The History of the Holy War, Book 5 · Chapter 19 – Chapter 20
Chap. 19. What is to be conceived of the incredible numerousnesse of many armies mentioned in this storie.
FRequent mention hath been made through this Holy warre of many armies, as well Christian as Turkish, whose number of souldiers swell very great; so as it will not be amisse once for all to discusse the point concerning the numerousnesse of armies anciently. And herein we branch our opinion into these severals.
1. Asian armies are generally observed greater then those of Europe: There it is but a sucking and infant companie to have ten thousand; yea, under fiftie thousand no number. The reason of their multitude is, not that Asia is more populous, but more spatious then Europe. Christendome is enclosed into many small Kingdomes and free States; which severally can send forth no vast numbers, and seldome agree so well as to make a joynt collection of their forces: Asia lieth in common, in large countreys, and many of them united under one head. Besides, it is probable (especially in ancient times, as may be proved out of Scripture) that those Eastern countreys often spend their whole stock of men, and imploy all their arms-bearing people in their martiall service, not picking or culling them out, as we in Europe use to do.
2. Modern armies are farre lesse then those in former ages. The warre-genius of the world is altered now-a-dayes, and supplieth number with police; the foxes skinne pieceth out the lions hide. Especially armies have been printed in a smaller letter since guns came up: One well-mounted cannon will spare the presence and play the part of a whole band in a battel.
3. Armies both of Europe, and chiefly in Asia (as farther off) are reported farre greater then truth. Even as many old men use to set the clock of their age too fast when once past seventie; and growing ten yeares in a twelve-monethmonth, are presently fourescore, yea, within a yeare or two after, climbe up to an hundred: So it is in relating the number of souldiers; if they exceed threescore and ten thousand, then ad rotunditatem numeri, they are hoised up to an hundred, and then fiftie thousand more cast in for advantage. Not to speak of the facil mistake in figures; One telleth, at the first voyage of Pilgrimes there went forth *Malmesb. lib. 4. pag. 133. Sexagies (surely a mistake for sexies) centum millia.six hundred thousand; *Lamp. Mellific. hist. pag. 313.another counteth three hundred thousand slain at the last taking of Ptolemais: their glib pennes making no more reckoning of men then of pinnes. We perchance may do justly in imitating the unjust steward, setting down in the bill of our belief but fifty for every hundred.
Nor is it any Paradox, but what will abide the touch, That competent forces of able and well-appointed and well-disciplined souldiers under an experienced Generall, are farre more usefull then such an unweldie multitude. Little loadstones will in proportion attract a greater quantitie of steel then those which be farre greater, because their poles are nearer together, and so their vertue more united: So shall we find braver atchievements by moderate armies, then by such portentous and extravagant numbers. I never read of any miracle done by the statue of S. Christopher in Paris, though he be rather of a mountainlike then manlike bignesse. Yea, such immoderate great armies are subject to great inconveniences. 1. They are not so easily manageable; and the commands of their Generall cool and lose some vertue in passing so long a journey through so many. 2. It is improbable that so many thousands can be heaped together, but the armie will be very heterogeneous, patched up of different people unsuiting in their manners; which must needs occasion much cumbrance. 3. These crowds of souldiers may hinder one another in their service; as many at the same time pressing out at a wicket. 4. Victuals for so many mouthes will not easily be provided; the provisions of a countrey serving them but a meal, they must fast afterwards. 5. Lastly, such great numbers (though this, I must confesse, is onelyonly per accidens, yet often incident) beget carelessenesse and confidence in them; as if they would not thank God for their victories, but conceive it a due debt owed to their multitudes. This hath induced some to the opinion to maintain, That a competent able armie of thirtie thousand (which number Gonzaga that brave Generall did pitch on as sufficient and complete) need not fear upon a paritie in all other respects, any companie whatsoever to come against them: such are enough, being as good as a feast, and farre better then a surfet.
Chap. 20. Of the numberlesse Christians which lost their lives in this service.
XErxes viewing his armie, consisting of more then a million, from an high place all at a sight, is said to weep at the thought, That within an hundred yeares all those would be mowed down with death: But what man could behold without flouds of tears, if presented to him at one view, the infinites of people which lost their lives in this action!
In the first voyage went forth (as the most conscionable counters report) three hundred thousand:1095 Of these we can make the reader but spendthrifts accounts, All is gone, without shewing the particulars. For after the taking of Jerusalem, this armie was drawn so low,Tyrius, lib. 9. cap. 12. that Godfrey being to fight with Ammiravissus the Egyptian,1099 and bringing forth his whole strength, had but twelve hundred horse and nine thousand foot left him.
Vrsperg. in Chron. pag. 239.At the second setting forth, of two hundred and fiftie thousand led hither by Hugh brother to the King of France and sundrie other Bishops, not a thousand came into Palestine.
In the third voyage, Conrade the Emperour led forth no fewer then two hundred thousand foot and fiftie thousand horse; nor was the armie of King Lewis of France farre inferiour: Of whom such as returned make no noise, as not considerable in number.
At the fourth setting forth, Frederick Barbarossa counted an hundred and fiftie thousand souldiers in his armie: Of whom when they came to Ptolemais, no more then *P. Aemyl. in Phil. Aug. pag. 175.eighteen hundred armed men remained.
Fifthly, what numbers were carried forth by our Richard the first and Philip of France, I find not specified; no doubt they did bear proportion to the greatnesse of the undertakers: All which at their return were consumed to a very small companie.
To omit severall other intermediate actions of many Princes, who went forth with armies and scarce came home with families; King Lewis carried forth two and thirty thousand: Of which onelyonly six thousand came home, as their own writers report, who tell their tale as it may sound best for the credit of their countrey; whilest *Knolls, Turk. hist. pag. 106.others count eightie thousand to have lost their lives in that voyage: yea, *Magdeburg. Cent. 13. col. 606.some reckon no fewer then an hundred thousand common men, besides seven Counts, to have died in Cyprus of the plague.
*Fox, in Martyrol. in Hen. 3. pag. 337.At his second voyage to Tunis, of an hundred and twentie ships which lay at anchor at Trape in Sicily, there were no more saved then the mariners of one onelyonly French ship, and the thirteen ships of our Prince Edward; all the rest, with men, armour and munition did miserably perish.
But enough of this dolefull subject. If young Physicians with the first fee for their practice are to purchase a new church-yard, Pope Urbane the second might well have bought some ground for graves when he first perswaded this bloudie project; whereby he made all Jerusalem, Golgotha, a place for sculls; and all the Holy land, Aceldama, a field of bloud.