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
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
ouerthrew them withoute hauing enie impedimente thereby and the reason is besids the thinges tolde afore that the artillerie mynding to haue it worke hathe nede to be garded eyther of a wall or of dyches or of bankes And when it lacketh on of these gardes it is taken or becumeth vnprofitabell as it hapneth when it is defended with men for where they chaūse to be in a battayle and in the faighte on the lande they cannot bee occupied by flanke but in the same maner that the antiquetie occupied the instrumēts to shoote which they placed oute of the squadrons for that they shulde faight oute of the orders allwayes when eyther of horsemen or of other they wer charged vpon their refuge was behinde the legions he that otherwyse maketh accompte of them hathe no skill trusteth vpō a thing which easely may deceyue him And though the Turke by meanse of artillerie againste the Sophi the Soldan hathe had victory it hath not happened through other meāse thē through the feare that the horsemen wer put in by the straūge rumor therof Therfore to make an ende of this discoorse I conclude that the artillerie is proffittable in an armie when the aunciente vertue is mingled therewith but withoute the same against a puisante armie it is moste vnproffittabell Of Muynes and placing of poulder vnder grounde vvherevvith inuinsible fortresses by fire maye be ruignated vvhen ordinaunce cannot bee broughte vnto them Cap. xxviij THe better and greater quantety of poulder whiche is put in a Caue that is made to ouerthrowe a forte or Castell the greater vndoubtedly shal be the effecte therof whiche caue is best to be made a good waye within the ground and in a harde place to the intent that when the same is shutte and well walled vp the fyre be not able easely to haue enie other waye oute then in ouerthrowing the thinge that is to be ruyned for as muche as if the ayre and the fyre in the rume of that inclosed place maye haue meanse to breathe oute the forse therof wil be of no effecte Also it wold be taken hede of that the caue be not by no other means marde so that the fyre maye breake oute for which cause it ought to be made with the beginning therof sumwhat distāte frō the place that you mynde to ouerthrowe to the intente that in makinge therof the men of the same place doo not issue oute to lette you nor perceiue the certayne place of the hurte to be able to prouyde for it and to make countermuynes to let the fyre brethe oute and pas withoute enie effecte whereby all yowr coste and labor maye becum vayne Moreouer they make these muynes the moste naroweste and moste crookedest that maye be and in espetially nere the very place that is appoincted to be ouerthrowen and therefore vnder suche a place there muste be digged a hole that maye bee at leaste three yardes highe or more and twoo yardes brodde and that the entrie vnto it be vndergrounde in the maner as by this presente figure yow maye se described THE FOVNDATION OF THE MVINE DISCOVERED THE PLACE OF GREATEST EFFECTE And in this to put barrelles with theire heddes knocked oute full of good stronge poulder betwene whiche you muste also strawe poulder inough vpon the bordes wheron they stonde laiynge to it a good great matche made of cotton boyled in vinegre brimstone and saltpeter which must be well roled in good serpētine poulder wel dried in the sonne and hauing layde it to the place you must make a trayne of poulder vpon it euen to the gowinge oute so that it maye be keuered therewith placinge it in pypes of yearthe or tronkes of woode in the place of the entrie therof and that don yow muste wall it vp moste strongly laiynge ouerthwarte great blockes of okes or other woode so that with those and with the wall it maye be strong to resiste the furye of the fyre as muche as is possible the entrie in suche maner made vp and fortefied when you shall thinke it tyme to bringe the effecte to pas to destroy the aduersaries or to make a ruyn you maye cause the trayne to bee sette on fyre where yow shall see a maruelus and horrible effecte follow More about this matter I nede not to declare sauinge that if it shuld chaunce the muyne to be made in a stonie place where the stones wyll fall doune that then the beste is to vnderproppe them with pipes of wood filled full of poulder The maner hou to make trōbes or trunkes of fyre as vvell to assaulte as to defende a breache or gate and to sette a fyre a tovvne or Campe or enie thinge else Cap. xixx FIrste cause a cane of good woode to be made at the torners as bigge as a mās thighe the length of an ell after suche sorte that the hole therof be as wyde that a man maye thruste in his naked arme cause that the bottom of the sayd truncke be made in suche wyse with a littell hole that the staffe of a partesan maye enter into it and so to be made faste therunto byndinge the sayde trunke with yrō wyre at both endes in the middest for more suerty that it breake not through the fury of the fyre Thē fill it with this mixture here following Take serpētin poulder .iiij. pounde rosen .j. pounde cāphere hause a pounde beaten glas .iiij. ounses and mingell euerie thinge together then begin to fill and putte in the trumbe a handfull of serpentine poulder vnmixte nexte a handefull of the forsayde mixture after a littell poulder then a stoppell of cotten wet in oile of gineper and put in vpon the sayde cotten as you haue don at the firste that is to saye poulder and then mixture etc. And thus you muste doo till yow haue filled it full stampinge in the stuffe allwayes lightely and if for lacke of gineper oile you wette the cotten in aqua vitae it is very good puttinge after euery quantety of poulder a littel quickesiluer then when it is full put in the mouthe sum good poulder makinge it a singell keuer of parchemente bounde aboute with packthred and with a littell hole in the middeste of the parchemente wherin you must put a matche made with gunpoulder the whiche easely and quickely with your common matche maye kendell the fyre beinge cum to the face of the enemie whiche is an excellente thinge for the faighte on the sea or for to dissorder a a bande of horsemen Hovve to make bottells or pottes of fyre vvorke to throvve into shippes or emonge men that are in battaylraye Cap. xxx SVche yearthē bottells or pottes as is cōmonly vsed to kepe vineger or oyle and suche lyke is beste for this purpos whiche muste be filled with this cōposition serpentine poulder ij partes rosen one part pytche one part beating most fynele al these thinges together in a morter then take turpentine and a littell gineper oyle or
ioyne violles flagons of glasse to still with and bottells of gourdes for stilling and other great thinges as furnesses and suche like But he that wil make it with mor ease let him put the earth only the flox and the horse dong with a fewe ashes Some put no horse donge to it some no floxe according to the purpose that thei make it for For to stop and close vp the mouthes of skilling glasses or violles to thintēt they take no vent on the fyre the sayd clay wil be very good neuerthelesse men put to it two partes of quicke lime the whites of Egges then it will be surer to let nothinge vent out but the glasse it self Al kind of clay or earth would be kept moist redy dressed for him that will occupy it continually but it must not be kepte to watery nor yet lefte to drie for than it woulde serue for nothinge seinge that after it is once hardened a mā can not dresse it any more to do any good withal And whan you put water to it it is mollified by little and little aboue and is as it were a sauce but within remayneth harde and if you put to much water to it you marre it vtterlye Therfore whan you see that it beginneth to waxe drie feed it a newe little and little with water styrring it tyll it be well and so shall you make it perfecte Hovve to make certayn fyrevvorke to tye at the poinctes of pykes or horsemenstaues Cap. xl FOr to assaulte or to defende a breache and also to worke sum pollecy in the nighte againste the enemies it is somtymes good to tye at the poinctes of pykes or launces certaine canes like vnto squibbes made of paper vpon a foorme of wood as long as the breddeth of a sheete of paper filled full of serpentyne poulder amongeste the whiche muste be mingled littell peces or crūmes of pitche of brimston graines of baye salt fylinges of yron and beaten glas arsinic cristall beaten to peses and suche lyke and after they ar closed vp and tied faste at one of the endes this composition muste bee well beaten into them with ther owne formes or mouldes vnto euery one of which there must be put a good matche sod in saltepeter gunpoulder and then well dried and fasteninge them to staues after suche sorte that the ysue of the fyre be turned towardes the aduersaries when you thinke good you or sum other maye fyre them wher you shall then see the fyer blowe oute twoo yardes long whiche in the night will seme terrible but in a calme wether or at leaste when the wynde is in the faces of the enemies they ar best to be vsed And moreouer for the faighte on the sea they ar moste excellente Hovve to make diuerse compositions of fyrevvorkes Cap. xli EVery thing that will quicklie burne and that by sum proper vertue is apte to multeplie fyre and maintaine it maye be put in fyrie compositions for that in effecte of suche thinges they are made of which things ther are sum that are mynerall as brimstone and the oyle therof and saltepeter and sum other substances hot drie and thin and sum vnctius as greace and all sortes of oyles sum verie drie as pytch or wood of these there bee sum naturall and sum artefitiall But nowe leauinge to seke suche difference of theire compositions amonge as manie thinges as well olde as newe that I knowe I haue found only these oute of which I haue chosen sum of the notablest spetiallie these that for to make them there muste be taken Rosen Alchitrean quicke brimstone tartar sarcocolla saltepeter and oyle of stones and of euery one sum parte but doble so much of vnslaked lime and all muste be compounded with the oyle of egges and put into a vessell of glas or of yearth that is leaded and keuered very well putting it after vnder hot dunge for a moneth then takinge it from thense and setting it ouer a softe fyre the vecell beinge well stopped it muste be melted whiche don the lycor therof maye be put into hollow staues or in yearthen bottelles or other vecelles made of purpose vnto euery one of whiche muste bee put a peese of a gunpouldered matche in the middest with sum gunpoulder also to the intent that they maye the easelier fier Also there may be made an other sorte of fyreworke after this maner takinge brimstone or oile of brimstone if it may be had oyle of stones or of the same stonie oile of iuniper saltepeter very well refined and for euery portiō of suche thinges fyue of aspallto and moreouer goose grease pure pitch vernis poulder of pigeons dunge and so muche aqua vite that maye throughly moyst all the forsayde thinges which then muste be put into a vessell of glasse and the mowthe therof well stopped with wex and then put vnder a hot dunghyl xxv or xxx dayes and after to make it the better incorporate it wolde be set ouer a soft fyer and that don this composition maye be put into hollowe staues or yearthen pottes or lyke vesselles to be throwen with the hande also there maye be taken a bullet of stone with a ringe fastened therin whereunto wolde be tied a corde of a yarde longe and aboute the same stone putting Toe imbrewed with the forsayd composition or else peces of lynen clothe all to rayed therewith whiche fyringe when it is well kendled maye then be throwē Also balles of this composition maye be shotte in peces of ordinaunce or a stone that hathe a ringe of yron fastened in it to the which ring maye be tied a pece of a rope steped and sod in the forsayde composition or else a littell bagge full therof whiche maye be shotte or throwen as one lyste Moreouer balles of this being made with lynen cloth as afore is shewed may be caste with all sortes of slinges whiche waye one wyll Also there is made an other compositiō in this maner with vernice liquide oyle of quicke brimstone oyle of the yelkes of egges turpentine oile iuniper oyle linsede oyle and olium saxum or oyle of stones and haulfe as muche of aqua vite as all the sayde compositions and also as muche poulder of bayes fynelie beaten as will suffise to thicken all with as muche more saltpeter and all these thinges muste be put together in a vessell of glasse or sum vessell of yearth leaded with a littell mouthe whiche with wex muste be so stopped that it vente not and this muste bee kepte after three monethes in hot dung to putrefie remouinge it euery moneth fower of fyue tymes and shaking it together euery tyme and this matter beinge brought in suche wyse when you will ocupie it it is requisit that you anoinct the same thing that you wil vse or to put therof into that vessell where you will haue the fyre to worke for that the same fyre is suche that putting thereto sum gunpoulder or a gunpouldred
name of veliti Vnder this name were vnderstode all those that threwe with Slinges shotte with Crossebowes caste Dartes and thei vsed the moste parte of them for their defence to weare on their hedde a Murion How the Romaines armed their souldiers and what weapons thei vsed with a Targaet on their arme thei fought out of thorders and farre of from the heauie armed whiche did weare a hedde pece that came doune to their shoulders a Corselet whiche with the tases came doune to the knees and thei had the legges and the armes couered with greaues and vambraces with a targaet on the left arme a yarde and a halfe long and three quarters of a yarde brode which had a hoope of Iron vpon it to bee able to sustaine a blowe and an other vnder to the intent that it being driueÌ„ to the yearth it should not breake for to offende thei had girte on their left flancke a swerde the leÌ„gth of a yarde and a naile on their right side a Dagger thei had a darte in euery one of their haÌ„des the which thei called Pilo and in the beginnyng of the fight thei threwe those at the enemie This was the orderyng and importaunce of tharmoures of the Romaines by the whiche thei possessed al the worlde And although some of these auncient writers gaue them besides the forsaid weapoÌ„s a staffe in their hand like vnto a Partesen I caÌ„not tel how a heuie staffe maie of hym that holdeth a Targaet hee occupied for that to handell it with bothe handes the Targaet should be an impediment to occupy thesame with one hand ther can be doen no good therwith by reason of the weightinesse therof besides this to faight in the throÌ„g in thorders with soche long kynde of weapon it is vnprofitable except in the first front where thei haue space inough to thrust out all the staffe whiche in thorders within cannot bee doen for that the nature of the battaile as in the order of thesame I shall tell you is continually to throng together which although it be an incoÌ„uenience yet in so doing thei feare lesse theÌ„ to stand wide where the perill is moste euident so that all the weapons which passe in length a yarde and a halfe in the throng be vnprofitable for that if a manne haue the Partesan and will occupie it with bothe handes put case that the Targaet lette hym not he cannot hurte with the same an enemie whoÌ„ is vpon hym if he take it with one hand to thintent to occupie also the Targaet being not able to take it but in the middest there remaineth so moche of the staffe behinde that those whiche are behinde him shall let him to welde it And whether it wer true either that the Romaines had not this PartaseÌ„ or that hauing it did little good withal reade all the battailes in the historie thereof celebrated of Titus Liuius and you shall se in thesame most seldome tymes made mencion of Partasens but rather alwaies he saieth that the Dartes beyng throwen thei laied their handes on their sweardes Therfore I will leaue this staffe and obserue concernyng the Romaines the swerde for to hurt and for defence the Targaet with the other armours aforesaied How the Grekes did arme theim selues and what weapons thei vsed against their enemies The Grekes did not arme theim selues so heauily for their defence as the Romaines did but for to offend the enemies thei grounded more on their staues then on their swerdes and in especially the Fallangy of Macedonia whiche vsed staues that thei called Sarisse seuen yardes and a halfe longe with the whiche thei opened the rankes of their enemies and thei kept thorders in their Fallange And although some writers saie that thei had also the Targaet I cannot tell by the reasons aforesaied how the Sarrisse and thei could stande together Besides this in the battaile that Paulus Emilius made with Persa kyng of Macedonia I doe not remember that there is made any mencion of Targaettes but onely of the Sarisse of the difficultie that the Romaine armie had to ouercome theim so that I coniecture that a Macedonicall Fallange was no otherwise then is now a daies a battaile of Suizzers the whiche in their pikes haue al their force and all their power The Romaines did garnishe besides the armours the footmen with feathers A braue and a terrible thyng to the enemies the which thynges makes the sight of an armie to the frendes goodly to the enemies terrible Howe the Romaines armed their horsemen in old tyme. The armour of the horsemen in thesame first Romaine antiquitie was a rounde Targaette and thei had their hedde armed and the reste vnarmed Thei had a swearde and a staffe with an Iron hedde onely before long and small whereby it happened that thei were not able to staie the Targaette and the staffe in the incountryng broke and thei through beyng vnarmed were subiect to hurtes after in processe of time thei armed theim as the footemen albeit thei vsed the Targaette moche shorter square and the staffe more stiffe and with twoo heddes to the entent that breakyng one of the heddes thei might preuaile with the other With these armours as well on foote as on horsebacke the Romaines conquered all the worlde and it is to be beleued by the fruict thereof whiche is seen that thei were the beste appoincted armies that euer were and Titus Liuius in his historie doeth testifie very often where comming to comparison with the enemies armies he saieth But the Romaines by vertue by the kinde of their armours and practise in the seruice of warre were superiours and therfore I haue more particularly reasoned of the armoures of conquerours then of the coÌ„quered But now me thinkes good to reason onely of the maner of armyng meÌ„ at this presente Footemen haue for their defence The maner of armyng menne now a daies a breaste plate and for to offende a Launce sixe yardes and thre quarters long whiche is called a Pike with a sweard on their side rather round at the poinct then sharpe This is the ordinarie armyng of foote menne now a daies for that fewe there be whiche haue their legges armed and their armes the hedde none and those fewe heare in stede of a Pike a Halberde the staffe whereof as you knowe is twoo yardes and a quarter longe and it hath the Iron made like an axe Betwene theim thei haue Harkebutters the whiche with the violence of the fire doe thesame office which in olde tyme the stingers did and the Crossebowe â—â—â—ters This maner of armyng The inuention of Pikes was founde out by the Duchemenne in especially of Suizzers whom beyng poore and desirous to liue free thei were and be constrained to faighte with the ambition of the Princes of Almain who beyng riche were able to kepe hâ—â—se the whiche thesame people could not doe for pouertie Whereby it grewe that beyng on foote mynding to defende theim selues
be considered whether that he wil assaulte thee either in the mornyng or at none or in the euenynge whether he be more puisante with fotemen or horsemen accordyng as thou vnderstandest to ordeine and to prouide for thy self But let vs come to some particular accidente It hapneth sometime that thou gettyng from the enemie because thou iudgest thy selfe inferiour and therfore mindynge not to faight with him and he comyng at thy backe thou ariuest at the banke of a riuer passyng ouer the which asketh time so that the enemie is redie to ouertake thee and to fayght with thee Some which chauÌ„sing to bee in suche perill haue inclosed their armie on the hinder parte with a diche and fillyng the same full of towe and firyng it haue then passed with the armie without beyng able to be letted of the enemie he beyng by the same fire that was betwene them held backe Zanobi I am harde of beliefe that this fyre coulde stay theim in especially because I remember that I haue harde Annone of Carthage howe Annone of Carthage beyng besieged of enemies inclosed him selfe on the same parte with wodde which he did set on fire where he purposed to make eruption Wherfore the enemies beyng not intentiue on the same parte to looke to him he made his armie to passe ouer the same flame causing euery man to holde his Target before his face for to defend them from the fire and smoke Fabricio You saye well but consider you howe I haue saied and howe Annone did for as muche as I saied that they made a diche and filled it with towe so that he that woulde passe ouer the same should be constrained to contende with the diche and with fire Annone made the fire without the diche and because he intended to passe ouer it he made it not great for the otherwise wtout the diche it shoulde haue letted him Dooe you not knowe Nabide a spartayne that Nabide a Spartan beyng besieged in Sparta of the Romaines set fire on parte of his towne to let the way to the Romaines who alredie wer entred in And by meane of the same flame not onely hindered their way but draue them oute but let vs turne to our matter Quintus Luttatius a Romaine hauyng at his backe the Cimbri and commyng to a riuer Quintus Luttatius poâ—â—â—câ—â— to passe ouer a riuer to thentente the enemie should giue him time to passe ouer semed to geue time to them to faight with him and therfore he fained that he would lodge there and caused trenches to be made and certaine pauilions to be erected and sent certayne horsemen into the countrie for forredge so that the Cimbrise beleeuyng that he incamped they also incamped and deuided them selues into sundrie partes to prouide for victuals wherof Luttatius being aware passed the riuer they beyng not able to let him Some for to passe a riuer hauynge no bridge How to passe a ryuer without a bridge haue deuided it and one parte they haue turned behynde their backes the other then becomynge shalower with ease they haue passed it when the riuers be swift purposyng to haue their footemen to passe safely they place their strongest horses on the higher side that thei may sustain the water and an other parte be lowe that may succour the men if any of the riuer in passyng should be ouercome with the water They passe also riuers that be verie deepe with bridges with botes with barrelles therfore it is good to haue in a redinesse in an armie wherewith to be able to make all these thynges It fortuneth sometime that in passyng a riuer the enemie standynge agaynst thee on the other banke doeth let thee to minde to ouercome this difficultie I know not a better insample to folow A polecie of Cesar to haâ—â—â— riuer where his enemie beyng on the other side therof sought to lette hym then the same of Cesar whome hauynge his armie on the banke of a riuer in Fraunce and his passage beynge letted of Vergintorige a Frenche man the whiche on the other side of the riuer had his men marched many daies a longe the riuer and the like did the enemie wherfore Cesar incamping in a woddie place apte to hide men he tooke out of euery legion three cohortes and made them to tarie in the same place commaundynge theim that so soone as he was departed they shoulde caste ouer a bridge and should fortefie it and he with his other menne folowed on the waye wherfore Vergintorige seyng the number of the legions thinkyng that there was not left anie parte of theim behinde folowed also his way but Cesar when he supposed that the bridge was made tourned backewarde and findynge all thynges in order passed the riuer without difficultee Zanobi Haue ye any rule to know the foordes Fabritio How to know the Foordes of a riuer Yea we haue alwaies the riuer in that parte whiche is betwene the water that is stilleste and the water that runneth fastest there is least depth and it is a place more meete to be looked on then any other where For that alwaies in thesame place the riuer is moste shallowest The whiche thyng bicause it hath been proued many tymes is moste true Zanobi If it chaunce that the Riuer haue marde the Foorde so that the horses sincke what reamedy haue you Fabricio The remedie is to make hardels of roddes whiche must be placed in the bottome of the riuer so to passe vpoÌ„ those but let vs folowe our reasonyng If it happeÌ„ that a capitain be led with his armie betwen two hilles that he haue not but twoo waies to saue hymself either that before or that behinde those beyng beset of thenemies he hath for remidie to doe the same Howe to escape oute of a straight where the same is besette with enemies which some haue doen heretofore that which haue made on their hinder parte a greate trenche difficult to passe ouer and semed to the enemie to mynde to kepe him of for to be able with al his power without neding to feare behinde to make force that waie whiche before remaineth open The whiche the enemies beleuyng haue made theim selues stronge towardes the open parte and haue forsaken the inclosed and he then castyng a bridge of woode ouer the Trenche for soche an effect prepared bothe on thesame parte with out any impedimente hath passed and also deliuered hymself out of the handes of the enemie Howe Lutius Minutius escaped out of a strayght wherin he was inclosed of his enemies Lucius Minutus a Consul of Rome was in Liguria with an armie and was of the enemies inclosed betwene certaine hilles whereby he could not go out therefore he sente certaine souldiours of Numidia on horsebacke whiche he had in his armie whom were euill armed and vpon little leane horses towardes the places that were kepte of the enemies whoÌ„ at the first sight made the enemies to order
manners and orders of the warre throughe oute all the worlde in respecte to those of the antiquitie be extinguesshed and in Italy they be all together loste for if there bee a thyng somwhat stronger then the ordinarie it groweth of the insample of other countries You might haue vnderstoode and these other maye remember with how muche debilitie before that kyng Charles of Fraunce in the yere of our saluacion a thousande CCCC xciiii had passed into Italy they made the batelmentes not halfe a yarde thicke the loopes and the flankers wer made with a littell openyng without and muche within and with many other faultes whiche not to be tedious I wil let passe for that easelye from thinne battelmentes the defence is taken a waie the flankers builded in the same maner moste easelie are opened Battelmentâ—â— ought to bee large and thick and the flankers large within Now of the Frenche men is learned to make the battelment large and thicke and the flankers to be large on the part within and to drawe together in the middest of the wall and then agayne to waxe wider vnto the vttermoste parte without this maketh that the ordinance hardly can take away the defence Therfore the French men haue many other deuices like these the whiche because they haue not been seen of our men they haue not been considered Amonge whiche is this kinde of perculles made lyke vnto a grate the whiche is a greate deall better then oures for that if you haue for defence of a gate a massiue parculles as oures lettyng it fall you shut in your men and you can not through the same hurte the enemie so that he with axes and with fyre maye breake it downe safely but if it be made lyke a grate you may it beyng let downe thorough those holes through those open places defende it with pykes with crosbowes and with all other kynde of weapons Baptiste I haue seen in Italy an other vse after the outelandishe facion and this is to make the carriage of the artillerie with the spokes of the wheele crooked towardes the Axeltree I woulde knowe why they make them so seemynge vnto me that they bee stronger when they are made straight as thâ—se of our wheeles Fabritio Neuer beleeue that the thynges that differ from the ordinarie waies be made by chauÌ„ce and if you should beleeue that thei make them so to shew fayrer you are deceiued because where strengthe is necessarie there is made no counte of fayrenesse but all groweth for that they be muche surer and muche stronger then ours The reason is this the carte when it is laden either goeth euen or leanyng vpon the right or vpon the lefte syde when it goeth euen the wheeles equally susteine the waight the whiche beyng equally deuided between them doeth not burden much but leanyng it cometh to haue al the paise of the cariage on the backe of that wheele vppon the which it leaneth If the spokes of the same be straight they wyll soone breake for that the wheele leanyng the spokes come also to leane and not to sustaine the paise by the straightnesse of theim and so when the carte goeth euen and when thei are least burdened they come to bee strongest when the carte goeth awrie and that thei come to haue moste paise they bee weakest Euen the contrarie hapneth to the crooked spokes of the Frenche cartes for that when the carte leanyng vpon one side poincteth vpon them because thei be ordinary croked thei come then to be straight and to be abell to sustaine strongly all the paise wher when the carte goeth euen and that thei be crooked thei sustaine it halfe but let vs tourne to our citie Fortresse The Frenchemen vse also for more safegarde of the gates of their townes for to be abell in sieges more easely to conuey and sette oute men of them besides the saied thynges an other deuise of whiche I haue not seen yet in Italye anie insample and this is where they raise on the oute side from the ende of the draw bridge twoo postes and vpon either of theim thei ioigne a beame in suche wise that the one halfe of theim comes ouer the bridge the other halfe withoute then all the same parte that cometh withoute they ioigne together with small quarters of woodde the whiche thei set thicke from one beame to an other like vnto a grate and on the part within thei fasten to th ende of either of the beames a chaine then when they will shutte the bridge on the oute syde they slacke the chaines and lette downe all the same parte like vnto a grate the whiche comyng downe shutteth the bridge and when they will open it they draw the chaines and the same cometh to rise vp and thei may raise it vp so muche that a man may passe vnder it and not a horse and so much that there may passe horse and man and shutte it againe atonse for that it falleth and riseth as a windowe of a battelmente This deuise is more sure then the Parculles because hardely it maie be of the enemie lette in suche wise that it fall not downe fallynge not by a righte line as the parculles which easely maie be vnderpropped Therfore thei whiche will make a citie oughte to cause to be ordeined all the saied thynges Neither free diche wall tillage nor anie kynde of edificacion ought to bee within a mile of a tounâ— of warre moreouer aboute the walle there woulde not bee suffered anie grounde to be tilled within a myle therof nor anie wall made but shoulde be all champaine wher shoulde be neither diche nor banke neither tree nor house whiche might let the sight and make defence for the enemie that incampeth And note that a towne Note â–ª whiche hathe the diches without with the banckes higher then the grounde is moste weake for as muche as they make defence to the enemie which assaulteth thee and letteth him not to hurte thee because easely they maie be opened and giue place to his artillerie but lette vs passe into the towne I will not lose so muche time in shewyng you how that besides the foresaied thynges it is requisite to haue prouision of victualles wherwith to faight for that thei be thynges that euerie man vnderstandeth and without them all other prouision is vaine The prouition that is meete to be made for the defence of a towne and generally twoo thynges ought to be doen to prouide and to take the comoditie from the enemie that he auaile not by the thinges of thy countrie therfore the strawe the beastes the graine which thou canst not receiue into house ought to be destroied Also he that defeÌ„deth a towne ought to prouide that nothyng be doen tumultiously and disordinately and to take suche order that in all accidentes euerie man maie knowe what he hath to doe The order that ought to be taken is thus that the women the olde folkes the children
menne the wall of thesame whereby the Tounes menne beleuyng that he did it for exercise slacked the Ward whereof Domicius beyng aware assaulted and ouercame them Certaine Capitaines vnderstandyng A policie to get a towne that there should come aide to the besieged haue apareled their Souldiours vnder the Ansigne of those that should come and beyng let in haue gotte the Toune Simon of Athens set fire in a night on a Temple How Simon of Athens wan a towne whiche was out of the toune wherefore the tounes menne goyng to succour it lefte the toune in praie to the enemie Some haue slaine those A policie to get a towne whiche from the besieged Castle haue gone a foragyng and haue appareled their souldiours with the apparell of the forragers whom after haue gotte the toune The aunciente Capitaines haue also vsed diuers waies to destroie the Garison of the Toune whiche thei haue sought to take How Scipio gâ—â—te ceâ—taine ceâ—â—elo in Afrike Scipio beyng in Africa and desiring to gette certaine Castles in whiche were putte the Garrisons of Carthage he made many tymes as though he would assaulte theim albeit he fained after not onely to abstaine but to goe awaie from them for feare the whiche Aniball beleuyng to bee true for to pursue hym with greater force and for to bee able more easely to oppresse him drewe out all the garrisons of theim The whiche Scipio knowyng sente Massinissa his Capitaine to ouercome them Howe Pirrus wan the chiefe Citie of Sclauonie Pirrus makyng warre in Sclauonie to the chiefe citee of thesame countrie where were brought many menne in Garrison fained to dispaire to bee able to winne it and tourning to other places made that the same for to succour them emptied it self of the warde and became easie to bee wonne A policie to get a towne Many haue corrupted the water and haue tourned the riuers an other waie to take Tounes How the besieged are made to yelde Also the besieged are easely made to yelde them selues makyng theim afraied with signifiyng vnto them a victorie gotten or with new aides whiche come in their disfauour The old Capitaines haue sought to gette Tounes by treason corruptyng some within but thei haue vsed diuers meanes Sum haue sente a manne of theirs Howe to get a towne by treason whiche vnder the name of a fugetiue might take aucthoritie and truste with the enemies who after haue vsed it to their profite Some by this meanes haue vnderstode the maner of the watche and by meanes of thesame knowledge haue taken the Toune Some with a Carte or with Beames vnder some colour haue letted the gate that it could not bee shutte and with this waie made the entrie easie to the enemie A policie of Anâ—ball for the â—â—â—â—yng of a Castell Aniball perswaded one to giue him a castle of the Romaines and that he should fain to go a huntyng in the night makyng as though he could not goe by daie for feare of the enemies and tournyng after with the Venison should put in with hym certaine of his menne and so killyng the watchmen should giue hym the gate How the besieged maie be begiled Also the besieged are beguiled with drawyng them out of the Toune and goyng awaie from them faining to flie when thei assault thee And many emong whoÌ„ was Anibal haue for no other intente let their Campe to be taken but to haue occasion to get betwene theim and home and to take their Toune Also How Formâ—on ouercame the Calcidensians â–ª thei are beguiled with fainyng to departe from theÌ„ as Formion of Athens did who hauyng spoiled the countrie of the CalcidensiaÌ„s receiued after their ambassadours fillyng their Cites with faire promises hope of safetie vnder the which as simple menne thei were a little after of Formione oppressed The besieged ought to beware of the men What the besieged muste take heede of whiche thei haue in suspecte emong them but some times thei are wont as well to assure them selues with deserte as with punishemente Liberalitie maketh enemies frendes Marcellus knoweyng how Lucius Bancius a Nolane was tourned to fauour Aniball so moche humanitie and liberalitie he vsed towardes him that of an enemie he made him moste frendely The besieged ought to vse more diligence in the warde The diligences that the besieged ought to vse in their watche ward when the enemie is gone from theim then when he is at hande And thei ought to warde those places whiche thei thinke that maie bee hurt least for that many tounes haue been loste wheÌ„ thenemie assaulteth it on thesame part where thei beleue not possible to be assaulted And this deceipt groweth of twoo causes either for the place being strong and to beleue that it is inuinsible or through craft beyng vsed of the enemie in assaltyng theim on one side with fained laroms and on the other without noise and with verie assaltes in deede and therefore the besieged ought to haue greate aduertisment and aboue all thynges at all times and in especially in the night to make good watche to bee kepte on the walles and not onely to appoincte menne but Dogges and soche fiearse Mastiues and liuely the whiche by their sente maie descrie the enemie and with barkyng discouer him and not Dogges onely but Geâ—se haue ben seen to haue saued a citee as it happened to Roome when the Frenchemen besieged the Capitoll An order of Alcibiades for the â—ew keping of watch warde Alcibiades for to see whether the warde watched Athense beeyng besieged of the Spartaines ordained that when in the night he should lifte vp a light all the ward should lift vp likewise constitutyng punishmente to hym that obserued it not Isicrates of AtheÌ„s killed a watchman which slept saiyng that he lefte him as he found him Those that haue been besieged haue vsed diuers meanes to sende aduise to their frendes and mindyng not to send their message by mouth thei haue writteÌ„ letters in Cifers and hidden them in sundrie wise the Cifers be according as pleaseth him that ordaineth them the maner of hidyng them is diuers The secrete conueighyng of Letters Some haue written within the scaberde of a sweard Other haue put the Letters in an vnbaked lofe and after haue baked the same and giuen it for meate to hym that caried theim Certaine haue hidden theÌ„ in the secreteste place of their bodies other haue hidden them in the collor of a Dogge that is familiare with hym whiche carrieth theim Some haue written in a letter ordinarie thinges after betwene th one line and thother haue also written with water that wetyng it or warning it after the letters should appere This waie hath been moste politikely obserued in our time where some myndyng to signifie to their freendes inhabityng within a towne thinges to be kept secret and mindynge not to truste any person haue sente common matters written accordyng to the
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
shuld chaunce at the first not to be driuen oute then the remedy is to charge thom againe and to shoote them of after the saide maner putting on the toucheholes a littel oile made very hot heating also firste the place that is nayled with a burning cole making moreouer with clay vpon the pese a littell cuppe aboute the hole that may holde the hot oyle that is poured vpon it after suche sorte that through the heate therof it may soke into the hole with the yron in it whereby the same yron shal then be made so slippery that at the nexte discharging of the pese the fury of the fire moste easely shall blou it oute Hovv much the artillerie ought to be estemed of the armies novv adayes and vvhether the same opinion of them vvhich is had vniuersally be trevv Cap. xxvij COnsidering how many battailes and dedes of armes wer made of the Romaines at sundrie times there is cum vnto me in consideratiō the vniuersall opinion of many men which is that if in those tymes there had ben ordinaūce the Romaines shuld not haue ben abell to haue cōquered nor so easely haue won the cuntries made the people their tributaries as they did nor they shoulde not haue in enie maner made so mightie conquestes They saye also that by mean of this instrument of fire mē cannot vse nor shew their strenghth and vertue as they mighte in olde time And they adde a thirde thing that they come with more difficulty to faighte a fielde then they cam in those dayes nor there cannot be kepte in them the orders of those tymes so that at length the warre shal be brought to cōsiste altogether in artillerie And mynding to wryte whether suche opiniō be trew and how muche the artillerie hathe increased or demineshed the strenghth of armies and whether it taketh away or gyueth occation to good Capitaynes to doo valiantly I will begin to speake concerning their firste opinion that the aunchiēt Romaine armies shulde not haue made the conquestes which they did if the ordinaunce had ben in those dayes To which answering I say how that warre is made eyther to defende or to offende Where first it is to be examened to whom these two maner of warres causeth moste proffit or most hurte And albeit ther is what to say of either part notwithstanding I beleue that withoute cōparison they doe more harme to him that defendeth thē to him that inuadeth The reason is that he that defēdeth is either in a toun or in a cāpe within a trēche If he be within a toune this toune is eyther littel as the moste parte of fortresses ar or it is greate In the first case he that defendeth is altogether loste for that the violence of the artillerie is suche that ther is no wall how great so euer it be which in feu dayes it battereth not doū And if he that is within haue not space inough to retire bothe with diches and with rampiers he is ouer cum because he is not abell to withstāde the violence of the enemie who through the breache of the wall will after enter nor in this case the artillerie which he shulde haue shall not helpe him for that this is a generall rule that where men in a throng with violēce may goe the artillerie cannot withold thē Therfore in the defence of a toune the furie of the enemies cannot be withstonde Though the assaltes the which are not thronged but scattered which be called scirmushes be easely withstode And they which goe with this disorder and coldenes to a breache of a wall where artillerie is doe goe to a manifeste deathe and againste them the artillerie preuaileth but those which assaulte a breache in a throng harde together so that the one thrusteth forwarde the other if they be not holden oute of dyches or of rampiers they enter in euery place and the artillerie kepeth them not backe and though sum be slaine they cānot be so manie that they shall let the victorie This is knowen to be trew by many expugnatiōs of tounes made in Italie and in espetiallie in the same of Brescia for as muche as the same toune being rebelled from the frenchemē and yet the fortresse being kepte for the King of Fraunce the Venetians for to withstande the violence which from the same might cum into the toune had laid all the strete full of Artillerie which descended from the fortresse to the Citie they planted them on the fronte and in the flankes and in euery other fitt place Of the which Mounsier de Fois made no other coūpte but with his squadrōs coming downe on foote passing through the middest of them got the citie nor it was not knowen that he receiued by those enie notabel hurte So that he that defendeth him selfe within a littel toune as hathe ben sayde and findeth the wall on the grounde and hathe not space to retire with rampiers and with diches and is constrayned to truste vpon the artillerie is ouercum straight way If thou defendest a great toune wher thou haste comodity to retire yet not withstanding withoute comparison the artillerie is more proffittabell to him which is withoute then to him that is within Firste to mynde to haue a pece of Artillerie hurte those withoute thou arte constrained to get the vp with it from the plaine grounde of the toune because standing vpon the plaine grounde euery littell banke and rampier that the enemie may make shall cause him to remaine safe and thou canst not hurte him so that being driuen to stande alofte on the toppe of the wall or in what so euer other maner on highe thou drawest after the twoo difficulties The firste is that thou canste not bring vp so greate and mightie peses of artillerie as he withoute may shoote being not able in littel spaces to handell great thinges The other is that although thou couldest bring thē thou cāst not make suche strōg sure defence for to saue the said artillerie frō dismounting as they without may doe being on the groūd hauing that comoditie and that rome that they them selues liste So that it is impossible for him that defendeth a toune to kepe the artillerie on high places when they which are without haue great ordinaunce inough And if they be driuen to come with them on low places they becum for the moste parte vnprofittable as hath ben sayde So that the defence of the citie is brought to be defended with armes as in old time they did and with small artillerie Of which if there be gotten a littel proffitte hauing respecte to the same small artillerie there is gotten so much incomoditie as counterpeaseth the comoditie of the artillerie for as muche as hauing respecte to the same they make the wals of tounes low and as it wer vnder grounde in diches so that so sone as they cum to the battaile at hande eyther because the walles ar battered or because the dyches ar filled