our word but he ought to haue a differeÌ„t contersigne that when he returnes he may be knowne thereby Gent. What order is obserued in the day of the Word Capt. I haue already told you that the Sergeant Maior doth take the same from the Generall and giueth it vnto the Sergeants and they vnto the Caporals and Sentinels but with this consideration that the Sergeant Maior giue not the same vnto the Sergeants being in Campania vntill the very instant that they set the Sentinels and watch And if they be in towne of garrison Citadell or Fortresse of defence not vntill the shutting in of the gates and the Sergeants Caporals not to giue it vnto the Sentinels vntill the very point of their placing at their standes or postes Gent. You say here that the SeÌ„tinels should haue the Word but I haue heard say that among our English seruitours in the Low Countreis the Word passeth no further then the Caporals and the Sentinels not to haue the Word at all Capt. Indeede among raw souldiers there is good reason for the same for the sundry inconuenieÌ„ces that might otherwise follow thereon But with the Spanish Tercios where they be experimented men aswell in militarie actions as in firme loyaltie to their king this order hath bene obserued as I speake of Gent. Then the Caporall hauing the Word and the Sentinell not what is the Sentinell to do when occasion is to demaund the Word Capt. The Sentinell finding any occasion is to cause the partie to stand and presently with an audible voyce to call his Caporall who with speede from the Corps de guard repaireth to the SeÌ„tinels post there himself taketh the Word Gent. What order is obserued among the officers and souldiers in taking the Word the one from the other being a thing of such importance we would gladly know it Capt. When any Officer or Captaine of the Round will vpon any occasion draw neare vnto the Sentinell the Sentinell being a shot ought to cock his burning match hauing the peece charged and primed and so to present it and being a pike man to Terciar or charge his pike and no farther off then that with so low a voyce as they may but vnderstand one another to demaund the Word and in like order and consideration ought the officer or Round to giue it vnto the SeÌ„tinell when he commeth to visite it the which Sentinell ought by no meanes to suffer any person to come neare vnto him except he giue him first the Word no although he knew him to be his Captaine or Sergeant Maior or Camp-maister for the souldier being set at the Sentinell is not bound to acknowledge any person for to permit him to approch vnto him but such as shall giue him the Word which was giuen by the Generall and so to the guardes by the mouth of the Sergeant Maior which is the â—eanes and instrument vsed in warres to exclude all suspectes decits For we see the sight and hearing is easily deceiued although it be by day then how much more by night as was well to be seene by Publius Considius one of Caesars Captaines a man esteemed for valiant and skilfull as one who had serued in the armies of Lucius Sylla and Marcus Crassus whom Caesar sending to reknowledge and view the campe of the Heluetians his enemies with certaine spies to see if Titus Labienus had gained possessed a hill whereunto Caesar had sent him he missed erred so much in the reknowledging thereof that he came running vnto Caesar told him that the hil which he had coÌ„manded Titus Labienus to gaine was already possessed by the enemy being quite the contrary which caused that Caesar failed to defeat the enemy that day And therefore in cases of such importance there ought great care and consideration to be had And againe the officer or Round wheÌ„ he goeth visiting the post or Sentinels if he find them ready vigilant being that which is expected he hath no neede to approach alwayes vnto them but to passe along and visite the rest and if he finde them all with this watchfulnesse ready let him returne to his Corps de guard Gent. I haue heard say that the Sentinell ought not to suffer any person to passe by without giuing him the word and me thinks that you say that the officer or Round finding the Sentinell waking vigilant and hauing seene them may returne to his Corps de guard without giuing the Word Capt. The obligation and duty of the Sentinell is not to permit any person to passe in or out from the campe without giuing him first the word neither yet to come neare where he standeth but if the officer or Round do passe through the Sentinels within distance of 8 or 10 pases it is sufficient that hee speake and passe by and is not bound to giue the Word But if in case they were to come from out of the campe he is in no wise to suffer them to come neare to reknowledge him although it were at the abouesaid distance without giuing him the Word and if happely such person will not giue it he may discharge at him as at his enemy And although he giue him the Word he is not to permit him to enter freely into the campe but to accompany him vnto the double Sentinels consigne him vnto them for that one of theÌ„ may forthwith conuey him to the Corpo de guardia and there deliuer him to the Sergeant or Alferes or to the Captaine of the companie who are bound to giue present aduise thereof vnto the Sergeant Maior vnto whom it concerneth to conuey him to the Camp-maister or Generall if the case so require Gent. When the Alarme is giuen are all the Sentinels to retire to their Corps de guards Capt. No sir for they neuer should forsake their postes without licence of their officer and that they doe withdraw them except those which do giue the Alarme who seeing so great a furie of the enemies to come vpon them which they are not able to withstand that then indeede they ought to retire to their Corps de guards Gent. In such occasions doe all the Ensignes which are at the watch make a squadron together or euery one apart Capt. They all ioyne together in that Corps de guard which standeth most coÌ„modious for a place of armes the which the Sergeant Maior ought to shew them before hand whither also the rest which are in their quarters should repaire but not those which are guarde to the General nor those that do guard the munitioÌ„ nor out of the place of armes or at the guarde of the quarters for those are not to leaue their postes or stations but of the others the Sergeant Maior shal frame his battell or squadron with all possible speede diligence and then shall presently enquire the cause of the Alarme the which being knowne he shall presently by his
and honourable words as in such cases be conuenient and therefore in mine opinion the dislodging by night is not very secure vnlesse it bee as I sayd befriended and ayded with some seate of aduantage as it chaunced vnto the aforesayd Francis the French King when at Cambresy he retired from the Emperour by night that by the benefit of a great wood he might saue his Army and hauing passed thorough the same when the enemies horse ouertooke him where hee made a stand and where as well by reason of the aduantage of that wood as by the commoditie of the seate where he stood he might well and boldly fight with the enemy as by experience of them of the Emperours part was seene who ouer greedily pursuing the enemy issued out of the wood euen vpon his troupes where the most part of them were slaine or taken prisoners The very same case happened also vnto the protestants Army in Germany when they would remoue and withdraw themselues from the Emperours campe being both the Campes neare encamped together that dislodging by night they had not farre to march to enter into a very strong valley where they could not but with the enemies great disaduantage bee charged and set vpon and for that there was in the same valley a little hill the same was presently possest by the protestants and planted with good store of field ordinance and with strong troupes of foote and horse and in such sort occupied that what with this preparation and with that which they made in a neare adioyning wood planting the same full of small shot the Emperours power could not pursue them as they had pretended For as soone as they were approched neare vnto them they saw that they were retired vnto a place both by art and nature most strong and therefore were let passe without any more annoyance Wherefore I say that with the fauour of the seate and quality of the countrey the dislodgement may be thus assured as by the aboue recited examples may appeare And alwayes it is farre better to dislodge by night then by day for to gaine at the least the distance of ground to conduct the Campe to place of security and strength for the remouing by day without the great helpe and securitie of the seate most commonly is very daungerous except the Remouer should farre abound in Cauallery and therefore the Campe which is inferiour in horse ought to distant himselfe as farre as he can from the enemy for not by such accidents to be constrained either to fight vpon disaduantage or commit some other foule disorder Thus haue I at large and more large then I meant declared vnto you the office and parts of a Campe-maister Generall with the orders to be obserued in marching in encamping and in remouing of a Campe with rules and instructions to effect the same the which being well conceiued considered and regarded may serue in time of seruice to great good and importance Gent. Truly Captaine you haue taken paines herein and haue touched many good points worthy noting especially should warres fall vpon vs from the which God defend vs. But haue you yet any other officer to treat of vntill you come to the Lord high Generall The Election office charge and dutie of the High treasurer of an Armie Captaine THe High Treasurer of the Armie is commonly chosen and appointed by the Prince and is in the number of the principall officers that are in the campe and alwayes one of the Councell of warre by reason of the great affaires committed to his charge handling which is the kings monyes and Treasure being the sinewes of the warre and without the same it were impossible for an Army long to hold and continue hauing to deale with a strong and obstinate enemy This high Treasurer hath the bestowing of the kings money in diuerse and sundry vses and all to conduct the warre to a good end Moreouer he is to receiue the tributes taxes and tailliages of the Cities Townes or Countries where the conquest is made if there be any such and also doth receiue the money which the Collegates do contribute being any such ligue and if they contribute money and not people of warre He hath in like sort the superintendencie of the victualling of the campe and is to haue a great care to giue content to the vttermost of his power as well to the small as to the great to see that as well the poore Pioner as the commaunding Colonell be satisfied and payed their payes duties at due conuenient termes if he will that his Prince bee well serued and the souldiers to obey their Commanders and Captaines and to liue in honest and commendable sort as disciplined people of warre ought to doe otherwise if the pay be wanting and not performed I cannot see how a campe can long stand on firme foote or the souldier passe and liue without robbing rifling and spoyling and to commit a thousand excesses neither can I perceiue how any good order may be obserued if necessitie constraine men to commit these faultes Yet I will not hereby inferre but that in times of these wantes and necessities men ought with all possibilitie to haue patience for it is a wonderfull vertue in a souldier at such an instant pinch and to absteine from committing these excesses although their pay be long on comming For I know very well that monyes cannot alwayes be prouided and come at the due time appointed by reason of sundry impediments that may hinder the same then ought the honest souldier to haue patiēce But if the pay stay ouer long there is nothing more vniust then to make mē to liue by windy words ayre therfore in such meane while they ought either to distribute lēdings or a certaine quantitie of victuals dayly also something to cloath men other necessaries expecting vntill the pay do come or else they must be suffered to liue at their owne discretion that is to take where and what they may finde which is a thing not to be permitted but in cases of great extremitie and in cases where all other remedies be past for this dangerous libertie is occasion that souldiers will fall into such an insolencie that it would be almost impossible to reduce them againe into their first esse or being the which is of lesser losse and daunger then to suffer them to dye with famine or to see the campe dissolued one of the which would of necessitie ensue were there not present remedie imployed and then the fault is not to bee imputed to the Commaunders and Captaines Some man happely will say that the Chieftaines may with sweet wordes and perswasions entertaine and qualifie the souldiers I confesse the same but that is but for a small time and that too no longer then that the souldiers do giue credit vnto their perswasions But when that they shall
officers giue aduise vnto the Regiments next vnto him and aboue all he is to aduertise his Camp-maister and Generall without order from whom the companies already set in battell may not returne to their quarters and guardes And so the Sergeant Maior after they be fully satisfied assured that they may disbād and breake vp hee ought to demaund licence of the Generall for the same and shall returne to set his postes as before they were And if he shall perceiue it to be needfull to reenforce and strengthen his guardes he ought to do it with more or lesse numbers as the necessitie shall require it Gent. I haue heard that some Sergeant Maiors do draw out of their principall Corps de guards where their ensignes companies do stand the first Sētinels other small Corps de gards but I know not to what end Capt. That Sergeant Maior doth not amisse for that Corps de guard is of those souldiers which are for the Sentinels and Round that night for that the officer when he is to relieue and change them may find them more ready And these Corps de guardes do serue also that the Sentinels may haue succour neare at hand if neede should require and againe they helpe also to keepe the guardes more vigilant and the souldiers more ready to the seruice of their ensignes THE THIRD DIALOGVE VVherein is declared some orders to be obserued by the Sergeant Maior in the very fact of armes and in surprises and Camisadas and Ambuscados and to be a generall procurer of the souldiers good Gentleman WHat orders is the Sergeant Maior to obserue in the times of fight with the enemy Capt. The Sergeant Maior cannot keepe any certaine rule therein considering the diuersitie of chaunces stratagems and policies which in euery moment do happen in warre But in the action of battell he is to see and to foresee as before I sayd as well their owne as their enemies orders and disorders to redresse with all valour readinesse and skill what is needfull in his owne squadrons and to espie euery aduantage vpon the enemy and valiantly to animate order and encourage his souldiers to valour vertue and honour and that with couragious and honourable words and if by fortune any of his squadrons be disordered and broken he must with all speedinesse courage and skill redresse the same Gent. But if any men in the rankes of his squadrons be hurt or slaine either by the enemies great shot or otherwise so that wanting there those men which so are slaine or hurt how are these rankes to be refurnished so that it may be done without confusion Capt. The order of the Romanes as I haue already sayd was to fight in order of battallions the one to second the other which is a very strong order of fight were men expert and skilfull therein And the manner of the Greekes was in Phalangia which is a iust square of men whom we do therein imitate which manner of square of men is each man standing consequently in ranke and in file one after other so that if any of the first files or rankes be slaine or hurt the next soldier succeeding the same man hurt or slaine is to step vp into his place roome and the next after to follow him and so successiuely one to follow another euen vnto the center or traine of the squadron in such sort that alwayes the formost rankes be fully furnished Gent. And what is to be done with those hurt and slaine men for me thinkes they should be looked vnto Capt. The Spaniardes haue a laudable custome which is that they haue certaine men appointed of purpose to retract and draw foorth of the squadrons such men as be hurt and to bring them vnto the chirurgians and for such as bee slaine right out to conuay them away so that their slaine numbers is neuer lightly knowne to the enemy Which order I would wish to be receiued and obserued amongst vs. Gent. What other parts are there yet in him to be required Capt. Moreouer the Sergeant Maior ought to be very expert and to be very skilfull and well aduised in the course which is to be kept in giuing a camisada as that was which was giuen vnto the Prince of Oranges army by the Spaniards when he came to relieue graue Lodwike his brother being besieged within Mouns in Henault by Duke d'Alua which was such that he was faine to raise his campe and retire toward Germany Now in such cases the Sergeant Maior must conduct his souldiers with great silence euen to the place of the enemies campe and there shall he commaund them to put their shirtes vpon their armour at one instant making ready to effect their desseignes whereunto they shall passe with all speede and resolution before that the enemy may be aduertized thereof by their Sentinels And also when other great occasions are offered where it is needefull to carry the souldiers with great silence secrecie and stilnesse he is to be their guide as did the Sergeant Maior Valleio when Mondragon with his regiment passed ouer the riuer Schalt to succour their friends besieges in Targoes And in Ambuscados which are to be done in places of couert as woods thickets hollow wayes or hils he is to be carefull that the souldiers be silent and without noise for not to be discouered vntill their espials and watches appointed for that purpose doe giue them the signe of the conuenient time of their sodaine charge vpon the enemy Also it is the Sergeant Maiors part to be sollicitous and diligent with the prince or Captaine Generall of the army and the other superiour officers for the prouiding of armour and other necessaries for the companies of his regiment and for the other munitions of powder match lead and victuals the which he shal cause to be reparted vnto the Sergeants of the bands to be by them deliuered vnto the Caporals who are to distribute the same among the companies And to conclude he ought to be the vniuersall procurer of the souldiers good procuring their payes and that they be succoured in their necessities and wants And if there be any hurt men or sicke hee is to procure that they may be caried with all care vnto the hospitals or such places deputed for the same prouiding them of cariages necessaries and guides if neede require To do all the which he hath all the officers of the regiment for helpers and ministers which are to assist and obey him For the cariage-maister is to furnish him with cartes and cariages as shall be needefull and the furrier maior to prouide and bring munition at the day of battell and the Sergeants to assist him to set the squadrons and to keepe the companies in order and array and the ensignes and Lieutenants to giue and notifie the orders and commandes to the gards for the seruice of the companies and the drumme maior to proclaime and sound the generall
grauity and knowledge sith so many things do concerne him to direct gouerne and administer and principally the allodgeing or encamping of the Army the which seemeth to be a matter of great importance and skill Capt. No greater matter of charge that I know of in the warre for besides that it requireth great practise and experience to discerne what part is fittest for the Cauallerie and what place for the Infanterie and in what quarters the Artillery ought to be planted in what parts the Corps de guard scouts Sentinels yet without comparison it behoueth him much more to haue the reason iudgemēt skill to discerne whether the situatiō hath the parts and cōmodities to be required whether it be pitcht in a place fit conuenient to defend thē frō the attempts of the enemy that the prouisions victuals may safely passe come vnto the campe with a number of such other points to effect the which it is very important and necessary that he be wel skilled and practised in the country where he warreth that he be very wel seene skilfull in the Geography thereof hauing the same perfectly drawne in plats and Mappes with their Cities Townes villages forts fortresses farmes and Countrie houses and the distance frō one to our instructions for God knoweth what world may fall out yet ere we dye Capt. Well Gentlemen sith you do still egge and draw me on with your curious demaundes I will shew you the best I can the orders obserued by the best Italian and Spanish Encampers You know that I haue shewed you before of the generall and particular parts of a souldier their seuerall offices euen frō the Caporall vnto his Camp-maister generall the number of a band their due sortment difference of weapons and their seuerall vses the orders of training marching and embattailling in sundry manners now most in vse the seuerall parts and dutie of euery officer in degree with a number of other points which now I remember not Now lastly to your demaund touching the marching and allodgement of a campe I say That when an Armie marcheth neare vnto the enemies Army it is needfull that there be had many and great considerations as first when the one Armie is not of equall force vnto the other or when one is not disposed to come to the fact of battell for not to put by one onely battell into the hands of fortune all a mans habilitie whole rest in fine as many misaduised men haue done therefore to prolong time and to shunne the doubtfull fact of armes it were needfull to make choise to march if possible you may through mountaine groundes and hillie and with such aduantage of seate and ground that the enemy may not with any reason of aduantage assault you But when this may not be yet eschued at the least it is to bee procured to be done to the best aduantages and as it were with a certaine hope of victory the which may partly bee performed when you know how to profit your selfe with the aduantage that the situation will affoord And in your marching I would wish you to send some part of your light horse so neare vnto the enemy as continually you haue notice of all their orders and courses True it is that when you are in a countrey where this aduantage of hils is not to be found and must of necessitie march through plaines and champaine fields and haue the enemy neare at hand it were then very hard to shunne and auoide battell the which I would rather wish to be done then otherwise especially if your Army do surmount your enemy in Cauallerie for in such cases the battell is not to be refused your strength consisting most in horse the which by good conduction giueth a great part to the victory This manner of marching vpon grounds of aduantage we reade antiquitie to haue vsed as did Fabius Maximus when he encamped a long time with the Romane Armie against the conquerour Hanniball in our time as did Charles the fift in Germanie against the Protestants Army both the which by reason of the situations and seates did many times encampe and lodge with their armies not distant one from the other aboue a Culuerine shot the which might possible be by reason of the hilles and mountaine seates abounding in them places But this is seldome seene in the plaines and champain grounds in the which it is needfull for him that shunneth the battell to march and passe at the least eight or ten myles distant from the enemy and must thinke to fortifie at euery allodgement in such sort and manner that neither horse nor foote in any array of battell may not but with great difficultie charge or enter vpon you the which is sufficient with a campall fortification or running campe as some terme it and chiefly because it ought to be done with great speede and diligence the which encamping when it shall seeme you good to continue may bee reduced into such strength as might seeme sufficient And in the marching which the armie shall make through plaines and champain fieldes when it commeth to passe to haue either any litle riuer wood or groue to couer one flanke of the campe all diligence is to bee vsed to gaine such sayd aduantage for it will be a matter of great importance Alwayes hauing a regard that the artillerie munition and other impediments doe alwayes passe on the contrary side from the enemy and also that the squadrons of men at armes Lanciers do flanke the arrayes and battallions next toward the enemy in sort and maner conuenient And moreouer a laudable custome it is to deuide the campe into three squadrons or battels that is in vantguard battell and rereward and euery day to change the point making the vantguard battell and the battell rereward and the rereward vantguard and that euery one of these partes may haue their due proportions and numbers of Cauallerie and shot distinguished in their conuenient places aduertising with great diligence and care that there bee not mingled any vnprofitable people among the Ordinances and squadrons of the Infanterie and that euery battell be placed in their due appointed places and distances vnder their Ensignes and colours in such sort that all the troupes of Cauallerie be quite cleared of vnprofitable horses and other impediments wherein the Germaines horsemen do keepe great order care and diligence very necessarie to be imitated It is a very good custome besides that part of the light horse be continually abroad at discouery scout and to watch after euery action that the enemies Armie doth that you may bee alwayes aduertised thereof so that if occasion bee you may haue time space and commoditie to prepare to the encounter and battell Touching the order of marching the campe there can bee no particular rules set downe more then I haue before spoken
2000 shot are placed in the 4 other inmost quarterets amongst the halberds and short weapons finally all the pikes are placed in the quarterets within the shot as in the first plat of an encampement doth particularly appeare Moreouer vpon the North east angle of the encampement I haue desseigned the place of munition of the Artillery of 160 pases square and on the South east corner of the encampement is there left 2 other smaler places of 65 pases broade and 160 pases long seruing for victualers butchers cookes bakers and such like and without them againe is there another long place for horses oxen and cattell seruing the campe and vpon the South side of the encampement are lodged the wagoners carters laborers some pioners again vpō the North side of the encampement and by the place of munition of the Artillery is placed first the gunners and some officers of the Ordinance and then the carpenters wheel-wrights smiths labourers and some pioners as there seuerally appeareth And betwixt the place of munition of the Ordinance the victualers place in the midle front of the encampement due east is placed the place of Armes general containing in breadth 280 pases and 160 pases in length East and West and vpon the after front of this place of Armes generall is placed armourers cutlers and such like and at the one front of the 2 places of the victualers cookes and bakers are placed taylors shomakers and such like Moreouer the encampement is deuided East and West with 9 streets and it is deuided North and South with 6 streets of which the 2 maine streets do containe in breadth 20 pases and the 4 others lined with red East West North and South 15 pases broade a peece and the rest being small streets of 10 pases broade euery one Finally the ordinance is placed about 60 pases distant from the ring of the encampement with a good vaumure cast vp before them and the Artillery planted vpon the same Last of all is there a running trenche cast round about the Campe about 80 or 100 pases distant without the vaumure of the Ordinance All the which matters do particularly appeare in the aforesayd plat of encampement but if this Campe were to continue any long time vpon some seat or place then must it be more strōger fortified with deeper ditches stronger bulwarkes and scances thicker terraplenes higher caualleros and mounts to scoure with the Ordinance round about the Campe or otherwise fortified in such strong sort as the prudent Camp-maister with his skilfull enginers shall thinke good and deuise The lodgings and tentes of the Chiefe Commanders both of horse and foote may be seated on the front of euery their places of armes To conclude I giue aduertisement of one thing worthy noting that there bee no slaughter house kept within the Ring of the Campe or any garbadge left or any other thing of annoyance or stinke and also that you encampe in no infectious place least the corrupted ayre do infect your people as it did the French Kings campe before Naples This aforesayd calculation methode and rule of encamping will serue for example for another sort of encamping vpon any situation of what number of men soeuer But it must bee thoroughly conceiued practised often and the due measures well considered and hauing all the aforesayd points perfectly in sence and memory there may bee made any encamping verie readily with the due proportion and measures of the quarters places streets and all other parts necessary to the same encampement vpon what situation soeuer it be as by the aforesayd writings rules methode and desseignes may bee vnderstood and learned THE FIFT DIALOGVE VVherein is discoursed touching the remouing of a Campe and of the care and diligence to be had therein Gentleman TRuly Captaine you haue made a long discourse of the encamping of an Army and I neuer thought it had bin a matter of such skill and readinesse whereby I perceiue it is not the least point of your Martiall matters Capt. No truly but rather one of the greatest and a point of great consideration care and skill and it importeth much for a Campe-maister Generall to be most expert therein for by bad regard and litle skill the whole campe may come to be in hazard Gent. But I pray you what order is obserued in remouing of a campe withdrawing from the enemy Capt. The marching and the encamping of an army being a continuate thing the dislodging or remouing of a Campe must needes be a consequence Therefore I will with as much breuitie as I may conueniently declare vnto you what I conceiue thereof and that which hath bin seene in our time touching the same Presupposing therefore that there be two enemy Armies encamped within sight one of another or at the least not farre distant asunder and because it is a most important matter to know how many and sundry operations a braue man of warre or good chiefe may do yet herein there is many considerations to be had For although to retire by night and to remoue away from the enemy doth seeme to be the surest remedy that can be found me thinkes notwithstanding that the same is not sufficient inough to attaine an intention with securitie if the said retirer be not befriended either with the situation or with some other parts and conditions of the countrey whether he meaneth to retire And comming vnto the particulars I say that when a campe remoueth and dislodgeth by night it is needfull to vse all possible silence and diligence the which if it be not assisted with the seate and qualities of the countrey it is not yet inough as hee which is to march thorough a plaine and champain countrey in open places and not hauing vpon any occasion offered by the enemy some woods valley riuer rocks or such like thorough the which mē may hardly passe but being so as I say it may thē suffice to hold skirmish for that the enemies horse approching may be thereby hindred and kept backe but otherwise one shold be constrained to fight against ones will with great disorder especially carrying along the Artillery and other impediments of the campe the which with reason is not to bee left in pray to the enemy And in like sorte it is not conuenient to march the Army out of his ordinary pace for if a man bee ouer sollicitous and hastie therein it would easily conioyne an euill opinion vnto the souldiers former conceipt growne by such dislodging and retiring a matter truly of great daunger to cause an vnremediable disorder to ensue as many times it hath bin seene come to passe whereas the army that pursueth the enemy hath not those impediments and difficulties for they may leaue all impediments behind And if the pursuer do march with speede it is done with more desire and courage the chieftaines vsing braue
Monsier dela Tresmoille Monsieur de Leuy and Triuultio Generals to Lewes the twelth King of Fraunce when hee corrupted with money the Switzers which serued vnder the pay of Lodowik Sforza Duke of Millan vpon whom they layed hands and vilely deliuered him to his enemies the French and as did the Prince of Parma with the traytors Yorke and Stanley and the betraying and deliuery of Sutphen vnto the Spaniards And as principally doth King Phillip of Spain corrupt with his golden Pistolets the most parts of Europe according to their grand Captaine Gonsalo Fernandes saying that Princes Generals and great Commanders ought by one meanes or other seeke to ouercome and gaine their purposes bee it by right or by wrong a Spanish principle Moreouer he may by cunning meanes and fained letters cause the enemies Captaines to be suspected and blemished as did Burbon and Tryuultio the King of Fraunce his Generals being besieged and very hardly distressed within Myllau by the Emperour Maximilian who sent of politike purpose a seruant of Triuultios who spake the Switzer tong perfectly well with fained letters vnto the Captaines of that nation then seruing in Maximilians Campe thereby to cause them to be suspected and doubted the which faining messenger being taken by the Sentinels and watches cunningly like Synon at Troy humbly beseeched them his life and pardon and that he would deliuer them certaine things which he had to deliuer vnto the Colonels and Captaines of the Switzers the which being graunted him he drew out of his shoe the deuised letter which he carried to cause a suspition to grow vpon these Captaines the which being seene and read by the Emperour holding for certaine their contents to be true and mistrusting some treason as they had before vsed vnto Lodowik Sforza raised presently his campe and withdrew himselfe with lesse constancy and credit then to his honor and reputation was conuenient Also he ought to haue great industry and skill to know how to encampe his Army and to dislodge the enemy cutting him from victuals and other commodities with blocking vp of all passages and straights about the besieged place and to reknowledge and consider all the places of most strength and commoditie wherefore it is needefull that he bee both learned and skilled in Geographie as well of the countrey prouince where he warreth as of al other parts in generall well informing himselfe of the situations and dispositions of the same of what temperature they be of what firtilite they are of what thinges they abound and of what things they want what maner of people do inhabite thē those of what cōditions maner of life what religiō they hold with what lawes they be gouerned what Princes do rule them and what power and valour they are of All the which considerations and many more stratagems are to be attained with learning often reading of histories as by all braue Commanders which euer were yet may well be vnderstood and therefore let no man thinke but that a souldier ought to be learned and read the which conioyned with experience makes him a perfect man of warre and without this learning and reading a souldier may haunt many yeares the warres and neuer attaine to the deepe points of soldierie the which by much reading and fewer yeares of experience may be farre better perfected as was seene by Lucullus the Romaine commander and many others of other nations And also to haue the more particular skill and knowledge herein it importeth much to haue drawne plats mappes and models of euery seuerall prouince countrey and region with the descriptions of their mountaines valleys hils champain fields forrests woods riuers brookes fennes lakes pastures and arable grounds and whether their fields be open or inclosed narrow or large what straights and passages difficult to passe what strong places and castels what townes cities and boroughs what Noble mens places and houses of pleasure and what distance there is betwixt place place wherby to giue assured directions and traces vnto euery action they pretend and attempt as did many of our famous Commanders in their honourable warres in Fraunce and Scotland and as did the Marquis de Pescara and Antonio de Leyua and other imperiall Captaines in their warres with the French in the prouinces of Naples Lombardy and Piemont who with a farre lesser number badly payed and worse preparations of war with only industry courage pollicy boldnesse came to atchieue many enterprises and to great encounters layed many Ambuscados and gaue many surprises and Camisadas to the enemy therereby gaining both honour and victory as was seene in the battell of Pauia where Francis the French King was taken prisoner and his Army quite ouerthrowne with the states that he held in Italy The like did many of our braue English Kings in France Scotland and other places namely at the battell of Poytiers Agincourt fielde and else where where with a small number of English souldiers the whole strength and cheualry of Fraunce was ouerthrowne slayne and taken prisoners onely by valour and martiall industry All the which was performed with wonderfull diligence speede secrecy and resolution which bee matters of great importance in the conduction of warre Gent. How say you that it is a very important thing to execute the effect of warre with great speede and diligence sith you said but euen now that it was a great point to know how to entertaine the enemy with delayes as did Quintus Fabius with Hannyball Capt. It is true that in good martiall discipline that Generall is more to bee accounted of and esteemed which knoweth how to ouercome with policy wisedome stratagems and prudence then with dint of sword and rigour of weapons For battels are subiect vnto a thousand hazards and perils as to the temerity and rashnesse of heady Captaines and souldiers and vnto the cowardize sometimes of some particulars with a number of such accidentall fortunes and therefore in effect prudence and patience and not pride and rashnesse do produce good and happy euents in warre and therefore the Emperour Octauius Augustus did more esteeme the kingdome of Mauritania then all the other prouinces which he possest for that he had gayned the same without bloud and the king of Naples Don Alonso being chalenged by his Competitor and enemy the Duke of Aniou to come to battell he refused the same saying that it was the part of a good Captaine to knowe howe to gayne and not to come to battell at the enemies appetite But this is principally to be vnderstood when a Prince is set vpon and distressed in his own coūtry as was then the said king Don Alonso the case being such let no Prince nor Generall vse the temeritie and rashnesse as did Lewes the King of Hungaria who ioyned in battell vnaduisedly with Solyman the great Turke being badly counselled thereunto
their throates cut Examples whereof there are too many extant as of Tomyris Queene of the Scythians who ouerthrew Cirus with his three hundred thousand Persians in their beastly drunkennesse of Spargapises the said Tomyris son who being first entrapped foundred with the like vice of drunkennesse was first by the same Cyrus defeated and taken with many moe such examples Besides the souldier giuen to this vice of gluttony and drunkennesse doth disturbe all townes villages and all lodgements wheresoeuer he commeth with his vnruly hurly burly and robberies neuer contenting himself with the ability of his poore host whereby great scandales do arise causing many times many Townes Cities and whole prouinces to reuolt from their Princes caused by the disorder of such insatiable drunkards and gluttons The which insolencies are carefully to be preuented seuerely punished as did Iulius Caesar at the siege of Placentia in Lombardie Dezimare or tenth the ninth Legion by sound of the horne an ignominious chastisement for spoyling robbing certaine villages of his friendes And the Emperour Aurelius did seuerely punish such souldiers as did take any thing from their hoste perforce with much more seuerity did Aufidius Cassius reforme the robberies spoiles done by his disordered cōpanies And Pescennius Niger did condemne vnto death a whole Camarada of Soldiers for taking a cocke from their hoste where they lodged perforce And great Tamberlan punished so seuerely one of his souldiers for such like offence that the rigor thereof did so correct and discipline his campe that where his army lodged three dayes together in one place a tree ful laden with fruit would at their departure remaine whole and vntouched On the contrary the vertue of abstinence and temperance hath bene such and so great in some as it hath rested a perpetuall fame and praise to their names and haue thereby atchiued great and honourable enterprizes Moreouer let our souldier be chaste and honest in his liuing refraining sensuality with all possible instancie auoyding all occasions which might moue him to that vice for those that do giue themselues thereunto do commonly become cowards in their determinations with litle felicitie or good happe in their attempts For they become lasey sickly and feeble and chiefly such as do cary women with them hauing most ordinarily their ends accompanied with dishonor and shame and their effeminacy many times the hinderance of great actions As it chanced vnto the imperiall campe after their famous sacke of Rome whereat they lost their Generall Burbon so that the Prince of Orange and other Imperiall Captaines durst not meete nor stop the passage of Monsieur de Lautrech Generall of the French army which marched towards Naples to regaine that kingdome by reason that they sawe their souldiers so estranged from their former valour as men corrupt and effeminate with the vices of the city as it fell out with Hannibals army at Capua which in short time of valiant became vile of bolde and venturous cowards and dastards of carefull and vigilant sluggards slow and carelesse whereby Marcus Marcellus made it knowne vnto the world that Hanniball might bee conquered The which vice ought with all rigour to bee chastened He ought to be very moderate and not ouer garish in his apparell and garments for it is a principle found true by experience that he that is curious in his gate and attire is neuer like to proue a perfect souldier for they require different humours to the deepe skill in warre and the daintie curiositie of Carpet knights Examples of garish campes easily defeated many might be produced but time permitteth me not but the beauty and brauery of a souldier is his bright and glittring armour not gaudy attire and peacockes plumes I do not thereby inferre that a souldier comming to his Princes court or in other places absent from the warres should not go more gallantly attired according to the place and quality of his person He shall beare a great loue and true affection vnto his Captaine and obay him and the other officers of the campe with great respect for the very day that hee first entreth to be a soldier he doth secretly sweare and promise to serue his Prince by obeying his officers for the true order of warre is a very resemblance of true religion ordained of God which bindeth the souldier to obserue Iustice Loyaltie constancie patience and silence and aboue all obedience through the which is easily attained the perfection in armes and meanes to atchiue great enterprises though neuer so difficult as Plato saith verie well that loue and obedience is signe of a generous minde not subiect vnto passions and vnrulie fits for he that wanteth the vertue of obedience and patience though otherwise neuer so valiant a souldier is vnworthy the name For no greater mischiefe can befall a campe then disobedience nor from whence greater damages do proceede too many examples thereof do abound Therefore a good souldier ought not go against the determinations of his Generall no nor to passe out of the trēches although it were with intēt to shew his valour in some singular combat or in any particular challēge without his Generals licence for he is not now his own man but the Princes who doth giue him pay remembring the rigorous punishment which Manlius Torquatus did execute vpon his own sonne Titus Manlius commaunding his head to be stricken off in his own presence for hauing passed his commaund in sallying forth to fight with Genutius Metius Captaine of the Tusculans who gaue him the defie challenge nothing auailing the poore Gentleman in hauing ouercome and slaine his enemy nor the whole armies supplications and intreaties The like rigour vsed Posthumius Tiburtus against his sonne Aulus Posthumius at his returne from his conquered enemie Gent. Put if his Prince maketh warres against other Christians as commonly it falleth out is it no grudge to the souldiers conscience to fight against them Capt. I suppose none for the souldier is bound to serue his Prince and to defend his desseignes and it toucheth him not much to examine whether the warre be iust or iniust not being against Gods true religion but in such a case I would wish men to be well aduised Our souldier ought patiently to suffer the aduersities and trauels that do fall out in the courses and chances of warre also shewing tokens of true vertue not to be ouergreedy and hasty for his pay although he stand in great need thereof but rather with chearefull countenance shew his constancy eschewing by all meanes possible rebellions and mutinies which often vpon such cases do succeede and in no case be partaker with mutiners for alwayes the end of such is sharpe and shamefull death examples whereof are rife in euery nation If in encounters and battels where he shall happen to be the enemies happe to be ouercome let him set all
thereof seeing that all practices of mechanicall Artes do follow the same order and course to come to the cunning of their craft Gent. Good Captaine you haue largely discoursed vpon the points and parts in generall which ought to bee in a souldier and mee thinkes so many good parts are hardly to be found in one man Capt. True it is and very rare in deede yet euery honorable souldier that resolueth to follow warres ought with all his endeuour to trie to attaine to all those good partes according to his capacitie and wit and although his abilitie be not able to attaine all yet vnto some some better then fewe fewe better then none at all the first to be honoured the next to be accepted the third to be reiected Thus may you see how many good partes are requisite to a perfect souldier not learned by hearesay nor gayned with ease but with care diligence industrie valour practise and continuance and most of all perfected with learning annexed with long exercise and vse Gent. Then I see you would haue a souldier to be learned withall which you seemed to dislike in our booke Captaine at the first Capt. You mistake me farre for I euer allow and honour the learned souldier for what famous Commaunders haue there yet bene vnlearned and without letters Themistocles Alcibiades Alexander Caesar Scipio with all the rout of the braue Romane Commaunders and as many braue men as euer were since were men learned and read Thus I rest for this time till a new day to beginne The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF WARRE DISCOVRSES AND MARTIAL DISCIPLINE The first Dialogue VVherein is declared the particular parts of sundrie Martiall Officers from the Caporall to the Captaine of Infanterie Gentleman CVrteous Captaine your yesterdayes Discourses haue giuen vs such content that we are now inflamed to know further herein Wherefore I beseech you to proceede with your Martiall matters describing vnto vs each office in particular whereunto my selfe and these other Gentlemen will giue our diligent attention Capt. The orders obserued by Antiquitie I let passe falling in few tearmes to our Moderne customes wherein you shall vnderstand that all Campes are framed of Men Weapons Munition and good Chieftaines wherein there is some difference in euery Nation but the course which herein I meane to follow shal be most after the Italian Spaniard who haue had the chiefe managing of warres in Europe these 50. or 60. yeares and with whom I haue most frequented and serued A Royall campe therefore being leuied and gathered the Prince with his Councell of warre appointeth a most sufficient Generall then a Campe-master generall a Captaine generall of the Cauallerie a Captaine generall of the Artillerie the Campe is deuided into sundry Tertios or Regiments ouer euery regiment a Campe-maister or Colonell the Campe-maister deuides his regimēt into companies ouer euery company a Captaine also euery Regiment hath his Sergeant Maior and ouer the whole armie a Sergeant Maior Generall Touching the number of a seuerall Company some thinke 100. some 150. sufficient but whether it be of 100.150.200.300 or more or a Regiment of such seuerall companies being fitted with Captaines and Officers of sufficiencie it importeth not much for some Captaines can better gouerne 300. then some others 150. Now the Captaine hauing his cōpany appointed which he is to direct gouern and cōmaund he chuseth his Lieutenant Ensigne Sergeant Drumme Phifes Cabos de squadra or Caporals and Cabos de camera Now for sundry often occasions offred in warre the which must be encountred with order policy gouernmēt of nūbers more or lesse it is necessary to deuide the cōpanies into Squadras as well pikes as shot conteyning each Squadron twentie fiue men and ouer each squadron a Cabo de squadra with which office I meane to beginne The Caporall his election and office Capt. When the Captaine electeth his Caporals he ought to do it with such consideration that amongst his souldiers one chosen to this office none should excell him in valour vertue experience and diligence yea and in age also to the end he might be respected with more loue and reuerence so that he deport him selfe among them as a father with his children his conditions being a patterne vnto them asswaging and ending their debates and quarrels reducing them vnto amitie with louing one another in such sort that they may all be of one will desire and ligue Let him learne perfectly euery souldiers name and to know the qualitie valour of euery one in particular be earnest with them to keepe their armor neat cleane and bright and often to practise the weapon they carrie he himselfe ensigning and teaching the Bisognios and rawe men for besides that it concerneth euery one in particular for his owne defence and thereby the better to know his valour and skill nothing doth more reioyce and glorifie a Campe then the glittering shew and shining of their armour He shall perswade them to goe neat and cleane in their apparell but with modestie and profite He shall reprehend them for swearing and lewd speeches and shall not permit them any prohibited games the which he must doe with such sagacitie and warie meanes that they result not against him and so reiect and contemne his reputation thereby loosing their loue and his former respect for the punishment remaineth not in his hands nor in any other inferiour Officer but it appertaineth to the Campe-maister or Lord high Marshall In presence of his superior Officers he is to obserue array order obedience as the rest of the souldiers doe but being with his Squadron alone in any skance trench Ambuscado or abroad at the watch or to such other effects he beareth at that time his Captains authoritie as being at watch or guard in any open place he is to enscance and fortifie as commodity and the place will permit to resist the attempt of the enemie being by them charged ordering and appointing all his companie to stand with their weapon readie bent still without rumor and resolute to defende And being at watch in the Corps de guard let him prouide fire cole and wood to make light as well by day as by night especially if his Squadron be shot to spare the ouer much wasting of match whereof he must see they be well prouided as also of powder and bullet and concerneth to him the distribution of the same amongst them Being appointed to ward or watch let him prouide to be first refreshed with victuals and his Camarada also then enter thereunto orderly from whence neither he nor any of his Squadron is to depart vpon paine of life vntill the Sergeant doe call and commaund him from the same In placing of the Sentinels there are so many aduertisements to be giuen as there are differences of situations and places and therefore it is to be remitted
one halfe of the armed pikes in the foreward and the other halfe in the reareward of the vnarmed pikes Now in the body of this battell I vnderstand no short weapon but reserue them to another place and vnto another purpose as before I haue sayd and will heareafter speake more thereof but all pikes for the battell thereby wold be more readily framed more brauer in sight and more stronger to fight in mine opinion 2 The second fashion is when the army marcheth company by company with their armed pikes in the foreward and reareward of euerie particular companie 3 The third order is when an armie marcheth Maniple by Maniple with the armed pikes in the Front and traine of euery particular Maniple And besides this when the armed pikes which do serue to arme the two flankes do march the one part before the other part behind and these also are called Maniples for a Maniple is here called so many rankes throughout the battell as the battell is in length at so many per ranke as they march in ordinance or array And although the armed pikes which doe march at the head or taile of the arrayes of Maniples to arme the two sides if it happen at any time that they march not to the full length of the battell yet neuerthelesse when they be put vnto their office to arme the two sides although they be not in length to the length of the battell at so many in rank as is appointed to arme the two flankes yet are they called Maniples also And againe any part of shot or pikes that be drawne a part to be set to defend any straight or to scarmush may also bee called a Maniple but being shot are fitter called troupes after the french word Now of these sundry sorts of imbattailling of men as well of proportions of equality as of inequality and of battallions of the same nature as well euen as odde battallions seruing to the framing of crosse battels with such other like I will frame certaine calculations or tables the which shall serue to sundry numbers of men orders according to the iudgement of the skilfull souldier which shall be in the last booke of these discourses Gent. But me thinkes you are not much affected to haue any halberdes or billes in your battell which is contrary to our opinion and custome for we call them the gard of the ensignes and slaughter of the field Capt. Truly I would not wish any such weapon in the body of a standing battell if we might be prouided otherwise of pikes my reasons are these For the pikes being Terciard or charged ouer hand to encounter a battell of footmen or couched vnder the foote to receiue any troupes of horse do one of them fall so proportionally within or after another euen as their rankes of men are distant in their seuerall stations the second following the first the third the second and the fourth following the third and so consequently euery ranke seconding one another that it seemeth it were as good for a man to come vpon a brasen wall if they stand resolute as vpon such a battell of pikes except they should be marched or encountred with the like weapons and proportions Now if this be the best course to receiue or charge footmen then no doubt not being thus mingled with short weapons it must needes be the best battell to receiue a charge of horse Gent. Although you disalow and disproue to haue your battell of pikes mingled with short weapon yet would you not alow them about the ensignes in the center of the battell Capt For what purpose in the center of the battell Gent. To defend the ensignes with hand blowes Cap. I suppose it an error For who doth not know that if the enemy be like to be victor the armed pikes will yeeld backward as they feele themselues distressed so as when the pikes are in such maner crashed and clustred together that they can no longer charge and push with their pikes then will the throng or presse in the center be so great that the halberds and bils shall haue little roome to strike nay short swords will hardly haue rome at that instant either to thrust or to strike I would thinke daggers would do more execution at that time and in that presse vntill one side fall to flight so I see no reason at all for halberds or bills to haue place in a battell or stand of pikes Besides the vnseemely shew they make either by themselues in the center or mingled among pikes Gent. So I perceiue you would quight exclude all halberds and bils out of your battell and so not at all to be vsed Capt. Conclude not so short vpon me because I giue them no place within the body of the battell For if you remember in our former discourses at the equall sortment of weapons I allowed to euery hundred of men 8 or 10 halberds The which bils and halberds with other short weapons as swords and targets and long swords and such like shall serue as in a place of best seruice for them to mingle with your naked troupes of shot and also placed with some pikes for the gard of the cariage and munition and ordinance or for execution if the enemy begin to breake and slye with sundry such seruices not contained in the body of the battell Gent. Well you haue satisfied vs herein but what thinke you of sundry other opinions touching the lining of battels with shot or bowes Capt. Touching such lining I will shew you mine opinion against them Now first for that kind of lining which is vsed in placing a pike and a shot I am sure that the shot cannot be so hurtfull to the enemy as they will weaken the battell my reason is this No army I am certaine shall be so ordered that the battell shall be left bare without his troupes of shot before to keepe the enemy doing in skirmish vntill the battels be ready to ioyne and charge or couch their pikes at that instant haue the shot that line the battell their time to serue euen as the pikes are couched and not before Now let men of consideration and experience iudge whether it be possible for them to discharge aboue one shot a peece and that not aboue three rankes of them and thereupon whether those shot can at that time of seruice be such a strength to the battel as if an armed pike were in the roome I do suppose the battell would be much stronger if the shot were rid from thence and pikes in their places Then it falleth out that this kind of lining is not good Now touching another kind of lining with shot which is 3 4 5 6 or 7 rankes of pikes and then 3 4 or 5 rankes of shot and then pikes and then shot againe In deede this kind of lining is the most tollerable and yet not without his discommodities for if such
a battell ioyne with a battell of foote the shot cannot play vntill the rankes of pikes before them are broken which cannot be but that their owne men and their enemy shall be mingled pell mell one among another Then tell me by reason how those shot can serue that are the lining but they must needes kill as well their owne men as their enemy being thus mingled at all aduentures And if this be the end of their seruice as indeede it is by a forced necessity to kill without choise then must it needes follow that they are rather hurtfull then seruiceable in that place farre better therefore pikes in their romes And now for your lining with bowes a combersome tying weapon in a throng of men it must needes bee concluded by reason that where calliuers which are no tying weapons are yet vnprofitable in that place how can bowes to which it requireth such elbow rome and are so troublesome be any wayes in that sort commodious or to be allowed Gen. Your reasons and conclusions haue wonderfull well liked vs wherefore now I pray returne againe to your framing of battels of pikes only without short weapons Capt. I told you before that battels are made most auaileably and most commodiously in three maner of wayes shewing you euery seuerall order and that when time shoulde permit I would frame tables for the easie ordering of each Gent. But shall your tables serue for the framing of one whole bodie of a battell or for more Capt. These tables shall serue to make either one two or three battels of an army or so many as shall be requisite and needefull either to offend the enemy or to defend and also according to the situation of the ground and shall serue only to haue in a readinesse and memory all that which a battell well ordered would require according to the ground where it shall be so that there shall neede no more but to commaund the men to be marshalled into the order that shall bee appointed to the framing of the battell according to the situation of the ground But first I will set you downe orderly a table of proportionall numbers in such proportion as one would make the breadth of the battell to haue vnto the length and so many will set downe of proportionall numbers as shall suffice to make euery sort of battell that may be more large then long or equall as hereafter shall appeare And now of proportionall numbers I will begin to speake of those which be in proportion of equality as 1 to 1 2 to 2 3 to 3 4 to 4 and 5 to 5 and 6 to 6 and so of more prouided they bee of equall comparison the one to the other But yet to frame a battell those shall be taken which be in least proportion as 1 to 1 and those numbers which are of equall comparison as 1 to 1 doe serue onely to make the battell quadrat of number of men that is so many men in breadth as in depth of the battell But when you will make a battell that may be of more men in breadth then in depth then shall you take the numbers which be in proportion of inequality so much as you wold haue the battell to be of more men in breadth then in depth as 3 to 2 or 5 to 3 or 7 to 4 and such like as shall be found in these tables following of numbers compared the one to the other in inequality beginning with those of the least proportion A table of proportions of so much as you would haue the battell to containe in breadth of number of men vnto the length Proportion of Equalitie As 1 to 1 that is the battell to containe so many men in breadth as in length Proportions of Inequalitie That is the battell to be more broade then long or more in front then in flanke As 2 to 1 that is the battell twice so broade as long 3 to 1 that is three times so broade as long 4 to 1 that is foure times so broade as long 5 to 1 that is fiue times so broade as long 6 to 1 that is sixe times so broade as long To bring these fractions into whole numbers of proportion you must worke thus Multiply the whole number by the denominator of the fraction and adding thereunto the numerator of the said fraction the proportiō is found as for example to haue the battell to containe two times and a third more broade then long I seeke in the table 2 ⅓ whereof the whole number is 2 and the fraction is ⅓ Now multiply the whole number 2 by the fractions denominator 3 and it maketh 6 whereunto ad the fractions numerator which is 1 and it amounteth 7 so is 2 ⅓ in proportion as 7 is to 3 and so must you worke any the like numbers In all these aforesayd proportions to make the battels of proportion of equality that is as broade as it is deepe or of inequality which is more in breadth then in depth both these wayes is to bee vnderstood of men and not of ground for of the proportions of ground I will speake hereafter Gent. Me thinks I vnderstand touching the proportions of equality and inequality that is so broade as deepe or more in breadth then in depth vnderstanding of men both of the one manner and the other but I would gladly Captaine that you would shew it vs by example for so we shall the better conceiue of the matter Capt. I will most willingly Therefore to begin I will set downe to make a square battell of number of men that is so many men in front as in flanke And let our whole number be 5000 men of armed pikes and single pikes one with another Now to frame this quadrat battell you shall take in the aforesaid tables the numbers of proportions of equality which are as 1 to 1. Then must you set downe your rule in this sort Setting downe first the proportion of equality for the first and second number and the number of men for the third number thus 1 prime 1 second 5000 third This being done multiplie the 3 number which is 5000 the number of men by 1 the second number and it maketh still 5000 for 1 doth neither multiplie nor deuide then deuide the said first multiplied number 5000 by 1 the first number and it maketh yet 5000. Now out of that 5000 you shall take the quadrat roote which is 70. So 70 rankes of men shall your battell containe both in breadth and length and there will remaine 100 men For 70 multiplied into itselfe resulteth 4900 the which deducted out of 5000 there resteth 100 men the which 100 men deuide by 70 so will there arise one more ranke of men and yet will there remaine 30 men ouer the which one ranke shall be ioyned vnto the 70 rankes aforesayd so are they 71 in breadth and 70 in length but to the end you may
reparted into sundry battallions contained in two or three frōts neare after the ancient Romanes the one to supply and second the other a matter of great importance especially if it shold come to campall fight by reason of the diuerse breathings and succouring one another a thing seldome seene in our age Gent. What meane you by a sufficient and competent armie Capt. Not a handfull of men of three or foure thousand as we vse now a dayes But I vnderstand that a sufficient and able armie should conteine 12000 pikes and short weapons or there abouts and as many shot making 24000 in both and also 6000 horse Gent. How would you repart these 12000 pikes and short weapon into 3 battallions distinguished into vantgard battell and reareward or into more battallions I pray shew vnto vs the order thereof in figures Capt. Of these 12000 pikes and short weapon behold here in figure 11000 of them for there is 1000 reserued for other purposes deuided first into 3 battels or squares of men and then againe into 9 battallions and lastly into 12 as by their seuerall figures shall appeare The figure of 11000 pikes reparted into 3 battels The figure of 11000 pikes deuided into 9 battallions The figure of 11000 pikes reparted into 12 battallions Gent. The first or vantgard of the 11000 pikes reparted into 3 battels containeth 4900 piquiers whose square roote is 70 which is 70 rankes and 70 men per ranke or 70 in front and 70 in flanke or 70 ranks and 70 files all which is all one In the second of those 3 battels distinguished by name of battell is contained 3969 pikes whose square roote is 63 containing so many men in front and flanke the third of those battels tearmed by the name of reareward doth containe 1936 pikes Lastly the cubike roote whereof is 44 and so many it containeth in front and flanke being all square battels of men Now in the marching of these battels vp to fight there is great and many considerations to be had both for the wind the sunne and aduantage of ground and also the quantity and quality of the enemy as whether he do exceede more in foote then in horse and also their maner and forme of embattailing All which considerations and many more must proceede from the good capacity sound intendement and militarie skill of our Generall and other commanders of our army vnto whom if it shall so seeme necessary and occasion so require first to leade the vātgard alone to fight the same is afterward to be seconded by the battel marching vp by the right or left flanke of the vantgard and ioyning with whom may renew the fight a fresh And then if it fall out that they should be againe distressed the rereward is then to march vp vpon either the right or left side as cause shall most require and so ioyning with the other two to renew againe their encounter and fight wherein both skill valour and vertue must be shewed And whereas I haue in those battels proportioned 70 men to the depth of the vangard and but 63 to the battell and 44 to the rereward the which drawne vp together in that proportion should badly correspond by reason of their different depthes or flankes it must be therefore considered that the first shocke and brunt is commonly the hardest and no doubt but many men of the first ranks must fall at their seuerall encounters and comming so to passe as of necessity it would then these different proportions should soone come to be different as any iudicious men may conceiue Secondly the said number of the 3 battels are deuided into 9 battallions of the same kind and nature that their grand battels were of whereof there is made 3 fronts in the first front is contained 4 battallions or squadrons with their seuerall spaces betwixt The second front or supply is framed of 3 battallions with their seuerall spaces betwixt And the third front or last hope and succour containeth 2 battallions The which 2 battallions I haue placed vpon the two out angles of the 3 middle battallions and in the voide spaces betwixt is placed the impediments and baggage of the army The seuerall breadth depthes and numbers of euery of these battallions are set downe in their seuerall figures Gent. To what purpose serueth the voyde spaces betwixt euery battell Capt. The voide spaces may serue for the troupes of shot to sallie out of skirmish with the enemy and to retire againe and also for the 3 battallions of the second front to march vp and passe betwixt them for the battallions of the first front hauing encountred the enemy and feeling themselues distressed are warily and orderly to retire with their faces and weapon point bent vpon the enemie At which retiring the Battallions of the second front are to aduance foreward and to passe in betwixt the voide spaces of the first 4 battallions and so all ioyning valiantly together with the first to make a fresh head and to begin a second fight And being then againe distressed they are all orderly to retire as is sayd Then lastly the two battallions of the 3 front are to aduance the one vp by the one side of the other battallions and the other vp by the other side of them or as occasion shall most require and then finally all ioyntly together to giue a third and finall fight By which order it should seeme fortune to abandon them thrice before that they should be quighte vanquished And last of all the former 3 battels are reparted into 12 battallions of the same kind distinguished into 3 fronts The first front whereof containeth 5 battallions of 961 men in each battallion whose square roote is 31 with their seuerall spaces betwixt The second front is framed of 4 battallions of 961 men each whose square roote is still 31 with seuerall spaces betwixt euery battallion And the third front is formed of 3 battailions containing in each 625 men whose square roote is 25 for front and flanke The which three fronts of battallions are orderly to aduance to charge to retire and to recharge as in the former discourse is described Gent. The shot belonging vnto the said numbers where are they to be placed and emploied Capt. The shot appertaining vnto euery of these battels and battallions ought to be deuided in mine opinion into sundry small troupes trouping about the said battels and battallions to maintaine skirmish and some to be placed vpon bankes ditches and ground of aduantage the situation yeelding such according to the direction of the Sergeant Maior generall and the cauallery a reasonable distance without the out angles of the battels or battalions in troupes and squadrons seruing as wings to the same and vpon groundes of aduantage and places fit for their seruice with good regard had that they passe not on the front of your battallions for danger of disordering
sundry small troupes of 50 in each troupe at 5 in front and 10 in depth or more or lesse as occasion shall procure the ordering and placing of which shot doth appeare in folio 42 43 73 is in many other places described so that one troupe may alwayes be ready to second another and to giue breathing one to another Gent. But what haue you next to speake more of before you returne to the office of the Sergeant Maior by reason of whose office you haue made these sundry demonstrations of diuerse and many sorts of battels and battallions as a matter most pertinent vnto the said Sergeant Maior his office Cap. I should now set downe the tables of all these sundry proportions as first of battels in proportion of equality which is the iust square of men their order of ranking their deuiding into Maniples and so marching vp shoulder to shoulder to bring them into their former order of battell with the marching vp of their remainers their due numbers of girdling shot and the deuiding of the said battels into sundry battallions of the same kind then againe the tables of battels in proportion of inequalitie which is more in breadth then depth with their deuisions into battallions of that sort and the table of euen battallions for crosse battels and of other proportions with the quantity of ground that euery of them would require but time permitteth me not reseruing the same vnto the last booke of these our military discourses But I must now speake something by the way of marching our battell through straightes and being passed how to fall againe into the former proportions When you come to any straight it must be considered of what widenesse the passages are and how many men may go in front easily thorow the same and then may you accordingly at your discretion chuse whether you will draw your battell out into the former Maniples that the same marched in before their comming into battell as in the seuerall tables thereof shall be shewed or into more Maniples or parts if thereunto you shall be compelled by the narrownesse of the place which likewise being so wide that fewer Maniples then you marched vp before will serue for their diuision you may accordingly also draw them out into 3 5 7 or 9 Maniples as the nature of the straight and your iudgement concurring together shall thinke meete Alwayes prouided that the ensignes be contained in the middle Maniple and hauing passed the straightes you may againe draw them vp shoulder to shoulder as in the order of marching in Maniples is before in folio 62 63 66 and 68 declared whereby easily and without confusion they shall foorthwith fall in their former proportion But as concerning your shot you shall not neede except the straight be very narrow to draw them out into any such parts without it be those in the girdling which as they stand in proportion in the battell must be drawne out into Maniples with the pikes for if mine opinion might be receiued touching the other shot I would alwayes aduise that the residue should euer more remaine in many small troupes not aboue 40 or 50 shot at the most in a troupe as before I haue shewed for that by experience I know the same to be of greatest force and readinesse for seruice be it therefore in plaine or straight or how soeuer the more troupes your shot be seuered into the better shall the enemy still be applied besides the seconding the one of the other with such quicke dispatch shall cause that after the first troupes haue once discharged they retiring themselues behind all the rest shall be sure against they come vp againe to haue leasure enough to charge sufficiently and surely that few shot shall be spent in vaine as they do when great numbers be clustred together Now if it should fortune as most commonly it chaunceth that the enemy should fight with you in the straight then must you not draw your battell into those Maniples or parts but consider whether the straight be such as will suffice you to go thorough holding the same proportion that you haue If not then consider whether squaring the battell into 4 parts you may with so many battallions passe to encounter with the enemy if so you cannot it seemeth vnto me the rediest and safest way to deuide your battell into more battallions as for example first to proportion them out into 4 or 6 if those bee not conuenient then into 8 if you thinke that will not serue then into 12 or 16 battallions or as the passage will permit which thing may more easily be brought to passe if the body of your battell do consist of pikes only which were the same of compound weapons could in no wise bee so â—odainely done without great confusion as a man of any iudgement may conceiue and as by these figures following shall plainely appeare But before the arriuall vnto such straights and passages the wise Commander is carefully to consider and to send sundry scoutes abroade to discouer and also shall cause if possible he may the summities higher grounds craggy rockes thickets woods and other places of aduantage to be first possessed by his owne people sending to that effect shot halfe pikes and such like The figures of quartering a battell In deuiding and quartering of all which as may appeare the place of the Ensignes is still crossed to redresse the which the Sergeant Maior or Colonell may place them where he thinketh fittest drawing out where euery Ensigne shall stand one pike and replace the same pike in the first roome of the Ensigne which at the out drawing of the Ensigne remained voide The end of the third booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF WARRE DISCOVRSES AND MARTIAL DISCIPLINE The first Dialogue VVherein is declared the election office and dutie of a Sergeant Maior with sundry points of Militarie discipline c. and marching of the Armie Gentleman TRuly Captaine this order for passing of Straights doth coÌ„tent me wonderfull well and me thinkes hauing ready men and good officers verie easie and readie to be perfourmed But now I pray if there restes no more to be spoken herein begin to shew vs the choosing office of a Sergeant Maior which in day of battel seemeth an office of great importaÌ„ce Capt. I did at the begininng of my second booke declare vnto you that a Prince leuying an Armie royall doth by his Councel or Councell of warre if there be any such in the realme appoint first a most sufficient Generall then a Camp-maister generall a Captaine generall of the Cauallery and a Captaine generall of the Artillerie The Armie is deuided into sundrie Tertios or Regiments ouer euery Regiment a Camp-maister or Colonell The Cololonell deuides his Regiment into sundrie bandes or companies and ouer euerie companie a Captaine euery Captaine hath his Lieutenant his Alferes or Ensignebearer his Sergeants his Caporals
moores meddowes fields open or enclosed forests woods thickets or whether the countrey be stony plaine field or ditched and all difference of situations of grounds as well of the hils and high mountaines as of the plaine and champain to the end that he may consider foresee preuent and prepare for euery place where the enemy may annoy him For many times one regiment is to march alone and then doth it touch the Sergeant Maior to haue the care and speculation hereof as it doth the Campe-Maister Generall when the whole army marcheth for that it befall him not as it did vnto the Romaines in the Furcas Caudinas and vnto many other through the like misregard And for more security hereof they are to procure faithful and trusty guides and skilful way leaders to the end not to be beguiled and abused as Hannibal was when he warred in Italy against the Romaines who willing to leade his army vnto Cassinum was led and guided vnto Casilinum to be put into the hands of Quintus Fabius Maximus Generall of the Romaines his enemies Now the order being knowne and the way reknowledged and the houre of remouing at hand he is to commaunde the drumme maior to sound the call Recoia or assembling and euery Captaine of infantery to cause their baggage to be trussed vp and laden and shall straight wayes draw foorth his ensignes out of their quarter into the place of armes and there shall frame his battell or squadron reparting their Captaines into such places as concerneth them that day and shall dispose and appoint the Sergeants of ordinary bandes in such sort that euery one may know what part he hath to gouerne and set in order And for as much as it is seldome seene that the wayes fieldes and passages be so large that the whole battell may march all in front he is to frame his ordinances arraies or Maniples no greater then that the same may march commodiously and at ease thorough the same the order whereof I haue at large declared in folio 62 67 68 and 92 alwayes prouided that he quarter or deuide not his battell if the passage will so permit into no lesse then the third part of the front thereof as thus if the front be of 27 pikes the Maniples or ordinance shall be of 9 and if 21 in front then the deuision or quartering shall be of 7 in front and so of other numbers for he is to conduct his companies so well disciplined and ordered that occasion being offered hee may with speede and readinesse frame and set his battell or battallions reparting the Captaines and officers in places most conuenient as before is sayd Gent. But tell vs how is he to repart them and who shall go in the vantgard which in the battell and who in the reareward and in what part shall the Colours be placed that this readinesse and quicke dispatch might be performed in setting the battell as you speake of Capt. The order I haue partly spoken of before but to giue you content I will repeate it againe therefore me thinkes that the order to be obserued therein is thus That the shot of the forlorne hope and the shot of the right flanke being deuided into many small troupes as I said should march before then next the girdling shot of the said right side after them should follow the ordinances and Maniples of pikes in such sort order as before is declared to the end that the ensignes go not crossed either in one sort or other he is to place them alone after another within so many rankes of pikes so that when soeuer he brings his Maniples vp together pouldron to pouldron to the framing of his battell they may still remaine in their conuenient places which is in the center Then after the pikes shall follow the girdling shot of the left flanke and last of all in the reareward shall follow the troupes of shot belonging to the left flanke and reareward and hauing passed the straight and the squadron formed then may they repaire each girdling shot and troupes to their due and conuenient roomes as before of which orders of Maniples and quartering of battels I haue before declared at large Gent. Is there any meaning or misterie in marching the left or right side shot before in the vantgard Capt. None truly that I know of more then that in all our actions we ought to incline what we can vnto perfection and as the right hand is the more perfect and noble from thence it is reason that wee begin to frame our battels and in that place also to begin to disseuer them Gent. The munition and baggage belonging to the Companies where are they to goe to cause least hinderance and to passe in most security Capt. The consideration that is to bee had when an army doth march is that if the enemy be knowne to be on head the vantgard vpon the way you are to passe then let the munition and baggage be placed in the reareward and per contra if the enemy be found to be in the reareward then passe your baggage to the forward and if on the right side then conuay it to the left and if on the left side then transport it vnto the right with the like consideration and in this sort shall the campe be alwayes a wall and defence vnto the munition and baggage And if in marching the enemy do offer to fight the munition by this meanes shall be no let or hinderance at all And besides all this there ought to be sent abroade certaine Hargulutiers or light horse to scoute before the munition and carriage to preuent the suddain incursions of the enemies stragling horse The same order ought also to be obserued in the marching of one regiment alone But in case that there were no enemy and they might march through places plaine safe and secure the munition and cariage ought alwayes to passe in the foreward with a sufficiēt gard of pikes shot and short weapons that for good respect because it is very commodious for the souldiers that when they come well wearied to their quarter they may find their tents ready pitched and many times their forrage prouided and not to stay attending and expecting the same comming many times wet dirtie ouer tired and halfe dead with hunger and again if by hap any of the cariages do fal the owners of the baggage may help to redresse wherby to saue their baggage and furniture which could not be done if it marched in the reareward Gent. But if it should happen that in none of these sayd parts the baggage might march in safety as in Barbarie or other Champaine countrey where the enemies number consisteth most of horse we not hauing sufficient numbers to answer them what is then to be done where the enemy may charge on euery side Cap. Then in the center of the battell or betwixt the squadrons with
affront sith it is done for corrections sake Gent. In what part ought the Sergeant Maior to stand or go when the armie doth march Capt. The ordinarie place of the Colonell is the vanguard and so the Sergeant Maior being his officer by whom he sendeth his Commaundes vnto the Captaines Ensignes and Officers ought alwayes to be neare vnto his person Gent. But if the enemy be knowen to be behind or after your rereward Capt. In such case he shall remaine in the rereward but to assist there in such sort as he forget not to make the Alto or stand sometimes and to stay vntill he hath passed through all the arrayes of the marching squadrons or armie And if he finde that the Sergeants do not their duties in keeping the souldiers in good order and array he shall seuerely reprehend them for the same being a thing of such importance and that no negligence be found in conseruing due order and array so that none might be broken if possible it were And if the arrayes be broken as somtimes it happeneth by reason of the straight passages it behoueth him to be very ready vigilant to redresse them againe and if to do the same it should neede to make a stand an officer is presently to be sent to the Sergeant Maior and neither Captaine Alferes nor any other officer to passe the word stand either to this effect or any other as it oftentimes falleth out crying stand or march from hand to hand vnlesse the necessitie be so vrgent as not permitting time to signifie the same vnto the Camp-maister or Sergeant Maior For by reason of this abuse of euery officer to passe and giue the word vpon euery small occasion there do succeede many inconueniences and is as much as to vsurpe the preheminēce which onely is due to the Camp-master as head of the Regiment and vnto the Sergeant Maior as guide of the battell And therefore it is very necessarie that the souldier or officer which so shall do to be well punished for the same And the Sergeant Maior is to be carefull that the Captaines and souldiers which are on horsebacke do alight set themselues into the arrayes a good myle before they come vnto their allodgement the which ought to be first viewed by himselfe or his coadiutor somewhat before the companies do arriue and at their arriuing to frame his battell in the place thereof and not to suffer any souldier to passe vnto his quarter or to dismaunde himselfe in the order vntill the whole Regiment be all entred and he or his coadiutor in his name comming vnto the companies do licence them to their lodgings and quarter The which ensignes are placed in the front of the quarter of euery company all in one ranke and from thence downeward the souldiers to be lodged And the Sergeant Maior shall not permit nor suffer any cariage or baggage to be put before them nor pestered within the place of armes neither any fire to be there made nor any other impediments for from thence forward it is onely a place of armes or assembly and is to bee left free and vnpestered for onely the battell when it is to be set THE SECOND DIALOGVE VVherein is declared of the encamping of an army the placing of the corps de guardes scoutes and Sentinels their seuerall duties the order of visiting and reuisiting the Sentinels and their relieuing and changing the order of giuing and taking the word with sundry other martiall points appertaining to such cases Gentleman IN lodging and emcamping the regiments or army the which being setled the Sergeant Maior what is he then to do Capt. Presently to draw forth a corps de guard about threescore or fourescore pases from the face of the encamping of some fiue and twenty or thirtie souldiers and those are to bee of one of the companies which was of the watch the night before sith that vntill a fresh watch doe enter and the 24 houres bee fully accomplished it appertaineth vnto them that entred therein before except a whole company be set there by day to the ward and in such case it belongeth to the companies of shot if there be any particular shot companies in the campe And this Corps de guarde which is to bee drawne out is to be set in the selfe same place where the company of the watch is to bee placed at night This being done hee is to reknowledge his quarters very well and to see if there be any neede to raze plaine any places that the souldiers may commodiously sallie foorth to the Alarme for it falleth out many times that the companies be lodged in orchards gardens vine-yards and among bushes from whence they cannot come but with some difficulty the which he is to redresse and to make plaine and easie any thing that may empeach and hinder the speedy setting of the battell and framing of the squadrons which as well for this purpose as for the fortifying of the campe and leuelling the wayes and passages for the artillery with such other seruices there is alwayes in the campe certaine companies of pioners the iurisdiction of whom doth belong vnto the Generall of the artillery or to the Campe-maister Generall vnto whom he is to repaire to prouide him with speede of such as shall be needefull And if the whole army be there he is to go vnto the Camp-maister Generall and know of him how many ensignes of his regiment are to be put to the watch and in what place or part and what companies are to gard the munition and in other most conueniēt places for the seruice security of the campe such as are to go abroade to discouer and to scout and who are to prouide wood water and other necessaries and what companies are to assist in making the trenches and bulwarkes and other fortifications reparting the same workes amongst all the bandes of his regiment for vnworthy is he the name of a souldier which will not put to his helping hand in such cases in sort that euery one haue their share of the labour in order But if he be with his owne regiment alone it then concerneth him to reknowledge foresee and to prouide and giue order for all and to place the Sentinels in such order and distance that no man may passe out nor enter into the quarters of the alodgement without their view and sight And if his regiment be ioyntly with the other regiments or tertios of the same nation or of another he is to conioyne with the other Sergeant Maiors and consult counsell and concurre with them touching the placing of the gards and Sentinels so that there may be found no negligence nor imperfection sith all this office consisteth in care vigilancie readinesse and order It concerneth him also to go vnto the Generall for the word and to receiue the order and course to be followed the next day and to go presently vnto
the Campe-maister to shew him thereof although that sometimes the Campe-maisters or Colonels themselues doe take the word and order from the Generall and giue the same vnto the Sergeant Maiors yet properly the doing therof doth appertaine to the Sergeant Maior his office And as touching the watches and gards he ought to haue great consideration not to place them if the enemy be at hand before the entring in of the night for he ought to preuēt if possible it might be that the enemy perceiue not where he setteth his watches and Sentinels And when it were time hee shall call together the company or companies which should bee of the watch the which are to be aduertised thereof from the morning by the Drumme Maior of the regiment and he is then to set them in their places the which as I said ought to be reknowledged and viewed and shewed vnto the Sergeants of such companies where they are to place their Sentinels and he is to appoint them what order they are to keepe in going their roundes alwayes reseruing a particular care to visite and reuisit all the before appointed matters and orders And if he shall find any negligence or carelesnesse in such officers he is to reprehend and chasten them with such seuerity as the case and cause shall require for in the not executing the same he becommeth to be contemned vnrespected and his commandes and orders misprised and so by consequence to introduce a very corrupt discipline Gent. What distance from the quarters and campe should the gards and watches be placed and set Capt. In encamping an army it is accustomed most commonly to entrench round about the quarters thereof for more security and strength to the allodgement and when it is so the companies which haue the ward are alwayes to sallie to gard the trenches which is the wall of the campe But in case there bee no trenches the Corps de gard in mine opinion is not to be placed aboue 70 or 80 pases distance as I haue said before from the front of the allodgements in his place of armes yet somtimes there be found ditches bottoms and vallies so strong that it shall be good for the gards to be placed there although they be farther distant off then I speake of for such strengths by nature do serue and stand in steede of ditches and trenches But not finding such naturall fences the watches are to be placed as before I haue sayd For thus as well for the security of the quarters as for if neede should require to succour those companies it is better they be placed neare then farre off And it is to be noted as a thing of great importance that great silence be kept in the body of the watch at the least all rumour and lowd noises are to be excluded and in their conuersations to talke modestly stilly and with low voices Gent. And the Sentinels what distance should they stand from the Corps de guard Capt. About thirtie pases litle more or lesse Gent. And how farre the one from the other Capt. There ought to be no more distance betwixt them then that they may easily discerne one an other how darke soeuer the night be For the Sentinels being the wall of the campe which do serue that no body may enter in nor passe out thereof without being seene and discouered now if they should be placed too wide a distance off that would not follow which is pretended Gent. And those Sentinels are they to be single Capt. No but double for foure eyes may see and discerne better then two and because if sleepe do assaile them or could the one opprest with sleep might walke and the other stand vigilant at the watch with all stilnesse and silence and without talking with open eyes and ready listening eares for many times it chanceth to heare that which the obscurenesse of the night will not suffer to see and if they do perceiue heare or see any thing whereof they ought to giue aduise to the officers let the one go thither and the other stay and not to leaue the Sentinell post forsaken and therefore for these and such like causes it is much more safer requisite and needefull that they be double But those which are set yet 30 pases farther are to be single which of some are improperly called forlorne Sentinels not hauing the word as the doubles haue the which are to be placed in the same distance as are the first and commaund and order giuen that in descrying any thing they are to retire to the post of the double Sentinels and giuing aduise and notice of what they heard or saw are to returne to their places without giuing the Alarme but in case that there were any notable number of horse or foote discouered in retiring vnto the double Sentinels all three perceiuing the same for certaine and affirming it then the Alarme is to be striken and in other sort not For many times vnto one man alone feare or imagination doth cause few people to seeme many and many things to seeme to be which are not indeede and at no time is the Alarme to be striken in the campe without good and vrgent cause For remedie whereof it is a matter of great importance that the Sergeant Maior euery night at different houres doe ordinarily visite and reuisite the watches and Sentinels as well to see that they obserue and performe his orders and commaundes as to the ende that the officers and souldiers vnderstanding his courses taken be more vigilant and carefull in their watches fearing to be punished if they incurre into any defaults and negligences Gent. What call you the forlorne Sentinell sith you say they are improperly so termed Capt. The proper forlorne Sentinell is that which is set either on horse-backe or foote as necessitie shall require neare vnto the enemies campe to the end to espie and giue aduise if any companies or troupes shall sallie thereout or if the campe do remoue secretly And this such Sentinell is to be placed in some part so neare vnto the enemie that being discryed and seene he shall with great difficultie retire and escape and is neuer set but vpon necessitie of such like aduises As when Frauncis the French king did relieue and victuall Landresie which the Emperour Charles held besieged who determined to giue him battell the next day before he were departed and so Don Fernando de Gonzaga who was Generall commaunded Captaine Salazar that he should that night put himselfe neare vnto the enemies campe therby to vnderstand their desseignes and intents but he missed to effect the same So the French retired in safetie and wel without any perceiuing thereof And thus these Sentinels haue not the word that is kept in our camp for the incōuenience that might hap if being takē by the enemy corrupted with rewards or otherwise they thereby might know
naturall as artificiall and the confines of kingdomes or realmes as well Maritime as Inland the difficultie of their defences to barre a strong enemie the entrie with other particular points touching Fortes and fortified Townes The Generall of the Artillerie or Maister of the Ordinance his election and office Captaine THE place and office of the Generall of the Artillerie or Maister of the Ordinance is appointed by the Prince His function is of great qualitie and trust for the reputation had of the same and for the effects which the same performeth and therefore is alwayes encommended and bestowed vpon personages of great grauitie and authority and of great prudence valour and experience for besides the gouernement which he hath of the Artillerie of the Armie when the same encampeth it toucheth him by reason and course of warre to prouide for all the sorts strengths of the realme and to appoint the orders for their fortification and defence Gent. These things are no doubt of great consideration therefore we would willingly heare what courses might be taken for the fortifying and defence of a realme to withstand the enemies attempts Capt. The strength of euery King or Prince consisteth in the quantitie and quality of his subiects and in the good quality of his dominion and countrie Gent. I pray shew vs more particularly hereof Capt. I say gentlemen that those Princes and Republikes are iudged most mighty which in their kingdomes and states doe maintaine 1 good religion 2 good lawes 3 and good armes and who doe enioy holsome ayre 2 fertill ground and 3 naturall strength with such other desirable commodities wherefore to explane the matter more you are to vnderstand that all kingdomes or prouinces are strong either by nature or by art or by both They are strong by nature when they are enuironed with the seas round about or part thereof or backed with lakes mountaines riuers or desertes And those are strong by art which in their frontiers and in places most conuenient haue townes castels and fortresses fortified by art Gent. It seemeth by this that the Captaine Generall of the Artillery ought to be very skilfull in artificiall fortifications I pray therefore declare vnto vs the considerations to be had in fortifying a place or realme Capt. All confines are either Mediterraneall or Maritime or both the one and the other and either they are in mountainous places or in plaine champain or do participate of the one and the other If they be Mediterraneall it must bee viewed and considered on what part the enemy might enter to offend the countrie and what passages he might haue most commodious to conduct his Army with his munitions and impediments And it is to bee considered also on what partes he may most easily make his inrodes and retire againe with safety and whether there be any situation which being fortified by the enemy might molest and annoy the countrey adioyning If the confines of the kingdome bee Maritime or sea coast all the coastes and compases are to be viewed and remarked and to see and consider whether there be any gulfe shore baye creeke hauen port or any riuer mouth whereinto the enemy entring with his nauie and there landing might annoy and assayle a countrie For sea coasts although they be in some respects strong yet are they to be entred by a nauie by sea and do hold the defendant in great suspence and care not knowing where or in what part such nauy will arriue and so is he driuen to greater charge being constrained to keepe garrisons in euery suspected place And yet it is not inough to keepe good strengths in places most necessarie and well prouided for that many times there is found a shore a baye a creeke or riuer mouth not before esteemed or thought vpon whereunto the enemy arriuing and entring with a mighty nauy and there fortifying himselfe vpon some strong and fit situation doth put the countrey and kingdome in great perill and daunger As was seene by the Spanish nauy and army at the conquest of the Portugall kingdome who touched at the head of Caxcais and landed in a place neuer thought vpon by the Portingall so they found themselues deceiued thinking that the disembarkment should haue beene betwixt the city and San Gillians Castle where they stood fortified in their trenches with determination to defend the landing And the sundry braue lādings of Sir Francis Drake in the Indias and in many partes of Spaine and Portugall at most of the which I my selfe haue bin do verifie the same wherby it is manifestly to be gathered that sea coast countries are to be defended with great difficulty cost and charge and with doubtfull successe yea although that they haue many places strong by nature And for as much as there be diuerse and variable qualities of confines and no certaine rule to be giuen thereupon nor what distance there should be from frontier to frontier it must be presupposed that the confines of a kingdome doth hold some correspondency with the circuit of a city in the fortification whereof the bulwarkes are the most important members the which are set in the place where they may most offend the enemy and also defend themselues and the city regarding therein due distance in such sort that the one may defend the other with their Artillery and small shot and in like manner the Curtines betwixt bulwarke and bulwarke with other aduertisements therein to be considered And euen so the sortes to be made in the frontiers are to hold the like proportion and correspondency with the confines of the countrie as do the bulwarks with the courtines of a city the one being placed so neare vnto the other that they may assist and succour one another and in such partes as may most damnifie the enemy and best defend themselues The places most apt to receiue offence by the enemy being found out and also to offend him it is necessary to fortifie the same as well the sea coasts as the inland with strong fortifications castles and bulwarkes taking wonderfull aduisement and carefull consideration in chusing the situations thereof whether it be on plaines or hils or Maritime or consisting of all three vnderstanding onely the compasse or circuit of the fort with a certaine conuenient space round about the same Of situations in plaines those are strong which are enuironed with deepe lakes great moores and high water shores and bankes and those which may bee sunke vnder water in time of necessitie as in Holland and Zealand and these which haue a Campania raza or plaine Champain sufficient distant from all things that might ouer-commaund the same as is the Castle of Millan and Antwerpe and such like Of situation vpon a hill that is strong which standeth in the most highest part thereof all vnderlayed with naturall rockes round about not hauing neare it any superiour nor equall mount for in
a Corps de guard both of Infanterie Cauallerie The charge of the placing setting of them belongeth vnto the Camp-maister Generall called with vs the High Marshall of the field The election of all the aforesaid officers and Gentlemen of the artillerie Enginers Pioners belongeth vnto this Maister of the Ordinance except the treasurer and Pay-maister whom either the Prince or the Lord high Generall doth name appoint but besides this aforesaid guard of foot horse it behoueth the Miaster of the Ordinance to set other carefull and warie people both to gard them and view them that the Ordinance be not nayled nor the munition fiered as did a paisant issuing out of Verona being besieged by two great armies of the Venetians and Frauncis the French king and Marc Antonio Colonna defendant within and set fire to the munitions of the Venetians campe The Captaine Generall of the Artillerie doth cause to bee payed all the officers Gentlemen Enginers and Pioners which go vnder his conduction and they ought to obey him reuerence and respect him as their superiour punishing their offences as they be committed as well in peace as in warre and commending and rewarding such as haue valiantly and vertuously demeaned themselues so shall he be beloued obeyed and honored Gent. Truly this office is of great and honorable charge and many businesses belonging to the same Capt. So it is indeede and therefore encommended and bestowed vpon personages of great qualitie learning wisedome and experience in martiall affaires and one who is alwayes of the counsell of warre The Captaine Generall of the Cauallery his Election charge and office THE FIRST DIALOGVE VVherein is reasoned of the Election charge and dutie of this officer the comparison of the Infanterie with the Cauallerie with examples of both and of certaine peeces of seruice to be performed with the horse Gentleman I Pray now to the Captaine Generall of the horse Capt. The Captaine Generall of the Cauallerie is commonly chosen appointed by the Prince for being a charge of so high authority preheminēce it is alwayes encommended bestowed vpon a personage of honour title or some very honorable Gentleman who hath had great experience practise in warre considering the great and waightie occasions that commonly therein are offred to be performed and effected with the Cauallerie and so he that is chosen to this charge ought to haue in him all or the most of the good parts to be expected in a High Lord Generall of an Armie the which may be considered when I come to speake of that officer referring the same vntill then except some particular points which may fall out in questions by the way Gent. Then shall we gladly heare them remarke them also but which thinke you to be of most vtilitie in the warres either the Cauallerie or Infanterie Capt. In mine opinion the Infanterie is to be preferred being well instructed and disciplined in their Arte. Gent. But I haue heard the contrarie opinion in approuing the horse saying that they are the reputation of the Prince and armie Capt. I hold partly the same estimation of them but yet I would gladly haue mine opinion excused that they are not comparable to deale with resolute foote except vpon great and manifest aduantage and in place and ground of very great fauour for them For a resolute stand of pikes with their conuenient troupes of shot will giue them sore stops and returnes with dishonour as hath plainly appeared by the memorable battels of our famous kings of England obtained with their foot cōpanies against the proud Cheualry of France as at Agincourt field at sundry other their honorable battels Yea many times it hath bin seene that shot companies alone being helped by some aduātage to put them to the foyle as did the Marquise de Pescara with 800 shot onely breake foyle and disorder Charles de la Noye then vice Roy of Naples with all his Cauallerie at the battell of Pauia Another exāple we haue of the Countie Francisco Carmagnolla being Captaine Generall of Philip Vicoūt Duke of Myllan his armie going with six thousand horse against the Switzers was by them repulsed by the valour and length of their pikes who hauing regathered his disordered troupes considering from whence their disaduantage grew turned head againe vpon the enemy and he himselfe and his companies dismounted on foote and with their Launces in hand framed a foote squadron and charged the enemy a fresh and so brake and ouerthrew them in number aboue fifteen thousand who by force of horse could not bee remoued imitating herein Marcus Valerius Coruinus who being Consull Captaine against the Samnites in the first Punik warre and in their last battell not able to breake on thē by reason of their lōg pikes wherewith they defended thēselues commaunded his horsemen to dismount and on foote armed as they were with their Lances to fight with the enemie whereby he ouerthrew them put them to flight with the victorie and their baggage remaining in his hands And againe in the battell that Constantine Roxianus Captaine Generall to Sigismund king of Polonia had with Basilius the great Duke of Muscouia by the riuer Brisna who surmounted him much in horse three thousand footemen onely which he had in his armie wan him that day the honour and victorie Many examples more might be recited both ancient and moderne but I rest with these remembring that among the ancient Romanes their foot was alwayes of more estimation then their horse holding a true opinion that the infanterie well disciplined is the sinew of the warre the fortresse of the Realme and the wals of the Citie Gent. But I haue heard say that in these warres of Netherland after that the Gran Commandador dyed that the states reuolted with determination to cleare their countrey quite of the Spaniardes that Don Alonzo de Vargas who had then the Spanish Cauallerie in charge did great exploits therewith in encounters which he had with the state foote and horse Capt. It is true But you must consider that those were old and experimented souldiers resling vpon a valiant resolution the others Bisonniòs and raw people raised vp vpon a suddain conceipt in which actions is maruellously to be marked the difference betweene men of experience and Bisonnios the braue carriage of the one and the bad conduction of the others as appeared in the reencounter at Tilmont and at the succouring of Captaine Mountsdock being taken by them of Mastrich and most notably in the sack of Antwerpe where not to the number of 5000. Spaniardes inclosed within their Citadell gaue the ouerthrow and foyle vnto aboue 16000. of the Antwerpians brauely armed encamped within their owne towne In like sort at the ouerthrow of Gibleo where not aboue 600. horse of Don Iohn de Austria his troupes defeated aboue 15000. of the
states most strange and wonderfull onely for want of good leaders and good conductours the enemy espying the aduantage of their simple conduction and ouersight But you must vnderstand that in the most of these actions they were alwayes well backed with braue companies on foote but had they bene matched with equall enemies these their matters of maruell had neuer bene chronicled Marry I say that the Cauallerie is precisely very necessary for many peeces of seruice as to make incursions to pursue the flying enemy as in the battell where the Duke of Saxonies troupes were broken and himselfe taken neare the riuer Albis And againe to giue a suddein charge vpon the enemies flankes or rereward and to espie aduantage if the enemy disaray as before is said in the battell of Gibleio and againe to scoute to discouer to guarde any conuoy or to surprise any conuoy and to relieue with money any besieged place as did Captaine Arrio those that were besieged in Pauia to carrie victuals or munition for a neede and pinch to a distressed Scance to passe ouer riuers and to stop the furie of the currant to render the passage more easie for the footemen as was seene in the passing through the riuer Albis And when the Emperour Conradus passed with his armie ouer the riuer Meandrus and there defeated a great number of Turkes also to shock with the enemies horse to make Caualgadas or great marches for any sudden surprisall or Camizado each horse carrying for neede a footeman behind and to gaine with speede any straight or passage to scoure the coastes to espie the enemies desseignes and courses to conduct or to spoyle forrage with many other peeces of seruice accidentall in warre THE SECOND DIALOGVE VVherein is declared the difference and armings of the Cauallerie with the proper seruice pertaining to each difference the partes to bee expected in such as serue on horsebacke Gentleman HOw is your Cauallerie differenced and armed Capt. In these our dayes the Cauallerie is most commonly differenced in three sortes Into men at Armes or Companies of Ordinance termed by some but now litle in vse Into demy Lances now called Lanciers and into shot on horseback named Hargulutiers or Hargubuziers or Carbins Petranels and Pistolliers The Man at Armes is armed complete with his cuyrasses of proose his close helmet with a beuer a gorget strong pouldrons vambraces gauntlets taisses a strong Lance well headed with steele an arming sword and at his sadle bow a mace well mounted vpon a strong couragious horse hauing a deepe strong sadle with the two cuissets of Pistoll proose his horse barded with a sufficient Pectron crinier chieffront c. a strong bridle double rayned wherof one to be of wyer were not amisse against the blow of a sword These Men at Armes were woÌ„t to haue fiue or six horses attendant vpoÌ„ each one In this CoÌ„panie of Ordinance are few but men of qualitie Gentles of good birth the charge thereof is great Vnto euery Companie of these doth belong one Trumpet one Ensigne one Guidon and one Cornet the Ensigne ouer the Men at Armes the Cornet ouer the Lanciers and the Guidon ouer the shot on horsebacke Now by reason of their heauie arming their marches are but slow and not lightly marching except the campe dislodge and then to keepe an equall place with the foote campe deuided into good squadrons vpon either side of the battell with a coÌ„uenient distance from the same for being too neare many inconueniences doe many times happen especially hauing charged or encountred the enemy and driuen to retire do hazard many times to disaray their owne battell Their seruice is commonly espying aduantage to breake vpon the squadrons of pikes to encounter the enemies horse and to relieue their owne light horse if by hap they bee put to a retrait But a good squadron of pikes of resolute men well empaled and girdled with musket doth greatly discredit their auncient reputation now in these our dayes The arming of the Lanciers is a good paire of cuirats the fore part of Pistoll proofe a strong cask with his open visier of like proofe two l'ames of his pouldrons two or three of his taisses of Pistoll proofe also the rest his pouldroÌ„s vambraces gauntlets taisses and cuissets as light as may be a strong Lance well pointed a good curtilace and short dagger and a Pistoll at his saddle bow in a case of leather a stroÌ„g saddle with his two cuissets for the knees and well mounted vpon a strong horse vnbarded and their cassackes of the colour of the Ensigne I suppose these Lanciers for most peeces of seruice farre better then men at armes especially as our warres are now conducted They ought to know how to manage well a horse runne a good carrier breake surely a Lance to bee ready with their arming sword and pistoll Their place of march seruice is before the men at armes a good distance in troupes or squadrons with their Cornet in the middest or within the third ranke before They serue to many purposes and to most peeces of seruice as well to breake on a squadron of pikes first shaken or disarayed by shot as to encounter the enemies horse to backe succour the Petranels and Hargulutiers being distressed to conduct their owne and to detrusse the enemies conuoy in companie with the Carbines and other shot to surprise the enemies troupes vpon any aduantage spied and in generall good for most peeces of seruice fit for horse whereunto the men at armes are both too heauie and vnapt The Petranell and Pistolier is armed with a good paire of Cuyrats of pistoll proofe and open Burganet as is the Lancier a paire of well arming pouldrons one gauntlet for the â—ridle hand no vambraces but in steede thereof some other easie arming and lighter mounted then the Lancier is with a good saddle and bridle according then weaponed with a good short sword and dagger a Petranell peece which is with a snap-hance or one long pistoll as the French now vse theÌ„ fastened in a case of leather at the saddle bow or else a paire of pistols in one case as do the Râ—ytters their seruice is as before of the Lanciers in most peeces of nimble seruice and are of most annoyance vnto the pikes being not well guarded with shot Their place of march is next before the Lanciers and so in their seruices by whom they are seconded marching in troupes like sleeues of shot seconding one another in order They must bee skilfull to manage their horse to learne him to trot to stop well to wheele readily for their actions are not vpon the spurre as the Lanciers are but to skirmish brauely vpon the face of the enemy discharging wheeling about one troupe seconding another and to breake in also if occasion be offered They are very good
by the Archbishop Tomeres being farre inferiour to his enemy in numbers yea although he were equall yet were it better to weary him with delayes and cause him by such lingerings to be weary of the action and so retire in fine And therefore to this ende the Signory of Venice will haue their Generals to be rather warie and long delayers then rash and furious warriours not sparing any cost to prolong the same alwaies auoyding the doubtfull and vncertaine successes of battell yea although they hold for certaine to gaine if it be thought to cost much bloud yet better to be refused as Iulius Caesar declared very well saying that hee ought to bee accompted an vniust Captaine if he did not more esteeme the safety of his Army and the life of his souldiers then his owne proper commodity and life For those which do measure the hope of the victory without the due consideration of the profit or losse that succeedes the same doe desire vaine and disordinate things and do find many times the euents and issues contrary to their thoughts as it chaunced vnto the French at the battell of Poytiers where although they were in full hope of victory yet they lost therein a number of their nobility with their King and his sonne taken prisoners and againe as it befell the sayd French at the battell of Rauenna where although they remained victors yet they lost Monsieur de Foyx their Generall and many of his braue Captaines whereby those which remained were constrained to retire and passe ouer the Alpes with more then good speede Therefore to entertaine the enemy with long delayes without bringing ones selfe into the daunger of fact of armes and to be at choise to accept or refuse the battell if it be presented there is to be vsed many policies deuises and stratagems and to attempt the venturous effects of necessity speede and diligence is to be required as in lodging Ambuscados to giue Camisadas to sallie in skirmish and to make incursions and great Caualgados to surprise victuals and conuoies to preuent their allodgements to possesse straights and passages to cut them from victuals and such like peeces of seruice and especially if there be two of the enemies powers seperated the one from the other and being necessary to fight with them before they come to ioyne then I say is wonderfull dispatch speede and secrete conduction to be required as did Claudius Nero a Romaine Captaine when he defeated and slew Asdruball Barquinus who was come out of Spaine into Italy to ioyne with his brother Hannyball The like did the Duke of Bauier before that fresh aydes were come to ioyne with his enemy the Emperor Frederik And as did the Duke of Alua holding Graue Lodwike besieged within Monts in Hennault who vnderstanding and seeing his brother the Prince of Orange comming with a strong power to relieue him the very same night that he approched neare gaue him a most furious Camisado and slew many of his people whereby he was enforced the next day to returne without effecting his intent And in the conquest of any country city or prouince there is also great celerity and quicke dispatch to be vsed by the Captaines and Generals as was performed by the Duke de Alua and the Marquis Sancta Cruz in their Portugall wars preuenting by their martiall prudence many difficulties not otherwise easie to be dispatched if the Portugals had had more wit valour and counsell then they had And howe much this celerity in some cases doth auaile may well be seene by the braue exploites of Sir Francis Drake and Captaine Caerleil at Sant Domingo Carthagena and Nombre de Dios with other parts of the Indies Sundry other examples might be recited of actions performed with celeritie and secrecy and for not applying quickenesse celerity in the execution many times actions haue bin greatly hindered and great inconueniences haue ensued as it happened vnto Hanniball who hauing the victory and conquest of all Italy in his handes after the battell of Cannas lost all those aduantages only for not pursuing the aforesayd victory But yet in all these occurrants and occasions there is great care and consideration to be had to conserue the Army what possible may be and not to hazard the souldiers with daungerous assaultes for commonly in such attempts the brauest men go to wracke as was well to be seene among the Spaniards in the expugnation of Haerlem Mastricht Sluce and other fortes of the low countries And therefore Scipio the younger when being perswaded by some of his Captaines to take Numantia by battery and assault he aunswered them saying that he esteemed more the sauing of one Romaines life then the killing of all those within Numantia considering that the best men are commonly lost in such attempts A Generall ought also to bee very constant in hazardes and perils for many times it happeneth that the determinations which men do take in pleasant motions and with great vigour of minde before the very daunger but the perill being once presented and when it is most neede to put the businesse in execution then being amazed and striken with chilly feare doe they leaue off the attemptes and dishonorably retire and will by no meanes be reencouraged thereunto as did And hee is to bee accounted an excellent Generall which contemneth and despiseth all imminent daungers in respect to conserue his reputation and honour as many of our famous kings of England haue done in their owne persons and as many times Henry now present king of Fraunce and Nauarre hath done in many encounters which he hath had and as did the Countie Lodron when Castraneo the Emperour Ferdinando his Generall forsooke the Army vnder his charge in Hungaria and fled away with the most part of the horsemen for feare of the Turkes the sayd Countie Lodron being with those footemen which remained was by them most humbly entreated to be their Conductor and Generall in that disastred successe seeing that he which was their Generall and Commander had so shamefully forsaken them the which the sayd Countie accepted with great modestie vsing vnto them many graue speeches and honorable wordes with abhorring the fowle flying away of his companion and encouraging them brauely to defend themselues with their manfull resisting of their enemies without imagining or thinking vpon any thing else then valiantly to fight and couragiously to ouercome Then an ancient Almaine souldier seeing this Countie so full of spirite and constant sayd in gracious maner thus vnto him My Lord let it not seeme vnto you so great a wonder the flying away of our Generall seeing that he was mounted vpon so gallant a courser as he was which seemed that hee expected to see how his horse would runne Now the Countie vnderstanding the craftie meaning of this old souldier dismounted with all dexteritie from his horse and drawing out his curtilax cut off his
now most in vse wherein you haue satisfied vs wonderfull well yet I pray according to your promise will you now describe vnto vs their seuerall tables and figures to the same whereby we which are not skilled may reape some knowledge from thence and so shall haue good cause to yeelde you thankes for your great paines Capt. Although that I haue in our former discourses declared at large of most sorts of imbattailing both auncient and moderne yet for better declaration and vnderstanding of the tables following I must of necessity repeate a great part thereof againe Touching errors found in battels according to mine opinion by reason of sundry compound weapons within the body of the same I haue spoken already Wherefore now let vs consider and declare what kind of battels by reason may bee held for good and firme considering our now vsed fights and the weapons most befitting the same suted in so good sort as may become able to abide or performe a victory whereunto they are appointed Principally therfore if you will rest vpon one sole and entire battell whether the same be square of mē or square of ground or any other proportion or forme as hearst crosse battell or tryangle the which two first as I haue erst before sayd do at this present day remaine chiefly in vse among vs or deuide your army into many battallions of that kind which your graund battell shall be formed of then set your squadron of battell or battallions round about vnder the guard of the pikes with such number of shot as shall be best fitting vnto the proportion of the same according to the Sergeant Maior his appointment either by 3 5 or 7 shot in a ranke and the rest to be reparted into many small troupes of 30 40 or 50 in a troupe trouping round about the battel with a reasonable distance from the same to maintaine skirmish which way soeuer the enemie approcheth Prouiding that the same troupes be still maintained one to second another that the battell may be by them shadowed to the end that the enemies troupes or skirmishers may not haue that aduantage to discharge vpon the body of your battell Now among these your troupes of shot it shall be very behouefull to mingle some of your short weapons as halbards bils swords and targets halfe pikes and such like for there shall your short weapon do best seruice mixed with your naked shot to backe them if they should happen to be distressed by the enemy Your battell thus framed girdled and enuironed with shot in troupes the which troupes seconding one another shall still keepe your battell shadowed as in the figures of all their kinds set downe before their seuerall tables shall plainely appeare alwayes regarding that your girdling shot do neuer discharge vntill the enemy commeth within 20 or 30 pases of them at the least and then to discharge roundly vpon the face and body of the enemy The which being performed if they be encountred with foote they are speedily to retire vnto either flanke of the battell or sleeued in betwixt the pikes or if encountred with horse to bend downe vpon one knee vnder the guard and succour of the pike Now hauing deepely considered the rare victories and great conquests of the auncient Romaines atchieued in mine opinion by their due obseruing of true martiall discipline and great readinesse in their politike and suddaine alterations of their proportions wherewith to encounter their enemies I find therein a most notable patterne of a right excellent Chiefetaine The very circumspection of whom by a most wonderfull regard was cause vnto them of so many and such honourable victories wherein the continuall readinesse of their souldiers and people of war to be transported with all facilitie into euerie forme vpon anie occasion and the skilfull direction of their Captaines was such therin as to so victorious a people seemed to be most correspondent and conuenient The which true discipline obedience skill and readinesse were it vsed and more then it is in this our age I thinke warres would carry a farre better conduction then they now do This kind of readinesse in souldiers and the indeuour of a continuall vse vnto them in the same especially in the time of their trainings the which I could wish to be put in practise with vs by skilfull trainers vpon what chaunce soeuer shold happen hath no doubt seemed vnto many to be of no small importance and force and the rather do I so iudge for that hauing sounded the depth and commodity thereof I find the contrary negligence to beare with it a note of most great imperfection The disposition whereof leauing vnto the knowledge and regard of euery good and expert Captaine and for that I haue at large discoursed thereof already in my third booke of these military discourses I will at this present content my selfe to shew vnto you the seuerall tables and figures of all these battels and battallions with the arithmeticall rules to frame the same and how that out of the grand square of men may all these battallions and battels be reduced and that without any great confusion The practike rules whereof I haue as I sayd at large set downe in these our former discourses as in the third booke may appeare moreouer I haue in sundry other places particularly declared and the orders of the embattailing of men now most in vse with their order of impaling with armed pikes their diuisions into Maniples and the ready reframing of them againe into their grand square as at large in the sayd third booke appeareth in many and diuerse places Finally in the aforesaid third booke in folio 89 and 90 and in the fourth booke in folio 99 I haue described the order to draw your army through straights and difficult passages by quartering the same into such proportions as the straights will permit especially if the enemy do constraine you to fight in the same as most commonly it falleth out also in the fift booke in folio 157 is dessigned a plat of encampement with the arithmeticall rules of the same in the consideration of all which the value and waight of this readinesse may vnto the diligent regarders perchance in their seuerall descriptions giue some manifest appearāce A declaration of the tables of battels and battallions with the arithmeticall rules to worke the same In these tables following I haue begun with the nūber of 10000 armed pikes besides the shot and short weapons correspondent to these proportions whereof I haue before sufficiently spoken in many places for the diuision of which number of armed pikes with all numbers downe ward I haue reduced into certaine tables the proportions of diuerse battels beginning with the square of men from the said number of 10000 pikes downward and the same not decreasing by 50 or 100 but by roote as first beginning with the square roote of 10000
vnfained loyalty to our good Queene and Prince perfect fidelity to our countrie and syncere loue and affection to our wiues children and friends and finally respecting the generall reputation and honour of our Realme and nation The end of the sixt and last booke A Table shevving the signification of sundry forraine words vsed in these discourses GEntle Reader for as much as in these Military discourses I haue vsed some words and termes somwhat straunge vnto such as haue not frequented forraine warres nor haue anie great insight in forraine languages I haue therefore thought good both to declare the signification of such words and also to shew my reasons for vsing the same First you are to vnderstand that most of our termes now vsed in warres are deriued from straungers as the French the Italian the Spaniard and the Dutch wherin euery one almost haue their seuerall pronuntiation therefore I hold it good to vse such war termes and words as we do borrow from straungers as most languages doe borrow some more or lesse one of another neare after the same nature orthographie accent as those nations do from whom they are deriued and not to pronounce and vse them ouer corruptly as we commonly doe As for example The word Caporall which is a meere Italian and also vsed by the French we corruptly do both write and pronounce Corporall for Caporall doth signifie the head and chiefe of a squadra or small company of souldiers and is an officer ensigning and gouerning in his degree the sayd company and is in Spanish more aptly called Cabo de esquadra which is the head of a small squadra of 20 or 25 souldiers And againe wee vse both to pronounce and write Core de guard which by the French is written Corps de guard and by the Italian and Spaniard Corpo de guardia which signifieth the body of a watch the which French or Italian word I haue rather vsed in my writing then our corrupt English terme Moreouer wee both pronounce and write the word Canuasada the which in truth ought to be written and pronounced Camisada being a Spanish tearme and doth signifie the inuesting a shirt ouer the soldiers apparell or armour the which is vsed in the night time when any suddaine exploit or peece of seruice is to be put in practise vpon the enemy vnexpected or vnseene to the end that in the darkenesse of the night the attempters may thereby the better one know and discerne another These few words and termes I suppose sufficient for my reasons And for the signification of all other straunge and forraine words by me vsed I will here following particularly set downe in order of alphabet as I shall call them to memory A Abanderado is a souldier vvhich carrieth the Ensigne in steede of the Ensigne-bearer sometimes Al'arma is a vvord vsed among men of vvarre at times of the enemies suddaine approching and at their discouerie and doth signifie to armes or weapons Alferez is a Spanish vvord and signifieth the Ensigne bearer Alguazil a Spanish vvord is an officer attendant on the Campe-maister Generall to apprehend offenders and to see execution done Alerta an Italian vvord vsed vnto the souldiers vvhen there is any suspition of the enemy and signifieth to be vvatchfull carefull and ready Alvarado a Spanish vvord and is the discharging of the morning vvatch by the sound of the drumme Ambuscado a Spanish vvord and signifieth any troupe or company of soldiers either foot or horse lodged secretly in some couert as in vvoods hollow vvayes behind bankes or such like to entrappe the enemy secretly attending his comming Aquaducts are conduits to cary or conuay vvater into any Citie Castell or Citadell Armada a Spanish vvord is a Nauy of ships for vvarre or one great ship of vvarre Artillaria a forraine vvord and is that vvhich vve call the great Ordinance B Bando a Spanish vvord and signifieth an act or law made by the Generall and Counsell of war in the Campe and published by sound of the drumme or trumpet vnto the souldiers Bisognio or Bisonnio a Spanish or Italian vvord and is as vve terme it a raw souldier vnexpert in his weapon and other Military points Burgonet a French vvord is a certaine kind of head-peece either for foote or horsemen couering the head and part of the face and cheâ—ke C Cabo de esquadra or Caporall a Spanish vvord is the head or chiefe vnder the Captaine of a small number of souldiers in number 20 or 25 or more or lesse according as the company is deuided into Caporal the Italian vvord is as Cabo de esquadra in Spanish Cabo de Camara a Spanish vvord is a souldier vnder the Caporall and is the chiefe ouer euery 10 or 12 souldiers Camarada a Spanish vvord is a small number of 11 or 12 soldiers and is the one halfe of a squadra being vnited together in their lodging and diet and friendship the chiefe man of whom is the Cabo de Camara Camisada a Spanish vvord and doth signifie the inuesting or putting on of a shirt ouer the souldiers apparell or armour the vvhich is vsed in the night time vvhen any suddaine exploit or peece of seruice is to be put in practise vpon the enemy vnexpected or vnseene to the ende that the attempters may thereby the better one know and discerne another Campania an Italian vvord and is a field Campania Raza an open field vvithout hedge ditch or other incombrance razed playne Campe-maister in Spanish Maestro del Campo is a Colonell being the chiefe Commander or officer ouer one Regiment or Tertio Camp maister Generall in Spanish Maestre del Campo Generall is a great Commander and is with vs the high Marshall of the field Castellano is the Captaine or Commander of a Citadell or Castel as in Millan Antwerp Metz and such other places Cannonera a Spanish word and is the place or roome where the Cannon is placed in a bulwarke Casamatta a Spanish word and doth signifie a slaughter-house and is a place built low vnder the wall or bulwarke not arriuing vnto the height of the ditch seruing to scowre the ditch annoying the enemy when he entreth into the ditch to skale the wall Cauagleria an Italian woord and is the Companies of souldiers seruing on horsebacke of what sort soeuer Cauaglere an Italian word and signifieth a Gentleman seruing on horsebacke but in fortifications a Caualiere is a mount or platforme of earth built and raised high either within or without the wall for to plant great Ordinance vpon Caualliere à Cauallio is a high mount or platforme of earth raised very high so that the Artillery vpon the same may shoote ouer the walles and bulwarkes to scoure and cleare the fields all about Centre a French vvord is the middle of a battell or other things Centinell a Spanish vvord and signifieth the souldier vvhich is set to vvatch at a station or post a certaine distance from the Corps de guard or in a
battell of pikes A better order to diuide your shot into troupes To girdle the staÌ„d of pikes with shot The shot in small troupes one to second an other The armed pikes once ouerthrowen the battell stands in hazard The girdling shot to discharge at 20 pasesâ—ff and not farther A particular decâ—aration of the former battell in figure The battell or body of pikes Impaled with armed pikes The sortement of the weapons Girdled with muskets Shot in troupes Halbardes and short weapons The remaines of the pikes where placed To draw some pikes out of the center of the battell Men at armes Launciers Hargulutiers Great ordinance The number of each The broad square battell bring the most hands at once to fight in front The square of ground A care to be had to the situation of ground Venturous to set al our fortune vpoÌ„ the brunt of one sole battell So is it dangerous for vnexpert men to fight in sundry battallions Men come not often to hand blowes as in old time the shot so imployeth the field Hard to ascertaine any course of fight before the enemies order be knowen seene Occurrants of warre be manifold and strange The shot on horse backe coÌ„monly begâ—n the first skirmishes At the field ordinance doe commonly begin the first puzzeling The forlorne hope to disband and hauing skirmished to retire to the flankes One troupe of shot to second an ether The squadrons of muskets when to discharge The couching of the pikes A square of pikes handled by resolute men not easie to be broken by horse Against foote to charge ouerhand Valour and skill is second meanes of victorie but God the chiefe first The duties of diligent officers in time of battell The iust square of men best allowed out of the which all other proportions may be reduced The quadrat of ground Sundry ancient formes of battels now out of vse The daunger of raw men The Diamant battell The framing thereof out of the graund square A more stronger framin of the Diamant battell Out of 2 iust squares of men is framed 2 triangles Of 2 triangles is framed a Diamant An other order yet to frame their battels A Sergeant maior ought not to be ignorant of any formes of embattailing as well ancient as moderne To what purpose these termes were first deuised The crosse battell and order thereof A declaration of these Crosse battels SpeculatioÌ„ without practise but halfe the Arte. To deuide a small power into many parts dangerous What to be a sufficient armie Into three battels Into twelue battallions Vantgard Battell Reareward Many considerations in bringing men to fight A consideration A declaration of the 9 battallions The voide spaces to what purpose Sundry charges and fresh heads A declaration of the 12 battallions The shot parted into sundry troupes The cauallery The quantity of ground for each souldiers station What commander and officers to be mounted The Generall his place The Colonels Another order to deuide an army into sundry small squadrons The maner The order An army may be framed of sundry small squadrons Of tables to be framed Euen To march an army thorough straightes Drawne into Maniples The Ensigne to be contained in the middle Maniple The shot in troupes most seruiceable The one to second another If the enemy coÌ„straine to fight in the straight them to quarter your Army To quarter the battell into sundry battallions Not to enter vnaduisedly into any straighâ—s The chiefe Commaunders of an Armie Deuided into Regiments The officers of the Regiment Deuided into Companies The officers of a Companie Sergeant Maior of a Regiment A Sergeant Maior generall A Sergeant Maior is the generall Minister of a whole Regiment His office consists in marching in imbattailing encamping The Sergeant Maior of higher degree then any ordinarie Captaine Great regard to be had in the election of this officer Skill and naturall instinct His actions are handled for the most in the view and face of the enemie The partes to be required in a Sergeant Maior To espie aduantages Not to let slip good occasions offred To kâ—â—w to frame his squadron to march with the same to bring theÌ„ to fight A squadroÌ„ what it is To be victorious or inuincible The armie bâ—st ordered and disciplined is like to be Lord of the victorie Vegetius his reasons The aduantage of practise and good discipline It is necessarie to haue â—n writing the iust number of euery companie and their sortmeÌ„t of weapons To haue alwayes an Idea in the head of sundrie formes of battels To be skilfull in Arithmetike A battell framed of sundrie Tertios by the Duke de Alua at Lisbona The Tertios of Naples Sicilia Lombardie Spanish Tertios The Sergeant Maior by want of skill much puzzeled Our warres now a dayes do consist more in surprises assaults and batteries then in main fight The difference to be iudged by the situation of the ground and occasions to fight Iust square of men â—attell in broad front What is meaÌ„t by bastard square broad square base square The rankes euen or odde importeth litle The braue conduction of the Commaunders and the resolute valour of the souldiers is the firmenesse of the battell A politicke order to be obserued in setting a battell when the souldiers be vnruly No souldier to come with his armour by peece-meale or broken An order to frame a squadroÌ„ of vnruly soulâ—iers vpon the Alarme giuen or suddenly A fine checke of vnruly souldiers The dâ—e naturall girdling with shot When and how to discharge their vollie Shot in sundrie small troupes trouping round about the battell Euery troupe to be led forth to skirmish by their Caporall Squadrons of muskets at the angles of the battell A braue retraict of Don Aluaro de Sandy made in Barbary with 4000. foote against 20000. horse An order for the safegard of shot in open campania where the enemy aboundeth in horse Declaration of the figure Great skill and care in the marching of an Army The disorders of souldiers do many times grow through remisnesse and negligence of officers What the Sergeant Maior is to do being in the open field with the army Vantgard battell and reareward To know the wayes most salliâ—bâ—e for the souldiers to march Great noise and rumor in remouing of a campe To be skilfull in the countrey where they are to march Sundry considerations To what end Examples of the Romaines at Furcas Caudinas To procure faithfull and trusty guides Hannibal deceiued To cause the drum maior to sound the recoâ—a or remouing The Captaines of footmen To assemble the companies in the place of armes and there to frame his squadrons The Sergeants of bandes what to doe To deuide the battell into Maniples if the passage be narrow The order in marching of vantgards battell and rea reward The ensignes where to be placed fittâ—st Hauing passed the straight to march vp pouldron to pouldron againe In all our actions to incline to perfection Considerations
to be had where the munition is to march Certaine light horsemen to be sent out to scout before the munition In countries secure from the enemy the munition is to passe before with a sufficient card The reasons In parts of danger the munition is to march in the center or among the squadrons Better to loose the munition then to hazard the whole army The munition forsaken sometimes for policie sake Example at the battel of Vicentia in Italy As few horses as might be to be permitted in foote companies Noe foote souldier to passe out of the campe on horsebacke Where the foote souldiers horses are to go The orders to be obserued when the foot souldiers do mount on horsebacke The boyes to be shifted out of the battell To make sundry altoes or stand to ease and refresh the souldiers Carefull to make the Altoes or stāds in places conuenient and fit Disorderly conduction causes of ouerthrowes Example at Via grassa in Lombardie when the Coūtie Sanpaule was taken To make alwayes the standes neare fresh waters and to be carefull that the souldiers straggle not The Sergeant Maior is alwayes to passe on horsebacke to what effectes If he meete the Generall not to alight from his horse Nor yet to dismount from his horse in the day of battell and wherefore His armour light with a short trūchion in his hand No afront to the souldier deseruing it to be corrected by the Sergeant Maior Where the Sergeant Maior is to passe whē the army doth march But if the enemie be knowen to be in the rereward he is to passe in the rereward To reprehend the faults of the Sergeants If the arrayes be brokē to be ready to redresse them No Captaines or other vnder officers to passe the word stand but the Sergeāt Maior or other superior officer The Camp-maister as head of the Regiment the Sergeant Maior as guide of the battell The foot souldiers to alight frō their horses a myle ere they come to their lodging The place of alodgement to be first viewed by the Sergeāt Maior At their arriuall to frame his squadrons in the place of armes Orders to be obserued at the alodgement The place of armes to be kept all free and vnpestered The Sergeant Maior what he is to do at the first encampement of the army First to draw forth a corps de-guard some 80 pases without the ring of the emcampement The orders to be obserued 2 To reknowledge the quarters and to reforme all incombrances Pioners to amend combersome waies 3 To go to the Campe-maister generall or his marshall to receiue orders from him to sundry purposes as for the watch the ward gard for the munition to scout and discouer who to prouide wood and to assist in trenching Being with his owne regiment alone what he is to do The Sentinels how to be placed To consult with other officers To go to the Generall for the word and orders to be obserued To haue great care in placing the watches and gards To fore aduertise the souldiers by the drumme maior To reknowledge and view the places of gard and Sentinels To appoint them the order in going the roundes To visit and reuisit all the aforesaid orders To reprehend the faultie The negligence of Commanders breedes contempt in souldiers The encampement to be entrenched Where the corps de guard to be set Naturall fence good Great silence is to bee kept in the body of the watch The Sentinels what distance asunder and from the Corps de guard The Sentinels the wall of the campe therefore neare together Sentinels better double thē single The Sentinell vigilant silent and carefull In hearing or seeing any thing what the Sentinell is to do The single Sentinels where His dutie what to do Not to giue Alarme but vpon reasonable cause When to giue the Alarme Feare and imaginations do disturbe mēs senses To visite and reuisite the Sentinels at sundry houres in the night to good effectes The proper forlorne Sentinell what it is An example The forlorne Sētinell not to haue the word but a different Contersigne The order to be obserued in the day of the word With some the word doth passe no further then the Caporals Dangerous to trust the word with raw souldiers The Sentinell not hauing the word what to do The order to be obserued in taking the word by the officers and souldiers the one from the other The shot how The pike in what manner The officer or Rounde ought to giue the word vnto the Sentinell first The souldier set at Sentinell not bound to reknowledge any person without giuing the word The word is the meane in warre to exclude all deceipts The sight and hearing easily deceiued especially by night Example A fowle errour The Round finding the Sentinell vigilāt neede not alwayes approch neare him The Sentinell ought to suffer none to passe in or out of the campe without giuing the word The officer or Round Refusing to giue the word he may discharge as at an enemy How to deale with such as come into the campe Whē the Alarme is giuen what the Sētinels are to do Whē the Alarme is giuē what order is to be taken with the ensignes or companies The Generals guard and guard of the munition not to stirre To frame the squadrons with all diligence To enquire the cause of the Alarme To aduertise the Generall and Camp-maister thereof The cōpanies set in squadron not to disseuer without licence from the Generall To returne the Sentinels to their postes or stations To draw out of the grand Corps de guard other small Corps de guards The small Corps de guard to what effect What the Sergeant Maior is to do in the fact of battell The Romaines order was to fight in battallions The Greekes did fight in Phalangia or square Men slaine or hurt in the first rankes how to reforme the rankes The fore rankes to be alwayes kept full officers appointed to withdraw hurt and slaine men out of the battell To be skilfull in giuing a Camisada Example To conduct the souldiers with great silence vnto the Camisada To inuest their shirtes To performe with resolution and all celerity In such difficult attempts the Sergeant Maior to be conductor Example In Ambuscados the souldiors to be silent and ready To charge suddenly The Sergeant Maior to be solicitous with the generall for armour and other necessaries for his regiment How the same to be reparted To be the vniuersall procurer of the souldiers good Hurt or sicke men to be conueyed to the hospitals All vnder officers to assist the Sergeant Maior The carriage-maisters The Harbingers The Sergeants Lieutenant and Alferes Drumme Maior Caporals of the field The Sergeant Maiors Coadiutors The Sergeant Maiors Coadiutor The Sergeant Maior a general maister of all militarie discipline A procurer of the souldiers soules health in general Banishing all publike crimes and commō offenders The reward of a good officer both in heauen and earth