they finde ordinarilie many necessarie things to want in sieges enclosed places which should mainteine them if the honour of their owne person loyaltie sworne to the seruice or their Prince and to God did not cause them to esteeme little their owne life rather then their honour should be spotted in sauing thereof By this which I haue set downe Y.H. may iudge what persons you are to choose to recommend the keeping of such places vnto What is to bee required in him which is to take charge of a place besieged as are to endure a siege not apperteyning to Y.H. nor to a Prince to mainteyne any and very seldom to a Capteine generall but only to furnish them with heades that are soldiers and other necessaries to defend themselues withall being free to be able to be still succoured and to oppose the enimie according to such state as they shall finde him in The Capteine or head to whose hands Y.H. shall commit the keeping or defence of any place ought to be couragious Consideration for the furnishing of a place with soldiors expectinge a siege wise and a soldier of experience and hauing neuer before bene in a place besieged it is meete that hee haue with him some leaders or particular soldiors which haue bene Iointlie it is to be cōsidered of what qualitie the soldiers be which are in the place and with whom it is fit to furnish it in case it be necessarie to haue it renforced and that they may not bee bysognes and easie to mutinie In this respect those nations which serue Y.H. are to be thought vpon what profe any hath made in cōseruing of places whether they be your own vassalls or no and whether there be within the place any ordinarie soldiers of the same Prouince strangers or other beinge all vassalls what King he is Prince or Potentate or enimie whom suspition is had of will besiege the place particulars which being nicelie digested will quicklie cause Y.H. to resolue whether the soldiors of the same Prouince ought to be all of one nation or different following the opinion and iudgment of such Capteins coūsellours as Y.H. shall hold about you whose experience ought to know what head or soldiors vpō the present occasion shold be most auailable for the defence of the place imagining that they may come to be besieged if the enimie fight with gallantnes Consideration for the fortifying of places It is likewise to bee marked whether the place be fortified alreadie being a frontire or had neede to be fortified anewe after what maner that must be carying themselues in this according as the enimie giueth time for it with ingenors and persons which knowe what fortification meaneth for that it falleth out many times when one would fortifie a place strengthning it by rauelin cauallere and pincer or spurr they make it weaker because they vnderstand not their busines so commeth it to serue for no defence but rather to help the enimie to offend more In this it must alwayes bee prouided to haue a place kept where you may fight in squadron and trauesses which is that by which batteries are best defended for which cause in olde time they inuented round towers for it and in these dayes to shun the inconuenience of a circular forme being notwithstanding a meanes to keepe them from being offended by direct line from the flancks and trauesses wher the artillerie playeth they haue formed great bulwarks to couer them in angular forme giuing proportion from one bulwarke to an other that the trauesse may come to fasten as the ingenors terme it which is to haue the bullets light vpon the front of the bulwark or part most conuenient while the enimie doth batter for that at this day they vse not to batter the cortine betwene the two travesses but only the frōt of the bulwarke holding it for a more easie batterie to quite one traues or casamate then both especiallie if there be any place or rome in them for a piece to batter against which doe trauesses hardlie resist although they goe by the diche and for to preserue these pieces which while they are in being and the trauesses in life maketh a good defence they vse to make the corners of their bulwarks so thick Iointlie it is to bee considered that it is a most sure rule in matter of fortificatiō that whatsoeuer is seene the defendant looseth by shooting of the artillerie in direct line as the sight goeth and if there must be fower men required to carrie one dead man out of his house howe much more reason is it that there be as great a number or more to driue him being aliue from thence Whereby it cannot bee imagined that any will laye a siege without being sure to haue equall forces to them within and likewise artillerie and when the place serueth for it and carieth meanes thorough many bulwarkes caualiers and platformes to put two or three counterbatteries to that which is planted it may not be presupposed that they can be able to kepe thē since that he which besiegeth wil not in reason attēpt the enterprise except he hold forces proportionable to finish it for that otherwise he should enter into an assured mischief without hope of any profit It is likewise to bee looked vnto that the fronts of the bulwarks may not lye subiect to be battered by the corteyne of any mountaine or eminēt place of scituatiō wher the enimie may plant his artillerie the men not being able then to stand vpō any defence that the parapets may in no wise be broader thē a pike can couer These which I haue touched vnto Y.H. are the foundations principall points to fortifie by being no parte of my meaning to handle herewith the fashion of the workes or maner of the rampires which be the better nor other particularities for that I should run out too farre and it were fit to shew the maner of fortification euer with a compasse in the hand and composition of lines which is no worke for a blinde man albeit for the time which I haue liued I haue spent enough in learning the Theorique of fortification by the Mathematicques to ascerteine thereby and with other grounds what the experience in warre and manage of the artillerie brought me to learne knowing the reason for founding it and fitnes of fashion for the stockes and carriges the better to assure the hitting of the marke It is likewise to be considered whether the place bee little or great or haue manie neighbours neare it accustoming to carie armes or to make guardes or no and what confidence you may haue of them to leaue it vnto them Beinge a frontire towne or fortified it ought in reason to haue soldiors to keepe it to haue out of those offices of the artillerie which Y.H. shall hould in that Province or Kingedome a liste made of the armes that are in it quality of pieces and
holde military forme in generall or some garisons and ordinarie bandes of more power in cauallerie or fanterie or contrariwise Likewise whether they haue any quantitie of Shipps readie armed for defence thereof if it be an Yland or border much along the sea coste whether the gouernement therof be caried in forme of a Democracie which is Definicion of Democracie Aristocracie whē all the people in common or the maior part of them hold souueraingtie and commaund or Aristocracie when a lesser part of the people holde of one bodie within it selfe empire power giuing lawes to the more sorte of the rest in generall or particular or Monarchie which they tearme Royal Senorie the Prince hauing iustlie conquered it Monarchie becōming Lord of their persons and goods vnder which he may be able to gouerne them with equitie yeelding vnto them libertie with putting them in possession and proprietie of their goods from an absolute Lorde establisheth then to him selfe the gouuernement of a Royal Monarchie whether the Monarch or king be electiue and if his authoritie consiste more in the body and voice of his Prelates Nobles cities of the kingdome then of his royal person not being able to vse discipline enacte lawes or impose tributes or fynes without consent of the members of his kingdome remayning in the Court whether it come to him by succession or gayned by mariadge or right of inheritance what the age of the king is in possession what talent and partes God hath giuen vnto him howe he vseth them what heires he hath and whether he bring them vp alowing them a hande in gouernement or farre from him for suspition of what qualitie his officers be which he retayneth about his person to assist him in gouuernement and howe farre he yeeldeth vnto them whether he accounte of Souldiers and men of warre for affection hee beareth therevnto or onely for necessitie hauing among them any personages of experience and valour whether he be more beloued or feared of his vassalls in what sorte his rentes ariseth the summe and quantitie thereof whether hee bee able to augment them more if he holde them free or charged with such assignations as he shall haue giuen or solde vpon them if he be gouerned by any Tutor or protector through the minoritie of his age or want of vnderstāding whether there be any Gouernor either through the kings being taken prisoner or for distancie from the state where the Prince Gouernor or Captaine general resideth whether that Kingdome or Countrey be frō before time with other fallen vnto him or since the King or Prince enioyed it whether the leagues he holdeth be onely personall or successiue to his heires finally whether the disposition of that kingdome or state be of such a sorte as draweth the bordering Princes albeit they are not confederate with it not to suffer that any more powerfull shall enioy it for the difficultie and feare of greatnes looking the more narrowlie thereinto A naturall born Prince alwayes better beloued then a stranger for the conseruation of their owne estate Out of these considerations which I haue set downe Y. H. may be able to serue your turne in cōpassing such forces as your armie shall neede marking that alwayes a naturall Prince holdeth a greater pledge of beeing beloued then a straunger if his extremitie of vice doe not cause his vassalls to abhorre him Therefore in the continuance of a long gouuernement many occasions causes of noueltie are withdrawne and remoued which the chance of an Empire draweth with it the one opening the dore to the other as one building the frame and workemanship of an other for this cause a conquest is seldom times effected without hauing some intelligence with them of the kingdome or state being an enterprise of greatest daunger to enter warre within a countrie of which you shall hold no further knowledge then what you must be fayne to take by force and armes the which extreemely delayeth the proceeding thereof a matter which can not be auoyded vntill you finde your selfe so farre within the Countrey as the people for loue of their owne houses and impossibilitie which they see in maintayning of their wifes and children without them constrayne them selues to suffer the yoke in seeking to please those which impose it vpon thē And likewise the most ordinarie way is to entertayne speach before with some whō you may perceyue discontented with the Prince Causes breeding discōtēt towards Kinges and Princes through his want of vnderstanding vicious customes euill gouuernement naughtie administration of iustice and choise of ministers which engendereth partialities losse of wealth or couetousnesse in procuring of it oppressions and greeuances without reason which maketh honorable heartes to growe desperate resenting more an iniurie then death except the feare of God The loyalty of subiects admitteth of no conditions and obligation of a subiect which is not in any wise to admitt of any condition to make him faltar in the loyaltie which he oweth restrayne them or that Kinges refrayne their appetites and passions considering it is with their owne subiectes Besides this another cause manie times stirreth vp subiectes to intend nouelties * Yow put a good and a fit case for their owne home to be instance where to your vsurped estates a right heire can not be and to your hereditarie Su Alteza may not think to run so cleare away with that priests dispensations being but a mockery to contradict the direct ordinance of Iehoua according to your owne cēsure pag. your Princes like Conies still incestuously counterlyuinge with their nearest of tribe and consanguinitie and that is when their Prince hath no heire and there be diuers pretendours to the succession which some will aspire making great shewe of the sufficiencie of their partie to obteyne it and other more ambitious founding them selues vpon the authoritie and trayne they cary assay the ayde of neighbour Princes to be able to possesse them selues of the commaunde vnder such profites or Townes as they can offer vnto them diuers likewise are the readier finding them selues in necessitie hauing prodigallie wasted their substance imagining that through want therof they must needes decay in their credite and opinion and then necessitie so mouing them couer their ambition vnder the title of libertie vnder colour to remedy the publicke weale their owen particuler being their principall end to destroy the generall that with change they may bring their purpose about Sometimes in like maner it falleth out that there is either an estate or cities adioyning vnto the place attempted whiche albeit they depend not thereon the euill entreatie they haue receyued may make them wishe that other might occupie the roome offering thēselues to their ayde which is eftsoones also occasioned through feare and a forced good will for that they are not able to giue anie impediment therevnto Those persons which Y.H. is to vse in this negociation for the causes
possible to vnite them againe togither their force otherwise beeing only in appearance in effect nothing This maketh me say that the last crowne will alwayes be the cōqueror because he which hath money to pay wil alwayes be able to holde togither his Armie his souldiors being in such sorte thereby relieued is that onely which so easilie bringeth to passe good succes and enterprises howe soeuer the vndertaking of them out of season may breed difficultie A point which bindeth to frame your forces accordinge to your money as often as you shall haue occasion to warre with them and to thinke that kinges in theirs are limited howe powerfull so euer they be and God only without Y.H. holding your prouision of money assuredly in readines to pay your men which I thinke wil be sufficient hauing euer one yeares leuie in which time a princes force in warres may very well be perceyued must ioyne therevnto your Generall Captaines and Councelours such as may be souldiors Who are to manage matters of warre without suffering this matter to be managed by any other then such as hath followed the warrs moued with this reason which is that howe considerate skilfull or wise soeuer a man be if he would haue a paire of hose made him of Karsey he will not goe about to cut it vntill the Taylor come and bringeth his sheres because it is his office to cutt out the stuffe with least wast so as well in warre for want of some litle matter of mony there may depende a no lesse consequence thereof a kingdome men honor and life of all And albeit that most persons will talke of warr although they neuer practized it I finde no better reason so fitt to excuse them as that the exercise of it is only proper to mē who think they degenerate out of their kinde except they be able to discourse thereof which firste occasioned the prouerbe howe Armes bred Nobilitie as peace sciences Armes bred nobilitie remembring the mariadge betwene Iupiter Sauior Mariadg of Iupiter Sauior and Pitarchia which signifieth obedience out of which mach Felicitie was borne as out of the mother of Mars were Ignorance Famine and Pestilence which were giuen to him for sisters For that it is requisite in all things The councelors are to be made acquainted with the motiue of the warre first to set downe the principall end and afterwards the meanes which maketh it feazable to be attained which can hardly be done without the knowledge thereof firste Y.H. is to signifie vnto those personages which I haue mocioned the disseyne which you purpose for your taking armes by sea or lande cōmanding them to aduise of the number of your shipps artillerie munition foote horsse which you are to presse out of your aydes garisons or to leauy a new for the cōpositiō of your Armie which before they frame or lodge they are to set down in comon the considerations which they suppose necessarie according to the manner of the warres to doe it with more exquisitnes being able with them as generall rules to come more distinctly to intreate of what is fit particularlie to be handled as cause shal be offered and the present time require Y.H. going about to conquere * General considerations for to moue warr a kingdome state countrey or part of any such which is the * Better teach him by clemencie and pietie to recouer such his graundfathers territories as his father hath loste before he ouerbusie himself with other most secure warre for Princes being voluntarie and not of force as a defensiue is * Especially where treasure is still exhasted vpon false alaromes which proueth onely action and charge to defendants to preuent what was neuer ment of whiche none can haue greater proofe then her sacred Maje whose powerfull generals found 6000. of your Gallāts at your owne home but Galinas giuing respite for your prouisions to be made in time and layd in at the best season is to be held a naturall matter in all sort of men how much more in kings the desire of a conquest which a Prince vndertaking is worthie of much commendation though not to be reprehended if he attempt not like enterprises for many reasons which they ordinarilie haue wherwith to be able to excuse them selues when a conquest is vndertaken without cōuenient force to performe it not only the people blameth him but he committeth besides sundrie errors which causeth great inconueniences * As to your cost your experience of 1588. tried when the councel of Pedro de Valdes was of more credit then the Marquise of Santacruz and who so coūcelleth him thereto vnder colour to make him more powerfull procureth his ruine that coūcell is a prince to holde suspitious where the conquest is not accommodated to the proportion of his forces which althogh he hold great such as the season and time may thinke conuenient for the entreprise yet is it to be considered whether it be fitter to mooue warre to another king or to stay vntill he breake first comparing the enimies forces with his owne whether it be better to haue many ioyne in league with him in making of the warre or to vndertake it alone Prouided that Kinges alwayes carrie them selues in like occasions without being ouerled with their owne liking and passion which seldom times councellors can temper besides that when for their owne sake they will not tell any lyes vnto their prince yet will they all shun to discontent him euery one mooued with care of him selfe which causeth many truthes to bee kept silent Moreouer they must consider the qualitie of the kingdome which you attempt what is the temperature climate and distance thereof whether mountaynous or playne dry or many riuers and woods fertill abundant well peopled or not any store of townes or Cities whether those they haue be compassed about with any better defence then ordinarie walles which they call Casamuros what * Of sundrie Englishe subiects before they knew you of good worth vertue haue you ben cause of cast away thorough your exquisitnes of traiterous espials and practises whose blood will one day lie heauie on your soule whē no mortuary nor dirge shall or can help you entries or hauens they haue able to lande an hoste or armie with great exquisitenes still searchinge out the disposition therof and whether they be fortified in what maner whether onely the crabbednes of the stite bread difficultie or sterilitie of the countrey about a meanes which some haue vsed to stopp inuasions into their kingdomes and Prouinces not manuring the frontieres thereof but making them lye wast whether it be a nation giuen to warr able to endure all kinde of labor or louers of their owne ease and quiet which many times the composition of their bodies may occasion for the smal vigor is in them enclining of them selues to ease other through their euill education liuing in ydelnes whether they
the ship as it may be well discerned discharging some great shott and if there be many shippes he shall shoote of fower or fiue times together setting vp three lanternes vpon the poope and an other vpō the forecastle If one ship alone happen to discrie land in the night and not the rest they vse to shoote of one or two pieces setting vp a lanterne tackes into the sea with small saile whereby the rest of the shipps followe plying vp and down in this maner vntill morning If you would haue the shipps come togither in the night the Capitana must shoot of a piece putting vp two lanternes vpon the corners of the highest parte of the Poope and another vpon the mysine mast a signe wherby they will draw together these being the principall points for which instructions be to bee giuen in writing vpon any accasion that may fall out by day or by night in nauigation with such tokens as are thought most conuenient these which I haue sett downe being but to serue as a paterne to make other by Iointly order must bee giuen to euery Captaine in what maner he is to arme his ship if he haue cause to fight Generall orders for fight that he execute it with precisenes appointing the leaders and soldiers which are to fight expresly their places so disposing the men which he caryeth in his ship as that they may serue both the decks the poope galleries maintop and forecastle appertayning to the head of the ship to stand vpon the poope with some particuler soldiers of whō he holdeth a good conceite allotting the principall places set down to such officers as are in the companies giuing order to such soldiers as he hath that they obey them in their places as if it were his own person and giue hand one to help another or come whether necessitie shall require that in euery one of these standes they haue two dozen of half pikes which are to haue the thirde part of them talowed ouer towards the head that the enimie catching at them may fasten no holde that he cause such persons as are ther to fight to take pikes not knowing how to manage a harquebuse because otherwise they should serue with them first take pikes after that there be mē in time of bording appointed to the place of Armes which is to bee betweene the maine mast and the prowe Likewise Y.H. is to command that among such persons as are known and haue skill to vse them may bee bestowed the artificial fires and tronkes and balls of wild fire and such like for the danger which may ensewe if they should not knowe to vse them as they ought Iointly you must command that such a one may be put in charge with the powder as will looke vnto it with great care and circumspection that by no meanes any touch it or come neare that caryeth any fire and that two or three trustie persons may bee appointed to assist him which hath charge of the powder Likewise it must be ordayned that whē they come to fight the Clarks and Religious men Phisitions Surgions and the rest whose turne is not to fight may be stowed in hold vnder water who are to haue a head to gouerne them and sheets of lead hammers nayles skuppers hides pluckes of wood and other necessaries that in case they should receyue any shott they may quicklie remedie it and caucke it employing all diligence in this which a matter of so great perill importeth Also that they commaund all emptie caske to bee sawed a sunder in the midste and in fight fill them with salt water and all the rest of the caske which hath bene emptied in the ship putting them in places where the soldiers fight prouiding by this means to be able to quench the fire and to haue buckets to carrie the water and all other thinges which the artillerie shall stand in neede of appointing a leader to take counte of these things persons to helpe him The topps of the maine and foremastes of the great shipps are to be coyled with ould cables without within with beds for the defence of those which are to fight in thē whether they are to carry vp stones pieces of yron or lead to fling down at time of fight things which Y.H. is to commaunde that euery Captaine be prouided of by himself in his ship in such sorte as he shall not stand in neede thereof at the very instant At sunne sett the whole fleete commeth to hayle the Capitana vnder her lee and vayleth their sailes and she answereth them againe giuing them the word for that night when by occasion of weather that cānot be done they haue a word in writing sett down for euery day in the weeke whereby they know one an other and the Admirall tarieth last in the rereguard to gather the Fleete vp togither When night cōmeth and that they haue song the * Vsed at the setting of the wache as we doe clearing of the glasse Salue in the shippes they putt out all the candells leauing none stirringe but such as must needes which shal be lampes of oyle for the danger of fire or candels within lanternes whereby they may sett nothing on fire which done the men withdrawe them selues to bedd all saue the watch and centinels abyding in their standes At morning by breake of day the trumpets sound the dawning and all the Fleete cōmeth alee haileth the Capitana whereby it is knowen if any be missing out of the fleete and in case she be not perceiued some light Pinnish which attendeth a sterne is sent out to looke her following the course or point of the compas which was giuen for sayling the Capitana continuing hers the rest of the Armie sayle a sterne of her and with such distance as they may not loose sight Offring to giue battayle which is the most dangerous matter of all whatsoeuer doth concerne the warres aswell for the facilitie with which the shipps are sett on fire as that of necessitie he which will subdewe his enimie must enter him and when he hath not done it by force of Artillerie he then commeth to fight with so much disaduantage as hauing grappeled the shippes to leape vpon the shrowdes maystering the poope forecastle and both the deckes A perill to which an other not the least is added fighting vpon the Sea which is the greatest enimie of all sparing none that falleth into her which is not so vpon the lande In setting the shippes in battayle when they doe not fight in Channels Forme of battayle for round shippes and streames of sholes and shelffes where of necessitie they must dispose the fleete according as the roome will afforde making vanguarde battaile and rereguarde all mariners are of opinion that fighting with round ships the best forme of battaile is to make one Fronte putting the Capitana in the middest and of each side of her when there are but fewe shippes
the greatest and of most bulcke one lying as neare the other as may be Prouided that they come not so to meete togither as to waxe fowle with their shrowdes as it sometimes happeneth and causeth verie much trouble And the Armie being great others compounde the battaile of one fronte the shippes of euerie squadron following their head deuiding them as they iudge most conuenient according to the qualitie of the shippes and at other times for this consideration the greatnes of the shippes without caring to haue them of any squadron in sayling they mingle one with another appointing them what place they are to holde when they come to fight and this cōsidering that the Armie being great and by cōsequent the front great which is to be made vpon putting them selues in battaile it is necessarie the Capitana being in the middest to disperse those persons which carrie the greatest shipps through the whole battaile and front garnishing the horne to windeward with the greatest and strongest to the end they may defende the smaller ships which are to fight on the lee on the contrarie horne and be able hereby to animate the rest and guyde them to borde for that the Capitana by reason of the great distaunce which a great Armie must of necessitie occupie can not attende at such a time vpon all with such readines as is to bee required In one of these formes they saile in the best order that can be without anie one shipp going before an other And if the weather will suffer it so farre a sunder as two or three shippes may be able to goe betweene euery one For which cause those which are best of saile doe fitt their sayles in striking thē lower wherby they come to make no more way the sluggie seeking to gaine the winde on both sides to fight to come in order of battailes before written to borde which is that which most importeth at sea he which hath gottē the winde being able to giue a greater thrust at bording and to cast the smoke of his artillerie vpon the contrarie shipp and to helpe him with more advantage by the fires anoying the other thereby and in case he list to shoote at the enimie before bording he may commodiouslie doe it by reason of the winde discharging both his brode sides at the time of his bordinge which is where the shippes carry most pieces and to preuent this he which findeth him selfe able in the burthen of his shippes and number of men to borde goeth assoone as euer he hath gotten the winde with the greatest speed he can in a fronte to doe it and if he be desirous to shunne bording by reason his shippes be lower he entertayneth time shooting of still his Tyres by making Bordes which is to annoy the enimie without aduenturing to come to hande strokes with him for the disaduantage which he knoweth he shall gett by it not hauing so high shippes nor multitude of souldiours whose handes and force vpon bording getteth the victorie because they discharge no other artillerie then Cannons periall and smal pieces in their vpper works where they vse not alreadie slinges shooting of all the artillerie he can at such time as he is readie to borde when bullets worke most effect and almost none at all before the rest being but short into the ayre of which great consideration is to be had For this cause some are of opinion if the winde serue that the Capitana should delay bording him selfe vntill the rest of the shippes had done and in the meane time to be able to succour wher need should most require gouerning him self therin as they doe vpon the lande in dayes of battayle where the Generalls squadron is the last which commeth to shocke A particular in which a great inconuenience ceasseth not to offer it selfe and that is that at sea euery shippe is to fight by it selfe and to be a matter of greatest moment for obtayning of the victory to get some one of the enimies in as short time as may be for which of force they are to gage their greatest and strongest shippes at first to come to hande strokes and to seeke out the Capitanas which by reason ought to be the best shippes on both sides and in shippes it is not the harte of the Captaine which goeth in them that gouerneth them but the Maister or Pilote taketh many times occasion thorough their owne cowardise to put of the Capitana from bording with that resolution which the Generall desireth And likewise that whiche is most conuenient is to haue the Capitana of the firste shippes to borde the Capitana of the enimies armie appointing some other to succour her if neede should bee In the iudgement of the greatest Mariners and soldiers at sea when there is an vnequalitie in the number of shippes they esteme it a matter ouer daungerous to fight with them groundinge them selues vpon this that one ship is but to fight with another and the aduantage in number doth easilie make them to fight two against one and if they chaunce to yeelde yet shee must be faine to come to helpe the rest and therfore they neuer blame any that shall refuse to fight with like disaduātage and if one doe it and winne yet doe they holde him for oueruenturous and of no great gouernement when the qualitie of his shipps men be not answerable to the number of the rest These the mariners affirme to be the cōsiderations of greatest importāce in giuing of battaile disposing it so as one shippe may borde another without pusling two against one except they be more in number looking into the qualitie of the pieces of artillerie which the enimie carieth and whether his shippes be buylded to be able to serue with it or no with two or three tyres on the sides according to the burthen of such ships and whether they be of brasse or the greater parte of cast yron which reacheth nothing so farr * This is verie doubtful I thinke he is deceyued and is sooner heated In time past they kept a great sturr in arming the topps for the mischief which was done to the enimie therby and now they doe not hold it to be of so great moment since musketerie is growne in vse against which they which stande in the tops can hardlie defend themselfes and as men which stand naked are hurt easelie For this cause they fit them selues better by placing blinders to couer their men saue such onlie as are necessarie for the gouernement of the shippe and the rest to abyde in their places preseruing them selues as long as they can before they come to the push of the pike This same to procure that the poope and prowe may be reared for to combat and defend the entrie hath made to heythen them with bords on both sides making them hollow a little lesse then a geometrical foot filling vp the hollow with ould netts of fishermen that may serue to be of