This The Hawkwood and his followers were bound to each other by no bonds of hereditary protection and allegiance, but solely by the ties of mutual interest; and commanding as he did their entire confidence, he was enabled to exact from them far more implicit obedience in the field than any monarch could have done from an army composed entirely of feudal materials. manifest advantage appears to have enabled him to introduce a regular system of discipline, and an entirely new mode of tactics. Swiss mountaineers, indeed, from the nature of their country, had always been accustomed to fight on foot; but the English leader first appreciated the value of infantry on level ground; and it is singular how closely both his modes of attack and defence resembled those practised in the warfare of the present day. His Company, although all well mounted, and although the main strength of armies consisted at that time in cavalry, almost invariably fought on foot; and their mode of attacking an enemy, as described by a trustworthy historian, must have very nearly resembled a modern charge of bayonets; "After they were formed in line," says M. Villani,* "each two men grasped a lance in the same manner as it is used in hunting the wild boar; then linking themselves closely together, and with their weapons pointed low, they advanced with measured steps against the enemy, uttering loud cheers; and it was very difficult to break them when formed in this manner." When attacked by superior numbers, they formed themselves into a circle, presenting on every side a front bristling with lances; and this manœuvre appears to be the first approach to the modern square now so successfully employed in resisting cavalry. With such superiority of discipline, directed by his military talents, it is not surprising that the English adventurer was the most successful commander of his day; for during his long sojourn in Italy, where he appears to have lived upwards of thirty years, no mention is made of his having ever sustained a defeat. *Book xi. Chap. 81. The Italian leaders of the fifteenth century, Alberic di Barbiano, Francesco Sforza, and others, who during that age reasserted the military reputation of their country, improved the system as arts and civilization advanced; but Sir John Hawkwood may be justly regarded as the main founder of the great school of modern warfare, which teaches the superiority of discipline over numbers, of science over strength-the same brilliant school which in after ages produced a Gustavus and a Wallen stein, and in our own the victors of Marengo and of Waterloo. THE END. LONDON: BLATCH AND LAMPERT, PRINTERS, GROVE PLACE, BROMPTON. PUBLISHED BY MESSRS. SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET, HANOVER SQUARE. I. A NEW AND BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THE WORKS OF SIR E. LYTTON BULWER, BART., M.P., M.A. IN MONTHLY VOLUMES. PRICE SIX SHILLINGS. The first volume, containing "RIENZI, THE LAST OF THE Illustrated from Paintings by MACLISE & CRESWICK, OR, SCENES OF MILITARY LIFE. By MAJOR PATTERSON, author of "Adventures in the 50th or, Queen's Own Regiment." New Works published by IV. In Two Volumes, Octavo. ATHENS: ITS RISE AND FALL. WITH VIEWS OF THE ARTS, LITERATURE, AND SOCIAL LIFE OF THE ATHENIAN PEOPLE. By SIR LYTTON BULWER, Bart., M. P., M.A., Author of "ENGLAND AND THE ENGLISH,' "RIENZI," &c. V. In Two Volumes, post 8vo. SOCIAL LIFE IN GERMANY ILLUSTRATED Translated, with an Introduction, VI. In Three Volumes, post 8vo. RECORDS OF REAL LIFE IN THE PALACE AND IN THE COTTAGE. By MISS HARRIOTT PIGOTT. VII. In Three Volumes, post 8vo. THE MONK AND THE MARRIED MAN. By the Author of "Misrepresentation,” and “Janet.” |