The Looking Glass of the Holy War, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. The Matter of the Camp.
BVT now it is time to come to ſpeak of the perſons, that muſt make up and manage this Camp. In every Army there muſt be a chiefe Generall to command, and Souldiers to obey. And firſt for the Generall, his perſonall qualities, and officiall indowments, ſhould alwaies anſwer the greatneſſe of his place: Such God gaue to his people, as Moſes, Ioſua, Gideon, Sampſon, David; yea, when he gaue them Saul for a King, and a Leader, though it was in his wrath, yet he fitted him for the place with excellency of gifts: take view of this in the firſt of Sam. 15. chapter, comparing the firſt, ſixth and ninth verſes. In the firſt verſe, the Lord annointed him to be Captain over his inheritance, for then the people of God had warre with their enemies: In the ſixth verſe, the ſpirit of the Lord ſhould be upon him, and he ſhould be turned to another man: In the ninth verſe ſee this accompliſhed, God gaue him another heart; not for all this, that he had one ſparke of ſaving grace, for he was a reprobate. But God by theſe, ſheweth what excellent common gifts hee affoorded him for ſo great a calling, as magnanimity, depth of iudgment, Princely behaviour. And in this ſenſe, in the ſixth verſe, the Lord is ſaid to be with him. I preſſe this point the rather; becauſe as from the head, as from a fountain, the body hath life and action: ſo in the ſufficiency of a Leader conſists the ſafety of the Armie, the gayning of the victory, the glory of the Nation, and the honour of himſelfe.
To this purpoſe, The neceſſity of a good Generall.hiſtorie is ſo plentifull, that inſtead of a taſte, I could affoord a whole Treatiſe, but the draught of my knot requireth ſuch variety, that it will admit but a few flowers of every kind. Vnius viri virtus interdum exerci tum ſervavit & ducē Dialog. 62. Imperare didici Plutarch. in Apotheg.Petrarch well obſerveth that the valour of one man (meaning the Leader) hath often ſaved both himſelfe and the Army. Commanding is an excellent Art, of which Iphycrates, and that deſervedly, did glory much; I hauehave learned (ſaith he) to command. Pauſanias, being asked how they might vanquiſh the Thracians; If you (ſaith he) make choice of a good Generall. And ſuch indeed was himſelfe, whoſe laſt words to this effect, I thought good to commend to your memory. Having received his deaths wound in the Mantinean fight, being brought into his Tent, hee called for Diaphantus and Iollida, two braue Captains, whom when he underſtood to be ſlain in the battle, he councelled them to leaue of war, becauſe they had never a Generall: Plutarch. in Apotheg.which counſell, as they did not follow, ſo they felt the ſmart of it. The inequality of the Leader caſts the ballance of the ſervice. When Pompey was yong, and a raw Captain; Sertorius made havock of his forces, and eſteemed himſelfe but a boy to be whipt, but when the old wife Metellus came, Idem in Sertor. vita.(for ſo he called him) he gaue him enough to doe. It was a pretty, and a wittie anſwer, that a yong Numantine gaue the Senate, reviling them for flying before the Romans, whom they had ſo often put to flight: The caſe is altered (quoth he) for though they be the ſame ſheep, yet they hauehave got them a new Paſtor (meaning Scipio.) Caeſar made no account of Afranius, his forces, becauſe (ſaith he) they want a Leader. That politique Generall Phillip would ſay; That hee had rather hauehave an Army of Harts, with a Lyon to their Leader, then an Army of Lyons with a Hart to their Leader. To ſhut up all theſe with the cenſure of Alexander, who for his excellency in this Art, might be called, the Great; Diſcourſing of Homers verſes eſteemed this aboue all the reſt. foreign. Iliad. foreignThat it is required in a good king, that he be alſo a worthy war…our. And this made kings account it no ſmall dignitie to …ade their forces themſelves, putting life and courage to their ſubjects and ſouldiers. Yea, as it quickens valour ſo it …aketh cowardiſe to be aſhamed. Thus did the good kings …f Iuda: Gajus Fabricius, when he heard of the overthrow of …he Romanes given by Pirrhus, he turned him to Labienus, Pir…us ſaith he, hath got the vistory, and not the Epirots, meaning that the worth of the Leader carried the victory. To omitt other inſtances looke but on this practiſe in our Brittaigne kings, our Edwards, Henries, Richards, Malcomes, Robert, Iames; the fame of whoſe victories, and heroick proweſſe is ronowned through the world.
The time putteth us on to cry to God for worthy Leaders; Reaſons.for firſt they are the diamond of the State; & ſuch a blesſing as for their ſakes manie times the State was delivered. And when the Lord rayſed them up Iudges, Iud. 2.18then the Lord was with the Iudge. Secondly, the want of ſuch laid the people open to …l impietie, and the rage of the enemies, Iudg. 2.19. Beſides that, it was a manifeſt token of Gods wrath againſt them. Iudges 17.6. Thirdly, this is the height of all peoples ambition, except they be given up to a Sybaritical ſecuritie: Yea, Gods greateſt enemies are carefull and circumſpect in this, to the damage and diſgrace of Gods people, being not ſo carefull and circumſpect in this point. Our defect is rather in want of care, then in want of able perſons. Let the Phili…tim bragge of his Goliah, and the Spaniard of his Viriatus; yet they ſhall well know ere they hauehave done, that Gods people hauehave both a couragious Pompey, and a Graue Metellus, that will …eate them home to their owne dores. Mee thinke they …hould eyther bluſh or tremble, to thinke upon the name of that ever victorious Siſca. Charles the fift, was as a great ſoul…ier as any they had, and yet he was ſo mated by the valour of Germany, that his heart failed him cleere, from ſetting up for another game. The euill of an ill leader.Laſtly, as the want of a good is the wo… of a common-wealth; ſo the having of an ill one the… greateſt unhapines. It may be ſaid of an ill leader, as it is ſai… of an ill Lawyer, foreign. Alium deteriorem inveniri poſſe nullum, at hunc meruiſſe Conſtantinopolitanorum vitia. One chife Commander in war.he is a plague to the common-wealth, ſuch a on… is an ill Leader. Yea, the very ſtampe & ſeale of Gods wrat… So God gaue the Iſraelites Saul in his wrath. Cedrenus write… how a religious man in the raging of Phocas, did expoſtula… the matter with God by way of complaint, why he woul… ſet ſuch a wicked tyrant ouer Chriſtians. It is ſaid he heard … voice anſwering (but ſaw nothing) They had him becauſe neve… a worſe could be found; and this they had deſerved for their ſinnes Concerning this point, it is further to be obſerved, that as… chiefe Commander is neceſſary, ſo there muſt be but one▪ It is an axiom of very good uſe. ‘Plurimum imperium bello ſemper in…tile eſt. Stach. pag. 113. lib. 4.5.The chiefe command of m… then one in warre is euer hurtfull. VponUpon this ground whe… any conſull being Generall did leaue a Legate in his place, he had his full power to his returne, which the Conſull … turning did reſume, & the Legates place was altogether void, Livi diſcovereth the euill that commeth upō the ioint command of more, from that example of more Tribunes ioyntly in command, and authorized with popular power. The ſame Author relateth the like of two Conſulls, Paulus, and Varro, whoſe contrarietie of judgemēt, in a matter of weight, made great diſſention in the Army. Paulus, for his time, at no hand would hauehave thē paſſe the river, Varro the next day without conſulting with his colleague, Commanded the colours to be advanced. Lib. 31. Lib. 30. adverſat:Turnebus alſo obſerveth from Livi and Polibius, that in one Legion there were ſix Tribunes, whereof each commanded by turnes for two moneths. But the Romanes perceiving the euill that did inſue, from this emulation of this ioint command, did ordayne that the command of all their forces in one place ſhould be in one ſupreme Commander, from whom all ſubordinate officers, ſhould hold a ſubordinate command, and to him be accomptable in their places. The ſouldier was under the Centurion, he under the Tribune, the Tribune under the Legat, Dictat…r a perpetua via ad imperium.the Legat under the …onſull, the Conſull under the Maiſter the Horſe, and all …der the Dictator, who was the higheſt Officer, and the …xt ſtept to an Emperour. Corrupti… boni peſſima.And queſtionleſſe as a Mo…rchy in peace is the Head and Chiefe of all governments. …owſoever accidentally, or through abuſe it may become …e worſt.) So it is likewiſe in war. And for my owne part …thinke (ſaving the judgement of the judicious) that the …wer of a worthly Generall, though he be ſubordinate; Legati cum libero mandato.…ould be like in commiſsion to the Roman Legates, that is, with freedome to deale, as they did, upon occaſion, but with …eſe cautions, that they ſhould hauehave a ſound and iudicious …ouncell, and ſtrictly obſerve the lawes of Armes. For what ſerveth the head and heart of a Generall, if his hands be tyed. …e may looſe occaſion, being the life of action, which for … heart bloud againe, he cannot redeeme. As I hauehave often … thought, much regrated the bad requitall of the Greciā Generals, the particulars whereof I ſhall hereafter touch: ſo I …ue thought it the higheſt point of their unhappines, to be …ver-topt in their doings by a various and unruly multitude. What glory they got abroad, it was not onelyonly eclipſed but ex…nguiſhed at home, had Ariſtides, Themiſtocles, Pauſanias and …paminondas, with (whom I will ioyne Haniball) been free from the countermands and controulments of their heady and harebraind States, they had eueryevery one beene likely … hauehave proved a Monarch. And on the contrary, here I muſt …ke occaſion to commend the good temper, and the due re…ect of the Romanes to their Generalls, that howſoever their government was mixed, yet they were, not of a coalting …umor towards their Commanders; in this they are ſecōded …y the States of Hollād, whoſe due reſpect to that well deſerving Youthy, the Prince of Orange, hath made their Armies terrible … the enemies of God, and their flouriſhing ſtate, a nurſery …f Armes, But ſo much for this point, wherein I hauehave taken …eaue to be ſomewhat large, becauſe it is the head peece.
The reſt of the parties that make up the Camp are ſouldiers and ſubordinat Commanders. Subordinat Commanders, & ſouldiers.As an army without … Leader is like Poliphemus, without his eyes, or a great be… without a head; ſo a Generall without fit ſouldiers, is like … head without a body, or a Lyon ouer a company of Harts. … fit Commanders a ſpeciall care is to be had, becauſe they are the eyes of the Generall. Caeſar, Alexander & Philip, were ve… happy in their Commanders; ſo Edward the third, the black… Prince, Henry the 5. and Henry the 8. Neyther was Gener… Vere unhappy in this, at the battle of Newport. Philip having ſlept longer then he uſed to doe in the camp, put it off with this that he ſlept in ſaftie, when Antipater was awake, ſhewing thereby that the ſaftie of a Generall and army conſiſteth much in the ſkill and vigillancie of the Captaines.
The like neceſſitie there is of good ſouldiers. The integrall parts of an Armye.Iphycrates giving the integrall parts of an Army, It muſt hauehave, ſaith he, the Phalaux, or body, for the breaſt, the wings for the armes, the horſe … the feete, Bruc. lib. 4. cap. 33.& the Generall for the head. Ceſar made no reckoning of going againſt Pompey, becauſe he was a Generall without an Army: It was Pyrrhus his ill lot to want good ſouldiers, which if he had had, as he was the greateſt ſouldier, both for ſkill & valour in the world by repute; ſo he might hauehave beene the greateſt Monarch for poſſeſſion: Lib. 25.for beſides that teſtimonie of Gajus Fabius, quoted before of him, Iuſtine erects to him an encomie of never dying prayſe. His owne ſpeech of the Romane ſouldiers ſlain in the field is worth the marking; O ſi tales haberem milites, qui omnia vulnera adverſa baberent.ſeeing all their woundes in their fore-parts, O, ſaith he, that I had ſuch ſouldiers, receiving all their woundes with their faces to the enemies.
It comes in the next place to inquire what ſouldiers they ſhould be, to which I anſwere as before, the best that can be had. In the Romane warres at firſt, they were very choyce; as Vlpian, Nec Crimi…eſi, &c.and Flavius Vopiſcus, two great Lawyers doe teſtifie… no criminous parties, no adulterers, no condemned perſons: yea … bondſlaues, nor contentious braulers: but for want of men, or rather through iniquitie of times, as Vopiſcus obſerveth, Ad ultimū prope deſperatae reip. auxilium cum, honeſta uttlihus cedunt. Lib. 32.…hey tooke of all ſorts: As Sheepheards, ſword players, wicked …erſons, but as Livi obſerveth, it was in the very pinch of deſpayre of the common-wealth, when honeſtie muſt giuegive way to uti…itie. But now to our ſhame, ſin ſo aboundeth, & the good are ſo ſcarce, that wee muſt doe that in ordinary, which they did but ſometimes on neceſſitie: But that which followeth in …he treatiſe, and ſhould follow in this ſervice, would mend much, namely Diſcipline.
One thing more the Romanes did obſerve by their rules of war concerning the ſouldier; namely, Two ſorts of ſouldiers with the Romans. Movet tumultum ex diverſis locis collectus exercitus. lib. 3. cap. 4.what kind they were, whether forreignes or natives: for thoſe two ſorts they had which they called Auxiliarii and Legionarij. Vegetius hath a maxime, that a mixt company from divers places moues a tumult. But Alexander found the contrary: for finding the Macedonians dayly to incline to ſedition, he made mixt Compaines, ſetting Perſiā Captaines, over them, which made the Macedonians leaue of ſedicion, ‘Diodor ſicul: lib. 17& fall to a generous emu…ation; yet is this to be done as Polybius well obſerveth with great warineſs and watchfulneſs: for if ſuch an Army fall at variance it is impoſſible to reconcile them. But the Romans themſelves had ſuch mixt forces, Cautions for mixture of ſouldioursand uſed their auxiliaries with great reſpect, in giving them gold chaynes, when they gaue the legionarie, or their owne but ſilver chaynes. Yet in this mixture there be cautions to be obſerved. The firſt by Flavius & Livi, Ne unquā amplior multitudo ſociorum. Lib. 3. cap. 1agreeable to the rule of Vegetius, that there be not more forrayne forces then domestick. Which rule they could not keepe as their owne hiſtories report. For both in the war againſt the Voſ…i, and Carthaginians, the Auxiliarij were far more then the Legionarij. Another caution I add which is the chiefe indeed, that the Auxiliarie forces be not ſuch as come meerly upon ſelfe reſpects, who many times like mowls ſo undermin the ground, that they cannot be got out againe; and ſo ſuch vermine proue worſe then the former adverſary. A blacke brood of ſuch you ſee hath over ſpread the world, whom never a nation will entertaine if they can chuſe, except it be ſuch a Nation that God hath blinded. The torments of thoſe on whom they are fallen, and the heavie oppreſſion of thoſe that hauehave ſought their protection, can tell what dogged helpers they are. As for the Auxilian forces of the States, it hath been their good hap to hauehave ſuch as not ſo much for worldly gain, as for their indeered louelove to religion and affection toward their Chriſtian brethren, hauehave advanced their State and Religion, with their deereſt bloud: for which I think they will acknowledge (or at leaſt they ſhould) that in mutuall requitall they owe themſelues. As for time to come, onelyonly let them beware of the Popes bratts, and they may preſume of ours as of their own, upon good uſage. Let the battle of Newport and Barganupſoan witneſſe their undaunted valour and fidelity: and as they ſhall hauehave occaſion further to uſe them, I hope their actions ſhall proclaim what the Athenians ſaid in the like caſe; foreign.We are all Hollanders.