, and with them some shot to hold them play: but if you can plant a piece of Ordnance against their flank, it will much abate their courage. 7. If your Enemies come upon you vnprouided and unlooked for, send your Horsemen or shot, to skirmish with them, whilst you intent to make you ready for Battle. Also your Horse may extend themselves into a deep Heirse battle, for to invade your Enemies with their more trouble and stay. 8. Or to deceive your Enemies, march towards them with a company of Horse, and make semblance of fight, as if the whole Army followed. The Enemy at this will stand; your battles in the mean time be set: you by this may outface the Enemy, and return again without fight. 9 Then being in good order, if your occasion be such, that you would not have your Enemies understand of your orders and policies, cause you Horsemen to run up and down: the dust, to let their fight. Do the like if you have planted and ordered your Army all in stratagems. 10. If your Enemies main battle do urge very valiantly your forward, and his other battle be not ready to help, or rescue, cause both your other battles one on the one side, and the other on the other side, freshly to invade your Enemies main battle; and herein you shall do wisely, imitating your predecessors, the brave English, at the battle of Poytiers. 11. If you having a small and weak number, and you understand that your Enemies go for to distress a certain aid coming to help you: where you be sent after the Enemy to invade the backs of them when they be fight with your aid; coming, set not you on rashly upon your Enemies, before your time appointed; for if you fight with your enemies so, being stronger, before your aid have set upon their Front, you foolishly cast away yourselves, and also leave your aid in danger: and by your untimely, rash, and unwarlike onset bereave yourselves of your aid and help. And withal you much comfort your Enemies, who might have been discomforted; for if you had observed your discipline and purpose, you should have followed your Enemy closely, with as little noise as might be, until your Enemies had set upon your aid; then in the heat of their fight, you should have set upon their backs, before your Enemies were knowing of your coming: which kind of dealing had been most hurtful to your Enemies, commodious to your Aid, and profitable to yourselves; for warlike discipline is, that a weaker company never fight with a greater strength, without a special advantage of time, occasion, and place for to help you. Also, never to break your advised determinate purpose, without you be either enforced, either drawn to fight by occasion of some notable accident offered by chance. Accident will happen; for in wars no most certain rule can be appointed, which is not broken by some means at some several times: therefore wait time, and so I proceed to other Council. 12. If you abound in number, covet to compass your Enemies, and to distress them being weak. 13. If your Enemies abound in number, provide by order, or stratagem, or place, that your Enemies cannot compass you. 14. Plant your Camp or Army to fight in a very strong ground by nature, and help it by Art. 15. Some have used to choose their ground fortified by nature, as Prosper Colonno. 16. Some have no regard of the strength of the place by nature, but choose rather to fortify all wholly by Art and industry, as the ancient Romans. 17. Some seek places somewhat by nature strong, and by Art and industry make them more stronger. They fortify themselves as well in Fight as in Camp, which the good Captains of our time do usually. 18. Therefore if you be unwilling to fight, and your Enemies must needs fight with you, by your industry make a ditch three foot deep, and five or six foot broad, and cast the earth towards you; which ditch, if you think good, let it be especially in the Front, also in the sides, and on your backs also, as Prosper Colonno would often dot. 19 Which Ditch, if it have sundry places open and free for your Enemies to enter, of no great space, it shall encourage them there to enter; where if you provide some stratagem against them, you do well. The fittest stratagem for this occasion, is to place certain Companies before the gaps, and certain Ordnance behind them to be discharged when they open in the midst. 20. Whereupon, if your Enemies desist, urge them hardly, only make a fair show, but proceed no further. For you are not to put your confidence in such weak fortification: nor in the arrogancy of your men to fight; by arrogancy many Armies are overthrown, where by wisdom many are saved. I present you the Figure of such an Entrenched Battle to peruse; (in the next page following) but you may do as you please. 21. If your Company be small, and your Enemy have great store of Horsemen against you, so that you be likely to lose the Battle, if your Enemies again set upon you; if any great Wood be near, seek to save your Army by the thickness of the same Wood, and suffer your Enemies to gain your Ordnance, and Baggage, and Victuals, that they spoiling the same, you may the better escape. 22. Likewise when you have a Battle more than the Enemies, divide it into two parts; and where you see any danger among your Enemies, send first one A Foure-Fronted Battle for Stratagem, being environed with a Ditch. THe Ditch is 6. foot broad, and 3. foot deep. It hath four gaps (for sallies) twenty paces broad, to allure the Enemy there to enter. It hath at every gap five battalions of 300. a piece: it hath a field Piece behind every middle battle; every middle battle must open in the midst, before the Piece do discharge; then the Horse must issue forth upon the Enemy: for this cause the Horse have their place in the midst, remote from the Foot, divided into four squadrons, (in the form of a cross) ready faced to the gaps: being in all 1600. the foot 6000. If you will have no Horse in the midst, then divide them into 8 troops; place them for wings, in an even front, or on the angles: so the Battle will be hollow, and the foot battles for the gaps but 3 a piece. part, and then another: or else, if occasion serve, aid your Battles, as reason shall move you to help. 23. And in the heat of your Fight, if news come that your Baggage is in danger, in no case the Captains must not suffer the Soldiers, or Horsemen confusedly for to run for to recover the same, in case of loss; but by advice to send a company of convenient men for to do it, only by their Commandments, and no otherwise; for by seeking to recover the same pelf or baggage, sundry Armies have been overthrown, which otherwise might have been saved. 24. If your Enemies come overstrongly upon any part of your Army, shoot off your great Ordnance amongst the thickest of them, and when your great Ordnance hath dispersed them, than cause your Horsemen to invade them so disordered most furiously. 25. As for your Ordnance, you may plant them either before you, or on your wings, or else upon some convenient Hills behind you, to shoot over your heads; or on some high grounds on the sides, or before. 26. Some have planted their Ordnance on a level ground behind their Battle, and causing the Battle to open in the midst, have delivered the volley upon the Front of the Enemy. In which case you are to mark, that if your Enemy so open, than his great Ordnance is so planted; and than you have no better remedy, but to open yourselves as you see them do before you: In which case also your Footmen may suddenly fall down flat upon the ground, and that safely, and rise again immediately after the Enemies have shot; for in such a case they will never invade you in your Front, before their shot have been discharged: and being down, your Ordnance behind you may flanke-wise immediately play on them, if you were so provided. 27. In marching against an Enemy, if you fear his great Ordnance shooting directly against you, fetch a long compass to pass by them, and so to avoid them, if no greater impediment let you. 28. Likewise fearing your Enemies great Ordnance, let your journey be behind the covert of Corn high standing, creeping close, and your Pikes trailing, so covet to invade the sides, or backs of your Enemies. 29. Some have, being in danger of the great Ordnance, caused their servants in Armour for to stand behind great trees, standing directly in the face or sight of the Gunners, thereby to cause them to shoot off the more vehemently, as though the whole Battle came that way, and meant for to come upon the Ordnance: In the mean space, under that colour, their Soldiers have come conveniently some other way; or else behind their servants, creeping lo, towards their Enemies; which to imitate, you must beforehand learn perfectly the nature of the ground, which you are to pass, that you may take all advantages which the nature of the soil can render unto you. 30. If your Enemy March with all his Ordnance in the Vanguard, and his other Battles lag half a day's journey behind, follow him with all your power with as great celerity and secrecy as you can, and so fight with him, being deprived of his chief strength. 31. If your Enemy March away in good order with his Ordnance before, and in the Rear of his Army so travelling (not determined to fight) and you seek by following your Enemy to fight with him, you must have a great regard unto the place where your Enemy and you both journey, and there a company of Dragons with Curassiers, or Pistoliers, with two or three field Pieces, are to be sent before to stay your Enemies, and to disturb them; that when you see them thereby stayed, you may have the more leisure to order your Battles, and to make choice of your ground to fight. Then if you fight (if it be possible) by all means bring your great Ordnance round about your Enemy's Army; plant them upon some high ground, that you may without impediment shoot free upon your Enemy's backs, or sides: and withal guard your Ordnance with a convenient number of shot, that they may not be surprised by the Enemy, and turned upon yourselves. 32. If it chance that your Battle be overpressed by your Enemies, and begin to scatter, or for to disorder; then all your Captains must with all diligence bestir themselves, first in exhortation, and comforting their Soldiers; then by bringing them again into order, and turn them again, which have turned from their Enemies: If fair words will not serve, then let them use foul, and from words fall unto blows, it may be that will force them to return. If they persist and will fly, then let some few valiant Captains as know such straits through which they must pass, run before to possess the straits; there after blows and slaughter, force them to fall into order again. 33. Bridges, deep Rivers, straight ways environed are to be set. 34. By which ways oftentimes recoveries have been gotten, although very dearly. 35. It is very necessary for a General to have beforehand perfect knowledge of these ways; that he may somewhat the better behave himself after the loss of his Battle. How a General should behave himself after the loss of his Battle. His behaviour after his Battle lost, consisteth best in his good provision of all kinds of duties made before his Fight or Battle. For if he have provided beforehand by wisdom some place of safe refuge, near hand unto the place of the Battle, he hath very well taken order for all mishaps. If he by wisdom before have taken order that the enemy can in no safety, but with his danger pursue him, he hath well holpen his danger. If knowing no other help to be likely, he began the Battle over night; in which case having lost the Battle, his Enemies could not pursue him very far: he hath done very well. If he have beforehand, when he saw himself likely to lose the Battle, in some convenient place laid some Ambush, which in order will set upon his Enemies, pursuing out of order; he hath performed the part of a good General. A good General will forecast what may happen, and therefore will consider always of every ground, as he passeth by it, what occasion it can work, and how he can take advantage, or help himself thereby; either by the impediments of his Enemy there, or else by some Ambush, or some other stratagem to be wrought upon the occasion of the same ground, good or bad. And if his Enemy very wisely, and with good reasons and discretion seek Battle or Fight, he with like wisdom and discretion will avoid Battle or fight, and seek to get away by flying: which is the next point to be handled. CHAP. FOUR In what case it is best for a Commander or General to fly, and how. AS great judgement was required of you in the ordering of your Battles, and behaviour of yourself in Fight, and after the Battle lost; so there is as much required of you in taking time to Fly: for if you fly not like a good Soldier, but like one void of judgement without Discipline, you will bring destruction to your Army, shame to your Friends, and dishonour to yourself: but if you fly with judgement as a Souldidier, you bring safety to your Army, glory to your Friends, and hope of victory to yourself. That you may be enabled to fly thus with honour, observe these precepts following. Precepts for Flying. 1. When your Enemies being mighty, or else very strong, urgeth you being weak in strength, helpless; then know, that upon such an occasion (so necessitated) that a wise, orderly, and politic flight is better than an indiscreet stay without reason. 2. If you be by necessity compelled to fly, fly in order, and in Battle array, fully provided of reskues and helps, that your Enemies eagerly urge you not. 3. Fly with sufficient space of time and place, that your Enemies cannot easily overtake you before you come into safety (I mean places of advantages for you.) 4. Fly in many parts and sundry ways, which conceal, that your Enemies may have no intelligence of your meaning, and diversity of flying. 5. If you fly or avoid the fight; do it either compelled by necessity, or subtlety, or cautiously to bring your Enemy into your danger, or else to seek places or occasions for your best, or better advantage. 6. If you fly, your Enemy hardly urging you in the Rear and Flanks; your Hosemen or else your Musketeers, or both, should eagerly skirmish with them which pursue so earnestly; so that your Army may in the interim win a good space of ground. 7. Before your Horse and Musketeers should issue out (as above said) you should have a Piece of Ordnance remaining in the Rear of your Army for to shoot off upon the urgers, as opportunity should serve. 8. In like fashion two or three pieces of Ordnance in the Rear of every battalia, travelling, journeying, or flying. 9 Commonly your Musketeers (in such cases last rehearsed) are used to be placed both in the Rear and Flanks, for the said special purpose; namely, to skirmish with such as do disturb your March; and yet to keep on their journey with the rest. 10. Some such as fly use to leave some great Stales or Ambushes, in places very convenient (as Woods, Mountains, Forests, Rocks, banks of Rivers, Caves, Hills, hollow and deep ways, Corne-fields, and the like) for such a purpose, to entrap the urgers, if occasion can serve. 21. Sometimes (as Count Mansfield) they fire houses to stay their Enemies following: and on that side the smoke falls (by reason of the wind) they lay an Ambush to entrap the Enemy. The like do you, that the rest of your Army may pass with safety. 12. When you fly only the Battle, and seek order and time convenient for the same, send all your baggage and carriage before, and after them all your Footmen, and with a strong company of Horse fortify your Rear, and leave many fires in the Camp; And for time, choose a cloudy dark morning. 13. In your flying, or before, learn exquisitely of them as be skilful of the ways and places, where, how far off, or how lie such places, as you hope may somewhat defend you from any danger of your Enemies, and make the greatest haste towards them. 14. If you can learn of any narrow passage between two great Hills, or between some great River or Wood, & some dangerous Hill, or some other dangerous place wherein you may safely rest from your Enemies, make haste thither. 15. In which case learn very diligently whether there be not some secret place in the same place of your quietness, whereunto your Enemies getting, may disturb your quietness; and if there be cause, such kinds of dangerous places, to be either well warded, or else stopped by a trane-ditch, or by another good way. 16. Also learn very diligently, whether your Enemy seek not by their Horsemen to fetch a great compass about any side of your said place of your security, either to enclose you there, or else for to go before you to some place of their advantage against you. 17. In which case, if your Enemies with their whole Army seek to compass the place, and for to be before you, take good advice, if you may not turn that their practice unto your commodity, by some new invention. Zenaphon of the Grecians retreat from Babylon, lib. 3. As first, for to return back again unto some place of refuge; for you are else (as the Grecians) to seek another way not suspected of your Enemies. Or else to return a little back to give a colour to your Enemy of flying away, so to draw him into the same straight to follow you the easier in his opinion, and to return to encounter him the more easily. 18. A chief, or else a notable place of refuge for Flyers, is to fly to be under the wings, or safety of some City, or else strong Fort, well furnished with great Ordnance upon the walls; it is able to shoot over your flying Army into the Army of your prosecuting Enemy, and so hurt him, to his great danger, and your great security, and comfort many ways. 19 If you fly, or journey in three Battles, or more, every Battle must always be in sight of the next before or behind, in such order, that the one be always able to succour the other (in case it be invaded by Enemies) so Flying, or journeying. Otherwise, for lack of such order and aid, one may be discomfited for want of others help. To conclude. 20. If Flying, your Enemy with a great company of Horse and shot, invade your hindermost Battle, discharge two Pieces of Ordnance upon them, or more, which will cool their courage, and will likewise by their roaring and thundering noise, warn your other Battles to make Alt or stand, whereby you may work your will. Example. The Landgrave with his German great Army, when Charles the fifth Emperor sent a great company of shot for to invade their hindmost Battle, and to stay them, he caused two Culverins to be discharged upon them; and all the Army stayed. Thus much for Flying. CHAP. V. How a Commander or General must avoid Battle, and when accept of Fight. THe wisdom of a General doth best appear in the avoiding of Fight, and in the taking of opportunity to fight; both of which are so necessary in the Wars, that the one cannot be without the other: but which of these for a time are first to be used, and for a time laid aside, resteth in the wisdoms of a wise General to determine. Wisdom willeth you to begin with wars, when you see yourself very strongly prepared, and your Enemies chose altogether weak and unprovided. And wisdom willeth you, as you begin well, so to continue your wars wisely for your most commodity. In wars, if you either for lack of knowledge, or by negligence, or else by pride let slip most apt occasions, you seldom after can get them again. To let slip a good opportunity, bringeth both repentance, shame and loss also. Many have felt this to their sorrow. Therefore let their losses admonish you to let nothing slip, that may either dispatch your war quick, or prolong it to your Enemy's loss, and your own advantage. That you may be enabled to do this, take these Rules for your direction. When to Fight. 1. If your Enemies be few in number, and raw Soldiers, ill furnished, ill willing for to fight, and not fortified by place: if you abound in number which are better Soldiers, you are to seek the Battle. Vegetius, lib. 3. 2. When your Enemies aboundeth in all things, and therefore avoideth to fight, and where you want of provision, and your Soldiers lusty, and desirous of Battle; there you may seek Battle. Antony at Philippi against Cassius and Brutus. 3. Where you be determined to seek the Battle, make good choice of your ground where you be to fight, and see yourself in perfect order and direction, and yet seek all advantages you can by any means find out. Prosper Colonno against the Frenchmen at Bicocca, and Bassan. 4. Though you abound in number, seek not to fight rashly, neither be very desirous of Battle, without very good appearance of likelihood of victory: neither fight before you have intelligence of your Enemy's strength, policies, and orders, except extreme necessity compel you. 5. Avoid not to fight with one great Army, when you know, that if you stay, you shall shortly be compelled to fight with two great Armies. This was well foreseen by Claudius Nero, and as well executed to his glory. Claudius' Nero the Roman Consul, intercepting Hasdrubals Letters (directed to his brother Hannibal, to meet him at Vmbra, to join both their powers together, for the subversion of the Romans) presently upon the reading, left his fellow Consul in the night (unknown to Hannibal) and with six thousand foot, and one thousand horse, came to Livius another Roman Consul, who was to intercept Asdrubal coming from the Mountains into Italy, and there joining force with his, gave Battle to Asdrubal, overcame him, and slew him before ever Hannibal knew of his being in Italy. Hannibal upon this was much grieved, both for the death of his Brother, and the deprivation of his power, and removed into the fields the Brutians. And for that he had no power left him of men, to defend his Portresses that he held, being so far off; he gathered together all the Metapontancs, and the Lucanes, such as were his friends; and brought them all into the Country of the Brutians, where he remained for a season, Counselling what were best for him to do. Thus was Hannibal brought to distress by the wisdom of one man, taking his time and opportunity to fight. Having shown you when to Fight; now let me show you when to avoid it. Avoid Fight upon these occasions: When to avoid fight, Where you by deferring the Battle are to find all things in better case; and contrary, your Enemies are to lack, and lose by the same victuals, wages, good will or friendship, you are to avoid Battle. Vegetius, lib. 3. Where you abound in number and victuals, and other provision, and your Enemy wanteth of your abundance, and therefore seeketh to fight, avoid you the Battle. Cassius and Brutus at Philippi, against Antony and Caesar. Where the Enemy must needs dissolve his Army shortly, if he fight not with you; there you are to avoid the Battle. Pompey at Durazzo against Caesar. Where you are in danger to lose a Realm, or two, if you lose the Battle, your Enemies are in danger only to lose their present Army: Being no stronger than your Enemies, seek not to fight. Hispani. Bell. Verona. Where your Soldiers and Captains be marvelously unwilling to fight, seek not to fight. Vegetius lib. 3. cap. 9 Aluians. If your Enemies be poor and needy, beware of their necessity; for always necessity makes men desperate, and causeth them to think there is no remedy but victory in fight. If you be in any strong place, so planted that your Enemy cannot fight with you, but with his great loss, seek not to fight with him. Prosper Colonno at Bicocca. If your Enemy be so placed in a strong Camp, seek not there to fight with your Enemy. Carolus Caesar in Germany. Frenchmen are by long dalliance and time to be deluded, because they be hot, and desirous to fight when they be fresh, and eager to be put on in the beginning of the wars; afterwards, when by long time they are wearied, they are tractable enough: so will others be beside Frenchmen. If you have wars made against you by a number of confederate Princes or Magistrates (take Caesar's counsel) defer the Battle for a time, and weary them out by politic usage. Keep them from victuals; kill all such as go for Forage, or any other purpose; make many alarums nightly upon them in their Camp, and toil them with watches and sudden labours: By this means you shall make the wars seem loathsome unto them, and protract it the longer; whereby, they may fall into dissension one with another: for such a number of Confederates cannot long agree, but that some quarrels will fall out between them, or else some grudges; so that some may be divided from the other by some kind of persuasion or other, whereupon you may, if you think good, give Battle to the relinquished: or chase them (as the Imperials did the French out of Milan) with light skirmishes. For the better performance of these skirmishes, let all your Soldiers have the perfect use of their Arms. They may have the perfect use of their Arms quickly, if the Sergeants do but at vacant times ply and exercise them. FINIS. At the sign of the Angel in Lumberstreet, you may have an excellent Plotforme for the postures of Pike and Musket.