Military Manners and Customs

_‘I confess when I went into arms at the beginning of this war, I never troubled myself to examine sides; I was glad to hear the drums beat for soldiers, as if I had been a mere...

Delusion about character of war in days of chivalry--The common slaughter of women and children--The Earl of Derby’s sack of Poitiers--The massacres of Grammont and Gravelines--...

The war question at the time of the Reformation--The remonstrances of Erasmus against the custom--Influence of Grotius on the side of war--The war question in the early Church--...

Increased severity of discipline--Limitation of the right of matrimony--Compulsory Church parade, and its origin--Atrocious military punishments--Reasons for the military love o...

International law on legitimate reprisals--The Brussels Conference on the subject--Illustrations of barbarous reprisals--Instances of non-retaliation--Savage reprisals in days o...

Grotius’ theory of fair stratagems--The teaching of international law--Ancient and modern naval stratagems--Early Roman dislike of such stratagems as ambuscades, feigned retreat...

Variable notions of honour--Primitive ideas of a military life--What is civilised warfare--Advanced laws of war among several savage tribes--Symbols of peace among savages--The...

_Ce sont des lois de la guerre. Il faut estre bien cruel bien souvent pour venir au bout de son ennemi; Dieu doit estre bien miséricordieux en nostre endroict, qui faisons tant...

Robbery the first object of maritime warfare--The piratical origin of European navies--Merciless character of wars at sea--Fortunes made by privateering in England--Privateers c...