Lawes shal set downe are seuerely to be chastised When the companie doth disband and euerie souldier is to go to his lodging or cabbin it is verie requisite he stay vntill such time as he see the Ensigne lapt vp and lodged to the intent if he be of the gard about the same that night he may attend to do his dutie otherwise he may lawfully depart thereby shun the shamful name of a stubborne licentious disobedient persoÌ„ He must learne to vnderstand the assured sound of the drum thereby to know alwayes whereunto he is appointed and what thing is to be done and obeyed which of duetie is accustomed to be done since that with this instrument souldiers are giuen to vnderstand during the warres what things be necessarie to be executed One thing besides is most necessarie for a souldier which is that he learne perfitly to swim both for that waters caÌ„not alwayes be passed with wading neither at al times boats bridges can be conueyed with the campe by reason of naughty passages as also in diuers enterprises a man is both more safe and more bold knowing what he can do whereof young Shelley made a most famous proofe who at the victualing of Midleborow when their nanie was assaulted by the Flushingers hauing all his companie slaine swam a shore with his armes being the last man left aliue a shipbord and as the Spaniards at the passage of the arme of the sea when they went to besiege Siricke seas Besides the notable attempt made at the great riuer of Alba in Saxonie the yeare 1547. where the Imperialists had so famous and glorious a victorie Now therefore let no man perswade himselfe that the seuerall and particular experience which belongs to a perfect good souldier can be perfectly and duely obtained by anie other way but by a continuall delight exercise and obseruation for no man doth bring any worke to perfection whereof he hath not the art euerie art doth spring of experience and knowledge and knowledge doth arise by meanes of studie and continuall practise Militarie profession being then more perfect and aboue all other arts consequently it is necessarie we vse in the same greater studie and more continuall exercise then is to be vsed in any other art for somuch as it is a most ancient and prudent sentence All arts do consist in exercise and therfore continually at idle times it is verie fit and necessarie for a souldier to practise and exercise himselfe amongst his companions in the campe in running leaping throwing the barre or such like to make him actiue and to auoid such idle pastimes as souldiers commonly now a daies vse contrarie to all good order Besides which as I haue partly touched before euery priuate souldier ought not only to be well able to vse the weapon he serueth withall but also sodainly to vnderstand all coÌ„mandements of his gouernors whether it be by voice or sound of drum or otherwise and to know how to maintein himselfe in order without breaking aray not onely marching but also turning in a troupe or retyring For that souldier which knoweth his dutie how to behaue himselfe in the campe in watch scout c. and likewise in marching turning retyring and fighting or skirmishing to obserue the order prescribed by his captaine may be called a trained and old souldier whereof if he be ignorant although he haue bene twentie yeares in the warres he is not to be estéemed a souldier But in these exercises the sergeants and officers are daily duely to instruct generally and priuately ech souldier which officers ought of necessitie to haue knowledge in reading that both what is written before and shal be written after in this booke specially touching the marshal lawes of the field they may euer read as a lecture to their souldiers being in corpes de gard or at other â—…it and conuenient times For these be things so necessary to be known and obserued that it doth both import very much that ech souldier should haue them by heart 〈◊〉 were possible sowed vpon their garments to be a perpetual glasse to looke into whereby they might guide all their actions that thereby they might sée what they ought to shun for feare of punishment and what to imbrace to increase credite To knit vp this our first discourse he that findes himselfe sufficient and well inclined to exercise this most excellent professision ought with all modest humilitie good intention frame himselfe to a perfect obedience aswel to obserue order a thing so conuement and necessary in this exercise as also to execute that which shal be commanded him by his captaine Before a souldier bind himselfe to serue in a â—…and he ought aduisedly to consider and expresly to perswade himself that vnder an expert valorous and worthy captaine seldome or neuer our trauaile in well doing is forgotten or lost when as the contrary doth chance vnder those that be vain vitious and of small experience who through want of perfection and practise d ee not know the merit of the valiant and valorous acts of a good souldier so that consequently they neglect all toyle trauaile done in any honourable enterprise Therefore it behoues a souldier to make a good choyse at the first for after whatsoeuer hée be he must still obey him and likewise alwaies haue respect and carrie a reuerence to the iustice of martiall lawe and the ministers of the same though they be of base condition since both by the law of nature and nations they ought to be obeyed and obserued and particularly knowne and had in memory of euerie priuate souldier for thereby both horesmen and footemen are kept in perfect order But aboue all things a souldier ought not to forget his dutie and deuotion toward the goodnes of our Lord God and towards the holy catholicke Church and our sacred christian religion by which the true gift of vertue valor and fortitude and all good things beside we most certainly receiue and are assured to attaine whilest our determinations be lawfull and honest And for that a souldier being subiect to a thousand dayly dangers it behoues him continually to liue as he dare die and oftentimes to reconcile himselfe to God by confession penance and satisfaction and receiue the benefite of the other heauenly and moste blessed sacrament I haue bene somwhat more copious in this first discourse touching a souldier then perchance I meane to be in any of the rest by reason this is the first step and degree a man ought to set his feete vpon before he mount the throne of perfect gouernment in martiall affaires for if a souldier can obtaine tried experience in this first point he may with more ease ascend the other since this is onely the ground-worke of all the rest The office which appertaines to a corporall cape de squadre disnier or chiefe of chamber IT is not to be doubted but that al notable errors depend only of idlenesse and that all
the top of the staffe or anie other place lesse necessarie aswell thereby to flée affectation which in carying thereof is made manifest as also to conduct the same with more assured courage Moreouer note that the most honourable place of the threde or rancke is the right hand and the second the left hand which degrees likewise be obserued in all the rancks of other souldiers aâ—…wel as when diuers ensignes do march togâ—…ther in one ranck for amongest the handes and squares of souldiers the fiankes dâ—…e alwaies resist the assaultes and furie of the enemie as the sides which be néerest to them be alwaies garded of those that be most practised and the middle part not onely except the first and last rancke of the ordinance or battaâ—…le whâ—… the middest is the place of greatest estimation for the head or backe of the square being assaulted they then withstand the greatest furie And by good reason for this place of the midst is euer much more broken and endomaged of the enemies armes and force then anie other part wherefore amongest expert and valiant souldiers this roome is of greatest honour and of most estimation as the place that hath greatest néed of defence which being subiect to more open and manifest perill then the rest be is of greatest dignitie For Captaines are accustomed to shew notable and singular fauor to that souldier which they preferre to an enterprise of perill and danger so that it be capeable of issue and altogither desperate Neither is this to be accounted for a maruell for as this profession is altogither different from others so likewise the orders and ceremonies are diuersly managed if a man may terme those things ceremonies which of necessitie ought with diligence to be gouerned with great care art and industrie It behooues the Alfierus whilest he doth march in ordinance amidst the band to go with a graue and stately pace aduisedly and couragiously ioyned with modesty and without affectation or vain brauerie neither eught he to bew or decline his bodie at any time to anie person that thereby he may represent and maintaine the reputation and excellencie of armes and the ensigne before his Prince chiefe ruler Lord Generall Coronell Captaine Gouernour c. As he passeth before them he ought to abase the point and tip of the ensigne or rather with his arme bow down néer-hand all the rest of the ensigne so much more by how much he is of greater dignitie authoritie In this sort shall he make signe of reuerence and not pull off his cap or hat neither bend his knée nor moue anie one part of his person thereby to retaine that dignitie due to the ensigne his office The Alfierus being in square rancke or ordinance with the ensigne displaid doth change almost neuer the place where he is planted to march which is in the midst of the footmen as a place most safe and best defended Therefore those that otherwise would vse it doe ground their opinion vpon some ancient order of the Romaines or Grecians wherein they are deceiued because at this day we are constrained to varie our order considering our armes be varied which do now fetch and vound much more and further off and are more pearcing then those of antient time Neither is it expedient to put this officer which is of such great respect alwaies in hazard aswell for the good qualitie of his person the which we must alwaies presuppose him to be of as also for the office of great importance he supplyes siâ—…ce he doth sustaine the displaid ensigne wherein the reputation and honor of all the companie consists But at such times as he shal march to a Scalade breach and batterie the valiant Alfierus with his ensigne in one hand and his sword in another as is before said ought to enforce himselfe to be the first and by all meanes to mount vp to enter amongest the enemies and to aduance and inuite the rest forward both his inferiours companions betters for in effect at such times the particular guiding of the band appertains to him Now to the intent that the souldiers at the instaÌ„t time of a dangerous enterprise andin a combersome perilous time and place may be inuited feruently stirred vp to follow the ensigne He must therfore vse such courtesie to all men that in all hazardes and great exployts he being beloued of the Souldiers may be verie much ayded and defended by them where as otherwise they doe either suffer open ignomie or danger of death when as they be either abandoned at the point of extremitie or traiterously staine or wounded by their owne companions and followers as at the assault of Dalahani and a skirmish of brauerie at Louaine chanced vnto two seuerall Ensigne-bearers of the Baron of Sheueran Coronell ouer teâ—…ne Ensignes of shot Therefore since he is the shadow of the valor and good condition of his captaine and companie let him be carfull of his dutie The Ensigne bearer may of his discretion and authoritie espying the companie trauaile or follow enemies to their discommoditie and perill loosing the wind hill or ground of aduantage disordering the aray may stand still and cause the drums and fifes to stand and sound the retreat that the companie may resort and come to the Ensigne and order the aray by the aduantage of the ground rather then abide the comming of the enemy He ought alwaies to haue about him and to lodge where hée doth himselfe so manie good Drums as there be hundreth in his band that at all times he may make Raccolte and gather his souldiers togither and for such like necessarie respects He ought neuer craue licence to go to anie enteprise whatsoeuer for anie desire he hath to make himselfe known or to win fame but ought to remaine stedfast and firme when his turne of seruice comes in respect of the great charge he doth carie in the manage of the ensigne It is necssarie he haue a horse for his owne vse the which whilest he marcheth ought to go neere the Ensigne whether he be in square vattaile or long march for by taking his ease on horse-backe he may kéepe himselfe continually lusâ—…y and fresh and therewithall may accomodate his cariage or bagage as some souldiers may likewise doe among the ordinarie cariage prouided for by the captaine Note that the Ensigne which he receiued of his Captaine must by him be resâ—…ored again at such times as he is discharged out of the company if during the time of his seruice there hath not chanced a battaile assault or other enterprise wherein the Alfierus being present he hath not made manifest apparance that he hath merited and deserued the same For in such cases it is to be vnderstood that he hath wonne and gained the same and not otherwise vnlesse the captaine of his free will doth not giue it him which is a verie ancient custome specally amongst the Italians It is verie requisite the Alfierus
or carriage which ought to be as little as may be which rule the common souldiers ought likewise obserue be borne and conuaide amongst the common cariage which the Captaine hath ordained and prouided for the vse of the whole band He must take diligent care to the redéeming of prest or lent money which the Captaine shall make according to occasion or neede amongst the companie to distribute the same conueniently amongst the souldiers therof to reÌ„der yéeld good account to the Captaine by doing whereof he shall pleasure the souldiers much in which time of pay he hath verie good opertunitie to put the souldiers in minde and to teach them to procéede in wel doing and to desist from euill It appertaines generally to euerie Lieutenant of a band to be of great experience and ripenesse of seruice whose authoritie in the absence of the Captaine as partly I touched before extendeth to examine trie reforme correct and amend any offence committed within the band and also day night to bring the companie with the Ensigne to the place of assemblie there in order traine and exercise the same as to the necessitie of seruice doth appertaine and being commanded by the higher powers to march towards the enimie must encounter and fight with them as if the Captaine were in presence who vpon impediment must sometimes be absent Finally it appertaines to the Lieutenant to watch ward approch conduct aduance against the enimies and to encounter animateâ—… comfort and also to encourage the companie by ☜ word and déede as néed serueth to retyre continually maintaining skirmish vntil he haue recouered some place of safegard The office and duetie that appertaines to the Lanze-spezzaté volentarie Lieutenants the Gentlemen of a Band or Caualliere of S. Georges squadrons THe sundrie degrées whereunto valiant souldiers with aspiring minds séeke to ascend for that they be many for that those which haue attained and serued in those roomes and other great offices by diuers sinister meanes and accidents be now and then disseuered and made frustrate from their charge as experience hath made many times apparant who yet neuerthelesse being naturally desirous to continue in seruice and perchance through forrain necessitie are driuen to remaine in pay in attending further preferment Therefore this place was first inuented for such persons as a speciall seat wherein the flower of warlike souldiers doe sit like a gréene Laurell garland that doth enuiron the martiall head of a mightie armie whose order for warlike force or fame giues not place to the Grecian Falanges the chiefest of the Romaine legions or to the knightly coÌ„stitution or couragious enterprises of those of Arthurs round table For there neither hath bene nor can be found any place of such honour or reputation as to be a Gentleman of a Band whether we serue for pleasure or for profite or haue attained thereunto by merite or whether we haue bene Corporal Sergeant Alfierus or Lieutenant wherein Captaines somtimes â—…o plant themselues specially in the Collonels Squadre and temporise the time vntill preferment do fall for thereby their former reputation is nothing disgraced nor their charge had in or of any other company nothing derogated Considering that those in these Squadrons either are or ought to be souldiers of such policie and perfite experence that they be capeable of any office vnder the degree of a Collonell and may supplie any of those foresaid offices or performe any other enterprise of great importance commanded by the Captain Collonel or Generall And for that many youthes of 〈◊〉 parentage and Gentlemen of ancient houses do likewise follow the warres I would that vpon due triall of their merite they should enter into these ☞ Squadrons which the Prince or Generall is to confirme and make a distinct order of valiant aduenturous souldiers and call them Caualliers of S. Georges Squadrons at whose entrance thereinto they shall take a solemne oth appertaining to their order and their Corporall shall inuest them with some Bandâ—…oll Medall or Scarfe whereuâ—…on is portrayed S. George his armes which they must be bound to weare openly at all times and in all places enterprises skirmishes battailes and assaults It is requisite that a singular good souldier being the Gentleman of a band and Cauallier of S. George his Squadron if hée meane to gain the grace and fauour of his Captaine Collonel that not onely he be sufficiently valiant and wise as of necessitie is required at his hands but it is also conuenient for him to be reasonable well horsed and to haue in store all sortes of armes as a Halberd Hargabuse for the match or firelocke Armour and Target of proofe his Lance and case of Pistolets his Pike his Pertisan or Epieu to go the Round withall that he may both day and night vary and change his armes at the offer of all enterprises is requisite and as change of seruice doth call him foorth He must alwayes of necessitie haue more then one seruant and ought to apparel him in galant order these are to be néere his elbow to follow him with his armes He ought alwayes to lodge himselfe as néere as is possible to the lodging of his Collonel or captain to the intent the either armed or without armes he may alwayes according as the cause doth require be about his person either on horseback or on foote for that the principal gard of this singular personage that is to say the Collonel or Captaine doth consist in the diligence and custodie of the Caualliers of S. George his Squadrons These things notwithstanding day night wheÌ„ it fals to his lot or that he shal be commanded by his Corporall to watch he must dispose himselfe to be able to make particular gard that after a most exquisite order wherein he must haue a special care without making refusall at any time to performe that which shal be appointed him by his Corporall or by any other that shal command in the name of his Collonell or Captaine His office in time of watch for the most part consistes in going the Round searching the watch kéeping good order in the Corps of Gard in being a coadiutour to the officer that guides the company or rules the watch and is for the most part exempted from standing Sentinel and such like dueties of a common souldier vnlesse great necessitie or special seruice coÌ„strain It appertaines to him to haue good experience in going the Round that in performing the same he may discréetely gouerne in the ouersight of the watch called the Sopraguardia for in this point doth very much consist the prouident good order and forme that is to be obserued in auoyding the stratagems surprises Sallies and disceits of the enimie Approching néere to the Sentinel he must giue eye and diligent regard in what order and sort he doth finde him vigilant how readie he is in demanding and taking the word after comming nearer him he must examine all that hath
possible cause the people that go with him to enter into ambush to the intent he be not discouered or disturbed by the enimie which done he must warily and discréetly view and ouerview search and go through euery place noting out the quantitie of the waters which run through the countrie the capacitie of the plains if therein be marish grounds or not the depth and bredth of the vales the roughnesse of the mountaines their height and capacitie if they be naked clothed with hye or lowe wood or else plowed and pasture ground and if there be townes and habitations whether they be placed vpon plaines mountaines or néere the water whether they be inclosed with wals and fortified or not and of what bignesse and qualitie of forme they be and so consequently he shal make note of euerie particular point as I haue written in a speciall discourse hereunto adioyned considering that some of these and like particulars may verie often helpe and do good seruice and arise to be of great importance In this selfe sort order he may very well discouer all the passages and wayes from the time he doth depart euen vntill he ariue againe alwayes marking and making aduised choise of the best and shortest so that he may giue to his prince or Generall a true information and full relation of euerie thing to the intent his Generall may with great reason and to his most aduantage determine of that which shall arise to his greatest profite and to the enimies disaduantage as was by Charles the fift obserued at the riuer Alba by the Spaniards at Sirick sea and by that famous Prince Don Iohn D'austria at sundrie times specially when in person the day after he returned from Luxemburge to Namures he made discouerie of the ground about the prince of Orange and States Campe lying at Templo where by the commaundement of my Collonell the Baron of Cherau I amongst the rest of his owne squadrons lay in Ambascade for the safetie of our Generals retire by whose prudent discouerie and valiant courage the next day with two thousand fiue hundred footemen and nine hundred horsemen wée ouerthrew eightéene thousand of the enimies slew 12000 tooke all their bagage and Artillarie Now lastlie when it is requisite to disclose and discouer the order and maner which the enimie obserues either béeing encamped or in marching it behooues a good souldier aduisedly to take the view and knowledge thereof in as good order as time and occasion wil permit And if in case the enimie remaine firme and encamped I iudge it verie requisite if it bée possible to take view of the Campe round about at leastwise as much as hée can well taking notice how many Corps de garde they kéepe without their Campe and so likewise what part of the situation thereof doth make it most weake what part is strongest and which part is betwixt both béeing able to render accompt with good reason of all these things in discourse like a politike and practised souldier The performance whereof sometimes is with more assurance and better brought to passe in the night then in the day If in case the enimie bée in his iourney and do march I suppose it verie necessary to discouer in what order they march and in what manner and forme they haue planted their squadrons set in order and armed the Rereward the battaile vantgard and both the one flanke and the other if they haue Artillarie or that they bée without and together with this he must discouer the condition and situation of the ground where they march and which way they bend their course to encamp where they make alta and stay Hée must likewise search out and diligently discipher whether they march with feare whether they kéepe good order whether they make hast all this as néere as is possible hée must discerne and with spéede indeuour himselfe to giue information of ech particular thing vnto his Prince or Generall to the intent when the first occasion doth offer which is commonly when they make stay at their lodging hée may determine to molest them by suddaine Alarums Canuasados and other such like surprises or attemptes And that in this second and last discouery which is of marching to the end béeing informed of their qualitie hée may determine what to doe if not than at leastâ—… wise when occasion doth offer wherefore I am of opinion that together with approued practise and the due consideration of these Rules and aduertisements it makes much to the purpose that a good souldier should haue some knowledge of drawing and painting proportions of Cities fortresses bulwarkes c. together with some vnderstanding in the art prospectiue of proportion for it often chanceth to be a thing verie difficile to giue directions and driue him that gouernes or is Generall to vnderstand some particularities like to these onely by plaine woordes although they were ample and manifest whereof the discription by draught béeing well knowen accompanied with the liuely voice of the Relator it makes the Prince more capable to determine what is to bee executed for performance of his important enterprises Diuerse notes due for a singuler good Souldier and Caualliere to obserue when hee must giue to his Captaine Generall or Prince a true discription and full relation of the Countries Cities and Castels of a whole state or kingdome IT is the opinion of all men that bee of perfect experience in Armes that it particularlie appertaines to the Captain Generall to haue a perfect discription and diligent relation of the fortified places the particular state in euery point of all the Prouince that is committed to the Generals custodie whether generally or particularlie Therefore a worthy souldier noble Caualliere may alwaies increase in his Princes sauor hée must be euer readie to prefer his important affaires chiefly in this speciall seruice of aduertisement discouerie Touching which Guichardines discriptions of the low Countries may bée a patterne for the performance whereof hauing receiued his full Commission of authoritie it is most conuenient for him both particularly and in generall to examine discouer view take notice the prospectiue plot of euery place with aduised iudgement not by fortune as many are accustomed for that they cannot otherwise do not hauing sufficient knowledge of the Bussola which with great industrie hath bin to this end found out and made more ample by the Conte Iulio de Tiene For which respect it is conuenient he take the platforme of euery walled towne in that state and with due measured distance therein must note make the proportion of the walles bulwarkes the mounts rockes gates ditches the market places with their bignes the principall stréetes with their circumstances specially whether there bée any hanging or high hill or ground that vpon any side is opposite of a iust space and reasonable distance from whence according to sufficieÌ„t consideration and examination therein artillarie or any other engine
THE ARTE OF VVARRE Beeing the onely rare booke of Myllitarie profession drawne out of all our late and forraine seruices by William Garrard Gentleman who serued the King of Spayne in his warres fourteene yeeres and died Anno. Domini 1587. * ⎠* Which may he called the true steppes of warre the perfect path of knowledge and the playne plot of warlike exercises as the Reader heereof shall plainly see expressed ⸪ Corrected and finished by Captaine Hichcock Anno. 1591. AT LONDON Printed for Roger Warde dwelling at the signe of the Purse in the Olde-balie Anno. M. D. XCI To the right Honourable Robert Deuorax Earle of Essex c. Knight of the noble order of the Garter Maister of her Maiesties horse Health honour and happines both in this world and the world to come hartily wished for HAuing been requested right Honourable by a dying Souldiour to publish in his behalfe the xiiij yeeres fruites of his mercinarie trauaile in the wars of the Low Countries I haue thought fit for that the trauaile of well deseruing paines shal not die together with the dead man to publish his industrie so worthy both of knowledge and practise to the worlds view for the present and future benefit of our Nation as his chiefest care was that they might with ease reach into the knowledge of that the knowing whereof had cost him time toyle blood and studie The worke is commended by Captaine Robert Hichcock and others such as experience hath made able to iudge in this honorable profession so that for me to bestow more praises vpon a thing so praised were but to lessen what I wish increased and to seeme to commend that which doth best commende it selfe Onely thys ayde I couet to adde for his greatest grace that it would please your Lordship vnder the protection of your honourable acceptance to deigne the patronage of his painfull endeuours and then the worke may be assured of defence as when a well deseruing seruant is supported by an able defending Maister Therefore onely by your Lordshyppe I wish this worke may be pefected whose humors and honours of minde so well suteth with the honourable matter it treateth on that as there cannot be of worldly things a more worthy subiect then this to write on so can there not be found a more woorthie Patron for a discourse of such worth whose rase assured him a Souldiour whilst the flower was in the bud and whose timely yeres since haue witnessed that of his valoure which neyther time nor yeeres can deface I pray GOD rayse vp many such mindes to make our Country of all Nations the most happy and also that thys worke may stirre vppe the harts of all Noble men Gentlemen and all other her Maiesties subiects that minde to professe Armes that by the exercise of the same they may be the better instructed with greater skill and so with theyr manly and valiant mindes to the defence of our most gracious soueraigne Lady Queene Elizabeth and theyr natiue Countrey And thus in all humilitie I cease wishing your Lordshippe such fortunes and happines as doe euer attend so honourable and vertuous deserts Your Lordships deuoted poore freende Thomas Garrard Faultes escaped IN the Epistle to the Reader page 1. line 5. for foure reade fewe Page 28. line 30. for espion reade espiall Page 42. line 28. for lost reade loose Page 49. line 12. for be by what reade be punished Page 52. line 36. for them read then Page 68. line 7. for reseruing reade receiuing Page 130. line 12. for for read but. Page 131. line 35. for the standerd bearer read the Ensigne Page 132. line 15. for where read with Page 133. line 36. for it reade is Page 143. line 1. for more bent be more bent Page 157. line 6. for but in reade as in Page 164. line 25. for reseruing reade receiuing Page 184. line 23. for be rest reade the rest Page 191. line 12. for from the read from them the. Page 191. line 30. for rendies reade order Page 215. line 26. for commit reade commit errour Page 234. line 28. for would reade would haue Page 239. line 22. for must yet read must yet haue Page 253. line 13. for 10500. read 10000. Page 267. line 2. for out some reade out of some Page 272. line 7. for of reade at Page 272. line 15. for the word read the wood Page 276. line 17. for where reade vnto Page 304. line 7. for band reade Proclamation Page 317. line 12. for Chausse traps read gall traps Page 329. line 22. for Counscarpe reade Counterscarpe Page 352. line 19. for gracious reade glorious Page 352. line 2â—… for iustice to reade iustice is to Page 360. line 22. for seruice read warres Page 363. line 22. for of this reade after this Captaine Robert Hichcock his commendations of this Booke who wisheth to the worthy Reader great grace good fortune and euerlasting felicitie THis Booke courteous Reader treateth of all kinds of traynings of Souldiours marchings encampings orders discipline of war with all the Offices belonging to a Campe Royall and leaues foure poynts of Martiall exercises vntouched in the highest degree of knowledge and playnest discourse wherein a number of rare and probable matters are sette downe with great studie diligence and experience as well of forraine and familiar examples proofes drawn out from fatherly counsell and their graue admonition as also enlarged by newe pollicies and practises of the greatest Souldiours in Christendome in these our present dayes and compounded with the long experience toyling after the Cannon-wheele and sharpe seruices pennury hunger cold lying on the ground and a hundred sorrowes hazards daungers and hard aduentures the which he himselfe hath sustained being the Authour heereof Thys Booke shall shew and teach the order of the Fielde the duety of Officers the charge of Generals the arte of Warre the whole discipline belonging to the exercises of Armes and marshalling of a Campe and Armie how great soeuer and to make manifest the orders directions dignities and princely powers that forraine Kings thys day hath deuised ordained and sette downe for the gouerning of theyr Campes and leading of theyr people This Booke also is so necessary for this time and so excellent a peece of worke as cannot be spared nor red too often nor too much praysed and shall be such a myrrour to looke in that euery vnlearned Souldiour beholding the same with eyes of iudgment shall at the first sight behold his owne ignoraunce and become a leader of the ignoraunt multitude the which before did it perhaps but with braue words and bare speeches that neuer bringes foorth any good knowledge Thys Booke shall not with sencelesse imitation leade men amisse but with sweete perswasions and probable matter shal confute the errors of wilfulnes and confirme the auncient and olde rules for the substantiall order and gouernment of a Campe and with deepe aduisement to discusse descide all opinions of wars Thys Booke
worthy and commendable acts spring of vigilant warinesse Therefore a corporall cape de squadre disnier or chiefe of chamber or how you list to terme theÌ„ ought to be no lesse prudent and carefull ouer the gouernment of his people then a father in ruling of his family and as euery parent doth passe in age his children euen so a corporall should be such that he may exceede anâ—… souldier iâ—… not by experience and yeares at leastwise with diligence and sharpenesse of wit Through which indeuour and exercise ioyned with a feruent desire and delight to attaine to the perfit tip of this honourable profession he shall euery day become more capâ—…able and of greater experience wherefore I would as neare as is possible not only haue him expresly acquainted with the aduertisements and martiall lawes following but also indâ—…ed with the best of thâ—…se conditions which I haue set out in my former discourse of a priuate souldier since ytâ—…o mount vp to this second degrée it is very necessary requisite that he haue made long abode in the practise and experience in the first step of seruice appertaining to a priuate souldier The captaine must select choose souâ—…e of the most skilfull souldiers which be honest loyall and perfect catholicke Christians out of euerie hundreth in his â—…and whereof two are to haue charge of the shotte the other two of the pikes euerie one guiding 24. a péece the which ought all of them to be lodged togither and the corporall himselfe in the middest of his charge whereby when anie secret seruice is to be done they may call and assemble by the appointment of the superiour officers their whole squadron or what lesse number els without the sound of anie drum Now then a corporall with his squadron of 25. or more according to the discretion of the captaine lodging togither with his companie must prouide generally for all their reasonable wants of wages match powder and other munition and must instruct them how to handle their weapons He must likewise remember perfectly howe euerie one is armed and furnished when he receiueth them in charge and to see that no part therof be spoiled but preserued neat and trimme and aboue all things to looke well to the behauiour of his companie not suffering them to vse vnlawfull and prohibited gaming neither to giue themselues to drinking and surfetting but to spare of theyr pay to furnish themselues brauely and surely against the enemy wherein he ought to vse his chiefe indeuour And if it happen that any fault is committed his part is not violently to punish the souldier himselfe as heereafter is touched but to make it knowne to his captaine who must not neyther as some rashly do reuenge himselfe but communicate the same with the Marshall or his prouost who onely haue vnder the generall authoritie to punish and this due course of iustice shal be more terrible to the souldier and bréed lesse cuill will in them to the captaine and officers generally in these respects the corporal must touching the foresayd causes or such like or if any souldier be sicke hurt or absent by way of imprisonment or death immediatly make report thereof finding any thing worthy relation and spare no man but deliuer ouer the trueth to the sergeant the sergeant from hym or togither with the corporall to the lieutenant he or they all ioyntly to the captaine who is to take order in the cause Thus shall dignitie of officers be maintained and officers and faultes redressed to the great example of the euill and comfort of the good But somewhat more amply to set down the foresaid respects togither with certayne other aduertisements A corporall must alwaies foresée and examine that the souldiers of his squadron kéep their armes in order clean and intyre and the Hargabusiers stored with match bullets and powder and such like necessaries a thing worthy to be noted and obserued in this profession the which makes shâ—…w that the same is of a good souldier not onely vsed in time of war but in all other times and places being a knowne difference betwixt the legitimate and lewd professors of armes He ought of necessitie still to instruct exhort them that they liue togither friendly wtout discord that they be modest and sparing in their victuals profitable in their apparell and that generally they do shun swearing and blaspheming vpoÌ„ gréeuous punishment by which act of blaspheming and swearing by the holie name of the sacred Trinity they commit greater villany offence before God then if before the world they did commit most wicked acts or infinit errors Likewise let him prohibit al vnlawful games for the performance wherof he ought to procéed with as great dexteritie and curtesie as he can that alway in matters of importance he may haue that due obedience which is required not through crueltie gaine the hate and euill will of those persons which in many other thinges beside are to obey him for to chastise them lies neither in hys power neyther in the arbitriment of other officers although they be of degrees higher then he but doth iustly appertayn to the office of the maister of the campe and marshal of the field The which point is to be noted and obserued to the discredit of some captains which at this day delight to imbrew their murthering hands in the bloud of souldiers and men perchance of honest behauior being moued thereunto through some hatred toy or beastly passion Therefore he must alwayes be mindfull to obserue this honourable rule of diuers good and discréet officers who somtimes do ouersee and winke at light faultes and procéed with a certain modestie and lenitie although in matters of greater insolency with seueritie Notwithstanding these such like authorities the corporall ought to be no lesse obedient to euery least poynt of the marshal lawes and in ranck and aray or in other places where those of greater gouernment be he must performe obserue the part and dutie of a priuate souldier and retain like order and obedience for where our betters be the lesse gâ—…e place But when alone with his squadron he is conducted to yeâ—…ace where he is to make watche and ward then must he take vpon him his office and make prouision of wood or coles that he may alwaies haue fire burning in his corps of gard aswel in the day as in the night and aswel in the summer as in the winter wtout which he ought neuer to kéep watch because it is a most necessary munition for the Hargubusiers to light their match withall â—… for other néedfull respects Likewise he must prouide for oyle for candles for the night time for lanterns and such like at the sergeant maiors handes or of some others who haue charge to prouide for those things are accustomed to distribute the same If he kéep his corps de gard in an open and plain place or otherwise he must conform the company of
his squadron according to the order appointed by his betters and with the most spéedy artificial maner that he can must arme and fortify with ditches trenches and Sentinels the place where he must make his abode with this his small band and troup of souldiers the better to resist the enemies furie or any surprise he might assault him withall considering that sometimes yea and that very often being set vpon the Sentinels and corps de garde be repulsed and haue their throats cut to the great disturbance vniuersall domage of the whole campe He must ordaine his watch in such a place that in the same at all times he may remaine warie and vigilant placing himselfe in the moste high and eminent seate of all the corps de gard to the intent that he may know and discern in due time euery particular accident that shall happen or succéed and thereof immediatly aduertise his captaine of all that hee may prouide remedie with speede according as the case requires Warily and secretly eueÌ„ at the closing of the night vntill the bright spring of the Diana and fayre day light he must ordaine and place Sentinels and often search and visite them with the aid of two of the captaines gentlemen of his companie called of the Italians Lanzze Spezzate or might be termed more aptly extraordinary Lieutenants that he may alwayes remayne vigilant and assured to the intent hee be not assailed vnprouided to his great domage and before he can giue warning of the enemie to the campe which doth rest and lie in safetie in that quarter where he is vnder his charge care and diligence In such cases he ought therefore to imploy the best men he hath that he neuer rest deceiued in a matter of so great importance since that of those which be but meane souldiers or as I may well terme them negligent persons nothing else is to be looked for at their handes but error losse and danger Moreouer he must at the least cause the third part of his squadron to remayne stand continually armed at all poynts both night and day consisting of greater or lesse quantitie of people according as the suspition doth argue the neede of them to be small or great the Hargabusiers hauing their flaskes and furniture tied to their girdles and their peeces readie charged that vpon a sodaine they may contend by skirmish according to needfull occasion and readily resist the enemy without slacking or any remission of time vntill all the squadron be put in order He must be very circumspect that the rest of the souldiers weapons and principally his owne be laid vp and placed in such order one kinde being deuided from another that in one instant they may be speedily and readily armed the which hée must daily put in practise and inure them withall by fained alarmes by speciall commandement and of set purpose which be most necessarie to be practised before-hand for diuers honorable and important respectes worthie to be had in good consideration Therefore let him haue and carie a continual care that their armes neuer remaine in any confused order the which if hée should suffer he should find no doubt to be a great want but the same may be preuented and made easie by accomodating the Hargabusies in ranck one by one vpon a boord or banck the pikes and corslets in order reared and hanged vpon some wall or other apt place in the corps de gard and vpoÌ„ ech particular weapon and péece euery souldier should haue a proper and speciall mark before-hand made whereby to know the same He ought daily to instruct his squadron euerie one apart howe to handle the weapon wherwith they serue the Hargabusier to charge discharge nimbly the pikeman to tosse his pike with great dexterity Sentinels ought with great reason to be placed about the corps of gard to the intent the same may be defended and kept with more safety and securitie He himselfe at the closing of the night must place the first Sentinel and so consequently the rest instructing them orderly what maner they haue to obserâ—…e and howe they ought to gouern theÌ„selues in such accidents as might insue who are to remaine in Sentinel in winter and cold weather but one houre or two at the most but in sommer two or three houres before they be changed for which respect that euery one may be â—…ed with equitie let him first make a iust diuision of his number according to the number of the houres in the night and following that proportioÌ„ let him see the same performed without fauoring or omitting any the which he may the more certainly performe if the names of his souldiers be written in a roll and when the houre-glasse hath run their time which is necessary for him to haue in his corps de gard then to pricke their names and place newe in their roomes so shall ech souldier be partaker of the trauaile and rest marueilously wel satisfied But for that in wars Canuisados Surprises Sallies such like casualties aduertisementes be infinite I will leaue the rest to his owne vigilant discretion suppose it néedlesse to aduertise him of euery particular point more then that I haue and will touch in this my first booke of Militarie directions as cases moste proper for priuate souldiers I therefore at this present thinke it sufficient for a corporall to know that it is necessary he should so dispose the matter through his prouident prouision that all his people may be reduced into order and already haue taken their weapons in their hands before the enemy giue charge vpon them And therfore in time and place of suspition and danger he must place lost Sentinels without the watchword a good distance off from the Corpes de garde in places moste suspect But in other places not néedfull so much to be suspected and that be néerer him he ought to set Sentinels with the watch-word so farre one from an other as it shal seeme vnto him reasonable or requisit that they may inuâ—…ron the ground one within the sight of another or so that the enemy caÌ„not enter or any espion issue without their knowledge If great occasion so demand let him place togither one hargabusier one armed pike to the intent that the one may kéep the enemie far off and in a certain sort sustaine his fury at the point of his pike whilst the Hargabusier with the discharge of his péece giues arme to the corpes de garde and camp which exployt may be the better performed if a corporall shippe of pikemen be ioyned togither with another of shot Somtimes without making any noyse or rumour Arme is giuen to the campe for one of the two Sentinels may retyre and make relation to the corporall what hath appeared bin séene hard or happened wherby he may speedily with great silence giue Arme to the gard without leauing the place of the Sentinel disarmed which they ought neuer to abandon
shot in the wings and rereward as appeareth following To augment from three vnto fiue YOu may likewise by placing seueÌ„ in ranke the which is the greatest force that 100. men may be brought into place 21. shot in the front and fiftéene in â—…ch wing the which seruice being very apt to skirmish is greatly vnto the anoying of the enimie also it is readie to retyre to serue round about the battaile of pikes as before IF in marching you vnderstand or perceiue that horsemen will assault you then place fiue pikes in ranke and betwixt euerie pike a shot so marching forward they fall to be ten ranke quadrant placing your halbeâ—…ds and Ensigne in the midst A quadrant mixed with shot LIkewise you may for the defence of horsemen place ten ranks of pikes euerie way your shot next vnto theÌ„ your halberds and Ensigne in the midst the pikes ends couched on the ground the better to defend the enimie A quadrant defending the shot THis proportion sheweth the march or quadrant order at large of a hundreth men verie necessary to bee vsed in shew to the enemies when thou vnderstandest their â—…umbers to excéede thine Placing 7. Pikes in the Uoward also 7. pikes in the Rereward next vnto them 6. pikes in the second rankes your Billes or Halberds together with your Ensigne in the midst with the Drum and Fifte as is before mentioned the which number when thou perceiuest the enemie to take view of thine thou shalt alter and cause the second rankes of the Uoward and Rereward to steppe forward to furnish the voide spaces the which shall make of 7. thirtéene in a ranke Also if thou perceiuest the enemie pretending to encounter thee hauing no place of refuge shall cause the ranks that stepped forward to retire to their places and to sarrie close together remouing out of the second rankes into the winges the Halberds to step forward in their places wil be 7. euery way quadraÌ„t as in the order before is mentioned your shot to bée placed in the Uoward rereward may skirmish retire as occasion serueth The March at large Practises of training appertaining to the charge of two hundreth Men. FIrst marching fiue in Ranke 40. rankes containe two hundreth men suting their weapons as before they may bée brought to these orders following auailable for diuers intents although the same for a time séeme painfull although Archers bee not as heretofore they haue bin yet is it good in some of my figures following to shew you when you haue Archers how to place them SOmetimes deuide the Pikes and the Halberds into three parts by 1â—… rankes 7 to a ranke placing your Ensigne in the midst so ioining them together maketh a Hearse battaile readie at the suddaine against the enemie placing in the Uoward 40. Hargabuzers and 20. Archers and in the Rereward 10. Hargabuzers and 30. Archers LIkewise according to your ground you shall place your vttermost rankes with your best and fairest Corselets the which serueth not only to the shew but otherwise to the strength of the battaile commaunding your Officers to place 10. in a ranke the rest to follow on their march 10. in a ranke Likewise your Halberds and Ensigne in the midst which falleth to bée 10. euery way quadrant the which is a iust hundrethâ—… your Hargabuzers placed in the Uoward and Rereward and your Archers in the flankes the which is a iust 100. also as héere followeth SOmetimes by commaundement of the General or head Officers you are to accomplish some exploit by night the which béeing led by your guides through straites wrong ground woods c. It is nedefull that euerie pikeman and bilman take holde of his loadsmans weapon placing your shot betwixt your Pikes and your Ensigne in the midst your Pykes to march fiue in a ranke 16. rankes is iust 80. Pikes beside your Halberds The ouerplus of your shot to bee placed in the Rereward SOmetimes occasion scrueth to march through long broome corne fearne c. so that souldiers must traile their pikes from the ground close together at the halfe pikes in the Uoward the sharp ends of the pikes forward and in the Rereward the sharp ends of the pikes to the ground who may at the suddaine béeing assailed with Horsemen presently aduance and couch their pikes euery way for defence from the Horse your Hargabuzers in the front and Rereward the Archers in the flankes ALso when you shall bée called to the assaults of Townes Fortes trenches c. you must endure the great shot if it bée not dismounted wherefore the Officers must cause the soldiers to march a good distance a sunder and euerie man close to his loadsman march with expedition the shot making way to the hand weapons and all iointly together to employ themselues vnto victorie your Hargabuzers vnto the Uoward your Archers next to your Pikes as this example sheweth Certaine pointes to exercise and traine 300. men to seruice A Captaine hauing charge of 300. men that bée expert in seruice may oftentimes victoriouslie accomplish exploites and pointes of seruice to them committed which great numbers vnperfect may not attaine vnto The better to instruct the same here follow certaine Orders and strengthes in aray which practised in time conuenient may bring perfection of seruice at neede Sometime placing such numbers by 5. in ranke may bée brought to diuerse points of seruice conuenient 60. rankes containe 300. men 5. in ranke TO bring the first march of 5. in a ranke into a quadrant proportion you must deuide your long weapons into thrée parts placing soure in ranke your halbers and Ensigne in the midst and ioyned close togither fall out to be 12. quadrant euerie way your shot placed in the wings readie to skirmish in the bodie of the battaile are 120. pikes thirtie halberds and in the wings 140. shot in the rereward thirtie shot thus is the number at the sodaine brought to strength SOmetimes augment your rankes from fiue to seuen â—…o 〈◊〉 rankes containes 300. men which are to be ioyned vnto other numbers and to be brought to force SOmetimes augment these 7. rankes here adioyning to 9. the long weapons of the same containe 18. rankes your shot placed in the voward rereward as the ground may serue is a hearse or broade square By these exercises of augmenting rankes as doe appeare souldiers may be brought to perfection of order in aray and by the same be brought in quadrant or herse battaile according as numbers and ground will serue Orders of training three hundred men SOmtimes the Captaines with their bandes aforesaid be appointed to some eâ—…polits with such silence that Drums sound not nor clap weapons neither vse any noise vntill they haue recouered the place conuenient for their enterprises Also sometimes the Officers in Rereward sendeth a woorâ—… passing from man to 〈◊〉 vntil it come to the voward from one ranke to an other which may bée said Sarâ—…a aduance Bullet in the
Militarie Discipline wherein he hath followed the steppes of Leonard and Thomas Digges Gentlemen in their Stratioticos for the which they merite great commendations by the benefite our country may reap by their trauels But neuerthelesse because I will not attribute that vnto my selfe which is none of my owne I haue thought good to deale more directly and not to reape the fruites of other mens toyles and therefore in following my determination in setting downe diuers battels this battell following I borrow out of M. Digges his Stratioticos The proportion of a battell out of M. Digges Stratâ—…oticos MAster Digges in his third booke intituled Stratioticos hath imbattelled an army of 30000. footmen and 6000. horsemen which hâ—… for an excellent forme of imbattelling figures thus First as you may behold he hath diuided the Armie into two Fronts or faces hath separated them into 8. battaillons euery of them hauing 30. in a ranke and 33. rankes They are armed in the front with 7. ranks of pikes all the rest of the short weapons as swords and targets halberds billes or such like Euery battaillon containeth 1000. men lacking 10. and are placed 3. or â—… paces one from another The second front is diuided into fiue great battaillons euerie one of them being of 2000. men 40. in ranke and 50. rankes euerie battaillon armed in the front with 6. rankes of pikes These battaillons ought to be one from another at the least 25 paces the one front of battels from the other at least 60. paces in or nigh the middle battaillon of this second front shal be the Generall himselfe when he séeth time These battaillons are impaled on either side with 100. ranks of pikes 7. in a ranke and on the backe with 6. rankes of pikes without these hath he placed the shot in 24. troups euery troup containing 100. There is also the forlorne hope before the face of the battell likewise 18. troupes of shot 100. a péece who after they come to the face of the enimie disband and maintaine sâ—…ir mish Last of al the wings of horsemen which M. Digges hath placed in a preposterous order by placing the Argolatâ—…ares last but I both altering their course names say that two of the first are Argolateares 50. in a ranke 25. rankes the second light horsemen 30. in a ranke 33. rankes and the last Demie lances 30. in a ranke 25. ranks Thus there is in the first front of pikes 1680 In the second front 1200. In the impalement 3800. These in all amount to 6680 so is there left 320. pikes to be imployed in loose fléeues to accompanie such thâ—…t short weapon as shal remaine for the gard of the Ordinance Likewise in the first front there are of short weapons 6240. in the second front 8800. so there do remaine 960. short weapons to be imployed togither with the remnant of the pikes for gard of the Artillerie or carriages or else to mingle with the shot in the forlorne hope the which when they shall grow to pell mell with the enimie will do great seruice Also after the battels approch they may retire with the forlorâ—…e hope to assist their horsemen The shot you may behold sorted in troupes 1800. in the front and in either wing 2400. so doe there remaine 400. shot more to ioyne with the pikes and short weapons extraordinarie in any seruice Thus after the great Ordinance on either side haue discharged the Forlorne hope is continually to be supplied with new troupes of shot from the flankes and wings and these troupes of the Forlorne hope that haue discharged should retire betwéene the battaile and the troopes of horse to the backe of the wings so maintaining the flanckes alwaies furnished and thus skirmish may continually be maintained with fresh men the battell alwaies impaled But after the battell begins to approch the forlorne hope must withdrawe themselues then is your first battell strongly fronted and impaled with pikes to abide any charge of horsemen and after their pikes are broken are together with the rest of the short weapon to deale with the enemie and during the continuance of the fight betwéen these battailons the shot may continually discharge in the face of the enemie Likewise there may be certaine small carriages some laden with muskets some with Calabashes others with murdering fire balles and these cariages may during the battell continually spoile the enemies front being safely garded betwéen the battaillons but if fortune should abandon them in the first encounter and that they be broken by the enemies yet haue they those ample spaces betwéene the battaillons of the second front to retire vnto there to make head and giue the enemie battell againe And these spaces or lanes betwéene the battaillons serue not onely to receiue the skirmishers or other that shall retyre but also for the messengers which among the Romans were called Mâ—…ndatores to passe to and fro and to signifie vnto all parts from time to time the Generals pleasure The Argolateares are to gallop the field and scale the side of a squadron the light horsemen to charge vpon the skirmishers and the lances to breake vpon the scaled battel and one to helpe an others course as néed dooth require Thus farre M. Digges prefers this battell which he would haue vsed when no aduantage is gained by the nature of the place but that the Generall must trust to the strength of his good order wherein hee dooth wish such perfection in ouâ—… souldiorie as was in the Romane that they might be able to fight and retire in order and so make many sundry heads vpon the enemie if fortune did abandon them in the first or second encounter the which is farre better in respect of our common brute maine battel or 3 battailes in one front committing the whole field to one brunt of seruice which is a barbarous order therefore it were good the soldiours of our time did applye practise and reforme diuers errors The figure of a Battell out of Monsieur de Bellay his instructions in the Arte of warre MOnsieur de Bellay in his first booke of Militarie discipline sets downe this proportion of a battell This battell euen as the other before consists of receipts one into an other so that the front being broken they must retire into the voide spaces of the second front and they both consequently being repulsed to plant themselues within the thirde last succours the pikes of both flankes ought to retire as the battels retire that is to say the first ranke ought to retire within the 2 and the 2 within the 3 the 3 within the 4 the 4 within the 5 the 5 within the 6 so consequently the rest The Hargabusiers and horsemen must likewise do their duetie according to all warlike order But for your further and perfect instruction howe this battell and all other of like qualitie are to be directed read the Chapter following which is intituled A notable
through the enimies countrie fight if néed require the officers instructing shewing the souldiers that which they haue to do if they were assaulted on one side or other at vnawares And that they be taught the order to resist the enimie in a day of battell or when the enimie doth approch in sight they ought to learne how a battel must begin and how one battaillon doth abord another battaillon of the enimies and to shew them the place where they ought to retyre if they be repulsed and who must enter into and supply their places and to what signes to what sounds to what voyces they ought to obey and that which they must do when they heare these voyces and sounds and sée those tokens signes and to accustome them with the sundrie sorts of battels and fained assaults in such sort that afterwards they may not onely dare to abide but also desire the fight in good earnest the which assurance shal so much the rather encrease by how much they sée themselues wel instructed ordered ranged rather then by their proper hardines chiefly if these battailons be ranged in such sort that they may easily succour one another which is of no small importance to encourage assure the souldiers For admit that I should be of the first combatants that I know into what part I ought to retire my selfe being ouermatched and likewise who he is that must come in my place I shall alwayes fight with a better heart beholding my succours néere at hand rather then if I neither knew them nor saw theÌ„ Likewise if I be in the second place although the first be repulsed that I behold them to recoile yet the same shal not astonish nor appale me for that I alredie know what this recoile doth signifie a thing which beforehand I shal desire to come to passe to the intent that I may be he that shall gaine the victorie and that the first do not carrie away the honour of the fielde alone to themselues These exercises therefore be most necessarie both for young and olde souldiers for it appeares that although the Romaines knew perfitely what were to be accomplished in a particular band and so consequently in a whole armie and that they did learne all these things in their youth in Câ—…mpo Martio yet neuerthelesse they were afterwards continually exercised as wel in the time of peace as when their enimies did front them Ioseph in his historie saith that the continuall exercise of the Romaine armie did make the common multitude of those that followed the campe serue in a day of battell as well as the souldiers for both the one and the other knew how to kéepe their ranks and in kéeping them how to fight in them But an armie of new souldiers whether they be leuied to serue presently or that an order be taken to haue them in readines to be imployed in time to come they will arise to proue vnprofitable without these practises and exercises Therefore order being so necessarie all Captaines Collonels and Sergeant Maiors must with double industrie and trauell instruct or cause to be instructed those which be ignorant and to continue and maintaine the same in those which are perfect imitating the steps of those excellent Captaines which haue trauelled to maintaine this discipline The souldiers therefore in priuate bands being instructed to kéepe their rankes by 3. and 3. fiue and 5. or 8. and 8. without hauing respect to the number euen or odde for that it is a thing of no importance but an obseruation brought vp without foundation specially Vegetius can yéeld no reason therefore but only vse They must then in marching softly or in hast learne to multiplie as two ranks of fiue to make 10. two of 10. to make 20. and by and by at one instant to bring them from the same rankes and to place them in their first and simple order of aray And to the end they may assure and accustome themselues the better it is necessarie they make Lymassons when they are in simple and single aray and to aduertise them that the second person in ranke doe kéepe alwayes iust behind the first without loosing him and the 3. right behind the second and so of the rest This done togither with the directions of my second booke eâ—…h band must apart be set in order and in the estate that is required and requisite to range them when a whole battell is planted togither To performe which the Pikes of the flankes and the Hargabusiers shall come out of aray and shall place themselues on the one side and the Corporals of the Pikes shall make head one of the Corporals and his people first and another of the Corporals and his people next the Corporall of the Halberdeares shall follow hauing the Alfierus with his Ensigne in the middest of the Halberds Then the other Corporals with their Pikes shal make the reregard with their people It must be shewed to euerie Corporall the place which he ought to kéepe at all times who likewise must declare the same plainely and particularly to euerie priuate souldier of his squadre The Captaine must be at the head of the aray and the Lieutenant at the backe the Sergeant hath no staying place vnlesse the Captaine do appoint him one but must alwayes trot here and there all alongst the rankes to see good order kept and to commaunde the performance of his Captaines pleasure Let continuall vse accustome the souldiers to know of themselues how to range themselues in battell for the better learning whereof they must be made to march forward and backward and to passe difficile places without troubling and breaking their aray the which if they be not able to doe they are not to be esteemed old souldiers although they haue serued twentie yeares The difficultie likewise is great to cause them place themselues vpon a sodaine in their first aray being broken or dispersed by reason of vneasie passages or that the enimies haue disseuered them for in this it is requisite to haue had good and great exercise of a long continuance Therefore that the same may be accomplished it is necessarie to haue two things obserued maintained the one that the Ensignes may be easily knowne by colours and figures of number and that the chiefe members and officers haue certaine cognisances or markes vpon their armes and apparell and the other is that one selfe band be ranged alwayes in one certaine and knowne place of the battaillon without causing the same to alter roomes and that the Corporals know the places that they must enter into without shifting at any time but if that one Corporall be accustomed to be in the formost ranke that he remaine there alwayes and the souldiers in the places which hath ben ordained them from the beginning And if that any one band hath bene taught to be in the right corner of the battell that the same doe not stirre from thence
and so consequently that which is vsed to the left shall go to the left By this meanes if the souldiers be accustomed to know their places put case they should be out of order yet should they be able to place themselues againe easily For the Ensignes do know alredie the place where they are accustomed to be planted in the battel and the Corporals knowing likewise their place may iudge also by ranke of eye vpon what part it is that they should place themselues so that those of the front shall steppe forwards to the front and those of the backe shall in like sort retire to their places Therefore the Corporals knowing in how many and what rankes they haue to arrange themselues it will follow that the souldiers not hauing any thing else to do but to imitate their Leaders and heads will readily range themselues euerie one in his owne place without hauing néede of any sergeant of a band nor any other to place them prouided that vse and practise hath made them perfect masters These things are instructed learned spéedily so that diligence be vsed that mē accustome themselues by little little and often the which after they haue once well learned they shall hardly forget It is moreouer necessarie to teach them to turne al at one time for it is somtimes requisite to make of the rereward the front or of one of the flankes the rereward according to the enimies face and according to the place of assault Now to answere towards the place néedful you haue no more to do but to turne your person towards the place appointed and so shall that part towards which the souldiers haue turned their faces be the front But he that would haue a whole battaillon turne all in one péece as if it were a massie body in this it were necessarie to haue great practise discretiō for to turne it vpon the left hand it is requisite to haue the left corner stay that those which be néere adioyning vnto the same do aduance themselues so slowly that those vpon the right corner be not constrained to run otherwise al wil be confounded but this may better be made apparant by experience then words The forlorne hope the light armed armed pikes are to be ranged in the front flanks rereward according to the proportion of the battell or as the seruice requires for these are to execute particular functions in cōuoyes forrages inuasions such like when it is not requisite to send great numbers of people The forlorne hope the pikemen hargabusiers are to begin the battel to fight amongst the horsemen without kéeping any order and therfore being lightly armed their office is to fight without stāding still or firme in running trauersing here there whether they pursue the enimies or be followed of them in which the pikemen wil do good seruice in backing sustaining the hargabusiers and may be able to make front to these that charge vpon them whether they be on horseback or foote or to follow those that be in flight to make entrance to thrust in amongst the enimies when they begin to stagger or sway Therfore al souldiers whether they be in maine battel in flanke forlorne hope in the impale or rereward haue néede to be well exercised that being disbanded they may immediatly finde againe their places rang themselues in the same aray they kept before wherein it is necessarie that all officers become more vigilant in execution then heretofore and the souldiers more obedient and expert in performing then at this day they be Our age brings forth Captaines more curious of gaine then of conseruing good order and troupes of officers rather to supplie number then sufficient to instruct The Ensignes thēselues are more in vse for a gallant shew then for any Militarie direction whereas the ancient Romaines did vse them for a guid whereby they knew how to put thēselues in order for euery one after the Ensigne did stay knew incontinently the place where they were to plant thēselues they knew that if the same did remoue or stand stil that they likewise ought to march or stay Therfore it is necessary that a camp haue diuers bands euery band his Ensigne wherin figures of number are to be portraited to shew what roome and place the same is of in euery regiment or armie and so consequently where the same is accustomed to be ranged And also necessarie Leaders and officers that the campe may haue diuers soules and so likewise diuers liues all souldiers then ought to gouerne thēselues according to their Ensignes according to the sounds the which being ordained set down according as they ought do command gouerne a whole regiment and armie The which so that it march in such sort as answeres to the batterie of the drums they shall easily kéepe their order and aray And to this end were the Flutes and fiffes found out and sounds of perfect accord for euen as men that dance by the measures of Musicke do not erre so likewise a whole battaillon which in march obeys the sound of the drum cannot breake aray and therefore the Romaines when they would change their pace when they would inflame appcase or assure the souldiers they did change sounds as the sounds did varie so likewise vsed they variety of names to them for they had the Dorike and the Phrigien sound the one did inflame the hearts of the souldiers the other did make méek appease them They had likewise other kinds of sounds as the Aeolien Iasien Lydien others the which did al serue to incite or coole the courage of men which diuersitie of batteries the Spaniards do presently verie well imitate a thing to be obserued of all good souldiers An armie that consists of diuers battaillons two or thrée fronts when they are constrained to break and are repulsed must retire one within another into the rankes of the next squadrons which of purpose are planted more thin so the first retyring enters into the 2. and the second into the 3. Note that in the first front of a square vpon the fal of any wounded or slaine souldier he the is next behind him in rank is his follower must enter and step into his roome and fill vp the void place that the front of the battel may still be maintained and so obseruing the retire of the battaillons and the renuing of their ranks we may accomplish both the Romain Gréeke discipline Those battaillons which are most necessarie to be had in vse ought to consist of pikes marching before the Ensigne behind it and on the flanks carrying light Uenecian rundels and targets on their backes and in the midst about the Ensigne the halberdeares must stand prouided alwayes that the notable personages good souldiers for seruice be dispersed as well in the flanks behind as before and not to put them all to one
onely make profession but of cleane and gallant riding or to run in comly order with a Lance vpon the euen grauell sand And therefore this officer that hath vnder his charge all the horsemen of the fielde as the Hargalateares Lighthorsemen Lances and men at Armes or barded horses seruing to breake into a battallion of Pikes or to backe other horsemen being repulsed must be a personage of singular courage industry and experience that he may be able worthily to performe his Lieutenant and Generalship And albeit I meane not in this place particularly to entreat of the seuerall charges of euerie Captaines duetie yet thus much I thought good to note that a Captain of a hundreth men at armes may be compared with a Collonel of footemen other Captaines of lightorsemen with the Captaines of footemen subiect to the Collonel and as it is the part of the Collonell to haue a special regard to the arming lodging and training of his footemen so is it the duetie of the Captaine of men at Armes to foresée that neither they be disfurnished of their horse and armour with other necessarie nor yet vntrained in all such Militarie exercises as to their profession is agréeable This Lieutenant must discypher the election of the appointed captaines whether they be méete for such a charge or vsurpe the same by fauour and to aduértise the Generall of the armie therof that he may remoue the one and place others of sufficient experience He must likewise ouersée the actions of these captaines and giue them great charge for the training of their bands and set down an order in what sort in what place and time they shal practise and exercise their companies amongst whom if he finde any default of furniture or otherwise let him make certificate thereof to the Generall or high marshall that the same may be redressed For the better performance whereof immediatly after he enters into his charge let him kéepe a booke and roll of al the bands committed to his gouernement with the names of their Captaines officers and to examine and peruse whether they containe their full number of men and be sufficiently furnished with horse armour cassocks péeces lances with their Pennons of their Captaines colours guidons trumpets such like necessaries as appertaines to their warlike profession otherwise to procure supply Let him dispose his seueral sorts of weapons horsmen into seueral troups by themselues the barbed horses in one part the lances in another the light horsemen in another the hargabusiers likewise seueral from the rest herein he doth resemble the Sergeant maior for that he is to be directed from the General or high marshal euē as he to dispose these bands according to their order resolution The Lieutenant must appoint which bāds of horse shal go to the watch to be vantcouriers and to scoure the passages must accordingly prouide that they which watch the night may rest the next day night others that haue rested supply their places in such sort that fresh men may alwaies be supplied in their places the wearied to take their rest for neither man nor horse without their conuenient rest cā cōtinue any long time So soone as the trumpet shal sound in the morning to make ready to horse he shal forth with repaire to the Generals tent to know his pleasure then immediatly to set forth his Generals Standerd cause al the horsemen forth with to repaire to that place as euery captaine shal come he shal cause them to put their bands euery one after his standard or guidon into a certain number of rankes that the said Lieutenant may redily at any sodain draw forth any number of any sort of horsemen that he shal be required by the General or high marshall In the morning he must giue notice warning to such horsmen as he entendeth shal watch the night ensuing to the intent they may féed spare their horses that day likewise rest thēselues that they may the better be able to do such seruice as they shal the night following be enioyned When the high marshal goeth to view the ground to encampe vpon it is this Lieutenants dutie to select a conuenient band to attend vpon his person and to appoint such a company as may afterward take their rest and féede their horses til such time as he shal deliuer them to the scout master at night who then shal enioyne them what to do all the night after shal also deliuer them the watchword This Lieutenant as a coadiutour to the lord Marshall and Sergeant maior ought all the day whiles the battels march diligently to note the orders of euerie band if he sée any disorder forth with to send for the Captaine cause him immediatly to sée it redressed At night when the army entreth into the campe the Litutenant shall still cause the horsemen to kéepe the field vntil al the footmen be encamped then may he enter with his bands of horse orderly causing first one band to enter all the rest to kéepe the fielde when they haue their conuenient place then another band to enter and so orderly to place themselues wherin the Lieutenant is to foresee that the last bands be not worst lodged but such conuenient place left as they haue no iust cause to complaine and this is to be obserued in places of suspect otherwise they may lodge abrode amongst the Uillages for their greater ease Let him giue order that the Couriers scourers come not out of the field till the trumpet sound to the watch at night nor thē neither vntil such time as they shall perceiue the scout Sentinel to be come from the camp to haue taken their places in the field then may they returne into the Campe. It is his part likewise to assigne a sufficient number of horse to attend on the forrage master to gard defend the forragiers which horsemen must not come out of the field vntil al the forragers be returned to the camp with the forrage master Then shal these horsemen rest not watch neither that night nor go forth for vauntcourrier al the next day He must appoint a reasonable conuoy of horsmē for the saftie of such as bring victuals to the campe to sée that no violence or iniurie be offered them so order the change of his horse in these seuerall seruices that some be not ouer burthened and others spared ouermuch but the matter so indifferently vsed that men haue no cause to murmure or repine In making of Roads with horsemen onely or in a day of battell he must send out the Hargolateares light horsemen such like to discouer or to begin the seruice first then to diuide the Lances and men at armes into diuers troups squadrons and with such distance following one another as one may rescue an other The sides of these massie squadrons should haue one rank of
a volée of their Pistolets For execution of iustice on such as are offendors in any bands of horsmen albeit in some countrie it be vsed that euery Captaine of an hundred men at armes may call vnto him certaine of the chéefe of his band and heare and determine all causes and offences by any of his bande committed yet surelye I holde it more conuenient that all matters concerning life be harde by the Lord high marshall who may cause to sit with him the said Captaine whose souldior is to be adiudged and such other of the said band as to him shall séeme méete and the souldiour condemned to death to be executed by the said band euen as the footmen are and by the same kind of weapons that the offendors vsed In conclusion it is therefore requisite that the Cauallerie be stil paide punished 〈◊〉 kept in good order that they haue sufficient horses armor weapons péece and launce that they be ready in all exploits both in Sentinels Couriers forrages marching vpon theyr gard in time of suspect and without suspect in skirmish and in fight But for that my onely meaning was to set downe a discourse for footmen I therefore say that the infantery be the veines for warres and the Cauallerie the flesh Horsmen be likewise good to make couriers or roades to discouer to charge with spéed vpon the enemies back or flanke to make an imbuscade in a roade or otherwise which are rather to consist of geâ—…dings theÌ„ of stoned horses for doubt of naying To make waye force a passage through the midst of the enemies with money or munition behind them for the succour of a fortresse besieged for the passage of waters in breaking the course of the water for the more easie wading through of the footmen to pursue the enemie that is put to flight to carry and conuey secretly behinde them footmen both with péeces and pikes who ought to carrie their pikes lowe their matches close vntill in this sort vndiscouered they become vnto the place appointed For these and such like exploits horsemen be necessarie in a Campe being a great commoditie and reputation to a Prince and sharpe spurs to a well ordered armie The office of the Scoute maister or Maister of the watch THis Officer must take a solemne oath to be true and iust in his office nightly to attend vpoÌ„ the General to receiue the watch word the which at the setting of the watch he shal 〈◊〉 deliuer vnto the Captaines conferring first with the Sergeant Maior Generall and shall diuers times prooue the same watch as well to sée if they sléepe not as if he finde them in such fault to accuse theÌ„ to the higher officers who ought to appoint theyr punishment according to the tenor of the articles of martial lawes He ought diligently to view note round about the Campe all the places of suspect where the enemies in the night time might approch that he may accordingly afterwards dispose of his Scoutes and therefore he should attend vpon the high marshall at such time as he goeth to make choise of a méete plat to incampe on and then to speake his fancie touching the conuenience or inconuenience of the seat in respect of due place for the scouts So soone as the Trumpet soundeth to the watch at night he must immediatly repaire to the Lieutenant of the horsemen requesting him to assigne a compotent number of horsemeÌ„ to attend vpon the scoute that night and then mâ—…st hee giue them charge vpon paine of death that none of them abandon theyr places vntill the discouerers be come into the field and haue taken their places For the setting of the watch and order how to plant the same peruse my two first bookes of directions specially in the Corporals Sergeants Lieutenants and Caualliers of S. Georges squadrons orders neuertheles if it shall be thought good of those that gouerne this maner ensuing may now and then be vsed First he shall set the ring watch round about the impalement of the Campe viz. a Halberd or Bill a Bowe Hargabushe or Musket and a Pike and euerie one a pike length from an other then without them certaine little troopes fiue or sixe in a troope of footmen of different weapons vi shot pikemen and short weapons and these troopes alwaies to send foorth a couple whereof a Hargubuzier alwaies to be one and these to prie and harken what they can discerne Againe without this foote scout other small troopes of horsemen fiue or sixe in a company these likewise to disperse theÌ„selues abroade to discouer what they can And if they happen to sée or heare any thing presently to report the same to the foote scoute and one or two of the foote scoutes to repaire to the Scoutmaster who must if it be matter of importance open the same presently to the high Marshall Besides all this in time of suspect it were requisite that a stand watch be maintained within about the ordinance but because that appertaineth not to the scoutmaster I let it passe It is requisite in the long cold winter nights to change and relieue the watch at euerie houres end in autumne the spring at the end of an houre and a halfe and in the hoate season of summer at two houres end but these things must be ordered more or lesse as the scoute maister and other principall officers shall thinke méete for the better preseruation of the people and the accomplishment of the seruice sending forth rounds euerie houre In the morning so soone as the trumpet soundeth to the reléefe of the watch he must repaire to the sayd Liuetenants tent there to receiue by his assignement a conuenient number of horsemen to scoure that day and then shal he giue order vnto some to ride to the highest hils to view round about what they can espie and others to the valleys and other obscure passages woods or such like and to ride one from another a good distance so as if one chance to be surprised by the enemie yet the rest may escape and bring intelligence therof so soone as the scoutmaister shall receiue any aduertisment by the Courriers he shall forthwith repaire to the high Marshall and informe him of euery particularitie In the placing of his night watches sentinels he must vse great consideration first in setting his little troopes or bodies of the watch in some places of strength so as they may be able when the enemie shall approach to make resistance and defend themselues vntill such time as the campe may put themselues in armes and besides these troopes he shall giue order that two or thrée shall walke foorth one waie and as many another way and if they happen to sée any matches light or heare any noyse foorthwith one to repaire to the body of the watch and so to the scoutemaister and the other to stay till they can more plainely perceiue what the matter is And it shal
whatsoeuer but that he must gaine the same by a long siege Fyrst he must with al dilligence and good counsaile oftentimes discouer and view the situation of the place and choose the seate where hee may Encampe and lodge his Souldiours Aboue all things he must beware that he plant himselfe in such a place as that the ayre become not corrupted taking for example Mounsieur de Lawâ—…rec at the siege of Naples who by his occasion besides the ouerthrowe of his enterprise lost both all hys Armie and his owne lyfe with the ruine of a great part of the Nobility of Fraunce That he choose likewise a place that is proper for his purpose through the commoditie of wood and water and other necessary things for mans sustenaunce and couert and safe from danger of the enemies Artillary as much as is possible If the place that hée dooth besiege be great and furnished with great number of Footemen and Horsemen which be able to make sallies and come to skyrmish he must incontinently take order that hys Campe bee fortifyed in such sort as he shall thinke most conuenient to fronte the force of the enemie Thys doone he must take from the enemies all the commodities he can as water and all other things which may yéeld them sustenaunce or reliefe and to reduse them to the greatest necessity he can Moreouer it hath béene séene by experience that to deuide an Armie and to make it ouerweake when it is neere a Cittie is a very dangerous thing principally when there is great force of braue and valiant Souldiours within the Towne As fell out at the siege of Florence where two Chiefes were elected the one on thys side the Riuer Arno towards the North which were the Almaines and the other towards the South where was the person of the Generall with the greatest force of the Armie Florence therefore to deliuer it selfe from such continuall toyle did sallie out by night and assault the Almaine Armie with such furie that had there not béen great disorder amongst the assailants the Almaine Armie had entirely béene ouerthrowne and Florence had béen deliuered from siege on that side Wherefore I thinke the most assured and the easiest way is to enclose and restraine the besieged Towne by means of Forts as was practised in the warres at Mirandell and Sienna Uisite dilligently all the waies and passages by the which succours may be giuen to the Towne besieged At euery such place you ought to make a Forte and to approoch so néere as with foure Forts or more you may enuiron all the Cittie I woulde not haue these Forts for that they be litle to be feeble neither that they should be situate in such a place but that they might ayde one another The forme which I would wish them to be of I haue héere sette foorth Afterwardes with the rest of his Armie he must plant him selfe in such a place as from thence at time of neede he may succour his Forts or at the least with one part thereof hauing fyrst sounded the force of the enemie then taking the Artillary which he shall thinke most necessary hee shall endeuour himselfe to become the Maister of the Countrey round about him specially of such places as he is able to force Héereby he may reape great coÌ„modity as well by victualles wherby he may nourish his Armie as that thereby hee shall take away from the besieged all hope of succour and likewise by that meanes cause his Armie to be feared so that the Countrey eyther through loue or feare shall neyther take occasion to rebell or yéeld him any resistance What is to be obserued when any Cittie or Fortresse is able to be expugned by battery c. to approach and besiege the same â—… Presently haue declared howe much it importeth to choose for encamping a plotte of ground commodious healthfull and assured now I will speake of the order which is to be vsed and necessary to be obserued when a Generall supposeth himselfe able to gayne a Fortresse or Cittie by maine force of Armes Fyrst the Marshall of the fielde must goe with practised souldiours and of tryed experience in the warres well accompanied to the intent they may safely viewe and consider the circuite and situation of the Towne and to sée vpon what side Trenches may be made for the planting of the Artillarie Aboue all he must be careful and prouident that the earth be of such nature and qualitie that it will receiue the Spade Pickaxe and be apt to make Trenches in and other necessary thinges to couer themselues against the enemie To thinke that a man may perfectly discouer view a Towne or Fortresse eyther in the day or in the nyght it is impossible for in the day the enemie will not giue a man leaue or leysure at leastwise if they be men of courage In the night one cannot directly and thorowly neyther discouer the flankes Bulwarks and Ditches neither behold many particularities which be necessary to him which will aptly in good order prepare himselfe to make an assault But the same discouery may be well and commodiously doone when the Trenches shall be made the which may bring him euen to the Ditches There the Generall himselfe may at his ease behold and discerne all that he desires to know Touching the manner and fashion to make the Trenches although there be diuers opinions neuerthelesse for the greater satis-faction of the Reader I haue drawne out diuers fashions which séeme to be most commodious most sure and most easie as in the sundry portratures of thys Booke dooth appeare But aboue all he must prouide that in the Trenches there be places to plant the bodie of the watch assured and in such sort as they may be able to giue succoure one to another Likewise there ought to be issues or passages to goe out of them as you may behold by thys figure Thys doone you must choose a place to plant your Artillarie with Gabions Wooll-packs and other Engines proper to those affayres and carefully take order and foresee that the Maister Gunner and Cunstable of the Artillarie and other inferiour Officers haue experience and good knowledge herein Accomodate thicke boardes or tymber close together where the battery is planted for the Artillarie to run vpon and foresee that those planckes yeelde a certaine fall and discending to towards the Cannones to the intent that after they bee recueled they may be the more easily brought againe into theyr places By this meanes the péeces shall remaine assured from running and sincking into the grounde in wette and rainie weather Diuers are of opinion that the Artillarie ought not to bee planted any further distance of from the Fortresse more then one hundred and fyftie pases if the situation of the grounde will permitte I will omitte to speake of the qualitie of the Artillarie Onely I say that according to the vse in this age the Cannons ought to bee of thréescore renforced in
It is most necessary for him to be able to determine and take resolution of any thing in himselfe that therby he néed not to hinder nor disturbe the execution of any enterprise neyther to make so many heads and commaunders in an Armie which would growe to be manifest domage Neyther can warres of importance without good counsell be perfectly gouerned wherein the victorious Emperour Charles the fift did prudently procéed in time of warre specially in Germany where ordinarily hee did serue his turne with sixe honorable and principall men of experience béeing Italians with sixe of the Spanish Nation in like sort with sixe of the Germaines and sixe of Flaunders and the Low Countries by whose aduise and his owne sound resoultion there afterward ensued so notable and famous a victory He must take good order that the Ministers and Priestes of hys Armie doo apply thēselues exemplarely to the seruice of God not only at all times by the action of theyr Office conformable to the vse of the sacred Catholicke Church and to preach to the consolation of those that be in health but also to communicate giue good counsell to those that be sick and bury those that be dead It seemes likewise very conuenient for the Generall that as he is supreame heade ouer the rest that euen so accordingly he take care that the souldiours honours and Millitary orders be not diffrauded He therfore must carefully take the custody of the Souldiours honour praysing and rewarding by extraordinary means those that be good vertuous ful of valour and valiant and dyscommend and depresse those that be vicious wicked and naughty persons thereby to enflame euery one to aspire to vertuous actions since that the hope of recompence and reward and the feare of reprehension and punishment both drawes and driues those that be Souldiours to worke wonderfull things To the intent the Millitary orders become not diffrauded let him shew himselfe curious and careful to take resolute order that the Treasurers and Pagaclores Colatorally and the Secretaries publikely at the Bancke make their pay iust and entirely to the Officers and those that be of estimation as to the Collonell and the Caualieres of hys Squadre to the Captaines they Caualieres to the Lieuetenants Alfieres Sergiants and Corporalles of Squadres c. Fully so much as is concluded and capitulated to be conuenient and thought requisite of the Common wealth the Prince or other Potentate or Generall The which capitulations and conclusions ought to be set downe in autentike writing and reall forme to the intent they may be obserued being thinges as necessary to be performed as though they were sacred Since that many times through like wants and defects in the euill obseruing therof many mighty Nations haue béene confounded by loosing their souldiours of greatest valour the most manifest and most mightiest occasion of the ruine of Armes Considering that men are scarce able to growe perfect and practised within the compasse of a whole age or in that time gaine a perfect habite in the profession of Armes which is a thing of most necessary great importance for the safe sustaining of our Christian Religion against the Turks tiranny and barbarous Moores which frō age to age spring vp like the Hydraes against the Militant Catholick Church But to come againe to our former spéech these payes ought not to be reckoned placed amongst the aduantages or Capi soldi and to giue them afterwards priuatly and in Groppo into the hands of the Captaine wherby dooth oftentimes proceede inconuenience of great importance which comes to passe by the couetousnes of some insatiable persons where otherwise they ought to kéepe the same carefully and to disburst liberally since he receiued it to keepe the same safely and to distribute it discreetly not as his owne but as his Princes not gyuen to hym but to hys Souldiours Ouer whom a Captaine ought to take no lesse care then a father doth ouer his children or a brother towards his brother or to speake more properly a faithfull companion towards hys friend in respect that hee ought to terme those that be his followers and are guided by him hys companions in Armes It is good the Generall make election of a fat fréendly Country which so néere as is possible is aboundant in all things large commodious and of sound and open ayre for the respect of gathering together and making the Amasse of the people and for the conueiance of prouision for the Armie In which place he must make stay for the vniting of victuall Munition and Artillary which is before hand ordained and prouided with all other preparations necessary and expedient for the warres Hauing by his high Marshall as well as is possible deuided the Quarters and lodgings he must attend to receiue with ioyful chéere the Bands and Companies which shal arriue from day to day as well Horsemen as Footmen He must neuer permit the Captaines to depart from the place where he made the Amasse and collection of the Companies with their bands out of order or disseuered although they should depart to some place neere adioyning vnlesse he were forced by some occasion of great necessity and importance but ought rather hauing placed the Ensignes together to march in Squadrons and in good order and in perfect forme both for the respect of his reputation and their exercise and the better to maintain the whole body of his Campe in assurance It is conuenient for him to make election of an ingenious Maister of the Artillarie of a Maister or Marshall of the Campe of great experience of a Sergiant Maior generall perfect readie in that Office of great importance of Collonels and other Captaines and Officers of entire mindes and as néere as is possible such as be exercised in warlike affaires to the intent they may be better able to execute theyr offices with the more efficacie such as can performe rather in action then promise by words And so consequently that the election of other Officers and Souldiours depending vpon their choyse be of good qualitie as by all reason they ought to be for we must perswade our selues that that number is far lesse which truely and exactly knowes the importaunt and high secrets of the honourable arte of Armes then those that are reputed meane and common Therefore wise men affirme that that Prince dooth most worthily merite the rule of a Monarchie that can make a good election of wise Counsellers and warlike Captaines After this he must make choyse of a sufficient Comessarie Generall who chéefely may haue charge to giue carefull order that all the people and Souldiours may be conducted to the mayne Amasse and assembly with speciall politique spéede to the ende they may iourney without working domage to the Countrey where they passe and that the souldiours doo not fall to the spoile through the ouer great pennury and want of necessary things Besides thys great Comessary obeyed by the particuler Purueyours
Captaine either by meanes of fauour or vertue be blotted with some vice or defect yet we ought not to disobey him for Caesar was ambitions great Alexander a drunkard Hanniball vnfaithfull cruell and without Religion Fabius Maximus by lingering estéemed a coward Marcellus rash and vnaduised And therefore although thy Captaine be accounted most vicious yet if he know how to gouerne and guide his charge a souldier must obey him and neither calumniously reprehend him nor corruptly imitate and obserue his vices but duely and directly fulfill his precepts so that no souldier or Gentleman of what great house soeuer ought to disdaine to be commanded of such as haue risen by vertue to the height of honour neither any man how great of linage soeuer he hâ—… to disdaine to accept lesse degrées then a Captaine for these bée the steppes by the which hée must ascende vnto higher dignitie as manie auncient and noble personages haue doone who from inferiour degees by little and little haue come to superiour whereof the great Emperour Caius Iulius Caesar may be example who being borne of a noble house amongst the Romans was first chosen Pretor in Spaine a base office in respect of his worthy parentage as being reputed vnworthy of any greater office he did beare the same with a ioyfull mind accepting it as a meane and beginning to make him ascend to the highest of Fortunes whéele vnto the which the valor of his worthy minde did aspire These things considered let no maÌ„ disdain how great illustrous so euer he be the lowest degrees of seruice for by these steps he must ascend to the throne of stately gouernement In sum because I will not grow tedious I conclude that if any souldier would be beloued of his Captaine let him still obey and reuerence him performe his duetie and office willingly and neuer imagine to do any thing that is not gratefull to him but feare obey the law of armes which he must imprint perfectly in his heart and haue continually in memorie as here in order do presently insue Martiall and Militarie lawes whereunto souldiers of all degrees must be sworne to keepe and maintaine inuiolated at all times and in all places whether they serue Emperor King or Prince 1 FIrst he that contrary to the word of God whom in al our actions we must first haue respect vnto doth maintaine perswade fauour any infidelitie heresie schisme strange or new religion whatsoeuer and doth not cleaue to the Christian faith shall incurre the law appertaining 2 Item that those which without the feare of God despise and deride his holy word be punished accordingly 3 Item that no man speake against the Christian catholike faith neither write against the same 4 Item that no souldier of what soeuer degrée or office he be do breake spoile abuse or prophane any church 5 Item that no souldier emit or absent himselfe from diuine seruice if his Princes vrgent affaires will admit him to be present 6 Item that all souldiers obserue and kéepe the precepts of the church 7 Item that contrariwise no man be so hardy to outrage any zealous man either in word déede or any other sinister meanes but in liew thereof carrie a reuerent respect to all and euerie of them 8 Item that in like sort no man go about to defloure commit adulterie or fornication with virgins wiues or widowes neither by force neither by other accident vnlesse the partie were consenting and the matter secrete which neuerthelesse is not lawful before the face of God vpon paine of death without mercie 9 Item that no maÌ„ shal destroy ruinate endomage or set on fire any sacred place without licence of the Captain or General 10 Item togither with these foresaid religious cases or any ether whosoeuer shal blaspheme reuie horribly sweare by the almightie name of God by his diuine word and sacraments let such a peruerse impious and blaspheming person be punished openly and to the terrour of the rest let it be executed for no doubt the plague of the highest will not depart from the tentes of blasphemers and despisers of religion for how should we vse iustice indifferently vnto men when we are content with silence to suffer such iniurie to be committed against God Therfore first the offences done against God must be straightly punished and he then wil giue thée wisdome to decide the rest and triumphant victorie 11 Item all souldiers in generall hauing taken their oath to serue God and aduance his word they shal then next be sworne to be true iust and dutifull to their Lord soueraigne and his graund General or chiefe captaine of the field to be tractable obedient vnto euery officer placed appointed to rule ouer him and to be readie both day night to serue whether it be by land or by water as occasion of seruice shall fall out and require and whosoeuer doth repine or sheweth disobedience herein of what degreè or coÌ„dition soeuer he be he must be duly punished by the iudgement of the superiours appointed for that purpose 12 Item that whensoeuer any Chieftaine or Captaine of any band shal vpon vrgent causes appoint in his absence any other whom he shall thinke good to supply and execute his roome of captainship euerie man ought to follow and obey the said deputie with no lesse care diligence then they would the captaine himselfe vpon paine of such punishment as the Generall or his assignes shall appoint 13 Item that al souldiers must content themselues with their places appointed being ioyned togither in banâ—…s or seuerall without resistance whether it bâ—… in marching watching incamping or besâ—…eging being also commanded thereunto by the Captaine or other officers vpon such paine as shal be thought good by the Captaine 14 Item that euerie souldier shall â—…or his honour sake gladly fauour mercifully forbeare vnto the vttermost of his power all women lying in childbed or being with child or lately deliuered from child to defend and succour them from the rage of the cruel and rude souldiers or others which follow the campe for spoile Also it behooueth as I said before that all souldiers defend all priestes of godly calling and all spirituall persons but now adaies they be the first to whom abuse is offered of what opinion or religion soeuer they be but God no doubt wil iustly plague all such before they be aware and when they least suspect it 15 Item that euerie souldier shall serue and is by the law of armes bound by long custome to serue thirtie dayes for euerie moneth and after that rate he shall receiue his moneths wages 16 Item if that any souldier haue receiued his moneths wages aforehand or any part thereof and departeth without leaue or pasport from his Captaine and hath not serued for it he or â—…hey apprehended shall for the said offence be iudged to die 17 Item if there be any souldier or souldiers in marching breake his or their aray
which Paulus the third Pope of Rome sent into Germanie against the Lutherans in aid of Charles the fift did dispose that all the Sergeants of his bands should arme themselues with hargabuzes and murrians saying that so great a number of valiant men being Sergeants as was in so great an assemblie and expedition of such importance it was neither good nor commendable that they should onely be armed with their halberds and therefore he ought to haue his Page or Muchacho second him with those furnitures Neither séemes it inconuenient but hauing placed in order all things pertaining to his office that he place himselfe in ranke with the rest of the souldiers yet in such a place as he may easily depart from thence when necessitie calles him away to reforme or vse remedie to any disorder he vnderstands of He must with dexteritie procéed in reprehending and exhorting the souldiers to kéepe their due order and not to disband and stray abroad but vpon néedfull and lawfull occasions and to take order in all other particular points which are requisite to be obserued for the honour and profite of the companie which thinges are chiefely to be procured and obserued by other officers Let him beware and abstaine from beating of souldiers at any time that thereby he grow not odius for it is not conuenient nor comely for an officer to strike a souldier for thereby he so offends that he doth incurre the paine to receiue punishment for so doing of his Captaine or the master of the Campe. He must be diligent carefull and vigilant in all his affaires for in this office diligence and dexteritie is both to the purpose and most necessarie It is necessarie he be alwaies conformable vnto the sergeant Maior by imitation and obedience in action and like his shadow to second him in all his doings Of whom he may alwaies receiue information and order of all such things as be necessary for seruice of his band And of him he may learne to proceede by conformitie in that which is conuenient for his office For hee that is in companie with men of vertue and valor that be of more excellent qualitie then he himselfe shall euer reape some profite and the rather for that he is bound to be in the sight and néere about the sergeant Maior at all such times as anie thing is to be done where he ought with a good â—…are and diligent eye giue readie attendance to execute such commission as shall be giuen him specially those which appertaines to the ordering of the ranckes and euerie thing else whatsoeuer without doing anie thing vpon his owne iudgement but conferre with that great officer towards whom he musâ—… alwaies be courteous and conformable and with an obedient and beneuolent minde diligently imitate him I suppose it moreouer necessarie as I said before that he be able to write and read considering the infinit number of things which are to passe through his hands and which he ought to execute for the benefite of his companie which cannot be alwaies ordered disposed and guided only by memorie So consquently the sergeant is to take diligent care of all the foresaid thinges to execute the pointes of his office spéedily and to rebuke and teach such as do amisse with lenitie and although hee cannot violently strike and hurt anie man yet neuerthelesse no man can resist his authoritie but obserue the same as to the Captaines owne person if he were present He is not to heare anie mutinous or rebellious wordes amongst the companie but immediatly to reueale the same that speedie reformation may be had and faults amended And thus must he be still occupied to reform mens maners mispence of munition broken araies and to be readie daie and night to seruice by the captaine or Lieutenants commandement to instrust the companie to march traine and trauaile aswell by signes from him framed as otherwise by wordes spoken and to haue speciall regard to the companie to see that their armour and weapons be in a readinesse alwayes for seruice for the diligent and skilfull vsage of this office is of no small momentanie good order throughout the whole band no lesse then the Centurion amongest the Romaines who was captaine ouer a hundreth and so likewise euerie hundreth in ech band ought to haue a seuerall sergeant to direct and gouerne The office of an Alsierus or ensigne bearer IF it be a thing most requisite that a priuate souldier should haue a speciall zeale ouer his proper honour and credite how much more is the same necessarie for a valiant Alfierus or Ensigne bearer Therefore hée must with all carefull diligence and due discretion ascend the fourth degree of this honourable discipline being alreadie trained vp in the thrée first degrees which is of a priuate souldier a corporal and a sergeant whereby to his great commendation he may sufficiently merite the swaie of this office Hauing solemnly receiued the Ensigne of his Captaine like a noble and expert Souldier hée ought carefullie to keepe the same and beare a certaine reuerent respect to it as to a holie thing yea and to be gelouse ouer the safetie thereof no lesse then an amorous person ouer his louing mistresse Since that onely with the sacred shade of the ensigne being well guided the generall reputation of all the band and companie is conseruer Therefore the Alfierus ought to be indowed with such custome and vse himselfe with such courtesie and ciuilitie that he may not onely procure the loue of his confederates and friends but of all the entire companie Besides it is necessarie to haue neere vnto him a couple of assistantes at the least that be practised and good Souldiers which may be of the number of the Halbardyres that go next his Ensigne to the end that when hee is constrained to absent himselfe from the same through some vrgent and necessarie occasion for otherwise it is not to be permitted hée may cause one of them take care and charge of his Ensigne in what accident soeuer might fall out during that time For that thing ought neuer to be left alone or abandoned to a slender and loose gard which is of such a great importance whereupon euerie mans honour and estimation dependeth wherefore it ought at all to be carefully kept and well accompanied Note that the Alsierus to defend his ensigne and himselfe at one instant must haue in his one hand his drawne sword and in the other the Ensigne which thing is conuenient of him particularly to be performed when it is time to assault the enemies vpon a Wall Trench Sâ—…alade Bulwarcke Breach or in anie strait passage or enterprise since that with the poynt of Iron of the Ensigne staffe small defence can be made aswell for the weakenesse of the staffe as through the trouble and continuall wauering of the silke which is about it so that in bearing the same displayed hée ought rather to haue regard where he shall set his foote then to
of the one and the other ought to be taken vntill the same be performed or the pay past and then may discharge him as is said to shunne a greater scandale for to enter into vnquiet quarrelling and discord one equal with an other and with one that receiues the like stipend is not the part and qualitie of a subiect souldier but of a frée carelesse cutter and band buckleâ—… and of an insolent and importunate person whose nature doth argue in him that his doings tend to an other end then to become excellent in the honorable exercise of armes Pâ—…t the case that one of them should valiantly ouercome the other yet vnto the Captaine doth arise no other then want losse and euill satisfaction for when first he did receiue them into his seruice he did presume that they were both of them equally to be esteemed men of good credite and behamour and that for such they were conducted and receiued stipend So that quarelling and â—…illing one the other as often it fals out in resolute persons oâ—… putting him so a dishonour or open foile such a one doth not oâ—…ely depriue the Captaine of a souldier but also of himselfe likewise For the law of reason doth binde the Captaine not to maintain an importunate person a malefactour and an homecide in one band no lesse then a well ordered citie Considering it is requisite and conuenient his souldiers rather then to imploy themselues in such quarrels should indeuour and aduenture their bodies so ouerthrow and kill the enimie thereby to procure his owne proper praise and peculier profite Always prouided that the occasion of the wars be concluded and published to be lawfull and honest which easily in this respect doth remoue all difficulties whilest a man doth place himselfe in the seruice of a prince that is religious prudent and iust and that haue expresse and lawfull power to louie armes and not with those which are of small authoritie or tyrannous vsurpers of other mens states and wicked blood suckers Therefore when the Lieutenant cannot by his owne dealings supply these wants or pacifie and accord them in such causes he may remit the care thereof vnto his superior Captaine And thus let him haue speciall care that by his meanes no quarrels do grow neither that he suffer any faction or disceÌ„tion to take déepe roote for feare of banding and mutinies He ought to haue speciall respect that the Corporals and Sergeants be able duely to execute their office with due diligence for the better performance of seruice and personally aid them in setting the watch Likewise to the intent that the Sergeant persist not ignorantly or fall in any one point of his office it behooues the Lieutenant in many particular pointes to aid him both in respect of his owne credite and for the generall benefite of the whole band as in vsing diuers directions disciplines inueâ—…tions putting the band in order rancke square in accompanying them to the watch and in executing such like enterprises which commonly are to be performed So ought he likewise to delight himselfe extraordenarily besides the other necessarie parts of his office in taking view of the Corps de gard and the Sentinels of his proper companie to the intent they may remaine continually vigilant and redie and ech mans duetie duly executed the martial lawes read and examined and a solemne silence generally maintained He must obserue great affabilitie and fraternitie with the Alfierus and friendly consult with him specially if the Lieutenant doth not manage both the one and the other office as the Spaniards and other nations doe vse and might very well be vsed of vs if the Generall or Coronell thinke good 〈◊〉 for auoyding of emulation and charge of pay but if they 〈◊〉 particular officers and beare distinct sway in the hand then 〈◊〉 the Lieutenant be very carefull as he that is the chiefe to auoide all stomaking and strife that might arise â—…etwixt him the Alsierus for therby oftentimes great scandales haue faâ—…ne out and the diuision of the company a thing aboue all other to be carefully forséene and shunned He ought to vse a gracious iesture a curteous entertainment to all his souldiers countenance euerie one ioyfully and solicite their causes carefully towards the captaine the other officers as the treasurers pay-masters coÌ„missaries and such like yet euer by the captaines consent yea to the captain himselfe by whose friendly fauour inferiour officers may be relieued for their pay or other wantes Besides he ought to giue order and direction to all the company deuiding distributing the Squadres indifferently and discréetly to the intent the Corporals other officers may be obeyed that ech enterprise may be performed without reply or contradiction It is necessarie that he put in euerie Squadre an equal number of euery sort of armes and that ech weapon be sorted in a redinesse to the intent the in what place time soeuer occasion doth require euery one of them may to his great aduantage procéede and front the inuading enimie with a forceable strength Like wise it is good sometimes not to suffer a Squadre or rather a whole Corps de gard to consist of souldiers al of one countrie and nation but ought rather to be artificially mixed and to separate them thereby to auoid quarrell and generalitie of factions which by reason of their being togither may the rather arise amongst consorts of one natiue countrie that more commodiously then if they were separated The Captain being absent the Lieutenant possesseth the principall and chiefe place and ought to be obeyed as captaine Neuerthelesse in his presence it is requisite he vse a certaine brâ—…therly friendship and familiaritie towards al yet that notwithstanding he must proceede in al things with such modestie and grauitie as he may retaine such authoritie and reputation as the office he doth hold doth most worthily inuest him withall There ought to be in him a reasonable good knowledge and faâ—… in expressing his conceit and meaning sensiblie that the 〈◊〉 may vnderstand what they haue to do to the intent he may 〈◊〉 mâ—…re easily imprint in the heartes and mindes of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all such things as he determines and that be necessarie for the better 〈◊〉 of his Prince and the benefite of his countrie and companie whereunto he ought to apply himselfe with all possible diligence since that of the Prince he is liberally paid hath his being of his countrie and is diligently obeyed of his band where he swayes his present office charge which is truely of great credite and no lesse commoditie Let him prouide himself of a horse to beare him to the intent he may be lustie and fresh in all enterprises and that he may continually take the view and diligently suruey the order which they are to kéepe in marching or in making Alta and at al other times besides in what enterprise soeuer He must take order that his baggage
to gratifie them and helpe them to his power and so courteously win the good wils and friendly fauor of all souldiers his equals to instruct and courteously to admonish euerie souldier priuatelie and apart what appertaines to his duetie This Caualliere must be able also to traine souldiers to make them march in orderly proporcions to cast them in Ringes Esses Snailes Hearses Squadres to receiue and giue charge to faine skirmishes onsets retraites and how to order any number of Souldiers from a hundreth to fiue hundreth for so manie may be in a band and vnder one Ensigne as the Swiâ—…ers and Germains yet vse at this day and as in former ages our Countriemen haue vsed which in some respects may passe without reprehension If a Captaine be disposed to haue so manie vnder his Ensigne when hée is not able to bring the number vnto a whole Collonelship together with the knowledge of the order how to traine hée must indeuour himselfe to be perfect in drawing platformes in the Mathematickes in the martiall Lawes in besieging of townes batteries mynes and ech thing else belonging to Martiall discipline Let this worthie Caualliere of Saint Georges squadre haue then before his eyes such like precepts and manage of martiall affaires that he may encrease his owne credite win his countrie fame fauor of his Prince honor of his house and friends rather then for the regard of riches statelie houses liuings and such like but rather prefer prudent pollicie courage valor and approued experience before such base benefites whereby hée may attaine to the lawrell Crowne wherewith diuers mightie conquerors haue their heades adorned That hée may be an example to the reproch of such as lewdlie spend their daies in idlenes prodigalitie lust and obloquie The order of trayning Footemen necessarie to be obserued of all Sergeants Lieutenants and Cauallieres of the band FOr that the ignorance and decay of Armes in the beginning of this age and in these partes of Europe haue brought great confusion to diuers which haue rawlie and rashlie professed the same to the hazard of their liues and countrie And for that Mustering and trayning of souldiers to make them expert to seruice is one of the greatest errors hath bin committed therefore I haue thought good to borrow out of Master Stywards Booke of Martial discipline his maner and forme of trayning which I find in him set downe in more plaine and exquisite maner according to the moderne vse then of any that hath hitherto written so particularlie either in our owne tongue or in any other forraine language wherein the Authour doth merite great commendations whether the same procéedes of his owne experience or that he hath drawne it out of other mens trauailes But first before I enter into particulars I thinke it good to set downe what Charecters I meane to vse in these discriptions that they may bée the better vnderstood together with other notes appertaining to these present directions The Letters and Charecters C for Captaines L for Lieutenants S for Sergeants D for Drums F for Fiftes s for Hargabusiers a for Archers b for Halberdiers p for Pikes h for Horsemen The Orders which are to be obserued for the furnishing of the foresaid weapons Caliuers or Hargabuzieres or Muâ—…ketieres SUch must haue either of them a good and sufficient péece flask tutch-boxe pouder shot yron mold worme tyrebale rammer swoord and dagger and a morrion The like must the Muskete are haue with a forked staffe brest hye with a stringe to fasten to his wrest Such as serue with shot in raine mistes and windes must haue their péeces chardged and primed They must carie the tutch hoale of their péeces vnder their arme-hoales match light in their hands couertly and drie their péeces faire and cleane within and without so bée they seruiceable at all times hauing regard they kéepe their march and retyre of good distance in sunder their match and pouder verie drie and their péeces often chardged and discharged Archers or long Bowes NEcessarie it is that euery man haue a good and méete bowe according to his draught and strength light easie a light side iacke hanging loose to his knée with a skul swoord dagger nothing vpon his armes wherby in time of seruice hée may easilie draw the arrow to the head that they may deliuer the same with strength and art as Englishmen bée accustomed They must haue also a bracer and shooting gloue their stringes whipped and waxed ouer with glew their feathers drie and so is hâ—… seruiceable Pykemen THose bearing that warlike weapons especiallie the fronts where sometimes Captaines Lieutenants Sergeants and Cauallieres of bandes be oftentimes planted with Pikes and is the place for Gentlemen to serue in must haue a fayre Millan corsseâ—… with al peeces appertaining to the same that is the curats the collers the paldrons wyth the vambraces also the long taces with the burganet with sword and dagger their pykes of the vsuall length for the strength of the battaile doth consist in the same bearing the pykes on their sholders setting their thumbes vnder the same whereby it is ruled They must oftentimes practise to trayle push ward couch crosse c. as for the necessitie of the skirmish or battaile appertaineth Halberdeares or Bill-men THese bée gards vnto Captaines Ensignes which be most times chosen gentlemen of experience or Cauallieres of the squadre who as occasion serueth giue orders to the numbers in aray and the enemie approching to giue an onset certain of them bée appointed to aduance and maintaine the receit of them whose discréete leading and valiant courage doth much comfort the rest to follow the same These Cauallieres bee armed with corselets and bée placed in the hart of the battail vsuallie called the slaughter of the field or execution of the same who commonlie doe not fight but in verie great extremitie Because there is great alteration and deuision of weapons I meane to note vnto you the iust numbers to euerie hundreth at this present vsed which shall greatly profit to the making of your battailes from 100. vnto 1500. Men. Pikes Halberds Targets of proofe Shot 100 Men. 40 P. 10 H. 50 Shot 200 Men. 80 P. 20 H. 100 Shot 300 Men. 120 P. 30 H. 150 Shot 400 Men. 160 P. 40 H. 200 Shot 500 Men. 200 P. 50 H. 250 Shot 600 Men. 240 P. 60 H. 300 Shot 700 Men. 280 P. 70 H. 350 Shot 800 Men. 320 P. 80 H. 400 Shot 900 Men. 340 P. 90 H. 450 Shot 1000 Men. 400 P. 100 H. 500 Shot 1100 Men. 440 P. 110 H. 550 Shot 1200 Men. 480 P. 120 H. 600 Shot 1300 Men. 520 P. 130 H. 650 Shot 1400 Men. 560 P. 140 H. 700 Shot 1500 Men. 600 P. 150 H. 750 Shot Of Mustering and Training A Band or Companie being furnished with Officers Souldiers Armour Weapons and Munitions as aforesaid In times connenient resort whollie together to some ground necessarie to mustâ—…r march and traine
mouth c. or such like appointing two or three rankes of Gentlemen of the 〈◊〉 of S. Georges Squaâ—…ie to lead the voward who know the encounter and how to ioyne and thereby that way by order of the officers the shot doth issue to skirmish betwixt the skilfull 〈◊〉 beforesaid The battaile may ioyne close togither if oâ—…casion requireth also the rest of the shot may waâ—…e thorow to helpe the voward EUen as presently you haue placed 12. in ranke with your halberds and Ensigne in the midst so may they likewise fal out to be 12. in ranke in bredth and 13. in length if you place your shot in the front rereward the which as occasion serueth may be brought to skirmish any wayes This battell as the ground serueth is verie strong against the enimie SOmtimes marching in straights and especially hauing some gard in the rereward for the safetie of the Ensigne you may send certaine rankes of pikes in the front towards the enimie which shall wade through to strengthen the battaile placing the one halfe of your shot to skirmish in the front the other halfe in the rereward SOmtimes hauing scope of ground standing in doubt of horsemen cause the numbers to march 12 in a ranke at large a good distance a sunder and so to stand stil euerie man towards their quarters placing their shot on al sides betwixt the pikes which after they haue discharged being charged with horse may retire to the halberds and your outward fronts farrie close togither vntil the shot haue charged at the repulse of the horsemen to open your pikes at large and the shot to be commanded to issue and to skirmish as they were in the fronts This battell is of great force To order and imbattell 400. in quadrant proportion FOure hundreth men whether they serue in one band or vnder two seuerall Ensignes may be brought to this quadrant proportion against the defence of the enimie by placing 15. in the front ioyning foure rankes of pikes in the voward foure in the rereward and foure in the flanks your halberds and Ensigne in the midst placing your shot in sixe wings for the rescuing of ech other the rest of your shot in the voward and rereward in Diamond wise This battell for so small a number is of great force THe ground may be such as it shal be necessarie to place the same number in manner of a herse or twofold battaile placing ten in ranke in length and 20. in bredth placing your halberds and Ensigne in the midst encountring the enimie on your broad side so shall you occupie more hands then the quadrant battaile doth taking vp lesse ground in marching then the other battaile You must cause them to sarrie close togither trailing their pikes on the ground being readie to offer the push to the footemen and to crosse for the defence of horsemen your shot to be placed as before you appeareth This is of great strength so that the enimie cannot enuiron you To embattaile 500. men in a quadrant proportion ACcording to the worthinesse of the Captaine the greater is his charge as one Captaine to haue charge of 500. men vnder one Ensigne the which if any Caualliere of the order would bring into quadrant battaile hée must place 16 Pikes in front making 4. rankes quadrant placing his halberds in the midst with the Ensigne so hath hée in the bodie of the battaile 250. men his shot to be placed in the front and Rereward 110. and in the flanks of the battaile in the 8. winges 140. the which béeing discharged may discharge retire whereby to be rescued by the rest They may in this proportion March any way vnto them néedefull bée it either to trauaile or else to win grounds by any aduantage SOmetimes by reason of the ground it is necessarie to bring such a number into an hearse or twofold battaile which may bée more auailable then the Quadrant battaile To bring them into this proportion you must place 13. Pikes in breadth and 21. in length your Halberds and Ensigne in the midst your shot in the fâ—…onts and wings Thus in order they may turne their faces and march any way to them néedefull which practise may greatly auaile at time of néede as vnto great numbers appertaineth In what sort Hargabuziers and Archers are to be guided to skirmish FOr that in all skirmishes shot is the first that beginneth the fight I haue thought good in some few figures to set downe how they may March skirmish inuade and retire in politikâ—… maner and how by rankes to rescue one another whereof the practise in this smal number wil giue a light to greater knowledge which still may increase as the deuises of new inuentions do spring wherein I would wish all worthie Gentlemen couragious minds to whet their politike industrie that therby they may shun diuers discommodities and vnknowen daungers attaine to the tipe of true valiancie but to procéede This number following vpon the sight of the enemies must march thrée in a ranke casting themselues in the proportion of a Ring so to abide there appointing themselues to approch stil in aray there to discharge by rankes and so in the Rereward to charge againe being readie for seruice still marching round and whéeling about like vnto the Rutters THis number encouÌ„tring the Ring must discharge by ranks and after the first ranke hath discharged to retyre betwixt the rankes vntil they come to the Rereward there to charge and to follow his loadsman to seruice againe Thus may you continually maintaine skirmish how litle or great soeuer your number bée it giueth great encouragement to the Souldiers standing but one shot and retireth THese two bands of Hargabuzers set to encounter the enemy on their broad sides the fronts discharge turne their faces retyring betwixt the other which aduance in like maner for their rescue These retire and charge againe to seruice by practising the skirmish in this sort you may bring bands of Archers to seruice to the great anoying discomfiting of the enemie These two bands change rankes and place on their broade sides These bands of Archers be brought to seruice by the Callieuers afore them THese bands of Archers béeing brought to seruice by the Hargabuziers although the hargabuziers bée accompted to be of greater force then they bee of and the Archers not now so much vsed in the field as they haue bin yet hauing light shaftes made to shot 12. or 14. scoore may kéepe their place shooting al together ouer the heads of the hargabuziers to the gauling blemishing and great annoy of the enemie THese two bands following discharge by rankes and returne to the Rereward and charge againe who béeing placed fiue in a ranke like to two hornes are to bée brought to skirmish in like proportion to this figure The fronts or voward hauing discharged the one retyreth on the left hand the other on the right hand vnto the Rereward there
if your armie doe march he worke not any domage to your people to your baggage to your munitions other things of importance It is verie expedient that the leader of this skirmish be valiant and wise who must determine to keepe occupied the enimie that by the practise thereof it may arise to bee profitable to the performance of some other his purposed enterprise After he hath made choise amongst his souldiers of those which must skirmish he must deuide them as is before rehersed and he with the rest of the people to him vnited as néere as is possible must march alongst the strongest situation of the ground then must send those that are deputed and appointed to the skirmish one after another to the taile of the enimies battel against whom they must skirmish and fight euen as an old beaten dog about some Bul or furious beast doth here and there snatch bite and turne about him that in the end he doth kéepe him occupied wearie him if not ouercome When he hath put these things in execution he must gather togither his people in the best sort he can in the aforesaid order If in marching his owne campe doe feare to be assaulted at the backe or that he hath suspicion of his baggage or doubts some impediments on the flankes then must the leader of the skirmish make repaire with his people to that place where hee suspects the enimie will take aduantage and march farre off and with such distance from his campe and his battailes as he shall thinke conuenient and as the nature of the place doth require to the intent he may bring to effect his determination and prosecute the same to a good end the which is to auoid the inconuenience that the enimy neither hurt nor hinder his baggage and munition And in this sort with good order he must follow and accompany his owne people and with those that be appointed for the fight must kéepe occupied and intertaine the enimy stil skirmishing retyring and marching as it alwayes fals out and chanceth to him that valiantly defends himselfe Concluding then I say that it séemes good and verie requisite that the skirmish for the most part should be fled and shunned except it be in respect of some of the thrée foresaid occasions or some such like which thereunto may be adioyned procéeding of a practised and aduised iudgement for it is a verie rash and vnaduised thing to loose men of valour to no purpose as of necessitie in skirmishes doth succéede And besides the losse of such persons of estimation which ariseth by reason of rash disorder Moreouer it hath bene oftentimes séene that whilest he goeth about to succour one band presently enclosed by the enimie and put to flight by reason it hath bene negligently gouerned as for the most part it fals out whē men go to skirmish moued by a fantastical rage vain ambition and to smal purpose without a sufficient appointed chiefe or head or rather without speciall commission from the captaine Generall the which aduertisement is principally to be noted there hath such inconuenience succéeded that an armie hath sometimes bene constrained to hazard and come to the fight of a maine battell vpon a suddaine a thing maruellous perillous and that ought of necessitie to be fled without manifest aduantage of a perfite and a well practised Generall Sundrie aduertisements fit for a worthie Cauallier to obserue 1 First in the view of a batterie 2 Secondly in describing the condition of a situation of any place 3 And thirdly in disclosing the order the enimie obserues either encamping or marching Although an excellent and prudent captaine Generall in all his affaires must vse the seruice of practised souldiers such as may be supposed to haue sufficient knowledge in these aforesaid respects yet doe I coniecture it verie necessarie to make choise of a man that besides his sufficient experience in diuerse warlike practises of training ordering directing and leading souldiers yet would I wish the said worthy Cauallier to carrie a hautie and hardie heart a bold and valiant bodie and moreouer that he be accompanied with an excellent iudgement in matters appertaining to the exercise of Armes specially in those causes cōuenient to be accomplished by him or his equals Who after he hath receiued commission to view any batterie and that he is sufficiently armed able to defend himselfe which as néere as is possible he must finde the meanes to be he ought to take with him some one hargabusier a man of valour to repulse and annoy the enimies which are at the defence if hée should stand in néede or be discouered and to the intent he may aid him in other accidents that might fall out but after he is guided and entred into the action of his enterprise he must aduisedly enforme himselfe and take the view how great the breach is and how hye the entrance is of ruinated earth and both what and how great the difficultie is to ascend thereupon considering well what effect the fall of the wall hath made and being ascended or at leastwise so néere as is possible hauing done his indeuour to mount vp the breach he must go about to view secreatly and sufficiently the largenesse within which is betwixt the battered wall and the houses and how much the fal of the battery is in that place and togither with this he must indeuour himselfe to sée if the said batterie be flancked within or not if it be safe or secure if the place be plaine easie or hard and headlong to ascend and in sum he must consider by what means and which is the best way that they within may defend themselues Al the which so néere as is possible he ought to doe with great diligence and wisdome as well in perfite discouery of all these important difficulties as in spéedie returne taking view and making choise at the same instant of the most close couert way wherein the souldiers may with greatest commoditie approch to giue assault to the breach and batterie Ouer which troopes it doth for the most part appertaine to this Cauallier to be the guide Now vpon his returne he must make full discourse of euerie particular to him that hath sent him to the intent that his prince or General may with al spéed appoint the order of the assault that the lesse time may be giuē the enimy to make contermures bulwarks and trenches to defend himselfe I am of opinion likewise that that souldier or worthy Cauallier ought to be no lesse then the foresaid of a practised and pregnant wit to whom charge is giuen to discouer the qualitie and condition of the situation of the enimies countrie or the place where he remaines who after he hath considered of the same although he that sent him hath not expresly declared him his meaning and intention touching the same or his ful meaning yet being conducted to the place he must with the least shew rumour or noise
then a leuen is put in a ranke how great soeuer the number of the footmen bée neither in troath ought they to bee more then a leuen for when they passe a leuen or twelue they are not to bée accompted an aray but rather a battaile Hauing then placed the number of the Hargabuziers you shal thinke good of to bee in a ranke you shall cause them to march in good proportion sending foorth one ranke after another the Sergeant standing still on one side causing them to passe before him iudging by eye-sight from ranke to ranke of all the Souldiers one by one whether they bee right in lyne obserue distance and whether they doe moue foorth of their order and aray for this is the beautie and importance of an aray Moreouer the Sergeant hauing speciall respect to accommodate and place at the head of the aray all the Corporals or Lancia Spezzata which carie Calliuers placing next vnto them the best and the best furnished Souldiers putting a Drumme behinde the second ranke that is to say before the third placing at the taile of the aray the best and best armed to the intent the aray may shew the better forasmuch as when they are deuided into aray the hargabuziers from the Pikes and that they turne their faces then the backe part is made the front therefore the backe ought to bée as well furnished as the front or the head of the aray as you will please to tearme it The which if you desire to doe it is necessarie you put in the midst of the rankes the weakest and worst furnished aduertising the Sergeant that the souldiers are best furnished when they haue all sortes of armes and furniments that bee necessarie for them and appertaines to a Hargabuzier good match fyer coall pouder and bullet and moreouer L'azzino And this is to bee obserued with that spéede and diligence that the time or occasion doth carie and the suspition of the enimie doth import And in one present time if the Sergeant haue commission hee must distribute munition to the Hargabuziers as bullet match or pouder and to haue a man about him to carrie the munition and hee afterwardes goe about dispersing of it and in giuing the pouder hee must haue a Tunnell with a small and narrowe pipe to the intent it may enter into the pipe of euery one of their flaskes and with a measure that doth holde so much pouder as hee will giue vnto euerie Hargabuzier at one time or at twice and so to euery ranke one by one as they goe passing forwardes the Sergeant causing to march forward his aray before him faire and softlie ranke by ranke by which meanes hée shall not confound them If it chaunce that hée do not distribute munition at one selfe time hee shall cause the Pikes on an other side to put themselues in aray as manie in a ranke as the Hargabuziers shall bee deuiding the best armed with Corselets the one halfe to the head and the other halfe to the backe and the disarmed pikes in the midst and in the midst of them place the Ensignes with their garde of Halberdes with certaine Drummes about the said Ensignes that is in the Piazza or void place where the Ensigne is to bée managed those Drummes and Fiftes that you haue shall march before the Standerd bearers And the Sergeant causing the Pikes to march foreward shall number howe manie rankes they bée and shall kéepe them in memorie to the intent that if hee bee to make a battillion hée may knowe how to gouerne himselfe and so cause the said Pikes to march and turne once againe and hauing then well accommodated the aray of the Pikes with the Ensignes placed iust in the midst with the Drummâ—…s and Fiftes before them as I haue said causing the Ensignes to haue an ample and large roome and Pâ—…azzo from the two rankes that bee about him that is from that which is before and from the other that doth march right behind him to the intent the Ensignes may bee well shewed and managed When they bee well set in order it is necessarie to cause the Pikes to stay and stand and the Sergeant hauing staied them hée shall then go where hée hath first accommodated the Hargabuziers and shall cause them to march forward néere where the Pikes are in order of aray And the Sergeant hauing first numbred likewise the rankes of the Hargabuziers and béeing staied where the Pikes after the one halfe of the Hargabuziers is past that is if they bée in all 50. rankes when 25. bée past the Sergeant shall enter with his Halberd ouerthwart them and staying and pressing backe the other 25. rankes hée shall cause to enter after a goodlie and readie manner all the Pikes and Ensignes causing them euer to march forward and when they bée all past away vpon the approching of the last rankes of Pikes hée shall cause the rest of the Hargabuziers to enter into aray the which béeing done the aray shall bée faire and perfect and it will bée good that hée cause them to march and turne thrée or sower times to the intent they may settle themselues the better and that they may enter into their pace their aray and the vnderstanding of the Drumme for that makes them more apt to go iust learning one of an other a stately and conuenient pace and to beare their weapons of all sorts with a good grace and specially the Pikes A good Sergeant must take care to make stay in euery discommodious place or streit passage as when they go downe or discend from some Mountaine at the passage of a foarde or streit bridge or at a ditch or a water or some such other vneasie and streit passage that hée iudgeth would breake the aray as oftentimes is found in marching And orderly without confusion cause them to passe ranke after ranke faire and easilie holding back with the end of his Halberd the ranke next to that which is in passing vntil it be thorowly ouer and placed in array as before to the intent the order of aray be not confounded in any ranke neither let him depart from that place vntill such time as all the rankes be past for so the aray wil not be disordered but shall march right and iust which is a thing of great importance specially in marching in doubt of the enimie and therefore hauing caused them all first to make Alta he shall command them to obserue aray distance and rankes without thrusting or crouding vntill all be past the straite passage A rule how to make the aray of the Bissa SInce there be sundry souldiers and persons which presuppose they know much more then others who discommend the making of the Bissa or Caraguolo as a thing not necessary amongst the orders of aray saying that the same is superfluous and of small moment I am of a contrarie opinion and make answere that they are much deceiued and haue small knowledge lesse iudgement in the benefite
shall by the Prouost Martiall bée punished as Rebels of what calling or degrée soeuer they bée Two of these are appointed to the placing and ordering of shot and the other two for the â—…mbattelling of the Pikes and Halberdes who according to their worthines if death happeneth are to succéede the Sergeant Maior The Office appertaining to the Sergeant Maior generall DEw order and politike proportion by how much they bée necessarie in all humane affaires by so much more the weightie office of the Sergeant Maior generall is to bée had in estimation for vpon his charge aucthoritie doth depend only the good ordering of all causes but also the forme fashion and execution of the most principall matters for the readie and expedient seruice of the armie And likewise of ech other assemblie that is made through occasion of defence or offence of whaâ—… number of souldiers soeuer the which if this worthy Officeâ—… should want can neuer bée brought to passe and performed in such requisite sort as is conuenient Since that he is that person neutrall who doth kéepe together in accord the Captaines other Officers and souldiers manie times abused by their particular companie charge and offices more then is honest oâ—… conuenient And in effect it is hée that holdes a iust and equall ballance amongst the souldiers of euery in the Armie Prouided alwaies that it bée in those warlike affaires that are subiect â—…o order how to kéepe and obserue the same and such like matters and not in those things that appertaine to iustice and the rest of the office of the Marshal generall of the field as I meane to touch in the discourse of his Office Therefore this great Officer ought to haue certain sufficient and old trained souldiers about him to bée his continuall aide that is fower Corporals which may bée his consorts and coadiutors and in absence succéede him both in office and aucthority So that the Sergeant Maior by meanes of the aucthority giuen him by his Prince and through that which of custome hée doth carie by his office It is necessarie hée obserue diligent artificiall and readie meanes not only to maintain the said aucthoritie but requisitely to augment the same in the minds hartes of the Captaines of the officers souldiers contained vnder his charge and expedition to the end that in those orders fashions of squadrons battailes which hée hath determined with him selfe to vse or in those hée is to execute by the commaundement of his Captain general hée may haue such entire ready obedience as is requisite wtout the which what great diligence soeuer hée can vse is not sufficient to make any affaires or enterprises come to good issue in this important office the which might bée proued by many examples passed if wée would examine them It is most necessarie for him in his office to presuppose with himself consider of foresée al chances causes before the euent therof succéede before hand to foretell take order with others what is requisite to bée executed considering the time wherin he is to work is for the most part very short since ordinarily it doth fall in suddain rumors of Alarums so that in this hastie occasion of breuitie it is conuenient he procéede expediently orderly and readily not béeing dismaied of the enimies presence for the most part of all his actions are to bée performed euen in the face of the enimie Wherefore if hée did not gouerne himselfe warely politikely prouided with good consideration and if hée had not ordained before hand what is to bée done neuer any thing amongst so many things which hée ought to performe with perfection would succéede with happie felicitie for particularly in that time that Alarum is giuen to the souldiers vniuersally entire attention is not giuen vnto that which is commanded for the eares of all are occupied part with the rumor noise part through the clashing and clattering of the armour weapons they weare with other confusions that arise but béeing of a quicke inuention hée may suddainly perceiue and conceiue the nature situation order of the enimies aray altering and disposing accordingly his owne Besides this it is very conuenient for him to know distinctly how many Collonels priuate Captains there bée in the army of what qualitie kind their conduct guiding is and what grosse number of armed pikes halberds hée hath to command how many light armed or disarmed both of the one sort and the other the number of the Musket hargabuziers on foote the quantity of horsemen how many lances how many light horsemen how many Argoloteares what number of other souldiers of what valour or moment they are able to preuaile to the end that hée may afterwards order them about any exploit these to make the front these to bée the backe others for the wings flanks sléeues others to empale the squadrons others to enuiron the enimy others for the fit conuenient places to execute a slaughter such like others to defend the bagage artillarie munition others to entertain skirmish with the enimie for the forlorne hope others to guide and Ascolt or conuoy others to performe such other like seruice And for his better instruction must likewise accordingly haue a Roll of al the bands from the Lord high Marshal with their difference of weapon which hauing alwaies about him may reprehend the want and informe the muster Master Treasorer Hée shall likewise take order with euery Collonel Captain chieftain that in the day vpon any Alarum they conduct their bands into the market or place appointed for the main battail néere wher the artillary or munition is kept that they come not in a fond sort stragling ordispersed or vpon heapes as in disorder they are sometimes accustomed but orderly warely about the ensigne that they may make a forceable front gallant resistance where occasion offers giue a valiant onset wher néede requires for it hath bin oftentimes séene that this place of armes hath bin assaulted possest of the enimy it béeing a coÌ„mon custome that the munition of the Artillary is hoatly assaulted by the enimies the more to disseuer to break to deceiue disperse the army with more assurance ease that therby they may force the fort or break in where the munition is garded When they be entred into the place of armes euery band with the ensigne must attend to follow the sergeant Maior the Corporals in obedience silence after euery particular company is placed together in the order appointed by the Corporals sergeant Maior general the main real square battail of earth must bée made and not of number of men or of a fewe combatants and pikemen to the intent the head and the backe may bée of sufficient strength to shoulder downe the enimie by presenting a greater number of souldiers in one thréede of
that and do replie in contraries wheras they ought to employ themselues to nothing more then obedience without hauing respect to any other particular profit or commoditie Hée must take order and command expresly al Collonels Captaines and Officers that continually they remain firme kéep their appointed places the which places ought to be such as bée feared to bée of greatest danger importance as the front the backe the flank the sléeues wings of the Hargabuziers the like wherof may bée obserued in the other battailes when it is necessary to forme more then one as oftentimes it fals out Let him obserue diligently to procéede in all these respectes with a modest low voice not with rough woords to souldiers but with swéet smooth spéech if it bée possible with signes and tokens rather then with words for by that maner of procéeding souldiers remain more attentiue better instructed then with crying calling which for the most part procures disobedience causeth contempt of aucthority moreouer in matters of importance procures smal effect And so euery Captain hauing his place some in the front some in the rereward some to lead shot in the winges others to guide the forlorne hope ech one must carefully as I haue said execute obey the Sergeant Maiors commandement whether it be by signe or by voice by Drum or trumpet or by any other manifest token aduertisement These obseruations bée of great force wherwithall amongst other his good qualities in nature custome requisite for this person to possesse it is most necessarie that hée bee well giuen to Religion that hée be charitable courteous louing towards the souldiers vse exquisite example for their better instruction which aboue all things must not bee villanously entreated neither otherwise dispised but as much as may be corrected with a gentle hand and alwaies with lenitie fauored If in the night by reason of Alarums he bée to set the armie in order hee must before hand haue appointed the Captaines that their lanternes quarieres torches or cressets bee in a readines vpon any suddaine to bée light vp the which they must doe prouided alwaies that it bée necessarie and expedient and that particularly it hath bin of purpose ordained and commaunded that then they guide behind them euery band by themselues into the place of Armes but the Hargabuziers of euery company disseuered from the Pikes and other weapons which Pikemen shall gather within them their Ensignes in safetie and the Hargabuziers shal march iust after them and before them as shal bée appointed or séeme most expedient And to the intent the same may bée more spéedely performed the fower Corporats and Sergeant Maiors of the regiments shall verie aduisedly go to the assigned places quarters of the lodgings for this respect if it bée possible that al the people may arise may arme themselues may ioine in one ariue at the same instant at the place of armes where they are of this worthy Officer to bée receiued and put in squadre in the forme of a halfe Moone or cressant within the compasse of the hornes of the said Moone euery Alfierus as hée ariueth must compasse plant himselfe in the forme of a crowne one by one with their Ensignes in their hands amongst them those that be armed with rondels targets if there bée any as for a small competent number it is requisite ther should bée vnlesse those of proofe which must lead the shot then behind them the armed with halberds after these that bée light armed pikes and about the vtmost compasse of the said circle in both the tippes hornes of the moone the armed pikes are to be planted and the Sergeants Lieutenants must attend to apply themselues for the conseruation kéeping of the order of these last Kinges without Now the rest of the Collonels Captaines with the person of the Captain general the Cauallieres of his owne squadre and a great part of the lightes Drums must stand in the void place betwixt both the hornes before the Ensignes where reseruing the messages ambassages of aduertisements that go and come in such cases they may consult and determin vpon such things as are to bée done The entrance of this void place ought to bée turned towards the strongest situation of the said ground if it bée conuenient and the ground wil permit let it be garded with certain field péeces and shot The hargabuziers in the self same time are to be disposed placed by the Sergeant Maior so far distant from the foresaid squadre in so many places so many proportions as the situation of the ground parts and qualities doth require being conformable to that present seruice therby the better to flank fortifie assure the foresaid principal battail And to euery troupe of hargabuziers hée shal appoint the other halfe and moity of the Officers Drums lights if it bée conuenient to the intent that in fight or otherwise in all causes they may readily worke and performe exploits neither do I thinke it good that in these affaires of the night Geometricall measures be necessarie and much lesse Arithmetical numbers but the carefull diligence of valiant and discréete officers is most expedient and necessarie who must euer frame themselues conformable and be in these actions altogither obedient to the Sergeant Maior particularly putting in execution his order and pleasure The proportion of this foresaid Cressant was vsed of Alexander Vitellus in the night vpon the toppe of a mountaine against the mightis Lutheran League In the day time the armie rising and setting forward to march and standing in doubt of the enimie the Sergeant Maior must forme the ordinance and battaile of the armed and disarmed Pikes of the Halberds and other weapons in such sort that hauing to double the rankes to make them greater the battails may fall out in due proportion that is to say that the front and the backe way deuide equally the armed Corslets and. Pikes alwayes prouided that the flankes be not left disarmed and void of Pikes so shall he bring to passe that the short weapons shal enclose the Ensignes iust in the midst amongst them kéeping defended betwixt them and the armed Corslets and Pikes as well on the front as on the backe the disarmed Pikes the which to make number and to fill vp roome ought not to be refused amongst a great number of footemen in the field since it is verie hard for all men to arme themselues they being armed onely with a brest plate and burganet or with a coate of plate or iack a scul are good to turne on amongst shot And as the quantitie number of Pikes principally togither with other short weapons is the verie strength force of the armed footemen So the musketeares hargabusiers serue to no other end but to flank to raise ruine deface all defences to make imbuscades to
backe of the rankes and squadron and not from the front or from any other place for in marching more attentiuely and with lesse occasion of tumult and turning those things be better vnderstood and are more capable which are spoken and proceede from behind the backe then from the front and flankes and with greater facilitie doth runne all along the rankes and as they say according to the word Passa Parola aduanâ—… the word The Sergeant Maior when his squadrons ariue at any strait passage or bridge or other narrow or diâ—…icile place that might disorder him must cause them passe ranke by ranke one after another so that the ranke being a little disseuered or broken let him frame the ranke a new so taking like order in euery rank he shal immediatly forme behind the strait and bridge in the fashion of the first appointed squadron and in this â—…ort may hée procéed with good consideration with as manie squadrons battailes as there be When he giues a volée of shot or makes a Salua of Musket Hargabussers it is much better for him to begin at the head theÌ„ in any other place that he may in due order ranke by ranke cause one to follow another euen to the backe and last ranke so that how much more it yéelds a gallant readie grace so much more makes it shew that those souldiers be practised and argues the sufficiencie of him that guides them When nothing eâ—…e of importance remains behind to be done and that the forward and maine battaile hath stood in squadrons to attend and receiue the reregard leâ—… him the same being ariâ—…ed disband the battaile hauing beforehand taken order with the Herbingers of the bands that euerie one guide the Alfierus of his owne companie to his proper quarter In disbanding the battaile let him guide the Ensignes into such a place of aduantage in height as from thence all the squadron consisting of the vantgard battaile and Rereward may with commoditie behold and sée them to the intent that euery souldier following his proper Ensigne may go therewith to his lodging and appointed quarter The order which is accustomed to bée obserued in assaulting the enemie aswell in the day as in the night I suppose it cannot expresly and particularly from point to point bee declared considering it must bée conformable to the stratagemes of the Prince or Captain generall that gouernes But I haue oftentimes séene them pâ—…t in practise and resolutely wrought with Incamisados with assured and secreat rootes and with imbuscades placed in a conuenient and apt couert such as growes to bée of aduantage to them that lies in ambush who ought to attend the time to assault silently and secretely hauing his Sentinels vedettes countersignes and voices such as bée plaine manifest able to bée vnderstood not double doubtfull and obscure The which sometimes with greaâ—… error and infinite losse hath caused one thing to bée taken for an other And this is to be done to the end that with good order in perfect sort ech thing that is hurtfull to the enimie may bée performed and put in practise Likewise the Sergeant Maior by his office must take â—…are to prouide for the munition principally al sortes of armes and armour victuals and other munition necessarie for his people Likewise to distribute the same to performe his office alwaies in the companie of the Master of the campe or Marshall of the field in planting the gard round about the campe and euer to procure the watchword with the which the said gards are to bée gouerned and after discharged if such like causes still procéede in gouernment in one selfe order but because they varie according to the custome of him that gouernes principally and sometimes as occasion â—…oth best require therefore I passe ouer the same with silence and it is sufficient that at this time I haue inferred that such like actions and operations appâ—…rtain to his office to the intent hée may alwaies remaine in a readines to accompâ—… them gallantly and according to the rules and obseruations that shalbée appointed him by his Prince Hée must take order that the bodies of the watch or Corps dâ—…gard bée ful stoared with souldiers according to the proportion of their capacitie and that at the least there hée as many for euerie Corps de gard as may commodiously supplie and maintain all the Sentinels necessary to bée made during the night allotting at the least one hower of the clocke to euery Sentinel and chiefly in the vnseasonable time of winter an hower a halfe at such time as the season is mean betwixt two two howers at the most at any other time that is serene and hoat time of the Summer forséeing alwaies the Corps de gard consist of so manie souldiers that they may bée able together with the commodious situation of the ground by the perfect proportion and placing of the Corps de gard or by meanes of the trenches or other defences already made they may in such sort sustaine the furie of any surprise at vnwares that the enimie is able to come or assault him withall Those Commissions of any importance that depend vpon his charge and are of other Officers to bée performed ought to bée committed to writing whereof they must haue a copie to the intent that they bée made void of vsing contradictions if in case they do not obey If there should arise any error of moment by this meanes he shall not be charged to faile in his duetie or be occasion of such casualties He must take order with the Sergeants with ech Alfierus with the Lieutenants with all leaders Captaines and Collonels to the intent that al that which is to be done of them may be willingly executed thereby with facilitie to shun the strife and emulation which oftentimes doth arise amongst them and that euery one of them may enioy that which iustly appertains vnto him But when for any occasion he cannot in like causes orderly gouerne them and that it shall not be good absolutely to command them let him then permit that there may be lots cast amongst them and this manner is to be vsed in case of verie extraordinarie seruice which sorte of procéeding doth not diminish or plucke away any of his aucthoritie since he commits to chaunce that which was in his choyse expresly to commaunde Finally it is requisite for a Sergeant Maior to be so studious in theorik reading practise and inuention that through his industrie he may inuent new Artificiall formes of Battels squadrons marching such thinges as appertayne to this important office For no man without inuention can be accounted excellent in his arte and profession Necessarie practises set out in proportions and figures for Captaines Collonels and Sergeant Maiors to vse in squadrons battailes and maine exploits in marching skirmishing retyring rescewing and such like THe curious conceits of sundrie ouerweening warriours and superficiall Captaines is such at these dayes as
nothing can please their fantasie but such as doth best agrée to their own humours and inuentions specially in ordering and imbattelling souldiers wherein euen as the sundrie vse of diuers nations at this day do differ so do the minds of many new leaders alter change embrace despise inuent and set downe manifold wayes to plant an armie in ranged battell in the fielde which I well considering haue thought good in part to make collection out of diuers Authors Italian Spanish French Latine and English and part such as of my owne experience I haue séene put in practise of the Spaniards and other warlike nations vnder Don Iohn D'austria and the Prince of Parma out of both which Callenders I haue chosen the greatest number that séeme any thing to the purpose that thereby at leastwise the dainty tasted monthes of our age may light vpon some apt for their digestion But before I wade into great numbers M. Stewards formes shall serue my turne to satisfie the priuate Captaines Lieutenants of Regiments and Collonels as fit for their peculiar offices and will first begin with a table of discouerie of all marches within the compasse of 1500. men A Table to discouer numbers by hundreds placed by 3. 5. 7. 9. c. in ranke and aray assembled from one hundreth vnto a 1500. As thus marching 3. in ranke 34. rankes containe 102. men by which example you may plainly perceiue the methode following and discouer like numbers  Rankes Men. 3. in Ranke 34 is 102 67 is 201 100 is 300 5. in ranke 20 is 100 40 is 200 60 is 300 80 is 400 100 is 500 7. in ranke 15 is 105 29 is 203 43 is 301 57 is 399 72 is 504 86 is 600 100 is 700 9. in ranke 11 is 99 22 is 198 33 is 296 45 is 405 56 is 504 67 is 603 78 is 702 89 is 801 100 is 900 11. in ranke 9 is 99 18 is 198 27 is 297 37 is 406 46 is 506 56 is 616 64 is 715 74 is 820 81 is 897 91 is 1017 100 is 1100 13. in ranke 8 is 104 16 is 208 2â—… is 299 31 is 404 39 is 507 46 is 70â—… 54 is 〈◊〉 62 is 〈◊〉 69 is 1014 78 is 1105 8â—… is 1196 92 is 1230 100 is 1300 15. in ranke 7 is 10â—… 14 is 210 20 is 300 27 is 404 34 is 510 40 is 600 47 is 707 54 is 810 60 is 900 67 is 1005 74 is 1110 80 is 1200 87 is 1305 94 is 1410 100 is 1500 An order to imbattell 600. men at the sodaine against horsemen and footemen IT is appointed vnto the Lieutenant of a Regiment or vnto two or thrée Captaines to bring 600. men to conuey charge or do exploits as the commandement of the higher officers shall appoint them The Leader or Captaines aduertised of straites passages and situations of the countries also on what part the enimies be most like to assault them must giue order vnto your officers to place 13 in front as here is set downe by proportion of figure your Ensigne in the midst with the halberds your shot placed in the wings as appeareth At such times as the enimies shall assault you ioyne both your bands become one strength as the ground doth serue This order is verie necessarie to doe many exploits How the like number may be brought into the manner of a hearse to defend horsemen SOmetimes marching by 10. in rank vpon the fight of the enimies diuide into two parts and ioyne their broad sides diuided togâ—…ther become in one strength which bring thus placed is in length 24 in bredth 10. Against horsemen they must pitch their pikes on the ground and crosse them against footemen beare aboue hand They must sarriâ—… close togither and not disseuer to follow or flie leâ—…t their disorders make place for the enimies to enter as by this proportion doth appeare Somtimes for the saftie of your shot you must receiue them within the gard of your pikes This H signifieth horsemen galloping the fielde to break vpon you where they may best enter most easily as by the void space appeareth the ouerplus of your shot to be placed in 4. wings without the battel This proportion to disseuer is verie perillous How to imbattell 900. souldiers at the sodaine MArching with 900. men and vnderstanding by scout or spie that the enimie pretendeth to skirmish with them or otherwise to ioyne battel you may diuide your bands in thrée parts marching 9. in a ranke placing officers betwixt euerie band that being assaulted may ioyne the Uoward and the Rereward to the middleward so fall they out to be an hearse battell placing your shot in the wings that they may the better resort to the skirmish likewise to retyre as occasion scrueth this is a singular good order for the obtaining of any grounds or doing of exploites An order how to imbattell 900. men at the sodaine An order to imbattell the like number in Quadrant proportion WHen battels are to be made if the Sergeant Maior should chance to be absent giue commandement vnto the Sergeants of the bands to bring their companies seuerall and then ioyne your bands and sorted weapons the brode sides togither as your number serues your Captaines drums and 〈◊〉 with your Ensigne placed in the midst of the execution as well for the saftie of the same as for the comforting of the souldiers neuerthelesse such order is taken that Lieutenants and Sergeants of bands with other seruiceable Gentlemen of S. Georges squadre be placed to leade the Uoward and Rereward of the battell where onsets be vncertaine whose beautifull Armours pollitike and couragious charge is a great terrour to the enimie and a great comfort to their owne companie the shot to be placed in foure froupes with two wings in the Rereward for that they may easier maintain skirmish round about the battell on which side soeuer they be assaulted An order to imbattell 1200. men quadrantly at the sodaine THe foure Quarters ioyned in one seeme to be 1200. men vnder 4. Ensignes euerie way who at the enimies sight must place 13. in ranke which fall to be a quadrant euerie way which â—…odainly may ioyne their long weapons togither making one Quadrant of the foure your drummes and fiffes with the Captain placed next to the Ensigne the Lieutenants in the wings and the Sergeants in the Uoward and Rereward wherby they may the better giue intelligence by signe or word what is best to be done 300. men being shot in the wings and the 300. in Demie Diamondwise after the Almaine manner in the midst the which being discharged the musket and hargabus shot will greatly preuaile This wayes they may march wholly togither or retyre any wayes to seruice néedful ready with their shot to encounter the enimie any wayes in skirmish either wing rescuing other as néede shall require And although the Sergeants maior appointeth order for the same yet the Sergeants of euery band
hauing experience onely ruleth and giueth order to their owne charge and appoint and place such in the fronts Rereward and wings as to them séeme most conuenient This proportion is after the Almaine manner of imbattelling much like vnto the order of the Romaines who deuided their Legions into diuers Cohorts to this intent that when the fronts were wearied the Mainward and Rereward succéeded which the late experience of the Frenchmen hath tried that the deuiding of the battell into many bands so that they haue pikes sufficient to impale the Halberds or Bils and to euerie Band their number of shot and Horse is more auaileable then any battel being made of a whole bodie or as the Gréeks tearme it a Phalange for they are to be drawne out in length or bredth as the ground or occasion serueth to charge and encounter the enimie placed in one battell vpon euery quarter to their detriment and ouerthrowing of any so placed being of sufficient strength for defence of horse and though the first or second or third should be ouerthrowne yet be rest kéeping their order are to succéede Whereas the battell being one after the frontes be ouerthrowne the Rereward is readie to run the which being disordered can hardly recouer to place them in order againe An order to imbattell a Collonels charge COllonels and Chieftaines who oftentimes according to their experience and worthinesse of seruice haue the charge and leading of 1500. men more or lesse to whom is committed diuers sundrie exploits and points of seruice in the fielde whereof they discrie any multitude of horsemen pretending for to charge them and to enuiron your battel hauing no waghon borough or pale of carriages water hedge ditch or other succours but only the strength of their manual weapons pollicy of defeÌ„ce vpon the sight of the enimies must cast in this sort the Uoward Rereward to become one strength to serue and sarrie close togither to couch to crosse and defend as by this order may appeare The thrée vtmost rankes must consist of faire armed and skilfull Gentlemen and Caualliers and others pitching their pikes on the ground couching crossing them the two rankes next giuing the push at the length of the pikes the shot placed within the pikes for safegard stand readie to shoote charge stil in their places This order to encounter with footemen if it be possible will recouer the aduantage of wind hil and full in good order on the one side of the hill to ioyne in fight where God giueth the victorie before these same encounters An excellent order to repulse horsemen Reuiue your souldiers with meat drinke and good counsell and with comfortable words to animate and encourage them withall How to imbattell 1500. men in quadrant proportion AS before I haue set forth the order or imbattelling of 1500. men in two fold wise the which in some ground is much auaileable for that it occupieth more hands then the iust square in fight at one instant notwithstanding such must be assured that the enimie can approch but one way which else may be preiudiciall therefore in the plaine field the iust square or quadrant is the strongest order that may be neuertheles it is conuenient that at such times as you purpose to ioyne battel with the enimie hauing Ordinance and other carriage to place the same on the wings and Rereward thereby to impale the squadron to the intent the enimie enter not but in the fronts Also the expert Captaines must foresée to obtaine hill wind sun or any other aduantage the which diuers wayes greatly profiteth If your battell be assaulted with horsemen and lances then couch and crosse your pikes as appeares in the last figure against footemen sarrie close trailing your pikes vntill the encounter and then to offer the push till repulse be giuen and God giue victorie In the fronts you must place your best armed and most valiant men as well to encourage the rest as to be a terrour to the enimies your shot to be placed in the wings and rereward for being placed in the fronts they cannot well retyre but vpon their owne pikes or else vpon the shot in the wings To bring 1500. men to this proportion you must place sixe rankes of pikes 59. in ranke euerie wayes which comes to 500. and 12. the shot to be placed in 4. troups in the wings 10. in ranke which is 400. And 300. ten in ranke and 29. in bredth in the Rereward the which are to succéed the other troupes after they haue discharged the 50. shot and 48. pikes are to be placed about the Artillarie or otherwise at the discretion of the Collonell the Captaines and Lieutenants with the Sergeants to be placed about the battell to giue order as may best preuaile The Chieftaine Collonel to be placed within the battell as appeareth in this figure The Characters to be vsed in proportions of greater Squadrons BUt to touch more at large greater numbers both how they are ranged and battelled wherein the Sergeant Maior generall of an armie is called to vse his office I do here according to my promise set downe sundrie proportions of diuers kinds for the better vnderstanding whereof it is requisite to carrie in minde the signification of these Characters These Characters S Signifie Shot ☌ or this P Signifie Pikes ✚ or this H Signifie Halberds E Signifie Ensignes â–¡ Signifie Launces â–µ Signifie Light horsemen * Signifie Argoletteares A Quadrant or twofold battell of 2000. men THe form of this battel following which represeÌ„ts a quadraÌ„t hath bene ofteÌ„ vsed as very profitable of many Italians wel experienced of great authoritie in the field it is as it doth appeare flanked enuironed with two great bodies or sléeues of Hargabusiers the which containe in number for ech flank 380. men in the Uoward 100. and in the Rereward 140. which shot are to be carried about the battel very commodiously for seruice and as they shall séeme otherwise to be imployed by the Sergeant Maior In the bodie of the battell are 800. pikes 200. Halberds or Bils and ten Ensignes hauing to euery Ensigne 200. men the which to be brought to this forme you must place 45. in rank for the breadth and 22. in ranke for the length The Captaines Lieutenants and Sergeants as appeareth by this figure in the heart of the battel although this manner or forme giueth scope to mooue which way they list yet I hold it best not to suffer theÌ„ to stir much and the litle mouing which is to be granted to them must not be ouer hastie but in pace â—…loe sober well measured vnlesse he hath to set againe the like battel of the enimie for then the last rankes must be somewhat quicker in stirring And to bring tenne thousand or twentie thousand to this order readily they must in setting forward march with maniples well seuered and deuided hauing a Sergeant Lieutenant or Cauallier at the head
and backe the better to discerne them one from another This manner as I haue alreadie touched is verie easie So that placing them in length doubling their ranks it brings them likewise to a verie formall order of battell as I haue sufficiently touched beforehand A Battell in forme of a crosse verie necessarie to be vsed as well in the night as by day because all the weapons are deuided by themselues THis battell following in forme of a full Crosse consisteth of 10. Ensignes euerie Ensigne hauing vnder it two hundreth souldiers so that the whole number cōtaineth 2000. mē It hath 4. fronts or faces whereof euerie one is accompanied with hargabusiers which may in time of necessitie be couered defended by the armed pikes so that the formost rankes be moued forwards all alongst the flankes sides of the shot This forme hath bene vsed of Spaniards and Italians It is a gallant battell and of force sufficient to resist the enimie in open fielde although they should set vpon you at vnwares besides superior both against horsemen and footemen the hargabusiers are 1000. the which are the halfe of the number These hargabusiers being deuided into 4. parts must be in euerie flanke 200. placing 14 in ranke euery way the halberds and Ensignes placed in the midst of the crosse are 200. and the whole number of pikes are 800. the which are to be placed on euerie quarter of the halberds 200. placing 14. euery way which make a iust quadrant of people so that there remaine to be placed by the Sergeant maior 16. pikes 4. halberds and 200. shot This rule may serue in proportion for any number being verie excellent for the night because ech weapon being deuided by themselues may be readie at the sodaine for any seruice either to giue battell or for defence of the Campe the horsemen and the field péeces to be placed as shall séeme best by the Chieftaines or the Sergeant Maior The bodie of a battell to be made in the night THe proportion of this Cressant or Moone is very conuenient and fit to be executed in the night there being a round ring drawne with a cord and a stake so that the Sergeant Maior according to my description in his office may place the companies that come to him and from hand to hand part them into seuerall companies according to this proportion for this forme doth require that it be done with expedition and it is no great labour to deuide the weapons without cōfusion either to march or otherwise to vse themselues seuerally from the rest in great or small companies as shal be néedful for that euerie weapon doth stand at his owne defence by it selfe the general artillerie Ensignes short weapons being safely enuironed with the armed pikes which may vpon the sodain by the Sergeant maior or the Corporals of the fielde be brought to any other forme of battell Also the Sergeant generall may place the Hargabusiers in so manie companies and so many formes and so farre distant one from an other as the situation of the place or the seruice thē present doth require to the intent that the maine bodie of the battell may be flanked and defended But for that I haue more largely touched this in the Sergeant maiors office I referre the Reader to the same aduertising him withall that all squadrons and battels in the night must haue euerie sort of weapons seueral by themselues whereby confusion may both be auoided and the troupes of souldiers remaine readie when they shall be called forth to execute any seruice what necessitie or sodaine assault soeuer befall Prouided alwayes that good watch scout be kept on horsebacke and on soote as néere the enimie as is possible by whose aduertisemēts you may know what is best to be accomplished The order of imbattelling before the fight THe Oration being made by the Generall and prayers finished to the immortal God it is requisite that thou haue care to bring forth thy army to the field with bright shining armour which easily may be done by giuing charge in time to the Captaines and so to the officers that their burgonets 〈◊〉 caléeuers halberds swords euerie other péece of 〈◊〉 be made cleane bright forasmuch as the cleannes and brightnes of the weapons maketh the armie séeme terrible and putteth feare trauel in the minds of the enimies Then cal forth thy bands the which béeing set in araie the Generall béeing expert hauing seene the preparation of the enimies giueth in charge to the Sergeant maior and the principall Corporalles to accommodate and ordaine his Souldiers in battaile according to the armie the men and the manners of them And if the enimie bee more puissent of Horsmen thou hauing the commoditie choose thée straight and difficult places or at the foote of mountaines and where the horse cannot easilie serue If in footemen he excéedeth then it is requisite to get the hilles and places of aduantage as the Sunne and winde c. and that with diligence to choose such fit places which either be néere Rockes or Riuers and aboue all things where thou maist put in araie thy battailes and by the qualitie of thy place be able to let thy enimies that they neither compasse thée about nor inclose thée the which requires not onely the counsaile and prudence of a wise Captaine but the counsaile of the most expert in the Campe because oftentimes an Armie hapneth vpon such places And notwithstanding the Captaine is ignorant how to choose such situation of ground as is best for him but of those that are present it is good to choose the best and to foresée which may be most profitable is surely a signe of a wise Captaine Caius Sulpitius to feare his enimies got a great manie of Mules and other beasts vnprofitable for the warres causing a great number of sackes to be gotten which were so ordered vpon the backes of the beasts as they séemed men at armes giuing in charge whiles hee was a fighting they should appeare vpon a hill whereby grew his victorie against the Frenchmen The Spaniards to ouercome Amilcar set in the fronts of their battels Cartes full of Towe drawne with Oxen that béeing ready for the encounter they set it on fire causing the Oxen vehemently to thrust forwards into the armie of the enimie deuiding the same Thy number small and the fields large and open it is good to make ditches the which being filled with boughes and slightly couered with earth leauing voide spaces for thy horse and shot to procure skirmish the which being of the enimie encountered may faine a running awaie and béeing prosecuted by the enemie shall bee ouerthrowne in the ditches where they are easilie slaine manie such notable deuises by wise Captaines hath béene practised the which vpon the suddaine put in vse will greatly profit Thy Battels being made and set in order it is requisite that thou leaue the warde within the trenches of the
Campe for the defence of thy lodgings munition and carriages least the enimie vnderstanding the place to be left voide sende his Souldiers to take the Campe and so to spoile all vpon occasion some Captaines will destroie their owne lodgings or els passe riuers or leaue behinde them hils and déepe places to the ende that the Souldiers standing constantly may ouercome the aduersarie and obtaine the victorie or otherwise altogether to perish for that if they should thinke to saue themselues by running away they shall sée by all manner of meanes taken from the possibilitie to escape Nowe béeing come to ioyne battaile with thy enimie cause thy Souldiers somewhat before to flourishe oft their naked Swordes and Halberds against the Sunne for that the glistering of the weapons and their shining pointes through the brightnesse nowe of the one and nowe of the other against the resplendant Beames of the Sunne dooth shew a certaine horrible terrour of warre the which will strike a dread and feare into the mindes of the enemies Likewise it is sometimes requisite that thy battailes goe forwardes with rumours and showtings sometimes running with violence forasmuch as the semblaunce of such thinges with the noise of Trumpets Drummes and great Ordinance woonderfully troubleth and feareth the heartes of the aduersaries also it is great wisedome in a Captaine not with desire to bée drawne to bée the first to giue the onset but to staie thée néere thy trench till thou hast viewed thy selfe and the Rendies of the enemies that is howe manie battailes howe they are placed of what condition and where they are disposed to fight for after this manner thou maist more commodiouslie sée to thine affaires considering which of thine thou hast to sette against those of thy enimies and in what manner thy men are to bée ordeined and placed dooing in like sort to a good Physition the which considering first the infirmitie and knowing the cause commeth afterwards to giue remedie therefore ordeine thy men so as may turne most vtilitie to thy businesse The manner of ordering of battels lately vsed I cannot greatly command for the armie being 20. 30 or 40. thousand they are deuided but into 3. battels whereby ensueth many perils and discommodities because the Pike being but fiue yards thrée quarters long euerie man occupying a yard and halfe a quarter of pike can occupie but foure or fiue rankes at the most so that the rest are superfluous and lost besides they are easily to bée compassed and to be charged on euerie side wherefore I haue set downe an order of one of the battels in figure according to my opinion the which if it may turne profite to my countrie I would be most glad The occasion of the prosperous successe of the Romaines was onely through their good orders by diuiding their Legions into cohorts the which were bands of 400. and 50. the 50. were shot the 400. were armed their weapons pikes swords and targets the which were placed in quadrant manner 20. euerie wayes being 10. battels in front leauing a certaine space betwéene euerie battell for their retrait vpon occasion vnto the next order which were but sixe battels and the rereward foure battels all in like number kéeping one bredth the voward were called Hastatie their battel 's thicke and close the Maineward were called Principie who had such space betwéene their rankes as they might receiue the Hastatie the rereward were called Triarij whose spaces betwéene their rankes were such as they might receiue the Principie and Hastatie on the wings were placed seauen rankes of Pikes of strangers which did distend in length from the voward to the rereward through these good orders they became conquerours of many countries Now because of the diuersitie of the weapons hauing 20000. footemen I would deuide them into tenne battels to euerie one of the battels shall be according to my proportion set downe 1000. shot 800. pikes and 200. Billes the which placed in twofold wise according to my proportion set downe in figure will be in bredth 45. and in length 22. and ten ouerplus the which are to be placed at the discretion of the Sergeant Maior the shot placed in the wings and rereward in maniples for the readier seruice who must be placed a good distance from thy battel thy men at armes vpon the wings of the shot thy Lances as two hornes in the front of the battell the light horse in the fronts of thy Lances the hargulaters in the fronts of thy light horse who with the pistoleters are the first that begins the battel thy great ordinance to be placed in the fronts of the battels or in such conuenient place as may most terrifie the enimie there would be appointed certaine troupes of Lances whose guidons would be contrary to the rest the which the Germaine cals their Forlorne hope the French Infants perdus who must at such time and instant as shall be thought good by the General giue the charge vpon the enimies battels whatsoeuer shall happen who are for the same to receiue double pay The second battell not to be placed in the front with the first battell as the Romaines did but in the rereward of the first so far wide and with such distance as the horsemen and shot a foote giuing the first charge may retire themselues without disturbance to the battels hauing thy shot placed as in the voward with the lances and shot on horsebacke the third battell to be placed in the rereward of the second with like distance with shot and horse and so to the fourth fift and the tenth in the rereward of the which if occasion require thou maist as in the rereward of the battell place for the defence certaine of thy carriages Thy battels being thus ordered thou shalt be sure no wayes to be compassed by the enimies whereas thou maist easily compasse in him not ordered in the like manner and thy battels being but little yet as strong as the greater being strongly fortified euerie way with pikes and when a signe is giuen your hargolateares pistolateares and lances may at the sodaine be with the formost or readie for any other place of seruice Also your second battell may ioyne with the first and the third with the second and so to strengthen your battels at pleasure as otherwise two or thrée of thy battels to giue the charge to one of his battels and if it should so happen that thy first and second battels should be ouerthrowne thy battel placed in this order thou maist retire thy selfe and leaue of the field maugre the head of thy enimie who in prosecuting thée disorder themselues as many times happens may be easily conquered vsing thy battels in this order I hold to be of greatest force and most auailable THese 4. foresaid battels were taken by M. T. Steward out of his second booke Captaine Francesco Ferretti della Osseruanâ—…a Militare out of whom he hath likewise borrowed the greatest part of his Pathway to
brunt in the front as though they were immortall and not able to be ouercome By this order a battell shall be able to sustaine a charge of horsemen or footmen to repulse them after enter into the enimies throng for experience declares that the pikes are made voide of seruice when the rankes be closed pell mell togither for then the souldiers are almost one vpon the bodie backe of another Wherefore if the pikemen should haue no other weapons but their pikes and swords they should remaine naked which doth moue me to commend the rondell to receiue the blowes and to fight withall in any presse or throng whatsoeuer The halberdeares may verie well fight in a presse likewise with their halberds rather then the pikemen with their pikes The which halberdeares are expresly appointed for execution and so consequenly to follow the said rondels at the héeles to frée them from the charge of those that be armed through the great heauie blowes which they shall giue with their halberds But touching the rondels I would haue them alwayes to thrust with the point of their swords although it were but at the face the legges and féete if the enimie be not disarmed in other parts The ground that euery souldier doth occupie at large in marching in simple and single aray is thrée pace and being in battell two and when they fight one The distance of one ranke from another in simple and single ordinance and aray is foure and being ranged in battell two and in fight one The first sound of the Collonels trumpet is to enter into the ranke and march the second to alter the single aray into forme of battell and the thirde is to aduance and plant the battell The Collonel being in such a place as from thence he may sée his whole Regiment hauing the Caualliers of his squadre of S. George about him being such expert souldiers as I haue set downe in my second booke of directions togither with the Sergeant Maior and such as can execute any commission of importance his drum and trumpet maior about him to sound and cause his pleasure to be sodainly and spéedily vnderstood The Collonel must commande the sound to be made of his trumpet which is appointed for the ordinarie march and soone after to sounde that which is to trot and then at the selfe time that which commands and appoints the fight and combat When a battell doth consist of diuers battaillons he must not forget to exercise the first to retire within the battaillons of the second the second to retire within the battaillons of the third And to accomplish the same without breaking or disordering the squadrons The pikes in the flankes must retire as the battaillons retire the first into the second the 3. within the 4. the fourth within the 5. the fift into the 6. of the ranks and so consequently to the end The forlorne hope and horsmen shal likewise do their dutie These things done the retrait must sound and euery Ensigne must recoile his people apart to put them again in a new and single ordinance of aray for the march The enimie aduancing to fight in triangular battel with the point forward frame the battell of sheares to receiue enuiron and fight with the said pointed battaillon If the enimie march with a front stretched out in length make a triangle or pointed battel to pearce the same The baggage of an armie ought either to be in a place strong by nature or well defended by art and industrie togither with the followers of the campe pages and muchachos who must be chosen able to fight in a day of seruice for the defence of themselues and their masters baggage The spaces interualles galeries and passages which are amongst the ranks amongst the bands and amongst the battaillons do serue not onely to receiue one another either in retire or when the first ranke doth retire through the midst of the second and the 2. 3. 4. and 5. c. following him like a Laborinthus mase going forward to the last ranks and turning backe again or that his next follower steps a side and lets him passe and enter into ranke againe but also those spaces betwixt the battaillons serue the Caualliers such like that come go which carrie bring directions of the Chieftaines Collonels or Generals The forlorne hope and extraordinarie pikes must inuade the enimie with continuall great cries the battaillons or maine battell likewise at the first must giue a chearefull shout when encounter is giuen in the beginning and ioyning of the battels but afterward maintain a solemne silence that they may the better vnderstand what commandements and directions procéeds from their chieftain either for the altering of order or otherwise which cannot be heard or vnderstood if they continue a barbarous crie Squadrons battaillons must sometimes assault in great hast chiefly if the enimies artillery doe endomage them verie much and sometimes must abide the charge without remoouing when the place is vneasie that they shall be in danger to dismember specially if they be such as be not accustomed to the march maner of battels Therefore in conclusion these 4 things ought to be obserued of all armies first that all soldiors priuate bands be exercised a part in all things belonging to the wars secondly that they know how to range themselues in battell how to varie exercise and march in the same softly apace and in full course kéeping their araic Thirdly to learne that which appertaines to the exercise which they must accomplish in a day of battell and how to drawe forward and retire the artillarie to giue way and cause the Hargabuziers to issue out of the flanks hauing shot sixe or 7 Hargabusades a péece in running héere and there and without kéeping order so that they know how to ioyne and agrée with the pikemen and horsemen to whom the care ouer their safety belongs They shall retire by the flankes and by the interuals and passages each one into his place that is to say the hargabuziers of the flankes into the flanks the forlorne hope to the reregard there to range themselues according to the Collonels appointment as the day of seruice requires for if they should remaine and continue before the squadre or battel they shall hinder the maine battaillons in their fight and bring confusion The light armed pikes horsemen must likewise retire to their places vpon the ioyning of the battels The fourth exercise is as partly I haue touched before that euery one apply himselfe to vnderstand the commaundement of the Chéeftains the signification of the sounds and trumpets and the batterie of the drums by which be signified all that which is generally to be vnderstood that is to say when it shall be time to plant themselues in battell when they ought to march when to stay or go forward when to turne visage to one part or other to crosse the ground
sarrie close fight In like sort the sound of the said trumpets shall signifie when it is time for the artillary to discharge when to retire when the Musket Hargabusiers the forlorne hope and others are to set forward and when they are to retire and also when the first battels ought to retire to the second fronts and battaillons and when both together they are to arange themselues with those of the third finally at what time they must all retire from the battel the which things must in a plaine knowne vulgar sort be al set downe by the collonel and Chieftaine and suddenlye be signified by his trumpet the noise whereof shall giue sufficient intelligence to the other trumpets which are néerest him that it may so go from hand to hand to the furthest trumpet of the armie It should be good to vse a Cornet or a hunts mans horne for the retraite c. and a trumpet to begin the battell or contrariwise for it is a most difficile thing that the trumpetor should signifie so many diuers things with one instrument considering that the sound of a retraite dooth approch very néere vnto the sounding to the standard in such sort that then when as all men be troubled and as it were besides themselues they shall very hardly be able to discerne whether of these two things the trumpet sounds What the Sergeant Maior is to obserue touching the length of Pikes A Pike ought neuer to want in length any thing of fiftéene foot for this respect when the footemen are streightned and setled in order of battell they may for the aduantage and profite of the said armie in respect that the assaults of the enemie is to giue to the said battell couching bending their pikes against them worke so that the greatest number of rankes that is possible for the defence of the battell may endamage and offend the said enemies and therefore their pikes being shorter then fiftéene foote it prooues that no more of the ranks can fight but the first second and third standing all in order in their places and yet can the third ranke fight but discommodiously not aduance forward his pike to succor and defend the first ranke forsomuch as the distance of the ground from one ranke to another in any battell how straight and close soeuer it be would be neuerthelesse so much that men may manage and handle their weapons and sturre themselues without being a hinderance or trouble one to another Therefore it is to be considered that the distance of the ground which is betwixt one ranke and an other dooth take away a good portion of length in such sort that by reason we may sée that a pike ought to be in length fiftéene foot and no lesse for being so long footemen standing in order of battell in their places the third and fourth ranke may commodiouslye abasing themselues come in aright to succour with their pikes the first and formost rankes this is as much as I can imagine to be necessarie touching the length of pikes by reason of the succour the third and fourth ranke may giue to them before How pikes are to be raised vp and abased in closing and opening of a battell I Will not omit to put those in memorie that know not of the particular of those things that is required in making a battell of footmen Therefore those which would make a battell of footmen must be aduertised that in shutting vp of the said battell the rankes of the pikes aswell armed as vnarmed must not raise them vp confusedly but with order that is when the Sergeant Captaine or Sergeant Maior shall say raise or right vp your pikes then it is requisite that the first and formost ranke must begin to raise vp it selfe and that the second do not mooue to raise vp it selfe vntill the first be all raised vp so the third and fourth And finally the same order is to be obserued in all other rankes not to raise vp their pikes vntill such time that the rankes that are before them haue raised them vp and so from one to another all the rankes of the footmen must obserue this order aswell in battell as in araye The like order is to be obserued in battell and araye in laying downe their pikes vpon their shoulders forsomuch as ranke by ranke in order and without confusion they ought to let fall their pikes letting the first fall after the second the third and fourth following from one to another in the selfe same maner as hath béene declared in the raising vp of their pikes for by obseruing this order they cannot commit but rather make a gallant showe and preuent manie confusions How the Sergeant Maior Captaine or simple Sergeant are to gouerne themselues when their battell shall chaunce to be assaulted on foote and on horsebacke IN sundry and diuers manners and moreouer in diuers places and grounds battels are fought according to the occasions and the accidents that in Militarie occurrences doe chaunce at vnawares in time of warrefare abroade in Campania in Townes and in Fortresses for which causes it is necessarie that the wit of those that haue the managing thereof be prompt ready aswell in this as moreouer in finding out a good partie for himselfe all for the honor safetie of the prince whom he serues ioining to his couragious hart wit experience policie each aduantage that is possible to be vsed against his enemie therfore in two sorts do arise the means to fight one is when he doth séeke to fight with his enemie the other when he is sought of the enemie in such sort that it is néedfull he defend himselfe and therefore I say when the first occasion doothrise that the séekes the enemie speaking héere of striking battell in Campania it is requisite first he consider how the enemies armie is furnished with horsemen and footmen and if he looke to fight with horsmen that are to come to breake his battell in this case he is to be aduertised that he suffer himselfe not to be found if it be possible in Campania Rasa in the open fields or in plains but rather must accomodate his battell in some place of a hill or a mountaine or vpon some seat of ground which hath vpon one side either riuer or ditch or some other impediment against the enemies horsemen which on some side may be a difference as in some places be trées vines and diuers other such like as nature brings foorth in diuers places which are of great impediment vnto the enemies horsemen vnto foote battels are verie profitable and although the number of the souldiors are very small yet oftentimes by much aduantage remaine victorious but aduertisement is to be had that in such cases it is requisite that there be accomodated many hargabusiers in the battell many pikes for they be good against the enemies horsemen hauing to fight with footmen the open
remember you of the manner that is obserued in the distance and measure in the circumference of the battell And now returning to my discourse of one ranke from another when the Souldiours are ioined closed in battell with their pikes when they stand in terme to fight to me it séemes that then in that accident the battell is to close and ioyne as straight together as is possible in such sort as they may manage and bestir themselues with their weapons without being an impediment one to another to the intent that the rankes being straite in fighting or that the souldiors be inuaded by their enemies or that they recoile by force of an onset they néed not to fal to the ground but rather that they may by those ranks that bee behinde their backes receiue helpe that vndersetting them with their brests they may hold them straight vp vpon their féete And this is not onely my opinion but of diuers other mosâ—… excellent wits The other rule of the distance of seauen foote from ranke to â—…anke which we haue spoken of is meant of marching and the managing and exercising of a battell to the intent the soldiors may receiue exercise discipline in the said battell in the which alwaies the foresaid order of measure distance is to be obserued to the intent that the Sergeant the other heads which do gouerne them may the more comodiously manage and enter in and out through the space of the said ranks How battels of euery number of footmen are compounded and placed together in order MAny sundry be the waies which be obserued in compounding together the battels of footmeÌ„ but I verely thinke that the most expedient short way amongst practised soldiors is in these two sorts that is the one to ioyne together the battel with diuided maniples and the other to double the ranks of the aray The sergeant Maior Captaine or other Sergeant hauing first determined in his minde of how many men in a ranke he will make his battell knowing first the number of the pikes that are to be had so making of one company as he may do of many one onely battell procéeding to make the battell in which of the â—… waies he list either by parting it into maniples or by doubling the ranks It is therefore first requisite to set the footmen in aray that are to be found there present numbring all the pikes and accomodating the araye in such sort that the battell may afterwards be made withall spéed and that it may serue the turne for either of those two waies as I haue said It is necessarie therefore to know the place where the battell is to be set and to take care that there be so much space as may be capable thereof knowing the rules of distance which is vsed in warfare that is how much ground the Souldiours hold from shoulder to shoulder and how much distance is left betwixt ranke and ranke of pikes But touching the measure I néed to speake no more for that the officer may measure the ground by pases yet I would commend a Souldiour that is of such discretion that of himselfe can accomodate those things by racke of eye without such precise trouble in measuring the grounde And if a battell require 300. paces in circumference hee by racke of his eye maye sée whether the place bee capable or no noting that the rules to put the distance of ranckes is made for this other respect which is of much more importance that the rankes of the battell may fight without any impediment of the Souldiers foreséeing that euerie third ranke may succour the first with their pikes and speaking of battels you must euer thinke that I speake of pikes for battels are neuer made of hargabusiers it is verie true that hauing made the battels of pikes you may accommodate them afterwards as you list about the battels by the flankes in the corners hornes or betwixt one pike and another of the formost rankes of the battell or in such other sundry wayes as may best aid and helpe the battell let iâ—… suffice that of Hargabusiers there is neuer any certaine rule set downe but euer is to be vnderstood of the order of pikes in battell of the which two wayes where I speake how a battell must be made wel and spéedily I will endeuour my selfe to let you vnderstand the way the best I can Desiring therefore to worke by the first way I haue spoken of that is to make any battell by maniples if it be to be made of any one company alone let it be of what number soeuer of footmen it is first requisite to set the aray with intent to diuide it into thrée parts that is to say into 3. maniples which may be iust of as many rankes one as another in the which maniples you ought by numbring the rankes of the pikes cause the Ensignes of the said aray to kéepe one ranke like vnto the pikes and this is obserued when the thrée maniples be vneuen that is to say that two of them should chance to be of 20. ranks and the 3. of 19. or 18. rankes and then the Ensignes shal be numbred for one ranke but alwayes the other two maniples are to be of iust number as for example There is a company of 300. pikes the which if you desire to put in aray before you make your battell consider how many ranks they will be 5. in a rank and you shal finde them to be 60. ranks diuide the aray into 3. parts cutting them off at euery 20. ranks and after draw vp to the first ranke the second part that is the maniple of the middest and ioyne in order the first ranke to the head of the first maniple the which being on the right hand of the maniple with the Ensignes you shal draw then the 3. maniple to the left side ioyning the first rankes to the head of the other two maniples so that the aray hauing bene of fiue for a ranke the battel shal be one way 15. and the other way of 20. pikes Now desiring to haue the battell to be more large in the front then in the flankes the which I commend of what number soeuer the pikes are of he shall cause the Sergeant to go to yâ— flank where he would make the front and standing still a little distance forth of the battel he shal crie aloud Turne your faces this way the which being heard of the souldiers sodainly they shall turne them selues towards that side which he shall giue them notice of Obserue then this order at all times when you haue made a battell let the pikes be of what number soeuer let it suffice that I aduertise you that at al times when you list to make the front where the flanke is so that the place where you would make it be capable and commodious that you may frame and make the battell according to your determination you
Argolateares a pretie distance off In this sort if one squadron happen to be broken yet shal another make head vpon the enimie while they may retyre troupe againe which is the only safetie as wel of Horsemen as footmen And albeit in the day of seruice it is the part of the high marshall himselfe to giue order in what sort and with what troupes the charges shal be giuen or receiued it is also the Lieutenants part as well to giue his aduise as also to be a leader in all these actions He ought therefore to take great regard to the ground where he meaneth to giue the charge for if he charge in troupe the falling of a few horse in the for most rankes may disorder and foile the whole troupe Before the front of his owne footmen let him neuer giue charge for it hath bin séene that horsemen being repulsed haue bene foreed in vpon their own footmen disordered them Let the horse therefore charge vpon the flanke of the enimie and diligently attend if by any accident they can perceiue any breaking or opening in the side of his enimies battell and then sodainly to charge that breach for as horsemen are inferiours to wel ordered footmen so vpon any smal disorder they carrie with them victory And for that in our age there hath arisen diuers fodaine effects not looked for wrought by the good and well guiding of horsemen I thinke it good somewhat more amplie to delate vpon this point specially as I said before in appointing out a place apart from the battel ranks wherin the Cauallarie may be ranged to the intent they may with good scope fréely and fitly turne and run with their squadrons and ranks in charging the enimy in taking charge likewise of them and in all other enterprises considering that the troopes of horsemen in retyring or turning round do often disorder and break their own infanterie either through the discommoditie of the place or through the want of the good and warie guiding of them Contrariwise at other times by their aduised and spéedie serâ—… a small number of horsemen well bent and better guided haue bêene séene to enter very couragiously into a great battaite of the enimies footemen and either for that they were slenderly flanked with Hargabuziers or by the disaduantage of the grouÌ„d or being disordered by meanes of some errour or through some other sinister chance or by meanes the said battaile was guided by vnequall or vncertaine pase or through the naughtie indeuor and diligence of rawe and vnpractised souldiers or in going through a streight place or passage of water or otherwise horsemen haue easilie disordered and broken their battailes and all the rest of a whole armie But yet are they not able to encounter with a well ordered square battell of pikes if their couragious and well ranged rankes keepe their araie and when the horsemen charge doe clinge and sarrie verie néere together in the fore rancke and set shoulder to shoulder with their pikes well couched and crossed bending them in both their handes straight before them and their followers at their backes laying theyr pikes ouer their foregoers shouldiers and so stand at the push besides the shouldering of the foreranks together hauing pitched their pikes vnder one of their feete in the ground they stoope and bow downe so loe with their bodies that their followers may easilie come to seruice behinde their backes where some doe vse to place the light armed pikes who amongst some nations for want of brest plates of Iron vse tand lether paper platecoates iackets c. For a gorget thicke folded kerchefes about their neck a scull of Iron for a head péece and a Uenetian or lether Shéeld and Target at their backes to vse with their short Swordes at the close of a battaile and in a throng The squadron of pikemen hauing couched and crossed their pikes brest high closely sarred together are as hard to be pearst with horsemen as an angrie Porcapine or Hedgehog with the end of a bare finger Wherefore to ouerthrowe a maine square battaile planted in that order it is good to vse the aide of Hargolateares who must first scale the fronte and ranks of the battels and then being seconded by the lances men at armes breake their araie and whole battaile In the erecution whereof it is good to vse the Rutters order which somewhat differs from the French mans fight for he encountring the enemie cannot indure any troope to be néere his long stretched ranckes because of breaking his course but the retire fighteth in this sort When the retire is approched néere enough vnto the enemie the first ranke dooth aduance vpon them and when he hath discharged his Pistolet he doth run still in forward as dooth the French who doth still pursue his point but more short on the right hand or on the left according vnto the place where he is and so is also spéedely followed by the second ranke which dooth the same Then the third followeth the second to giue the charge as soone as euer he séeth him departed that stood before him all the rankes following one another in such maner euen vnto the last the hindermost runneth they fighting with Pistolets onely for to come vnto their foreriders they standing all along one at anothers backe And for so much as it is impossible but that when they do present themselues some of them or else their horses be slaine Therefore so soone as euer one of the formost ranke is séene to fall downe he that is in the second ranke directly behinde him that is departed or else disabled must take his place and the next behind him in the third ranke must furnish the same voide ranke wherein he was in the second and so the rest in like order so that they alwaies make their formost rankes of the most assured for in all things namely in â—…eates of armes the beginning is of greatest moment some to break the front of armed pikes do vse to cause the men at armes dismount and in their complet armor to charge them with their launces Some others hold an opinion that the maner of the Germans is best who kéepe alwaies their maine troopes standing cause only one ranke from the front to charge the same being repulsed to retire to the taile and backe of the standing troope then an other to charge and retire to the taile backe as the former whereby they maintaine the whole troope in full strength vntil they sée the footmen sway or breake that their horsemen enter Then presently they back them with an other ranke those againe with an other vntill they sée cause either to follow with the whole troope or to staie this is thought to be the surest and most orderly forme of charging of all others notwithstanding the accustomed whéeling about of the rutters which they vse with their whole troopes euery one after an other giuing the enemie
be alwaies good to match some Hargabuse or Musketeare together with pikemen as well that they may be the better able to defend themselues as also by the discharge of their hargabuze to giue warning to the rest if any of them should happen to be surprised by the enemie This officer ought to be both diligent painefull considering how great a charge dependeth vpon these scouts no lesse theÌ„ the preseruation or destruction of the whole campe and therefore he ought continually both day night either himselfe in person or by some other of great trust in his absence from time to time to peruse and examine the order and demeanour of these Scoutes and courriers giuing order for reformation of all that he shall finde amisse and so soone as he shall receiue any intelligence forthwith to aduertise the Lord High Marshall This officer in the auncient Romaine warres was neuer in vse for they would neuer admit any watch without the trenches of their campe but obserued this order that euery night one third part of the armie remained armed the other two thirds tooke their rest and this armed part they deuided into 4 quarters and appointed to euerie watch of the night one quarter which went and walked continually about the trenches of the Campe to heare and sée if they could discerne any noise or stirring néere the Campe the other thrée quarters resting in the meane time returned to the place of assemblie And when the first watch of the night was ended then departed an other quarter to the reléefe of the watch and the quarter that had watched returned to the place of assemblie And thus they continued reléeuing the watch vntill day so that the enemie could neuer approch their campe but they found one third part in armes who were able to kéepe them play vntil the rest had put themselues in order But after that Militarie discipline grew to corruption that souldiors neglecting honor and securitie would no longer abide the hardnesse and the seueritie of the auncient discipline they inuented this kind of forren scoute that the paines of a few might leaue the rest at ease But what mischiefe hath and may thereby ensue histories will shew vs and common reason may soone teach vs. Therefore in time of danger and suspect of the enemie I would notwithstanding the forren scoutes and left sentinels vse this Romaine diuision and strong order of watch The office of the high Marshall of the field or maister of the Campe. SUndry famous writers affirme that a Prince dooth no lesse execute his kingly authoritie dignitie when with a sincéere iudgement and equall ballance he dooth chastise offendors and oppresse malefactors then when by good gouerment and clemencie herewardes the meritorious and exalts and raiseth vp those that be good Therefore the Knight Marshall of the field being created with entire and full authority in his office ought to prouide that assured iustice be ministred in the armie and that he heare and determine controuersies and punish disorders no lesse then is vsed in the gouernment of a well ordered cittie state or kingdome since that in an armie there commonly be such men of excellent qualitie that they for the most part merit the gouernment of great kingdomes and monarchies For this respect he ought to prouide himselfe of Auditors and Pretâ—…res of sufficient excellencie and that they be of good practise learned and such as be resolute in the knowledge and rules of iustice Neuerthelesse conformable to the stile and order vsed in the lawes and exercise of armes and that can thereby vnderstand decide and giue sentence touching all causes and martial lawes since that men of warre are not bound of dutie to obserue any thing but that which is ordained them of their Captaine generall being principally grounded vpon naturall reason and the same to be published by open proclamation that the whole campe may haue notice thereof and to obserue and haue in reuerence the holy Cannons of the Catholike Christian lawes the which in respect of the cause and casualties of death is chéefly to be respected He must prouide himselfe of a prouost which hath knowledge and skill in that profession and that he haue about him a conuenient number of coadiutors and amongst them one to be the executor of iustice It is very requisite he take order that the said prouost with his folowers familie yea euen he that doth execute iustice that is to say the hangman go in their apparrell ciuilly and not abiectly as some in sundry countries are accustomed to the end that they may be accounted of reputation in their office and obeyed as of dutie is conuenient for the ciuilitie of habite and apparrell amongst the greatest part of people carries and procures a certaine credit and respect although besides their office ought publikely to bee pronounced with a generall proclamation vnder paine of life to bee obeyed He ought to prohibite all souldiors except the sergeants who for diuers respects ought to haue their weapons at hand that they do not carrie their weapons in the campe at what time soâ—…uer as pikes halberds muskets or caliuers or any others therby to preuent and auoid as much as may be the slaughters and treasons which in like places men of naughtie nature are accustomed to worke one against another In respect whereof it is necessary for him to banish all quarrels by all possible means to barre the rehearsall and pursuites of discords in time of war the which carries with it great disquiet and hinderance to the principall intent and dutie which a discréete and practised souldiour is bound vnto for there hath bin found many which haue departed from their owne nations cities houses and followed the warres not with minds to do seruice nor to become expert in the exercise of armes neither to become of account amongst other men of valoure whereby they might afterwards merit a conformable recompence equall to their vertue and valiancie but they are caried thither with a determination to liue as néere as they can licentiously or rather to kill their fathers enemies to reuenge some priuate quarrell c. and so execute traiterous slaughters in place of obeying and susteining iustice whereas it is the part of all good souldiors to maintaine the due execution thereof and to punish the contemners Merchants victualers artificers and such others as bring wares to the campe he must take order that they be courteously fauourably vsed to the intent that they may vtter their wares willingly safely foreséeing that they be paid with good money vsing towards them a louing countenance procuring them a conuoy sufficient gard as well for their coÌ„ming as for their departing to the intent they may with good wils be occasioned to returne the more spéedely so remaine altogether satisfied without suspect of being robbed or spoiled of théeues and flibutors for which he ought diligently sufficiently to prouide since that by
merchandise he must yet further care to lodge his armie in such a place that as néere as is possible it may be an impediment to the enimies prouision or commodity He must ordaine that the footmen and horsemen of euery nation be placed diuided in such sort that by their orderly lodging the seat of the campe may be well garded easily and frankly defended Besides this it is necessarie to dispose and plant the Corps de gard and the bodie of the watch about the Camp in places most suspected and best for the purpose which in the day must consist of horsemen in the night of footmen to the intent the army may at all times remaine without feare of sodaine surprises or be assaulted vnprouided which thing as it is of maruellous molestation so sometimes it may be incrediblie preiudiciall When the strength and force of the souldiers and al the camp following are constrained to take armes and to put themselues in squadrons either in the day or night by occasion of the enimie or any other necessarie acccident that may happen The high marshall of the fielde ought diligently to prouide that the Artillerie the munition and the victuals be safely kept with their ordinarie appointed gard The like care ought he to haue that vpon any sodaine surprise Camisado or sally out of a besieged towne the gard about the campe and in the trenches be strengthened and renforced with a new supplie for the more saftie of the munition tents cabbens and other baggage and therefore the said gard ought at the first to be planted in places strong by nature or else fortified by art These things he must perfâ—…rme with a certaine diligent modestie thereby not to displease any person that either particularly or principally either is or hath bin inuested with the like charge as the Sergeant Maior the general of the Artillerie or the Lieutenant of the whole armie besides other priuate Collonels and Captaines c. which aduertisement I only giue by the way for that he may endeuour himselfe to please euerie one although the authority of his office doth expresly extend resolutely to command in things pertaining to the saftie of the field and campe Let him moreouer call continually to memory that the art of warre doth require a sharpe and exemplar manner and condition of chastisement therby to remaine the better obeyed the which thing is of principall great importance for since that in that place his Prince doth not only fight for the dearest thing he hath but also for the health of his proper person and all his subiects it behooues him to be readie and perfite in such causes Besides it is a most necessarie thing for him to note that there is gathered togither in the Armie great numbers of people of diuers customes of sundrie ages and of minde and disposition not alwayes correspondent Therefore he that through insolency wil not obserue the lawes of armes so important as nothing more in the honorable exercise of Militarie profession let him be constrained to obserue due obedience through horrour feare of punishment To the Marshal of the fielde it appertaines to take order euerie day soone after the Diana that the Conuoyes Ascoltes and safegards do appeare before and come to his lodging to receiue their Commission not only for the safegard and assurance of the merchants and victuallers which come and go from the campe but also as wel for the baggage of the footmen as the horsemeÌ„ who are of custome enforced to prouide both for forrage from time to time and for manie thinges necessarie for prouision for their horses other beasts cabbins things néedful to be vsed in the campe These connoyes safgards Ascoltes ought to be of horsemen and guided by a Captaine of great discretion experience When the armie shall remoue the high marshall must first giue order to the master of the Ordinance that he set forth the Artillerie with all the carriages munition c. then the master of the victuals and cariages afterwards He must after giue order to the Sergeant Maior in what sort he will haue the battell to march that day and to the scoutmaster which way he will send his vauntcurrours to discouer if all be cleare who must from time to time giue intelligence what occurrence he discouereth The high Marshall when he goeth to view the ground where he intendeth to incampe may by his authoritie take such number of horsmen as he shal think conuenient and then is he to consider that there be nigh at hand as I said before wood water and forrage enough for the Army and if he intend long to lodge in that place then must he make his campe the larger and prouidently consider that euery Regiment haue his conuenient place that the tents and cabbins be not pitched and made nigh the ring of the campe that there bée large places of assemblie within the campe that it be well intrenched and fortified for which respectes it is requisite that the Martial haue knowledge in Geometrie Arithmetike and that he haue in a readinesse sundrie plats models formes as partly I haue annexed hereunto whereby he may be able to resolue for any number or situation what forme or quantitie of Campe is most conuenient and presently stake it out assigning â—…ue place for euery Regiment of footmeÌ„ horsmen carriages Ordinance Munition euery particularitie as hereafter shal more plainly be declared For lodging of footmen especially in a running campe I haue partly in this chapter touched but for lodging of horsemen it is not amisse to imitate the Rutters who commonly alwayes lodge in such closes as they finde enuironed with trées or quicke set hedges and ditches placing their horses in due order round about the fielde two paces one from another with railes betwéene them leauing al the void ground in the middle for the Captaines tents cabbines for the horsemen So that in that sort in a field of two or thrée acres I haue séene a guydon of Rutters very well lodged commodiously with railes or poles betwéene their horses and bowes about them for the winde or heat some with hales ouer them to kéepe them from the raine their saddels bridels and al other their furniture hanging vpon poles readie by them neatly kept blacked their mangers also before them for all such necessaries the Ruiters carrie with theÌ„ in their wagons and carriages besides little whéele barrowes to carrie away their doung so that their campe is no lesse cleane orderly then a princes stable A faire stréete they alwayes leaue betwéene their owne cabbines their horses They haue certain troopes of their seruants whom they cal their knights and these troupes alwayes attend that so soone as the Marshall hath limited their quarters they depart immediatly to the next woods for poles bowes stakes and other necessaries to build their campe stables and cabbines other go for forrage that
an armie whether it be inferiour or equall to the enemie VVHen an armie dooth march néere vnto the enemies battels the high marshall Sergeant Maior and Collonels ought to vse diuers considerations First a Prince or his Generall not being of like force to the enemie or that he is not willing to giue battell because he will not hazard all his state and armie in one day into the hands of fortune he must prouide specially if he be inferior in Caualarie that he march through a countrie that is rough full of hils and where the situation of the ground is of such aduautage that the enemie haue not any motion to assault him But when he cannot shun the same then must he prouide at leastwise to enter into the action thereof to his great aduantage and almost with a certaine hope of victory the which will not arise to be difficile if he can apply the aduantage of situations to serue his turne In marching I would wish him to haue one part of his light horsemen so neere the enemie that euery houre he may haue notice what way he dooth march notwithstanding in a countrie where mounts and hils be not fauourable but that of necessitie you must march through plaines and champaine countries and that the enemie is néere at hand and that it is very hard to shun the battell I iudge it not farre amisse to accept the battell so that you be of greater strength in horsemen for being the stronger the iourney in no respect is to be fled for so much as horsemen yéeld the greatest part of the victorie when they bee well guided Charles the fift in Germany against the protestants armie by reason of the commoditie of the ground for the most part did not lodge his army further off from his enemies then commonly the shot of a Coluerine although he was far inferior in number Neuerthelesse that order cannot be alwaies vsed when an armie is in the champaine countrie for he that is in plaines and is not desirous to fight he must march from the enemie 9 or 10 miles and must determine to fortifie himselfe at each lodging in such sort that neither the enemies Cauallarie or infanterie may be able in battell to enter into his campe if not with great difficultie A meane fortification is sufficient in a champaine countrie chiefely when it is to be made with spéede which beginning of fortification when you meane to continue may encrease and be made as strong as you sée the case doth require When an armie dooth march inplaines and champaine countries that it comes to that point the it is able to haue any little riuer or wood which may couer one flanke of the said armie you must go about with all diligence to take this aduantage for that the same will arise to be of great importance Prouide euer that the bagage and the artillarie go continually on the contrarie side to the enemie or at leastwise in the midst of the armie The squadrons of men at armes must as appertaineth flanke the battels and rankes of footmen towards the enemie It is a laudable custome to deuide an armie into thrée squadrons that is to say into the auantgard battell and arreargard and that euery day they do exchange making of the auantgard the battell and of the battell the reargard it is requisite that euery one of them haue his necessary number of horsmen Hargaloteares that each one be disposed and placed in his due ranke Order must be carefully taken that amongst the ranks of the footmen vnprofitable people be not intermedled but that all the baggage be in a place deputed for the same vnder the Prouosts guidon Also that amongst the squadrons of the horsemen there be no vnprofitable horses nor other impediments The Rutters Cauallaries vse héerein a meruailous strict order and extreame diligence which verily dooth merit to be imitated It is a commendable thing also when the light horsmen be in such sort deuided and dispersed for discouerie of the countrie and espying the actions of the enemies armie as that they may continually returne and giue intelligences of the enemies demeanor whereby if néede require commoditie and leasure may be had to prouide for fight If the marshall of the field haue no experience of the countrie himselfe it is requisite that he carrie such a personage or worthie Cauallier with him as he knowes to haue experience that with them he may consider well of the situation and place whether he is to march with his armie through plaines by or néere hils or in valleys that haue hils ou both sides or by or néere to woods or alongst or néere a riuer It is also requisite the the light horse aswell for the discouerie of the enemie as otherwise to take the bredth of the straits passages go before and to make certificate that according to the bredth the hoast may march And put case that one part of the way be 15. foot broode the hoast shall be made to march by fiue in a ranke because euery footman will haue thrée foote in breadth from shoulder to shoulder and sixe foote in ranke betwixt ranke and ranke and one foote for euerie person so that 21 foote in breadth and 2 myles in length will containe an armie of ten thousand After the same reason whether there be 20 or 30 thousand footemen according to the measuring of ground by the foote they may be set in order very easily neither can the leader be deceiued whē he knoweth how many armed men euery place can containe and after the same order as the place dooth enlarge he must enlarge the rankes causing part of the shot to goe before the aray and part behind and others to go in succoures of the horsemen that go in viewing the passages and the ambushments with the whole dooings of the enemie and let an other part be for vantgard retrogard to the aray to be able to serue them at néed and an other part to go alwaies at the flankes of the raie the which if there be ditches shal serue as a countermure against the enemies horsmen And if they be men at armes they must march on both the sides of the battell and also of the Hargabuzies that do march by the flankes of the battell and the light horsemen to serue for scoutes both before and behind the aray There must be likewise abundance of Pyoners and labourers to make places plaine and to cast downe ditches bridges and to make defences and other necessarie things that are required in marching the which must be garded by your light horse and shot and when you depart to faine to go to some other place then that you go so and if there be no men at armes to appoint to euery regiment certaine Hargabuziers to serue on horsebacke the which may serue in stéed of men at armes and when occasion serues to serue on foote againe wherein the Caualiers of S.
he shall it is requisite that he make prouision that euery peece haue hys sufficient number of draught-Horses and Oxen apt to carry the same according to the nature of the Countrey with conuenient speede and great facilitie The sayd Horses or Oxen ought alwaies to haue men for the purpose to gouerne them who at all times in all places ought euerie one to lodge neere hys owne Péece day and night that they may alwayes be ready to do theyr office thereby to auoyde confusion that vnawares in such cases doe oftentimes fall when things be not well placed in order Likewise it is conuenient that euerie heauie Peece as the Cannon Culuerine Demiculuerine or DemicannoÌ„ haue a Gunner to attend thereupon and euery Gunner haue his Coadiutor or 〈◊〉 and they both a man to serue them and to ayde them to 〈◊〉 dischardge mounte wadde clense scoure and coole the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are ouerheated For which there must be alwayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Uineger colde water c. Besides that euâ—…rie heauie Peece in some certayne respect must haue alone by himselfe a Master of the wood and a Smyth that together they may aptly supply the needfull force and strength for the weelding of so huge and heauie a Machine as is a Cannon It is necessary that hâ—… create a sufficient Corporal or Câ—…nstable ouer the Gunners who may take care and charge ouer them and that hee may maintayne and keepe order amongst them yea and continually ouerviewe examine and search the Instruments to charge to spâ—…nge make cleane the Peeces coole them with vineger and colde water and such lyke This Corporall or Cunstable must likewise looke to the lyfe and behauiour of the Gunners their gouernment and customes theyr committed and conuenient orders their obedience and actions and it is conuenient that he prayse and confirme the good dooings of them and reprehend and disprayse the euill vse of others making report thereof to his chiefe Captaine master for that he may readily by hys meanes who hath authoritie vse remedie agaynst such inconuenience as wold aryse the which sometimes is occasion of great disturbance and of errours of importance For the better performance of this great Officers seruice hée ought to be very curious and carefull for the safe-keeping of the Munition of powder which is allotted for the seruice of Artillary Musket and Hargabuziers and fyre works so lykewyse he must haue regard to the Bulletes to the Lead to the Match whether it be of Cotton Hempe or Flex to the Ladders the Iron worke the wood worke the Salt-peter the Coales and Brimstone For somtimes euery one of these things is caried by it selfe for more safty agaynst burning and artificiall fyres which are accustomed to be carryed for the seruyce of the armie and to furnish and suffice during the warres and therefore hee must take care that hee haue good prouision of Cartes or Wagons or some other sufficient meane apt to carry these Munitions and necessary preparations together with the whole quantity of Ropes of wood fitte and com modious to serue for the vse of hys office Of tables apt to make Bridges ouer ditches in all other places where the passage of the Artillarie or Armie is stauled And so consequently of many other things that be coÌ„mitted to hys gouernment to conduct since that the Ordenance with the impediments belonging thereunto be of greater trauayle and toyle then the rest of the Campe. To this Officer therefore appertaynes a Cunstable or Lieuetenant as I sayd before and certayne Clarkes in wages who are to haue regard vnto the foresayde causes and to attend vppon inferior matters rendering account of all their dooings to the Master of the Ordenance From time to time he must fore-see as I sayd before to prouyde that there remayne stuffe enough in store for all kind of necessaries belonging to the Artillarie as whéeles for Ordenance Axeltrees Ladles Spunges bullets chayne shot crosse barres corne powder serpentine powder Mattockes shouelles Crowes of yroâ—… hand Axes Engines for the mounting of Ordenance Graund Maundes or Gabions little hand basketes Ropes and all other Carte ware To haue the Gunners not only skilful in the ready managing of theyr peeces but also in the making of Trunckes Balles Arrowes and all other sortes of wylde fyre and fyre worke and for the continuall supply of them they ought to haue in a readinesse great store of Sulphure Saltpeter Rosine Calx viue Quicke peall Lintesede oile and coÌ„mon Lampe oyle Pitch Tarre Camfere Waxe Tutia Arsenicke Quick siluer and Aqua vite Hereof let him frame balles of fyre to burne in the water Cressets and Torches that stormes or windes canont extinguish murthering buullets to be shot out of great morter péeces and such lyke If any band in the Campe want Powder or Match or shot the Master of the Ordenance vpon request of the Captaine is to giue order that his Clarkes deliuer the same taking a bill of the Captaynes hand for theyr discharge The which bill must at the pay day bee deliuered to the Treasurer who is to stoppe so much vpon the pay of the Captaine and hys band Let him prouide that there be of whéele-wrights Carpenters Coopers Smithes Bowyers Fletchers Masons and such other skilful Artisans with all tooles and necessary néedfull to preserue repayre make all such thinges as to the Artillarie and munition appertaineth To him likewise it appertayneth to cast bridges ouer waters Riuers and Ditches for the commoditie of the army and consequently for that respect must take great care to carrie wyth hym men apt sufficient and fitte for that kinde of seruice as Shipwrightes Wagon-wrightes Makers of Cables and such as be practised in sayling to the intent that at time of neeede they may be the better able to performe any enterprise So likewise he must cause certaine boates or barks to be made somwhat massiue with fitte and apt peeces of plancks and boords in square forme for a bridge to be fastned and nayled vpon the said Barke in such sorte that being ioyned peece to péece with a great Rope or Cable thrust through and turned double through certain ringes of yron which are fastened vppon the extreame partes of the poyntes or corners of euerie peece of the bridge and for euerie peece foure Kinges one at euery corner which beeing prepared the bridge may be put together entyre and whole Upon that side the Riuer your Armie doth remayne where two stakes two pillers or two Trées stifly planted one ende of the bridge must bee tyed and accommodated with ropes of sufficient strength the which ende being already turned towards the fall of the Water and the other towards the running of the streame must afterwards be sette frée loose and thrust forth and disseuered from the bancke by certaine of the foresaid men practised in sayling who ought at due time cast Anckers into the Riuer which are of force to sustaine the bridge from béeing carried downe further then
they must be continued on euen to the Gates thereby to cut of sallies And against all the Portes make a Bulwarke of Gabions one vppon an other and if it bee possible néerer the Towne then the Trenches both to stoppe their battery alongst the Trenches and to barre theyr sallies Upon that side towardes the Campe must be made Ditches little Trenches for the Corps de Garde of those that must guard the Trenches wherein must remayne such number of Combattants as they may be able to repulse the enemie vntil succour arriue which must be vpon great necessity and then beeing ayded with some mayne squadrone to repulse them with great furie For the better prohibiting and knowledg of which issues and sallies it is not only requisite to aduaunce the Trenches euen to the Counterscarpe and brincke of the Ditch but also to haue lost Sentinelles euery night betwixt the Towne and the Trenches within the sayd Ditch if it be dry Wherein lykewise a good Ingeniour may worke many good deuises The Marshall must if occasion serue fortifie towardes the Champayne place the Princes or Generals lodging in the midst of the Campe that he may giue order to all mutinies sallies allarums and disorders And if the Towne be well peopled to make certaine such Fortes as before I haue set downe gouerned wyth valiant Captaynes and good bandes of Soldiours to kéepe shorte the enemy And those lodgings or Campes so well distributed that they may remayne safe from inuasion yet so apt to come together that vpon the ariuall of any Armie they may at one instant issue out and be ranged together in battaile to fight and therefore if a Riuer passe through the Towne a bridge must be placed to passe ouer guarded at both endes with bandes of Souldiours that thereby victualles and succours may be barred from the enemy It is rather to be placed aboue then beneath vpon the Riuer in respect to auoyde burning by artificiall fyre or else to be planted where they looke chéefely for succours Obseruations for an assault and the sacke of a Citty WHen the batterie of the Cannous haue made sufficient breach and that the same is saultable great diligence and celeritie is to be vsed for that diuers thinges at one instant are to be done The Campe must be all in armes and in battayles the Assaylants ready in the Trenches to giue assault the Pyoners to carry Ladders or such Engines as are inuented for the safety of the Souldiours If the Ditch be full of water and that the same hath neither beene cut down nor drawne drye by artificiall Milles and buckets such as béere Brewers vse Then must the Pyoners roul forward the artificiall Bridge made vpon Barrels of purpose for that respect hauing before cut the Counterscarpe to put the same into the ditch the which must be done nimblie and at one instant During which time the Artillarie must beate towardes that place to barre the besieged from endomaging the action Also when the great Master of the Artillarie shall perceiue the batterie to haue made large easie and sufficient breach to haue displaced the flankers He must giue aduertisement that the Assailants may procéede if the assault be first determined vpon Which beeing concluded the assailants must remayne ready and in order to aduance when the last blow of the Cannon is gyuen and that they beholde the ruinous fall of that which was determined to bée battered then shall all the Artillarie discharge great and small And when the Souldiours begin to march forwardes to the assault each one shal shoote to breake the remparts and other strengthes which it may be the enemy hath made and thereby to amaze them the more But then must the great Artillarie cease to shoote at the batterie for feare of hurting your own people but they shall shoote at the defences which shall be somewhat further of and the which might aryse to be hurtefull to the sayd Assailantes But the lesse Péeces shall alwayes shoote at the breach vntil such time as they sée their people past the Ditch and that they be mounted as high as the saâ—…d breach and so cease there It hath béene vsed of some to put all the Campe in Armes hauing determined in what place they will assault which is in the greater number the better but in two at the least for pollicie to make shew with inuaston cryes and noyse of Drums towards that place where hee meanes not to giue the assâ—…ult to amaze those within the Forte and also to seperat theâ—… into diuers places to the intent they may haue lesse at the breach and accordingly put his people in order that is to say at the two places where he meanes to make the assault in good earnest consisting of strong and puissant bandes all which companies must marche close and sacried together in this order following First if néede should require there must bee certayne people ready to carry Ladders and such Engines to addresse and reare them to the breach After them must followe the men at Armes and other Souldiours well armed which must goe ioyntly together with them that carry the Ladders The shotte aswell Musket as Hargabuziers ought to bee within the Trenches and so euery band which is to assault is to remayne in order and must march aflote and in troupe for whether it be to ascend the breach or Ladders the last must thrust the formost forwardes and vpwardes And from the time they begin to march the Artillarie must shoote to the end the enemies haue no leysure to shoote at them that march in the Ditches And when they are within the sayd Ditches the small Artillarie must alwaies batter at the defences and breach vntill such time as thy come hande to hande And likewise the shotte aswell Musket as Hargabuziers must be vpon the brincke of the Ditch alwaies shooting and defending that not one of the towne do so much as appeare at their defences or loope-holes The high Marshall of the fielde must stand with the rest of the Armie ranged in battaile and placed in such conuenient sort as is néedefull And this for thrée reasons First if the enemies should giue charge vpon the Armie during the assault hee must bee of sufficient power to defende the Campe which must bee so well fortified that he may resist anie force or inuasion Secondly if it bee necessary a fresh supplie for the assault hée must culle out such and so manie as will serue the turne and send them immediatly Thirdly if the Assailants shoulde bee repulsed and that they did retyre which is to be presupposed will be in disorder confusedly neither is it otherwise possible and that those of the towne thereupon doe make a sallie it being not like that those should be brought to make front that were so lately forced to retyre The high Marshall must then march in order with some maine Battillion to succour his people to repulse the enemies and so
importance if before hand he haue not had great and manifest experience of them Note that it is much better to ouercome the enemy by weariing him with delaies then by furious fight put himselfe to the hazarde of doubtful fortune which oftentimes hath in battaile greater puissance then valour or vertue it selfe therefore alway procéede in these vncertaine ends of Armes rather assuredly then perrillously The order which the enemies hold ought first of all euer to be discouered The Generall being a man of iudgment dooth attend and take respect with prudence and with carefulnes both to his affaires and to the enemies and doth that is good or that which is pernicious in the one and in the other and doth preuent his traps and deceits neither suffers any thing negligently about himselfe nor assured about them In warres for the most part the victory comes by nothing els but the euill counsell and base mind of his aduersary therefore very hardly can he be ouercome that can measure and knowe both hys owne and his enemies forces and order When a Prince or his Generall hath fortefyed himselfe wyth Confederates with good and experienced Captaines wyth valiant Souldiours with Municion and weapons with money and strong places it followes that he endeuours himselfe to weaken the force interrupt and breake in sunder the aduersaries determinations the which thing may be performed spéedily or late according as occasion shall offer it selfe which is the fountaine and originall of all gracious acts To conclude the Generall the high Officers of the Army Colonels Captaines and Souldiours must daily serue God for Religion causeth good orders good orders brings good fortune good fortune makes good successe to arise in all enterprises The Armie wel paide discipline must be vsed without respect of persons Iustice to doo euery man right makes the Generall of great maiestie and reputation beloued and feared because hee dooth and is able to aduaunce the vertuous and correct the wicked For money is the flesh sinewes of the warres and ordeined for the same That warre is iust which a Prince commaunds for to recouer that is lost or to defende iniuries and wrongs offered to him by others FINIS FOR that there hath somwhat beene saide touching Townes of warre and fortifications Souldiours of iudgement doth know that a place besieged by the power of a mighty Prince cannot long endure without there be within the same a sufficient number of men Munition victuals when any of these three things lacke the enemy will soone haue the place besieged Therefore the sayde Captaine Hychcocke who hath beene the cause of printing this Booke of warre doe think it good to ioyne to the same worke this short discourse which declareth what proportion of victuals will serue one thousande Souldiours in a Garrison where the victuals must be prouided by her Maiesties Victualer As for example we wil make our proportion for Barwicke wherein I will shewe howe the chiefe Victualer and the petty Victualers gaines and profits shall rise that men may looke therein whereby all doubts and questions that may grow for that seruice shall be auoyded and the Garrison at all times well furnished with things necessary needful for victualing of one thousand Souldiours and after that proportion as the number shall fall out more or lesse Within this generall proportion heereafter I doe declare first for Bread and Beere the Bakehouse and Brew-house the Grayners for store the Windmilles the Horsemylles with theyr implements the caske and other necessary things the charges of men horses and carryages to the same belonging with theyr wages and allowance for theyr trauaile and seruice Howe thys proportion is to be prouided vsed deliuered and spent in reading ouer thys little worke following you shall find very short and playne Robert Hichcock A generall proportion and order of prouision for a yeere of three hundred threescore and fiue dayes to victuall a Garrison of one thousande Souldiours The order for the Bakehouse THe Souldiours hauing one pounde and a halfe of good wheaten bread for one pennie or one pound and a halfe of good white bread for j. d' ob the Bakers to aunswer for euery quarter of wheate beeing sweete good and marchantable deliuered at Barwicke xx sÌ„ Cleere of all charges and wasâ—…e which happeneth afterward by keeping the grayners or any other except casualtie of the Enemy after the deliuery thereof Necessaries and implements wood wages of Clarkes Bakers Myllers Carters Labourers or any other for the Bake-houses Windmils Grayners or carriage of prouision and for horse and Carts for the same are to be found by this rate size of bread without any other allowance to be demaunded sauing for wast and charges of as much wheate as the vse of baking shall be otherwise employed then to be deliuered in bread by theÌ„ who were charged with the receite from the shippes and keeping the grayners of the same The Bakehouses Windmils and Graynars béeing furnished with implements and necessaries at the entrance into seruice and in good order of repracion are so to be maintained and kept in and by all things except casualtie of the Enemy And are to be deliuered at the departure from seruice in as good order and furniture of all things as they were first receiued And considering the charge to maintaine the Bakehouse with the appurtenaunces and allowance to the pettie victualers of the Garrison after xxj loues of bread for xx A quarter of good wheat will make in good bread by order of this Booke xxv sÌ„ so haue yée of euery quarter for charges v. sÌ„ and after foure quarters the day for the whole yéere iij. C. lxv l. That is to say for wood to bake a quarter of meale in loafe breade xvj d' and after foure quarters the day for a yéere sum lxxx xvij l. vj. sÌ„ viij d' and for this repracion of the Bakehouse and the appurtenances yéerely l. l. Wages and victuall of two Clarkes two Myllers foure Bakers and foure Labourers yéerely one hundred fiftie pounde Maintenance of horse for carriage in this charge yeerely lxij l. xiij sÌ„ iiij d' All these allowances are found in the size of bread beside the branne The whole Garison béeing as before one thousande Souldiours will spend foure quarters of wheate a day and for the whole yéere xiiij C. lxiiij quarters Although by order this number wil serue yet the prouision to be at the least in Wheate for breade xx C. quarters for the prouision I account good wheate may be bought with ready money by former bargaines for seauen yeeres together for xiij sÌ„ iiij d' the quarter in Yorkshire Notinghamshire and Lincolnshire I account the charges of a quarter from the place it was bought to Barwick at iij. sÌ„ iiij d' that is to say where they sende it downe in Kéeles to giue for kéeling of a quarter iiij d' for freight of a quarter to Barwicke xvj d' and for the Purueyors charges for matts
or any other of a quarter xx d' And in other meete place where the freight is greater the other charges are the lesse so as it may be doone for the price I haue made no mention of waste which is to be borne by the ouer measure béeing bought for ready money by former bargaines except shipwracke and casualtie of the Enemie So I account wheate to be deliuered at Barwicke cléere of all charges and freight at xvj sÌ„ viij d' the quarter one time with another as before And where the Baker alloweth to deliuer in Bread for euery quarter of good wheate xx sÌ„ cléere of all charges and wast after the deliuery there of at Barwicke by this order of prouision the freight wast and all other charges allowed except casualtie of the Enemie and shypwracke there remaineth profit in euerie quarter iij. s. iiij d' Sum ij C. xliij l. vj. s. viij d' These may suffise for the order of the Bakehouse for Breade and prouision of corne for the same sauing there is to be considered to haue in store at all times in wood ij C. loade euery three Monethes to be renewed to euery Mill a paire of spare stones and tymber for repration All implements and necessaries to bee double furnished for the said charge and for the horse and carts of the same Certaine notes for wheate-meale and bread A bushell of good wheate meale as it commeth from the Myll and weying lvj l. will make in houshold breade lxxij l. so that it will take in liquour beside that is dryed in baking beeing weyed within xxiiij houres after the baking xvj l. that is for vij l. of meale ix l. of bread Take vij l. of bran out of a bushell of good meale weying lvj l. the xlix l. remayning will make in good wheaten bread lxiij l. and that paste wil make in ordinary bisket being conuerted to that vse xlij l. and taking thrée pounde and a halfe more of bran from the said meale the forty fiue pounde and a halfe remayning will make in white bread xlij l. or in white biskette twentie eyght pound A bushell of wheate weying but fifty two pound to the Myll if you will make it equal with good meale take out of the same ten pound of bran and the fortie two pound remaining will make in wheate n bread fifty foure pound or in ordinary bisket thirty sixe pounde that is of a quarter of such wheate two hundred two quarters viij l. taken out of the same for grinding and it wyll make but two hundred one quarter ordinary biskette except ye take out lesse branne and make courser bread then the ordinarie vse of the same The lighter wheate the courser and more bran and there is worse wheate then is héere mentioned The heauier wheate the finer meale and lesse branne and there is better also then is héere declared Some wheate wyll wey more then weight in a quarter fourtéene pound some twenty eyght pound So of light wheate the Baker maketh course breade and to small profit and of good weighty wheate fayre bread to the Bakers honesty and profit Because diuersitie of measures shold be auoided there is considered for wast in prouision the ouermeasure and for waste in the Graynars the Mylles to be parcell of the Bakehouse so that the Baker to aunswere that wast as before Thus much is declared for wheate and the Bakers in theyr charge The order for the Brewhouse THE Brewer deliuering double béere at thirtie shyllings the Tunne the Souldiour to haue a wine quarte for a halfe penie and deliuering strong beere at fortie eyght shillings the tun the Souldiour to haue a wine quart for ob q. And the Brewers to allow the Officers for euery quarter of Mault xiij sÌ„ iiij d' and for euery quarter of wheate xx shyllings cléere of all charges and waste in the garners after the deliuery of the same at Barwicke froÌ„ aboorde the shyps there except casualty of the Enemy Necessaries and implements wood coale wages of Clarks Brewers Myllers Coopers Carters and Labourers for the Brewhouse the appurtenaunces and carriage of prouision with horse and cartes for the same Hoppes and Beerecorne caske and hoopes or any other necessaries are to be founde by this rate and price of Beere without any other allowance sauing waste and charges of as much Maulte wheate Beerecorne or caske as shall be otherwise employed then with beere to be deliuered by those which were charged with the receite and carryage from the shyps and kéeping the garners of the same The Brew houses horse myls Garners and store houses for this charge beeing furnished with implements and necessaries and in good order of repration at the entrance into seruice are so to be maintained and kept in and by all things except casualtie of the Enemy And to be deliuered at the departure from seruice in as good order and furniture of all things as they were receiued without any other allowance then for carryage of Beere to the pettie Uictuallers as hath béene and is at Barwicke accustomed If there should be demaunded any greater price for Maulte then must the Béere be smaller and the water the Brewers freende for gayne to maintaine this charge And for that I haue considered the great charges of the appurtenances before declared I haue rated both kindes of Béere by the Tunne in proporcion and howe allowance is founde for the maintenance of the same Double Beere in proporcion by the Tunne TO euery Tunne in Mault x. Bushelles and a halfe allowance for waste in the Garners at xiij shillings iiij pence the quarter xvij sÌ„ vj d' In Wheate one Bushell ij sÌ„ vj d' In Dates halfe a Bushell v d' In Hoppes vij pound at xx sÌ„ for a hundreth xv d' Wood and Coales to euery Tunne xx d' Repration of the Houses implements necessaries and waste of Caske ij sÌ„ ij d' Mayntenaunce of men for the sayd charge allowed of euery Tunne iij sÌ„ iiij d. Maintenance of horse to the Mylles and Cartes for carriage of prouision xiiij d' So haue yée the Tunne of double Béere at xxx s. Strong Beere in proportion by the Tunne To euery Tunne in Mault two quarters and thrée peckes allowance for waste in the Garners xxviij s. In Wheat two Bushels v s. In Oates one Bushell x d' In Hoppes viij poâ—…nd and a halfe xviij d' Wood and Coale to euery Tunne ij s. vj. Reprations of the Houses implements necessaries and waste of Caske iij s. iiij d' Mayntenance of men for the sayde charge allowed of euery Tunne v s. Mayntenaunce of Horse to the Mylles and Cartes for carriage of prouision xxij d' So yée haue the Tun of stronge Béere as appeareth at xlviij s. The proportion for 600 coÌ„mon souldiours a yéere in double Béere after the order of this booke 456 Tunne in hegsheades The proportioÌ„ for foure hundred greater allowance a yéere in strong Béere after the order of this booke thrée hundred foure