conueniente distaunce that spase maie be lefte mete to make froÌ„ the one and the other poincte of the same retire a flanker as twoo like flankers maie be seen in the plaine platte of the number of .3 by the letters E. and. F. and in the plat that is raised vp of the number of .4 by the letters A. and. C. they shall haue comodetie to directe theire ordinaunce to flanke as wel highe as lowe like vnto those that ar commonly builte nowe adaies whereby not only the same space of the curtin that is betwene the one and the other of them shal be perfectly defended as maye be perceiued by the platte of the nuÌ„ber of .3 by the line draweÌ„ from the letter E. to the letter F. but also that whiche lieth betwen them and the bullwarkes as in the said platte by the lines that describeth the manner of the shotte the one from the letter E. to the letter S. the other from the letter F. to the letter R. maye be vnderstande and likewyse the curteâ—nes of those bulwarkes as also in the verie same by the line that is drawne from the letter F. to the letter Q. is shewed with a better maner than in other fation of building that is vsed can be defended so that all the partes of them shall not only be made to be able to shoote by flanke but also thereby to shoote by righte line as in the platte of the number of .4 by the line that passeth from the letter C. to the letter D. and from the letter A to the letter B. maie be perceiued And wheras they maie be builded with lesse cost then otherwyse they haue also commoditie to make their gates equally distante the one from the other from the nexte bulwarkes where they ar placed moste safelie and commodiouslie with greate strengthe and those gates be as well as all the reste of the wall and greatlier in that parte muche surer from the assailing of the enemies then in what so euer other maner of fation mighte be deuised for as muche as the platforms and caualiers bee nothyng so stronge but more easie to bee ouerthrowen in respecte to this maner of buildinge whiche is moste sure from suche daunger and excedingly wel defended from the force of the enemie to the whiche the nerer that the enemie shall aproche so muche the more he shall of those within be hurte coÌ„trarie to that whiche in the platformes happeneth Moreouer there maie be certaine slaughter houses builte in the diche as in the plat of the number of .4 by the letters E.H. is shewed whiche the enemies with greate difficultie muste firste seke to winne before thei can come nere the walles And those being wonne shall be but small preiudise to the towne or fortresse wherefore without comparison this fation is greatlier to bee praised then the same with platformes for that the nerer the Walle the enemie shall come so moche more from the bulwarkes by flanke and all moste on the backe and from other places both by flanke and by fronte in one instant he shal be hurte and stroken Where also in suche a kinde of fation with many corners the greatnesse and rome of the toune within is somwat deminished in respect to those that are made with platformes Therefore I conclude for the considerations a foresaied these to bee the moste perfectest fations that any strong fortresse is possible to bee made 5 6 3 4 An example of the quadrant forme to proue that it causeth debilletie and vveaknes Cap. xxii THe tounes and fortresses that are buylded after a fowr cornered fatioÌ„ in what so euer maner they be made ar subiecte to moste great inconuenieÌ„ces for that the sharpe corners of their bulwarkes which of necessity the same fation will cause them to haue may verie easelie be battered and vnder the ruyn therof the assaultes of the enemies defended as in the platte following of the number of 7. by the bullwarke C. battered of the artillerie D. is seen Whereby also may be perceiued how the ordinaunce may be planted to make a breache and to take awaye their flankers after such sorte that the enemies may safely aproche to enie place eyther marching in battel ray to incampe or assaulte or with pianers to worke or for enie other purpose as by the fower flankers of the three bullwarkes L. E. C. may be vnderstande the which of the artillerie H. â— K.G. not only ar battered but also two of them that haue the letters L. C. as is seeÌ„ may of the artillerie K.G. be beateÌ„ through their flankers and the backe of the bullwarke E. nerest to them which is on bothe sides of the flaÌ„kes battered the which for hauing in suche place lesse thicknes theÌ„ enie wher els and greate heygth may be the more easelier ruynated as is to be seen in the sayde bullwarke E. battered with the artillerie F. and H. and also by the breache of the battery which in the cortin is made of the ordinaunce B. as is seene where the artillerie G. by the cortin doeth beate through the same in the breache of the batterie A. as manifestly apereth and moreouer when they within wolde doe eny thing they shal be beaten with the artillerie ouer the wall within the cortin N. from the caualier M. withoute so that no man shal be able to stande behynd the same to defende And not only in this sorte but in sundrie wyse and in diuerse maners what so ever towne or fortresse is builded after such fation may easelie be battered and sune made sautable wereby withoute forther declaration it is plainlie to be vnderstande how muche the forsayde plattes of the other fation eccel this 7 Of the nature of Saltpeter and the maner hovve to make and refine it Cap. xxiii SAltpeter is a mixture of manie substaunces gotten oute with fire and water of drie and durtie grownde or of that flower that groweth owte of newe walles in selars or of that grownde whiche is fownde loose within toombes or desolate caues where raine cannot come in in the whiche grounde accordinge to my iudgemente the same is ingendred of an ayrie moistenes drunke vp and gotten of the yerthie drynes whose nature by the effecte therof consideringe I cannot tell how to be resolued to saye what thinge properly it is The wel learned and moste wyse Phisitions besides medisinall experience by the taste findinge it salte and with exceding sottill sharpnes and consideringe the greate bytinge therof supose verely that it is of nature hotte and drie on the other parte seing it to be a thinge ingendred of ayre and towched of fyre to fall in a flame and vapore and rise with a terrible violeÌ„ce as the same coÌ„pounded is seen by Gunpoulder moste manifestly declared semeth to be of an ayrie nature hot and moiste and againe seinge it with shining and glitteringe whitenes as a thinge to the nature of water conformable it semeth that it maye be sayde that it is of a waterie
vnto a pece of marbell and all the yearthienes therof remaininge in the bottom whiche shal be good saltepeter to make powlder withall but not verie cōmendable to enie other vse and aboute saltepeter the witte of men haue so muche imagened that means ar foūde to cause it to growe in the grounde and in places that neuer had enie before by disoluinge saltepeter in water for with the same water weating the grounde and lettinge it stande so a certaine space of time saltepeter wil be ingēdred so that the same that was put there will multeplie wonderfully and it is a moste certayne thinge that in makinge saltepeter the yearthe that hathe ben occupied heaped vp in a place that is couered so that the raine doe not washe it within the space of fyue or sixe yeres maye againe be labored and saltepeter shal be founde to bee ingendred and yelde muche more then it did the firste time and this that I haue declared in this chapiter is as muche as I can saie of saltepeter The maner hovve to make all sortes of Gunpoulder Chapiter .xxiiii. GVnne pouder is made of three simples onely that is salt peter Brimstone and Coales and some proporcioneth it after one fashion and some after an other and also accordyng to the Gunnes and purposes wherewith thei will occupie it For that one sorte is occupied for greate ordinaunce and an other sorte for lesse peces and this is knowen to euery Bombardier In Harkabuses and hande gunnes is not occupied common pouder but aboute certaine fire woorkes and therefore to euery of the saied purposes the ponders is proporcioned accordynglie For that if Serpentine pouder should be occupied in hande gunnes or Harkebuses it would scant be able to driue their pellettes a quaites caste frō their mouthes and if hande gunne pouder should be vsed in peces of ordinaunce without great discrecion it would quickly breake or marre theim and to minde to haue all sorte of pouders good three thinges is requiset to bee obserued in makyng thereof The firste is to see that the substaunce wherewith it is made haue no yearthy grosenes The seconde that it be finely beaten the thirde that it be very well dried from all humiditie or moistenesse and this doen you shall haue strong and excellent good pouder And it is to bee vnderstande that the chief thyng that is in pouder is Salt peter for that of it by thesame that is seen dependeth all the forse And therefore prouision is to be made to haue a good quantitie thereof and that it be cleane and nete the whiche by burnyng maie well be knowen for that in all sortes of pouder it is nedefull that the Saltpeter be good Now for to make common pouder for great peces of artillerie there must be takē thre partes of refined Saltpeter two of Willowe coales and one of Brimstone and grinding euery thing all must be wel mingled together all the moistnesse thereof dried vp as I haue saied To make pouder for small peces of artillerie there muste bee taken fiue partes of refined Saltpeter and one and a halfe of Coales and one of Brimstone and grindyng it moste finelie and minglyng it well together it muste bee corned and then dried The maner of cornyng all sortes of pouder is with a Seeue made with a thicke skinne of Parchement full of little rounde holes into the whiche seue the pouder must bee put while it is danke and also a little bowle that when you sifte maie rolle vp and doune vpon the clottes of pouder to breake theim that it maie corne and runne through the holes of the Seeue To make Harkebuse and hande Gunne pouder there must be taken tenne partes of refined Saltpeter and one of young basell coles of a year olde made clean and one parte of brimstone and beatinge all in a mortar or grindinge it excedingly well that it maye be mingled together and so fine as is possible then it muste be corned and thoroughlie dried And note that if it be not marvelusly well beatē it wil neuer be good But bycause makinge of poulder whiche ar of thinges that will easelie kindell cannot be withoute perril of him that maketh it excepte it be remedied with weating therefor it behoueth to take hede that it be not beaten drie as well to auoide suche perrill as also for that it wil be beaten better for whiche causes it muste be wet with comun water to a certaine degree of moistenes so that taken vp in ones hande it maye clingh together Sum moist it with vineger and sum for to make it more stronger with cāphored aqua vitae When I haue caused gunpoulder to bee made I haue vsed comun water and therefore I am able to saye whiche of those thinges is best and to tell my opinion I doubte whether vineger or aqua vitae causeth the gunpoulder to be anie better then the cōmon water for as muche as they vaporinge awaye as they doe and as of necessetie they muste I beleue that littel of their substaunce remaineth There be sum whiche in makinge cole besides wellowe make them of hasell and sum of vyne stickes and sum of baie stickes sum of reedes sum of kecses and to bee shorte all the coles that ar made of softe wood ar of wood whiche haue muche pith but it is requiset that they be smalle yong and tender and withoute hardenes of knottes otherwyse they be not good Albeyt they be made in diuerse maners but in makinge of enie greate quantetie of poulder the ordinarie cole is to be taken How to make cole wher with gūpoulder is made and makinge a littell they vse to take yonge hasell of a year olde cut in shorte peses then puttinge them into a great yerthen potte or other vecell of yron or brasse they shutte it keuer it close and lute it or daube it verie wel aboute so that it cannot breathe and then they make fire rounde aboute it and vpon it till suche time as it maye be thoughte that the heate is well entred in through all that the wood that is within is very well fired without firebrandes or flame burned only through suche heate and then they take the fire from the potte and let it coole and so they finde the same wood becum cole I hapning onse to haue nede of coles to thintente to make sum quicklie toke as manie drie hasel stickes that had theire ryndes scraped of as I thought sufficiente to serue my purpose and breaking them in peses and laiynge them close together on a hepe I set them on fire and burned them all well and then sprinckeled water vpon them with a broume and with the same wet brume quenched the fier so scattered abrod the coles heare and there allwayes sprinckelinge water vpon them till I quenched them and thus I haue serued my purpose withoute so muche difficultie Moreouer it is a verie proffitable thinge yea and a necessary that I declare the maner
no maruel that the Romaines became mightie Princes Therefore it was no marueile though thesame people gotte so moche dominion hauing so moche obseruacion in punishemente and rewarde towardes theim whom either for their well doyng or for their ill doyng should deserue either praise or blame Of whiche thynges it were conuenient to obserue the greater parte Nor I thinke not good to kepe secrete one maner of punishmente of theim obserued whiche was that so sone as the offendour was before the Tribune or Consulle conuicted he was of the same lightely stroken with a rodde after the whiche strikyng it was lawfull for the offendour to flie and to all the Souldiours to kill hym so that straight waie euery man threwe at hym either stones or dartes or with other weapons stroke hym in soche wise that he went but little waie a liue and moste fewe escaped and to those that so escaped it was not lawfull for theÌ„ to retourne home but with so many incommodities and soche greate shame and ignomie that it should haue ben moche better for him to haue died This maner is seen to be almoste obserued of the Suizzers who make the condempned to be put to death openly of thother souldiours the whiche is well considered A meane to punishe and execute Iustice without raising tumultes and excellently dooen for that intendyng that one be not a defendour of an euill doer the greateste reamedie that is founde is to make hym punisher of thesame bicause otherwise with other respecte he fauoureth hym where when he hymself is made execucioner with other desire he desireth his punishemente then when the execucion commeth to an other Therefore mindyng not to haue one fauored in his faulte of the people a greate remedie it is to make that the people maie haue hym to iudge For the greater proofe of this Manlius Capitolinus thinsample of Manlius Capitolinus might be brought who being accused of the Scenate was defended of the people so longe as thei were not Iudge but becommyng arbitratours in his cause thei condempned hym to death This is then a waie to punishe without raisyng tumultes and to make iustise to be kepte and for as moche as to bridell armed menne neither the feare of the Lawes nor of menne suffise not the antiquitie ioined thereunto the aucthoritie of God Souldiours sworen to kepe the discipline of warre and therefore with moste greate Ceremonies thei made their souldiours to sweare to kepe the discipline of warre so that doyng contrariewise â–ª thei should not onely haue to feare the Lawes and menne but God and thei vsed all diligence to fill them with Religion Baptiste Did the Romaines permitte that women might bee in their armies or that there might be vsed these idell plaies whiche thei vse now a daies Fabritio Women and idell games were not suffered by the antiquitie to bee in their armies Thei prohibited the one and thother and this prohibicion was not moche difficulte For that there were so many exercises in the whiche thei kept euery daie the souldiours some whiles particularely somewhiles generally occupied that thei had no time to thinke either on Venus or on plaies nor on any other thyng whiche sedicious and vnproffitable soulours doe Baptiste I am herein satisfied but tell me wheÌ„ the armie had to remoue what order kepte thei Fabricio The chief Trumpet sounded three tymes Ordre in the remouing the armie by the soundes of a Trumpet at the firste sound thei toke vp the Tentes and made the packes at the seconde thei laded the carriage at the thirde thei remoued in thesame maner aforsaied with the impedimentes after euery parte of armed men placyng the Legions in the middeste and therefore you ought to cause after thesame sorte an extraordinarie maine battaile to remoue and after that the particulare impedimentes therof and with those the fowerth part of the publike impedimentes which should bee all those that were lodged in one of those partes whiche a little afore we declared and therfore it is conueniente to haue euery one of them appointed to a maine battaile to the entente that the armie remouyng euery one might knowe his place in marchyng and thus euery maine battaile ought to goe awaie with their owne impedimentes and with the fowerth parte of the publike impedimentes followyng after in soche maner as wee shewed that the Romaines marched Baptiste In pitchyng the Campe had thei other respectes then those you haue tolde Fabricio I tell you again that the Romaines when thei encamped would be able to kepe the accustomed fashion of their maner the whiche to obserue thei had no other respecte but concernyng for other consideracions thei had twoo principall the one to incampe theim selues in a wholesome place the other Respectes to be had for incampyng to place themselues where thenemie could not besiege theim nor take from them the waie to the water or victualles Then for to auoide infirmitie thei did â—ie from places Fennie or subiecte to hurtfull windes whiche thei knewe not so well by the qualitie of the situacioÌ„ as by the face of the inhabitours â–ª for when thei sawe theim euill coloured or swollen How to choose a place to incampe or full of other infeccion thei would not lodge there concernyng thother respecte to prouide not to be besieged it is requisite to consider the nature of the place where the friendes lye and where thenemies and of this to make a coniecture if thou maiest be besieged or no and therefore it is meete that the Capitaine be moste experte in the knowlege of situacions of countries and haue aboute him diuers men that haue the verie same expertenes Thei auoide also diseases How to auoide diseases from the armie and famishment with causyng the armie to kepe no misrule for that to purpose to maintain it in health it is nedefull to prouide that the souldiours maie slepe vnder tentes that thei maie lodge where bee Trees that make shadowe where woodde is for to dresse their meate that thei go not in the heate and therefore thei muste bee drawen out of the campe before daie in Summer and in Winter to take hede that thei marche not in the Snowe and in the Froste without hauyng comoditie to make fire and not to lack necessarie aparel nor to drink naughtie water those that fall sicke by chaunce make them to bee cured of Phisicions bicause a capitain hath no reamedie when he hath to faight with sicknesse and with an enemie but nothing is so profitable to maintaine the armie in health as is the exercise and therfore the antiquitie euery daie made them to exercise wherby is seen how muche exercise auaileth The wonderfull commoditie of exercise for that in the CaÌ„pe it kepeth thee in health and in the faight victorious Concernyng famishemente it is necessarie to see that the enemie hinder thee not of thy victualles but to prouide where thou maieste haue it and to see that thesame whiche thou
brasse walled theron whiche must be as great as those that the Diers vse and these cauldrons must then be filled with the forsaied Saltpeter water the whiche as alredie I haue tolde ought to be as full of substaūce as maie be so that it haue about the .ij. third partes and make it faire and softlie to boile so muche till it cum to one thirde part or there aboutes and after take it of and put it to settell in a great vessell couered whiche muste bee well bounde aboutel with hoopes of yron and sure close in the ioinyng therof to the intent it spill not and thus when the same water is setled and well clarefied and from the yearthie and grose matter whiche in it remained dilligently purged it must bee taken oute and boyled agayne of newe in thesame cauldron or in sum other and for as muche as euery time that it boileth if it be not taken hede of it turneth into skum and somtymes swelleth so muche that often tymes runnyng ouer it spilleth and carrieth awaye therewith muche of the good the whiche mindynge to remeadie you muste take three partes of Oke asshes and one of lime and moreouer in euerie hundreth pounde waighte of water there muste be dissolued fower pounde of roche Alum and when the cawldron boileth take of the sayde water with a pot and powre into it ones or twise and specially when you see the saltpeter water rise in skum whiche in a little while you shall se it alaie both clere and faire and of an azur colour and it must be boiled so long till all the thin watrines bee vapored awaie and the substaūce of the saltpeter thickened so that it being taken out and put in chestes or tubbes and coled maie congele the whiche is beste doen when the water is brought to least quantitie taking it out and puttyng it into a lesse caudron wherein it will soner congele the whiche water being tasted and seen to be brought to suche passe to be redy to congele you may take it out and put it in vecelles of wood or of yearth that are rough within with certain stickes of wood to congele and so you shall let it coole and reste .iij. or iiij daies so as it maie drop and be strained through some little hole in the botom of the vessell and all the water that is not then cōgeled you must take out and saue for to seeth again and the saltpeter that is in any quantitie congeled you shall finde to be accordyng to the vertue that was in the water or in the yerth but the clerenes and fairenes therof will cum of the maister vertue of the water that is put into it in the boiling whiche hath strength to purgeit and make it cum as it wer refined in the first seething now this beyng taken from the sides of the vessell where it cōgeled and in the water therof washed you must laie it vpō a tabell to drie throughly thesame semyng vnto you to haue nede or neuerthelesse mindyng to haue it aboue the comō vse for some purpose more purefied without yerthie grosnes altogether without fatnes and saltnes which for to make excedyng fine pouder or aqua fortis is muste requised so to bee to bee shorte for what so euer cause it ought to bee refined I councell you to doe it after one of these .ij. waies whiche here folowyng I shall teache you The first whiche I like best is with water and the seconde is with fire with water it is refined in this maner taking of the forsaid mixture made of lime asshes and allome desolued then for euerie harrill of water that you haue put in the cauldron for to disolue the saltepeter you muste put into it six potfulls of the forsayde stronge water and in the same quantetie of water so prepared put so muche saltepeter as you thinke maye well be disolued and with boylinge make it to resolue verie well and seinge it in boylinge to haue caste vp skum you shall then take it oute of the cauldron and put it into a tubbe in the bottom wherof you muste firste haue put fower fingers thicknes of fine sande cleā washed and that muste be keuered with a linen clothe and by a littel hole made in the bottom of the tubbe you shall suffer it to droppe by littel littel into sum other vecel set vnder to receiue it so this water thus strayned you muste after put in the verie same or in an other cauldron to boile agayne to make the greater parte of the same water that you put into it seeth awaye finally make it boile so muche vntill you see it reddie to thicken poweringe nowe and than in makinge it a littel of the forsayde stronge water and spetially when it swelleth and casteth vp skum and this thinge beinge so handled you muste take oute of the cawldron and put it in chestes or other vecells of wood to congeale whiche beinge a greate quantetie in three or fower dayes you shall finde all that congealed which will cōgeall which beinge taken oute you muste order as you vsed afore the other and the same water that is not congealed muste be boiled againe and so you shall doo from time to time as it gathereth together and cōgealeth and after this sorte you shall make the saltepeter moste white and faire and muche better then at the firste seathinge Also saltepeter is refined in an other manner whiche is with fire but in a littel quantetie mynding to doe it well although it be a reddie waye yet fewe vse it albeit it serueth to get oute the fatnes of saltepeter for that it sendeth into the bottō very muche yearthenes not withstonding I like better the forsayde waye in purginge it with water then this with fier But to doo this take a salet or sum other yron or brasen vecell and fill it with saltepeter and keuer it with a keuer of yrō brasse or yearth so that it be made bighe inoughe mete to bee taken of and put on when yow liste that the vesell maye be wel keuered then it muste be set in the middest of a good fire of coles and so the saltepeter will melte whiche is soune perceyued of the experte artifecer but when you thinke that it is molte loke vpon it and if it be not well molten keuer it again and let it melt well then it being well molten take brimstone moste finelie beaten in powlder and strawe sum theron and if of it selfe it take not fier doe you kendel it and beinge kendeled let it burne till suche time as the brimstome be all consumed so that nothinge else be burnte but the vper parte and certaine grosse vnctiousnes of the saltepeter the which when it is burned will leaue the reste faire and cleare and then it muste bee taken from the fire letting it coole where in the vessell you shall finde it when it shal be coulde all in one pece white like
faciletie of beating it for to be able safelie to make a greate quantetie therof In olde time they wer wonte to grinde gūpoulder with certayne handemilles as they vse to grinde corne but besides the paine it is awaye verie perrillus for that suche a composition grownde together with stones will catche heate in suche wyse that it wil sone ingēder fire inespetialy euery thing being a matter disposed to fire as also by rubbinge together with violēce a cople of baye stickes yow shal straighte waye kendell fire Sum grinde poulder in suche mylles as they vse to grind crabbes or apells to make vargis or cider and sum hathe it stamped in morters with a water mille or a horsemill which waye is the beste of all other and moste sureste and also it is beaten finelier and with lesse labor and paine Sum that hathe not the comodetie of water make a greate wheele deuised after suche sorte that with the cogges therof it maye raise vp many heuy pestells whiche fallinge beate in diuers morters of wood made in a beame of oke of the whiche there be sum haue the bottomes of brasse Sum stampe with theire armes with a great pestel tied to the ende of a pole with a corde righte ouer a morter of wood or brasse and so they beate the easelier other some beate it in a stone morter with the mouthe sumwhat large with a wooden pestell with the handel therof made like vnto a hamner or a mall And these and other that maye be made is as moche as aboute the deuise of beating and making gunpouder is nedefull They haue vsed heretofore to waighe euery matter by it selfe and then they haue gone mingling and beating all together There haue been after sum that haue deuised to beate euery thing seuerally by it self and then mingelld alltogether and made it But finally the beste and moste readieste waye is to take a a quantetie of saltepeter wherewith you will make your poulder put it into a cauldron with so muche water as being set vpon the fire maye bee thought sufficiente to disolue it whiche so sone as it is resolued muste be taken of and set on the grounde in a cold place and the quantitee of beaten coles that is sufficient muste be put into it and so slurringe it aboute muste be mingled well with the saltepeter desolued and then taking your brimstone finely beaten in pouder and with a staffe stirring about the coles and the saltepeter you muste strawe it finely vpon the same as well as you can with continuall sturringe and minglinge them together whiche composition thus made you muste then drie sumwhat in the sunne and then to haue it excellently well made there nedeth no other to be doen but to beate it all together to the intente that it maye incorporate moste finely whiche doen you must drie it with moste greate dilligence and then sift it very wel through a seue and moisting it again with water or vineger sturring it sumwhat together in a seue you maye corne it as alreadie hath ben declared and then againe for to occupie it aboute your busines you muste drie it well and so beeyng dried put it into drie vecells of wood to kepe and set it in the higheste places of your house where fewe cometh for diuers respectes and though it wer for no other at least to kepe it drie They that are experte knowe good poulder in this maner by the color for that if it be verie blacke it is a signe that it is made with verie muche coles or that it is moiste and when you rubbe it vpon a pece of paper it will black it more then it ought to doe and drawing it with your finger you maie se whether it be finelie beaten or no for it muste be so muche beaten that nothing neither of saltepeter nor of Brimstone be diserned in any wise for with reason they ought not to bee seen they take also for a triall three or fower cornes of poulder and laye theim vpon a white Paper distaunte three fingers the one from the other and fire one of theim and if the poulder bee good you shall see theim all to fire at tones so that there shal be no residence remaining neither grosenes of Brimstone nor of saltepeter nor of any other thing and the paper not burnte And if it be not so fownde thei knowe that it is euell made or not good but full of yearthenes of Saltepeter or that it is moiste so that it is naughte for shooting of ordinaunce besides the perrill that it putteth them in And vndoubtedly naughtie poulder is a cost halfe caste awaye and it is a greate faute in him that maketh it or that causeth it to bee made for that in time of nede it is of no effecte causeth muche shame to the Gunners whiche occupie it and therefore diligence ought to be vsed and good hede taken that it be made accordyng as I haue taughte There are many whiche bryng vp lies saiyng that they can tell howe to make poulder that shoting it in gunnes shall make no noise the which is impossible the fire and the aire violentlie incountering together where besides that they ar not able to doe the same they saye with a pece of ordinaunce they ar lesse able to doe it with one of those potgunnes of elder that boyes vse to shute paper and slowes in by the noise of whiche maye well be perceiued that all procedeth of breakinge of the ayre Also there be manie that saye that they cā make white poulder that shall not blacke on s handes by putting in a certaine thing in the stede of coles sum other redde with dried red flowres and other blewe with blewe flowers sum other saye that to make the poulder of more force and strengthe that it is verie good to put to euery pounde of brimstone an ounce of mercurie the brimstone being first put in by a littel a littel Morouer there ar sum other that saye that for to make the like there ought to be put to euery poūd of saltepeter a quarter of an ounce of salte armoniac sum other therebe also whiche saye that in the stede of coles it is better to take linen clothe and to burne it to tinder and therewith to make poulder whiche is more excellenter then eny other cole that is possible to be vsed aboute suche a purpose And allthough that in my iudgemente I haue declared allredy the best receites that is for the makyng of all sortes of gunpoulder yet to the intente that it maye bee vnderstonde howe muche mē haue trauailed and imagened to bring the same to all perfection I haue thought good to show herefollowing diuers moe receiptes bothe good and bad whiche for the making of poulder hathe ben experiensed of sundrie men The first inuention and oldeste maner in making of sarpentine poulder or poulder for ordinaunce 1 Saltepeter i. parte Brimstone i. parte Coles i. parte The next practis of making poulder
then a bodkin and put in euery hole a littell sticke And it is to bee vnderstōde that this forsayde mixture maye bee also made vpon the fyre in a cauldron and the balles that ar made therof muste be rouled in serpentine poulder and then in the mixture often tymes keueringe them with toe well plaistered on of a good thicknes then when they shal be a littell dried take the sayde stickes oute of the holes and fill them haulfe full of serpentine poulder and the other haulfe with coren poulder and gyuinge fyre to the sayde balles and throwinge them emonge the enemies they will doo maruelus and wonderfull hurte For that the sayde balles will burne within the water so that fallinge vpon the armur of sowdiers water cannot quenche them nor eny thinge else excepte aboundāce of myre or durte And addinge to the sayde mixture that is vnsod haulf a parte of beaten glas and haulfe a parte of baye salte you may fill a trumbe therewith after the maner as I haue taughte a littel afore To trim Targettes vvith fyrevvorke to assaulte or to defende a breache Cap. xxxv GEt pypes of bras as manie as you liste and naile them vpon a target eyther six .viij. or ten and fill the sayde pypes full of the forsayde mixture vnsod and order the pypes after suche sorte that they fyre not alltogether but one after an other so that whē one is almost burned oute the same maye gyue fyre to an other by a littell pype as small as on s finger that muste gowe from the bottom therof to the mouthe of an other and so successiuely to all whiche shall continue a long tyme but the sayde target must be keuered with blacke buckeram that the fyreworke be not perceyued and the gyuing of fyre the one to the other To make an other kynde of fyrevvorke Cap. xxxvi TAke willowe roles saltpeter aqua vite brimstone pitche resapina Camphere oile of stones vernice liquide turpentine as muche of the one as of the other mingling euery thing together then take a littell purse of cannas and fill it full of serpētine poulder and keuer the purse all ouer with the forsayde mixture of a good thicknes with as muche toe as you shall thinke good and thē make a hole that maye gowe to the middeste of the halle whiche muste bee filled full of poulder so that thereby all the composition therof with a matche maye be set on fyre when you liste Hovve to make a mixture in stone that shall kendell fyre vvith vvater or spittell Cap. xxxvii THis stone is very necessary for a Captaine to gyue fyre to his gunners when through foul wether all their matches shulde happen to gowe oute and where they cannot kindell them againe bycause of the raine Firste take vnslaked lyme one parte Tutia alessandrina vnprepared one parte saltpeter very wel refined one parte quicke brimstone twoo partes Camphere twoo partes calamite stone one parte Al these thinges muste bee well beaten and sifted and bounde harde together with a pese of newe linen clothe and put into a copell of year thē cuppes suche as goldesmithes vse to melte in the mouthes of whiche muste be ioyned together faste bounde with yron wyre and daubed ouer with lutum sapientia that it breathe not oute and then dried a littel till it becum yelowe that don put it into a fornes where they burne bricke or yearthen vesells and let it tarie therin as longe as the bricke or yearthē vesselles be a bakinge and then takinge it oute you shall se it made like vnto a brickstone To make an other kinde of stone to kendell fyre vvith vvater or spittell Cap. xxxviii TAke Camphere three partes saltepeter well refined twoo partes vnflaked lyme twoo partes brimstone twoo partes all these thinges beinge well beaten together and put into a copell of goldesmithes meltinge cuppes well stopped with lutum sapientia muste then be baked in a fornes and when the yearthen vesselles be taken oute this shall also be made Hovve to make lutum sapientia Cap. xxxix TAke of the beste white potters earth that you cā get for in one place there is better than in an other that is to saye of that which can best endure the fyre as suche as they make pottes of in Padua and likewise in Germany for it is of such perfectiō that the pottes whiche be made of it and wherin they dresse their meate may also serue to found metalles in Take then of the beste and specially if it must serue for a thing that hath neede to be longe vppon a great fyre otherwise take suche as you can get There is founde of it that is of a graye colour as the common sorte is and also there is white that men vse in some place of Vicence whiche is like loaues of Gispum or plaister and is called of the Italians Florette de Chio. We here in Englande vppō the vse thereof maye geue it what name we will Potters vse of it in Venise for to whit the dishes and other thinges before they vernish or pollish them There is also founde of it that is redde as in Apulia where there is greate quātety and that they call Boale and is the very same that some Apoticaries doo sell for Boale Armenick and the Venetiās vse of it for to paint redde the forefrōtes of their houses with lime bricke and Vermillion couering it afterwarde with Oyle of line This redde earth is the fattest and the clammiest of all the rest therefore it cleaueth soonest by the fire if it be not tempered with some other substaunce And because that all the sayed earthes bee to fatte the one mor than the other therefore men put to them some leane substaunce Nowe if you take of that of ashe colour which is most commē and the lest fatty you may compose make it in this maner Take of the sayed earth foure partes of clothmakers floxe or shearing one part ashes that haue serued in a buck or other half a part drie horse donge or the dong of an Asse one part If you will make it parfiter put to it a fewe stamped brickes and sparkes of yron let al these thinges be wel stamped and sifted that is to saye the earth the ashes the horse donge the brickes and the sparkes of yron than mingle al together and make it into earth and make a bedde therof vpon the whiche you shall caste by little and little the floxe as equally as you can This doē powre to it water styrring it well fyrste with a sticke and than with a pallet broade at the ende And whā all is well incorporated together as you woulde haue it laye it vppon some great borde and beate it wel and that a good space with some great staffe or other instrument of yron mingling and stearing it well for the lenger you beate it the better it is By this meane you shall haue a verye good claye for to lute or clay and
matche it will strayghte waye kendell and it is so vnquenchiable that it burneth till he or the thing that it lighteth on bee altogether consumed if this composition fyred chaunce to be throwen and lighte vpon armur it will make it so glowing redde in such sorte that he that hathe it on his backe shal be constrained to put it of if he will not be burnt to deathe Also there is made an other sorte and it is a moste thin liquor apte to fyer with the which if in the canicular daies a pese of wood or other thing apt to burne bee anoincted the heate of the sun is then able to set it on fyer and to burne it and so sone as it is touched with fyer it kendeleth incontinente and is vnquenchable except it be choked vp with sande or wet with very stale vrin or moste stronge vineger also it will burne in the water the making wherof is in this wise there muste be taken Camphire oyle of quicke brimstone oyle of turpentine oyle of dunge oyle of iuneper oyle of stones oyle of lyntesede alchitrean colofonia moste fynelie beaten oyle of egges pytch goose grease saltepeter as muche aqua vite as all the reste of the composition and as muche arsinic tartar and armoniack salte as the eyghte parte of alltogether Whiche thinge muste bee put into a glasse or pot wel stopped and thē set to putrefie in a hot dūhgill for the space of twoo monethes after all the forsayd things muste bee destilled with a gentle fyre where within eyghte houres there will cum of those thinges a most suttill lyquor into the whiche puttinge then so much oxedunge dried in an ouen and moste fynelie beaten to poulder as maye make it so thicke as sope or sumwhat thinner after mynding to ocupie it the thing that is to be burnte muste be annoincted therewith this also the Sonne wil set on fyre and burne what so euer is nere it Also there is an other composition of fyre that anie thinge that is anoincted therewith will maruelusly burne and fyre with wetinge of rayne or otherwyse which to make there must be taken newe whitelyme made of flinte calamite made to poulder by fyer vitrioll grose beaten the two thirteth parte saltepeter refined eyghte partes and as muche camphere as all the forsayde thinges oile of quicke brimstone oyle of turpentine salte armoniacke by waighte as muche as the vitrioll and as muche tartar and baye salte salte of vrin aqua vite made of strong wyne as muche as all the reste of the composition the whiche thinges compounded together muste be put lyke as the other wer into a greate glasse well stopped that it breathe not oute and then it must be set in a hot dounghill for twoo or three moneths remouinge the glasse chaunginge the dounge at leaste euerie ten dayes to thintente that the same matter maye ripen well and bee lyke vnto a liquor all of one thinge the whiche after ought to be boyled so muche vpon a softe fyer that all the oylie humidetie and other moystenes that is in it maye vapor away the rest to becum drie and stony and when it is drie and stony breaking the glasse and takinge it oute it muste be grounde to poulder the whiche when it is to be ocupied must be strawed vpō the place that is dressed for the same purpose so that it being rayned vpon or enimaner of wayes wet will kendell and fall on a fyre Hovve to make a girdell for Souldiers or Fisshers vvherby they may goe in the vvater and passe ouer a riuer vvithoute eyther bridge or bote Cap. xlii THis Girdel ought to be made accordinge to the fation of the fygure nexte following and of suche lether that muste be dressed in lyke sorte as the same is wher with footebals ar made wherunto a pype must be fastened lyke vnto a baggepype so that the girdell when it is girte aboute a Soudier vpon his armur may be blowen full of wynde by helpe wherof he maye then safely passe ouer a riuer goinge through the same how depe so euer it bee where he shall not sinke in the water forther then from the girdell stede dounewarde whiche for men of warre is very commodius and a moste necessary thing Hovve to vvryte and cause the same that is vvritten to bee red a far of vvithoute sendinge enie message Cap. xliii WHen a Capitayn were so be seged of enemies in a toune or fortresse that no mā coulde cum vnto him or be sente from him with letters whereby his mynde or the distresse and incōuenience that he is in mighte of his frendes be vnderstonde Yet his mynde beinge written maye of them notwithstonding in the nighte be red as farre of as a lighte can then be seen and by daye as farre as a burninge glas can caste the sun or a hat or any other suche lyke marke maye perfectly be decerned so that the order therin be firste knowen agreed vpon betwene bothe parties The maner in doynge it in the nighte is thus he that gyueth the aduyse muste holde his letter in the one hande wherin his mynde is reddie written and one lighte or .ij. lightes in the other hande and the other that shulde reede copy the same ought to haue paper and pen and ynke with this a b c etc. herefollowinge and vnderstande a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s t v vv this part of letters with .i. lighte this part with two lightes 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 And for the plainer vnderstanding herof it is to be noted that the first parte of the letters ar shewed with one lighte and the seconde part beginning at M are signified with ij lightes and euery letter of the a b c muste be vnderstonde and knowen by the number or often shewinge and hyding of the light or lightes As for example if this worde Man wer to be written bycause M is the first letter stāding in the secōde part M must be signefied by two lyghtes shewed onse and then hydden and stayed so longe as maye be thought that he that doeth copy after the light so seuerally shewed and the number dilligently marked maye haue conuenient tyme to wryte M then one lighte beinge shewed onse so hydde and stayd a must be written for that a is the firste letrer in the first parte agayne twoo lightes being shewed twyse stayd n ought to be written bycause n is the second letter in the secōd parte which doen there shal be writtē Man And thus by marking well the number of shewing hyding and stayng of the lighte or lightes the letter that thereby is signified maye moste easely be vnderstōde and perceyued So that after this sorte there maye be expressed and written what so euer a
man lyste To the Reders WHen the Britons the aunciente inhabitauntes of this yle for lacke of skilfull mē of warre of their owne being afrayde of the Franki Burgūdi which were certaine Barberous nations who at the time ouerrā spoyled possessed Fraūce caused the Germayne people called Angly to come to ayde defende theim by whose procurement the Angly vnder Vortiger their King taking vpon theim the same enterprise after they had ones defended theim did then incontinence dryue theim oute of this ylande remainnig here theim selues to inhabit after their name called it Englande euen as also of later dayes the lyke chaūce hapned to the Grekes by calling in the Turkes to helpe theim againste their enemies Which examples with innumerable lyke being well considered doe moste manifestly shew how daungerous and pernitius it is for a Prince his Realme to be driuē to truste to the seruis of straungers for lacke of sufficiente skilfull men of their owne for their defence Wherefor sithens my intente in setting fourth this boke of Martiall affaires hath been onely to the ende to declare my good will to haue my naturall coūtriemen not to be inferior to any in warlyke knowledge but rather to excell in the same whereby withoute ayde or helpe of any forein nation we may alwayes be most renoumed and famous I shall beseche all gentill readers for this my labor doen for their comodeties to iudge reporte therof accordingly And although my doynges herin be not correspōdente to my desire nor to the satisfactiō of euery mās mynde which were impossible yet my truste is the som neuerthelesse by dilligente reding therof imitating the example of Lucullus who chefelie by studie of lyke bokes in very shorte space became one of the valiantest worthiest warrior of all the Romaynes may if they liste take comodity and profit whereby the knowledge in warres may of suche as neuer haue ben trayned in theim be the more easely gotten and attayned For which cause my indeuour and trauaile taken herein for to profit this our cōmon weale deserueth not vtterly to be despysed seing that the most verteous lyfe and gouernment of Alexander Seuerus Emperour of Rome with manie other Princes and Comō weales coulde not being necligent in this kynde of studie and practis therof saue or defende theim selues from moste shamefull endes and miserable deathes wherin fortune was not to be blamed but only their folly and ignoraunce for hauing neuer thoughte in tyme of tranquillity and pease that it could chaunge in to aduersitie and trouble the which is a comon faulte of men not to make accompre in fayre weather of the tempest to come A Perfecte rule to bring men into a square battell of what number so euer they bee Fol. ij To know how many mē may marche in a ranke and at a suddein to bryng them into a fowersquare battell so that their Ansigne may come to be in the middest Fol. iij. How to ordeine a number of men or an armie into a battell lyke vnto a wedge or three square so that it may be apte to marche with the poincte therof towarde the enemies Fol. vi To make the battell called the sheeres which in olde time they vsed to set against the Triangell Fol. vij What auantage it is to order men in a triangell battell against the enemie that knoweth not how to make the battell called the Sheeres to set against it inespecially where there is as many men of the one parte as of the other Fol. viij To bryng a number of men or an armie into a battell whiche in olde time was called a Sawe Fol. ix To fashion a battell of a number of men or an armie lyke vnto twoo Triangels ioygned together so that they may be apte to marche with a corner ther of towarde the enemies Fol. x. What is best to be doen where the ordinance of the enemies beinge shotte into the Armie hath slayne many men Fol. xi Howe to chaūge with spede an Army that is in battellraye fowersquare into a triangel fation without dissordering the firste rankes and without perrill of confusion Fol. xiij Of the perfecte forme or fation of strong places Fol. xvi The strongest and perfectes fation of all other for the building of the cortin or wal of a toun or fortres Fol. xviij An example of the quadrant forme to proue that it causeth debilletie and wealines Fol. xxij Of the nature of Saltpeter and the maner howe to make and refine it Fol. xxiij The maner howe to make all sortes of Gunpoulder Fol. xxvij The maner that is vsed of charging and shooting of ordinaunce Fol. xxxiij How to get oute quickly the nailes that shuld happen by treason or otherwyse to be driuen into the toucheholes of ordinaunce Fol. xxxiiij How much the artillery ought to bee estemed of the armies now adayes and whether the same opiniō of them which is had vniuersally be trew Fol. xxxiiij Of Muynes and placing of poulder vndergrounde wherewith inuinsible fortresses by fire maye bee ruignated when ordinaunce cannot bee broughte vnto them Fol. xxxviij The maner how to make trombes or trūkes of fyre as well to assaulte as to defende a breache or gate and to sette a fyre a toune or Campe or enie thing els Fol. xxxix How to make bottells or pottes of fyrworke to throw into shippes or emonge men that are in battellray Fol. xl An other composition of fyre worke Fol. xl Balles of mettel to throwe among men in battelraye or otherwyse which breaking shall doo wonderful hurte Fol. xli The maner howe to prepare pottes and balles of fyre worke to throwe with hande Fol. xli Howe to make balles of wilde fyre to shoote in ordinaunce or to throwe with handes Fol. xlij To trim Targettes with fyreworke to assaulte or to defende a breache Fol. xliij To make an other kyude of fyreworke Fol. xliij Howe to make a mixture in stone that shall kendell fyre with water or spittell Fol. xliij To make an other kynd of stone to kendell fyre with water or spittell Fol. xliiij Howe to make lutum sapientia Fol. xliiij How to make certayn fireworke to tye at the poincts of pykes or horsemenstaues Fol. xlv Howe to make diuerse compositions of fyreworkes Howe to make a girdell for Souldiers or Fisshers wherby they may goe in the water and passe ouer a riuer withoute eyther bridge or bote Fol. xlviij Howe to write and cause the same that is written to bee red a far of withoute sendinge enie message Fol. xlviij The Ende ¶ Imprinted at London By Ihon Kingston for Nicolas Englande Anno salutis M.D.LXII Mense Aprilis