they heard the Guns Fire when they expected no such thing So that it is not true that the Monk was the first inventer of Gun-powder he was no more but the publisher of a Secret which he learnt from the Tartars and which he had better kept to himself without trying an experiment of it that cost him so dear and which buried him in the Furnace which he himself contrived The Royal Prophet had reason to say That we fall commonly into the snares which we have laid for others the Authors of pernicious things which tend onely to the destruction of their fellow Creatures have always miserably perished by the very same things whereof they have been the Inventers We have besides the example of that poor Monk the instance likewise of Perillus the Ingeneer of King Phalaris who was the first that was burnt in the Brazen Bull which he had made for the punishment of Malefactors Arantius Paterculus was the first that was put into the Burning Horse which he invented by the order of Aemilius Censorinus Governour of Aegesta in Scicily and Engueran-de Marigny was the first man that was hanged in the Gibbet of Mount-faucon which he caused to be erected at the Gates of Paris History is full of such examples but that I may return to my Subject there is no doubt but that Powder hath been a diabolical invention the effects whereof are no less dangerous than terrible and thunder-claps are not more to be feared Nevertheless all that havock all that noise and all these overturnings are onely caused by small grains whereof this is the composition The Composition of Gun-powder Take eight parts of Salt-peter one part of Sulphur one part and a fifth of Char-cole pound them well together in a Mortar with a Wooden Pestle sprinkle thereon excellent Vinager or Brandy and then reduce the mass to a powder CHAP. II. Of a Mine HAving spoken of Powder I thought fit next to discourse of its effects and of the way how it is to be used for Mines and Artificial Fires Molet's to put at the end of a Torch A Fire Arrow A Wall of Bustion with a Mine When a Mine is made in a place where the earth is soft and yielding the Ground is to be supported by Planks underpropt with little Posts or Girders as fast as the Chambers are wrought The Ancients made use of Mines or Subterranean wayes but their designe was very different from ours they made them onely for a passage to go to the Sap or to enter Towns when our Mines are intended to bow up and overturn the face of the Bastion CHAP. III. Of Artifical Fire-Works Sect. 1. Of the Fuse THe Fuses that are made for Petards Bombes hollow Bullets and Granado's ought to be slow otherwayes these Pieces would do their effects before the time This is the manner of the composition of Fuses Take three parts of Powder six of Sulphur and nine of Salt-peter beat them apart into a subtile Powder then mingle them altogether with a small Stick in a Platter or Charger pouring thereon by degrees the Oyl of Peter until all be made into a Paste let it be dried in the shade and the Fuses charged therewith Sect. 2. Of the Sulphur Match THe Sulphur Match is no more but Cotton made into Wieks which are first steeped in Brandy and then in molten Sulphur and afterward dried in the shade Sect. 3. How to make the Quick-match TAke half a quartern of Powder a quartern of Salt-peter two ounces of Brandy half a septier or the fourth part of a French pint of Vinegar and a French pint of Urine melt all these together and when they are dissolved put therein Cotton drawn out into gross Threads when the Cotton has drank up all the warm Matter take it out whilst it is moist and role it up into little Matches or Cords two three or four foot long with the hand upon a Table besprinkled with the dust of fine Powder then stretch them out to dry in the shade and keep them in a dry place that Quick-match is very violent Sect. 4. How to prepare the matter of Fire-Rockets TAke one part of Common Sulphur melt it in an Earthen Pot when it is dissolved put thereunto half a part of gross Powder very dry three fourth parts of a part of Salt-peter and half a fourth part of the Powder of Char-cole mingle all these materials together leisurely and when they are well mingled pour them on the Floor and this is the matter of Fire-Rockets Sect. 5. How to charge Fire-Balls WHen one has a mind to charge Bombes hollow Bullets Fire-pots and all sorts of Fire-balls let him take one part of the matter of Fire-rockets one part of Salt-peter the eight part of a part of Camphire and as much fine Powdet mingled therewith with the hand and put all into a hollow Bullet with quick Match Sect. 6. How to make a Fire-Lance TAke a piece of light Wood three foot and a half or four foot long bore it from one end to the other and let the bore be an inch in diameter make the Wood very smooth both in the inside and out-side which ought to be an inch thick in all parts Place into one of the ends a half Pike which must enter half a foot into the Trunck and be very well fastned The Trunck of the Lance must be wooped round with strong Pack-thread well waxed with Rosin and melted Wax to defend it against Water The proportion of the mixture of the Powders is twelve parts of Salt-peter six of Sulphur six of Canon-powder six of the dust of Lead two of Glass beaten but indefferently small two of Quick-silver and one of Salarmoniac when all these Materials have been beaten a-part they are to be mingled together and made into a Paste with the Oyl of Peter rather hard than soft Put afterwards Hards into that Composition and incorporate them therewith and make thereof Pellets or small Balls suited to the bigness of the bore of the Lance which aro to be dried and tied up with fine Wire To charge the Lance put into the bottom of the Trunck a charge of beaten Powder without ramming it but very little over that put a Pellet with a little of the Composition renew that until the Wood be full still encreasing the Charges of the Powder so that the last Lay contain two Charges Fire is to be set to this Lance with a quick Match at the mouth Sect. 7. How to make Tourteaus to shew Light or Port-Lights TAke twelve pounds of black Pitch six pounds of Suet six pounds of Linseed Oyl six pounds of Colophonia and two pounds of Turpentine in which steep Arquebush Match until it have drank up all the Matter and be incorporated therewith then make it in Tourteaus Sect. 8. Of Burning Fagots TAke Fagots and rub them with the matter of the Fire-rockets or otherways with Turpentine or steep them if you please in melted Pitch afterwards put Fire to
Printed for Rohert Hanford at the signe of the Angell in Cornhill A TREATISE OF THE ARMS and ENGINES OF WAR Of Fire-works Ensigns and Military Instruments both Ancient and Modern With the Manner they are at present used as well in French Armies as amongst other Nations Inriched with many Figures Written Originally in French by Lowis de Gaya Author of the Treatise called The ART of WAR Translated for Publick Advantage LONDON Printed for Robert Harford at the Sign of the Angel in Corn-hill near the Royal Exchange 1678. To the Right Worshipful Sir JONAS MOORE Knight Surveyor General of His Majesties Ordnance and Armories Honoured Sir BE pleased to accept the Patronage of these few Sheets which as they contain a Treatise of Arms c. can no where more securely shelter themselves than under the Banner of Your Protection For being cherished by Your Allowance the World may well imagine that there is something more than ordinary comprehended in them which may merit a serious Reading and a generous Practice especially at such a time as this for Warlike Preparation I must confess the Trust You have deserves far Nobler Presents of this nature than what here I make Nor am I ignorant how far my Presumption has carry'd me in this attempt In excuse whereof I have onely with Your kind Permission to plead the Encouragment of Your continual Favours and Advantagions Obligations to a Young Beginner of which should I be once ingratefully forgetful when the least Mite of Opportunity offers I should incur a crime that would deprive me of one of the chiefest happinesses whereto I aspire which is to acknowledge my self Sir Your most Obedient and most Obliged Servant R. H. The Contents AN Elogy on the Profession of Arms and the Original of true Nobility p 1. The First Book CHAP. I. Of Sharp-Weapons SEct. 1. Of the Sword p. 9. Sect. 2. Of the Shable and Cimeter p. 12. Sect. 3. Of the Bayonet and Poniard or Dagger p. 13. Sect. 4. Of the Espadon or Two-handed Sword p. 14. CHAP. II. Of Fire-Arms SEct. 1. Of the Musket p. 15. Sect. 2. Of the Fusil or Fire-lock p. 19. Sect. 3 Of the Musket p. 20. Sect. 4. Of the Pistol p. 20. Sect. 5. Of Carabines p. 21. Of Staff-Arms Sect. 1. Of the Pike p. 24 Sect. 2. Of Spoutons or Half-Pikes p. 26 Sect. 3. Of the Partisan p. 27 Sect. 4. Of the Halbard p. 28 Sect. 5. Of Sythes Forks Axes and Clubs or Maces ibid. Sect. 6. Of the Quarter-staff with a Pike at each end p. 30 CHAP. IV. Of the Arms of the Ancients SEct. 1. Of Swords Shables and Cutlasses p. 31. Sect. 2. Of the Pike p. 33 Sect. 3. Of the Lance p. 35 Sect. 4. Of the Javelot or Dart p. 35 Sect. 5. Of the Sling p. 38 Sect. 6. Of Bows and Arrows p. 39 Sect. 7. Of Cross-Bows p. 40 CHAP. V. Of Defensive Arms. SEct. 1. p. 42 Sect. 2. Of the Coat of Mail p. 44 Sect. 3. Of the Buff-Coat p. 45 Sect. 4 Of Casks or Head-Pieces p. 46 Sect. 5. Of Cuirasses p. 47 Sect. 6. Of Bucklers and Shields p. 49 The Second Book OF Powder and Artificial Fires CHAP. I. Of Powder p. 53. CHAP. II. Of a Mine p. 56. CHAP. III. Of Artificial Fire-Works SEct. 1. Of the Fuse p. 59 Sect. 2. Of the Sulphur Match p. 60 Sect. 3. How to make the Quick Match ibid. Sect. 4. How to prepare the Matter of Fire-Rockets p. 61. Sect. 5. How to charge Fire-balls p. 62 Sect. 6. How to make a Fire-Lance p. 62 Sect. 7. How to make Tourteaus to shew Light or Port Lights p. 64 Sect 8. Of Burning Fagots p. 64 Sect. 9. Of Fire-Hoops p. 65 Sect. 10. How to charge Granadoes p. 66 Sect. 11. How to make Artificial Fire-works that burn under Water ibid. Sect. 12. Of Provision for Artificial Fire-Works p. 67. CHAP. IV. Of the Roman Fire-Works p. 68. The Third Book Of War-Engines p. 71. CHAP. I. Of the Casting and Framing of Pieces of Artillery p. 72. CHAP. II. Of a Canon its Carriage its Vtensils and Service p. 74. SEct. 1. Of a Canon p. 74 Sect. 2. Of the Charge of a Piece p. 76 Sect. 3. How to Level or bring a Gun to pass p. 76. Sect. 4. Of the Ammunition and Vtensils of a Canon p. 77 Sect. 5. Of the Carriage of a Gun p. 79 CHAP. III. Of Pieces of Calibre or Size SEct. 1. Of the Canon p. 80 Sect. 2. Of the Culverin p. 81 Sect. 3. Of the Bastard Canon p. 81 Sect. 4. Of the Minion p. 82 Sect. 5. Of the Faucon p. 82 Sect. 6. Of the Fauconet p. 83 Sect. 7. Of the Effect and Execution of the Canon p. 84 Sect. 8. The way of Nailing up a Canon p. 85. CHAP. IV. Of Mortar-Pieces Arquebusses a Crock Bombes Bullets the Carcass c. p. 86 SEct. 1. Of Stone-Guns p. 86 Sect. 2. Of the Arquebuss a Crock p. 87 Sect. 3. Of Mortar-Pieces p. 87 Sect. 4. Of Bombes p. 88 Sect. 5. Of the Carcass p. 90 Sect. 6. Of the Granadoes p. 91 Sect. 7. Of Hollow Bullets p. 92 Sect. 8. Of Red Bullets p. 93 Sect. 9. Of Cartouches p. 93 CHAP V. Of Petards and of the Way how they are to be used p. 94 SEct. 1. Of Petards p. 94 Sect. 2. Of the Arrow and Flying Bridge p. 97. Sect. 3. Of the way of using and applying a Petard p. 98 Sect. 4. Of Tortoises p. 101 CHAP VI. Of the Warlike Engines of the Romans p. 102 SEct. 1. Of Machines or Engines in General p. 102. Sect. 2. Of the Tortoise or Testudo p. 103 Sect. 3. Of Ladders p. 105 Sect. 4. Of Bull-warks p. 106 Sect. 5. Of Towers p. 107 Sect. 6. Of the Battering Ram p. 108 Sect. 7. Of Counter-Engines p. 109 The Fourth Book Of Ensigns Trumpets and other Instruments of War p. 111. CHAP. I. Of Ensigns p. 112 SEct. 1. Of the Oriflamme p. 115 Sect. 2. Of the Goufanon p. 118 Sect. 3. Of the Banner and Penon p. 118 Sect. 4. Of Banderolls Panonceaux and Faillions p. 119 CHAP. II. Of the Roman Ensigns p. 121. CHAP. III. Of Trumpets Drums and other Instruments of War p. 123. CHAP. IV. Of the Instruments of War used by the Romans p. 125 A Particular Chapter of the Arms whicâ— are at present in use as well among tâ—â— French as other Nations p. 12â— Of the Arms of the French Cavalry p. 12â— Of the Arms of the French Infantry p. 13â— Of the Spanish Cavalry p. 13â— Of the Spanish Foot p. 13â— Of the English Forces p. 13â— Of the German Forces p. 13â— Of Hungarian Forces p. 13â— Of Polonian Troops p. 13â— Of the Turkish Cavalry p. 13â— Of the Turkish Infantry p. 13â— Of the Persians Moors and Arabians p. 13â— Of the Arms of the Ancient French Militâ—â—â— and first of the Infantry p. 13â— Of the Cavalry p. 13â— Of the Cavalry under Henry the Fourth 〈◊〉 Lowis the Thirteenth p. 1â—â— The Author's Design IN the
Mousqueton or Carabin H The Boots I The Spurs K The Spur-leathers Of Staffe-Arms Sect. 1. Of the Pike THE Pike is a Weapon wherewith Foot defend themselves against Horse in an open Field The Armature of a French Trooper The Musqueton The Pistoll The Carabine The Armature of a Pike man on his Guard The Pike The halfe Pike The Quarter Staff The Halbard The Partisan This Figure will shew the way of Pikes charging to the Horse The Armature of Pike-man of the Guards The Explication of this Figure A The Helmet which the French call Pot on Head B The Corcelet C The Vambraces D The Tassets or Thigh Pieces E The Sword F The Pike All Pikes now adayes are of the same length made of strong Ashe and very streight about fourteen or fifteen foot long between the Head and the Foot The Head is four inches long and two and a half broad at the largest place The Iron Bands at the Head must be long and strong otherwayes it would be an easie matter for the Horse to cut off the ends of the Pikes with their Shables The French according to Diodorus were the first that made use of the Pike Jaceunt hastas quas ipsi lanceas appellant And from thence the People of the Chief Province of France have the Name of Picars but their Pikes were more like Spanish Lances than Grecian Pikes which were twenty four foot long between the Head and Foot Sect. 2. Of Spontons or Half Pikes THe Spontons or Half Pikes are made of the same Wood as Pikes are and have Heads alike their The Pensioners Halbard A The Hungarian Partisan B The Battle Axe D Partisans and Halbards according to the Swisse and Antient Custome C Pole Axes E length is much the same as that of Partisans and we have the use of them from the Ancients who carried Pikes six Cubits long as Arrianus testifies Hastas habebant senum cubitorum These Arms are much used amongst the Venetians and the Knights of Malta Sect. 3. Of the Partisan A Partisan is an excellent Weapon in a Trench in a Sally to force and defend a Lodging to mount a Breach and in many other occasions where the Pike would be but cumbersome The Staffe of a Partisan is much of the bigness of a Pike and is seven or eight foot long between the Head and Foot The Iron Head is a foot in length and four inches broad at the largest place the Exercise of the Partisan differs in nothing from that of the Pike Sect. 4. Of the Halbard THE Halbard is likewise a very convenient Weapon especially when Men come to blows It s Staff is neither so big nor high as that of a Partisan and the Head of it both narrower and shorter but it is armed with little Hooks which serve to pull out Fagots Paniers and Gabions and to take hold of any thing when one mounts an Assault or Sca-Lado Sect. 5. Of Sythes Forkes Axes and Clubs or Maces Clubs or Massues A B The Axe C The Forke D Sithes E Quo turbine cestum Sauromates falcemque Getes Stat. 11 Achill The Forks are the same with the common Forks but they have little Hooks There are two sorts of Clubs The first is as it were the Staff of a Partisan at the end whereof there is a Wooden Ball of the bigness of an Eight pound Bullet stuck full of Iron Pikes a Finger long The other has a Boul like to the first hanging at the end of the Staff by an Iron Chain two foot and a half long and is used as a Flail for Threshing In Salleys or in the defence of a Breach Axes are likewise used such as not long ago were used by the Regiment of Clerambaud or Sourches whose Heads are very broad an◠their Handles or Staves longer an◠stronger than those of Partisans 〈◊〉 may be seen in the Figure The Turks have another kind o◠Club or Mace of Arms which the◠carry at the Pommel of their Saddle to make use of in a Fight like 〈◊〉 that which the Poets bestow on Hercules called by the Latines Militaris clava Maces are no more in use Sect. 6. Of the Quarter-Staff with a Pike a◠each end WE may also reckon among Weapons the Staff commonly called the Piked Quarter-staff and by the French the Staff with two ends 〈◊〉 because of the Pikes of Iron which i◠has at each end It is made of a very strong and eaven Wood somewhat bigger and heavier than the Wood of a Pike six foot and a half in length between the Verrils that keep fast the two pikes of Iron stuck into the ends of the Staff which are in length four inches and a half It is carried on the Haunch like the Halbard but handled in a different manner because a man may stand to his Guard with it by turning and flourishing it and making the half moulinets every way and in approaches make use either of the point thereof or in giving a down right blow therewith CHAP. IV. Of the Arms of the Ancients Sect. 1. Of the Swords Shables and Cutlasses THe Romans of old made use of short stiff sharp-pointed and two-edged Spanish Blades Polibius says That the Roman Souldiers carried their Swords on the right side and that they only made use of it for thrusting in distinction from the Gauls who used flat-pointed two-edged Swords only to cut with Proprium Gallicani usus pugnare coesim The Medes Parthians and Persians used a kind of Cutlass which they called Cinacis and in English Cimeter Cateia is a Shable in form of a Sickle in great use among the Germans Quintus Curtius makes mention of a kind of Sword which he calls Copidas which was a little crooked like to a Syth wherewith the Ancients cut to pieces Wild Beasts The Knife which the Latines call Cultrum and the Grecians Machaera was properly the Sword which the Priests used in their Sacrifices to cut up the Victims as well as that other which they named Cluna culum because therewith they cut the Buttocks of Beasts they had also a pretty long Iron Knife with an Ivory Haft which they called Secespita a Secundo Pa-tazonium was a Shable carried by the Tribunes in a Girdle The Poniard which the Latines termed Pugio a Pungendo is a little Sword Thirteen or fourteen inches long which was invented in Spain Pugiunculus is a diminutive Poniard which the Spaniards and Catalonians use still to this day Sica with the Romans was a Sword hid in a Staff or Stick wherewith Men walk as most of the Peasants of France do at this time Lingula was a little Sword made in the shape of a Tongue Spatha was likewise a Sword of the Ancients whereof Julius Capitolinus speaks upon occasion of the Emperour Maximinus Fecit spathas argenteas fecit aureas Hence comes the Italian Sword Spada and the Spanish Espada Sect. 2. Of the Pike THE Hastarii or Roman Pikeman had Pikes for Arms which were afterward taken
of Towers and the Houses of Gentlemen of Quality were beautified The Faillion is a kind of Standard made use of in the Army for assembling the Baggage and every Regiment ought to have one of its Colour which conducts the Baggage to the Faillion General S. P. Q. R. The Ensigne of the Roman Horse The Ensigne of the Manipule The Ensigne of the Roman Legion CHAP. II. Of the Roman Ensigns THE Romans had one kind of Ensigns for foot and another for Horse Every Legion had its Ensign General which was the Roman Eagle as we have a Collonels Colours in every Regiment of foot which is always of White Taffeta besides that the Manipules or Companies had their particular Ensigns which were silvered Pikes at whose end was a little piece of Wood laid a thwart in form of a Cross with little Globes fastened down along to the Pikes on which was the Names of the Emperours as Suetonius reports Artabanus transgressus Euphratem aquilas Romana Caesarumque imagines adoravitsigna The Armies were reckoned by Eagles as Hirtius says Erat Pompeii acies tredecem aquilis constituta To intimate that the Army of Pompey was composed of thirteen Legions We have retained the same way of expressing the number of the Horse which we have in our Armies for instance we say The King hath detached or sent into the Field two hundred Cornets to signifie two hundred Troops The Ensigns of the Cavalry were of a shape different from those of the Infantry The Romans named them Vexilla which to speak properly were little square Sails almost of the bigness of our Standards which were carried hanging at a Pike like to the Banners of our Churches These Sails were for most part of a Purple Stuff embroidered whereon were set in Golden Letters the Names of their Emperours or of their Commanders Aurea clarum not a nomen ducum vexillis praescriptum feriunt The same is in use amongst our Horse whereof most part of the Masters de Camp cause their Arms or Devises to be put upon the Standards of the Troops of their Regiments The Persians had Eagles for Ensigns and the Ancient Germans carried the Figures of Wild Beasts CHAP. III. Of Trumpets Drums and other Instruments of War THE Instruments of Military Symphony are not onely proper to give the Souldiers the signal of what they are to do but likewise to animate them to Fight after the manner of the Lacedemonians The Cavalry make use of Trumpets and Kettle Drums The Trumpet is an Instrument of Brass doubly crooked which Heginus says was invented by Thireime Son of Hercules This definition Vegetius gives of it Buccina quae in semetipso aereo circulo reflectitur Ovid in this manner describes it to us Cava buccina sumitur illi Tortilis in latium quae turbine cresct ab imo There is no Troop of our Gend'arms nor Light Horse which has not at least one Trumpet to sound to Boots and Saddle to the Standard to Horse the Charge the Challenge and the Retreat Kettle-Drums are two Brazen Vessels round at the bottom and covered above with Goat-Skin which is made to sound by beating on it with Sticks Kettle-Drums were more in use among the Germans and Spaniards than among the French who heretofore never carried any but when they won them from their Enemies That Ancient formality is now out of date and the King bestows them on whom he thinks fit especially on the Troops of his Houshold Drums Fifes Bagpipes and Hautbois are for Foot Musketeers Dragoons Fusiliers and Horse-grandaiers Drums are made of a Chesnut Wood hollow and covered at both ends with Skins of Parchment which are braced with Cords and with Snares underneath These Instruments serve to beat the Reveilly the General the Call the March the Charge the Parley the Retreat the Banks or Proclamations and all the Commands The Invention of them is not late as may be seen in the following Chapter CHAP. IV. Of the Instruments of War used by the Romans THE Instruments of the Roman Militia whereof they made use to signifie all the Orders to the Souldiers were Trumpets Horns Cornets and Hautbois as well for Horse as Foot and the Legions Cohortes and Manipules had each their several Instruments Cohortium turmarum legionum tubicines simul omnes canere jubet says Salust Though Drums and Kettle-Drums were not in use among the Romans yet other Nations and especially the Indians used them Indi tympana suo more pulsantes Curtius lib. 8. and Suidas Tubis Indi non utuntur sed pro iis sunt flagella tympana horribilem quendam bombum emittentia The Parthians made use of them also but in all appearance according to the Description that we have of them in Suidas and Plutarch the Instruments of these People were rather Kettle-Drums than Drums because they were made of Plam-tree Wood hollow and filled with little Brazen Bells the mouth whereof was covered with a Bulls-hide Isidorus defines the word tympanum in these terms Tympanum est pellis vel corium ligno ex una parte extensum And that is the very shape and figure of our Kettle-Drums He describes also another Instrument which he calls Symphony which can be nothing else but our Drums Symphonia says he vulgo appellatur lignum cavum ex utraque parte pelle extensa quam virgulis hinc inde musici feriunt That Instrument resembles the little Tabers or Drums which the Turks carry before them and which they beat on both sides with Sticks However it be there is no doubt but that the Invention of Drums is as Ancient as that of Trumpets I build not onely on the Authority of prophane History but on the Testimony of the Royal Prophet who says Let them praise his Name with the Flute let them sing praises to him with the Timbrel and Harp Psal 149. Praise him Timbrel and Flute c. Psal 150. A particular Chapter of the Arms which are at present in use as well among the French as other Nations SInce Gun-powder hath been invented there is no People in Europe but makes use of Fire-Arms to which they have given several names according to their different shapes as Muskets Arquebusses with Match-Lock Arquebusses with Wheel-Lock Carabines Choques Pistols with Wheel-Locks Holster or Pocket Pistols Musketons and Fusils or Fire-locks as the Ancients changed the names of their Shields Pikes Swords and Darts according to the divers alterations that happened either in the form or matter for instance They called Aâ—lides a kind of Ancient Dart which they carried tied to the Wrist with a long Strap or Thong that thereby they might more easily draw it back when they wounded any therewith and they called Gevum a Dart that was intirely of Iron Nevertheless these Arms were still Darts as Muskets Musketons Carabins Choques and Fusils or Fire-locks are all of them kinds of Arquebusse of different lengths of which some fire with a Match others with a Flint