The history of the conquest of China by the Tartars together with an account of several remarkable things concerning the religion, manners, and customes of both nations, but especially the latter / first writ in Spanish by Senõr Palafox ... and now rendred English.

CHAP. XXX. The Military Discipline of the Tartars. Their manner of Fighting, and how they lay Siege to any place. The aversion they have to dwell in Towns. The Secu∣rity with which they sleep in their Camp, without placing ••••ither any Guards ar Sentinels.

IT is only for the disorders and con∣fusion which is in the Armies of the

Tartars, that that Nation can pass for barbarous: For they observe so little order, that it's rather by the number of their men, and their boldness and re∣solution, than by any skill or know∣ledge how to draw up their Armies in Battalia, or to fight their men, that they obtain so great Victories. There is nothing regular in all their warfare, either when th••••y fight any Battels, lay siege to, or storm any place: whereas the Chineses did usually defend them∣selves with all the order and regulari∣ty they could possibly. The T••••rtars, on the contrary, to conquer and van∣quish them, made use only of force and fury, with a great contempt of Death, to which they run with a joy and eagerness, as if they went imme∣diately to glory and triumph. Du∣ring the four years of their War with the Chineses, they had continually several Armies on foot at the same ••••ime. They passed incessantly from ••••ne Province to another, either to ••••nlarge their Conquests, or s••••cure ••••heir Victories; so that nothing was

seen throughout that vast Country, but Troops of Horse, or Companies of Foot. Each of these Armies were usually composed of two hundred thousand men, fifty thousand Horse, and the rest Foot. But there was not that distinction of Officers, as there is in the Armies of Europe. There was only a certain number of Captains, and instead of those several Colours, and Standards, which are displayed in other parts, there was only one Stan∣dard, under which the whole Army, both Horse and Foot, served. There∣fore, whensoever there is any mention made of the Standards and Colours of the Tartars, it is only according to the usual custome of speaking by th•••• Soldiers in Europe, to intimate a certai•••• number of their Forces, to avoid the often repetition of Troops and Ar¦mies.

The Tartars march with no bette•••• order, than they draw up their Ar¦mies in Battalia. They go divide•••• into severall little Bodies toge¦ther, without observing either ran••••

or file, and march either more open or close, as the ways will permit them. The Horse marches first as the vant∣guard, and the Foot follow after as a reserve. When they are ready to march, as a signal, the harsh sound of their Trumpet is heard; and afterwards it fo••••nds no more, no not when they give battel, or charge their Enemy. They have neither Drum nor Fife, nor any such like Instrument. But it is on∣ly the sound of this Trumpet which is a signal to them to begin their march, and this is the occasion of so great a commotion, that it may well serve to mind us of that at the last day of Judg∣ment. Before the Army is carried a Banner, or Standard, indifferent large, for which all the Troops have a great veneration. This is the only one th••••y have in the whole Army, and it is something like those which in the Church of Rome they have in their Churches. Whensoever they either charge their Enemies, or storm any place, they are obliged to follow this Standard which way soever it goes.

Therefore as soon as he who carries it, who is ever some eminent Captain, and is always accompanied with the most couragious Souldiers of the Ar∣my, begins the assault, the whole Army at the same time falls on. The Horse makes ever the first attempt, then the Infant••••y follow, without a∣ny order or conduct, but tumultuously and conf••••sedly, according as each ••••erson can close with his enemy. There is neither right nor left wing, main bat••••el, nor reserve. They have no distinct Squadrons or Battalions, ••••either do they regard to keep either rank or ••••ile: Nor do they observe a∣ny distinction of time in shooting with their Bows, or making use of their Lances and short Swords. But all this numerous multitude move toge∣ther, and do precipitately fall on at the same time; that they may break ••••hrough all opposition, like a Sea tos∣s••••d with a violent storm, when the Waves press and drive on each other so inc••••ssantly, that the first are no ••••ooner broke, but they are continual∣ly

seconded by others, with a new violence and impetousity. Whenso∣ever the Tartars have begun the Charge, they never think of taking breath, or making a retreat; nor are they discouraged to see any fall down dead or wounded; for they count it no loss to see a great number of their men lye dead in the Field, esteeming it the greatest glory to dye with their Arms in their hands, and knowing that they have men more than enough, to supply the place of the dead. They never sound any retreat, and mind nothing but either to conquer or dye. And this the sole order is given them to observe, unless they are totally de∣feated; for then it is free for them to run away, as they do in all other parts. If he who carries the Stan∣dard is either overthrown, or killed in the engagement, which happens very often; for he is always to pre∣sent himself where the greatest dan∣ger is, then he who is n••••xt him, fails not to take up the Standard, and thus in one fight, or in one assault, it often

passes through the hands of several persons; neither is there ever want∣ing gallant and brave fellows, who strive and contend who shall take it up, and carry it, than which nothing can be more honourable and glori∣ou••••.

But the manner how the Tartars be∣siege and take Towns, is both more extravagant and extraordinary than their way of fighting. The first thing they do when they lye before any place, is to storm it, and the last to raise their Batteries. The Horse make th•••• first approach, and gives the first assault, which is just opposite to the practice of Europe, without any manner of shelter they go and present themselves before a place defended with strong Walls and Bulwarks, lined with all sorts of great Guns and Ordnance, ••••ufficiently supplied with men, provi∣s••••ons, and ammunition: In this con∣dition were several places in China when the Tartars assaulted them. Whereas in Europe, an Army which came to ••••ay siege to any place, would

begin with opening their trenches, rai∣sing batteries, and after they had made a breach, then give the assault. The Tartars on the contrary began with storming the Town, and after batter it. It is the Horse, headed with the Cap∣tain, who carries the Standard, which makes all assaults, for which they make no great preparations. They only tye a great number of Ladders to their horses tayles. And though these ladders are only one single piece of timber, with several peggs struck through: yet the Tartars make use of them as readily as we can of our ordinary Ladders. When they are thus prepared, the Standard-bea∣rer claps spurs to his horse, and fierce∣ly rides up to the very foot of the wall, and is presently followed by all the rest of the Troops, who shout and cry out most hideously, thereby to strike the greater terrour and dread into their enemies. This they do in all fights and assaults.

Though the Artillery of the Enemy play incessantly upon them, though

great numbers of their men are cut off, yet all this doth not hinder the assai∣lants from hotly pursuing their enter∣prise. The heaps of dead bodies do on the contrary facilitate their approach by filling up the ditch. In this man∣ner they advance to the very foot of the wall, and then those who are nea∣rest, light from their horses, which serve them afterwards as Gabions and ••••arapets. And then having raised their ladders against the wall, with an unparallell'd resolution and cou∣rage they mount up to the very top thereof. Now the besieged are al∣most in as great danger as the assai∣lants. For those under the wall, who are to second those on the top, do in∣cessantly shower down an infinite num∣ber of Arrows upon those within the walls. And they let fly their Arrows with that ex••••ct••••ess, that they make ••••hem fall where they will, and they f••••y with that strength, that they strike quite through those who think them∣••••elves most s••••cure and best defended. Thus those upon the Ladders quickly

gain the top of the Wall, and there either lying flat down, or kneeling on their knees, with their Arrows, they ply so warmely those within, as well those who man the Guns, as all those who attempt to defend the walls, that they quickly beat them from their Artillery, and disenable them from making use of any of their Arms. In the mean time fresh Troops draw near the place, and whilst some are attemp∣ting to scale the Walls, others en∣deavour to possess themselves of a Gate, and to gain a passage into the Town; and in a little time, that is to say, as soon as any horses can get in, by the noise and neighing they make, they quickly discover, that the Town is taken, and that all is now at the dis∣cretion of the Enemie. Thus the Tartarian horses first proclaim the Vi∣ctory. These assaults, where the as∣sailants do thus precipitately fall on, without the defence of any Arms, and without facilitating their assault by fi••••st making a breach, did usually cost them the loss of many men, for which

they revenged themselves upon those who could no longer defend them∣selves. Then the fury of the Con∣querors was boundless, Revenge is the joy of their hears, from which they never desist till they have satiated themselves with the blood of the con∣quered.

But if by storm the Tartars make themselves not masters of the place, then they make use of their Artillery and batter the walls: And so con∣clude where the Europeans began, till after they have made all possible attempts to carry the place by storm, they fire not one Cannon, though they march into the field with a train of five hundred pieces of Ordnance, as ••••eli∣paouan did. Thus Tartars practise three things just opposite to what is done by those who better understand the Military Art. They begin first to storm, after they raise their batte∣ries; and thirdly, they employ their Horse to storm Towns and scale Walls. There is nothing in human affairs which seems so irregular and extra••••a∣gant

to some persons, but is practised by others, who yet alledge arguments to justifie it, which they pretend to be solid and rational.

As for their march, of which we be∣gan to speak, towards night the Trum∣pet sounds, and then all the whole Army take up their quarters. Till this signal is given, they never make halt all the day long, but they either march or fight: Therefore as soon as they hear the Trumpet sound, every man pre∣pares to set up his Tent, which he takes out from the rest of the bag∣gage. Each Captain hath a Waggon for the baggage appertaining to him∣self, and to all those under his com∣mand. The baggage of the whole Army never marches together: The Tents are either made of strong Lea∣ther or raw hides, which are sewed together, and made up indifferent handsomly. Each big and habitable enough, which it had need be, for it is their usual habitation. These Tents they pitch in great order with Market-places and Streets, like as in great

Towns, and are placed after the man∣ner of the houses of the Turks in the Country. The Tartars choose rather to live in these Tents than in Cities and Towns, in which they say, they are choaked up in a croud, and have not their health; whereas when they are encamped in the fields under their Tents, and breath in the clear air, there they are strong and lusty. It is most certain that all things to which men will accustome themselves, by continuance will become pleasant and agreeable; nay, even labour and toyl; it is but enduring it some time: where∣as idleness and the effeminate pleasures of this life grow at length wearisome, and burdensome to those who have any long time enjoyed them. There are some Gally-slaves, which would not be pleased to be taken from the Oar, time and custom hath so sweetned the hardship to them. Custome is very potent, nay it works miracles. This it was which prevailed so far with the Tartars, that it induced them to esteem ••••he palaces and fine houses in Cities in∣convenient

for their health. They ne∣ver were better in heal••••h, and more at ease, than when they were encam∣ped in the most vast and spatious fields, and were necessitated to suffer all the incon••••eniences of the air and ill wea∣ther; from hence it was, that they were so averse to live in Towns. But pe••••haps they have now changed their humour; for though they were so well content, to toyl and take pains during the time of their Conquest, yet it being but too true, that we do with greater faci∣lity accustom our selves to ease and pleasure than to hardship and labour; it is probable, that in time they will accustom themselves to the luxury and effeminacy of the Chineses.

But we must now return to visit the Tartars in their Tents; whither they withdraw themselves to feast and make merry. Their meat is usually young Horse-flesh, which they dress after their fashion; and as for their Horses, they feed them with Rice, which is better meat than the flesh th••••y eat: They drink and eat with as good a sto∣mach,

as they fight and take pains, and presently after fall asleep with as little disturbance as if they had no ene∣mies in the World. They never re∣gard to place any Guards or Sentinels: And the Rounds they go never wakens any body. Thus all night there is a profound silence in their Camp, with∣out the least noise, but sometimes the neighing of Horses. In the very heat of the War they slept as quietly, and with as little disturbance. It is only Barbarians who are capable of this arrogant presumption, to sleep thus securely amidst Arms and War, as if all was their own: For they are intoxi∣cated with s••••ch an opinion of their valour, that they think there is no per∣son upon earth hath the courage to give them an alarm. They are no more diffident, and have no stricter a Guard in the Towns, where they keep garrison, unless in Canton, and some few other places, where the Corsairs did incessantly allarm them, and there∣by necessitated them to keep some Soldiers always under their Arms. This

was not the custom of the Chineses, for they for above two hundred and eighty years, kept the strictest Guard they could possibly in all their Towns, and were in such a continual fear, that with their instruments and shoot∣ing, they made such a horrid noise all night, that no body could sleep in quiet: yet after they had watched so strictly for so many years, when their Enemies were above twelve hun∣dred miles from any of their Provin∣ces; they were unfortunately asleep when it concerned them to have been most watchful. The Chineses made a great noise when they saw no body, but when the Enemy was neer them, they scarce durst lift up their voice so loud as to call out, Arm, arm; so far were they from going to meet their Enemy, or disputing with him the entrance into their Provinces. Fi∣nally, they were no more safe for ha∣ving kept so good a guard; whereas the Tartar conquered all their vast Empire, and yet slept in quiet, con∣fidently relying on his own strength,

and knowing that his valour was so dreaded by his enemies, that they durst not attacque him; which veri∣fies the vulgar saying, that he whose Reputation is up may lie in bed.