A bibliography of English military books up to 1642 and of ...
A bibliography of English military books up to 1642 and of ...
A bibliography of English military books up to 1642 and of ...
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^ "' learning, <strong>and</strong> died about 1574. The eldest son <strong>of</strong> Thomas was also very<br />
r^<br />
learned : he was Sir Dudley Digges, <strong>and</strong> was Master <strong>of</strong> the Rolls <strong>to</strong> Charles I.<br />
He died about 1639."—(MS. note in compiler's copy.) Thomas himself,<br />
who was one <strong>of</strong> the first mathematicians <strong>of</strong> his age, was Muster-Master<br />
General <strong>to</strong> the <strong>English</strong> forces in the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s, a post obtained for him by<br />
his patron, Leicester. It was thus he gained his knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>military</strong><br />
organization.<br />
17. Fifteen-seventy-two. Vegetius, Flavlus.<br />
The Foure bookes <strong>of</strong> Flauius Vegetius Ranatus, brieflye<br />
contayninge a plaine forme, <strong>and</strong> perfe(5l knowledge <strong>of</strong> Martiall<br />
policye, feates <strong>of</strong> Chiualrie, <strong>and</strong> whateuer pertayneth <strong>to</strong> warre.<br />
Translated out <strong>of</strong> lattine, in<strong>to</strong> <strong>English</strong>e, by lohn Sadler.<br />
Anno. 1572.<br />
Imprinted by Thomas Marshe,<br />
^<br />
Quar<strong>to</strong>. Herbert, 862.<br />
Contents. Vegetius dedicated his work, ** De re militari, lib. v **, <strong>to</strong> Valentinian<br />
II. He himself states that it is derived from the commentaries <strong>of</strong><br />
Ca<strong>to</strong>, Celsus, Trajan, Hadrian, <strong>and</strong> Frontinus. " His gravest defeft is that<br />
he confounds periods <strong>and</strong> usages, the ancients with him signifying sometimes<br />
the Romans in their early days, sometimes in the palmy days <strong>of</strong> the Republic,<br />
<strong>and</strong> sometimes in the times immediately before his own." ^ But he is considered<br />
a great authority on what concerns the Romans, <strong>and</strong> no writer has<br />
written <strong>of</strong> that system without mentioning him. " He is, as it were, an immense<br />
bridge," says Almirante, " uniting antiquity with modern times. Notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
grave defe6ls, he has had the good luck <strong>and</strong> the glory <strong>of</strong> surviving<br />
the shipwreck <strong>of</strong> the middle ages, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> being reverently imitated during<br />
the renaissance, being one <strong>of</strong> the few classics that have come down <strong>to</strong> us<br />
complete." It was Egidio Colonna who, in 1284, first brought Vegetius<br />
in<strong>to</strong> vogue, by taking him as his model <strong>and</strong> guide in the "Principium<br />
Regimine," which may be called the first modern work on the <strong>military</strong> art,<br />
while, in the same year, by comm<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> Jean, Count <strong>of</strong> Eu, Jean de Meung<br />
translated him entirely. For 250 years after this revival he remained one <strong>of</strong><br />
the most popular <strong>of</strong> writers. [V. No. i.] The five <strong>books</strong> are thus divided:<br />
Bk. I. On the levying <strong>and</strong> training <strong>of</strong> recruits.—Bk. II. On the legion, its<br />
organisation, rank <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficers <strong>and</strong> men, <strong>and</strong> their arms.—Bk. III. On tadlics j<br />
the last chapter <strong>of</strong> this book consisting <strong>of</strong> thirty-two " maxims <strong>of</strong> war."—Bk.<br />
IV. On fortification <strong>and</strong> the attack <strong>and</strong> defence <strong>of</strong> places ; on machines <strong>of</strong><br />
war.—Bk. V. On the navy.<br />
^<br />
Nisard's " ColledHon des auteurs latin," Paris, 1851.<br />
16