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CHAP. LXXIX.
Of the Art Military.
BUT now from Husbandmen, let us pass to Soul∣diers chosen out of the Countrymen, and there∣fore more fit for Fight, as saith Vegetius: and whom Cate affirms to make the strongest and hardiest Soul∣diers: and we find in Scripture, That Cain the first Warrier or slayer of Men, was a Husbandman and a Hunter. Therefore the Art of War ought least to be despis'd, which, as Valerius remembers, made the Ro∣man Empire Mistress of all Italy, and of many Cities and Kingdoms of great and Warlike Nations beside; open'd the streights of the Pontick-Sea, forc'd through the close passages of the Alps and Taurus. And Scipio Africanus glories in Ennius, that by the slaughter and Blood of his Enemies, he open'd a way to Immortali∣ty.
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To whom Cicero assents, saying, that Hercules ascended to Heaven by the same means. The Lace∣demonians are said to be the first that deliver'd Rules for teaching this Art; and therefore Hannibal having taken a Resolution to Invade Italy, desired a Lacede∣monian General: Under the Power of Lacedemon ma∣ny Kingdoms and Nations grew great; neglected by her, or neglecting her, from large Dominion they fell to nothing: for under the Leading of rash Captains fell the Warlike Numantia, Corinth, the curious Proud Thebes, the Learned Athens, the Holy Jerusalem, and at last the most Potent Rome. This Art, writ with much more Blood than the Laws of Draco, teaches ye how advantageously and neatly to order a Battle, to Assail the Enemy, to use Stratagems, to move Vigo∣rously forward, to Retreat, to maintain a Shock, to strike to purpose, to avoid the stroaks to handle nim∣bly all manner of Arms, to pursue, when to leave Pur∣suing; when to Pursue far, when not too far; when to fall to the Spoil, to rally, make good Breaches, de∣fend Forts and Towns. It teaches ye also how to pre∣pare and Rig out great Navies, build Castles, fortifie Towns, place fit Garrisons; to Encamp, cast Trenches, Mine, Countermine, make Engines, Assault Ramplers, provide Provision necessary for the Army, to place and avoid Ambushments, and the like; also to Besiege Ci∣ties, plant Batteries, advance the Trenches, dig down the Walls, shake down the Towers, scale Walls, to burn and demolish Towns and Castles, to spoil Tem∣ples, plunder Cities, depopulate Countries, abolish Laws, adulterate Matrons, vitiate Widdows, ravish Virgins; to Wound, take Prisoners, Captivate and Kill. So that the whole Art studies nothing else but the subversion of Mankind, transforming Men into Beasts and Mon∣sters. So that War is nothing but a general Homicide and Robbery by mutual Consent. Neither are Soldiers
Page 255
other than stipendiary Theeves arm'd to the subversion of the Commonwealth. Now the Events of War be∣ing always uncertain, and that Fortune, not Skill affords Victory; to what purpose serve all the Stratagems, Ambuscades, and Rules of War? Yet the Divine Plato praises this Art, Teaches it to his Scholars, and com∣mands them to be enroll'd as soon as fit for service: and the Famous Cyrus affirm'd, That War was as necessary as Agriculture: Nay, St. Austin and St. Ber∣nard, Catholick Doctors of the Church, have approved thereof; neither do the Pontifical Decretals at all im∣pugne it, though Christ and his Apostles teach quite another Doctrine. So that contrary to the Doctrine of Christ, it has obtain'd no small Honour in the Church, by reason of the many Orders of Holy Soldiers, all whose Religion, consists in Blood, Slaughter, Rapine and Pyracy, under pretence of defending and enlar∣ging the Christian Faith; as if the Intention of Christ had been to spread his Gospel, not by Preaching, but by force of Arms; not by Confession, and simpleness of Heart, but by Menaces, and high Threats of Ruine and Destruction, strength of Arms, Slaughter and Massacres of Mankind. Nor is it enough for these Soldiers to bear their Arms against the Turks, Saracens, and Pagans, unless they Fight also for Christians against Christians. War and Warfare have begot many Bi∣shops, and it is not seldome that they Fight stiffly for the Popedome; which made the Holy Bishop of Camora Affirm, That seldom any Pope ascends the Chair with∣out the Blood of the Saints; and it is call'd constancy of Martrydome in those that dye Fighting desperately for the Papal Seat. Concerning the Art of War, Ze∣nophon, Zenocrates, Onozander, Cato Censorius, Corneli∣us Celsus, Iginius, Vegetius, Frontinus, Helianus, Mo∣destus, and many of the Ancients; among the Mo∣derns, Volturius, Nicholas the Florentine, James Earl of
Page 256
Porcia, and some few others. These are great Doctors in the Art, but Speculative, and therefore not so dan∣gerous as the Practisers. Now as to the Titles, Dig∣nities, and Degrees of the Scholars, there are neither Batchelors, Masters, nor Doctors; Neither are they, as they are vulgarly, to be call'd Emperors, Dukes, Earls, Marquesses, Knights, Captains, Centurions, Lieutenants, Ensignes, names begotten by injury and Ambition; but Thieves, House-breakers, Robbers, Murderers, Sacrilegious, Fencers, Adulterers, Panders, Whoremongers, Traitors, Gamesters, Blasphemers, Par∣ricides, Incendiaries, Pirates, and Tyrants. All which who ever would express in one Word, let him call 'um Soldiers, that is to say, the most barbarous dregs of Wicked Men, whom their own wicked Natures and Desires carry headlong to all Villany: among whom the Name of Dignity and Liberty takes the freedome to commit all sorts of Enormity and Cruelty, seeking all occasions of Mischief, looking upon Innocency to be a kind of likeness of Death, all of 'um being one body of their Father the Devil: Like the Leviathan, of whom thus speaketh Job, They are a body Arm'd with scales like strong shields, and which is sure Seal'd. One is set to another, that no wind can come between them. One is set to another; they stick together that they cannot be sundred, Job 41. They assist one another and are assem∣bled together against the Lord, and against his Christ, Psa.2. Neither are Purple, Chains of Gold, Garlands & Crowns the Ensignes of War, but wounded breasts, and bodies deformed with scarrs. An Exercise which is never per∣form'd but with the ruine and mischief of many, the destruction of Good Manners, Laws and Piety; dia∣metrically at Enmity with Christ, with Happiness, with Peace, with Charity, with Innocency and Patience. The Rewards thereof are Glory got by the Effusion of humane Blood, Enlargement of Dominion, out of a
Page 257
greedy desire of Rule and Possession, obtain'd with the Damnation of many Souls. For seeing that Victo∣ry is the End whereat all War drives, no man can be a Conqueror, but he must be a Murtherer; neither can any one be overcome, but he must wickedly Perish: Therefore the Death of Souldiers is the most desperate, sin writing but a bad Epitaph upon their Graves. They that kill are wicked, though the War be just; For Souldiers consider not the justness of the War, but what Plunder and Booty they shall get from those that they kill. If there are any who are justly slain, yet they that claim Honour by doing the Fact, make themselves but a kind of Butchers, or Hangmen, who while the Laws are so strict against Thieves, Incen∣diaries, Robbers, Homicides and Murtherers, yet pre∣sume under the Title and Pretence of being Warriors, to be accompted Noble and Virtuous.
Of the Art Military.
BUT now from Husbandmen, let us pass to Soul∣diers chosen out of the Countrymen, and there∣fore more fit for Fight, as saith Vegetius: and whom Cate affirms to make the strongest and hardiest Soul∣diers: and we find in Scripture, That Cain the first Warrier or slayer of Men, was a Husbandman and a Hunter. Therefore the Art of War ought least to be despis'd, which, as Valerius remembers, made the Ro∣man Empire Mistress of all Italy, and of many Cities and Kingdoms of great and Warlike Nations beside; open'd the streights of the Pontick-Sea, forc'd through the close passages of the Alps and Taurus. And Scipio Africanus glories in Ennius, that by the slaughter and Blood of his Enemies, he open'd a way to Immortali∣ty.
Page 254
To whom Cicero assents, saying, that Hercules ascended to Heaven by the same means. The Lace∣demonians are said to be the first that deliver'd Rules for teaching this Art; and therefore Hannibal having taken a Resolution to Invade Italy, desired a Lacede∣monian General: Under the Power of Lacedemon ma∣ny Kingdoms and Nations grew great; neglected by her, or neglecting her, from large Dominion they fell to nothing: for under the Leading of rash Captains fell the Warlike Numantia, Corinth, the curious Proud Thebes, the Learned Athens, the Holy Jerusalem, and at last the most Potent Rome. This Art, writ with much more Blood than the Laws of Draco, teaches ye how advantageously and neatly to order a Battle, to Assail the Enemy, to use Stratagems, to move Vigo∣rously forward, to Retreat, to maintain a Shock, to strike to purpose, to avoid the stroaks to handle nim∣bly all manner of Arms, to pursue, when to leave Pur∣suing; when to Pursue far, when not too far; when to fall to the Spoil, to rally, make good Breaches, de∣fend Forts and Towns. It teaches ye also how to pre∣pare and Rig out great Navies, build Castles, fortifie Towns, place fit Garrisons; to Encamp, cast Trenches, Mine, Countermine, make Engines, Assault Ramplers, provide Provision necessary for the Army, to place and avoid Ambushments, and the like; also to Besiege Ci∣ties, plant Batteries, advance the Trenches, dig down the Walls, shake down the Towers, scale Walls, to burn and demolish Towns and Castles, to spoil Tem∣ples, plunder Cities, depopulate Countries, abolish Laws, adulterate Matrons, vitiate Widdows, ravish Virgins; to Wound, take Prisoners, Captivate and Kill. So that the whole Art studies nothing else but the subversion of Mankind, transforming Men into Beasts and Mon∣sters. So that War is nothing but a general Homicide and Robbery by mutual Consent. Neither are Soldiers
Page 255
other than stipendiary Theeves arm'd to the subversion of the Commonwealth. Now the Events of War be∣ing always uncertain, and that Fortune, not Skill affords Victory; to what purpose serve all the Stratagems, Ambuscades, and Rules of War? Yet the Divine Plato praises this Art, Teaches it to his Scholars, and com∣mands them to be enroll'd as soon as fit for service: and the Famous Cyrus affirm'd, That War was as necessary as Agriculture: Nay, St. Austin and St. Ber∣nard, Catholick Doctors of the Church, have approved thereof; neither do the Pontifical Decretals at all im∣pugne it, though Christ and his Apostles teach quite another Doctrine. So that contrary to the Doctrine of Christ, it has obtain'd no small Honour in the Church, by reason of the many Orders of Holy Soldiers, all whose Religion, consists in Blood, Slaughter, Rapine and Pyracy, under pretence of defending and enlar∣ging the Christian Faith; as if the Intention of Christ had been to spread his Gospel, not by Preaching, but by force of Arms; not by Confession, and simpleness of Heart, but by Menaces, and high Threats of Ruine and Destruction, strength of Arms, Slaughter and Massacres of Mankind. Nor is it enough for these Soldiers to bear their Arms against the Turks, Saracens, and Pagans, unless they Fight also for Christians against Christians. War and Warfare have begot many Bi∣shops, and it is not seldome that they Fight stiffly for the Popedome; which made the Holy Bishop of Camora Affirm, That seldom any Pope ascends the Chair with∣out the Blood of the Saints; and it is call'd constancy of Martrydome in those that dye Fighting desperately for the Papal Seat. Concerning the Art of War, Ze∣nophon, Zenocrates, Onozander, Cato Censorius, Corneli∣us Celsus, Iginius, Vegetius, Frontinus, Helianus, Mo∣destus, and many of the Ancients; among the Mo∣derns, Volturius, Nicholas the Florentine, James Earl of
Page 256
Porcia, and some few others. These are great Doctors in the Art, but Speculative, and therefore not so dan∣gerous as the Practisers. Now as to the Titles, Dig∣nities, and Degrees of the Scholars, there are neither Batchelors, Masters, nor Doctors; Neither are they, as they are vulgarly, to be call'd Emperors, Dukes, Earls, Marquesses, Knights, Captains, Centurions, Lieutenants, Ensignes, names begotten by injury and Ambition; but Thieves, House-breakers, Robbers, Murderers, Sacrilegious, Fencers, Adulterers, Panders, Whoremongers, Traitors, Gamesters, Blasphemers, Par∣ricides, Incendiaries, Pirates, and Tyrants. All which who ever would express in one Word, let him call 'um Soldiers, that is to say, the most barbarous dregs of Wicked Men, whom their own wicked Natures and Desires carry headlong to all Villany: among whom the Name of Dignity and Liberty takes the freedome to commit all sorts of Enormity and Cruelty, seeking all occasions of Mischief, looking upon Innocency to be a kind of likeness of Death, all of 'um being one body of their Father the Devil: Like the Leviathan, of whom thus speaketh Job, They are a body Arm'd with scales like strong shields, and which is sure Seal'd. One is set to another, that no wind can come between them. One is set to another; they stick together that they cannot be sundred, Job 41. They assist one another and are assem∣bled together against the Lord, and against his Christ, Psa.2. Neither are Purple, Chains of Gold, Garlands & Crowns the Ensignes of War, but wounded breasts, and bodies deformed with scarrs. An Exercise which is never per∣form'd but with the ruine and mischief of many, the destruction of Good Manners, Laws and Piety; dia∣metrically at Enmity with Christ, with Happiness, with Peace, with Charity, with Innocency and Patience. The Rewards thereof are Glory got by the Effusion of humane Blood, Enlargement of Dominion, out of a
Page 257
greedy desire of Rule and Possession, obtain'd with the Damnation of many Souls. For seeing that Victo∣ry is the End whereat all War drives, no man can be a Conqueror, but he must be a Murtherer; neither can any one be overcome, but he must wickedly Perish: Therefore the Death of Souldiers is the most desperate, sin writing but a bad Epitaph upon their Graves. They that kill are wicked, though the War be just; For Souldiers consider not the justness of the War, but what Plunder and Booty they shall get from those that they kill. If there are any who are justly slain, yet they that claim Honour by doing the Fact, make themselves but a kind of Butchers, or Hangmen, who while the Laws are so strict against Thieves, Incen∣diaries, Robbers, Homicides and Murtherers, yet pre∣sume under the Title and Pretence of being Warriors, to be accompted Noble and Virtuous.