1ſquare Area for Incampments: But indeed in
ſituating a Camp we muſt accommodate our
ſelves to the Neceſſity of the Time, and the
Nature of the Place, according to the Purpoſe
which we have in Hand, whether it be to op
preſs the Enemy or to reſiſt him. Let us
make our Foſs ſo big, that it may not be filled
up without great Labour, and a long Space of
Time; or rather let us have two Foſſes, with
ſome intermediate Space between them. The
Ancients, in Works of this Nature alſo, held it
a Point of Religion to make uſe of odd Num
bers; for which Reaſon it was their Cuſtom to
make their Ditches fifteent Foot wide, and nine
deep. Let the Sides of the Ditch be Perpen
dicular, ſo that it may be as broad at the Bot
tom as the Top; but where the Soil is looſe,
you may allow a ſmall Slope, running ſome
what narrower towards the Bottom. In a
Plain, or a low Situation, fill your Ditch with
Water brought from ſome River, Lake, or Sea:
But if this cannot be effected ſtrew all the Bot
tom with ſharp Points of Steel and Caltrops,
and fix up and down a good Number of Stakes
with their Ends ſmoothed and ſharpened, to
keep off the Enemy. Having compleated your
Ditch, make your Rampart ſo thick, that it
may not be to be ſhaken by every little mili
tary Engine, and ſo high as to be above the
Reach of the grappling Hooks, and even of
Darts thrown by the Hand. The Earth dug
out of the Foſs lies very convenient and ready
at Hand for making up the Rampart. The
Ancients for that Work very much commend
ed Turfs dug out of the Meadows with the
Graſs upon them, the Roots whereof faſten
them very ſtrongly together. Others intermix
them with Twigs of green Oziers, which ſtrike
their Roots into the Rampart, and by the Con
texture of their Fibres ſtrengthen the whole
Work. Along the inward Edge of the Foſs
and the Outſide of the Rampart ſet Thorns,
Spikes, Tenter-hooks and the like, to retard
the Enemy in his Aſcent. Let the Top of the
Rampart be girt with a ſtrong Frame of Tim
bers joyned to one another croſſways like a
Corniſh, with Hurdles and Earth well rammed
in together between them; and upon theſe
raiſe your Battlements, and ſtick in forked Pa
liſadoes like Stag's Horns. In a Word, let
every Thing be ſo contrived in this Kind of
Structure, as to make it difficult to be either
undermined, thrown down, or mounted; and
to protect the Soldier who is to defend it.
Upon the Edge of this Rampart erect Towers
at the Diſtance of every hundred Feet, and
eſpecially in ſuch Parts as are moſt likely to be
attacked, where they ought to ſtand cloſer and
be built higher that they may the more effec
tually annoy the Enemy, when he attempts to
make his Way into the Camp. Let the Præ
torium, or General's Tent, and the Gate look
ing towards the Enemy, as alſo that in the
Back of the Camp, which two Gates uſed
formerly to be called the porta Quintana, and
the porta Decumana, be placed in the ſtrong
eſt Parts of the Camp, and lie convenient for
making any ſudden Sally with the Army, or
bringing in of Proviſions, or giving a ready
Retreat to your own Men. All theſe Con
veniencies belong more particularly to a ſtati
onary Camp, than to a flying one: But as we
ought to be provided againſt all Accidents that
either Fortune or the Calamity of the Times
can produce, we ſhould not, even in a flying
Camp, neglect any of thoſe Particulars which
we have ſpoken of, as far as may be neceſſary.
Thoſe Things which belong to a ſtationary
Camp, eſpecially one that is to expect a Siege,
are very nearly the ſame with thoſe which we
ſpoke of with Relation to the Citadel of a Ty
rant. A Citadel is a Structure purpoſely de
ſigned for the Suſtaining a Siege, ſince the Ci
tizens always look upon it with an irreconcile
able Hatred: And it is indeed the moſt cruel
Kind of Siege that can be imagined, to be con
tinually watching it, and to be always upon the
Catch for an Opportunity that may offer, by
Means of which you may ſatisfy the ſtrong De
ſire you have to deſtroy it: And for this Rea
ſon, as we obſerved before, we ſhould take the
greateſt Care to make it ſtrong, ſtout, durable,
well provided for its own Defence, and for
weakening and repulſing the Enemy, and able
to defy the moſt obſtinate and violent Attacks.
On the other Hand in thoſe Camps, where you
are to be ſhut up and moleſt an Enemy, all the
ſame Things are to be obſerved with the ſame
Care: For it is indeed a juſt Obſervation, that
the Nature of War is ſuch, that he who be
ſieges is in a great Meaſure beſieged himſelf.
For this Reaſon you are to conſider not only
how you may take the Place, but alſo how
you may keep yourſelf from being oppreſſed,
either by the Boldneſs or Diligence of the E
nemy, or by the Careleſſneſs of your own Men.
In order to take the Place, you muſt proceed
either by Siege or by Aſſault: And to keep
yourſelf from being oppreſſed, there are alſo
two Methods, which are, being ſtoutly fortified,
ſituating a Camp we muſt accommodate our
ſelves to the Neceſſity of the Time, and the
Nature of the Place, according to the Purpoſe
which we have in Hand, whether it be to op
preſs the Enemy or to reſiſt him. Let us
make our Foſs ſo big, that it may not be filled
up without great Labour, and a long Space of
Time; or rather let us have two Foſſes, with
ſome intermediate Space between them. The
Ancients, in Works of this Nature alſo, held it
a Point of Religion to make uſe of odd Num
bers; for which Reaſon it was their Cuſtom to
make their Ditches fifteent Foot wide, and nine
deep. Let the Sides of the Ditch be Perpen
dicular, ſo that it may be as broad at the Bot
tom as the Top; but where the Soil is looſe,
you may allow a ſmall Slope, running ſome
what narrower towards the Bottom. In a
Plain, or a low Situation, fill your Ditch with
Water brought from ſome River, Lake, or Sea:
But if this cannot be effected ſtrew all the Bot
tom with ſharp Points of Steel and Caltrops,
and fix up and down a good Number of Stakes
with their Ends ſmoothed and ſharpened, to
keep off the Enemy. Having compleated your
Ditch, make your Rampart ſo thick, that it
may not be to be ſhaken by every little mili
tary Engine, and ſo high as to be above the
Reach of the grappling Hooks, and even of
Darts thrown by the Hand. The Earth dug
out of the Foſs lies very convenient and ready
at Hand for making up the Rampart. The
Ancients for that Work very much commend
ed Turfs dug out of the Meadows with the
Graſs upon them, the Roots whereof faſten
them very ſtrongly together. Others intermix
them with Twigs of green Oziers, which ſtrike
their Roots into the Rampart, and by the Con
texture of their Fibres ſtrengthen the whole
Work. Along the inward Edge of the Foſs
and the Outſide of the Rampart ſet Thorns,
Spikes, Tenter-hooks and the like, to retard
the Enemy in his Aſcent. Let the Top of the
Rampart be girt with a ſtrong Frame of Tim
bers joyned to one another croſſways like a
Corniſh, with Hurdles and Earth well rammed
in together between them; and upon theſe
raiſe your Battlements, and ſtick in forked Pa
liſadoes like Stag's Horns. In a Word, let
every Thing be ſo contrived in this Kind of
Structure, as to make it difficult to be either
undermined, thrown down, or mounted; and
to protect the Soldier who is to defend it.
Upon the Edge of this Rampart erect Towers
at the Diſtance of every hundred Feet, and
eſpecially in ſuch Parts as are moſt likely to be
attacked, where they ought to ſtand cloſer and
be built higher that they may the more effec
tually annoy the Enemy, when he attempts to
make his Way into the Camp. Let the Præ
torium, or General's Tent, and the Gate look
ing towards the Enemy, as alſo that in the
Back of the Camp, which two Gates uſed
formerly to be called the porta Quintana, and
the porta Decumana, be placed in the ſtrong
eſt Parts of the Camp, and lie convenient for
making any ſudden Sally with the Army, or
bringing in of Proviſions, or giving a ready
Retreat to your own Men. All theſe Con
veniencies belong more particularly to a ſtati
onary Camp, than to a flying one: But as we
ought to be provided againſt all Accidents that
either Fortune or the Calamity of the Times
can produce, we ſhould not, even in a flying
Camp, neglect any of thoſe Particulars which
we have ſpoken of, as far as may be neceſſary.
Thoſe Things which belong to a ſtationary
Camp, eſpecially one that is to expect a Siege,
are very nearly the ſame with thoſe which we
ſpoke of with Relation to the Citadel of a Ty
rant. A Citadel is a Structure purpoſely de
ſigned for the Suſtaining a Siege, ſince the Ci
tizens always look upon it with an irreconcile
able Hatred: And it is indeed the moſt cruel
Kind of Siege that can be imagined, to be con
tinually watching it, and to be always upon the
Catch for an Opportunity that may offer, by
Means of which you may ſatisfy the ſtrong De
ſire you have to deſtroy it: And for this Rea
ſon, as we obſerved before, we ſhould take the
greateſt Care to make it ſtrong, ſtout, durable,
well provided for its own Defence, and for
weakening and repulſing the Enemy, and able
to defy the moſt obſtinate and violent Attacks.
On the other Hand in thoſe Camps, where you
are to be ſhut up and moleſt an Enemy, all the
ſame Things are to be obſerved with the ſame
Care: For it is indeed a juſt Obſervation, that
the Nature of War is ſuch, that he who be
ſieges is in a great Meaſure beſieged himſelf.
For this Reaſon you are to conſider not only
how you may take the Place, but alſo how
you may keep yourſelf from being oppreſſed,
either by the Boldneſs or Diligence of the E
nemy, or by the Careleſſneſs of your own Men.
In order to take the Place, you muſt proceed
either by Siege or by Aſſault: And to keep
yourſelf from being oppreſſed, there are alſo
two Methods, which are, being ſtoutly fortified,
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