where they shall ride amongst the souldiers on white horses clothed in white and pure silke crowned with bright triumphant garlands as the scriptures do witnesse This and such like belongs vnto such personages as take care of the souldiers in a warlike band Now then to conclude to make an end of my first discourse I would wish all valiant minded souldiers carefully to carrie in mind those precepts which are proper and due vnto a priuate souldier which I partly haue collected and set downe in this short pamphlet that when he shal be called vnto a hyer office he may deseruedly ascend the third steppe of martiall office and so by degrées rise to the height of supreme gouernment How pikes are to be carried in aray march or battaile THose that are appointed to carrie pikes in aray of rankes or battell must know that pikes amongst all other weapons that belongs to souldiers is of greatest honor and credite and truely whosoeuer doth carie and manage the same weapon wel and with good grace doth make a verie beautifull and pleasant shew to the beholders and chiefly when it is caried vpon the shoulder sustained and supported with a good grace and the hand that doth sustaine it be on that side the shoulder where it is placed and with il Gombedo alto They must likewise be aduertised which march in the formost ranckes if they be vpon the right side to hold their pikes continually in marching in the right hand and vpon the right shoulder without euer changing it and so likewise being vpon the left side of the ranck to hold it alwayes vpon the left shoulder those that be in the midst of the ranckes haue libertie to vse that side that is best for their commoditie either vpon the right or left hand and to moue their pikes from shoulder to shoulder at their choise and pleasure It is true that the iust carying of the pike of those that march in the midst of the ranckes is to hold it vpon the left shoulder to carie their right hand behind vpon their dagger or vpon their side and so generally all as well they that be in the midst as those that be in the head of the ranckes are to obserue this order to carie that hand which is at libertie behind them or vpon their sides Let him march then with a good grace holding vp his head galantly his pace full of grauitie and state and such as is fit for his person and let his bodie be straight and as much vpright as is possible and that which most imports is that they haue alwayes their eyes vpon their companions which are in rancke with them and before them going iust one with the other kéeping perfite distance without committing error in the least pace or step and euerie pace and motion with one accord and consent they ought to make at one instant time And in this sort all the ranckes entyrely are to go sometimes softly sometimes fast according to the stroke of the drum The héele and tippe of their pikes would be equally holden both of length and height as néere as is possible to auoid that they fall not out to be by bearing them otherwise like vnto Organ pipes some long some short The measure proportion thereof to hold the héele of the pike is this It is necessarie for him to haue an eye to the rancke that doth march before him and so carrie the butte end or héele of his pike that it may be iust ouer against the ioynt of the ham of the souldier that in march shall be straight before him and so euerie one from hand to hand must obserue the proportion of that height that is right behind vpon the ioynt of the knée for by doing so they cannot commit errour carying in their march that legge that is vnder that arme that sustaines and carries the pike of iust and euen proportion by mouing their pace right vnder the staffe of the pike going in their march as I haue said before iust and euen with a galant stately and sumpteous pace for by doing so they shal be estéemed honored aâ—…d commended of the lookers on who shall take wonderfull delight to behold them march in that order THE SECOND BOOK OF MILITARIE DIRECTIONS WHEREIN IS SET DOWNE THE office of a Sergeant Ensigne bearer Lieutenant and the Gentlemen of a band how to traine skirmish and discouer And first the Office of the Sergeant of a Band. SInce euerie officer through his continuall exercise and dayly diligence in executing his charge doth attaine vnto perfite experience by dayly practise which is as it were conuerted into nature therefore he which determines with himselfe to be accounted sufficient and of abilitie to discharge the place of a good Sergeant of a band with a forward intent to learne and bée thorowly instructed ought first to be a souldier that hath séene much and a Corporall of good experience according to the direrections of my first booke In which two roomes it is verie conuenient that he haue tasted and bene present at great diuersitie of seruice warlike enterprises and to carrie a resolute mind to delight in the exercise of this office to the end he be not found therin irresolute and ignorant and that likewise he faile not in the readie performing of any enterprise when martiall affaires do call him forth to put the same in execution First of all it is verie requisite that he haue most perfitely in memorie the number of all the souldiers of the band and distinctly with what weapons they are armed what quantitie of Corsâ—…ets and pikes how many armed and disarmed carrie short weapons what number of hargabusiers with murrians and without how many musket-eares how many light armed pikes and targets of proofe that the better more redily vpon a sodaine he may put the company in order He must euer plant the best armed in places most necessarie as at the front and backe the right and left side of a square The first ranck in ordinarie long marching the targets of proofe must go in as a readie rouer and bulwarke against the enimies shot next to them the musketyres then the hargabuziers and after them the armed light armed pykes amidst whose ranckes he must at al times place the Ensigne garded with halberds or bils then againe the light armed and armed pikes hargabuse and musket-eares and last of all targets of proofe by this equalitie of deuision the whole band at one instant shal be readie to receiue any suddain surprise of the enimy The sergeant carrying these things in his mind hauing laid a distinct plat he may verie easily varie their forme and order as he shall be appointed and as the situation of the place doth require or the accidents of warre do constraine He must neuer worke vnwarily or at al aduentures and tending to no determined purpose as those that doe not remember the perfite rules and reckonings of their
be more encouraged let him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first with the firing of 〈◊〉 in hys paâ—… and so by â—…egrees boâ—…h to 〈◊〉 off to bow and beare vâ—… hys body and so consiquently to attaine to the leuell and practise of an assured and seruiâ—…eable shot readily chaâ—…ge and with a 〈◊〉 couch discharge making choâ—…se at the â—…ame instant of his marke with a quicke and vigyâ—…ant eye Hys Fiaske and Tutchbaxe must keepe hys Pouder hys purse and mouth hys bullets in skyrmysh hys left hand must hold hys match and Peece and the right haâ—…d vse the office of chargyng and dischargyng Beyng agaynst he Enemy why left with an 〈◊〉 course heâ—… doth trauerse hys pâ—…layne ground or else takes aduantage of his place and iâ—…uasion as vnder the safegard of a Trench the backe of a Dytch olde wall tree or such lyk let hym euer fyrst loade hys Peâ—…ce wyth Pouder out of hys Flaske then with hyr Bullet last wyth amuring and tutch Pouder 〈◊〉 euer that the 〈◊〉 be elâ—…ane the couer 〈◊〉 and the Tutch hole wyde or else wei 〈◊〉 so that still obseruing modest order tâ—… hâ—…s trauerse neither euerflow nor ouer speedy to the 〈◊〉 he become not each mans marke through his stuggishâ—…es nor run hiâ—…selfe out of breath through his owne 〈◊〉 for the most parte 〈◊〉 hys side towards hys enemie let him discharge going buâ—… euer standyng so shall he the better 〈◊〉 the enemies shot and choose his assuâ—…ed aduantâ—…ge A Souldier ought to bee carefull that his furniture be good substantiaâ—…l â—…nd 〈◊〉 from raine the charge of hys Flaske iust for his Peece and the Spring quicke and sharpe The Pâ—…pe of hys Tuchboxe somewhat wyde that the Pouder may haue free passage which otherwise would choake vp In time of marching and trauailyng by the way let hym keepe a paper in the pan and tutch hoale and in wet waether haue a case for hys Peece somewhat portable or else of necessitie hee must keepe the same from wette vnder hys Arme-hoale or Cassocke or by some other inuention free from domage of the weather and hys match in hys pocket only that except which he burnes and that likewise so close in the hollow of hys hand or some artificiall pipe of Peuter hanging at his girdle as the coale by wette or water goe not out It is moreouer requisite that a Souldier keepe his Cocke with oyle free in falling and hys Peece bright without rusting neither must hee want hys necessary tooles as a Scowrer Tyrebale worme hauing euery one a vice to turne into the ende of the scouring sticke so that if through wet wether or any other Accident hys peece will not be discharged the carefull Souldier may with his Tyreball pull out hys bullet with the worme the Paper and wet Pouder and with hys Scowrer make hys Peece cleane within His Scowrer must be trimmed on the end with a Lynnen cloth of a sufficient substance therewith to make cleane the cannon of hys Peece within The one end of hys Skouring sticke ought to haue a round end of bone of iust bignes with the mouth of hys Peece therewithall at hys pleasure to ramme in Pouder Paper or in stéed of paper such soft hayre as they stuffe Saddles withal the danger whereof is not lyke but this the Souldier must vse when time permits During the time of his seruice let him euer haue diligeÌ„t care to keepe hys Peece cleane and bright within and once a fortnight or at the least once a moneth take out the Bréech and throughly view and wash the Barrell within to see whether it hath any flawes brackes chambers frettinges or ruptures which would endanger the breakyâ—…g thereof especially if before hand the end of hys bare Scowrer haue giuen hym any cause to suspect such faultes to the intent he may change the same for a new for feare of spoiling himselfe He that loues the safety of hys owne person and delightes in the goodnes and beauty of a Peece let hym alwayes make choyse of one that is double breeched and if it bee possible a Myllan Peece for they bee of a cough and perfecte temper light square bygge of Bréech and very strong where the Pouder doth lye and where the vyolent force of the fire doth consist and notwithstandyng thynne at the ende Our English Peeces approach very neere vnto them in goodnes and beauty their heauines onely excepted so that they bee made of purpose and not one of these common sale Peeces with round Barrels wherevnto a beaten Souldier will haue great respect and choose rather to pay double money for a good Peece then to spare hys Purse and endanger hymselfe But to returne to my matter let a Souldier haue hangyng euer at the strynges of hys Tutch boxe or some other ready part of hys garment a couple of proyning priâ—…es at the least that if by fortune the tutch hole of hys peece be stopped or furred vp hee may therewith both make his pan cleane and yeeld a ready passage that the fire may haue her course by incorporating both the tutch Pouder without and the corne Pouder within together But a ready Souldier will alwayes foresee that the toutch-hole be so wide as the Pouder without in the Pan may haue free concourse to that within the Peece thereby to hasten more speedy discharge considering a Souldier can not haue leasure and commodity to proine his Peece at al times but must of necessity vse a great dexterity But since I am fallen into the speech of a quicke charge and nimble discharge I will by the way declare the opinion of certaine Nations therein Experience of late daies hath taught vs that those Nations which follow the warres inuent euerie way how they may endomage the enemie in all their enterprises but especially in Skirmish which for the most part consistes in shot and by such as can with the eye of his minde make an assured leuell and with a nimble discharge both choose out and kill his enemie And therefore those Souldiers which in our time haue bene for the most part leuied in the lowe Countries especiallie those of Artoyes and Henault called by the generall name of Wallownes haue vsed to hange about their neckes vppon a Baudricke or border or at their girdles certaine Pypes which they call Charges of Copper and Tyn made with couers which they thinke in skirmish to be the most readiest way But the Spaniard dispising that order doth altogether vse his flaske The French man both charge and flaske But some of our English nation their pocket which in respect of the danger of the sparkes of their Match the vncertaine charge the expence and spoile of Pouder the discommodity of wette I account more apt for the show of a triumph and wanton skirmish before Ladyes and Gentlewomen then fit for the field in a day of seruice in the face of the Enemye and in like sort the charge which either doth shed and loose his Pouder
Sentinell and haue the watch word let him giue â—…are diligently to all rumours noyses and view warely all suspected places to the intent if he heare any trampling neying of Horses or approching enemy which hee may the more easily hear by making a hole in the ground and laying his care to the same or that he doth see the twinckling light of matches or perceiue any other presumption of the enemie hee may either by discharging his Péece and crying S. George Arme Arme giue warning to the next Corpes of guard that the enemie doth approch or else if his suddeine inuasion require not present aduertisement he may deferre the report thereof vntill the comming of the next Rounde vnto whom he must from point to point declare what he hath séene and heard During the time of his Sentinel hee ought to keepe him selfe very close wakefull secrete and without noise or rumour his match close and sure from seeing and his péece readie charged loaden with her Bullet and proind with tutch pouder If the Round or any other Officer come to search the watch Sentinels when he doth first heare or sée them approch let him so soone as he doth perceiue theÌ„ demand with a lowd voice Qui vala Who goes there to which wheÌ„ answere is made Friends and that they draw néerer then let him call to them and commaund that all the whole troupe but onely one with the watchwoord to make present stay vntill the woord be giuen And if at the same instant another Round should come an other way let him cause the one of them to pawse and abide still vntil he haue receiued the woord of the other that thereby he may avoyd the inuironing snares of forrayne or priuie enemies which might by that meanes surprise him Therefore in this respect let him take great care especially before a Towne besieged or about the circuit of a Campe and that he alwayes remember to receiue him that giues the word at the end of his Péece or Pike and out of danger hauing his match ready in his Cocke ready to giue fire thereby to reward him with a Bullet as an enemie if hee giue a wrong word or entertaine him as a friend if hée giue the right for vnder colour of giuing the word many Sentinels haue lost their liues and suddaine surprises and Canuisados haue bin giuen If in the night Arme be giuen in the Campe he must make repaire immediatly with his Peece and Furniture so his Ensigne where he shall be emploiedas occasion doth offer That he may be the more ready at any sodaine Arme lying in a Towne in Garrison and being furrierd and lodged in a house hee ought to haue all the night burning in his Chamber by him a Candle or Lampe or at the least his fire so well raked vp as hee may light a Candle at the Coales with a match of Brimstone or otherwise that thereby he may the more spéedily not only find his Armes which of purpose he ought to lay readily in an ordinarie place but also be better able to prepare himselfe and kindle his match with all spéede Note that a Souldier in garrison being furrierd in a house is allowed the best bed and chamber saue one faire shéets board clothes plates napkins towels dressing of his meate seruice at the Table oile vineger salt mustard candle light fire c. Whilest a Souldier is in the Campe hee ought neuer to lye out of his clothes his Peece ready charged must lye by his side his furniture at his girdle which is his Flaske Match Tutch-boxe his Rapier very ready and his Poynado likewise at his Girdle which if they should be so monstrous Daggers or such a Cutlers shop as our English FeÌ„sers are accustomed to wear they would be both combrous in cariage and troublesome to his companions and to himselfe specially when they lye in their Cabbines A Souldier in Campe must make choise of two or thrée or more Camerades such as for experience fidelity and conditions do best agrée with his nature that be tryed Souldiers and trustie friendes to the intent that like louing brethren they may support one another in all aduerse fortune supply each others wants As for example hauing marched all day and comming at night to the place where they must encampe one of them chooseth out the dryest and warmest plot of ground he can get in the quarter which is appointed to his band for lodging place doth kéepe all their Clokes Armes and Baggage whilest another makes prouision with one of their boyes in some adioyning Uillage if time and safety from the Enemie doth permit for long straw both to couer their Cabbin and make their bedd of during the time that an other with a litle Hatchet which with a Lether Bottel for drinke a litle Kettle to séeth meat in and a bagge of Salt which are to be borne of the Boyes amongest other Baggage and are most necessarie things for encamping doth cut downe forked Bowes and long Poales to frame and reare vp their Cabbin withall and prouide timber or firewood if it be in Winter or when neede requires whilst an other doth visite Viuandiers and Uictualers if any follow the Campe for bread drinke and other eates if otherwise they be not prouided by forrage or Picorée and makes a hole in the earth wherein hauing made a fire stroken two forked stakes at either side and hanged his Kettle to seath vpon a cudgel of wood vpon the same or that for rost meat he makes a spit woodden Gawberds c. And whilst thus euery one is occupied about their necessarie occasions at one instant they may in due time make prouision for all their wantes and by meanes of this league of amitie amongst them enioy a sufficient time to rest their wearied bodyes which otherwise would be hard to be done Therefore I iudge it very requisite that the whole number vnder the charge of a Desiner or chiefe of a chamber should link themselues together in perfect friendship and aswel in skirmish and fight aide one another as in all other actions by which inuincible knot they should receaue wonderfull commoditie It importes much that a Souldier should bee tractable for a man cannot imagine a thing either more ingenuqus or better then due and conuenient ciuility Therefore let him accustome himselfe rather to be of a Saturnine and seuere condition then a common skoffer and an ordinarie make sport that he may continue in friendship with his companions and continually remaine in their amity Moreouer he is much to be commended which aptly with facilitie and great dexterity can bee conuersant with euery one wherein if a man doe not with great iudgement very circumspectly gouerne himselfe he shall for the most part incurre the euill will of those in whose company he remaines The which dealing is of great importance aswell for the interest of his life and proper honor and credite by which meanes the one and the
or â—…ight the battaile without commaundement from the higher Officers for so offending they shall 〈◊〉 death 86 Item if that anie number of Souldiers be commaunded and placed by the head Captaines to defend or keepe anie Citie Tower Castle or Fort or anie other place and they beeing sharpely assaulted by the enemie once 〈◊〉 or thrice or ofâ—…ner in this case the lawe of â—…irmes is that the Lord Generall shall allowe and paâ—…e vnto such a number of souldiers but ordinarie wages neither is there by law of armes any thing more due vnto them and if the said Castles Towers or fortresse shall be solde or be betrayed by the said captaine officers or souldiers or otherwise yéelded without the commandement of the prince or at the appointment of the generall shall be as false traitors vsed 87 Item if anie Captaine Lieutenant Sergeant Corporal or other officer or souldiers giue into the hands of the enemie any citie fortresse tower or place of defence doth incurre as I haue said the danger of death if hee by chance be not more then constrained to deliuer vp the same or that it is like a man of valor would haue done so and therefore they ought neuer to abandon the place for words or letters of the enemie neither at the sight of the inuironing campe for it is not lawfull for the â—…astellane to leaue his Castle if he haue victuals men and munition or doth hope for succors Therefore respect is to be had which must be holden as a maxime that where the place may be defended by assault without batterie that at least one assault is to be abidden and mo to be aspected if it be possible and if it can suffer batterie they must abide at the least a volee of Canons and if the place be so weake that it cannot sustaine neither the one nor the other and that it be farre distant from succours to â—…eeld doth merite neither punishment of the prince nor of the enemie but otherwise being of force able to sustaine the enemies furie and cowardly or traiterously to deliuer the same merites death of the one and the other 88 Item if there be anie Citie Castle or other fort yeelded vp by the enemie without expugnation there shall no man be so bold to enter into the said place to spoile or otherwise to kill or do any outrage without leaue of the generall vpon paine of the losse of his life 89 Item there shal no man depart out from the precinct of the campe with anie bootie or spoile without leaue of the chiefest officers or head captaine vpon the paine of the losse of his life 90 Item if any man for feare forsaketh the place appointed him to fight in and for feare throweth downe his weapon the officers or souldiers may kill him without anie danger 91 Item if any man saying that he hath done some worthie thing in fight â—… be proued contrarie shuld be punished by death 92 Item if a Regiment or band shall by mutinies or otherwise incurre the lawes of the field it is requisite and necessary for that all shall not be put to death that euerie mans name be taken and put into a bagge and that the tenth lot should be executed The which although euerie man do not feele yet neuerthelesse he shall feare the euent 93 Item at such times as the General or captain doth muster traine or faine any battaile skirmish assault or other warlike encounter if anie souldier doth either negligently or wittingly hurt maime or kill his companion with powder bullet or meanes so euer such a one shall seuerely and exemplarly be puby what nished accordingly 94 Item that ech corporal and other officer shal haue either in written hand or print these martiall lawes and this booke wherein a priuate souldier is instructed bought and prouided at the charges of the whole squadron out of their paie to the end that it being continually repeated to the souldiers no man may plead ignorance but receiue condigne punishment according to his offence 95 Item that euery captain lieutenant ensigne-bearer sergeant or corporall so often as their bands squadrons and souldiers enter into ward shall appoint the clarke of the band or some one that can read once in the day or in the night to read vnto the companie that must attentiuely giue eare not only these martiall lawes heere set downe but also all the course of my directions belonging to a priuate souldier Corporall c contained in this booke for their instructions vnder paine of open punishment by the Generall or Marshall 96 Item that the foresaid officers after one twelue monethes seruice wherein the souldier hath had sufficient experience is inured in these preceptes and directions they shall euen as the schoolemaister doth the childreÌ„ call euery one particularly to account examine them seuerely heerein and to esteeme those for old and perfect souldiers that know these lawes and their dutie by heart and at their fingers endes and the rest Bisonians and fresh-water souldiers that are ignorant although they haue serued seuen yeares yea to place them in the most seruile seruices And if there be any that maliciously or disdainfully persist in their blunt ignorance either to disarme them and discharge them or else to punish them with open shame and infamie 97 Item if there be any man that shall infringe and not maintaine confirme and to his power diligently and dutifully kéepe and obserue these articles aforesaid such shall as periured persons with all seueritie be punished And if anie souldier or souldiers shall offend in anie maner of thing that doth belong and appertaine to the dutie of a souldier whereof there is no mention made in these articles such an offender shal be punished at the discretion of the Marshal of the field and Generall These articles must be opeÌ„ly read in the presence of the chief Captaines by the notary or scribe of the Court and after that they be read the oth shall be ministred vnto euery man by the pretor in this wise or the like wordes to the same end and purpose speaking vnto the whole companie and saying My brethren and friends that are héere present you haue heard the articles of our soueraigne containing the chiefe and principall points of our rights and lawes of the field and of the oath and the maner thereof which euery souldier ought to take All you therefore that do meane faithfully and valiantly to obserue maintaine fulfill confirme and kéepe the foresaid articles let him heere now either openly refuse to be a souldier or with me hold vp his finger and say after me All these articles which haue bene openly red vnto vs we hold and allow as sacred and good and those will we truely and stoutly confirme fulfill maintaine and kéepe so helpe vs God and his deuine word Amen These articles with others which for tediousnesse I omit would be published some vpon paine of death some with greater and some with
exercise and instruct such as are not perfect in feates of warre which bee ordered sometimes by wordes and déedes and sometimes by framed signes from the officers that souldiers may learne and obserue the meaning of the same At such times of assemblie as at watch or ward the Clerke ought to read the bill and to call euerie souldier by his name that euerie man may aunswere for himselfe and none to be absent vpon paine without sicknes or licence The Sergeant as they bée called putteth them in Aray that euerie man follow his loadesman kéeping his ranck-fellowes iustlie on both sides placing the shot in voward and rerewarde the Ensigne and Halberds in the midst of the Pikes so bée they placed in beautie and strength as is accustomed sometimes to stand and aduance their weapons turne their faces and march any waie assigned and sometimes to receiue a woord that shall passe from man to man from the one end to the other with such silence that none heare the same but those in aray assembled Certaine woords to be vsed of the Officer that traynes VVHen any Officer determines to exercise his companie to traine them he must cast them into a King or such like necessarie forme and vse these or like woords My louing friends fellowes and companions in Armes wée bée gathered togither for the seruice of God his holie Church our Prince and Countrie and for that none through ignorance shall perish or run in daunger of the lawes of the field you shal from time to time by mée or other Officers of the band bée instructed by woords or déedes in such points as to your calling and the necessitie of seruice shall require the which you must diligently obserue and follow though the same shal séeme vnto you many times both dangerous and paynfull Also if any of you my followes shall find an occasion conuenient to declare to 〈◊〉 or any other officer his mind and opinion in any thing touching seruice wâ—… shall diligentlie heare and gratifie the partie the double value thereof and God willing equitie and iustice shall be ministred Also regard that all souldiers know obey their 〈◊〉 in their place according to their calling To teach and trayne Souldiers to march in Ranckes Squares battailes c. FIrst for that one hundreth is the least number that a Captaine can haue in charge I wil therefore begin with 100. setting your weapons in this order following that is twentie fiue shot next your shot twentie Pykes then tenne Halberds to gard the Ensigne and next your Halberds other twentie Pykes and then your other fiue and twentie shotte the which béeing thus placed may be brought to those proportions here set downe greatlie auailable to diuers seruices VVHen the souldiers are taught to march thrée in a ranke right forth you shall bring them in this proportion of a ring otherwise called a Limasson although it is not of any force it is necessarie to traine the vnperfect also by bringing them in close compasse togither they may better heare and vnderstand any preceptes touching their charge spoken by the Captain or any other officers as oft as is méete This figure folowing of the ring is not of force because the Ensigne lieth open to the enimies without gard of Pikes The Ring Sometimes vpon good occasion you shall bring your Pykes in order of an S. your Halberds planted in the midst with the Ensigne whereby it may be enuironed with Pykes for defence of horse your shot placed betwéene euerie rancke of Pikes so that they may serue to the skirmish either rescuing other within gard the which retyring into the void place the Pikes couched euerie way for defence the ouerplus of the shot with the Captaine and Lieutenant with other officers to be placed in the midst of the S. with the Ensigne An S. SOmetimes vpon the suddaine bring them into this order of a D. otherwise called a Snaile Place your Halberds and Ensigne in the Rereward of your Pikes and cast your selfe round so that you may enuiron your Ensigne hauing first placed your shot amongst the ranckes of Pikes euerie Captaine Lieutenant and other officer togither with the ouerplus of shot to be placed within the circuite of the weapons This is a strength at néede but in this order they cannot march or retire A D. or a Snaile How to traine souldiers and bring them to the vse of their weapon AFter you haue taught your company to martch thrée in a rancke right forth likewise to kéepe their order in Limasson or Ring in S. or D. you shall command your officers to teach them how to vse their weapons First deuide your shot from your pikes and Halberds causing a marke to be set vpon the water whereby you shall the better perceiue where the bullet falleth or striketh Then cause your drumme to go before and your shot to follow single teaching theÌ„ how to hold their péeces and to put pouder in the pan the match in the cocke how to couch and giue fire the better to bolden them and that those haue experience to discharge at the marke and euerie one for to follow his loadsman This done cast them all about round and bring them to the place where they began then afterward teach them to charge with bullet Sometimes deuide your pikes and halberds in two parts commanding your officers that they turne their broad sides as if they should encounter the enimie causing your drums to sound Then charge your officers to go in the front of your pikes to shew them how that they should vse their weapons as first to cause your pikes to sarie close togither then to traile their pikes with the sharpe end towards the enimie two yards from the end of the blade and to offer the push one at another This being done cause your drums to sound retrait that is to retire with your faces on the enimie Then must you teach them to ward with their pikes when the push is offered against them also to couch and crosse for defence of horse Likewise to aduance c. How to traine or place an hundreth men THis figure here placed doth shâ—…w how the hundred men before mentioned cast in a ring may march three in a ranke the which may be brought vnto these proportions of strength following SOmetimes marching in the ray before said you shall deuide the same into thrée parts by â—…1 ranks in ech part deuiding your shot into foure partes and your pikes into foure parts also placing your halberds to gard the Ensigne so be they readie at the sodaine in quadrant as appeareth following LIkewise you must instruct them from thrée to march fiue in ranke to the intent when néede serueth to ioyne vnto other bands In thus marching place halfe your shot before the other in the rereward ALso you may practise them to march seuen in ranke placing your halberds in the Rereward with your Ensigne the which maketh a iust quadâ—…ant placing your
shot in the wings and rereward as appeareth following To augment from three vnto fiue YOu may likewise by placing seueÌ„ in ranke the which is the greatest force that 100. men may be brought into place 21. shot in the front and fiftéene in â—…ch wing the which seruice being very apt to skirmish is greatly vnto the anoying of the enimie also it is readie to retyre to serue round about the battaile of pikes as before IF in marching you vnderstand or perceiue that horsemen will assault you then place fiue pikes in ranke and betwixt euerie pike a shot so marching forward they fall to be ten ranke quadrant placing your halbeâ—…ds and Ensigne in the midst A quadrant mixed with shot LIkewise you may for the defence of horsemen place ten ranks of pikes euerie way your shot next vnto theÌ„ your halberds and Ensigne in the midst the pikes ends couched on the ground the better to defend the enimie A quadrant defending the shot THis proportion sheweth the march or quadrant order at large of a hundreth men verie necessary to bee vsed in shew to the enemies when thou vnderstandest their â—…umbers to excéede thine Placing 7. Pikes in the Uoward also 7. pikes in the Rereward next vnto them 6. pikes in the second rankes your Billes or Halberds together with your Ensigne in the midst with the Drum and Fifte as is before mentioned the which number when thou perceiuest the enemie to take view of thine thou shalt alter and cause the second rankes of the Uoward and Rereward to steppe forward to furnish the voide spaces the which shall make of 7. thirtéene in a ranke Also if thou perceiuest the enemie pretending to encounter thee hauing no place of refuge shall cause the ranks that stepped forward to retire to their places and to sarrie close together remouing out of the second rankes into the winges the Halberds to step forward in their places wil be 7. euery way quadraÌ„t as in the order before is mentioned your shot to bée placed in the Uoward rereward may skirmish retire as occasion serueth The March at large Practises of training appertaining to the charge of two hundreth Men. FIrst marching fiue in Ranke 40. rankes containe two hundreth men suting their weapons as before they may bée brought to these orders following auailable for diuers intents although the same for a time séeme painfull although Archers bee not as heretofore they haue bin yet is it good in some of my figures following to shew you when you haue Archers how to place them SOmetimes deuide the Pikes and the Halberds into three parts by 1â—… rankes 7 to a ranke placing your Ensigne in the midst so ioining them together maketh a Hearse battaile readie at the suddaine against the enemie placing in the Uoward 40. Hargabuzers and 20. Archers and in the Rereward 10. Hargabuzers and 30. Archers LIkewise according to your ground you shall place your vttermost rankes with your best and fairest Corselets the which serueth not only to the shew but otherwise to the strength of the battaile commaunding your Officers to place 10. in a ranke the rest to follow on their march 10. in a ranke Likewise your Halberds and Ensigne in the midst which falleth to bée 10. euery way quadrant the which is a iust hundrethâ—… your Hargabuzers placed in the Uoward and Rereward and your Archers in the flankes the which is a iust 100. also as héere followeth SOmetimes by commaundement of the General or head Officers you are to accomplish some exploit by night the which béeing led by your guides through straites wrong ground woods c. It is nedefull that euerie pikeman and bilman take holde of his loadsmans weapon placing your shot betwixt your Pikes and your Ensigne in the midst your Pykes to march fiue in a ranke 16. rankes is iust 80. Pikes beside your Halberds The ouerplus of your shot to bee placed in the Rereward SOmetimes occasion scrueth to march through long broome corne fearne c. so that souldiers must traile their pikes from the ground close together at the halfe pikes in the Uoward the sharp ends of the pikes forward and in the Rereward the sharp ends of the pikes to the ground who may at the suddaine béeing assailed with Horsemen presently aduance and couch their pikes euery way for defence from the Horse your Hargabuzers in the front and Rereward the Archers in the flankes ALso when you shall bée called to the assaults of Townes Fortes trenches c. you must endure the great shot if it bée not dismounted wherefore the Officers must cause the soldiers to march a good distance a sunder and euerie man close to his loadsman march with expedition the shot making way to the hand weapons and all iointly together to employ themselues vnto victorie your Hargabuzers vnto the Uoward your Archers next to your Pikes as this example sheweth Certaine pointes to exercise and traine 300. men to seruice A Captaine hauing charge of 300. men that bée expert in seruice may oftentimes victoriouslie accomplish exploites and pointes of seruice to them committed which great numbers vnperfect may not attaine vnto The better to instruct the same here follow certaine Orders and strengthes in aray which practised in time conuenient may bring perfection of seruice at neede Sometime placing such numbers by 5. in ranke may bée brought to diuerse points of seruice conuenient 60. rankes containe 300. men 5. in ranke TO bring the first march of 5. in a ranke into a quadrant proportion you must deuide your long weapons into thrée parts placing soure in ranke your halbers and Ensigne in the midst and ioyned close togither fall out to be 12. quadrant euerie way your shot placed in the wings readie to skirmish in the bodie of the battaile are 120. pikes thirtie halberds and in the wings 140. shot in the rereward thirtie shot thus is the number at the sodaine brought to strength SOmetimes augment your rankes from fiue to seuen â—…o 〈◊〉 rankes containes 300. men which are to be ioyned vnto other numbers and to be brought to force SOmetimes augment these 7. rankes here adioyning to 9. the long weapons of the same containe 18. rankes your shot placed in the voward rereward as the ground may serue is a hearse or broade square By these exercises of augmenting rankes as doe appeare souldiers may be brought to perfection of order in aray and by the same be brought in quadrant or herse battaile according as numbers and ground will serue Orders of training three hundred men SOmtimes the Captaines with their bandes aforesaid be appointed to some eâ—…polits with such silence that Drums sound not nor clap weapons neither vse any noise vntill they haue recouered the place conuenient for their enterprises Also sometimes the Officers in Rereward sendeth a woorâ—… passing from man to 〈◊〉 vntil it come to the voward from one ranke to an other which may bée said Sarâ—…a aduance Bullet in the
fields is the best with a square battell and many pikes placing hargabuziers according to his discretion Since I haue spoken of the first maner of fight I will speake of the second which is when the enemie dooth assault at vnawares it is necessarie then couragiouslie not to loose any point of courage to place his people in square battell for that it is the most ready and most sure way that is making himselfe good flanks with the Hargabuziers of the band afterwards expecting the assault cause his battell to shut and close it selfe wel causing them to couche and abase 4 or 5 or somtimes 6 ranks of pikes in that case round about all the sides of the battel and the others to stand vpright vntill time of néede and the Hargabuziers are to hold their pikes vpon their thighes with their matches in their cockes a morce in their pan and all vigilant in a readinesse And the captaine before the battell valiantly giuing courage to his souldiors to performe the dutie of a leader aduertising that when the assault is giuen by horsemen that the pikemen couching and abasing themselues do hold the great end of their pikes fastned hard in strong earth to the end the pike may haue greater force What distance is vsed in Battell betwixt man and man ranke and ranke IN this present chapter you shall perceiue the order and maner that is to be obserued in the distance and space of ground betwixt ranke and ranke of souldiours in battell and how much space the souldiours do occupie from shoulder to shoulder aswell armed with Corslet as vnarmed Note that it is to be vnderstood of a pikeman I will first aduertise all Sergeant Maiors and all good Captaines and Sergeants and others that delight in profession of battels that there be two reasons wherefore the vnderstanding of these distances be of importance the one is to know how much ground is necessary to manage a battell how much space the circumference of the battell will take round about it according to the quantitie of the souldiours that are to be in the said battel And the other is that it is néedful to know how much space is limited to a souldior from shoulder to shoulder and from one ranke to another And this proportion hath bin found out and limited of great practised and cunning men to the intent that the said distance from one ranke to another may in a certaine space of time be accomodated that the souldiours may comodiously manage their pikes may fight and in such sort that one ranke of souldiours may succour an other that stand before them and deale in such sort that all the battell may worke good effect forasmuch as when they do accommodate themselues ouerstraite and narrowe they can neither fight nor yet hardlye mooue themselues And the same inconuenience would chance if souldiors were placed in battell one ouer farre from another or one ranke too much distant from an other Therefore it is a most conuenient thing to vse in this case those limited rules that the auncient and moderne souldiours haue set downe and such as our Captaines haue obserued The space therefore of grounde that one Souldiour with his necessaries dooth holde from shoulder to shoulder shall be of thrée foote and nothing lesse in such sort that when any battell is to bee made let vs put this example that if there be a ranke of 25 souldiours in a battell it is néedfull to imagine that the length of the said 25. footemen shall containe the space of 75. foote which is fiftéene pace Speaking of the Venetian pace which is fiue foote for the pace whereof I meane alwaies to speake The space moreouer of the ground that is to be obserued for the ouerthwart of a battell that is from one ranke to another that they may be able to manage themselues with their pikes aswell in marching as in fighting in maine battell no lesse then seauen foote is obserued from one ranke to another Moreouer to the intent he may more commodiously march with his pike on his shoulder the ground would be no lesse then of ten foote which is two pace but after when they are to close and ioyne more straite as I haue said before of 7. foote in such sort that a man in ranke with his space before him will amount to held vnto the other ranke ten foote which is two pace accounting thrée foote of ground which he holds with his person and the other 7 foote the space vnto the other ranke make 10 foote Let vs then presuppose this figure or example That he is to make a battell that is a perfect square of twentie euery way we must count how much ground the said battell will take in circuite and sée if the same be capable of the number of Souldiours which are appointed to be put and set in battell Our rule therefore shall holde vpon two fides that is vpon the fronte and the backe and taile of the battell where the Souldiours stand shoulder to shoulder in 60. foote which is 12. pace for both sides and both the foresaid sides be 24. pace The other two sides which be the flankes of the said battell where the space is left betwixt one ranke and an other of seauen foote and therefore the person of the souldier which is séene one with an other in such sorte that the battell which is to be made of 20 Souldiours for euery side a perfect square of people but not a perfect square of ground forasmuch as two sides will be 12. pace on a side which in both comes to 24. pace the other two will be for euery side 40. pace which is 80 pace and so hauing ioyned vnto the same 24. pace it will bee round about the said battell of 20 Souldiours on a side 104. pace which is 520. foote of circumference of ground and so alwaies this order is to be obserued not that you are to take a corde or a rod or pace to measure the distance of the said battell but by racke of eye by your witte and discretion consider this measure for whether it be more or lesse it little imports It dooth suffice that you obserue a certaine discretion that may come to the marke I haue written if it doe not light iust at leastwise néere the bounds and measure I haue set downe Now since we haue put this figure and example of a perfect square battel of people but not of ground for 20. souldiers we wil speak of an other forme or figure somewhat differing or disagréeing from such like battels and yet for all that of the same number of twentie Souldiours for euery side in perfect square the which is square of people of ground as some doe vse to make as may appeare in a battell of 400. Souldiours square in ground and people the which being in this forme hath for space of ground about in circumference 800. foote which is 160. pace This is sufficient to