THe difference of peace and warre is apparant to all men . Howe much the one is to be desired , the other to be eschewed ( excepte in some respectes hereafter declared , no man I thincke is ignoraunt . It I should but touch the gaynes & commodityes of peace : The commodityes of peace . how quietlye & pleasantly men do liue together : howe al thinges on the earth do encrease and multiplie : howe wealth and riches do abounde : how all maner of sciences and good learninge do flourish , with other innumerable effectes there of toiling here now to be recyted : it would requyre a large and a great volume ; The calamytyes of Warre not a shorte and compendious preface . Againe , howe great-calamities and destructions through warres haue happened , not onelye to Cittyes , townes and fortresses , but also to mighty Princes with their armyes , greate multitudes of people , and whole nations & countryes : a man might spende a good part of his time to reade throughe the bookes that hath beene written thereof . But the more commodious , precious and necessarye that pleasaunt and ioyfull name of peace is to be accompted , so much more earnestlye it ought to be sought for , obtayned and preserued : the greater daungers harmes and losses that are by warres sustay●ed , the greater heede foresighte and pollicye to withstande the same , is to be vsed . Neyther hath there beene , that I haue hearde or reade of , anye common wealthe or Realme fo fortunate and blessed , that it hath enioyned continual peace and quietnes any long time , excepte the Prince of peace , euen God himselfe , which also is the Lord of Hostes , haue taken in hand the defence thereof . Which thing no doubt of his aboundant goodnes he sheeweth vpon certaine people and countryes , when as he ●endes them good and gracious Princes , wyse and godly gouernours . Which ruled by the spirite of God , may so order & keepe the whole common wealth and state of their Realme , throughe their great wysedome learninge and pollicye , that no disobedience of subiectes to theyr Prince may be founde vncorrected , no disquietnes or trouble amongest them vnappeased , no force of forraine ennemyes vnforeseene , vnwithstoode , vnrepelled . In which happye estate that this our Realme of England at this present is , The happye estate of Englande , vnder 〈◊〉 Elizabeth . and hath also continued euen from the first beginning of this our most noble and gracious Queenes maiestyes raigne : All true and faythfull English hartes to their great ioye must needes acknowledge , yeldinge to God the onlye Author thereof , most manifoulde and hartye thankes for the same : moste humblye besechinge his eternall goodnes longe to preserue her excellente maiestye to rule ouer vs : whose most noble raig●e being not onlye most happye throughe the lightsome shyninge of gods most holye word , the zelous setting forth thereof , and prosperous successe of the same : but also fortunate and blessed , as well with great aboundance and plentye of all kindes of frutes of the earth , as the continuall quiet and safe enioyinge of them , maye be to all good Englishe men a sure & euiden●e token of Gods highe fauour and especiall grace declared ouer this Realme : and to all the worlde a spectacle of moste wyse and polliticke gouernmente . Whereas contrariwyse it is not vnknowen howe that a greate parte of the worlde nighe vnto vs , hath these yeares late passed , eyther beene cruellye afflicted with greuous warres , or not altogether free and cleare from great vexations & tro●bles . And although some of la●e here in this Realme hath gone about by rebellion to impayre this state : Rebellion neuer prospered yet as neyther they whiche haue attempted such enterprises in former tymes haue bene knowen or harde tell of at anye time to haue preuayled : so neyther these , nor whosoeuer hereafter wil be so madde to treade in such like steppes , can escape eyther like successe as they haue had , or rather worse , to speake more trulye , which they seeme iustlye to haue deserued . Seinge therefore that the good pleasure and prouidence of God hath so prepared for vs , and bestowed vppon vs such a pearelesse Prince , so noble and worthy counsellers , that except men will be wilfullye blinde , they all maye see wyth their eyes the goodnes of their gouernmente : let all vs Englishem●n as true and faythfull subiectes applye oure selues by all meanes possible to obeye her maiestye ▪ to keepe her lawes , to be ready alwayes at her commaundement . Who ceaseth not to prouide , foresee , and care for our safegarde , wealth and quietnes , as well in time of peace as in warre . Which thinges partlye I touched before , and nowe occasion s●rueth to speake more of the same againe . For although the one seeme more to be wyshed for then the other , yet be they both , by the wil & pleasure of God , lefte in the handes of princes to be vsed as time and other cyrcumstances shall requyre . And for that Pax , Pax deriued A pactione . seemeth to be deriued a Pactione , as some do write : what time as Princes haue agreed and concluded of good and holsome conditions of peace , so longe doth the league of peace endure , as such conditions are well obserued & kept : but if the same be ones violate and broken , then commonly do warres ensue : whiche althoughe they seeme neuer so troublesome and full of daunger , yet must they needes be taken in hand , not only with strength and manhoode , but also wyth skill and pollicye . For as after calme & pleasant weather when sodainly a tempestuous storme doth ryse , Peace resembled to fayre weather , w●● to foule weather . then by profe doth appeare what the gouernour of the shippe is able to do : if hee lacke skill & knowledge , the shippe and all therein is like to perishe : if he be cunning and expert , he may deliuer it from shipwracke : euen so when after longe continual peace , greuous warres do fortune , then do valiante Captaynes shewe their worthye manhoode , not with hardines alone but with pollicy and knowledge . Seing therefore that as fayre weather manye times is altered with stormes and tempest , so peace oftentimes is chaunged with warres : what thing can be more expedient & necessarye to the common wealth , then to haue in readines , pollitike and valiante Captaynes , experte and manlye souldiours ? which with their skilfull experience and tryed knowledge , maye in daungerous times of warres do highe seruice to God , their Prince , and their countrye , while they fighte not onlye for their owne liues , their wyues and children , but also for the common libertye and wealth of al , the honoure of their Prince , the defence and sauegarde of the whole estate .

For which intente and purpose the readinge not onlye of the best historicall writers both in Greke and latine , The reading of historyes & other writers of Warre not v●●eete for Captaynes . wherin most noble actes of famous Captaynes are liuely set forth as notable examples to be followed : but also of such worthye Authors as haue with great studye & trauaile , gathered out of the best historyes the chiefest pointes and deuices of warres : and beinge dispersed farre abroade in manye diuers and sundrye bookes , haue brought the same into a certayne forme and knowledge of the feates of armes : may seeme to all men of warre , and namelye to such , to whom the charge of great multitudes oftentimes is committed , neyther vnworthye the reading , nor altogether vnprofitable . Wherein in myne opinion this our Author Flauius Vegetius obteyneth the chiefest prayse : Uegetius the chiefest writer of warre . who beinge commaunded by Valentinianus Augustus , to put in wryting the practises and deuises of Martiall pollicye , hath framed & compacte together such a worke , which he calleth Institutions , that it may be accompted , as it were a very methode or most ready & compendious waye to the right knowledge and science of the feates of warre . And althoughe the warres in these oure dayes seeme much unlike to the Romaine warres before Vegetius time , An obiection answered . by reason of a greate nomber of engines and other feates then vsed , whereof now many are out of vse , and many mo now inuented which then were vnknowen : yet maye this worke appeare not altogether vnworthye to be knowen of our men of warre , wherein as it were in a glasse they may most clearelye see , not onlye how that the Romaynes throughe suche skill and k●owledge , and continuall exercise therof as is herein declared , haue vanquished and ouercome so manye barbarous and straunge Nations , subdued so manye prouinces , and become Lordes and rulers of the most part of the world : but also may gather and choose out the best a and chiefest pointes of all their knowledge , which neuerthelesse may be vsed so farre forth as shall seeme expedient , The conten●es of the .iiii. bookes of U●getius . and as occasion may serue & time requyre . Wherefore wheras the whole woorke of Vegetiu● is deuided into foure Bookes , I thinke it not vnmeete to shewe briefelye what is chiefelye intreated in euery one of the same .

In the first booke he setteth forth two thinges principallye . The. 1. booke First the musteringe , chosinge , and appointinge of yonge souldiours : wher in he requireth of the choosers , most faythfull and painfull dilligence , that they do cyrcumspectly consider and vewe , not onlye the countryes and places where they were bred and brought vp , their age , their staure , their behauiour , the good making & proportion of their bodyes , the quickenes of their eyes and countenaunce : but also the trades and sciences wherein they haue beene most occupyed & vsed , their strength , swiftnes , nimblenes & actiuitye : by which likelyhoodes and tokens it might well appeare which would be most meete for so greate a worke . And in the well choosing of these doth consist the chiefest hope , not onlye for the strength of the armye , but also for acchieuing the victorye .

Secondly he setteth forth the trayninge vppe of the yonge souldiours well chosen , An armye in latine called Exercitus ab Exercitio . with dailye vse and exercise : wherevpon it came to passe that an armye in latine was called Exercitus , to the intent it should be euer in labour & practise , and neuer forget to what ende it was so named .

Wherein he first sheweth that they must learne and exercise to march in battell raye , to runne , to leape , to swimme , to strike hansomely , cunninglye to vse al kinde of weapons , to shoote , to cast dartes , to cast stones with slinges , or with hande , to mount on horses , to carrye weight , to fortefye the Campe , to caste and scoure trenches , with other kindes of exercises to long here at this time to be recyted .

In the seconde booke he deuideth the feates of warre into certaine kindes , The .2 . booke he describeth the partes of an army , which amonge diuers nations were diuerslye named : but the Romaines called them Legions , Ab eligendo , Legio ab eligendo . which word he sayth requyreth their fayth and diligence , by whom the souldiours are to be allowed or refused . He sheweth how many cohortes or bandes of souldiours should be in one Legion , how manye or how fewe Legions the Romaines vsed to leade in one army , he setteth forth the names and degrees of the principall men of the host , he declareth the offices of all the Captaynes and gouernours , the lieuetenaunt , the Martiall , the Centurions , peticaptaines , and all other rulers and officers of the whole armye : he describeth the troupes of the horsemen , and as well the names , as the offices of the Captaines of euerye bande . Manye other thinges also hee toucheth concerninge the Standerds , banners , ensignes and flagges , yea and the offices of the Trumpetters , by whose sound it is knowen when the souldiours should set forward to anye worke , when they should fighte or staye , when they should followe the chase , or when they should retyre . Thus with many other notable thinges to be knowen , and partlye with a vehement exhortation to the diligent exercise of the feates of warre , and partly with a briefe rehersal of certaine tooles and engines , vsed to be caryed with the armye , he concludeth the seconde booke .

In the thirde hee teacheth howe an armye well appointed and enstructed , The 3. booke as is aforesayd , maye nowe be brought to the fielde and ioyne wyth the aduersaryes . But first hee sheeweth howe the health of the hoast should be preserued : what regarde should be had that graine forage and victualles should be prouided for and kepte : howe the chiefe Captaines should keepe the souldiours in quiet from sedition and vprore : howe warelye and cyrcumspectlye the armye shoulde be ledde , when at any time it remoueth : howe to passe ryuers , and other daungerous places . How greate consideration oughte to be whether they should fight in skirmishe , or set battel ? the chiefe Captaynes great carefulnesse before they ioyne battell , in tryinge the courage of his souldiours , in chosinge ameete place for to fighte in , in settinge them in suche order and araye that they be not easelye ouercome . Which thinges for that they cannot be comprehended in fewe wordes , and the Author discourseth of them at large in many Chapters , I referre the Readers to the selfe same Author , who doth so perfectlye set forth such notable deuises and pollicyes , such skilfulnes and knowledge , such prouidence & warenes , as ought to be in such a man , to whom the worthye honours of so greate power and authoritie are ascribed , that vnto his fidelitye , vertue , and manhoode ( that I maye here vse the very wordes of Vegetius ) the defence of Cittyes , the lyues of the souldiours , the renowne of the common wealth , may safely be committed . After these , he declareth certaine generall rules of warre , and so endeth his third booke .

In the fourth booke he treateth of the besieginge and defendinge of Cittyes : The 4. booke wherein he first speaketh of the buildinge and fortefyinge of the same : and what foresight should be if a Cittye be besieged , that it suffer not famyne : what pollicy may be vsed , if water , salt , strings , or cordes and suche like shoulde fayle in the Cittye . He reherseth also a nomber of engines and much ordinaunce vsed in those dayes in the besieginge of Cittyes : the description whereof who so list to know more at large , let him reade the tenth and eleuenth booke of Robertus Valturius . Also he geueth certaine preceptes and rules of warres vppon the sea : in which he sheweth what kinde of shippes were most necessarye and commodious for the purpose : and how dilligentlye the same were made : in what monethes and seasons of the yeare timber should be felled : he nameth and nombreth the windes : he sheweth when it is good to sayle , & when not : he speaketh of certayne signes and tokens , whereby mariners maye foreknowe fayre weather or foule , calme or tempest : then describing certaine armour and ordinaunce for shippes , he briefelye teacheth howe to lye in waite , and also howe to ioyne open battell on the sea : and thus endeth he his fourth and last booke of the institutions of warre . In all whiche worke briefelye and plainlye is contained , not onlye ( as I saide before ) a methode or compendious waye , but also a perfect knowledge and arte of warre : to the which if painefull dilligence and experience be ioyned , Experience ioyned with knowledge , bringeth great thinges to passe . what let shoulde be , but that no lesse worthines ●ud excellencye appeare in warriours of these our dayes , then hath beene founde in the most famous Captaynes before our time : to the which not experience alone brought them , but diligente learninge and studyinge of the feates of warre , written and set forth both by historicall writers & Poets , a●d by such also as this our present Author Vegetius is . Innumerable examples might be here recyted , but passing ouer all the residue for shortnes of time , two of the chiefest may suffice . Alexander the great . Alexander the great , who in short space subdued the greatest part of the world , had alwayes the Poet Homer layd vnder his beddes heade , in whom he might beholde the office as well of excellent Princes , as of most worthye Captaynes .

Iulius Caesar , C. Iulius Caesar. howe greatlye he was geeuen to this kinde of studye , it doth most euidentlye appeare by such notable bookes as he hath written and intitled Commentaryes . And surelye in mine opinion , it seemeth a farre better and shorter waye to attaine to the name of a worthye and perfecte Captaine to ioyne experience vnto knowledge , Better to ioyne experience to knowledge , then to gette knowledge by experience . then to get knowledge by experience . For mans life being short and subiect to manye casualtyes , oftentimees is cutte of before it can come to anye such perfection as is requyred in an excellent man of warre : whereas small experience with diligente readinge and perfecte learninge of feates of ware , maye frame and make manye polliticke Captaynes in a shorter space . I do not meane that knowledge withoute experience , can do anye great thinge at all : but beinge ioyned both together , doubtles they maye be as able to bringe to passe as great and marueilous thinges in valiant men in these our dayes , as they haue beene in manye noble men before our time , as namely in those most worthy and famous conquerours , whom partly for breuityes sake , partly for honours sake I mentioned before : whereof Alexander the greate ( as Iustine and others do witnes ) neuer foughte with anye ennemyes , whom he did not vanquish and ouercome : and howe Iulius Caesar did preuaile , his historyes do declare , who being much inferiour in nomber to his ennemyes , was so skilfull and experte in the ordering of his battelles , The not●●●● skilfulnes of Iulius Caesar . that as it were before throughlye assured , he woulde foretell to his men , euen in this bande ( naminge and pointinge oute the same ) shall consist the victory : which should afterward euen so come to passe as you maye reade in the greatest and last conflicte betweene him and Pompeie , besydes other places in the thirde booke of the Romayne cyuill warres .

Presupposinge that I haue sayde sufficientlye for the exhortinge of thee gentle Reader to the ouerlookinge of this booke : as well for the necessarye matter therein contayned , as for causes by occasion chauncinge from time to time , whereby the same matter maye neede to be practsed : with hope of thy good pardon for anye my faultes whatsoeuer , as thou mayest seeme rather to encourage then discourage mee : I committe thee to Almightye GOD , and to the readinge of my Author Flauius Vegetius , rudelye , yet profitably hereafter speakinge in Englishe .