CERTAINE ORDERS, MEETE TO BE Observed, upon any Foraine INVASION.
THAT in every Shire be appointed one Noble man, to take the chiefe charge for the ordering and governing of the same, and he to appoint a Leader of the Horsemen, and one other of the Footemen. And under them Captaines and Officers of all sorts, which Captaines may be of the better sort inhabiting the Country, if their courage and skill be answerable for it.
The chiefe Leaders both of horsemen and footemen, must be men of that experience, discretion, temperancy, and judgement, aswell in ordering and disposing of great Numbers, as also in taking advantages of grounds, times, occasions, and matters offered. And it were to be wished they were such in all points, as the whole Realme might be able to furnish every frontyshire but with two of that [Page 2]conduct and valour, that there might be also a meeting and drawing together of some convenient numbers both of horsemen and footemen, to be trained and exercised into all manner of sorts, and formes, aswell frivolous as necessary, to the intent to make them the more perfect how to give and receive a charge. For I thinke, if you shall aske the opinion but of three Captaines, how horsemen ought to charge, and how they should receive a charge; and so likewise of footemen, and of their retraites: your three Captaines will be of two opinions at the least. And yet the first thing we offer unto the enemy, is rashly to joyne battaile without any fore-sight of the Inconvenience thereof. A thing so generally received of all our Nation, for the best way, as who should seeme to impugne the same, is in danger to be made ridiculous, and his reasons to be holden for heresie, and not fit to be heard, or read. And yet how rude, ignorant and untowardly we should and would present our selves thereunto; make but some modells of convenient numbers assembled, and you shall see the same.
In private quarrell for trifling causes, every man desireth to be exercised, and skillfull in that weapon wherewith he would encounter his enemy: But in this generall conflict wherein we fight for the safety of our Country, Religion, goods, wife, and children, we would hazard all in that order and forme wherein we are altogether ignorant and unexperimented.
But because I have found it by experience and reason a very desperate and dangerous kind of Triall, I would not wish any Prince to venter his kingdome that way, (unlesse he be weary of the same) being the onely thing for an Invadour to seeke, and a Defendor to shunne: for the one doth hazard but his people, and hath a I ot to winne a kingdome; the other in losing of the battaile hath lost his Crowne.
A Battaile is the last refuge, and not to be yeelded unto by the Defendant, untill such time as he and his people be made desperate.
In which kind of triall seldome or never shall you see the Invadour to quaile, no though his numbers have beene much lesser then the other.
There is a kind of heate and fury in the incounter and joyning of Battailes; the which whose side can longest retaine, on that part goeth victory; contrariwise which side conceiveth the first feare (whether it be upon just cause or not) that side goeth to wracke, yea and often times it falleth so out before the Pikes be couched.
Thus much to the incertainty of Battaile. Wherein albeit I would wish our Nation to be wel exercised and trayned (being a thing of great moment:) Yet to be used in our owne Country, as the shoot anckor and last refuge of all.
A Caveat for the avoyding of that dangerous course in running downe to the Sea-side, at the firing of the Beacons.
THat there be in every Shire, places appointed whereunto the Country may resort upon the firing of the beacons, which places of assembly would not be lesse distant then sive of six miles from the sea side at the least, for the footemen to gather themselves together. To the intent you may the better sort your men, put them in some order, and consult what is meetest to be done; which you shall hardly be able to doe, if your place of assembly be within the view or neare unto the enemy, who will by all meanes seeke to attempt you in your disorderly assemblies. Moreover, if seare once take your men, or that they be amazed; if you had as skilfull Leaders as the earth doth beare, they would not be able to dispose or reduce them into such order and forme [Page 4]as they would; neither will the enemy give you time to deliberate what is best to be don; but that you must either disorderly fight, or more disorderly run away. And above all things I especially advise, to shunne that old and barbarous custome of running confusedly to the sea side, thinking thereby to prevent the landing of the enemy, or at least to annoy them greatly: which you shall never doe. For be it upon any Invasion, you may be sure that there is no Prince will undertake so great an enterprise, but he will be sure to have such a number of boates, & gallyes, other small vessels of draught, as he will be able to land at one time 2 or 3 thousand men; which boates shal be so wel appoynted with Bases and other shot, as that they will be sure to make way for their quiet landing. And for mine owne part I much doubt whether you shall have in two or three dayes (after the firing of the beacons) such a sufficient number as with wisdome and discretion were fit to deale or venter a sight with so many men as they will land in an hower, for any thing that ever I could yet see in the Countries readinesse at the firing of the beacons.
If the enemy doth intend but to land, and burne some houses or village neare to the Sea Coast, for the prevention thereof as much as may be, it were good to appoint onely those that dwell within two or three miles of the Sea side to repaire thither to make resistance, and for their succour you may appoynt the horsemen to draw downe to the Planes next adjoyning to the same, who may also keepe them at a bay for stragling farre into the country.
But if the attempt be made by a Prince purposed and appoynted to invade, if you give them battaile at the first landing, you offer them even the thing they most desire: and it is a thousand to one a Conquest the first day.
My Reasons are these: First you give battalle, but I pray with what people? Even with Country men altogether unexperimented in Martiall actions, whose Leaders are like to themselves, and one other thing as dangerous as all this; You fight at home where your people know the next [Page 5]way to save themselves by flight, in recovering of Townes, Woods, and by wayes.
Contrariwise, with whom doe you incounter? but with a companie of pick't and trained souldiers, whose Leaders and Captaines are no doubt men both politicke and valiant, who are made so much the more desperate and bold, by not leaving to themselves any other hope to save their lives, but by marching over your bellies. And besides, it is to be imagined that having spred some faction before amongst your selves (as there is no Country free from seditious and treacherous male contents.) they are animated to pursue the victory more sharpely. Againe, if you once receive an overthrow, what feare and terrour you have brought your selves into, how hardly you shall bring a second battaile, and how dangerous to fight with men dismayed; those that be of experience can judge. Likewise what pride and jolity you have put your enemies in, to march forward, having no Forts nor fenced Townes, to give them any stoppe in this feare, or for your owne people to take breath, and make head againe: but that your enemies and factious companies of your owne Nation may joyn together, and be furnished of vittailes, Horse and Carriage at their will and pleasure; without the which no Prince can prevaile in any invasion; for if you drive him to bring these things with him, (as if matters be well foreseene and a good plot lay'd you may easily doe) a world of shipping will scarce suffice for the transportation thereof, besides an infinite masse and charge, that must be provided before-hand; yea and what wast and losse thereof will fall out, though wind, weather, and shipping were had to passe without disturbance, experience thereof remaineth yet fresh in memory.
Againe, if scarcity of vittailes and unsavourinesse thereof once grow, the pestilence and other sickenesse (which doth assaile the best vittailed and ordered Armie that ever was) will then be doubled and trebled, in such sort, as it will in short time fight and get the victory for you.
And here by the way I would put you in remembrance that there be continuall lets and disturbances by your Navy of the quiet passing of their vittailes which should come unto them; whereof you shall often-times take advantage also by stormes and contrary winds.
Wherefore I hold it for the best and surest way to suffer the enemy (comming to invade) to land quietly at his pleasure; which he will otherwise doe whether you will or no. Onely fronting him in the Plaines with your horsemen. And by all meanes and diligence to draw the vittailes, Cattell, Carriages, and Corne behind your backe; and that which you cannot, to wast and spoyle, that the enemy take no advantage thereof; keeping such Straights and passages with your footemen, as may be kept, and which with small numbers of your horse-men you may safely doe untill greater power doe come to backe you. And though they winne some Straight (which they cannot do without great losse:) yet by keeping of backe receipts in Straights, you shall alwayes (if you be so driven) retire without any great losse or danger. And alwayes remember to leave a Ward in every place meete to be guarded, though it be but of twenty or thirty persons: which will be an occasion for the enemy to stop the winning of them before they can passe: because else those few numbers will always annoy their vittailes and munition that dayly and howerly must have free and quiet passage to them. Now if they tarry the winning or yeelding of them up, (though it be but a day or two kept) you get thereby time to your selves to gnow stronger, and your enemy loseth opportunity, and waxeth weaker.
For we see and finde by experience, that huge armies lying in the fields, but 15 or 16 weekes, are brought to that weaknesse, and their first courage so abated by sickenesse and pestilence (which are hand-maids unto such great assemblies, especially where any want of those things are that belong to the sustentation of mans body) that they may with smaller numbers and lesse danger be dealt withall then at the first landing. Moreover, your people shall in that time [Page 7]attaine to some knowledge by daily exercise and use of their weapons, and the terror of shot will be more familiar unto unto them. For it is not numbers that doth prevaile, but trained men, Resolute minds, and good order. For if a Prince would onely select and choose out such men to weare Armour, and imploy the rest (I meane the baser sort) to the spade and shovell, there is no doubt but he shall sooner attaine unto victory by this meanes, then with rude multitudes, in whom there is nothing but confusion and disorder.
Againe, the spade and the shovell are so necessary Instruments in time of warre, both to the Invadour and Defender, as nothing is so impossible, that thereby may not be atchieved, and made eas [...]e: And without the imployment whereof, we cannot presume at any time of safety. I could discourse at large hereof, in shewing the use and benefit of them: but because to every man of judgement and experience, it is sufficiently knowne, I shall not need to speake much therein; but wish you to embrace them, being to a Defender so especiall and singular a commodity, in that he may better be furnished with infinite numbers of them.
And moreover, if you shall appoint them to weapons, who are apter to labour then to fight: you shall find double inconveniencies thereby, in misplacing them contrary to their naturall disposition and use.
And touching mine owne opinion and judgement, I should more stand in feare of a few pick't and choyse Souldiers, that were furnished with a sufficient number of Pioners, then with the hugenesse of an Army of unselect and dis-furnished numbers.
Now to say somewhat by the way, touching your Armed Pikes, the onely body, strength and bulwarke in the field. It is not a little to be lamented, to see no more store in this Land. We have so wonderfully weakned our selves, as it is high time to looke to the restoring of them againe. And touching the use of shot, as it is a singular weapon, being put into the hands of the skilfull and exercised [Page 8]Souldier (being the pillars and upholders of the Pikes, and without which he is no perfect body:) So no doubt, on the contrary part, committed to a cowards or an unskilfull mans handling, it is the privyest thiefe in the field. For he robbeth pay, consumeth victuals, and slayeth his own fellowes, in discharging behinde their backes. And one thing even as ill as this, he continually wasteth powder, the most precious Jewell of a Prince.
Wherefore, I would wish Captaines, not onely to reject such as are altogether unapt, but greatly to commend them that discharge but few shots, and bestow them well. For it is more worthy of praise to discharge faire and leasurely, then fast and unadvisedly. The one taking advantage by warinesse and foresight: whereas the other loseth all with rashnesse and haste.
But to returne to the Pike againe. My selfe being in the Low Countries in the Campe, when those great Armies were last assembled, and perusing in every severall Regiment, the sorting and division of weapons, aswell as their Order and Discipline: There were two Nations (the French being one) that had not betwixt them both, an 100. Pikes. Whereof I much marvelling, and desiring greatly to know the cause that had moved them to leave the Pike, which in my conceite, I alwayes judged the strength of the field:) Hapning afterward into the company of certaine French Captaines, (some of them ancient in yeares, and such as were of the Religion) I demanded the reason that had moved them to give over that defensible weapon the Pike, and betaken them altogether to shot. Not for any disliking or other cause, (said they) but for that we have not such personall bodies, as you English men have, to beare them; neither have we them at that commandment as you have: but are forced to hire other Nations to supply our insufficiency, for of our selves we cannot say, we can make a compleate body. Moreover they affirmed, that if in the time of Newhaven, we had let them have but 6000. of our armed Pikes, they would [Page 9]have marched through all France. So highly esteemed they of the Pike, who neverthelesse (in our Judgement) seeme to have given over the same, or to make small account thereof.
Moreover, for the better and readyer ordering, and training of your men in every Shire. Those that are appointed to be Captaines, should have under every of their severall charges, onely one sort of weapons, viz. one Captaine to have the charge of Pikes, another of Shot, &c. And no mans Band to be lesse then 200. men. By meanes whereof, your Sergeant Major (or such, to whom you shall commit the order of your footemen) may, from time to time, readily know the numbers of every sort of weapons, whereby he will at one instant range them into any order and forme of battaile, you will have them. And every Captaine and his Officers shall serve with their owne men: which is a matter of great contentment to both Captaine and Souldier. For otherwise, if he have charge of more sorts of weapons, then must he either dis-joyne himselfe from his Officers in time of service, or else he must commit his men under another mans direction: which breedeth oftentimes great disliking and murmure.
Orders for the provision, and guard of the Beacons.
FIrst, that the Beacons he provided of good matter and stuffe, aswell for the sudden kindling of the fires, as also for the continuance thereof.
That the Beacons and watch-places, appointed to give warning unto the Country, of the Landing or Invasion of the enemy, be substantially guarded with a sufficient [Page 10]company: whereof one principall person of good discretion to have the chiefe charge at all times, of every Beacon.
That the Beacons that are next to the Sea side, and are appointed to give the first warning, may be very sufficiently guarded, aswell with Horsemen as Footemen; whereof some discreet Souldier, or man of judgement, to have the chiefe charge, (as hath beene said before) who must be very respective and carefull, that he give not any Alarum upon light matter or occasion: Nothing being more dangerous then false Alarummes to breed a contempt, and security.
Your Horsemen must be ready to give warning to the other Beacons in the Country, lest by weather they may be prevented, that they cannot kindle fire, or else the enemy may hinder them by sudden assault, and so either let the kindling of them, or extinguish the fire newly kindled, before the other Beacons can take knowledge thereof. For it is alwayes to be feared, that the enemy will seeke by all meanes and policy, not onely to surprise the Beacons, that are next the Sea side, and should give first intelligence unto the Country: but also such as are appointed to guard them, if their watchfulnesse prevent them not.
Other necessary notes to be observed.
THat there may be order taken to have a store of Powder, Match, Bullets ready cast, Mouldes of divers bores, charges, bow-strings, shootinggloves, warbrasses, and such other necessaries fit to be used at that time: Whereof (I doubt me) whether the whole Shire be able to furnish the tenth part would be required. Whereof it were good to be provided afore-hand, and brought in Carts to those places of Assembly: [Page 11]whereby men may be readily furnished for their money, and the service nothing hindred in time of need.
That it be looked unto, by such as have charg to take the view of men and their weapons, that every shot be provided of a Mould, a priming Pinne, a Ferries, a Flint, and match-Powder, which things be as needfull to be seene into, as the Piece it selfe, although few provide and make reckoning thereof.
That in the said Musters and Assemblies there be good numbers of labourers appointed, who may also be assigned to have a Spade, a Mattocke, a Shovell, an Axe or a Bill. And these Pioners, to resort to the places of Assembly, at every Alarum. Over whom, would be a skilfull Ingenier appointed to have the chiefe charge and government.
And whereas you have great numbers of Hacknies or Hoblers, I would wish that upon them you mount as many of the highest and nimblest shot you can, which may be sent downe to the Sea side upon every Alarum, or to such Straights and places of advantage, as to a discreet Leader shall seeme convenient. The which Arguletiers shall stand you in as great stead, as horse of better account.
For by the meanes of them, men will take great courage to offer a proud attempt upon the enemy, being assured to their succor, if any occasion or appearance of danger force them to retire.
It were considerable that all the Youth of the Land were well prepared with Bow and Arrowes. For in wooddy places, or behinde bankes, or in other places these might annoy the Horse and Men: Witnesse the brave Battles atchieved in France by Bowmen, and these Armes would supply many thousands, which are not able to get better.