How that all Conquests and Ouerthrowes consists in expert souldiers , & euer did since the world began vnto this houre .

SOme thinks Commissions & authoritie is sufficient to conduct an Armie , and that Conquests and Ouerthrowes consist in multitude : let the Commission be euer so large , the authoritie euer so great , the multitude euer so many ; the Warres consists altogether in good Chiefes , and experimented Souldiers , and euer did since the world began to this houre . What caused Alexander to ouerthrow Darius with few men , considering his number ? but his valorous person , with the experience of his Captaines and Souldiers . What caused Caesar to ouerthrow Pompey , Romane to Romane , with far lesser number ? because hee had olde trained Legions , against more than halfe new leuied rawe men .

Our famous Kings Henrie the fift & Edward the third , gaue their ouerthrowes with few in respect of their Enimies .

Also Charles the fift with a few experimented Souldiers , considering the number of the Germaines .

How often few or one is the occasion of the winning or loosing of a Battaile .

IN our time did not the Prince of Conde giue battell to the French King at the gates of Paris , to the Kings losse , to the honor of the smal Troupe , being not halfe a quarter so manie ; where Stewart a Scottish Gentleman with a dozen Horsmen was one of the principallest occasions , by killing the Constable being their Generall .

At the Battaile of Mocberhay , where the worthie Count Lodowick of Nassau was ouerthrowne and killed ; the Troupes of Spaniards being fearefull to fight , seeing the number of Lodowickes Horsemen , were onely encouraged to charge resolutelie , by the oration of Sentia de vela .

The shameful Ouerthrow at Iubeleo , where lesse than 600. Horsmen of Don Iohn de Austria , ouerthrew 15000. against reason , onlie for want of Chiefes to keepe order . The occasion of this charge came through a Captaine of Horsmen , which discouered their disorder of March , and procured the rest to followe , desiring leaue of Octauia Gonzaga his Generall , to charge .

At Northorne in Freezeland , two or three cowardlie captaines were the cause of the ouerthrow of our Battaile with discouraging words , the Enemies Horsmen and vangard being broken .

The mutenous Gauntoys and Iper , did they not giue battaile in our fathers daies vnto a French King , & their Earle of Flanders : and did not this Prince of Parma with lesse than 8000. men conquer them like slaues ? onelie because they were void of Chiefes , vnexpert for warres , their braue warlike minds changed vnto mechanickes .

Also the proud Towne of Antwerpe , which was left in good guard and Discipline by the late famous Prince of Orange hauing in it better than 16000. as well armed and in as good order as any Garrison in Europe , furnished plentifullie with artillerie , munition , and all necessaries for warres ; for want of Chiefes to direct them , this prince of Parma made them slaues , with lesse than 8000. men .

The difference betwixt raw men , and expert Souldiers .

WHat is a multitude without Chiefes , but bodies without heads . Nations must not flatter themselues what they haue bin , but what they are . The Grecians , and the Macedonians had the Monarchie , so had the Romaines , with others ; what are they now ? The people wanting their Chiefes , and their accustomed braue minds . All these actions with the rest that haue been aforetime or in our daies , were executed by the lesser numbers , and the praise of euerie seuerall action , belonging vnto lesse than a dozen Chiefes . It is an errour to think that experimented Souldiers are sodeinlie made like glasses , in blowing them with a puffe out of an yron instrument . There can be no Leaders of good conduct , vnles they haue beene in foughten Battailes , asseiged and defended Townes of warre ; the longer experted , the more perfected . The Duke of Alua was wont to say ; In leesing of 100000. in 10. yeares action , their prooues not 20. famous Leaders . To conclude ; a multitude without experimented Leaders , that haue to warre with expert Captaines , are to be compared vnto a Nauie in a Tempest , without Masters or Pilots .

One noble opinion of Mounsieur de La Nowe .

THE famous Mounsieur de La Nowe was wont to say , It was necessary for the greatest commanders , to giue eare often vnto all their vnder Officers , I meane their simplest Captaines , to heare their opinions , concerning their Discipline in open audience . His meaning was noble without ambition : for in all Armies , there are a number of Captaines better Souldiers , than many higher Officers ; which can neuer bee knowne without place to execute their art : which must bee in action and audience before famous Superiours . These liberties and curtesies make a number employ their wits and valours daily to aduance their credites . It hinders no great Officers , vnlesse they meane the warres should end with themselues ; it aduaunceth the Warres , and Actions : when they are gone , other experted knowne men are placed in their roomes . This order must maintaine good Discipline , otherwise ignorance happens often into the high places , vnknowne , vntill actions bee ouerthrowne . Those will say , wee are expert and as valiant as the others ; let them say and bee what they list , vnles they be knowne to be expert of action , it is not necessarie for a State to hazard their action in trying their experience , and vnknowne fortunes . What corrupted the discipline of the Netherlanders ? chieflie placing their ignorant cousins & fauorites to command . Who could haue won Gaunt , Antwerp , Bridges , Iper , with an 100 other townes , that wanted no necessaries for warres if there had been expert Commaunders in them . These strong places were lost shamefullie without blowes , with twentie ouerthrowes in the field , with the like disorders . Therfore this noble La Nowe would say alwaies , Checune a son mety ; as much to say , Euerie man ought to haue place according to his art . The martial Byron would say also , These Coronells of three dayes , marres all the Armies of the world . Notwithstanding , it must be confest , that some quick spirites proue to bee expert with small actions : but so rarelie found , that it is dangerous to giue them charge before they be well knowne .

What makes the Spaniards discipline to be so famous as it is ? Their good order : otherwise it is wel knowne , the Nation is the basest and cowardlie sort of people of most others ; so base , that I perswade my selfe , ten thousand of our Nation , would beate thirtie of theirs out of the field , let them bee chosen where they list ; sauing some 3. thousand which is in the Lowe countries . And those , for all they bee conducted by ancient expert Captaines accompanied with other Nations , nothing inferiour to those Spaniards , both for valour and conduct ; notwithstanding , the trained Troupes of our Nation did beate them always number to number , both in Generall Norris his time , & sithence . In their Countries the world dooth know fiue thousand of our Nation made guardes at the gates of Lisborne foure dayes , although there were in the Town fiue thousand Spaniards , 4000. Portugeses carrying armes ; besides they were assured of all the Burgesses , for they had sent into Spaine , and kept in the Cytadell , their wiues , children , & chiefest goods . Also by reason of our Armie staying in Galitia , where 6000. of ours ouerthrewe 16000. of theirs . Before we arriued at Lisborne , they had 20. daies respit to arme and put themselues in order ; but had our Armie not touched at the Groine , and sailed strait to Lisborne , as the Earle of Essex did , neither Soldier nor Captaine can deny , but the towne had been ours ; for it was vnmanned , without any good order : & when wee arriued , had our Nauie entred , wee would haue entred the Towne , or the world should haue witnessed , so manie Englishmen had bin buried in that place . But let all the Captaines of Europe iudge rightlie of our proceedings from the first to the last , considering our small means & great crosses , they cannot denie , but both our valour and gouernment , deserued 100. times more praise , than the attempt of Duke Medina and his , on England : notwithstanding they wanted neither men , victualls , munition , nor money . Also the worlde knowes , wee were not set out with our Soueraignes royall Forces ; notwithstanding we gaue them the law 30 daies in their Countries . When sicknes with other wants forced vs to imbarke , being followed with their Armie , we returned towards them with lesse than 4000. Where the Earle of Essex sent his Trumpet , to dare their Generall the Countie of Fuentes , to finde himselfe in the head of his troupes , to change the blows of the pikes , giuing him signall of his attire and feathers : so did Generall Norris command the Trumpet to tell them our small number , & to dare their whole Forces to battaile : but the cowardlie besonions perceiuing our resolution , before we could arriue within 3. miles of them , al their footmen ran away to Lisborne , being 3. for one . Fuentes with Don Gabriel de Ninis knowing wee had vnder fiftie horsemen , staid where they were incamped , hauing with them at the least 600. horsemen : notwithstanding , the alrrme being giuen vs , the Earle , and General Norris with the most of the Chiefes , giuing order to our Squadrons to keep in that order we marched , and to march with al speed to recouer the top of a hil , a fine place to giue battell , assigned vnto them by the trumpet , within halfe a league of their quarter . The Earle , Generall , and Chiefs with the horsemen , aduaunced with speed to the top of the hil , both to discouer the Enemies order , and to choose a commodious place to fight . At their sight , wee perswaded our selues by their fashion to receiue battaile , our ensignes being displayed on the top of the hill , and our squadrons possessing the ground that we thought most fit : after resting a while , & perceiuing their cowardly resolution , aduanced our battaile towards their quarter , vnknowne to vs but that all their forces had bin in that village . At our approch , they ran away in such sort , that our horsmen ( being but 50. in al , amongst whom were diuers of our Chiefs , besides the Earle and his brother ) made 200. of them run away that they kept in the Reregard . This proofe with diuers others , had we on them in our Portingall voyage .

But to speake troth , no Armie that euer I saw , passes that of Duke de Parma for discipline & good order : the which & it pleased others to follow , it were not amisse . And to that ende I thought good to show some parte of the discipline and orders amongst them . None comes to be high Officers , vnles they be knowne to be expert and tried Souldiers of action , of long continuance ; or for courtesie to grace their Armies with young Princes , or Nobilitie , or at the least Gentlemen of good qualitie ; neither must these contemne the basest Master of their Campe . For all their birth , they must bee knowne valiant , and of good discretion . These Noble men are placed Generalls of horsmen , or commaund a Cornet ; but they will be sure to looke , that their vnder Officers shall bee expert and knowne men ; they shall not choose their owne fauorites and followers : which maketh them to maintaine the like discipline , when they come to be expert themselues : for without doubt , none can command so well , as those which haue been commanded .

Their State is gouerned with two sorts of people , Captaine and Clergie . As the Captaines ambition perswades the king to encrease his Warres , to maintaine their estate in wealth and greatnes , so dooth the Clergie perswade him also to warres , to maintaine their State , against them of Religion . By this means the State of Spaine during this gouernement can neuer be without warres , and continuall warres must make expert Souldiers .

The long continuance of their Armie .

THis Armie of the Prince of Parma hath been in action vnbroken , since Charles the fift his troubles against the Germaines . They haue continued in the Low Countreyes three and twentie yeares . When the Duke D' alua , brought them thether , he found them readie disciplined in Regiments , vnder Ensignes and Cornets , although the Gouernors , Captaines and Souldiers , were changed with casualties of Warres : notwithstanding the Armie was continuallie maintained with one purse & discipline from the first houre vnto this , which must be about 50. yeres . For that time , we must confesse , none had the schoole of warres continuallie , but themselues . Their actions shewes their discipline , which were not amisse for others to followe . Their order is , where the warres are present , to supplie their Regiments being in Action , with the Garrisons out of all his Dominions & Prouinces : before they dislodge , besonios supply their places , raw men , as wee tearme them . By these meanes hee traines his besonios , & furnisheth his Armie with trained souldiers : yet though these Garrison men be wel trained Souldiers , God knowes they are but raw men for a long time , in respect of the men of Action : then iudge you , what difference there is betwixt expert Soldiers & raw . In my poore iudgement , ( as I shewed before ) all their discipline consists in the Spanish . They maintaine also certaine companies of ordinances , chiefly to content the Nobilitie , as I will shew hereafter ; they keepe in good order their Caualeri , Italians , Burgonians and Albanetes , for their great numbers I meane , to supplie their Armies , as occasion presents . They make most account of the Wallons , Burgonians and Italians : for the Almaines they care not , but will hire them onelie to serue their turne , when their Enemies leauie Germaines against them . They haue great reason ; for as long as any Prince or Estate keepes continuallie 7000. expert footemen , & 3000. horsmen , though his leuied Armie be 50000. the ten thousand will both discipline them , and keepe them in order : for out of the 10000. he may draw continualy 100 or two experimented Soldiers to make officers , to train the others . Besides he places diuers great Officers out of his assured 10000. amongst his mercenaries ; in the which he shews great discipline ; for there can be no dangerous muteny in any Army , vnles some of the Chiefes be priuie vnto it ; and easily preuented if it be discouered ; and can not be but discouered by reason of this good order .

How they diuide their Armies .

THey diuide their Armies into Regiments . All the Spanish Colonells are tearmed , Masters of the Campe . Although al their Armie be diuided into Regiments , be they neuer so many Colonels , there are none termed M. del Campo , but the Spanish . Although there are but foure Tertias Spanish , which are called de la Lyge , de Lombardy , de Naples , and de Flandrie ; to grace the Spanish , they giue often the name of M. del Campo vnto others , but neuer aboue sixe at a time , the which must be famous . Mondragon being Colonell of the Wallons afore Serexe , for his famous seruice was called M. del Campo , so was Ionas Oria , hauing no Regiment , for his famous seruice at Malta and in other places .

These foure Tertias , when they are most , are scarce 6000. strong , they make vp their 10000. I named before with Burgonians , Italians & Wallons . One of these Tertias when the Duke of Alua came downe , was called Tertia de Sardinia . For their disorder , the Duke executed their Captaines in Amsterdam , in Holland , cassid the Tertia , entertaining the Souldiers a new . To keepe the honour of the braue Souldiers , they termed this Tertia , Tertia Veche , to giue example vnto others . It is necessarie to remember this Discipline , with other , executed by the Duke of Alua. This Tertia of Sardinia had to their Colonell a valiant Captaine , named Don Gonsalo de Drakemont , being commanded to Frizeland , against Lodowicke the worthie Count of Nassaw , brother to the famous Prince of Orange : to stop his course , Duke d' Alua sent Sir Iohn de Lamy Count de Aranberge Chief , with other troupes of horse and foote . Besides this Tertia being approched Count Lodowicke vnderstanding his strength , Aranberge would haue staied where he was , vntill the arriuall of the Count de Megem , the which would haue ioyned with him that night with more forces . The ambition of this Colonel and Captains was such , they forced Count Aranberge with vrging words touching his reputation and credit , both to approch and charge some of Lodowicks troups , the which brought them into an ambush where Lodowicke was : who defeated them in route , leauing Count de Aranberge dead in the place , with diuers other Chiefes . At their returne , Duke d' Alua rewarded them , as I shewed you before .

Another time a great Regiment of Almaine mutined for want of pay : in their outrage they spoiled Count Laderne , their owne Colonel . Duke d' Alua called them into a field , both to be mustred and to receiue their pays , Into this place he commanded also al his Caualery with other footmen to come . The mutinous Regiment being viewed with commissaries , he placed the horsemen in Squadrons round about them , commanding them to charge them like enemies , vnles they would deliuer the mutiners into his hands . The poore Almains seing themselues deceiued , fearing the furie of the horsmen , deliuered vnto him all that he demaunded . To reuenge their mutinie , and to maintaine Discipline , hee executed of them 200. Since that time we cannot learne that the Almaines mutined in the Spanish Armie .

Their great Officers in order as they commaund .

IN the absence of the Captaine Generall , the hie Marshall or master of the Campe general commandeth al. After him , the Generall of the horsemen : after him , the Generall of the Artillerie : after him , the eldest master of the Campe : next vnto the Masters del Campo , the Lieftenant general of the horsemen : after him , the Lieftenant of the Artillerie . These Officers direct the field : for the rest of the Colonells and Officers , none meddle further than his owne particular charge , vnles they be authorized . Although the Threasurer at wars be an honorable place commanded by no bodie , but by the Captaine generall , he nor none of the others meddle with the Martiall Discipline ; I meane the Auditores , Commissaries , Muster masters , & such . Touching the charge and duties of the Captaine Generall , and the other great Captaines , I refer it vnto the famous warriours which wrote it often before .

What other Officers ought to second their great Officers .

THe office of the Marshal , is painful & great , for he medleth with the whole affaires of the warres ; he hath to serue and to help him , the Serieant maior , Quarter masters , Prouosts , and Captaine of the Spions .

The Generall of the horsemen hath to serue him , his Lieftenants , Colonells , Captaines , and Scoutmasters .

The Generall of the Artillerie , his Lieftenant , Commissaries of munitions , Gentlemen of the Artillery , Colonel of Pioners , Trench-masters , & Carriage-masters .

The Treasurer is chiefe of al the others : he , the Auditor , Muster-masters , Commissaries aswell for musters , as for victuals , deliuer their accounts only vnto the captain general , or to his deputy authorised by him for the vse of the King . There is also one Secretarie authorized by the King , who lookes into all their dealings , and knows all the secret onlie that passeth betwixt the King and the Captaine generall .

This Secretarie hath always diuers blanks signed by the King . With those blanks they haue redressed sodenly many disorders which could not haue bin done , if they had bin forced to stay to know the Kings pleasure .

The greatnes of their Generall , and Obeysance vnto his King .

ALthough the General hath his commission absolute from the King , to alter , to redresse , place , & to displace whom he lists , as occasion presents : Notwithstanding he doth nothing , without the aduise and consent of his counsaile of warre , if he should he is sure to be dispised and contemned , not only by his counsel of war , but by his whole Armie in generall ; who will not faile to appeale vnto the King , & Estate of Spaine , which redresseth presently any disorders . For sodain dispatches , the King hath his counsell of war seuerally for euery of his kingdoms and prouinces , where he hath occasion to vse Viceroyes or Captaine Generalls . All these Counsailes of wars both in Spaine and abroad , are expert and principall Captaines , sauing a few Diuines and Ciuililians ioyned with them , to aduise and redresse their high mindes and ambition ; the which is done easier and better by wise perswasions , than by extreame iustice : for if iustice were executed to the vttermost , fewe great Captaines should liue . The most great captaines cannot denie , but their profession ouer-reacheth themselues , more than anie other ; because all their speaches , deeds , and minds consists in ambition for honour , seeking to ouerthrow all estates , to aduance their owne , weighing no perill in respect of fame .

I speake this for Captaines in generall : but there are honest , vertuous , and iust , yet so few that the number must bee imbraced , els the multitude of the enemies would bee too to manie for the fewe friends . If a Captaine be a good counsellor in Warre , a good executioner , or a good engioner , he ought to be imbraced , and as noble Sir Philip Sidney said , borne withall , vnlesse his faults are too intollerable .

How they diuide their Horsmen .

THey diuide their Caualerie into an 100. vnder a Cornet . Vnles it be their two Generalls , the most of the aduantagers and aduenturers march vnder the high Generall , so doo all his domestiques . When he is in person in the field , his Cornet is alwaies foure or fiue hundred ; they giue seuerall commissions vnto Launtiers , & to the Hergulutiers , to fiue hundred Launtiers they ioyne a hundred Hergulutiers , they keep that rate from the lesser number vnto the greatest . These Launtiers are called light Horsmen , notwithstanding they are aswell mounted as the men at armes , for one horse a peece , and aswell armed , sauing the barbd for their greeues and maces : the most carrie one Pistoll , but all carrie a curtilace , I meane a good broad sworde . Their Hergulutiers are also well mounted for 1. horse a peece , more than halfe curaces of the proofe , with an open burgonet , or Millaine murrions ; many haue pistolls besides their peeces , but all haue good curtilaces . Both Launtiers and Hargulatiers haue al cassocks , euery company seuerall colours to be knowne .

The diuisions of their foote bands .

THeir Commissions for foote Bands are like vnto ours , some Ensigns 300. some 200. the most of an 150. Euery hundred hath forty armed men , of which there must be 30. pikes , the tenne others , are halberds & targets of the proof ; al their Gentlemen & vantagers are armed men , the most carry the pike , hauing plasterons of the proofe , I meane the fore part of the armour , the 60. others are shot . In the later dayes of Duke D'alua 25. of euery 100. were commaunded to be Musketters . With their armed pikes and musketters , they execute most of their seruices . They found such seruice in the musket , that this Prince of Parma hath the most of his shot musketters .

The order of their marching .

WHen the Armie marcheth , one commaundes the vangard , another the battell , the third the rereward . None of these , nor of the Officers appoynted with them , whatsoeuer occasion presenteth , although their fellowes were in fight , dares breake out of his place to offer to fight , without commaundement from the Principall . If the Generall be in person , hee is knowne by a signall , like vnto a Cornet , which is carried hard by him . As hee sends often to know the State of his Armie in all the quarters , so doo they send others vnto him , as occasion presents , both to acquaint him of their Estate , & to know his direction . To giue equall honor vnto al their troups , they alter their marches euery seuerall march . He that had the vangard to day , to morrow is to haue the rereward , the third the battaile . When occasion presents to diuide their Army into seueral parts to do some exploits in surprising some town , Castle , Fortresse , or other to giue camisadoes , or reincounter troupes , eyther at their lodgings , or in their march , they send two of qualitie , according to the number of the troups that go , the one commaunds the horsmen , the other the footmen ; but one is obeyed chiefe , in as ample authority , as the Captaine Generall himselfe , vntil they returne into their Army . They haue great reason ; for it is impossible for two Chiefs to agree , hauing equall authority .

The order of thier Sieges .

WHen they assiege any place , they incampe at the first out of the danger of the enemies artillerie : before they make any approches , they do what they can to make sure either with Fortes or Trenches all the passages , I meane the comming in as well to their Campe , as to the Towne or place assieged . If there be any riuer or passage by water , they will be sure to stop it with Forts , Artillery , Stockathos , Pallisathos . If they can make a bridge to passe ouer horse and foote , with all necessaries from one side vnto the other : if they can they wil not faile to make ways round about the place assieged to march with horse & foote . If there be any passages strong by nature , straits through woods , hills , or with waters , although it be a dozen miles from their Campe , they will build strong Forts , sufficient with a small guard to abide the furie of an army without battery . At one of these places will they giue battaile , rather than leaue their siege , if the party be to their aduantage : by this meanes they will be sure to haue fortie houres liberty to resolue , whether they will fight or retire ; as they did at Muncier , at Cambria , and at other places . Count Lodowicke being in Mounce , well accompanied , especially with good Chiefes ; for he had with him the famous Captains Monsieur de la Nowe , Monsieur de Poiet , Monsieur de Roueres : Notwithstanding , Duke d' Alua intrenched his Army before it so strongly , that he was able to send out halfe his men to doo exploits where it pleased him . When the Prince of Orange incamped hard by him with equall forces , he neuer stirred his Army , by reason of his trained Souldiers , vndid him with a Camisado , forced him to retire . So did hee also send Chappine Vitelly out of his Armie , with sufficient forces into the strait towardes Valentia , who defeated Monsieur Iohn de Lise , which marched to the succours of Mounce with seauen thousand Frenchmen . Also at Cambria this Prince of Parma abode the Army of Monsieur d' Alanson to come in sight , although he resolued to retire , sending his Artillerie , munition and baggage out of daunger : hee stayed to see the order of his march , seeing the party vnequall who marched in good order , he retired orderly without ingageing any fight . If they thinke the place assieged too wel manned , or the seate such by nature , that batterie can doo no good , they will blocke it vp with Fortes in such sort , that halfe their Armie will be sufficient to assiege it , they will be sure to place the rest in the best quarters for victualls and forrage , although it be three dayes iourney from the place assieged : as they did at Antwerpe , Gaunt , Iper , Berke , and other places . By these meanes they relieue their wearied troupes with fresh at their pleasures . If there be troups making head to leauie their siege , they will ioyne closer together , as occasions present : if they batter , they approch carefully with trenches a farre off , spare neither Pioners nor cost to saue their Souldiers . Before they place their Batterie , they mount Culuerings , and other peeces to beate the flanks and defences : if there be not high grounds aduantagious to do it , they will be sure whatsoeuer it cost , to raise mounts for the purpose . If the Bulwarkes be such that the flanks cannot be taken away with their peeces , they will lay batterie at once both to Bulwarke and Curten ; for the Soldiers may lawfully refuse to assault , vntill the flankes be taken away ; neither will the Chiefes offer it ; for some of them must leade them .