to mutine against him with other disgraces vnderhand to vndoo him if the Duke had not taken resolution to sack Rome to content the men of warre Also the braue Count Egmont with others of his Nation for al their seruice were executed most cruelly by Duke D'alua and the Marquis of Berges with Mountenie poysoned in Spaine onely to bring to passe their determination against the Netherlanders Also Marke Anthonie Colono whose house and himselfe folowed always the house of Austria beeing Vice-Roy of Naples reputed and feared for the greatest Captain in Italie was sent for into Spaine and before he could speake with the king he was poisoned in his way to the Court The last day two or three noble men Porteguises taking armes made to the Sea coast hauing discouered sir Francis Drakes fleete the Spanish perceiuing their greatnes executed one Count and poisoned the other although some of them were the men that sought to bring them into the countrie and most assured them Looke also to their proceedings with Naples Millain the wrongs to Francis Fortza Ferdinando of Aragon with diuers other the like actions T'his discipline gouernment do I know by good experience for I serued vnder the Ensignes of the M. del Campo Iulian Remero 22 moneths and Mondragon 18 moneths with the domestiques of the braue Don Iohn de Austria eight months always in action As I saide before their discipline must be good for good Chiefes makes good Souldiers The least of thirty commanders they had alwayes amongst them were sufficient to command 10000. Soldiers A campe continually maintained in action is like an Vniuersity continually in exercises when famous Schollers die as good or better step in their places Especially in armies where there be euery day new inuentions stratagems of wars change of weapons munition all sort of engins newly inuented corrected dayly Some may aske me as I did Philip de Comines in reading his booke where he speaks much to the praise of Lewis the xj but nothing how he quited his Duke of Bourgondie true it is at the defeate of Harlam Colonell Morgan and his Regiment were discharged from the Prince of Oranges seruice my selfe being one arriuing in England the saide Colonell with a number of others were imployed into Ireland At that instant the Prince of Condie was newly escaped out of France into Germanie I hauing nothing to doo hearing the saide Prince meant to return into France with an armie my self 4. other companions resolued to imploy our seruice with that Prince being in Germanie with smal purses finding the Prince not able to martch in six moneths hauing no meanes to liue we returned for England passing throgh Lier in Brabant we were brought before the Master of the campe Iulian Romero who entertained me with such curtesie that I remained with him Thus did I enter into the Spaniards wars and do thinke it no disgrace for a poore Gentleman that liues by wars to serue any Estate that is in league with his owne To proue Lantiers more seruiceable than men at arms considering the numbers that do duties THe difference betwixt the men at Armes companies of Ordinances as they tearme them and the Launtiers called by the strangers Light Horsemen by vs Demilances I must confesse a companie of men at Armes to be the most honorablest priuat charge that a man may haue in the warres principally because these charges are giuen vnto Princes Nobilitie or men of great qualities in the wars To euery seuerall company belongeth one Ensigne one Guydon and one Cornet the Ensigne ouer the men at Armes the Guydon ouer the Archers the Cornet ouer the light horsemen Considering the number of hands to come to fight to do duty I persuade my selfe the greatest warriors think the Lantiers more profitable and more seruiceable my reasons are these a man at Armes ought to haue 5. horses for euery horse he receiues as much pay as a Launtier commonly the men of Armes makes no conuoyes that belongs vnto an Army the most of them are men of quality as we tearme men of warre eyther gentle or cashed Officers wherefore they are fauoured for their skouts guards and watches If they be commaunded to any of these duties out of their fiue horses it is much if they send three commonly one and two halfe of them keepes but foure horses the most three the rest is loden with baggage perhaps lame iades sufficient with curtesie to passe the Musters being trimmed vp with help of their witnesses how they wer hurt in seruice deuises Lightly they are not commanded to march vnles the Army dislodges if they do Cornets of Launtiers and Hargulatiers are commanded with them The men of Armes neuer breake their soft paces vnlesse they charge or retire the others often are commaunded to great marches to do exploits Caualgade as the straungers terme it beside they must skout discouer with all duties that belongs vnto an Army either in lodging or march and fights often when the men of Armes see no enemy when they doo fight lightly it is a battaile then the Launtiers receiue and giue the first blowes The first charge being well conducted and directed tryes the most of the fortune of a daies seruice 100. men at Armes are as chargeable as 500. Launtiers and doo not the duetie neither in fights nor guards as halfe so manie Touching the barbd I meane the arming of the horses I thinke it to little purpose seeing all squadrons of pikes be lined with Musketiers or Caliuers the lesser of both pearceth any arming that horses vse to carrie In stead of Maces the Launtiers may carrie one Pistoll the which is lighter and farre more terrible than thrice the force we haue in these daies True it is it is necessarie for the shocke of a horse to weare a little Cuisset to couer the knee so ought al the Launtiers to be We know it by experience let a horseman be armed the forepart of his curaces of a light pistoll proofe his head peece the like two lames of his pouldrons the like two or three lames of his tasses of the like proofe the rest I meane his tasses cuisses pouldrons vambraces and gauntlets bee also so light as you can deuise With one pistoll these kinde of arming shal be found heauie for the most men to carrie all day long and too heauie for the most horses to carie ten hours together and to do any seruice As I said before the Launtiers are as well mounted for one horse a peece if hee haue not two vnles he be too base minded and the warres verie bare Besides all Launtiers receiue euerie man his own pay and haue nothing to doo with Master nor anie bodie sauing his Officers that commaunds him to doo his duetie in the warre Wherefore I perswade my selfe they maintaine these Ordinances as they tearme them chieflie as I said before to keepe the ancient customes fearing in breaking that order diuers of their great men
their fashion to receiue battaile our ensignes being displayed on the top of the hill and our squadrons possessing the ground that we thought most fit after resting a while perceiuing their cowardly resolution aduāced our battaile towards their quarter vnknowne to vs but that all their forces had bin in that village At our approch they ran away in such sort that our horsmē being but 50. in al amōgst whom were diuers of our Chiefs besides the Earle and his brother made 200. of them run away that they kept in the Reregard This proofe with diuers others had we on them in our Portingall voyage But to speake troth no Armie that euer I saw passes that of Duke de Parma for discipline good order the which it pleased others to follow it were not amisse And to that ende I thought good to show some parte of the discipline and orders amongst them None comes to be high Officers vnles they be knowne to be expert and tried Souldiers of action of long continuance or for courtesie to grace their Armies with young Princes or Nobilitie or at the least Gentlemen of good qualitie neither must these contemne the basest Master of their Campe. For all their birth they must bee knowne valiant and of good discretion These Noble men are placed Generalls of horsmen or commaund a Cornet but they will be sure to looke that their vnder Officers shall bee expert and knowne men they shall not choose their owne fauorites and followers which maketh them to maintaine the like discipline when they come to be expert themselues for without doubt none can command so well as those which haue been commanded Their State is gouerned with two sorts of people Captaine and Clergie As the Captaines ambition perswades the king to encrease his Warres to maintaine their estate in wealth and greatnes so dooth the Clergie perswade him also to warres to maintaine their State against thē of Religion By this means the State of Spaine during this gouernement can neuer be without warres and continuall warres must make expert Souldiers The long continuance of their Armie THis Armie of the Prince of Parma hath been in action vnbroken since Charles the fift his troubles against the Germaines They haue continued in the Low Countreyes three and twentie yeares When the Duke D' alua brought them thether he found them readie disciplined in Regiments vnder Ensignes and Cornets although the Gouernors Captaines and Souldiers were changed with casualties of Warres notwithstanding the Armie was continuallie maintained with one purse discipline from the first houre vnto this which must be about 50. yeres For that time we must confesse none had the schoole of warres continuallie but themselues Their actions shewes their discipline which were not amisse for others to followe Their order is where the warres are present to supplie their Regiments being in Action with the Garrisons out of all his Dominions Prouinces before they dislodge besonios supply their places raw men as wee tearme them By these meanes hee traines his besonios furnisheth his Armie with trained souldiers yet though these Garrison men be wel trained Souldiers God knowes they are but raw men for a long time in respect of the men of Action then iudge you what difference there is betwixt expert Soldiers raw In my poore iudgement as I shewed before all their discipline consists in the Spanish They maintaine also certaine companies of ordinances chiefly to content the Nobilitie as I will shew hereafter they keepe in good order their Caualeri Italians Burgonians and Albanetes for their great numbers I meane to supplie their Armies as occasion presents They make most account of the Wallons Burgonians and Italians for the Almaines they care not but will hire them onelie to serue their turne when their Enemies leauie Germaines against them They haue great reason for as long as any Prince or Estate keepes continuallie 7000. expert footemen 3000. horsmen though his leuied Armie be 50000. the ten thousand will both discipline them and keepe thē in order for out of the 10000. he may draw cōtinualy 100 or two experimented Soldiers to make officers to train the others Besides he places diuers great Officers out of his assured 10000. amongst his mercenaries in the which he shews great discipline for there can be no dāgerous muteny in any Army vnles some of the Chiefes be priuie vnto it and easily preuented if it be discouered and can not be but discouered by reason of this good order How they diuide their Armies THey diuide their Armies into Regiments All the Spanish Colonells are tearmed Masters of the Campe. Although al their Armie be diuided into Regiments be they neuer so many Colonels there are none termed M. del Campo but the Spanish Although there are but foure Tertias Spanish which are called de la Lyge de Lombardy de Naples and de Flandrie to grace the Spanish they giue often the name of M. del Campo vnto others but neuer aboue sixe at a time the which must be famous Mondragon being Colonell of the Wallons afore Serexe for his famous seruice was called M. del Campo so was Ionas Oria hauing no Regiment for his famous seruice at Malta and in other places These foure Tertias when they are most are scarce 6000. strong they make vp their 10000. I named before with Burgonians Italians Wallons One of these Tertias when the Duke of Alua came downe was called Tertia de Sardinia For their disorder the Duke executed their Captaines in Amsterdam in Holland cassid the Tertia entertaining the Souldiers a new To keepe the honour of the braue Souldiers they termed this Tertia Tertia Veche to giue example vnto others It is necessarie to remember this Discipline with other executed by the Duke of Alua. This Tertia of Sardinia had to their Colonell a valiant Captaine named Don Gonsalo de Drakemont being commanded to Frizeland against Lodowicke the worthie Count of Nassaw brother to the famous Prince of Orange to stop his course Duke d' Alua sent Sir Iohn de Lamy Count de Aranberge Chief with other troupes of horse and foote Besides this Tertia being approched Count Lodowicke vnderstanding his strength Aranberge would haue staied where he was vntill the arriuall of the Count de Megem the which would haue ioyned with him that night with more forces The ambition of this Colonel and Captains was such they forced Count Aranberge with vrging words touching his reputation and credit both to approch and charge some of Lodowicks troups the which brought them into an ambush where Lodowicke was who defeated them in route leauing Count de Aranberge dead in the place with diuers other Chiefes At their returne Duke d' Alua rewarded them as I shewed you before Another time a great Regiment of Almaine mutined for wāt of pay in their outrage they spoiled Count Laderne their owne Colonel Duke d' Alua called them into a field both to be mustred and
it with diuerse places to sallie both horse and foote at their pleasures Euerie Bulwarke ought to haue two sallies one for Horse and foote the other a little secret sallie the Bulwarkes ought to flanke one another within tenne score euerie Curten ought to haue two Caualeres to command the field within their shootes aswell as the Counterscarffes let all this bee finished as Captaines and Inginers can deuise Notwithstanding no drie ditch can be compared for strength vnto a wet ditch my reason is thus where water may bee drawne vnto the ditch of the Rampier likelie it may be drawne vnto the Counterskarffe ditch halfe or the best part of the Fortifications is lost when the Counterscarffe is possest being possest the assailants with their Trenches on wheeles pusht on with strong poales with the force of men the which may be made of the proofe of a field piece with those and with wooll sacks gabions sand bags faggots and such deuises as they had before Sluce they will soone place their batterie after dismounting the Caualeres and highest Casamates Also they will deface the Counterscarfe enter the ditch with mines in diuers places in time make all the Counterscaffe an easie entrie in the ditch and keepe their guards in the sides where the flankes can not annoy them that being done they will soone lay batterie to the other Casamates before they batter hauing an easie entrie into the ditch the defendants dare not sally by reason the Assailaunts Artillerie beates all their high flankes parpets in such sort that none dares shew themselues Let the defendants enter the ditch the Assailants will enter also beeing pell mell the Casamates kils their owne as well as their enemies Being thus no doubt in short time the assailāts wil lodge in the rampier let it be neuer so thick what trēches with in the Captaines and Engioners can deuise vnlesse they haue newe fortifications like vnto those I named before in time the Assailant will lodge his batterie on the rampiers as they did at Mastricht and in short time fight with equal hands with the defendants to their vndoing Therefore a drie ditch cannot be compared vnto a wet If there can be made a wet deepe broad ditch at the foot of the counterscarfe where the water may not be taken away I knowe no reason why the defendants should loose their Counterscarfe being well manned If the water may be drawen out of both the ditches of Rampier and counterscarfe yet is the wet ditches better than the drie Few good Enginers giues counsaile to make a wet ditch artificiallie without Casamates vnder water as lowe as reason perswades them the water may be taken from them being let out there remaines in some trenches water that cannot be voided beeing cleane taken away the Casamates flankes all one As I said before flankes cannot be taken away without possessing the Counterscarfe neither can a broade ditch be fild without great murders against reson with out dismounting the flanks Some wil say the dry ditch is better alledging that any armie may the better succor the place asseiged and that the defendants may the better sally out Touching the succouring of the Asseiged it is well knowen al Armies are victualled from hand to mouth he that leades an Armie to leauie a siege cannot finde a place to lodge his armie within three houres march of the others where hee shall be assured to force his enemies to fight within ten daies leauie his siege or famish conducts his troupes verie ill None besiegeth anie place but intrencheth himselfe and troupes in such sort that 5000. will defend trenches against thrice their number wherefore the succours are ill conducted to force trenches and may fight better cheape Touching the sallies of the besieged if the fortification be such as I named before it ought to haue in it for euery bulwark a ponton I meane a bridge ioyned close together with yron engins like vnto those of the citadell of Antwerpe Those pontons are iust the bredth of the ditch hatched fast with yron hookes vnto the Counterscafe made so broad so strong that Artillerie may passe beside horse and foote These pontons serue a wet ditch for salying aswell as any salies that belongs vnto a drie ditch both wet and drie when the Counterscarffe is possest leeseth their salying if the Seigers be good Captaines All Batteries ought to be guarded with strong trenches and all quarters ought to bee stronglie entrenched as I saide before especially the assailants hauing intelligence of succors that being furnisht the salying of the assieged is their owne confusion It is dangerous to haue Bastiles from the rampier like vnto Mastricht Vtricht and other places Some counts these bastiles bulwarkes I thinke al Bulwarkes ought to bee gardall round about others counts them spurres or rauelins whether they be spurs bastiles rauelins or bulwarks they be dangerous vnlesse they ioyne vnto the rampier or to bee furnisht during a siedge with strong guards Commonlie they are not guarded vnlesse the Enemie lodgeth against them because the defendants perswade themselues the Enemie dares not lodge in them by reason they bee open vnto the curteine cauileres like the Counterscarfes These Bastiles haue much earth Let the Enemie enter one of them within two hours he couers himself in the earth nothing made with hands that can bee battered but will be made assaultable Is there a breadth in one of them the enimie can beate the entry I meane the bridge betwixt the curten and it their succours is cut off Besides the defendants shall not finde much ground within thē to retrench themselues against the cannon where the cannon plaies no defendant dare shew himself some wil say these bastiles may haue counterscarfes as I named before I doo confesse it but they are so farre from the rampier that neither the rampier his counterscarfe nor scarce caualere can flanke wherefore without doubt these bastiles that are not ioined vnto the rampier are very dangerous and not to bee compared vnto the others ioyning True it is men victuals and munition ought to defend Trenches against an Armie I doo confesse it a little Armie against a great I meane halfe so manie But no Fortifications made with mens hands can be kept continuallie against a royall Armie without succours if it can bee battered nor against a small Armie without men victualls munition wanting one of the three the best Fortresse is lost you must thinke the assailants hauing the field and meanes to reenforce their troupes as they list the losse of one hundred vnto the defendants is more than two thousand vnto the assailants But let the defendants or assailants do their dueties to the vttermost in any kind of seruices vnlesse it pleaseth their masters or superiours to grace their deedes their well dooing will bee turned to nought and their vertues vices Wherefore all men of warre ought to pray to hazard their liues in the sight of their
A Briefe discourse of Warre Written by Sir Roger Williams Knight VVith his opinion concerning some parts of the Martiall Discipline Newly perused Imprinted at London by Thomas Orwin dwelling in Paternoster Row ouer against the Signe of the Checker 1590. TO THE MOST HOnorable my singular and best Lord Robert Earle of Essex and Ewe Vicount Hereford and Bourghchier Lord Ferrers of Chartley Bourghchier and Louayne Master of the Queenes Maiesties horse and Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter Roger Williams wisheth increase of all Honor and Vertue MOst honorable Lord hauing busied my self more than two yeares in writing sundrie actions that passed in our daies especiallie the great actions of the Netherlanders since the first arriuall of Duke D' alua vntill the late sieges of Sluce and Bergis hauing resolued to print and dedicate them vnto your Lordship diuers occasions perswades me to craue pardon for a time assuring your Lordship if health and libertie permits leaue to present them vnto your selfe in the French tongue hoping by those meanes to bee rightlier iudged than I haue been hethervnto In troth but for the negligence of a seruant that lost part of my discourses I would not haue printed any thing without the whole wherefore I haue taken boldnes to present your Lordship with some of my lost papers humblie desiring you to accept them as from a Souldier that hath but smal skill in writing or inditing but could I doo better assuredlie it should bee vnto your selfe and shall bee in any thing I can performe Beare with my faults be assured of my loue and command my life next vnto my sacred Soueraigne deare Countrie Your Lordships most bounden to serue Roger Williams To all men of Warre in generall NOble Souldiers of what qualitie soeuer where I discourse of the vertues and vices that aduanceth and ouerthroweth all actions all that hath their honor to lose may claime part of the vertues neither needes any to bee grieued at the vices vnlesse they condemne themselues guiltie the greatest Captaines of Europe can witnesse that I robbed neither superiour nor companion of his right much lesse hath been euer my thoughts to wrong any generall action the which all or the most of you that knowe me will beare witnesse when my Netherlanders discourses with others comes out I thinke Gonsalua was called the last graund Captaine but I perswade my selfe neither he nor any other before him had euer carried that name without the seconding of a number of braue companions The most worthiest Caesar although hee was highly ambitious notwithstanding in his Commentaries written by himselfe hee imputed part of his honour vnto his Lieftenants and Officers Wherefore should not others doo at the least the like being not worthie to be compared vnto the basest sort of his followers no honorable minds can bee free from honorable ambition but the ambitiō may be such let the minde be neuer so great if hee robbs the honor of his companions he wrongs himselfe and imbates his action Few men of iudgement but knowes it impossible for one man to conduct an Armie without Officers vnpossible for any state to knowe the worth of their Captaines without being in action with great enemies but for that triall the Parisians Gauntois Antwerpians and such would onelie place squadrons in battailes chuse grounds march in what order you would arme men in good order fortifie and discourse with other matters to the shew as though they had been great masters of Campes but when they were tried with the furie of expert executioners their warres prooued but May-games Although I perswade myselfe my Discourse bee Vnpleasant with small iudgement notwithstanding being perswaded by honourable good friends I tooke courage to print it true it is no action ought to be printed without the consent of sundrie Actors or at the least by one Principall which ought to signe his workes with his name otherwise wee finde the most Actors wronged and robbed of the most of their reputation some with enuie or malice others with glorious ambition sometimes you haue most honorable quiet Estates wronged with ambitious follies libells the which are hardlie knowne and found out but being signed by the author deserues hee well the honour is his if ill the shame shall be his Men of Warre ought to bee more open hearted more liberall and more affable than any other profession although their secrets ought to bee but vnto fewe their hearts must be open vnto the multitude and liberall to confesse good deserts as well as with their purses although their resolutions be agreed on by two or three notwithstanding the more affable they shewe themselues vnto the multitude the greater will be their voges and loues Some tearme men wise for not speaking many words true it is idle speaches are windes and a disgrace vnto the speaker but bee they to good purpose the more hee speakes the greater is his praise You must thinke to repeate great actions it requires many words to perswade the fewe expert companions to offend or defend a fewe words will serue but to animate or disswade the rude multitude the more words and the oftner the better Wee doo finde the most Conquerours were greatlie aduanced with the orations of their Orators as well amongst the seruilest sort as the rude multitude without speaches the wise can not be discerned from the foolish nor without triall of gouernement against equall enemies the perfects Captaine cannot bee knowne from the most ignorant Otherwise ignorance will condemne Generalls their followers and actions let them bee euer so great although themselues neuer carried places of reputation either in field or towne nor commanded more than ouer their owne seruants saying wee haue knowne great Potentates Campes and Courts Let no man bee so simple to iudge them worthie to condemne great actions or their actors without being imployed in their great affaires it is hard for men to gouerne themselues well harder to gouerne a few more harder to gouerne many much more a great multitude some can gouerne a houshold and cannot gouerne a towne some can gouerne a towne and not a whole countrie A man may be sufficient to conduct a priuate companie and not sufficient to command a Regiment likewise sufficient for a Coronell and not for a Generall But whether it be for policie or Armes it is an error to thinke men without triall worthie to bee compared vnto the others tried in what place soeuer great or small Diuers play Alexander on the stages but fewe or none in the field Our pleasant Tarleton would counterfeite many artes but hee was no bodie out of his mirths Many haue a vertue few hath many none haue all the most men lookes into their fellowes faults but fewe lookes into their owne beare with mine I will beare with thine loue mee I will loue thee let vs loue each other and God will loue vs all on that condition noble superiours Roger Williams wisheth to you all honour
vnto mechanickes Also the proud Towne of Antwerpe which was left in good guard and Discipline by the late famous Prince of Orange hauing in it better than 16000. as well armed and in as good order as any Garrison in Europe furnished plentifullie with artillerie munition and all necessaries for warres for want of Chiefes to direct thē this prince of Parma made them slaues with lesse than 8000. men The difference betwixt raw men and expert Souldiers WHat is a multitude without Chiefes but bodies without heads Nations must not flatter themselues what they haue bin but what they are The Grecians and the Macedonians had the Monarchie so had the Romaines with others what are they now The people wanting their Chiefes and their accustomed braue minds All these actions with the rest that haue been aforetime or in our daies were executed by the lesser numbers and the praise of euerie seuerall action belonging vnto lesse than a dozen Chiefes It is an errour to think that experimented Souldiers are sodeinlie made like glasses in blowing them with a puffe out of an yron instrumēt There can be no Leaders of good conduct vnles they haue beene in foughten Battailes asseiged and defended Townes of warre the longer experted the more perfected The Duke of Alua was wont to say In leesing of 100000. in 10. yeares action their prooues not 20. famous Leaders To conclude a multitude without experimented Leaders that haue to warre with expert Captaines are to be compared vnto a Nauie in a Tempest without Masters or Pilots One noble opinion of Mounsieur de La Nowe THE famous Mounsieur de La Nowe was wont to say It was necessary for the greatest commanders to giue eare often vnto all their vnder Officers I meane their simplest Captaines to heare their opinions concerning their Discipline in open audience His meaning was noble without ambition for in all Armies there are a number of Captaines better Souldiers than many higher Officers which can neuer bee knowne without place to execute their art which must bee in action and audience before famous Superiours These liberties and curtesies make a number employ their wits and valours daily to aduance their credites It hinders no great Officers vnlesse they meane the warres should end with themselues it aduaunceth the Warres and Actions when they are gone other experted knowne men are placed in their roomes This order must maintaine good Discipline otherwise ignorance happens often into the high places vnknowne vntill actions bee ouerthrowne Those will say wee are expert and as valiant as the others let them say and bee what they list vnles they be knowne to be expert of action it is not necessarie for a State to hazard their action in trying their experience and vnknowne fortunes What corrupted the discipline of the Netherlanders chieflie placing their ignorant cousins fauorites to command Who could haue won Gaunt Antwerp Bridges Iper with an 100 other townes that wanted no necessaries for warres if there had been expert Commaunders in them These strong places were lost shamefullie without blowes with twentie ouerthrowes in the field with the like disorders Therfore this noble La Nowe would say alwaies Checune a son mety as much to say Euerie man ought to haue place according to his art The martial Byron would say also These Coronells of three dayes marres all the Armies of the world Notwithstanding it must be confest that some quick spirites proue to bee expert with small actions but so rarelie found that it is dangerous to giue them charge before they be well knowne What makes the Spaniards discipline to be so famous as it is Their good order otherwise it is wel knowne the Nation is the basest and cowardlie sort of people of most others so base that I perswade my selfe ten thousand of our Nation would beate thirtie of theirs out of the field let them bee chosen where they list sauing some 3. thousand which is in the Lowe countries And those for all they bee conducted by ancient expert Captaines accompanied with other Nations nothing inferiour to those Spaniards both for valour and conduct notwithstanding the trained Troupes of our Nation did beate them always number to number both in Generall Norris his time sithence In their Countries the world dooth know fiue thousand of our Nation made guardes at the gates of Lisborne foure dayes although there were in the Town fiue thousand Spaniards 4000. Portugeses carrying armes besides they were assured of all the Burgesses for they had sent into Spaine and kept in the Cytadell their wiues children chiefest goods Also by reason of our Armie staying in Galitia where 6000. of ours ouerthrewe 16000. of theirs Before we arriued at Lisborne they had 20. daies respit to arme and put themselues in order but had our Armie not touched at the Groine and sailed strait to Lisborne as the Earle of Essex did neither Soldier nor Captaine can deny but the towne had been ours for it was vnmanned without any good order when wee arriued had our Nauie entred wee would haue entred the Towne or the world should haue witnessed so manie Englishmen had bin buried in that place But let all the Captaines of Europe iudge rightlie of our proceedings from the first to the last considering our small means great crosses they cannot denie but both our valour and gouernment deserued 100. times more praise than the attempt of Duke Medina and his on England notwithstanding they wanted neither men victualls munition nor money Also the worlde knowes wee were not set out with our Soueraignes royall Forces notwithstanding we gaue them the law 30 daies in their Countries When sicknes with other wants forced vs to imbarke being followed with their Armie we returned towards them with lesse than 4000. Where the Earle of Essex sent his Trumpet to dare their Generall the Countie of Fuentes to finde himselfe in the head of his troupes to change the blows of the pikes giuing him signall of his attire and feathers so did Generall Norris command the Trumpet to tell them our small number to dare their whole Forces to battaile but the cowardlie besonions perceiuing our resolution before we could arriue within 3. miles of thē al their footmen ran away to Lisborne being 3. for one Fuentes with Don Gabriel de Ninis knowing wee had vnder fiftie horsemen staid where they were incamped hauing with thē at the least 600. horsemen notwithstanding the alrrme being giuen vs the Earle and General Norris with the most of the Chiefes giuing order to our Squadrons to keep in that order we marched and to march with al speed to recouer the top of a hil a fine place to giue battell assigned vnto them by the trumpet within halfe a league of their quarter The Earle Generall and Chiefs with the horsemen aduaunced with speed to the top of the hil both to discouer the Enemies order and to choose a commodious place to fight At their sight wee perswaded our selues by
do some exploits in surprising some town Castle Fortresse or other to giue camisadoes or reincounter troupes eyther at their lodgings or in their march they send two of qualitie according to the number of the troups that go the one commaunds the horsmen the other the footmen but one is obeyed chiefe in as ample authority as the Captaine Generall himselfe vntil they returne into their Army They haue great reason for it is impossible for two Chiefs to agree hauing equall authority The order of thier Sieges VVHen they assiege any place they incampe at the first out of the danger of the enemies artillerie before they make any approches they do what they can to make sure either with Fortes or Trenches all the passages I meane the comming in as well to their Campe as to the Towne or place assieged If there be any riuer or passage by water they will be sure to stop it with Forts Artillery Stockathos Pallisathos If they can make a bridge to passe ouer horse and foote with all necessaries from one side vnto the other if they can they wil not faile to make ways round about the place assieged to march with horse foote If there be any passages strong by nature straits through woods hills or with waters although it be a dozen miles from their Campe they will build strong Forts sufficient with a small guard to abide the furie of an army without battery At one of these places will they giue battaile rather than leaue their siege if the party be to their aduantage by this meanes they will be sure to haue fortie houres liberty to resolue whether they will fight or retire as they did at Muncier at Cambria and at other places Count Lodowicke being in Mounce well accompanied especially with good Chiefes for he had with him the famous Captains Monsieur de la Nowe Monsieur de Poiet Monsieur de Roueres Notwithstanding Duke d' Alua intrenched his Army before it so strongly that he was able to send out halfe his men to doo exploits where it pleased him When the Prince of Orange incamped hard by him with equall forces he neuer stirred his Army by reason of his trained Souldiers vndid him with a Camisado forced him to retire So did hee also send Chappine Vitelly out of his Armie with sufficient forces into the strait towardes Valentia who defeated Monsieur Iohn de Lise which marched to the succours of Mounce with seauen thousand Frenchmen Also at Cambria this Prince of Parma abode the Army of Monsieur d' Alanson to come in sight although he resolued to retire sending his Artillerie munition and baggage out of daunger hee stayed to see the order of his march seeing the party vnequall who marched in good order he retired orderly without ingageing any fight If they thinke the place assieged too wel manned or the seate such by nature that batterie can doo no good they will blocke it vp with Fortes in such sort that halfe their Armie will be sufficient to assiege it they will be sure to place the rest in the best quarters for victualls and forrage although it be three dayes iourney from the place assieged as they did at Antwerpe Gaunt Iper Berke and other places By these meanes they relieue their wearied troupes with fresh at their pleasures If there be troups making head to leauie their siege they will ioyne closer together as occasions present if they batter they approch carefully with trenches a farre off spare neither Pioners nor cost to saue their Souldiers Before they place their Batterie they mount Culuerings and other peeces to beate the flanks and defences if there be not high grounds aduantagious to do it they will be sure whatsoeuer it cost to raise mounts for the purpose If the Bulwarkes be such that the flanks cannot be taken away with their peeces they will lay batterie at once both to Bulwarke and Curten for the Soldiers may lawfully refuse to assault vntill the flankes be taken away neither will the Chiefes offer it for some of them must leade them The order of their assaults BEing ready to assault to giue equall honour vnto all the troups the Regiments hurle the Dice who shal haue the point the first charge we call it lightly the Chiefe that commaunded that quarter will aske it as his right because his troupes are most spoyled by reason of their neere guardes and approches Most often hee hath it beeing giuen him he diuides his troupes to second one the other according to the widenesse of the breach they respect the honour of the poynt that the Captaines will not giue place one vnto the other more than their Colonells but by fortune of the Dice They neede not be so earnest for the matter because the greatest warriours account the first troupe that entreth a breach in more daunger than the first troupe that must charge in their seuerall battailes They haue reason for I knowe it by good experience whether they enter or retire the most of them are killed if the defenders be honest men I meane any thing valiant They may haue two or three breaches but at euerie one they keepe one order Before the armed men aduance to the assault they place their Musketiers as nere to the breach as they can lightlie they make mounts higher than the defendants in those and in trenches before the Artillerie they place all their small shot Before they giue an assault they send sundrie Officers and Souldiers armed of Musket proofe and good iudgement to discouer the breaches when they giue the assaults if they bee not pell mell with the defendants their Canoniers flankes the breach ouer their heads both from the batterie and with their flanking peeces they line their armed men that haue the first poynt with Musketiers armed of the proofe At these assaults both sides lightlie shoote all the vilest shot they can inuent both to pierce Armes and to cut off Pikes chained bullets Dice of steele couered withlead lightlie they giue their assaults generall at once I meane at all their breaches and mines if the ground serue to mine To discourage the defendants they haue messengers of credite one horseback if they can passe which runne from breach to breach crying courage the Tertia de la Leige is entered So at the other breaches the like that Tertias of Lumbardy or Naples or others are entred when there is no such matter When those that giue the first charge begin to retire or waxe colde the great Officers command their seconds to the assaults finding fault with the rest telling them it is you fellowes must doo it with these stratagems and words they make the poore souldiers break their necks at their pleasure But to speake troth the Spanish discipline is verie gratefull vnto the men of warre for want of present places to aduance their valiant men of vertue according vnto their deserts they giue them aduantages of payes with encouraging words and assured promises of
would grudge by reason all or the most part of these companies belong vnto them For example our Band of horsemen Pentioners did account them the fairest Band of ordinance in Europe for the number because all the men at armes are Gentlemen of qualitie wherefore I doo value this Band better than twice as manie of any other let them bee of what Nation soeuer I may speake it by good experience out of this Band there may be pickt 15. or 20. sufficient to answere so many at all deedes of armes let it be chosen out of any Armie be it neuer so great considering their charges in payes expences in victuals munition and their liberties for dueties I meane to conuoy guard and to watch so many priuate Launtiers as this faire Band musters in all of horses vnder their Ensign or Guydon would excell them my reason is as I said before because euery Launtier is a master and receiues his owne pay To prooue Hargulatiers more seruiceable than Speare men tearmed by vs light Horsemen THE difference betwixt our Northerne Speares Light Horsemen we tearme them and the Light Horsemen tearmed by the strangers Hargulatiers as much to say Hargabushes or Petronels on horseback Touching the mounting and arming of these hargulatiers I shewed you before the seruice of all Light horsemen consists chiefly in marching of great marches Caualgades the strangers terme it I meane to surprise Cōpanies a farre off in their lodgings or marches likewise to defeat conuoyes to conduct conuoyes as much to say direct it to spoyle necessaries that come to furnish their enemies and to conduct necessaries to furnish their own campe or seruice Also to scout and discouer to spare the armed men I meane the Launtiers the other horsemen likewise both to conduct spoile forragers with the like seruices They be neuer commanded to do any exploits on men of Warre without being accompanied with Launtiers or armed Pistolers I meane Curaces on horseback Diuers march with swords without Pistoll or Launce especiallie the Frenchmen For these seruices it is necessarie to haue in armies or troupes for euerie 500. Launtiers or armed Curaces 100. of these kinde of light horse from that rate to the greatest numbers If horsemen bee directed to assaile troupes at their lodgings either in villages streights or fields where it requires too great a march for footemen to keepe companie with the horsemen without doubt these hargulatiers are farre better then the spearemen my reasons are these when the horsemen approach the enemie if it bee in a village lightly they must passe through barriers and narow streights bard with waggons both of victualls of their men of warre where commonlie the Enemie keepes guardes watch If the passage bee such either in entring a village or straight that horsmen cannot finde place to enter and to charge these hargulatiers light on foot do no lesse dutie than foote hargabushiers If the enimie be lodged either too strongly or to manie for the assailants to doo any good on their quarter as ye must think a 1000 stronglie lodged in a village or streight with good guard and order are worth 2000. without let them be of one valure and conduct then the assailant will addresse an ambush perhaps in a passage or narrow streight short of the Enemies quarter where he will also cause all or the most of those Hargulatiers to light then place and hide them in such sort that 100. shot wil spoyle and defend ten times more than themselues vnles the enimies bring shot to displace them if they doo the Ambush may dislodge if hee thinkes the partie vnequal the which he could not were his Hargulatiers Hargabushers without horses beeing ingaged to fight I confesse also the Hargulatiers farre better than the spearemen for this seruice if troupes of armed curaces launtiers or others chance to meete by fortune with the like enemies in a champion the Hargulatiers vnarmed march on both sides of their squadron like wings of shot about a squadron of pikes vntil the launtiers or curaces charge diuers of their Hargulatiers march skirmishing before the squadrons like forelorne men after the Almaine phrase when the squadrons charge they flye on both sides to their fellowes They place their armed Hargulatiers behinde the squadrons they execute more than the Launtiers after the Launtiers break into the enemies squadrons for the armed hargulatiers ought to be as well mounted and armed for curace and caske sauing their beauers as the launtiers the most of them as I shewed you before carrieth a pistoll besides his caliuer or petronell Let it bee for what seruice Captaines can deuise these hargulatiers are better than our sort of speare men that wee tearme Light Horsmen I perswade my selfe that all the warriers in Europe sauing our selues and the Scots will bee found to be of my minde I am sure the Earle of Essex Generall Norris the Lord Willoughbie Sir William Russell Sir Richard Bingham with the most of all that serued against the great Captaines I meane the Prince of Parma and his followers will say and confesse as I doo For example the famous Mounsier de la Nowe commanding chiefe of the warres vnder the Prince of Orange and the States in Flaunders had 5. Cornets of these spearemen all Scotts he finding little seruice with these kinde of arming and mounting changed them vnto Launtiers and Hargulatiers the which afterwards prooued to be seruiceable as braue bāds as any other vnder his charge especially the company of Seaton True it is braue men wil shew themselues valiant with any kind of weapons al maner of ways but the best sort of arming and mounting is the more profitable the more seruiceable Although our two nations I meane English and Scottish may compare in my opinion do excell all the rest of the world in value and strength notwithstanding neyther of both our Nations can compare with the Strangers for the mounting and arming vnlesse we resolue to be Launtiers Pistolers and Hargulatiers as I shewed before Our discipline is to haue 1000. Spearmen and some 200. Launtiers from that rate to the greatest numbers which ought to be 1000. Lantiers and 200. Spearemen Likewise from that rate to the greatest and those 200. ought to be Hargulatiers I know no reason but 2000. Lantiers 2000. Pistolers 1000. Hargulatiers should not Master 20000. Spearemen on horsebacke Likewise from that rate to the lesser numbers you must think the reason was that our kings of England Scotland fought always or the most part on foote because their whole trust was on the footmen and that all strangers mastred them with horsemen Assure our selues let vs keep their discipline with horsmen none shal master vs number to number although they were more Let vs not erre in our ancient customes although our famous Kings Hen. 5. Edw. 3. and Hen. 8. were the most worthiest warriers that our nation euer had notwithstanding you may be assured had they knowne
expence of two to one the Musket is better cheape and far more seruiceable Some thinke the Musket cannot march far in a day or night or cōtinue long without rest by reason of their weight nor skirmish so nimblie nor so often by reason of their length weight and sore recoyling Armed men are heauier loaden than the Musketiers and more combersome in carriage lightlie no great troupe matches ten miles without resting although it be but a little at euerie stand and nere the enemie the Musketiers are suffered to quit their weight leauing their Muskets in their rests the armed men will not be suffered to disarme themselues in their march let thē stand neuer so often if they be within fiue houres march of an Enemie any thing equall of either horse or foote by that reason they haue a little aduantage Fewe Captaines will force any great troupe of footemen to march aboue 15. miles without resting if the Enemie be equall and in hazard to fight although it be 20. miles both armed men and Musketiers wil not stick to march if their Leaders haue any credite with them and discretion to furnish their troupes with victualls and necessaries that belongs vnto such a march Touching their often discharging nimblenes profit I answered before For recoyling there is no hurt if they bee streight stocked after the Spanish manner For their weight and sure shooting the Muskets haue aduantage on all the other small shot by reason they shoote in their rests true it is were they stocked crooked after the French manner to be discharged on the breast fewe or none could abide their recoyling by reason of their great charges of powder but being discharged from the shoulder after the Spanish manner with the thumbe betwixt the stocke and the face there is neither danger nor hurt if the shooter haue any discretion especiallie not to ouerload their pecces and take heede that the bullets ioyne close to the powder Few seruices of importance are executed in the field without armed men and where armed men wil march the Musketiers are il conducted vnlesse they doo the like let it bee neuer so farre The ouerthrowes of all Battailes and great fights are giuen within two miles the most in halfe a mile for that space were it further the Musketiers march as their leaders needs to wish them Touching light skirmishes vnles it bee to some purpose none vseth them vnles it bee rawe men or light headed that delights to heare the peeces crack as I saide before the most seruice consists either to defend or assaile passages by water or by straits or to assaile townes forts fortresses or whatsoeuer seruice you can inuent if it be done on great troupes the musketiers are the terriblest shot most profitable that euer was deuised The Spaniards do vse them most findes their seruie terrour such that I perswade my self shortlie al or the most of their small shot will be Musketiers True it is I doo thinke it necessarie to haue of 1000. shot 200. Caliuers from that rate to the greater number and such shot for this purpose when occasiō presents to make great marches Caualgades the strangers calls it to giue Camisadoes on troupes that are lodged a farre off to surprise Townes Fortresses or passages that are simply mand and negligentlie guarded or to lye in Ambush a farre off to cut off conuoyes passengers and such services These lighter shot are necessarie to march great marches with horsemen for these purposes the which are often taken behind the horsemen for expedition of great marches to doo executions vnlooked for To proue the Pike the most honorable weapon carried by Footemen THe Pike is the most honorable weapon that is carried by footmen the Pike is the strength of al battailes I know no reason but two thousand Pikes 1000. Musketiers shuld not retire ten miles although it were all champion grounds from 3000. horsemen mounted armed as Captaines can deuise The Pike is the chiefest weapon to defend and to enter a breach although diuers guards nere a place assieged are furnished onelie with shot short weapons as armed Holberts Targets and such weapons by reason their Trenches are narrow and deepe to couer them from the defendants shot in which trenches the Pikes haue no conuenient place to fight notwithstanding about their batteries and in diuers places nere vnto these guards they make large Cordigards where they place their Ensignes in some and in all strong guards of Pikes meaning thereby to put their strength and rest chieflie on that weapon wherefore the experimented Spaniards commands all their chiefe men on foote to carrie the Pike What number of short weapons there ought to bee amongst one thousand armed men from that rate to the greater nūber I Perswade my selfe there ought to bee amongst one 1000. Pikes 200. short weapons as Holberts or Bills but the Bills must be of good stuffe not like our common browne Bills which are lightlie for the most part all yron with a little steele or none at all but they ought to be made of good yron and steele with long strong pikes at the least of 12. inches long armed with yron to the midds of the staffe like the Holberts for example like vnto those which the Earle of Leicester and Sir William Pelham had in the Low Countries for their guards being made thus no doubt but it is a necessarie weapon to guard Ensignes in the field trenches or townes and a good weapon to execute but no better thā the halberd Because the Frenchmen make their halberds with long neckt pikes and of naughtie stuffe like our common browne bills diuers of our Nation condemnes the Halberdes but let the Halberds bee of good stuffe and stronglie made after the Millaine fashion with large heads to cut and broad strong pikes both to cut and to thrust then no doubt the Halberd is nothing behinde the bill for all manner of seruice and armes a souldier fairer than the bill Both Bills and Halberds ought to haue corslets with light Millain murrians the foreparts ought to be of reasonable proofe I meane of the proofe of the Caliuer discharged ten or twelue score off so ought the pikes also to haue the foreparts of the corslets of the like proofe fifteene or twenty of euery hundred from that rate vnto the greatest numbers I knowe no reason that a thousand armed men ought to aske aboue two hundred targetters of the proof those weapons are very combersome they are best to arme men to discouer breaches or for the defendants to discouer trenches or the enemies workes and for to couer shot that skirmishes in streights their weights are such that few men will endure to carie thē if they be of good proofe one houre I perswade my selfe the best arming of targetters is to haue the corslets of reasonable proofe and the targets light so the bearers may the better and nimbler assaile and fight the longer in defending To prooue
Princes or Estates then likelie they will confesse no traffique so deare as liues especiallie being in action with equall enemies It is hard to please the most masters vnpossible to content the rude multitude the least worme will mooue hauing anie life being troden vpon for my owne part I doo confesse to bee one of the least in respect of thousands not so base but euer I carried a mind rather to be buried dead than aliue I speake this for the wrongs done vnto my selfe and companions for the defence of the towne of Sluce true it is those that serues many serues no bodie I meane they shall find none that will confesse to be their masters especiallie when they should be rewarded for their seruice but the multitude will bee readie to disgrace their seruants thinking by such meanes to pay them their debts or at the least sufficient rewards to bee reconciled vnto them and pardoned for their misconstred thoughts Wherefore I would wish all men of warre and they can to bee in all strange Princes or estates debts rather than they in yours if your masters bee giuen to any machiuell humours the debts that should pay you will hire them diuers others are you in their debts you are sure not to bee wronged thinking your seruice to come paied for Although our masters the States bee for the most part honest and vertuous personages notwithstanding looke into their actions you shall finde a number of Captaines wronged besides our selues they are partlie to bee borne withall Sometimes great Captaines are so ambitions that they will deface their inferiours deedes therefore there can been no great fault in the States nor any such when we wrong one another otherwise time and fortune might make inferiours Competitors with the great ones Sometimes fortune frownes on the greatest Captaines in such sort that they can not or will not performe that the world lookes they should do then likelie had they rather burie their instruments and inferiours rather than bee touched themselues with the least disgrace Therefore you cannot blame the poore Souldier to desire the eye of his master when he hazardeth his life Subiects are vassalls vnto Princes and States and not vnto the most Generals although I neuer knewe any notwithstanding it is well knowne ambitious Generals wronged often their masters being in those humors they will bee sure to wrong their inferiours vnlesse they serue their turnes Touching our wrongs I impute it to no bodie but vnto our owne fortunes as the Spaniards said vnto Charles the 5. Adeunda salta la diecha non apreuiecha la diligencia Touching Sluce I do protest by the faith of a Souldier what I write is troth As nigh as I can remember we kept the Towne about 60. daies diuers thinkes it no time because Harlam Mastricht and others were kept longer little doo they thinke how those places were furnisht with all necessaries especiallie the lesser of both had in them at the least 6000. hands to fight and to worke Let vs be rightlie iudged I will prooue that Bouennene was the furioust siege that was in the Lowe Countries since Duke D'aluas arriuall vntill this houre the which began and ended in lesse than twentie daies notwithstanding there was more Captaines and Souldiers spoyled by sword and bullet at that siege than at Harlam which dured ten moneths Experimented Captaines will confesse the furie of all breaches are tried in fewe houres and the furie of artillerie preuented without sodaine attempts Wee were not in Sâ—uce 1600. fighting workmen and all wee had to keepe counting the two Forts aboue two miles and a halfe It is well knowne before we entred the Towne lost one Fort. If wee shewed anie valour in our entrie let Sir Henrie Palmer his Seamen with them of Zealand iudge the danger was not so little but of the vessels that carried vs in fiue were taken the next tide in comming out The third tide Sir Charles Blunt offered fiftie pounds besides the commandement his Masters and Mariners receiued at his imbarking to carrie vs our necessaries from Sir William Russell then Lord Gouernour of Vlishing who indeed was the occasion of our entrie resolution and quick dispatch who sent with vs a good quantitie of victuals and munition and to say troth without his earnest dispatches wee had not entred then the world knowes the Towne had been lost without blowes as a number of others were in those Countries farre better than Sluce The best sort doth knowe had I and my companions marchanted our liues as traffickers doth their ware wee had no neede to haue entred Sluce for our direction was but to Ostend we were battered with thirtie Cannons and eight Culuerings on S. Iacobs eeue from three of the clock in the morning vntill fiue in the afternoone they shot aboue foure thousand Cannon shot By the Dukes owne confession he neuer sawe so furious a batterie in one day wee were made saultable aboue 200. 50. paces betwixt fiue of the clock and seauen wee were aboue fiue times at the push of the pike for our breach where wee spoyled the enemies in great numbers who perceiuing our Trenches within Ouerthwart the breach quieted their furies afterwards we kept the Towne eighteene daies the enemie being lodged in our port rampier and breach aboue three hundred paces in the which time the Enemie passed through the port sixe paces to beate our Trenches within wee kept our Fort vntill wee were made saultable more than our Troupes could guard vnles wee would quite the Towne being mined wee countermined them in the which wee fought hourelie for the space of nine daies with Sword Target and Pistols at our breach port and rampiet of the Towne wee fought daylie with pikes short weapons and stones besides our shot for the said space of eighteene daies Touching our sallies let the Enemie testifie The Duke of Parma being entred asked me which was Buskeruilde standing before him I shewed him who imbraced him turning towards his Nobilitie he said there serues no Prince in Europe a brauer man Most true it is at one sallie he had the point with an hundred corslets of the best sort who charged and made to runne eight Spanish Ensignes of the Tertia Vecho and hurt their master del Campo True it is he was seconded with a number of others but himselfe principallie knowne by prisoners and his great plume of feathers Also Sir Francis Vere marked for his red Mandilion who stood alwaies in the head of the armed men at the assaults of the Fort and Towne beeing twise hurt I and other his friends requested him to retire he answered he had rather be kild ten times at a breach than once in a house Captaine Hart most valiantlie swamme in and out to shewe our Generall and States our wants and daungers the world doth know what picks there was betwixt them at that instant such that none can denie but a full resolution was taken not to enter in by