The history of the government of France, under the administration of the great Armand du Plessis, Cardinall and Duke of Richlieu, and chief minister of state in that kingdome wherein occur many important negotiations relating to most part of Christendome in his time : with politique observations upon the chapters / translated out of French by J.D. Esq.

Politique Observation.

THose Sallies which the besieged make upon an Army lying before them, are still accompanied with danger to themselves, for the least losse of their Souldiers is of great concernment; because they being once gone, it is difficult to have a re∣cruit or relief of others. The valour indeed which they have opportunity of shew∣ing in such incounters, may perchance quell the resolutions of the Besiegers; es∣pecially if the place be well stored and likely to receive fresh supplies; but that not being so, the Besiegers by standing still in their Forts and Works, and keeping good guard in their Trenches, will be sure every time to lessen their number of some few, and in fine reduce them to none at all. Philip de Commines saith, all Sallies made without necessity are to be blamed; for they cannot without it be al∣lowable, that which sometimes maketh to vanquish against hope, by the cou∣rage

which it infusethinto the most cowardly, for there is not any danger which they are not easily perswaded toattempt who are convinced of the inevitableness of their present death. This is that which all those who are besieged ought to consider; be∣fore they make a salley: now as for the Besiegers, they have onely two ways to avoid all misfortunes, the first, the well ordering of their works, the second, the good watch of those works. If the Trenches are well contrived, not any where at too great distance from the Town, if they flank one another, if they be high enough to shelter the foot, if their Parapets be Faulcon proof, if they be so well fortified by Forts and Redouts, from distance to distance; if they be large enough to fight in; and so disposed, that one be not surprised behind they will bring great matters to passe; they ought also to be lined with Souldiers, well accoutred, well disciplined, and such as wil be careful to keep good watch day and night, neither is it lesse needful, to place Sentinels, upon the Avennues, and all along upon the Trenches; and at last when the Enemie doth appear, then is the time to repel force by Force, then ought the most resolute of the Souldiers, be placed in Front, to sustain the charge, as like∣wise in that quarter, which is neerest the Town, because they who bear the first brunt, are the men that do the work; and upon whom all the rest doth depend, and in those places it is, that the first assaults are alwayes made: But above all, he who commandeth in the Trenches, ought alwayes to have Forces in a readinesse from the out-guards, for seconding courage with numbers doth much conduce to the re∣pelling of an Enemie, with advantage: and if he find that those who are up∣on the guard, be not either proper or able to sustain a charge, if the Enemie should come out, then ought he to place them in the strongest Redouts, from whence it will be more difficult to force them, until recruits shall come up; and this was the order which Caesar observed in besieging the City of Alexia, as is to be seen in his Commentaries.