Lib. II. ^ Of the Advancement of Leanwjcr. jq 



tiffg of CoHnfds next to Celerity^ is of great moment in War 5 whereof 

 Celerity it felf is a great part 3 for fpecd, prevents the difclofure of 

 Counfels. It pertains to Pluto' s He l»ict, that there be one General of 

 the Army in War, inverted with abfolute authority; forconfultations 

 communicated with many, partake more of the Plumes of Mars ^ thanof 

 the Helmet of Pluto. To the fame purpofe are various pretentions, and 

 doubtful dcfignations, and emifTary reports 3 which either caft a cloud 

 over mens eyes, or turn them another way, and place the true aims of 

 Counfels in the dark ; for diligent and diffident cautions touching Let- 

 ters, Ambaffadors, Rebels, and many fuch like Provilbes, adorn and 

 begirt the Helmet of Phtto. But it importeth no lefs, to difcover the 

 Counfels of the enemy, than to conceal their own : wherefore to the 

 Helmet of Pluto, we muft joyn the Lookjng-glafs of Pallas^ whereby the 

 ftrength, the weaknefs, the (ecret abettors, the divifionsandfaftions, 

 the proceedings and counfels of the enemy may be difcerned and dif- 

 clofed. And because the cafudties of war are fuch^ as we mufl not put 

 too much confidence, either in the concealing our own defigns, or the 

 diflecreting the defigns of the enemy, or in celerity it felf ; we muft e- 

 (pecially take the shield of Pallas, that is of Providence 5 that fo, aslit- 

 tlCjas may be, be left to Fortune. Hitherto belong the fending out of 

 Efpials, the fortification of Camps, (which in the Military Difcipline 

 of this latter age , is almoft grown out of ufe : for the Camps of the 

 Romans were ftrengthened as if it had been a City, againft all adverfe 

 events of War) a fetled and well ordf red Array^not trufting too much 

 to the light Bands, or to the Troops of Horfemen, and whatfoever ap- 

 pertains to a fubflantial and advifed defenfive War : feeing in Wars the 

 shield of PaUas prevails more than the fn>ord of Mars, 



§ BHt Perfeus albeit he was fufficiently furnilht with forces and cou- 

 rage, yet was he to do one thing of fpecial importance, before he en- 

 terprized the Adion j and that was, to have fome intelligence with the 

 Gre£. Thefe Gre£ are treafons, which may be termed the fiihrs of 

 War -J not defcended of the fame ftock, but far unlike in nobility of 

 Birth : fo Wars are Generous and Heroical^ but Treafons bafe and ignoble. 

 Their defcription is elegant, for they are faid to be gray-headed, and 

 like old women from their birth ; by reafon that Traitors are continu- 

 ally vext with cares and trepidations. But all their ftrength, before 

 they break out into open Rebellions, confifl:s either in an eye, or in a 

 tooth, for every fadHon alienated from any ftate, hzxhzn evil eye, and 

 bites. Befides, this eye and tooth 15,33 it v/ere,common 5 for whatfoever 

 they can learn or know , runs from hand to hand amongft them. And 

 as concetmng the tooth, they do all bite alike, and caft the fame fcan- 

 dais 3 fo that hear one, and you hear all. Perfeus therefore was to deal 

 with thefe Gre^^and to engage their afliftance for the loan of their E/e 

 and Tooth : their Eye for Difcoveries ^ their Tooth for the forving and 

 fpreaditig of Rumors 'j and the ftirringup of envy ; and the troubling 

 of the minds of men. Jfter all things are rvell, and preparedly difpofed 

 for war , that is firft of all to be taken into confideration, which Perfeus 

 did, that Medufa may be found afleep: for a wife Captain ever arfTaults 

 the enemy unprepared j and when he is moft fecure. Lafily, in the ve^ 

 ry aUion and heat of war, the looking into Pal/as her Glafs, is to be put 

 mpra<Sice : for moft menjbeforeit come tothcpafh,caa with diligence 



and 



