battalia the market-places and churches and to cause them to be seized upon by bataillons sending them at one and the same time towards the right and left hand and right forward the grosse remaining firm in battalia to send succours where need shall require keeping neare some gate to gaine and open it to let in the Cavallrie A place may be surprised at the walls without scalado by some defect in them as when they are old decayed weak of little thicknesse of brick stone and clay and without rampart for they may easily be pierced by some engine or instrument or if there be any lowe windows along the curtain or any sallie-ports or any sink-holes or drains for filth or places for water to passe in and out being ill guarded and weak Intelligences and treacheries may take effect when some occasion shall give you means to corrupt the fidelitie of those of the place which are able to give you entrance and deliver you the same These occasions will be when you shall discover a possibilitie to convey some desire of change into their mindes which often hapneth amongst high-minded souldiers which desire to make a fortune or amongst those which are revengefull when they be discontented at the Governour or some other officer Besides most of them think themselves ill dealt with when they be not advanced to offices having a higher estimation of themselves then they deserve and others be so covetous as there is nothing which they will not undertake for money These and the like things may accompanie intelligences and treacheries How to besiege and expugne cities CHAP. VII A Citie is said to be taken by force when it is carried with an Armie by batterie whereunto there belong three considerations The first before the enterprise The second during the time of the siege and the third after the taking of the citie Before the enterprise you must consider whether you ought and whether you be able to do it You ought when by this means you recover your own weaken your enemie you secure and fortifie your self on that part you encrease your revenue and you get good store of bootie But you ought not to do it if the charges of the siege will surmount your profit or that it will be difficult to hold the place after you have gained it or when it is so strong so well provided of all necessaries or so near to places of releef that there is greater likelihood of dammage then hope of good successe You are able when you have all manner of provision necessarie for the enterprise and that in sufficient measure The most necessarie things are money souldiers artillerie munitions for the armes as powder bullets morters granadoes muskets pikes c. And for the instruments as shovels pickaxes hand-barrows wheel-barrows sacks baskets c. And for wood to make platforms for the artillerie gabions sauceidges blindes boats c. And victuall in abundance The quantitie of all these must be measured by that which shall be requisite for the souldiers the canon and the time that the siege may be like to continue which may be computed by the proportion of your forces compared to those of your enemie by the qualities of the works of the place with the number of your munitions and artillerie by the garrison with your number of souldiers by the situation of the place and the releef which might be brought to it with the means which you shall have to stop and hinder it and to facilitate the bringing of victuall into your camp by the distance with the meanes to lead your armie thither by the qualitie of the ground with the conveniences which you have to make your approaches And because that oftentimes accidents do befall which were not foreseen as by unexpected releef an inundation or overflowing of waters a change of weather a mutinie amongst your own men or a contagion There must be a provident care taken for a retreat so as being constrained to it it may be made commodiously and easily without disorder if it may be for thereon dependeth the honour or dishonour the profit or dammage of the assailant During the siege you must observe many things with good order and principally these First you must environ and shut up the place entrenching your self round about fortifying your self as well against those which might come to releeve them as against the sallies of the town in such sort as not any person may be able to go in nor out choosing a fit place for the Armie to set down to make the field of battaile to make your quarters and their alarm-places Taking care that the quarters be secured by good retrenchments and forts well flanked and guarded within against the sallies and without against such as might come to releeve the place or disturb your Armie that they be commodious to receive and conserve the munitions for actions and executions You must dispose the approaches run your trenches make your way to arrive in safetie to the place where you intend to raise your batterie observing that it be as short as may be sheltered and faithfully guarded by a good number of men having room enough between piece and piece and for their reverse and that they command the place which you intend to batter that the trenches be ample large deep not straitned well slanked and defended by forts more or fewer according to the strength of the garrison which is within the place and to the time in which the releef might arrive During the time whilest you are making the trenches of approach you must take away all the high flanks with the canon then having run your trenches to the counterscarp you must raise platforms with beds for the Artillerie near the points of the counterscarp to take away all the low flanks by this means to render the passage of the moat secure And whilest this batterie is a making you must pierce the counterscarp and advance your galleries untill you joyn them to the Bullwork at the same time beginning the sap and the mine But if you be put to force it by Artillerie dispose your batterie so that it may commodiously discover the place which you intend to batter that there be room and libertie for the pieces loop-holes munitions guards and officers that it be not exposed to the Artillerie of the enemie or being so that it be sheltered by traverses and gabions making it hollow underneath if you fear mines and retrenching it round about to meet with the sallies of those of the town furnishing it with planks and pent-houses against their granadoes and stone-pieces also not approaching too near to prevent their fire-works and granadoes Make your batterie furiously and in good order battering within a fathome of the foundation of the wall piercing it in divers places then batter it acrosse to make the wall to totter The breach being made you must cause it to be viewed by men chosen to that purpose each having a
truce how you should parly how you should make alliance how you should make league How much you should make warre how much you should make peace how much you should make truce how much you should parly how much you should make alliance how much you should make league And if you turn the third circle even as the second you shall finde that the said 36 questions being joyned to the six common places of the said circle will produce 216. Namely Whether you should make warre with your compatriots whether you should make peace with your compatriots whether you should make truce with your compatriots c. These 216 questions are resolved by the common places of the fifth sixth and ninth circles If you have concluded to make warre the questions to be propounded about the actions thereof are to be taken out of the first and fourth circles which will produce 36 propositions as was said of the first and second namely Whether you ought to advance forward whether you ought to abide still whether you ought to retreat whether you ought to fight whether you ought to lodge whether you ought to refresh With whom you should advance with whom you should abide with whom you should retreat with whom you should fight with whom you should lodge with whom you should refresh Where you should advance c. The affirmation of the 36 last propositions is taken from the common places of the fifth sixth seventh eighth and ninth circles Now that these common places may be sufficient to afford reasons for the confirmation of these propositions the following example will testifie and will give instruction for the order which must be observed for the resolving of other questions propounded The first question is Whether you should make warre whereupon you must consider of the reason which you have so to do whether it be honour as to conserve your own to maintain another to settle justice to punish evill doers Whether it be profit as to raise your state to augment your dignities to gather wealth to advance your friends Whether it be obedience due to the Soveraigne or to those which himself or the laws have set over us Whether it be obligation being bound thereunto either by equitie or oath or consanguinitie or alliance Whether it be facilitie as to resist the assaults of the enemie to usurpe his dominions and to bring him under subjection in short time and with little charge Having considered of the reason you must come to the occasion which may be either in respect of men which are either plebeians or militarie Concerning the plebeians if it be in a free state and not a monarchie to know whether they will consent and approve of the action furnish men for the warre deliver places for securitie money to bear all the charges and submit themselves to your judgement and discretion Concerning the militarie men whether they be willing to obey you deliver you hostages and put their fortunes goods and honours into your hands Now for the regard of means as whether you have good store of money beforehand or means to get it by favour of friends or to take it from your enemies making warre at his charge or having good store of auxiliaries from your allies and means to pay them And in respect of munitions whether you have abundance of victuall as well for the provision of cities as for the feeding of the armies magazines well stored great store of draught horses for the ready drawing of the train where it shall be needfull Or in regard of the time whether it be when there is a dissention fomenting one of the parties in the minoritie of the Soveraigne insinuating with his officers in the midst of a profound peace when there is no doubt of combinations when a great mortalitie rageth amongst the enemies and famine weakneth them or when you conceive that the fear of warre will constrain them to give you more then you could get by it Or in respect of the works whether you possesse strong cities assured havens and well fortified cittadels Or in regard of the countrey whether you possesse the straits the key sides bridges that so you may facilitate the entrance of your releefs and easily to joyn your self to them and by that means be master of the field possessing so much of the countrey as you are able to guard and abandoning that which you could not be able to maintain and whereof the cost would surpasse the profit Concerning the fashion of proceeding it is taken from the order which you must observe before you execute any thing as whether you ought to begin or to give occasion to the enemie to do it in what place you should give the first assault in what staple towns and if it should be so how you shall march thither with what quantitie of Infanterie Cavallrie and Artillerie you should execute the enterprise whether you be able to do it alone or whether you must call your friends to help you who amongst all shall begin who shall do the exploit who shall conserve that which shall be gotten Then what commoditie you shall reap thereby whether you shall be in peace afterwards or the nobilitie be better pleased the church more flourishing justice better administred the people lesse burthened the King better served the state better secured what commoditie will facilitate the enterprise will it be vicinitie will it be the weaknesse of the enemie of his countrey of his people of his towns of his bad councell of his disorder in his actions or that you have no want of any thing What Assurance have you that the execution will succeed according to your desire and if that be wanting how shall you assure your affairs will you hazard all your fortune at a time will you play at double or quit or will not that which you undertake be able to hurt you but in part or but little or nothing at all neither to your self nor your friends Shall you surprise your enemâ—e at unawares keeping ill guard in his cities or being weakly followed in the field at a time when he is solacing himself either with courting or hunting and without being able to be advertised of your designe untill he be fallen into your hands Can you by your diligence prevent his knowledge and so your own obstacles and his remedies Have you foreseen whatsoever may befall you as well in your designe in the action and after the execution thereof to prevent the mischief and to advantage your self by the good thereof will your confederates be faithfull to you If false shall they be able to hinder the enterprise in the whole or onely in part or in your very person by seizing thereon and delivering you into the enemies hands and if they can by what device shall you be able to escape them If the things abovesaid be so advantageous as you ought to conclude for warre you must then come to the other question with whom you ought to make it whether with your compatriots or with your allies or confederates c. and to see the reason the occasion and fashion by which you should proceed passing through all these common places That done you must handle the questions which concern the action which are whether or no with whom where when how and how much you shall do that which you have concluded as hath been shewed in the first question as if a generall had caused his armie to be mustered he shall deliberate wherein to imploy it as whether he should cause it to advance or abide or fight c. Suppose if be ought to cause his armie to march he ought to do it when it is to fight with the enemie to hinder him from passing a champain a river a strait to cut off his releef or for his own effecting of these things or to besiege some place to releeve it to cut off a convoy or to conserve or pillage the open countrey You must advance when your abiding or retreat would be dishonourable when the hope of the profit is great when superiours command it when alliance oblige you to it when necessitie constrains you thereunto and when the thing is so facile as nothing can oppose you That which will occasion your moving will be the advantage of men be it on foot or horseback of means as money waggons artillerie of munitions both for the mouth and for warre the commodiousnesse of time fair cold or rain Of the works as forts trenches redouts Of the countrey as large spacious and even to range your battaillons and squadrons or close and mountainous to passe undiscovered and sheltred The instruments which may facilitate the designe are waggons to carrie the munitions ladders to serve for surprises bridges to passe over moats and rivers pickaxes and shovels to make the trenches and other works and boats to passe rivers The accidents which you ought to foresee are the noise which hindreth the souldiers from hearing the orders and affrighteth them the sunne which may dazle them the water of pools moors or rain which may discommode you the cold which may put your souldiers out of case to fight the dust raised in the field by the footing and the smoak of firings which hinders you from seeing the battaillons and the actions of the enemie After that you must consider the fasâ—ion of your march what order your Infanterie shall observe what your Cavallrie and what your Artillerie what commoditie this marching will afford you whether it will advantage you and whether you shall be the better for it in the whole or in part Wherein your assurance will be whether in your enemies being farre off or in the strength of your site or of the territorie or vicinitie of friends whether you must march upon surprise in the night to pillage with such diligence as you may be farre before you be discovered foreseeing for all things necessarie as to be able to make resistance being charged to arrive timely before the danger to be strongly and commodiously encamped in such sort as you may not fear neither the surprises of the enemie nor the violence of his assaults These common places may be applied as well to divers other actions as to that of warre provided that you know which to choose and how many FINIS
there he may be the more easily routed dissembling and concealing all sinister accidents and whatsoever proves prosperous to cause that to be published aloud for the raising of their spirits which happily might be become heartlesse either by overmuch labour or by the rumour of some disaster propounding to them the faintnesse of the enemie the death of his Commanders the slight of his troops the spoil the honour of the victorie and the great bootie Sending the orders and commands by Officers and persons known and not from hand to hand by passe parolle After the combat either you are vanquisher or vanquished If you be vanquisher and have no cause to feare the enemie any more as being not able to rally himself either you content your self with the victorie or you attempt farther to conquer If you rest content with this victorie God is solemnly to be praised the souldiers are to be reduced commended and recompenced principally the Chiefs and such as have performed any signall acts sharing out the spoil amongst them according to their merits giving order that the prisoners be trustily kept and courteously used causing the hurt to be carefully cured and the dead buried If you attempt to conquer the enemies countrey you are to publish the victorie for that will cause his confederates to shrink from their alliance it will affright your enemie and will make the Neuters to declare themselves for the victour it will keep your confederates faithfull and constant your subjects obedient and will procure favour from all men Then the Armie must be supplied with men and munitions the enemies garrisons must be summoned recompensing such as shall yeeld the places within their custody dealing rigorously with such as shall be headstrong gaining the great ones of the countrey by money estates and honour attempting to seize upon the advenues and passages and to leave nothing at your back which might hinder the passage of your munitions and victuall If you be vanquished either the enemie gives you time to retreat or else he pursues you with all his forces If he give you time you must gather together all what possibly you can of your broken and scattered men making your retreat resolutely and honourably and shewing your self in the field again so soon as may be with the greatest number of souldiers that can be gotten to make head again against the enemie to oppose his designes to disquiet and molest his actions to work his confederates to oppose him to divert and divide his forces to fortifie the passages to provide and furnish your frontier places with victuall munition and garrisons If you be pursued with extremitie you must retreat in the best order you shall be able making it appear you are not vanquished in your courage though you be so in your fortunes causing all your countrey to take armes and that such as shall be in armes do present themselves at the passage to hinder the enemies entrance breaking down the bridges and landing-places of rivers cutting of the high-wayes and felling of trees to lay a crosse the high-wayes breaking down the sluces and drowning the countrey if it be possible assuring your self of the fidelitie of your cities and subjects the one by forts cittadels and garrisons the other by hostages offices and benefits Of the building of forts CHAP. IIII. BEfore the fortifying of any place consideration must be had of the situation for if it be on a mountain which is all a rock and that the place comprehendeth all the top it will be difficult to approach the flanks will be secured it will be free from mines and command it will easily discover round about it will do horrible execution and will be wholesome both for the inhabitants and for the munitions But such a place hath usually these discommodities want of water and earth hard to be retrenched easie to be quickly blocked up and the passages and advenues for the releeving of it easie to be cut off If it be on a mountain which is not a rock it will be subject to mining the trenches of approach will be easily undermined and it will have almost all the discommodities of the place above said but it will also have the advantage of store of earth and by that means it may easily be retrenched If the place be seated on a mountain which hath one or more advenues which command it such place will be easie to be assailed and battered from those advenues If the place be moorish the approaches are difficult but the discommodities are great for them within it for they are soon shut up their sallies are difficult and dangerous the place is unwholesome for the inhabitants the munitions are soon corrupted and it is hard to be releeved If the place be on a plain but commanded by one or more hills it will have an infinite number of discommodities and almost no conveniences If it be in a plain which is sandy the works which there shall be made will hardly be worth any thing But if it be on a plain champain and levell on all sides the earth being fat and strong it will be easie there to fortifie and to prevent the discommodities having very advantageous conveniences But whatsoever the situation be if you intend there to fortifie you must first calculate whether your means be sufficient whether the season be fitting whether you have a sufficient number of workmen and tooles time enough to finish it before the season change or the enemie can come upon you whether you have souldiers enough to guard it sufficient Artillerie to defend it munition enough for the souldiers and Artillerie victuall sufficient for the men and fodder for the horses succours so near as that they may arrive within such time as it may be conceived the fort may be maintained against the violence of the enemie If all these things do favour you you may boldly fall to work having regard first to the matter and secondly to the forme Concerning the matter if you have the commoditie of stone brick and chaulk you must line all the works of the curtains bullworks and counterscarps with good and strong sloapings after this manner those of the curtain and counterscarp have a fourth part of the height for their sloap and those of the faces of the Bullworks a third The faces of the Bullworks must have spurres ten foot distant from each other of three foot thick and 25 foot long the said spurres being strongly bound in with the wall which must be built in arches underpropped 6 foot without the foundations onely on the spurres If you have onely earth there must be such a sloap given to the works according as they are strong or sandy ordinarily of 5 foot one Such works must be well furnished with pallisadoes and environed with water for they are subject to surprises because the showers of rain and frosts make them moulder away Touching the forme if it be regular which is when it hath the sides
and time Of encamping the Armie CHAP. II. AN Army is quartered in the field or in some village in the field when the enemie is at hand then must it be quartered in Battaillons as if every houre there were occasion of cambat Also the lodging in the field is when you lay any siege or when the infection compells you to flee the places of shelter or when the countrey is wasted and without houses The quartering in villages is when the enemie is farre off so as you may have time to put the Armie into form of Battaile in the place of Alarm before he can be upon your jack Whether the encamping be in the field or in the villages it must be commodious and assured It will be commodious if there be abundance of water wood forrage and capacitie of roome convenient to lodge the whole armie and to make the Alarme-place It will be assured being in the field by fortifying the camp round about by causing it to be well guarded by good Corps-du-guards and Sentinels within and Sentinell-perdues without having Redouts round about if the enemie be to be feared or that he be near See the Leaguer of Prince Maurice before Sluys and before Grave Fol. 87 88. It will be assured in the villages when the Alarme-place shall front the enemy being eminent and commanding the ground round about it capable to range the whole armie into order oâ— battaile fortified by art and nature commodiouâ— for the advenues and sallies without confusion oâ— the troops That it be not assaultable withouâ— great disadvantage to the enemie being near tâ— the quarters well defended by Artillerie and well secured by Corps-du-guards aswell oâ— Infanterie as Cavallrie Concerning the quarters they must be difficult to force and to assault at lest unawares fâ—cile to be releeved and therefore near together fortified retrenched and well guarded So then all that is to be considered about thâ— lodging of an Armie which is to be encampeâ— for a long time for for one night it is onelâ— reâ—uisite to make choice of places advantagiouâ— and such as are strong by nature or to defenâ— them by waggons or other meanes of enclosinâ— the camp consisteth in the commoditie of 〈◊〉 things namely victuall water forrage wood â—â—tuation and enclosures of the field Having regard to the certaintie of victuall and munitions by not adventuring too farre of and leaving none of the enemies towns on the Flanks which might intercept or cut off your way seeking out the commoditie of rivers to be served of water to drink for conveyance or to impale with waggons and to secure the one Flank of the Armie it being impossible to be without them and chiefly good ones For these reasons mountainous places are to be avoided and also valleys the one for the barrennesse the other for the badnesse and discommoditie of the filthy pooles and for the bad aire which they cause being crude and foggie Regard must be had of the abundance commoditie and certaintie of forrage for the horse make an incredible waste besides that much is required for the Souldiers to lie upon and to cover their huts with Good store of wood must be had for sires in the Corps-du-guards and to build huts A care must be had that the place where you intend to encamp be smooth plain and sandy if it may be farre from any place that commandeth it or if there be any it must be seased upon and taken in within the retrenchment to discover and command the champain If there be any wood near you ought to make use of it and guard it somewhat enlarging the retrenchment and leaving roome between both to meet with ambushes which the enemie might lay within it The forme of a retrenchment of an Armie is usually square and the sides thereof ought to be fortified by Tenailles to defend the one by the other and so to be disposed of as in giving fire by night those of the Armie may not hurt each other making them more or lesse strong as the enemie is more or lesse to be feared Touching the particular things which concern the disparting of the lodgings within the enclosure of the camp these things are to be observed The retrenchement ought to be in breadth and depth two fadomes and the paraper one fadom in height Round about the inside of the retrenchement there must be a space left of a The proportion generally observed is 200 foot 40 or 45 fadomes broad which is called the Alarm-place which must be spacious enough to contain the whole Armie in Battalia Then follow the quarters of 300 foot b The Authour saith 300 foot broad but that is a mistake deep which must be divided for the making of the lodgings after this manner For a Companie of 200 footmen there must be 56 foot in Front and 200 in depth to make 4 rowes of huts 25 in each row between which there must be 3 streets of 8 foot broad Every hut hath 8 foot square to lodge 2 souldiers All the doores of them open upon 2 streets and answer just over against each other The quartering of a Foot-companie A.B. The Front of a Companie is of foure huts A.C. The depth is of 25 huts D. The streets between the huts Before the Companies are the Captaines lodgings every of them at the head of his own Companie possessing in breadth the whole Front of the Companie and in depth 25 foot These lodgings are divided from the Companies by a street of 35 foot broad where the Armes are placed as also the Corps-du-guards and Colours Behinde the Companies are the Sutlers huts containing 20 foot in depth and these are separated from the Companies by a street of 20 foot broad The Companies are divided from each other by a street of 8 foot breadth In the middle of the Regiment there must be a place of 80 foot breadth in Front of which the Colonell is to be lodged and more inward the Sergeant Major Provost and all the Offâ—cers of the Regiment The space between each Regiment must be 200 or 300 foot The quartering of a Regiment of six Companies of foot I. The retrenchment of the camp K. The Alarme-place A.B. The depth of the quarter A. The Captains lodgings D. A street between them and their Companies where the Pikes are placed C. The Companies B. The Suttlers E. The street between the Companies and Sutlers G. A void place in the middle of the Regiment F. The Colonels lodging H. A space between the Regiments The placing of the Captaines tents at the head of their Companies is now left off And they are now in the Reare of them in E. and before the Sutlers partly for that by this means the Captains can better take notice of and so remedy the disorders which happen in the Sutlers huts and that so the accesse to the Alarme-place may be the freer for that the Captaines tents taking up the ground before hindred it When the Infanterie
head-piece on his head musket proof and a target with a long rift and another rift acrosse that The breach must be accessible and not too right on capable of many assailants having all the flanks broken both high and low The souldiers which are to give the assault must ascend in good order assail furiously fight obstinately and they must either be repulsed by those of the garrison or remain masters of the place If they be repulsed by the sole valour of the enemie in this case without delay or suffering the enemie to gather breath you must charge them again with fresh men and in greater number so often untill you enter by force for fighting onely against men it were a shame that a greater number of fresh men should not force them If some retrenchment and new fortification made by the garrison hath held the assailants from passing further in this case if that fortification be weak it must be forced by the sap and mine scaling ladders fireworks and granadoes but if it be strong you must lodge upon the breach and presently again begin the sap and mine and approach and draw up some piece of ordinance on the breach Whilest these things above said be in the executing you must molest the besieged by all possible means you can as by attempting them by treacherie making them consume their munitions in short time and unprofitably breaking the conveyances of their waters making feigned batteries confounding their signalls by making the like stirring up causes of suspicion amongst themselves often making false alarmes taking heed that you be not affronted by spies causing it to be made known that you want nothing to bring the siege to an end galling them with fireworks granadoes and artillerie in their magazines corps-du-guards and alarm-places finally giving no rest to the assailed untill you have either forced them or be constrained to retreat If you carrie the town by force and remain master of the place the bootie is to be given to the souldiers principally to those which made the assault which are the prisoners and spoils of the enemie alwayes having regard to the women and children to deal fairly with them If it be commodious and advantageous to the vanquisher to preserve the fortresse he must repair it presently emptying the moat where it was filled up laying plain the trenches throwing down the cavalleroes and batteries without repairing and making up the breaches returning the waters into their naturall course if they were turned our fortifying the place better then formerly it was if it may be providing it of a sufficient garrison of good valiant and prudent Governours and Captains of victuall armes manufactures mechanicall instruments and Apothecaries drugs If it be not advantageous to maintain the fortresse he must cause it to be demantled and all the fortification of it to be rased leaving the houses entire provided that afterward they may not again fortifie there nor endammage him The usuall practices to assail fortresses First you must labour to get a map or plat of the fortresse and of the champain round about it and to be informed of their munitions to know the bignesse and capacitie of the fortresse the amplitude and commoditie of the market-places and streets the situations of the magazines town-house Governours lodging the rampart and walls their height thicknesse matter and form the capacitie height and situation of their cavalleroes What Bullworks there be and whether they be great or small sunk into the moat or very high mounted commanded or commanding blunt or sharp having eares or orillons and casemats or not full or emptie of a large gorge or strait made of earth or lined with stone or brick mineable or not Whether the casemats be seen from the champain whether they be high or low single or double one upon the other whether you can batter them in a straight line or glancing and whether they have ditches before them to receive the ruines of the batterie or not The breadth and depth of the moat whether the bottom be of stone or earth whether it be drie or with water in it either all or in part whether there be sallie-ports whereabout they be and from whence they can be discovered Whether the counterscarp be of meer earth or with a wall of drie stone or with lime and sand Whether the covert way of the counterscarp be broad or narrow well or ill sheltred and flanked whether the parapet be raised above the plain or sunk low whether it be of transported earth and mingled with old ruines or meer earth and whether it be easie or hard to be cut sapped or pierced If there be suburbs belonging to the place whether you can become master of them at first onset or whether you must be put to batter them with Artillerie Whether there be other works on the outside of the counterscarp what they be and how they be made Whether the ground round about the town do command it or whether it be levell champain or if it be commanded whether it be moorish or drie whether it be rockie or sandie and whether you must approach it by traverses or trenches and whether they be easie or hard to make whether thereabout be wood to serve you for the making of gabions sauceidges and other things whether there be convenient place to encamp the Armie safe from the Artillerie of the town or whether you may encamp near the town by reason of some advantage or by sheltring your self with traverses or whether you shall be constrained to keep aloof off Whether there be a river and what manner of one whether you can divert it from them or not whether you may make benefit of it or are to fear an inundation by it whether it be wadeable or navigable at sometimes or at all times Whether the situation of the place be near or farre off from other places on that side whether it be able to get succours or munitions whether quickly or late and whether you can hinder it or not and how Knowing all these things you must be informed of the munitions of the town the number of the garrison how many horse what commanders what souldiers what number of Artillerie as well great as small what powder and how much what Enginiers what makers of fire-works and what Canoniers whether they be at unitie within the town or whether there be divisions The Generall being well informed of all these things being resolved to force the place because he shall judge it faiseable he must send his troops of light horsemen to overrun and wast the countrey round about and to take prisoners thereby to be informed more certainly of the estate of the place He must lead his Armie near to the town that they may see it in battalia causing those to be furiously charged which shall sallie out of the town to skirmish and by this means he shall discover the place the Bullworks the moat the counterscarp and the other works
courageously without bowing himself to any unlesse it be to his chief commanders before whom he is to encline the head of the colours more or lesse according to their degree without making a shew of raising his hand to his hat or bowing his knee Of the Lieutenant All the Lieutenants ought to be as able as the Captains whom they represent seeing that in their absence they have the same charge and authoritie and ofttimes the Captains are young Gentlemen descended from illustrious and valorous persons which have courage sufficient but want strength and skill He must keep the Ensigne drum and all the officers and appointees near him to make use of them as occasion shall serve He must neither take on cashier nor punish any man in the presence of his Captain for at that time he hath no authoritie and all that he doeth is by permission and commission but in his absence he is to be obeyed as the Captain His companie being ordered for combat if his Captain be absent he is to lead them but if he be present he must keep on the rear and place his two Sergeants on the flanks that so every man may keep his rank and fight resolutely At an assault he must assist the Ensigne and lead him to the place of combat which he must have viewed beforehand It is his charge to observe the actions of the Corporals and Sergeants to hold them to their duties and to cause them to provide what is necessarie for the companie and to assist them where he shall see cause Of the Commissarie The office of a Commissarie of souldiers is to cause the musters to be taken and moneys to be payd to receive the oath and to give the quarters for the lodgings Of the Captain A Captain ought to be expert diligent and courageous he must know the duties of all that are under him but principally his own His office is to lead his companie wheresoever his Generall or Colonell shall command him His functions are to give the orders to his Lieutenant and Sergeants for the marching of his companie be it three or five in rank placing his muskets in the front and rear and the pikes in the middle Or in battaillon placing the muskets on the flanks of the pikes He must teach them how to fight be it in surprise of an embuscado in approach of cities in assaults encounters skirmishes or battailes To lead them on prudently labouring to bring them off with as much glorie as he shall have courageously brought them on The Captain must alwayes be at the head of his companie certain paces advanced before them unlesse it be to joyn in battaile for his sole person were not able to sustain the shock of the enemies pikes but then he is to place himself in the first rank of his companie He must cause his souldiers to be taught the use of their swords pikes and muskets teaching them how to order themselves in battalia and to rally themselves being disbanded either by occasion of an alto a narrow way or a defeat Also to make their huts and all other exercises of warre At every dislodging he must cause his company to be put into battalia and then to cause them to march according as the ground will permit and at their lodging to lead them in a long order of march either 3 or 5 in rank Marching with his companie alone he cannot punish a souldier with death unlesse he rebell for then he ought to kill him but for any other matter he can but disarm him take away his accoutrements of liverie degrade and cashier him or commit him to the censure of the Colonell of that regiment He must take care for the payment of his souldiers of their armes victuall and munitions to cause the hurt to be healed and to compose quarrels He must make choice of an expert Lieutenant a courageous Ensigne two diligent Sergeants suspecting Corporals a faithfull clerk a carefull harbinger a bold chirurgeon and a pious Chaplain The Captain appointeth his own Sergeants harbinger drum fyfe and chirurgeon but for his Lieutenant Ensigne Corporals and Appointees he must present them to his Colonell and to have his leave to place them in their offices The companie entring the guard the Captain is to march at the head with a pike in his hand and compleatly armed If it be in the field they are to be russet but rich ones if it be in a citie having a fair plume on his head-piece which he shall cause to be carried before him He must cause his souldiers to know how to fight single how in a body He must know the advantages of places armes times and occasions and how to make use of them To understand fortifications the manner of defending and assailing of places of strength how and in what manner the works are to be made that so when it shall come to his turn to direct or guard a work he shew not himself a novice or fresh water souldier Of the drum In every companie there must be one or two drums and over them all a drum major The dutie of every drum is to beat all manner of beats as the match the alarm the troop the chamadoes and answers thereunto reveills and proclamations They must know how to observe what they see to take good notice thereof and to make true report of it The drum major must be lodged near the Sergeant major or in his own lodgings it being his part to give instructions to the rest and to observe and take into his custodie the enemies drums which enter the camp He may with his staff correct the drums which fail of their duties All the drums are to attend him morning and evening to the Sergeant major to know the orders Of the harbinger He must have a list of the souldiers of his companie and make the divisions for the lodgings At the muster he giveth a muster roll of the souldiers to the commissarie controller or clerk and keeps account of the payes received and due also of the armes of the companie belonging to his Captain He is to take his quarter from the Quartermaster then to mark out the Captains lodging the Lieutenants Ensignes Sergeants his own the drums and fyfes and to put the rest into billets or lots and to cause the Corporalls to draw them by turn who shall distribute them among the souldiers this is to be done before the Ensignes lodging He ought to keep a register of all the lodgings of his quarter Of the barber chirurgeon In every companie there must be a chirurgeon to trim the souldiers to attend them which are sick to dresse the wounds of such as are hurt being as an assistant to the chirurgeon of the regiment having proper remedies to stench the bloud to hinder inflammations and to asswage the pain Of the Provost It is the Provosts charge to pursue fugitives to apprehend delinquents and to imprison them He hath under him a Lieutenant a
of the troops is alwayes to scoure and discover the high wayes and advenues by which the enemie might come and to be ever hovering about the enemies Armie for this cause they are to make great and long dayes-journeys but are excused of watch in the night except in their own quarters and for them onely At the siege of towns they are sent before to make waste to seize on the passages to invest the towns to skirmish and to take prisoners thereby to be informed of the estate of the town It is no disgrace for the light horse to retreat on the gallop for their dutie is to fight as well retreating as advancing ten against fifty thirty against an hundred therefore they must be well practised to make a good retreat and to single themselves out of a greater troop then their own and to charge them again in opportune time according as their courage and judgement shall give them resolution and experience shall direct them Of cuirassiers The Constable or Generall of the armie commandeth the cuirassiers and in his absence the Lieutenant Generall of the armie They are divided into troops of an hundred men at least those which belong to the King the Princes the Constables and Marshals of France the rest are not so strong The officers of every troop are a Captaine a Lieutenant in the Princes troops there be Sub-lieutenants a Cornet which is square for the cuirassiers or a Guidon which is long and split for the harquebusiers a Quartermaster a harbinger and a trumpet They may fitly march lodge or sight in the van battaile or rear according to the order prescribed by the Constable or Generall of the armie The Captains choose and dispose of places amongst all their members at their pleasure but they cannot cashier any unlesse he hath been wanting in the Kings service Their dutie is to keep close united to march soft and fair and never to turn their backs and for this reason they must be heavie armed Of the Generall of Infanterie The charge of the Generall of the Infanterie extendeth it self over all the foot much more absolutely then the Colonels of his regiment In all the regiments he maketh the Sergeant Majors Provosts Quartermasters Chirurgeons and Almoners All administrations of justice over all the foot passe in his name He hath the nomination and presenting of the Captains to the King he is also to give him information of the sufficiencie or insufficiencie of the Colonels seeing that the King bestoweth their offices upon them that so he may know all those of his kingdome which are capable as having learned their profession amongst the foot Of the Constable or Generall of the Armie He hath the command of the whole armie He ought to know all the duties and charges of the officers thereof and should be of great experience that so amongst many differing opinions which are usually in councels he may be able to choose the best He ought to be of great authoritie in his commands of great courage in combats constant and resolute in crosse accidents successefull in his enterprises and that he may be such he ought to invoke God to be propitious to him who will give him judgement to dispose his armie after the best manner and by his good discipline disposition and order to render it not onely able to overcome which is all that a Generall can do but will also make it victorious if it depend on the power and favour of the Lord of hosts Good successes or bad should not make him change countenance but to receive both modestly without discovering the passions of his soul by his countenance Impatience sluggishnesse choler crueltie or envie towards those which acquire glorie under him should not be harboured in his soul He must be resolute and well weigh the occasion of giving battaile rather then hazard all his troops in fight labouring to overcome his enemie as much by industrie as by force as in surprising him being disordered his troops being scattered wearie wet or surprised with hunger thirst cold or some other accident He is not to suffer skirmishes unlesse he see much advantage for by overcoming in these small occasions the souldier becomes more courageous assures himself of the good fortune and good leading of his commanders and easily perswades himself of the victorie He ought to consult with many but never to tell his resolution to any man or at least to very few by this means he shall render himself so practised as he shall be able wisely to lay hold on fit opportunities and the instant of occasions to prevail thereby He ought to acquire the love of all men principally of the commanders and not to wearie or tire his army too much for fear of diseases yet to cause his battaillons to be throughly exercised in all exercises of warre He ought to be rigorous towards evil men and to cause justice to be readily executed Of fireworks CHAP. XV. IN the tenth chapter hath been shewed what materials were to be provided for fireworks here shall be taught how they are to be compounded To make garlands or pitcht ropes for cressets Take of black pitch twelve pound of tallow six pound linseed oyle six pound hard resin six pound turpentine six pound melt these altogether and lay match therein untill it suck up all the composition and be well incorporated then make your garlands therewith To make torches against rain and winde Take cords of fine hemp very open twisted about the thicknesse of ones little finger beat them with a mallet till they be very soft dissolve saltpeter and boil the said cords therein then let them be dried Make a paste of sulphure and gunpowder beaten together soaked in linseed oyle untill it be liquid steep your cords in this liquour and let them drie again Then take three parts of wax two of resin one of sulphure one of black pitch half of turpentine a quarter of campher melt and mix all that well together then cover your cords after the manner of a wax candle and joyn foure of them together and in the middle of them a staff of sallow about the thicknesse of a finger prepared as the cords or matches above said To dissolve saltpeter Put to one pound of saltpeter two ounces of water then set it a melting over the fire in a kettle It will also dissolve alone but not so easily To bring saltpeter to flower Dissolve the saltpeter over the fire then stirre it with a stick untill it come to be like meal To make roch petre You must melt it alone in a kettle then let it grow cold To make flowers of sulphure Melt sulphure in a limbeck and the flowers will gather together about the helm To better the flowers of sulphure melt them and lay them into strong vineger To make an excellent sulphure take one part of flowers of sulphure melt it put into it half a part of quicksilver and stirre it softly over a small fire