The Looking Glass of the Holy War, Chapter 30
CHAP. XXX. The Oppugnation of an Hold.
NOW I come more particularly to the oppugning and defending of an Hould, wherein I mean to be briefe, becauſe the particulars of the ſervice, dependeth much upon the circumſtances of the ſubject. Firſt, then to the Aſſaylants: There be two kinds of waies, as Writers well obſerue, and experience teach, Obſidendi duas eſſe ſpecies. Veg. lib. 4. cap. 7.to beſieg any place; either by continued aſſault, or by cutting off all ſupply of means, wherby they may be forced to yeeld. The latter of theſe is firſt to be attempted, Fame potius quam ferro.as Caeſar well obſerved. The Aſſaylants having choſen the beſt advantage of ground, for entrenching of themſelnes, and planting of their Ordinance, they are in the firſt place to look well to themſelues: Cum negligentia intervenerit, paribus inſidiis ſuliacent obſidentes. Veget. lib. 4 cap. 28.for if neglect or careleſſeneſſe overtake them (as one well obſerveth) they are ſubject to as great danger as the beſieged. Claudian the Poet, both expreſſeth the danger and directeth the remedy:
— multis damnoſa fuere
gaudia, diſperſi pereunt ſomnoque ſoluti.
— Too many often joy
Secure doth hurt, whom lazie ſleep doth ſlay.
The Apollinates whom Phillip beſieged, ſerved him ſuch a trick; in the night time, through the beſiegers neglect, they took in the Roman ſupply (their enemies not knowing:) All the day following they kept themſelues very quiet, giving occaſion to the Aſſaylant of ſecurity: but in the ſilence of the night, they ſallyed forth without any noyſe, and poſſeſt themſelues of the enemies Camp, where they ſlew ſome thouſands, Livi lib. 33.and took more then they ſlew; the King himſelfe without his cloaths very hardly eſcaped. Frontine gaue the ſame caution upon the ſame ground: For whether the Aſſaylant (ſaith he) be taken with ſleep, or ſurfet, or idleneſſe, or with any neglect of their place, the beſieged on a ſuddain ſallyeth out, they take, kill, conſume and ſpoile with fire; they undoe all their works, take their munition. In a word, they marr all in an houre, that the enemy hath been making, and deviſing many daies, moneths; yea, it may be years. Therefore (ſaith he) they muſt look to guard themſelues with all manner of defence and vigilancy, as trenches, towers, Lib. 4. c. 28or ſconſes, againſt eruptions, as well as with means to aſſault. For men being blocked up, where they muſt either fight, ſtarue, or yeeld, it may be to a cruell and faithleſſe enemy; they make a vertue of neceſsity, the pinch putteth them to their wit, and deſpaire ſtrengthneth their reſolution, Foelices ſaepe ſine ratione.upon the wings whereof they are carryed to deſperate attempts, wherein they proue often happy beyond all reaſon.
Hereupon as the Aſſaylant muſt ſecure himſelfe; ſo in the next place he muſt keep the beſieged doing. Fiuethings neceſſary for the oppugnant.To direct the Aſſaylant againſt the beſieged, theſe fiue things are requiſite; he muſt be wiſe, cunning, dilligent, conſtant, and upon occaſion, wiſely adventurous. By the firſt he is taught not to perſiſt againſt that which muſt needs coſt him more then it is worth.
The ſecond includeth all lawfull ſtratagems, whereby every wiſe Aſſaylant ſhould labor to poſſeſſe himſelfe of any place, rather then by main force; becauſe ſo, on both ſides, bloudſhed may be prevented. It is not poſsible, as I ſhewed, to giuegive rules for all ſtratagems, becauſe of new occaſions; yet for taking in of places theſe be moſt uſuall. The Stratagem of corruptingSometimes the Aſſaylant corrupteth ſome of the beſieged, who betrayeth the Town or Citie into the hand of the Aſſaylant, and ſo it is taken with little or nothing a doe: So Papyrius Curſor, the Conſul dealt with Milo, who kept Tarentum a Town of the Epyrots. Being taken with the great promiſes of the Generall, both of reward and ſafety to him and his; he perſwadeth the Town to ſend him as a Legate to Papyrius, of whom he received the reward promiſed, returneth to the Town, and by fair ſpeeches caſteth the people in a deep ſecurity, and ſo delivereth up the neglected Town into the hand of the enemy. So Marcellus uſed Soſiſtratus a Syracuſan, for betraying of the Citie: On a day when Epicides did feaſt the people, he gaue intelligence to Marcellus, who (while the ſecure inhabitants did revell it out in profuſe hilarities) ſcaleth the walls, killeth the watch, entreth the Town, which was a glorious victory, and a great booty to the Romanes. So Hanibal took Tarentum by a corrupted Citizen, who was taught by Hanibal to aske leaue of the Captain to goe out in the night a hunting, which they durſt not doe by day. Hanibal had good ſtore of Boores killed ready for him, with which he often returned laden into the Citie, wherof he gaue a ſhare to the Captain: But one night Hanibal put his ſouldiers in the habit of Hunters, who being laden with prey, and let in at the gates, they killed the watch ſuſpecting nothing, ſet ope the gates and let Hanibal in, who killed all the Romanes ſaue them that fled into the Caſtle. Examples of this kind are ſo frequent, that I will not trouble you with more.
Some to effect this, hauehave ſent the truſtieſt of their own, to proffer their ſervice to the enemies, who under complaint of a fayned injury (or at moſt feignedly offred) maketh the enemy to beleeue, that they will doe or ſuffer any thing for revenge, when they intend nothing but deceit. This kind likewiſe hath had good ſucceſſe, witneſſe Sopyrus whom Cyrus ſo much eſteemed) who by a mangling of himſelfe, and fleeing to the enemy, by ſome fayned ſervice, got Babylon into his hand, and delivered it unto Cyrus. When Tarquin the proud, could by no meanes prevaile with the Gabians to ſurrender, he taketh rodds and beateth his own ſon Tarquinius Sextus, and ſendeth him to the enemy, to whom he accuſing his fathers cruelty, deſireth in ſhew of revenge to be their Captain againſt his father, to whom when they came to fight, he delivered them up.
But here ariſeth a caſe of conſcience, Ob. ſince one man to betray the reſt is paricide, or the higheſt kind of murther, how can the perſwader be free of the ſin, ſince a perſwader ab ante or before is the chiefeſt principall?Arſ. Inſt. Anſw. Hoſtes fallere & v…ſtū & …on…ſt….
I anſwer he may very lawfully perſwade them all to ſurrender, Ergo he may lawfully perſwade one to doe what he can. Yea but the means uſed be naught. I anſwer, on the perſwaders part they are good, who may as lawfully by cunning as by force overcome. Neyther can it be called treaſon in him becauſe he is not in truſt. Si amicus fuiſſ…t nunquam predidiſſet.Againe the enemie is become his friend, though he be an enemie to his owne. If it be lawfull for a man in authoritie, to cauſe one thiefe, or traytor, to betray an other being all enemies to the ſtate; it is no leſſe lawfull for a commander in this kind to divide his enemies one from another, & to make one ſerve his turne againſt another. But in this, and paſſages of the like nature, I refer my ſelfe to the iudicious divines.
Another ſtratagem of uſe is to fayne remiſnes, Feying of remiſneſs.or neglect of aſſaulting, or to doe ſome other thing then the main thing they intend. Alcibiades Generall of Athens beſieging the citie Agrigentina, which was almoſt impregnable: He deſireth the citie to ſend ſome of their counſell to him, with whom he might conſult of matters concerning the common good. He cauſeth a Theater to be erected, and in great pomp, according to the Grecian manner, he holdeth the eyes of the beſieged with a ſhew of conſultation; who neglecting to ſtand upon their guard, were ſupprized by the Athenians before they were aware. Domicius Calvinus beſieging Leucas, a Towne both well fortified, and well manned; tooke often this courſe, to compaſſe the wals, with all his forces without the leaſt ſhew of attempt, & ſo to lead them back againe into the campe. The Towne being induced by this accuſtomed courſe, to beleeve that the Roman did it onelyonly for uſe of exerciſe, began to ſlight it as a toy and to grow remiſſe in their attendance; He turnes his obambulation into a ſudden and unlooked for aſſault, and taking the walls he forced them to render the Towne and themſelves. Neyther doth the like action of Ioſua, in compaſſing the walls of Iericho, want the nature of a ſtratagem. For though the Lord had givē it into his hand; yet he neglecteth no ſecundary meanes, eyther of force, or cunning to accompliſh the Lords decree. And no doubt the continued compaſſing of the citie, without any further attempt; made Iericho ſlight it off, as a toy, rather then a ſtrategem. As the cuſtome of things doe dull and alter the ſenſe; ſo it bindeth up the mind from judging, and diſordereth the affections from fearing, or affecting of things indeed according to the true nature.
Beſides; this generall hath likewiſe another tricke of ſlight to ſimulate the rayſing of the ſiege, and departure for a time, that the beſieged, neglecting their watch, they may returne upon them, and take them at unawares. This did Phormio, of Athens, againſt the Chalſidians; Agiſelaus, of Lacedemon, againſt the Phocenſes; Alcibiades againſt the Bizantines, and Q. Metellus, as you heard, againſt Cantrebia.
The laſt that here I relate, for all I cannot (and with many I will not cloy) is the drawing of the beſieged to ſallie out, with laying ambuſhment to take the place. Of many examples, I will giuegive but a taſt. Of this ſtratagem God himſelfe was the author to Ioſua, as I ſhewed you, Ioſu. 8. Cato in the very eye of the Lacedemonians, whom he beſieged, ſet the Sueſſens, being the weakeſt of his forces to aſſault the Walls, and layeth the ſtrongeſt in ambuſh for the ſervice indeed; the Towne breaking out upon the aſſailants (who fled for their lives, and they followed as eagerly;) the towne was taken by them that lay in ambuſh. Hannibal, beſieging Hymera cauſed not onelyonly his ſouldiers to flee before thoſe that ſallied out; but alſo to quit the Campe into the enemies hand, for which the Hymerans were ſo raviſhed with Ioy, that they runne all out of the Towne unto the Campe; and ſo the Towne was taken by thoſe that laie in waite. The like ſtratagem he uſed againſt Sagunt.
The third thing required in the aſſailant is diligence in following the worke, Diligence:foreign.looſing no opportunitie, nor omitting any occaſion of diligence. It may well be ſaid, that all things are ſubiect to the ſervice of it; yea nothing is ſo hard but it will overcome; without this, nothing with honor can be atchieved, and by this, many times, things ſeeming impoſſible are accompliſhed. It is wel obſerved by Demosthenes of Alexander, that his happines did not attend his fortune; neyther by it did he attaine to ſo great victories: but his induſtrious d…ligence, his boldnes and ſerving of the occaſion, brought thoſe great things to paſſe. Neyther will this ſervice ſuffer any delay or ſlipping of occaſion: for occaſion (as one ſaith well) is the ſoule of action. The Iſraelits did compaſſe Iericho for ſix dayes together; and when they came to the point of the ſervice, they did compaſſe it twice. It is reported of Ceſar, foreign.that being aſked how he had accompliſhed ſo great and admirable things, that he ſhould anſwere, by de…aying no occaſion. The dexterous and cunning Hanibal, neglecting his attendance upon this great commandreſſe, loſt the Crowne of his victorie, namely, the taking of Rome.
Fourthly, Cōſtanciefor the taking in of a place of any worth there is required Constancie. It is not common, to come and ſee, Venire videre & ſic vincere.and ſo to overcome. The place is very weake, or peſtered with Cowards, or traytors, that yeelds at the firſt, therefore the aſſailant muſt reſolve to ſtay by it, yea and to be at ſome coſt with it, if he meane to hauehave it. They that come to beſiege any places (as Livi well obſerveth) muſt ever hauehave that of Appi…nus Claudius before their eyes. Preſeverantia in omni genere militiae eſt neceſſaria, maxime tamen in obſidendis nrbibus. Apud Livi. lib. 5.That perſeverance in every part of war is very neceſſarie, but eſpeciallie in the beſieging of townes. Titus beſieged Hieruſa em ſix mone…hs; the ſiege of Troy continued ten yeares. In the time of Leo Iconomachus, Cal…ph Sull…man beſieged Constantinople for the ſpace of eight yeares. Anno Domine 719. So the ſiege of Constantinople, and the Rhodes, when they were taken, continued for many dayes. But how ſhort while ſoever it be continued, i… ſhalbe good policie to make ſhew of continuance. …lea…chu… the Lacedemonian environing the Thracians, they were confident, that want of proviſion, would force him …o depart (for they had carryed all into the mountaines.) As they ſent their legates to him, he cauſed a captive to be cut in peces, & in the preſence of the Legates to be diſtributed, as though it had beene for victualls, which the Thracians taking as an evidence, that he and his would endure any thing rather then breake their reſolution, they rendred themſelves into his hands. When the Portugalls told Tiberius Grachus, that they had proviſion enough for ten yeares, and therefore they did not feare blocking up, well (ſaid he) the worſt is, then I ſhal take you in the eleventh yeare: with which reſolution they were ſo daunted that they rendred themſelves, notwithſtanding of their proviſion.
The laſt, The coſt of oppugnation.but not the leaſt, thing to be thought on, is the coſt which they muſt be at. Stratagems, nor wearying out, it may be, will not ſerve the turne; they may find the beſieged as reſolute to hold out, as themſelves to continue; as cunning to prevent, or to retort a Stratagem, as they are to deviſe it. They muſt therefore come to handy blowes, beſides plying of ordinance. Neyther muſt the aſſailant be daunted with the valour, or reſolution of the defendant; but it muſt the rather whet him on to his attempt. Firſt, conſidering wh… an adverſarie he hath: the valour of the adverſarie addeth ſpirit to the valiant. Ceſar Domitian, knowing that the Germans, againſt whom the French were to fight, would add ſtrength to ſtrength, courage to courage, if they ſhould know of hi… being in the battell, came cloſely with his forces under th… colours of the French, and ſo overthrew them.
Secondly, the worth of the adverſarie, addeth to the glory of the victory, & to the gaine of him that overcōmeth him. Aulus Torquatus oppugning a Towne of Greece was told, by one of his army, that the yong men within the citie wer… excellent Archers, & that it would be hard to expugne them all the better (ſaith the Generall) for I ſhall hauehave the richer prey. When Ariſtotle his Elenchus will doe no good with the beſieged, foreign. Aut perdant aut percaut.he muſt bring Achileum argumentum, an irreſiſtable arg… ment, they muſt be in their aſſault (as Homer ſaith) like the wik… boores; who run upō them that provoke thē, not ſhunning the launce Yea, the aſſault muſt be given with that reſolutiō, eyther to … or dye, as one (ſaith well) where there is onelyonly place for bold adverture; and of all the ſervices of warre this requireth it moſt: Yet this adventure muſt be with good advice; as men muſt not be timorous, ſo they muſt not be temerous. foreign.It is a part of magnanimity to dare, but to be deſperate without ground, is no part of manhood.
In making of aſſault there be three cautions. Firſt, Cautions in aſſaulting.if by blocking up, and cutting off meanes, the place may be taken, it is vain to make a deſperate attempt upon it: and therfore I thinke the Duke of Alva his will was aboue his wit; and that it was rather cholor, then true courage in him, at the ſiege of Harlem, to ſpend ſo many men, to the number of 20000, where he might in time hauehave famiſhed them out, as ſome of his own requeſted him to doe. Secondly, to attempt, continue, & re-inforce aſſaults, where no good can be done, ſtandeth neither with the wit, nor credit of a Commander. It was well obſerved by Chilo, that things are not to be attempted that cannot poſsibly be done, and that being effected, the evill overgoeth the good. The great Turke, that cruell beaſt, continued and re-inforced his aſſault upon the Rhodes ſo long, with the loſſe of ſo many, that the ſouldiers refuſed abſolutely, notwithſtanding of his threatnings, to renew the aſſault. It is a good ſaying, and experience proveth it true, that expence of danger, reclaimeth a man from fool-hardineſſe. This was verified in Spinola at the ſiege of Bergan-upzome, where he came ſhort of himſelfe in two things; firſt in looſing his opportunity; and ſecondly, when they were too good for him, he made ſuch deſperate and hote aſſaults, and was ſo prodigall of the bloud of his ſouldiers, that every one might know, it was none of his own: but the coſt of his raſh attempts made his courage to coole, till at laſt he left of a little wiſer then when he began.
The laſt caution concerneth the perſon of the Generall, Reſervation of the Generall from danger. Iudg 9.that in the ſiege or aſſault, he be reſerved from the point of danger. Abimelech comming cloſe to the Town of Thebes, which they were beſieging, was killed with a peece of a Milſtone out of a womans hand. Alexander the Great was more adventurous this way, then it became ſo great a King to be: For he indangered himſelfe in taking the Towr of Iupiter Haman, where entering firſt by himſelfe, and put to his own defence againſt many, was very ſore wounded before any help could come at him. Charles Duke of Burbon, at the taking of Rome was ſo eager in entring the breach, that upon the wall he was ſlain with a bullet. D. de Maine, at the ſiege of Montabon, viewing of his works, and comming too nigh the walls, was likewiſe ſhot with a Musket. The reaſon hereof is this, that when the Generall is loſt, the buſineſſe is often quaſhed, A…imelech being ſlain at the Town of Thebes, they proceeded no further, but every man went into his own place. And thus much for the Aſſaylant.