occasions, to make a safe and sure retreat. For
those that can do nothing else, can easily put
themselves into a war: but to return them home
again in safety, is that which concerneth the ho∣nour
of a Leader.
Many are the causes that may move a Com∣mander
to dislodge himself, and to leave his Ad∣versarie
for a time: but the means to do it
safety depend specially upon these two points.
The one is, To advance himself onward at first,
as far as possibly he can, to the end he may get
the start, before the enemy be ready to follow
him: and is taught by Xenophon; who, after the
death of Cyrus, in the battell against King
Artaxerxes, brought back a thousand men into
Greece, from an Army of two hundred thou∣sand
horse, that pressed hard upon them, for five
hundred leagues together. Which retreat is
exactly storied by the said Author, in seven
books, containing all the difficulties con∣cerning
this point: amongst which, we find
this passage.
It much imported us, saith he, to go as far at
first as possible we could; to the end we might
have some advantage of space before the Enemy,
that pressed so near behind. For, if we once
got before, and could out-strip them for a daies
journey or two, it was not possible for them to
overtake us; forasmuch as they durst not follow
us with a small troup, and with great forces they
could never reach us: besides the scarcity and
want of victuall they fell into by following us,
that consumed all before them.
Thus far goeth Xenophon. And according to
this rule, Caesar ordered his retreat: for he got the
start of Pompey so far the first day, by that eight
miles he gained in the afternoon, as it followeth
in the next Chapter, that he was never able to
overtake him.
The second thing for the assuring of a retreat
is, So to provide against the incumberances of an
Enemy, that he may not find it easie to attack
him that would be gone. Of all retreats which
may any way be taken from example of Beasts,
that of the Wolf is most commended: who never
flies, but with his head turned back upon his ad∣versaries;
and shews such teeth, as are not to be
trusted.
After the Wolfs manner marched Caesar: for
howsoever the body of his Army retreated one
way, yet they turned so terrible a countenance
towards the Enemy, as was not to be endured.
And upon these two hinges, is turned the car∣riage
of a skilfull retreat.
Howbeit, for the better furtherance hereof, it
shall not be impertinent to adde hereunto some
inventions, practised by great Commanders,
which may serve to amuse an Enemy, while a
Generall doth prepare himself to observe the
former points.
King Philip of Macedon, desirous to leave
the Roman Army, sent a Herauld to the Consul,
to demand a cessation of Armes, while he bu∣ried
his dead, which he purposed to perform the
next day, with some care and solemnity. Which
being obtained, he dislodged himself secretly that
night, and was got far on his way before the
Romans perceived it.
Hanniball, to clear his Army from that of the
Romans, which was commanded by the Consul
Nero, about midnight made many fires, in that
part which stood next the Roman Camp: & lea∣ving
certain Pavillions & Lodgings, with some
few Numidians, to shew themselves upon the
Rampier, he departed secretly towards Puteolis.
As soon as it was day, the Romans (according
to their custome) approaching the Counter∣scarp,
the Numidians shewed themselves; and
then suddainly made after their fellows, as fast
as their horses could carry them. The Con∣sul,
finding a great silence in the Camp, sent
two Light-horsemen to discover the matter:
who returning, told him of the Enemies de∣parture.
In like manner, Varus (as is formerly re∣lated)
left a Trumpeter in the Camp near Utica,
with certain Tents; and about midnight, carried
his Army secretly into the Town.
Mithridates, willing to leave Pompey,
that cut him off short, the better to cover his de∣parture,
made shew of making greater provision
of forrage then he was accustomed, appointed
conferences the next day, made great store of
fires in his Camp; and then in the night escaped
away.
The Persians, in the voyage which Soly∣man
the Turk made against them, in the year
one thousand five hundred fifty four, being
driven to a place where the Ottomans thought
to have had a hand upon them, gathered every
man a fagot; and making a great heap thereof,
set them all on fire, in the passage of the Turks
Army: which burned so furiously, as the
Persian escaped before the Enemy could passe
by the fire.