CHAP. XII. Some Observations, and Preparations to be observed by a General in Field-Ser∣vice: also concerning Intelligences and Spies.

AS soon as a General can get Provisions for his Horse, it will be most advantageous for him to have all things in a readiness to take the Field. For if he take the Field before his Enemy, he preventeth the Enemy of his De∣signs. A General ought to be careful before he ta∣keth the Field with his Army, that he provide for the punctual supplying of his Army with Mony, Ammunition, Victuals, Arms, Men, Shoes, Stock∣ings, Shirts: And seeing it is impossible for an Army upon a March to carry with them sufficient of all these necessaries; therefore a General ought carefully to foresee, as he advanceth any way with his Army, that his Magazines for his Army be always so near him, and so well stored with such things as he shall have occasion to use, that his designs fail not for want of any of the aforesaid things. And he must be careful that his Enemy be never able to cut off his Provisions at any time, or his Retreat.

A General or Chief Commander ought to see that he doth not ruine his Army upon disadvanta∣ges, Page  36 either by engaging them unadvisedly in Bat∣tels, or by assaulting Towns, and Breaches rashly, or by long Sieges, or long Winter Services, with∣out good probability, and assurance in the judg∣ment of men to prevail. And he must take care always to joyn Judgment with Valour in all his Actions.

A General ought carefully to lay hold on such occasions as offer themselves to defeat his Enemy; and judiciously observe to know when to fight, and when not.

A good Commander ought wholly to avoid do∣ing any thing, which being but of small moment may only produce evil effects in his Army. For to begin a Skirmish, or a Combate, wherein the whole Forces are not imployed, and yet the whole fortune is there laid to stake, is a thing savouring too much of rashness: And yet I hold it fit that wise and experienced Commanders when they meet with a new Enemy that is of Reputation, before they come to joyn▪ Battel, should cause their Souldiers to make trial of them by some light Skirmishes; to the end, that beginning to know them, and to have to deal with them, they may be rid of that Terror which the Report and Re∣putation of these men have put them in. And this part in a General is of exceeding great impor∣tance; for these small experiences made by the Souldiers will cause them to cast off that terror, which by means of the Enemies Reputation had possessed them. Thus Livy saith, that Valerius Cor∣vinus was sent by the Romans to make some small Page  37 Skirmishes with the Samnites, that a new War, and a new Enemy might not affright them: But a good Commander must be very careful that no∣thing arise, which upon any accident may take away the Courage, and Hearts of his Souldiers. Now that which may be of force to take away their Courage, is to begin with loss. And there∣fore a Commander should be very careful how he engageth any of his Troops in small Skirmishes; and that he send no parties out of his Army upon any occasion, without taking care that they be commanded by good Commanders: and that the Officers that Command such Parties have Order not to engage themselves with the Enemy, unless they have some certain hopes of Victory. Nor ought he to undertake to guard any passages, where he cannot bring his whole Army together. Nor should he keep any Towns, unless it be those, upon loss whereof his utter ruine followeth. And those that he guardeth, he should take such care both for their Defences, and also with his Army, that when-ever the Enemy hath any design to as∣sail them, he may make use of all his Forces to the rescue of them.

If you have any certain hopes of starving your Enemy, or putting him to a retreat for want of Provisions, your securest way then will be not to fight with him, especially if your Enemy be of equal strength with you, or stronger than you are.

If a Commander in Chief discovereth his Ene∣mies Foot to be lodged in their night Quarters in a Page  38 Campagnia with their Carriages, it were good then to charge them in the night with so many Horse, as you shall think fit in several places; and leave part of your Horse and Dragoons to make good their retreat upon occasion. If it falleth so out that your Horse cannot totally rout your Enemies Foot, let them have Order to fire their Ammunition, and so retreat.

It is very fit a General should often command his Horse and Dragoons to fall upon his Enemies outermost Horse-Quarters. The which is one of the readiest, easiest, and securest ways that I know of to break an Enemies Army.

A General is not so much blamed for making trial of an ill-digested project, as he will be for the obstinate continuing in the same. Therefore the speediest leaving of any such enterprise doth excuse the rashness, which might be imputed to the beginning.

Difficulties of extremity are never better cleared, than by adventurous and desperate undertaking. And hence groweth the difference between true Valour, and fool-hardy Rashness, being but one and the same thing, if they were not distinguished by the subject, wherein they are shewed. For to run headlong into strange adventures upon no just oc∣casion, were to shew more levity, than discretion: and again, to use the like boldness in cases of extre∣mity, deserveth the opinion of vertuous endea∣vours.

A General should always be careful so soon as Page  39 he cometh out of the Field to visit his Frontier Towns, and take with him some of his best Com∣manders, and some of his choice Engineers, and to see what Fortifications his Frontier Towns want, and to give order for the repairing of such wants: and likewise to take care that the Magazines be furnished with a years provision, and that he give especial Command to the Governours of his Frontier Towns to be careful by their vigilance and good itnelligence to prevent sudden surprises, and valiantly to defend their Towns, and provi∣dently to dispose of their provisions in case they should be besieged.

Concerning Spies you must be always suspitious of them; because as it is a dangerous task for him that undertaketh, so it is also for him that imploy∣eth them: And that Spies may not agree to give false advice, they should be examined severally, that by the agreement or disagreement of their advices, you may judge whether they be good: and by the verification of those which speak true or false, you shall know who betrayeth you, or doth you true Service. But this is not all, to beware of your own Spies; you must also take heed of those of the Enemy, which you must pre-suppose you have in your Camp For this reason, besides the secre∣sie which must be used in all enterprises, it is good to give a charge by publishing (in a still way) that you have a quite contrary design to that which you purpose to put in execution; that so these Spies may report it to the Enemy. But the most effectual means to be well served by these kind of men, is to be very liberal to them; for they are Page  40 faithful to those who give them most. A General must take care that he have continually Spies in the Enemies Army, to know when his Enemy mo∣veth, and what condition his Enemies Army is in; and he ought to have in every Frontier Town of his Enemy some correspondence with some Town∣dweller, or Souldier of the Garrison, that by them he may understand from time to time what con∣dition his Enemies Garrisons are in. And if the Enemy draweth any Forces to an head at any of his Frontier Towns, let the aforesaid people give the Governour of your next Garrisons notice of it. You ought to know that Intelligence is the most powerful means to undertake brave Designs, and to avoid great Ruines: and it is the chiefest Founda∣tion upon which all Generals do ground their Actions.

A General that Commandeth an Army, and seeth that for want of Mony he cannot keep them long together, is unwise if he ventureth not his Fortune before his Army falleth asunder: For by delaying he certainly loseth; whereas hazarding he might overcome. Another thing there is yet much to be accounted of, which is, that a man ought (even in his losing) seek to gain Glory by being overcome by force, than by any other in∣convenience.

The principal Heads of War for Field-Service, are the Art of Marching, Incamping, Imbatteling, and to know the ways how to procure good In∣telligence, and providently and skilfully to get Pro∣visions fit for his Army, and his Designs, and not Page  41 to ground his foundations upon vain imagi∣nation.

In matter of War the motions ought to be quick, where the least moment of time oft carrieth the whole business.

It is necessary in War oftentimes to change Counsels according to the variety of the accidents.

In execution of Designs of War, good judgment ought to ground them, and diligent expedition put them into Act on For the least fault or stay that a man commiteth may give leasure, and occasion for the Enemy to provide, that all the plots, and counsels how good soever shall serve to no pur∣pose.