THE ARGUMENT .

CAVALLRIE , so called of a a Derived from the Latine word Caballus , and this from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Cavallo ; ( which in the Italian and Spanish signifieth a horse ) is worthily esteemed a most noble and necessarie part of the military profession : which being the subject of my discourse , it may be reduced to these foure heads .

b b Primùm idoneos eligamus , &c. dein & in itinere , & in castris , & in praeliis ipsis instructum exercitum habeamus ; Aelianus de instruendis aciebus , cap. 3. 1 The levying of men , 2 Their marching , 3 Their encamping , 4 Their embattelling .

In the levying of men , there be two things considerable ; 1. The election of officers . 2. The election of souldiers .

Concerning the officers , they may be considered , 1. In generall , 2. In particular .

CHAP. I. Of officers in generall .

AS in politique government , so in this militarie profession , every man by a naturall impression is ready to conceive himself to be fit to command and govern others , though he never knew how to obey ; whereas in every mechanicall trade or manufacture , an apprenticehood is first passed in the learning of it , before it be professed and exercised . In this profession of armes ( c c Le plus relevé , le plus hasardeux , & le plus difficille subject du monde . Le mestier des Nobles , la prattique des courageux , & l'exercice des Princes & des Roys ; Monsieur Praissac . an art obtained with greatest difficulty , and practised with most danger ) men would be Captains before they be souldiers . And hereof the chief cause is ignorance , the fruitfull mother of all errours . For surely , if their end and aime were honour , and they knew how frail and mutable the estate of a souldier is ; and that in a moment a man may loose all the reputation obtained by many yeares industry ; ( d d In aliis rebus si quid erratum est , potest postmodum corrigi : Praeliorum delicta emendationem non recipiunt , cùm poena statius sequatur errorem ; Cato apud Vegetium , lib. 1. cap. 13 the errours in warre admitting no amendment , as in other professions ; but carrying their present punishment with them ) and had they seen many shamefully chased from the army , and proclaimed infamous ; and others passe through the hands of the hangman ; they would ( doubtlesse ) strive with much industry and diligence to enable themselves , before they came to undertake the exercise of so dangerous an employment . And they are not a little mistaken , which think their e e Non repellatur imperator pauper si cum virtute sit , quanquam claris ac illustribus majoribus ortus non sit ; Leo. Tract . cap. 2. 25. birth a sufficient pretence to places of honour , without any qualification or merit ; there being other things more reall and essentiall f f In legitimo duce quinque haec requiro ; Scientiam , virtutem , providentiam , autoritatem , fortunam ; Lips . polit. lib. 5. cap. 15. required in an officer ; namely , Knowledge , experience , valour , dexteritie , &c.

To be under command for a time , depresseth those vehement passions which nature exciteth , especially in young men , which would be very dangerous in a chief or commander . Moreover , it accustometh a man to danger , and g g Scientia rei bellicae dimicandi nutrit audaciam ; Veg. lib. 1. cap. 15. maketh him couragious ; so as being suddainly assailed , he can recollect himself without astonishment ; a most necessary thing in a commander . Adde to this , that by using himself to travell and labour , watching , hunger , thirst , rain , and frost ; and by h h

Mars is therefore called Gradivus ( as Festus hath it ) quia gradatim , & per ordinem militaria officia distribuenda sunt .

And that this was the constant practise of antiquitie , is most apparent . Rufus diu manipularis , deia centurio , mox castris praefectus ; Tacit. lib. 2. &c.

an orderly ascent ( by degrees ) from a Corporall to a Quartermaster , from thence to a Cornet , and so to a Lieutenant , he prepareth himself for a Captains charge . He learneth the trick of entertaining his souldiers , and to keep them in good affection and reverence towards him . He knows their severall dispositions and sufficiencies , and accordingly entrusteth them with employments . Honour must be his chief end ; to attain which , he must be very vigilant not to loose i i Occasio in bello ampliùs solet juvare quàm virtus ; Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. any occasion of any brave exploit : by which means he will be alwayes observing his enemy , studying how to prevent him or endammage him ; alwayes bearing in minde this maxim , That in warre no great or remarkable matter can be effected without danger and diligence . To this end let him be sure to take heed that he k k Quid fieri debeat tractato cum multis ; quid verò facturus sis , cum paucissimis ac fidelissimis , vel potiùs ipse tecum ; Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. trust not too much to his own judgement and valour , without acquainting his officers with his counsels . And let him so know the severall inclinations and sufficiencies of his souldiers , as to take particular notice of such as deserve well , and to reward them accordingly ; and to rid himself of base and debauched fellows and cowards .

He must alwayes aspire ( in way of l l For this , Caesar recordeth a memorable example in Pulfio and Varenus ; lib. 5. cap. 19. vertuous emulation ) to higher degrees of honour . m m Sit celso adversus pecuniam animo ; Plutarch . in Philop. Covetousnesse he must hate ; for nothing will better continue his souldiers good affections towards him then liberalitie . Gaming he must detest . n n Philopoemenes pubem ad se armandum impulit , deinde delicias & luxum eorum optimè invertit . Omnes inflammavit , ut quotidianis repressis in corpus sumptibus , gestirent in militari & bellico ornatu ostentare se splendidos . Profusio impensa in hujusmodi res , roborat animum , extollítque ; Plutarch . in Philop. In stead of costly apparell , let him delight in good armes and horses ; wherein oftentimes both his life and honour consisteth . He must be continent and sober , not given to luxurie nor o o The States edict of Marshall law provideth , that such as in their drunkennesse shall commit any offence , shall not therefore be any way excused , but the more severely punished ; Art. 67. drunkennesse , but alwayes be as a good example to his souldiers : for otherwise he cannot have that requisite libertie to chastise them for those vices which his own conscience will accuse himself to be guiltie of .

Above all , let him set before his eyes ( as the originall and foundation of all perfection ) the feare of God ; carrying himself ( so farre as may be ) internally and externally inculpable . For the horrour of a guiltie conscience , and the imminent danger and apprehension of death meeting together , take away all courage and valour . And thus having reformed himself , he shall the more easily reform his souldiers , and make them fit for every honourable enterprise .

CHAP. II. Of officers in particular . Of the Generall of horse .

TOuching the particular officers , the a a Iphicrates resembled an army to a mans body ; calling the heavy armed the body , the light armed the hands , the horse the feet , and the Generall the head ; Plutarch . Generall of the horse , as being one of the principall Chiefs of an armie , must be a souldier of extraordinary experience and valour ; having in charge the nerve of the principall forces , and on whom the good successe of many designes and actions dependeth , as being most usually executed by the Cavallrie , especially in battells : where the charging of the enemy in good order usually giveth victorie ; and contrariwise , the b b

Witnesse the battell of Gembloers , described by Meteren . lib. 8. where the Infanterie is overthrown by their own horse .

So did the Burgundians ; Les hommes d'armes Bourguignons rompirent leurs propres Archers ; Phil. de Comines . lib. 1. cap. 3.

disorders of the Cavallrie often disturb and disband the whole armie . The Generall of the horse was wont to supply the place of Lieutenant Generall of the army , and in the Lord Generalls absence to command the whole armie . True it is , that the Lord Marshall , forasmuch as he giveth the orders , used to have some superioritie of command , according to the opinions of some ; whence it cometh that the Lord Generall , absenting himself from the army , used to take along with him either the Generall of horse , or the Lord Marshall , to avoid the occasions of competition . It is his office to take particular notice not onely of the Captains and officers , but also of those private souldiers which are carefull and punctuall in their service , c c Perscrutaberis qui se in bello stremè gesserint , illisque idoneos honores habebis , ignavos antem quo par est supplicio constringes ; Leo. Tact. cap. 16. rewarding and d d

Monsieur de la Noiie reporteth , that ( in his time ) in the regiment of Collonel Pedro de Pas ( consisting of 23 companies of Spaniards ) there was more then 1200 crowns a moneth given for extraordinary services & signall acts . Whence he draweth this observation ,

Qui est un bon tesmoignage quil estoit rempli d'hommes valeureux ; Discours Polit. & Milit.

honouring them in publique when they perform some signall act , and advancing them to offices without partialitie . On the other side , e e Omnes culpas legibus vindicet , nulli errantium credatur ignoscere ; Veg. lib. 3. cap. 10. he must chastise delinquents , and such as are wanting in their endeavours : by which means he shall be reverenced and loved of good men , and feared of such as are bad . It belongeth to his care , that the Cavallrie be in good equipage , and fitted with all necessaries requisite : And that the companies ( being to march ) be provided of nags ; without which the souldiers can hardly preserve their horse of service , by reason that with them they must go to forrage ( for want of bidets or nags ) after their march , and presently enter into guard in the army or quarter , without any rest to refresh their horses . He is not to suffer the Captains either to make officers , or to absent themselves from their companies , without his leave and approbation . He hath his officers apart , and in that which concerneth the Cavallrie , neither the Lord Marshall , nor Lord Generall himself useth to dispose of any thing without his advice . If he passe among the quarters of Cavallrie or Infanterie , his trumpets are to sound ; but not where the Lord Generall lodgeth , or where he is in person . When he commandeth in the armie ( in absence of the Lord Generall ) upon occasion of fight , his place is in the battell , that he may be able to give order to all . He hath usually a companie ( heretofore of lances ) to lodge with him , and to serve him as his guard ; having usually six souldiers or more of his companie attending on him . f f

Of Caesar it is said , Dubium cautior an audentior . Suet.

A good Commander should rather look behinde him then before him , said Sertorius . Plutarch . in Sertor .

He should not resolve upon any enterprise , unlesse he first consider seriously of all that might happen ; that so , propounding to himself greater difficulties in the action , then in effect they be , he may prepare remedies surpassing all the said difficulties : it being a benefit not to be expressed , to be able to g g Temeritas , praeterquam quòd stulta est , etiam infelix ; Livius 22. foresee ( with good judgement ) those things which might succeed in the uncertain and variable accidents of warre . Especially he must be h h Intentus fis , ut neque tua occasioni desis , neque suum hosti des . Ibid. ready in execution : for suppose a determination never so well grounded , yet it may prove vain and hurtfull , if it be not executed with requisite promptitude .

CHAP. III. Of the Lieutenant Generall of horse .

THe charge of the Lieutenant Generall of the horse hath ever been held of very great importance ; and therefore must be supplyed by a person of great experience and valour : one that must be very carefull and diligent , because he usually marcheth and lodgeth with the Cavallrie . For which cause he ought to be well versed in the opportunitie of the wayes , upon occasion of meeting the enemy in marching .

a a Erat Philopoemen praecipuae in ducendo agmine locísque capiendis solertiae atque usus . Nec belli tantùm temporibus , sed etiam in pace ad id maximè animum exercuerat . Vbi iter quopiam faceret , & ad difficilem transitu saltum venisset , contemplatus ab omni parte loci naturam , cúm solus iret , secum ipse agitabat animo ; cùm comites haberet , ab iis quaerebat , si hostis coloco apparuisset ; quid si à fronte , quid si à latere hoc aut illo , quid si à tergo adoriretur , capiendum consilii foret ; T. Livius dec. 4. lib. 5. He must alwayes have his thoughts busied about the motions of the enemie , discoursing with himself from what part they might shew themselves , with what number of men , whether with Infanterie or not , in how many houres they might come upon him from their armie or garrison , and whether they might present themselves in a place of advantage ; that so it might be prevented , as need should require .

He must also advisedly choose commodious places for the quarters or lodgings , providing good guards , causing the highwayes to be scoured or discovered , placing men on those passages where the enemie might make head , not neglecting to send out rounders , and omitting no diligence to secure the quarter in which the Cavallrie findeth it self exposed to greater dangers then can befall it any other way , especially being lodged without Infanterie .

He must also procure to have spies , not onely in the enemies army , but also upon their frontiers , to penetrate their designes and intentions , omitting no inventions which may stand him in stead to avoid inconveniences ; knowing that diligence is the mother of good fortune . b b Cui enim tanta potestatis insignia tribuuntur , cujus fidei atque virtuti possessorum fortunae , tutela virium , salus militum , rei publicae creditur gloria : non tantùm pro universo exercitu , sed etiam pro singulis contubernalibus debet esse solicitus . Veg. lib. 3. cap. 10. His particular care is to see that the Captains wrong not their souldiers , that they keep their companies in good state and well armed , and that themselves and their officers do their endeavours , and observe good order and discipline .

Towards the souldiers he must be no lesse affable , and readie to heare them willingly in their just complaints , and to help them in their necessities , then rigorous in punishing .

He should also ( himself being free from covetousnesse ) give order to others to use no c c Extortions ( of diverse kindes ) are punishable with death , by the edict of Marshall law , published by the States of the united provinces ; Artic. 41. extortion , whereby the country is ruined , and the souldier made odious , to the prejudice of the Prince his service ; it being evident that too great a libertie of the souldiers produceth nothing but very bad effects .

Upon divers occasions of sending a good part of the Cavallrie to divers places , the charge is given to the Lieutenant generall ; not onely of the horse , but also of the foot which accompany them , according to the occurrences : for which cause he must also know how to command the Infanterie .

In absence of the Generall the whole weight resteth upon him ; and to him are the orders sent from the Lord Generall or Lord Marshall , and to him ( as Chief ) reports are made of all the occurrences of the Cavallrie .

He may sequester a Captain from his companie , upon just cause and demerit ; but cannot restore him without order from the Generall , who first gives notice thereof to the Lord Generall .

He was wont to have a companie of lances , which usually were lodged neare his person ; whereof foure souldiers alwayes attend him . When he passeth by the quarters of Cavallrie the trumpets sound , but not in the Generalls quarter , or where he is . When the Generall of horse commandeth the whole army , and therefore takes his place ( in fight ) in the battell , the Lieutenant Generall placeth himself in the vanguard of the Cavallrie , where otherwise the Generall useth to be .

CHAP. IIII. Of the Commissarie Generall .

THe Commissarie Generall commandeth in the absence of the Lieutenant Generall , and therefore must be a man of great experience . This charge was first instituted by Don Ferrand de Gonzagua , afterward continued by the Duke of Alva , and confirmed by the Duke of Parma , and so remained . He must be vigilant , and carefull to appease dissentions which grow among the souldiers , as he which dealeth most with them . He is to send and distribute the orders , and keep a a

The Romanes were very exact in keeping records and lists of their forces , watches , duties , payes , &c.

Quotidianas ( etiam in pace ) vigilias ; item excubitum sive angarias de omnibus centuriis & contuberniis , quae vicissim milites faciunt ; ut nè quis contra justitiam praegravetur , aut alicui praestetur immunitas : nomina eorum qui vices suas fecerunt , brevibus inseruntur . Veg. lib. 2. cap. 19.

record of the lists of the guards , convoyes , and other services . He is to go every evening to receive the orders and the word ; and having given it to the Generall and Lieutenant Generall , he is to give it to the Quartermaster Generall , that he may distribute it . Sometime he hath a company of harquebusiers given him , in acknowledgement of his merit , not as annexed to his place . In all actions he is of singular use , entrusted especially with the execution of the orders . In appointing the lodgings , or places in severall exploits , he must be free from partialitie ; and such as at this time have cause of discontent , he must make amends the next ; that so they may see it was of necessitie , not of partialitie . His place is of very great use and importance , as will appeare throughout this discourse .

CHAP. V. Of the Quartermaster Generall .

THe Quartermaster Generall must be a man of great dexteritie and diligence , and well experienced in Cavallrie . a a This officer among the Romanes was called Praefectus castrorum . Ad quem castrorum positio , valli & fossae destinatio pertinebat . Tabernacula vel casae militum , cum impedimentis omnibus nutu ipsius curabantur ; Veg. lib. 2. cap. 11. It is his office to appoint the lodgings or quarterings ; wherefore he must well know the countrey , the villages and places , where to place the corps dugards , and sentinells , and what wayes must be scoured . He is to keep a list of the guards , convoyes , cavalcadoes ( or exploits by horse ) &c. He must visit the guards and sentinells by day and night , and must shew the allarm-place to the particular Quartermasters , when they go to him in the evening to receive the word . He must ( by b b Itineraria non tantùm adnotata , sed etiam picta habent : ut non solùm consilio mentis , verùm aspectu oculorum viam profecturis , locúmque castris idoneum , eligat ; Ibid. lib. 3. cap. 6. maps or otherwise ) be well informed of the countrey , knowing the qualitie and bignesse of every village , and their distance one from another , obtaining from the Marshall of the field some one of the countrey to inform him . He must be true in his reports , and if any order ( for haste ) be given him by word of mouth , himself must go and deliver it , and not trust it to others . On the Spanish side , in the Low-countrey warres , the Quartermaster Generall hath two assistants allowed him , to help to discharge the travells of his office ; but on the States side that service is performed by the particular Quartermasters .

CHAP. VI. Of the Captain .

SInce that the a a So Melzo and Basta testifie , and complain of it in their writings . Captains places have been disposed of by the Prince ( as the Captains in Flanders are appointed at the court of Spain ) there are grown these two inconveniences upon it ; First , young and unexperienced gentlemen are made Captains . Secondly , many good souldiers are lost , which seeing their hopes of advancement by degrees and merit cut off , abandon the service . Whereas the charge of a Captain of horse is of so great importance and qualitie in the army , as it should not be given to any , but to men of singular valour and experience : for often it falleth out , that of themselves , without orders or counsel of any other ( as occasion requireth ) they must execute services of great weight and consequence . b b Dux itaque vigiians , sobrius , prudens , &c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 9. Sit agilis , magìs ad faciendum quàm ad loquendum paratus : qui suos ad disciplinam retineat , & ad armorum exercitia cogat , ut bene vestiti sint , ut arma omnium defricentur ac splendeant ; Cum admiratione equum possint ascendere , equitare fortissimè , conto scienter uti , ad omnia eruditi quae equestris pugna deposcit ; Veg. lib. 2. cap. 14. He must be vigilant , sober , continent , modest in his apparell , curious to have good horses and arms , thereby to give example to his souldiers , and to see them punctuall in their service , and exactly observant of discipline ; for their excursions and extortions cannot be remedied , unlesse the Captain keep them in order : wherein if he be negligent , he looseth his reputation with his superiours . If he be covetous or given to gaming , he is ready to be drawn to lay hands ( oftentimes ) on the pay due to the souldiers ; whereby he also overthroweth his reputation and credit . A covetous desire of riches should not enter into a generous heart . He must diligently and punctually observe the orders which shall be given or sent him from his superiours , and be at the place at the appointed houre with his companie , and others under his charge . On all occasions he must be first on horseback , and keep his company full and compleat . He must alwayes strive by desert to advance himself to higher places , alwayes studying how to endammage his enemy ; to this end he ought often to c c Praecipua res & utilitas ducis , est ut , adhibitis ex universo exercitu scientibus viris , de suis & hostium copiis saepius tractet , &c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 9. consult with his best experienced souldiers . He must endeavour to know every one of his souldiers by their d d Sciat etiam ( si potest fieri ) nominatim , quis comes , quis tribunus , quis domesticus , quis contubernalis , &c. Ibid. cap. 10. names , that so he may distinctly name them upon occasion of employment ; it being an encouragement to them to be known by name of their Captain . Whatsoever should befall , he must e e Nam necesse est , ad fugam parati sint , qui ducem suum sentiant desperare ; Veg. lib. 3. cap. 22. take heed of discovering any feare , on whose courage and countenance the souldiers depend , and must alwayes shew a good resolution in the orders which he shall give , without confounding himself ; knowing that there is no place for counsel in him , who hath his discourse of reason seazed by feare . He must f f Strenuos viros muneribus honorabis , &c. Ità enim fiet , ut majori fortioríque animo sint qui dimicabunt . Vbi enim honores & praemia habentur bonis , supplicia & poenae afferuntur malis , ibi bonam spem habebit exercitus ; Leo , Tact. cap. 16. cherish his well deserving souldiers , and cashere the contrary ; and it must be his care to have one or more of his souldiers well g g Tuum & hostilem exercitum , locorum situm , naturam regionis nosce ; Livius , 22. skilled in the wayes of the countrey , to serve him as guides : ( because the boores are neither alwayes at hand , nor alwayes to be trusted ) and to such he is to give some allowance extraordinary . Out of his company he is to choose his Lieutenants , Cornets , &c. weighing onely every ones merit , without any passion ; whereby he shall give content and encouragement to his souldiers , and shall be sure not to be crossed by the Generall in the confirmation of the said officers .

The charge of the troops used to be given to the Captains of lances , as having a prerogative above other Captains of horse , or to the eldest Captain : yet the Chief ought to have regard to their sufficiencie for command , and to give the charge to them that are ablest to perform it .

In absence of the Captains of lances ( when they were in use ) the Captains of cuirassiers commanded ; and in their absence , the Captains of harquebusiers . The Lieutenants observed the same rules .

CHAP. VII . Of the Lieutenant .

IT is necessary , that the Lieutenant of a troop of horse be a man of abilitie and experience , nourished and educated in Cavallrie . To this office such were usually raised , which ( for their deserts ) had been Corporalls and Cornets .

a a So much his name implieth : for the French word Lieutenant signifieth one which supplieth the place of another . In the Captains absence he commandeth the companie , upon whom usually all difficulties do rest ; because ( oft times ) the companies are given to young gentlemen which want experience . He must be strict in seeing the souldiers do their service with all fitting punctualitie , and to have a care of their horses and arms . b b The Lieutenant ( with antiquity ) was called Tergidux , that is , Reare-commander ; and therefore the reare is fitly assigned him as his proper place . He alwayes marcheth in the reare of the companie , causing the souldiers to follow the Captain and Standard ( or Cornet ) in good order , well closed together , and to suffer none to depart from the troop . Upon occasion of fight he is still to be on the reare with his sword drawn , encouraging the souldiers , and killing any that shall offer to flie or disband : but in case of the Captains absence , he shall take the Captains place , appointing an officer to be in the reare . In the ordinarie marching of the companie , or passing by some place , or going to the allarm-place , or to the parado , the Lieutenant must not take the Captains place , but march in the reare , because the lances and cuirassiers have their Cornets to leade them at the head of the companie . Among the harquebusiers the Lieutenant was wont to take the Captains place , ( according to Melzo and Basta ) because then they had no c c As the Velites among the Romanes , qui nec signa propria habuere , nec duces ; Lips . ad Polyb. lib. 2. Cornets ; but these last warres having given them Cornets , the rule holdeth for them as for the lances and cuirassiers .

d d

The Romanes required it in their private souldiers , and to cast account also .

In quibusdam notarum peritia , calculandi computandíque usus exigitur ; Veg. lib. 2. cap. 19.

He must of necessitie be able to write and reade , because he keepeth the list of the names and surnames of the souldiers of the companie ; and by reason of orders or letters sent to him from his superiours , which he must not shew to others . He must know the sufficiencie of every souldier , and upon occasion make use of them accordingly .

The companie going to the guard in any place , and approaching neare it , the Lieutenant goeth before to take notice of the Corps-du-guard , and speaking with the Lieutenant of the companie which is to change , informeth himself by him of the place , of the sentinells , for day and night , what wayes he must scoure , and of all other things requisite . He must himself go and place the sentinells , visiting them often , and using all diligence , keeping himself alwayes armed , ( at least with the breast and cask ) and his horse bridled , when he hath the guard .

The companie being lodged in some village , he must cause the billets to be signed by the Quartermaster of his companie , to be distributed to the souldiers before the Cornets lodging , where the Alto is made to attend the said billets ; that so ( in case of an allarm ) the souldiers may know where to assemble together at their Cornet .

If they stay longer then a day in one place , the Lieutenant is to visit the houses , to see good rule kept by the souldiers ; and being to march away , to command them carefully to put out their fires . Going to be lodged in a town or sort , there to keep their garrison , the Lieutenant must accommodate their lodgings according to their degrees and deserts . And wheresoever they lodge longer then a day , he must write the names of the souldiers on the said billets , and keep a register of them ; that so upon any complaint of their hostes , it may be easily remedied , by the ready finding and punishing of the delinquents .

When the companie is to march , and the trumpets sound to horse , e e

The good example of a Leader hath ever been observed to be of marvellous efficacie , according to that of the Poet , — Componitur orbis Regis ad exemplum , &c.

Ipse manu sua pila gerens , praecedit anheli Militis ora pedes : monstrat tolerare labores , Non jubet ; Lucan . 9. de Catone .

he must be first ready and mounted , having care that all the souldiers immediatly do the same . And if he finde any lingering , either of lazinesse , or with a purpose to stay behinde to pillage the houses , he must chastise them with all severitie , for example to others . He must have knowledge of the countrey and wayes , being often sent upon exploits where the guides are not alwayes readie . If the company be charged by the enemy , the Lieutenant , with some of the best mounted souldiers , is to remain behinde .