the top of the staffe or anie other place lesse necessarie aswell thereby to flée affectation which in carying thereof is made manifest as also to conduct the same with more assured courage Moreouer note that the most honourable place of the threde or rancke is the right hand and the second the left hand which degrees likewise be obserued in all the rancks of other souldiers aâ—…wel as when diuers ensignes do march togâ—…ther in one ranck for amongest the handes and squares of souldiers the fiankes dâ—…e alwaies resist the assaultes and furie of the enemie as the sides which be néerest to them be alwaies garded of those that be most practised and the middle part not onely except the first and last rancke of the ordinance or battaâ—…le whâ—… the middest is the place of greatest estimation for the head or backe of the square being assaulted they then withstand the greatest furie And by good reason for this place of the midst is euer much more broken and endomaged of the enemies armes and force then anie other part wherefore amongest expert and valiant souldiers this roome is of greatest honour and of most estimation as the place that hath greatest néed of defence which being subiect to more open and manifest perill then the rest be is of greatest dignitie For Captaines are accustomed to shew notable and singular fauor to that souldier which they preferre to an enterprise of perill and danger so that it be capeable of issue and altogither desperate Neither is this to be accounted for a maruell for as this profession is altogither different from others so likewise the orders and ceremonies are diuersly managed if a man may terme those things ceremonies which of necessitie ought with diligence to be gouerned with great care art and industrie It behooues the Alfierus whilest he doth march in ordinance amidst the band to go with a graue and stately pace aduisedly and couragiously ioyned with modesty and without affectation or vain brauerie neither eught he to bew or decline his bodie at any time to anie person that thereby he may represent and maintaine the reputation and excellencie of armes and the ensigne before his Prince chiefe ruler Lord Generall Coronell Captaine Gouernour c. As he passeth before them he ought to abase the point and tip of the ensigne or rather with his arme bow down néer-hand all the rest of the ensigne so much more by how much he is of greater dignitie authoritie In this sort shall he make signe of reuerence and not pull off his cap or hat neither bend his knée nor moue anie one part of his person thereby to retaine that dignitie due to the ensigne his office The Alfierus being in square rancke or ordinance with the ensigne displaid doth change almost neuer the place where he is planted to march which is in the midst of the footmen as a place most safe and best defended Therefore those that otherwise would vse it doe ground their opinion vpon some ancient order of the Romaines or Grecians wherein they are deceiued because at this day we are constrained to varie our order considering our armes be varied which do now fetch and vound much more and further off and are more pearcing then those of antient time Neither is it expedient to put this officer which is of such great respect alwaies in hazard aswell for the good qualitie of his person the which we must alwaies presuppose him to be of as also for the office of great importance he supplyes siâ—…ce he doth sustaine the displaid ensigne wherein the reputation and honor of all the companie consists But at such times as he shal march to a Scalade breach and batterie the valiant Alfierus with his ensigne in one hand and his sword in another as is before said ought to enforce himselfe to be the first and by all meanes to mount vp to enter amongest the enemies and to aduance and inuite the rest forward both his inferiours companions betters for in effect at such times the particular guiding of the band appertains to him Now to the intent that the souldiers at the instaÌ„t time of a dangerous enterprise andin a combersome perilous time and place may be inuited feruently stirred vp to follow the ensigne He must therfore vse such courtesie to all men that in all hazardes and great exployts he being beloued of the Souldiers may be verie much ayded and defended by them where as otherwise they doe either suffer open ignomie or danger of death when as they be either abandoned at the point of extremitie or traiterously staine or wounded by their owne companions and followers as at the assault of Dalahani and a skirmish of brauerie at Louaine chanced vnto two seuerall Ensigne-bearers of the Baron of Sheueran Coronell ouer teâ—…ne Ensignes of shot Therefore since he is the shadow of the valor and good condition of his captaine and companie let him be carfull of his dutie The Ensigne bearer may of his discretion and authoritie espying the companie trauaile or follow enemies to their discommoditie and perill loosing the wind hill or ground of aduantage disordering the aray may stand still and cause the drums and fifes to stand and sound the retreat that the companie may resort and come to the Ensigne and order the aray by the aduantage of the ground rather then abide the comming of the enemy He ought alwaies to haue about him and to lodge where hée doth himselfe so manie good Drums as there be hundreth in his band that at all times he may make Raccolte and gather his souldiers togither and for such like necessarie respects He ought neuer craue licence to go to anie enteprise whatsoeuer for anie desire he hath to make himselfe known or to win fame but ought to remaine stedfast and firme when his turne of seruice comes in respect of the great charge he doth carie in the manage of the ensigne It is necssarie he haue a horse for his owne vse the which whilest he marcheth ought to go neere the Ensigne whether he be in square vattaile or long march for by taking his ease on horse-backe he may kéepe himselfe continually lusâ—…y and fresh and therewithall may accomodate his cariage or bagage as some souldiers may likewise doe among the ordinarie cariage prouided for by the captaine Note that the Ensigne which he receiued of his Captaine must by him be resâ—…ored again at such times as he is discharged out of the company if during the time of his seruice there hath not chanced a battaile assault or other enterprise wherein the Alfierus being present he hath not made manifest apparance that he hath merited and deserued the same For in such cases it is to be vnderstood that he hath wonne and gained the same and not otherwise vnlesse the captaine of his free will doth not giue it him which is a verie ancient custome specally amongst the Italians It is verie requisite the Alfierus
the intent the skirmish may begin to grow whotter at which time he must likewise send the third troope for a new supplie and so consequently â—…ne after another continue on the incounter The most fit and apt time when the souldiers must enter the skirmish make retyre giue a fresh onset ought to be shewed and made manifest by the sound of trumpets to horsemen and stroke or batterie of drummes to the footemen from the maine stand which is placed in some plot of ground resting vigilant in a forceable squadron for the sure defence and retrait of those that skirmish to the end they may both couragiously fight and the enimie rest confounded despaire of his victorie when hée doth perceiue so perfect and pollitike an order The which for the most part makes euerie hard difficultie to be performed with great facilitie specially in the discréet famous exercise of armes To giue more light to some new inuentions of skirmish I cannot omit to declare in what sort I haue séene skirmish a guidon of horsemen Rutters who comming to the fight in their accustomed squadres and from thence pricking forward some of the first rankes and threds prouoke the enimie and when these of the first ranks haue discharged their Pistolets making Carier being charged they place theÌ„selues againe at the backe of their owne squadre from whence at the same instant time others of the first ranks do disband themselues and giue charge vpon the enimie but being charged themselues of the enimie retyring they conuey themselues behind their owne people which already before them are ranged for their saftie in their square so that as many more immediatly giuing a fresh onset by breaking out of the squadre which is maintained and renued by this speciall order doe with maruellous furie force the enimie in this order skirmishing in a winding ring in round as is before set downe by figure do still maintaine themselues lusty and fresh the which forme of fight may in some respectes serue in this place for an example But to returne to my former matter I say when the skirmish and fight hath bene maintained valiantly in the front and face of the enimie an houre and a halfe or else two houres and that he hath taken some of his enimies prisoners for the obtaining whereof he must very couragiously and whotly procéede which is to be vnderstood the winning of aduertisements and intelligences from the enimie since by that meanes he may haue of them choise and contentation he may then at his pleasure make retraite and take vp the skirmish Moreouer to the intent he may retyre with aduantage and with safetie he must send to sustaine the fight a fresh band of souldiers that with greater facilitie he may front the surie of the enimie if there rise desire in them to vrge or pursue him in his retyre There is one note most necessarie to be obserued in an army regiment or band that neither any famous Generall or prince any pollitike personage or worthy souldier of estimation enter into the faction of a skirmish but rather that the same be guided and gouerned prudently by others of meaner calling For although the enterprise did fall out to the aduantage of the same partie yet if there should follow the losse of any famous and notable person the same hath not onely bene of great domage but also hath bene oftentimes of such force that it hath stroken a terror and feare in the minds of the souldiers specially amongst those that were not at the enterprise neither in like cases will it satisfie or suffice them to declare or solemnely expresse vnto them the truth but that vpon such special losse they will grow into vnaduised iudgementes and timerous dispositions If in case the enimie take the charge and malte retyre it is good to haue takeÌ„ order with the Caualliers heads guids of the skirmish that as néere as possible they can they force their people to make stay and that they follow the enimie no further since that in this point they do not contend to any other end then to bréede a certaine impression and good opinion in the minds of our owne souldiers to the confusion of the contrarie part and to winne aduertisements if it be possible the which is all the effect they haue to performe the which was the onely motion that moued them to attempt this enterprise Now when he determines to gaine a passage or any other strong place against the enimie which will arise to their disprofite and our owne commoditie and hauing wonne it to sustaine and defend the same first choise must be made of a vigilant and valiant leader although it hath often fallen out that without entring into skirmish a diligent captaine or leader hath with his people taken possession of such passages or strong places And by this prouidence it ariseth to be neither difficile nor hard to be defended against the enimie considering that all such suspected extremities bands be accustomed to be strong by nature whereunto afterwards ioyning some little Art for the most part they become expugnable But neuerthelesse if by incountring with the enimie it is requisite he should skirmish I iudge it verie good that he should rashly go no further then so farre as the souldiers which he hath sent to the skirmish haue gained To obserue perfite gouernement it is neuer good to depart from the order before rehersed saue onely when he doth sée the enimie bend and shrinke away in place of aduised stay pollitike retention in procéeding I theÌ„ iudge it worthie coÌ„mendation to follow the victorie but for al that with such consideration and so aduisedly that their ouer-great courage and carelesse ioy be not the occasion of disorder and confusion togither with the which prosperitie he must diligently procure his people to gaine the passage or strong place to the end if the enimy should go about to succour his flying and broken people he become not a let and hinderance to his determination It is verie requisite he likewise note that when the enimie is so fresh and of such force that it is impossible to ouerthrow or repulse him face to face then shall it be to the purpose to moderate the same euen vntill night at which time he must vse al the pollicies and stratagems he can possible to performe his determination for the onely marke whereat this leader must shoote must onely be to worke such meanes as he may gaine the passage and take possession of the strong place and not to passe the time in skirmish and fight hauing wonne the same he must indeuour himselfe to defend and repaire it that they may be able to resist all the furie and force that the enimie is able to make vntill such time as succours come to him from his campe When he is of minde to entertaine and kéepe the enimie occupied to the intent he march nor iourney not at his pleasure or that
an armie whether it be inferiour or equall to the enemie VVHen an armie dooth march néere vnto the enemies battels the high marshall Sergeant Maior and Collonels ought to vse diuers considerations First a Prince or his Generall not being of like force to the enemie or that he is not willing to giue battell because he will not hazard all his state and armie in one day into the hands of fortune he must prouide specially if he be inferior in Caualarie that he march through a countrie that is rough full of hils and where the situation of the ground is of such aduautage that the enemie haue not any motion to assault him But when he cannot shun the same then must he prouide at leastwise to enter into the action thereof to his great aduantage and almost with a certaine hope of victory the which will not arise to be difficile if he can apply the aduantage of situations to serue his turne In marching I would wish him to haue one part of his light horsemen so neere the enemie that euery houre he may haue notice what way he dooth march notwithstanding in a countrie where mounts and hils be not fauourable but that of necessitie you must march through plaines and champaine countries and that the enemie is néere at hand and that it is very hard to shun the battell I iudge it not farre amisse to accept the battell so that you be of greater strength in horsemen for being the stronger the iourney in no respect is to be fled for so much as horsemen yéeld the greatest part of the victorie when they bee well guided Charles the fift in Germany against the protestants armie by reason of the commoditie of the ground for the most part did not lodge his army further off from his enemies then commonly the shot of a Coluerine although he was far inferior in number Neuerthelesse that order cannot be alwaies vsed when an armie is in the champaine countrie for he that is in plaines and is not desirous to fight he must march from the enemie 9 or 10 miles and must determine to fortifie himselfe at each lodging in such sort that neither the enemies Cauallarie or infanterie may be able in battell to enter into his campe if not with great difficultie A meane fortification is sufficient in a champaine countrie chiefely when it is to be made with spéede which beginning of fortification when you meane to continue may encrease and be made as strong as you sée the case doth require When an armie dooth march inplaines and champaine countries that it comes to that point the it is able to haue any little riuer or wood which may couer one flanke of the said armie you must go about with all diligence to take this aduantage for that the same will arise to be of great importance Prouide euer that the bagage and the artillarie go continually on the contrarie side to the enemie or at leastwise in the midst of the armie The squadrons of men at armes must as appertaineth flanke the battels and rankes of footmen towards the enemie It is a laudable custome to deuide an armie into thrée squadrons that is to say into the auantgard battell and arreargard and that euery day they do exchange making of the auantgard the battell and of the battell the reargard it is requisite that euery one of them haue his necessary number of horsmen Hargaloteares that each one be disposed and placed in his due ranke Order must be carefully taken that amongst the ranks of the footmen vnprofitable people be not intermedled but that all the baggage be in a place deputed for the same vnder the Prouosts guidon Also that amongst the squadrons of the horsemen there be no vnprofitable horses nor other impediments The Rutters Cauallaries vse héerein a meruailous strict order and extreame diligence which verily dooth merit to be imitated It is a commendable thing also when the light horsmen be in such sort deuided and dispersed for discouerie of the countrie and espying the actions of the enemies armie as that they may continually returne and giue intelligences of the enemies demeanor whereby if néede require commoditie and leasure may be had to prouide for fight If the marshall of the field haue no experience of the countrie himselfe it is requisite that he carrie such a personage or worthie Cauallier with him as he knowes to haue experience that with them he may consider well of the situation and place whether he is to march with his armie through plaines by or néere hils or in valleys that haue hils ou both sides or by or néere to woods or alongst or néere a riuer It is also requisite the the light horse aswell for the discouerie of the enemie as otherwise to take the bredth of the straits passages go before and to make certificate that according to the bredth the hoast may march And put case that one part of the way be 15. foot broode the hoast shall be made to march by fiue in a ranke because euery footman will haue thrée foote in breadth from shoulder to shoulder and sixe foote in ranke betwixt ranke and ranke and one foote for euerie person so that 21 foote in breadth and 2 myles in length will containe an armie of ten thousand After the same reason whether there be 20 or 30 thousand footemen according to the measuring of ground by the foote they may be set in order very easily neither can the leader be deceiued whē he knoweth how many armed men euery place can containe and after the same order as the place dooth enlarge he must enlarge the rankes causing part of the shot to goe before the aray and part behind and others to go in succoures of the horsemen that go in viewing the passages and the ambushments with the whole dooings of the enemie and let an other part be for vantgard retrogard to the aray to be able to serue them at néed and an other part to go alwaies at the flankes of the raie the which if there be ditches shal serue as a countermure against the enemies horsmen And if they be men at armes they must march on both the sides of the battell and also of the Hargabuzies that do march by the flankes of the battell and the light horsemen to serue for scoutes both before and behind the aray There must be likewise abundance of Pyoners and labourers to make places plaine and to cast downe ditches bridges and to make defences and other necessarie things that are required in marching the which must be garded by your light horse and shot and when you depart to faine to go to some other place then that you go so and if there be no men at armes to appoint to euery regiment certaine Hargabuziers to serue on horsebacke the which may serue in stéed of men at armes and when occasion serues to serue on foote againe wherein the Caualiers of S.
importance if before hand he haue not had great and manifest experience of them Note that it is much better to ouercome the enemy by weariing him with delaies then by furious fight put himselfe to the hazarde of doubtful fortune which oftentimes hath in battaile greater puissance then valour or vertue it selfe therefore alway procéede in these vncertaine ends of Armes rather assuredly then perrillously The order which the enemies hold ought first of all euer to be discouered The Generall being a man of iudgment dooth attend and take respect with prudence and with carefulnes both to his affaires and to the enemies and doth that is good or that which is pernicious in the one and in the other and doth preuent his traps and deceits neither suffers any thing negligently about himselfe nor assured about them In warres for the most part the victory comes by nothing els but the euill counsell and base mind of his aduersary therefore very hardly can he be ouercome that can measure and knowe both hys owne and his enemies forces and order When a Prince or his Generall hath fortefyed himselfe wyth Confederates with good and experienced Captaines wyth valiant Souldiours with Municion and weapons with money and strong places it followes that he endeuours himselfe to weaken the force interrupt and breake in sunder the aduersaries determinations the which thing may be performed spéedily or late according as occasion shall offer it selfe which is the fountaine and originall of all gracious acts To conclude the Generall the high Officers of the Army Colonels Captaines and Souldiours must daily serue God for Religion causeth good orders good orders brings good fortune good fortune makes good successe to arise in all enterprises The Armie wel paide discipline must be vsed without respect of persons Iustice to doo euery man right makes the Generall of great maiestie and reputation beloued and feared because hee dooth and is able to aduaunce the vertuous and correct the wicked For money is the flesh sinewes of the warres and ordeined for the same That warre is iust which a Prince commaunds for to recouer that is lost or to defende iniuries and wrongs offered to him by others FINIS FOR that there hath somwhat beene saide touching Townes of warre and fortifications Souldiours of iudgement doth know that a place besieged by the power of a mighty Prince cannot long endure without there be within the same a sufficient number of men Munition victuals when any of these three things lacke the enemy will soone haue the place besieged Therefore the sayde Captaine Hychcocke who hath beene the cause of printing this Booke of warre doe think it good to ioyne to the same worke this short discourse which declareth what proportion of victuals will serue one thousande Souldiours in a Garrison where the victuals must be prouided by her Maiesties Victualer As for example we wil make our proportion for Barwicke wherein I will shewe howe the chiefe Victualer and the petty Victualers gaines and profits shall rise that men may looke therein whereby all doubts and questions that may grow for that seruice shall be auoyded and the Garrison at all times well furnished with things necessary needful for victualing of one thousand Souldiours and after that proportion as the number shall fall out more or lesse Within this generall proportion heereafter I doe declare first for Bread and Beere the Bakehouse and Brew-house the Grayners for store the Windmilles the Horsemylles with theyr implements the caske and other necessary things the charges of men horses and carryages to the same belonging with theyr wages and allowance for theyr trauaile and seruice Howe thys proportion is to be prouided vsed deliuered and spent in reading ouer thys little worke following you shall find very short and playne Robert Hichcock A generall proportion and order of prouision for a yeere of three hundred threescore and fiue dayes to victuall a Garrison of one thousande Souldiours The order for the Bakehouse THe Souldiours hauing one pounde and a halfe of good wheaten bread for one pennie or one pound and a halfe of good white bread for j. d' ob the Bakers to aunswer for euery quarter of wheate beeing sweete good and marchantable deliuered at Barwicke xx sÌ„ Cleere of all charges and wasâ—…e which happeneth afterward by keeping the grayners or any other except casualtie of the Enemy after the deliuery thereof Necessaries and implements wood wages of Clarkes Bakers Myllers Carters Labourers or any other for the Bake-houses Windmils Grayners or carriage of prouision and for horse and Carts for the same are to be found by this rate size of bread without any other allowance to be demaunded sauing for wast and charges of as much wheate as the vse of baking shall be otherwise employed then to be deliuered in bread by theÌ„ who were charged with the receite from the shippes and keeping the grayners of the same The Bakehouses Windmils and Graynars béeing furnished with implements and necessaries at the entrance into seruice and in good order of repracion are so to be maintained and kept in and by all things except casualtie of the Enemy And are to be deliuered at the departure from seruice in as good order and furniture of all things as they were first receiued And considering the charge to maintaine the Bakehouse with the appurtenaunces and allowance to the pettie victualers of the Garrison after xxj loues of bread for xx A quarter of good wheat will make in good bread by order of this Booke xxv sÌ„ so haue yée of euery quarter for charges v. sÌ„ and after foure quarters the day for the whole yéere iij. C. lxv l. That is to say for wood to bake a quarter of meale in loafe breade xvj d' and after foure quarters the day for a yéere sum lxxx xvij l. vj. sÌ„ viij d' and for this repracion of the Bakehouse and the appurtenances yéerely l. l. Wages and victuall of two Clarkes two Myllers foure Bakers and foure Labourers yéerely one hundred fiftie pounde Maintenance of horse for carriage in this charge yeerely lxij l. xiij sÌ„ iiij d' All these allowances are found in the size of bread beside the branne The whole Garison béeing as before one thousande Souldiours will spend foure quarters of wheate a day and for the whole yéere xiiij C. lxiiij quarters Although by order this number wil serue yet the prouision to be at the least in Wheate for breade xx C. quarters for the prouision I account good wheate may be bought with ready money by former bargaines for seauen yeeres together for xiij sÌ„ iiij d' the quarter in Yorkshire Notinghamshire and Lincolnshire I account the charges of a quarter from the place it was bought to Barwick at iij. sÌ„ iiij d' that is to say where they sende it downe in Kéeles to giue for kéeling of a quarter iiij d' for freight of a quarter to Barwicke xvj d' and for the Purueyors charges for matts
of the one and the other ought to be taken vntill the same be performed or the pay past and then may discharge him as is said to shunne a greater scandale for to enter into vnquiet quarrelling and discord one equal with an other and with one that receiues the like stipend is not the part and qualitie of a subiect souldier but of a frée carelesse cutter and band buckleâ—… and of an insolent and importunate person whose nature doth argue in him that his doings tend to an other end then to become excellent in the honorable exercise of armes Pâ—…t the case that one of them should valiantly ouercome the other yet vnto the Captaine doth arise no other then want losse and euill satisfaction for when first he did receiue them into his seruice he did presume that they were both of them equally to be esteemed men of good credite and behamour and that for such they were conducted and receiued stipend So that quarelling and â—…illing one the other as often it fals out in resolute persons oâ—… putting him so a dishonour or open foile such a one doth not oâ—…ely depriue the Captaine of a souldier but also of himselfe likewise For the law of reason doth binde the Captaine not to maintain an importunate person a malefactour and an homecide in one band no lesse then a well ordered citie Considering it is requisite and conuenient his souldiers rather then to imploy themselues in such quarrels should indeuour and aduenture their bodies so ouerthrow and kill the enimie thereby to procure his owne proper praise and peculier profite Always prouided that the occasion of the wars be concluded and published to be lawfull and honest which easily in this respect doth remoue all difficulties whilest a man doth place himselfe in the seruice of a prince that is religious prudent and iust and that haue expresse and lawfull power to louie armes and not with those which are of small authoritie or tyrannous vsurpers of other mens states and wicked blood suckers Therefore when the Lieutenant cannot by his owne dealings supply these wants or pacifie and accord them in such causes he may remit the care thereof vnto his superior Captaine And thus let him haue speciall care that by his meanes no quarrels do grow neither that he suffer any faction or disceÌ„tion to take déepe roote for feare of banding and mutinies He ought to haue speciall respect that the Corporals and Sergeants be able duely to execute their office with due diligence for the better performance of seruice and personally aid them in setting the watch Likewise to the intent that the Sergeant persist not ignorantly or fall in any one point of his office it behooues the Lieutenant in many particular pointes to aid him both in respect of his owne credite and for the generall benefite of the whole band as in vsing diuers directions disciplines inueâ—…tions putting the band in order rancke square in accompanying them to the watch and in executing such like enterprises which commonly are to be performed So ought he likewise to delight himselfe extraordenarily besides the other necessarie parts of his office in taking view of the Corps de gard and the Sentinels of his proper companie to the intent they may remaine continually vigilant and redie and ech mans duetie duly executed the martial lawes read and examined and a solemne silence generally maintained He must obserue great affabilitie and fraternitie with the Alfierus and friendly consult with him specially if the Lieutenant doth not manage both the one and the other office as the Spaniards and other nations doe vse and might very well be vsed of vs if the Generall or Coronell thinke good 〈◊〉 for auoyding of emulation and charge of pay but if they 〈◊〉 particular officers and beare distinct sway in the hand then 〈◊〉 the Lieutenant be very carefull as he that is the chiefe to auoide all stomaking and strife that might arise â—…etwixt him the Alsierus for therby oftentimes great scandales haue faâ—…ne out and the diuision of the company a thing aboue all other to be carefully forséene and shunned He ought to vse a gracious iesture a curteous entertainment to all his souldiers countenance euerie one ioyfully and solicite their causes carefully towards the captaine the other officers as the treasurers pay-masters coÌ„missaries and such like yet euer by the captaines consent yea to the captain himselfe by whose friendly fauour inferiour officers may be relieued for their pay or other wantes Besides he ought to giue order and direction to all the company deuiding distributing the Squadres indifferently and discréetly to the intent the Corporals other officers may be obeyed that ech enterprise may be performed without reply or contradiction It is necessarie that he put in euerie Squadre an equal number of euery sort of armes and that ech weapon be sorted in a redinesse to the intent the in what place time soeuer occasion doth require euery one of them may to his great aduantage procéede and front the inuading enimie with a forceable strength Like wise it is good sometimes not to suffer a Squadre or rather a whole Corps de gard to consist of souldiers al of one countrie and nation but ought rather to be artificially mixed and to separate them thereby to auoid quarrell and generalitie of factions which by reason of their being togither may the rather arise amongst consorts of one natiue countrie that more commodiously then if they were separated The Captain being absent the Lieutenant possesseth the principall and chiefe place and ought to be obeyed as captaine Neuerthelesse in his presence it is requisite he vse a certaine brâ—…therly friendship and familiaritie towards al yet that notwithstanding he must proceede in al things with such modestie and grauitie as he may retaine such authoritie and reputation as the office he doth hold doth most worthily inuest him withall There ought to be in him a reasonable good knowledge and faâ—… in expressing his conceit and meaning sensiblie that the 〈◊〉 may vnderstand what they haue to do to the intent he may 〈◊〉 mâ—…re easily imprint in the heartes and mindes of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all such things as he determines and that be necessarie for the better 〈◊〉 of his Prince and the benefite of his countrie and companie whereunto he ought to apply himselfe with all possible diligence since that of the Prince he is liberally paid hath his being of his countrie and is diligently obeyed of his band where he swayes his present office charge which is truely of great credite and no lesse commoditie Let him prouide himself of a horse to beare him to the intent he may be lustie and fresh in all enterprises and that he may continually take the view and diligently suruey the order which they are to kéepe in marching or in making Alta and at al other times besides in what enterprise soeuer He must take order that his baggage
shall by the Prouost Martiall bée punished as Rebels of what calling or degrée soeuer they bée Two of these are appointed to the placing and ordering of shot and the other two for the â—…mbattelling of the Pikes and Halberdes who according to their worthines if death happeneth are to succéede the Sergeant Maior The Office appertaining to the Sergeant Maior generall DEw order and politike proportion by how much they bée necessarie in all humane affaires by so much more the weightie office of the Sergeant Maior generall is to bée had in estimation for vpon his charge aucthoritie doth depend only the good ordering of all causes but also the forme fashion and execution of the most principall matters for the readie and expedient seruice of the armie And likewise of ech other assemblie that is made through occasion of defence or offence of whaâ—… number of souldiers soeuer the which if this worthy Officeâ—… should want can neuer bée brought to passe and performed in such requisite sort as is conuenient Since that he is that person neutrall who doth kéepe together in accord the Captaines other Officers and souldiers manie times abused by their particular companie charge and offices more then is honest oâ—… conuenient And in effect it is hée that holdes a iust and equall ballance amongst the souldiers of euery in the Armie Prouided alwaies that it bée in those warlike affaires that are subiect â—…o order how to kéepe and obserue the same and such like matters and not in those things that appertaine to iustice and the rest of the office of the Marshal generall of the field as I meane to touch in the discourse of his Office Therefore this great Officer ought to haue certain sufficient and old trained souldiers about him to bée his continuall aide that is fower Corporals which may bée his consorts and coadiutors and in absence succéede him both in office and aucthority So that the Sergeant Maior by meanes of the aucthority giuen him by his Prince and through that which of custome hée doth carie by his office It is necessarie hée obserue diligent artificiall and readie meanes not only to maintain the said aucthoritie but requisitely to augment the same in the minds hartes of the Captaines of the officers souldiers contained vnder his charge and expedition to the end that in those orders fashions of squadrons battailes which hée hath determined with him selfe to vse or in those hée is to execute by the commaundement of his Captain general hée may haue such entire ready obedience as is requisite wtout the which what great diligence soeuer hée can vse is not sufficient to make any affaires or enterprises come to good issue in this important office the which might bée proued by many examples passed if wée would examine them It is most necessarie for him in his office to presuppose with himself consider of foresée al chances causes before the euent therof succéede before hand to foretell take order with others what is requisite to bée executed considering the time wherin he is to work is for the most part very short since ordinarily it doth fall in suddain rumors of Alarums so that in this hastie occasion of breuitie it is conuenient he procéede expediently orderly and readily not béeing dismaied of the enimies presence for the most part of all his actions are to bée performed euen in the face of the enimie Wherefore if hée did not gouerne himselfe warely politikely prouided with good consideration and if hée had not ordained before hand what is to bée done neuer any thing amongst so many things which hée ought to performe with perfection would succéede with happie felicitie for particularly in that time that Alarum is giuen to the souldiers vniuersally entire attention is not giuen vnto that which is commanded for the eares of all are occupied part with the rumor noise part through the clashing and clattering of the armour weapons they weare with other confusions that arise but béeing of a quicke inuention hée may suddainly perceiue and conceiue the nature situation order of the enimies aray altering and disposing accordingly his owne Besides this it is very conuenient for him to know distinctly how many Collonels priuate Captains there bée in the army of what qualitie kind their conduct guiding is and what grosse number of armed pikes halberds hée hath to command how many light armed or disarmed both of the one sort and the other the number of the Musket hargabuziers on foote the quantity of horsemen how many lances how many light horsemen how many Argoloteares what number of other souldiers of what valour or moment they are able to preuaile to the end that hée may afterwards order them about any exploit these to make the front these to bée the backe others for the wings flanks sléeues others to empale the squadrons others to enuiron the enimy others for the fit conuenient places to execute a slaughter such like others to defend the bagage artillarie munition others to entertain skirmish with the enimie for the forlorne hope others to guide and Ascolt or conuoy others to performe such other like seruice And for his better instruction must likewise accordingly haue a Roll of al the bands from the Lord high Marshal with their difference of weapon which hauing alwaies about him may reprehend the want and informe the muster Master Treasorer Hée shall likewise take order with euery Collonel Captain chieftain that in the day vpon any Alarum they conduct their bands into the market or place appointed for the main battail néere wher the artillary or munition is kept that they come not in a fond sort stragling ordispersed or vpon heapes as in disorder they are sometimes accustomed but orderly warely about the ensigne that they may make a forceable front gallant resistance where occasion offers giue a valiant onset wher néede requires for it hath bin oftentimes séene that this place of armes hath bin assaulted possest of the enimy it béeing a coÌ„mon custome that the munition of the Artillary is hoatly assaulted by the enimies the more to disseuer to break to deceiue disperse the army with more assurance ease that therby they may force the fort or break in where the munition is garded When they be entred into the place of armes euery band with the ensigne must attend to follow the sergeant Maior the Corporals in obedience silence after euery particular company is placed together in the order appointed by the Corporals sergeant Maior general the main real square battail of earth must bée made and not of number of men or of a fewe combatants and pikemen to the intent the head and the backe may bée of sufficient strength to shoulder downe the enimie by presenting a greater number of souldiers in one thréede of
a ranke both to fight and giue the enimie the shocke The which thing doth not fal out in many other battails that likewise doth embrace and occupie in euery respect lesse compasse of ground both the one and the other aduertisement is very substanciall for the most part of greatest aduantage for euery man of experience doth know how much it doth profit so néere as is possible to be planted placed in one vnited order and to take on hand to defend a small circuite of ground as by this forme doth verie well ensue and succéede Hée must set both in the one and the other of these places that is to say at the head and backe of the battaile the onely choise souldiers and best armed men which order hée ought likewise to obserue in those which must impale the rest the face the back and flankes of the battaile consisting of well armed Pikes specially if the situation of the ground and cariages do want as by reason is requisite and conuenient and place the Ensignes béeing accompanied with good Halberds men of valour in their accustomed standing of the footmens rankes Hée must make to his battaile two wings of Hargabuziers the one lesse and the other greater as the situation of the ground wil beare or suffer the which wings are to defend and flanke the maine square euen in the same sort as curtaines or bulwarkes with their casamates do flanke a fortresse It is verie necessarie for him to haue certaine souldiers besides the battaile and wings in the front vnder the name of the forlorne hoope and an other part that readily and couragiously béeing kéept behind the battaile may bée imploied in diuers néedefull enterprises without discouering or disseuering the wings or any other bodie of battaile ordained to other effect flanking himselfe with these wings hee may sometimes fight with great aduantage on all sides although the flankes of the said battaile be weaker containe a lesse quantitie of souldiers then the head or the backe and therfore with great iudgements these flankes ought to bée placed towards the strongest part of the situation aided with the wings of Hargabuziers and the â—…eregard for that sometimes one of the â—…ankes béeing forced to bâ—…ecome the front the said hargabuziers by good reason and very aduisedly may retire thrust themselues into the thréede of the rankes of the Pikemen from whence they may shoot and wound the enimie and defend their owne partie The forlorne hope in the front of the battaile must bée succoured with nâ—…w supplies from behind and if néede require from the winges that the front of the armed men bée neuer left naked and vncouered till the battailes bée so néere that they bée ready to crosse their pikes then must the other retire into the wings or behind the battaile to the cariages To forme and set in order this battaile with facillitie which in my opinion is the best founded firme profitable and most expedient and if necessitie did require more apt to iourney then many other forme of battailes bée I therfore say it is conuenient for the Sergeant to haue a long practise in Millitarie profession or else very good Theoricke or that which is better both the one and the other together for if a man do but only possessâ—… practised experience hee doth not alwaies direct and bring his enterprises to perfection but doth worke with more spéede and facillitie which is a thing verie necessarie and altogether requisite by Theorick only matters be wrought with perfection but much more coldly slow and with longer time The which defects and imperfections ought to bée fled of men that bée of valour It is an accustomed saying that practise for that it is a thing more material is said to bée the bodie and Theoricke the mind for that the same looking into the matter doth first dispose set in order and the other execute whereby it followes that the one the other ioined together doth make vs aptly to conceiue and readily to execute this office and euery other enterprise so that wée cannot desire any further direction And for that euery man ought to apply himselfe in all his actions to attaine to full perfection for the absolute performance therof hée ought to ioine practise with Theoricke which is reading specially in Algorisme Algebra the platformes of battailes the which in forming the order of this square battaile both instruct that you must deuide the whole number placing the souldiers which are to bée bestowed in this battaile by 21. taking from the quotient the roote of the quadrant number placing it in some part a side then multiplying the said quadrant roote by 7. you shal haue the number of souldiers which doth enter by rankes then multiplying the same roote by 3. you may find the number of the rankes which béeing done if you multiplie the number of that which amounteth by 21. the product shall shew the number of those souldiers which are not to be placed in main battail which may serue in many profitable vses and thus this quadrant battaile may bée formed Tartaglie Bresciano in his booke of Martiall inuentions giues rule to forme the same perfectly in other sort In the which it is necessarie to make quadrate the number 49. that is to multiply it in it selfe which will make 2401. this 2401. hée shal multiply by the number of souldiers hée would put in battaile shall deuide the product by the number of 100. and of the product hée shal after take the square roote the which roote wil bée the number of souldiers which shall enter into ranks shal deuide with the said roote the quotient already mentioned which ought to bée put in battail that which shal arise is the number of the ranks and the surpluse which doth arise in this last quotient are the souldiers which remaine out of the square the which are otherwise to bée emploied But to frame the square of men there is nothing to bée done but to take the square roote from the number of souldiers and the same roote will bée the number of souldiers which must enter into rank and the selfe same roote wil bee the number of the ranks this béeing done hée must force himselfe to maintaine and kéepe them in due order and iust square To obserue good order hauing made proclamation that euery one shall kéepe his place béeing assisted by the 4. Corporals and the Sergeant Maiors of the Regiments in their quarters Hée must diligently ryde héere and there about the squadrons vsing certain manifest knowne signes wherin order must bée taken openly not priuely to the intent they may be credited obeied of those that know the manner of this obseruation for by declaring the same secréetly priuately it is vneasilie very hardly executed of certain ambitious and ignorant persons which are accustomed to make profession that they are not to bée commanded more of this man then of
discourse of sundrie obseruations to be had in memorie of Captaines Collonels Sergeant Maiors c. whereby a discreet leader may ' learne what he hath to accomplish in all sortes of battels and encounters whatsoeuer Diuers proportions of new inuented squadrons THis battell following hath beene vsed of the Spaniards marching alongst the side of a riuer two squares and a triangle battell of pikes flanked with shot empaled on the front rereward and left flanke with 7 rankes of pikes the forlorne hope in the front their horsemen on the left wing in this sort The proportion of this battell was caried by the Almains into Italy against the Zwitzers being enuironed round about with a raile fastned with iron hookes to be taken in sunder carried with them planted with musket and base shot to resist horsmen and the squares of footmen This figure ensuing consists of a square battell of Pikes flanked by shot seconded by sléeues of Halberdeares for execution and reléefe or deffence in skirmish when it comes to pell mell with 4 smal squadrons of musketeres at the corners of the maine battell all the whole being enuironed and impaled with pikes before whose vaward front are placed the forlorne hope two wings of horsmen marching along the sides of the battell THe proportion of this battell next following is onely for the safe retire of shot being repulsed by horsemen or otherwise who may at eight places retire into this squadron which stands in the proportion of a fortresse which vpoÌ„ the charge of the enemie may ioyne close in one maine square by causing the flanks to march vp to the corners of the square which vpon occasion disclosing againe may let out the shot which may enter into skirmish in circular wise as followeth THe manner of this battell next adioyning which is to be vsed of a great armie dooth somewhat resemble a cressant consisting of battaillons the Generall in the midst of the 4 chéefe squadrons the whole impaled with pikes flanked with shot fronted with the forlorne hope and winged with horsemen This battell following is both strong and ready for the safetie of the shot for that either the forlorne hope in the forward or rereward ' may succor one another retire or issue out vpon any side through the lanes and galleries betwixt euery battaillon and yet vpon the enemies onset may sarrie close together and make one firme and sole battaile the shot being before hand drawne in out of the enemies danger This squadron is likewise flanked with Musket and Hargabuziers and winged with horsemen A notable discourse of sundrie obseruations to be had in memorie of Captaines Collonels and Sergeant Maiors in directing training exercising imbattelling and instructing of soldiors for the better planting of any of the foresaid Battels or proportions EAch Captaine Collonell and Sergeant Maior must in his degrée take care of his charge The Captaines must sée that his officers do acquaint teach his souldiors all the particulars in my first booke and that his other officers be able to execute so much as I haue set downe in my second Booke of Militarie directions whereby together with some notes written presently they may learne such particular knowledge as when they come to put generall matters in execution the same séeme not strange vnto them for in the exercise of armes we ought to indeuour our selues to be perfect in such things as belong to a band when it is by it selfe and that which a band is to performe when it is ioyned with others in campe so that those souldiers which be cunning in the first may easily obserue all occurrences and commaundements in the second Therefore a band is to learne by it selfe to kéepe ranke in each kind of motion that is to say in marching slowlie softlie fast to learne all the sounds all the signes and all the blasts voices and cries wherewith the officers commaund in a battell and that euery one know perfectly the signification thereof no lesse then the Mariners the whistle of the maister of the ship in which souldiours must be readie and diligent to obey incontinently aptly at the stroke battery of the drums whether it be to march forward to stay or to recoile or to turne their faces and weapons towards any place To this end all Collonels must ordaine that all the drums haue one kind and maner of battery and that they do vse al one forme of sounding to the field of sounding the alarme and to vse one proper sound to plant themselues in battell to aduance themselues to recoyle to turne in battell themselues from one side to another to make retraite and in sum to signifie all other points that the voice of one person alone cannot make so easily to be vnderstood as dooth the sound of many drums the which make themselues to be hard in the greatest tumults and throngs The souldiors also ought to be so attentiue to hearken and giue eare to that which is spoken and commanded that they néed neuer to be deceiued the drums likewise ought to be ready to batter their caisses according to the sound of the collonels trumpets by the which they must altogether direct and gouerne their batteries The Collonels trumpet ought to be expert in all these sounds that he be able to vtter them so plainly that the drums take not one thing for an other but that he know how to expres the same according to his Collonels commandement néere vnto whose person he ought to be euer not to abandon him to yéeld a reason what mooues me to appoint trumpets for footmen it is in respect that they may be more cléerly vnderstood then drums can be if any great tumult should arise that the drums should alter change their sound for they are to be directed by trumpets the sound wherof is hier theÌ„ the battery of drums the which yâ— Zwizers who first inuented drums haue very wel â—…ried therfore let colloâ—…ls prouide that they haue truÌ„pets before their battailloÌ„s that the Chieftains may signifie admonish theÌ„ what they haue to do All these things togither with ech seueral sound must be taught shewed from point to point to ech particular band apart before they be ranged togither in battel to the intent they may haue the full art to maintaine their order ranks without that any place how difficile soeuer be able to disband or disseuer them And also that the sound of the trumpet be so familiar vnto them that they caÌ„not erre neither take one thing for another but that the Collonels bands be ech one priuatly fully instructed in all that which the battaillons ought to do being assembled with the armie And for that armes are brought to seuerall kinds of battels either in respect of the enimies in sight or for feare of some sodaine assault ech band ought to be exercised in such sort and so instructed that they may with great assurance march
Argolateares a pretie distance off In this sort if one squadron happen to be broken yet shal another make head vpon the enimie while they may retyre troupe againe which is the only safetie as wel of Horsemen as footmen And albeit in the day of seruice it is the part of the high marshall himselfe to giue order in what sort and with what troupes the charges shal be giuen or receiued it is also the Lieutenants part as well to giue his aduise as also to be a leader in all these actions He ought therefore to take great regard to the ground where he meaneth to giue the charge for if he charge in troupe the falling of a few horse in the for most rankes may disorder and foile the whole troupe Before the front of his owne footmen let him neuer giue charge for it hath bin séene that horsemen being repulsed haue bene foreed in vpon their own footmen disordered them Let the horse therefore charge vpon the flanke of the enimie and diligently attend if by any accident they can perceiue any breaking or opening in the side of his enimies battell and then sodainly to charge that breach for as horsemen are inferiours to wel ordered footmen so vpon any smal disorder they carrie with them victory And for that in our age there hath arisen diuers fodaine effects not looked for wrought by the good and well guiding of horsemen I thinke it good somewhat more amplie to delate vpon this point specially as I said before in appointing out a place apart from the battel ranks wherin the Cauallarie may be ranged to the intent they may with good scope fréely and fitly turne and run with their squadrons and ranks in charging the enimy in taking charge likewise of them and in all other enterprises considering that the troopes of horsemen in retyring or turning round do often disorder and break their own infanterie either through the discommoditie of the place or through the want of the good and warie guiding of them Contrariwise at other times by their aduised and spéedie serâ—… a small number of horsemen well bent and better guided haue bêene séene to enter very couragiously into a great battaite of the enimies footemen and either for that they were slenderly flanked with Hargabuziers or by the disaduantage of the grouÌ„d or being disordered by meanes of some errour or through some other sinister chance or by meanes the said battaile was guided by vnequall or vncertaine pase or through the naughtie indeuor and diligence of rawe and vnpractised souldiers or in going through a streight place or passage of water or otherwise horsemen haue easilie disordered and broken their battailes and all the rest of a whole armie But yet are they not able to encounter with a well ordered square battell of pikes if their couragious and well ranged rankes keepe their araie and when the horsemen charge doe clinge and sarrie verie néere together in the fore rancke and set shoulder to shoulder with their pikes well couched and crossed bending them in both their handes straight before them and their followers at their backes laying theyr pikes ouer their foregoers shouldiers and so stand at the push besides the shouldering of the foreranks together hauing pitched their pikes vnder one of their feete in the ground they stoope and bow downe so loe with their bodies that their followers may easilie come to seruice behinde their backes where some doe vse to place the light armed pikes who amongst some nations for want of brest plates of Iron vse tand lether paper platecoates iackets c. For a gorget thicke folded kerchefes about their neck a scull of Iron for a head péece and a Uenetian or lether Shéeld and Target at their backes to vse with their short Swordes at the close of a battaile and in a throng The squadron of pikemen hauing couched and crossed their pikes brest high closely sarred together are as hard to be pearst with horsemen as an angrie Porcapine or Hedgehog with the end of a bare finger Wherefore to ouerthrowe a maine square battaile planted in that order it is good to vse the aide of Hargolateares who must first scale the fronte and ranks of the battels and then being seconded by the lances men at armes breake their araie and whole battaile In the erecution whereof it is good to vse the Rutters order which somewhat differs from the French mans fight for he encountring the enemie cannot indure any troope to be néere his long stretched ranckes because of breaking his course but the retire fighteth in this sort When the retire is approched néere enough vnto the enemie the first ranke dooth aduance vpon them and when he hath discharged his Pistolet he doth run still in forward as dooth the French who doth still pursue his point but more short on the right hand or on the left according vnto the place where he is and so is also spéedely followed by the second ranke which dooth the same Then the third followeth the second to giue the charge as soone as euer he séeth him departed that stood before him all the rankes following one another in such maner euen vnto the last the hindermost runneth they fighting with Pistolets onely for to come vnto their foreriders they standing all along one at anothers backe And for so much as it is impossible but that when they do present themselues some of them or else their horses be slaine Therefore so soone as euer one of the formost ranke is séene to fall downe he that is in the second ranke directly behinde him that is departed or else disabled must take his place and the next behind him in the third ranke must furnish the same voide ranke wherein he was in the second and so the rest in like order so that they alwaies make their formost rankes of the most assured for in all things namely in â—…eates of armes the beginning is of greatest moment some to break the front of armed pikes do vse to cause the men at armes dismount and in their complet armor to charge them with their launces Some others hold an opinion that the maner of the Germans is best who kéepe alwaies their maine troopes standing cause only one ranke from the front to charge the same being repulsed to retire to the taile and backe of the standing troope then an other to charge and retire to the taile backe as the former whereby they maintaine the whole troope in full strength vntil they sée the footmen sway or breake that their horsemen enter Then presently they back them with an other ranke those againe with an other vntill they sée cause either to follow with the whole troope or to staie this is thought to be the surest and most orderly forme of charging of all others notwithstanding the accustomed whéeling about of the rutters which they vse with their whole troopes euery one after an other giuing the enemie
be alwaies good to match some Hargabuse or Musketeare together with pikemen as well that they may be the better able to defend themselues as also by the discharge of their hargabuze to giue warning to the rest if any of them should happen to be surprised by the enemie This officer ought to be both diligent painefull considering how great a charge dependeth vpon these scouts no lesse theÌ„ the preseruation or destruction of the whole campe and therefore he ought continually both day night either himselfe in person or by some other of great trust in his absence from time to time to peruse and examine the order and demeanour of these Scoutes and courriers giuing order for reformation of all that he shall finde amisse and so soone as he shall receiue any intelligence forthwith to aduertise the Lord High Marshall This officer in the auncient Romaine warres was neuer in vse for they would neuer admit any watch without the trenches of their campe but obserued this order that euery night one third part of the armie remained armed the other two thirds tooke their rest and this armed part they deuided into 4 quarters and appointed to euerie watch of the night one quarter which went and walked continually about the trenches of the Campe to heare and sée if they could discerne any noise or stirring néere the Campe the other thrée quarters resting in the meane time returned to the place of assemblie And when the first watch of the night was ended then departed an other quarter to the reléefe of the watch and the quarter that had watched returned to the place of assemblie And thus they continued reléeuing the watch vntill day so that the enemie could neuer approch their campe but they found one third part in armes who were able to kéepe them play vntil the rest had put themselues in order But after that Militarie discipline grew to corruption that souldiors neglecting honor and securitie would no longer abide the hardnesse and the seueritie of the auncient discipline they inuented this kind of forren scoute that the paines of a few might leaue the rest at ease But what mischiefe hath and may thereby ensue histories will shew vs and common reason may soone teach vs. Therefore in time of danger and suspect of the enemie I would notwithstanding the forren scoutes and left sentinels vse this Romaine diuision and strong order of watch The office of the high Marshall of the field or maister of the Campe. SUndry famous writers affirme that a Prince dooth no lesse execute his kingly authoritie dignitie when with a sincéere iudgement and equall ballance he dooth chastise offendors and oppresse malefactors then when by good gouerment and clemencie herewardes the meritorious and exalts and raiseth vp those that be good Therefore the Knight Marshall of the field being created with entire and full authority in his office ought to prouide that assured iustice be ministred in the armie and that he heare and determine controuersies and punish disorders no lesse then is vsed in the gouernment of a well ordered cittie state or kingdome since that in an armie there commonly be such men of excellent qualitie that they for the most part merit the gouernment of great kingdomes and monarchies For this respect he ought to prouide himselfe of Auditors and Pretâ—…res of sufficient excellencie and that they be of good practise learned and such as be resolute in the knowledge and rules of iustice Neuerthelesse conformable to the stile and order vsed in the lawes and exercise of armes and that can thereby vnderstand decide and giue sentence touching all causes and martial lawes since that men of warre are not bound of dutie to obserue any thing but that which is ordained them of their Captaine generall being principally grounded vpon naturall reason and the same to be published by open proclamation that the whole campe may haue notice thereof and to obserue and haue in reuerence the holy Cannons of the Catholike Christian lawes the which in respect of the cause and casualties of death is chéefly to be respected He must prouide himselfe of a prouost which hath knowledge and skill in that profession and that he haue about him a conuenient number of coadiutors and amongst them one to be the executor of iustice It is very requisite he take order that the said prouost with his folowers familie yea euen he that doth execute iustice that is to say the hangman go in their apparrell ciuilly and not abiectly as some in sundry countries are accustomed to the end that they may be accounted of reputation in their office and obeyed as of dutie is conuenient for the ciuilitie of habite and apparrell amongst the greatest part of people carries and procures a certaine credit and respect although besides their office ought publikely to bee pronounced with a generall proclamation vnder paine of life to bee obeyed He ought to prohibite all souldiors except the sergeants who for diuers respects ought to haue their weapons at hand that they do not carrie their weapons in the campe at what time soâ—…uer as pikes halberds muskets or caliuers or any others therby to preuent and auoid as much as may be the slaughters and treasons which in like places men of naughtie nature are accustomed to worke one against another In respect whereof it is necessary for him to banish all quarrels by all possible means to barre the rehearsall and pursuites of discords in time of war the which carries with it great disquiet and hinderance to the principall intent and dutie which a discréete and practised souldiour is bound vnto for there hath bin found many which haue departed from their owne nations cities houses and followed the warres not with minds to do seruice nor to become expert in the exercise of armes neither to become of account amongst other men of valoure whereby they might afterwards merit a conformable recompence equall to their vertue and valiancie but they are caried thither with a determination to liue as néere as they can licentiously or rather to kill their fathers enemies to reuenge some priuate quarrell c. and so execute traiterous slaughters in place of obeying and susteining iustice whereas it is the part of all good souldiors to maintaine the due execution thereof and to punish the contemners Merchants victualers artificers and such others as bring wares to the campe he must take order that they be courteously fauourably vsed to the intent that they may vtter their wares willingly safely foreséeing that they be paid with good money vsing towards them a louing countenance procuring them a conuoy sufficient gard as well for their coÌ„ming as for their departing to the intent they may with good wils be occasioned to returne the more spéedely so remaine altogether satisfied without suspect of being robbed or spoiled of théeues and flibutors for which he ought diligently sufficiently to prouide since that by
professors of thys honourable discipline I therefore resolue with my selfe to declare my opinion but onely in generall and not in particuler which I leaue to those that be Maisters of this warlike Architecture Thys arte for the most part is grounded vppon the knowledge how to accomodate all things with a requisite forme agréeable to the situation of the ground where one determines to fortifie The which ought to be made with Trenches and conuenient workmanshyp well flanked and the circute of the ground wythin as néere as is possible large on euery side and so towards the manifest oppositions of the enemies there ought to be planted and made round and sharpe corners The meanes howe to doe the same is to leaue them beneath in the Ditch as they bee and from the midst vpwarde rounded or pared for aboue where they be most easily battered they be round to the intent they may be the stronger and beneath sharpe which may be very well defended from the shotte which the enemie cannot lay so low as if the angle were round beneath and thys is the best order that may be vsed touching the sharp corners of Bulwarks Towards the opposition of the enemie these foresaid angles or corners curtines couers or other such like workes of bulwarks ought to be turned with theyr defence of Casamatte with theyr coūtercouers that is to say shadowed in such sort as they cannot be battered or choked of the foresaide platformes placed opposite by the enemy and much lesse be séene or discerned if it be possible Neyther let him put his confidence in counterscarpes or els in adioyned platformes bulwarks or Caualieres sholdered and arteficially made which doo couer or shadow thē neither in déepe Ditches that doo incompasse them for that the oppositions beeing manifest the one may be scaled and the other broken downe with Pickaxe Spade for by the fauourable couer of close and crooked Ditches and Trenches Pyoners may very easily be guided with those and such like instruments vnto them beeing euer accompanied with a good garde of Souldiours Note that the Bastillions be massiue the Parapettes grosse the Gabions strong and stifly radled and full of good matter of earth purged from stones apt to be incorporated and cleaue together and aboue all it is requisite the Fortresse be compassed wyth strong Ditches that is to say cutte out of firme and naturall grounde and not forced vppe of heaped earth which is remooueable and that they be large profound and deepe in the which the fortification may remaine couered and closely hid euen to the height of the Scarpe and edge of the same to the intent the Parapettes be onely seene and no other Take speciall care that the Scarpe of the wall or the Trenches doo not so much decline that by theyr ouer-much declination the circuit of the Forte the which is in making be not deuoured and made straighter then was determined and the worke did require the want of the obseruation wherof hath brought many fortifications to great defects When these fortifications be redused into a reasonable condition perfect forme it is an easie thing for a Mason to mantle the same with a wall of stone sande and chalke being a morter more firme and stable doone by the ayde neuerthelesse of those that haue knowledge in Architecture For that in the greatest part of thys worke it is not necessarie that the wall therof cause any other effect thē onely to sustaine wyth his counterforts and other arteficiall deuises the weight of the earth and to prouide in the one and in the other of them as neere as it is possible Countermines lyghtes breathings hoales or windowes and pittes wrought in theyr right places and in due sorte therby to auoyde and make frustrate the Mynes hoales and Ouens that the enimy shall cause to be made By the comoditie of which Countermines is vnderstoode and known very comodiously when the enemy dooth secretly labour vnderneath the earth to annoy the besieged To bee aduertised therof place within these Caues vpon the playne ground a Drum on the one end and lay certaine dice vppon the skinne which dice the enemy labouring vnder the earth neere vnto the wall cannot lye still and quiet but by reason of theyr worke vnder the earth although not séene of the Defendants doe remoue and leape Otherwise placing within the sayd Countermynes and vpon the playne ground a bason of Copper Tinne or Brasse or of such like mettall full of Water the enemie labouring vnder the earth neere vnto the wall by reason of the sayd strokes and working although the same remayne vnséene of the eye neuerthelesse the water shall be séene to remooue and tremble a manifest shewe of their myning which may suddaynly be preuented by meanes of these Countermynes or such like preparation as dooth serue for that purpose Some vse to lay a sacke of Wooll in the Countermines and vpon the same a bason of Copper wherein is put thrée or 4. round harde pease the which will mooue and ring against the side of the bottome of the bason at the strokes of the Miners of the enemie These walled Countermines séeme to be sufficient to finde out any other hidden or secrete deceite of the enemie neither ought they in my iudgement to be dispraysed as some doe which cause them not to be made in their fortifications alledging for their ercuse the auoyding of expence which presumption perchance in the ende will become the cause of theyr ruine Note that the firme and reall deefnce consistes more in the thicke and grosse platformes of earth béeing well compounded and made of good matter rather then in stone walles although they be meruailous massiue and of extreame thicknes considering that against the force and violent furie of Artillarie that substaunce dooth most resist and receiue lesse domage by theyr blowes giuing place with an arteficiall yeelding rather then by the force of stubborne resistaunce It is manifest that to ruinate or make that wall to fal which dooth lightly giue place to the blowes of the Artillarie and suffers the bullets to enter and pearse the same with smal difficultie that the same be shaken cut and loosed with the often blowes of Artillarie and by the often reiterating of vollées of shot as of necessitie you must to breake and beate downe the same yet notwithstanding there followes very small effect for that sometimes the same is battered lesse and with lesse furie then is requisite But the massiue wall of stone greater ruine is made by the enemy thē sometimes he desires and with small labour which onely comes to passe by the stubborne resistance of the firme and massiue deade wall the which the Artillarie for the most part as well farre of the battery as néere it only by the forceable shaking therof brings great confusion to the defenders Therefore besides these foresaid aduertisements it is conuenient a good Souldiour haue long practise of the effects extreme force of
may it appeare to what ende the order and battailes ranged in the Campe doe serue If as I said before it chaunce that the Assaylants be repulsed as great store of shotte as is possible must be retained vppon the brinckes of the Ditches within the Trenches to shoote alwaies at the defences And likewise the Cannoniers ought to be readie at that instant to doo theyr duetie if it so chaunce For it is the custome of the besieged at the repulse of an Assault the souldiours more willingly doo show themselues and appeare carelesly at the breaches then at the beginning through the hart and courage they haue taken to sée theyr enemies repulsed and likewise at the loope holes and ouer the Rampiers for they thinke theÌ„ that no man can hurt them So that if the shotte be plyed it shal greatly endomage them benefit the retraite very much and shall saue many good Souldiours If the Armie be lodged in three or foure seueral Camps fortefyed lodgings as before I haue touched euery one in theyr quar ter must thus be guided And during the assault the General Sergiant Maiors and other Counsellers of the warre must haue an eye to all things and specially to the nature and qualitie of the assaults ayding them with all artificiall and warlike inuentions And if there be any that linger behinde at the tayle of the rest there must be Officers appointed of purpose without sparing of any to chase them forwards with naked swordes and peâ—…force them with blowes to accompany the Assaylants The Generall or the great Maister of the Artillarie as I haue already said must vse dilligence to cause the Gunners and the other shotte to ayde the assault but so as they hurte not theyr owne companions Neyther must the Generall euer rest in any one place but ryde héere and there and direct all thinges vnlesse he haue the commoditie to see all the assaults and affayres of the Campe from some place or platforme from whence he must by some worthy Caualieres giue order what is to be doone If any alarum chaunce in the Armie towardes the Champaigne during the assault those which be at the assault must not leaue nor slacke theyr duetie for the Marshall and those Collonels appointed for that purpose are to resist the same It hath béene somtimes likewise séene although very seldom that a number of Souldiours haue sallied out of the Towne during the assault to be an impediment to the Assailants and to affright them behind And therefore the Marshall of the Fielde hauing seuerall Squares by themselues for such like accidents must sende one of them that may incontinently marche to gyue them a furious repulse and to enter pesle-mesle with them if it be possible It is a thing almost neuer accomplished yet neuerthelesse they must doo theyr deuoire Nowe if it chaunce that the Towne be taken by assaulte a publique band or cry must be made that the bootie and sacke shal be gyuen as well to them that haue stood in battayle as to those that were at the Assault Other wise it were almost impossible to constraine any one to kéepe order but that euery one woulde be at the spoyle Immediatly vpon the taking of the Towne the Prince or Generall béeing accompanied with 20. or 30. Caualieres and other of his Garde must enter into the Towne with his sworde naked in his hand and must goe to the principall Church to giue God thanks for his victorie and also to defend that the ornaments which appertaine to the Church be not pylled nor robbed must leaue people to garde the same And if the enemie doo not stand to theyr defence in the Churches he must prohibite and hinder to his power that no blood be shedde in them for the house of God ought to be pure and frée from slaughters And from thence he must goe to other Churches and by and in the streetes likewise hinder such euils Incontinently he must make cry through the Cittie that none vppon payne of hanging neither take nor spoyle any Churches Also that vpon thys paine none doo violate nor vse force to any religious woman and that not any also doo violate Maydes or married women or any others against theyr wils which lawes must be strongly kept and those seuerely punished that offends therein c. Thys doone he must sende for his Marshall of lodgings and cause him to deuide the Quarters for those people he would haue lodged in the Towne wherein there is alwaies some trouble and many debates doo arise For those which haue pilled and taken the houses will not auoide by theyr good willes and therefore hée must haue a good eye that these dissentions and debates doo not arise For oftentimes whole bands doe trouble themselues wyth these particulers Some to auoyde these dissentions doo sweare certaine substantiall persons of euery Bande to make booties for all the rest and to become accountable that equall distribution may be vsed it béeing brought to the Ensigne which thing I iudge impossible to be obserued in our age It hath béene the vse in some Armies that after the winning of a Towne to retyre to the Campe. And of some that they did all withdrawe themselues within the Towne and lodge there Which two contrarieties I leaue to the discretion of the Chiefetaines vnlesse the Campe béeing very well fortefyed and accomodated and contrariwise the Towne small and straight of lodging in this case I would wish them to retire to the Campe especially if you meane to put a Garison in the Towne thereby to auoyde the spoyle of victuals and other confusions But if the Campe be not well fortefied and that you doo feare the comming of the Enemie and that the Towne be wide and great sufficient to lodge your Armie then shal it be good to enter the Towne for it shall be hard vpon occasion when necessitie requires to cause all the Souldiours to retyre out of the Towne to the fielde but that a great part will remaine behind vnlesse a man will sette the whole Towne on fyre which is the onely way to cause them abandon the Towne and otherwise not but with great labour and length of time Thus haue I partly touched what is to be doone at the assault of a Towne at the sacke thereof and after the spoyle Onelie I haue omitted that the great Maister of the Artillary to procure a spéedie battery must now and then to harten and encourage the Gunners giue them seuerally and vpon occasion certaine péeces of money or gold to make them apply a pace the battery And likewise that the Generall when the souldiours stande readie to giue the assault and that they be in order to march that he cause to be published before the Assailants that the first which foreseth the breach and enters the Towne shal haue such a sum of money by him limitted and the second so much which is lesse and the third not so much as the other two The which
be more encouraged let him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first with the firing of 〈◊〉 in hys paâ—… and so by â—…egrees boâ—…h to 〈◊〉 off to bow and beare vâ—… hys body and so consiquently to attaine to the leuell and practise of an assured and seruiâ—…eable shot readily chaâ—…ge and with a 〈◊〉 couch discharge making choâ—…se at the â—…ame instant of his marke with a quicke and vigyâ—…ant eye Hys Fiaske and Tutchbaxe must keepe hys Pouder hys purse and mouth hys bullets in skyrmysh hys left hand must hold hys match and Peece and the right haâ—…d vse the office of chargyng and dischargyng Beyng agaynst he Enemy why left with an 〈◊〉 course heâ—… doth trauerse hys pâ—…layne ground or else takes aduantage of his place and iâ—…uasion as vnder the safegard of a Trench the backe of a Dytch olde wall tree or such lyk let hym euer fyrst loade hys Peâ—…ce wyth Pouder out of hys Flaske then with hyr Bullet last wyth amuring and tutch Pouder 〈◊〉 euer that the 〈◊〉 be elâ—…ane the couer 〈◊〉 and the Tutch hole wyde or else wei 〈◊〉 so that still obseruing modest order tâ—… hâ—…s trauerse neither euerflow nor ouer speedy to the 〈◊〉 he become not each mans marke through his stuggishâ—…es nor run hiâ—…selfe out of breath through his owne 〈◊〉 for the most parte 〈◊〉 hys side towards hys enemie let him discharge going buâ—… euer standyng so shall he the better 〈◊〉 the enemies shot and choose his assuâ—…ed aduantâ—…ge A Souldier ought to bee carefull that his furniture be good substantiaâ—…l â—…nd 〈◊〉 from raine the charge of hys Flaske iust for his Peece and the Spring quicke and sharpe The Pâ—…pe of hys Tuchboxe somewhat wyde that the Pouder may haue free passage which otherwise would choake vp In time of marching and trauailyng by the way let hym keepe a paper in the pan and tutch hoale and in wet waether haue a case for hys Peece somewhat portable or else of necessitie hee must keepe the same from wette vnder hys Arme-hoale or Cassocke or by some other inuention free from domage of the weather and hys match in hys pocket only that except which he burnes and that likewise so close in the hollow of hys hand or some artificiall pipe of Peuter hanging at his girdle as the coale by wette or water goe not out It is moreouer requisite that a Souldier keepe his Cocke with oyle free in falling and hys Peece bright without rusting neither must hee want hys necessary tooles as a Scowrer Tyrebale worme hauing euery one a vice to turne into the ende of the scouring sticke so that if through wet wether or any other Accident hys peece will not be discharged the carefull Souldier may with his Tyreball pull out hys bullet with the worme the Paper and wet Pouder and with hys Scowrer make hys Peece cleane within His Scowrer must be trimmed on the end with a Lynnen cloth of a sufficient substance therewith to make cleane the cannon of hys Peece within The one end of hys Skouring sticke ought to haue a round end of bone of iust bignes with the mouth of hys Peece therewithall at hys pleasure to ramme in Pouder Paper or in stéed of paper such soft hayre as they stuffe Saddles withal the danger whereof is not lyke but this the Souldier must vse when time permits During the time of his seruice let him euer haue diligeÌ„t care to keepe hys Peece cleane and bright within and once a fortnight or at the least once a moneth take out the Bréech and throughly view and wash the Barrell within to see whether it hath any flawes brackes chambers frettinges or ruptures which would endanger the breakyâ—…g thereof especially if before hand the end of hys bare Scowrer haue giuen hym any cause to suspect such faultes to the intent he may change the same for a new for feare of spoiling himselfe He that loues the safety of hys owne person and delightes in the goodnes and beauty of a Peece let hym alwayes make choyse of one that is double breeched and if it bee possible a Myllan Peece for they bee of a cough and perfecte temper light square bygge of Bréech and very strong where the Pouder doth lye and where the vyolent force of the fire doth consist and notwithstandyng thynne at the ende Our English Peeces approach very neere vnto them in goodnes and beauty their heauines onely excepted so that they bee made of purpose and not one of these common sale Peeces with round Barrels wherevnto a beaten Souldier will haue great respect and choose rather to pay double money for a good Peece then to spare hys Purse and endanger hymselfe But to returne to my matter let a Souldier haue hangyng euer at the strynges of hys Tutch boxe or some other ready part of hys garment a couple of proyning priâ—…es at the least that if by fortune the tutch hole of hys peece be stopped or furred vp hee may therewith both make his pan cleane and yeeld a ready passage that the fire may haue her course by incorporating both the tutch Pouder without and the corne Pouder within together But a ready Souldier will alwayes foresee that the toutch-hole be so wide as the Pouder without in the Pan may haue free concourse to that within the Peece thereby to hasten more speedy discharge considering a Souldier can not haue leasure and commodity to proine his Peece at al times but must of necessity vse a great dexterity But since I am fallen into the speech of a quicke charge and nimble discharge I will by the way declare the opinion of certaine Nations therein Experience of late daies hath taught vs that those Nations which follow the warres inuent euerie way how they may endomage the enemie in all their enterprises but especially in Skirmish which for the most part consistes in shot and by such as can with the eye of his minde make an assured leuell and with a nimble discharge both choose out and kill his enemie And therefore those Souldiers which in our time haue bene for the most part leuied in the lowe Countries especiallie those of Artoyes and Henault called by the generall name of Wallownes haue vsed to hange about their neckes vppon a Baudricke or border or at their girdles certaine Pypes which they call Charges of Copper and Tyn made with couers which they thinke in skirmish to be the most readiest way But the Spaniard dispising that order doth altogether vse his flaske The French man both charge and flaske But some of our English nation their pocket which in respect of the danger of the sparkes of their Match the vncertaine charge the expence and spoile of Pouder the discommodity of wette I account more apt for the show of a triumph and wanton skirmish before Ladyes and Gentlewomen then fit for the field in a day of seruice in the face of the Enemye and in like sort the charge which either doth shed and loose his Pouder
water which in raine doth runne downe alongst the wood Euerie Souldier ought to carrie his Hargabuse Pike or Halberde vppon that Shoulder and side which is outward in rancke for that side which is discouered inward is more defended by the general order that is kept then any of the other Which order of carying Armes is not onely ready and commodious to vse at all occasions but also doth make a gallant shew and a generall forme of good proportion and true prospect a thing most necessarie for a man of valour to vse in all his doings Hee ought likewise euer to haue good regard to weare his weapon of like length the other Souldiers vse which in marching doth make the rancks to be of one iust line and in shew of a seemely and streight proportion causing the whole band to carie a braue and singular grace A Souldier ought euer to retaine and keepe his Armes in safetie and foorth comming for hée is more to be detested then a Coward that will loose or play away any part thereof or refuse it for his ease or to auoid paynes wherefore such a one is to be dismissed with punishment or made some abiect Pyoner Therefore during his seruice and after his returne home let him still be wedded to his weapons and armour that when hee is called vpon againe to serue his Prince he be not enforced to furnish himselfe againe with new Armes sometimes old of little value and lesse goodnes as some Souldiers now a dayes to their great discommendation do vse A custome altogether different from the true exercise of Armes and varying from the rule of other warlike Nations which make true profession of Armes amongst the which the Spaniards and Zuitzers at this day are to be commended the one for obseruing an apt sumptuous and warlike choise therein and the other for that they beare all sortes of Armes with great aduantage both in length strength the which vnto them becomes very familiar through the ability of body they possesse Those Souldiers which can not endure the toile and trauaile to beare Armes of defence namely the Pikeman and Halberdier are made subiect to receiue both blowes and death by the handes of their Enemies or through their disaduantage to take a shamefull flight or at the first encounter to remaine their prisoners Therefore it is very necessary for a Souldier to take paines in daily practise and to acquaint himselfe throughly in the exercise and carryage of Armes whereof hee ought to vse practise specially of those that bee offensiue and in those which ordinarily wée are accustomed to carrie as the Rapier and Dagger Pyke and Halberd with such like without making open and apparant profession of the practise thereof but secret and seuerall from the wide sight of the world that afterwardes hee may put the same in practise to his greater aduantage and commendation Finally the Halberdier who is armed either with Brigandine or Corslet ought of dutie to attend with his Halberd when his turne comes about his ensigne in marching set Squares in the Captaines Lodging and Tent for his guard and at the entrance of a house c. to bée the formost person to force the passage But in a day of battaile the old Romaine Shield and a short sharpe pointed sword to execute in a throng of men excéedes the Halberd and browne Bill Besides the pikeman which is armed all ouer with a Corslet and is to performe his dutie in a maine Square stand oâ—… Battaile to receiue the shocke of horse men or charge of the enemies infanterie There bee yet another sort of light armed Pikes which only haue the forepart of a Corslet and a Headpéece as is the Almaine Riuet or a good light Iacke or plate Coate these sometimes may be sent amongst the forlorne hoope of Hargabusiers to defend them from the inuasions of Horsemen But touching shot I would wish our Nation being men of strong constitution of bodie to beare a Peece betwixt the boare of a Caliuer and a Musket the which with smal vse they would be able to wéeld very well at the armes end which would cary a great aduantage in skirmish the which like vnto the Hargabuse they might as I said before exercise and with a galant and assured raising vp the crooked end of the stocke to his breast hauing before hand fitted the Coale of his match to giue quick iust fire wherof euer he must take the certain measure must then discharge amidst his modest trauerse to his greatest aduantage and to endomage his enemies which done he must first fold vp againe the â—…lne match in a ready and conuenient sort betwixt his fingers hauing both the endes of his match light at once that whilest the one is spent and in kindling againe the other may serue his turne Besides these foresaid weapons I would not thinke it inconuenient to haue in a band certaine Targets of proofe to march in the front which were very necessarie to defend a ranck of men in a streit lane passage breach or other place from the enemies shot they all closely and in a low order marching vnder the fauour and shade of them as in askirmish I saw put in practise when Cassimire did march with the States Armie vnder Louaine 1578. The Captaine is to set downe by the Generals appointment the summe of all their paies and the difference therein according to euery mans weapon and qualitie But to speake of other directions and Militarie obseruations A Footman that is a Souldier ought aboue all thinges to bee obedient to his Captaine and Officers and neuer abandon his Ensigne nor bee absent from his companie without leaue or speciall let In his march he ought to be modest ready in his rancke obserue a long distance in his Laumbande and kéepe an equall stay in his Alta. If wordes of aduertisement do passe ouer from rancke to rancke alongst the marching band let him deliuer those words plainly and with diligence which the Captaine giues ouer to be pronounced from mouth to mouth as to Passe Parole appertaines If the enemie cause sodaine Arme let his Bale en â—…ouche and his match in the Cocke shew his readie good will either to receiue repulse or giue charge If either for pleasure in a Muster or in any other shew in sport or earnest his company be commaunded to discharge certain volies of shot or a Salua he must either hold his Péece sidelong the ranckes whilest he doth prepare the same or with the end higher then their heads and discharge ouer the toppes of the formost ranckes for feare of hurting his companions which rule they ought to obserue and thereunto be constrained vppon paine of seuere punishment If any enterprise be made in the night let him not only keepe his match close from open shew or falling sparkes but be vigilant and keep silence to the intent that through his negligence and noise their actions be not discouered If he keepe
Sentinell and haue the watch word let him giue â—…are diligently to all rumours noyses and view warely all suspected places to the intent if he heare any trampling neying of Horses or approching enemy which hee may the more easily hear by making a hole in the ground and laying his care to the same or that he doth see the twinckling light of matches or perceiue any other presumption of the enemie hee may either by discharging his Péece and crying S. George Arme Arme giue warning to the next Corpes of guard that the enemie doth approch or else if his suddeine inuasion require not present aduertisement he may deferre the report thereof vntill the comming of the next Rounde vnto whom he must from point to point declare what he hath séene and heard During the time of his Sentinel hee ought to keepe him selfe very close wakefull secrete and without noise or rumour his match close and sure from seeing and his péece readie charged loaden with her Bullet and proind with tutch pouder If the Round or any other Officer come to search the watch Sentinels when he doth first heare or sée them approch let him so soone as he doth perceiue theÌ„ demand with a lowd voice Qui vala Who goes there to which wheÌ„ answere is made Friends and that they draw néerer then let him call to them and commaund that all the whole troupe but onely one with the watchwoord to make present stay vntill the woord be giuen And if at the same instant another Round should come an other way let him cause the one of them to pawse and abide still vntil he haue receiued the woord of the other that thereby he may avoyd the inuironing snares of forrayne or priuie enemies which might by that meanes surprise him Therefore in this respect let him take great care especially before a Towne besieged or about the circuit of a Campe and that he alwayes remember to receiue him that giues the word at the end of his Péece or Pike and out of danger hauing his match ready in his Cocke ready to giue fire thereby to reward him with a Bullet as an enemie if hee giue a wrong word or entertaine him as a friend if hée giue the right for vnder colour of giuing the word many Sentinels haue lost their liues and suddaine surprises and Canuisados haue bin giuen If in the night Arme be giuen in the Campe he must make repaire immediatly with his Peece and Furniture so his Ensigne where he shall be emploiedas occasion doth offer That he may be the more ready at any sodaine Arme lying in a Towne in Garrison and being furrierd and lodged in a house hee ought to haue all the night burning in his Chamber by him a Candle or Lampe or at the least his fire so well raked vp as hee may light a Candle at the Coales with a match of Brimstone or otherwise that thereby he may the more spéedily not only find his Armes which of purpose he ought to lay readily in an ordinarie place but also be better able to prepare himselfe and kindle his match with all spéede Note that a Souldier in garrison being furrierd in a house is allowed the best bed and chamber saue one faire shéets board clothes plates napkins towels dressing of his meate seruice at the Table oile vineger salt mustard candle light fire c. Whilest a Souldier is in the Campe hee ought neuer to lye out of his clothes his Peece ready charged must lye by his side his furniture at his girdle which is his Flaske Match Tutch-boxe his Rapier very ready and his Poynado likewise at his Girdle which if they should be so monstrous Daggers or such a Cutlers shop as our English FeÌ„sers are accustomed to wear they would be both combrous in cariage and troublesome to his companions and to himselfe specially when they lye in their Cabbines A Souldier in Campe must make choise of two or thrée or more Camerades such as for experience fidelity and conditions do best agrée with his nature that be tryed Souldiers and trustie friendes to the intent that like louing brethren they may support one another in all aduerse fortune supply each others wants As for example hauing marched all day and comming at night to the place where they must encampe one of them chooseth out the dryest and warmest plot of ground he can get in the quarter which is appointed to his band for lodging place doth kéepe all their Clokes Armes and Baggage whilest another makes prouision with one of their boyes in some adioyning Uillage if time and safety from the Enemie doth permit for long straw both to couer their Cabbin and make their bedd of during the time that an other with a litle Hatchet which with a Lether Bottel for drinke a litle Kettle to séeth meat in and a bagge of Salt which are to be borne of the Boyes amongest other Baggage and are most necessarie things for encamping doth cut downe forked Bowes and long Poales to frame and reare vp their Cabbin withall and prouide timber or firewood if it be in Winter or when neede requires whilst an other doth visite Viuandiers and Uictualers if any follow the Campe for bread drinke and other eates if otherwise they be not prouided by forrage or Picorée and makes a hole in the earth wherein hauing made a fire stroken two forked stakes at either side and hanged his Kettle to seath vpon a cudgel of wood vpon the same or that for rost meat he makes a spit woodden Gawberds c. And whilst thus euery one is occupied about their necessarie occasions at one instant they may in due time make prouision for all their wantes and by meanes of this league of amitie amongst them enioy a sufficient time to rest their wearied bodyes which otherwise would be hard to be done Therefore I iudge it very requisite that the whole number vnder the charge of a Desiner or chiefe of a chamber should link themselues together in perfect friendship and aswel in skirmish and fight aide one another as in all other actions by which inuincible knot they should receaue wonderfull commoditie It importes much that a Souldier should bee tractable for a man cannot imagine a thing either more ingenuqus or better then due and conuenient ciuility Therefore let him accustome himselfe rather to be of a Saturnine and seuere condition then a common skoffer and an ordinarie make sport that he may continue in friendship with his companions and continually remaine in their amity Moreouer he is much to be commended which aptly with facilitie and great dexterity can bee conuersant with euery one wherein if a man doe not with great iudgement very circumspectly gouerne himselfe he shall for the most part incurre the euill will of those in whose company he remaines The which dealing is of great importance aswell for the interest of his life and proper honor and credite by which meanes the one and the
worthy and commendable acts spring of vigilant warinesse Therefore a corporall cape de squadre disnier or chiefe of chamber or how you list to terme theÌ„ ought to be no lesse prudent and carefull ouer the gouernment of his people then a father in ruling of his family and as euery parent doth passe in age his children euen so a corporall should be such that he may exceede anâ—… souldier iâ—… not by experience and yeares at leastwise with diligence and sharpenesse of wit Through which indeuour and exercise ioyned with a feruent desire and delight to attaine to the perfit tip of this honourable profession he shall euery day become more capâ—…able and of greater experience wherefore I would as neare as is possible not only haue him expresly acquainted with the aduertisements and martiall lawes following but also indâ—…ed with the best of thâ—…se conditions which I haue set out in my former discourse of a priuate souldier since ytâ—…o mount vp to this second degrée it is very necessary requisite that he haue made long abode in the practise and experience in the first step of seruice appertaining to a priuate souldier The captaine must select choose souâ—…e of the most skilfull souldiers which be honest loyall and perfect catholicke Christians out of euerie hundreth in his â—…and whereof two are to haue charge of the shotte the other two of the pikes euerie one guiding 24. a péece the which ought all of them to be lodged togither and the corporall himselfe in the middest of his charge whereby when anie secret seruice is to be done they may call and assemble by the appointment of the superiour officers their whole squadron or what lesse number els without the sound of anie drum Now then a corporall with his squadron of 25. or more according to the discretion of the captaine lodging togither with his companie must prouide generally for all their reasonable wants of wages match powder and other munition and must instruct them how to handle their weapons He must likewise remember perfectly howe euerie one is armed and furnished when he receiueth them in charge and to see that no part therof be spoiled but preserued neat and trimme and aboue all things to looke well to the behauiour of his companie not suffering them to vse vnlawfull and prohibited gaming neither to giue themselues to drinking and surfetting but to spare of theyr pay to furnish themselues brauely and surely against the enemy wherein he ought to vse his chiefe indeuour And if it happen that any fault is committed his part is not violently to punish the souldier himselfe as heereafter is touched but to make it knowne to his captaine who must not neyther as some rashly do reuenge himselfe but communicate the same with the Marshall or his prouost who onely haue vnder the generall authoritie to punish and this due course of iustice shal be more terrible to the souldier and bréed lesse cuill will in them to the captaine and officers generally in these respects the corporal must touching the foresayd causes or such like or if any souldier be sicke hurt or absent by way of imprisonment or death immediatly make report thereof finding any thing worthy relation and spare no man but deliuer ouer the trueth to the sergeant the sergeant from hym or togither with the corporall to the lieutenant he or they all ioyntly to the captaine who is to take order in the cause Thus shall dignitie of officers be maintained and officers and faultes redressed to the great example of the euill and comfort of the good But somewhat more amply to set down the foresaid respects togither with certayne other aduertisements A corporall must alwaies foresée and examine that the souldiers of his squadron kéep their armes in order clean and intyre and the Hargabusiers stored with match bullets and powder and such like necessaries a thing worthy to be noted and obserued in this profession the which makes shâ—…w that the same is of a good souldier not onely vsed in time of war but in all other times and places being a knowne difference betwixt the legitimate and lewd professors of armes He ought of necessitie still to instruct exhort them that they liue togither friendly wtout discord that they be modest and sparing in their victuals profitable in their apparell and that generally they do shun swearing and blaspheming vpoÌ„ gréeuous punishment by which act of blaspheming and swearing by the holie name of the sacred Trinity they commit greater villany offence before God then if before the world they did commit most wicked acts or infinit errors Likewise let him prohibit al vnlawful games for the performance wherof he ought to procéed with as great dexteritie and curtesie as he can that alway in matters of importance he may haue that due obedience which is required not through crueltie gaine the hate and euill will of those persons which in many other thinges beside are to obey him for to chastise them lies neither in hys power neyther in the arbitriment of other officers although they be of degrees higher then he but doth iustly appertayn to the office of the maister of the campe and marshal of the field The which point is to be noted and obserued to the discredit of some captains which at this day delight to imbrew their murthering hands in the bloud of souldiers and men perchance of honest behauior being moued thereunto through some hatred toy or beastly passion Therefore he must alwayes be mindfull to obserue this honourable rule of diuers good and discréet officers who somtimes do ouersee and winke at light faultes and procéed with a certain modestie and lenitie although in matters of greater insolency with seueritie Notwithstanding these such like authorities the corporall ought to be no lesse obedient to euery least poynt of the marshal lawes and in ranck and aray or in other places where those of greater gouernment be he must performe obserue the part and dutie of a priuate souldier and retain like order and obedience for where our betters be the lesse gâ—…e place But when alone with his squadron he is conducted to yeâ—…ace where he is to make watche and ward then must he take vpon him his office and make prouision of wood or coles that he may alwaies haue fire burning in his corps of gard aswel in the day as in the night and aswel in the summer as in the winter wtout which he ought neuer to kéep watch because it is a most necessary munition for the Hargubusiers to light their match withall â—… for other néedfull respects Likewise he must prouide for oyle for candles for the night time for lanterns and such like at the sergeant maiors handes or of some others who haue charge to prouide for those things are accustomed to distribute the same If he kéep his corps de gard in an open and plain place or otherwise he must conform the company of
his squadron according to the order appointed by his betters and with the most spéedy artificial maner that he can must arme and fortify with ditches trenches and Sentinels the place where he must make his abode with this his small band and troup of souldiers the better to resist the enemies furie or any surprise he might assault him withall considering that sometimes yea and that very often being set vpon the Sentinels and corps de garde be repulsed and haue their throats cut to the great disturbance vniuersall domage of the whole campe He must ordaine his watch in such a place that in the same at all times he may remaine warie and vigilant placing himselfe in the moste high and eminent seate of all the corps de gard to the intent that he may know and discern in due time euery particular accident that shall happen or succéed and thereof immediatly aduertise his captaine of all that hee may prouide remedie with speede according as the case requires Warily and secretly eueÌ„ at the closing of the night vntill the bright spring of the Diana and fayre day light he must ordaine and place Sentinels and often search and visite them with the aid of two of the captaines gentlemen of his companie called of the Italians Lanzze Spezzate or might be termed more aptly extraordinary Lieutenants that he may alwayes remayne vigilant and assured to the intent hee be not assailed vnprouided to his great domage and before he can giue warning of the enemie to the campe which doth rest and lie in safetie in that quarter where he is vnder his charge care and diligence In such cases he ought therefore to imploy the best men he hath that he neuer rest deceiued in a matter of so great importance since that of those which be but meane souldiers or as I may well terme them negligent persons nothing else is to be looked for at their handes but error losse and danger Moreouer he must at the least cause the third part of his squadron to remayne stand continually armed at all poynts both night and day consisting of greater or lesse quantitie of people according as the suspition doth argue the neede of them to be small or great the Hargabusiers hauing their flaskes and furniture tied to their girdles and their peeces readie charged that vpon a sodaine they may contend by skirmish according to needfull occasion and readily resist the enemy without slacking or any remission of time vntill all the squadron be put in order He must be very circumspect that the rest of the souldiers weapons and principally his owne be laid vp and placed in such order one kinde being deuided from another that in one instant they may be speedily and readily armed the which hée must daily put in practise and inure them withall by fained alarmes by speciall commandement and of set purpose which be most necessarie to be practised before-hand for diuers honorable and important respectes worthie to be had in good consideration Therefore let him haue and carie a continual care that their armes neuer remaine in any confused order the which if hée should suffer he should find no doubt to be a great want but the same may be preuented and made easie by accomodating the Hargabusies in ranck one by one vpon a boord or banck the pikes and corslets in order reared and hanged vpon some wall or other apt place in the corps de gard and vpoÌ„ ech particular weapon and péece euery souldier should haue a proper and speciall mark before-hand made whereby to know the same He ought daily to instruct his squadron euerie one apart howe to handle the weapon wherwith they serue the Hargabusier to charge discharge nimbly the pikeman to tosse his pike with great dexterity Sentinels ought with great reason to be placed about the corps of gard to the intent the same may be defended and kept with more safety and securitie He himselfe at the closing of the night must place the first Sentinel and so consequently the rest instructing them orderly what maner they haue to obserâ—…e and howe they ought to gouern theÌ„selues in such accidents as might insue who are to remaine in Sentinel in winter and cold weather but one houre or two at the most but in sommer two or three houres before they be changed for which respect that euery one may be â—…ed with equitie let him first make a iust diuision of his number according to the number of the houres in the night and following that proportioÌ„ let him see the same performed without fauoring or omitting any the which he may the more certainly performe if the names of his souldiers be written in a roll and when the houre-glasse hath run their time which is necessary for him to haue in his corps de gard then to pricke their names and place newe in their roomes so shall ech souldier be partaker of the trauaile and rest marueilously wel satisfied But for that in wars Canuisados Surprises Sallies such like casualties aduertisementes be infinite I will leaue the rest to his owne vigilant discretion suppose it néedlesse to aduertise him of euery particular point more then that I haue and will touch in this my first booke of Militarie directions as cases moste proper for priuate souldiers I therefore at this present thinke it sufficient for a corporall to know that it is necessary he should so dispose the matter through his prouident prouision that all his people may be reduced into order and already haue taken their weapons in their hands before the enemy giue charge vpon them And therfore in time and place of suspition and danger he must place lost Sentinels without the watchword a good distance off from the Corpes de garde in places moste suspect But in other places not néedfull so much to be suspected and that be néerer him he ought to set Sentinels with the watch-word so farre one from an other as it shal seeme vnto him reasonable or requisit that they may inuâ—…ron the ground one within the sight of another or so that the enemy caÌ„not enter or any espion issue without their knowledge If great occasion so demand let him place togither one hargabusier one armed pike to the intent that the one may kéep the enemie far off and in a certain sort sustaine his fury at the point of his pike whilst the Hargabusier with the discharge of his péece giues arme to the corpes de garde and camp which exployt may be the better performed if a corporall shippe of pikemen be ioyned togither with another of shot Somtimes without making any noyse or rumour Arme is giuen to the campe for one of the two Sentinels may retyre and make relation to the corporall what hath appeared bin séene hard or happened wherby he may speedily with great silence giue Arme to the gard without leauing the place of the Sentinel disarmed which they ought neuer to abandon
in a readinesse and resort to the place appointed which commonly is the market place being first of all vnited with his ensigne and from thence in order of aray to the enemies as they be coÌ„manded vpon the pain of the losse of his life 39 Item all souldiers being horsemen or footmen must diligently in order of aray by sound of drum or trumpet accompany the ensigâ—…e to watch ward or reliefe of the same being there silently in a readinesse to withstand or discouer the enemies as occasion shall serue to brute the alarme with the vsuall worde arme arme or bowes bowes if â—…n 〈◊〉 or anie bandes be in paie vpon paine of losse of their liuâ— 5. 40 Item all souldiers must keepe their armor and weapons faire cleane and seruiceable to a readinesse at euerie sodaine none intermedling but with his owne euerie one to helpe other to arme and diligently to resort to the place of seruice at scrie and larum vpon paine 41 Item all souldiers must honestly intreate and truely paie victuallers and artificers allowed for the reliefe being friends or enemies and with curteous words encourage such to victual and relieue the companies or campe vpon paine 42 Item all souldiers in watch ward march or otherwise shall haue special regard that if there be man or woman desirous to speake with the superiors or being thy enemies for feare doe forsake his owne power and resort to thee let such secretly be conueied to the Lord chiefe generall regarding that they view no secrets least they be double spies vpon paine of the losse of their liues 43 Item captaines and officers must oft frequent and resort vnto the souldiers lodgings to sée in what state their armor and inunitions be and to giue great charge that their furniture be alwaies in a readinesse their corslets with all peeces belonging to the same and their caliuers to be made cleane and oiled to haue match powder drie bullets fit for their peeces stringes whipped for their bowes their billes and halberdes to be kept sharpe And often to view euery particular vpon paine 44 Item he that shall depart out of the place where he shal be put by his head or any officer whatsoeuer for a lost Sentinel spy watchman scout or warder aswell by day as by night as it often happeneth to discouer some dealings of the enemy without attending and staying for him that placed him there to take him away except he should remoue in hast to aduertise his head of the successe of the enemies assaulting or doing anie outrage shall be punished with death 45 Item whosoeuer should rashly offend or hurt either in word or deedes any man belonging to the deputies or head officers of iustice or captain there being in pay for sergeants And they being appointed to carrie no other weapon with sicles or staues but billes or halberds they may be knowne for men of iustice and not for Souldiers 46 Item whosoeuer standeth within or without the campe or barres to watch or scout and doth his dutie so euill that thorow his negligence the enemy setteth vpon the campe at vnawares he shall die 47 Item he that vnder colour of doing the duetie of a scout or spie perceiuing the enemies haue assaulted the campe and he with such faining lieth still shall die for it 48 Item he that shall forsake the defence in generall or particular of the batterie of the trench of the passage of a bridge or other like to him committed but lightly not forced goeth away shal be for so offending punished with death 49 Item whosoeuer entring into a Citie taken by force followeth not his ensigne whither soeuer it shall go vntil the Generall make proclamation that euerie man shall take booties And if the general cause no such proclamation to be made that souldiers make spoile he shall incurre the paine of death and if proclamation be made that they shall cease from taking praies and booties and after licence giuen if they giue not ouer they shall fall into the same punishment 50 Item whosoeuer seeing the ensigne vnder the which he warreth in fraies or fight by chance be fallen in the hands of the enemies if he be there present and doe not his indeuour to recouer it and when it is cowardly lost to punish the souldiers which haue suffered it to be cowardly lost with death 51 Item he that shall flée from the battaile being in the face and front of the enemies or shall go slowly and slackly to ioyne and a front with them in case it be to fight a field battaile or in anie skirmish what soeuer shal be punished with death 52 Item he that shall faine himselfe sick to auoid the fighting of the enemie or because he would not goe to anie other enterprise to vse his handes but I meane there for to rob for to such affaires they will be ready inough shal be cruelly punished 53 Item whosoeuer seeing his generall or his captaine or other coronell and officer of the campe in the hand of the enemies and succoureth him not with all his power and may doe â—…t not respecting any danger shall suffer death 45 Item he that shall rob or spoile the people of the countriâ—… or subiectes or vassels of the prince 〈◊〉 sâ—…rueth shall die 55 Item he that by theft should sceale or rob the armor weapons or horses or other thing from anie other seruing against the enemies shall die 56 Item hee that should ransome or taxe or otherwise misvse the people of the countrie except they should be enemies or rebels to the prince shal be greatly punished 57 Item he that shall play at any game for his armor weapons or horses which are written vpon the roll or through his negligence shall lose them or lend giue away or lay them to pawne let him die 58 Item he that goeth further then two hundreth steppes or paces from his quarter without licence of his captain specially when the campe looketh or staieth to be assaulted by the enemies except he should be sent for by his heades shal be punished with death 59 Item he that shall goe longer then the houre appointed in the night abroad in the campe wandring except hee should be sent by his superiours for a matter of weight from head captain to head captaine by a counter-token shall be cruelly punished 60 Item he that shall lodge strangers whether he be of the campe or not without licence of the generall or of his captaine either in his lodging or vnder a tent except he be of his chamber or squadron or by the captaine appointed for seruice forth of the campe shall be punished But euerie one ought to be in the night with their Camerads and chamber-fellowes and not to be deuided from their lodgings that occasion seruing they may be ready with their weapons in their handes neither ought they to lodge watch or scouts or of the search for that the spies hauing no lodging any excuse being found
out may the better be apprehended Also if the scout-watch be taken from their quarter faining to be a souldier of the campe when they are to spie in the night they for so offending shal be cruelly punished with death 61 Item whosoeuer shall make anie wordes déedes or questions in the ward or in an ambush or in other place where respect and silence is néedfull shal be punished 62 Item he that should be reuenged of anie iniurie receiued either newly or before-time done by an indirect way that is traiterously and not by way of reason or by way of combate bodie to bodie by the licence of his Generall shall suffer death 63 Item he that should dare be so bold as to play with false cardes and dice or should vse in play anie priuy falshood theft or deceit in any wise shal be punished 64 Item he that of presumption should passe out of his place into another either before the battell or in marching should out of order make hast to go before to be the first that should come to the lodging of the campe or in marching should goe out of his rancke from one battaile to an other or he that doth not obserue the order of marching shall die 65 Item he that shall taske or ransom vpon his host or lodger or vpon any other that is not his lawfull prisoner by good order of warre and that he is lawfully taken the ransome excell not the articles of agréement that there be a iust ransome set vpon paine of punishment 66 Item he that shall enter in or goe forth by any other gate stréete or way then that which shal be accustomed into the citie pales or list or fort where the campe is lodged that is going ouer the walles or vnder some breach and not by the ordinarie gate let him fall into the paine of death 67 Item whosoeuer doth not immediately retire when hee shall heare the trumpet or drum sound the retreat either of a set battaile or of a skirmishe or batterie or of anie other fight or should goe in or come forth of the citie when the assault is giuen to the walles thereof shall die 68 Item he that speaketh or calleth or crieth aloud amongst the ordinance or in the battaile or in anie place where silence néedeth except he were a head or other officer or sergeant commanding some new order shall die 69 Item hee that shall commit anie thing whatsoeuer it be whereby it may be coniectured that it is against the prince and domageable to the generall and the campe shall die 70 Item drums and fifes must oft sound and exercise their instrumentes warning as the mouth of man to all pointes of seruice so must souldiers diligently learne and obserue the meaning of the same that none plead ignorance and neglecting their dueties to seruice appertaining Also sometimes they shall receiue from the higher officers or captaines secret commandementes by word of mouth the which must withall diligence be obserued and truely executed vpon the losse of their liues 71 Item no man in their marching through what place soeuer they shall passe shall set any thing on fire no not their cabbins and iâ—…camped place at their departing without commandement from the chief general vpon the pasue of the losse of their liues 72 Item iâ—… at any time any man shal in the time of his drunkennesse quarrell and fight with his fellowe and in so doing chance to kill him he shall in so doing receiue as great punishment by death as if he had bene sober 73 Item if any souldier doe drink himself drunke or be found drunke within the compasse of the day and night of his watch and specially if he be vnable to stand in Sentinel or do his duetie such a one must be most seuerely punished 74 Item note that souldiers shall sweare at their first entring into seruice that they will faithfully and truely serue their captaine for sixe monethes togither and when the sixe moneths are expired they shall sweare to serue him sixe monethes more if he reed them And if the captaine needeth them not so long but mindes to discharge his band the captaine shall allow ech of them halfe a monethes wages at his departing and so discharge them 75 Item there shall no man make anie showt or other stirring noise in anie corner or open place of Citie Town Castle Fort or Campe whereby any danger or inconuenience may grow vnto the companie any maner of wayes on paine of the losse of his life 76 Item he that shall disclose the watch-word to enemie or friendes except it be to such a one as hee shall be appointed by his gouernor or shall be found a sléepe in the watche scout or ward shal be punished with death 77 Item if any captaine for corruption sake shal giue licence to his own souldier or to any other souldier without the licence of the Generall to depart the campe shall receiue the same punishment that the souldier should receiue 78 Item that no souldier should goe out of the campe in the night time without the watch-word in danger of his life for if he be slaine so by the watche there is no blame to be laid vpon them that kill him 79 Item there shall no souldier go out of the campe without his armor and other weapons vpon the paine of the losse of his life 80 Item euerie captaine shal be sworne that he shall charge euery corporall vpon his oth that he shall denounce euery souldier that is vnder his charge and that is not able and meete to serue 81 Item in like case if the said corporall shall receiue anâ—…e new or strange souldier into his band his part and dutie is that he giue vnto the higher captaine knowledge thereof 82 Item no man of what condition soeuer he be shall â—… so bold as to conuey away anie offender vpon the paine of the losse of his life 83 Item that euerie souldier shall haue vpon his outermost garment some special signe or taken wherby he may be known such a one as the higher captaines shall agree vpon As for example he shall haue vpon his garment a red crosse and vpon his armour a red lace or such like whereby he may the better be knowne of his fellowes and if there be anie shall be sound without the said signes and tokens he shal be vsed as an aduersarie or enemy 84 Item that all souldiers entring into battaile assault skirmish or other faction of armes shall haue for their common crie and word S. George S. George forward or vpon them S. George wherby the souldier is much comforted and the enemy dismaied by calling to minde the ancient valeâ—… of England which with that name hath bin so often victorious and therfore he that vpon any siâ—…ster zeale shall maliciously omit so fortunate a name shal be seuerely punished for his obsâ—…ate erronious heart and peruerse mind 85 Item if anie Captaine or other Officers shall procure skâ—…mishe
passed or fallen out whilest he hath bene in Sentinel the order he doth obserue and what hath bene appointed him to do the which if it be good he must confirme and when he doth find it to be otherwise he must rehearse refer the same to the Corporal of the Sentinel that he may vse diligent redresse Arriuing in any Corps de gard he must aboue all things aduertise them that they alwayes kéepe fire light for the necessary commoditie of Hargabusiers and for light in the night taking order with the souldiers that they and their armes may remain in a forceable redinesse through which his good instruction there may grow to be no want so consequently he must in like cases procéed with like prouident diligence After this he must with great consideration and modestie examine euerie particular thing carrying a mind with himself to coÌ„tinue increase the same from better to better both in himselfe and to them vse necessarie aduertisemeÌ„ts in such sort shall he passe through all the Corps de gards and Sentinels If it chance him to incounter another Sopraguardia or round to shun the occasion of dangerous difference which somtimes is accustomed to follow or for pollicie in fearing to giue the watch word to him that purposely comes to robbe the same that comming from the enimie secretly counterfaits the Sentinell or by some other practise as it sometimes hath caused domage to the grieuous losse and total preiudice of the armie to preuent such inconuenience let that Sopraguardia which shal be nearest to the next adioyning Sentinell turne backe giuing the word after a due accustomed sort vnto the said Sentinel to the intent the foresaid Sopraguardia may do the like and when they are of accord euerie one may follow his owne path but if otherwise they do disagrée the disceit remaines discouered not onely in that counterfeit round but also in the sained Sentinel whom the Sopraguardia must examine and demand at his hand some speciall countersigne or double word that thereby he may know him for an assured friend or finde him an enimie or negligent person the which of all men is verie well knowne to merite sharpe and extreame chastisement which at no time so néere as is possible is to be omitted This former rule is to be obserued of those souldiers that be of one selfe nation but when the Rounds or Sopraguardes be many and of sundrie nations and the Corps of Gards likewise then the Sopraguard comming into a quarter that is stranger vnto him is bound to giue the word to the Sopraguard of that nation of that quarter so that by such meanes as wel the suspition of disceit as the occasion of discord shall be auoyded And if in case the said ordinarie Round or Sopraguard do incounter in their owne quarter with the extraordinarie those that be ordinarie shall indeuour themselues to take the word of those that be extraordinarie For so is it conuenient and most conformable to that order beforesaid wherein I haue set downe what is necessarie for a Sopraguard or Round to do in a strange quarter And for that it is requisite as I haue alredie touched that the Caualliers be alwayes about the person of his chiefe captain without either being bound to Standerd Guidon or other Ensigne whatsoeuer he must indeuour himselfe when any enterprise or warlike affaires is committed to his charge to be apt and readie to vse practised experience in directing guiding a skirmish in taking the view of a battery in discouering of the enimie in marching or making Alta in Passa parde in the valiaâ—…nt repulse of a sodaine inuading enimie by Bawll en bouche in taking view of the situation of a place in guiding a Roade or troupe of Horsemen in giuing Alarome to the enimie in plucking aduertisementes from the enimie in placing Imbasâ—…ades in giuing Canuasados and to know verie well how to execute with sound iudgement these and such like important affaires the which for the most part appertaine to the Cauallieres of this Squadrone to performe As likewise it hath bin the custome to giue theÌ„ the charge to plant Gabiones for the defence of the Artillarie to batter and endomage the walles the Trenches the lodinges and the enemies Squadrones Let him remember when hée hath bin at any exploite to bring backe againe into his Quarter those souldiers hee hath led foorth to any enterprise vnited and in rancke marching together behind him and neuer suffer them to returne disbanded one by one out of order which is an occasion of great confusion and brings but small reputation to the Captaine and conductor of them Moreouer it is verie necessarie hée knowe how to make a roade and distroie the enemies countrie the which likewise doth oftentimes appertaine to him to performe in which exploite hee must beware aboue all thinges that no souldier in those enterprises disperse or disband themselues but with an assured good order for the most part conformable to my following discourse wherein I set downe directions how to conduct Souldiers to the skirmish And particularlie where I declare that he ought to kéepe and maintaine for his people the strongest place of situation wherein he must skirmish for that commonly souldiers being in disorder wearied and loaden with spoile may bée easilie put to flight broken and oppressed of the enemies vnlesse they bée seconded or shaded by some forceable succour I suppose it likewise most necessarie that hée indeuour himselfe to bee apt and sufficient at all times and in all places to sollicite and negociate for his Prince or Chieftaine any cause of what weight or moment soeuer considering that most men are not fit to attempt the performance of such doubtfull and difficile causes for although manie make great estimation of them selues and presume much by their dailie reading and Theoricke of those weightie affaires yet do they want and come farre short of that bold and readie practise which plainly appeares that the worthy professors of Armes possesse and specially in the presence of great Princes whose Maiestie and reuerence for the most part doth make cold and bring out of countenance the hoatest and most resolute determination As Demosthenes before Philip of Macedone made apparent when he was not able to pronouÌ„ce thrée woords of a long premeditate Oration in behalfe of the Athenians This worthie gentleman of a band this Caualliere of Saint Georges squadre and likewise all other professors of warlike armes ought to carie in mind that of him and his equals the exercise of Armes is to be applied and diligentlie to practise the same to the intent he bée not for want of knowledge dispised of others and not ignorantlie to dispise them that deserue due commendations but rather to carie and vse the countenance of authoritie to those persons that merite not to beare swaie and gouernement then towards forward souldiers Yet for all that towards the rest in â—…some other respects hée ought
to charge againe euery one a fresh following his loadsman to seruice Orders of shot verie necessarie for diuers intents of seruice auailable ACcording to the number of the enimies you must answers them with like proportion and numbers hauing great regard to obtaine the hill wind water wood marish strength of vitch coppes c. the which greatly auaileth Sometimes the aduantage of ground is such that small numbers may repulse greater numbers The grounds large and plaine make your main-ward of shot large and strong the better to answere the enimie the fronts to discharge and retyre to the Rereward there to charge againe and béeing thus ioined in skirmish with the enimie the Officer or hée that guides must foresée the best way to repulse and ouerthrow the enimie sending two wings to slanke the enimies and to encounter them the which béeing wisely foreseene will greatly profit SOuldiers likewise in marching charging or discharging inuading and skirmishing may from the first rankes and front of the square returne and wind himselfe thorow the ranke béeing seconded by his companions following this example THese thrée bands marching at large may wade thorough in skirmish or retyre betwixt the rankes as occasion serueth either band rescuing other to charge in the Rereward and to aduance to seruice againe Thus may you continually maintaine skirmish or volles of whole shot These practises and others of better inuention together with such like warlike exercises in times conuentent may bring perfection to seruice with shot at néede the rather through the good industrie and painfull trauaile of the Officers and the Souldiers by whose gentle patience it is sooner obtained The order of skirmish how it is to bee gouerned when it is to bee accepted and when to bee auoided IT béeing necessary for euery Sergeant Lieutenant and Caual liere of the band to know when where and in what order a skirmish is to bee gouerned when to bee auoided and when to bée accepted to the benefite of the whole band regiment or Armie I thought good to ioine to those proportions of training somewhat touching the same wherein for that there bée sundrie occasions which moue and constraine men to enter into skirmish I wil amongst the rest choose out thrée which I iudge most principall and of greatest importance The first is when wee will giue the enimie experience and triall of our valour and force and cunningly to perswade him by a souldier that yéelds of purpose or alter sides to giue credite to some thing which may arise to our commoditie and his domage Likewise by taking some of his souldiers prisoners to vnderstand the state of our enemies the which may bée more aptly termed the winning of aduertisements the which things is most expedient wée put in practise The second is when wée determine to gaine any passage or any fortresse or strength which is in the enemies possession or like to fall into his hands if preuention bee not vsed and hauing occupied and gained the same to retaine it for the seruice of our Campe. The third is when wée are of mind to kéepe the enimie so occupied as hée march not at his pleasure or that when wée do march our selues he become not domageable to our own people or to the bagage or any thing that is ours being of importance When therfore wée will giue trial or experience of our selues to the enemie gaine intelligences or win aduertisements of him it is requisite there be election made of a leader some worthie Caualliere that is indued with prudent pollicie and noble valour who must gouerne this skirmish which leader must take with him a quantitie of chosen souldiers according as the accustomed vse is must haue culled out of euery band so many as wil amount to the number of 10. out of ech hundreth a hundreth out of a thousand and a thousand out of ten thousand or some such like reasonable portion When the leader of the skirmish hath made choise of the place and ground fit for his purpose wherein hée meanes to méete with the enimies the which will not be difficile for that he is the chooser inuentor and author thereof he must then conduct thither a quantitie of good souldiers with an assured array and order Hauing first and beforehand exhorted theÌ„ to due obedience and opened and conferred with them the chiefe circumstance of his meaning both how long and in what manner the enterprise is to be performed to the intent that when he hath accomplished and erecuted so much as he was determined it do not séeme strange vnto them to make retire For the which there did arise great quarrell and bloodie issue in Germanie betwixt two Italian captaines Giouan Dominico Napolello of Naples and captaine Loatello of Cremenâ—… both valiant gentlemen the one of them perswading the other to retyre from a skirmish begin to the purpose before mentioned by appointment of their superiours but by reason the one would not obey it was the cause of great disorder He must likewise haue a prouident foresight and be verie circumspect that like a good souldier he go verie warily considerately into the fight and skirmish euer watching attending for his continuall aduantage to the end that retyring himselfe vpon a sodaine the enimy may remaine rest repulsed amazed and oppressed that the whole armie may conceiue and be kept in a good impression and opinion of victorie Now this foresaid leader being arriued with the people in the sight of the enimie he must immediatly with his souldiers occupie and take possession of the ground which doth best please him which is most apt for his purpose in effect is the strongest He must take order that these hargabussers be accompanied with armed pikes and corselets without whose fellowship hargabâ—…siers ought neuer to be sent about any enterprise specially wheÌ„ they suspect they shall méete with the enimy or with horsemen Whensoeuer souldiers are to enter into skirmiâ—…h their leader must deuide them into so manie parts as he shall think expedient which diuision must be vsed according as the quantitie of the people will beare so that in euerie part their ought to be at the least 50. souldiers and 5. or 6. seuerall parts and companies Neuerthelesse alwayes foreséeing and prouiding that as well all the parts togither as the number of the souldiers of euer to part by themselues be like in proportion to the qualitie and force of the enimy and equal to the quantitie of their number the which may be knowne verie well there by view and discouered by meanes of spies or by manifest and assured fame To euerie which part he must appoint a sufficient head guid a noble Cauallier of Saint Georges squadre Then must he send out certaine souldiers that be most nimble and readie to prouoke the enimie and when they be ioyned in skirmish he must sodainely increase the fight with sending forth the second part and then rest a little to behold to
if your armie doe march he worke not any domage to your people to your baggage to your munitions other things of importance It is verie expedient that the leader of this skirmish be valiant and wise who must determine to keepe occupied the enimie that by the practise thereof it may arise to bee profitable to the performance of some other his purposed enterprise After he hath made choise amongst his souldiers of those which must skirmish he must deuide them as is before rehersed and he with the rest of the people to him vnited as néere as is possible must march alongst the strongest situation of the ground then must send those that are deputed and appointed to the skirmish one after another to the taile of the enimies battel against whom they must skirmish and fight euen as an old beaten dog about some Bul or furious beast doth here and there snatch bite and turne about him that in the end he doth kéepe him occupied wearie him if not ouercome When he hath put these things in execution he must gather togither his people in the best sort he can in the aforesaid order If in marching his owne campe doe feare to be assaulted at the backe or that he hath suspicion of his baggage or doubts some impediments on the flankes then must the leader of the skirmish make repaire with his people to that place where hee suspects the enimie will take aduantage and march farre off and with such distance from his campe and his battailes as he shall thinke conuenient and as the nature of the place doth require to the intent he may bring to effect his determination and prosecute the same to a good end the which is to auoid the inconuenience that the enimy neither hurt nor hinder his baggage and munition And in this sort with good order he must follow and accompany his owne people and with those that be appointed for the fight must kéepe occupied and intertaine the enimy stil skirmishing retyring and marching as it alwayes fals out and chanceth to him that valiantly defends himselfe Concluding then I say that it séemes good and verie requisite that the skirmish for the most part should be fled and shunned except it be in respect of some of the thrée foresaid occasions or some such like which thereunto may be adioyned procéeding of a practised and aduised iudgement for it is a verie rash and vnaduised thing to loose men of valour to no purpose as of necessitie in skirmishes doth succéede And besides the losse of such persons of estimation which ariseth by reason of rash disorder Moreouer it hath bene oftentimes séene that whilest he goeth about to succour one band presently enclosed by the enimie and put to flight by reason it hath bene negligently gouerned as for the most part it fals out whē men go to skirmish moued by a fantastical rage vain ambition and to smal purpose without a sufficient appointed chiefe or head or rather without speciall commission from the captaine Generall the which aduertisement is principally to be noted there hath such inconuenience succéeded that an armie hath sometimes bene constrained to hazard and come to the fight of a maine battell vpon a suddaine a thing maruellous perillous and that ought of necessitie to be fled without manifest aduantage of a perfite and a well practised Generall Sundrie aduertisements fit for a worthie Cauallier to obserue 1 First in the view of a batterie 2 Secondly in describing the condition of a situation of any place 3 And thirdly in disclosing the order the enimie obserues either encamping or marching Although an excellent and prudent captaine Generall in all his affaires must vse the seruice of practised souldiers such as may be supposed to haue sufficient knowledge in these aforesaid respects yet doe I coniecture it verie necessarie to make choise of a man that besides his sufficient experience in diuerse warlike practises of training ordering directing and leading souldiers yet would I wish the said worthy Cauallier to carrie a hautie and hardie heart a bold and valiant bodie and moreouer that he be accompanied with an excellent iudgement in matters appertaining to the exercise of Armes specially in those causes cōuenient to be accomplished by him or his equals Who after he hath receiued commission to view any batterie and that he is sufficiently armed able to defend himselfe which as néere as is possible he must finde the meanes to be he ought to take with him some one hargabusier a man of valour to repulse and annoy the enimies which are at the defence if hée should stand in néede or be discouered and to the intent he may aid him in other accidents that might fall out but after he is guided and entred into the action of his enterprise he must aduisedly enforme himselfe and take the view how great the breach is and how hye the entrance is of ruinated earth and both what and how great the difficultie is to ascend thereupon considering well what effect the fall of the wall hath made and being ascended or at leastwise so néere as is possible hauing done his indeuour to mount vp the breach he must go about to view secreatly and sufficiently the largenesse within which is betwixt the battered wall and the houses and how much the fal of the battery is in that place and togither with this he must indeuour himselfe to sée if the said batterie be flancked within or not if it be safe or secure if the place be plaine easie or hard and headlong to ascend and in sum he must consider by what means and which is the best way that they within may defend themselues Al the which so néere as is possible he ought to doe with great diligence and wisdome as well in perfite discouery of all these important difficulties as in spéedie returne taking view and making choise at the same instant of the most close couert way wherein the souldiers may with greatest commoditie approch to giue assault to the breach and batterie Ouer which troopes it doth for the most part appertaine to this Cauallier to be the guide Now vpon his returne he must make full discourse of euerie particular to him that hath sent him to the intent that his prince or General may with al spéed appoint the order of the assault that the lesse time may be giuē the enimy to make contermures bulwarks and trenches to defend himselfe I am of opinion likewise that that souldier or worthy Cauallier ought to be no lesse then the foresaid of a practised and pregnant wit to whom charge is giuen to discouer the qualitie and condition of the situation of the enimies countrie or the place where he remaines who after he hath considered of the same although he that sent him hath not expresly declared him his meaning and intention touching the same or his ful meaning yet being conducted to the place he must with the least shew rumour or noise
possible cause the people that go with him to enter into ambush to the intent he be not discouered or disturbed by the enimie which done he must warily and discréetly view and ouerview search and go through euery place noting out the quantitie of the waters which run through the countrie the capacitie of the plains if therein be marish grounds or not the depth and bredth of the vales the roughnesse of the mountaines their height and capacitie if they be naked clothed with hye or lowe wood or else plowed and pasture ground and if there be townes and habitations whether they be placed vpon plaines mountaines or néere the water whether they be inclosed with wals and fortified or not and of what bignesse and qualitie of forme they be and so consequently he shal make note of euerie particular point as I haue written in a speciall discourse hereunto adioyned considering that some of these and like particulars may verie often helpe and do good seruice and arise to be of great importance In this selfe sort order he may very well discouer all the passages and wayes from the time he doth depart euen vntill he ariue againe alwayes marking and making aduised choise of the best and shortest so that he may giue to his prince or Generall a true information and full relation of euerie thing to the intent his Generall may with great reason and to his most aduantage determine of that which shall arise to his greatest profite and to the enimies disaduantage as was by Charles the fift obserued at the riuer Alba by the Spaniards at Sirick sea and by that famous Prince Don Iohn D'austria at sundrie times specially when in person the day after he returned from Luxemburge to Namures he made discouerie of the ground about the prince of Orange and States Campe lying at Templo where by the commaundement of my Collonell the Baron of Cherau I amongst the rest of his owne squadrons lay in Ambascade for the safetie of our Generals retire by whose prudent discouerie and valiant courage the next day with two thousand fiue hundred footemen and nine hundred horsemen wée ouerthrew eightéene thousand of the enimies slew 12000 tooke all their bagage and Artillarie Now lastlie when it is requisite to disclose and discouer the order and maner which the enimie obserues either béeing encamped or in marching it behooues a good souldier aduisedly to take the view and knowledge thereof in as good order as time and occasion wil permit And if in case the enimie remaine firme and encamped I iudge it verie requisite if it bée possible to take view of the Campe round about at leastwise as much as hée can well taking notice how many Corps de garde they kéepe without their Campe and so likewise what part of the situation thereof doth make it most weake what part is strongest and which part is betwixt both béeing able to render accompt with good reason of all these things in discourse like a politike and practised souldier The performance whereof sometimes is with more assurance and better brought to passe in the night then in the day If in case the enimie bée in his iourney and do march I suppose it verie necessary to discouer in what order they march and in what manner and forme they haue planted their squadrons set in order and armed the Rereward the battaile vantgard and both the one flanke and the other if they haue Artillarie or that they bée without and together with this he must discouer the condition and situation of the ground where they march and which way they bend their course to encamp where they make alta and stay Hée must likewise search out and diligently discipher whether they march with feare whether they kéepe good order whether they make hast all this as néere as is possible hée must discerne and with spéede indeuour himselfe to giue information of ech particular thing vnto his Prince or Generall to the intent when the first occasion doth offer which is commonly when they make stay at their lodging hée may determine to molest them by suddaine Alarums Canuasados and other such like surprises or attemptes And that in this second and last discouery which is of marching to the end béeing informed of their qualitie hée may determine what to doe if not than at leastâ—… wise when occasion doth offer wherefore I am of opinion that together with approued practise and the due consideration of these Rules and aduertisements it makes much to the purpose that a good souldier should haue some knowledge of drawing and painting proportions of Cities fortresses bulwarkes c. together with some vnderstanding in the art prospectiue of proportion for it often chanceth to be a thing verie difficile to giue directions and driue him that gouernes or is Generall to vnderstand some particularities like to these onely by plaine woordes although they were ample and manifest whereof the discription by draught béeing well knowen accompanied with the liuely voice of the Relator it makes the Prince more capable to determine what is to bee executed for performance of his important enterprises Diuerse notes due for a singuler good Souldier and Caualliere to obserue when hee must giue to his Captaine Generall or Prince a true discription and full relation of the Countries Cities and Castels of a whole state or kingdome IT is the opinion of all men that bee of perfect experience in Armes that it particularlie appertaines to the Captain Generall to haue a perfect discription and diligent relation of the fortified places the particular state in euery point of all the Prouince that is committed to the Generals custodie whether generally or particularlie Therefore a worthy souldier noble Caualliere may alwaies increase in his Princes sauor hée must be euer readie to prefer his important affaires chiefly in this speciall seruice of aduertisement discouerie Touching which Guichardines discriptions of the low Countries may bée a patterne for the performance whereof hauing receiued his full Commission of authoritie it is most conuenient for him both particularly and in generall to examine discouer view take notice the prospectiue plot of euery place with aduised iudgement not by fortune as many are accustomed for that they cannot otherwise do not hauing sufficient knowledge of the Bussola which with great industrie hath bin to this end found out and made more ample by the Conte Iulio de Tiene For which respect it is conuenient he take the platforme of euery walled towne in that state and with due measured distance therein must note make the proportion of the walles bulwarkes the mounts rockes gates ditches the market places with their bignes the principall stréetes with their circumstances specially whether there bée any hanging or high hill or ground that vpon any side is opposite of a iust space and reasonable distance from whence according to sufficieÌ„t consideration and examination therein artillarie or any other engine
then a leuen is put in a ranke how great soeuer the number of the footmen bée neither in troath ought they to bee more then a leuen for when they passe a leuen or twelue they are not to bée accompted an aray but rather a battaile Hauing then placed the number of the Hargabuziers you shal thinke good of to bee in a ranke you shall cause them to march in good proportion sending foorth one ranke after another the Sergeant standing still on one side causing them to passe before him iudging by eye-sight from ranke to ranke of all the Souldiers one by one whether they bee right in lyne obserue distance and whether they doe moue foorth of their order and aray for this is the beautie and importance of an aray Moreouer the Sergeant hauing speciall respect to accommodate and place at the head of the aray all the Corporals or Lancia Spezzata which carie Calliuers placing next vnto them the best and the best furnished Souldiers putting a Drumme behinde the second ranke that is to say before the third placing at the taile of the aray the best and best armed to the intent the aray may shew the better forasmuch as when they are deuided into aray the hargabuziers from the Pikes and that they turne their faces then the backe part is made the front therefore the backe ought to bée as well furnished as the front or the head of the aray as you will please to tearme it The which if you desire to doe it is necessarie you put in the midst of the rankes the weakest and worst furnished aduertising the Sergeant that the souldiers are best furnished when they haue all sortes of armes and furniments that bee necessarie for them and appertaines to a Hargabuzier good match fyer coall pouder and bullet and moreouer L'azzino And this is to bee obserued with that spéede and diligence that the time or occasion doth carie and the suspition of the enimie doth import And in one present time if the Sergeant haue commission hee must distribute munition to the Hargabuziers as bullet match or pouder and to haue a man about him to carrie the munition and hee afterwardes goe about dispersing of it and in giuing the pouder hee must haue a Tunnell with a small and narrowe pipe to the intent it may enter into the pipe of euery one of their flaskes and with a measure that doth holde so much pouder as hee will giue vnto euerie Hargabuzier at one time or at twice and so to euery ranke one by one as they goe passing forwardes the Sergeant causing to march forward his aray before him faire and softlie ranke by ranke by which meanes hée shall not confound them If it chaunce that hée do not distribute munition at one selfe time hee shall cause the Pikes on an other side to put themselues in aray as manie in a ranke as the Hargabuziers shall bee deuiding the best armed with Corselets the one halfe to the head and the other halfe to the backe and the disarmed pikes in the midst and in the midst of them place the Ensignes with their garde of Halberdes with certaine Drummes about the said Ensignes that is in the Piazza or void place where the Ensigne is to bée managed those Drummes and Fiftes that you haue shall march before the Standerd bearers And the Sergeant causing the Pikes to march foreward shall number howe manie rankes they bée and shall kéepe them in memorie to the intent that if hee bee to make a battillion hée may knowe how to gouerne himselfe and so cause the said Pikes to march and turne once againe and hauing then well accommodated the aray of the Pikes with the Ensignes placed iust in the midst with the Drummâ—…s and Fiftes before them as I haue said causing the Ensignes to haue an ample and large roome and Pâ—…azzo from the two rankes that bee about him that is from that which is before and from the other that doth march right behind him to the intent the Ensignes may bee well shewed and managed When they bee well set in order it is necessarie to cause the Pikes to stay and stand and the Sergeant hauing staied them hée shall then go where hée hath first accommodated the Hargabuziers and shall cause them to march forward néere where the Pikes are in order of aray And the Sergeant hauing first numbred likewise the rankes of the Hargabuziers and béeing staied where the Pikes after the one halfe of the Hargabuziers is past that is if they bée in all 50. rankes when 25. bée past the Sergeant shall enter with his Halberd ouerthwart them and staying and pressing backe the other 25. rankes hée shall cause to enter after a goodlie and readie manner all the Pikes and Ensignes causing them euer to march forward and when they bée all past away vpon the approching of the last rankes of Pikes hée shall cause the rest of the Hargabuziers to enter into aray the which béeing done the aray shall bée faire and perfect and it will bée good that hée cause them to march and turne thrée or sower times to the intent they may settle themselues the better and that they may enter into their pace their aray and the vnderstanding of the Drumme for that makes them more apt to go iust learning one of an other a stately and conuenient pace and to beare their weapons of all sorts with a good grace and specially the Pikes A good Sergeant must take care to make stay in euery discommodious place or streit passage as when they go downe or discend from some Mountaine at the passage of a foarde or streit bridge or at a ditch or a water or some such other vneasie and streit passage that hée iudgeth would breake the aray as oftentimes is found in marching And orderly without confusion cause them to passe ranke after ranke faire and easilie holding back with the end of his Halberd the ranke next to that which is in passing vntil it be thorowly ouer and placed in array as before to the intent the order of aray be not confounded in any ranke neither let him depart from that place vntill such time as all the rankes be past for so the aray wil not be disordered but shall march right and iust which is a thing of great importance specially in marching in doubt of the enimie and therefore hauing caused them all first to make Alta he shall command them to obserue aray distance and rankes without thrusting or crouding vntill all be past the straite passage A rule how to make the aray of the Bissa SInce there be sundry souldiers and persons which presuppose they know much more then others who discommend the making of the Bissa or Caraguolo as a thing not necessary amongst the orders of aray saying that the same is superfluous and of small moment I am of a contrarie opinion and make answere that they are much deceiued and haue small knowledge lesse iudgement in the benefite
nothing can please their fantasie but such as doth best agrée to their own humours and inuentions specially in ordering and imbattelling souldiers wherein euen as the sundrie vse of diuers nations at this day do differ so do the minds of many new leaders alter change embrace despise inuent and set downe manifold wayes to plant an armie in ranged battell in the fielde which I well considering haue thought good in part to make collection out of diuers Authors Italian Spanish French Latine and English and part such as of my owne experience I haue séene put in practise of the Spaniards and other warlike nations vnder Don Iohn D'austria and the Prince of Parma out of both which Callenders I haue chosen the greatest number that séeme any thing to the purpose that thereby at leastwise the dainty tasted monthes of our age may light vpon some apt for their digestion But before I wade into great numbers M. Stewards formes shall serue my turne to satisfie the priuate Captaines Lieutenants of Regiments and Collonels as fit for their peculiar offices and will first begin with a table of discouerie of all marches within the compasse of 1500. men A Table to discouer numbers by hundreds placed by 3. 5. 7. 9. c. in ranke and aray assembled from one hundreth vnto a 1500. As thus marching 3. in ranke 34. rankes containe 102. men by which example you may plainly perceiue the methode following and discouer like numbers  Rankes Men. 3. in Ranke 34 is 102 67 is 201 100 is 300 5. in ranke 20 is 100 40 is 200 60 is 300 80 is 400 100 is 500 7. in ranke 15 is 105 29 is 203 43 is 301 57 is 399 72 is 504 86 is 600 100 is 700 9. in ranke 11 is 99 22 is 198 33 is 296 45 is 405 56 is 504 67 is 603 78 is 702 89 is 801 100 is 900 11. in ranke 9 is 99 18 is 198 27 is 297 37 is 406 46 is 506 56 is 616 64 is 715 74 is 820 81 is 897 91 is 1017 100 is 1100 13. in ranke 8 is 104 16 is 208 2â—… is 299 31 is 404 39 is 507 46 is 70â—… 54 is 〈◊〉 62 is 〈◊〉 69 is 1014 78 is 1105 8â—… is 1196 92 is 1230 100 is 1300 15. in ranke 7 is 10â—… 14 is 210 20 is 300 27 is 404 34 is 510 40 is 600 47 is 707 54 is 810 60 is 900 67 is 1005 74 is 1110 80 is 1200 87 is 1305 94 is 1410 100 is 1500 An order to imbattell 600. men at the sodaine against horsemen and footemen IT is appointed vnto the Lieutenant of a Regiment or vnto two or thrée Captaines to bring 600. men to conuey charge or do exploits as the commandement of the higher officers shall appoint them The Leader or Captaines aduertised of straites passages and situations of the countries also on what part the enimies be most like to assault them must giue order vnto your officers to place 13 in front as here is set downe by proportion of figure your Ensigne in the midst with the halberds your shot placed in the wings as appeareth At such times as the enimies shall assault you ioyne both your bands become one strength as the ground doth serue This order is verie necessarie to doe many exploits How the like number may be brought into the manner of a hearse to defend horsemen SOmetimes marching by 10. in rank vpon the fight of the enimies diuide into two parts and ioyne their broad sides diuided togâ—…ther become in one strength which bring thus placed is in length 24 in bredth 10. Against horsemen they must pitch their pikes on the ground and crosse them against footemen beare aboue hand They must sarriâ—… close togither and not disseuer to follow or flie leâ—…t their disorders make place for the enimies to enter as by this proportion doth appeare Somtimes for the saftie of your shot you must receiue them within the gard of your pikes This H signifieth horsemen galloping the fielde to break vpon you where they may best enter most easily as by the void space appeareth the ouerplus of your shot to be placed in 4. wings without the battel This proportion to disseuer is verie perillous How to imbattell 900. souldiers at the sodaine MArching with 900. men and vnderstanding by scout or spie that the enimie pretendeth to skirmish with them or otherwise to ioyne battel you may diuide your bands in thrée parts marching 9. in a ranke placing officers betwixt euerie band that being assaulted may ioyne the Uoward and the Rereward to the middleward so fall they out to be an hearse battell placing your shot in the wings that they may the better resort to the skirmish likewise to retyre as occasion scrueth this is a singular good order for the obtaining of any grounds or doing of exploites An order how to imbattell 900. men at the sodaine An order to imbattell the like number in Quadrant proportion WHen battels are to be made if the Sergeant Maior should chance to be absent giue commandement vnto the Sergeants of the bands to bring their companies seuerall and then ioyne your bands and sorted weapons the brode sides togither as your number serues your Captaines drums and 〈◊〉 with your Ensigne placed in the midst of the execution as well for the saftie of the same as for the comforting of the souldiers neuerthelesse such order is taken that Lieutenants and Sergeants of bands with other seruiceable Gentlemen of S. Georges squadre be placed to leade the Uoward and Rereward of the battell where onsets be vncertaine whose beautifull Armours pollitike and couragious charge is a great terrour to the enimie and a great comfort to their owne companie the shot to be placed in foure froupes with two wings in the Rereward for that they may easier maintain skirmish round about the battell on which side soeuer they be assaulted An order to imbattell 1200. men quadrantly at the sodaine THe foure Quarters ioyned in one seeme to be 1200. men vnder 4. Ensignes euerie way who at the enimies sight must place 13. in ranke which fall to be a quadrant euerie way which â—…odainly may ioyne their long weapons togither making one Quadrant of the foure your drummes and fiffes with the Captain placed next to the Ensigne the Lieutenants in the wings and the Sergeants in the Uoward and Rereward wherby they may the better giue intelligence by signe or word what is best to be done 300. men being shot in the wings and the 300. in Demie Diamondwise after the Almaine manner in the midst the which being discharged the musket and hargabus shot will greatly preuaile This wayes they may march wholly togither or retyre any wayes to seruice néedful ready with their shot to encounter the enimie any wayes in skirmish either wing rescuing other as néede shall require And although the Sergeants maior appointeth order for the same yet the Sergeants of euery band
and backe the better to discerne them one from another This manner as I haue alreadie touched is verie easie So that placing them in length doubling their ranks it brings them likewise to a verie formall order of battell as I haue sufficiently touched beforehand A Battell in forme of a crosse verie necessarie to be vsed as well in the night as by day because all the weapons are deuided by themselues THis battell following in forme of a full Crosse consisteth of 10. Ensignes euerie Ensigne hauing vnder it two hundreth souldiers so that the whole number cōtaineth 2000. mē It hath 4. fronts or faces whereof euerie one is accompanied with hargabusiers which may in time of necessitie be couered defended by the armed pikes so that the formost rankes be moued forwards all alongst the flankes sides of the shot This forme hath bene vsed of Spaniards and Italians It is a gallant battell and of force sufficient to resist the enimie in open fielde although they should set vpon you at vnwares besides superior both against horsemen and footemen the hargabusiers are 1000. the which are the halfe of the number These hargabusiers being deuided into 4. parts must be in euerie flanke 200. placing 14 in ranke euery way the halberds and Ensignes placed in the midst of the crosse are 200. and the whole number of pikes are 800. the which are to be placed on euerie quarter of the halberds 200. placing 14. euery way which make a iust quadrant of people so that there remaine to be placed by the Sergeant maior 16. pikes 4. halberds and 200. shot This rule may serue in proportion for any number being verie excellent for the night because ech weapon being deuided by themselues may be readie at the sodaine for any seruice either to giue battell or for defence of the Campe the horsemen and the field péeces to be placed as shall séeme best by the Chieftaines or the Sergeant Maior The bodie of a battell to be made in the night THe proportion of this Cressant or Moone is very conuenient and fit to be executed in the night there being a round ring drawne with a cord and a stake so that the Sergeant Maior according to my description in his office may place the companies that come to him and from hand to hand part them into seuerall companies according to this proportion for this forme doth require that it be done with expedition and it is no great labour to deuide the weapons without cōfusion either to march or otherwise to vse themselues seuerally from the rest in great or small companies as shal be néedful for that euerie weapon doth stand at his owne defence by it selfe the general artillerie Ensignes short weapons being safely enuironed with the armed pikes which may vpon the sodain by the Sergeant maior or the Corporals of the fielde be brought to any other forme of battell Also the Sergeant generall may place the Hargabusiers in so manie companies and so many formes and so farre distant one from an other as the situation of the place or the seruice thē present doth require to the intent that the maine bodie of the battell may be flanked and defended But for that I haue more largely touched this in the Sergeant maiors office I referre the Reader to the same aduertising him withall that all squadrons and battels in the night must haue euerie sort of weapons seueral by themselues whereby confusion may both be auoided and the troupes of souldiers remaine readie when they shall be called forth to execute any seruice what necessitie or sodaine assault soeuer befall Prouided alwayes that good watch scout be kept on horsebacke and on soote as néere the enimie as is possible by whose aduertisemēts you may know what is best to be accomplished The order of imbattelling before the fight THe Oration being made by the Generall and prayers finished to the immortal God it is requisite that thou haue care to bring forth thy army to the field with bright shining armour which easily may be done by giuing charge in time to the Captaines and so to the officers that their burgonets 〈◊〉 caléeuers halberds swords euerie other péece of 〈◊〉 be made cleane bright forasmuch as the cleannes and brightnes of the weapons maketh the armie séeme terrible and putteth feare trauel in the minds of the enimies Then cal forth thy bands the which béeing set in araie the Generall béeing expert hauing seene the preparation of the enimies giueth in charge to the Sergeant maior and the principall Corporalles to accommodate and ordaine his Souldiers in battaile according to the armie the men and the manners of them And if the enimie bee more puissent of Horsmen thou hauing the commoditie choose thée straight and difficult places or at the foote of mountaines and where the horse cannot easilie serue If in footemen he excéedeth then it is requisite to get the hilles and places of aduantage as the Sunne and winde c. and that with diligence to choose such fit places which either be néere Rockes or Riuers and aboue all things where thou maist put in araie thy battailes and by the qualitie of thy place be able to let thy enimies that they neither compasse thée about nor inclose thée the which requires not onely the counsaile and prudence of a wise Captaine but the counsaile of the most expert in the Campe because oftentimes an Armie hapneth vpon such places And notwithstanding the Captaine is ignorant how to choose such situation of ground as is best for him but of those that are present it is good to choose the best and to foresée which may be most profitable is surely a signe of a wise Captaine Caius Sulpitius to feare his enimies got a great manie of Mules and other beasts vnprofitable for the warres causing a great number of sackes to be gotten which were so ordered vpon the backes of the beasts as they séemed men at armes giuing in charge whiles hee was a fighting they should appeare vpon a hill whereby grew his victorie against the Frenchmen The Spaniards to ouercome Amilcar set in the fronts of their battels Cartes full of Towe drawne with Oxen that béeing ready for the encounter they set it on fire causing the Oxen vehemently to thrust forwards into the armie of the enimie deuiding the same Thy number small and the fields large and open it is good to make ditches the which being filled with boughes and slightly couered with earth leauing voide spaces for thy horse and shot to procure skirmish the which being of the enimie encountered may faine a running awaie and béeing prosecuted by the enemie shall bee ouerthrowne in the ditches where they are easilie slaine manie such notable deuises by wise Captaines hath béene practised the which vpon the suddaine put in vse will greatly profit Thy Battels being made and set in order it is requisite that thou leaue the warde within the trenches of the
Militarie Discipline wherein he hath followed the steppes of Leonard and Thomas Digges Gentlemen in their Stratioticos for the which they merite great commendations by the benefite our country may reap by their trauels But neuerthelesse because I will not attribute that vnto my selfe which is none of my owne I haue thought good to deale more directly and not to reape the fruites of other mens toyles and therefore in following my determination in setting downe diuers battels this battell following I borrow out of M. Digges his Stratioticos The proportion of a battell out of M. Digges Stratâ—…oticos MAster Digges in his third booke intituled Stratioticos hath imbattelled an army of 30000. footmen and 6000. horsemen which hâ—… for an excellent forme of imbattelling figures thus First as you may behold he hath diuided the Armie into two Fronts or faces hath separated them into 8. battaillons euery of them hauing 30. in a ranke and 33. rankes They are armed in the front with 7. ranks of pikes all the rest of the short weapons as swords and targets halberds billes or such like Euery battaillon containeth 1000. men lacking 10. and are placed 3. or â—… paces one from another The second front is diuided into fiue great battaillons euerie one of them being of 2000. men 40. in ranke and 50. rankes euerie battaillon armed in the front with 6. rankes of pikes These battaillons ought to be one from another at the least 25 paces the one front of battels from the other at least 60. paces in or nigh the middle battaillon of this second front shal be the Generall himselfe when he séeth time These battaillons are impaled on either side with 100. ranks of pikes 7. in a ranke and on the backe with 6. rankes of pikes without these hath he placed the shot in 24. troups euery troup containing 100. There is also the forlorne hope before the face of the battell likewise 18. troupes of shot 100. a péece who after they come to the face of the enimie disband and maintaine sâ—…ir mish Last of al the wings of horsemen which M. Digges hath placed in a preposterous order by placing the Argolatâ—…ares last but I both altering their course names say that two of the first are Argolateares 50. in a ranke 25. rankes the second light horsemen 30. in a ranke 33. rankes and the last Demie lances 30. in a ranke 25. ranks Thus there is in the first front of pikes 1680 In the second front 1200. In the impalement 3800. These in all amount to 6680 so is there left 320. pikes to be imployed in loose fléeues to accompanie such thâ—…t short weapon as shal remaine for the gard of the Ordinance Likewise in the first front there are of short weapons 6240. in the second front 8800. so there do remaine 960. short weapons to be imployed togither with the remnant of the pikes for gard of the Artillerie or carriages or else to mingle with the shot in the forlorne hope the which when they shall grow to pell mell with the enimie will do great seruice Also after the battels approch they may retire with the forlorâ—…e hope to assist their horsemen The shot you may behold sorted in troupes 1800. in the front and in either wing 2400. so doe there remaine 400. shot more to ioyne with the pikes and short weapons extraordinarie in any seruice Thus after the great Ordinance on either side haue discharged the Forlorne hope is continually to be supplied with new troupes of shot from the flankes and wings and these troupes of the Forlorne hope that haue discharged should retire betwéene the battaile and the troopes of horse to the backe of the wings so maintaining the flanckes alwaies furnished and thus skirmish may continually be maintained with fresh men the battell alwaies impaled But after the battell begins to approch the forlorne hope must withdrawe themselues then is your first battell strongly fronted and impaled with pikes to abide any charge of horsemen and after their pikes are broken are together with the rest of the short weapon to deale with the enemie and during the continuance of the fight betwéen these battailons the shot may continually discharge in the face of the enemie Likewise there may be certaine small carriages some laden with muskets some with Calabashes others with murdering fire balles and these cariages may during the battell continually spoile the enemies front being safely garded betwéen the battaillons but if fortune should abandon them in the first encounter and that they be broken by the enemies yet haue they those ample spaces betwéene the battaillons of the second front to retire vnto there to make head and giue the enemie battell againe And these spaces or lanes betwéene the battaillons serue not onely to receiue the skirmishers or other that shall retyre but also for the messengers which among the Romans were called Mâ—…ndatores to passe to and fro and to signifie vnto all parts from time to time the Generals pleasure The Argolateares are to gallop the field and scale the side of a squadron the light horsemen to charge vpon the skirmishers and the lances to breake vpon the scaled battel and one to helpe an others course as néed dooth require Thus farre M. Digges prefers this battell which he would haue vsed when no aduantage is gained by the nature of the place but that the Generall must trust to the strength of his good order wherein hee dooth wish such perfection in ouâ—… souldiorie as was in the Romane that they might be able to fight and retire in order and so make many sundry heads vpon the enemie if fortune did abandon them in the first or second encounter the which is farre better in respect of our common brute maine battel or 3 battailes in one front committing the whole field to one brunt of seruice which is a barbarous order therefore it were good the soldiours of our time did applye practise and reforme diuers errors The figure of a Battell out of Monsieur de Bellay his instructions in the Arte of warre MOnsieur de Bellay in his first booke of Militarie discipline sets downe this proportion of a battell This battell euen as the other before consists of receipts one into an other so that the front being broken they must retire into the voide spaces of the second front and they both consequently being repulsed to plant themselues within the thirde last succours the pikes of both flankes ought to retire as the battels retire that is to say the first ranke ought to retire within the 2 and the 2 within the 3 the 3 within the 4 the 4 within the 5 the 5 within the 6 so consequently the rest The Hargabusiers and horsemen must likewise do their duetie according to all warlike order But for your further and perfect instruction howe this battell and all other of like qualitie are to be directed read the Chapter following which is intituled A notable
and so consequently that which is vsed to the left shall go to the left By this meanes if the souldiers be accustomed to know their places put case they should be out of order yet should they be able to place themselues againe easily For the Ensignes do know alredie the place where they are accustomed to be planted in the battel and the Corporals knowing likewise their place may iudge also by ranke of eye vpon what part it is that they should place themselues so that those of the front shall steppe forwards to the front and those of the backe shall in like sort retire to their places Therefore the Corporals knowing in how many and what rankes they haue to arrange themselues it will follow that the souldiers not hauing any thing else to do but to imitate their Leaders and heads will readily range themselues euerie one in his owne place without hauing néede of any sergeant of a band nor any other to place them prouided that vse and practise hath made them perfect masters These things are instructed learned spéedily so that diligence be vsed that mē accustome themselues by little little and often the which after they haue once well learned they shall hardly forget It is moreouer necessarie to teach them to turne al at one time for it is somtimes requisite to make of the rereward the front or of one of the flankes the rereward according to the enimies face and according to the place of assault Now to answere towards the place néedful you haue no more to do but to turne your person towards the place appointed and so shall that part towards which the souldiers haue turned their faces be the front But he that would haue a whole battaillon turne all in one péece as if it were a massie body in this it were necessarie to haue great practise discretiō for to turne it vpon the left hand it is requisite to haue the left corner stay that those which be néere adioyning vnto the same do aduance themselues so slowly that those vpon the right corner be not constrained to run otherwise al wil be confounded but this may better be made apparant by experience then words The forlorne hope the light armed armed pikes are to be ranged in the front flanks rereward according to the proportion of the battell or as the seruice requires for these are to execute particular functions in cōuoyes forrages inuasions such like when it is not requisite to send great numbers of people The forlorne hope the pikemen hargabusiers are to begin the battel to fight amongst the horsemen without kéeping any order and therfore being lightly armed their office is to fight without stāding still or firme in running trauersing here there whether they pursue the enimies or be followed of them in which the pikemen wil do good seruice in backing sustaining the hargabusiers and may be able to make front to these that charge vpon them whether they be on horseback or foote or to follow those that be in flight to make entrance to thrust in amongst the enimies when they begin to stagger or sway Therfore al souldiers whether they be in maine battel in flanke forlorne hope in the impale or rereward haue néede to be well exercised that being disbanded they may immediatly finde againe their places rang themselues in the same aray they kept before wherein it is necessarie that all officers become more vigilant in execution then heretofore and the souldiers more obedient and expert in performing then at this day they be Our age brings forth Captaines more curious of gaine then of conseruing good order and troupes of officers rather to supplie number then sufficient to instruct The Ensignes thēselues are more in vse for a gallant shew then for any Militarie direction whereas the ancient Romaines did vse them for a guid whereby they knew how to put thēselues in order for euery one after the Ensigne did stay knew incontinently the place where they were to plant thēselues they knew that if the same did remoue or stand stil that they likewise ought to march or stay Therfore it is necessary that a camp haue diuers bands euery band his Ensigne wherin figures of number are to be portraited to shew what roome and place the same is of in euery regiment or armie and so consequently where the same is accustomed to be ranged And also necessarie Leaders and officers that the campe may haue diuers soules and so likewise diuers liues all souldiers then ought to gouerne thēselues according to their Ensignes according to the sounds the which being ordained set down according as they ought do command gouerne a whole regiment and armie The which so that it march in such sort as answeres to the batterie of the drums they shall easily kéepe their order and aray And to this end were the Flutes and fiffes found out and sounds of perfect accord for euen as men that dance by the measures of Musicke do not erre so likewise a whole battaillon which in march obeys the sound of the drum cannot breake aray and therefore the Romaines when they would change their pace when they would inflame appcase or assure the souldiers they did change sounds as the sounds did varie so likewise vsed they variety of names to them for they had the Dorike and the Phrigien sound the one did inflame the hearts of the souldiers the other did make méek appease them They had likewise other kinds of sounds as the Aeolien Iasien Lydien others the which did al serue to incite or coole the courage of men which diuersitie of batteries the Spaniards do presently verie well imitate a thing to be obserued of all good souldiers An armie that consists of diuers battaillons two or thrée fronts when they are constrained to break and are repulsed must retire one within another into the rankes of the next squadrons which of purpose are planted more thin so the first retyring enters into the 2. and the second into the 3. Note that in the first front of a square vpon the fal of any wounded or slaine souldier he the is next behind him in rank is his follower must enter and step into his roome and fill vp the void place that the front of the battel may still be maintained and so obseruing the retire of the battaillons and the renuing of their ranks we may accomplish both the Romain Gréeke discipline Those battaillons which are most necessarie to be had in vse ought to consist of pikes marching before the Ensigne behind it and on the flanks carrying light Uenecian rundels and targets on their backes and in the midst about the Ensigne the halberdeares must stand prouided alwayes that the notable personages good souldiers for seruice be dispersed as well in the flanks behind as before and not to put them all to one
brunt in the front as though they were immortall and not able to be ouercome By this order a battell shall be able to sustaine a charge of horsemen or footmen to repulse them after enter into the enimies throng for experience declares that the pikes are made voide of seruice when the rankes be closed pell mell togither for then the souldiers are almost one vpon the bodie backe of another Wherefore if the pikemen should haue no other weapons but their pikes and swords they should remaine naked which doth moue me to commend the rondell to receiue the blowes and to fight withall in any presse or throng whatsoeuer The halberdeares may verie well fight in a presse likewise with their halberds rather then the pikemen with their pikes The which halberdeares are expresly appointed for execution and so consequenly to follow the said rondels at the héeles to frée them from the charge of those that be armed through the great heauie blowes which they shall giue with their halberds But touching the rondels I would haue them alwayes to thrust with the point of their swords although it were but at the face the legges and féete if the enimie be not disarmed in other parts The ground that euery souldier doth occupie at large in marching in simple and single aray is thrée pace and being in battell two and when they fight one The distance of one ranke from another in simple and single ordinance and aray is foure and being ranged in battell two and in fight one The first sound of the Collonels trumpet is to enter into the ranke and march the second to alter the single aray into forme of battell and the thirde is to aduance and plant the battell The Collonel being in such a place as from thence he may sée his whole Regiment hauing the Caualliers of his squadre of S. George about him being such expert souldiers as I haue set downe in my second booke of directions togither with the Sergeant Maior and such as can execute any commission of importance his drum and trumpet maior about him to sound and cause his pleasure to be sodainly and spéedily vnderstood The Collonel must commande the sound to be made of his trumpet which is appointed for the ordinarie march and soone after to sounde that which is to trot and then at the selfe time that which commands and appoints the fight and combat When a battell doth consist of diuers battaillons he must not forget to exercise the first to retire within the battaillons of the second the second to retire within the battaillons of the third And to accomplish the same without breaking or disordering the squadrons The pikes in the flankes must retire as the battaillons retire the first into the second the 3. within the 4. the fourth within the 5. the fift into the 6. of the ranks and so consequently to the end The forlorne hope and horsmen shal likewise do their dutie These things done the retrait must sound and euery Ensigne must recoile his people apart to put them again in a new and single ordinance of aray for the march The enimie aduancing to fight in triangular battel with the point forward frame the battell of sheares to receiue enuiron and fight with the said pointed battaillon If the enimie march with a front stretched out in length make a triangle or pointed battel to pearce the same The baggage of an armie ought either to be in a place strong by nature or well defended by art and industrie togither with the followers of the campe pages and muchachos who must be chosen able to fight in a day of seruice for the defence of themselues and their masters baggage The spaces interualles galeries and passages which are amongst the ranks amongst the bands and amongst the battaillons do serue not onely to receiue one another either in retire or when the first ranke doth retire through the midst of the second and the 2. 3. 4. and 5. c. following him like a Laborinthus mase going forward to the last ranks and turning backe again or that his next follower steps a side and lets him passe and enter into ranke againe but also those spaces betwixt the battaillons serue the Caualliers such like that come go which carrie bring directions of the Chieftaines Collonels or Generals The forlorne hope and extraordinarie pikes must inuade the enimie with continuall great cries the battaillons or maine battell likewise at the first must giue a chearefull shout when encounter is giuen in the beginning and ioyning of the battels but afterward maintain a solemne silence that they may the better vnderstand what commandements and directions procéeds from their chieftain either for the altering of order or otherwise which cannot be heard or vnderstood if they continue a barbarous crie Squadrons battaillons must sometimes assault in great hast chiefly if the enimies artillery doe endomage them verie much and sometimes must abide the charge without remoouing when the place is vneasie that they shall be in danger to dismember specially if they be such as be not accustomed to the march maner of battels Therefore in conclusion these 4 things ought to be obserued of all armies first that all soldiors priuate bands be exercised a part in all things belonging to the wars secondly that they know how to range themselues in battell how to varie exercise and march in the same softly apace and in full course kéeping their araic Thirdly to learne that which appertaines to the exercise which they must accomplish in a day of battell and how to drawe forward and retire the artillarie to giue way and cause the Hargabuziers to issue out of the flanks hauing shot sixe or 7 Hargabusades a péece in running héere and there and without kéeping order so that they know how to ioyne and agrée with the pikemen and horsemen to whom the care ouer their safety belongs They shall retire by the flankes and by the interuals and passages each one into his place that is to say the hargabuziers of the flankes into the flanks the forlorne hope to the reregard there to range themselues according to the Collonels appointment as the day of seruice requires for if they should remaine and continue before the squadre or battel they shall hinder the maine battaillons in their fight and bring confusion The light armed pikes horsemen must likewise retire to their places vpon the ioyning of the battels The fourth exercise is as partly I haue touched before that euery one apply himselfe to vnderstand the commaundement of the Chéeftains the signification of the sounds and trumpets and the batterie of the drums by which be signified all that which is generally to be vnderstood that is to say when it shall be time to plant themselues in battell when they ought to march when to stay or go forward when to turne visage to one part or other to crosse the ground
their meanes an armie is made abundant of all things propre commodious and necessary Furthermore he must make and set reasonable prises vpon the victuals in such sort as the souldiors be not taxed and pinched neither the victuallers so vsed but that they may be honest gainers which I meane of things necessarie as bread béere corne wine with such like but touching other things lesse necessarie he must suffer them to sell as they can that is to say all sort of stuffe cloth for garments sadles furniture for horses spicerie armor and such like merchandize After that he hath verie well consulted and taken aduise being accompanied with worthy Caualliers and old souldiers of sound iudgement and hath visited oueruewed wel discouered considered of al plots and places where the campe is to lodge or be planted he must with great reason iudgement depart the lodgings quarters as I haue séene duely obserued vnder Doâ—… Iohn of Austria and the Prince of Parma When the campe is to make long abode in any place he ought with a capable conuenient diuision measure the same either by view of eye by cord or other ingenious order after an experimented sort good iudgment as partly appeares by figure hereafter ensuing The Artilerie munition and victuals must be lodged in the strongest and safest place of the camp euery one of them hauing their ordinarie gard Let him haue a vigilant respect that about the munition and pouder there be no fire made neither any hargabusiers or light matches approch néere vnto the same but such souldiers as are armed with other sorts of weapons as pikes halberds c. to auoid the perillous scandale of fire Then must he appoint out and ordaine quarter by quarter and specially that euerie Nation may haue a commodious plot of ground for an assembly or an Alarme the which continually ought to be void and not occupied of any qualitie of person but garded both day and night with a good Corps de gard for their securitie Note that the said place of armes be so lotted out in â—…uerie quarter that from thence the front towards the enimie may be commodiously succoured and that souldiers may conuey themselues thither with all expedition togither with their Ensignes there to range theÌ„selues in battel therfore this place ought principally to be capable of such effects either by nature or art to be repaired strengthened with trenches towards the face front of the enimie prouided that the souldiers be not pestâ—…red for want of roome nor by euerlarge space the camp not sufficiently fortified therfore must he haue a note of al the names numbers of bands of horsemen and footemen and according to thaâ—… proportion cast their ground and scope of encamping togither with all their munition prouision and carriages Encamping with an armie in the field at the siege of a townâ—… c. I haue séene quarters for euerie nation first appointed out then seuerally euerie band lodged in forme of battell the pikes in the midst and the shot in the flankes and at the head of euery band and lodging of euery company the Ensigne planted and stucke in the ground towards the face of the enimie or citie hauing an equal iust propotion of ground before the Ensignes betwixt them the trenches to range theÌ„selues in battel which must be betwixt the Corps de gard of the priuate Ensignes and betwixt the other generall Corps de gard for the whole campe whether they be placed in trenches or otherwise for the saftie of the whole campe that plot of ground wherein the assembly of armes is to be but these directions I will hereafter set downe with greater diuersity that ech man may make choise according to his fancie Moreouer he must appoint out the market place for victuallers merchants in a large safe commodious place for all the campe He must likewise appoint out for euery quarter in some place out of the way a place for men to disburtheÌ„ nature to kill cattle beasts for victuallers to rost meate in to the intent that the rest of lodgings may be kept cleane and infection of aire auoided a general benefite for health In most manner of encampings he must so diuide the quarters as euery nation may be placed by it selfe and euery Collonel by himself dispose the horsmen footmen distinctly in sunder that euery quarter may haue his place of armes market place for victuals touching which he ought to take great care of equall distribution that he may entertaine gratifie with special commodity euery nation that serues in the army And that not only euery sort of weapon haue their seueral stréets but also that euery quarter company in the campe haue his seueral charge of Artillery It is most necessarie that he take great respect to lodge the army in a strong situation whereunto he must principally haue a vigilant eye as a thing that consists in great practise long experience in many coÌ„siderations He must likewise haue respect that the place be of good aire that aboue al things there be good store of water springs and specially of wood in time of winter Likewise that in the country adioyning frée from the enimies inuasion danger there be forage for horses straw for the souldiers to lie vpon make their cabbines withal that the ground be sandie or drie where they encampe c. Touching al the conditions belonging to encamping he must take a very speciall â—… circumspect care taking view of the same diuers many times with great coÌ„sideration It belongs vnto him likewise to learne out and know the most commodious way that is most fit expedient for the armie to march be conducted through whether it be in the ordinarie high way or ouerthwart a trauerse the countrie and that they do march that way whereas the passage is most commodious must assigne to euery battell a guide or two to conduct them the best and most easie wayes Let him prouide that the Pioners accommodate make easie euerie foule way strait passage encombrance and to cleare the wayes before the great ordenance whereupon one partie must attend and therein to performe so much as is conuenient without hauing respect to the commoditie or losse of any particular person or to the preiudice or discommoditie of the countrie wherin you march which things do lesse import then the perill the hinderance reputation of an army being an assembly of meÌ„ of so great valour importance for whom the Marshall ought alwayes to procure with al possible diligence al commodities and aduantage to kéepe the armie in reputation and to maintaine it sound lusty to the intent that with an vndoubted presage the Generall may promise himselfe victorie in due time and place Togither with the other aduertisements for the commodity enioying of victuals
merchandise he must yet further care to lodge his armie in such a place that as néere as is possible it may be an impediment to the enimies prouision or commodity He must ordaine that the footmen and horsemen of euery nation be placed diuided in such sort that by their orderly lodging the seat of the campe may be well garded easily and frankly defended Besides this it is necessarie to dispose and plant the Corps de gard and the bodie of the watch about the Camp in places most suspected and best for the purpose which in the day must consist of horsemen in the night of footmen to the intent the army may at all times remaine without feare of sodaine surprises or be assaulted vnprouided which thing as it is of maruellous molestation so sometimes it may be incrediblie preiudiciall When the strength and force of the souldiers and al the camp following are constrained to take armes and to put themselues in squadrons either in the day or night by occasion of the enimie or any other necessarie acccident that may happen The high marshall of the fielde ought diligently to prouide that the Artillerie the munition and the victuals be safely kept with their ordinarie appointed gard The like care ought he to haue that vpon any sodaine surprise Camisado or sally out of a besieged towne the gard about the campe and in the trenches be strengthened and renforced with a new supplie for the more saftie of the munition tents cabbens and other baggage and therefore the said gard ought at the first to be planted in places strong by nature or else fortified by art These things he must perfâ—…rme with a certaine diligent modestie thereby not to displease any person that either particularly or principally either is or hath bin inuested with the like charge as the Sergeant Maior the general of the Artillerie or the Lieutenant of the whole armie besides other priuate Collonels and Captaines c. which aduertisement I only giue by the way for that he may endeuour himselfe to please euerie one although the authority of his office doth expresly extend resolutely to command in things pertaining to the saftie of the field and campe Let him moreouer call continually to memory that the art of warre doth require a sharpe and exemplar manner and condition of chastisement therby to remaine the better obeyed the which thing is of principall great importance for since that in that place his Prince doth not only fight for the dearest thing he hath but also for the health of his proper person and all his subiects it behooues him to be readie and perfite in such causes Besides it is a most necessarie thing for him to note that there is gathered togither in the Armie great numbers of people of diuers customes of sundrie ages and of minde and disposition not alwayes correspondent Therefore he that through insolency wil not obserue the lawes of armes so important as nothing more in the honorable exercise of Militarie profession let him be constrained to obserue due obedience through horrour feare of punishment To the Marshal of the fielde it appertaines to take order euerie day soone after the Diana that the Conuoyes Ascoltes and safegards do appeare before and come to his lodging to receiue their Commission not only for the safegard and assurance of the merchants and victuallers which come and go from the campe but also as wel for the baggage of the footmen as the horsemeÌ„ who are of custome enforced to prouide both for forrage from time to time and for manie thinges necessarie for prouision for their horses other beasts cabbins things néedful to be vsed in the campe These connoyes safgards Ascoltes ought to be of horsemen and guided by a Captaine of great discretion experience When the armie shall remoue the high marshall must first giue order to the master of the Ordinance that he set forth the Artillerie with all the carriages munition c. then the master of the victuals and cariages afterwards He must after giue order to the Sergeant Maior in what sort he will haue the battell to march that day and to the scoutmaster which way he will send his vauntcurrours to discouer if all be cleare who must from time to time giue intelligence what occurrence he discouereth The high Marshall when he goeth to view the ground where he intendeth to incampe may by his authoritie take such number of horsmen as he shal think conuenient and then is he to consider that there be nigh at hand as I said before wood water and forrage enough for the Army and if he intend long to lodge in that place then must he make his campe the larger and prouidently consider that euery Regiment haue his conuenient place that the tents and cabbins be not pitched and made nigh the ring of the campe that there bée large places of assemblie within the campe that it be well intrenched and fortified for which respectes it is requisite that the Martial haue knowledge in Geometrie Arithmetike and that he haue in a readinesse sundrie plats models formes as partly I haue annexed hereunto whereby he may be able to resolue for any number or situation what forme or quantitie of Campe is most conuenient and presently stake it out assigning â—…ue place for euery Regiment of footmeÌ„ horsmen carriages Ordinance Munition euery particularitie as hereafter shal more plainly be declared For lodging of footmen especially in a running campe I haue partly in this chapter touched but for lodging of horsemen it is not amisse to imitate the Rutters who commonly alwayes lodge in such closes as they finde enuironed with trées or quicke set hedges and ditches placing their horses in due order round about the fielde two paces one from another with railes betwéene them leauing al the void ground in the middle for the Captaines tents cabbines for the horsemen So that in that sort in a field of two or thrée acres I haue séene a guydon of Rutters very well lodged commodiously with railes or poles betwéene their horses and bowes about them for the winde or heat some with hales ouer them to kéepe them from the raine their saddels bridels and al other their furniture hanging vpon poles readie by them neatly kept blacked their mangers also before them for all such necessaries the Ruiters carrie with theÌ„ in their wagons and carriages besides little whéele barrowes to carrie away their doung so that their campe is no lesse cleane orderly then a princes stable A faire stréete they alwayes leaue betwéene their owne cabbines their horses They haue certain troopes of their seruants whom they cal their knights and these troupes alwayes attend that so soone as the Marshall hath limited their quarters they depart immediatly to the next woods for poles bowes stakes and other necessaries to build their campe stables and cabbines other go for forrage that
Georges squadre may very well be imployed It is requisite that all souldiers follow their leaders and carrie a great care and diligence in marching to the intent that by sudden assaults they be not at euerie step to arise in a rumor and confusedly to runne héere and there and the one to go contrarie to the other and finally comming about them not to be able to do any thing of any profit For which cause thou oughtest to march with thine armie through euery place in battell ray whereby the souldiers may be made more apt and spéedie to make a voyage and quicke and ready to resist if néed shall be The Souldiers according to my former directions being trained to follow the Ensignes apt to obey commaundements and to behaue themselues valiantly according to their place and order if thou march in a plaine countrie it is requisite that thy pikes march in battell ray retiring thine armie into a little space so that by the straightnes and facilitie of inlarging thou be not constrained to extend thy selfe into too much length which fashion of marching séemes to giue occasion and power to the enemie to assault commodiously their aduersaries according to the occasion to endomage them he beholding the commoditie to defend themselues to be taken away forasmuch either with more largenesse comming against thée the which is woont to happen both the hornes being compassed it is like that he shall easily disorder thée and put thée to flight or els giuing charge on the flanke in the midst of the battell hauing already broken thine order sodenly stop thy men from being able to go forward being closed in the arayes of the enemies Wherefore minding to retire in a maine battell and to returne to resist they shall be able to do little good as those that haue vsed such a maine battell which for want of thicknes is nothing strong but altogether weake Also if the enemie should charge thée on the rearward thou shalt be brought to the very same necessitie because thou shalt be so compassed as thy fronts shall not be able to succour the last or the last to succour the first For the which thing it is alwaies better and more sure and easier to gouerne the bands that march close and square theÌ„ thin and long especially forasmuch as to an army that marcheth long oftentimes happens that of some thing séeme doubtful and vncertaine there groweth suddenly feare and terror because sometimes it hath chaunced that men discending from high and hillie places into the plaine to places expedient and open and the formost séeing the last of the same band by a great distance to come after supposing themselues to be assaulted of some ambush of enemies it hath béene séene that they haue suddenly turned to fight afterwards no otherwise theÌ„ enemies gone together by the eares with their owne companions If as I said before the victuales carriages and munition be not conducted in the midst of the armie but if otherwise the hindermost part would be garded defended of the most valiant souldiers as in the fronts because that at vnawares may happen many things thy light horsmen going before disciphering and espying where they may passe hauing occasion to passe by mountaines woodes places closed with hils and most great desarts because the enemie many times will lay an ambush priuilie by the passage to assault his aduersarie who taking little héed thereof haue béene easily broken and brought to vtter decay The which ambush if the conductor by way of exploratoures shall foresée with a little paine hauing preuented the suares of the enemie may win a worthie name of politike prudence and likewise saue his armie from imminent ruine And as for the plaines thou with thine owne eies maist sée a far of forasmuch as in the day dust mooued and lifted vp into the aire dooth shew the moouing and stirring of the enemy and in the night the fires and flames signifieth the campe to be there When thy men are to be conducted and not fight thou oughtest to remooue by day if peraduenture some thing do not constraine thée for the which thou thinkest it good to go in hast to come before thine enemie where in déed for such occasion thou must remooue in the night so that thou know it may safely be doone to fight with the enemie Lead thâ—… meâ—… not in hast but softly inforce them not to make two long a iourney forasmuch as labour taken before a man come to fight is seâ—…ne very often vainly to consume and waste the strength of their hobies And marching in the country of thy friends it is néedful to commaund thy souldiers that in no manner of wise they touch or spoile any thing but rather altogether to refraine considering that souldiers hauing weapons and liberty to doe what shall please them will fauour nothing especially for that the â—…ight of things that please men out of doubt is wooâ—…t most dangerously to lead ignorant and vnwarie men to desire them and with the swéetnesse of robbing to eutice them to all manner of mischéefe wherevnto if thou prouide not thy fréends thy confederates for very small occasions will become enemies notwithstanding the countrie of thy enemies thou shalt suffer thy souldiers openly to destroy burâ—…e consume because by the dearth of victuals lack of money wars are woont to deminish and be extinguished and contrariwise through aboundance and riches they are nourished and maintâ—…ined but first before thou suffer thine enemies countrie to be destroyed thou shouldest giue aduise to thy enemies threatning them what thou wilt do if they will not yéeld vnto thée for the the perril of the misery prepared the feare of the ruine looked for oftentimes constraines men to grant many things the which at the first by no maner of means had bin possible to haue brought theÌ„ to passe but after they haue once receaued the hurt they will make little account of thée and dispise all other things as though thou couldest do them no more harme Albeit iâ—… thou knowest surely that in the country of thine enemies thou must tarrie long with thine army suffer to be taken spoiled those things only which thou séest wil not be greatly profitable vnto thée but the same which is to be thought may be preserued for thy commodity coÌ„mand openly to thy souldiers that they for beare Hauing made ready and set in order thy men tarry not long in thy owne country nor yet in thy confederates least that consuming all thy prouision it séeme not that thou art of greater hurt to thy fréends theÌ„ to thy enemies but rather conduct thy army spéedily into thy enemies country whereby if it be fertile and aboundant there may be taken at thy néede most plentiously those things that thou list but if it be otherwise thou shalt cause to be knowne that thou séekest to prouide most louingly both for the wealth profit of thy fréends Besides
this thou oughtest to care with al diligence that marching or incamping by sea or land victuals may safely be brought for somuch as by such means the merchants with all diligence will bring all things which for the vse of an army wil be necessary Moreouer wheÌ„ thou most passe by straights or march through rough hilly wayes theÌ„ is it coÌ„uenient principally for the preseruation of thy things to send before shot on horseback on foot for the kéeping of those places rocks or inclosed waies least the enemy taking it before thée may both let thy passage to thy great hinderance losse the contrary thou ought enforce thy selfe to do when thou vnderstandest the enemy to passe the like thou hast not onely to take héede for receiuing harme but to inforce thy selfe to turne against the enemy those deceits whereby he thought to deceaue thée And when thou purposest to go against him it is requisite to prouide before him at vnawares oppresse him so diligently thou must find means to let endomage him euery way if thou vnderstandest that he intends to pursue thée The marshall of the field must foresée the whether soeuer the army doth retire or vse an ordinary march iourney that the captains that lead distinct seuerall bands must with mutuall diligence by horsemeÌ„ riding to and fro measure the march of the army neither suffer the Ensignes to go any thing out of sight The auantgard to obserue with what pace the middle battell marcheth and so likewise the middle battell the rereward that euery battell may be ready at hand for all sodaine incursions of the enemy to succor the battell which is circumuented finally fight if a man be forced or aduantage doth serue with al the power of the army vnited together Of the order of the march in figure and of the placing of the weapons Forsomuch as there are diuers formes of marching according to the ground and diuersities of mens minds I haue onely thought it good to set downe this figure ensuing as very necessarie and of great force for an armie with his whole carriages to march withall Wherein I partly imitate the antiquitie as otherwise the order now vsed as for example Let there be an armie of 40000. footemen and 14000. horsemen according to the proportion set downe there is allowed to euerie 100 footmen 40. pikes 50 shot and 10 halberds the which falles out to be 20000 shot 16000 pikes and 4000 halberds the which with the horsmeÌ„ are to be deuided into thrée battels The voward the mainward and the rearward battell In the voward shall be placed 10000 footemen whereof 4000 pikes 1000 halberds and 5000 shot In the front of the voward battel are to be placed 2000 argolateares on horsebacke 1000 launces Then there are to be placed the pioners who are to be garded with 500 shot of each wing The Sergeaat Maior must giue in charge that these pioners beate downe and make plaine the ground before them in their march in such bredth as occasion shall serue to make your battels or necessity procure or the straightnes of the place permit Also the Sergeant hath to appoint these pioners that if they be charged by the enemies hauing their weapons to defend themselues amongst the shot or otherwise to retire themselues by the wings of the battell and to be placed at the discretion of the Sergeant Maior in the battell Next after these Pioners shall follow 2000 shot next vnto the shot the carriages of the first battell with all the impediments Then followeth 2000 pikes and 1000 halberdeares with the Chiefetaine in the midst then followeth the other 2000 pikes after the pikes the carriages of the merchants and purueyours who must by the appointment of the Generall march armed for the defence of their charge theÌ„ follow the other 2000 shot and if you passe through any dangerous places it is requisite so to march as you may suddenly bring them to a quadrant battell sending alwayes before 100 Hargaloteares on horsebacke and 100 lighthorsmen for vauntcurriers to discouer and view the straights and passages as otherwise to take their bredth and to giue certificate to the officers whereby they may make their march thereafter and to view that all places be frée from â—…mbushes and traines of the enemie whereby the armie may the more safelier and quietlier passe sending from the frontes as necessitie requires ayde to assist the Curriers Then must follow your maine battell of footemen the which is 20000. footemen whereof 10000. shot 8000. pikes and 2000 Halberds the which are to be diuided in this manner next vnto the shot of the voward battell must be placed the carriages of the maine battell with bagge and baggage who must be placed by quarter then 4000 pikes next the pikes 2000 halberds with the General in the midst then the other 4000 pikes after the pikes the carriages of the merchants as appeares by this figure The weapons of the rearward battell to be diuided as in the voward who must send forth courriers from the rearward to espie whether the enimie doth prosecute thée to take aduantage to thy hinderance or no and you must place next your shot in the rearward one thousand Lances and 2000 Hargolateares your 10500 shot of the maine battell are to be placed as wings in all your battels who must be placed 16 paces from the sides of the battels Next vnto the shot must go the Artillerie of the fielde with their carriages with like distance on both the sides of the battels then must be placed 1000 men at armes of ech side of the battels Likewise 1000 Lances of ech side and 2000 Hargolateares as appeareth by the foresaid figure The high marshal must giue in charge that in al dangers ontill the footmen may be brought to forme of battell that the Ordenance Artillerie may be readily and equally diuided into the two hornes of the battel to terrifie the enimie to the vttermost and if so be that the enimie wil attempt the battel on the wings let the Hargolateares with the rest of the horse and shot in the wings make the like difference thus euery part shal be of like sort defended vntill thou hast made thy battell as pleaseth thée If this order cannot please the march withall through a suspected place you may practise that which is thought of the Generall and his wise counsellours and Captaines to be most expedient neuerthelesse I thought it not amisse to set downe this order in figure with the diuision of the weapons for that being well considered and with aduise well ordered you may make presently as many battels as you will and in what order you please euen by hand without any great trouble or toile THe proportion of this march ensuing was vsed of the Lantgraue of Hesson the buke of Saxonie in their wars against the Emperour Charles the fift their maine square battell of pikes being flanked fronted and backt
with shot was empaled with Lances men at armes with a batâ—…aillon of Argolatâ—…ares on horsebacke in the â—…auntgard The whole battell 〈◊〉 with Artillerie and the carriages of the campe and munition on the side from the emperialists garded with a squadron of 〈◊〉 shot and lances The victuallers betwixt the rearward and the main battel empaled with horsemen bring backed with 〈◊〉 and Argolateares The order how to encampe an armie and to accommodate the same according to the situation of the ground IN respoâ—…t 〈◊〉 no resoluâ—…e rule can be giuen to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 since that the same so often alters and changes according to the quality of the ground the quantity for distance oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the enimie diuersitiâ—… in minde of the Marshall or Generall I will therefore procéede to speake of the 〈◊〉 of the â—…ampe of his situation forme compasse and fortification and the commodities and orders which be thereunto necessarie First touching the situation I say that being in a plaine farre from hils it is necessarie to haue a riuer or such quantitie of water as the same may commodiously nourish a whole armie and the Cauallarie and prouide that from the adioyning woods if there be any you may fetch al sort of wood and fewell for the necessitie of the armie and that likewise prouision he had of hay and straw for the horsemen for these be the things that an armie cannot carrie about with it When prouision is made of these necessaries the armie must be so well fortified as the enimy cannot â—…aise the same The greatnes and circuite of the lodgings must not be so great that the same may be an impediment that a man cannot at all times vse succour and defence when néede doth require nâ—…ither ought it to be so little that the armie cannot haue al his commodities necessarie places for victuals and for merchants which follow the armie Touching the forme fashion of the campe the same must be such as these portratures following make shew accoÌ„modating the same neuerthelesse to the situation of the ground In the portrature is described and drawne all the quarters with their places the lodgings for the Generall and the wayes to issue out where in for further instruction I will somewhat delate but he that is more curious let him reade Ieronemo Cataneo his example out of whom I tooke this If it chance that an armie must lodge amongst mountaines in a ground full of hils diuersly situated as in vales croupes of mountaines riuers woods caues such inequalities If the Marshal be a man of experience in the wars and know how to lodge an army he may serue his turne therwith greatly with smal labor fortifie his camp lodgings But aboue all things he must be careful the he do not plaÌ„t himself in such a place the the same be subiect to any hils or other height of ground that doth command ouer him from whence the enimie might looke into his lodgings and so batter the cortines of his rempares For if the enimies armie occupie this mountaine or hill the Generall of the campe shall be constrained to dislodge his armie and so be forced to fight to his great disaduantage To lodge an armie in the fielde with his due measures being of good proportion according to the situation of the ground you must know how much space of ground must be had for the quarters of the Cauallarie and how much for the Infanterie with their places of armes stréetes and other necessaries for the seruice of their lodgings For example suppose there is a campe of 60000 fighting men that is to say 2000 men at armes 10000 light horsemen 48000 hargabusiers Corslets light armed pikes and halberds To euerie man of armes I giue 7 lodgings and to euerie light horseman 4 and euerie lodging as well of men at armes as light horsemen shall containe 50 foote of earth that is to say fiue foote large and 10 foote long as this figure declares To euerie souldier on foote with a seruant or a page I will giue 64 foote of earth for his lodging which shall be 8 foote in square as this figure declares This done you must accommodate the place for the General from 200 to 250 foot euen in the midst of the campe and from that place shall be drawne two straight stréetes which shal crosse ouerthwart with two straight angles right in the midst of the place for the Generall which two stréetes shal be called the principall stréetes and shall serue for a Corps de gard towards the enimie Suppose that next of all I will lodge 500 braue souldiers or gallant warlike Caualliers next to the Generals lodging to euerie one of these I will giue two lodgings that shal be of the same circuit that the men at armes are Besides this about the Generals plot I wil draw two plots the one for the market and the other for victuals which two shall containe as much ground as the lodging of the volentarie Caualliers of the Generals traine or Caualliers of S. Georges squadre to the General which termes doth best fit all such Gentlemen as volentarily follow the campe to sée seruice to court the Generall About the plots and lodgings of these Caualliers I will draw out a stréete of 25. foote about the which shall be the quarters of men at Armes and light horsemen with their stréetes and voide places in the midst About the horsemens quarters shal be drawne a stréete of 50. foote large round about which is to be compast out the quarters for the footemen with their stréetes and void places At the end of one of the principall streetes towards the enimy you must draw out the generall place of armes which must containe as much at the least as halfe the lodgings for the footemen do containe In one of my figures I haue not drawne this void place for that I haue set the trench so farre from the lodgings that going about the campe within the circuit of the said trench you may easily make a generall place for armes At one corner of the campe towards the enimie must be appointed a place for the munition of the Artillarie and at the backe of the campe must be drawne out the lodgings for the pioners and for the cattell that is killed for the nourishment of the campe with other necessarie things The victuallers must lodge in the void places of the quarters and all along the streetes The trench must be made far distant from the lodging from 200 to 250 foote The place of Artillerie is comprehended in the Calcull of the footmens quarters and would be distant from the trenches that enuirons the lodgings from 200 pace to 250 at the least as in my discription it is drawne 250 foote distant The places necessarie to be accommodated for quarters for souldiers to do their naturall businesse in and to lodge other persons which are lodged in the said
it would bréede but confusion and the thing being of it self most plaine it should be tedious to rest longer thereupon This only I would wish the Marshal or campemaster to obserue that his shot be lodged toward the outside of the camp that they may be always ready at that ring of the camp vpon any alarme the which he may do by diuiding the vttermost seuen regimeÌ„ts into halfe as you sée by the pricked lines leauing the seueÌ„ spaces marked with L for the 7000 shot the other noted with M for 7000 pikes al the other regimeÌ„ts marked with N shal be the lodgings of the 16000 short weapons Thus in the north moity of your campe are al your armed both horsemen footmen lodged Now the other moity must serue for the lodgings of the vnarmed as Pioners Carters Carpenters Smithes Butchers Uictuallers all other sorts of Mecanicall artificers togither with a large place of assembly for the souldiers to retire vnto to put themselues in order vpon any alarme and also to exercise themselues in sundry sorts of actiuitie You shall therefore from the southside of the Generals pauilion 600 pace southward extend out your first maine stréete of 40. pace broade and crosse him againe with an other stréet running east weast 360 pace distant froÌ„ the southside of the Generals pauilion This streete néede to be but 300 pace in breadth Againe extend out the second narrow stréets that run parallel to the first maine stréete till you come to the crosse stréete last made so haue you O your place of assemblie 330 pace brode and 540 pace long P shal be appointed for the munition and officers attendant on the artillarie Q the market place round about this market place may be lodged the Butchers Bakers Cookes and victualers of all sorts About the munition quarter besides the officers and Gunners may the Smithes Carpenters Whéele wrights labourers attendant on the ordinance be placed About the place of assembly may be the tents of all such as furnish the campe with things néedfull for the souldiers as Armorers Taylers Shoomakers and all such like artificers Yet remaine there two long swares of earth either of them 540 pace long 190 pace brode héere you may settle the Carters Wagoners with their horse and Oxen for the carriages themselues must alwaies impale that part of the campe that is not otherwise by nature and arte fortified In these two quarters also may be lodged the pioners and all other sort of labourers that aptly cannot or ought not be placed in or about the former courtes or quarters of assemblie Last of all you shall discribe 60 pace distant from all those regiments and their quarters already set downe The ring of the campe causing some prettie trenche and vaumure to be throwne vp placing your ordinance vpon the same as in this figure is described and betwéene the ordinance your carriages and this may suffice if the enemie be not very puissant or néere at hand but if you suspect the ariual of the enemy or that you know him stronger in the field then your selfe would therefore encampe surely vntill further aid come vnto you then shall you without this ring 100 pace distant cause your pioners and souldiers for vpon such an occasion he is not worthie to beare the name of a souldier that will not set his hand to the Spade you shall cause them I say throw vp another rampire with certaine bulwarks at euery corner and likewise in the middle of the Curtaine that Musket shot may play betwéene them or if time would permit it were conuenient euerie 12 score to haue of these circular platformes with a Uamure to defend the small shot for in so short time it is impossible to make any sufficient rampire to abide a batterie neither can a campe be furnished of victuals to abide any long time and that is the cause why I haue discribed those plaine circular formes which in fortification of a fowne or for were more ridiculous and in a campe to make them more exquisite were no lesse foolish curious The forme and proportion of the Campe. The forme of another Campe. IN the second booke of Marshall discipline Maister Steward as I take it out some Italian translation sets downe this maner of Campe which I will bréefely touch After the returne of the discouerers and espials he must according to their relation march to such a place where he may encampe to store himselfe and hinder the passage of victuals to his enemies wherein he must conferre with the chéefe Purueyour and with the Sergeant Maiors and others whether it be fit for the fight well defenced wholesome in aire drie vnder foote plentie in water wood and medowe and haue frée passage for forrage victuals munitions c. If there be any pallace hall or house the same is to be allotted for the Generall otherwise a sit proportion of encamping so as the men at armes may lodge about the Generall which I note thus â–¡ The Launces and light horse about them thus noted â–µ Then next Merchants and victualers thus M. V. The pikemen thus ☌ being next about theÌ„ The Hargabuziers in the square about them thus S. TheÌ„ haue you the lodgings for the artillarie thus DD or a Gun Then next the Bulwarkes the trenches 80 pace in breadth The crosse broade wayes to the campe 30 pace wherein Marchants artificers and victualers may lodge but his speciall drift is that vpon any suddaine Camisado whilst the shot pikes and light Hargolateares make resistance the light horsemen Launces with the men at armes may haue leasure to arme themselues and repaire to the Generals Pauillion or pallace where with their Launces and chasing staues in fronte on foote they are in the manner of Pikemen to trie the vttermost of their strength to saue their Generall and the armie together with their owne honour and with their Launces encounter couragiously with the enemies Pikemen who being already wearied with their former encounter shall be able to maintaine the fight vntill the footemen of their part being refreshed giue a new onset and put their enemies to flight Thus would he haue the footmen the horsemen the marchants and purueyours the craftsmen souldier to souldier back to backe and ridge to ridge making the lodgings double vpon the banke of the ditche and in the curtaines he may place artillarie round about and before it for safetie or els with the cariage of the Munition and the cariage of the whole armie enuiron it for his defence in which he shall immitate the Turke who with his carriage with Cammels and the artillarie dooth eâ—…chaine and fortifie the Campe which we in liew therof plant Gabions Baskets and Barrels full of earth if the campe make continuance néere vnto the artillarie the Gunners must lodge who haue charge thereof and then the Hargabuziers c. as before and as this figure sets out Heere place the Plat of incamping
such sort that a man neede not to feare that they shall not remaine firme and iust although they be shotte from the morning euen vnto the euening The greater the battery is made and with the greater number of péeces the more shall he astonish the enemie and make easie his enterprise specially if the battarie may be crossed and trauersed If you can haue the commoditie to rayse vppe a Caualier or Mount so that thereby the Curtine may be discouered the same shall remaine of great aduantage Note that you must continually shoote without ceasing if it be possible for it imports very much when ye giue the besieged no leysure to take breath or make repayre Cease not likewise to shoote in the night for the performaunce whereof there is manie good meanes as héereafter if leysure will permitte I meane to write of You shall make your Trenches néere to the Ditch principallie on that side where the batterie is made and there you shall place a good troupe of Hargubuziers and those of the most expert and brauest Souldiours in the Armie who likewise must haue theyr Corpes de garde with theyr issue and passage theyr Corpes de garde may behaue themselues in that order as you may behold in such sort as they may likewise serue for the flancks the enemies Artillary first displanted These Hargabuziers or rather Musketeares must haue Péeces of two ounces of Calibre for by such like the besieged are greatlie troubled principally when the walles and Bulwarkes begin to ruinate This figure next following makes my former words more apparant By reason that for the most parte the 〈◊〉 couer the flanckes so that a man cannot easily endomage them the said Counterscarpes must be cutte and opened in such sorte that the flanckes may be battered But touching the filling vp of the Ditches and to couer and choake them is a worke both difficile and long if they within the Fortresse be men of courage and experience vnlesse it bee a rowling Trench If the fortification be of earth the ruine thereof may be attempted by entering into the Ditch and cut it downe as oftentimes it hath béene experienced Nowe resteth it to speake somewhat of Mynes and Caâ—…es for that they be matters of great effect as hath béene often tryed aswell in times past as in these dayes And although sometymes they haue not fallen out according to mans pretence the same did aryse rather because they were not well made then for any other respect Heerein diuers reasons may be alleaged Amongst others it hath béene tryed that going about to mine walles or Platformes the fyre hath burst out and forced that part towards the mouth which was artificially stopt rather then to ouerthrow and ruine the Bulwarke as was determined The same might easily fall out by reason there was small height giuen to the Caue or vaute and that by that meanes shee coulde not take her accustomed force to ryse vpwarde and worke the effect but contrariwise she bursteth out by that parte which is most féeble without working very little or any domage at all to the Fortresse To confirme this saying I will speake that which hath béen seene by experience that is hauing put powder not in great quan titie within Caues and Chambers which haue not béene entyrely stopt but haue diuers issues as doores and windows the same hath procured great ruines and much more then a man woulde thinke Therefore in mine opinion the same hath come to passe for that the fyre hath had both space and height to worke his forces the which hath beene such as there hath beene no obstacle or encounter which woulde haue béene sufficient to haue repressed the same and sent it to the open places but it hath wrought and performed his course according to the effect of his nature Therfore when these Caues or Uautes are made as dooth appertaine gyuing them such forme as this Element may worke his force and effect certaynely they bring foorth marueilous effects But for that these thinges are necessary to be entreated of in particulers I will beginne a fresh to dâ—…late somewhat more largely thereof Therefore when an Armie doth march to besiege any Citty It is necessary before hand to examine the intelligences of such persons as perfectly knowe the situation thereof the strength and all the wayes and passages vnto the same And hauing together with the principall Captaynes made full discourse thereof for theyr perfect instruction determination must be made what is to be done vppon theyr approch to the Towne and what lodgings must be ceased vpon at the first whether one two or more according to the situation of the place and as is most conuenient For it is euer much better for two reasons to lodge euen at the first as neere vnto the Portes and Gates as it is possible The one is that the enemy thereby shall be much abashed and discouraged the other is that they shall haue no leysure to burne the adioyning houses where the Army may lodge if before it be not already done neither shall these bee hindered to take their Lodgings or mount their Artillarie to goe to that lodging a fresh vpon an other day Sometime it hath béene séene that the Armie hath planted lodged it selfe before 3 or 4 gates at one instant one part of the Campe as soone as an other the which hath beene tryed very good so that there were people enough in the Armie The Marshall of the hoast must be accompanied with so forcible and strong a band of horsemen and footemen that he may ouermatch those of the Town who if they chaunce to sallie forth either on foote or on horse-backe to repulse them as furiously as is possible euen within the Gates for sometimes there falles out such disorder and confusion that either they may enter Pesle Mesle or kill some Chiestana or make such a slaughter of Souldiours that the Towne shal be much the sooner taken at the leastwise vpon the repulse the Master Gunner or Ingeniour following the great Marshall may haue commodity to view and discouer the places and plottes where the Artillarie is to be planted c. Which beeing accomplished the Marshall is to sound the retraite and to lodge as néere the Towne as is possible so that it be without the batterie The approches be made by Trenches and Maunds Wooll sackes as before I haue declared and as heereafter may appeare by figures in the defence of a Town Neuerthelesse they must be accommodated according to the situation of the grounde and turned and compassed according to the opposite Bulwarkes of the enemy the which are to bee begunâ—…e in the night specially the planting of the batterie The Trenches are to be made high great large and déepe for the safety of the Soldiours and such men of account as vse to come into them in respect that the Prince himselfe may sometimes goe into them neuertheles verie seldome The Trenches beeing begunne where the Artillarie is
able to resist neither the one nor the other I am of opinion that not being promised assured succours at a certaine limitted time in yéelding afterwards that the defendants doo not merite any punishment by law of Armes neyther of their Superiours nor at the handes of the Enemy Thus farre Rocca writeth touching the tearmes of yéelding vp a hold in which Chapter he declares that certaine souldiours yéelding themselues vpon thys foresaid necessity vpon conditions to issue and depart without Armes eyther offensiue or defensiue the Enemie vpon theyr comming foorth searching the souldiours vpon the wordes of thys paction finding onely theyr hangers and buckles vpon their gyrdles whereat they did hang theyr Rapiers tooke occasion vpon the same to hang them vp Wherefore the Articles of yéelding vp a Fort if it be lawfull at all to doo so is to be scanned thorowly and euery doubt to be well discyphered that neither he that is Captaine nor his Souldiours incur the displeasure of his Prince or the danger of the Enemie But when it imports the generall safetie commoditie and aduauncement of his Prince his Country his Campe and Confederates he must then persist euen to the losse of the last man as of late hath beene a great policie of sundry Generals to stawle the fury of the Enemy and by those blocks of delaye to linger the time thereby to preferre his owne safegarde and the common coÌ„moditie of the whole Campe. Necessary aduertisements for the Captaine that expects besieging THat Captaine which hath the gouernment of any Garrison and lookes to be besteged must haue respect to diuers thinges as to expell certaine suspected housholdes which séeme to drawe with the contrary part likewise all vnprofitable persons as olde men that are not able to kéepe watch nor of strength to worke at repayres To prouide necessary victuals Surgions Phisitions drugges spiceries likewise all Munition for powder and Artillarie wood and fagots for repayres wood to bake bread Smithes Armourers Carpenters for making repayres and all sortes of handy crafts necessary Likewise when a Captaine doth enter into Garrison hee must goe twise or thrise about the Towne both within and without the walles to behold and discerne where the Enemie might most endomage as well by scalade as by batterie and diuers times thorowly consider of the same and vse requisite fortifications wyth repayres bulwarks Bastillions Caualieres Casemates Counterscarpes Countergardes halfe Moones Trenches Mounts c. ayded therein by the industry of good Ingeniours When wood and Fagots doo want for repayres vse great numbers of rounde Gabions with a space betwixt each one for Artillary For want of these vse empty Barrels Pypes filled with earth and well fastened but when these want in great extremeâ—…y bring foorth flock-beds Mattresses Fetherbeâ—…s yea tapasary c. hauing euer great care that no stones be mixed in any of these Bastiones Bulwarks or Fortifications by reason they are more hurtfull to the souldiours within then the Enemies Artillarie without therfore Muddie or mossie walles is euer better then the thickest stone wall Prouide that by Geometricall obseruations one Bulwarke defend another that likewise hee haue store of arteficiall fyre and such like instruments for the defence of the walles Neither must he forget sometimes to fayne the losse of some Bulwarke so that the Enemy béeing entered vpon the same either he may be blowne vp with powder or caught in a Nette of cordes layd secretly vnder loose dust and hoysed vp at the end of a Mast as was at Harlen where diuers of the assailants were caught like to Conies in a purse-net The Towne gates must be made lowe the â—…oppe thereof appearing very little aboue the Counterscarpe from whence the ground must discend downe wards with â—… crooked bending euen to the Gates which must but be onely capable to receiue â—… 〈◊〉 or wagon loden with Hay or Corne. The proportion of a Plat for fortification A new inuention and almost inuincible forme of fortification against the furious battery of Artillarie IT hath béene the common vse in all fortifications héeretofore to place the earth behind the walles of the Fortresse and therof to make Bulwarks and Ramparts but in the construction of this inuincible fortresse against the infernall furie of Artillarie it is necessary to vse a new inuention to foâ—…tefie For the sayd earth being placed in forme of Rampart behindthe wall cannot serue to resist the blowes of the Cannon but then onely when the saide wall is ruinated which is quite contrary to the proportion I meane to preferre For in stéede that the wall dooth couer the earth and dooth serue for defence vnto the same I meane to make the earth to supply thys Office and that it doo not onely hinder the Artillary from béeing able to batter the same wall but also that it become a couer thereunto to the intent the sight thereof may bée wholly taken away from the Enemie To performe which it is necessary to plant and place the earth before the wall not as of ordinary is accustomed to ioyne it close to the wall but distant thirtie or thirtie fiue foote in making a dry Ditch without water betwixt them both Thys earth shall be sustained vpon that side which doth behold the Fortresse with a little wall of foure foote thicknes in the foundation arising to be two foote thicke in the height Upon that side which dooth looke towards the fieldes it shall likewise be sustained with a little wall of sixe foote height from the toppe of the water which is in the great Ditch and dooth seperate this masse of earth from the Counterscarpe The plaine of thys earth shall be in thicknesse where it is most narrowe which towardes the corners of the Flankers and Curtines or more or lesse large as the proportion requires And the largest which is at the Angles as well of the Curtines as Bulwarks 150. foote thick which dooth arise to be 25. fadome and for the gard of the sholders he shall haue 60. foote mounting to ten fadome In sum that the sholders in comprehending all the space which is from the walles that the flanck makes vnto the little wall which dooth sustaine the masse of earth vppon the side of the great Ditch shal be 150. foote That is to say the earth shal haue in this place 60. foote the ditch betwixt the earth and the sholder of the wall 30. foote or more and the sholder of the Bulwarke â—…0 foote Héere I wold demaund of those which haue searched out so many inuentions to find the meanes to fortifie and make a Fortresse inexpugnable wherein they haue thought to haue attained therevnto If to find meanes to preserue it against the blowes of Artillary be the conseruation of Townes of war I perswade iny selfe that this my inuention doth approch very néere to that which they in vaine of long sought for â—…nd so in part I doubt not I shall satisfie their desire For what store of
Munition what length of time must be imployed to batter this by the blowes of the Cannon first 60. foote of the defence of the earth and as much of the shouldâ—…r made to the wall this masse of earth béeing a matter soft which cannot be disseuered or dispersed as I presuppose it should be shal it not defend the sholder that stands behinde from receâ—…uing any domage And if the case be thus what feare is to be had the Townes being fortified by this meanes but that they shall be able to defend themselues from any violence or fury of Artillary For whilst the defences remaine whole and entire the which serue vnto Fortresses in like case as armes legs and other members doo vnto the bodie it is certaine that they may assure themselues from falling into the hands of the Enemy Now this masse of earth being placed as I haue said may be named a Countergarde the which may be so placed that it shal not any thing hinder the flankers or defences of euery Bulwark but that they shall be able to behold and fréely to discouer all that whatsoeuer shal show and present it selfe alongst the same as may be more plainly iudged by the view of the draughts and platforms of this inuention which I haue set out at the ende of this discourse But to the end euery thing may be the more plainly vnderstood I wil particulerly thus set downe all the parts First betwixt the Countergard and the Counterscarpe the which is the bounds and space of the ditch the said ditch shal be at the least 80. foote large and 25. or 30. déepe as is shewed in this figure following by the place marked with A. In the bothome of the said ditch must bee made another little ditch which shall be made 20. foote large and 20. déepe made in forme of this letter V. marked with B. Thys little ditch shal be distant and stretched out from the Countergard 10. or 12. foote which space is marked C. At the foote of the sayde Countergard the little wall must be placed surmounting the brinke of the water as I haue made mention of héere before coated with D. Betwixt this littâ—…e wal and the Countergard a little Allie shal be left or spare of 4. foote large marked with this letter E. The masse of earth called Countergard must be made in the fashion of a Kampart but quite contrary to those which haue béene accusâ—…omed to be placed behind and against the walles of Fortresses For in stéed that the Ramparts ordinarily haue theyr accesse towards the body of the Cittie this shall haue his back turned towards the Champaine and the Front towards the Cittie the which backe shall be made in the forme of a ridge slyding and leaning downe all alongst from the top euen to the bothome as doth the side of a roofe of a house except that in the very top and height of the Countergarâ—… there must be 8. or 10. foote of explanade or flat grounde marked thus with F. And for that I haue before made mention of the wall which must sustaine the Countergarde also of the second dry ditch which must be betwixt the Countergarde and the wâ—…ll that doth enclose the Fortresse Let this figure following sufâ—… for the vnderstanding both of this and the rest But to the intent the Reader may vnderstande the perfection of this worke the better I will in part expound the properties circumstances therof wherunto euery one doth particularly serue Touching the proportion and body of the fortification as Curtins bulwarks sholders flanckes and Caualieres I presuppose that they are made in such due forme and order as hath béen accustomed to be vsed of those the be perfect Maisters in this arte saue that I would haue the Curtines from the 〈◊〉 bend inward in Angle like a paire of tonges or forke wherby it shal be very hard to place any Artillary to batter theÌ„ and if it should be so that they were battered yet might they bee well defended by the opposite sides whereby an infinite number of Assailants should lose theyr lyues béeing so wel defended on all sides and doo moreouer make this fortification more forceably and longer time to resist continue against the Mattocke Spade and such rowâ—…ing Trenches as were made by the great Turke at the expugnation of Rodes and Famagosta But to procéede to my former promise first the circute of the wall and the enclosure of this Fortresse is not needfull to be made so great and so thicke as hath béene accustomed to fashion them that is to say from 12. to 15. foote but it will suffiâ—…e to giue them 7. or 8. foote in the foundation For by this inuention the wall is not subiect at all to the battery neither to be thrust downe loden by the Rampart because there shall néed to be none if it to séeme good as a thing not very necessary But if any Ramparts of earth be made let them not with their massiue heauines thrust downe the standing wall to auoyâ—…e the which in clothing the 〈◊〉 and Curtines with walles after you haue planted the foundations which may be of the largenesse of 5. or 6. foote or more straite the wall on the outside must bee made according to the ordinary custome but within you 〈◊〉 from 25. to 25. foote apply thereunto Counterforts other wise called Spurs which are in length 15. foote and large 2. or 3. foote at the discretion of the workman betwixt the which Spurres the wall must not stand bolt vpright within according to the ordinary fashion whether it be in height or in largenes but the height must be like vnto a renuersed héele leaning or as if it would fal reeling and bend groueling vpon the Rampart And if necessity require to giue it more strength at the foote to the intent it may the better support the heauy burden of earth Moreouer the space betwixt the one Counterfort and the other must be made in round like vnto a vaute making the Spurres to serue for proppes and stayes The commodity which thys wall bringes is that it is exempt from great charge from the violent thronging thrusting of the earth The stones thereof being battered in by the Cannon wyll close and knit together with the earth and so make great resistance besides they will not very much fill the Ditch when they are abated rather falling toward the Rampart then otherwise And the sayd Rampart hauing taken the proportion of a renuersed wall wyll make a strait shape like vnto the first face of the wall And for thys respect although the wall were taken away ruinated it can neyther fall nor slyde and wyll make Fronte receiuing anie domage But to continue on my first discourse hauing begun with the wall which dooth enuiron the circuit of the Fortresse or Cittie I wyll goe on and presuppose that the Ditch which is made betwixt the wall and Countergarde hath 36. foote in
largenes and is dry without water therby to haue commoditie to goe and come all along The entrie thereunto must be by the Cannoniers of the Flancks which defend the same which will serue to be of no small commodity to the Souldiours hauing the meane to transport themselues easily and without danger into all places where necessitie dooth call them The Countergard must be sustained on that side towardes the Cittie with a little wall which must be of lesse height then the earth by thrée or foure foote to the intent you may easily discouer béeing before the Counterscarpe fiue or sixe foote of the Wall which dooth enclose and shut vp the Fortresse This earth must bee spred vniformally and couched betwixt the two walles according to the 〈◊〉 before prescribed to the intent that there may be nothing but it may discouer and defende on all sides and that no hinderaunce may be giuen to the Flankers and Caualiers to shoote and behold each place This proportion shal be very little able to be battered and least before the Angles of the Bulwarks and the midst of the Curtines by reason of their thicknesse and if it should receiue any batterie it should be onely but vpon the height and top of the same And in the space betwixt the one wall and the other certaine hearbes for the nourishment of Cattle may be sowne amongst which to ioyne the earth more fast together it is good to sowe a certaine Hearbe called Medica for that it was brought from Mede which dooth bring forth a very long roote specially when the ground hath béene plowed and laboured much before which will procure it to be able to be defended against the iniurie of the ayre and of men neyther néedes it to be sowne but from ten yéeres to ten Shéepe that feede héereupon become more fatte and more sauerie then others those that are nourished therwith bring forth Lambes for the most part twise a yeere as those of Brabant Holland and Lombardie haue tryed by experience specially in Fraunce where it is vulgarly called Sainctfoin and so it yéeldes two commodities for the roote doth so binde the earth that it will not easily dismember by the blowes of the Cannon and the hearbe is good for the Cattle enclosed in the Towne during the siege The little space or Allie which is at the foote of the Countergard of 4. foote large shall serue to the intent you may haue the meane to place therein diuers Souldiours which may come and goe as well before the Bulwarks as before the Curâ—…ines And the little wall which is before the same shall noâ—… be vnprofitable for first it will hide and serue for Paralell to couer the Souldiours which are behind it that they cannot be endâ—…maged but shal haue the meane and leysure to be in such a readines and apt order to offend the Enemy during the siege that no man shall be able to shew himselfe vppon the brinke of the ditch but shall be in â—…anger of his person And secondly if it should fall out that the Enemie shold assay to breake downe and â—…uinate any part of the Countergard by the blowe of the Cannon this little wall would 〈◊〉 to stay that portion of earth which might rowle 〈◊〉 â—…own beneath It wold likewise prohibite the beating waues of the water in the Ditch from washing or wearing away the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Masse of earth The little ditch 〈◊〉 the Countergard 〈◊〉 forme of thys letter V. will likewise carrie this good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 the great ditch were drawne dry this should alwaies remain 〈◊〉 and would stop the passage of those that would passe to endoâ—…age the little wall which doth cloth and coâ—…passe the Countergard And if meanes were made to 〈◊〉 all the water the 〈◊〉 might defend themselues with arteficiall fires made for that efect the which by reason of the forme of this little Ditch made poynted at the bothome like a Romane V. will doo great execution For the enemy entring into the same and not finding anie place where to make stay but in the extremitie of the depth not being able to proceede as in an vniforme and flat bothâ—…m shall be burnt wounded and murthered most cruelly The great ditch within the which the small one is comprehended shall containe the foresaid largenes from the foote of the little wall which doth sustaine the earth of the Countergarde vnto the opposite foote of the Counterscarpe at the which there shall be an Allie of 6. foote large to receiue the Souldiours which shall passe the great Ditch to mount vpon the Corridor of the Counterscarpe the which Allie shal be nothing séene of the enemy in any siege but contrariwise it shall be discouered and defended by the defences of the Fortresse that it shall not be possible for the Enemie to possesse if any long time although he had employed himselfe to gaine the same To say something touching the commodious largenes of the ditch I iudge the meane to be obserued which in respect of the other two extreames of great and narrow doth carrie these commodities which in the other be hurtfull contrary First it hydes and couers the sight of the foote of the wall the Counterscarpe therof doth prohibite the flankes or Cannonieres which defende the bothome of the ditch that they cannot be battered The sayde ditch is frée and secrete and doth greatly fauour the souldiours in a Fortresse beeing enuironed with a Campe for they may enter and issue without receiuing any domage by the Enemy during the siege True it is that it may be the sooner fild vp but that imperfection may be succoured neyther shal the same haue such force in the straite ditch as in that which is so large and very broade in the which the Souldiours béeing easily discouered and not hauing any great libertie to make residence therein without danger they must alwaies stand vpon the garde of theyr persons The which will not fall out if they be within a more straite ditch exempt from all feare for béeing couered by the bancks of the ditch they onelie haue nothing to doo but to apply themselues to make frustrate the Enemies attempts The which kind of defence is one of the best that can be inuented for the besieged and most endomageable to the assaylants For the enemy entering resolutely into the Ditch and marching forward to assault hee must haue regarde to three sides the one to the Front which is the body of the Fortresse and the two other to the souldiours which are within the ditch and may offend the Enemy by the sides and specially vpon the banck if he presume to march farre forward and to passe further on then the Counterscarpe Now to giue thys Ditch his competent largenes to the intent it may accomplish these foresaid good qualities it ought but to be 100. foote broade at the most and in depth if it be plaine but 18. or 20. foote giuing to the wall of the
hands of the Generall and his Councell so that his office be not knowne to any but to the Generall and to those of the Counsell To the intent he may haue accesse vnto them at all times vnder the colour of some other office therby to remaine vnknown to the common sorte and to auoyde the discouerie and dischyphering of such as hunte and search after secrecies and the rather to the intent the enemie knowing the spyes by reason of theyr recourse vnto him doe not intercept them It is requisite that hee both be a man wise serete of quicke and déepe insight and well languaged faythfull and aduenturous A cunning Colourer of his Princes affayres of importance of a singular and good inuention That hee delight in receiuing seeret occurrents from all places That he diligently direct the priuie Spyes of the Campe not acquainting them together That he haue a stipend for himselfe and allowance to yeeld reward to all sortes of Spyes That he bring them vppon vrgent occasion to the presence of the Generall That they generally receiue of him a countersigne or watch-word thereby to be knowne assured That he dispearse abroad Espyes aswell for his owne parte both for the Campe and Garrisons as for the enemies Countrie Campe both to know priuie practises and forraine determinations That he haue some secrete frendes or stipendarie intelligences in all Courtes Coūtries Citties and places of the enemy and his Collegates whether they be apparant or priuie fauourers from whom hee may daylie receiue letters Cyphers or countersignes and secrete aduertisements of all occurrents out of the enemies bosome That he haue knowledge in all secret sort of wrytings specially in that part of Polographia which serues best for his turne and if it be possible in Steganographia that part thereof which is lawfull for a Christian to vse Neither let him neglect the secret sorts of wryting by the ioyse of Lemmons Orenges Creame dissolued Allome c. betwixt the lynes of a Letter of common occurrence and such other receits for wryting as be sette out in Naturalis Magia Cardane Allexis and others That he be cunning in sending secret aduertisements where néede dooth require by some of these foresayd kind of Letters enclosed in the scaberd of a sword shoe-sole fold of a gyrdle or dogs coller and so worne or wayting vpon him passe with greater securitie Some haue vsed to hide Letters in a loafe béeing baken therein and carried the same for victuals Some haue enclosed the same in a compounde and arteficiall stone Some in sweet bals Some in the secret parts of their body and such innumerable like deuises which are to be chosen out according as they shall seeme conuenient to the Intelligencers turne That he know the arte how to talke a farre off with lights twincklings of Match for the night and by smokes fyre flags of blacke white red c. for the day with perfect knowne countersignes wherby they may know one anothers meaning And when any is secretly to be sent into a besieged Cittie with directions that he make prouision for the secret choyse and conueiance of such a one Finally that chiefely he be very expert and ready in the arte of disciphering that at all times when any Letters be sent him by his Generall he may discipher them and satis-fie his Superiour therein The Office of the warlike Counsellers THere must twelue warlike Counsellers be appointed out by the Generall of the Armie béeing chosen honest wise and graue men the which sayd 12. he shall appoint to be his Iudges and together with the high Marshall be partners in determining all Martiall discipline and correction Hée may make his choyse amongst Captaines or otherwise at his pleasure so that hee be of stayed iudgement and honest sobrietie The which said Counsellers or Iudges béeing so elected and chosen shall haue theyr wages accordingly appointed them who except in great extremitie shall be watch frée These shall sweare and protest solemnly vnto the said Generall that they will serue theyr Prince by the Month in that place which they are chosen called to that they will be trusty faithfull and obedient and dutifull vnto the Generall in all needful and lawfull affayres and at all times vprightly and indifferently to iudge all causes comming before them and to be obedient to the commaundement of the Generall standing with equitie and the Lawes of the field That they will to theyr vttermost power endenour themselues to gyue counsaile and aduise to the Generall to the welfare and commoditie of the Prince hys subiects and iustly to iudge the rich as well as the poore not regarding fréendshyp kindred or any other corrupting cause which may leade affection to the hinderaunce of iustice but to theyr knowledge to minister equitie according to the tenor of the Lawes as they wyll that GOD helpe them at the last and dreadful day of iudgement Also that in mustering they doo dilligently foresée to their vttermost power that the Prince theyr Maister be not deceiued in gyuing double pay to such as are not worthy and that they shall also deliuer the names of the Souldiours vnto the Generall as they mustered them wyth a note of theyr allowance and wages vnder theyr hands and seales faythfully without any deceit The Office of the Generall and Lieuetenant of the Armie THat man which is careful to carry the name of wise and prudent when he enters into the execution of any serious affaire wyll not so wed himselfe to his owne will and fansie as that he wyl put assured confidence in his owne proper counsel which for the most part is fallible by reason of the infectious humour of selfe willie passion which oftentimes is cause of great errors ruines calamities and confusions but rather will leane to the assured aduise of sound and mature counsell Therfore a worthy and excellent Captaine Generall since the greatnesse of his valour dooth not make him capable of so important a charge in respect that neither high titles neither fauors of the Prince can make a man wise that is not it is very requisite that he like a prudent person make election of certaine Counsellers of great vnderstanding and long experience in the warres to follow the Campe and accompany his owne person to whom it is néedfull he propound matters of importance and confer with them such accidents as are with remedies to be preuented or otherwise to be executed and gathering and selecting the best portion of many good parts wyth his ripe and aduised iudgement he must frame and forme a sound and grounded resolution with the which he must execute all hys enterprises expediently and couragiously For there was neuer man of so great prudence and of such singuler experience that hee was able to discide and discypher all things of himselfe but it hath béene often séene that by the help of others many things haue béene performed wherin of himselfe alone he hath not had ful experience
and vppon the other the great Riuer Danubie and in front with certaine Pondes and Ditches of water and vpon the backe the town of Inglistate it was altogether compassed and enuironed of sufficient force But touching these respects looke in my fourth booke where I haue particularly touched this matter Moreouer it is necessary that the Captayne Generall doe sometimes ryde by night about the Campe and admonish the watch that they remaine ready and vigilant since that in the eies and eares of so fewe the health sauegarde of all the Campe doth consist As little as may be he must suffer alarums to be gyuen to his people either by daye or by night or at any tyme whatsoeuer but if thereunto hee bee constrayned lette him make it secretly and without striking vp the Drums or sounding Trompets but rather vse Drum stickes and Surdines Or otherwise in respect and place of those Instruments which in such cases are accustomed to be sounded It is very conuenient he send some persons of authority of purpose therunto appoynted to passe round about and through the Campe to aduertise appoint spéedily such thinges as are to be performed hauing before hand had perfect discouerie of the enimie and giuen resolute commission to make the alarum Which quiet kinde of procéeding shall afterwards cause lesse traueyle and much more reputation to his people and to himselfe and to his enemy great confusion and disconragement perceiuing that by their pollitike and valiant procéeding they do smally estéeme or feare them Which at sundrie alarums in the Campe surprises of Townes Camisadoes c. I haue in the low Countries vnder Don Iohn seene pollitikely put in practise Hee ought when any alarum shall chaunce to bee gyuen to take order with the high Marshall with as great dilligence as he â—…anne to double the Corps de garde and watch which ought before hande to be placed with great Iudgement in places that bée strong by nature or otherwise fortefied by arte Besides he must carry a speciall care and vse a singuler dilligence not to giue occasion of Mutinies the which are accustomed for the most parte to bring foorth extreame ruine chiefly when they bee of naughtie nature although the dignitie authority and power of the Captayne Generall bee very great for there is almost neuer any remedy vsed agaynst such vprores without great losse of reputation and authority so great is the terrible furie of this franticke encounter He neuer ought to suffer his Collonelles neither his Captaines to haue any dead payes or supply their roomes by others that passe vnder their names in Muster for in time of important neede many times the Captayne Generall shal finde his Forces very much weakened contrarie to his expectation A thing verie daungerous for the totall ruine of the whole Armie Together with this aduertisement hee ought to be alwayes courteous and liberall towards those that do follow him to the intent his Chieftaine may courteously entertayne those that be good Souldiours A thing worthy to be noted He must search by all meanes possible to kéepe his Armie continually couragions and wyth aspiring mindes by arteficiall functions to the enemies confusion Sometimes dispearsing a rumor that hee hath intercepted and taken certayne aduertisements of importance Somtimes to â—…aigne that he hath the commoditie to ayde himselfe with the succours of many Princes and coÌ„mon Princes although there be no such matter To make ioyfull Triumphes and shewes with Artillarie arteficial fyres and bondfyres in the euenings and sometimes making shew that he hath a desire to assault and inuade the enemy by night by Camisado they beeing vnprouided as did Charles the fift against the Lantzgraue vppon the arriuall of Counte de Bure with succours out of Flaunders or as did Iulian Romero vnder the Duke of Alua when the Prince of Orange was repulsed from before Mountes in he nault Besides this hee may vse like functions artes or Stratagemes to aduance his warlike affayres for it is a vertue to vse deceit in Militarie actions thereby to further the procéedings of iustice against manifest enemies when it is lawfull to assault either with crafte or force either openly or couertly for that which doth succéede whether it fall out by deceit or valour is comendable in warlike actions As did Don Iohn in suprising the Castell of Namures a thing which fell out to be the safty of himselfe the whole Countrey and the cause whereby hee had meanes to reuenge himselfe of his enemies at such times as we gaue theÌ„ that famous ouerthrow betwixt Namures and Gibloe Let the Generall haue great care to such chaunces and accidents as haue néed of present remedy repayring them with carefull prouidence by reason that the most occasions which fal out in wars can suffer no delayes for whilst some haue béene in consulting and deferring the matter but a little moment of time they haue at that instant receiued losse not able to be recouered therfore to proceede with a wise and spéedie policie is of infinite aduantage yea and altogether necessary He must alwayes haue in memory the not by reason he is Superior in number multitude of souldiours he may make assured account of victory but rather through the good order he doth obserue in disposing framing a ready obedience and the exercise of a true approued practise in warlike actions is the only meanes to performe the same dooth cause the difference thorowly to bee discerned betwixt one Captaine Generall and an other For the art of Militarie profession dooth nourish in the breastes of men which follow this exercise a valiant and aspiring mind to fight Therfore as from thence safty and victory doth procéede so contrariwise by not possessing the same losse and totall ruine doth follow Since that practise doth make a man abound with exquisite qualities whereby courage is kindled in our harts and contrariwise quenched in him that is a Nouice and fresh water souldier in the exercise of these causes which in euery respect is grounded vppon long experience conference and reading and not by proud and presumptuous rashnes He must likewise remember that many times in new begun wars specially against straunge nations a new forme of fight is requisite The election of new armes is necessary the varying of order the studie of a new art Likewise it is good to Campe and discampe often when it may be done without manifest perill and without suspicion or daunger of the enemy for thereby the infection of the ayre is auoided and souldiours kéept exercised who by lying still become flouthfull and negligent Moreouer the Marshal of the field hauing at euery lodging either planted or entrenched the Campe it is most necessary for the Generall beeing accompanyed with some Caualieres of his owne Courte and guarde hauing before hym hys generall Trumpet and his Guidon or Cornet displayde without which hee ought neuer to goe abroade to ride vp and downe to visite the quarters
of Armies as also that due order in Camps may be maintained let him therfore imitate the auncient Romans the very Maisters of the arte of war who neuer coueted other then y◠plaine to campe vpon entrenching thēselues nightly in as strong sure manner as if the enemy had encamped by them and that euen in places vtterly voide of all suspition to make these millitary trauails familiar vnto them and to auoide those idle or rather dissolute effrenate pastimes that our Christian Campes are bewitched withal to the vtter ruine of all good Millitary discipline and confusion of our Armies In a running Campe the readiest fortification is to impale it round with the cariages chayned together the sides of the carriages and horses shaded with thin boords with certain quires of paper betwixt cunningly compacted together which being accommodated to make sides bottoms and doores to the Carts carriages will serue wonderfully to empale an Army to make approches or to holde out Caliuer Musket shot Then let them bend the Artillary that waie where most suspicion is the enemy shall approch and if time wil permit to cast some Trench also without the carriages against Artillarie He must kéepe his souldiours in continuall millitary exercise and by fained allarmes to sée in what readines his bands would be if necessitie required to shew them all maner of waies how the enemie may attempt them discouering also to thē the remedy and howe they are to aunswer to those attempts for no man is borne a Souldiour but by exercise and trayning it is attained and by discontinuance againe it is lost as all other Artes and Sciences be In setling of a Campe beside the commodities of wood water and forrage the Generall must also cōsider how victuals may safely come vnto him and to leaue no Castles at his back to anoy them but that he séeke to possesse them ere he march forward for great is the anoyance that a little pyle at the back of an Army may doo as wel against forragers straglers as to cut off victuals from the Campe. The Generall is also by good plots to consider the situation of the Country how both fréend and enemy Townes lie from the Campe the hyls and vallies waies straits passages lakes riuers bridges their number quantity distance and euery particularity which may be doone by conference with his Discouerers-Guides Espyals other persons that know the Country conferring their assertions with his plots And so to consider whether the enemy may conueniently cut off his victuals or by Ambush anoy him in his march and for preuention therof to send abroad Light-horsemen Hargabuzers to garde the passages towards the enemies Garisons Before the Armie discampe all passages and waies for the souldiours and Artillary c. to passe should be discouered and skilful men appointed to lead them He ought not to suffer any band to march scattered but in battails order or at least in straits narrow passages inforce to drawe them forth in Herses and so soone as place serueth to reduce them again into the order of battaile and this is to be vsed in places of security for exercise as in places of suspect for safetie He ought to haue with him good Guides that perfecty know all passages hilles vallies c. for of the Country in generallitie the Generall himselfe ought perfectly to be informed by Plots Models wherby he shal the better conceiue any information that shal be brought him by espiall If the General haue sundry Nations vnder his gouernment it is not méete to gyue alwaies to any one Nation the Uaward considering the same being in marching towards the enemy the place of greatest honour the others will much repine against it and not without good cause The order therfore in marching should so be framed that euery Nation haue his turne without partial fauor to any one And if the number be great of any one Mercinary Nation it is not amisse to deuide thē both in marching imbattelling for sundry respects which in thys place I omit to show If any strait be kept by the enemie it is not méet first to charge them vpon the very front but to send Light-horsmen shot to skyrmish with them on either flancke and then wyth Targets of proofe to enter vpon them The Generall shold before he bring his Souldiours to deale with the enemy first in some champion place cause them to be ranged in forme of battaile making of his footmen sundry Battillions of these Battillions sundry Fronts to deuide his Horsemen also into sundry Troupes placing the men at Armes Demilances Light horsemen and Argoleteares euery Fort in seueral Troupes by themselues to cause the forlorne to issue out and skirmish thē before the Battillions as if the enemy were indéed present and vpon a signe giuen suddainly to retire The horsmen to charge and returne again to their place vpon their retire to cause certain sleues of pykes and light Armed to run out to their reskew as though the enemy did pursue them Then the Battillions of the first front to march forward bend their pikes and suddainly after the sound of the retrait to retire themselues orderly betwéen the Battillions of the second front then the second front to march forward and bend their pikes and the other that first retired to make head again vpon the enemy Last of all the Light-horsmen and light Armed footmen again to breake forth as it were to doo execution vpon the enemy fléeing which forme of trayning doth aunswer Ma. Digs his proportion of imbattelling These things if in pastime the souldiours be able orderly to performe there is good hope they wil honorably put it in execution vpon the enemy Otherwise to bring them without trayning to deale with the enemy is nothing els but to leade them to the butcherie As there is nothing more perrillous in giuing of battaile then to lay before the souldiours eyes any place of refuge to flée vnto but that the Generall should declare vnto them that there is no hope to escape but only by victory and heerin to imitate Hanniball so there is nothing more dangerous then to giue the enemy battaile in such a place where in troth hee hath no refuge or possibility to escape for that necessity maketh men desperate it vniteth them together it hath often béen séene that very small cōpanies by such like occasions beeing reduced to desperation thereupon resoluing to sell their liues déerely haue contrary to all expectation attained victory vpon their enemies in number farre greater The General must haue special care that the souldiours haue not in their faces the dust to blind them the wind to disturbe them or the sun beames to anoy them before they enter into any maine encounter the which impediments not only altogether but each one by him selfe alone doth bring great toile trouble and disaduantage Neyther let him lead his souldiours to performe any enterprise of
but at such times as the enimie is manifestly discouered The occasion of the Alarme being certaine at which time being retyred they must vnite themselues togither with the souldiers of the gard that they may all wholy in one companie execute that which shall fall out best for their purpose which is to retyre fighting or skirmishing to the Campe according to ordinarie custome notwithstanding by the order and appointment of those which haue authoritie to command them as their Captaine Sergeant Maior c. but neuer otherwise He ought moreouer to be circumspect that in the body of the watch a solemne secrete silence be kept without singing brawling or any rumour or noise and specially in the night both in respect of the enimie to heare when the Alarme is giuen and to the intent that those which rest sléepe and are not yet in Sentinel may be the more apt to resist apply themselues to these factions exercises which are required of them with vigilant watchfulnes since a man cannot without great difficultie remaine without sléepe or rest any much longer time then our nature is accustomed by ordinarie course to beare and therfore at the entrance of the corps de gard he ought likewise to kéepe a proper Sentinel appertaining to the gard that neither friend nor enimie comming out of the Campe or else where shall be able to enter without yeelding the watchword and in this sort must the Corporall proceed euen vntill the Diana be sounded through all the Campe. For other respects I finally refer him to my following discourse which togither with that written before it is requisite he haue in perfect memorie as well as the priuate souldier Sixe speciall points appertaining to souldiers of all sorts IT is written in the Historie of Pietro Bizari touching the incredible and maruellous obedience of the Turkish souldiers that a certaine Gentleman at his returne from Constantinople did declare vnto the Earle of Salma that he had seene foure myracles in the Turkish dominions which was first an infinite armie almost without number consisting of more then foure hundred thousand men Secondly that amongst so many men he saw not one woman Thirdly that there was no mention made of wine And last at night when they had cryed with a hye voice Alla which is God there continued so great a silence through the whole campe that euen in the Pauilions they did not speak but with a low soft voice a thing worthie to be admired to the great shame of the confusion of Christians therefore if the infidels obserue such strict discipline why should not we that be Christians indeuour our selues to surpasse them therin and begin with the Spaniard the Salue and Auemaria which they vse thrise throughout their whole campe recommending themselues and their affaires to God with great reuerence and silence which I would wish to be continued vntill the diana when togither with the sound of the drummes the same might be with a chéerefull crie renued But togither with silence to set downe certaine other vertues take them here as I finde them written Silence In all places of seruice such silence must be vsed that souldiers may heare friends and not be heard of enimies as well in watch ward ambush canuisado or any other exploit in which point consisteth oftentimes the safetie or perdition of the whole Campe. Obedience Such obedience must be vsed that none regard the persons but the office to them appointed diligently obseruing the same any offending to the contrarie runneth into the danger of the law for longer then obedience is vsed and maintained there is no hope of good successe Secretnesse Souldiers must be secrete and haue regard that they disclose nothing though sometimes they vnderstand the pretence of the hier powers The disclosers of such merite most cruell punishment Sobrietie In Sobrietie consisteth great praise to the souldiers who vsing the same are euer in state of preserment such regard their duties and reproue the rash busibodies Drunkerds c. are euer in danger of punishment Hardinesse The Captaines and souldiers that be hardie of courage be much auailable in seruice specially such as will ponder what may be the end of their enterprise Some in times past haue hardly giuen the onset and after repented the same but the praise of the aduised cannot be expressed Truth and Loyaltie The vertue of loyaltie and truth is farre excéeding my capacitie to write the practises of the contrarie are not worthie of life but to be soone adiudged Subtile enimies approue to corrupt souldiers with giftes and the diuell to entrap them with the swéete intising baites of lewd libertie But since the reward of truth is euerlasting life the vntrue and dissembler looseth the same in continuall darkenesse I trust none of our countrimen will learne the one for the other will be false to his soueraigne or flée from the assured piller of the Catholike faith from which God kéepe all good souldiers How a souldier may maintaine obedience and keepe himselfe in the fauour and good grace of his Captaine and Generall A Good souldier ought to haue consideration that since due orders and lawes are the assured foundation stay of euerie state and contrariwise discord and disobedience the ruine of all Realmes so that aboue all things a well gouerned Generall and a carefull Captaine ought prudently to foresée that their Campe and souldiers be paid and punished with equall execution of iustice not respecting person yeelding to the offenders punishment and reward to the vertuous depressing vice and exalting vertue vsing commendation to the good and correction to the euill ioyned with admonishments of magnanimitie the which if they preuaile not to chastise them and as the good husband doth plucke the wéeds out of the good corne to the intent that they by their wicked pernicious example do not infect the rest consequently doth prouide that no fault passe vnpunished nor no valorous act vnrewarded by which meanes he becomes scared fauoured obeyed and beloued of all the armie euen so on the other side the good natured souldier must euer haue respect to keepe the bondes of modestie towards his superiour and yéeld many thankes to God that he hath giuen him so iust and vertuous a Captaine and General towards whom he must alwayes yeeld like obedience that the sonne doth to the father being bound so to do by the diuine law without shewing himselfe opposite to the order of generall iustice nor ingratefull for his receiued benefites but continually by his good guiding in the one and the other giue his Captaine iust cause to loue and like wel of him Souldiers be euer bound to obey the iustice and commandements of their superiours and the superiours likewise to embrace the obedience of their souldiers whilest he doth sée himselfe honoured and obeyed of them either in déeds or words in earnest or dissembling Although the general or captaine were a right Sardanapalus so that his lawes
through the enimies countrie fight if néed require the officers instructing shewing the souldiers that which they haue to do if they were assaulted on one side or other at vnawares And that they be taught the order to resist the enimie in a day of battell or when the enimie doth approch in sight they ought to learne how a battel must begin and how one battaillon doth abord another battaillon of the enimies and to shew them the place where they ought to retyre if they be repulsed and who must enter into and supply their places and to what signes to what sounds to what voyces they ought to obey and that which they must do when they heare these voyces and sounds and sée those tokens signes and to accustome them with the sundrie sorts of battels and fained assaults in such sort that afterwards they may not onely dare to abide but also desire the fight in good earnest the which assurance shal so much the rather encrease by how much they sée themselues wel instructed ordered ranged rather then by their proper hardines chiefly if these battailons be ranged in such sort that they may easily succour one another which is of no small importance to encourage assure the souldiers For admit that I should be of the first combatants that I know into what part I ought to retire my selfe being ouermatched and likewise who he is that must come in my place I shall alwayes fight with a better heart beholding my succours néere at hand rather then if I neither knew them nor saw theÌ„ Likewise if I be in the second place although the first be repulsed that I behold them to recoile yet the same shal not astonish nor appale me for that I alredie know what this recoile doth signifie a thing which beforehand I shal desire to come to passe to the intent that I may be he that shall gaine the victorie and that the first do not carrie away the honour of the fielde alone to themselues These exercises therefore be most necessarie both for young and olde souldiers for it appeares that although the Romaines knew perfitely what were to be accomplished in a particular band and so consequently in a whole armie and that they did learne all these things in their youth in Câ—…mpo Martio yet neuerthelesse they were afterwards continually exercised as wel in the time of peace as when their enimies did front them Ioseph in his historie saith that the continuall exercise of the Romaine armie did make the common multitude of those that followed the campe serue in a day of battell as well as the souldiers for both the one and the other knew how to kéepe their ranks and in kéeping them how to fight in them But an armie of new souldiers whether they be leuied to serue presently or that an order be taken to haue them in readines to be imployed in time to come they will arise to proue vnprofitable without these practises and exercises Therefore order being so necessarie all Captaines Collonels and Sergeant Maiors must with double industrie and trauell instruct or cause to be instructed those which be ignorant and to continue and maintaine the same in those which are perfect imitating the steps of those excellent Captaines which haue trauelled to maintaine this discipline The souldiers therefore in priuate bands being instructed to kéepe their rankes by 3. and 3. fiue and 5. or 8. and 8. without hauing respect to the number euen or odde for that it is a thing of no importance but an obseruation brought vp without foundation specially Vegetius can yéeld no reason therefore but only vse They must then in marching softly or in hast learne to multiplie as two ranks of fiue to make 10. two of 10. to make 20. and by and by at one instant to bring them from the same rankes and to place them in their first and simple order of aray And to the end they may assure and accustome themselues the better it is necessarie they make Lymassons when they are in simple and single aray and to aduertise them that the second person in ranke doe kéepe alwayes iust behind the first without loosing him and the 3. right behind the second and so of the rest This done togither with the directions of my second booke eâ—…h band must apart be set in order and in the estate that is required and requisite to range them when a whole battell is planted togither To performe which the Pikes of the flankes and the Hargabusiers shall come out of aray and shall place themselues on the one side and the Corporals of the Pikes shall make head one of the Corporals and his people first and another of the Corporals and his people next the Corporall of the Halberdeares shall follow hauing the Alfierus with his Ensigne in the middest of the Halberds Then the other Corporals with their Pikes shal make the reregard with their people It must be shewed to euerie Corporall the place which he ought to kéepe at all times who likewise must declare the same plainely and particularly to euerie priuate souldier of his squadre The Captaine must be at the head of the aray and the Lieutenant at the backe the Sergeant hath no staying place vnlesse the Captaine do appoint him one but must alwayes trot here and there all alongst the rankes to see good order kept and to commaunde the performance of his Captaines pleasure Let continuall vse accustome the souldiers to know of themselues how to range themselues in battell for the better learning whereof they must be made to march forward and backward and to passe difficile places without troubling and breaking their aray the which if they be not able to doe they are not to be esteemed old souldiers although they haue serued twentie yeares The difficultie likewise is great to cause them place themselues vpon a sodaine in their first aray being broken or dispersed by reason of vneasie passages or that the enimies haue disseuered them for in this it is requisite to haue had good and great exercise of a long continuance Therefore that the same may be accomplished it is necessarie to haue two things obserued maintained the one that the Ensignes may be easily knowne by colours and figures of number and that the chiefe members and officers haue certaine cognisances or markes vpon their armes and apparell and the other is that one selfe band be ranged alwayes in one certaine and knowne place of the battaillon without causing the same to alter roomes and that the Corporals know the places that they must enter into without shifting at any time but if that one Corporall be accustomed to be in the formost ranke that he remaine there alwayes and the souldiers in the places which hath ben ordained them from the beginning And if that any one band hath bene taught to be in the right corner of the battell that the same doe not stirre from thence
onely make profession but of cleane and gallant riding or to run in comly order with a Lance vpon the euen grauell sand And therefore this officer that hath vnder his charge all the horsemen of the fielde as the Hargalateares Lighthorsemen Lances and men at Armes or barded horses seruing to breake into a battallion of Pikes or to backe other horsemen being repulsed must be a personage of singular courage industry and experience that he may be able worthily to performe his Lieutenant and Generalship And albeit I meane not in this place particularly to entreat of the seuerall charges of euerie Captaines duetie yet thus much I thought good to note that a Captain of a hundreth men at armes may be compared with a Collonel of footemen other Captaines of lightorsemen with the Captaines of footemen subiect to the Collonel and as it is the part of the Collonell to haue a special regard to the arming lodging and training of his footemen so is it the duetie of the Captaine of men at Armes to foresée that neither they be disfurnished of their horse and armour with other necessarie nor yet vntrained in all such Militarie exercises as to their profession is agréeable This Lieutenant must discypher the election of the appointed captaines whether they be méete for such a charge or vsurpe the same by fauour and to aduértise the Generall of the armie therof that he may remoue the one and place others of sufficient experience He must likewise ouersée the actions of these captaines and giue them great charge for the training of their bands and set down an order in what sort in what place and time they shal practise and exercise their companies amongst whom if he finde any default of furniture or otherwise let him make certificate thereof to the Generall or high marshall that the same may be redressed For the better performance whereof immediatly after he enters into his charge let him kéepe a booke and roll of al the bands committed to his gouernement with the names of their Captaines officers and to examine and peruse whether they containe their full number of men and be sufficiently furnished with horse armour cassocks péeces lances with their Pennons of their Captaines colours guidons trumpets such like necessaries as appertaines to their warlike profession otherwise to procure supply Let him dispose his seueral sorts of weapons horsmen into seueral troups by themselues the barbed horses in one part the lances in another the light horsemen in another the hargabusiers likewise seueral from the rest herein he doth resemble the Sergeant maior for that he is to be directed from the General or high marshal euē as he to dispose these bands according to their order resolution The Lieutenant must appoint which bāds of horse shal go to the watch to be vantcouriers and to scoure the passages must accordingly prouide that they which watch the night may rest the next day night others that haue rested supply their places in such sort that fresh men may alwaies be supplied in their places the wearied to take their rest for neither man nor horse without their conuenient rest cā cōtinue any long time So soone as the trumpet shal sound in the morning to make ready to horse he shal forth with repaire to the Generals tent to know his pleasure then immediatly to set forth his Generals Standerd cause al the horsemen forth with to repaire to that place as euery captaine shal come he shal cause them to put their bands euery one after his standard or guidon into a certain number of rankes that the said Lieutenant may redily at any sodain draw forth any number of any sort of horsemen that he shal be required by the General or high marshall In the morning he must giue notice warning to such horsmen as he entendeth shal watch the night ensuing to the intent they may féed spare their horses that day likewise rest thēselues that they may the better be able to do such seruice as they shal the night following be enioyned When the high marshal goeth to view the ground to encampe vpon it is this Lieutenants dutie to select a conuenient band to attend vpon his person and to appoint such a company as may afterward take their rest and féede their horses til such time as he shal deliuer them to the scout master at night who then shal enioyne them what to do all the night after shal also deliuer them the watchword This Lieutenant as a coadiutour to the lord Marshall and Sergeant maior ought all the day whiles the battels march diligently to note the orders of euerie band if he sée any disorder forth with to send for the Captaine cause him immediatly to sée it redressed At night when the army entreth into the campe the Litutenant shall still cause the horsemen to kéepe the field vntil al the footmen be encamped then may he enter with his bands of horse orderly causing first one band to enter all the rest to kéepe the fielde when they haue their conuenient place then another band to enter and so orderly to place themselues wherin the Lieutenant is to foresee that the last bands be not worst lodged but such conuenient place left as they haue no iust cause to complaine and this is to be obserued in places of suspect otherwise they may lodge abrode amongst the Uillages for their greater ease Let him giue order that the Couriers scourers come not out of the field till the trumpet sound to the watch at night nor thē neither vntil such time as they shall perceiue the scout Sentinel to be come from the camp to haue taken their places in the field then may they returne into the Campe. It is his part likewise to assigne a sufficient number of horse to attend on the forrage master to gard defend the forragiers which horsemen must not come out of the field vntil al the forragers be returned to the camp with the forrage master Then shal these horsemen rest not watch neither that night nor go forth for vauntcourrier al the next day He must appoint a reasonable conuoy of horsmē for the saftie of such as bring victuals to the campe to sée that no violence or iniurie be offered them so order the change of his horse in these seuerall seruices that some be not ouer burthened and others spared ouermuch but the matter so indifferently vsed that men haue no cause to murmure or repine In making of Roads with horsemen onely or in a day of battell he must send out the Hargolateares light horsemen such like to discouer or to begin the seruice first then to diuide the Lances and men at armes into diuers troups squadrons and with such distance following one another as one may rescue an other The sides of these massie squadrons should haue one rank of