The Art of Warre, or Militarie discourses of leavying, marching, encamping; and embattailing an armie.
Of building, defending, and expugning forts and fortified cities. Of ordinance, petards, and fireworks. Of the severall duties of officers, and souldiers. Of the Grecian, and Romane militia, and forming of battaillons; &c. By the Lord of Praissac. Englished by I.C.
Cambridge: Printed by Roger Daniel, and are to be sold by John Williams in London, 1639 Stock Code: 139405
First edition in English, John Cruso's translation of Les discours militaires (first edition, Paris 1614), one of a series of military works by Cruso that were the first to make the new continental, primarily Dutch, military literature available to an English-speaking audience.
John Cruso (fl. 15951655) was the son of parents who had fled Flanders during the 1570s or 1580s. He was elected an elder of the Dutch church in Norwich during the 1620s. His military experience seems to have been limited to involvement in the Dutch/Walloon company of the Norwich trained bands, yet he embarked confidently on a career as a military writer.
Although a committed Calvinist, "the dedication of most of his works to leading establishment figures in Norfolk who later became royalists makes it difficult to place him in the political and religious divide caused by the civil war" (ODNB). The dedication of the present work to Major-General Philip Skippon, however, is one piece of evidence that Cruso ultimately sided with parliament.
Description
Octavo (176 x 102 mm). Probably 18th-century calf, brown endpapers.
Illustrations
Woodcut diagram inserted after leaf L1 as issued, numerous woodcuts in the text. "A short method for the easie resolving of any militarie question propounded" has separate dated title page and pagination; register is continuous, but the text is here misbo
Condition
Early ownership inscription of John Everett on title, inscription of Rev. Henry White of Lichfield, dated 1815, to front pastedown, scattered marginalia in ink and pencil. Skilful repairs to spine ends and joints, paper restoration to upper outer corner of title not affecting text, woodcut diagram just shaved to the frame at fore edge, but no essential matter lost, otherwise internally clean, a very good copy.
Bibliography
Cockle 146; STC 7365.8.
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