The Looking Glass of the Holy War, Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI. The carriage of the Beſieged.
NOW I come to the Defendant beſieged, who as their caſe is the worſer, ſo they had need of the readyer wit, both how to hold out, and how upon neceſſity of ſurrender, to make the beſt condition they can for themſelues. As contraries laid together, diſcover one anothers nature, ſo out of the directions of the Aſſaylant, the Defendant may pick matter of inſtruction. Things required in the beſieged, Seven things neceſſary for the beſieged.may be reduced to theſe generall heads, Providence, Vigilancy, Cunning, Fidelity, ſtrict cenſure of Traitors, Warineſſe, and Continuance. By the firſt of theſe they are directed to get all within themſelues that they can, and to conſume the reſt, that it may not ſerue the enemy. To th… head belongeth the making good of every place by water or by land, that may ſerue them for ſallying forth, or bringing in of neceſſaries, and for annoying the enemy. To the ſecond head may be referred the managing of all things and actions, that make for holding out. As nothing doth more incommodate the Aſſaylant, then ſecure negligence, ſo to the Defendant it is much more obnoxious, becauſe in a repulſe th…re is place for a ſecond errour, ſo is there not, if the place be taken. Preſumptuous ſecurity was the ruin of Laiſh. Dan (ſaith the Word) came to Laiſh, Iudg. 18.27a people that were quiet and ſecure, and they ſmote them with the edge of the ſword, and burnt the Citie with fire. A conſtant care muſt not be intermitted; watch muſt not be neglected. When Alcibiades, Generall of Athens, would hauehave his ſouldiers to keep ſtrict watch in a Citie beſieged, he commanded the Watch to obſerue a light that he would ſhew them from a Caſtle, at the ſight wherof, they ſhould all hold up their lights, and whoſoever ſhould faile in that ſhould dye for it. While every man expected a ſigne from the Generall, all kept conſtant watch, to the ſafeguard of the place. This diligent and watcfull care, ſhould be alwaies as a Watch upon the Wals, which the learned termeth well, foreign.the Shield of the Citie. The neglect wherof, in regard of the danger, hath been ſeverely puniſhed in particular delinquents. Iphicrates of Athens, keeping Corinth when it was beſieged, went about the Watch himſelfe, even when the enemy was about to make an aſſault; and finding one of the Watch a ſleep, he thruſteth him through with his ſword; Qualem inveni talem (inquit) reliqui.and to thoſe that taxed him of ſeverity, he anſwered thus, that he left him ſuch as he found him. The like is reported of Epaminondas the Thebane: To omit the example of diligence, uſed in the defence of the Rhodes, Conſtantinople, Belgrad, and ſuch places of former times, look but upon the diligence uſed by the Defendants in the ſiege of Harlem; where, to fortifie the Town againſt the whole force of the Spanyard, 200 women wrought as pyoners, and that under the enſign of a woman Captaine, called Margaret Knenault, in one monethmonth they made the Town three times ſtronger then it was, making Sconces towards the mouth of the water; to aſſure ſafe paſſages for their neceſſaries. Such was the diligence of Leyden, Bergan-upzome, Montabon, and others.
The neglect hereof, Application.and want of mature providence, was a means, amongſt the reſt, to lay the Palatinate in the mouth of the enemy: and indeed it is to be feared, that the ſame faylings in us, together with our ſinnes, may make way for the tribe of Dan to ſmite us, as Laiſh was ſmitten, Security is one of the nationall ſins of Brittain, and ſo much the more dangerous, becauſe it vayleth it ſelfe, and all other ſinnes; from being taken notice of; yea, it is the ſtalking Horſe to ſin and judgement: It is the mother of Negligence, and the Devils dore-keeper. As there was never greater ſecurity; ſo was there never a time wherein it was more dangerous. That ſpeech of the Father may be fitly applyed to us; No man ſhould be ſecure in that ſtate which is aſſaulted continually by the enemy; Nemo ſecu…yea, indeed it may be called all one aſſault; their caſe may be ours, except we repent. For (as the ſame Father ſaith) we become rather worſer of better, then better of worſer. The devil now hath ſet all his Miners a work; that Antiochus of Rome; and Senacherib his Generall, means to block up Zion to the very gates. The Foxes are not onelyonly got upon the walls, but the Spyes are got within the Cities; and howſoever we are too credulous to take their word with Iacobs ſonns, that they are not Spyes; yet when the Aſſault is given they will proue ſuch. It is time therfore that every one that is zealous of Gods glory, carefull of his life, and the life of his, and true to his Country, awake himſelfe and others as much as he can, to make up the breach, before the enemy enter.
But to proceed. It is a main point of diligence to make ſure at every point. That rule of Gregory is true in all kinds of defence, that in vaine doe wee fortifie all the rest, In caſſum munita ſunt caetera, cum locus unus, de quo hoſti patet aditus non eſt munitus. Morall.if we leaue one place unfortified by which the enemie may enter. A dangerous thing it is if there be the leaſt breach in the wall, or the wickat of a gate be but open: but if the ſureſt-ſeeming part of the wall, be but daubed up with untempered morter, or if the citie gates beleft open by night, though the keyes for a faſhion be carryed up, is that citie ſure thinke you? Iudge by your owne private houſe, and it will tell you the danger.Sallying out.
A third point of diligence is to be uſed in ſallying out upon the enemie: ſo Furius the Roman conſul brake out by the gate called Decumana, and did the aſſailant great hurt: So Ceſar in the French-war telleth us, how he ſerved the enemie; Sic noſtros contempſere▪ lib. 5.ſlighting us (ſaith he) they fell to their worke, ſome to cut trenches, ſome to fill up ditches: Ceſar in the meane time ſallyeth out at all the gates & put the enemie to flight. The like did Labienus & Hircius upon Pompey. Harlem made many brave Sallies upon Duke Alvaes forces, and not onelyonly killed many, with ſmall loſſe to themſelves, but alſo carryed divers enſignes out of their trenches, nayling ſome peeces of their batterie. Without further example, it is an uſuall thing. A meere Lyon couchant, or a Serpent dormient, though they h…ue both courage and wit; yet (not imploying it to offence) are not fit to keepe a hold.
The third thing required is cunning: Cunning.for the art and cunning of the aſſailant muſt be oppoſed and cut off with the like. Stratagems in defence are of exceeding great uſe, neyther is it ſin by thoſe to deceive a deceiver: for this is but to take him in his owne net. As there be many examples of this kind, well knowen to men of reading and experience; ſo I will ſhew you but two or three examples for inſtance. In the beſieging of Rhodes, the enemie made an Ambulatorie or walking-Tower, an engine then of great uſe, not unlike (it may be, though of greater quantitie) to the moving wooden ſconces uſed at the ſiege of Harlam. This over-topt all the Towers of the citie; to cut off the uſe hereof, the enginers cauſed to digg through the walls, and in the night to make the way hollow, by the which they did convey it, which the enemie not perceiving (being covered with earth) as it came that way, it ſunke downe with the owne waight; ſo they loſt their engine and all their labour, and the citie was delivered. There were many prettie Stratagems uſed in the defence of Harlam, amongſt the reſt, this one put Duk de Alva from working any more that way. The defendant preceiving that the enemie meant to lodge in a new battered bulwarke, they left rampering againſt it, and fell to the mining of their owne bulwarke, wherein they put barrels of powder caſting many trenches round about it, the enimie offering to enter they quit the bulwarke; As a multitude of the enemie purſued and were come to Puſh of Pike, at the barrier of a trench they fired the mine, blew up, kild, and tooke to the number of 1600, and ſallying backe to their owne trenches, recovered the ground of their bulwark, which againe they re-intrenched and kept. One more of excellent note, related by Vitruvius in the ſiege of Apolonia. Trypho Alexandrinus did mine through the wall in ſundry places, till he brought his mines a flights ſhot without the gate, in all which he hung up veſſells of braſſe; ſo ſone as ever the enemie began to mine towards the citie, by the ſound of the veſſells they underſtood where he wrought; whereupon they countermined the enemie, by penetrating their owne, and powred veſſells of hot boyling water, urin, boyled ſand, and ſuch like upon the heads of their enemies, lib. 10. cap. ult.whereby they plagued them. Not unlike to this was he practize of a carpenter at the beſieging of Berca by the Perſians, who carrying a braſen ſhield about within the walls, and laying it to the ground, Herodot in Melpemone.by the ſound of the ſame diſcovered the working of the enemie. In our time it is uſuall to ſet baſins full of beanes or peaſon upon the ground, which rebounding at the ſtrokes of the miners, diſcovereth the enemies workes.
There were never more Miners or Enginers under Zions walls then now there be. Pharao hath ſaid to the Egiptians, come let us worke wiſely with them; that is, craftilie; for ſo the word ſignifieth. It is not unworthy our obſervation; when that Typicall Phara… began this undermining of Iſrael; euen then when they began to corrupt their religion, & to commit whoredomes with the Idols of Egipt. That this is true, looke in Ezech. and ſundry other places of Gods booke; the Lord ſheweth what direction he gaue them, namely to caſt away the Egyptiā Idolls, wherewith they were defiled: Eze. 20.7.8 23.8. I…ſ. 24.14.but they rebelled againſt me (ſaith the Lord) they did not every man caſt away the abhommation of his eyes, neyther did they forſake the Idolls of Egipt; then I ſaid I will powre out my fury …pon them to accompliſh mine anger againſt them, in the middeſt of the land of Egipt. Pſ. 105, 25.Then (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) he turned the hearts of the Egiptians to hate his people, to deale craftilie with his ſeruants. You ſee when his peoples ſinnes provoke God, the enemies wit beginneth to worke againſt them, being guided thereto by the overuling hand of God: So ſtandeth the caſe betweene us and Pharao his Antitype. Wee hauehave hugged the gods of Rome ſo long, and kept in the strange fire of their ſacrifice ſo carefullie; that we are become, as ſome call us, a Nation of devi…s, for reaſons and conſpiracies: by this meanes many are infected, others growne lukewarme, the moſt part key cold, for which the Lord hath increaſed the hatred of forreyne, and of our homebred Egiptians againſt us, & ſharpeneth their wit, that they may deale craftly with us; not that God is the author of the evill of ſin, but of the action as it is a juſt plague and puniſhment to us. With their craft they hauehave undermined our wit, they hauehave undermined our State; and which is worſt of all, the hauehave undermined, yea and almoſt blow en up the power of our religion; they hauehave made Iſrael naked, and Iuda contemptible and bare: Wee ſtand in neede then, that wit ſhould awake, and ſome Trypho ſhould diſcover their undermining (for wee ſee but a litle:) But veſſels of braſſe, or tinckling cymbals will not ſerue, but ſome ſilver Trumpet muſt giuegive Iſrael the alarum, and awake them out of ſleep, that they may hast to the breach. We had more then need of ſome cunning Archimedes to countermine the Romans, for keeping of our Syracuſa.
It is likewiſe a part of cunning to meet with the enemy in his own cunning, Anti-cunning.in feigning a regreſſe, or rayſing of the ſiege, for that (as I ſhewed) is a ſpeciall Stratagem in oppugnation to withdraw themſelues, that the beſieged may be ſecure, and they may return with the greater advantage. It ſhall be their care therefore to make uſe of that time as occaſion ſhall be affoorded.
Our enemies ſeeme to withdraw themſelues from the work about which they are, Application. Astu ſe ſubtrahunt ut ex inſperato nos opprimant.as though they had given it over. VponUpon the Parliaments proceeding, ſome ſeems to turn, that they may overturn us; the frogs keeps a croaking at the proclamation; the nymphs of Babel ſeems to mourn that their ghoſtly fathers muſt be gone; and great Dian… droups right down, as though Iupiter were in an evill aſpect. In a word, all the Edomites take on, as though both Spain and Babel were fallen: yea, and the Spanyard himſelfe take… on, as if Gondomars works were all blown up. But for all this they hauehave not ſaid in their heart, there is no hope. Their night counſels, their continuall intercourſe with the Pope and Spanyard; their Scout-watches every where; their threatnings, out of their abrupt paſſions, doth plainly tell us that they meane yet to hauehave a round bout. Their ſeeming retraits are trecheries; the Ieſuit can goe out at the foredore, and come in at the back-dore: yea, under Gi…es ring he can goe where he liſt. Therfore right Honourable, and moſt worthy of the Parliament, look nighly to them now eſpecially; leſt their re-attempts upon us, with greater force and counſell, cauſe us one day ſay of our deceived ſelues; The foole beleeveth every thing.
The fourth thing following, Fidelity.namely fidelity; which as it is the bond of all other ſocieties; ſo it is the Man, the muniment, and munition, in maintaining of an Hold: without this, neither valour, wit, nor fortification will ſerue. What was the ſpeciall maintenance of many places mentioned in this Treatiſe, as Constantinople, Rhodes, Vienna, but fidelity? And what hath betrayed many impregnable places into the hand of the enemy, but infidelity. The inſtances of later times, and of our own memory, are freſheſt and of fitteſt uſe. When Solyman the great Turke beſieged Buda, Thomas Madastus, a braue Captain, poſſeſſing the Caſtle, defended it valiantly; and, without doubt, had kept it, with great diſhonour and diſadvantage to the Turke, if his ſouldiers had not betrayed him into the hands of the enemy: For they took him (denying to render the Caſtle) and delivered both him and it to Solyman, upon condition, that with bag and baggage they might ſafely depart. So the Iſle of Rhodes was betrayed by a Varlet to the Turke, on condition that he ſhould hauehave the Turkes daughter to wife, with a great portion. Laſtly, Deventer was betrayed into the hand of the Spanyard, by Sir William Stanley, the ſtaine of his Nation, though treaſon be the common badge of his black profeſsion.
But if you will hauehave inſlances of fidelity; let me giuegive you one of note for all the reſt. William Seton, Captain of Barwick, having maintained the Town, againſt Edward the firſt, for …he ſpace of three moneths; and beſides the hot aſſaults made continually at all quarters, hee was driven to great want; the Town being blockt up, & not able to hold out any longer, he conditioneth with the King, that if ſupply ſhould not come within a monethmonth, he would deliver up the Town to the King; and for further aſſurance of performance, giveth his eldeſt ſon, Thomas Seton, in pledge. Not long after, the Scots rayſed their forces, under the conduct of Archbald Douglaſſe; they preſent themſelues before the Engliſh forces, which the King perceiving (though the time of the condition was not yet expired) he ſendeth to the Captain, willing him either to deliver up the Town, or he would hang both his ſonnes before his eyes (for the one was taken, and the other was a pledge.) In the diſtracted ſoule of the worthy father of ſo hopefull ſonnes, louelove, mercy, honour and fidelity, could not chooſe but make a great conflict. But to be ſhort, his rareſt wife, the mother of the children, proved here an helper aboue her ſex. Shee laid the honour of his houſe, the duty to his Country, and loyall fidelity to his Prince, in ballance againſt his private affection; ſhe ſhewed him that they might hauehave more children, but honour and fidelity once loſt, he could never recover; and ſhe had often heard from the learned, That to ſacrifice their children in the ſervice of their Country, was their highest prayſe. The Captain admiring the ſpirit of the woman, was perſwaded with her words, and removing himſelfe to another part, that he might not behold ſo dolefull a ſpectacle, was contented rather to part with the ſonns of his louelove, then with his fidelity in his ſervice.
But becauſe places of note in the time of oppugnation, The puniſhment of traitorsbe often not onelyonly peſtered with Traytors, but alſo betrayed by them; it ſhall be the States care, to look narrowly to ſuch, and to giuegive them their deſert if they be found out. Theſe be the ſpeciall underminers, and nothing can be ſafe ſo long as they are within. If the name of a Traytor be odious, what ſhould be the penalty of a Traytor? Each nation hath laboured to exceed other in the rigour of puniſhing Traytors. The Fgiptians prickt them through all their members to death. The Grecians threw them headlong over Rocks; the Macedonians ſtoned them; the Romans drew them in peeces. Quae nex tanta tanto ſceleri inveniri potuit?In a word, to ſo heynous a cryme what death can be ſufficiently deviſed? Yea, as they hauehave been hatefull to thoſe whoſe ends they hauehave ſerved, as to Caeſar, Phillip of Macedon, and others; ſo from ſome they hauehave received a ſhamefull death in ſtead of a reward. Inſtance theſe Villaines that betrayed the Caſtle of Buda, with their Captain: notwithſtanding of Solymans promiſe of ſafe departure; when he underſtood how villanouſly they had uſed their Captaine, he cauſed to put every man of them to death. The other that betrayed the Rhodes was as finely ſerved: for his promiſed wife and portion were preſented; but the Turke told him, that he would not hauehave a Chriſtian to be his ſon-in-law; but he muſt be a Muſil-man, that is, a beleeving Turke, both within and without; and therefore he cauſed his baptized skin (as he called it) to be taken off, and him to be caſt in a bed ſtrewed with ſalt, that he might get a new skin, and ſo he ſhould be his ſon-in-law: but the wicked wretch ended his life with ſhame and torment.
Not to trouble you with more examples, Two ſorts of men to be taken heed of.take heed of two ſorts eſpecially; namely, of Traytors to their God, or Idolaters. The Towne, or people, profeſſing the truth of Gods worſhip, can look for no ſafety where they are in truſt with the place. Conſtantines poſition (as I ſhewed you) of his apoſtate Courtiers is very true: They that are not faithfull to God, how ſhould they be faithfull to men? A ſecond ſort is, ſuch as hauehave been tainted with treacherous dealing; they that are inured to their tricks of Legerdemain, and are once fallen a peddling with the enemies of State, they can never leav chopping. A traytor will never be true till he get a new skin, with the Turks ſon-in-law. When Lycimachus K. of Macedo, beſieged Epheſus, he uſed the help of Mandro, a very wicked perfidious fellow, and an arch-pyrat: he was quickly corrupted by Lycimachus. And as he uſed to bring in ſhips laden with men, and goods to Epheſus for a prey; ſo one time he brought in the ſtrongeſt of the Macedonians with their hands bound, as though they had been captiues: who fitting themſelues of Arms out of the Caſtle, brought in Lycimachus, who poſſeſſed the Town. When the Ephori commanded Agis to take the yong men with him, and to goe with one there preſent, Plut. in Lacon.who had promiſed to deliver them up a Caſtle: How ſhall I (Lords, ſaith he) truſt him with theſe yong men, who hath betrayed his owne country? giving thereby to underſtand, that nothing can be ſafely committe… to them that will betray their country.
It is to be feared, Application.that wee hauehave too few Setons, & too many Stanleyes: the treaſure cannot be ſafe when the thief is in the houſe. Beſides (the diſſembling Giliadits, who may paſſe the watch without inquirie for the word) there be the craftie Balamits, there is the double hearted Semiiah, eyther to curſe or to cog it over for the enemies ends. Whē Tobiah & Samballat, wil ſeeme to build, Nec familiaritate nec intinctione buccellae, &c. Hier. Epiſt. ad ruſe:take heed of Gods houſe. One obſerveth well of I… das his treaſon, that no bond could tye up his wicked hea… from that monſtrous act, neyther the common graces which he had, nor his familiaritie with Chriſt, nor the giving of the ſop, nor the knowing of him to be the ſon of God: when men are ſold to worke wickedneſſe, they will ſell their country, & that for … gaine. I read of Clearchus the Tyrant of Heraclea, that taking an… indignation againſt his owne people, could find neyther cauſe nor occaſion to plague them; at laſt he calleth out all the ſpecial youth, in the very heat of the caniculer dayes, to beſiege a town in Thracia; he incamps them in a marriſh ground, and commandeth them there to ſtay, taking the higher ground himſelfe with his mercenaries, where there was plentie o… freſh ſprings, he cauſed them ſtay ſo long, that through extreame heat, Polien.& corrupt water, they loſt all their lives, which was the thing he deſired. Was not this to betray the lives of his people, and that without any hope of gaine?
The more eminent the perſon, the more odious the treaſon. All circumſtances conſidered, could there be a more odious treaſon then that of Barnevelts, who was advanced by the State to what honour, wealth, and eſteeme, that the common wealth could afford him; of whom at any time could a State deſerve better? Should a piller of the State ſubvert the State? his Excellencie gaue him no juſt matter of envy: fo… though he ſate at the ſterne; yet many a waue went over hi… head, that never touched Barnevelt. What, would nothing ſerve but Spaine muſt hauehave all? What wanted he that Spain could hauehave giuen him? nothing but a traytors reward, and that he had in the end. I would all of his cut, were as openly knowen, and as cloſely followed: but God will unmaſke them to their eternall ſhame. It ſhall fall out with all grand traytors, as it fell out with the Duke of Venice, namely, Falarius, who (beſide the condigne puniſhment, that he ſuffered, for conſpiring againſt his country) lyeth under an hierogliphe, of infamous memorie to this day: for where as the ſtatues of all the Dukes, from the beginning of the State to this day, are erected in the Senate houſe; inſteed of the ſtatue of Martin Falarius, that pernitious Prince, there is ſe… an empty chary of State, covered with a blacke vayle, intimating thereby, that traiterous Princes to the ſtate deſerve the obliteration of their names, with a monument of perpetuall hatred. As there is no puniſhment greater then publique hatred; ſo …here is no ſin better deſerveth it, then the betraying of the country. Had the danger of theſe bin well pondered, the neſts of ſuch well ſearched, and all that were found foule in the gun-powder Treaſon duely puniſhed, the lowing of the oxē, and the bleating of the Sheep had not this day beene ſo loud in our eares. As Sertorius in Spaine diſperſed his forces for his greater advantage, (which being recollected did more annoy their enemies;) ſo ſince that time their diſperſed forces are hugely increaſed. Our ſlighting over of that unparelelled attempt, what will it not incourage traytors to doe: our lopping of ſome ſuperfluous branches maketh the tree more fruitfull: the caſting a litle water upon a hot fire, maketh it burne ſo much the hotter. The not caſting out of thoſe whom God would hauehave caſt out, may cauſe them doe to us as wee ſhould hauehave done to them.
I come to the laſt, which is Conſtancie in holding out. Conſtancie in holding out.As he is a puſillanimions aſſaylant that rayſeth ſiege upon the firſt repulſe; ſo he is a faint defendant that gives ouer at the firſt aſſault. The enemies ſemblance or reſolution of continuance ſhould not daunt a whit or diſcourage the beſieged? How bravely did Constantinople hold out againſt the Saracen? where, beſides thoſe that were ſlaine there dyed with famin and cold 300000, and ſo they deſiſted. Likewiſe hot and furious were the aſſaults that Soliman made upon the ſame citie in Anno 1529. His army conſiſted of 144000: but Frederick, count Elector, Generall of the Imperiall forces, did man the Towne exceedingly well, three dayes before the Turkes approching. Philip, Count Palatine ſhewed himſelfe a braue ſouldier in that ſiege, by whoſe meanes, under Gods favour, the Towne was ſafely defended, the Turkiſh tyrant with ſhame and looſe repulſed and ſet a packing. He loſt as it is reported 80000, beſides thoſe that periſhed by famine & cold in the way. Harlem maintayned their ſiege for 10 moneths to the very laſt pinch. Ostend held out againſt all the Spaniſh force, and Italian cunning, for three yeares and three moneths, and gaue it over at laſt on honorable termes.
There be manie reaſons to bind the defendants to all poſſible preſeverance. Reaſons.Firſt, there is nothing more diſhonorable, then to quit a place in all apparence defenſible: for he that is not a man in a Hould, will never be a man in the field. Secondly, while men put on noble reſolution, and quit themſelves like men the Lord in ſtraits doth ſend them admirable deliverances. In that lamentable miſerie of the ſiege of Samaria, beſet by Benhadad King of Siria, you may ſee how they bought & eate aſſes fleſh, & doues dung; yea their childrens fleſh, & yet holding out againſt hope, & aboue hope, the Lord was ſeene in the mount, the Lord made the hoaſt of Syria to hear a noyſe of chariots & horſes, 2. Kings chap. …. v 7.& of a great hoaſt, ſaying one to another, the King of Iſrael hath hired the neighbour Kings to come againſt us; wherefore they fled in the twilight, & left their tents, & their horſes, & all the campe, as it was, furniſhed with all plentie: So that Iſrael was not onelyonly delivered, but alſo had their wants ſupplyed. When Duke de Alva with all his forces, after the taking of Harlem had ingaged Leyden, that they could neyther ſallie, nor receive ſupplie, he battered their bulwarke with 18 peece of ordinance, making a ſufficient breach as he thought, inſomuch that they were in a deſperate caſe: but when he came to the entry, he found ſuch brave entertainment, that in three aſſaults he loſt many of his beſt Captaines, and no fewer then 1600 of his braveſt ſouldiers: but being never a whit daunted, but rather inraged with this encounter, the next day the Lord rayned from heauen, ſo that the rayſing of the waters cauſed them to raiſe their ſiege, where they left ſome of their battery. The like may be ſaid of Mountaban, where Duke de Maine had advanced his battery, made fit all neceſſaries for the very laſt aſſault; inſomuch that he doubted not (as himſelfe ſaid) but within two or three dayes he ſhould take the Towne: but one day after dinner walking along to view his works, one that was come thether out of S. Iohn de Angelot obſerved him a far off, who with a peece of a longer ſiſe then ordinary, did levell at him, and ſtrucke him ſtarck dead; after which the ſiege was rayſed.
Thirdly, ſome by the brave entertainment of aſſaults doe quit themſelves of their enemie. Fourthly, by holding out they attayne to honorable conditions, which the enemie would never afford them, but that he feareth their valour will anſwere their reſolution. Fifthly, and laſtly, a reſolute continuance ſaveth both life & honour, where, an untimely ſurender might looſe both, by laying them downe in the hand of a merciles and faithleſſe enemie. The beſt of the defendants at the ſiege of Leyden, did ingenuouſly confeſſe, that through the feare of the people, and alſo of the Souldiers, they had quitted the Towne, if it had not ben blocked up; in doing whereof, they had loſt their honour, and it may be their lives; yea which was more, they might hauehave loſt the country: but being bound to ſee it, by continued valour they overcame, ſauing their lives, honour, and the place; yea they ſo daunted the courage of the Duke de Alva, and ſo defaced his credit as all his former encounters had never done the like: after this he never attempted any thing worthy of note. To conclude this point, let them take heed in this continuance of the enemies dalliance; yea (to giuegive them a caveat) to beware whoſe word they take, or whom they truſt. I will ſay no more but remember Weſell.The lawfull uſage of the ſurrendred, whether on compoſition or at merciemercy.
There is one point more concerning the oppugnation and expugnation of houlds to be treated of, namely, the juſt and lawfull uſage of the ſurrendred or taken: for the defendāts, ſometimes render upon compoſition, ſometimes they are taken in the very aſſault: In the former, fidelitie is to be kept; and in the latter, crueltie to be avoided. The word of a ſouldier, is the worth of a Souldier. As publique faith inviolable by the lawes of nations, in all places ſhould hauehave place; ſo eſpecially in keeping conditions with the ſurrendred, whoſe lives as they are be-truſted into the enemies hands upon articles; ſo it is a kind of ſacriledge to breake any one of them. What honour from man, or bleſſing from God can that ſouldier expect, who hath torne his colours and flung away his ſhield? To dye, lapt in the colours, or with the ſhield in the hand, is counted a matter of the greateſt honour. The Graecian lawes ſet a mulct for him that lost his ſhield, but none for him that loſt his ſword, ſignifying thereby, that their care ſhould be greater for their owne defence, Au. Clypeus ſalvus Amian. lib. 25.then to offend others. This was all the care of dying Epaminondas, is my ſhield ſafe (ſaid he.) It was the onelyonly command that the Grecian woemen gaue their children going to warr; eyther to dye upon their ſhield, or to bring backe their ſhield with them. This fidelitie is the ſhield and colours of a ſouldier, foreign.which when he hath loſt, he hath no more to keepe. By this alluſion Henry the 4, was nipt in the quick by one of our owne Poets, he loſt (ſaith he) his shield. The execution of the two ſonnes of William Seton (formerly mentioned) contrary to covenant, & the law of nations, was a foule ſtaine to Edward the firſt, and much regrated of his owne. All the excellents parts, and magnanimious actions of Charles, Lib. 8. de rebus geſt. Gall.Duke of Borbon, were eaten out with this one Canker-worm: the Inſcription of his Tombe, mentioned by Ferronus, declareth his valour. Aucto imperio, devicto Gallo, pontifice obſeſſo, Roma capta, Caroli Borboni hoc marmor cineres continet; that is, The Empire increaſed, Italy overthrown, France overcome, the Pope beſieged, Rome taken; this Tombe containeth the aſhes of Charles of Borbone: But his fidefragie vayleth all theſe with black; for, as Hiſtories tell us, he oppreſſing Millain, much preſſed it at laſt with the payment of 30000 Crownes for to pay his ſouldiers. And though he had ſundry times broken with them, yet he got them to beleeue him upon his oath, and imprecation, that if they would let him hauehave it, if ever he troubled them again, he wiſhed, that a bullet might ſtrike the head from him. On this hope to be rid of him (though they could hardly doe it) yet they made him up the mony; but they were never a whit the better: for once having the mony, without faith of promiſe, Guiceiard. Hiſt. Italic. lib. 7.or fear of expreſſed imprecation, he let looſe his ſpoyling ſouldiers to all their wonted outrages. This was an hereditary fault in Hanibal, for it was his Nationall ſin: Hence the proverbe, punica vel Carthaginea fides, &c. But now the Papiſts hauehave taken the badg from them. For in both theſe two, infidelity and cruelty, they exceed the African, Turke, Grecian, or Thracian; if any goe beyond him, let him hauehave Pluto his chaire. Nunquane iſta natio coluit fidē. foreign.It may verily be ſaid of that brood, as Tully ſaid of Africke; That that Nation was never to be truſted, for it never reſpecteth faith. When all things are at the beſt with them, as they ſuppoſe; yet there is one thing wanting with them, as Lewis the 11, ſaid of France; namely, truth or fidelity.
And in this one thing they exceed all other, that they doe not onelyonly practiſe, but preach perfidie. After the burning of Iohn Hus, contrary to the Emperours ſafe conduct, they made an act in the Councell of Conſtance, That no faith ſhould be kept with Hereticks. Iulius the ſecond goeth one point further, and telleth us, the Church is not bound to keep oathes. And as their poſition is (which I ſhall hauehave occaſion further to handle) ſuch is their practiſe, in their Capitulations which is the preſent point in hand. How was the capitulation of Sancere performed by the French Papiſts? D. de Alva his faith to Harlem, Narden, and Zutphen, was waſhed out with bloud. And here I renew the challenge to all the Romiſh calumniators, to tell me if they can, what Proteſtants, at any time, contrary to their faith given, hath put any, ſurrendered upon termes, to the ſword. The Devill I know hath been about to make where he wanteth. foreignInſtance an impoſture of the French Papiſts, who to cover their more then Turkiſh infidelity, and bloudy cruelty, like the Fox that loſt her tayl, did labour to bring the Proteſtants under the ſame aſperſion. Popilintere a French Hiſtorian recordeth (but falſly) how a Popiſh town in France, being beſieged by the Proteſtants, was ſurrendred upon compoſition of life and liberty to the beſieged; which compoſition (ſaith he) was not kept by the Proteſtants: But according to the truth indeed, it was rendred at their diſcretion. Oubigne Hiſtorian to Henry the 4, of France, meeting with Popiliniere, the penner of the ſaid calumny, charged upon him the wronging of the Proteſtants with his pen, contrary to his knowledge: Popiliniere, with teares in his eyes, confeſſed that his pen had been hired to it, to the end that the Proteſtants might bee charged with falſifying their faith, O…bign. Hiſtor. Fr.in one particular of that kind, as well as the Papiſts.
Miniers that bloudy Tyrant, having taken by treachery the Town of Cabriers, entered the Church whether the people were fled for ſuccour, and cauſed man, woman, and child to be cruelly ſlaine. So the Duke of Guiſe at Va…iacum, cauſed his ſouldiers to enter the Church, and put all to the ſword. No murther ſo monſtrous, nor no act ſo unnaturall, which againſt the firmeſt oath, or ſtricteſt bond in nature, they will not commit. Amongſt a million of inſtances, none more remarkeable, then that horrible act of Gaveret the French-man (if he might be called a man, and not rather a monſter:) He being given to all manner of vice was caſhierd by his father; yet found entertainment by a Gentleman of great nore, in whoſe houſe he ſwore himſelfe brother to a yong Gentleman; but comming to his patrimony he turned Papiſt, of whoſe fidelity the Papiſts could hardly be aſſured: He to put them out of doubt, undertook the killing of Henry the 4, then King of Navarre; and to that end he boughtan excellent horſe: But a little from Burdeaux he was diſcovered to the King; where the King …ryed his horſe, diſcharged his piſtols that hung at his ſaddle, …nd ſo diſmiſſed him. Having fayled of this, he plotteth …he death of his deereſt friends the Proteſtants, whom he …nvited to his houſe; namely, the Gentleman his father, Monſieur Seamats; his ſworn brother, and ſix other Gentlemen of good note. All the dinner time he entertained them with proteſtation of obligements to his ſaid father: but this was the bloudy Cataſtrophe. Sixteen men came up in Arms, …nd laid hold on all the gueſts; himſelfe layeth hold on his father; and willing the reſt to ſtay their hands, till he had diſpatched him; he ſtabbed the old Gentleman (crying for mercy to the Lord) foure times to the heart. After that he …unniades all the reſt with his own hands, ſaue three that were diſpatched at their firſt entrance. The yong Gentleman, his brother, he reſerved to further torment, whom he …rought to a window, and cauſed him to ſing (as he could very ſweetly, though then; no doubt, he did it with a very …eavy heart) towards the end of the ditty; that bloudy Traytor cryed out with many blaſphemies; that there was …ut one Gaveret that could end that Tragedie: and with that tabbed his brother, firſt in the throat, and then to the heart; …nd ſo flung the dead body of him, and all the reſt, out of the window into the ditch. The act being diſcovered, it was known, that he had promiſed to his Confeſſor, to manife… himſelfe an undoubted Catholique, Oubign.by ſetting a ſure ſeale t… his profeſsion. Iudge you if the devill himſelfe would not b… of this profeſſion, that hath ſuch a Seale.
As for their monſtrous outrages and cruelty, the blo… of the ſlain in the Maſſacre of Paris, proclaimeth it, whe… they neither ſpared age, ſex, nor quality, as Natalis Comes telleth us: Hist. lib. 23where were murthered 60000 perſons, or upward.
To this add the loud cry of the late and freſh bleeding State of Bohemia, and the Palatinate, wherein the Spanyard and Auſtrian hauehave renued an Indian cruelty; no yeare nor ſex, hauehave they had any pitty of. View but that immane and monſtrous murther, of an ancient Miniſter, and ma… of God, Mounſieur Mileus, by the Spanyard in the taking o… Heidelberg (notwithſtanding that ſuch ſhould be ſafe by th… very lawes and practiſe of the Heathens;) yet they took him having abuſed his daughter, and tyed a ſmall cord about hi… head, which with trunchions they wreathed about till th… ſqueaſed out his braines.
To thinke on their cruelty, me thinkes, ſhould make o… heart to bleed: But when God maketh inquiſition fo… bloud, woe to that ſoule of whom God ſhall require any of it.
As the comming of theſe Dragons from Babylon in red and their bloudy executions, bewrayeth them to be of th… bloud of the Whore (for ſhe is the mother, and Romulus the father) ſo it ſhews the nature of the Religion, or rather Arch-Hereſie, which they doe profeſſe. A bloudy diſpoſition i… the very badge of hereſie, as Hierom telleth us; for ”Heretici quos non poſſunt verbo, eos putant glabio feriendos cruentas leges ore dictant manu ſcribunt. In Grat. Auxen. de non trad. Baſil. Tom. 3.Heretith when they cannot overcome with the Word, they ſmite with th… ſword; they indite with their mouths, and write with the… hands bloudy lawes. Hence it appeareth, that ”Vnde apparet ubi ſcaevitia, ibi ſophiſtica, & haereticos in Eccleſia ſemper fuiſſe crudeles.Hereticks ev… hauehave been cruell; becauſe cruelty and falſhood of Religion goue… alwaies together, where the one is, there the other is. But i… this they are worſe then heathen Rome, fides hoſti data ſervanda. Off. lib. 1.who by the very light of nature and by the law of nations, both proteſted, and profeſſed againſt this breaking covenant with the enemie. Aſſurance made to the enemie (ſaith Tully) is at any hand to be kept. Ioſua kept with the Gibeonits.
If men will not be moved with all theſe, let them obſerve the judgment of God on ſuch as hauehave broken in this kind. A remarkable example of this in Sauls poſteritie, who were hanged up for breaking of the covenant made by Ioſua with the Gibeonits, although it is ſaid he ſlew them of zeale: 2. Sam. 21.1.Was not Edward the firſt, ſerved in his owne ſon Edward the ſecond, as he ſerved William Seton in his ſonnes? For by Mortimer his owne ſubiect, againſt all loyalty, his life was taken from him. And what became of Charles of Borbon in the taking of Rome, while too too adventurouſly he ſcaled the wal, according to his imprecation, he was ſhot quite through, and ſo for breaking with Millaine he made his end.