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BARRET, Robert.
The Theorike and Practike of Moderne Warres, discoursed in Dialoguewise.
Wherein is declared the Neglect of Martiall Discipline: the Inconvenience thereof: the Imperfections of manie Training Captaines: a Redresse by due Regard had: the Fittest Weapones for our Moderne Warre; the Use of the Same: the Parts of a Perfect Souldier in Generall and in Particular: the Officers in Degrees, with their Severall Duties: the Imbattling of Men in Formes now most in Use: with Figures and Tables to the same: with Sundrie other Martiall Points. Written by... Comprehended in Sixe Books.
First edition. In his preface Barret, a soldier of fortune, admits to "having spent the most part of my time in the profession of Armes … among forraine nations, as the French, the Dutch, the Italian, and Spaniard." "England had been isolated from the 'cosmopolitan stream of military science', Barret's work derives much of its authority from his service [abroad]… being among the most authoritative of the many military treatises issued in the period" (ODNB). The Theorike is "discoursed in dialogue wise" between a gentleman and a captain, exemplifying England's belated transition from knightly to professional principles of warfare. "Detailing a wide range of military technique and provides – in the influential manner of Leonard and Thomas Digges's Stratioticos (1579) – a practical grounding in the mathematical logistics of early modern war." The book is sometimes catalogued as Shakespeareana. Parolles in All's Well That Ends Well is described as "the gallant militarist … that had the whole theoricke of warre in the knot of his scarfe, and the practise in the chape of his dagger", and the whole play has been thought to be (in part) a satire on Barret's work, though Cockle thinks that the opposition of "theoric" and "practice" was conventional. There is one clear Shakespearean connection, however: the book is dedicated to Henry Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and his son William, later the co-dedicatee of the 1623 Shakespeare first folio. This copy has the contemporary ownership inscription of Williy. Russell on the title, this perhaps William Russell, first Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, who saw considerable service in Ireland against the rebellion of Baltinglass and O'Byrne, and thereafter in the Netherlands. Later made Lord Deputy of Ireland "because of his extensive military experience, previous knowledge of Ireland, connections, and wealth", his handling of Tyrone's rebellion proved controversial. With subsequent 17th-century ownership inscriptions of Matthew Hall to the first blank (price 3s. 6d.) and verso of final leaf. A very handsome copy of an important and uncommon work: just four records at auction since 1979, at least one of these seemingly the recurrence of an earlier copy; COPAC has five copies only, OCLC adds seven.
Folio, (280 × 180mm). Contemporary limp vellum, front hinge cracked, but holding, somewhat stained and cockled, all but one tie still present, title inked to spine. Housed in a black quarter morocco solander box made by The Chelsea Bindery. Woodcut of the printer Richard Field to the title page, full-page woodcut arms of Herbert, single-leaf O, paginated 157-158, with large woodcuts of encampments to each side, arms of Barrett verso of last leaf, numerous figures and typographical dispositions to the text, some near full-page, one very slightly cropped at the fore-edge, text with historiated initials, en têtes and cul-de-lampes. A little browned, a few leaves creased at the top corner, paper flaw to P3 costing a few letters, but overall an excellent copy in unrestored contemporary condition.
