The art of embattailing an army. Or, The second part of Ælians tacticks Containing the practice of the best generals of all antiquitie, concerning the formes of battailes. ... Englished and illustrated with figures and obseruations vpon euery chapter. By Captaine Iohn Bingham. — Tactica. English. Selections

The art of embattailing an army. Or, The second part of Ælians tacticks Containing the practice of the best generals of all antiquitie, concerning the formes of battailes. ... Englished and illustrated with figures and obseruations vpon euery chapter. By Captaine Iohn Bingham. — Tactica. English. Selections

Table of contents

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Title page

TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL SIR HVGH HAMERSLY, Knight, one of the Aldermen and Coronels of the Honorable City of LONDON, and President of the Martiall Company, Exercising Armes in the Artillery Garden in LONDON. TO CAPTAINE HENRY VVALLER, NOW CAPTAINE OF THE SAID COMPANY. AND TO ALL THE REST OF THE Worthy Captaines and Gentlemen of the said Company. Captaine I. B. wisheth such valour and experience, as may make them victorious against all sorts of Enemies.

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THE TACTICKS OF AELIAN, OR THE ART OF EMBATTAILING ARMIES.

The broad-fronted Phalange, the deepe Phalange, or Herse, and the vneuen-fronted Phalange. CHAP. XXX.

NOTES.

Parembole, Protaxis, Epitaxis, Prostaxis, Entaxis, and Hypotaxis. CHAP. XXXI.

NOTES.

The Vse, and aduantage of these exercises of Armes. CHAP. XXXIV.

NOTES.

Of the Signes of Direction which are to be giuin to the Army, and of their seuerall kindes. CHAP. XXXV.

NOTES.

Of Marching, and of the diuers kind of battels fit for a march. And first of the right induction, of the Caelembolos, and of the Triphalange to be opposed against it. CHAP. XXXVI.

NOTES.

Of Paragoge or deduction. CHAP. XXXVII.

NOTES.

Of the Phalange Antistomus. CHAP. XXXVIII.

NOTES.

(1) Of the Phalange antistomus. CHAP. XXXIX.

NOTES.

Of the Diphalange Antistomus. CHAP. XXXX.

NOTES.

Of the Peristomus Diphalange. CHAP. XXXXI.

NOTES.

Of the Diphalange homoiostomus, and of the Plinthium. CHAP. XLII.

NOTES.

For the Plinthium.

Of the Diphalange Heterostomus. CHAP. XLIII.

NOTES.

Words of direction in the Heterostomus.

Of the horse Rombe, and of the foot-halfe-moone to encounter it. CHAP. XLIIII.

NOTES.

Words of direction for the Rhombe.

To restore to the first Posture:

Of the Horse-battaile Heteromekes, and the Plagiophalange to bee opposed against it. CHAP. XLV.

NOTES.

Of another kinde of Rhombe for horse-men, and of the foot-battaile called Epicampios Emprosthia to encounter it. CHAP. XLVI.

NOTES.

Of the foot-battaile called Cyrte, which is to be set against the Epicampios. CHAP. XLVII.

NOTES.

Of the Tetragonall Horse-battaile, and of the wedge of foot to be opposed against it. CHAP. XLVIII.

NOTES.

Of the foot-battaile called Plesium, and of the Winding or Sawefronted battaile to encounter it. CHAP. XLIX.

NOTES.

Of Hyperphalangesis, and Hyperkerasis, and of Attenuation. CHAP. L.

NOTES.

Of conueighing the carriage of the Army. CHAP. XLV.

NOTES.

Of the words of Command, and certaine obseruations about them. CHAP. LII.

NOTES.

CHAP. LIII.

NOTES.

Of the words of direction. CHAP. LIIII.

NOTES.

6 Aduance your Pikes.

7 & 8. File and ranke your selues.

9 Looke to your Leader.

10 Reare-commander order your file.

11 Keepe your first distances. That is, stand in your open order. For in that distance is the exercise first legunne.

12 Face to the Pike.

14 Face to the Target.

16 Face about to the pike or target.

Halfe files face about to the right or left hand.

Halfe rankes face to the right, halft to the left hand.

Halfe rankes of the right (or left) flanke, Face to the hand named.

Flankes face one to the right the other to the left hand.

The reare face about to the right or left hand.

18 Double your depth.

Double your files to the right or left hand.

Halfe the body double your files to the right or left hand.

Double your files by countermarch to the right or left hand.

Double your length.

Double your rankes to the right or left hand.

Bringers vp, double your front by countermarch to the right or left hand.

Reare halfe-files, double your front by diuision to the right and left hand.

Reare-halfe-files, enter double your front to the right or left hand.

As you were.

20 The Lacedemonian Countermarch.

Countermarch the front to the right, or to the left hand.

Bringers vp face to the right, or to the left hand. The rest beginning at the ninth ranke, passe thorow to the same hand, and place euery man himselfe before his follower. As you were.

22 The Macedonian Countermarch.

Countermarch the reare to the right or left hand. Face about to the contrary hand, and stand.

File-leaders, face about, the rest of the rankes passe thorow, and place your selues behinde your next leaders.

24 The Chorean Countermarch.

File-leaders, countermarch to the right or left hand, and stand, viz. when they come to the bringers vp.

Countermarch the right flanke to the left hand.

Countermarch the left flanke to the right hand.

Countermarch your wings into the middest of the battaile.

Wheele the body to the Pike, or to the Target.

Wheele the front into flanks by diuision.

Wheele the flanks into the front.

The Contents of the CHAPTERS of this BOOKE.

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ARMA PACIS FVLCRA

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The Art of Embattailing AN ARMY. O R, THE SECOND PART OF AELIANS TACTICKS.

Containing the Practice of the best Generals of all Antiquitie, concerning the formes of Battailes.

Wherein all Motions requisite to be vsed in a Battaile both for offence and defence are fully expressed.

Necessary and vsefull for all Martiall Spirits, that desire to haue knowledge in the Art Military.

Englished and Illustrated with Figures and Obseruations vpon euery CHAPTER.

By Captaine IOHN BINGHAM.

LONDON: Printed for RALPH MAB. 1631.

TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL SIR HVGH HAMERSLY, Knight, one of the Aldermen and Coronels of the Honorable City of LONDON, and President of the Martiall Company, Exercising Armes in the Artillery Garden in LONDON.
TO CAPTAINE HENRY VVALLER, NOW CAPTAINE OF THE SAID COMPANY.
AND TO ALL THE REST OF THE Worthy Captaines and Gentlemen of the said Company.
Captaine I. B. wisheth such valour and experience, as may make them victorious against all sorts of Enemies.

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Worthy Gentlemen:

THese my last endeuours vpon Aelian, I purposed to haue kept to mine owne priuate vse, and not to haue presented them to the view of the world. But now being to depart from you, and toiourney into a farre Countrey, and finding your kindnesse and loue toward me such, as I was not with any reason to expect, I altered my minde, and hauing nothing [Page] else to offer vnto you, I resolued to make this a monument of my thankefulnesse to you, and a testimony of my desire to doe you the best seruice I am able. For my paines herein, I leaue them to the iudgement of any learned Reader; for the profit of the Treatise, I say no more but this, it containeth the practise of the best Generals of all antiquity concerning the formes of Battailes. And whereas many hold opinion, that it sorteth not with the vse of our times, they must giue me leaue to be of another mind: Indeed our actions in Warre are onely now a dayes and sieges oppugnations of Cities; Battailes wee heare not of, saue onely of a few in France, and that of Newport in the Low-Countries. But this manner will not last alwayes, nor is there any Conquest to be made without Battailes. He that is Master of the field, may dispose of his affaires as he listeth; hee may spoyle the Enemies Countrey at his pleasure, he may march where he thinketh best, he may lay siege to what Towne he is disposed, he may raise any siege that the Enemy hath layed against him or his. Neither can any man be Master of the field without Battaile, in ordering whereof, that Generall that is most skilfull, seldome misseth of winning the day: experience of former times cleares this. I should exceede the compasse of an Epistle if I brought the examples, which serue to this purpose. Now for the skill of ordering Battailes, it is not to be learned out of the practise of our dayes, wherein when we come into the field, we make shewes, and musters rather, then obserue any formes of Battailes for vse: Battailes must not be alwayes of one figure. The wise Generals of ancienter times, fashioned their battailes according to the range, which they saw the Enemy had before taken vp. The place often maketh an [Page] alteration in that forme, which otherwise would serue to our purpose. He that is acquainted but with one forme, if he be forced to change that vpon the sudden, disordereth his troopes, and bringeth all into a confusion. The knowledge of the formes of battailes being then so necessary for a Generall, this little Pamphlet must needs be welcome to them that desire the mannaging of fields, and the command of Armies. For here haue you all formes expressed, together with their vse; so that the Generall that is acquainted with the practise of these precepts shall not be to seeke to make transmutation of his battaile, into what forme soeuer necessity shall require, & that vpon the sudden. As for them that hold, that great Ordnance will not admit any of these ancient formes in our dayes, I hold that for a dreame, and not worthy the answering; since the inuention of great Ordnance, we neuer read of any forme of battaile disordered thereby; some slaughter hath beene made by great Ordnance, and the Army that suffred by great Ordnance, hath beene forced the sooner to ioyne with the Enemy; when the Armies are ioyned, great Ordnance hath and must sit still, and looke about as an idle spectator, seruing for no other vse, then for a pray to him that gameth the field. Now for small shot, it succeedeth in the place of the lightarmed of antiquity. By them a Battaile may be broken, if they be not repressed, and themselues cut off in time. But what is said of them that may not be said of Bowes and Arrowes? The greatest fields that we gained against the French, were gained onely by our Archery. To say nothing of other Nations, that had the skill of shooting: so that no reason can be alleadged why the formes of Battailes vsed by antiquity for aduantage, may not be as well vsed in our [Page] dayes. Howsoeuer the matter standeth, my desire is, that the Treatise may with your fauourable acceptance beare your names in the Front thereof. Not because I thinke it worthy of your Patronage, but for that I would haue it appeare to the world, how much I esteeme of your kindnesse (as I said) and of your loue, which you expressed toward me in my taking leaue of the City. The Lord of hostes haue you in his keeping.

Your seruant, as heretofore, to doe you seruice. IOHN BINGHAM.

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Cap. 30.

Plagiophalanx or the Brode-Fronted Phalange Orthiophalanx or the Herse [Page] Loxe-Phalanx or the vneven fronted Phalange The Front

THE TACTICKS OF AELIAN, OR THE ART OF EMBATTAILING ARMIES.

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The broad-fronted Phalange, the deepe Phalange, or Herse, and the vneuen-fronted Phalange. CHAP. XXX.

(1) PLagiophalange, or the broad-fronted Phalange, is that, which hath the (2) length manifoldly exceeding the depth.

(3) Orthiophalange, or the deepe Phalange (now commonly called the Horse) is that, which proceedeth by a (4) winge, hauing the depth much exceeding the length. In generall speech euery thing is called (5) Paramekes, which hath the length more then the depth; and that which hath the depth more then the length (6) Orthion: and so likewise a Phalange.

The Phalange (7) Loxe, or vneuen-fronted, that is, which putteth forth one of the wings (which is thought fittest) towards the Enemy, and with it begins the fight, holding off the other in a conuenient distance, till opportunity be to aduance.

NOTES.

THis Chapter and the next, seeme not to hold their right place: for being set before the manner how to wheele, and likewise before closings, and inserted betwixt the motions of the Battaile. Phalange (to which motions, or to one of them, the manner of wheeling and closings appertaine) they interrupt the method or orderly handling of the said motions; which method Aelian curiously obserueth through his whole Booke. Besides, Aelian himselfe, after a manner pointeth out the true place of them, in that in the 24 Chapter, rehearsing shortly the appellations or words of Military discipline; he placeth these formes after Induction and Deduction: I take it therefore, that their proper place is after the 37 Chapter, the rather, because all the formes of Marches from thenceforth handled, are either Squares of the one kinde or other, or else spring out of these Squares. I Cap. 1 [...]. noted before [Page] that there are three kinds of Squares; one, that hath a longer front then flanke; another, that hath a longer flanke, then front; the third, that hath the front and flanke equall. Of the third Aelian speaketh in the 42 Chapter, of the first and second in this Chapter: of these two therefore I will treat in order. And first I will handle the Names, then the Vse, lastly the Manner how to transforme one into another.

The first is called

1. Plagiophalanx, or the broad-fronted Phalange.) The word [...] is often interpreted for oblique; which signification it cannot haue heere; the oblique Phalange being in this Chapter tearmed by the name of [...], and yet distingnished from the Plagiophalanx. They that translate Plagiophalanx, the transuerse or ouer-thwart fronted Phalange, agree better with Aelians meaning, because it meeteth the enemy with a front trans-uerse, and drawne out in length, and directly opposite against him. I haue rendred it the broad fronted Phalange, as more fitting the English tongue: It may also be called the long-fronted Phalange. For breadth (I haue remembred it before) and length of a Phalange are all one: In this sense is the word [...] vsed by Arrian, being applied to the manner of bearing of a Pike. He telleth, that Alexander transported his Army ouer the riuer Ister, to inuade the territoryArr. l. [...]. 4. C. of the Getes; and hath thus, The number of those that passed the riuer with Alexander, were about 1500 horse, and 4000 foot. They passed in the night, and landed where the Corne was high, which was the cause that their arriuall was not descried. As soone as the morning appeared, Alexander led them through the Corne fields; Commanding the foot, that bearing downe the Corne with their Pikes held a thwart, [...], they should march into the Champeigne. The manner of their bearing of Pikes (as I interpret it) was this; They tooke the Pikes in the midst with both their hands, and so bore them out, not with the points forward, but crosse and paralell the front of the Phalange, that the file leaders with one ioynt force might ledge and beare downe the high-growne Corne, and make easier passage for those that followed. If they had carried them out slope, or oblique (which is the other signification of the word) it had beene no more, then the particular force of euery man a part, that held his Pike sloping; besides that, they would haue beene intangled in the Corne; whereas the bearing of them crosse parrallell with the front, was the ioynt force of so many file-leaders, as did thrust forward against the Corne. Therefore as when the Pike is borne in full length crosse [...]. 9. § 72 [...] & § 77. [...]. the front of the battaile, the posture of the Pike is said to be [...], so is a Phalange termed [...], that hath a front stretched out in euen length, and opposed against the euen front of the aduerse battaile of the enemy.

2. The length manifoldly exceeding the depth.] Aelian sets not downe expresly any proportion of the excesse of the length aboue the depth, onely he saith, it must manifoldly exceed the depth: We must take it then, that the excesse of the length must be at the least threefold; for thrice fals into the appellation of manifold. A Macedonian fourefold Phalange may iustly challenge4. Phalange Macedonian consisting of 1634. pike [...]en Phalangarch is the fourth part of a Phalange. this name, being 1024 men in length, onely 16 in depth. And likewise a Phalangarch led seuerally and by it selfe, as hauing 256 men in length, but 16 in depth. The rest of the bodies of the fourefold Phalange, till you come downe to a Pentecosiarchy, albeit ranged by themselues, are likewise Plagiophalanges, or broad-fronted bastacles. A Pentecosiarchy hath onely [Page] twice so many in front, as in flanke (as 32 in front, 16 in flanke) and therefore4. Pentecosiarchy hath in it 512 men. The ordinary depth is 16. commeth not vnder the name of a broad-fronted Phalange. So that, let the battaile be as long as you list, hauing but the ordinary depth, it still is accounted a Plagiophalange. When it is but twice so long in front as in flanke, it cannot deserue that name, but it is to be termed rather a Square of ground, because the flanke in a square of ground taketh vp as much ground as the front. To the Battaile-broad-fronted, is next added the Phalange, called

3. Orthiophalange, or Herse] which albeit it haue the length and depth vnequall, as hath the Plagiophalange, or broad-fronted Phalange, yet must the depth manifoldly exceede the length, which is contrary in the Plagiophalange. This saith Aelian proceedeth in

4. A wing.) To proceede in a Aelian c. 36. [...] Leo c. 9. § 77. Aelian c. 9. Wing is to march on with a parcell or one body of the Army, namely with a certaine number of files (as with a A body of foure files. Tetrarchy, A body of [...] files. Taxis, or A body of 16 files. Syntagna) and to follow with the rest in like manner, so that the whole army holdeth no proportion of length or breadth to the depth. That which is called by Aelian Orthiophalanx, is called by Diodor. Sic. l. 20. Diodorus Siculus, and by Arr. l. 1. 3. C. Arrian, [...], a deepe phalange, because the forme of it ariseth out of the depth of the embattailing, as I haue noted vpon the seuenth Chapter. This kinde of march the Greeke writers expresse by the words of leading Xenoph. hist. Grac. l. 6. 558. A. [...] and Arr. l. 1. 14. C. [...], that is, in a wing; whereas the other kinde with a large front (I meane the broad-fronted Phalange) is said to be led Xenoph. hist. Grac. l. 6. 558. A. [...], and Arr. l. 1. 14. F. [...], and Arr. l. 1. 14. C. in a Phalange, and Arr. l. 1. 14. B. [...], Leo c 17. §. 26. [...], in front, Leo ibid. [...], in extention of breadth. The words I recite to helpe them, who although they be skilfull in the Greeke tongue, yet are not so well acquainted with the Tactickes, and may easily mistake, or not vnderstand the signification, if they be not forewarned. But because I haue before in my notes vpon the seuenth Chapter touched this matter, I will here vse an example, or two, onely to explaine, and to giue light to both formes. Arr. l. 1. 14. Arrian reporteth, that when Alexander was to passe the riuer Granicus, on the further side whereof the Persians had embattailed themselues in a [...]. broadfronted phalange to hinder his passage, Parmenio one of his eldest and best Commanders came vnto him, and gaue him this counsell; Sir, said hee, Consider the Persians are ready to encounter you on the other side; my opinion is, you cannot gaine the passage without exceeding danger: both because your phalange cannot be led [...] ▪ in front (that is, in a broad front) by reason of the many and sundry depths that are to be seene in the Riuer, and of the height and steepenesse of the banks, as also for that the enemies horse ordered in a [...] phalange, will be ready to charge vs, whilest we disorderly and [...]. wingwise (which is the weakest kinde of fight) endeauour to scamble vp the bankes. Thus Arrian vsing the words before recited, and noting the difference of both the formes. Leo c. 17. §. 26. Leo hath the like passage, instructing his Generall how in the night to surprize an Enemy in his lodging. His words are these in effect; When you march, saith he, to the intent that no tumult or confusion of noise be heard, nor the stretching out of your battaile into a great length breede error and inequality in marching; and hereupon cries and loud commands arise, so that the Enemy may easily perceiue the accesse of your Armie; It behoueth you to march not in [...]. front, that is, in a [...]. large extension of breadth, but [...]. wingwise, that is to say, in a [...]. deepe forme of Embattailing; as if one file should follow in the reare of another, obseruing still to maintaine the depth, or x [...]n a Horse. thicknesse of the battaile. His meaning is: That in the night an Army ought [Page] not to be led in a broad-fronted Phalange (because the places are wayes through which you are to march, are sometimes large, sometimes streight, sometimes rough, sometimes plaine, and so you cannot preserue an euen front, but must change the forme and disorder it) but in a Herse or deepe Phalange, which will fit all passages, and in the greatest inequality of way maintaine the forme of the battaile entire. And so much of the signification of the words marching in a Wing, and marching in a Phalange.

5. Euery thing is called Paramekes.] It is to be obserued, that there is a difference betweene Paramekes and Heteromekes: I thought good to note it, because Aelian in diuers places mentioneth both. Paramekes is the figure, according to Aelian, wherein the length many times exceeds the depth; it may be Heteromekes, albeit it be but twice as long as deepe. I am not ignorant that Euclyd. l. 1. definit. 30. Euclyde nameth all foure sided figures, that haue right angles, and vnequall sides, Heteromekes. But Aelian, though hee apply Heteromekes sometimes to the Aelia. c. 18. 38. 46. front, sometimes to the flanke, yet he giues no more then a double proportion either of front to flanke, or flanke to front.

6. Orthion.] Albeit the word Orthium properly signifie things rising in a height, yet in military discourse it is applied to the dimension of the depth Aelian hath afterward [...]. of a battell, and not of the length. Here a Phalange is termed Orthia, and in Leo in the place last by me cited, mention is made of [...], [...] deep embattailing: and in Xenophon [...]. l. a. 32. D. [...] [...] [...]. [...]. [...], a Company stretched out in dep [...], [...] Polyen also, and Arrian, and Appian. Polyen. l. [...]. 549. [...]. [...]. Polyen hath besides, [...], and [...], for an army, that is cast into a great depth, and into a narrow [...] Therefore, as Paramekes signifieth the length of the front; so Orthion signifies the depth of the flanke of any battell ordered, as is aforesaid. Thus much of the names of the two battels: It remaines to shew the Vse of them, and how one may be transformed into the other.

The Plagiophalange, or broad-fronted battell bringeth most hands to fight with conueniency, and therefore is accounted the better forme; and, as neereT [...] vse of the broad-fronted Phalange, and of the Herse. as opportunity of ground would giue leaue, the ancient Generals principally affected, and sought to put this forme in vre: It hath the commodity to ouerfront the aduerse battell, and is safe it selfe from ouerfronting, vnlesse the Enemy bring a greater multitude then you haue to ouer-match your Army. The Macedonian Phalange was for the most part of this forme, as all the fields Alexander fought euidently declare; So ordered he his troopes at Granicus, so at Issos, so at Gangamelos, so in other places, if the ground would serue. This Caution notwithstanding was obserued, that the depth held proportion with the length; otherwise the length profiteth not so much, as the thinnesse of the depth hurts, by giuing meanes to the enemy to breake through, and put the aduerse battell in a rout. I haue noted it before out of Leo c. 14. §. 10 [...]. Leo.

The Herse, or deepe Phalange, was thought the weakest kinde to fight in. Arr l. 1. 14. Parmenio, one of the chiefest Commanders Alexander had, distrusted it (as I haue shewed a little before.) Xenoph Cyrop. l. 6. 167. B. Cyrus the elder, in the embattailing of the Egyptians, derided it; yet cannot the forme of the broad-fronted Phalange be so exactly taken vp, but that necessity will sometime force the other. In straight places it hath beene often vsed: So Arr. l. 1. 36. C. Darius in the battaile of Issos, by reason of the straightnesse of ground, was forced to this forme: So Bo [...]il [...]ar the Carthaginian, was faine in a straight place to make a narrow front of his [Page] phalange, and to extend it in depth. And Liu. l. 46. 112. A. Acilius Glabrio the Roman Consall, in the streights of Thermopyle against Antiochus: and Liu. l. 38. 215. C. P. Scipto in Spaine against the Illergets. Therefore in large grounds the first forme is to be chosen, in narrow and rough places the other. The Herse is also fit for Marches, because in a March you are assured to meet with variety of ground; sometimes with woods, sometimes with bushes, sometimes with streight wayes, with riuers, with hils, with pits, with bridges, with ditches, and such like impediments, so that the front of your broad-fronted phalange must needs be dissolued; whereas no difficulty of wayes can hinder the passage of a Ael. c. 45. Herse, the front whereof may be narrowed (according to the ground you march in) as you list. Arr. l. 1. 2. B. Alexander being to lead his Army against the Thracians, that had planted themselues in the mount Aemus, was [...]ine to narrow the front of his phalange, according to the way that led vp to the Mount: The same did Xenoph hist. [...] 6 [...]o [...]. D. Agesilaus passing through the streights of Mantina; the History is by me recited before in my notes vpon the 26 Chapter Polyen. l. 5. [...]3. §. 1. Panimenes likewise leading his Army through Pho [...]is toward [...]hebes, and finding that the Enemy had taken and possessed a place called Philo [...]aeoton, that had two streights leading toward it, one of which the Enemy held with a gard; casting is troopes into a Herse [...], making the bulke of his Army slender, and [...]it to march, shaped himselfe to the right hand, as though he ment to hold on to that passage. The Enemy therefore leauing the left hand streight, which they had in gard, ran with all speed to the right hand to stop his passage; but hee taking the opportunity, speeded hastily to the left, and conueyed his Army thorough without danger. Many like examples of Herses accommodated to streight wayes, where a broadfronted Phalange cannot march, are to be found in Histories. The Orthiophalange or Herse was also much [...]sed in an ascent against a hill which the enemy possessed: and in this sence are [...] deepe Companies takes in the Greeke writers, especially when a whole Company is put into a file, and 3 or 4 or more files laid together to make an Orthiophalange, in which forme they vsed to mount vp against hils. Many examples be in heir Histories of beating off Enemies from hils in this forme. Xenoph. Cyrop. l. [...]. 71 D Cyrus the elder vsed it against the Chaldaeans; Xenoph. d'exp. l. [...]. 3 [...]0 D. Xenophon against the Carducans; Xenoph. d'exp. l. [...] 324. E. Cherisophus in passing the riuer Centrites, which riuer diuideth the mountaines of the Carducans from Armenia: the Graecians against the Mosynecans, that inhabited certaine Mountaines which the Graecians were to mount. Arr. l. 4. 95. [...]. Ptolomey against thed Xenoph. d'exp. l 5. 3 [...]3. A. Indians, that embattelled themselues vpon a mountaine to resist the inuasion of Alexander. And a notable example of an Army ascending against a Mountaine, is described by Xenoph. d'exp [...]d. l. 4. 340. Xenophon, in the fourth booke of the ascent of Cyrus; Herelateth that the Cholcans had taken vp a high Mountaine, and there imbattelled their Army to the intent to stop the passage of the Grecians in their returne out of Parsia: The Grecians at the first ordered themselues into a Phalange, (a broad fronted battell) meaning in that forme to make their way. But afterwards the Chief-taines calling a Court, aduised vpon their best course of fighting: Xenophons opinion was, that laying aside the forme of a Phalange, it would be best to order themselues in Companies [...]. drawne out in file. For a Phalange, said he, will soone be broken, by reason of the inequality of the way, which in some parts of the Mountaine will be found easie enough, in other hard to ascend. And the sohldiers will quickly be discouraged to see the Phalange disordered, in which they march; Besides, marching in a large front, [Page] the enemies, that exceede vs in number, will ouer-front vs, and vse their multitude to most aduantage: In a narrow front it will be no maruaile to see our Phalange cut asunder with missiue weapons, and with men ordered in battaile to charge vs; whereby the whole Phalange will be distressed. Therefore, as I said, I hold it best to put the Armie into Companies stretched out in depth, giuing to each Company such distance one from another, that our wings may ouer▪reach the vttermost points of theenemies battaile: and let euery company make choice of their fittest way for ascent: As for the spaces betwixt company and company, it shall not be easie for the enemy to conuey himselfe into them, all the companies on all sides (in case he enter) wrapping him in betwixt them: and if it chance that any company be distressed, the next company is to succour and aide it. Now say, that one company attaine to the top of the hill, you may be assured, that no enemy will keepe his ground. This Counsell was assented to by all; When therefore euery man had taken his place, and the [...] 8000 armed. companies were laid out in their iust depth, the armed amounted to about 80 companies, in euery of which were reckoned almost 100 men: The Targeteers and Archers were diuided into three bodies, the first to march without the armed of the left wing, the second without the armed of the right, the third in the midst, euery body consisting of well-nigh 600 1800 light-armed. men. After prayers made to the gods, the souldiers aduanced, singing the A song or hymne to Apollo vsed by the Grecians when they ioyned with the Enemy. Iul Pol. l. [...]. c. 1. §. 33. But the Scholiastes of Thucydides saith, there were two Paeans, one to Mars before victory, the other to Apollo after victory. [...]. 1. Paean; Then Cherisophus and Xenophon (leading the point of the Graecian battaile) and the Targatiers with them, who ouer reached the enemies wings, hasted on a pace, and the enemy perceiuing it, extended their wings to meet them, and by that meanes were distracted some to the right, some to the left hand, leauing an empty space in the middest of their Phalange▪ the Targatiers armed after the Arcadian manner, led by Aeschines the Acharnan, seeing the enemies battaile disseuered, and imagining them to flye, ranne forth with all speede, and were the first that gained the hill: they were seconded by the armed Arcadians, commanded by Cleanor the Orchomenian. When the Enemy saw them come running on, they forsooke their ground, and began to shift for them. selues, one one way, another another: The Grecians hauing gained the Hill, encamped there. Hitherto Xenophon, out of whose practice the best addresse against an enemy, that possesseth a Hill, ouer which our Army is to march, may be learned▪ In a broad-fronted Phalange it is hard to proceede, both because of the inequality of the ground, which will easily breake the phalange, and disioynt all the parts thereof, and also for that the enemies weapons throwne from the higher ground will not lightly misse so great a body, and great stones, and other masse, tumbled downe, will beare downe and make ruine of whatsoeuer commeth in the way, impossible to misse in such an extension of length, and thronging of the Army: to lead in one and a continued Herse is no lesse dangerous. A few men, and those onely in front, shall come to fight against a multitude of enemies, who will ouer-front, and charge them on all sides. Xenophons Counsell then is to make diuers bodies, and to order them so seuered in front and flanke, that they may ouer-front the enemy, and not be parted asunder with the vneuennesse of the ascent, nor yet proue too faire a marke for the enemies weapons. The Bodies are declared to be Companies each of 100 men; these so diuided one from another in distance filewise, that the vttermost bodies on both sides might be able to ouer-reach the points of the enemies wings, and to make choice of the best Ascent toward the height of the hill. Further, the forme of ordering the bodies is set downe, They were stretched out in depth ( [...]:) Orthios lochos is here taken for a Company ordered in one file; and it fignifies as much [Page] as [...], a Company ordered one man singly after another: which phrase is vsed by Xenoph. Cyrop. l. [...]. 55. A. & l. 5. 130. D. Xenophon elsewhere: and in the same sence Thucyd. l. 2. 155. [...]. Thucydides vseth the phrase of placing ships one in a direct line after another [...], which his scoliastes interpreteth [...], hauing one after another. And Polyb. l. 1. 27. [...]. C. D. Polybius likewise of Ships hath the same phrase, [...], to be placed one after another; and in the same place [...]. Yet this passage out of Xenophon, where he mencioneth [...], hath a diuers signification from the common vsage of [...] amongst other Grecians. It agreeth, in that, they led their Companies stretched out in file; it differeth, in that Zenophons files were placed in distance one from another, and had all an equall front in the manner of a A broad-fronted Battaile. Plagio-phalange, where in the other examples they were ioyned; to the end to make an Orthiophalange, and in seuerall bodies to follow one another. I deny not that [...] are otherwise taken in the wars of the Romans described by the Greciatis.

So Appian. in Ly [...] cis 22. Scipio ordering his battell against Hanniball in the fight of Africa, is reported by Appian to haue disposed his Army into Maniples, distributed into three kinde of bodies, the Maniples to stand [...], one directly after another. How they stood Poly. l. 15. [...]. [...]. Polybius shewes, describing the same battaile; He saith, that Scipio ordered the Hastati and their ensignes first of all the rest, and in front, and gaue interuals to their maniples; behinde them the Principes, not against the interuals of the Hastati, as the Roman manner was, but behinde them in a right line (because of the multitude of the Enemies Elephants:) and lastly, the Triarij. On the wing of the left flanke he ranged C. Lelius with the Italian Horse vnder him: on the right Massanissa, and all the Numidian Horse, which he commanded. The interuals of the first Ensignes (that is, of the Hastati) he filled with the bodies of light armed, commanding them first to vndertake the fight; and in case they were not able to withstand the affront of the the enemy, or of the Elephants, he willed them to retire; some, that could preuent the rest with speed, through the direct interuals of the maniples to thereare of the army; other, that were in a manner surprised, to the flankes, neere the Ensignes. This ordering of Maniples one directly after another, so termed and described by Polybius, Appian calleth [...]; which notwithstanding, if truly examined, cannot according to the Grecian practise come within the compasse of that name. For the Grecians, as I said, drew their Companies seuerally each into a file; and laying foure, or fiue, or six, or more of them together, made a body, the depth whereof much exceeded the length, or breadth, the front being of 4. 5. or 6. men in ranke, the depth of 100, whereas the Romans, as appeareth by Polybius, kept their ordinary manner of embattelling, sauing that they placed their principes not against the interuals of the Hastati, as their custome was, but directly behinde the Maniples of the Hastati, to the end the Elephants of the Carthaginians might haue an empty and void lane, as it were, to passe through their whole Army: As for the Roman Maniples they consisted of two parts ioyned together, which they called Or [...]. Ordines, and euery Ordo contained 60 men, commanded by a Captaine; so that the Maniple had in it 120 men, and two Captaines or Centurions. These 120 men being digested into files, containing 10 men a peece (for that was the length of file, and the depth of the Maniple) make 12 files, which stood one by another ranged in front, not stretched one after another in depth. But because the Maniples of the Hastati principes, and the Triarij, stood directly one after another, therefore Appian called [Page] them [...], either out of the ignorance of the manner of embattelling amongst the Romans, or else because the Grecians in their writings reduced the order of the Roman embattelling vnto their owne vsage. So they called a Tribune of the Roman Army a Chiliarch, albeit a Chiliarch amongst the Grecians and a Tribune amongst the Romans differ very much, as I haue noted vpon the ninth Chapter of Aelian: the manner of embattailing of the Army of Acilius Glabrio a Roman Consull in the streights of Thermopyle, commeth neerer vnto the Greekish forme: Appianin Syracis 97. C. Appian describeth it thus; Antiochus hauing fortified the streights of Thermopyle with a double wall, and drawne forth his army ord [...]ly for fight, to make good the place against Acilius; Acilius diuided his troopes into three parts, and giuing one part to Cato, another to [...]laccus, the one to make his passage on the one side of the Hils, the other on the other, himselfe led the ordinary way against Antiochus; and framing of his owne [...] part [...] (which manner of embattelling alone, saith Appian, seruet [...] for streight wayes) [...]e pushed on and forced his Enemy to retire, gained his Campe. The [...] here mentioned, are no other then the Herse. Orthie-phalange, which Aelian hath set downe in this Chapter, namely, hauing one Maniple (or if the streight permitted not a Maniple of 12 files to march entirely in front) one Ordo consisting of six files to aduance, the rest following in the same [...]inde, as the fashion is of the right induction, remembred by Aelian hereafter in his 36 Chapter. Now albeit that forme come neerer to the Graecian forme, yet it is not the same, the one filling the way with the Maniple or Ordo, as it fell our, in the same figure, that it stands in the field, the other changing the order of the field, drawing the Company out into one file, and ioyning other Companies with it in front, as many as the way would receiue: So that the Grecian had too in depth of the body, the Roman but 10. We are not to pretermit, that albeit Acilius vsed this forme to dislodge [...] from the H [...]ll, yet he trusted not to it alone, but diuiding his [...] into three parts, he caused two of them to march vp the hils on both sides, himselfe on the midst, to the end that one part might [...]aine the height ouer [...] head, and so make him forsake his ground. Thus farre of the vse of these two [...] of Phalanges or battailes: it remaineth to shew, how one of them may be transsormed into another.

The next proceeding Chapter teacheth, that out of doublings of Rankes, theTransformation of one into another. length of the battell ariseth, as the depth out of doubling of files. I haue shewed the manner of both in my notes vpon the 8 and 29 Chapter. And this manner is easie in a single Company, or in a small Army: In great Bodies it hath noDoubling of files. great vse, let the Example be of a Phalangarchy, which is the fourth part of a fourefold Phalange, and containeth 256 files. Double the files once you shall 128 files, and 32 men in depth, and but 3 foot distance in ranke. The second doubling bringeth forth 64 files, and as many men in depth, but the distance betwixt ranke and ranke is but a foot and a halfe. Beyond this doubling you cannot proceede; for beside the confusion of places of officers, which are in number aboue See Aelian c 7. 250 in a Phalangarchy, the interuals betwixt man and man, will not conueniently allow aboue two doublings: your open order betwixt man and man, wherein they stand at first, giueth but six foot: The first doubling takes away three foot from euery internall, the second leaueth but a soot and halfe. And considering that when the battell is closed for fight, the neerest distance betwixt ranke and ranke ought to be no lesse then three foot, [Page] in regard of handling of weapons (as I haue shewed before out of Polybius.) The second doubling, albeit it yeeldeth roome from the bodies of Souldiers toIn my notes vpon the 11 chapt. stand in, yet it takes away the halfe of this distance, but the third doubling allowing but 3 quarters of a foot for each man to stand in, giueth not so much ground as his body will possesse. So is it likewise of Ranks, which will not suffer aboue two doublings fit for vse. Aelians file is of [...]6 men, double your rankes once, your file will containe no more then eight men, and euery man shall haue three foot distance from other in ranke, double them twice, the file hath but foure men, and euery mans distance in ranke is no more then a foot and halfe, which as it is allowable in close order, so admitteth it no third dou [...], wherein the space betwixt man and man cannot exceed three quarters of a foot. As therefore the second doubling of ranks in a Phalangarchy, albeit it extend the front of the battell, leaueth yet too small a depth to the Plagiophalange or broad-fronted battaile, it containing no more then foure men in depth: so the doubling of files twice fitteth not the Orthiophalange or Herse, as hauing 64 in depth, and as many in length, which number neither holdeth proportion of the depth manifold to the length of the Orthiophalange or Herse, nor yet by reason of the length hath conueniency to apply it selfe to streight waies; a thing that containeth the principall vse of that manner of battaile; which was the cause that antiquity vsed another course.

If the march were to be made out of a Plagiophalange or broad-fronted battaile, they framed a Herse, by putting forth out of the right or left wing, first one A body of foure files. Tetratchy, or other body, which might march whole according to the largenesse of the ways and after it followed from the same wing, the rest of the Army in the same kinde. If contrariwise a Plagiophalange or broad-fronted battaile were to be framed out of an Orthiophalange or a Herse, they caused the body which had the vaunt, to stand firme, and the rest following to sleeue vp by it on the right or left hand, till they all came to an euen front: Xenoph. Cyrep. l. 2. 55. A. Xenophon sheweth the manner in a Company, whose words are these in English; Then he (Cyrus the elder) beheld another [...]. Captaine leading his Company from the river side to dinner, one souldier following another in a [...]. single file, who when hee thought [...]it commanded the second, and third, and fourth file to sleeue vp, and make an euen front with the first; the file-leaders being new in front, hee commanded the [...]. halfe files to double the front, so that new the Decadarches or leaders of halfe files stood in front. Againe, when it seemed good he commanded the [...]. [...] here signifieth a file: in the ascent of Cyrus, and in the Greeke History it signifieth a Company of 100 men. The File-leader commanded the whole file of 24. The Decadarch the halfe rearefile. The two Pempedarchs 5 men a peece; one the 5 that followed after the first 6 in front; the other the 5 that were next the rea [...]e. quarter files to double the front: so the Pempedarches or leaders of the quarter of files led vp, and the files marched on, being diuided into foure parts. When they were come vnto the Tent doore, hee commanded the first file to single out againe, and to enter in, and the second to follow it single in the reare, and so the third and fourth, till all were within the Tent. To cleare these words of Xenophon, It is to be vnderstood, that the Company or [...] here mentioned, consisted of 100 men, and was diuided into foure files or [...], each file containing twenty foure men. The file had fiue Officers, the file leader, the Decadarch, two Pempedarchs, and the bringer vp. At the head of the file stood the file-leader, and behinde him directly fiue men; next after them stood the first Pempedarch and fiue men that followed him▪ in the middest of the file (that is, after the Pempedarch and his fiue) was placed the Decadarch (who [...]ed the hinder most halfe file, and after him fiue men more? Lastly, the second Pempedarch and fiue more after him, the last of which was the bringer vp. Now when Xenophon saith, that the whole Company followed by one or file wise, he meaneth that the foure files were cast into one file, and followed one [Page] another in a right line, and by that meanes had 100 in depth, and but one in front. To bring it therefore to conuenient length from this depth, the Captaine commanded the first file leader to make Alte, or to stand, and the second file The bringer vp was the last of all. leader with his file to aduance, and to sleeue vp on the left hand and to front with the first file leader, and so both files to stand euen fronted in open order. The like he commanded the third and fourth file to doe; so that the foure files being laid one to another, and fronting equally, the front or length of the body had foure men, the depth 24. Then, because he held this depth disproporcionable to the length, in so small a body; he againe enlarged the front by doubling, commanding the halfe files to double their front. The Decadarchs hereupon marched vp to the front, and ranked with the file leaders, and the halfe files following them, ranked with the front-halfe files man to man. Now was the front eight in length, the flanke or depth twelue. To enlarge againe the front, and to make the length exceede the depth, he commanded the quarter-files to double the front: hereupon the Pempedarchs aduanced marching vp with their quarter files after them, till they fronted with the file leaders and Decadarchs, and each man of the quarter files ranked with the rest, so that the front came to be of 16 men in length, the flanke six men in depth, and each man in ranke had a foot and halfe distance, in file six foot. And thus the Company from one file, as it were from an Orthiophalange or Herse, was formed into a long body somewhat resembling a Plagiophalange or broad-fronted battaile. To reduce it againe to an Orthiophalange or Herse, the Captaine at the entry into the Tent (where the whole Company was lodged together) first directed the first file to march out, namely by the file leader with his fiue, then the first Pempedarch with his fiue, after him the Decadarch with his fiue, lastly, the second Pempedarch with his fiue; which drawing out of the Officers one after another in depth, with the parts of the file Commanded by them, immediately brought the file to the iust▪ depth of 24. This being done, the second file followed the first in like order, and the third the second, & last of al came the fourth: and this was the manner of changing one forme into another: and albeit the example be but of a Company, yet is the reason all one in a Phalange or battaile; for as a company is compacted of many files, so is a phalange of diuers companies; and as one file, in the example before, was led after another filewise, so is, or may, one company or other body be led after another, making thereby an Orthiophalange or Herse: and as one file aduanced to front with another, to the intent to alter the forme of the Orthiophalange, so must the bodies or companies sleeue vp one by another to make a plagiophalange or broadfronted battaile, yet want there not Examples in the Greeke History of turning the Orthiophalange or Herse into a plagiophalange or broad fronted battaile, and by consequence the plagiophalange into an Orthiophalange. Cherisophus in the returne of the 10000 Grecians, that followed Cyrus the yonger into Persia, had the leading of the Vant-gard all the way. Xenoph. de exp. l. 4. 334. A. He in his march in Armenia perceiuing the Chalybes, Taochians and Phasians had taken certaine mountaines, ouer which the Grecians were to passe, made alte some 30 furlongs before hee came to the Enemy, lest encountring with the enemy, hee should fight with his army being led in a wing or Orthiophalange: He commanded therefore the Captaines that followed him with their companies, euery one after another to [...]. sleeue vp their companies by his, to the intent to cast the army into a plagiophalange or broad fronted battaile. When thereare Commanders were come vp, hee called a counsell to aduise of the best [Page] course in proceeding. Here is the order of the Grecians march expressed to be in a Herse or Orthiophalange, which consisted of many companies one following another; and likewise the manner of transfiguring the Herse into a broad fronted phalange, viz. the Captaines one after another sleeuing vp their companies by Cherisophus his company on the left hand, and making an equall front with him. And yet this example containeth no more, then the sleeuing vp of the Companies vpon one flanke. Cherisophus first made a Stand with his companie, hauing the vant; the following Captaines sleeued vp their companies on his left hand, as the files did one after another in the other example. Arr. l. 2. 3 [...]. C. D. Alexander vsed another kinde of sleeuing a little before he fought the battell of Issos; For, caufing the vant-gard first to stand, he commanded the rest of the foot to march vp to the front of the vant-gard on either flanke. The words lye thus in Arrian. Alexander hauing by midnight gained the Streights of Cilicia, setting out a streight watch vpon the rockes, rested, and refreshed his army till morning: b [...] day-breake he descended from the streights in the ordinary way, and as long as the passage was narrow, he led in a [...]. wing; afterwards the mountaines opening a greater distance, he enlarged his wing into a phalange by little and little still sleeuing vp the armed, one body after another to the front; on the right hand toward the mountaines, on the left hand toward the Sea. The Horse all this while marched after the foot▪ but comming to ground of larger capacity, they were ordered on the wings. This manner of working to make a phalange out of Herse, was by drawing the following companies vp on both flanks, on the right toward the mountaines, on the left toward the sea; so that it differeth from the other forme wherein the Companies were sleeued but vpon one hand. A third way of making a Plagiophalange of a Herse, I finde in Polyb l. 1 [...]. 632. B. Polybius, Machanidas the Lacedemonian Tyrant (saith he) being to fight with Philopaemea the Achaean Generall, who had fashioned his army into a broad fronted phalange, made semblance at first, as though he meant in a [...]. Herse to charge the right wing of the Enemies battaile; but approaching neerer at a conuenient distance, he brake off the hinder part of the Herse, and facing it to the right hand marched out, and led it out in length, and ioyned it in equall front with his right wing, thereby equalling the left wing of the Achaeans. In this manner of transforming the Herse into broad fronted phalange, the companies or bodies follow not one another, to sleeue vp to the front, but halfe the Plagiophalange is broken off at once (the reare halfe) and facing to the right or left hand, is led vp and ioyned in an euen front with the other halfe, not vnlike to our vsagein exercise, when we command our middle men with their halfe files to face to the right or left hand, and marching out to double the front of our battaile. Thus much may suffice for the names, vse and reduction of one of these two Phalanges to another: The third Phalange mentioned in this Chapter followeth.

[figure]

7 The Phalange Loxe.] There are two kindes of Loxes, or vneuen fronted Phalanges: The front of the one is figured in a continued right line stretched out bias-wise thus: The other hath as it were two fronts, formed out of two seuerall parts of the Phalange; the one aduancing against the Enemy to begin the fight, the other staying behinde, and keeping the first ground, being ordered without the flanke of the first, that vpon occasion it may likewise aduance, and ioyne, or else retire from the Enemy, and giue backe; the figure shewes the shape of it: the last hath bin vsed by great Generals [Page] as a forme of aduantage in fight. The first onely to win a passage, as I take it, ouer a riuer, or such like (where the broad-fronted Phalange could not passe) and to bring the Armie to a ground, where it might be ordered in better forme for fight. I will giue one Example (for I read not many) of the first; Arr. [...]. 1. 14. [...]. Alexander hauing conueied his armie ouer Hellespont, and entred into Phrygia, came as farre as the riuer Granicus. Three Lieutenants of Darius with 20000. Horse, and well nigh as many foot, had embattelled themselues on the other side of the riuer to hinder his passage: The riuer was full of depths and slallowes somewhat dangerous to enter, and the bankes on the further side high, rough, and steepie; besides, the Enemy was ready with horse cast into a long or broad-fronted phalange, and with seconds of foot to beat him backe, that should offer to clymbe the bankes. Alexander being resolued to passe ouer, first ordered his troopes in a broad-fronted phalange▪ The right wing he commanded himselfe, and gaue the command of the left to Parmenio; then putting the Scout-horse with the Paeonians into the riuer, and after them a Phalangarchy of foot led by Amyntas the sonne of Arrabius, and then Ptolomy the sonne of Phillip, who commanded the troope of Socrates, which troop had the Vaunt of all the horse that day, himselfe with the right wing entred the riuer (the Trumpets sounding, and the Army giuing a shout) extending still his battell bias-wise against the Streame ( [...]) to the end the Persians might not fall vpon him, as he led in a wing, but himselfe, as much as was possible, might come to ioyne with them, hauing the front of his phalange extended in length. The Persians cast [...]. Darts from the high ground against the troopes of Amyntas and of Socrates, as they approached to the further banke, and some of them, where the ground was more euen, descended to the brinke of the riuer; so there was thrusting and sholdering of Horsemen, some to ascend out of the riuer, some to hinder the ascent. The Persians let flye many a dart, the Macedonians fought with speares: The first Macedonians that came to hands with the Persians, were cut a peeces fighting valiantly, saue only those that retired vnto Alexander, who was now neere aduanced with the right wing: He himself first of all charged the Persians, where the principal strength of the whole body of their horse and the Generals of the field stood; about him was a strong fight, and in the meane time one troope after another passed easily ouer the riuer. This passage of the History is long, and therefore I forbeare to recite the rest, onely I adde, that after a long fight the Persians were forced to flye, and the victory remained with Alexander. And this, that I haue recited, may serue to shew the vse of this kinde of Loxe-phalange, which was practised by Alexander to no other end, then to gaine the passage of the riuer; for in this forme hee would neuer haue fought, nor is there any president for it out of his battels ranged vpon euen ground, where he might haue chosen the forme he liked best; but here he was to get ouer a riuer, the enemy held the bankes on the other side with 20000. Horse ordered in a broad phalange; the riuer was full of shallowes and depths, and thereby hardly passable; the bankes on the other side steepe and broken, and hard to ascend: Parmenio disswaded him to lead in a wing or herse, and himselfe had no great fancie to aduenture in that forme. In a broad-fronted phalange he could not, which must needs haue beene broken by the vnequall footing in the bottome of the riuer? What did hee then? hee thought best to choose a passable foord, and through it to put ouer the right wing of his Army slope-wise toward the further banke, whither when they came, they should proceed against the streame; that the front being still extended, and the rest comming vp and ioyning, he might front toward and [Page] charge the Enemy phalange-wise. And that this was his meaning is plaine by Polyen l. § 16. Polyen, who rehearsing the same Stratagem, saith, that Alexander led his Army in that forme along the further banke to the end to ouer-front the Enemies Horse-battaile: So that this kinde of Loxe or vneuen-fronted Phalange is no forme to fight in, as I conceiue, but hath beene sometimes taken vp, as a meanes to attaine to a ground fit for a better forme; as Alexander changed it as soone as he came to the banks of the riuer on the other side.

The other (as I said) great Generals haue vsed, and by it haue gained great victories. I will adde an example or two, whereby the vse of it may more clearely appeare: Epaminondas the Theban in a field against the Lacedemonians, gained a famous victory by this forme: Diod. Sic. l. 1 [...]. 486. C. Diadorus Siculus writeth thus, The Baeotians also being ready to fight, the battailes on both sides were fashioned in this order: Amongst the Lacedemonians the Chiefetaines of the race of Hercules had the wings (viz. Cleombrotus the King, and Archidamus who was the The Lacedemonians had by Lycurgus Law two Kings at once. sonne of Agesilaus, the other King:) On the Baeotian side Epaminondas vsing a peculiar and choice kinde of embattailing, obtained a renowned victory by his martiall skill: For, selecting the best men out of all his troopes, he opposed them against one of the Enemies wings, himselfe resoluing in his owne person to try the fortune of the day with them. Against the other wing he set the weakest, commanding them [...]. to fight retyring, and to giue ground by little and little, when the Enemy came on to charge; framing therefore an vneuen fronted Phalange, he determined to hazard the fight [...]. with that wing, which consisted of his chosen Soldiers: The Trumpets sounded, and the Armies gaue a shout, and the Lacedemonians figuring a halfe Moone thrust out both their wings of purpose to enuiron the Baeotians, who with one of their wings retired, with the other ran forth to ioyne with the Enemy: after ioyning, the Victorie hung a good while doubtfull thorough the valour of both parties, notwithstanding Epaminondas by the manhood of his people, and the The Baeotian [...] were 50 deepe, the Lacedemonians 1 [...]. Xenoph. bist. gr [...]. l. 6 596. [...] thicknesse of his battaile hauing the better, many of the Lacedemonians fell; for they were not able to endure the weight of the resolution of those chosen men, yet so long as Cleombrotus liued, and had many to [...]. ioyne Targets for his defence, and ready to dye before him, the sway of victory was vncertaine: But after he had cast himselfe into all kinde of dangers, and yet could not force the Enemy to retire, fighting heroically he was borne to ground with many wounds, and so ended his daies: There arose a flocking and concourse about his body, and multitudes of dead men were heaped one vpon another. That wing, being now without a Commander, was hardly laid to by Epaminondas and first with plaine force somewhat disordered. The Lacedemonians on the other side, brauely hazarding for their King; recouered his dead body, but could not attaine to the victory: as also the selected band, albeit prouoked by the vertue and exhortation of Epaminondas, it vsed extraordinary valour, yet with much adoe did it force the battaile of the Lacedemonians, who first giuing backe, somewhat disordered themselues; at last many falling, and no man being to command them, the whole armie tooke it selfe to flight. Epaminondas his soldiers followed the chace, slew many, made themselues Masters of the field, and carried away a notable and famous victory. Their honour was the more, because they fought with the most valiant men of all the Grecians, and ouercame them being many more in number then themselues, contrary to all mens expectation; but of all other Epaminondas was the man that merited most praise, who by his owne valour and martiall skill, won a battaile against those Generals of Greece, which to that day were held inuincible. This Testimony of the Loxephalange is somewhat long, but the worthinesse of the circumstances will, I hope, beare [Page] me out to recite it, wherein the forme agreeable to Aelian is first to be noted, as aduancing one wing against the Enemy, and holding off the other; albeit it goe a little further then Aelian prescribeth, in that the wing kept off, stood not still, waiting time to come forward, but when the Enemy came vp, ioyned with him, giuing ground, of purpose to distract his phalange, and on that side to busie him with a slow fight, lest happily he might giue vpon the aduerse flanke of Epaminondas and succour his owne partie that already was in fight. It sheweth besides, the aduantage of Military skill; for the Lacedemonians, Masters of Armes at that day in Greece, hauing fashioned a halfe Moone, and imagining in that forme to inclose the small number of the Baeotians, and to charge them on euery side, Epaminondas with his Loxe Phalange so plyed the front of their wings, that the rest of the halfe Moone, being neuer able to strike stroake, became vnprofitable: It shewes further what kinde of battaile is fittest to encounter the halfe moone: Lastly, it hath the reason and vse of the Loxe phalange; that is, to charge one of the Enemies wings with the best and strongest part of our forces, and at the same instant to annoy him with the other wing, thereby to embarre him from giuing aide to his people that were in fight. Diod. l. 17 592 E Alexander vsed this forme at Gangamela, beginning the fight and victory with his right wing, and after with his victorious troopes succouring his left wing, that was in danger to be routed by the Persians. The like forme with the like successe was vsed by Diod. l. 19. 686. Antigonus against Eumenes; it is a battaile worth the rehearsing, but I haue beene long in the Example of Epaminondas, and therefore referre the Reader to the quotation. Diod Sic. l. 19. 716. Demetrius framed the like battaile against Ptolomy and Seleucus, albeit he were frustrated of his hopes in the euent by the foresight of Ptolomy, who opposed his choisest troopes against that wing of Demetrius, which was first to vndertake the charge. Hitherto of these three formes of Phalanges, see the figures, in which albeit the two first be portraited without interuals, yet you must in the broad-fronted Phalange vnderstand the three interuals vsuall in the Macedonian fourefold Phalange: and in the herse the spaces betwixt the reare of the bodies that lead, and of the front of those that follow.

Parembole, Protaxis, Epitaxis, Prostaxis, Entaxis, and Hypotaxis. CHAP. XXXI.

(1) PArembole, or insertion, is, when Souldiers being placed in a body, we take some of the hindmost, and order them within the distances of the first, drawing them vp in an equall front. (2) Protaxis, or forefronting, is, when we place the light-armed before the front of the Armed, and make them forestanders, as the file-leaders are: (3) When we order the light armed behind, it is called Epitaxis, as it were an after-placing. (4) Prostaxis, or adioyning, is, when to both flankes of the battell, or to one flanke, some of the hindmost are added, the front of them which are added lying euen with the front of the battell. This addition is called Prostaxis. (5) Entaxis or insition, is, when it seemeth good to set the light Armed within the spaces of the Phalange, man to man. (6) Hypotaxis or double-winging, is, when a man bestoweth the light armed on the wings of the phalange, so that the whole figure resembleth a threefold gate or doore.

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Cap. 31.

Hypotaxis, or double-winging Entaxis, or insertion Protaxis, or forefronting

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NOTES.

THis Chapter sheweth the inlarging of a Phalange or battell, by diuers placings partly of the armed, partly of the light-armed. It is not hard to be vnderstood; the rather because most of the alterations here mentioned are spoken of heretofore either in Aelian, or in my notes: Sixe formes are here set downe, two by changing the place of some of the Armed, the other foure by changing the place of the light-armed, the armed are altered by Doubling the front by middle men. Parembole or Adioyning. Prostaxis, the light armed by Forefronting. Protaxis, Placing after. Epitaxis, Placing betweene. Entaxis, and Placing on the wings. Hypotaxis; what the signification of each is shall be shewed in the notes following.

1. Parembole.] This must alwayes be of armed, which are taken from the reare of the Armed, and inserted betwixt the files of the front: of this kinde is the doubling of the front by middle men with their halfe files, whereof Aelian hath spoken in the 29 Chapter, see the figure there.

2. Protaxis or fore-fronting.] I haue shewed before in the notes vpon the seuenth Chapter, that the light-armed were diuersly placed in the front, in the reare, on the wings, within the battell; when they are placed before, it is called Protaxis, see the figure here: Diod. Sic. l. 19. 717. [...]. Ptolomie and Seleucus being to fight against Demetrius, who had many Elephants, placed the light armed before, to the intent to wound the Elephants and turne them away from their Phalange: so Alexander, so Darius, at the battaile of Issos, placed darters and slingers before the fronts of their phalange: they serue greatly to annoy the Enemy being so placed, especially being not charged with horse or pikes; if they be charged with either, they are to retire into the interuals of their owne battaile of pikes: See Onosander cited by me in my notes vpon the 7 Chapter of this Booke.

3. Epitaxis.] Ordering of the light-armed behinde was the vsuall manner of the Macedonian Embattelling, from whence they drew them at pleasure to any place of seruice: see the 7 Chapter.

4. Prostaxis] it is, when armed are taken from behinde and laid to one or both flankes of the battell fronting euen with the front thereof, which is a doubling of rankes, as is before shewed, done when the hinder halfe files diuide themselues, march out and front with the fileleaders, or else march out entirely without diuision.

Entaxis] Incision is alwayes of the light armed into the spaces of the armed. It is all one with pareutaxis, another Greeke word vsed in the same sence.

6. Hypotaxis.] Placing of the light armed on the wings was much vsed in ancient time, as the manner is also at this day: but Aelian would haue them so placed, that the eminency of them should make a hollow front in the battaile: Patritius taketh Hypotaxis to be the placing of the light armed in the reare, which seemeth to be a mistaking, both because the placing of them in the reare is in this Chapter called Epitaxis, and also because there being foure manners of ordering the light-armed, one in the front, another in the reare, the third within the body of the Phalange man to man, the fourth in the wings: if this ordering should be vnderstood to be behinde the Phalange, there would be two kinds of placing of the light armed in the reare, and none [Page] of ordering them in the flankes: Besides, when Aelian saith, they are placed [...], vnder the wings of the battell, he sufficiently expresseth himselfe, the flankes of the battaile on both sides being the vttermost parts of the wings.

The Vse, and aduantage of these exercises of Armes. CHAP. XXXIV.

THese precepts of turning about of faces, of wheeling, and double wheeling of the battaile, and of reducing it to the first posture, are of great vse in (1) sodaine approaches of the Enemy, whether he shew himselfe on the right or left hand, or in the reare of our march. The like may be said of Countermarches, of which the Macedonians are held to be the inuenters of the Macedonian, the Lacedemonians of the Lacedemonian, from whom the Appellations are accordingly drawne. The Histories witnesse, that Phillip (who much enlarged the Macedonian Kingdome, and ouer-came the Grecians in a battaile at Cheronea, and made himselfe Generall of Grecia) and likewise his Sonne Alexander, who in short time conquered all Asia, made small account of the Macedonian countermarch, vnlesse necessity forced it; and that by vse of the Lacedemonian, they both became victorious ouer their enemies. For the Macedonian countermarch, the Enemy falling vpon the reare, is cause of great disorder, in asmuch as the hindermost marching vp to the front, and making shew of running away, it more incourageth and emboldeneth the Enemy to fall on, for feare and pursuit of the Enemy is ordinarily incident to this Countermarch: but the Lacedemo [...]ian countermarch is of contrary effect; for when the Enemy shewes himselfe in the reare, the file-leaders with their followers brauely aduancing, and opposing themselues, it striketh no small feare and terror into their mindes.

NOTES.

ALL the foure motions of a battaile; Facing, Countermarching, Doubling, and Wheeling, are before handled: In this Chapter Aelian briefly rehearseth the vse of them, especially in

1. Sodaine approaches of the Enemy.] If the Enemy come sodainely vpon vs, he must direct himselfe either against our front, or our reare, or our flankes. If Against the front. against our front, we neede no other motion then that whereby we may strengthen our front, which is vsually done by doubling of rankes; we march for the most part in a herse, in which forme there cannot come many hands to fight: and that is the reason why it is accounted the weakest forme to ioyne with the Enemy. Doubling of rankes. Doubling of rankes helpeth that defect, and bringeth as many hands to fight, as the proportion of forces will allow: If against the Against the reare. reare, and time streight you not, and your battell be in open order, you haue the vse of Countermarch. countermarch, which bringeth the best hands to fight; for the File-leaders are esteemed the flower of the Army: your battaile being in order or close order, you are to Wheeling. wheele it about to your right or left

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Cap. 32. The action of wheeling

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Cap. 32. The manner of wheeling

The first posture Closing of files Closing of rankes forward The Front

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Cap 33 Os Cloinges

Closing to the middes [...] The front after closing y• right action Closing to y• left [...]and Closing to y• right [...]and The Front before closing The Front of y• battaile before closing

[Page] [Page]hand, and so to oppose the front against the Enemy. But in both these motions the caution of Aelian is, that the Enemy surprize you not whilest you are in the a [...]ion of countermarch or wheeling, lest taking his aduantage, hee charge you being in disorder. Therefore if he come so neere, that you haue no liberty to countermarch or wheele, your onely refuge is to Facing. face about to the right or left hand, for so he shall not be able to giue vpon your backe: If the enemy appeare vpon any flanke, countermarch of the Front will not auaile, much lesse doubling against the flanke of ranks, or files, but you must either wheele your Front to the flanke, or if you haue not time enough so to doe, you are to face your battell to that hand: The vse of these motions hath been handled in their seuerall Chapters more at large.

Of the Signes of Direction which are to be giuin to the Army, and of their seuerall kindes. CHAP. XXXV.

(1) WE are to acquaint our Forces both Foot and Horse, perfectly with the (2) voice, and perfectly with (3) visible signes, that whatsoeuer is fitting, may be executed and done, as occasion shall require. (4) Some things also are to be denounced by the Trumpet: for so all directions will be fully accomplished, and sort to a desired effect. (5) The signes therefore which are deliuered by voice, are most euident and cleere, if they haue no impediment. (6) But the most certaine and least tumultuous signes are such as are presented to the eye▪ if they be not obscured. The voice sometime cannot bee heard by reason of the clashing of [...]rmour, or trampling or neying of Horses, or tumult of carriage, or noise and confused sound of the multitude. The visible signes also become many waies vncertaine, by thicknesse of ayre, by dust, by raine, or snow, or sunshine, or else through ground that is vneuen or ful of trees, or of turnings. And sometimes it will not be easie to find out signes for all vses, occasions eftsoones presenting new matter, to which a man is not accustomed: yet can it not so fall out, that either by voice, or by signall, we should not giue sure and certaine direction.

NOTES.

1 THe ordinary motions in a Phalange are all represented by Aelian. Now commeth hee to speake of Signes, which direct, and are meanes of effecting all these motions, and without which the Army is no Army, but remains a body vngouernable, and may aptly be resembled to a Shippe that hath no rudder: For as a Ship in a tempest is driuen by all windes, tossed by waues, throwne euery way vpon rockes, vpon sands, vpon dangerous shoares, that is not guided by the Master, who standeth and moueth at the helme; So an Army not directed by signes, and forecast of the General, is carried away through ignorance and violence of affection, sometimes of anger, sometimes offeare, sometimes of reuenge, and other vnbridled desires, and breaketh or else falleth [Page] into confusion through disorder, working little against the enemy, may rather giuing him meanes of a certaine victory. The shippe is like the Army▪ the Generall like the Master, the words of Direction like the Rudder, guiding all and euery motion of the Army: For the Army being a body of many heads▪ whereof euery one hath a seuerall sense, hangeth together not by the naturall coherence and knitting of one member to another, but by artificiall ioyning of man to man, file to file, body to body, whereby it is gathered together into one Masse, and figured into many members and ioynts, and ruled not by the reason and iudgement of it selfe, but by the reason and vnderstanding of the Generall. So that no man is to demand why this or that is commanded, but is to execute it alone for this Cause, because it is commanded: The Generall then being to Command, and direct the actions of the whole Army, ought to finde out meanes to speake and discourse with them all at once, in such a language, as it were, that all may vnderstand at once. For the occurrence of warre being oftentimes sudden, and once slipt by, irrecouerable, require sudden meanes of speedy direction, that nothing fall out so vnlooked for, but the Army may haue notice how to preuent and auoid, or else to turne it to their most aduantage; the rather because in warre, safety and life come in question, in losse of which, no pardon of negligence can be admitted. And seeing there are two principall sences of aduertisement, the eare the one, the other the eye; the eare to heare all manner of sounds, the eye to discerne all manner of colours and shapes, it hath been the witty inuentions so antient Generals, to informe their Armies by the one, and by the other; by the eye when there was no vse of the eare; by the eare when the eye could not be informed: The true obseruation and vse of these signes auaile much in warre. Veget. l. 3. c. 5. Vegetius saith, that nothing profiteth more to victory, then to obey the admonition of signes. Former experience hath taught, that the neglect or error of signes, hath brought in great inconueniences, and quite ouerthrowne the enterprises in hand. Polyb. l. 9. 555. [...]. Polybius remembreth it in Aratus the elder, a Generall of the Achaeans, Cratus, saith hee, the Generall of the Achaeans, seeking to get the Cy [...]ethian City by a plot, agreed with those of his party within the Citie, vpon a certain time to come by night to the riuer that runneth by Cynethe, there refreshing and staying his Army a while, and that those within taking their time, should send about midday out of the gate secretly one of their companions, to stand in a cloake by a hill appointed, which was not farre from the Citie, to giue aduertisement to Aratus to march on▪ and that the rest about that time should lay hands vpon the Polemarches, (that vsed to guard the gates) while they reposed themselues and slept: And that this done, the Acheans should with all speed hasten to the gates, out of their Ambush. These things concluded, and the time approaching, Aratus came accordingly, and hiding himselfe by the riuer, awaited the signall: About the fifth houre, one of the Citie an owner of sheepe, that bore extraordinary fine wooll, & were vsually feeding about the Citie, came out of the City gate in a cloake, desirous to speake with the shepheard about some priuate businesse of his owne, and standing vpon the same hill, looked round about for the sheepheard. Aratus and his folke imagining this to be the expected signall, ran in all hast toward the Citie; but because nothing was ready within, the gates were quickly shut, and not onely Aratus missed of his purpose, but the Citizens also that conspired with him▪ fell into great misfortunes, being taken with the manner, and presently brought forth and put to death. This may be an example of error and misprision of the signe▪ Of the neglect, and likewise of the like error and misprision, there is a notable [Page] example in Caesar de bell. Gall. l. 7. 156. Caesars Comentaries in the siege of Alexia, Where Caesar hauing won the Enemies campe, lying vpon a hill neere the Towne, sounded a retreat to his army that was in fight: the Ensignes of the tenth legion made a stand, but the Souldiers of the other legions not hearing the sound of the trumpet, by reason of a valley, beyond which they were; were yet held backe by the Tribunes and Legats, as Caesar had giuen direction. Notwithstanding, being puffed vp with the hope of a speedy victory, and with the fight of the Enemy, and their happy battailes of former times, thinking nothing so hard that it might not be atchieued by their valour, they made no end of their chace, till they came neere to the Wall, and Gates of the Towne; and some of them entring at a gate, othersome clymbing vp the wall, imagined they had gotten possession of the towne. In the meane time the Enemies forces, who were busie in fortifying without on the other side of the towne, being acquainted herewith by message, sent their horse before, and followed after themselues, and in great numbers charged the Romans: The fight was hard, the enemy trusting to the aduantage of the place and to their number, the Romans to their valour, when on the sudden were seene on the open side of the Romans the Heduan Horse who serued in Caesars Armie, and were by him sent on the right hand to get vp the hill another way: they by likenesse of their armour put Caesars souldiers in a great feare. And although it might easily [...]e discerned, that their left shoulder was vnarmed, which was the signe of such as were friends, yet the Romans conceiued them to be enemies, and to vse that deuice onely to ouer-reach and entrap them. Being oppressed on all hands, and 46 Three were 60 Centurions in a Roman Legion. Centurions slaine, they were beaten from their ground with the losse of few lesse then 700 men. Caesars Souldiers here offended in both kindes in the neglect of their Generals Command, which he gaue by signe, and in mistaking the signe, which was vsuall for the Heduans to be knowne by. Caesars iudgement of these two faults appeareth in his speech, which he made to his Army presently vpon the losse; in which he reprehended their rashnesse, in that they would needs take vpon them to iudge how farre they were to proceede, and neither be held in with the signe of retreat that was giuen, [...]or yet be commanded by the Tribunes and Legates. He shewed of what force the disaduantage of ground was, and what his opinion was before this time at Auaricum, where surprising the Enemy without a Generall and Horse, he let an assured victory slip out of his hand, because he would not hazard, no not a small losse in fight vpon inequality of ground. As much as he admired their braue mindes and resolution, whom neither the fortifications of the Enemies Campe, nor the height of the Mountaine, nor the wall of the Towne could hold backe; so much hee reprehended their presumption and arrogancy, in that about the victory and issue of things, they preferred their owne conceits before the opinion of their Generall: For his part he required aswell modesty and continencie in a Souldier, as valour and magnanimity.

So Caesar insinuating that obedience and heedfulnesse were two principall vertues in a Souldier; by the one to be ready at all commands, by the other to execute with discretion what was commanded: by want of heedfulnesse they perceiued not the signe of retreat which was proposed vnto them, and mistooke the marke of the Heduans, whom they esteemed for their foes; by want of obedience to their Officers, they incurred the danger and losse which they sustained: diligent care therefore is to be had of signes, by which the minde of the Generall in all directions is declared, and as it were set before the eyes of the whole Army.

The Inuentors of the Signes of Warre were many. The Ensigne was inuented by the Egyptians, as I haue shewed in my notes vpon the 9 chap. of this [Page] Booke, where also the reason of the inuention is giuen. [...]lin natural. [...]ist. l. 7. c. [...] 7. The order of an Army, the giuing of the signe, the watch, the watchword was inuented by Palamedes, the trumpet by Tirrhenus the Sonne of Hercules.

To giue signes to an Armie pertaineth, as I haue shewed, to him that is the Gouernour thereof, that is, to the Generall. The manner how signes were by him giuen, appeareth in Onosander [...]. 25▪ Onosander, I will recite his words: Let all signes, quoth he, (he meaning by voyce) and [...]. by-signes be deliuered to the Officers of the Armie; in asmuch as for a Generall to goe vp and downe and proclaime the signe to all, is the part of an vnwise and vnexperienced Man, and both time is lost in denoun [...]ing it, and it is often a cause of tumult, whilest euery man asketh what the signe is. Besides, one addeth something to the Generals words, another diminish [...]th them through ignorance. Leo [...]. 20. §. [...] [...]6. Leo hath almost the same wordes, at least the same sence, and as I take it, hee borroweth them from Onosander. Onosand. c. 25. Onosander addeth, It behoueth him to giue the word to his highest Commanders, who are to deliuer it ouer to the next to themselues, and they to their next inferiour Officers, till it come to the last; for so shall euery one speedily, decently, and quietly know what is commanded. And this was the manner of the Grecians, as may appeare by Thucydides, who describing the vsage of the Lacedemonians in giuing the word and signes, of direction, hath thus, And presently the LacedemoniansPolemarches. Lochagi. Penteco [...]ers. Enomotarchs. Xenoph. Cyrop. l. 8. 203. [...]. ordered themselues in battaile, Agis the King commanding, as their law is; for when the King leadeth, all things are vnder his command, and hee giueth direction to the Polemarches, they to the Lochagij, who deliuer it to the Pentecosters, and they to the Enomotarches, from whom the Souldiers of the Enomoties haue it. This was then the manner of the Grecians. How the Romans did deliuer ou [...] their word you may finde in the sixt Booke of Polyb. l. 6. 479▪ & Lipsius ad [...]olyb. [...]. 5. dial▪ 9. Veget. l. 3. [...]. 5. Polybius. But because it pertaineth not to Aelian, who intreateth of the Graecian discipline alone, I remit the Reader to my marginall quotation. The signe was then deliuered from the superior Officers to the inferior, and from them to the Souldier▪ the kindes of signes that were deliuered are reckoned vp in this Chapter, being in number two; for they were presented either to the eare or to the eye▪ to the eare, as all sounds, whether mans voice or trumpets, or other instruments of warre, which were presented for direction or motion of the Army. To the eye, as all mute signes (so they are called which haue no sound) which were set vp to the view of the Souldier for direction likewise: Both of these kinds were either ordinary or extraordinary; ordinary, which had daily vse in the Army, as the Trumpet, Ensignes, and such like, as serued for ordinary direction. Extraordinary, which were brought in as occasion was offered of

Sig [...]

Vocalia.

Semiv [...]calia

Muta.

new command: besides, some were deliuered openly, as the vocall, semiuocall and mute signes, which by proclamation, sound of instruments, or representation were set forth to the whole army at once; some priuily, as the word, and such like, which passed secretly from one to another, and were receiued priuately in the eare. This variety was inuented, that in case one kinde failed, or would not serue, another might, as I haue noted before out of Suidas vpon the ninth Chapter, and as Aelian teacheth in this Chapter.

The ends of signes are two, one to order and direct our owne forces, the other to distinguish them from the Enemy.

Because I haue before spoken of the diuersity of vocall and mute signes, itSig [...] Vocalia. shall not be amisse here to shew the vse of them both by examples.

[Page]And this is first to be noted, that the Graecians in gouerning their troopes, as much as they could, retained the vse of the voice. In publike directions they vsed the voice of the Cryer; I haue before noted it vpon the 9 Chapt. If the command required secrecy, the Generall gaue it to his chiefe Commanders secretly by word: Of this kinde was the signe deliuered to discerne enemy from his owne souldiers in a battaile to be fought. Xenoph. d'exp. l. 1. 284. [...]. Xenophon writeth, that at such time as Cyrus the yonger and Artaxerxes were to ioyne battaile, Cyrus sitting on horse-backe a prettie distance from the Grecian troopes, heard a murmuring noise running along through their whole battaile, and asking Xenophon (who was then present with him) what noise it might be, and what it meant, Xenophon told him, that the Word was now giuen the second time: Hee wondering who had reuealed the Word to the Enemy, desired to know what the new word was; Xenophon answered, it was Iupiter the Sauiour and victory; which Cyrus hearing, I accept it, saith he, and let it be so. The murmure here mentioned arose out of the deliuering of the signe of the battaile, which being deliuered to the inferiour Officers by Clearchus, the chiefe Commander of the Grecians, and the Officers communicating it to the Souldiers, and the Souldiers one to another, went thorough the whole body of the phalange with a soft and stil noyse of them, that whispered it in the eares of their companions. Xenophon hath here set downe, that the word was Iupiter the sauiour and victory; In Xenoph. d [...] exp [...] ▪ l. [...]. 386. [...]. another place he hath, Iupiter the Sauiour and Hercules the guide, for the signe. To know who was an enemy who a friend, the souldiers meeting one another demanded the signe; if they deliuered the word giuen by the Generall, they held them for friends, if otherwise, for enemies: Polyen▪ l. [...] ▪ Polyen telleth of one Acues an Arcadian Generall, who commanded his Souldiers to kill him, whosoeuer he were that should aske the word: so that he made the voice of the enemy serue for the word to his owne Souldiers. This signe was changed in euery battaile, lest, if still the same signes were vsed, the Enemy might happily come to the knowledge of them, and so be taken for friend, vnder colour whereof much treason might be wrought: not much vnlike the signe giuen in a battell to be fought, is the watch-word by night, which was vsually deliuered to the first Officers of the Army, and by them deriued to the rest, and so brought downe to the Souldiers, and was no lesse obserued in a Citie, then in the Campe; in both which the same forme of watching was held, saue that in a Campe there were Sentinels per due, as we terme them at this day (the Grecians called them [...]) who stood and watched without the trench of the campe; whereas the Cities for the most part had Sentinels watching onely vpon the wals or market-place, or other pieces of strength giuing to, and receiuing the word from the rounders. And as the signes of battaile varied vpon occasion, as the last example spesified, so the watch-words were often changed, for feare they might come to the notice of the enemy; for the Enemy hauing the Watch-word, might nourish spies in our Campe or Citie, and haue certaine intelligence of all, that passeth there, as being taken for friends, because they carried the marke and tokens of friends; and they were changed not onely at the reliefe of the watch, which time is the vsuall moment of varying the word, but oftentimes after the same night, for feare that a Sentinell might be snatched vp without the Campe by an enemy, or else because of treason within, in reuealing the word to the enemy; oftentimes also they gaue a [...]. double word, one to the sentinell, another to the round; and [...] Polyb. l 9. 5 [...]6. [Page] sometimes added a [...] [...]. 25. For the double signe and bysigne, [...] Aen [...]. [...]. 24, 25. & Casaub. in notis ad Aene [...]. 4. &c. 24, 25. mute signe, to the word, which kind they called [...], as it were a by-signe,: and these are all the secret signes by word, which I finde in the Grecian practise. For the other words, as the exhortation of the Generall to the Army, and the words of training deliuered by the Cryer to the Souldiers, (for euery Company had a Cryer, because his voice was stronger and lowder then the Captaines,) they neither are secret, and seeme rather to be in the nature of Commands, then Signes. The single word of battell and watch, I find to bee called by no other name then [...], if it were a double word [...], if a mute signe were ioyned to the word [...].

The voice then of a man was vsed for a signe either when secrecie was required, or else where the Crier might bee heard in discharging his duty by proclamation, because it was weake and could not extend to the hearing of ths whole Army, and many things required for publike and quicke direction, Instruments of sound were brought in. Vegetius saith very well, Because a Semiuocalia. multitude cannot be gouerned by voice alone in the tumults of fight, and because many things are to bee commanded and done, according to necessity, the ancient vse of all Nations found out, how the whole Army by signes might with speed haue notice of and follow that, which the Generall iudged profitable for it. To helpe therefore the weakenesse of the voice, Instruments of sound were brought in, which were of three sorts amongst the Grecians, the Trumpet, the Flute, and the Harpe. The See my notes vpon the 9. Chapter. Flute was vsed by the Lacedemonians the Harpe by the Cretans. (euen to the ioyning of battaile) all other Grecians vsed the Trumpet. Diod. Sic. l. 13. 3 [...]3. And yet in the battaile during the time of fight, and in retreats, the Lacedemonians also vsed the trumpet. I haue noted it before vpon the 9 Chapter, where I haue also touched in what occasions and actions the trumpet was the signe. Now will I giue some Presidents of the particulars thece remembred.

And first the Trumpet gaue the signe of remouing the Campe: which appeareth by this precpt of Leo. 11 § 27. Leo; When you will remoue your Campe without tumult, you are to giuen commandement ouer night. And againe, the same day in which you remoue, you are in the morning by day light to signifie the remoue by sound of the Trumpet three times, and then remoue, and the Leaders and the armed are to goe out first, then the wagons, if any bee, and then other things which are carried for the vse of the Army. Thus Leo, for the remoue by day. By night, the Army of the Grecians that fought with Artaxerxes (as Xenophon de exp. l. a. 275. Xenophon reporteth) remoued after this sort. After the death of Cyrus, the Grecians that followed Cyrus, being in distresse, and pinched with want of al things, not knowing what course to take, and hauing a message from Arieus (a chiefe Persian Commander vnder Cyrus while he liued) to come and ioyne with him, that they might returne together to Ionia, from whence they first began to march, Clearchus the Principall Commander of Grecians being determined to doe as Arieus counselled, and yet loth the enemy should know of his departure, gaue these directions to the Army, This must de your course, saith hee, wee must goe euery man to his lodging, and sup with such prouision as he hath, and when the Horne giueth the signe to rest, trusse vp your baggage, at the second signe lay it vpon the carriage beasts, at the third euery man follow his Leader. The Captaines and Coronels hearing this, did as they were commanded. This practise of Clearchus differeth not much from Leos precept; for hee vsed three sounds of the trumpet, and so Leo doth command: Clearchus yet further sheweth what was bee done at euery signe, which Leo pretermitteth, perhaps as a thing commonly knowne: Besides, [Page] Clearchus vsed all these signes for another end, then for which they were first instituted. The Grecians at euening discharged their workemen from their worke by sound of trumpet, and that was called the signe of rest: then they diuided the night into foure parts, which were called foure watches, because rheir Sentinels were foure times releeued in a night, and at euery reliefe the Trumpet sounded. Now the sounds of the Trumpet by night, Clearchus conuerted into signes for marching according to Leoes prescription, and remoued his Campe, the enemy not perceiuing it. Hence it appeareth then that the Campe was remoued by the sound of the Trumpet: And yet I finde that Alexander brought in an alteration about this signe of remoouing: For Q. Curtius l. 5. 107. Curtius remembreth that Alexander at the first vsed it, but perceiuing afterwards, that this signe could hardly be discerned by the whole Army, by reason of the noise and stirring of the multitude, thought it better to sticke downe a Pole, and vpon the top of it to hang a coloured cloth, to giue his Army notice, that hee meant to remoue, and euer after held himselfe to that signe.

The Trumpet likewise was the Xenop. l. 3. 308. signe of fight: And when all the Trumpets of the Army sounded, it was called Diod Sic. 673. 760. 372. [...], (in Latine Classium;) and the whole Army hearing this signe, began to aduance, and sung the Xenoph l. 1. d'exp. 265 Diod. Sic. l. 13. 372. Paean, and gaue a shout, and presently ioyned with the enemy. The Greeke histories euery where giue testimony hereof.

But wee are to note that this sounding of trumpets all together, was before the Army came to ioyne with the enemy, and that the end of it was to strike a terror into the enemy, and to encourage and stirre vp the mindes of their owne people to fight; for in the time of fight, they vsed another manner according to this precept of Leo [...]. 12. §. 6 [...]. 107. Leo, I would not aduise you to sound with many Trumpets, during the time of conflict, it being a thing both hurtfull, and bringing with it tumult and confusion: for thereby no Commander can bee heard. But if the place bee found plaine and euen, the Trumpet of the middle battell will bee sufficient for all the other battels: if it be vneuen, or the winde, as it often happeneth, boisterous, or the noise of waters hinder the cleernesse of the sound, it will not bee inconuenient for a Trumpet to speake in euery battell so that three may be sounded in the whole Army. For the more that stilnesse is obserued, the lesse shall the youger sort of Souldiers be disturbed, or the beasts affrighted, and more terrible shall the battell seeme to the enemy, and directions be better heard and put in execution.

The Trumpes were therefore the signes of fight, first all sounding together when the Army went to charge, and afterward one or three at the most during the time of fight.

And as the signe of fight was giuen by the Trumpet, so was the signe of retreat.

This also is manifest by the stratagem of Pammenes. Polyen relateth that hee f Polyen. in [...] m [...]ne l. 5. §. 4. deceiued his enemies by vsing a contrary course in sounding the Trumpet, then the common manner was, commanding his Souldiers when hee sounded the retreat, they should goe to charge; when he sounded a charge, they should retreat: in doing whereof, he greatly annoyed his enemies. The example of Diod. [...]ic. 15. 475. Agesilaus cited by mee in my notes vpon the 9 Chapter sheweth, that the trumpet was vsed for retreats: and the History of Callicratidas reported by Diodor. Scic. in his 15 Booke; Suidas nameth this kinde of sound giuen by the trumpet, [...], as it wereh Suidas i [...] [...]. a calling backe, or a command to retire.

[Page]The Trumpet finally was vsed as a signe for the Army to stand, or to goe forward as the businesse required. Albeit I must confesse, there were other vsuall signes besides the trumpet in this case:Leo [...]. 7. §. 31. Leo saith, In exercise of Horse, when you are to mooue the Body, you are to giue signe either with the voice alone, or with the Trumpet, or else with the bowing downe of a Baneroll, and so to moue them. And if you would haue them to make alte, you are to doe it either with he voice, saying stand, or with the Trumpet or with the noise of a Targetbeaten vpon with a sword. The like he speaketh of the exercise of foot in the same Chap and after in the 9 Ch. he saith, you shall command the Souldiers to stand, by knowing exactly the soūd of the Trumpet, & again to moue by the sound of the trumpet. So that although other signes were giuen for marching & retreat, yet the most cōmon signe was by the Trumpet. Semiuocalia. Now we are to vnderstand, that all signes giuen by sound to the eare (except by the voyce) are called signa semiuocalia, because albeit their sound be lowder and stronger for the most part then the voyce is, yet they are not articulated, as is the sound of the voice. Hitherto of signes that were giuen to the eare by the sound. Now are we to speake briefly of mute signes, or those that were set vp, as it were, a marke for the eye.

Mute sign swere of two kindes: for either they were simple, and vsed by themselues, as an obiect of the eye alone, or else they were mixed, and ioynedMute signes. to signes of sound, and so communicated both to the eye and to the eare. Of the second for were those whereof I haue spoken a little before, and they were called [...], namely when a mute si ne is added to a vocall: as when to the Word in the night is ioyned some speciall gesture of the body, as holding downe or nodding of the head, lifting vp the hand, putting off the hat, heauing vp the skirt of the garment, &c. concerning which see Onosand. c. 26. Onosander and Aeneas c. 24. Of the first kinde were signes presented to the eye alone, which extended very largely, and serued where neither voyce not trumpet could be heard by reason of the remorenesse of the place; these were called [...], signes properly, and [...] likewise, because it was agreed by the parties, who gaue and tooke them, that they should haue such and such signification. The words be different, but the meaning and effect is all one; for as no signe can be, but there must be a giuer and a taker of the signe, so [...] that respect the signes called [...] by reason of the communication betwixt the giuer and taker of the signe, may aptly also be tearmed [...]. And albeit I noted before that the signe of the battaile and the watchword was called by no other name but [...], yet it [...] taken often for a mute signe also: Many occasions were of giuing these signes, and they were sometimes shewen by day sometimes by night, and in the day time they were sometime proposed in the battaile, sometime in other places, where they might be perceiued. Arr. [...] 1. 6. D. Arrian historieth of Alexander the Great, that at his being in the Country of the Taulantians, his enemies Clytus and Glaucias, had with man [...] horse, darters, and slingers, and not a few armed men, taken the Mountaines and high places, by which he was to passe in returning. The place was streight and wooddy, shut vp on the one side with a riuer, on the other side with an exceeding high mountaine, the sides whereof were very steepe, so that the Armie could not march with more then foure armed in front. Alexander marshalled his troopes to 120 in depth, and ordering 200 horse on each wing, he commanded silence, and heede to be taken to his directions: And first he willed the armed to aduance their pikes, then vpon a [...] signe giuen to let them fall, and charge, then to turne them close knit to the right hand, then [Page] to the left, and sometime he moued the battell quickly forward, and sometime he moued it to the one wing, sometime to the other. And so fashioning it into diuers shapes in short time, and at last casting it into a wedge, as it were, he led it against the Enemy; who stood wondering at the speedinesse and good order of the diuers motions; and now perceiuing the Armie to be led against them, abode not the charge, but left the hill, which he held, and fled. Here are mentioned seuen seuerall motions of the phalange, which wee haue in practice at this day: 1 Aduancing of Pikes, 2 charging of them, 3 first to the right hand, 4 then to the left hand, 5 mouing of the battell forward, 6 mouing it to the right wing, and then 7 to the left. And all these motions were directed by a signe; what this signe was, may be doubted, because it is not expressed whether it was by voice, trumpet, or a mute signe. For my part I would not take it to haue beene by voyce; for how could the voice be heard in so great an Army as Alexander had (which according to Diodor. Sec. l. 17. 566. Diodorus Siculus consisted of 30000 foot and 3000 horse) and was stretched out in depth, and had but foure armed in front: nor yet would I imagine it to haue beene giuen by trumpet; because, though perhaps the trumpet might be heard of all the Army, by reason of the Eccho rebounding from the Mountaine and riuer, yet could it not fitly and cleerely distinguish the sound that should direct these seuen seuerall motions: I haue before declared in what case the trumpet was employed. Let me with leaue therefore thinke, that it was a mute signe presented to the eye; as for the purpose a Coate, or other garment fastned to the end of a long staffe, the colour whereof being eminent, and the staffe being lifted aloft might be perceiued by the whole Army. The signe then aduanced to the full height, might signifie aduancing of Pikes, which was the first motion. Being abased and held leuell before the front, charging to the front, which was the second motion; held out leuell to the right flanke charging to the right hand, to the left flanke, charging to the left hand; which were the third and fourth motions of Alexander: mouing forward in front, it might be a signe for the battell to follow, which was the fift. Mouing to the right hand, for the battell to march to the right, which was the sixt: to the left, for the battell to moue to the left, which was the seuenth; which motion might more easily be performed, in case the ensignes of the particular Companies tooke their direction from the maine signe, and so framed themselues to the same motions, and the Souldiers to the motions of their Ensignes: This I say is my coniecture, wherein notwithstanding I preiudice no mans opinion, but leaue euery man to his owne conceit and sence. Xenoph. hist. great. l. 6. 587. C. Xenophon relateth a notable example of Iphicrates the Athenian, who being chosen Admirall by the Citie, as soone as he began to take the Sea with his Nauie, both at once sailed, and also prepared all things necessary for Sea-fight: for he left at home the greater sailes, as one that sailed forth to fight, and seldome vsed the greater masts, were the winde neuer so faire, but hasting forward with the oare, he both made the bodies of his men strong and healthy, and the Nauie gained a speedier way: and oftentimes where he meant to dine, there would he draw his whole Nauie from the shoare in A single file. a wing? and turning them about, and addressing their prowes to the land, giue a signe for the ships to hasten with all celerity to the land, euery one as it could. It was a great reward and victory for those that came first to land, to water, and take all thing they needed, as also to dine, and a great punishment to the sluggards to want those commodities, and besides to put to sea again, when the signe was giuen: for the first did all things at ease, and as they list, the last were streightn [...]d with haste, and [Page] must doe as they could. When, by chance he dined in the enemies Countrie, he set out Sentinels some vpon land as behooued, other vpon ships rearing vp the Masts, that from them they might take a view of all things: for these being placed in a higher station, might easily discerne and see further, then the other standing vpon euen ground: wheresoeuer he supped and slept, he suffered no fires to be made in the Campe by night, but held light before the Campe, that no man might haue accesse to it without discouery. Oftentimes in faire weather, he no sooner supped, but put to sea againe, and in case there were a fresh gale, sailed forward▪ and the sailers in the meane time gaue themselues to rest: when hast was needfull he releeued the saylers by turnes, and in the day time vpon [...]. Xenoph. hist grec. l. 6. 587. C. signes led sometimes in a wing, some times in a phalange.

That these were mute signes from the Admirall ship (besides that, the word [...] importeth so much for the most part) no man I thinke acquainted with Sea-seruice will make question, considering that both voice and Leo c. 19. §. 40. trumpet easily giue place to the whistling of windes and roaring of tempests, and raging of waues of the Sea. To say nothing of the distance of one ship from another, nor of the tumult and cry of Mariners, or sound of oares (for in those times sea-fights were altogether in Gallies driuen with oares) which make them vncapable of direction by any other kinde of signe. And for these mute signes to be giuen by sea, I meane, of what kinde they should be, and to what end, and in what manner deliuered, I thinke good to cite the words of the Emperour Leo, which sound thus: Leo c. 19. §. 42. Let there be, saith he, in your Galley [...]. a signe standing in some eminent place, either an ensigne, or some banerall, or some such like, wherewith after you haue signified what is to be done, your direction may straight be vnderstood and executed, whether you would haue your Nauie to goe to charge, or retire from the Enemy, or to countermarch to encompasse the enemy, or to hasten to relieue some of your owne party distressed, or slacke or quicken their aduancing, or lay or auoid an ambush, or such like: that they seeing the signes [...]rom your ship, may receiue direction what is to be done. And a little after he declareth the manner and vsage of these signes, saying; Let the signe Le [...] c. 19 §. 42. be showne either standing vpright, or enclining to the right or left hand, or lifted aloft, or let fall low, or be taken cleane away, or transported to another place, or changing by making the head of it appeare in diuers formes by adding other shapes of colours vnto it, as was vsed by the Ancients. For their manner was in the day of battaile to reare vp a red coloured signe, which they called Diod. Sic. l. 13. 372. [...], and it was nothing else but a peece of red cloath exalted vpon a long staffe, and such like; but it may be more safely deliuered by your owne hand. I thought good to cite these passages of Leo, the rather to giue light to the place last before recited out of Zenophon. For out of this precept of Leo the practise of Iphicrates his motions may more perspicuously appeare.

Now that these red coloured signes, and signes of other colours also were vsed in fights on land, Toly [...]. l. 2. 151 D Polybius sheweth in the battell betweene Antigonus the Macedonian King, and Cleomenes the King of Sparta. Antigonus Army consisted of diuers nations, Macedonians, Agrians, Galatians, Achaeans, Baeotians, Epirotes, Acarnans, Illyrians. Cleomenes his enemy had taken and fortified all the streight passages which led into the territory of the Lacedemonians (for thither did Antigonus bend his inuasion) and so disposed his forces that Antigonus could not passe without fight: Hereupon Antigonus resolued to fight; and because his fight was to be ordered in and against diuers places, and at diuers times, as his aduantage fell out, he gaue diuers signes to his different people, when to giue on: [...]. The signe to the Illyrians was, then to charge vp

[Page]

Cap. 30.

The Coelembolos, or hollowfronted wedge The right Induction The front

[Page]

Cap. 36.

The Coelembolos The left wing The Phalange set against ye left wing of ye Coelembolos The front The forbearing Phglange The right wing The Phalange set against ye right wing of ye Coelembolos

[Page]

Cap▪ 36.

The File-leaders A Deduction to the left hand A right induction The Front A Deduction to the right hand The File leaders

[Page]the hill, when they saw a white linnen cloath held vp from the place about Olympas, to the Megalopolitans and horse, when they saw the King lift vp a purple garment. Caesar [...]. [...]. de be [...]. ciuil 323. Caesar commanded his Souldiers not to [...]ight without his direction, saying. he would giue a signe with an ensigne, when he would haue them begin. And albeit the colour of red was vsed for the most part in Signals, yet was not the party that gaue the signe precisely tyed to any colour: it was enough if the signe might giue notice of the Generals intent to them, whom it concerned: the first Diod. Sic. [...]. 20. 759. Ptolowie gaue a signe to his Nauie to begin the fight by hoisting vp a gui [...] Target in his Admirall galley, Vegec. l. 3. [...]. [...]. other with holding vp or shaking their garment, or their hand, or with wearing some vnusuall marke vpon a horse, vpon Armes, vpon vestures, or such like. This is to be noted for a generall rule, that when you finde in history a signe was giuen at a great distance, and it is not expressed what signe it was, you must vnderstand that it was a mute signe presented to the eye, because the sence of hearing is feeble, and not able to discerne farre off. Hitherto of mute signes giuen by day. In the night, when all was couered with darknesse, and the vse of sight taken away, the vsuall manner was to giue a signe by flame of fire, which manner of signall might be descried in the night, being the darknesse neuer so great: Appian in Hispanicis 306. [...]. Scipio Africanus the younger, hauing enclosed Numintia round about with a trench and rampier, commanded that if the Enemy fell out vpon any part of his fortification, a red peece of cloath should be held out by day vpon a long staffe, a flaming fire by night, that himselfe or his chiefe officers might come to succour. The like shall you finde in Casars Commentaries and Q. Curtius and in other Historiographers bothSee vegec. [...]. 3. [...]. [...] Greeke and Latine.

These were the signes vsed in the battell, and in the Campe: without the Campe were set Sentinels both horse and foot to fore-warne and giue aduerrisement to the Generall of the Enemies approach. To Ae [...] [...]. 6 [...] these oftentimes the Generall gaue a signe amongst themselues, and they by signes signified what was done abroad▪ For the manner of placing these Sentinels, see Aeneas. The signes themselues were such as might be discerned by the eye, and of that kinde and forme whereof I haue made mention already.

Of Marching, and of the diuers kind of battels fit for a march. And first of the right induction, of the Caelembolos, and of the Triphalange to be opposed against it. CHAP. XXXVI.

(1) BEing now to speake of marching, I will first giue to vnderstand that some kinde of march is a (2) right-induction, othersome a (3) deduction on the right or left hand, and that in a single, or double, or treble, or quadruplesided battell: In a single, when one Enemy is feared, in a double, when two in a treble, when three in a quadruple, when the Enemy purposeth to giue on all sides. Therefore the March is vndertaken sometimes in a single, sometimes in a double, or in a threefold, or in a fourefold phalange.

(4) A right induction is, when one body of the same kinde followeth another; as if a Xenagy lead, the rest follow Xenage-wise; or if a Tetrarchy [Page] lead, the rest follow according to that forme. It is so called when the march stretcheth it selfe forth into a wing, hauing the depth many times exceeding the length.

Against it is opposed the caelembolos or hollow-wedge, which is framed when the Antistomus diphalange disioyneth the leading wings, closing the reare in forme of the letter V, as the figure after doth teach, in which the front is disseuered, and the reare ioyned and knit together: for the right induction pointing at the midst of the Enemies battell, the Caelembolos quickly opening before, serueth both to frustrate the charge of the front of the induction, and to claspe in and circumuent the flanks thereof.

Furthermore a Triphalange is to be set against the Caelembolos, one Phalange fighting against one wing of the Caelembolos, the second against the other, and the middle or third phalange forbearing, and expecting a time fit to charge.

NOTES.

THe Marching of an Army is a principall head of warre. Aelian toucheth it no further, then to shew the order and shapes of battels fit for a March: and were it possible, that all grounds were alike open, and without impediments, as namely without trees, ditches, hedge-rowes ragged waies, valleys, hils, brooks, and such like, the best forme of your marching should be to proceede with your whole phalange in a square battell, which forme is teady for all attempts of the enemy, and is the beginning and sourse of other formes, and with no great difficulty wil take & be changed into any shape you desire. Leo [...] 9. [...]. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. Leo sheweth the inconueniency of the Herse or induction in marching thorow Champaine and large plaines, first in that the Enemy with a broad-fronted battaile may enfold and encompasse the front, and so easily rout it then, because if the Enemy charge the flanke it will quickly be broken, as being without depth: further, if he fall vpon the reare, it is in the like danger of encompassing, as was the front: lastly neither can the front giue succour and assistance to the reare, in case it be ouerpressed by the Enemy, nor yet the reare to the front, they being so farre distance one from another. And he concludeth that the forme of a square or broad-fronted battaile, is fit for a march in all occasions, being easily to be ordered, and without danger. But seeing it is not possible, as Polib. [...]. [...]7. 766. B Polibius saith, or else very hard to finde out places of 20 furlong, or more, where in none of the impediments aboue recited shall be, the formes of marching must necessarily be accommodated to the ground and wayes through which your forces are to passe: what formes they be, the following Chapters will shew.

2. Some kinde of March is a right Induction.) The expectation of the enemies approach is oftentimes a cause of varying th [...] kindes of march: if he alwayes appeared in front, there should need no other proceeding then with the file-leaders in front: because he seekes his aduantage, and in the March sometimes attacheth the reare, sometimes one flanke, sometimes another, the Grecians to prouide for all attempts, so ordered their March, that wheresoeuer they feared the enemies giuing on, there they opposed the file-leaders, as the best men of the Armie, and most able to receiue the affront: yet for the most part the March was vndertaken in a right induction, [Page] that is; without inuerting the ordinary kind of file-leading in front, which also is our manner of marching at this day. But yet sometimes in a

3. Deduction on the right or left hand.] There is but one kind of right induction, viz. a march, that hath the file-leaders in the front. Of Deductions there are 2 kinds: one to the right, the other to the left hand. And because the file-leaders march on the right or left hand flanke, not in front; therefore the one is called a right hand deduction; the other a left hand deduction. So that not the body which continueth or beginneth the march, but the place of the fileleaders in the march, makes the difference betwixt Induction and Deduction. What the Vse of Deduction is, we shall see in the next Chapter.

4. A right Induction is.] Aelian describeth the right Induction by the marching of seuerall bodies of one kind one after another: as if aA Xenagy and a Syntagma, are all one: It consisteth of 16 files, 16 men to the file. Xenagy lead, all the rest of the forces are to bee separated into Xenagies, and singly one after another to follow the first leading Xenagy: so of other bodies lesser or greater. Notwithstanding in a right Induction, wee must take this caution withall, that the file-leaders proceed in the front; for otherwise if they bee placed in the flanke, it is now no induction, but a deduction, howsoeuer the seuerall bodies of a kind follow one another.

This is that manner of marching which is called, marching in a wing, of which I haue spoken sufficiently in my notes vpon the 30 Chapter. There are other kind of inductiue marches set forth in the Greeke History, which are not altogether of the forme which Aelian describeth: for where Aelian would haue Xenagies to follow one another with the file-leaders in front, his meaning is, that the whole 16 files of the Xenagie should bee laid together all the fileleaders being layed in an euen front. Now you haue examples where whole Companies march in one file; so that all the file-leaders haue not the front, but rest included in the inward parts of the file, and yet many of these files ioyned together make an induction. Xenoph. Cyr [...]p, l. 2. 56. Xenophon reporteth, that when Cyrus the elder was mustering and exercising his Army in the field, there came vnto him a messenger from Cyaxares the King of the: Medes, being Cyrus his vnkle, signifying, that an Ambassador was arriued from the Indies, in which regard, said hee, the King would haue you to come to him with all speed, and I bring you from Cyaxares one of his richest garments: For he desireth in regard the Indians are to see you, that your presence may bee adorned with as faire and sumptuous apparell as may bee. Cyrus receiuing this message, commanded the first A Taxiarch was a Captaine of 100 men. Taxiarchi to stand in front, hauing his Company ordered behind him in [...]. one file, and himselfe holding the right corner file of the battell, and willed him to deliuer that Command to the second Taxiarch, and so the word to passe to the rest: They quickly obeyed, and put the Command in execution; and so it came to passe in short space, that the Front had in it 300, (for so many the Taxiarches were) the depth of the battell 100. After they stood in this order, hee commanded them to follow, as he led, and straightway he led them running: but because hee perceiued that the way was too streight to march with so many in Front, hee willed the first This was a body of 1000 men, and they were now ordered to in Front, the depth 100. Chiliarchy to follow in the same order in which it then was, and the second in the Reare thereof, and so the rest: and he sent two Sergeants to the turnings of the way, to giue direction to such as were not fully instructed in the businesse. When they were come to Cyaxares gate, hee willed the first Taxiarch to order his Company 12 deepe, and the The file was 24, and the Dodecadarchs commanded the hinder halfe files. Dodecadarches to stand in Front all along the pallace; and hee willed to signifie so much to the next Taxiarch; and so the rest one to another through the whole Army. They did as they were commanded: and he went in to Cyaxares. Here haue you [Page] first a Company drawne into file, and so standing; then 299 Companies fashioned into files, and laid flanke-wise to the first, and so marching as long as the ground would permit: The ground afterward being capable of no more then 10 in front, the Chiliarchy of the right hand was drawne forth to leade the march, which consisted of 10 Companies, the Body being 10 in front, and 100 in depth: The rest of all the Chiliarchies followed the Reare one of another in the same order: comming to a place where Alte was to be made, the first Taxiarch drew out his Company by 12, placing the first file leader in front with the first 12 of the file, and sleeuing vp the Dodecadarch of the same file to Front with the file leader, and the hindermost 12 of them that followed him to ranke with the former halfe file; the like was done by the 3 other files, so that each Taxis had 8 in Front, and 12 in depth, and there being 30000 men in that Army, the whole Army comprehended 300 Taxis, the halfe files of 12 a peece, amount to the number of 2400: so many men in number also making the Front of the Army. And for the leading of the first Chiliarchy in the straight way, and the rest following in the like forme, it was an induction, which notwithstanding differeth from Aelians induction. Aelians Chiliarchy in the induction requireth the file leaders in front, this dispersed them in the whole body, Aelians Chiliarchy would haue had but 16 in depth, this had 100. For marching in like manner with the Captains before, and the single files of a Company cast into one file after them, I finde another example in Xenoph Cyrop. [...]5. 103. B. Xenophon. The elder Cyrus being to inuade Assyria by night, directeth his Army thus; Let vs leaue with the carriage beasts and waggons, such as are fittest for that seruice, and let Cobrias be their Leader, because hee is both skilfull in the waies, and otherwise sufficient for any affaire of Command: And let vs set forward with the best and most able horse and foot, carrying with vs victuall for three daies: for the lighter, and with the lesse cumber wee shall appoint out selues, with so much the more pleasure the after passing daies shall we dine, suppe, and sleepe. Now let the march bee ordered in this manner: First, you Chrysanthas, lead the [...]. armed foote with all their Captaines in Front, as long as the way is euen and broad; and let euery Company bee ordered in [...]. depth souldier after souldier file-wise; for the closser wee put our selues together, the sooner and safer shall wee end our march. The cause why I would haue the Armed goe before, is in regard they are the heauiest of the Army; and when the heauiest goe before, the light must [...]eds follow a [...] ease. But when the lightest leade, especially in the night, it is no maruaile if the Army bee seuered and distracted, the light easily slipping away, and hastening in the Vaunt. Next vnto these, let Artabazus lead the Targetiers and Archers of the Persians, and Andramias the Median, the Median footemen next, then let Embas follow with the Armenian foot, and Artuchas after him with the Hircanians, and next Thambradas with the Sacan foote, then Damatas with the Cadusian [...], and let all these march with the Captains in front, and on the right flanke of their Plesium is a hollow square battaile. Plesium the Targetiers (or Peltasts) the Archers on their left; for so shall they better second one another. After these let the whole baggage march, the Commanders whereof must bee carefull to haue all things ready before they sleepe, and early in the morning to bee at the appointed place with their furniture, and decently to march forward. After the baggage let Madatas the Persian lead the Persian Horse with their Captaines in front, and let the Captaines order their Companies in a file, as the foot Captaines did: Next after these Rambaces the Median, in the same sort the Horse which hee commandeth: Then you Tygraues your horse: Then the [Page] other Horse Captaines euery one the Horse with which they serue mee. And as the Cadusians came last to my seruice, let them close vp the reare of the Army: Thus Xenophon.

The passage is somewhat long, but I thought good to recite it, because it containeth the order of night marches vsuall of old time. First, the armed foote march euery Nation after other, as long as the ground would giue leaue, in a square battell framed of Company laid to Company, euery Company drawne out into a file, the Targetiers on the one flanke, the Archers on the other: then the carriage: last of all the Horse. The reason is added why the slowest haue the Vaunt, namely, lest in the night, when all things (saith the same Xenophon) are to bee vnderstood and done by direction to the eare, and not to the eye, the Horsemen or light armed (who are nimble & quick, the Horsemen by reason of the Horse that carry them; the light armed, because they are troubled with no weight of Armes) leading, they might happily with their speede out-goe, and leaue the heauy armed beehinde, who beeing burdened with the heauinesse of their Armes, can march but slowly.

But my principall end was to shew, that the file-leaders in an induction [...], are not alwaies placed in Front; I will adde one example out of Xen. de exp. l. [...] 284. [...]. Xenophon more to the same purpose; When the Grecians that followed Cyrus the yonger into Persia, returned toward their Country, they came as far [...]e as the riuer Phiscus; they found there a bridge, and not farre off a great City called Opis, at which the base brother of Cyrus and Artaxerxes, leading from Susa and Ecbatana a mighty Army with him, to giue aid to the King, met the Grecians; and causing his owne Army to make alte, hee tooke vnto of the Grecians as they passed by. Clearchus led his Army [...] 2 in Front, and in his march oftentimes made alte. As long as the Vaunt of the Army staied, so long the Reare must likewise stay. So that the Grecians were of opinion they had a great Army; and the Persian was abashed at the sight of such a multitude.

Whether this march were Aelia [...]s right Induction, a man would doubt, because it is not expressed by Xenophon particularly how the bodies of the Phalange did march: onely hee saith, that Clearchus led [...], in binos saith the Latine translation: I interpret it 2 in Front. For two in depth it could not be, because Xenophon speaketh of a stand made oftentimes by the Vaunt which caused the Reare to stay. And had the Army beene but 2 in depth, it had bean all Vaunt, the 10000 Grecians beeing ordered into two ranks and no more, each of them being 5000 men: besides that, the Persian wondered at the multitude which passed by him in flanke; which flank, if it had consisted of no more then two, his wonder would soon haue ended. But Clearchus vsed Art to make his number seeme greater, and being but 2 in Front, they must needs be 5000 in file; to which 5000 giuing 6 foot a peece for their open order, the ground wil contain 30000 foot in depth, which amoūt to six miles of ours. The vsage of the Lacedemonians was to march sometimesFiue foot make a pace, 30000 foot are 6 miles, 1000 paces making a mile. with 2 in Front, if the way were straight. So did Dercyllidas in Asia the lesse, when entring into a City, his whole Army followed him peaceably [...] two in Front. So b Archidamus the sonne of Agesilaus, aduancing against the Arcadians by a cart way that led to Cromnum, ordered his Army 2 in front, as then his march fell out. When they approached one to another, Archidamus his army being in a wing by reason [Page] of the streightnesse of the way, the Archadians in a broad-fronted phalange, with targets close faced together, the Lacedemonians could not endure the charge of the Arcadians, and forthwith both Archidamus was wounded through the thigh, and they slaine that fought before him. Hee saith that Archidamus marched two in front wing-wise by reason of the streightnesse of the way. In that he saith wing-wise, he sheweth the army was drawne out in depth, which is proper to an induction; and when he maketh the way the cause, he giueth a reason, why it so marched. But to returne to that I first propounded, the inductions hitherto specified in the former examples seeme to differ from Aelians rightinduction, as neither hauing all the file-leaders in front, nor yet single bodies of the same kinde one to follow another, the companies being each drawne into one file, and then two, or three, or foure, or more of these files laid together, according to the largenesse of the way, and the rest of the army following in the manner afore expressed.

5. Against it is opposed the Caelembolos.] The Caelembolos is a wedge hollow in front, and to be opposed against the right induction, saith Aelian. I haue noted before that it hath beene the manner of all famous Generals to fit the embattailing of their armies to the forme which the enemy vseth at the time of ioyning: and therefore it much concerneth the Onosand [...]. 16. Commander of an army to be skilfull in all formes, which are of true vse, and to know the aduantage that one carrieth against another. The right induction is, and alwayes hath beene the ordinary forme to march in. To order your troopes in an aduantagious forme against it, the Caelembolos was inuented: It is called by the Greekes a hollow wedge, because it is not filled vp in the middest, but includeth a void space bias-wise in front betwixt the points of both wings, and ioyneth it selfe together in the reare. So that to one that shall view it behinde it seemes a plaine wedge, and yet in propriety of speech it cannot be called a Wedge; for a Wedge hath three sides and three points, and beareth the true forme of a triangle; and with the former point it chargeth the enemy, as hath beene showne in the horse-mans wedge. This hath but one point and two sides, neither doth it charge the enemy with the point, but receiuing the front of his battaile into the empty space, striketh vpon both the flankes thereof with the wings, it hath opened, and so seeketh to distresse it; the Caelembolos hauing this aduantage, that it fighteth with the best men, viz. the file-leaders ordered in the inside of the wings thereof, not against the file-leader of the right induction, but against the weaker sort, who are ordinarily placed in the flankes thereof. The Latine names are more fit and significant to expresse the forme. By some it is called a Forceps Veges. l. 3. c. 18. 19. paire of tongues, by othersome a A. Gellius l. 10. [...]. 9. [...]orfex. paire of sheeres, both appellations seruing to set forth the right forme of the Caelembolos: for the one and the other open their foremost parts to a pretty distance, and the hinder parts, which are pinned and fastened together, end in a narrow point, as doth the Caelembolos. And they were so farre from tearming it a wedge, that they held it the best forme to receiue and frustrate the charge of the true wedge, as may be seene in Vege [...]. l. 10. c. 18 Vegetius.

6. Which is framed when.] The fashioning of the Caelembolos springeth out the Diphalange Antistomus. What that Diphalange is, we shall see in the 40 chapter of this booke. Thus much I may before-hand signifie, that [Page] the file-leaders ought to be placed within the hollow flanks of the Caelembolos, as it were a lyning to the insides; and the Di-phalange Antistomus being once framed (which is to haue the file-leaders in the middest from the one end of the battaile to the other) there needeth no further labour, then to dispatch the front in the middest (leauing the file-leaders on both sides) and to fasten and ioyne together the reare, to the end that the front of the right induction may enter into the hollownesse, but yet be mashed, as it were in a net, and neither able to passe through the reare of the Caelembolos, being close shut, nor yet to giue offence to those that fight in the front of the Caelembolos, hauing no man whom they may charge in the void space; nor yet daring to breake the forme of their battaile after ioyning. For it is a good obseruation of Vege [...] l 3. 8 89. Xenoph. Cyrop. Vegetius, that in fight the manner of your embattailing is not to be changed, nor any number of Souldiers to be transported to other places then they haue: For hereof tumult and confusion will streight arise, and the enemy will easily take aduantage of such as are not ready or fallout to be disordered. I haue said that the Latines and Grecians differ in the name of this battaile, howbeit they agree both about the forme, which may here appeare by Aelian, who resembleth it to the letter V, neither can there a better resemblance be made; for as the letter V consisteth of two lines which are open in the top, close in the bottome, so doth this forme of battaile of two sides, which in front are void, open, and disseuered, in the reare ioyned and closed fast together. If you will therefore frame this battaile, you must first make a square, the file-leaders being all in front; then must you wheele the wings of your battaile into the middest, and so your file-leaders shall be in the middest; lastly, you are to open the front of your battaile, leauing halfe the file-leaders in the inside of one flanke, and halfe in the inside of the other, keeping the reare close knit together: and for the opening, it ought to be somewhat more then will receiue into the void space the front of the right induction, which being once let in, the inward two flanks of the wedge where the file-leaders are, ought to face to both hands, and to charge the outward flanks of the right induction, and so circumuent them.

7. Furthermore, a Triphalange.] A Triphalange in this place of Aelian is, when a square body or phalange is from front to reare diuided into three parts. The figure shewes the manner. The Triphalange hath as much aduantage against the Caelembolos, as the Caelembolos had against the right induction. The Caelembolos compelled the right induction to fight with the worst men, and auoided the affront of the file-leaders, which were the best. The Triphalange hauing the file-leaders in front, opposeth two seuerall fronts: against the two wings of the Caelembolos, where there are no fileleaders (for they are alwayes disposed for the inside) and both auoideth the aduantage the Caelembolos sought, and maketh the Caelembolos fight with the worst men, in as much as one of the Phalanges chargeth the front of one wing of the Caelembolos, the file-leaders whereof are in flanke within the hollownesse, the other chargeth the other. Now it hath this aduantage besides, that it spareth reserues for all occasions, by off-holding the third Phalange. If the Caelembolos be beaten by the two opposing Phalanges, all is lost, and no hope left of winning the field, no other forces being to second it, where notwithstanding the Caelembolos hauing gotten the better, may be curbed, and the victory arrested by this reserue, and by the remnant of the other two Phalanges broken.

Words of direction in the right induction.

1 The right-corner Xenagy march out
So is it of all other bodies, if they begin the march.

2 The rest follow in Xenagies

Direction for the Caelembolos.

1. Wheele the wings of your battaile into the middest of your body—
So shall the file-leader be in the middest; but we must note that the two midlemost leaders must be centors for the other to wheele about.

2. Open your front to the right and left hand, keeping your Reare close.

For the Triphalange.

1 The two wings face to the right and left hand, the middle remaining as it was.

2 Match out to the distance required:That is, to be able to meet in a right line the two fronts of the wings of the Caelembolos.

3 Stand,When they come to the place required.

4 Face as you were

5 Aduance and charge.

Of Paragoge or deduction. CHAP. XXXVII.

(1) PArogoge or deduction is when the Phalange proceedeth in (2) a wing, not by (3) file, but by ranke, hauing the commanders or file-leaders either on the right-hand, which is called a right hand deduction, or on the left hand, which is a lefthand deduction. For the Phalange marcheth in a (4) double, treble, or quadruple front, according to the place or part it is suspected the enemy will giue on. And both the paragogies beginning the fight in flanke, doe (5) make the length doubte to the depth. This forme of fight was deuised to teach a Souldier to receiue heedfully the charge of the enemy, not onely in front but also in flanke.

NOTES.

(1) DEduction is when the Phalange.] Induction is spoken of, Deduction followeth, which is the second kinde of march. For these are no

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Cap. 37. A foure fronted Phalange against all allemptes of the Enemy

The Front of ye reare The Front of ye right flank The Front of ye left flank The Front of the Narch

[Page] [Page]other kinds then Induction and Deduction: the one with the file-leaders in front, the other with the file-leaders in flanke. Neither doth the greatnesse or smalnesse of the body make any difference herein; be the body neuer so great (as is the Phalange) or so small (as one Company) yet must the fileleaders either lead, or else be in flanke of the march. The reare in necessity may well be made good by the bringers vp. Deduction is the mother of many formes of battailes vsuall in marches: from it come the Caelembolos, whereof we spake before; from it are the Antistomus, the Peristomus, the Homoiostomus, the Heterostomus, of which hereafter.

2 When the Phalange proceedeth in a wing.] Suidas hath, that Paragoge or deduction is said to be when the phalange marcheth with the file-leaders on the right or left hand; if on the left, it is said to be a left-hand deduction; if on the right, a righthand deduction. He maketh no mention of a wing as Aelian doth; for it may so fall out, that the body may be such as hath the depth and breadth all one, as a Xenagy which hath sixteene in breadth, and sixteene in depth: some bodies also, as the Taxies and Tetrarchies haue the depth lesse then the breadth, the first holding sixteen in depth & no more then eight in breadth, the last foure in breadth and sixteene in depth, so that they march not in a wing. But because marches for the most part are vndertaken in a wing, it is the cause why Aelian saith that deductions proceed in a wing, the depth whereof manifoldly exceedeth the length, and they proceed.

3. Not by file but by ranke.] That is, the file-leaders being wheeled to the flanke, after they haue setled themselues to march, proceed on their iourney as they stand in the flanke, onely facing that way the march is intended, and returne not to lead in the front of the battaile, as they did at first. To lead by file is, when the file-leaders proceede, and haue their files following at their backe. To lead by ranke is, when that which was the flanke at first, becommeth the front, and beginneth the march, and the rest follow accordingly flanke-wise: yet this is to be noted, that albeit the front of the battaile be changed in the deduction, yet remaine the files, files as they were before, and are not altered into rankes. Aelian himselfe giueth testimony hereto, affirming that the Phalange proceedeth not by file, but by ranke, whereas if the files held not their first name after wheeling to the right or left flank, the march forward (the file-leaders being in the flanke) should be by file and not by ranke.

4. For the phalange marcheth in a double, treble, or quadruple side.] A doublesided [...] is that, which hath the file-leaders on both the flankes, the rest backe to backe within, when the enemy giueth on. For otherwise, when they march forward, all their faces are set one way, that is toward the place whether the march is intended. A treble-sided battaile is, when three sides of the battaile are to be charged, whether the front and both the flankes, or both the flanks and the reare, or the reare, one of the flanks, and the front, and the file-leaders are ordered on all the three sides. A quadruple battaile is, when the file-leaders are placed in front in the reare and in both the flankes. An example of the quadruple battaile will shew the vse and framing of the rest: for as the rest oppose one, two, or three sides against the enemy, so the quadruple fortifieth and strengthneth all the foure sides, by placing the fileleaders in them. Of ordering the file-leaders vpon one flanke, deduction may be be an example; vpon both flanks, the Antistomus phalange vpon front [Page] and reare, the Amphistomus, on all foure sides, the Plesium, of all which occasion will be giuen to speake hereafter. Now I may signifie that the Plesium is a square hollow battaile, the length whereof much exceedeth the depth, hauing the armed foot placed on all the foure sides, the light-armed throwne into the middest. The Graecians that followed Cyrus the yonger into Persia against King Artaxerxes, after their Coronels were taken prisoners and put to death by the subtilty and periury of Tissaphernes, being but 10000. and to retreat thorow open and plaine grounds, in which they were like to be charged by an infinite number of horse and foot, by the aduice of Xenophon, cast themselues into this forme; his words are in effect these, Wee Xenoph. de exp. 13. 304. E. shall, it may be march in more safety, if we order our selues into a Plesium of armed foot, and giue the carriage and disarmed multitude a place of security within the hollownesse of the battaile. If therefore it be now resolued afore-hand, who shall command in the front of the Plesium, and take charge of Vaunt, who on the flanks, and who in the reare, we shall not neede to take aduise at the approach of the enemy, but put in execution that which is resolued before. And a little after: And mine opinion is, that Cherisophus is the fittest Commander for the Vaunt, because he is a Lacedemonian; and let two of the [...]ldest Coronels take care of the Flankes; the yongest, namely my selfe and Timasion, will looke to the reare. This was Xenophons counsell, and in this forme they marched, and being charged afterward with both Persian Horse and foot, they defended themselues against all efforts of the Enemy. The quadruple battaile therefore was vsed, when the enemy was expected to giue on all sides; and he that can frame it, can easily cast his troopes into the other two formes; yet will not euery receiuing the enemy in flanke proue a Deduction; for in case of necessity and sudden approaches of the enemy, you shall be driuen to Facing, wherein you onely turne the faces of souldiers to the flanke without any deduction. See the figure of this battaile expressed in the picture.

5. Doe make the length double to the depth.] I suspect this place to be corrupted in the text of Aelian, the rather because before in the description of a Deduction, he saith that Deductions proceed in a wing, wherein the depth [...]. manifoldly exceedeth the length of the battaile, as the last fore-going chapter doth shew. Besides the example, which is giuen in the text is not of double proportion, but of treble and more, ten comprehending three, three times and more.

Of the Phalange Antistomus. CHAP. XXXVIII.

(1) THe Phalange Amphistomus (for it is so called, because it hath two fronts, and that part of the battaile that is set and aduanced against the enemy, is called a front:) seeing then in this forme the middle-most are ordered backe to backe, and those in the front and reare make head against the enemy, the one being Commanders in front, the other in reare, therefore it is called Amphistomus. It is of great vse against an enemy strong in Horse and able to giue a hot and dangerous charge, and principally practised against

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Cap. 38 The Phalange Amphistomus

[Page]those Barbarians that inhabit about the riuer Ister, whom they also call Amphippi, because they change their Horse in fight. The Horse battaile to encounter this forme hath a tetragonall shape, being for the purpose diuided into two broad squares (they are called broad squares, that haue the front twice as much as the depth) and those squares are opposed seuerally against the flanks of the foot-battaile.

NOTES.

(1) THere are many kinds of battailes, which being vsefull for a march, are described partly in the former two chapters, partly in this and in the chapters following, whereof some are for ease of the march (as the induction) some for fight. Those which are for fight, are either offensiue, or else defensiue. Of the offensiue kinde is the Caelembolos before mentioned, of the defensiue the Triphalange to be opposed against the Caelembolos, and both the deductions, which are represented in the two last Chapters: and in this chapter is described another of the defensiue formes, that is to say the Phalange Autistomus; in which although the march be not continued (for it is alwayes taken vp in a stand, to resist a charge of the enemy) yet it is a remedy defensiue against the sudden attempts of the enemy which is about to charge your reare.

2. The Phalange Amphistomus.] The title of this chapter is litigious, and there is a controuersie amongst the learned, which of two names the chapter should beare. Gaza, Gesner, and Arcierus, would haue it inscribed Antitistomus; Robortellus, Amphistomus: I haue in the translation followed the opinion of Robortellus; my reason was, because of these words in Aelian, [...], they in the beginnings ( [...]) charge the enemy: which word [...], I haue not read applied to the flankes, and therefore tooke it for front and reare, because the one, namely the front is as it were the beginning of the battaile, the other, viz. the reare, is the end. In which sence if you take the word, the description must needs agree with the Amphistomus, which (the enemy charging both front and reare) with the fileleaders and their halfe files as they stand, receiue those that charge the front, with the brnigers-vp, and the other halfe files facing about to the right or left hand, those which charge the reare. But since, vpon better consideration, I thinke there is a fault in the text; and where it is written [...], it should be corrected and written (as I take it) [...]. For that [...] signifie the flankes of the battaile. Iul. Pellux. l. [...]. c. 10. Iulius Pollux testifieth in these words; [...]. The forepart of those that fight, is called the front, the rankes, and the face; the outward parts on each side ( [...]) the flanks, the wings, the right and the left; the middest the nauell; Arr. l. 5. [...]09. F. the depth, the parget, or wall. The like doth Leo c. 7. §. 58. 59. &c. 14. §. 8. [...]9. 70. 87. 89. . Leo in many places: and as farre as I can read, [...] in the plurall number is generally taken for the flankes; albeit [...] in the singular number I deny not to be vsed for the reare sometimes: as in Xenoph. Cyrop. 178. E. Agathias pa. 39. l. 19. who also calleth the front-point of a wedge [...] Xenophon, who describing a fight betwixt the Corcyreians and Lacedemonians, hath thus; Mnasippus (the Lacedemonian Generall) embattailing his army put the enemy, that was neere the gates to flight, and followed the cha [...]. They being come neere the wals, turned againe, and threw and cast [Page] darts from the mountaines: other running out of the other gates in good numbers fell vpon the [...]. reare of the Lacedemonians, who being ordered but [...]. 8 deep, and thinking the [...]. reare of the Phalange to be but weake, endeauoured to retire and fall off. The enemy no sooner saw them giue ground, but presently fel on more eagerly, imagining they fled: neither did they turne their faces any more, and they who stood next vnto them soughe with all speed to saue themselues by flight. Mnasippus could giue no aid to his destressed souldiers by reason hee was hardly laid to by the Corcireans, that came to hands with him; and his number by little and litle decreased: at last the enemy in great numbers pressed them sore that stood about Mnasippus, who were now reduced to a very few. And the armed foot of the Citty seeing what was done abroad, issued out, and after they had slaine Mnasippus, they followed the chace all of them together. Thus [...]. Diodor. sic. li. 19. 693. Xenophon. And thus you may see [...] in the singular number taken for the reare of the Phalange, howsouer▪ [...] in the plurall, signifieth the flanks. The Antistomus Phalange therefore differing from the Amphistomus in this only, because the last maintaines fight in front and reare, the first in both flanks, and Aelian in this Chapter describing the battel which maintaines the fight1184. C. Suidas vseth [...] for the right wing, now the wing stretcheth in front, from the middle section to the point of the battaile Aelian. c. 7. in the flanks, it seemeth that the inscription ought to be of the Phalange Antistomus, and that the text ought to be [...] and not [...]. It may after a sort appear by Aelian himselfe in the next Chapter, where making a difference betwixt these two battailes, he saith plainly, that the Antistomus fighteth [...]. Read then in the text, Those in the flanks make head against the enemy, in stead of these words: Those in front and reare, and all the rest will agree to the Phalange Antistomus.

3. It is of great vse] The vse of this battaile is principally against horse, as Aelian giueth to vnderstand; because they are quicke and speedy, and can suddenly turne, diuide themselues, and charge where they list. And the flanks of the battell being the weakest part (for your best men are placed in the front and reare) it is needfull to finde out some meanes to defend them, which is to instruct your Souldiers how to receiue the charge by turning their faces to the flankes. In front you are alwaies ready; because faces and weapons are bent that way. Effect the like in the flankes, and you shall be able to resist any charge of the enemy. For foot, the danger is not so great, because your men shall be able to face euery way, as readily as the enemy; giue them only exercise, and acqaint them with that manner of fight.

4. And principally practised against the Barbarians.] That it was much vsed amongst the Grecians I find not in there history: yet is there no doubt, but the vse may be great in it as well as in the Amphistomus. But I take the reason, why it was seldome put in practice, to be, because the flankes of pikes in the Grecian battell were for the most part, garded with horse and light-armed. The front and reare hauing no such defence, were commonly attached by the enemy, seeking all aduantage to distresse them; and in case the horse and light-armed bee absent, the flankes are the fairest marke of the enemy; which can by no other meanes be secured, but by facing that way where he giueth on; which may be euidently seene by the fight Cyrus the elder had against Craesus, which example you shall see set out in my notes vpon the 46. Chap. page 79.

5. Those are broad squares] That which I heere translate a broad square, is in the Greeke Heteromekes; of which forme I haue spoken in notes vpon the 30. Chapter.

[Page]

Cap. 39

The Phalange Antistomus Front

[Page] [Page]

Wordes of direction for the Phalange Antistomus (for that forme is described in this Chapter.)

1. Halfe rankes, face to the right and left hands.

2. Charge your Pikes.

To restore to the first Posture.

1. Aduance your Pikes.

2. Face as you were.

(1) Of the Phalange antistomus. CHAP. XXXIX.

(1) THe Phalange Antistomus is like to the Amphistomus, the forme being a little altered; so that it accustometh the Soldier to resist the seuerall kindes of incursions of horse. All that hath beene spoken of the former Phalange both for foot and horse, agreeth with this figure also. Heerein they differ, that the (2) Amphistomus receiueth the charge in front and reare, the Antistomus in flanke: but as well in the one as the other, they fight with long pikes, as doe the Alans, and Sauromatans: and the one halfe of the souldiers in the files haue their faces bent forward, the other halfe backward, so that they stand backe to back. This forme hath two fronts, the one before where the-file leaders, the other behinde, where the bringers vp stand; And being also diuided into a (3) Diphalange, it maketh the forefront with one, the after-front with the other Phalange.

NOTES.

(1) AS the title of the former Chapter was mistaken, so is the title of this Chapter. The other should haue beene of the Antistomus (as I haue before shewed) this of the Amphistomus. That it should be of the Amphistomus, the very wordes following in this Chapter will proue, which are these: The one halfe, saith he, of the armed souldiers in the files haue their faces bent forward, the other halfe backward; so that they stand back to backe: and the battell hath two frontes, one before, where the file-leaders, the other behind, where the bringers vp stand. He describeth the two fronts by the file-leaders and bringers vp, whose proper places are the front and reare, & not the flanks; and further addeth, that halfe the armed soldiers haue their faces bent forward, (and change not) the other halfe turned about backward; whereas in the Antistomus all the souldiers moue, and halfe face to one flanke, halfe to the other, and none to the front or reare: besides he saith, that halfe the armed in the files stand backe to backe, whereas in the Antistomus halfe the armed in the ranks stand backe to backe, not those of the files. (2) Now that the Amphistomus receiueth the charge of the enemy in the front and reare Leo cap. 7. § 80. & cap. 12. §. 29. Leo also declareth. The manner whereof appeareth in Appian Puni [...] pag. 9 Appian; who recounteth that [Page] Asdruball the Carthaginian sought to entrap Scipio, giuing Mago his generall of the horse commandement to charge. Scipio his army in front, whiles himselfe charged it in the reare. But Scipio turning the reare of his battell against Asdruball, and opposing the front of it against Mago; ouerthrew them both, and slew 5000 Carthaginians, and tooke 1800 prisoners. To make the manner of fight in this forme more plaine, I thought fit to insert an hystory or two out of Polybius and Arrian, as examples to illustrate that meaning of Aelian. In Polybius this is the history. The Gaules in great multitudes vnder the conduct of Concolitanus and Aneroestus their Kings, transcending the Alpes, and passing thorough Polyb. lib. 2. 115. A Lombardy, and falling vpon a part of Hetrucia, had gathered rich spoiles out of that terretory, and being now vpon returne to their countrey, they were pursued by one of the Roman Consuls L. Aemelius and his army, not with intent to fight with them (for hee held it not safe) but to obserue fit times and places to distresse them, or else to keepe them from further spoile. At the same time C. Attilius the other Consull hauing imbarked his legions in Sardinia, and setting saile for Italy arriued at Pisa, and holding his way toward Rome marched directly in the way in which the enemy was comming. The Celts being now about Telamon, a promontory of Hetrucia, their foragers fell into the hands of the Vantcurrers of Attilius, and were taken prisoners; They informed the Consul of all that hapned, and signified the presence of both armies; telling that the Gaules were at hand, and that L. Aemilius followed them close in their reare. Attilius partly maruailing at the strangenesse of the newes, and parly being full of good hope, because the Gaules seemed to be surprised and hemmed in betwixt two armies, commanded the Tribunes to order his legions in a broad-front, and so to lead on leasurely, as long as the ground would giue leaue: himselfe in good time discouering a hill which hung ouer the way, in which the Gaules were to passe, tooke with him the horse, and sought with all speed to seise vpon the top of it, and to begin the medly; conceiting thereby to haue the honour and title of the whole seruice ascribed to him: the Gaules were at first ignorant of Attilius approaching, but coniectured onely that it might be Aemylius had led his horse about in the night to seise vponvseful places: they sent therefore their horse and light-armed to beat the Romans from the hill: but soone vnderstanding by some captiues that Attilius was there, they presently embattailed, ordering thir army [...]. into two fronts, the one before, the other behinde; for they knew that one army was following, and they expected as well by the newes they heard, as by that which they saw fall out at that time, that the other would meet them vpon their march: Aemylius heard that the legions of Attilius were arriued at Pisa, but could not imagine they were come so neere; but after that by the fight about the hill, he perceiued certainly they were at hand, he sent out his horse to second those that fought for the hill, himselfe ordering his battels after the Roman wonted fashion, led on against the eenmy. The Celts embattailed those that are called Gesates, and dwelt in the Alpes, against Aemylius, who they imagined would charge the reare, and next to them the Insubrians. In the front they set the Taurtscans and Bo [...]ans (inhabiting beyond the riuer Po) turning their faces a contary way to the former, and opposed to the accesse of Caius Attilius, the waines and waggons they placed without both wings, and sent their pray gained to a hill thereby, appointing a sufficient gard to keepe it. So the Amphistomus Phalange, which the Celtes cast themselues into, was not onely fearefull to the eye, but also fitly ordered for fight. The Insubrians and Boyans came forth to fight wearing bretches & a kind of loose and light coats; but the Gesates out of a vaine glory and rashnesse cast them away, and stood naked, sauing that they had their armes alone, in the front of the batell, imagining they were by that meanes fitter for action, [Page] by reason of the bushes of the place, which would catch hold of any garment, and be a hinderance to the vse of armes. The first fight was about the hill in the sight of all, by reason that the multitude of so many horse-menout of both armies were mingled together in fight; wherein it happened Attilius to be slaine (while too venturously he offered himselfe to danger) and his head to be presented to the Kings of the Celts, but yet the Roman horse-men brauely fighting, became masters of the place, and of the enemy: After this the foot ioining, the accident was rare and maruailous not onely to them which were present, but also to all those, who can by reading represent before their eyes the truth of that which was done. For first the fight being attached by 3 armies, it must needs be that the very sight and manner of the conflict appeared strange and wihout example; secondly, who would not doubt either now or then, whether the Celts manner of embattailing were more dangerous, the enemy charging them in two places at once; or the best and aptest for victory, as opposing against both the enemies at once, and withall securing themselues from encompassing and inuasion of the reare: and which is of most importance, no hope being left of safety, if they should chance to be foyled. For that is the property and profit of the Amphistomus battaile; it made the Romans more confident, to haue the enemy enclosed on all sides; and yet the brauery and noyse and tumult of the Celts gaue them cause of astonishment; For there was an innumerable multitude of Trumpets and Shalmes, to which the whole army together adding the Paean, the cry was so great, that not onely the trumpets and army, but the places round about with their rebounding ecchoes seemed of themselues to speake. Furthermore, the sight and motion of the naked men that stood in the front, being in flower of their age, and excelling in talnesse of stature, was fearefull. Now all the Gaules that had the front were adorned with bracelets and chaines of gold; which the Romans eyeing, were partly astonied, partly being filled with rich hopes, were incited much the rather to ioyne battell; but when the darters running out of the Roman army according to their custome, threw many and forcible darts at the Celtes, the Celtes of the reare found good vse of their coates and breeches; but those that fought naked in the front, this accident happening contrary to their expectation, were troubled out of measure and wonderfully perplexed: for the Gaulish target being not of sufficiency to couer a mans body, the greater and nakeder their bodies were, the more were they subiect to wounds, and the lesse the weapons missed the marke. At the last, being not able to saue themselues from the light-armed, who plied them a farre off, nor from the multitude of dartes that fell amongst them, and being troubled and confused with their present state, some of them out of a rage and brutishnesse ranne vainly vpon the enemy, and willingly offered themselues to slaughter, other retiring leasurely to their friendes, and shewing manifest tokens of feare, disordered them behinde. Thus the Roman light-armed allaid the pride of the Gesates. But the multitude of the Insubrians, Boyans, and Tauriscans, after the Romans had receiued their light-armed into their battell, and aduanced the cohorts, (of armed) to ioyne hand to hand, maintained a stout fight, and albeit they receiued many woundes, yet fainted they not in minds, being onely inferior both generally and particularly in the kinde of armes they bore. For both their targets in defence, and their swords in offence, had a great difference; by reason the Gaulois sword is onely fit to strike withall. But when the Roman horse from the hill hasted downe in wing, and stoutly came to handy stroakes with them, the foot-men of the Celtes were cut in pieces in the places where they fought, and the horse tooke themselues to flight: There dyed therefore of the Celtes 30000, and 10000 were take prisoners, amongst whom was Concolitan one of the Kings, the other K. Aneroestus, flying to a certaine place with a few, killed [Page] himselfe and his friends that were about him. This example hath Polibyus of the Amphistomus Phalange; wherein he both sheweth the form, and the vse of it, namely, that it hath a front both waies to receiue the enemies charge before and in the reare. Arian lib. 5. 112. A Arrian hath another example in the battaile between Alexander the Great and Porus a king of India; his words are to this effect; Alexander was now come within the reach of missiue weapons, when he sent his Archers on horsebacke against the left wing of the Indians, to molest the enemy on that side, both with multitude of arrows, and with incursion of the horse: and himselfe also hauing with him the troupes of Companies, spurring on against the same wing, vsing all celerity to fall vpon them (who were yet out of order and in a wing) before they could reduce themselues into a Phalange. In the meane time the Indians knitting together their whole power of horse, made head against Alexander with all speed, giuing their horse a full carriere. Then Caenus, as was commanded, shewed himselfe at their backes. The Indians seeing this, were forced to order their horse in an Amphistomus, opposing one part (the most and strongest) to Alexander, the other to Caenus and his troopes; which thing troubled the array and mindes of the Indians. And Alexander, taking hold of the opportunity, charged those which were opposed to him in the instant, while the other were facing about to Caenus. The Indians endured not the charge, but fled to the Elephants, as to a castle that was friend. Hitherto Arrian. In these two examples is liuely set forth the nature and fashion of the Amphstomus phalange. And albeit both the parties that vsed it were beaten, yet the cause rested not in the forme, but in the valour of them that fought against it, if the Romans in one example, of Alexander in the other; Alexander himselfe vsing this very forme in the battel of Arian lib. 3. 60 C Gaugamela, obtained the famous victory against Darius, which is described by Arrian in his third book, as did App. in punicis Pag. 9. also Scipio against Asdrubal in Spaine: so then by that which hath beene said, the difference betweene the Antistomus and Amphistomus phalange may easily appeare; which albeit they either of them fight against the enemy in two places of the Phalange at once, and are like ore to another in that respect, yet they differ in the places of the fight, the one receiuing the charge in both the flanks, other in front and reare. They are both defensiue & statary, and if moue with you either of them during the charge of the enemy, you presently break the form, and lay the backe of the soldiers open to be annoied, especially if the enemy ouertop you in number: otherwise it will be no inconuenienceto diuide the battell, and to fight apart with both; For that the Antistomus may be diuided, Aelian teacheth in the next Chapter: for the Amphistomus, hee saith the like in this Chapter in these words.

3 And also being diuided into a Diphalange.] A Diphilange is when a Phalange is diuided into two; and being in one body, it is called a Phalange, in two bodies a Diphilange. About the Diphilange Amphistomus there is variance amongst the writers of this Art. Aelian would haue it to bee framed of a Phalange Amphistomus disioyned, and in the middest diuided into two parts: so that the fore-front is made with one of the hinder front with the other Phalange. The Treatise of Military Appellations, annexed to the end of Suidas saith, that that is a Diphilange Amphistomus, which hath the file-leaders on the outsides of both the flanks in a deduction, and the bringers vp within. I take Aelian to be in the right; for if the Amphistomus Phalange must haue the front and reare opposed to the enemy, what reason is there why the Amphistomus Diphalangy should not be of the same nature, considring

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Cap. 40.

A Diphalange Antistomus The Horsmans Wedge Front

[Page]that the Diphalangy Antistomus hath the leaders, in the flankes, as the Phalange Antistomus hath: which appeareth not only in the next Chapter, but also in diuers other places of this Booke: neither doe I reade any where, that the Antistomus hath to do with the front and reare, nor the Amphistomus with the flanks.

The words of direction in the Amphistomus.

The hinder

1 Halfe files, face about to the right or left hand.

2 Charge the Pikes both waies in front and reare.

To restore to the first Posture.

The hindermost

1 Aduance your Pikes.

2 Halfe files, face as you were.

Of the Diphalange Antistomus. CHAP. XXXX.

A Diphalange Antistomus, is that which hath the file-leaders placed not in a deduction outwardly, but inwardly face to face one against another, and the reare-Commanders without, one halfe in right, the other halfe in a left deduction. This forme is vsed against Horse, which giue on and charge wedge-wise: for the wedge shooting forth in a point, and hauing the Commanders following in the flanks, and indeauouring to disseuer and breake the Front of the foot, the Leaders of the foot fore-seeing their purpose, place themselues in the middest, with intent either to repulse them, or else to giue them a thorow passage without losse. For the wedge flieth vpon the foote in hope to charge the multitude in the middest; and the foote Commanders conceiuing well the fury of that forme, leaue a little space betwixt the 2 fronts, and stand like walles on both sides, and ioyntly facing toward the middest, giue them a fruitlesse and empty passage. This forme of Horse battaile is called by the Tactiks a wedge, which was inuented by Philip King of Macedony, who placed his best men before, that by them the weaker sort might be held in & enabled to the charge. As we see in a Speare or sword, the point whereof quickly piercing, makes way for, and letteth in the middle blunt yron.

NOTES.

A Diphalange Antistomus.] This Diphalange is thus defined by Suidas; Suidus, in [...] A Diphalange Antistomus is that, which hath the file-leaders placed in the middest, and the bringers vp ordered without on both flanks in deductions: which words differ a little in speech, in sence are all one with Aelians. They both agree that the file-leaders should be placed within the middest of the battaile face to face in deductions, the bringers vp on the flanks without. In the text, and in fashioning of the battaile, there is no difficulty. The file-leaders must be [Page] placed in the middest within, the bringers vp on the flanks without; and the battaile being first closed, must be suddenly opened vpon the charge of the Horse in the middest, and the file-leaders diuiding themselues halfe on one side, halfe on the other, and facing to the middle space with their whole files push at the Horse with their Pikes, as they passe thorow. It is called a Diphalange, because the phalange is parted in two; as the battaile opposed against the Caelembolos is named a Triphalange, because it consisteth of three parts seuerall, and in the ninth Chapter the whole Macedonian phalange is named a Tetraphalangarchy, because the body is diuided into foure seuerall parts: and it is named a Diphalange Antistomus, because as the Phalange Antistomus receiueth the Horse without in the flanks, and so repulseth them so this altering that forme, onely by placing the file-leaders in depth within, and opening vpon the sudden receiue the Horse in the opened voide space, either to be ouerthrowne by their Pikes, or else to giue them a passage without danger to themselues. This is one of the defensiue battailes whereof I spake before. It is put in practice saith Aelian

When the Horse charge Wedge-wise.] What a Wedge is, and of what force amongst the Horse-battailes, I haue noted vpon the 18 Chapter. Against it Aelian opposeth this forme of foot. But is there no other vse of it? Yes. For both the Caelembolos and Peristomus are as it were daughters, and proceed out of the loynes of this forme, both hauing their file-leaders in deductions within the body, and both opening, the first the front, the other the whole body, when they goe to charge; and yet the Diphalange Antistomus is defensiue, the other two offensiue formes. I will accordingly as I haue begun, illustrate the manner of the Dephalange Antistomus with an example or two. Xenophon de expied. lib. 1. 270. D Xenophon describing the fight that was betweene Artaxerxes the king of Persia and Cyrus the younger, telleth of Tissaphernes (one of the foure Generals of Artaxerxes his army, that he fled not in the first ioyning of the armies, but brake thorow the Grecian Peltasts (targetires) that stood embattailed by the riuer. Breaking thorough, he slew no man: for the Grecians opening their battell, strooke and threw darts at his horsemen, as they passed thorough. Episthenes the Amphipolita, nwho held the estimation of an vnderstanding souldier, was then commander of the Peltasts. Tissaphernes therfore withdrawing himselfe as one that had the worst, returned no more to fight, but going to the Grecian Campe, met the King there. So Xenophon. Out of which passage wee may perceiue the vse of this manner of embattailing. Tissaphernes chose of out the Grecians to charge the Peltasts the weakest kind of souldiers to make resistance against the horse, by reason they were furnished with small targets onely and darts. Then hee chargeth with his horse in a full Carrere: to auoide the fury of the horse, they opened and gaue him a free passage, but not without stroakes, and darts sent at his horse; and so made his charge more hurtfull to himselfe then vnto them: I cannot say the file-leaders were here in the middest, as Aelian requireth, because the charge was sudden and vnexpected. In premeditated defences, there is no doubt, but it is the better way to place the file-leaders in the middest, considering they are accounted the strength of the battell, and in all conueniences are first brought to fight, especially being armed men, and able to offend the horse with their Pikes; This opening then auailed against the giuing on of horse ordered in a narrow front: for that was the manner of ordering the Persian horse; and it may serue for any horse-battaile if it bee [Page] wide enongh to receiue the horse within the front. Of ancient time sythed Chariots were in request, to which the foot whether light or armed could make small resistance; they had two long staues appointed with sharpe iron fastened to the beame of the chariot bearing out before, and sythes standing out on all sides to cut asunder whatsoeuer came in the way: the horse were armed and hardly to be wounded, as you may see in the figure of the 22 Chapter. The reamedy then against them was to open the bataile in front and reare, to the end to let them passe thorough, which opening was after the manner set downe in this Chapter. Died sic. lib. 17. 592. Arrian. lib. 3. 6 [...]. D Curt. l 4. 141. 149. Alexander at Gaugamela being to fight with Darius, who had many of this kinde of chariots, and fearing the danger they might bring to his army, commanded his Phalange of foot, that when the Chariots approached they should knit themselues shoulder to shoulder, and beat their pikes vpon their targets, that the horse being affrighted with the noise, might turne, and run the contrary way. But if by such meanes they would not be repressed, then he willed them to open and make wide distances, thorow which they might hold on their course without danger to his people. This was the prouision of Alexander against the Chariots: The euent followes. After the trumpets had giuen the signe of bataile, the armies charged one another casting forth great cries: And first the sythed Chariots flying out amaine, gaue much amazement and terrour to the Macedonians. For Mazaeus one of the Generals of Darius his horse, to the end to make the falling on of the horse more terrible, came thundering with his troupes of horse in the reare of the chariots: But when the Phalange ioyned target to target, and euery man beat his target according to the Kings direction, there arose a great noise; by reason whereof many of the chariots, the horses being affrighted, turned backe, and with vnresistable violence rushed vpon their owne people: other falling vpon the Macedonians, who made large distances, those which entered were partly ouerwhelmed with darts, partly passed queit thorough; some being carried with the violence of their course, and working mightily with their sharpe sythes, brought with them many and sundry kinds of death: for the force of their sythes had such power to destroy, taht from many it cut off the armes, and targets and all, the necks of not a few were carued, heads falling to the ground the eyes yet seeing, the countenance not altered; of some the it tore out the sides, and put them to a speedy death. Hitherto of the history of Diodorus. But where he noteththe harms, that came from the sythed chariots, I take it they might haue beene auoided, if the distances had beene wide enough, because I finde in Xenophon in the battaile betwixt Artaxerxes and Cyrus mentioned by me before, that many of the chariots of the Persians ranne thorough the Phalange of the Grecians without hurt to any man. To returne then to the vse of this forme, it hath heeretofore, and may at this day bee put in practice against horse; and not onely against horse ordered in a wedge, but also giuing on in a square, if it be so they charge by troopes, and the opening be wide enough, and sudden to receiue the front of the horse, For against a grosse of horse, they cannot haue time to open wide enough; and if they open too timely, they leaue liberty to the horse to charge either of the parts opened, as themselues shall please; and by diuiding themselues, they diminish their owne strength.

Words of direction for the Diphalange Antistomus.

[Page]1 Wheele the wings into the middest of the battaile This is done if the middlemost 2 fileleaders stand firme, & the rest with their files wheele till they meet, and then stand: thē face to the front; and when the Horse charge, open the middest suddenly, and facing one against another, charge your Pikes against the Horse.

2 Face to the Front.

3 Open your battaile.

4 Face to the middest.

5 Charge your Pikes.

Restoring to the first Posture.

1 Aduance your Pikes.

2 Close your battaile.

3 Face to the right and left hand.

4 Wheele the middest of the battaile to the wings.

5 Face as you were at first and stand.

Of the Peristomus Diphalange. CHAP. XXXXI.

THE Phalange of the Diphalange Peristomus proceede by deduction in a wing, the oblique deduction on the right hand, hauing the file-leaders without: the left hand oblique deduction, hauing the reare-comānders within. The figure sheweth the intent of them that fight so ordered: For the battaile going to charge, hauing beene at first Tetragonall, diuideth it selfe into two oblique wings, the right and the left, of purpose to enclose the aduerse square battaile; and they fearing to be enclosed, transforme themselues into two marching Phalanges, directing one against the right, the other against the left wing: therefore is it called Peristomus, as hauing the front bent against the enemy both wayes.

NOTES.

(1) ABout the inscription of this Chapter also there is a controuersie amongst the Interpreters; some would haue it of the Peristomus diphalange, some of the Amphistomus Diphalange, and of the Peristomus. Why any man should imagine that the Amphistomus Diphalange is here described, I

[Page]

Cap. 41

The square deured in two and sett against y• Peristomus two winges The Diphalange Peristomus The vneuen front of ye Peristomus The right wing of ye Peristomus The left wing of ye Peristomus

[Page] [Page]conceiue not, vnlesse he should seeme to make Aelian contrary to himselfe. For the Amphistomus Diphalange hath nothing to doe with the flanks, as appeareth by Aelian in the 34 Chapter. This Diphalange fighteth altogether in flanke, as the description declareth.

The Phalanges of the Diphalange Peristomus.] What a wing is, and what deduction I haue shewed before. The meaning is, that the Phalanges Peristomus are both of them led obliquely (with the file-leaders in flanke) and in two deepe bodies; whereof the one hath in purpose to charge the right flanke, the other the left flanke of the aduerse square battaile.

2 The oblique deduction on the right hand.] Albeit both these Phalanges are [...] called oblique, yet we may not imagine, that these Loxe-phalanges are the same that is described in the 30 Chapter. For in that one of the Phalange forbeare the fight, the other aduanceth to ioyne with the enemy; in this both fight at once, and haue their aduantage by charging the flanks of the enemy. That began the fight in front & had there the file-leaders, this in both flanks; this seeks to encompasse, that to auoid encompassing it selfe, as I haue shewed in my notes vpon the same Chapter.

3 The oblique deduction on the right-hand, hauing the file-leaders without.] I must imagine, till further information, that here is a fault in the text: my reason is this; all deductions are made to oppose the file-leaders against the enemy in fight. So is the right-hand deduction vsed, when it is suspected the enemy will charge the right-hand flanke: the left-hand Deduction, when it is suspected he will charge the left; so in wheelings we turne the front against the enemy, so in countermarches. Now this forme being inuented to encompasse the enemy, and to fight vpon his flankes, I would thinke the fileleaders ought to be placed on the inward flanks of the Diphalange; as it is in the Caelembolos; for were the bringers vp to be within, they should sustaine all the weight of the fight, the battaile being once diuided, and the file-leaders standing without should idlely looke on, which is contrary to the military discipline of the Grecians, whose care was to vse the file-leaders in fight as much as was possible. Neither is it thereupon to be concluded, that this Diphalange and the Diphalange Antistomus are all one. For although both haue their file-leaders within, yet doe they differ both in forme and end. In forme, because this moueth forward with both Phalanges, the other standeth still: this is oblique, the other in a streight line; that hath the front of the two phalanges euen, this (as it falleth out in the motion) sometimes the one more forword, sometimes the other. In their ends, because this goeth to assault and to breake the enemies battaile, the other standeth fast and seekes onely to saue it selfe; the one being offensiue, the other defensiue. So that, as I said before, the Caelembolos and this are both framed out of the Diphalange Antistomus, both hauing their file-leaders within the middest of the battaile; and yet differ in that the Caelembolos is but one body hollowed within; this diuided into two bodies.

And they fearing to be enclosed.] The case of this square is almost all one with the square against which the Caelembolos is opposed: For both are in danger to be enclosed. Now as the other square was faine to cast it selfe into a Triphalange, and to oppose two of the phalanges against the two wings of the Caelembolos, reseruing the third for all accidents; so this square diuideth it selfe into two phalanges (but hath no third) setting the one against the [Page] right-hand battaile of the Peristomus, the other against the left; for by this opposition they inhibit the enemy from attaching their flanks. Of this forme I finde not many presidents in the Greeke history; I will receite onelyArr. l. 5. 111. C. Diod. Sic. l. 609. one out of Arrian concerning Alexander, which if it hit not this forme in euery point, yet it hath fully the effect of that which is intended by Aelian: Alexander being to deliuer battaile to Porus a King of part of India, lying on the other side of the riuer Hydaspes, found his enemies army to be thus embattailed; He had placed his Elephants in the front 100 foot distant one from another; and he placed them there to giue terror to Alexanders Horse, for hee imagined that no enemy durst approach the spaces betwixt the Elephants, neither with Horse for feare of the Elephants, and much lesse with foot, because the armed on his side were there to receiue them, and the Elephants would tread and trample them vnder their feet. Next he ordered the foot, not in an equall front with the beasts, but in a second front after them, so that the files came vp almost to the spaces betwixt the Elephants; besides, he added foot vpon the wings aboue the Elephans. On both the wings of the foot he ordered his Horse, and before them his Chariots. This was the embattailing of Porus. Alexander as soone as he saw the Indians stand in battaile array, caused his Horse to make alte, that he might haue his foot come vp, who aduanced still forward. And when the Phalange was come vnto him running, he embattailed it not presently, nor forthwith led it against the enemy, l [...]st he should deliuer it weary and out of breath into the hands of the Barbarians, that were fresh; but circling and riding here and there in rounds with his Horse, he rested his foot, and gaue them time to refresh themselues. And after he beheld the Indian manner of Embattailing, hee thought it not good to giue vpon the middest (of the front) where the Elephants stood, and the Phalange was close ordered against the spaces of the Elephants, fearing the reasons that led Porus to embattaile in that forme. But, as he was stronger in horse, taking to him the most of his Horse, he speeded to the left wing of the enemy, in purpose to giue on there, and sent Coenus with Demetrius his troope and his owne troope against the right wing; commanding him, that when the Barbarians seeing his troopes, should turue their strength of Horse against him, Coenus should inuade their backs. He gaue the Phalange to Seleucus, Antigones and Tauron to lead; commanding them not to fall on, before they saw the enemies foot and horse put into a bransle by his Horse. What the euent of the fight was, I haue before shewed in my notes vpon the Phalange Amphistomus, where I haue cited the latter end of this history. Now may be seene by this example, that Alexander began the fight not in the front, but in the flankes; and the cause why he did it, was, because the front was exceeding strong by reason of the Elephants. And by this meanes defeating first the enemies Horse, then his foot, he left the Elephants naked, and without defence against the darts and other missiue weapons of the Macedonians, and gained a worthy victory against a strong enemy. Now albeit this example come not home in all points to the Peristomus (for Aelian limiteth it to foot against foot, this fight was betwixt Horse and Horse) yet is the reason of warre alike in both. For as the file-leaders of the Peristomus giue on vpon the flanke of the aduerse square, which is the weakest part of it; so did the Horse of Alexander surmounting the Indians both in number and valor, giue on vpon the flanks of Porus his army which was weakest, and so began and ended the victory.

It is called Peristomus, as hauing the front bent.] That is, being diuided into halfe, the one Phalange marching obliquely, commeth vp and chargeth one

[Page]

Cap. 42.

The Battaile called Plinthium The front The Diphalange Homoiostomus

[Page] [Page]flanke of the aduerse battaile, the other chargeth the other, and so hath the fronts against the enemies both waies.

Words of direction in the Peristomus.

1 Wheele your front into the middest of the battaile.

2 Face to the front.

3 One wing march out obliquely, and charge the right flanke of the enemy, the other the left flanke.

Of the Diphalange homoiostomus, and of the Plinthium. CHAP. XLII.

A Diphalange (1) Homoiostomus is so named, because a (2) whole file (that is 16 men) mouing by it selfe; another file followeth it! and it is therefore called Homoiostomus, because they that follow, follow in a like figure.

3 This kind is opposed against the Plinthium; (4) Plinthium is a forme of battaile, that hath the sides equall both in figure and number. In figure, because the distances are euery where equall. In number, because there are as many men in length as in depth. (5) In this foure-sided battaile are none in the foure sides but armed, without archer or slinger to helpe: when therefore two Phalanges march together, and both haue their leaders in a right-hand or left-handed deduction▪ it is called a Diphalange Homoiostomus.

NOTES.

1 HOmoiostomus is a Diphalange, the battailes whereof haue like fronts. To this forme is incident, first that it be marching, then that it march in deductions; lastly, that the deductions be vpon one and the selfe, and not vpon contrary sides, viz. that the file-leaders of the Phalanges, be all of them either vpon the right hand, or vpon the left hand of their Phalanges. And therefore Suidas defineth it to be a Diphalange, which hath the leaders of either Phalange ordered in the same side of the march. Where he saith that the leaders are ordered on the same side in both Phalanges (which words are likewise in Aelian in the end of the Chapter) wee must vnderstand no [...] the leaders of the March, but the file-leaders, who are also called [...], or leaders: [...]. For as Aelian saith elsewhere, the march in a Deduction proceedeth in wing not by file but by ranke, so that the file-leaders are in the flankes not in the front of the march; and yet a man may truely tearme it the front of the battaile, as long as it standeth and faceth against the enemy.

2 Because a whole file.] I am out of doubt that this place is corrupted: any man that marketh the coherence will easily be of mine opinion. The inscription is of a Diphalange, which consisteth of two phalanges. The cause why this forme is called a Diphalange, Homoiostomus, is in these words assigned to be, because a whole file, that is, 16 men mouing, another file followeth it: [Page] let one file follow another, what is that to two Phalanges? Euery Phalange hath many files in it, as the Aelian c. 7. seuenth Chapter will teach vs; nor will any man say that a file is a phalange, nor that the following of one file singly after the other will make a Diphalange: the truer cause is alleadged in the words following: It is therefore called Homoiostomus, because they that follow, follow in the like figure: which words albeit they be generall, yet being explained and particularised in the end of the Chapter, they shew, that it is called a Diphalange Homoiostomus when two phalanges follow one another, either in a right, or a left hand deduction. And by that part of the text the nature of the Homoiostomus is sufficiently expressed.

3 This is opposed against the A square battaile of men and ground both. Plinthium.] How this forme should be opposed against the Plinthium, I must confesse I yet vnderstand not, vnlesse it be that being in a march, the Plinthium charge one of them on that side where the deduction, (that is in the front, for the flanke is now become the front) (the file-leader facing to the enemy way) and that the other if it be the leading phalange retiring & whealing, the following file aduancing and whealing) giue vpon the flank of the Plinthium, so that the Plinthium be charged both in front and in flanke, which is no small aduantage in fight; for otherwise if the Plinthium meet the Phalanges so following one another, and charge the front which leadeth (which indeed is not the front but the leading flanke, in asmuch as the march proceedeth not by file but by ranke, as Aelian hath) the deducton not onely loseth the benefit of bringing the file leaders to fight, but is also subiect to ouerwinging, and by that meanes in worse case then is the induction which hath the file-leaders in front. There are other vses of the Homoistomus, they are here specified by Aelian. For the the Deduction directing the front against the enemy that appeareth, or is like to appeare on the flank of the deduction, the phalanges may fitly second one another, when either of them is charged; not vnlike the two btatailons ofLa. Noües second Paradox. foot, which la Noüe holdeth sufficient to repulse the charge of horse in open field or Champeign. And if both the deductions be charged at once, they are at no greater inconuenience, then if they stood ranged in ordinary manner, being either of them 16 deepe, and the fronts which are in the deduction ready to receiue the affort of the enemy, and the rest of the [...]immes disposed, as in the ordinary Phalange.

4 Plinthium is a form of battaile.] This definition cōprehendeth not all Plinthiums, for there is a kind of euen-sided Plinthium (it is called [...], which hath the front & flanks of one length: and it is it which Aelian here defineth. There is also a kind of I linthiū that is deeper in flank then the front is long, which of ancient time was called Evstathius in Ho [...]ri versu [...]: [...]. [...] in greeke, in enlishg a tower, the name of Plinthium is deriued from [...], a brick, because as the brick is square, so is this battaile, which is the reason I thinke, that it is often confounded Plesium, this being also a square battaile, and the name deduced from the mould wherein brickes are fashioned, which mould is called in greeke [...] to forme. The difference betwixt them according to Aelian is, that the Pliniheum is a perfect square equall both in length and depth, the Plesium a square longer in front then flanke.

5 In this figure are none but armed in the foreside.] what then becomes of the light-armed? they must be conuaied into the middest; and the Plinthium ought to be hollow within as well to receiue them, as those of the army that [Page] are vnfit for fight. Leo hath this precept: If the enemy be horse, you are to order the army into the square figure of a Plinthium, and cast into the (hollow) middest the cariage, beasts and cariage, and without them the armed, and furthest without the archers, that so you may dismarch in safety; yet this placing the archers without is contrary to Aelian, & to many experiences mentioned in the Greeke history. Polyen. 99. § 25 [...] Timotheus the Athenian purposing to passe by the City Olynthus; and fearing the Olinthian horse-men, ordered his army into a broad-fronted Plinthium, casting the baggage and horse into the middest, and causing the waggons to be driuen thronging and fastned together, the armed foot being without on all sides; so that the Olynthian horse could not come to distresse them. Brsidas the Lacedemonian being in Illyrium Polyen. 210. § 7. in Brasid [...]. forsaken of the Macedonians his allies, expecting to be set vpon by Arrhybeus and the Illyrians, reduced his armed into a square, and taking the light-armed into the middest, resolued to retire: the youngest hee appointed to fall out if the enemy charged on any side; Himselfe with 300 chosen men took vpon him to secure the reare, and to resist the enemy that should first come to charge. The Barbarians seeing him dismarch, followed with great shouts and cries, imagining hee fled, and hoping to take him and cut his throat: but when the light-armed fell out and met them, wheresoeuer they gaue on and himselfe with his selected band receiued them, and contrary to their opinion stood firme, and repulsed the first charge, and euer as they forbore to charge held on his way: the most part of the Barbarians left the Grecians, and appointing a party to follow their reare, the rest pursued the Macedonians that fled, an killed as many as they lighted vpon. The like forme was vsed in Elephants by the captaines of Eumenes and Peucestes against a surprise of Antigonus. Diodorus Siculus reporteth the history thus. Diod. Sic. [...] 692. Antigonus being aduertised, that all Eumenes his forces were come vnto him but onely his Elephants, and that the Elephants were expected out of their garrisons and were farre off alone, and without ayde of horse and foot, sent against them 2000 sp [...]are-men, being Medes, 300 Tarentines, and all his light-armed foot; for hee hoped that falling vpon the Elephants alone, hee might easily become master of them, and depriue his enemy of his greatest strenght. Eumenes casting in his minde what might happen, dispatched away 1500 of his best horse, and 300 light armed foot. Antigonus people appearing first; the commanders of the Elephants ordering the beasts into a Plinthium, marched forward, throwing the carriage into the middest, hauing 300 horse and no more to make head in the reare; the enemy falling on with all their might, and hotly charging, the horse being ouerlaide with number, were put to flight. The riders of Elephants at first made good resistance and stood to it, albeit they were wounded on all sides, and not able to hurt the enemy; and being now at the last cast, the forces of Eumenes vnexpectedly shewing themselues, snatched them out of all danger and distresse▪ Polyen. 99. § 2 [...]. Agesilius vsed this forme against the Thebans; the Dioa. Sic. 694. lib. 19. Argiraspides against Antigonus: the history is this; Antigonus hauing the better against the horse of Eumenes, diuided his horse into two parts, the one he tooke to himselfe and obserued Eumenes, the other hee gaue to Python willing him to charge the the Argiraspides and siluer targateers old soldiers of Alexanders depriued of the aide of the horse, but they casting themselues into a Plinthium retired safely to the riuer. Aelian remembreth nothing concerning the vse of the Plinthium: But wee may learne by the examples rehearsed▪ that it was then practised when the enemy was too strong and able to charge euery way; and it is one of the foresided battailes that is mentioned in the 36 & 37 Chap. and vsed principally against horse, but sometimes against horse and foot. Philip [Page] the father of Alexander the Great, being to take armes against the Illyrians who vsurped Died. Sy [...]ll. lib. 16. pag. [...]1. many Cities of his kingdom, leuied 10000 foot, & 600 horse, and with them entred the enemies countrey. Bardilis the Illirian King met him with as many foot, and 500 horse: when the armies came together, and with shouts ioyned battaile, Philip hearing the right wing, and the best Macedonian souldiers, commanded the horse to fall on and charge the enemy in flanke: himselfe giuing vpon the front, began a strong fight. The Illyrians ordering themselues into a Plinthium, valiantly abode the onset; and at the first the fight was equall, and so continued a good while by reason of the valour shewen on both sides; afterward the horse plying hard the reare and flanke, and Philip with his choice valiantly laying at the front, the multitude of the Illyrians were forced to fly. Heere the Plinthium resisted both horse and foot; I will ad one example more of repulsing horse, the army being cast into a Plinthium. Marcus Antonius seeking to subdue Persia, and to reuenge the losse which Craesus receiued Appian Parthicis 162. Plat. in Antonie. by the Parthians, (for in that warre Craesus himselfe was slaine, and his army defeated) and hauing laid siege to a great City called Phreata, and finding not the successe he looked for, determined to dis-march and lead his arm, out of the Countrey; hauing first [...]ad [...]truce with the King of Persia, proceeding on his iourney, he was set vpon by the Parthians, but being repulsed, they retired that day. Antonius hereby resolued what to doe: and strenthening his reare and flanks with many darters & slingers, he formed h [...]s army into a Plinthium, and willed his horse [...]o fall out and repulse the e [...]nmy, but not to follow the chase too farre. The Parthians the next foure daies began to be more coole, and neither charged nor were charged, and making winter their pretence, were glad to retire [...]o their houses. By this president, wee may see, that the Parthians (who were mighty in horse) were fierce vpon the Romans as long a they held their ordinary kinde of march, but after they had ordered themselues into a Plinthium, so that the Parthians could not come vp to them without much indangering themselues, they thought it best to let them quietly passe and goe whither they would. And thus much of the Diphalange Homoiostomus and of the Plinthium.

Words of direction in the Homoiostomus.

1 Wheele your battailes (if they stand in euen front) to the right or left hand.

2 March one battaile after the other.

To restore to the first Posture.

1 F [...]e about to the right or left hand.

2 Wheele the battailes to the right or left hand, according as the case requireth.

3 Face as you were at first.

[Page]

Cap. 43.

The Diphalange Heterostomus The File-leaders The bringers-vp

[Page]

[Page]

For the Plinthium.

[figure]

If there be 4 battailes standing togethler in an euen Front, this I would hold the fittest way to make a Plinthium.

[figure]

1 Let the first battaile stand firme, or march on; in going forward wheele to the right hand; in falling backe vse the Lacedemonian countermarch.

2 The 3 countermarch the front with a countermarch, then wheel to the left hand, then march forward, and place it selfe behind the right hand flanke of the first, that the Front of it may be in a right line with the said flanke.

3 The 4 in going forward, countermarch the reare with a Macedon countermarch, then wheele your battaile to the right hand, face abount; then wheele to the left hand; then march and apply it selfe to the point of the strst battaile, as the third did to the right: then face about, and stand thus:

4 The 2 countermarch to the right or left hand: then march on til it be beyond the left point of the 4 battaile: then face to the left hand; and march vp to lay the right-hand-point euē with the right point of the 1 battaile, and face to the right hand, to make the reare of the Plinthium thus:

The seuerall bodies being brought into a Plinthium, must front euery way as long as they make Alte. When they march in a Plinthium, they are all to face toward the head of their march: that is, the right and left flanke battailes are to face the one to the left, the other to the right hand: The reare battaile is to face about to which hand it list, and so march on.

The battailes beside haue euery one their place of dignity: the first battaile hauing the front, the 2 battaile the reare, the 3 battaile the right flanke, the 4 the left flanke.

Of the Diphalange Heterostomus. CHAP. XLIII.

(1) A Diphalange Heterostomus is that which proceedeth by deduction, hauing the leaders of the former Phalange in a right-handdeduction, and of the following Phalange in a left-hand Deduction, so that the battailes march counterchangeably, one hauing the leaders in one flanke, the other in the other.

NOTES.

1 A Diphalange Heterostomus.] As the Homoiostomus consisted of two Phalanges, & both proceeded by deduction, so must this forme. They differ [Page] in this onely, that the first had all the file-leaders on one side, either on the right or left; this the file-leaders of one battaile on the right, of the other on the left hand. For if the leading Phalange haue the file-leaders on the right-hand, the following Phalange shall haue them on the left: If the first haue them on the left, the other shall haue them on the right. See the figure. The vse of this form is, when the enemy sheweth himselfe on both flanks of our march, and of it the double sided battaile, whereof Aelian spake in the 36 and 37 Chapters, may be made by the sleeuing vp the latter to the former and ioyning reare to reare: and if the leading battaile haue the fileleaders in the right-flank, it is to make alte when the enemy commeth neer, and the following battaile to sleeue vp by the reare of it, to make an euen front with the leaders of the first. Contrariwise, if it haue the file-leaders on the left hand▪ Besides, this orme hath further vse, and you may frame of it a Diphalange Antistomus, by sleeuing vp the following battaile on that side where the file-leaders of the leading battaile march: for by such sleeuing, the file-leaders of both I halanges shall be in the middest.

Words of direction in the Heterostomus.

There need few words of direction in this, onely if the two ordinary battailes stand in equall front, let the one wheele to the right, the other to the left hand, and so march the one before, the other after.

Of the horse Rombe, and of the foot-halfe-moone to encounter it. CHAP. XLIIII.

(1) THe battaile framed in a forme of a Rombe, was first inuented by Ileon the Thessalian, and was called Ile after his name; and to this forme he exercised and accustomed his Thessalians. It is of good vse, because it hath a leader on euery corner: in the front the Captaine, in the reare the Liuetennant, and on either side the flank-commanders. (2) The foot battaile fittest to encounter this, is the (3) Menoides or Cressent; hauing both the wings stretched out, and within them the leaders, and being embowed in the middest to enuiron and wrap in the horse-men in their giuing on: where upon the horse-men ply the foot a farre off with flying weapons, after the manner of the Tarantines, seeking thereby to dissolue and disorder their circled frame of march. Tarentum is a City in Italy, the hosemen wherof are called Acrobolists, because in charging they first cast littleDarters. darts, and after come to hands with the enemy.

NOTES.

1 THe battaile in forme of a Rhombe.] Of the Rhombe is sufficiently spoken in Chap. 6. before; and in the notes vpon the same Chapter: The manner of framing of it, and the diuers kinds therof are there set down. The Thessalians

[Page]

Cap▪ 44

The half Moone or Menoides of foote The Rhombe of Horse The Front

[Page] [Page]vsed not all those kinds but onely that which fileth, but rankes not, as Aelian testifieth in the 46 Chapter, which kinde is there also described. ItAelian [...] 46. was accounted a forme of great violence, & in that forme the Thessalians got all there reputation, being esteemed the the best horse-men of Greece.

2 The foot battaile fittest to encounter this] The aduantage that horse-men haue against foot is great, which is the cause that foot-men haue sought to helpe themselues by diuers kind of embattailing to the end to supply by art, that which they want by force and strength. Of which manner of embattailings, many are set down in Aelian. If more then one troope charge at once, you haue the Phalange Amphistomus, Antistomus, and the Plinthium to resist: If but one troope, the Diphalange Antistomus; All which kinds are before described by Aelian. In this Chapter is another kind described namely, the halfe moone. and there follow in other Chapters the plagiophalange, the Epicampios emprosthia, and the wedge: Of all which we are to discourse in order as they are remembred by our Authours.

3 Is the Menoeids or Cressant.] Against the Rhombe of horse Aelian opposeth the Menoeides of foot, a name of battaile borrowed from the shape of the moone. For [...] is the moone, and the word [...] (which is ioyned to make vp the composition) signifieth a full shape or forme. So the word importeth a shape or forme of the moon: and yet this battaile is not like all shapes of the moone, but like to the new moone when she hath two hornes, and hath the shape of halfe a circle as it were: In which sence Isis the Aegyptian goddesse (which indeed was the moone, saith Diod. Sie. l. g. p. [...] Diodorus Siculus) was pictured with two hornes from the shew which shee maketh being menoeides, that is, the new moone, so is a wall sometime called, because of the hollow forme. As when the Rhodians hauing their wall shrewdly shaken by the engines of battery of Demetrius, reared an inward wall in shape of a Cressant, which with the compasse, comprehended all the parts of the outward wal which were battered. The same Diod. Sic. l. 20 p. 783. Ar [...]. 41. 22. C. Diodorus calleth it Menoeides: the like was don by the Halicarnasseans against Alexander the Great, and Arrian giueth it the name [...]; a brick halfe moon; the cause of the inuention of this forme, is laide out by Onosand. c. 21. p. 65. Onosander & [...] coc. 19. 45. [...] &c. 24. 184. Leo. Oftentimes saith Onosader, those that haue great numbers of men in the field, are wont to figure them into a Cressāt, supposing that in charging the enemy wil be ready to ioyne man to man, that is, to enter into the semi-circle and fight with them that stand embowed; in doeing whereof, they will be hemmed and wraped in, in the halfe Circle▪ the wings of the halfe Circle being to bee drawne together round about them, and the whole brought into the forme of a Circle. And Leo likewise: The figure bearing there semblance of halfe a Circle, seemeth to be safe & firme; for it incloseth the enemy that cōmeth against it in the hollownesse of the Circle, by drawing out the wings into a Circle on both sides, and giueth more courage to fight against them. The causes then to take vp this figure in fight are three; one the aduantage of multitude of forces in the field, whereby the Generall is enabled to encompasse; another, the ignorance of the enemy, that ventureth within the compasse of the halfe moone; the third, the efficasie of the figure which serueth to entrap the enemy that is not heedfull and wary in ioyning battaile. It hath beene vsed both against Horse and foot, and sometimes in Sea by one Nauy against another, Aelian esteemeth it good against horse; no doubt when horse charge; and are resisted both in front, and plyed also with flying weapons in flanke, they finde a greater [...]n [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...]opposition and disaduantage, then when they are receiued in front alone. In square battailes of foot the front lying euen, the horse in charging abide only the danger before, whereas in the hollow fronted battailes of foot, such as are this form, and the Epicampios emprosthia, they are endangered also in flanke, yea in both flanks, & cannot enter the hollownesse of the front without losse of many of their horse, the depth of the hollownes being as strong (in hauing the file-leaders in front, and the depth of the file the same) as a square battaile to resist, and the wings plying and infesting them with all sorts of flying weapons: against foot it hath beene vsed oftentimes, and it is the only forme that the Turks by reason of his multitudes, vseth both with horse and foot against Christians at this day.

The Cressant may be framed not onely before fight is begun, but also in the heat of fight: Before the fight, you haue an example of the Lacedemonians against Epaminondas, which I haue cited at large in my notes vpon the 30 Chap. Leo c. 19. §. 41. Leo also setteh downe the manner of casting a Nauy into a Cressant before fight. During the fight, Aratus the elder framed a Cressant against the Lacedemonians: Pausanias reciteth it in this manner; In the battaile ofd Pausanias in Arcadiais 471. the Lacedemonians against the Mantineans, The Mantineans, saith he, had the right wing, all the rest of the Arcadians the left. The middest was vssigned to Aratus, and to the Sicyonians, and Achaeans. Agis King of Lacedemon, and the Lacedemonians strethed out their battaile to inuade the front of the enemy. Agis and his troopes stood in the middest. Aratus after he had imparted his purpose to the Arcadians: fled himselfe, and with him that part of the army which he commanded, as if he feared the impression of the Lacedemonians; in giuing backe hee brought the army into the forme of an halfe moone. The Lacedemonians and Agis thinking they had the victory in their hands, pursued Aratus and his troopes more egerly. The wing followed the King, esteeming it no small conquest to haue soyled Aratus. In the meane time they perceiued not the Arcadians that were at their backe: and the Lacedemonians being encompassed round about, lost both many other of their army, and Agis also their King, the sonne of Endamidas was flaine. Leo also in sea fight giueth his Generall counsell how to entrap his enemy with a shew of flight; in giuing backe with fashioning an halfe moone: These be his words in effect; Leo c. 20. §. 201. If a Generall be to retire before the enemies Nauy, let him retire, fashioning his Nauy into a battaile Menoeides, anasailyng with his poupes forward, and so seeme to shunne the enemy: For if he flye not, but retire fighting, hee shall haue his ships ready to turne vpon the enemy with their prowes bent against him. And if need require, he may retire with his poupes toward the enemy: for the enemy shall not dare to enter into the hollownesse for feare of being encompassed. So Leo. The Menoeides therefore may be framed during fight; but this caution is to be remembred, that in sudden transmutations of battailes, you vse not the seruice of raw souldiers, but of such as haue experience, lest all be brought into confusion; and the enemy charge you while you are changing your forme. Now as formes of aduantage are to be sought against the enemy; so is it needfull to aduise what best opposition is to be made against such battailes: in case the enemy vse them. The Rombe of horse was of old time accounted a forcible figure against foot; the horse therein had the better. The Menoeides was inuented to resist and ouerthrow the horse: The foot had beene the better; what was then best for the horse? to abstaine from charging (saith Aelian) and to ply the foot with missiue weapons, to the end to force them to break [Page] their strong forme of embattailing. So now they stand vpon equall tearmes and the foot can with their shot annoy the horse, as well as the horse can annoy the foot. Aelian then sheweth a meanes for the horse to auoide the danger of this manner of embattailing: for foot vsing this forme against foot, hee sheweth no remedy. I will set downe what I finde: and here I neede not to repeat the remedy, that Diod. Syc. [...]. 15. 486. Epaminondas vsed against the Lacedemonian halfe-moone: it is related at large in my Notes vpon the 30 Chap. Onosand. cap. 66. Leo. cap. 20. §. 184. Onosander giueth this aduise: Diuide your battaile, saith hee, into 3 parts: with the two outwardest charge the Enemies winges: the third, that is ordered against the middle, and as it were, the bosome of the Cressant, aduance it not, but let it stand firme; for either they that are placed in the middest of the Cressant, shall standidle; or else aduancing in an euen front, will throng one another and breake their battaile. For the two fronts fighting in the winges and keeping their place, it is not possible for the halfe circle to come forward with an euen front: when they are therefore confused and haue broken their array, let the third battaile that remained in the middest for seconds, charge them, as they disorderl, aduance. If they still keepe their place in the bottome of the hollownesse, oppose the light-armed and darters against them, who will exceedingly distresse them with their missiue weapons: likewise you may doe well to frame a Loxe-phalange of your whole Army, and with your two Loxes, charge the winges, preuenting so the circling and encompasing of the Menoeides. For the Enemy, being a long while hindered from comming to blowes with his whole Army, shall bee kept in play with a few, none fighting but those onely that are in the winges, which first of necessitie must ioyne, because of the oblique onset. It will not bee a misse also, leisurely to retire with the Army sometimes, as though you were in feare; or else facing about to make your retreat orderly, as if you fled; and afterward turning sudd onely to meete the Enemie that presseth vpon you. For sometimes the Enemie being ouer-ioyed in the imagination of a true flight, doth follow vnaduisedly, and make a disorderly pursuit; euery man pressing to be formost, vpon whom you may returne without danger, and againe, chase them that follow you; who will be struckes with a fear in that you dare, contrary to their expectation, turne again & make head against them. Onosander giueth here three wayes to resist the Menoeides: one by diuiding your battaile into a Triphalange, & opposing two phalanges against the two wings of the Cressant, forbearing and standing firme with the third till opportunity be to moue (which is the battaile that Aelian opposeth against the Caelembolos.) The second by vsing the Loxe-phalange against it, as did Epaminondas at the battaile of Leustra against the Lacedemonian halfe moone, as I haue shewed elsewhere, namely Chap. 30. §. 7. The third in making semblance of flying; for the halfe moone is a forme, which in standing may well be kept whole, in mouing will soone be broken and fall into disorder, as Cicuta de l. c disciplimilitar. l. 2. 220. Cicuta an Italian writer noteth very well. If then you faine to flye, keeping your men in order, the Menoeides following you will breake of it selfe, and so you haue good opportunity to returne, and in all likelihood to win the day against it, especially being in disorder. Leo giueth the sameLeo. cap. 20. §. 201. aduise to his Generall, onely he speaketh of Sea matters, Onosander of Land seruice.

Words of direction for the Rhombe.

For the forming of the Rhombes, see the 19 Chapter, and my Notes vpon that Chapter, §. 6. [Page]

For the Cressnnt.

First order your body into a long square, Plagiophalanx.

1 The 2 file-leaders in the middest of the square, stand.

2 The next 2 on either hand, mooue forward one foot before the other two, their files mouing withall, and holding their distance.

3 So the 4 next file-leaders each before other, on either side a foot.

4 Then two more on either side, aduance before the rest that mooued two foot a peece.

5 Then the 2 next on either side, 3 foot apeece.

To restore to the first Posture:

Face about. Moue all at once (excepting the 2 middle files) and take your first ground.

Of the Horse-battaile Heteromekes, and the Plagiophalange to bee opposed against it. CHAP. XLV.

1 THE horse-battaile Heteromekes is that, which hath the depth double to the length. It is profitable in many respects. (2) For seeming to bee but a few in so small a breadth, it deceiueth the Enemie, and easily breaketh his forces with the thicknesse & strength of the embattailing, and may without perceiuing be led through streight and narrow passages. The (3) foot battaile to encounter is called the Plagiophalange, or broad fronted battaile. For being but slender in depth, it beareth foorth and extendeth it selfe in length, so that albeit it be broken in the middest with the charge of Horse, yet is nothing broken but a little of the depth, and the fury of the Horse is carried not vpon the multitude of foot, but streight and immediatly into the open aire and field. And for that cause is the length thereof much exceeding the depth.

NOTES.

1 OF the 2. battailes Heteromekes and Plagiophalanx I haue spoken before in my notes vpon the thirtieth Chapter. The Heteromekes is a kinde of Herse, the Plagiophalange the broad fronted battaile therein mentioned.

2 For seeming to be but a few.] Amongst all the stratagems vsed in Warre, it hath beene accounted alwayes a master piece of skill to deceiue the Enemie with shew of forces, that are in any Army: sometime with semblance of more men, then wee haue, to feare him, sometime with concealing our number, to prouoke him rashly to fight, and aduenture himselfe in battaile. Of these two kindes we haue an example in Caesar at the siege of

[Page]

Cap. 45.

Plagiophalanx, or ye broad fronted battaile of foote Heteromekes or ye Herse of Horse The front

[Page] [Page] Gergouia. Caesar himselfe writeth thus: When Caesar came into his lesser Campe Cesarde [...]ell. gall. [...] 7. [...]63. A. [...]. 1. (hee had two Camp [...] at that siege) to take view of his workes, he perceiued that the hill, which was holden by the Enemie, was become emptie of men, which hill a few dayes past, could hardly [...] seene for the multitude, that couered it. Maruelling thereat, he asked of the run aw [...]yes the cause (of whom great numbers came flocking to him euery day:) It appeared by [...]ll their reports, which Caesar also vnderstood by his owne Scoutes, that the ridge of the hill was almost euen, but yet wooddy and narrow, by which there was accesse to [...]he other part of the towne. That the Enemie mightily feared that place; and were now of opinion, that seeing the Romans had gained one hill, if they should lose the other, they should seeme well nigh enclosed round about with a trench, and shut up from issuing out, and from forrage; that all were called out of the Citie by The french Genorall. Vercin [...]etorix to fortifie the place. Caesar hauing gotten this intelligence, sent at midnight d [...]ers troopes of horse thither, and commanded them to rid vp and downe in all places with greater tumult, then their manner was. Assoone as it was day, hee willed a great number of carriage-horse and Mules to be brought out of the Campe, and their pads [...]o be taken off from them, and that the Muleters putting on head-pieces, should ride a [...]out the hils in shew, as if they were horse-men. To these he added a few Horse, who were to spred themselues abroad hereand there, to amase the Gaules the more. Hee willed them to addresse themselue, and to draw to one and the same place, fetching a large compasse about. These things were seene a farre of out of Gergouia (for from thence the Campe might well be discerned) and yet in such distance [...]t could not bee certainely perceiued, what the matter was. He sent a legion along the ridge of the same hill, and placed it (drawing it a little further A peaple in Narbon. forward) in the nether grounds below, and hid it in the woods. The Gaules here at increase [...] their suspition, and all the forces appointed for the fortifications of their Campe were led thither. Caesar espying the Campe of the Enemie to be voide of men, conue ed Souldiours stragling, as it were, and not in troopes, from the greater Campe vnto the lesser, hiding those things by which they might be knowne, and couering their ensignes of Warre, lest happily they might bee discried out of the Towne; and gaue instructions to the Legats, whom he had set ouer euery Legion, what he would haue done. After thes [...] directions hee gaue the signall: the Souldiers after the signall giuen, with all speed fell vp to the Munition, and entring, made themselues masters of three Camps of the Enemie. And the speed of their surprise was such, that Theutomatus King of the Nitiobrigians, being suddenly surprised in his Tent, as he rested about noone, the vpper part of his body being naked, had much adoe to saue himselfe vpon his horse (which was also wounded in escaping) from the hands of the rif [...]g Souldiers. This example of Caesar containeth the two kinds before remembered of deceiuing the Enemie. For hee both made a greater shew of horse men then hee had, by setting Muleters on horse-backe, and giuing the [...] [...]ieces, and also dissembled the number of them, who were in the lesser [...] which ga [...]e vpon the Enemies workes, by conueying Souldiers [...] of the [...] Campe piece meale, as it were, and one after anothe [...] [...]icy yeelded victory to Caesar against the Gaules before: as you [...] in the fift booke of his Commentaries. And in this very kinde, that Aelian speaketh of, that is, in making his front narrow and hisCesar de [...]el. gal l. 5. prg. 748. B battaile deepe, and so dissembling his forces, Cleandridas the Lacedemonian wonne a noble battaile against the Thurians, as I haue noted in the nine and twentieth Chapter of this booke. Examples of the manner of these flights are euery where to be found in Histories.

[Page]3 The foot battaile to encounter it.] Diuers kindes of battailes are fitter (as I conceiue) to bee opposed against this horse-battaile, then the Plagiophalange. And, I take it, it is not therefore here set dow [...]e as the best forme to encounter, and repulse the horse, but rather to shew, that, if you bee not otherwise able to auoide them, you may in this [...]orme sustaine the lesser losse. For so much importes the reason of Aelian viz. that, if you be broken in the middest by the horse, yet is nothing bro [...]en, but a little of the depth, and the fury of the horse is carried into the open field, & not vpon the rest of the foot. If your foot battaile were flanked with a riuer, wood, trench, wall, or some such other strength, I would the [...] well hold with this reason. For then might the foot open (as in the Di [...]alange Antistomus) and suffer the horse to passe through, and to fall i [...]o the riuer, or vpon that strength, which you were flanked with all. B [...]t when the horse breake through your foot, and passe into the open field, they haue aduantage to turne againe vpon your backe, and freedome of a many charges, as they list to giue vpon you. The Plinthium, the halfe Moone, the Epicampios, or hollow-fronted battaile described in the next fo [...]lowing Chapter, and the wedge of foot, are to be preferred before the Plagiophalange. For all these kindes are inuented to repulse horse, in what forme soeuer they giue on, and some of them, in case the horse be forward [...] charging, to ouerthrow and discomfit them. Of some of these we haue spoken before, other some follow to be treated of. The Heteromekes horse battaile, is not in our dayes much vsed, except it be in marching. The great Commanders of our time, rather in fight, order their horse into a Plagiophalange; which forme they hold more fit for thevse of the weapons of our age. But the Plagiophalange of foot remēbred by Aelian to encounter horse, ought to be very shallow in depth. For if it should be according to the old fashion, 16. in depth (which number the file of the Macedonians held) or according to our custome [...]. I see not how it is possible for a troope of horse to breake it, or to passe through it into the open field, the depth of the battaile being sufficient to sustaine the ch [...]ge of any horse. How the Heteromekes, and how the Plagiophalange are framed, I haue taught before in the thirtieth Chapter.

Of another kinde of Rhombe for horse-men, and of the foot-battaile called Epicampios Emprosthia to encounter it. CHAP. XLVI.

(1) ANother sort of Rhomboeides there is, whereof I neede say no more, but that it fileth, and ranketh not. I haue before shewed the vse thereof; and that Ileon the Thessalian was the inuenter, and that [...]asan Medeas husband put it in practise: the vse thereof is great, it being directed and led in the foure sides by the Captaine, the Lieutenant, and the two flanke-commanders. It is commonly fashioned of Archers on horse-backe, as the Armenian, and Persian manner is.

Against it is opposed the foot-battaile, called (2) Epicampios Emprosthia,

[Page]

Cap. 46.

Epicampios Emprosthia The Rhombe The front

[Page] [Page]the hollow fronted battaile because the circumduction of the front is like an embowing. The end of this forme is to deceiue and ouer-reach the Archers on horse-backe, e [...]ther by wrapping them in the void space of the front, as they charge, and giue on vpon the spune, or else disordering them first with the winges, and breaking their fury, by ouerthrowing them finally with their rankes about the middle Ensignes. This kinde of battaile was deuised to entrappe and beguile. For opening the middle hollownesse, it maketh shew but of a few, that march in the winges, hauing notwithstanding thrice as many following and seconding in the reare. So that, if the wings bee of power sufficient for the incounter, there needeth no more: if not, retiring easily on either side, they are to ioyne themselues to the bulke of the battaile.

NOTES.

(1) ANother sort of Rhomboeides there is.] The inscription of this Chapter seemeth not to bee right; because the forme of the Rhomboeides here mentioned, differeth not, but is the same, that was last spoken of. In the Cap 4 [...]. former hee said it was inuented by Ileon the Thessalian, and in vse amongst the Thessalians, and called Ile of his name. In this he saith as much, adding onely that Iason, Medeas husband, who was also a Thessalian, put it most in practise. So that the Rhombes seeme to be all one, and the inscription of the Chapter either corrupted or mistaken; and that it ought to bee of the Rhombe and the hollow-fronted battaile to encounter it. I need say no more of this Rhombe, the forme of it, the manner of framing, and the difference of it from other Rhombes are sufficiently declared in other places before.Cap. 19.

(2) Against it is opposed the Epicampios Emprosthia.] About the forme of this battaile there is also some difference amongst the learned▪ Casaubon in his translation of Polybius translateth Polib. 28. B. 42 [...] ▪ B [...]65. D. Epicampios in Greeke by the Latin word Forceps. Of whose opinion De [...] 4. dialog [...] 7. pag [...] ▪ 279 Iustus Lipsius seemeth to be. If I dissent from so great learned men vpon good reason and authoritie, I hope, I shall not incurre the opinion of arrogancy, when I haue spoken, what I thinke, let the Reader iudge, as hee pleaseth: I pre [...]udicate no mans opinion. For the forceps (tonges) or Forfex (sheeres) which Lips. ibid. Lipsius, and Casaubon hold to be all one with the Epicampios, Veget. l. 3. c. 19. Vegetius resembleth them to the letter V. His words are these: Against it (that is against the wedge) the forme of battaile is opposed, which they call Forfex. For this is a kinde of battaile framed of the choycest Souldiers to the likenesse of the letter V. and it receiueth and shutteth within it the wedge. Vegetius saith, the Forfex or Forceps is like the letter V. Of this forme is the Caelembolos in Aelian; and resembled to the same letter in expresse tearmes; as you may see in his thirtie sixe Chapter. So that hauing the same forme, it must be the same battaile, howsoeuer they differ in the Greeke and Latin names. This being so, and seeing Aelian in this Chapter describeth the Epicampios by it selfe, and in another Chapter the Caelembolos by it selfe giuing a different forme to them both, there is no probability to thinke they should be one. Now besides the forme here set downe by Aelian, (which is to bee marked, as it is described,) the description of Xenophon shewes the forme of the Epicampios Emprosthia, out of whose words a man may easily discerne, that the Caelembolos and it are not all [Page] one. For he resembleth it to two Γ put togither, that is one Gamma on one side, another Gamma on the other. Put therefore two Gammas togither in this sort

[figure]

and you haue the perfect forme of the Epicampios Emprosthia. The passage is worth the recitall, although it be somewhat long. For it both containeth the forme of the battaile, and the manner of opposition against it. Thus then he writeth concerning the field fought betwixt Cyrus the elder, and Croesus: When both the Armies were in sight one of another, and Xenoph Cyrop. l. 7. 173. A. Croesus being farre superiour in number, resolued to ouer-front Cyrus his battaile, ordering his owne Phalange in an embowed forme (for otherwise there is no way to ouer-front and encompasse) he framed it on each side like the letter Γ to the end that all his forces might fight at once together. Cyrus seeing this, continued neuerthelesse his march, and held on with the same pace he had done before; and marking how the Enemy had made [...] the inflexion on both sides before, and extended their wings; doe you perceiue, said he to Chrysanthas, where they haue made their [...] inflexion? Yes, said Chrysanthas, and I maruaile at it. For, me thinkes, they draw their winges to farre forward from the front of their owne Phalange. True, said Cyrus, and from our Phalange too. But why doe they so? because they feare, lest the winges being neere to vs and their Phalange yet farre of, we should gine vpon the winges. But how, said Chrysanthas, can they in so great distance second one another? It is euident, said Cyrus, that when their wings shall come vp, and be right against our flankes, they will turne faces and Phalange wise come against vs on all sides, and fight with vs euery way.

[figure]

Thus Xenophon of the forme and vse of this battaile; the forme being like two Gammas

[figure]

on either side closed, the vse to encompasse the aduerse battaile, and to fall vpon it on all sides. And yet the forme and practise of the forme togither with the manner to oppose against, will more plainely appeare in the following words: Croesus▪ saith Xenophon, thinking that the Phalange (viz. the middest of the battaile) with which himselfe marched, was neerer Xenoph. Cyrop. l. 7. 176. [...]. to the Enemie, then the wings, which were stretched foorth in length, gaue a signall to the wings, not to proceede further, but to face to the Enemy in the ground, where they stood; when they had all turned their countenances toward the Army of Cyrus, he gaue them another signe to goe and charge the Enemie. So did three Phalanges set themselues against Cyrus Army; the first against the front, the other two, one against the right-flanke, the other against the left: So that the whole Army of Cyrus were put into a great feare. For as a small Plinthium comprehended in a great one, so was the Army of Cyrus being enuironed euery where with the Enemies horse, and armed foot, and Targetires, and Archers, and Chariots, sauing onely in the reare. Notwithstanding assoone as Cyrus commanded, they turned their faces against the Enemies: The silence on both sides was great for dread of that, which was expected. But when Cyrus thought meete, he began the Paean, and all his Army answered him. After this they [...] shouted altogether, and Cyrus putting spurres to his horse, with his horsemen gaue vpon the Enemies flanke, and with all speed came to hands. The foot presently following in good order wrapped in the Enemie here and there, and had a great deale the better; For they charged the wing in a Phalange, so that the Enemy was foorthwith put to flight: hitherto Xenophon. In which latter words we may see the forme of the Epicampios more fully expressed. For first hee sheweth that wings of the Phalange of Croesus were aduanced a good way before the front of the Phalange it selfe. Then that the front of these wings aduanced, came vp as far as the reare of Cyrus his Phalange. Thirdly, that they marched [Page] vp in a right line. For Xenophon resembleth Cyrus his battaile to a little Plinthium, the battaile of Croesus to a great Plinthium, so that both battailes must be square & figured on al sides in right lines, as we haue in the 42 Chap. Fourthly, that the front of the Epicampios must be hollow to receiue and claspe in, as it were, the aduerse battaile: the two gammaes (whereof Xenophon spake before) ioyned together in the vpper part being a true resemblance of the front of this battell. The manner of the opposition against it is likewise described by Xenophon. First Cyrus staid till the wings of the Epicampios were

Front.

come vp euen, and turned their faces against his flanks. Then when they were come vp, commanded he his flanks to face toward them to receiue the charge. When the fight was begunne, Cyrus from the reare with reserues of horse and foot gaue vpon the flanks of the wings of the Epicampios (for in the fight, by reason of turning of their faces towards the flanks of Cyrus his Phalange, their flanks were towards Cyrus his reare) and so charging them in flanke and front they were easily defeated. To returne then to the comparison of the Forceps and the Epicampios, by this example out of Xenophon the difference betwixt them may easily appear:

Epicampios. Front.

Forfex.

the Epicampios making 2 angles in the bottome of the hollow frōt, the forceps but one, & the angle in the forceps is acute, the 2 angles in the Epicampios both right angles, & the figures differ as much one frō another, as the two gammaes ioyned together differ from the letter V. Aelian in this [...] vsed this form against Eumenes. wioder. S [...]. l. 16. 686. Chapter sheweth no othervse of the Epicampios, but against horse. But the vse is no lesse against foot, as the former example teacheth, & many other, which are to be found partly in History, partly are mentioned in my notes vpon this booke. A notable experince of this forme you may see noted vpon the 28 Chapter of this Booke, in the fight betwixt Scipio and Asdruball; another in the battaile of Miltiades at Marathon, against the Persians: likewise in the battaile of Narses against the Franks, of which I shall haue occasion to speak hereafter. For the framing of this battaile the words of direction may be these: First, make a broad fronted Phalange. Then

1 Aduance your right and left wings, and let the middest of the battaile stand firme. Vnder the name of the wings, I vnderstand so many files as shall be thought enough to march out to make the hollow front: the bringers vp of wings must ranke with the file-leaders of the middest.

2 Face and charge into the hollownesse of the front.

To restore to the first Posture.

1 Wings, face about to the right or left hand.

2 March and ioyne with the body in an euen front.

3 Face as you were first.

There is added by some translators of Aelian an Epicampios opisthia to the Epicampios emprosthia. This battaile they would haue to be signified in their words. This kind of battaile was deuised to entrap and beguile. But hee that shal weigh the words following, shal see that Aelians meaning is to describe the Emprosthia more fully, euen in the selfe same place. For he speaketh [Page] of the few that march in the wings, and of thrice as many that follow in the reare. Besides, he saith, that if the wings be not sufficient to repulse the enemy, they may retire and ioyne to the bulke of the body. The wings are therefore led on first, and the ma [...]se of the body followeth, whereas in the Epicampios opisthia the wings are stretched out behinde, and follow the body. And albeit there be in Aelian no words of the Opisthia, yet I may not deny that there is an Epicampio [...] Opisthia: Suidas in Epicampes. Suidas proueth it plainely; He defineth the [...], thus: It is called Epicampios when the battaile aduanceth against the enemy▪ and hath the wings drawne out in length on both sides behind. The vse of the Opisthia is as it seemeth, to auoid the encircling or encompassing of an enemy, that hath a greater quantity of souldiers then we, and meanes to charge our reare. Alexander the Great, being farre inferior to Darius in multitude of men, vsed this forme at Arbela. Diod. Sic. l. 17. 592. Arr. c. 3. 60. c. 3. Diodorus Siculus saith, that after he had ordered his battaile against Darius in a right front, hee framed an Epicampios behind each wing, to the end that the enemy with his multitude might not encompasse the small number of the Macedonians. And this may suffice for both the formes of the Epicampios.

Words of direction for the Epicampios Opisthia.

1 Aduance your body, and let the wings stand firme.

2 The wings of one flanke face outward to the right, the other to the left hand.

Torustore, &c.

1 Wings face as you were.

2 March vp, and front with the middest of the body.

Of the foot-battaile called Cyrte, which is to be set against the Epicampios. CHAP. XLVII.

(1) THE Battaile to be opposed against the Epicampios is called Cyrte of the circumferent forme. This also maketh semblance of small forces, by reason of the conuexity of the figure. For all round things seeme little in compasse, and yet stretched out in length, and singled, they proue twice as much as they appeared to be. As is euident in Pillars which are round, and therefore in sight shew the one halfe, and conceale the other. The greatest piece of skill in embattailing, is to make shew of few men to the enemy, and in deed to bring twice as many to fight.

[Page]

Cap. 47.

The Cyrte or conuex halss Moone The Epicampios The front

[Page]

NOTES.

1 THE forme of this battaile, albelt it be a halfe Moone, and is called by Polybius Menoeides, yet is it in a manner contrary to the Menoeides described in the 44 Chapter of this Booke. That turned the concauity or hallownesse backward toward the reare, and the two hornes against the enemy, and sought to encompasse, this turneth the conuexe or outward part foremost, not the hornes, and endeauoureth to auoid encompassing: For the Epicampios, if a man should enter into the hollownesse thereof, claspeth him in, and is able to charge him in front, and on both flanks at one time. But the conuexe halfe Moone auoiding that danger, meeteth the enemy with the bearing out of the halfe circle, and giueth the two wings of the Epicampios enough to doe, being not to be annoyed with the depth of the hollownesse, which remaineth a pretty distance more backward then the points of the wings. So that this forme is fit to be opposed against the Epicampios, and looseth no aduantage of embattailing: and it auoideth the perill of the hollow front by not entring, and yet maintaineth the fight against the two wings that are thru [...] out to encompasse; being of sufficient strength to encounter the Epicampios, either of them not dissoluing their forme, or notwithstanding that the wings of the Epicampios retire, as Aelian prescribeth, when they are ouerpressed, or else the body of the hollownesse aduance to make an equall front with the wings, and so vnite their force. Howbeit I haue not read in the Greeke hi [...]tory examples of this forme set against the Epicampios, or vsed otherwise in fight; onely I finde in Polybius at the battaile of Canne that Hannibal practised it against the Romans, not trusting to the strength of the forme, but rather with the shew thereof, couering a further drift, to beguile and bring them into his snare. His words are in effect these: Hanniball, saith he, embattailed his army thus; He placed on the left hand the Spanish and Celtish horse right ouer against the Roman horse: next to them of foot halfe the Lybian heauy armed; then the Spaniards and Celts, next them the other halfe of the Lybians. On the right wing he ordered the Numidian horse: After he had framed an euen front of the whole Army, he aduanced the middle Spaniards and Gauls, and cast them into a conuexe halfe Moone, gathering vp the depth therewith and making it thin, meaning to hide the Lybians with it, and disposing the Lybians behinde them as seconds. And a little after he declareth the manner of fight. Then the heauy-armed foot succeeding the light armed, encountred together. The Spaniards therefore and Gauls a while brauely maintained their order and fight against the Romans; but being ouer-pressed, they turned their backs, and retired, dissoluing the forme of their halfe Moone. The Roman Cohorts couragiously following easily broke asunder the battaile of the Celts, which at first was ordered in a small depth; themselues transferring the thicknesse of their battaile from the wings of the middest, where the fight was; for the middest and the wings fought not at the same time. The middest began the fight first, because the Celts ranged in a halfe Moone, bore much more forward the the wings, hauing not the hollownes but the prominent swelling of the half-Moone lying out toward the enemy. So the Romans following & running together to the middest, where the enemy gaue groūd, entered so far into the enemies battaile, that they had the heauy-armed Lybians on either of their flanks; of whom those of the right wing facing to the Target, charged them on the right; those of the left wing, facing to the pike, gaue vpon their left side, occasiō it selfe shewing what was fit to be done: so that it chāced [Page] as Anniball had foreseene, that after the defeat of the Celts, the Romans pursuing the victory, should fall out to be enclosed in the middest of the Lybians. So Polibius of the prominent halfe moon or Cyrte, which Annibal vsed; to which of purpose he gaue to make thinnesse, because it should be broken & beaten, and the enemy drawn into the snares as it were, and ambush of the seconds, that is, of the Lybian heauy armed. If it had had the due proportion of depth, it might haue stood a longer time against the efforts of the enemy, and disputed the victory against the broad-fronted phalange; against which if it may be opposed, there is no question but it may be set against the Epicampios, because the broad-fronted phalange hath all her forces vnited together, the Epicampios fighteth onely with her two wings, the middest of the battaile being farre from ioyning; vnlesse a man be compelled to enter into the hollownesse of the front, in which case both the front and the wings may annoy him.

Words of direction for the Cyrte or conuexe halfe Moone.

First, order the body into a long square or Plagiophalange.

1 Then let the two file-leaders in the middest of the square march out with their files.

2 The next two on either hand moueright forward one foot short of the first, keeping distance in flanke, as before.

3 So the next foure, two o [...] each side: the two next one foot short of the last, the other two one foot short of them.

4 Then the next foure, two on each side, each two foot short of other.

5 Then the foure last, two on each side, each three foot short of the other.

Of the Tetragonall Horse-battaile, and of the wedge of foot to be opposed against it. CHAP. XLVIII.

(1) THe Tetragonall horse-battaile is square in figure, but not in number of men. For in squares the number is not alwaies the same: and the Generall for his aduantage may double the length to the depth. The Persians, Sicilians, and most of the [...]s doe affect this forme, and take it to be easie in framing, and better in vse.

(2) Against it is opposed the Phalange called Embolos, or Wedge of foot, all the side consisting of armed men. This kind is borrowed of the horse-mans wedge. And yet in the wedge of horse one sufficeth to lead in front, where the foot-wedge must haue three, one being vnable to beare the sway of the encounter. (3) So Epaminondas the Theban fighting with the Lacedemonians at Mantinaea ouerthrew a mighty power of theirs by casting his army into a wedge. (4) It is fashioned when the Antistomus Diphalangy

[Page]

Cap. 48.

The Horsbattaile square in figure, not in horse The foote wedge The front

[Page] [Page]in marching ioyneth the front of the wings together, holding them behinde like vnto the letter A.

NOTES.

(1) THis Chapter containeth the description of two battails, one of horse, the other of foot to be opposed in fight one against another; namely the square of horse, and the wedge of foot. Of which the tetragonall horse-battaile, square in figure, or ground (for all is one) is described in my notes vpon the 18. Chapter of Aelian, as also the wedge of horse, from which this wedge of foot (as Aelian saith) is deriued. It will be therefore needlesse to repeat, what is there written about the formes and diuersity of them; or to make comparison of their vse and aduantage. Against the Rhombe of horse, if they come to charge foot, he hath set downe two formes of foot to receiue them; the Cressant and the hollow-fronted battaile called Epicampios emprosthia: which vpon this [...]eason, because they are hollow in front both, and the Rhombe shooteth forth and chargeth in a point, must of necessity by receiuing that point into their hollownesse, and plying it with their weapons on all sides, distresse the Rhombe both in front and flanke, which is a dangerous kinde of fight, and such a one as seldome may be tolerated or endured.

(2) Against the square horse battaile in figure or ground, he opposeth in this Chapter, the wedge of foot, which albeit it cannot with the like art wrappe in and encompasse the square, yet is it of force sufficient to breake and disseuer it, and so to disorder and deface it. For the square of horse hauing a large front and going with full speed to charge, falleth vpon the narrow front of the wedge, which according to Aelian ought to containe no more then three men, and they knitting themselues close, their pikes pretended and being seconded with the rest of their companions behinde pretending their pikes likewise, receiue the charge with a firme stand, so that onely the middest of the horse falling vpon the point of their front; cannot reach to the flanks of the wings thereof (because the wedge from the first narrowing groweth backward into an increasing breadth) without breaking of their forme, and altering of the front of their square, wherein they were ordered: which if they doe, their repulse cannot but follow, because they fight out of order. Now that the forme of the wedge in horse is able to endure the shot of the horse, that came against them in a square, appeareth by the 18. Chapter of this booke, where it is said that Philip King of Macedon Alexanders father vsed this forme alone, and that Alexander himselfe ordered his horse in the same manner, who were both victorious in all their fields. That it is as good for foot against horse besides the reasons before rehearsed may be euident by this, that the horse are in motion in the charge, and by that meanes are soone disordered, whereas the foot stand fast, and keepe themselues secure to repulse the violence of the horse.

3. So Epaminondas the Theban] This battaile is excellently described by Xenoph. Hellen. [...]. 7. p. 645. D. Xenophon in his seuenth booke of his history of the Grecians. His words sound thus: After Epaminondas had embattailed his army, as he thought fit, he led not streight way against the enemy directly, but declined westward toward the Tegaean mountaines lying right ouer against the enemy, which bred an opinion, that he had no will to fight that day. For after he came vp to the mountaine and had taken [Page] a view of his army, he cansed them to [...] lay downe their armes in the vppermost part of all, as if he meant to incampe; and by this meanes allayed the preparation of fight, which most of the enemies had conceiued in minde, and likewise their care in maintaining their place and order in battaile. After sleeuing vp to the front, his companies that marched in a wing, hee fashioned his whole army into a strong wedge. Then commanding them to [...]. take vp their armies, he led on, and they followed. The enemy seeing him aduance contrary to their expectation, had no leisure to be still, but some ranne to their place in battaile, some embattailed themselues, some bridled their horse, some put on their curaces, all were like to men, that were like rather receiue, then giue a foyle to the enemy. Epaminondas led on his army like a gallie with the [...]. That is, with the point of the wedge against the enemy. prowe against the enemy, imagining that wheresoeuer he should breake their array, he should thereby ouerthrow their whole army. For he resolued to bring the best and strongest part of his army to fight, casting the weakest behinde in the reare, knowing that being defeated they would discourage their owne side, and breed new courage in the enemy. The enemy ranged his horse like a phalange of armed foot in a great depth without ioyning foot with them. But Epaminondas made a strong wedge of his horse also allotting them Light-armed. foot which had no herses, conceiuing that cutting asunder the enemies horse, he should easily ouerthrow their whole army. For you shall hardly find any, that will make good their ground, after they see them of their owne side take themselues to their feet. And to the end, to with hold the Athenians from succouring those of the left wing next vnto them, he placed both horse and foot right ouer against them vpon the hils, to put them in feare of charging their reare, if they gaue ayd vnto the enemy, so led he on to the charge, and was not deceiued of his hopes. For hauing the better wheresoeuer he gaue on, he put the whole army of his aduersaries to flight. So Xenophon. Where you may note not onely a square of horse defeated by a wedge of horse, but also a square battaile of foot defeated by a wedge of foot. And to shew more plainely, that the forme of the wedge is forcible against abroad fronted Phalange, I will recite two examples more. The first is out of T. Liutus, who writeth of a battaile fought betwixt the Romans and Celtiberians thus. The Celtiberians knowing that the Roman army hauing spoyled [...] huius. their Countrey, would retire through a forrest called Manlius his forrest, [...]id themselues in it of purpose, to the end to fall vpon the Romans vpon aduantage and vnlooked for. When the Roman army had entred the forrest by day-light, the enemy rising out his ambush vpon the sudden inuaded them on both flanks. Which Flaccus (hee was the Roman Generall) seeing, stilled the tumult by the Captaines commanding euery man to his place, and armies, and bringing the baggage and carriage beasts together, he constantly and without feare embattailed his army partly by himselfe, partly by his Legates and by the Tribunes of the souldiers, as the time and place required. The enemy came on, and the skirmish was attached in the vttermost parts of the Roman Phalange, and at last the battailes ioyned. The fight was hot in all parts, but fortune diuers: for the Legeons behaued themselues brauely, and the auxiliarie; in both wings as well. The mercinaries were hardly laid vnto by the enemy (who bore the like armes; and was a better kind of souldier) & had much ado to make good their ground. The Celtiberians, when they saw they could not match the legions in the ordinary manner of fight, and Ensigne against Ensigne, cast themselues into a wedge, and so assayled the Romans: in which kind of fight they are so powerfull, that they are scarcely to be resisted. Then the legions also branced, and the battell was almost broken. Which danger when Flaccus perceiued, he rode to the legionary horsemen And is there no helpe in you said he? This army will immediately be lost. When they cryed out at all [Page] hands, they would gladly doe whatsoeuer he commanded. Double the troopes, said he, of both legions, and with all your might force your horse against this wedge of the enemy, wherewith they presse vs: you shall doe it more violently, if you giue on, drawing off the horses bridles, which the Roman horsemen haue of ten done heretofore to their great cōmendation. They obeyed, and pulling off their horses bridles they passed & repassed through the enemies wedge twice with great slaughter, eueryone breaking his staffe. The Celtiberians after the breaking and dispersing of their wedge, in which all their hope remained, began to be afraid, and almost quitting the sight, sought where they might best to saue themselues. Hitherto Liuy. In which passage a man may obserue the violence of the wedge, which if it be rightly managed, is of wonderfull power to breake and dispart any square it shall fall vpon. The other example or precedent, is out of Agathias l. 2. Agathias, where he describeth the battaile betwixt Narses (the Emperour Iustinians Lieutenant, and Bucelinus Generall of the French-men. He hath thus. Narses when he came to the place where the fight should be, ordered presently his army into a Phalange. The horse were ranged in the wings; Himselfe stood in the right wing, and next him Zandalas Captaine of his followers, and with him all his mercinary and houshold seruants, that were not vnfit for the warre, vpon either side of him was Valerian and Artabanus, who were commanded to hide themselues a while in the thicke of the wood, that was thereby: and when the enemy ioyned, to fall out suddenly and vnlooked for vpon them, and to put them into an amazement. The foot had all the space in the middest, and the fileleaders ioyned shoulder to shoulder being armed with curaces and other pieces of armour reaching downe to the foot, and with caskes: Behind them were other souldiers ordered euen as farre as to the open fields. The light armed and such as vsed flying weapons were cast in the reare, expecting a signall of employment. The middest was reserued for the Heruly, and remained empty, because they were not yet come vp: Bucelinus aduanced his battell, and all ran cheerefully against the Romans, not leisurely, and in good order, but rashly and tumultuously, as if with the very cry they would haue rent asunder all that stood against them. The forme of their battaile was like a wedge; For it resembleth the letter Delta. And the front which shot out in a point, was couered and close, by reason it was hemmed in with Targets (you would haue said they counterfeited Caput percium. a Veget. l. 3. c. 1 [...]. swines head) but both the flanks on each side lying out by files in depth, and stretching backward byaswise, by little and little were parted and seuered one from another, and bearing out still toward the reare ende: at last in a great distance, so that the ground in the middest betwixt them was empty, and the backes of the souldiers that were in the wedge, appeared cleane through the files vncouered. For their faces were turned contrariwise one from another, to the end, they might beare them toward the enemy, and saue themselues from blowes, by casting their Targets before them, and secure their backe by placing them opposite to the backes of their fellowes. All things fellout according to Narses his wish, to whom both a faire opportunity was presented, and who had wisely before contriued what was to be done. For when the Barbarians running on furiously fell vpon the Romans with a shout and outery giuing vpon the milder; they presently broake the front of those that stood in the void space, (for the Heruli were not yet come vp) and the leaders of the point of the wedge cutting asunder all that stood in their way, euen to the vttermost depth of the file, and yet making no great slaughter, were carried beyond the bringers vp of Narses battaile, and some of them continued their course further, thinking to take in the Roman Campe, Then Narses presently turning about and extending out his wings, and making (as the Tacticks name is) an Epicampios emprosthia, commanded the archers on [Page] horsebacke to send their arrowes by turnes, vpon the backes of the enemy, which they easily performed. For being on horsebacke higher then the Barbarian foot, they might at their pleasure strike them, as they aduanced forward, being in a great bredth, and nothing to shadow them. Hitherto Agathias. It would be long to rehearse the rest of the battaile which he exaggerateth rhetorically. I haue recited so much, as both sheweth the strength of the wedge, and withall the manner which was vsed by Narses, to ouerthrow it. For I find three kinde of wayes which haue beene practised to resist and defeat it. One by charging it with horse, before it enter the aduerse battaile, as Flaccus did against the Celtiberians. The second to frame the aduerse battaile empty in the middest (filling it with some souldiers notwithstanding for shew) and when hee entreth the space, to plye his reare with shot, and charge it throughly as Narses did. The third to oppose against it a hollow wedge (which Vegetius calleth forfex) and receiuing and letting in the point of this wedge into the hollownesse of the other to claspe it in, and charge it on all sides. Against the wedge saith Vegetius, is opposed the battaile called forfex, a paire of sheeres: For it is framed of the best and valiantest souldiers to the similitude of the letter V. and it receiueth in, and embraceth the wedge, so that it cannot breake through it.

4 It is fashioned when the Diphalange Antistomus.] This manner of framing a wedge is described by Aelian in the 36 Chapter: and yet that wedge set downe there openeth in front, keepi [...] the reare shut, and is opposed against the right induction, and called Caelembolos; here the wedge is described that openeth the reare, keeping the front close, and is opposed against the square. But the manner of framing both standeth vpon one reason: For the file-leaders being placed within the Caelembolos, the front of the battaile is opened and the reare kept close: in the other, the file-leaders being without, the reare is opened, the front still maintained shut.

Front.
V
Calembolos

Front.
Λ
Embolos.

Now the file leaders place is varied in either of them, because of the seuerall effects which they worke. The hollow fronted wedge Caelembolos seeketh to hold the enemy together, & so defeat him. The other to dispart and rout him, and so to gaine the victory. And because the stresse of the Caelembolos is within (for the flankes of the hollownesse claspe in the enemy, and fight against his flanks) therefore are the file leaders the formost that fight within; as likewise because the outsides of the wedge of this Chapter beare all the weight of the fight, therefore in it are the file-leaders without. For as in all other battailes the file-leaders ought first to attach the enemy, so is it likewise in these two formes. But where Aelian saith, that this battell is made out of the Diphalange Antistomus, by ioyning the wings in front, and opening them behinde, I take the Text to be corrupted. For the Diphalange Antistomus hath the file-leaders within, to resist the horse that charge them, as the 40 Chapter teacheth: this hath the file-leaders without to breake the enemies battaile and disseuer it. The Caelembolos indeed is framed out of the Diphalange Antistomus: But the wedge of this Chapter springeth out of the Phalange Antistomus, which hath the file-leaders without. And so I am of opinion, it ought to be read in the Text. And yet there is no question but another way of figuring the wedge may be practised, then to leaue it hollow behind. In this Chapter it is called Embolos, and Aelian faith it is borrowed of the horse-wedge: Now that the horse-wedge is solid

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Cap. 49.

The Peplegmene The Plesium The front

[Page] [Page] [...] not hollow within, is plaine by the 19 and 20 Chapters of this [...] will conclude this Chapter with the caution of Vegetius, which is this, that if you shill make a paire of tongs or a hallow wedge, you ought to haue reserues in readinesse behinde the battaile, wherewith you may frame your tongs or wedge. And yet this caution holdeth not alwayes; For as a horse-wedge, so a foot-wedge may be framed without supernumeraries: as the 19 and 20 Chapters shew.

Of the foot-battaile called Plesium, and of the Winding or Sawefronted battaile to encounter it. CHAP. XLIX.

(1) THE battaile Plesium hath the (2) length much exceeding the depth. And it is called Plesium when armed foot are placed on all sides, the archers and slingers being thrown into the middest. Against this kinde of battaile is set the winding-fronted battaile, to the end that with the vnequall figure it may traine out those of the Plesium to cope with them; and by that meanes dissolue and disorder the thicknesse of the same. And the file-leaders of the winding-fronted battaile obserue the file-leaders of the Plesium, that if they still maintaine their closenesse and fight secret, they also encounter them in the like forme. If the Plesium file-leaders seuer themselues and spring out from their maine force, then they likewise be ready to meet them man to man.

NOTES.

1 THis Chapter containeth two foot-battailes, one to be opposed against the other; the first called the Plesium, or hollow-square; the second the winding-fronted-battaile or Peplegmene. Of which the first hath beene vsed by all antiquity, especially by the Grecians, whensoeuer the enemies ouertopped in number, and they feared to be charged on all sides. It is called Plesium of the figure which is square; but originally and more particularly of the mould wherein bricks are cast. Etymologie. magnum in [...]. Because the battaile hath the likenesse of the mould; as being both square, and also hollow within, as I haue noted before. Neither is this name giuen to a battaile alone; Plut in vita Alexandri. Plutarch saith, that the chariot wherein Alexander rode, when he returned from the Indies quaffing and rioting, was framed [...], that is, in a square hollow forme, and the Helepolis (an engin which Plut. in vita Demetrij. Demetrius inuented to batter the Rhodian City) was tetragonall, and had 48 cubits in euery side of the Plesium. But in a battaile, that is Plesium, saith Aelian, which

2 Hath the length manifoldly exceeding the depth.] The length of a battaile, as I haue shewed heretofore, is that which runneth from the point of one wing to the other in front; the depth, that is measured from the front to the reare. In the Plesium then, according to Aelian, the length or breadth ought to be manifold to the depth. But it is not generally so; for oftentimes you shall read of Plesiums with [...] de exp. l. 3. 310. A. [...]rr. [...] 4. 31. [...]. equall sides; and likewise that the Plesium [Page] is sometimes hollow within, sometimes solid and filled vp within with men: of which last kinde Xenoph. d'exp. l. 1 264. A. Xenophon saith, many of the Barbarians framed their troopes in the battaile betwixt Artaxerxes and Cyrus. Of the first Aelian speaketh in this Chapter: for he would haue the foure sides to consist of armed, and the archers and slingers to be throwne into the hollownesse within. He hath before in the 42 Chapter described the Plinthium to be a square battaile in figure and number; this he would haue to be a square with the front manifoldly longer then the flanke. So that both battailes agree in that they are square both in that they haue armed on all sides, both in that they are hollow within; they differ onely in the forme of the square, which is longer in the Plesium, deeper in the Plinthium. Their affinity also appeareth in this also, that the Plinthium hath the name from a bricke, the Plesium from the mould of a bricke; yet are their names oftentimes confounded: For that which is called in one Author Plesium, is in another called Plinthium: as namely the battaile of Antony in Persia, is by Plut. in Antonio. Plutarch named Plesium, by App. in Path. 162. Appian Plinthium.

To shew now the vse of this battatle, it is of the kinde of Defensiues; and the Grecians, whensoeuer they feared to be charged in flanke, front, and reare at once, or to be ouer-laid with number of enemies, had recourse vnto this forme. There is a notable example of it in Thucyd. l. 7. 550. c. These two Generals had each of them half the Army vnder their command. Thucydides. The Athenians hauing besieged Syracuse in Cicill both by Sea and Land, and being ouer-come in two battailes by Sea, thought to march by land to someone of their considerate Cities in the Island; and fearing to be round beset by the Syracusians in their way; Nicias one of the Athenian Generals put his part of the army in a Plesium, and so marched before: Demosthenes the other Athenian Generall, followed with the other part of the army in the same forme. The armed tooke into the hollownesse of their battailes the cariage and vnusefull multitude. When they came to the foord of theriuer Anapis, they found the Syracusians and their allies embattailed there, whom hauing beaten from the place, they passed o [...]er and continued heir march. The Syracusian horse still charged, and the light-armed ceased not to ply them with mis [...]iue weapons; but yet they came not to hand-blowes, fearing to hazard against men desperately bent to sell their liues deerely. At last wearying them with many dayes skirmish, and disordering their army, they forced them to yeeld. This History is at large set downe by Thucydides. I haue abridged it, lest it should take vp too much roome; and yet haue expressed both the forme in his words, and further the meanes, that the enemy vsed to breake it, and to get the victory. This forme was vsed by the Xenoph. de exp. l. 3. 303. E. Grecians at their returne out of Persia, after that Clearchus and the other Coronels were ensnared by Tissaphernes, and put to death: and againe by Xenophon, when he retreated, after he had failed of the taking of Asidates prisoner, not farre from Pergamus a City of Lydia. For the meanes to dissolue this battaile, the principall is, not to charge at hand those that stand so embattailed, but to ply them farre off with missiue weapons; which is manifest by the fight of the Syracusians against Nicias and the Athenians; and by that of the Persians, who so assayled Xenophon in his retreat last mentioned. Aelian setteth against it another forme of battaile which he tearmeth Peplegmene, the winding fronted battaile, which is by some called the sawe: what kinde of battaile the sawe is, I see controuerted. Some would haue it consist of a constant front indented, and not changeable or alterable in any part, during the charge. If that be the saw, it cannot agree

[Page]

Cap. 50.

The aduerse battail The overwinging battail

[Page] [Page]

Cap. 50.

The aduerse battaile The ouerfronting battaile

[Page]with Aelians description, who would haue the file-leaders of the Peplegmene to aduance before their battaile, and be still in motion, of purpose to traine out the file-leaders of the Plesium to meet them, thereby to dissolue the forme of their battaile. And this is but a stratagem to pr [...]uaile against the enemy. For, as Leo [...]. 2 [...] §. [...] Leo saith, a good Generallought, as a good wrestler, to make shew of one thing, and to put another in practice, to the end to deceiue the enemy, and gaine the victory; as is done in this manner of embattailing; but that the Sawe is no constant or setled forme of fight, as the rest are, which are described by Aelian in the Chapters going before, appeareth by Fiestus, whose words are these: Serra praeliari dicitur, cum assidue acciditur, recediturque, neque vllo consistitur tempore. The skirmish is said to be made in the forme of a Sawe, when they that vse this for me continually giue on and retire, and at no time stand still. But we must vnderstand that the mouing is not by mamples or by light-armed, as Lipsius de mil. Rom. [...]. [...]. di [...] [...]. p, 280. Lipsius interpreteth it, but by fileleaders of the armed, as Aelian teacheth, (with intent to traine out the fileleaders of the Plesium, and so to disorder their battaile:) the rest of the Peplegmene standing still in their forme. Now then to make a Peplegmene or sawe-battaile, direction is to be giuen to the file-leaders alone to fall out confusedly against the aduerse Plesium of the enemy, and to the rest in the files to stand still. Otherwise being not forewarned, the whole files will moue and follow their leaders; which if they doe, this forme cannot be made, but the battaile remaineth as a square as it did before the going to charge. The forme of framing the battail called the Plesium, and the words of command are described in my notes vpon the 42 Chapter.

Of Hyperphalangesis, and Hyperkerasis, and of Attenuation. CHAP. L.

(1) HYperphalangesis, or ouerfronting is, when both wings of the Phalange ouer-reach the enemies front.

2 Hyperkerasis, or ouerwinging, is when with one of our wings we ouer-reach the front of the enemy. So that he that ouerfronteth, ouerwingth; but he that ouerwingeth, ouerfrōteth not. For they that match not the enemy in multitude, may yet ouerwing him.

3 Attenuation is when the depth of the battaile is gathered vp, and in stead of 16, a smaller number is set.

NOTES.

IN this Chapter, being the last, that describeth formes of battailes, are two kindes of battailes set forth, which are (if I mistake not) of more efficacy, I am sure, such as haue beene more practised, then any of the other, that goe before in this booke; and they specially giue aduantage to them, that haue aduantage in numbers of men, and can frame a larger fronted Phalange then the enemy is able. And either of them opposeth a large front against the enemy, the one stretching it beyōd the points of both their wings the other beyond the point one of their wings. The first kind is called Hyperphalangesis, [Page] ouer-fronting, the other Hyperkerasis, ouer-winging. Hyperphalangesis or ouer-fronting is, faith Aelian;

1 When both wings of the Phalange ouer-reach the enemies front.] To make it then Hyperphalangesis, the front must be much broader then the enemies, & extended beyond both their wings, of purpose to ouer reach & wrap them in, charging not onely the front, but also the flankes on both sides at once; which is so dangerous a kinde of fight, that he that is so assayled, can haue no great hope of making resistance against his enemy; because the front being the place which is ordained for fight, and the pikes being bent and lying out from thence, if at the same time the flankes be also charged, the sides of the souldiers must needs lye open to wounds, no man being able to defend himselfe, and turne his weapons two wayes at once. The ouer-fronting of Xenoph. Cyrop. l. 7. 173. Croesus vsed against Cyrus, rehearsed by me in my notes vpon the 46 Chapter, is an eminent example of Hyperphalangesis, whereby Croesus at one instant inuaded the front and both flanks of the enemies battaile. The like maybe said of the battaile of Arr. l. 2. 3 5. E. & l. 3. 60. C. Darius at Issos & Gaugamela, against Alexander; and of Poly [...]. l. 11. 6 [...]. B. Liu. l. [...]. 204. B. Hirt [...]us de bell. Afr. 385. Scipio against Asdruball Gisgoes sonne in Spaine; and of Lau [...]enus against Caesar in Africa. The manner of framing this forme is diuers: [...]or either you shew all your forces at first, or else conceale some part; and shewing all, you march in an euen and whole front, and bowing afterward your wings, enclose the flankes of the enemy, or else in on embowed forme at first (such as are the hollow▪fronted battailes) and so encompasse your enemy, taking him into the hollownesse, as you march forward. Of the first kind was the battaile of Labienus against Caesar which I mentioned last, and those of Darius against Alexander. Of marching in an embowed forme, that of Croesus against Cyrus: Of concealing your number, that of Cleandridas against the Thurian cited by [...]y notes vpon the 29 Chapter of this booke; and of Scipio against Asdruball which is set downe at large in the notes vpon the 28 Chapter.

2 Hyperkerosis is when we ouer-reach the enemies front with one of our winges.] Ouerfronting See Diod. Sic of Philip against the Illyrians l. 16 pag. 512. is of both wings, ouerwinging but of one. So that albeit your number be smaller then the enemies, yet it you wrap in a part of his front, and one of his wings, you so ouerwing him. To shew an example of ouerwinging you may finde in Thucidides, that the Argiues with their allies, being in the field against the [...] acedemonians and their allies, the battailes were ordered thus: The Thucyd. l. 5. 350. D. See the like example in Xenoph. hist [...]rek. l. [...]. 515. E. 516. A. B. Lacedemonians gaue the point of the left wing to the Scirites, who only of the Lacedemonians haue alwayes that place. Next to them they ordered the souldiers that came with Brasidas out of Th [...]ace: Next them the new ma [...]e Citizens by companies by their si [...]es, first the Heroeans, then the Menalians, Arcadians both. In the right wing were the Tegaeans, and a few of the Lacedemo i [...]s in the point of that wing. The [...]orse were ranged on both wings. Thus were the Lacedemonians embattailed: Their enemies thus; The Mantinaeans had the right wing, because the warre was made in their Territory: by them stood the Arcadians their confederates. Then 1000 selected Argiues, whom the City had long time trained vp in military exercise; to whom ioyned the other Argiues; and after them were ordered the Cleoneans, and the Orneatians their allies. The last were the Athenians, that had the left wing, and their owne horse b [...] them. This was the preparation and embattailing of both parties. When they went to charge, the Argiues and their allies marched forward with speed and great fury, the Lacedemonians leysurely according to the sound of the fifes, [Page] placed within their battaile, not for any religion sake, but to the end, that framing their motion to the sound of the instrument, they might not in the march breake their order of embattailing, which great armies often doe in aduancing; to ioyne with the enemy. When they were ready to ioyne, King Agis bethought himselfe of this strata gem: It is the manner of all armies in the onset to stretch out their right wings, and with them to circumuent and encompasse the left wings of their aduersaries; because euery souldier carefull of his owne sefety seekes to couer his vnarmed side with the target of him that standeth next to his right hand, and imagineth that the setting of targets close▪ serues for the best defence against the enemy. The cause is this; the corner file-leader of the right wing desiring to withdraw as much as hee can his naked side from the weapons of the enemy proceedeth to the right hand, and the rest follow him. And at that time the Mantineans a great deale ouer-reached the Scirites with their wing. The Lacedemonians and Tegeats much more the Athenians, by reason they o [...]ermatched the [...] in number. Agis therefore fearing the encompassing of his left wing, seeing that the front of the Mantineans was very broad, and farre extended, gaue a signe to the Scirites and Brasideans to stretch out their wing, and to equall the front of the Mantineans. And for the void space that should remaine vpon their aduancing; he commanded two Polemarchs or Coronels, Hipponoidas and Aristocles to lead therin two cohorts from the right wing, and fill vp the void space, conceiuing that he should, this notwithstanding, leaue himselfe strength enough in the right wing, and that the wing opposed against the Mantineans should hereby be better enabled to the encounter. But it happened that Hipponoidas & Aristocles followed not these directions, whether the reason were in the sudden [...]esse of the command, or in the preuention of the enemies giuing on: for which fault they were afterward banished Sparta, as men effeminate & cowards. When they came to hands, the right wing of the Mantineans put the Scirites and Brasideans to flight. And they and their allies, and the 1000 selected Argiues falling into the empty space, that was not filled vp, made a great slaughter of the Lacedemonians; and encompassing them forced them to turne their backes in hast, and flye to their waggons, and slue also some of the elder sort of souldiers, that were left for guard there. Hitherto Thucydides. I prosecute not the remanen [...] of the battaile, because it is somewhat long. That which I haue recited is enough for my purpose, namely to shew the manner of ouerwinging. Thus then apply it. The Mantineans had their right wing farre extended beyond the point of the left wing of the Scirites and brasidaeans; who by marching out to the left hand sought to equall the front of their aduersaries, but left the ground voyd, wherein they were first placed. This ground by Agis his commandement should haue been filled by the Cohorts of Hipponoidas and Aristocles. It was not filled, so that in the charge the enemy had the aduantage to enter it, and to circumuent on that side the Scirites and Brasideans, and put them to flight: which danger will be common to all that shall be so ouerwinged by their enemie. The danger then of ouer-fronting and ouer-winging being so great, let vs see what remedies and preuentions against either of them haue beene deuised by antiquity.

Against [...]ner-fronting, they sought to secure the flanks of their battailes,Remedies against ouer-fronting. sometimes by ordering their army in such a figure, as should be sufficient to sustaine the charge of the enemy, wheresoeuer he gaue on. Of which kindeThe Plesiu [...]. is the Plesium or hollow-square spoken of in the last Chapter. This was practised by the Grecians at their returne out of Persia; and oftentimes by other Grecians, as is euery where to be found in their histories. And Alexander [Page] when he was to fight with Darius at Gaugamela (the countrey beingEpicampios opisthia. [...]sod. Sic. l. 17. 592 Ar [...]. l. 3. 60. C. E. Champaigne, and Darius abounding in multitudes) defended himselfe with an Epicampios opisthia, or a reare hollow battaile. I haue shewed the manner of it before in my notes vpon the 46 Chapter. And sometimes againe by foreseeing the danger and placing reserues in the reare, or some other secret place to charge the enemy in their flanke, while they busie themselues against your flankes. This Xenoph. Cyrop. 176. [...]. Leo. 14. §. 8. was practised by Cyrus the elder against Croesns, as I haue shewed in my notes vpon the 46 Chapter. Of Poly [...] l. 1 [...]4. § 2 this kinde also it is, when you lay an ambush to charge their reare, while they charge your flankes. The place will likewise helpe much to auoid encompassing. For if the battaile be fought in a streight place by nature, where the enemy cannot draw out his Phalange in length, there is no danger of encompassing. So Alexander at Issos in Cilic [...] was freed from encompassing, the placeArr. l. 2. 35, 36. being too narrow for Darius to bring all his forces into an equall front. The place may also be helped by art in case it be otherwise to open, and fit for the enemy, that aboundeth in number to encompasle vs on euery side. So Caesar de bello gall l. 2. 36. & l. 3. 323. Caesar being to fight against multitudes of Gaules, drew a deepe trench on both the flanks of his army to assure it from the charge of the enemy. The like did Plut in Sylla & Appian in bell. inithrida [...]ico. Sylla against Archelau [...] the [...]enerall of Mithridats in the battaile Cheronea, and both o [...] them so securing their armies from circumuention, became by that meanes masters of the field and conquerours of their enemies. Of later time Turkish history 297. §. 2. 10. Huniades the Hungarian King, being to fight against a huge army of the Turkes, gained a noble victory against them by placing his army on the one side against a fenne, and enclosing it on the other side with his waggons. And these preuentio [...] haue beene deuised against Hyperphalangesis, or ouer-fronting. Against ouer-winning, they thought itRemedies against ouer-winging. sufficient to strenthen and make safe the wing, that was like to be endangered by the enemy; so that all remedies against ouerfronting are good also against ouerwinging: but the remedies against ouerwinging are not sufficient to frustrat ouerfronting. Ouerwinging therefore hath beene auoided sometimes by drawing out the endangered wing in length to equall the enemies wing, that opposeth against it. This is done by doubling of rankes as Aelian c. 29. fig. 5 Aelian teacheth in the 29 Chapter and as it was practised by Poly [...]. l. [...]. in Clea [...]rida. [...]. 4. Leo [...]. [...]. [...] 19. Cleandridas the Lacedemonian against t [...]e Thurians. Wherein netwithstanding this caution is to be held, that you doub [...]e not your rankes so, that you make the depth of your body to thin; for Leo [...]. 1 [...]. § 108. in so doing your body will be as subiect to breaking for want of depth as for want or length to ouerwing. Beside, it is done by facing to the hand, where the enemies battaile ouerwingeth, and marching out against it paralelly, till your wing equall the wing of the enemy: but so notwithstanding that the void space, from whence you drew your wing, be filled vp, for feare the enemy giue in to it, and distresse you there, as may be seene by the president which in this Chapter I gaue out of Thucidides of ouerwinging, and the example of the Colchans, who fearing to be ouerfronted by the Grecians vpon a hill, vpon which they stood embattailed, led their wings to the right and left hand to match the front of the Grecians, leauing the middest of their battaile empty, into which the Grecians conueying themselues easily put the Colchans to flight, as Xenoph. [...] exp. l. 4 341. F. Xenophon recordeth. Leo [...]. 12. §. 34. Ouerwinging is also preuented, if you hold reserues secretly in the reare of your battaile to flye out vpon the sudden against those forces [Page] of the enemy, that seeke to ouerwing you. This remedy was vsed by Caesar de bell [...] 322. Caesar in the battaile of Pharsaly, when Pompey hauing abundance of horsemen, sought to circumuent that wing of Caesars battaile, which lay to the open field, and was not guarded with a fence, as the other wing was. For to preuent the charge of these horse, Caesar bestowed certain cohorts, who were to hold themselues close in the reare of his legions; not facing as his legions did against the legions of Pompey, but facing into the field, from whence he suspected the enemies horse would charge; so that when the horse charged, these cohorts suddenly falling out vpon them, and putting them to flight, were the beginning of Caesars victory. The place also often giueth assurance against ouerwinging, whether it be a riuer or the sea, or a mountaine, or such like, to which you may apply the flanke of your wing. For a riuer, you haue the example of Clearchus in the baitaile betwixt Artaxerxes and Cyrus the yonger, in which Xenoph. de exped. 6. 1. 263. C. Clearchus ordered his troupes of Grecians on the right wing close to the riuer Euphrates. And when Cyrus would haue had him charge the middest of the Persian Phalange, because the King had placed himselfe there: (yet saith Xenophon) Clearchus seeing the King was farre without the left wing of the Grecians (for the King so much exceeded in multitude, that the middest of his battaile was a great way without the left wing of Cyrus) would not withdraw his right wing from the riuer, fearing to be encompassed on both sides.

The like was done by Alexander the Great in the Countrey of the Getes: this is the effect of the words of Arrian; Arr. l. 1. 4. [...]. When they (the Getes) san Alexander industriously aduance his Phalarge by the riuers side, lest the foot might happily be circumuented and encompassedly some ambus [...] of the Getes, and his horse in the front, the Getes for sooke also their City, which was not very well walled, setting many of their children and wiues vpon their horses backes, as the horses could carry, and retired into the wildernesse a great way from the riuer. By the Sea you may auoide likewise ouer-winging, if you order one of the flanks of your Army close to the Sea side. This was put in vre by Alexander when he sought the battaile against Darius at Issos in Cilicia. Thus ha [...] [...] The foot of the left wing were commanded by Craterus, but the whole left wing by [...]o, who was enioyned not to forsake the Sea, for feare of encompassing by the Barbarians: for by reason of their number they might easily encircle the Macedonians on all parts. A Mountaine also that is sleepe, will giue good security to the [...]auke of a battaile, [...]. l. 11. 25 [...] that may otherwise be encompassed. At the battaile of Platea which was fought betwixt the Grecians and Mardonius, Xerxes his Generall; the Grecian Army consisting of 100000. the Persian of 500 thousand, the Grecians at the first encamped at the foot of the Mountaine Cytheron; but finding the place fitter for the multitude of the Persians, then for themselues, they remoued their Campe, and chose a more commodious piece of ground to pursue the totall victory. For there was on the right hand a high hill, on the l [...]t, ran the riuer Asopus. The Campe was pitched in the middle space, which was fortisied by the nature and safenesse of the plot of ground. Therefore the streightnesse of the place much fauoured the wise counsell of the Grecians, toward the obtaining of victory. For there was no roome for the Persi [...]s to extend their Phalange in any great proportion of length; so that many Myriades of the Barbarians came to be of no vse. The Grecians therefore Myrias is [...]. in confidence of the place, aduanced their forces to fight, and ordering themselues according to the present occasion, led against the enemy. Mardonius being compelled to [Page] make a deepe Phalange, ordered his battaile in such sort, as he thought most conuenient, and with cries set forward against the Grecians. This example albeit it be a remedy against Hyperphalangesis, or ouer-fronting, yet because it giueth a safegard by a mountaine to one of the wings, I take it to be proper enough to Hyperkerasis or ouer-winging. Besides that, as I before noted, all meanes that are vsed to auoid ouer-fronting, are good likewise for the auoiding of ouer-winging.

3 Attenuation is.] This is nothing else but doubling of ranks: whereof see the 29 Chapter.

Of conueighing the carriage of the Army. CHAP. XLV.

THE leading of the carriage, if any thing else, is of great (1) importance, and (2) requireth a speciall Commander.

It may be conueighed in 5 manners, (3) either before the army, or (4) behinde, or on the (5) one flanke, or the other, or in the (6) middest.

Before, when you feare to be charged behinde: behinde, when you lead toward your enemy: when you feare to be charged in flanke, on the contrary side. In the middest when a hollow battaile is needfull.

NOTES.

1 IS of great importance.] The importange of disposing the carriage in a march is well set downe by Leo. c. 10. § 1, 2, 3, 4. Leo: You (saith hee to his Generall) ought to haue a speciall care of your baggage, and not to leaue it at randon, but to secure it in the place where it shall be; nor to lead it vnaduisedly into the battaile: For it oftentimes falleth out, that seruants fit for the Souldiers vse, and the souldiers children and kinsmen are amongst it: and if it remaine not in safety, the mindes of the souldiers are distracted with doubtfulnesse and care and feare of the spoyle thereof: for euery man of vnderstanding endeuoureth to possesse that which is the enemies, without losse of his owne. This is the aduice of Leo. A pregnant example hereof may be read in Diodorus Siculus his description of the last battaile betwixt Antigonus and Eumenes; In which Antigonus hauing foyled Eumenes horse, sent his Median horse-men, and a sufficient number of Tarentines to inuade the enemies baggage; For he hoped (which was true) not to be descried by reason of the dust, and by possessing the baggage to become vanquisher of the enemy without trauaile. They that were sent riding about the wing of their aduersaries vnperceiued, fell vpon the baggage, which was distant from the battaile about fiue furlongs. And finding by it a rabble of folke vnfit for fight, and but a few left for gard thereof, putting them to flight quickly (that withstood) they made themselues masters of all the rest. Eumenes hearing that his baggage was lost, endeuoured notwithstanding to renew the fight, in hope by gaining the victory, not onely to preserue his owne baggage, but also to possesse that of the enemy. But the Macedonians refused to strike stroake, alleadging that their carriage was lost, and their children and wiues, and many other bodies necessary were in the [Page] hands of the enemy. And sending priuily Embassadours to Antigonus they seised vpon Eumenes, and deliuered him vp into Antigonus possession. Thus much for the importance of assuring the carriage.

2 Requireth a speciall Commander.] That the baggage ought to haue a speciall Commander Leo. c. 10. § 1 [...]. Leo also affirmeth: Vegetius. Vigetius addeth a gard to the baggage, and Leo c. 4. § 53, 54 & c. 14. § 15. Leo a proper Ensigne, saying; To euery regiment there ought to be allotted a Waggon Master, and a proper Ensigne as well to the horse as oxen, that they may be discerned to their owners by the colours of the Ensigne.

3 Either before the Army.] The first of the fiue wayes, by which the baggage is conueighed in a march, is to lead it before the Army; which manner is to be put in practise, when the enemy pursueth in the reare: For if when the enemy followeth, the baggage should be behinde, he would soone haue meanes to selfe vpon and rifle it, then you could haue to wheele about your army to succour it. For these fiue manners of conueighing the carriage, Leo agreeth with Aelian in these words: Your carriage, saith he, ought Leo. c. 10. § 19. to haue a speciall Commander to order and gouerne it: and he is to lead it either before the Army, if you disonarch out of the enemies Countrey; after the Army, if you inuade the enemies territory; on the one side or other, when you feare to be charged on the one or either of your flanks; within the phalange, when you haue suspition to be charged on all parts. So Leo agreeing with Aelian.

4 Orbehinde.] The baggage is to be alwayes disposed of so, that the army may be betwixt it and the enemy. It ought to be before when the enemy is like to giue on behinde; behinde, when he seeketh to affront you from before. And yet it sometimes falleth out, that all the baggage is not to be led behinde the whole army, according to this precept of Leo. c. 9. § 6. &. c. 12. §. 125. When the enemy is not feared. Leo. Cause euery drung or regiment (saith he to his Generall) to accustome their owne baggage to follow after their regiment with their owne Ensignes, and not to mingle with other. For it is necessary, when the enemy is neither present nor expected in our owne Countrey, to ma [...]ch either by Regiments or else by Formes; and not to gather your whole Army into one place, lest thet be easily starned with hunger, or the number be quickly [...]scoue [...] by the enemies espicials, or be seuered in forrage. In another place speaking of marching thorow woddy and rough wayes, he Leo. c. 9. §. 6 [...]. hath th [...]: In case you haue horse or baggage, lead your baggage behinde your Army, and after it the horse, and after them a few light armed targatiers, to be as it were bringers vp of the march, for feare of vnexpected incursions which oftentimes chance to be made by the enemy. Leo. 17. § 60. In another thus: When you enter your enemies Countrey, you shall cause your carriage to march in the reare; but when the enemy draweth neere, you shall bestow it in the middest of the Army. Leo. c. 10. § 18. And in any case you must haue your carriage, and the Captiues (if you haue any) seperated from the souldiers that are to fight, lest if the enemy fall on roundly, they be hindered that are to fight. For the distance that the carriage ought to hold behinde the Army, the same Leo hath thus; If you thinke it conuenient for the carriage to follow the Army, you are to order it a full bowe-shot from the Army, and let euery part follow their owne bodies in good array: giuing it such breadth in the march, is the Army possesseth; lest that lying out beyond the breadth of the Army, they become vnsuccourable. These are the precepts of Leo concerning the conueighance of the carriage in the reare. For the practise of it you haue a precedent of [...]eno [...]h. Cyrop. [...]. 168. A. B. Cyrus the elder, which is at large rehearsed by me in my notes vpon the 7 Chapter of this Booke: and another of Arr [...] [...]. 14 [...]. Alexander the Great, when hee led against the Persians at [Page] the riuer Granicus, and an infinite number of other examples are to be found in History euery where.

5 Or on the one flanke, or the other.] Aelians precept for disposing of the [...] Leon [...]. [...]. 14. § 1 [...]. baggage on the flanks, is very good: For it ought as much as is possible, to be preserued from the touch of the enemy; neither can there be any better way to secure it, then your opposition, the Army betwixt it and the enemy; but so, notwithstanding that it haue a gard about it at all times, to saue it from the sudden inuasion of your enemies horse. If therefore the enemy appeare on your left flank, your baggage is to be conueied on the right flank; If contrariwise the enemy come on to charge your right flanke, the baggage is to be remoued to the left. And this holdeth, onely when the enemy appeareth vpon one flanke, and not on both. But in case the enemy appeare on both flanks at once, then is the safest place for it,

(6) In the middest.] There are two manners of leading of the baggage in the middest, and that according to the nature and condition of the ground, where our army marcheth. If therefore the way be straight, Leo giueth this precept; Those that leads their army through streights, hauing with it either baggage or prey, ought to diuide it into a diphalange, and to march wing-wise in a Leo c. 9. §. 46, 47. right induction. A right induction, that is, which is narrow in front, and hath the depth stretched out in length: And this is to be done especially when there is a prey in the hands of the army. And if they consist of foot, the passage will be the easier through rough and cumber some places. If horse, the are to alight and take the baggage and carriage into the middest. But in such times and places, you are to appoint some chosen men onely for the defence of the prey, and to order them vpon the foure sides of the Diphalange, is the place will giue leaue, to the end to follow [...] and repulse those of the enemy that offer to charge or distract it. And the battaile (or diphalange) so ordered for the preseruation of the carriage or prey, be maintained wh [...]le and entire. For it is not possible for those of the Diphalangy, both to defend the prey [...] order, and to ioyne with the enemy that chargeth, which is the cause thee there [...]ght to be extraordinary men to march without the foure sides of the army; but especially you are to appoint the best of them to wait vpon the reare▪ For so may at all times, tough and troublesome places be passed through with safety. This is Leo [...]s precept for streight & narrow passages: because in such you cannot forme your army into a hollow square, wherein the baggage is to be couched, and to be desended on all sides. For if the ground be open enough to cast your selfe into a square, hee holdeth the forme the safest to giue security to your baggage. These be his words: Place all four carriage, seruants, and baggage, and prouision, in the middest of your Leo c. 9. §. 36. army. And in another place, speaking of a retreat to be made after an ouerthrow receiued, he writeth thus: You shall order your whole power into two Phalanges or battailes, or into one square Plinthium; in the middest whereof you shall put Leo. c 14. §. 24. the carriage, beasts, and baggage, and without them the souldiers in order, and without them the archers, and so retire and depart in safety. Againe he saith, In marches, the enemy approaching, it is necessary to haue your carriage in the middest, lest being vnguarded, it be spoyled and rifled. With Leo doth Xenophon agree. HisXenophed [...]p. [...]. [...]. [...]. words haue this shew▪ I will not wonder, if as fearfull dogges are wont to follow and bite such as passe by, if they can, and to flye from such as follow them, so the enemy hang vpon our reare. Therefore we shall perhaps march the safer, if making a Plesium of the armed, the carriage and vnprofitable multitude be throwne into the middest for more security. And if it be now determined who shall command the front of [Page] the Plesium, and who the two wings, and who the reare, wee shall not need to consult when the enemy approacheth, but execute that which is resolued vpon. This is Xenophons counsell for the march in open ground, when the enemy aboundeth in number of souldiers: which counsell was often put in practice, and the Grecians being but 10000 secured themselues against infinite multitudes of Persian horse that charged them on all sides, and also preserued, and led their carriage sate in dispite of the enemy. The like was practised by Xenophon afterward in the last warlike action of the Grecians in their returne out of Persia. He setteth downe the history after this manner; Now was it time, Xenoph▪ d'exp. l. 3. 304. 6. viz. after they had assaulted a fort in vaine, the enemy of the country gathering head) to thinke vpon a faire retreat, and conue [...]ing the oxen and sheep they had taken, and likew [...]se the slaues into a Plesium, they quickly dismarched, not so much esteeming their prey, as fearing in case they left it behind, their departure might seeme a plaine running away, and the enemy gath [...]r heart, the Grecian souldiers be discouraged. So now they departed fighting as it were about the prey. The Souldiers with Xenophon being shrewdl annoyed wi [...]h bowes & slings, cast themselues into a ring to the end to oppose their targets against the shot of the enemy, and with much adoe passed the riuer Caicus, the one halfe of them being wounded. Agasias also the Stymphalian Captaine was hurt whilest hee maintained fight with the enemy, during the whole retreat. Yet they all returned safe to the Campe bringing with them about 200 slaues, and sheepe enough for Sacrifice. Here Xenophons souldiers figured themselues first into a Plesium couching their prey in the middest; afterward being ouerlayed with the enemies shot, they conuerted their Plesium into a Ring, in which forme they tecouered their Came, notwithstanding the molestation and often charging of a great multitude of horse and foot, that were enemy and followed them. Of the forme of Rings I finde not many examples amongst the Grecians; the Romans vsed them often, when they found themselues encompassed by the enemy, as [...]e et l. [...]. 6. 26. T. Lia. Cesar. [...]. [...]. [...] [...]eil. gal [...]. Hirtuis de bed. Alexand. 358. Vegetius hath; and may bee seene in Cae [...]ars Commentaries. And let thus be said of the foure manners of placing the carriage in a march.

Of the words of Command, and certaine obseruations about them. CHAP. LII.

LAst of all, we will briefly repeate the words of direction; if we admonish first that they ought to be short, then that they ought to be without double signification. For the Souldiers, that in haste receiue direction, had neede to take heede of doubtfull words, lest one doe one thing, and another the contrary. As for the purpose; If I say turne your face, some, it may be, that heare me, will turne to the right, some to the left hand, and so no small confusion follow. Seeing therefore these words Turne your face import a generall signification, and comprehend turning to the right or left hand; we ought in stead of saying turne your face to the pike, to pronounce it thus, To your pike turne your face; that is, we ought to set the particular before, and then inferre the generall; for so will all doe alike together. [Page] Like reason is, if you say Turne about your face, or countermarch: for these are also generall words, and therefore wee should doe well to set the particular before. As to the pike, turne your face about, or to the target, turne your face about. Likewise the Lacedemonian Countermarch, not the countermarch Lacedemonian: For if you place the word countermarch first, some of the Souldiers will happily fall to one kinde, other to another kinde of countermarch. For which cause words of double sence are to be auoided, and the speciall to be set before the generall.

NOTES.

IF we admonish first that they ought to be short.] The ordering and motions of an army ought to be quickly performed, the rather because the transmutations of the body and the occasions of them are sudden for the most part. And therefore the meanes to worke the transmutations commanded (these meanes are the words of direction) ought to suite to the nature of the motions themselues, and to be applyed to celerity by shortnesse of speach. Short speach is better carried away, and sooner put in execution, then speech that is longer. Yet is not such a shortnesse to bee affected, as will bring with it obscurity, according to the saying of the Poet; Breuis esse laboro—Obscurus fio. I labour to be short, and so become obscure. And therefore I take the practice of French Commanders, when they command Facing in these words; A droie, a gauche, to the right, to the left, without adding face, and likewise of the Netherlanders in imitation of the French Reehes om, slinks om, and of some English in these words; To the right, to the left, not pronouncing the motion which is to be made to the hand appointed. These I say, I take to be without the warrant of reason, and of all antiquity, from which Aelian draweth this rule. For the command of right and left alone sheweth that the Commander would haue a motion performed to the named hand, but leaueth vncertaine what the motion should be, so that albeit some souldiers fall to a countermarch, some other to wheeling, or to doubling, or to facing, they are to be reputed blamelesse, and to haue performed that which their direction willed them to doe, because the command was of mouing to the right or left hand onely, not shewing what motion should be made to either hand. Shortnesse therefore is required by Aelian, but such a Shortnesse as is not wrapped vp in obscurity, and which may fully deliuer the minde of the Commander to the souldiers, which hee hath in exercise. And as the words ought to bee short, so ought they to be,

Without double signification.] Where they haue a double signification, that is, may be diuersly vnderstood by them, who are vnder direction; some of the souldiers (as Aelian saith) will doe one thing, some another, which must needs breed a confusion in the body exercised. For as vniformity of motion in euery particular souldier preserueth the whole body, and euery ioynt, or part, thereof entire, so the dissimilitude of motion in the particulars induceth a disioynting, as it were, & a disorder of the multitude of the whole battaile in generall. To auoid then the inconuenience of double vnderstanding in words: Aelian thinketh fit, that the speciall word should be placed before the generall, and in stead of Face to the pike, he would haue the Commander [Page] to pronounce thus: To the pike face (that is to the right hand:) holding the word right hand to be more speciall or streighter in signification, then the word Face. Let me haue pardon if I differ from Aelian herein. For Logicians hold those words more generall, that stretch vnto, and comprehend vnder them most particulars. Now considering there are foure motions of the battaile, which cannot be put in vse but by words of direction, and in the direction the word right or left hand is of necessity to be applyed to euery of them (as for example Countermarch to the right or left hand. Face to the right or left hand, and so of the rest:) it is euident, that the word right hand, or left hand is more generall then any one of the motions, because it stretcheth to them all. So that albeit we retaine the rule of Aelian, namely, to set the speciall before the generall, yet may we very safely from his example, and not onely in facing, but also in the three other motions pronounce the direction thus: Face to the right or left hand, Double to the right or left hand, Countermarch to the right or left hand, Wheele to the right or left hand: because the word right or left hand is more generall, then any one of the motions. But admit it were more particular, yet the necessity of our language would force vs to forsake this rule of Aelian. For in euery language there is an idiome or propriety of speech, and that not onely in the phrase it self, but also in the very ioyning & tying together of the words of the sentence. So that that which sorteth well with one language, will not be receiued in another. In Greeke, in which tongue Aelian wrote, it soundeth well to place the nowne gouerned by a verbe, before the verbe it selfe. So in Latine, Dutch, French, and other tongues. In English if a man should doe the like (vnlesse it were in verse, wherein the number of the feet is more respected then the ordering of the words) he should be accounted ridiculous or vaine. For take the example here set downe, to the right han [...] face, to the right hand double, or countermach, or wheele, and let vs vse the same order of words in common speech, and a man say to his seruant: To the Church goe, to the mill corne carry, bootes cleane make. To the cutler my rapier carry: Who would not laugh at his speech, or thinke him idle in so pronouncing. Wherefore albeit Aelian hold that forme agreeable to the Greeke tongue, yet I cannot see how it will be fit that our English, according to which I hold it better to pronounce after this manner: Face to right hand, Countermarch to the right hand, and so in the rest, then after this, To the right hand face, to the right hand countermarch; the rather because the property of speech auaileth much to the capacity of souldiers, who for the most part are vndearned, and will hardly vnderstand, in case the wonted custome, and ordinary vse of ioyning words be inuerted.

CHAP. LIII.

BVt aboue all things silence is to be commanded, and heed giuen to directions, as Homer especially signifieth in his description of the Craecian and Troian fights, saying▪

[Page]

The skilfull Captaines pressed on, guiding with carefull eye

Their armed troopes, who followed their leaders silently;

You surely would haue deem'd each one of all that mighty throng

Had beene bereft of speech, so bridled he his heedfull tongue,

Fearing the dread Commanders checke and dreadfull hests among:

Thus march'd the Greeks in silence, breathing flames of high desire

And feruent Zeale to backe their friends, on foes to wreake their ire.

As for the disorder of the Barbarians he resembleth it to Birds, saying:

As sholes of fowle, Geese, Cranes, and Swans with necks far stretched out,

Which in the slimy fens Caisters winding streames about.

Sheere here and there the liquid skie, sporting on wanton wing,

Then fall to ground with clanging noyse, the fens all ouer ring.

None otherwise the Troians fill the field with heaped sounds

Of broken and confused cries, each where tumult abounds.

And againe:

The Captaines marshall out their troopes ranged in goodly guise,

And forth the Troians pace like birds, that lade the ayre with cryes,

Not so the Greekes, whose silence breathed flames of high desire,

Feruent in zeale to backe their friends, on foes to wreake their ire.

NOTES.

SIlence when a battaile is put in order either for fight, or exercise, is one of the principall points of obedience, which belongeth to a souldier; the breach whereof more endangereth the proceeding of warre, then a rawe souldier would thinke, who onely is wont to offend in that kind. I haue before entreated of signes, and shewed, that in the obseruing of directions consisteth the greatest helpe of victory; in neglecting them, the chiefest meanes to take an ouerthrow, and be defeated. For as directions being executed giue life vnto warlike actions to effect that which the Commander desireth, so whatsoeuer hindereth the receiuing of directions, must needs crosse the designes of the Commander, and by consequence frustrate and disanull that which was thought by him most fit to be put in practice either for the good order, or for the preseruation of the Army, or else for the gayning of victory: A man that is not attentiue cannot marke the command deliuered: Nor can he be attentiue, that whilest it is deliuered busieth his head with other thoughts, or else entertaineth his next standers by with talke, a meanes to diuert aswell the speaker as the hearer from that heed which ought to be giuen to direction; in asmuch as no man hath the ability to heare another mans speech, and himselfe take at the same instant, or at the same time to discerne two mens seuerall speeches, which are deliuered together. All generals haue held Silence a principall point of warlike discipline. And therefore in Commands they make it the first. Leos precept is this: When the troopes are drawne together, and ordered for exercise, let the cryer [...]eo cap. 7. [...] [...]. (for euery company had then a cryer) giue these directions: Doe what you are commanded with silence; keepe your places euery man, follow your colours. And in another [Page] place he writeth thus: When your Army goeth out to ioyne with the enemy, Leo c. 12. § 63. there ought to be a deepe silence; For that both preserueth the Army from disorder, and also maketh the directions of the Commanders to be heard with more attention. And againe thus: There ought to be as much silence as may be in the Army, and if Leo cap. 14. § 79. the bringers vp of any file, heare but a whispering of their fellowes in the file, they are to pricke the parties with the points of their pikes, and so to redresse the fault.Arrian li. 1. p. 6. D. Alexander when he was returning from the Countrey of the Taulantians, into which he had made an inrode, found his way beset with enemies, and being to cast his Army into a forme of battaile to fight, he first commandedHoli [...]shead 684. Col. §. [...]. an absolute silence, and then proceeded to other directions. And for the effect of silence, our owne story hath a memorable example of the Army of Edward the fourth in Barnet field.

As for the silence here prescribed by Aelian, it extendeth not onely to exercise and fight, but oftentimes to the marching of an Army, and to the Campe, as appeareth by the last example, and by Leos precept in his eleuenthLeo cap. 11. §. 2 [...]. Chapter. And yet this precept of silence is not inuiolably to be kept in an Army at all times: for there is a time, when the Souldiers ought to giue a generall shout, and cry thorow the whole Army, to the end to terrifie the aduerse battaile of the enemy; and that time hath alwayes beene chosen, and by all Nations obserued, when the fight is presently to be vndergone. I neede not bring instances thereof, euery man knoweth it, that is although but meanely acquainted with History. It is termed in Greeke [...], in Latine clamor. in English a shout of the whole Army; the which being performed, silence is to be restored in as strict manner a before. And thus much of silence. Now followeth the words of direction in Aelians last Chapter.

Of the words of direction. CHAP. LIIII.

THus then are we to command.

1 To your armes.

2 Carriage away from the battaile.

3 Be silent and marke your directions.

4 Take vp your armes.

5 Seperate your selues.

6 Aduance your Pikes.

7 File your selues.

8 Ranke your selues.

9 Looke to your leaders.

10 Reare-Commander strengthen your file.

11 Keepe your first distances.

12 Face to the pike.

Moue a little further. Stand so.

13 As you were.

14 Face to the Target.

Moue a little further. Stand so.

[Page]15 As you were.

16 Face about to the pike.

17 As you were.

18 Double your depth.

19 To your first posture.

20 The Lacedemonian Countermarch.

21 To your first posture.

22 The Macedonian Countermarch.

23 To your first posture.

24 The Choraean Countermarch.

25 To your first posture.

The precepts of the art Tacticks haue I deliuered vnto you (most inuincible Caesar) which I make no doubt, will bring to the practice safety, and victory ouer his enemies.

NOTES.

THese words of direction here set downe, are rather to shew the manner of Command, then to expresse the iust number of directionsLe [...] cap. 7. [...]. 88. vsed in exercise: yet doth Leo the Emperour transcribe some of them, albeit not all, out of Aelian; and the last in Leo hath a mixture of two motions in one direction, being deliuered in these words, [...]; which is in Latine translated by Sir Iohn Check Laconicum ad hasta [...] triuolue; and may be thus englished, wheele thrice the Lacedemonian Countermarch to the right hand; wherein there is both wheeling and the Lace emonian Countermarch commanded at once, a thing impossible to be performed. For as in wheeling, the whole battaile remaineth entire, and moueth circlewise about the right ot left corner fileleader, as about a Center; So in a Countermarch Lacedemonian it is broken, and beginneth to moue by seuerall ranks, and continueth the motion in a direct line from the front to the reare, and not in a circle. But for the precepts of Aelian I purpose to explaine onely such as are vsed by the Souldiers and Commanders of our time: And after taking of armes I hold this to be the first, at lest when we begin to moue.

6 Aduance your Pikes.

Pikes in ordering of a battaile must be first aduanced before any motion can be performed, in as much as all other postures of the Pike doe hinder, or else are vnfit for transmutations and variety of changes, and from aduaneing the rest of pike-postures doe spring. Ordering of the Pike was deuised to ease the Souldier standing still; shouldering, to ease him in matching; aduancing, to giue facility to the other postures, and to finish them, because they both begin and end in it.

7 & 8. File and ranke your selues.

It is needlesse to note, that no battaile can be without filing and ranking. [Page] This we must vnderstand, that the Captaine is to see whether the Souldiers be filed and ranked; but the action it selfe pertaineth to the Souldiers, who knowing their files and rankes, are euery man to take their place accordingly: for so ought it to be in true discipline of Warre.

9 Looke to your Leader.

The file-leader is the life, and giuer of forme vnto the file. He is the life in that he moueth first, and draweth the rest vnto the same motion; he giueth the forme vnto it, because it being nothing else but a right line, his standing, being the first point, directeth the rest to follow lineally one after another. In this precept therefore Looke to your Leader two things are commanded, one that the rest of the file should obserue to moue and stand still, as he doth; the other, that they should maintaine a straightnesse and rightnesse in length, which is the forme of the file.

10 Reare-commander order your file.

See Aelian ca. 2 [...].

In the Greeke Edition of Aelian is read [...], that is, file-leader. But in a Manuscript, which I haue seene, is [...], the bringer vp or reare-commander, and so is it read in Leos Tacticks; and I take it to be the true reading,Leo cap. 7. § 88. this command rather appertaining to the reare-Commander, then to the file-leader: for the file-leader being the foremost of the file, and bearing his face out of the front, how can he see whether the file that is behinde him, be in right order or not. The bringer-vp hath his face toward the whole file, as it standeth out before him: and therefore may easily discerne if any man be in disorder, and reforme them that are the cause of the disorder. In which respect it is euident, that he is fitter for the command, then the fileleader; which is the cause, that I haue translated the word of direction, as before, Reare-commander order your file.

11 Keepe your first distances. That is, stand in your open order. For in that distance is the exercise first legunne.

It is a seemely thing to see an euen proportion obserued in the motion ofSee Aelian cap. 81. a battaile, and to behold a direct space betwixt files and rankes. For that is the grace and beauty (as I may terme it) of a Phalange ordered for fight. This proportion cannot be maintayned without obseruing distance curiously. Open order is sixe foot both in ranke and file betwixt man and man euery way. If then any souldier in file gather vp to his leader, and stand at distance of three foot, it is manifest, that his ranke is thereby disturbed and made vneuen, although the file continue streight. Contrariwise, if he beare himselfe out of his place, three foot toward either of his side-men, by this meanes he disordereth his file and maketh it crooked. This fault if it were committed by many, a generall disorder would follow in the body; and therefore Aelian well aduiseth to keepe the first distances especially till you be commanded to the second or third distance, which will often fall out in the foure motions. Of which Facing is the first; and the words ofFacing. 1 Motion. direction in it are these as before in Aelian.

[Page]

12 Face to the Pike.

See Aelian before cap. 25.

That is, Face to the tight hand; For the pike was alwayes borne in the right hand.

14 Face to the Target.

The Pike-men in the Macedonian army bore targets on their left armes, or on the left side, so that facing to the target is all one with the word of command; Face to the left hand.

16 Face about to the pike or target.

That is, face about to the right or left hand. But where hee addeth [moue a little further,] he signifieth that the direction is not fully accomplished, and he would haue the souldiers continue their motion till their faces were fully come about to the reare; and then hee willeth them to stand so, because they haue gayned their place. These facings here expressed by Aelian, are of the whole body. Other facings of the parts he hath not set downe, which notwithstanding are oftentimes of great vse. For say the enemy charge in front and reare; your front must continue as it did, but the word for the reare is:

The Amphostomus Phalange. Halfe files face about to the right or left hand.

If the enemy charge you on both flankes, then is the word of command.

The Artistomus Phalange. Halfe rankes face to the right, halft to the left hand.

If in front and one flanke, the front standeth firme, and the word for the flanke that is charged, is:

Halfe rankes of the right (or left) flanke, Face to the hand named.

The Plesium.

If in front and both flankes, the front is to stand firme, and both the flanks to face to the enemy. And this is done in a hollow square or Plesium, and the word is:

Flankes face one to the right the other to the left hand.

If on all sides or round about, it is as before for the flankes: but for the reare,

The reare face about to the right or left hand.

Now in Countermarch of the reare, the ranke of file-leaders is oftentimes commanded to face about to the right or left hand; In countermarch of the front, the ranke of bringers vp must doe the like, as wee shall see in Countermarch. Doubling is the second motion vsed in battaile, the preceptDeubling▪ a Motion. of it in this in Aelian.

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18 Double your depth.

The word in our exercise for this motion is, Double your files; becauseSee Aelian cap. files measure the depth of the battaile, or rankes measure the length. This doubling is made many wayes. The first is, when the euen files (that is, the 2. 4. 6. 8. 10. file) fall into the odde; As if the doubling be to the right hand, the right hand corner-file standeth firme, and is the first after doubling; the third is the second file, the fifth the third, and so the rest of the odde files in order. But the manner is, that the leaders of the second file fall directly behind the leader of the first file, and the second man of the second file behind the second man of the first, and so the rest of those two files. The same order is for the rest of the euen files, when they double the odde files. And the word is:

Double your files to the right or left hand.

Another manner is, when halfe the body of files conueyes it selfe into the spaces o [...] the other halfe of the body; be it to the right or left hand according to direction giuen; so that the first ranke of the halfe body, which is to moue, fals into the space next after the first ranke of the halfe body that standeth, and so the rest of the rankes of the halfe body that moueth, and the word is:

Halfe the body double your files to the right or left hand.

Another is, when files are doubled by a countermarch: As if the second file of the right or left hand (as it is appointed) countermarch, and the leader of that file place himselfe behind the bringer vp of the corner file to that hand, to which the doubling is to be made; and so the rest of the files of euen number, behinde those of odde number; as the second behind the first, the fourth behind the third, the sixt behind the fifth, and so the rest. The word is:

Double your files by countermarch to the right or left hand.

The next word in Aelian is

Double your length.

That is, double your rankes, or front: (For as I before noted, the rankes make the length of the battaile) which likewise is many wayes done. The first is, when the rankes of euen appellation, as the 2. 4. 6. 8. &c. fall out into the spaces of the odde, namely, into the spaces of the 1. 3. 5. 7. &c. which stand before them and place themselues euen with them in ranke. The word is:

Double your rankes to the right or left hand.

Another way is, when the bringers-vp (their halfe files following them [Page] by countermarch) aduance vp to the front, and place themselues in the spaces betwixt the file-leaders to the hand appointed, and the rest of the ranks accordingly, namely, the ninth ranke in the spaces of the second, the eight in the spaces of the third, the seuenth in the fourth, the sixth in the spaces of the fifth. And the word is:

Bringers vp, double your front by countermarch to the right or left hand.

Another is, when the reare-halfe-files, one halfe face to the right, the other to the left hand, and diuiding themselues, march out till they bee past the flankes of the standing halfe-files: Then facing to the front, sleeue vp and front with the standing halfe-files. Then the word is:

Reare halfe-files, double your front by diuision to the right and left hand.

Another way is, when the reare-halfe-files vndiuided, face to the hand appointed, and being beyond the flanke of the rest of the body, face to the front and sleeue vp, and ioyne in front with the standing halfe-files. The word is:

Reare-halfe-files, enter double your front to the right or left hand.

It is to be obserued, that in all these motions of doubling rankes or front, the souldiers are to returne after their motion to their first posture; which is done by facing about to the right or left hand, and then by mouing, and by recouering their first place. The word is:

As you were.

Countermarch is the third motion vsed in the change of a battaile. The vse and necessity thereof appeareth in Aelian before, and that there are two3 Motion. kindes, one by file, the other by ranke. The words of command that hee here setteth downe, are onely of countermarch by file, which may be reduced to two kindes, viz. the Countermarch of the front and the Countermarch of the reare. That of the front hath likewise two kindes, the Lacedemonian and the Chorean: That of the reare onely one, and it is called the Macedonian Countermarch. Now Aelians direction followeth.

20 The Lacedemonian Countermarch.

This is one of the Countermarches by file, and of the front. The manner is, that the file-leaders beginne the Countermarch and pa [...]e beyond the reare, their files following them. In our exercise the word is:

Countermarch the front to the right, or to the left hand.

It is done after another sort also, as when the bringers-vp face about to the right or left hand, and then the whole body facing about to the same hand, passe thorow the spaces of the bringers vp to the same hand and the ninth ranke, beginning the rest of the ranks after one anothers, place themselues euery paticular man before his follower in the same file, till the file-leaders are first. The word is:

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Bringers vp face to the right, or to the left hand. The rest beginning at the ninth ranke, passe thorow to the same hand, and place euery man himselfe before his follower. As you were.

In Aelian followeth:

22 The Macedonian Countermarch.

We in our exercise tearme this Countermarch of the reare, and it is done in two manners: First, when the bringers vp begin the Countermarch, and their files following, passe thorow the spaces of the file-leaders, till the file-leaders become the last of the file, and then the whole body face about, and stand. The word is:

Countermarch the reare to the right or left hand. Face about to the contrary hand, and stand.

The other when the file-leaders face about to either hand, and the rest of the ranks beginning at the second ranke, successiuely passe thorow the spaces of the file leaders to the hand appointed, placing themselues euery man behind his next leader, and facing about as they did. The word is:

File-leaders, face about, the rest of the rankes passe thorow, and place your selues behinde your next leaders.

The next in Aelian is:

24 The Chorean Countermarch.

This Countermarch is of the front, as I said, but it keepeth the ground, that the body had before the file-leaders (their files following them) remoued to the places of the bringers vp, and the bringers vp to the places that the file-leaders had. The word is:

File-leaders, countermarch to the right or left hand, and stand, viz. when they come to the bringers vp.

Other Countermarches thereare, which are not here set downeby Aelian, Aelian cap. 28. but are remembred in his Chapter of Countermarches; of which the countermarch by ranks of the whole battaile is one, the other is the countermarch by ranks in the parts. And as in the Countermarch of the front or reare, the rankes first began to moue, so in Countermarch of the flanke, the files entire beginne to moue; and as in the Countermarch of the front or reare, the ranks followed one another by file, so in Countermarch of the flankes, the files follow one another by ranke: that is, the souldiers of euery ranke follow one another. If you would countermarch the right flanke, so to change one side of the battaile for the other, the word is:

Countermarch the right flanke to the left hand.

[Page]In countermarching the left flanke, the word is;

Countermarch the left flanke to the right hand.

To countermarch the wings into the middest, both the vttermost corner-files are to moue toward the middest, their halfe rankes following them, and meeting in the middest to stand there, and face to the front; and the word is;

Countermarch your wings into the middest of the battaile.

Obserue, that in Countermarch by ranke, the three Countermarches Macedonian, Lacedaemonian, and Choraean may be practised, as well as in Countermarch by file. If the flanke neerest to the enemy begin the Countermarch, this the Macedonian countermarch, because it maketh a shew of shifting away. If the flanke furthest from the enemy begin, it is the Lacedemonian, in that it carrieth a semblance of falling on. But when one flanke countermarcheth, till it come iust vp to the other, and no further; it is the Choraean, because it keepeth the same ground.

Wheeling is the fourth and last motion; and it is vsed in the whole entireThe fourth Motion. battaile, or in the parts thereof. Aelian giueth words of direction for the whole battaile onely, and they are these;

Wheele the body to the Pike, or to the Target.

When the battaile is to wheele to the pike or right hand, the right hand corner file-leader is onely to turne his body by little and little to the right hand, facing euen with the ranke of file-leaders, till such time as hee haue gained the right hand aspect; and the rest are to moue about him, making him the centor, as it were of their circled motion. If to the left hand, the left hand corner file leader is to doe the like. The same order is of wheelin the battaile about to the right or left hand. Aelian (as I [...]ai [...]) giueth here no other words of command, then for the wheeling of the whole body, yet are the wheelings of the parts of great vse; for either the flankes are wheeled into the front, or the front into the flankes. The front is wheeled into the flankes, when we desire to forme the Antistomus Phalange to resist the enemy, giuing on both flankes. And then the two middlemost bringers vp are to stand, and the middle file-leaders to diuinde themselues, and to moue halfe the battaile to the right, halfe to the left hand, making those two bringers vp the center of the motion. In this the word is:

Wheele the front into flanks by diuision.

If the flanks be to be wheeled into the front, the two middle file-leaders are to stand still, and the two halfe bodies to moue about them, one to the right hand, the other to the left, till the two flanks be in the front, and the front in the middest. This kind is practised when we would frame the Diphalange Antistomus. The word is:

[Page]

Wheele the flanks into the front.

It is to be remembred, that after euery motion a restitution to the first posture is to be commanded in these words; As you were.

In facing you are to returne to the contrary hand; as if the command were to face to the right, in returning you come to the left.

In doubling you must doe the like.

In countermarch likewise, whether you countermarch the whole body, or the parcels thereof, you are to returne by the contrary hand.

After wheeling, there ought to be a facing to the same hand first before you returne, and then a returning the contrary way about the same corner file-leader, about whom the motion was first made. This is to be vnderstood of wheeling the whole body.

In wheeling the front into the flanks, after wheeling performed, the body before returning is to face to the Commander, then to returne about the same bringers vp, till all come to be as they were.

In wheeling the flanks into the front, after the wheeling is made, the body is to face likewise to the Commander, then facing about to the right or left hand to return to the first posture about the two middle file-leaders, as about their center.

Hic caestus artemque repone.

FINIS.

The Contents of the CHAPTERS of this BOOKE.

[Page]

THE broad-fronted Phalange, the deepe Phalange, or Herse, and the vn-euen fronted-Phalange. Chapter 30

Parembole, Protaxis, Epitaxis, Prostaxis, Entaxis, and Hypotaxis. Chap. 31

The Vse and aduantage of these exercise of Armes. chap. 34

Of the signes of direction which are to be giuen to the Army, and of their seuerall kinds. chap. 35

Of marching, and of the diuers kinds of Battailes fit for a march. And first of the right Induction, of the Caelembolos, and of the Triphalange, to be opposed against it. chap. 36

Of the Paragoge or Deduction. chap. 37

Of the Phalange Amphistomus. chap. 38

Of the Phalange Antistomus. chap. 39

Of the Diphalange Antistomus. chap. 40

Of the Peristomus Diphalange. chap. 41

Of the Diphalange homoiostomus, and of the Plinthium. chap. 42

Of the Diphalange Heterostomus. chap. 43

Of the Horse Rhombe, and of the Foot-halfe-Moone to encounter it: chap. 44

Of the Horse-battaile Heteromekes, and the Plagiophalange to be opposed against it. chap. 45

Of another kinde of Rhombe for Horse-men, and of the foot-battaile called Epicampios Emprosthia to encounter it. chap. 46

Of the Foot-battaile called Cyrte, which is to be set against the Epicampios. chap. 47

Of the Tetragonall Horse-battaile, and of the Wedge of Foot to be opposed against it. chap. 48

Of the Foot-battaile called Plesium, and of the Winding or Saw-fronted battaile to encounter it. chap. 49

Of the Hyperphalangesis, and Hyperkerasis, and of Attenuation. chap. 50

Of conueighing the carriage of the Army. chap. 51

Of the words of Command, and certaine obseruations about them. chap. 52

Of the words of Direction. chap. 54

FINIS.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

The art of embattailing an army. Or, The second part of Ælians tacticks Containing the practice of the best generals of all antiquitie, concerning the formes of battailes. ... Englished and illustrated with figures and obseruations vpon euery chapter. By Captaine Iohn Bingham.Tactica. English. Selections

Aelianus.

Edition statement

1631

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Text Creation Partnership,

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Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A05975

ID [STC]

STC 163

ID [STC]

ESTC S106812

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99842522

ID [PROQUEST]

99842522

ID [VID]

7185

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A05975)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 7185)

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Source

— The art of embattailing an army. Or, The second part of Ælians tacticks Containing the practice of the best generals of all antiquitie, concerning the formes of battailes. ... Englished and illustrated with figures and obseruations vpon euery chapter. By Captaine Iohn Bingham., Tactica. English. Selections, Aelianus., Bingham, John, Captain., Droeshout, Martin, b. 1601, engraver..

Extent

[8], 93, [1] p., plate

Printed [by John Beale and Thomas Brudenell] for Ralph Mab,. London :: 1631.. (In fact consists of chapters 30, 31, and 34-54 of the complete "Tactica", with notes added.) (The first leaf is blank.) (Running title reads: The tacticks of Ælian, or the art of embattailing armies.) (Another issue, with cancel title page, of the edition with "printed by Iohn Beale and Thomas Brudenell for Ralph Mab" in the imprint.) (The plate is signed "Mar DR sculpsit", i.e. Martin Droeshout.) (Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.)

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