charges that hang vpon band rolles as many doo vse Because that oftetimes the couers of such charges doo flie off and shed the powder in such sort as the mosquetiers if they be not olde souldiors or wel practised doo sometimes thinke that they charge their peeces out of such bandrol charges when the powder was spilt before so as sometimes they put in their bullets into their peeces without any powder And I would that euerie societie or fellowship of 10. mosquetiers should haue one great mould to cast 2. sortes of bullets the one full bullets and the other 2. or 3. bores smaller to charge vpon some occasion with the more celeritie Also that the same mould should bee so long and bigge as it should be able to cast at one time 8. haileshot of warre besides the bullettes which haileshot of Warre should be of the heigth and Caliuer of small pistoll bullets And this great moulde with a melting pan and lead and all other thinges belonging to the same should be for the common vse of the whole societie of 10. mosquetiers as the like pan and mould and other thinges which I for breuities sake did omit should be for the common vse of euerie societie of 10. harquebuziers And yet it doth behooue the societies aswell of mosquetiers as of harquebuziers to haue some priuate mouldes for bullets besides their common and publike mould And thus far concerning mosquetiers And now to armed men piquers The arming doublets and greygescâ—es for armed men piquers I haue before described and therefore I proceed to the arming and weaponing of them as followeth I would haue all the piquers armed with burgonets of good depth wel lined and stuffed for the easinesse of their heads and tied with a red skarfe vnder their chinnes and that they should not wear them flapping open vntied as I haue seene many of our Mosquetiers and armed men heere at home doo Also I would haue them armed with collers of a good size with backes and with cuyrats not too flat but somthing high vpon the stomachs that they may easily in any hastie march fetch their breaths the belly or lower part of the Cuirasses I would haue to bee lowe and rather somthing flat then any thing riâ—ing or high because they may hauing their vambraces on the more easily put their hands to their swords without any impediment of y e ouermuch heigth of the lower parts or bellies of their Cuirasses Also I would haue them to haue tasses to y e mid thigh not too broad but of conuenient length and breadth comely and fit for their greygescoes Also I would haue them to haue pouldrons of a good compasse and size and vambraces both ioined together and not asunder because that the poise of the pouldrons and vambraces hanging vpon the pinnes and springes of their collars they doo not weigh so much nor are not so wearisom as when they are separated and that they weare their vambrases tied with pointes to their doublets vnder their pouldrons Also I would that al armed men should weare gauntlets as the armed men piquers Italians and Spaniards doo and not to be bare and disarmed handed as our English and some other Nations of late years haue vsed because that any smal wound receiued vpon y e hands doth presently make such souldiors impotent and vnable to vse their weapons that haue receiued such woundes although they be but small Their swords their daggers and their girdles I haue before particularlie set down how and in what sort I would haue them to weare them Their piques also I would wish them all to bee of the length of 18. foote and neither longer nor shorter for the causes in my former instructions and discourses mentioned as also conteined in my Booke of certen Discourses printed 1590. and that they shoulde haue verie good and foure square heads of good temper and lowe armed with long cheeks and in y e midst couered or armed with black lether or black vellure or with some other such thing and y e they should not be too great nor heauie in wood that thereby the souldiors may carrie them and mannage them with ease Also I would that the staues of the piques should bee of a tite and stiffe ashe and not of ashe that dooth sagge and bend when the piquers doo carrie their piques breast high before hand couched because that such sagging and bending ashe although it be verie tough yet it is more heauie then the other ashe besides that the piquers cannot carry the 〈◊〉 of such sagging and bending piques so euen and straight in their Enemies faces as they may carrie the other piques that doo not bend nor sagge but are tite and straight And thus farre concerning armed men piquers And now to batâ—leaxes or halbarders The election choice and inrolment of souldiors with battleaxes or halbarders I would wish to bee of the taller and stronger sort of men and that al the halbarders or battleaxes that should be to enter into squadron should bee apparelled and armed in Corslets in all points and peeces of armour like vnto the piquers before mentioned and yet if those halbarders or battleaxes in stead of pouldrons and vambraces did weare sleeues of good reueted maile that might couer all their shoulders and armes euen from vnder their Collers breasts and backes to the verie Gauntlets considering that by the good defence and easinesse of such sleeues of maile they might mannage their halbards the better I would for my part allowe them for verie well armed although I woulde that the piquers because they are the formost rankes should bee in any wise armed with pouldrons vambraces and gauntlets as aforesaid and not with any sleeues of maile Also I would that the halbarders should weare their swords and daggers of the same length and in the verie same sort that I haue appointed the armed men piquers But their halbardes or battleaxes I would haue to be strong and of good waight with long straight edges with good piques backward and strong pointes of conuenient length but in no wise too long forward and that they should for the strengthning of them be armed with two cheekes downe the staffe of a soote and more long and that such battleaxes or halbardes for the squadron should not be aboue 6. foot long from the top of the points to the lowest end of the little iron hoopes commonly called the Feralles of their staues Also I would haue certen other halbardes that should be incorporated in euerie band of archers and likewise of harquebuziers who should serâ—e vpon diuers occasions to doo execution vpon the enemie And those Halbarders I would haue them called extraordinarie because they are not for the squadron And those I would haue to be armed only with burgonets with collers verie light Cuirasses and backes and without any tasses and in stead of pouldrons vambrases and gauntlets the sleeues of their doublets I meane within the fustian striped with
the thrust And others I haue seene that in stead of Curtilaces tocks haue worn single pistols which pistols bicause men at armes or dimilances are to giue their charge in squadron with the pointes of their Launces and shocke of their horses they cannot haue so much leisure to pull out and to pul downâ— their cocks as stradiots and other light horsemen that do fight loose in skirmish or in other little troupes may Besides that the gauntlets of men at Armes and dimilaunces are not fitlie made to handle pistols in as all men may see that list to prooue them and those dimilaunces ought to be all horsed vppon puissant horses for the shocke and not vpon geldings vnlesse they be very puissant And their furniture for their horses ought to bee steele saddles of good forme and of a conuenient bignesse and as light as they conuenientlie may bee made with good headstalles and raines with chaines as aforesaid with good patrells and croupers Also if there were any gentlemen in those bands of dimilaunces I would wish them not to bee without the forepart of steele barbes to the intent that vppon any day that were likelie to be of great seruice against the enemie they should arme and barbe the forepart of their horses because that they being placed in the first rank or two rankes should bee the better able to giue and receiue the charge and shocke with the lesse daunger to their horses And thus far for dimilaunces Now as for men at Armes because all men that are of any experience and vnderstanding in matters militarie doo well know that they must bee all armed cap a pie and their horses verie puissant and all barbed aswell behind as before with the number of weapons that they ought of ordinary to weare and vse And because that in these daies partlie in respect of their great pay but chiefly because the art and science militarie hath beene of late years and presentlâ—e is in great declination and decaie they are not in vse in England nor in any part of Christendome as they haue beene I ouerpasse them But now it is likely enough that some Gentlemen that haue beene trained vp in these late Ciuill wars of the Low Countries or France may thinke that I haue forgotten my selfe in not making mention in these aforesaid musters of Carabins or Argolettiers vnto which kinde of horsemen they are greatly affected Whereunto I say that for the smalle effect that by experience I haue seene those Carabins in seruices worke through their great and manie failings which I haue sufficientlie proued in the latter end of my booke of discourses that I did set forth and cause to be printed the yeare 1590. as also in the former discourses of this booke where I haue written of them I doo not any waies hold them worthie to be compared in their effects neither to archers on horsebacke nor Crosbowers on horsebacke and therefore will in this place make but very small mention of them but do in stead of them wish that there should be an election and inrollement made of certen archers and Crosbowers on horsebacke in euery shire who should be armed weaponed and horsed and reduced into 〈◊〉 bands vnder their Captains and leaders as here in this place I will out of my former booke sette downe againe and that is in this sorte following All the Crosbowers on horsbacke vnder sufficient Conductors well skilled in the weapon I would they should haue Crosbowes of two pound and a halfe of the best sort with crooked gaffles hanging at their strong girdles after the manner of Germanie that they might on horsebacke bend their Crosbowes the more easelie and readilie with 24. quarrels in a case well fitlie and firmelie sette at their saddle pommels and mounted vpon good colde geldings of meane size theâ—selues armed with good morrions of the spanish fashion vpon their heads Collers light and short wasted Cuirasses and backes with sleeues of maile or their doublet sleeues chained with maâ—le betwixt the lining and outside of their said sleeues or with certen narrow stripes of serecloth within their sleeues as aforesaid or else chat they should be armed with morrions light and easie brigandines and sleeues chained with maile with broade short swordes by their sides of not aboue a yard in length and short daggers The archers on hâ—rsebacke vnder their Captaines or conductors skilfull in archerie I would likewise haue mounted vpon good quiet geldings of mean size with deepe steele sculles in very narrow brimd hattes well stuffed for the easines of their heades or rather with certen light morrions of some gallant fashion inuented and deuised for them and either Iacks of maile according to the auncient manner when they were called Loricati Sagittarâ— or else light and easie brigandines or at least Ilet holed doublets verie easie and well fitted to their bodies their sleeues chained within with maile or else with certen narrow stripes of serecloth betwixt the lining and outside of their sleeues for the easines of their armes with broade short swordes and short daggers their bowes of good yewgh long and well nocked and backed and all their stringes well whipt with sheafes of .24 arrowes â— peece in cases with shooting gloues and bracers after the manner of our archers in times past And all these both archers crosbowers I would haue them to be well practised that they might know how to discharge their arrowes and quarrells galloping vpon the hand and in al other motions of their horses and the Crosbowers to bend againe with great readines and diuers bands being thus horsed armed weaponed and exercised as also reduced into bands of fifties vnder sufficient conductors and other officers skilfull in those weapons should in mine opinioÌ„ be able to performe far greater seruice in y e field either against horsemen or footmen then any of the forenamed weapons offire on horsebacke Considering that both archers and Crosbowers may with their arrowes and quarrels verie certenlie wound or kill in their points and blanks either horsemen or footmen that are in squadron or troupe 2. or 3. skores of and rouing 6. 7. or 8. skores or a great deale furder may greatlie mischiefe and annoie any squadron either of horsemen or footmen where as the Argolettiers or Pistolettiers are not to worke any effect against squadrons or troupes of horsmen or footmen aboue 10 or 15. yardes off at the furdest and if it be enemie to enemie single then they are not to discharge their peeces aboue 4. or 5. yardes off vnles they wil faile 5. times before they hit once so vncertaine are those weapons of fire The iudgement wherof because this mine opinion may seeme strange to such as doo not know the imperfections of those weapons of fire on horsebacke I refer vnto any Captaines or conductors of those weapons either Italians Spaniards Wallouns or French that are souldiors of experience and iudgement But now because I
them and their Enemies to their trouble or mischiefe in their heads necks or backs And for aunswer to the other obiection that the ynner rankes of piquers letting fall and couching their piques may pul and retire them so farre backe as that they may againe recouer the vse of the points of them against their Enemies entered I say that if the enemies be they either horsemen or footmen be entered but only .7 6. 5. 4. or 3. feete within and vnder the length of any of the piques of the inner ranks that it is not possible for such piquers in respect of the ranke and rankes that are so neare and close behind them to pull their piques with their armes so farre backe as any waies to recouer y ◠vse of the pyonts of them against such Enemies as are comne within and vnder their piques as aforsaid whereof insueth that those inner rankes haue vtterly lost the vse of their piques and therefore must let them fall to the great trouble of the leggs and feete of the rankes of their fellowes aduauncing forward and betake themselues to their swords and daggars which are not weapons any waies able to repulse or resist armed men with battleaxes or halbards By all which before alleaged I thinke it is most apparant that the 5. rankes of piquers that do empale enuiron my squadron of battleaxes by frunt flanks and backe are ranks enough to restist any Charge or Charges of Launces aswell and a great deale better then if the same squadron were all of piques because that the 4. or 5. first rankes only are those that do worke al the effects to the resisting repulsing of Launces charging or that are with their thrush to resist and repulse any charge of a squadron of footmen piquers their Enemies and if any Launces by chaunce should breake through those 5. rankes then the battleaxes and short staued and long edged and short and strong pointed halbards in the handes of well armed men are readie at the heeles of the 5. rankes of their piquers and do wonderfully both with blow and thrust at the heads and faces of horses or men kill wound ouerthrow or repulse either horsemen Launces or footmen piquers whose first charges and furies haue bene before greatly staied and weakened by y ◠resistance of the first 5. ranks of piquers as aforsaid For it is to all men of vnderstanding in matters Militarie most euident that short staued battleaxes or halbards of not aboue 6. foot long in their whole length do no waies in their blowes nor thrusts either against horsmen or footmen trouble entermingle nor intricate one with another by reason of their shortnesse as the rankes of piques do through their great lengthes which piques doo no waies kill nor hurt but only with their pointes as is before at large declared By all which I come to conclude that 4. or 5. of the first rankes be it in frunt flanks or backe I meane which of them soeuer vpon the comming of the enemie be made frunt doo worke far greater effectes then all the rest of the inner rankes of piquers can possibly do for in troth all y ◠inner ranks of piquers besides the 5. first ranks doo neither against horsemen and chieflie against footemen halbarders or battleaxes well armed no nor yet against armed men with swordes and targets vsing their targets only to defend their faces from the points of the piques worke any important effect as it is most manifest by the reasons causes and accidents by me before alledged And thus hauing at large shewed by diuers reasons the imperfections of squadrons that doo consist onelie of piques with the great perfections and effects of squadrons of battleaxes enuironed onely with 5. rankes of piquers as also howe all sortes of squadrons that are commonlie in vse in the open fieldes in these daies and also in al former ages ought to be reduced into form with many other different particularities I will omit diuers other sorts forms of little battles that are conteined in som printed books of diuers languages as of Crossebattles of battles in triangle battles in form of stars with many other such battles of diuers shapes fashiōs extraordinary y ◠are rather set forth to fill vp books to please y ◠curious then for any great vse of them by reason y ◠such phantastical battles are no waies able in the open fields to march encoūter with such squadrons as I haue before described and set down And yet somtimes armies may march vpon such strange extraordinary grounds as in marching ouer mountains or high hils y ◠haue varietie of forms of rising descending grounds y ◠it is not possible to form such great squadrons in such forms as I haue before declared and described but that vpon the comming of the enemie they must bee forced to deuide their three battles of vauntguard battle and Rereward that they marched withall in the plaine and open fieldes into as many varieties of little battles and formes as the aduantages and formes of the varietie of groundes where they presently find themselues doo present vnto them and therewithall to flank their armed men on euery side with weapons of volee All which a Lord Marshall or sergeant Maior may with a great deale more facilitie perform then to forme such great squadrons as I haue before described reduced and formed But heere I thinke it good to aduertise the Reader that I haue heard verie crediblie reported that there is another kind of forming of a battle amongst some of the Sergeants Maiors of our Nation in these daies greatly in vse and that is That they place foure piquers with their piques aduaunced in square according to the greatnesse of the squadron that they meane by guesse to form with the number of piquers that they haue for that purpose And somtimes they place in the middest of the frunt betwixt the two formost piquers a third piquer and so likewise they place two other piquers vpon the midst of ech flanke one betwixt the said piquers that are in flanke with a fourth piquer also in the midst betwixt the two hindermost piquers which 8. piquers when they haue placed in as iust square in their distaunces as they can then they command al the piquers that they meane by guesse to reduce into squadron beeing all behind and in Rereward of the 8. piquers in square presentlie to run into the void place within the square of the 8. piquers and there to fall into their rankes with hubbledeshuf as well as they can vntill they haue filled vp all the distances and empty place within y ◠square of the said 8 piquers which being performed they hold this way not only for a verie ready forming of a squadron but also for a most excellent waie of reducement because that there is not any Sergeant Maior so vnskilfull although hee be vtterly ignorant in Arithmetique nor that he
do know so much as one letter vpon the book but that he may by guesse forme such a squadron which kind of forming or rather deforming of squadrons in troth is called of all antiquitie to make a squadron or battle of extremitie and necessity when vpon the sudden and vnlooked for approch and neare comming of the enemie through the fault and negligence of the scouts discouerers they are forced in the place of assemblie in their Campe to make of necessitie vertue that is for lacke of time to reduce their squadrons into forme of like numbers of souldiors in euery ranke and into their iust and proportionate distances both by frunt flanks according to discipline to form a confused squadron of different numbers of soldiors into crooked ranks and vncerten and confused distances into the void ground or place that is within 4. 8. or 12. or more piquers placed in square as abouesaid in the place of assembly of their Campe which kind of disordered battles of extremitie are no waies able by any reason Military to encounter and abide the charge of a squadron of the like number of piquers reduced into forme according to discipline that is of like numbers of soldiors in euerie ranke from frunt to backe and in their euen and proportionate distances in frunt and by flankes and therefore being alwaies ready with great order and facilitie to incorporate and close themselues by frunt and flankes may without any waies troubling the one the other nor intricating their piques nor rankes mannage and vse their piques with great dexteritie and charge and ouerthrow such a confused multitude or battle of extremitie that are in vncerten numbers in their ranks and in as vncerten and confused distances which causeth disequality and crookednesse of rankes and therefore cannot possibly close themselues in frunt and by flankes in any order forme and strength nor mannage and vse their piques without confounding and intricating their piques with their fellowes piques to the great aduantage of their enemies well formed squadron and their own most certen ruine Besides all which it is not possible for such a disordered squadron to march in the fields with any order nor according to discipline to performe diuers other effectes belonging to well ordered squadrons in the fielde as all skilful and expert Sergeants Maiors and men of warre of experience and iudgement doo verie well know Wherfore I come to conclude that such disordered battles of necessitie and extremitie are neuer to bee vsed but vppon a suddaine and vnlooked for comming of the enemie through the negligence of the scoutes discouerers or Centinelles as aforesaid And therefore now I proceed to diuers other very important and requisit matters Militarie That great bands of 500. vnder an Ensigne are mor◠connenient for al seruices in the field then smal bands of 150. IN this place before I proceede any further I thought good to notifie vnto all such as shall read these my instructions that my opinion is y ◠great bands of footmen of 500. souldiours to euery Ensigne according to the ancient and moderne vse of Germany when they doo inuade or resist and make head against y ◠Turk are more conuenient and a great deale better as well for the princes sauing of many paies of Captaines and officers as also for the more speedie forming of great battles or squadrons with dexteritie celeritie then smal bands of 150. are who in respect of the many Captaines and officers are a farre greater charge vnto the prince as aforesaid as also through the smalnesse and great number of their compertiments or diuisions of diuers different sorts of weapons a great deale more slow and vnfit to be reduced into great battles or squadrons then great bāds are which mine opinion because I haue fortified and proued the same with certen examples many reasons in my booke of discourses which I set foorth and caused to be printed 1590. and yet that the same hath beene by certen apassionate Gentlemen with many malicious and vaine words void of all reason militarie denied in certen malicious libelling pamphlets by them in written hande in many places dispersed contrary to all ciuilitie and profession militarie I wil againe in this place rehearse set downe a part of that which is conteined in my foresaid booke of discourses and wil fortefie the same with such reasons and examples as any man that is of any discretion may manifestlie see the great ignorance and lacke of skill of those that doo thinke that many small compertiments of piquers and of weapons of volee may be assoon brought into any forme of battle with sleeues winges forlorne hopes c as great bandes of 500. that do consist of great compertiments of different sorts of weapons may And therefore the words of my booke of discourses to proue my foresaid proiect are in a manner verbatim these following When the great Princes of Germanie vppon any occasion or iniury offred are disposed to make Warre one against another or vpon an imperiall army assembled to inuade or resist the Turk beeing bounde as they are by their Tenures Militarie to the Empire some to finde Horsemen and others to finde footemen at their owne charges they then vppon such occasions haue alwaies vsed and doo still vse to forme their Regiments of footmen into great bands of 500. to an Ensigne that they vse especiallie for two causes the one thereby in their regimentes and so consequentlie in their whole Armies to saue the pay of a great sort of Captaines Lieutenantes of bands Ensignbearers and other officers which would be greatly increased so amount to a far greater charge and pay incase they should compose smaller bandes of 200. or 150. or vnder that number The other cause that doth moue them to forme their bands so great is that their Militia consisting of harquebuziers mosquetiers piquers and some halbarders with a few slathe swords for the guard of their Ensignes that those sorts of weapons by reason of the greatnesse of the bands being in great compertiments and diuisions may be the more readilie and easilie drawne out and seperated and with a great deale more celeritie incorporated with the other great compertimentes of like weapons of other great bands to forme their squadrons with sleeues winges troupes and forlorne hopes according to the order and direction of their Coronels and Sergeantes Maiors then if their bands were smaller either of 200. or 150. or vnder that number whereby the Compertiments of weapons should be also the smaller and therby in number the greater and so consequently would require a much longer time not only to drawe out but also to incorporate compertimentes with compertimentes for the forming of battles with sleeues winges and forlorne hopes as aforesaid Besides that such great bands both by reason and experience are as readie and a great deale more ready to bee emploied either in whole companies vnder their Captains and Lieutenants or
men in motion they doo worke verie little or no effect as well in respect that no harquebuziers howe good soeuer they bee can take their sightes so certenlie from point at blanke in a great distance as they may in a much nearer distance as also that they can a great deale lesse take their sights from the ends of their peeces at their enemies in motion a great distance off although it be within the points and blankes of their peeces besides many other causes and particularities concerning the same in my booke of discourses by me set forth 1590. conteined All which well considered it dooth behoue all good and skilfull harquebuziers not to discharge their peeces aboue 20. 30. or 40. paces at the vttermost although their peeces will carrie point and blanke a much greater distance But here it is to be noted that this kind of skirmishing of lose shot of societies of threes is not so good by a great deale as to skirmish in societies of 4. in euery societie and that by reason that euery formost harquebuzier of 4. next to the enimie discharging his peece as effectually as he may and retiring behind the hindermost of his societie to charge againe whilest the second aduauncing forward and trauersing his ground doth supplie the place of the first harquebuzier that did first discharge and is now retired as aforsaid and so consequently the third harquebuzier vpon the discharging of his fellowe before him that at the first was the second to aduance and supply his place and then againe the fourth that did first of all discharge and hath now againe very well charged hiâ— peece doth vpon the dischargeing and retiring of his fellowe before him aduaunce forward and trauessing his ground supplie his place which orderly discharging recharging againe and discharging recharging againe and againe with good aduisement doth by the societies of 4. giue more time and leisure to euerie harquebuzier that hath discharged his peece to retire and charge verie well againe without heating of his peece then societies of threes aforesaid can doo considering that in those skirmishes of loose shot it is conuenient that onelie one of euerie societie of 4. should bee formost and should discharge alone to the intent aswel to giue leisure to their fellowes one after another to recharge againe as also to haue 2. or 3. harquebuziers continuallie ready with their peeces charged one after another stil to aduance forward and supply the others place ready to discharge at the enemy For if they should discharge 2. or 3. or al at one time then vpon their error espied by the enemies and taking the aduantage thereof by a sudden approch they should find themselues vnsupplied and vnsuccoured the one of the other to their great danger and mischiefe But here it may be demanded what I doo call the well charging of peeces of weapons of fire Whervnto I answer That I doo allow neither harquebuze nor mosquet for well charged in seruices of the fielde vnlesse they bee charged with conuenient charges of powder and with softe browne paper or the refuge endes of matches or something else with their skowring stickes thrust close to the powder to restraine the same and likewise vppon the bullet the like or a more quanâ—â—â—â—â— to keepe close and restraine the bullet or when at the least I would that some such thing should be thrust vpon the bullet with the skowring stick to keep the same close to the powder therewithall to the intent that euerie souldior vppon his lacke of bullets might vse his fellowes bullets I woulde that all the harquebuzes throughout the field should be of one Caliuer and heigth and that all the ordinarie bullettes for the field I meane not the full bullets that first with great leisure they charge their peeces withall before they march out of the Campe which are or ought to be of the iust Caliuer and heigth of their harquebuzes but the ordinarie bullets for skirmish that those bullets I say should not be aboue two bores lower then the heigth of their peeces whereas farre otherwise the most bullettes for the field heere in England as well of Mosquets as of harquebuzes are 4. 5. and many 6. bores lower then the height of the peeces which with the souldiors not restraining the powder nor bullettes as aforesaid is the cause that the powder how good soeuer dooth neither carrie the bullets so farre point and blanke nor yet doo giue so violent blowes as beeing otherwise well charged with more full bullets they would doo nor yet can possiblie shoot with any certentie although it were from a steadie rest either at horses or men standing still within point and blanke by reason that such bullets doo naturallie mount and flie wide howe true soeuer the peeces are besides that the powder for lacke of restraining as aforesaid dooth lie in the Cannon of the peece loose and the bullet through the too much smalnesse thereof in comparison of the peece doth vpon euerie little accident fall out and droppe to the ground where as ordinarie bullets for the field that are not aboue two bores lower then the heigth of their peeces doo carry the bullets the peeces being otherwise true and well charged as aforesaide further point and blanke and with a great deale more certentie and besides doo giue a more forcible blow as aforesaid then such ouer small bullets can doo But now the second way of skirmishing is that such little societies of threes and of fowers may skirmish by discharging their peeces almost or neere about one time but that must be performed by the discharging and retiring to charge again of such little troupes other such little societies of like numbers that are a conuenient waie distant vpon both their flankes but something retired and therefore haue kept their shot aduancing forward as well to espy some aduantage to giue their volees at their enemies effectuallie as to giue time and leisure to other little troupes that haue discharged and therfore retired to recharge and aduance forward againe The third waie of skirmishing is of greater troupes as of 6. of 9. of 12. of 15. of 18. or of 21. And this kind of skirmishing in so great troupes doth resemble the first mentioned skirmishing of loose shot of 3. souldiors in euerie societie and that in this sort that euen as the societies of 3. did deuide themselues into 3. single discharginges as aforesaid so must these greater troupes deuide their dischargings into 3. volees as for example if the troupe be of 6. then the 2. foremost may discharge at or neere about one time and then trauessing their grounds retire behind the hindermost two to charge againe whilest the two second being now formost doo aduance forward to espie their aduantage to discharge effectuallie which when they haue perfourmed then they likewise are to retire againe recharging vntil they be hindermost giuing place vnto their next two
large from the corner of the squadron as they shal think requisite and finding the hindermost ranke of 7. soldiors or of 8. if they be disposed to make their flanke of 8. archers to be of such cōuenient distance from the corner of the squadron as they shal think meet then the chiefe Commander of those Archers is presentlie to goe to the midst of that flanke where they are to make of flanke frunt and then being a conuenient distance from them he ought to say vnto them Frunt to mee Archers and let this worde passe throughout from flanke to flanke Vppon which his wordes pronounced all the souldiors in flanke throughout next vnto him are presentlie to turne their faces and weapons towardes him and make of flanke frunt and so subsequentlie all the rest of the archers throughout al the rankes must performe the like And this making of flank frunt may be performed aswel by the stroke of the drumme as by the briefe speeches of the commander which being by them performed then they must presently reforme themselues into their conuenient distances both by frunt and flanks that thereby they may without any impediment giue their volees as aforsaid And thus of a great number of ranks that they were before when they marched in their simple or single order of rankes as of 7. or else of 8. in a ranke from frunt to backe they are now become a great number of Archers in frunt that is in euerie ranke and but onelie of 7. or else 8 rankes by flankes which order and forme is to be vnderstood and tearmed a hearse of Archers and as this hearse is now reduced into a wing either from the right or left corners of the squadron so may the like winges be drawen from all 4. corners as also vpon the frunt or flankes of the squadron or any other place or places where it shal please the General of the field or the Lord Marshall to direct or command But heere it is to be furder noted that such hearses are not to giue any volees of arrowes at their Enemies but onlie vppon a token or signe giuen vnto them by some chiefe Commaunder of the hearse who by his officers is to make all the souldiors of the hearse priuie to the same signe and token And therefore the same Commaunder and signe giuer is to be of good vnderstanding in archerie as also of the distances of groundes that thereby he may not faile to giue his signe when the hindermost archers are within the reach of the former rankes of the enemies bee they horsemen or footmen for if hee should faile in the same whereby the Archers through the too great distance of ground shoulde shoot short hee should then commit a very grose error Also it is to bee noted that if the commander of the archers doo thinke it requisite he may deuide the deliuerie of his archers arrowes into two volees that is that hee may if the hearse doo consist of 8. rankes by flankes take order that fower of the formost rankes shal giue their first volees and as the enemies doo approch neerer to giue order that the other 4. hindermost rankes shall likewise giue their volees altogither with the rankes before them And as the reducing of Archers into these aforesaide formes of hearses are verie conuenient and of great effect for battles euen so they may bee brought into diuers other formes according to the scituation of the ground or grounds and diuers other occasions and likewise worke verie great effectes But now whereas there be diuers in this time professing Armes that doo greatly disesteeme archers thinking that a farre greater number of Archers were not able to encounter with a smaller number of mosquetiers Thereunto I say that that their opinion doth proceede of nothing else but of their lacke of vnderstanding and knowing the wonderfull imperfections and failinges that do belong to musquets and mosquetiers in the field as also of the strange and incredible effects of archers arrowes and therewithall that they did neuer enter into the consideration that mosquetiers are not to worke any effect in the open fieldes but from their restes fixed in the ground or some other accidentall or naturall rests and themselues standing still to take some sight from point at blanke at their enemies when they discharge which at men in motion with any certentie it is not possible for them to performe and if they faile in taking their sightes at point and blanke then their bullets do flie straight at the Cloudes without doing any other hurt besides that when they haue once discharged their first charges of full bullets or haileshot of warre from their rests incase they be forced vpon the vncerten comming of the Enemie to remoue and new place their rests and charge againe their peeces are so exceeding heauie and they therewithall so troubled with their rests hanging vpon their fingers that they are driuen to a verie long recharging of their mosquets againe which recharging if it be not in such particuler sort and perfection as I haue before set downe the bullets of their second volee will scarce go within the compasse of the height of piques vprighted or rather of younge trees as all skilfull soldiors that do know their wonderfull vncerten effects in seruices of the field will confesse so as I com to conclude if the trial were to be made in the open plaine fields betwixt 1500. archers and 3000. mosquetiers without any other weapon of succor either for the one side or for y e other y e mosquetiers being reduced into anyformes of greatest aduauntage and conueniencie for mosquetiers y t can be deuised those 1500. archers being reduced into many many troupes of fifteenes of twenties of fiue twenties of thirties more or fewer and they approching assailing the mosquetiers both in frunt and by flanks giuing their volees of arrowes in continuall motions at the mosquetiers who if they meane to worke any effect of necessitie must stand still to discharge their peeces as aforesaid during which time of their standing still they shall to their great error and mischiefe receaue the continuall volees of the archers arrowes vpon all parts of their bodies in such sort as the archers there is no doubt being well instructed and led in their troupes by their Captaines and other officers would with great facilitie with a verie few volees of arrowes breake all the mosquetiers although they were of a farre greater number For although mosquets will carrie their bullets point and blanke a great deale furder distance then archers are able to work any effect with their arrowes yet their wonderfull vncertenties many of the particularities whereof I haue in other my bookes very particulerlie set downe are such and so manie as against archers reduced into great numbers of troups as aforesaid and assailing them in motion with infinite volees of arrowes they would be found to be of a wonderful
Carrire and so charge and shock with their enemies to the disordering or breaking of them All which being by them performed they should then stop their horses and discharge their launces setting them againe vppon their thighes And then they should be instructed how with al celeritie to make of flank frunt by turning al their horses faces that waie and by inlarging themselues and doubling and redoubling their rankes to reduce their squadron againe into a triple or quatriple frunt Then I would wish that all the squadron of Launces should disorder themselues pelle melle out of their rankes and that they should be instructed either vppon the sound of the Trompet or vpon the pronouncing of these wordes Troup troup Launces presentlie to fall into troupe making their frunt triple or quatriple or more in respect of the flankes as neere as their Captaines or officers can guesse And being thus fallen into troup they should be taught how to charge or receiue a charge of their Enemies without disordering themselues or their launces Then I would haue them againe reduced out of troupe into squadron and taught how they should charge y e flank or corner of a squadron of piques and how incase they doe not disorder nor breake the piquers that they should retire againe and then falling into troupe they should with a terrible shout offer a false charge by making a point casting about when they come within 10. or 15. paces of the squadron of piques incase that the piquers making head with their piques doo not disorder themselues But if they should perceiue the squadron of piquers to waâ—er or swaie as commonly they do a little before they break that then they should giue in vpon the piquers with a full charge to the vtter ouerthrowing of them And thus with these and such like exercises they should be made skilfull able with all aduantages to charge any squadron of horsmen or footmen with great art and deâ—teritie Now peraduenture some not skilful in matters of armes may say that I haue made in a maner no difference betwixt the charging of a fquadron of men at Armes or Dimilaunces and the receiuing of a charge of another squadron of the like Weapons because I doo allow to the squadron that should charge but 30. paces that is 20. galloping vpon the hand and 10. for their full Carrire to giue the greater blow and shocke Wherevnto I answer that such as are leaders of any squadron of Launces that will fall into their gallop 12. skores or 15. skores distant or more to the intent to charge another squadron of Launces shall finde themselues in so great a distance greatly disordered confounded in their rankes and their horses out of breath and thereby the force of their blow and shocke greatlie weakened when they shall come to encounter with the squadron of their enemies freshe and not disordered â—ho haue put forward their Horses into their Carrire not aboue 10. paces Now if it should bee said vnto me that it were more meet that a squadron of launces that is disposed to receaue a charge should keepe their ground and stand firme with their launces in their rests rather then to fall into their carrire of 10. paces as aforesaid I say that their receauing of a charge in standing still should be greatly to their disaduauntage because that force and violence in this action must be repulsed with the like or greater force violence For any man of iudgement by reason may consider that a squadron of launces straightned and closed in frunt and flanks with their iust and proportionate distances coÌ„ming to charge their enemies squadron but 30. paces that is 20. galloping vpon the hand and. 10. with a terrible shoute in their full carrire will worke a wonderfull effect to the breaking of the squadron of launces standing still without mouing forward with any force Besides that the disaduauntage of such a squadron as receaueth a charge standing still without mouing forward with force is greatly augmented by the terror and thundering of their enemies horses feete vpon the ground comming in their full cartire as also by the noise of the armors of the horsemen and with the furious comming of the horses in squadron with the pointes of so many launces in the eyes and sights of both horses men standing still in colde blood whereas contrariwise the squadron comming but. 30. or 40. paces in hoat blood to charge them first galloping vpon the hand after in their full carrire as is aforesaid doe gather heate furie and force in such sorte as their blowe and shocke becommeth so violent that it doth amaze disorder and breake the contrary squadron with great facilitie But a squadron of Launces standing firme vpon their ground vntill they see their enemies within 20. paces of them then putting themselues into their full carrire and meeting with their Enemies 10. paces of it is distance enough to receaue and encounter them with as great force as if they had begun their carrire when the squadron of their Enemies was a greater distance of But now in this place it is to be noted and obserued that the Ensignebearer if he be of men at Armes or the Guidon bearer if he be of light horsemen be euer lodged both in Campe and Towne in the Captaines Tent or lodging or very neer vnto the same euer accompanied with the trumpetor of the same band to the intent that they may receaue all orders and sudden directions and hauing receaued the same may signifie them by the soundes of the trumpet Light horsemen borderers I will not take vpon me to set downe any thing for their instructions how they should vse their speares in the field because that they themselues by their continuall exercise are so skilful with al such weapons as they do vse in the seruice of the borders But yet I would wish them to learne to reduce themselues into semicircles or halfe moones into two rankes either by right line or else oblique after the manner of the Turkes and Hongarians Because I thinke that the same would be of great aduauntage for them for diuerse purposes as I haue shewed by diuers demonstrations and formes in a Booke by me Composed 1585. and not yet printed entituled Certen Military discourses Arithmeticall Tables formes and demonstrations to reduce both horsemen and footmen into many formes of squadrons c. But because that in my forementioned Booke I haue but only sett downe the formes and demonstrations of those semicircles by figures of little horsemen and not how nor in what sort they should be reduced into those formes I will here briefely set downe concerning those reducements as also of the aduauntages that such light horsemen haue in such semicircles against a squadron of Launces And therefore to reduce them into the aforesaid formes I say that if therebe for examples sake 200. light horsemen they are to march 2. in a