Military instructions for the cavallrie, or, Rules and directions for the service of horse collected out of divers forrein authours, ancient and modern, and rectified and supplied according to the present practice of the Low-Countrey warres.

CHAP. XI. Of Spies.

THe best and principall means for a Commander to avoid divers inconveniences, and to effect many worthy designes, are, First,a 1.1 to be sure to keep his own deliberations and resolutions secret.b 1.2 Secondly, to penetrate the designes and intentions of the enemy. For which purpose it behoveth him to have good spies, which must be exceeding well rewarded, that so they may be the readier to expose themselves to all dangers. The best and most assured spies are ones own souldi∣ers, which (feigning some discontent for want of pay, or otherwise) enter into the enemies service, and get themselves into the Cavallry, as having best opportunity (whether in the field or in gar∣rison) to give information. Of these it is good to have many, and in severall places, the one knowing nothing of the other. You are to agree with them of the place where they shall con∣vey their letters, as some tree, gallows, or other place easie to find, where they also shall find yours giving them order to come in person when their advice is of great importance: as, if the enemy would fall upon a quarter, surprise some place, or attempt some other great enterprise. There

might also divers souldiers be daily sent disguised, under severall pretences, to observe what is done in the enemies leaguer, when it is near. The boors use also to serve for spies, aswell women as men, which, being not much regarded nor suspected, may have the freer accesse: but these are not alwayes to be trusted, neither are they so well able to judge of or to pierce into businesse, and the lesse assurance and information is to be had by their relations.

There are also spies which are called double, which must be men of great fidelity. These (to get credit with the enemy) must sometimes give him true information of what passeth on the other side; but of such things, and at such times, as they may do no hurt. But these kind of spies cannot continue long without being discovered.

If it be possible, such spies must be had, as are entertained into domesticall service of the chief of∣ficers of the enemy, the better to know their intentions and designes.

On the other side, there must be exceeding great care taken to beware of the enemies spies, which otherwise may do you as much mischief as you reap benefit by your own. To remedy this inconvenience,

1. Those which shall be discovered must be punished with extreme rigour, which will be a means to deterre others which are or might be so imployed.

2. Rogues, vagabonds, and idle persons must be chased out of the leaguer.

3. No officer is to enterain any unknown person into his service. For oftentimes at table and otherwise things happen to be spoken, which were more fit to have been kept secret.

4. No stranger is to be lodged within the quarters by any officer or souldier without speciall license. To this purpose a suddenc 1.3 command useth to be published, for every man to repair to his tent or cabin, whereby the Provost takes such as are remaining in the streets; which are made to give account of their businesse there.

5. A means may be used to deceive the enemy by his own spies, giving it out that you intend one thing, and do a contrary: also by seeming no way mistrustfull of the enemies drummes and trumpets (which are often sent with some pretended message, to heare and observe) and letting fall some words (which carry with them some probability) in their hearing, which they may take for truth.

6.d 1.4 Sometimes it is wisdome, having discovered a spie, in stead of punishing of him, to tell him that (out of a good Inclination to him) in stead of severe punishment, you desire to do him good, &c. by such baits they may become double spies. And if you suspect any of your own soul∣diers, it is best to dissemble it, and to make much of them, the better to discover them.

e 1.5Lastly, no drumme nor trumpet of the enemies is to be admitted into the leaguer, but first to be stayed by the Sentinells of the Cavallry, untill notice be given to the Lord Marshall, and he give leave for their admission: then they are to be committed to the provost Marshall, which suf∣fereth no man to speak with them. The Lord Marshall having understood their message, acquaint∣eth the Lord Generall therewith, that so a course may be taken for their dispatch. Other wayes and means may be used for discovering and preventing of spies, wherewith the readyf 1.6 invention of a quick-spirited Commander will abundantly furnish him upon every occasion.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Nulla consilia me•••••• sunt, quùm illa, qua ignora verit ad∣versarius ante∣quam facias Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. Metellus Pius, in Hispania interro∣ga••, Quid posterâ die facturus esset, Tunicam meam si••d ••loqia posset (inq••••) combie∣rerem. Pro••em. Stratag. lib. 1. cap. 1. Veteres Minotauri signum in legionibus habuerunt, ut quemadmodum ille in intimo & secretissimo labyrin••ho ••••••••us perhibetu••, ••tà 〈◊〉〈◊〉 consilium semper occultum esset. Veg. 3. ••.
• b 1.2

  Exp••••randum soli liè ut quid hostis moliatur, in praesent, vel in futurum possimus agnoscere. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. Livius giveth Annibal this commen∣dation, Omnia ei hostinem, haud secus quam sua, nota erant. lib. 22. For want of good intelligence, many inconveniences have befallen divers comman∣ders. Semp. onnis (as Livie reporteth) having ••ought against the Eq••i till night p••••••ed them, thinking himself beaten, without further enquirie, made towards Rome: the Equs also deeming themselves overthrown, withdrew their armie into their own countrey. The same might be paralleled by divers modern examples, for which I referre the reader to our modern historians.
• c 1.3

  Cùm explorator hostium latenter oberrat in castris, omnes ad tentoria sua per diem redi∣re jabeantur, & statim deprehen∣ditur explorator. Veg. lib. 3. c, 26.
• d 1.4

  Si speculatores hosttum ceperis, nè uno eodémque modo illos tracta∣veris, &c. Leo Tact. cap. 17.
• e 1.5

  Edict for Mar∣shall laws, Art. 13.
• f 1.6

  Solertia enim imperatoris, ubi occasionem rerum gerendarum cepa∣rit, non in iis so∣lum quae invente sunt consistis, sel etiam muliò plura ac sape meliora excogitat. Leo Tact. cap. 18.