The Looking Glass of the Holy War, Chapter 19
CHAPT. XIX. The Motions and Actions of War.
HAving thus laid out, as you ſee, a Symeter of the parts of vvarr, I proceed in order to the handling of the actions of vvar: for as vvarre conſiſteth as it vvere of a body and ſoule; ſo the motions and actions of war are the fruits and effects of that ſubſiſtance But as a body and a ſoule, are …ot both enough to make ſound and valid actions, eyther saturall or animall, except they be united in a good tempe…ment, which may well be called a harmony of the foure firſt qualities riſing from a due mixture of the foure Elements; juſt ſo it is in war, whoſe foreign. or active motion requireth the due temperature of counſell, that it may leaue remaining foreign, a perfect worke. And as from naturall heate the ſpirits hath their agilitie to inact; but the primogenious humor or radicall moiſture, both tempers and maintayneth that naturall heat; ſo that magnanimious heat of courage putteth ſpirit and life into warlike actions: but the radicall humide or pure oyle of counſell, maintayneth and increaſeth the …eate of courage therefore counſell is compared to a deepe water) And as by heat & humide wee liue, Prover. 20.5they being the two …tiue qualites; ſo war is to be managed with courage and counſell. The proofe of this poſitiō is plentifull, both from Scripture & other writers. Pro. 20.18.Every purpoſe is eſtablished by counſell ſaith Solomon, and with good advice make war: So in another place: Ch: 24.6.By wiſe counſell shalt thou make war, and in multitude of counſels there is ſaftie. 2. King. 18.That vile Blaſphemous Rabshakeh knew the truth of this, that ſtrength and counſell were for the war. So in the 10. of Iudges & 19. wee may ſee how the Princes, and the people of the Tribes, doe aſſemble themſelves together in counſell, how to undertake and manage war againſt their enemies. It is a main principle with Vegetius; that of wiſe men, and choyſe warriours there be a Counſell pickt out and appointed, Vtilius dueis eſt ut adhibitis ex univerſo exercitu ſcientibus belli, & ſapientibus viris, qui de ſuis & boſtium copiis tractēt. lib. 3. cap. 9.who may conſult, and determine of all things neceſſary for forces and affayres, both concerning themſelves and the enemies; and eſpecially what will hurt the enemies and helpe themſelves. This hath been the practiſe not onelyonly of good ſaints, but of all great warryours. David aſketh of God before concerning his war with Saul, 1 Sam. 23.2.4. So a Sam. 5.19. where though he had the ground of his counſell from God, with a promiſed ſucceſſe; yet did he not neglect to conſult with men, for the accompliſhing of Gods counſell. The Iewes had two ſorts of Magiſtrats, the one for peace called Togati, the other for war called Sagati or Bellici. So they had two ſorts of Counſels, the one for peace and the other for war. So Quintus, Fabius, Severus, Alexander, Pyrrhus, effected all by counſel.
As this truth is of exceeding great weight, Reaſons.ſo there be weighty reaſons to inforce the practiſe of it; as from the nature and excellency of it, the neceſſitie of it, the particular object in hand; namely war, the good effects of it, and the great euils enſuyng upon the want of it. Firſt then to the Excellencie of counſell, A deſcription of counſell.which manifeſteth the nature of it, counſell is not onelyonly an indagation, or ſearching out of things expedient, nor yet a bare diſcourſe or diſcerning of things ſo ſought out; but it is alſo an application of the will to that which is fitteſt, therefore is counſell called Election, or foreign, inregard of making choyce of one thing rather then another, perſuppoſing alwaies a well informed judgement by mature deliberation. So that I may ſay of Counſell, as it is ſaid of Conſcience, it meddles directly with particulars, according to that definition of Damaſcen; Appetitus inquiſitivus de rebus utilibus. lib. 3. ca. 33. Eſt ſubtilis animi proſpectus &c. 2 Rhetor.Councell is an inquiſitiue appetite of things profitable: or as Tully, It is the electiue power of a pure minde; examining the cauſes and principalls that are to be applyed: The excellency of it appeareth in this; that it is a ſpeciall gift of God. ‘Pro. 8.14.Counſell is mine (ſaith the Lord.) Yea, Chriſt is named by the name of ‘,Eſa. 9.Counſell. The Heathen could ſay, that counſell is truly ,‘foreign.an holy thing. It is wel compared to a deep fountain of water, Prov. 20.6, for the freſh ſpringing thereof, refreſheth and maketh fruitfull all the plots and plantations of policie, both in peace and war. It is like unto the head, which as it is the fountain of life and function, and ſo it tranſfuſeth the facultie of all theſe through the whole body; ſo counſell containeth the life of warre, and is all, as the ſoule is virtually in every part.
Counſell is very ſignificantly enblemed by Lodovicus Sfortia, Duke of Millain, by Morus, or the Mulbery tree; which name the ſaid Duke took unto himſelfe as his ſurname, not for the blackneſſe of his viſage; but becauſe he would bear the world in hand, that in his actions he was like this tree; for as it doth not bud nor flouriſh, till it hath paſt over the injury of the Winter, and preſently after bringeth forth buds and fruits, and therfore called the wiſeſt of trees. By this he would make ſhew, giving this in his Armes, that it was naturally given to him, to diſpoſe of all his actions maturely and deliberately by counſell. But it was but a ſhew indeed, for he did nothing leſſe, as you ſhall hear hereafter.
It were well with Nations, if it had been his fault alone, Applicatiōbut theſe evill times hath too many too like him; who would ſeem to carry all by counſell; but their actions proclaim to the world, that they are at deadly enmity both with counſell and wiſedome. Such dumb ſhews of councell, with contrary actions, are well enblemed by the Centaur; Whoſe upper part giveth a ſemblance of care for the peoples good, Eſtque bomo dum ſimulit ſe populo eſſe pium. Militis eſt robur conſiliumque ducis. Cic. de off. lib. 1. The neceſſitie of counſell.but the lower part which is the beast, devours the people under coulor of humanity. The excellency of counſell appeareth likewiſe in this, that it is a ſingular gift given to men fitted to command in war.
As this is the excellency of it, ſo it is of an abſolute neceſſity. What good will forces doe (ſaith Tully) if counſell bee wanting in managing of war. There is a neceſsity of counſell, ſaith Quintus Curtius, and not of raſh violence. What good will the wall of ſtrength doe, except it hauehave conncell for the foundation? Yea, the more ſtrength, without moderation by councell, the more ſpeedy and greater ruin. Yea (as Ambroſe ſaith) what avayleth wiſedom without counſell? Quid tibi prodest habere ſapientiam ſi conſilium deſit lib. 2. de off.It is but as a ſealed fountain, it neither doth good to a mans ſelfe, nor to another: And, as one ſaith pithily, As is a Citie (the walles whereof are ruined and raced to the ground) ſuch is a man that undertaketh not all his actions with counſell. Caeſar held, and that truely, Counſell to be as neceſſary in war, as Phyſitians in time of ſickneſſe. Idem eſt conſilium adverſus bostes &c.It is the onelyonly thing (ſaith Vegetius) and the Generals greateſt advantage, to hauehave a wiſe Councell.