An Esse the Vowarde the rerewarde SOmetimes vppon the sodaine bring them into this order of a D otherwise called a Snaile Place your billes and Ensigne in the rereward of your Pikes and cast your selfe round so that you may enuiron your Ensigne place your ranke of Pikes the Shot betwixt euery Captaine Liuetenant and other officers with the ouerplus of shot to be placed within the weapons This is a strength at néede but in this order they can not march or retire A D or a Snaile the rerewarde the Voward◠How to traine your men and bring them to the vse of their weapons AFter that you haue taught your company to march 3. in a ranke right forth likewise to kéepe their order in limitation or ring you shall commaund your officers to teach them how to vse their weapons First deuide your shot from your Pikes and Bils causing a marke to be set vpon the water whereby you shall the better perceiue where the Pellet falleth Then cause your Drum to goe before and your shot to follow single teaching them how to hold their péeces and to put pouder into the Pan the Match into the Cocke the better to bolden them and those that haue experience to discharge at the marke euerie one for to follow his lodesman This done cast them all about round and bring them to the place where they began then afterward teach them to discharge with pellet Then must you deuide your pikes and billes in two parts commaunding your officers that they turne their broade sides as if they should encounter the enimie causing your drums to sound Then charge your officers to goe in the front of your pikes to showe them howe that they should vse their weapons as first to cause your pikes to sarie close together then to traile their pikes with the sharpe ende toward the enemie two yards from the ende of the blade and to offer the push one at an other This being done cause your Drums to sound the retrait that is to retire with your faces vpon the enimie Then must you teach them to warde with their pikes when the push is offered against them also to couch and crosse for defence of horse likewise to aduaunce as hereafter shall more plainly appeare ¶ Here beginne certaine orders and practises to traine or place an hundred men The first THis showeth howe the hundred men before mentioned cast in a ring may march thrée in a Ranke the whiche may bee brought vnto these proportions of strength following The second SOmetimes marching in the Raie aforesaid you shall deuide the same into thrée parts by 11. rankes in each part deuiding your shot into foure partes and your Pikes into foure parts also placing your Billes to gard the Ensigne so be they ready at the sodaine in quadrant as appeareth The third LIkewise you must instruct the same from 3. to march 5. 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 The fourth ALso you may practise them to march 7. in ranke placing your Bils in the rereward with your Ensigne the which maketh a iust quadrant placing your Shotte in the wings and rereward as appeareth The first The Voward The Rereward The second The third The Voward The Rereward To augment from three vnto fiue The fourth The Rereward These foure containe one hundred men a peece The fift YOu may likewise by placing 7. in ranke the which is the greatest force that a hundred men may bee brought into place 21. Shot in the front and 15. in each wing the which seruice very aptly to skirmish is greatly vnto the anoying of the enemie also readie to retire to serue round about the battaile the Pikes as before The sixt IF in marching you vnderstand or perceiue that horsmen will assault you then place 5. Pikes in ranke and betwixt euerie Pike a shot so marching forward they fall to be 10. ranke quadrant placing your billes and Ensigne in the midst The seauenth LIkewise you may for the defence of Horsemen place 10. rankes of Pikes euerie waie your Shot next vnto them your Billes and Ensigne in the midst the Pikes endes couched on the ground the better to defend the enimie The eight THis proportion sheweth the March or Quadrant order at large of a C. men verie necessarie to bee vsed In showe to the Enimies when thou vnderstandest their numbers to exceede thyne placing seauen Pikes in the Voward also 7. Pikes in the Rereward next vnto them 6. Pikes in the second Rankes your Billes and Ensigne in the midst with the Dromme and Fiffe as is before mentioned the which nomber when thou perceiuest the Enimie to take vewe of thyne thou shalt cause the second Rankes of the Voward and Rereward to steppe forwarde to furnish the voyd spaces the which shall make of seauen thirteene in Ranke Also if thou perceiuest the enimie pretending to encounter thee hauing no place of refuge shalt cause the Rankes that stepped forwarde to retire to their places and to sarrie close together remoouing out of the second Rankes into the wings the Bills to step forwards in their places will bee seauen euery waie quadrant as in the order before is mentioned your Shot to bee placed in the Voward and Rereward may skirmish and retire as occasion serueth The fifth A quadrant mixed with shot the sixte A quadrant defending the shot the Seuenthe The eight Battaile the Vowarde the rerewarde The March at large Certaine practises for them that haue charge of two hundred men to seruice conuenient The first FIrst marching fiue in ranke 40. Rankes conteine two hundred men sueting their weapons as before may be brought to these orders following to diuers intents auaileable although the same for a time séeme painefull and although Archers be not as heretofore they haue bene yet it is good to showe you that hauing Archers you must place them as afterward to you is mentioned The second SOmetimes diuide the Pikes and the Billes into three parts by fiftéene rankes seauen to a ranke placing your Ensigne in the midst so ioyning them together maketh a herse battaile readie at the sodeine against the enimie placing fortie Caliuers in the voward and twentie Archers and ten Caliuers in the rereward with thirtie Archers The third LIkewise according to your ground you shall place your outtermost rankes with your best and fairest Corslets the which serue not onely to the show but otherwise for the strength of the battaile commanding your officers to place ten in a ranke the rest to march ten in a ranke likewise your Billes and Ensigne in the midst falleth to be ten euery way quadrant the which is a iust hundred your Caliuers placed in the voward and rereward and your Archers in the flankes which is a iust hundred also The first The Voward The Rereward The second The Voward The Rereward The third The Voward The Rereward Orders of
great experience and ripenesse of seruice whose authoritie in y e absence of the capteine extendeth to examine trie reforme correct amend any offence within the band cōmitted also day and night to bring the companie with the ensigne to the place of assemblie there in order traine and exercise the same as to the necessitie of seruice doth apperteine and béeing commaunded by the higher powers to march towards the enimies must encounter and fight with the same as if the Captaine were in presence who vpon impediment must sometimes bée absent otherwise to the Liuetenants charge apperteineth to watch warde approch conduct aduance against the enimie to encounter animate comfort and also to encourage the companies by word and déede and as néede serueth to retire continually mainteyning skirmish vntill he haue recouered some place of safegard The Ensigne bearers charge THe Ensigne bearer must be a man skilfull hardie and couragious of able courage to aduance beare dp the Ensigne in all extremities secret silent zelous able often to comfort animate encourage the companie to take in hand and mainteine such enterprises as they are appointed vnto neuer to retire but when of noble pollicie the higher officers commaund the same at such time as the Ensigne is committed vnto him he must vowe and professe the same rather to be his winding shéete and therein to loose his life then through his defalt loose the same of his discretion authoritie espying the companie trauell or follow enimies to their discommoditie and peril loosing the winde hill or ground of aduantage disordering the araie may stand still and commaund the drums fifes to stand sound the retraite that the companie may resort come to the ensigne order the aray by aduantage of the ground rather then abide the comming of the enimie or follow as is aforesaid in time of approch assault or entering imbrech he with his ensigne aduaunceth with the formost giuing occasion that souldiers the rather follow the same Other points to his charge apperteineth which shalbe hereafter more amplie declared Of the Sergeant of the bands charge SVch ought to be men sober discret and skilfull in the dutie of a souldier able to bring the companie in order of aray as to the ground and number shall be méet and conuenient if the same be broken immediatly place the same in order againe alwaies readie day and night to seruice by the Captaine or by his Lieutenant commaunded oft times to instruct the companie to march traine and trauaile as well by signes from him framed as otherwise by wordes spoken he must haue very great regard to the companie to sée that their armour and weapons be in a readinesse alwaies to seruice None may resist his authoritie but obserue as the Captaine in person he may not heare any mutenous or rebellious wordes among the companie but immediatlie reueale the same that spéedie reformation may be had and faults amended The Corporals charge SUch must be chosen to euery hundred two honest skilful souldiers either of them leading souldiers of whose weapons they haue skill must often call foorth their numbers view their furniture that nothing be lacking to thē apperteining in time of seruice Also if any be sicke hurt or absent by way of imprisonment or death immediatlie they ought to make report of the same and finding any cause worthie of relation they must spare for no mā to report the truth to the Sergeant from him the Lieuetenant so to the Captaine and further vnto the higher powers if néede shall require Thus shall dignitie of offices be maintained and faultes amended to the comfort of the rest The Disners charge THe Disners charge foure such of the skilfullest souldiers béeing trustie and honest men must vnder the gouernaunce of the other officers bee appointed to euerie hundred to diuers pointes of necessaries auaileable two of them to haue charge of the shot the other two of the pikes The band béeing deuided into 4. parts they must haue to traine 24. a péece the which 24. they are to traine and exercise according to their experience Also they must be lodged in the middest of their charge wherby when any secret seruice is to bée done they may cal numbers without the drum They be also a great reliefe in watch and ward The drummes and fiftes charge SVch must be chosen of able sort and personage secrete and ingenious skilful in the sounds and vsing of their instrumentes which warneth as the mouth of a man to all intentes of seruice diligent in times conuenient to instruct souldiers in the same that none by ignoraunce neglect their duties Such be oftentimes sent on messages importing charge which of necessitie require languages somtimes to summon or commaund the enimies to render sometimes carrie raunsomes or redéeme conduct prisoners Manie other thinges to them doe apperteine as héereafter shall appeare The Surgeons charge NEedefull it is that euerie companie haue one Surgeon a man honest sober and of good counsaile skilfull in that science able to heale and cure all kindes of sores woundes and griefes to take a pellet out of the flesh and bone and to flake the fire of the same and that hée haue all his tooles and instrumentes with other necessarie stuffe as oyles balmes salues stepres roulers boulsters splenters and al other things to the science belonging which also ought to haue courage for his patient and allowed stuffe He shall readily employ his industrie vppon the sore and wounded not intermedling with others to his owne charge noysome such bée placed with the ensigne and lodged néere to the Captaine and weare their baldricks in time of fight which by lawe of the field is their charter The office of the Clarke of a Band. A Clarke of a Band would bée a man chosen of a discréete behauiour such a one as hath the vse of his penne and is skilfull in Arithmetike who must haue a booke in the which hee must write all the names of the souldiers appertaining to y e band diuiding euery weapon by themselues y t they may be the readier to be mustred as otherwise to be placed In order of march againe the Clarke at watch ward must be attentiue with his booke to call euerie mannes name to sée who is absent and that certificate thereof be made vnto the Captaine who must without sicknesse or some speciall license of the head officers sée him or them punished to the example of all others Also the Clarke is to take charge of the Captaines munition who séeing it deliuered vnto the souldiers must take note how much is deliuered vnto whom and what day of the moneth it is deliuered with the price likewise he must repaire to the Clarke of the victuals and by the Captaines warrant to receiue such bread béere and other victualls as is to be had and to deliuer it to those that shalbe thought by the Captaine to be of credit to vittell
as periured persons with all seueritie be punished and if any souldier or souldiers shall offend in any manner of thing that dooth belong and appertaine to the dutie of a souldier whereof there is no mention made in these articles such an offender shall bée punished at the discretion of the chiefe Captaine THese Articles must bée openly read in the presence of the chiefe Captaines by the notarie or scribe of the court and after that it is 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 ye haue héere heard the articles of the Quéene our souereigne conteining the chiefe principall points of our rights and lawes of the field and of the oth and the manner thereof which euery souldier ought to take All you therefore that doo meane faithfully and valiantly to obserue mainteine fulfill confirme and kéepe the aforesaid articles let him héere now either openly refuse to be a souldier or with me hold vp his finger and say after me ALl these Articles which haue béene openly read vnto vs we hold allow as sacred and good and those will we truly and stoutly confirme fulfill mainteine and kéepe so helpe vs God and his diuine word Amen These Articles with others which for tediousnesse I omit would be published some vpon paine of death some greater and some with lesser punishment to euery one that doth offend without any remission or forgiuenesse or regard of bloud degrée kindred or frendship specially at the beginning to lye in Campe whereby the army may the better be set in good order and to make it fearefull of God of iustice and of the Generall with loue and feare The execution héereof onely apperteineth to the Maister of the Campe for the hearing ordering and determyning of causes of iustice vnder the Generall as the Liuetenant of a Citie or Towne Deputie for the Prince For the Maister of the campe is the chiefe of the orders who hath place in the Field in many things as principall next to the Generall who hath the chiefe gouernement in pitching the Campe and dislodging briefly from the Generall downeward it is the greatest charge and burden that is in the Armie and therefore it is requisite that hée haue good knowledge and remembrance of all the orders whereby the warres is to be gouerned and that he be of good practise and experience But such cases as are capitall and of great importance should bee heard and determined by the Generall and his Iudges it sufficeth that God is the knower and determiner and next vnto him his ministers on earth who failing to doe iustice either for zeale loue or hatred shall yéeld account thereof before the diuine Iudge and this law cannot be auoyded by vs but we shall be cited and called by way of appeale How Captaines according to their worthinesse are preferred to great charge SOme Ensignes haue in times past ben accompanied with one hundred some with two some with thrée some with foure some with fiue hundred men according to the worthinesse and experience of Captaines of which all were not throughly except at the first the better to traine exercise and order such numbers to seruice appertayning Here followe certeine perticular practises in proportion by letters signifying men from one hundred vnto fiue hundred in quadrant or two-folde battaile to the greatest strength for defence of enimies shewing euery weapon particularly in their place and order to march any waies to seruice conuenient or els to kéepe the ground of aduantage as winde Hill and Sunne will permitte in which consisteth great profit Certaine words to be vsed of the Captaine in time of trayning AT such times as the Captaine or any other officer determine to exercise their company to traine them they must cast them into a Ring or such like necessary and to vse these words vnto the souldiers saying as after followeth My louing friends and fellowes we be gathered together being also appointed to serue God and our Prince and to defend our countrie to the death and for that none through ignorance shall perish or runne in daunger of the lawes of the field ye shall from time to time by mée or the officers of my band be instructed by words or déedes in such pointes as to our calling and the necessitie of Seruice shal require the which you must diligently obserue and followe though such to you many times séeme both daungerous and painfull Also if any of you my fellowes shall find an occasion conuenient to declare to mée his minde and opinion in any thing touching seruice I will diligently heare and gratifie the partie the double value thereof and God willing I will vse equitie and iustice with the same Also regard that all Souldiers knowe and obeye their Officers in their place according to their calling Heere are set foorth certeine points to traine exercise and in order to place one hundreth men three in a ranke also how to bring them into a Ring an Esse or a Snaile very profitable for young Souldiers AS before I haue set foorth what number of weapons apperteineth to euery band frō one hundred vnto fiftéene hūdred men euen so to march thrée in a ranke thrée thirty rankes containe one hundred men suting your weapons in this order following that is in the front or voward .25 shot next your shot .20 pikes then 10. Billes to gard the Ensigne and next your Bils your other twentie pikes and then your other .25 shot the which béeing thus placed may by your Officers be brought to these proportions and orders as followeth greatly auaileable to diuers Seruices The Voward The rereward FIrst for that a C. is the least number that a Captaine hath in charge I will therefore begin with one hundred the which after you haue taught to march .3 in a ranke right foorth you shall bring them in this proportion of a ring otherwise called a limasson And although it is not of any force it is necessary to traine the vnperfect also by bringing them in close cōpasse together they may better heare and vnderstand any precepts touching their charge spoken by the Captaine or any other officers as oft as is méete This is not of force bicause the Ensigne lyeth open to the enimies without gard of Pikes A Ring SOmetimes vpon good occasion you shall bring your pikes in order of an esse your billes placed in the midst with the Ensigne whereby it may bee enuironed with Pikes for defence of horse your shot placed betwéene euery ranke of Pikes so that they may serue to the skirmish either rescuing other within gard the which retiring into the voyd place the Pikes couched euery way for defence the ouerplus of shot with the Captaine and Liuetenaunt with other officers to be placed in the midst of the Esse with the Ensigne
be placed as before you appeareth This is of great strength so that the Enimie cannot enuiron you To imbattaile fiue hundred men in a quadrant proportion ACcording to the worthinesse of the Captaine the greater charge is committed as one Captaine to haue charge of 5. C. men vnder one Ensigne the which to bring into quadrant Battaile you must place 16. pikes in front making 4. rankes quadrant placing your Bils in the middest with your ensigne so haue you lift the body of your battaile .250 men your shot to be placed in the front and rereward .110 in the flankes of the battell 140. in the 8. wings the which being charged may dischage and retire whereby to be rescued by the lest they may in this proporiton march any way vnto them needfull be it either to trauaile or els for to winne grounds by any aduantage To imbattaile 500. men in a quadrant proportion To place the like number in an hearse or square Battaile SOme time by reason of the ground it is necessarie to bring such a number into an hearse or twofolde battaile which may bee more auailable then the quadrant battaile To bring them into this present proportion you must place 13. pikes in breadth and 21. in length your Bils and Ensigne in the middest your shot in the Fronts and Wings Thus in order they may turne their faces and march any way to them needefull which practise may greatly auaile at neede as vnto great numbers apperteineth Thus leauing to treate any further of priuate bands here following I will shew some points and necessarie practises to great numbers conuenient to order ioine and imbattaile Laudata virtus crescit The end of the first booke ¶ In this booke is conteined certeine necessarie practises to bee exercised with such handes and regiments as vnto Coronels or Chieftaines to be committed to many exploites of seruice greatly auaileable SVch appointed to the leading and gouenment of numbers aforesaid with their bands suted weapons as accustomed The Captaines and Companies bee vnto them obedient and obserue their commaundements to all intents as if the Lord Lieutenant Generall were present And for that Captaines with their bands the better and more easily may bring their numbers into such order or battelles as the Sergeant maior by the Coronels or Chieftaines commaunded must do hereafter ensuing doth follow proportions to the assistance of the same And for Caliuers whose practise in the Skirmish be the first in the field and beginneth the fight the letters following in diuers proportions signifie such and shew to march skirmish inuade or retire in politike maner as to such doth apperteine as well by bands diuided in sundry parcels distantly in sunder as either may rescue other as also to retire by ranks rescewing as aforesaid And considering how by inuentions dayly deuised the exercises and subtelties of the same doe daily increase to the great perill of the vnexpert as we may dayly see these sundrie proportions following vnto some vnknowne may in times conuenient be exercised to bring to perfection such smal numbers so to profit in greater numbers which the vnperfect cannot accomplish Certeine necessarie points for to be exercised with numbers of Caleeuers and Archers to diuers intents of seruice in the field The first THis number vppon the sight of the Enimies must march three in a ranke casting themselues in proportion of a Ring so to abide there appointing themselues to approche still in araie there to discharge by Rankes so in the Rereward to charge readie to seruice againe marching round The voward The rereward The second THis nomber encountering the ring must discharge by rankes and after the first ranke hath discharged to retire betwixt the Rankes vntill they come to the rereward there to charge and followe his looseman to seruice againe Thus may you continually mainteine skirmish how little or great so euer your number be it giueth great incouragement to the souldiers standing but one shot and retireth Orders of shot verie necessarie for diuers intents of seruice in the fielde The Voward Theswo bands change tanks and place on their broad sides These bands of Archers be brought to seruice by the Caleeuers afore them THese two bands of calleuers set to recounter the enimie on their broad sides the frōts discharge and turn their faces retiring betwixt the other which aduance in like maner to y e reseue of the same Those retire charge againe to seruice thus practising the skirmish may bring the bands of archers to seruice to the great anoying and discomfiting of the enemie These bands of archers being brought to seruice by the calleuers although that the calleuers be counted to be of greater force thē they be of the archers be not vsed in the field so much as they haue bene yet hauing light shafts made to shoot 12 or 14 score may kepe their place shooting altogither ouer the heads of the caleeuers to the blemishing and very great anoie of the enemie Orders of shot verie neccessarie for diuers intents of seruice in the fielde These two bands discharged by rankes and return to the rereward and charge againe These two bands placed 5. in ranks like two hornes are to be brought to skirmish in proportion like as doth appeare the fronts or voward dischargeth the one retiring on the left hand the other on the right hand vnto therereward and there to charge againe euery one to follow his lodesman vnto seruice againe ⸫ Orders for shot verie necessarie for diuers intents of seruice auaileable The seauenth According to the number of the Enemies you must aunswere them with like proportion and numbers hauing great regard to obtaine hill winde water wood c the which greatly auaileth sometimes the aduantage of grounds is such that small numbers way repulse greater numbers The grounds large and plain make your maineward of shot larg strong the better to aunswer the enemie the frōts to discharge and retire to the rereward there to charge againe and being thus ioyned in skirmish with the enemie the Captaine and officers must foresee the best waye to repulse and ouerthrowe the enemy sending two winges to flanke the enemies to encounter them the which being wisely foreséene will greatly profit Orders of shot verie necessarie for diuers intents of seruice auailable These three bands marching at large maie wade through in skirmish or retire betwixt the rankes as occasion serueth either band rescewing other to charge in the Rereward and to aduance to seruice againe This may you continually maintain skirmish These practises and such like exercises in times conuenient may bring perfection to seruice with shot at need the rather through the good industrie and painefull trauaile of officers and the souldiers by whose gentle patience it is sooner obtained An order to imbattaile 600. men at the sodaine against horsemen and footmen IT is appointed vnto two Captaines to bring 600. men to conuey charge or doe
exploits as the commandement of the higher Officers shall appoint them The captaines aduertised of straightes passages and scituations of the countries also on what parte the Enimies be most like to assault them must giue order vnto your Officers to place 13. in front as before you is mentioned your Ensigne in the middest with the Billes your Shotte placed in the Winges as appeareth At such times as the Eenmie shall assault you ioyne both your Bandes and become one strengh as the ground doth serue This order is verie necessarie to doe many exploits The like number brought in maner of a Hearse to defend horsmen SOmetimes marching by 10. in ranke vppon the fighte of the Enemies deuide into two partes and ioyne their broad sides deuided togither and become in one strength which being thus placed is in length 24. and in breapth 10. Against horsemen they must pitch their pikes on thn ground and crosse them and against footemen beare aboue hande They must sarrie close together and not disseuer to followe or flie least their disorders make place for Enimies to enter as by this proportion doth appeare Sometimes for the safetie of our shot you must receiue theÌ„ within the gard of your Pikes This h signifieth horsmen galloping the field to breake vppon you where they may best enter and most easely as by the void space arpeareth the ouerplus of your shot to be placed in the 4. wings without the battaile This number to disseuer is very perillous An order to imbattaile 900. men at the sodeine CAptaines marching with 900 men vnderstanding by scout or spie that the enemie pretendeth to skirmish with them or otherwise to ioine baitaile you may deuide your bands in three parts marching 9. in a raÌ„ke placing Officers betwixt euery band that being assaulted may ioine the Voward and the Rereward to the middle ward so fall they out to be an hearse battaile placing your shotte in the winges that they may the better resorte to the skirmish likewise to retire as occasion serueth This is a singular good order for the obtayning ef any grouÌ„ds or doing of exploits ⸫ ¶ An order to imbattaile 900. men at the sodaine The Voward The Rereward An order to imbattaile the like number in quadrant proportion at the sodaine as if the Sergeant Maior were there present The Voward The Rereward WHen battails are to be made the Sergeant maior giueth commaundement vnto the Sergeants of the bands to bring their companies seueral and to ioyne your bandes the broad sides togeather as your numbers serue The Captaines Droms Fiffes with your Ensigne placed in the midst of the execution as well for the safetie of the same as for the comforting of the souldiers neuerthelesse such order is taken that Lieuetenants and Sergeants of bands with other seruiceable Gentlemen bée placed to lead the Voward and Rereward of the battaile where onsets be vncertaine whose beautifull armours politike and couragious onset is to the enemie a terrour to their owne companies great comfort The shot to be placed in foure Troupes with two Wings in the Rereward for that they may easier maintaine skirmish round about the battaile on which side soeuer they be assaulted THese foure quarters ioyned in one séem to bée 12. hundred men vnder four Ensignes euerie wayes who at the enemies sight must place thirteen in ranke which fall to be a quadrant euerie way which sodainly may ioyne their long weapons togeather making one quadrant of foure Your Droms and Fiffes with the Captaine placed next to the Ensigne the Lieftenants in the Wings and the Sergeant in the Vowarde and Rereward whereby they may the better giue intelligence by signe or word what is best to bée done Three hundred men bearing Caléeuers in the Wings thrée hundred in Demie Diamonde wise after the Alm aine maner in the midst the which being discharged the Caléeuers will greatlie preuaile This way they may march wholie togeather or retire any waies to seruice néedfull readie with their shot to encounter the enemy any wayes in skirmish either wing rescuing other as need shall require And although the Sergeants Maior appointeth order for the same yet the Sergeants of euerie Band hauing experience only ruleth and giueth order to their owne charge and appoint and place such in the fronts Rereward and wings as to them séeme most conuenient THis proportion is after the Almaine maner of imbattailing much like vnto the order of the Romanes who deuided their Legions into diuers cohorts to this intent that when the Fronts were wearied the Maineward and Rereward succeeded hauing by late experience in Fraunce tried that the deuiding of the Battaile in many Bandes so that they haue Pikes sufficient to impsle the Billes and to euerie Bande their number of shotte and horse is more auaileable then anie battaile being made of a whole bodie or as the Gréekes tearme it a Phalange for they are to be out of length or breadth as the grounde or occasion serueth to charge and encounter the enimie placed in one battaile of euerie quarter to their great detriment and ouerthrowing of anie so placed being of sufficient strength for defence of horse and though the first or second or third should be ouerthrowen yet the rest kéeping their order are to succeede Whereas the battaile being one after the Fronts be ouerthrowne the rereward is readie to run the which being disordred can hardly recouer to place them in order againe And order to imbattell 12. C. men quadrantlie at the sodaine This waies you may march or retire anle waies that shoulde bee thought needfull to the doings of anie exploits A Coronels charge in twofolde wise the pikes crost for defence of horse ¶ An order to imbattaile a Coronels charge COronels or Chieftains who oft times according to their experience and worthinesse of seruice haue the charge and leading of fifteene hundred men more or lesse to whom is committed diuers sundrie exploits and points of seruice in the field wherof they discrie anie multitude of horsemen pretending for to charge them and to inuiron your battail hauing no Wagon Borough or pale of carriages water hedge ditch or other succours but onelie the strength of their manuall weapons and pollice of defence vpon sight of the enemies must cast the Voward and Rereward to become one strength and to serue close togeather to touch crosse and defend as by this order may appeare The thrée oâ—â—most ranks faire armed and skilfull gentlemen and others doe pitch their pikes on the ground couching and crossing the same the two ranks next giuing the push at the length of the pikes the shot placed within the pikes for safegard shoote and charge still in their places This order to encounter with footmen if it bée possible will recouer the aduantage of winde hill and Sunne in good order on the one side of the hill to ioyne in fight where God giueth the victorie before these same encounters Reuiue your souldiers with meate
the Voward shall be placed .10000 footmen whereof .4000 pikes .1000 bils .5000 shat In the front of the Voward battaile are to be placed 2000 pistolaters on horsebacke .1000 Launces then there are to bee placed thy piners who are to be garded with .500 shotte of each wing the Sergeaunt maior must giue in charge that these Piners beate downe and make plaine the ground before them in their march in such breadth as occasion shall serue to make your battailes or necessitie procure or the straightnesse of the place permit also the Sergeant hath to appoint these Piners that if they be charged by the enimies hauing their weapons to defend themselues amongst the shotte or otherwise to retire themselues by the winges of the battaile and to be placed at the discreation of the Sergeant maior in the battaile next after the Piners shal followe .2000 shotte next vnto the shotte the carriages of ⧠The order of march in figure the first battaile with al the impedimentes then followeth 2000. pikes and 1000. Billes with the Chieftaine in the middest then followeth the other 2000. Pikes after the Pikes the carriages of the merchaunts and puruaiers who must by the appointment of the Generall march armed for the defence of their charge then followeth the other 2000. shotte and if you passe through any daungerous places it is requisite so to march as you may sodeinly bring them to a quadrant battaile sending alwaies before 100. Hargulaters on Horsebacke and an hundred light Horsemen for vancurriers to discouer and viewe the straightes and passages as otherwise to take the breadth and to giue certificate to the officers whereby they maie make their march thereafter and to viewe that all places be free from ambushes and traines of the enimie whereby the armie maie the more safelier and quietlier passe sending from the frontes as necessitie require aide to assist the curriars then must followe your maine battaile of footemen the which is 20000. Foote-men whereof .10000 Shotte eight thousand Pikes 2000. Holhardes the which are to be diuided in this manner next vnto the shotte of the Voward battaile must bee placed the carriages of the maine battaile with bagge and baggage who must bee placed by quarter then foure thousand Pikes next the Pikes 2000. Holberdes with the Generall in the middest then the other foure thousand Pikes after the Pikes the carriages of the merchauntes the weaponnes of the Rereward battaile to bee diuided as in the Voward who must send foorth corriers from the Rerewarde to espie whether the enimie doth prosecute thee to take aduauntage to thy hinderaunce or no and you must place next your shotte in the Rereward one thousande Launces and two thousande pistolaters your 15000. shotte of the maine battel are to be placed as wings to al your battailes who must be plast a sixtéene paces from the sides of the battels Next vnto the shot must goe the artilerie of the field with their carriages with like distance on both the sides of the battailes then must bee placed 1000. men at armes of each side of the battels Likewise 1000. Launces of each side and .2000 hargulaters as appeareth in the figure The Generall must giue in charge that in all daungers till the footmen maie bee brought to forme of battaile that the ordinance and artilerie maie bee redilie and equallie diuided in the two hornes of the battaile to terrifie the enimie to the vttermost and if so be that the enimie will attempt the battaile on the wings lette the hargulaters with the rest of the horse and shot in the wings make the like defence thus euery part shall be of like sorte defended vntill thou hast made thy battels as pleaseth thée if this order cannot please thee to march withall through a suspected place you maie practise that whiche the wise Captaine maie best like of or according to him that shall haue the authoritie of the field not thinking it amisse in noting this order in figure with the diuision of the weapons for that beeing well considered and with aduise well ordered you maie make presentlie as many battels as you will and in what order you please euen by hand without anie greate trouble or businesse of braine ††The ordering of the lodginges NOow when the wise Captaine shall bée come into his enimies land and that by his politicke gouernment he shall haue escaped all the traines of deceipt which were laid to entrap him insomuch that he is come to the Walles of anie Citie there to laie siege his first care must be that he be settled there where he may haue either at their backs some great fenne some large riuer or some deepe dale hauing high pendles ouer it either cast there by Art or fortified by nature or els hee must prouide that hee place them where they maie be defended by some other meanes as in the top of some hill or vnder some mountaine But for the greater safetie of the armie he shal send before faithfull spies which shall discouer the coast and make true report of all they see in such sort as he doth which is sette in some promontorie to watch and giue warning of whatsoeuer enimies hee shall see to appeare by sea But if so bee that these places of strength bee wanting in any place where he shall come hee must in anie case prouide that hee encampe there where he maie both hinder all passage and especiallie of victualls to his enimies besieged and yet haue free conueiaunce of prouision for his owne armie He must vse especiallie in the choice of the Plat the wise aduise of his companie as namely of the Maister of the campe the Sergeant Maior and other experienced heads of his armie And particularly for the Plat it selfe he may follow the counsaile of the Maister of the Campe the Sergeant Maior whether it bee commodious for the victualling of the Campe hee must learne of the chieefe Purueier and whether it be fit to fight in he maie take the counsaile of other beaten souldiers so that all hauing the election of the place both by the benefit of the Theâ—riks and the helpe of practise they shalbe lodged in places well defenced wholesome in aire plentie in Water and Wood and Meddowe free of passage for victualls so that the armie bee disquieted by no want If in that place in which they are determined to giue the siege as conuenient to compasse the Citie with the armie there be anie Pallaice or place of commoditie it must be allotted for the Liuetenaunt generall If there bee none let there be made a square vale of cunning men well trenched and cast into this forme following which I haue resembled partlie too that of former time or anie other forme as the Platte will best beare or the counsaile of those which are of greater experience herein then I can better deuise But of what sort soeuer it be it must be such that the men at armes maie lodge about the
I holde to be of greatest and most auailable Of the office of a Generall when the battaile is a fighting THy battaile set in order the horse and shot beeing encountred it is requisite that the General vseth some speach vnto the whole armie without the which many times a whole armie ruinateth for that his speaking taketh awaie feare incourageth the mindes increaseth the obstinants to fight discouereth the deceipts promiseth rewardes sheweth the perills and how to auoide them reprehending praieng threatening filling with hope praise shame dooing those things by the which the humaine passions are extinct vnto the Generall it apperteineth rather with wisdome circumspectly to forsée them boldlie to fight because that his fighting cannot so much benefit the common weale although he should shew force inuincible as the loosing of his life should endamage the same neither that in distresse to refraine from fight by the which the souldiers maie doe some exploite but the best is with prudence to foresee things and deliberating in times conuenient to counsell the common weale principallie to the Generall and to no other is requisite for as the maister of a shippe forsaking his charge dooing that apperteineth to a marriner giueth great occasion to the losse of the Shippe Euen so the Generall who setting a part his office of counselling and prouiding of euerie thing to descend so lowe as to take vpon him the charge of a souldier should commit the like errour for through the negligence of superiours becommeth vaine all aid to whome such affaires is committed the Generall being slaine putteth the commonweale in hazard of decaie the which beeing aliue hauing through his counsaile and discreation atchieued felicitie by meane of foresight with reason hee maie lawfullie glorie and contrariwise he that is so ignoraunt arrogant and couetous that beleeueth not to doe anie thing honourablie except he fighteth himselfe is not to be thought but rather presumptuous and foolish hardie and hee that will hazard his life to gette him a name of the multitude whereby to putte those waightie affaires in peril is very vnméete for such a charge But if necessitie constraines thee to fight it behooueth thee to fight warilie and not to feare death choosing rather to be depriued of lyfe hauing anie ouerthrowe then to liue with shame but the armie beeing in safetie hee ought to haue regarde to his life for surelie where the death of the Captaine chaunceth there the happie successe is diminished for as much as they who haue had the worse vnderstanding their enimies to bee depriued of their Captaine taketh boldenesse charging their enimies afflicted with melancholie for the losse of their Captaine haue giuen them the ouerthrowe Vnto the General apperteineth whilest his men fight to goe riding about the battaile and to shewe himself to the fighters praising those that doe valiauntlye to threaten the fearefull to comfort those that bee doubtfull and flowe to succour them that are repulsed to supplie the lackes and if it shall bee needefull to leade men from one place to an other to obserue times to take occasions to make coniecture of thinges to come and when necessitie procures to giue the signe to retyre The clemencie of the General increaseth the loue of the Souldier Armour good order or late victorie causeth Souldiers to haue a good opinion and sure confidence in the General and as the loue of the Countreye is increased through a certeine instinct of Nature euen so the loue of the Generall through vertue more then through anie other benefite The necessities bee manie but that is strongest which constraineth thee eyther to ouercome or else to die Of making spoile after the victorie obteined THe spoile ought to bee made with great discreation and that speciall commaundement be giuen and proclaimed vppon paine of death that no prisoner be taken except he bée of greate authoritie vntill thou hast vanquished and beecome victor for oftentimes through the greedinesse and desire of gaine the order of battayle being broken and dispearsed the Conquered hath broughte themselues in order agayne and become Conquerours for vndoubtedlye many times when the enimie flieng seeing his adursaries comming vppon him without anie order bringeth his men againe in araie and turning backeward with standing them with violence cruellie ouercommeth them wherefore men must thinke that nothing is better nothing more safer nothing more surer then obseruing order to prosecute in order and retire in order and the contrarie nothing more daungerous as appeareth by Brennus and Belinus who beeing enriched by the plentifull spoiles of Italy returned in disorder and securitie whereby Camillus and a few of his people beefore conquered beereft them of the fruites of their conquest Likewise Cyrus inuading Scithia faining himselfe to bee afraide of his enterprise left his tentes standing and stored with good cheere and delicate Wines the Scithians being greedie thereof hee returned and slewe euerie mothers sonne the like policie vsed by Thomeris a Queene of that countrie who withdrew hir selfe into hir land faining feare vntill she had got them into straightes where beeing disordered shee priuilie had planted ambushes whiche sodeinlie inuaded Cyrus and his hoast slew them all whiche were 20000. thousand The like examples in Fraunce and other places I could recite but I will not wast time in declaring the mischiefs and destructions chaunced through rash and ouer hastie reconning of vnripe victorie and vnsure safetie trusting this maie suffice to warne thee from rashnesse and vncircumspect foresight to tomble vppon the enimies sword Hauing obteined the victorie humanitie requireth and christianitie commaundeth to shew mercie following the Cannons of the field hauing special regard that no Princes Princes wiues or Virginnes be by filthie lust polluted for God will see it punished but imitate the curtesie of noble Alexander the greate vsed towardes his captiues Darius wife and his daughters whiche greatlye enlarged and spread abroad his honour to the furthering of his Conquestes Likewise what fortunate successe had Scipio by his chast hands in deliuering of Luceius his wife and honourable vsage of Masinissaes nephew with his great liberalitie which afterwards bred him continuall seruice of those Princes before his captiues with infinite examples which for tediousnesse I leaue off Graunt not license to thy Souldiers to put al to sacke hauing regard to the time and to the state of things whether thou hast neede to retaine all the pray or part of the same or els none at al. And it is not conuenient if neede require for the common profite that making warre the common Treasurie be left without money for that more amply and largely things may be solde and with benignitie distributed to them that haue best deserued hauing regard to the hurt and sicke but those that haue bene slacke and slouthfull let him punish most shamefully and vnto valiaunt men graunt those honours the which of right they ought to haue The gifts which the Captaines ought to giue be Offices Auncients Armours and
46 pa 4 foot 134 in bradth 80 pa 2 foote 4000 44 in length 61 pa 3 foote 100000 69 in length 96 pa 3 foote containes 36 ouerplus containes 64 ouerplus 90 in breadt 44 paces 144 in bread 68 pa 2 foote 5000 50 in length 70 paces    containes    100 in bread 60 paces    A discourse of the Author with a conclusion and end of the profession of Armes AS for besieging of a Citty or Towne fortifications and placing of battery I haue not intreated of because y e dailie practise and execution of the same besides the publication therof by many excellent writers by whome thou mayest receiue profitte sufficient neither haue I written of the offices or training of horsemen because there is little alteration from the seruice vsed in antiquity sauing the hargulaters on horseback the which at the discrecion of the Generall are to skirmish or disorder a battell onelie their places of seruice in y e field with the battels I haue noted not otherwise the varietie of weaponnes and alteration of seruice is onely in footmē of the which for the great desire I haue to the profiting of my country I haue boldly intreated of trusting that those errors that may happen through default of my writing may bée without harme to any man corrected the whych are the onelie strength and bulwarke of the fielde the defence both of horse and shotte as appeareth by the poore Swizers who not béeing able to furnishe themselues with Horse were the first deuisers of the pike and the Squadronnes who sea red not after they founde the strength and aduauntage thereof to encounter with 20000. footemen any number of horsemen whose victories hath caused dyuerse nations to imitate them The Romanes what multitudes of horsemen so euer they were to fight against neuer vsed more then their accustomed number the which was to 1000 footemen a 100. horsemen putting their whole confidence in theyr footemen as appeared when they fought against Tigrane King of Armenia who inuading their Countrey with 150000 horsemen were encountered of the Romanes wyth 250000 footmen and 6000. horsemen being of them vtterly subuerted with many other notable victories the which the Romanes did as in Titus Liuius thou mayst plainly sée Wherefore horsemen art to be accompted as seconde and not as superiour or principall of the fielde because horsemen cannot goe as footemen in euerie place being slower then the footemen to obey when it is requisite to alter the order forasmuch as if it bée néedefull either going forward to turne backeward or turning backwarde to goe forwarde or to moue themselues standing still or going to stande still without doubt the Horse can not doo it so readelie as the footemen The horsemen can not béeing with violence disordered returne in their orders but with great difficulty the which the footemen doo most easelie and quicklie Besides this it happeneth manie times that a valiant man shall be vpon a vile horse and a coward vppon a good whereby it followeth that these euill matching of stomakes makes disorder Neither is it to be meruailed at that a bande of footmen susteineth al violence of horses for that a horse is a beast and knoweth the perils and with an ill will will enter vpon the Pike if you consider what force maketh them goe forwarde and what holdeth them backwarde you shall perceiue the same to be greater which kéepeth them back then that which maketh them goe forwards for that the spurre maketh them goe forward and the Pike and Sword kéepeth them backe so that it must néedes be that footemen are most inuincible and superiour to horses And if you should argue with mee that the heate which they come withall maketh them more furious regarding the spurre more then the Pike I say the Horse perceiuing himselfe to runne vpon the point of the Pike eyther of himselfe he will refraine the course turning on the right hand or lefte or els féeling hymselfe pricked or gawled will stande still As for example prooue a Horse and runne him against a wall and you shall finde fewe with what furie soeuer they come withall will strike against it Caesar hauing in Faunce to fight with the Swizers caused all his horsemen to alight a foote to auoide from the Squadrons as a thing more méeter to flie then to fight Footemen being politique hath manie other helpes as by making of Trenches and as King Henrie at Egin-court vsed sharpe stakes whereby hée gotte the Chiualrie of Fraunce Or to cause of Iron to be made Galtropes a handfull long and to be made sharpe like a Triangle euerie man to haue one of these to throwe vppon the ground at the encounter of the horse Besides the wise Captayne will choose groundes of great aduantage And as for the Pistolate is not so much in vse as they haue bene vsing chéeflie the Caléeuer on horsebacke the which is nothing comparable to the footeman with the Caléeuer who will from euery little Moll-hill gall him at his pleasure besides more readier for anie seruice Horses notwithstanding are verie necessarie in the fielde for discouering the Enimies Countrey and to destroie their forrage and to burne and wast all that is not within the fortified Townes and to kéepe troubled and disquieted the Armie of the Enimies whereby not onelie to lette them of their rest but to kéepe them troubled and wearied in the ir Armour Also to let them of theyr victualles Lykewise necessarie for Vancurriers or for Scowte and when the Battaile is fought and Victory obtained they are to ouertake runne downe and ruerthrowe the Enimie expulsed Wishing thée not to to be drawne with desire to imitat euerie newe seruice but to obserue the order of the Romanes vsing thy footemen as thy force and to euerie Regiment or Battell a certaine number of horse wher by thou maiest the better be able to serue against anie Nation howe or in what sorte soeuer their seruice bée Now hauing finished the Warres and a full determination of peace concluded béeing in thy late enimies Countrie it behooueth thée to haue great care and with great diligence to retire thy souldiours from the Enimies countrie kéeping so good order as if the Enimie would falsifie his vowe made to take anie aduauntage of thee yet that hee maie finde thée so prepared and in so good order as hys wyles shall lyttle endamage thée giuing great charge vnto thy Captaynes and so to the Officers that thy Souldiours straggle not from thy Campe to doo anie outrage or by violence séeke to take anie thing away but as they passe the Countrie honestlie and truelie to paye for that they take whereby thou maist bée the better thought off of the Enemie as otherwyse to auoyde all inconueniences that maie followe This woulde bée published vppon paine of death And if thou art to passe the Countrie of thy fréend haue the lyke regarde of thy Souldiours that
Item to haue such gouernours as are not onelie skillfull in the readie managing of their peeces but also in the making of trunkes bawles arrowes and all other sortes of wilde fire and for the continuall supplie of them they ought to haue in a readinesse greate store of Sulphur Salt-peter Rosin Calx viue Lint seede Oyle and comcom Lampe Oyle Pitch Tarre Campher Waxe Tucia Ars-nicke quicke siluer and Aquauite hereof to frame bals to burne in the water cressets and torches that stormes and winde cannot extinguish murdering bullets to shoot out of morter peeces and such like Item euerie peece of ordinaunce to haue his conuenient number of horse or Oxen too drawe and carters too guide and keepe these beastes and euerie peece to haue his gunner or two to attend thereon to charge discharge and mount the peece also to wade ram cleanse scoure and coole the peeces when they are ouer heated and for this purpose they shall haue in a readinesse spunges vineger and colde water c. For these gunners there must be one maister gunner ouer all Item if anie band want pouder or shotte the maister of the ordinaunce vpon request of the Captaine is to giue order to his clarkes to deliuer the same and to take a bill of the Captaines for their discharge the which at the paie daye must bee deliuered to the treasurer who is to staie so much of the Captaine and his band To this officer apperteineth to haue in a readinesse certein boates made for the purpose with flat couers of sawed planks whiche chained together maie make sodeinlie a bridge to passe an armie ouer anie water who must haue cables and ankers to let fall in a violent streame The Maister of the ordinaunce is to haue attend vpon his charge a sufficient band for the gard of his charge and also pioners to make plaine the waie for his carriages and to entrench the place in the camp appointed by the Prouost for the atilerie That there bee whéele-writes carpenters Copper-smiths Bowyers Fletchers Masons and such skilfull artizans with all tooles necessarie and néedfull too preserue repaire and make all things appertaining to artilerie When the daie of seruice is the Maister of the ordinaunce is too select a place conuenient too plante his ordinaunce as well to noye the enimie as also to be in such sort garded and fortified as by no waies it be not surprised by the enimie Also in the camp towne or fort he onelie is to giue order for the planting of the artilerie and fortifications of the flankers to the best aduantage and also to forsée that the Maister gunner and other gunners doe their duties which appertaines to their office also in besieging to haue no lesse care in placing his Batterie for the cutting of the flankers before the assault be giuen Also the Maister of the ordinance is to giue order for the accomplishing of anie plat by mynes and the Captaine of the mynes and Pioners are to followe his direction Finallie this office is of great reputation in the field and manie exploites dependeth therevpon but for that he cannot well performe all himselfe he maie refer the small to those that serue vnder him and to execute the great himselfe The office of the Lieuetenaunt or Generall of horsemen VNto this officer apperteineth too haue the charge of all the horsmen of the field as of Hargulaters Lighthorsmen Lances and men at armes who immediatelie after entring into his charge must view the election of the Captaines appointed whether they bee meete for such a charge or appointed by fauour and to make report vnto the Generall whereby such maie be appointed as haue bene brought vp in militare profession He must kéepe a booke of all the bandes committed too his gouernement with the names of the Captaines and to peruse whether the bands be furnished with horse armor péeces lances and all such necessaries for that warlike profession as vnto such apperteineth He must giue great charge to all the Captaines for the training of their bands and to giue order in what sort in what place and time they shall exercise their bands and if default be either of furniture and otherwise to make certificate to the Generall or high Marshall that defaults maie be amended He must dispose euerie sort of weapons in seuerall troupes by themselues who must appoint them in seruice as hee shall be directed by the Generall or Lord high marshall Hee is to appoint what bands shal watch and what vancorriers prouiding that they which watch the night may rest the daie and others to supplie their places that conuenient rest maie be had wherby man and horse maie the better continue in seruice Also at the sound of the trumpet in the morning hee shall with all the troupes of horsemen repaire to the Generalls Tent to knowe his pleasure and then immediatelie to sette forth the Generalls standerd causing all the troupes with their guydions to place themselues in rankes after the Generall that hee maie at euerie sodaine drawe foorth such numbers that shall be required by the Marshall or Generall Hee ought to giue warning to such horsemen as shall watch the night ensuing that they maie bee the better able to doe suche seruice as they shall bee enioined too doe When the Lord Marshall pretendeth to incampe the Lieuetenant is to appoint a conuenient band to attend vpon his person and to appoint a companie to take their rest which shall feede their horses till such time as he shall deliuer them to the scowte Maister at night who shall inioine them what to doe all the night after and shall also deliuer them their watch word And at such time as they enter into the campe the Lieuetenant shall cause thr horsemen to kéepe the field till all the footmen be encamped causing first one band to enter and the rest to keepe the field and so orderlie to followe placing themselues as the last bands maie bee as wel lodged as the first He must giue order that the coziers come not out of the field till the trumpet sound to the watch and sentinel come from the campe to take their places in the field Hee must appoint a sufficient number of horse to attend vpon the forage maister to gard and defend the foringers which must not returne out of the field til the forering maister with the rest be returned to the camp these must rest all that night and the next day Hee is to appoint a reasonable conuey of horsemen for the safe bringing of victuals to the campe to see that no violence be offered vnto them and so to order the chaunge of his horse in these seuerall seruices that some bee not ouerburdened and others spared to much but all things so ordered as none haue cause to repine Hee is in the daie of battell to appoint the hargubeters the which are the first to seruice the light horsemen Lancis men at armes in seuerall troupes with such
oftentimes well ordered of manie valiant captaines of Italie and especiall of the L. Alexander Vitellie Concerning the other formes of battailes which are to be vsed in the night I minde to omit thinking this to be sufficient and easie to be ordered and besides not commonly knowen except a battaile representing full crosse to which there are so good rules that they may serue any number by day or night to be ordered and I the rather doe it because I speake not sufficiently in their places in the second book yet as well as I can not so well as would ioining to them certain others to the end that if in nothing els I haue pleasured the valiant expert yet at the least the proportions of these formes maie giue them some small helpe Then when as vpon any doubt the armie shal remoue to march he shal place y e armed pikes vnarmed with their bils ensignes in such sort that when néede shal be to double the ranks to make the armie greater and yet the armie maie kéepe his former proportions that is to saie that the voward rereward deuide betwéene themselues al the armed corslets and vnarmed pikes so that the flankes in long wise be not vnarmed So shal it come co passe that the short weapons shal gather together in the midst of them the ensignes The vnarmed pikes are not to be reiected in the plaine field seing it is verie hard and peraduenture not altogether mâ—â—t that any should be armed pikemen as it is trulie said they with the armed are the whole strength of the footmen so the hargubusers must onely serue to flanke to ease the defences to lie in ambushment to skirmish to approch and in all other functions and at a word to incumber the enimie either in defending the enimie or to assalt any fort He must haue a care in the making of this battaile quadrant the which of all other I holde y e best that for Corporals or Sergeants do perfectly vnderstand how many ranks are in a companie aduertising them with all that euery companie be agréeable together in the number of the ranks which be of many called maniples Then must he cause theÌ„ to march one hard after another seing euery coÌ„panie guided by their officers and being come to the place to contain them of ease commaund the first companie to march from the rest to make space willing the second to ioine vnto the first as a flanke then the third likewise vnto the second and the fourth to the third and so from hand to hand Hée shal frame a valiant battaile to encounter the enimie howbeit it is very hard to kéepe a iust in order of so many men in ranke and of so many rankes as the rule of the Theorikes oth doth teach for that very often the companies are vnlike either in nuÌ„ber or weapons then marching thus together on this order hee must commaund that all the ensignes vnder one Coronell march together not mingling themselues with the ensignes of other Coronels Now the coÌ„panies being thus doubled the battailes ingrosed as is said before euery ensigne may seeke out his owne band stand with it both for y e greater encouragmeÌ„t of them the more safety to himself but if they return to march at length euery ensign shall place himselfe amongst the rest as his lot fals out the hargubusires seuered from the battaile must march half of theÌ„ by the Uoward the other halfe by y e Rereward either a little towards the right hand or towards the left either as the commoditie of y e place or doubt of any danger shall require Then doubting the rankes of these hargubusires as much as shall be néedefull they must be ingrossed then vex is carefully placed for the flanking of y e main battail vnderstanding with all that it behoueth very much aswell these two wings of hargubusires with the voward rereward of the chief battaile the ordinance should be coÌ„mitted to the guide of worthie Captains of officers of credit of expert souldiers y t they may be able to help in all extremities and to resolue theÌ„selues in any doubt knowing what is to be done without waiting for the counsaile of others in cause where such couÌ„sail is neither present nor at hand The bodie of the square like a wedge must haue in the first rank one man in the second thrée men in the third fiue men so till euerie ranke increasing by two souldieiers which rule is very perfect kéepeth iust in proceeding to infinite numbers of two wedges ioined together a battaile may be well called the shéeres thrée or foure ioined together a battaile called y e saw with manie others the which were much vsed amongst the Romans and other nations the battaile in full forme of a crosse hauing foure fronts containing all sorts of weapons belonging to footemen is verie profitable as may be vnderstood by the rules of the Theoriks as otherwise in the proper place of the battail appeareth in the second-booke And although all these battailes be not in vse yet all these formes seeme verie profitable if they might be ordred and disposed in place conuenient howbeit all are not very 〈◊〉 to march and as in my iudgement it is not very easie to shewe by wordes the manner that must bee kept in giuing the assault to the enimies either by day or by night considering that a man hath alwayes to applie himselfe to the warlike policies and deuises of his Lord that gouerneth him For it hath béen often séen that the onset hath béen giuen by the coriers on horsebacke manie times by ambushes well placed in couert hauing aduantage of such as lie in scowt who wait their time to assail them at vnawares when they may most endamage them I might here speak also as appertaining to the Sergeants office of the prouiding the principall munition the armour and victuals other things necessarie for the armie and the bestowing of them besides that hée hath a part in the businesse which belongs to the great master of the camp as to place the wards within the camp and to appoint the watch worde by which the same wardes are gouerned and the whole campe I might speak of these things if they were to bee done alwaies after one sort or had one ordinarie manner But for that they bee variable according to the nature and disposition of him that gouerneth and very often as place and time shal require I will omit them It may suffice to shew in part what appertaineth to the office that thereby he may the redilier dispatch what shall bee appointed of his Lorde Those things which shall bee giuen him in charge of anie importance shalbe giuen him in writing reseruing besides a copie thereof that if he either misse in his obedience or otherwise by his default anie mischance shall happen in matters of waight he may not say but
12 Item there shall no souldier neither in time of marching nor during the time of their incamping holde or kéepe anie whispering or talke or secretlie conuey anie letters vnto their aduersaries without license from the chiefe Captaine vpon paine of the losse of his life 13 Item if there be anie one or a more number that shall goe about anie treason or anie other conspiracie to be committed against the campe or garrison such a traitour or conspirator shalbe accused vnto the Knight marshall and he that bewraieth and accuseth such an offendor shall haue for his reward a moneth wages or more as the facte is hainous so the rewarde is to be increased vnto the partie that reuealeth the same and the offender to receiue the reward of a false traitour 14 Item that no souldier shall bée suffered to bée of a ruffinlike behauiour either to prouoke or to giue anie blowe or thrust or otherwise wilfullie strike with his daggar to iniurie anie his fellowe souldiers with anie weapon whereby mutines manie times ensueth vppon paine of the losse of his life 15 Item if anie one beareth hatred or malice or anie euill will for anie occasion done vnto him so striketh him he looseth his hande if otherwise he séeketh reuenge then by lawe he looseth his life 16 Item if anie souldier bee warned to watch or warde and he doe not come hee shall bée punished at the discretion of the Captaine but if anie souldier bee summoned to watch and hée appeare and after the watch woord giuen and the watch set he departeth and leaueth the watch such a one shall without mercie bée punished with the losse of his life neither shall anie man set an other to watch in his place without the leaue of the Captaine vpon paine of his life 17 Item that no souldier or souldiers draw his or their sword or swoordes or vse anie other kinde of weapon with violence to doe hurte within or without the campe during the time of the warres vppon paine of death It hath lately béene vsed with more fauour of life as such an offender to loose his hande but it is the discretion of the Lord chiefe Generall in whose handes lyeth both life and death of offenders after their arraignment and iust condemnation 18 Item the like lawe is against the officer and officers of anie band in the campe if he strike anie souldier without such occasion as is permitted him in the articles to doe 19 Item that no person or persons presume to be mustered or to take wages before hée be sworne to be faithfull and trulie to serue his Prince in those warres present vpon paine of death 20 Item that the Harold at armes shall proclaime publish all that the Generall shall giue him in charge in the place and places where hee is commaunded and not to adde or diminish anie part or parcell thereof vpon paine of death 21 Item there shall no souldiers or other men procure or stirre vp anie quarrell with anie straunger that is of anie other nation and such as serue vnder one head and Lord with them neither in their gaming or otherwise vpon paine of the losse of his life 22 Item there shall no souldiers or other person béeing in campe or march take away anie thing from anie man béeing their friend by violence or by deceipt as their victuals or other necessaries vpon pain of the losse of his life 23 Item when that there are anie victualls carried or brought vnto the campe no man shall run out to take anie part of them before they bée brought to y e appointed place for the purpose no though they offer for thē more then they be worth vpon paine of the losse of his life 24 Item if that the Prouost martiall haue at anie time taken an offender and according to his office he carrieth him to bee punished and if that one or more souldiers séeke to rescue the saide malefactor and in this sturre the offender escape hée or they that are the occasion of this escape shall be punished with the like punishment as the malefactor should haue béene whether it bée by life or otherwise according as the waight of the crime requireth 25 Item if there bée anie founde that hath entered his name vnder two Captaines and hath taken wages armour and weapons before hand such a person shall bée taken for a periured man and shall by the law of armes for the same loose his life 26 Item if anie that hath a place appointed him by the harbinger or officers for his tent or lodging hée must hold himselfe content withall neither shall he molest anie man lodging within his tent or other lodging at anie time for anie occasion vppon paine of the chiefe Captaines displeasure and such punishment as hée shall thinke most fit for the offence 27 Item that no man shall sound and make anie allarum except it be néede or vpon commaundement from the higher officers vpon paine of the losse of his life 28 Item when of necessitie the alarum is made each man must besturre him to bee readie for battaile vppon paine of the losse of his life 29 Item at the first warning of the drum or secretly all souldiers must bee in a readinesse and resort to the place appointed which commonly is the market place from thence in order of araie to the enimies as they bée commaunded vpon paine of the losse of his life 30 Item al souldiers being horsmen or footmen must diligently in order of aray by sound of drum or trumpet accompanie the Ensigne to watch ward or reliefe of the same being the silentlie in a readinesse to the enimies as occasion shall serue to brute the alarum with the vsuall woord Arme Arme or Bowes Bowes vppon paine of the losse of their liues 31 Item all souldiers must kéepe their armour and weapons faire cleane and seruiceable in a readinesse at euerie sodaine none intermedling but with his owne euerie one to helpe other to arme and diligently to resort to the place of seruice at scrie and larum vpon paine 32 Item all souldiers must honestlie intreate and trulie paie vitlers artificers allowed for their reliefe being friends or enimies and with curteous words encourage such to vittell relieue the companies or campe vpon paine 33 Item all souldiers in watch ward march or otherwise shall haue speciall regard that if there be man or woman desirous to speake with the superiours or being thine enimies for feare do forsake his owne power and resort to thée let such secretly be conueied to the Lord chiefe Generall regarding that they viewe no secrets least they be double spies vpon paine of the losse of their liues 34 Item Captaines and officers must oft frequent resort vnto the souldiers lodgings to sée in what state their armour and munition be in to giue great charge that their furniture be alwaies in a readinesse their corslets with all péeces belonging to the same and their
trayning two hundred men The fourth SOmetimes by commaundement of the Generall or head Officers you shall be commaunded to doe some exploite by night the which beeing lead by your Guides through straites wrong grounds woods c. it is needefull that euery Pike man and Bill man take holde of his Lodsemans weapon placing your shot betwixt your Pikes and your Ensigne in the midst your Pikes to march fiue in Ranke sixteene rankes is iust eightie pikes beside your Bils the ouerplus of your shot to be placed in the rereward The sixt SOmetimes occasion serueth to marche through long Brome Corne or Ferne so that Souldiers must traile their pikes frō the ground close together at the halfe pikes in the Voward the sharpe ends of the pikes forward and in the rereward the sharpe ends of the pikes to the ground who may of the sodaine being assailed with horsemen must presently aduance and couch their pikes euerie way for defence of Horse your Caliuers in the front and Rereward the archers in the flanks The fift ALso when you shall bee called to the assalts of Towne Fort or any such like you must endure the great shot if it bee not dismounted wherefore your officers must cause them to march a good distaunce a sunder and euerie man close to his Lodseman march with expedition and manfully employ themselues vnto victorie your Caliuers in the Voward your Archers next to your Pikes The fourth The Voward The Rereward The fifth The Voward The Rereward The sixt Battell The Voward Certaine points to exercise and traine three hundred men vnto seruice conuenient A Captaine hauing charge of 300. men that be expert in seruice may oft times victoriously accomplish Exploits and points of seruice to them committed which great numbers vnperfect may not attaine vnto The better to instruct the same here followe certaine orders and strengths in araie which practised in time conuenient may bring perfection of seruice at neede The first Sometime placing such numbers by 5. in Ranke may be brought to diuers points of seruice conuenient .60 rāks conteine .300 men fiue in ranke The second To bring this number into a quadrant proportion you must diuide your long weapons into three partes placing foure in ranke your Billes and Ensigne in the midst and ioyned close together fall out to be 12. quadrāt euery way your shot placed in the wings ready to skirmish in the body of your battell are sixe score Pikes thirtie billes and in the wings seuen score and ten shot in the rerewarde thirtie shot thus is this number at the sodeine brought to strength against the enimie The third Sometime augment your Ranks from 5. to 7. so 44. Ranks conteine 100. men which are to be ioyned vnto other numbers and to be brought to force The fourth Sometime from 7. to 9. in ranke the long weapons of the same conteine 18. ranks your shotte placed in the Voward and Rereward as the ground may serue is a herse or broade square By these exercises of augmenting ranks as do appeare Souldiers may bee brought to perfection of order in aray and by the same bee brought to perfection in quadrant or hearse according as numbers and ground will serue Here followeth the fift and sixt order of trayning .300 men The fift SOmetimes the Captaines with your bands aforesaid be appointed to some exploits with such silence that Drums sound not nor clap Weapons neither vse any noyse vntill they haue recouered the place conuenient for their enterprises yet sometimes the officers in the rereward sendeth a word passing from man to man vntill it come to the voward onely from one ranke vnto an other which may bee said Sarre aduance or such like appointed two or three ranks of gentlemen skilfull Souldiers to leade the voward knowing the encounter to ioyne that waie by order of the officers the shot doth issue to skirmish betwixt the leders aforesaid The Battaile may ioyne close together if occasion requireth also the rest of the shot may wade through to helpe the voward The sixt As before is placed 12. in ranke with your Billes and Ensigne in the midst so it falleth out to be 12. in ranke in breadth and 13. in length placing your shot in the front and rereward the which as occasion serueth may be brought to skirmish any waies This same Battell as the ground serueth is verie strong against the enimie The fift Orders of trayning three hundred men The Voward The S Rereward S The sixt The Vorward The Reward The first I. The Voward C The Rereward The second L The Voward L The third L The Voward C The Rereward The fourth L The Voward C The Rereward The viij Battalle The Voward The S Rereward Sometime marching in straights especially hauing some gard in Rereward for the safetie of the Ensigne you may send certaine Rankes or Pikes vnto the Front towards the enimie which shall wade through to strengthen the battaile placing the one halfe of your shot to the skirmish in the front the other halfe in the Rereward The eight Battaile The viij SOmetime hauing scope of Grounde standing in doubt of Horsemen cause the numbers to march .12 in a Ranke at large a good distaunce asunder and so to stand still euerie man towards their quarters placing their Shot on all the sides betwixt the Pikes which after they haue discharged being charged with horse may retire to the Billes and your outward Fronts serue close together vntill the Shot haue charged and at the repulse of the Horse to open your Pikes at large and the Shot to be cōmaunded to skirmish as they were in the fronts This battaile is of great force To order and imbattaile 4. hundred in quadrant proportion The first TWo Ensignes accompanied with 4. C. men may be brought to this quadrant proportion against the defence of the enimie by placing .15 in the front ioyning 4. ranks of Pikes in the Voward and 4. in the Rereward 4. in the Flankes your Billes and Ensigne in the midst placing your Shot in sixe wings for the rescuing of each other the rest of your shot in the Vowarde and Rereward in Diamond wise This Battaile for so small a number is of great force ⸫ To order and imbattaile 4. hundred in quadrant proportion The first Battaile The like number placed in manner of an hearse or twofold Battaile The second The second THe ground may be such as it shall be necessarie to place the same number in maner of a Hearse or twofold battaile placing 10. in ranke to length and 20. in breadth placing your Bils and Ensigne in the midst encountring the enimy on your broade side so shall you occupie more handes then the quadrant battaile doth occupying lesse ground in marching then the other battaile You must cause them to tarrie close together trayling their Pikes on the ground beeing ready to offer the push to the footemen and to crosse for the defence of the horse your shot to
drinke and good counsaile and with comfortable wordes to animate and encourage the same How to imbattaile .150 men in quadrant proportion AS before I haue set foorth the order or imbatteling of 150 meÌ„ in two fold wise y t which in some grouÌ„d is much auaileable for y t it occupieth more hands theÌ„ y t iust square in fiight at one instaÌ„t notwithstanding such must be assured y t the enimy can approch but one way which els may be preiudicial therefore in the plain field the iust sqare or quadrant is the strongest order y t may be neuertheles coÌ„uenient it is at such time as you purpose to ioin battaile with the enemie hauing ordinance other cariage to y e same in the wings of the rereward thereby to impale the same y t the enemie enter not but in the fronts Also the expert captaines must foresée to obteine hill winde Sun or anie other aduantage the which diuers waies greatly profiteth If your battail be assaulted with horse then couch crosse your pikes and against footmen sarrie close trailing your pikes vntill the encounter then to offer the push till repulse be giuen and God giue the victory In the fronts you must place your best armed most valiant men aswel to encourage the rest as to bee a terror to the enemies your shot to be placed in the wings rereward for being placed in the fronts they cannot well retire but vpoÌ„ their own pikes or els vpoÌ„ y e shot in y e wings To be brought to this proportioÌ„ you must place 6. ranks of pikes 19 in ranke euery waies which comes to 512. the shot to bée placed in 4. troups in the wings 10 in rank which is 400. 310 in rank 3. in bredth in the Rereward the which are to succéede the other troupes after they haue discharged the 50. shot 48. pikes are to bee placed a-about y e artillery or otherwise at y e discretion of y e Coronell y e captaines lieftenants with the sergeants to be placed about the battaile to giue such order as may best preuaile The Chieftaines Coronell to be placed within the battaile as appeareth in the figure Howe to imbattaile 150. men in Quadrant proportion A Table to discouer numbers by hundreds placed by 3.5.7.9 c. in ranke and raie assembled from one C. vnto one thousand fiue hundred that is to saie marching by 3 in rranke 34. rankes containe 102. men by which example following you may plainlie discouer the numbers  Ranks  Men.  3. in ranke 34 is 102 67 201 100 300 5. in ranke 20 is 100 40 200 60 300 80 400 100 500 7. in ranke 15 is 105 29 203 43 301 57 399 72 504 86 600 100 700 9. in ranke 11 is 99 22 198 33 296 45 405 56 504 67 603 78 702 89 801 100 900 11. in rank 9 is 99 18 198 17 297 37 406 46 506 56 616 64 715 74 820 81 897 91 1017 100 1100 13. in rank 8 is 104 MeÌ„ 16 208 23 299 31 404 39 507 46 702 54 806 62 897 69 1014 78 1105 85 1196 92 1230 100 1300 15. in rank 7 is 105 MeÌ„ 14 210 20 300 27 404 34 510 40 600 47 707 54 810 60 900 67 1005 74 1110 80 1200 87 1305 94 1410 100 1500 ⧠A two-folde Battell of 2000 men THIS TABLE SERVETH TO PVT IN ORDER OF BATTAILE LONG OR SOVARE ON HORSEBACKE OR ON FOOTE OR TO NVMBER Enimies so placed also to tile or paâ—e or measure ground of like portion also what ground serueth to encampe euery one of the long or square Battailes A quadrant or two-fold battaile of 2000. men THis present fourme of battaile which represents a quadrant hath bene often vsed as very profitable of many Italians well experienced and of great credite in the field it is as it doth appeare flanked and enuironed with twoo greate bodies or sléeues of Hargubusiers the which containe in number for each flanke 380. men and in the Voward 100. and in the Rereward 140. Which shot are to bee carried about the battaile very commodiously for seruice and as they shall seeme otherwise to bee imployed by the Sergeant maior In the bodie of the battaile are 800. Pikes 200. Billes and 10. Ensignes hauing to euery Ensigne 200. men the which to be brought to this forme you must place 45. in ranke for the bredth and 22. in ranke for the length the Captaines Lieutenaunts and Sergeants as before you is mentioned and the Chieftaines in the heart of the battaile And although this manner or forme giueth scope to moue which way they list yet I hold it best not to suffer them to stirre much And that little mouing which is to bee graunted to them must not bee ouer hastie but in pace flowe sober and well measured vnlesse he hath to set against the like battaile of the enemie for then the last rankes must be somewhat quicker in stirring and to bring 10000. or 20000. to this order readily they must in setting forward march with maniples well seuered and deuided which manner is very readie to be compassed with ease But to place them in length dubling the ranks bringeth them likewise to a very formall order of battaile of which I haue sufficiently spoken in the office of the Sergeant maior in the first booke A Battaile in forme of a Crosse very necessarie to be vsed as well in the night as by day because all the weapons are deuided by themselues THis Battaile in forme of a full Crosse consisteth of 10. Ensignes euery Ensigne hauing vnder it 200. souldiers so that the whole number contayneth 2000. men It hath 4. fronts or faces whereof euery one is accompanied with Hargubusiers which may in tyme of necessitie bée couered and defended by the armed Pikes so that the formost rankes be moued by the flankes and sides This forme hath bene vsed of Spanyards and Italians It is a gallant battaile and of force sufficient to resist the enemie in open field albeit setting vnwares and besides superior both against horsemen and footmen the Hargubusiers are 1000. the which are the halfe of the number These Hargubusiers being deuided into fower parts must be in euery flanke 200. placing 14. in ranke euery way the Billes and Ensignes placed in the midst of the Crosse are 200. and the whole number of Pikes are 800. the which are to be placed on euery quarter of the Billes 200. placing 14. euery waies the which make a iust quadrant of people so that there remaine to bee placed by the Sergeant maior 16. Pikes and 4. Billes and of shot 200. This rule may serue in proportion for any number being very excellent for the night because each weapon being deuided by themselues may be readie at the sodaine for any seruice either to giue battaile or for defence of the Campe the horsmen and the field péeces to bee placed as shall seeme best by the Chieftaines or the Sergeant
maior The Battell called a Crosse verie excellent both for day and night THE BATTELL IN FORME OF A MOONE BEING OF GREAT FORCE FOR THE NIGHT. An excellent order of incamping if thou standest in doubt of the enemie THis square battaile in forme of a Moone is very cōuenient and fit to be executed in the night tyme for y t there being appoynted any Chieftaine whatsoeuer which may place the first companies that come to him at the Ensigne in order before assigned and the great Sergeant thē receiuing them and from hand to hand parting them into seuerall companies in maner as this forme shall require it is ordered very easily and it is no great matter to deuide the weapons without confusion either to march or otherwise to vse themselues seuerally from the rest more or lesse as it shall be néedfull for that euery weapon doth stand at his owne defence by it self as first the Artillerie next the Ensignes then the Billes or Holbards and in the outtermost circle the armed Pikes which may vpō the sodaine hy the Sergeant or the Corporalles of the fielde be brought to any other forme of battell also the great Sergeant may place the Hargubusiers in so many companies and so many formes and so much distance one from another as the situation of the place doth either bind him to or may seeme to require to the end that the principall square may be best defended and flanked And for that the purpose of this forme is easie enough of it selfe to be vnderstood also for that I haue more largely spoken of it in the first booke in the office of the great Sergeant I will no further intreate thereof aduertising withall that euery battaile in square forme this or other that must bee ordered in the night aboue al must prouide that it haue placed euery sort of weapons by themselues that thereby confusion may be auoyded and besides they may call foorth to seruice any companie presently vppon any necessitie that may befall aduertising that good watch and scoute be kept on horsebacke and on foote as néere the enemie as is possible and to giue aduertisement whereby you may knowe what is best of you to be done A way to march and to conduct foorth the Armie IF any Generall or Maister of a Campe Coronell or Sergeant Generall that hath charge to conduct an Hoste to march from one place to another it is requisit that if he haue not experience of y e countrie himselfe that he carrie such as haue experience that he with them may consider well of the scituation and place whether he is to goe with his Hoast as through Plaines or néere a Hill or by Hilles or on Vallies that haue Hilles on both the sides or by Woods or néere to a Wood or els where a Riuer is néere It is also requisite that some of the light horse as well for discouering the enemie as otherwise to take the breadth of the straights and passages goe before and to make certificate that according to the breadth the Hoast may march And put case that one part of the way be fiftéene foote broade the Hoast shalbe made to march by fiue in a ranke because euery footman will haue three foote in breadth from shoulder to shoulder sixe foote in length betwixt ranke and ranke and one foote for euery person so that 21. foote in breadth and two myles in length wil containe an Armie of ten thousand men After the same reason whether there be twentie or thirtie thousand footmen according to the measuring of ground by the foote they may bee set in order very easily neither can the leader bee deceiued when he knoweth how many armed men euery place can containe And after the same order as the place doth inlarge he must enlarge the rankes causing part of thy Shot to goe before the aray and part behinde and other to goe in succour of thy Horsemen that goe in viewing the passages and the Ambushments with the whole doings of the enemie and let an other part be for a vauntgard and retrogard to the ray to bee able to serue them at néede and an other part to go alwaies at the flankes of the ray the which if there bee Ditches shall serue as a Counter-mure against the Horsemen of the enemie and if they be men at armes they must march on both the sides of the Battaile and also of the Hargubusiers that doe march by the flanks of the Battaile and the Lighthorsmen to serue for Scowtes both before and behinde the ray Also there be abundaunce of Labourers to make places plaine and to cast downe Ditches and Bridges and to make defences and other necessarie things that are required in marching the which must bée garded by your Lighthorse and Shot and when you depart to fayne to goe to some other place then that you go to and if there bée no men at armes to appoynt to euery Regiment certaine Hargubusiers to serue on Horsebacke the which may serue in stead of men at armes and when occasion serues to serue on foote agayne It is requisite that all Souldiers followe their Constables and leaders and haue great care and diligence in marching to the end that by sodaine assaults they bee not at euery steppe to rise in a rumour and confusedly to runne here and there and the one to goe contrary to the other and finally comming about them not to be able to do any thing of any profite For which cause thou oughtest to march with thyne Armie through euery place in battaile ray whereby the Souldiers may bee made more apt and spéedie to make a voyage and quicke and readie to resist if néede shall be They hauing learned to followe the Ensignes and attend to the commaundements and to behaue themselues valiantly according to their place and order if thou march in a plaine Countrey it is requisite that thy Pikes march in battaile ray retyring thyne Armie into a little space so that by the straightnesse and facilitie of inlarging thou be not constrayned to extend thy selfe into too much length which fashion of marchings seemes to giue power to the enemie to assault commoudiously their aduersaries and according to the occasion to hurt them he knowing to bee taken from them the commoditie to defend themselues forasmuch either with more largenesse comming against thee the which is wont to happen both the hornes being compassed it is like that he shall easilie disorder and put thee to flight or els giuing charge on the flanke in the midst of thy battaile hauing alreadie broken thine order sodeinly stop thy men from being able to goe forward being closed in the araies of their enemies wherfore mynding to retyre in a mayne battaile and to turne to resist they shall bee able to doe little good as those that haue vsed such a maine battaile which for want of thicknesse is nothing strong but altogether weake Also if the enemie should charge thee on the Rereward
thou shalt be brought to the very same necessitie because thou shalt bee so compassed as thy fronts shall not be able to succour the last or the last to succour the first For the which thing it is alwaies better and more sure and easier to gouerne the bands that march close and square then thinne and long especially forasmuch as to an armie that marcheth long oft tymes happens that of some thing seene doubtfull and vncertaine there groweth sodeinly feare and terrour because sometymes it hath chaunced that men descending from high and hillie places into the plaine to places expedite and open and the formost seeing the last of the same band by a great distaunce to come after supposing themselues to bée assaulted of some Ambush of enemies it hath bene seene they haue sodeinly turned to fight and afterwards no otherwise then enemies with their owne companyons gone together by the eares The victualles the cariages and all the rest of prouision I iudge should bée placed in the midst of the armie that without great daunger such things may bee caried and conducted after the armie but if it shall be otherwise the hindmost part would be garded and defended of the most valiant Souldiers as in the fronts because that at vnwares may happen many things thy Lighthorsmen going before inuestigating and spying where they may passe hauing occasion to passe by Mountaines Woods places closed with Hilles and most great Desarts because the enemie many tymes by oportunitie will lay an Ambush priuely by the passage to assault his aduersarie which little thereof taking heede hath easily broken and brought them to vtter decay the which Ambushments if the conductor by way of explorators shal foresee with a little paine hauing preuented the counsaile of the enemie may get him a most great name of prudēce and likewise saue his Armie And as for the Plaines thou with thyne owne eyes maist see a farre off forasmuch as in the day dust moued and lifted vp into the aire doth shew the mouing and stirring of the enemie and in the night the fires and flames signifieth their Camp to be nere When thy men are to be conducted and not to fight thou oughtest to remoue by day if peraduenture some thing do not constraine thée for the which thou thinkest it good to goe in hast to come before thyne enemie where in déede for such occasion thou mayst remoue by night so that thou knowe it may safely bee done to fight with the enemie Leade thy men not in haste but softly and inforce them not to make too long a iourney forasmuch as labour taken before men doe come to fight is seene most oftentimes vaynly to consume and wast the strength of their bodies And marching in the Countrey of thy frends it is néedfull to commaund thy souldiers that in no maner of wise they touch or marre any thing but rather altogether to refraine considering that Souldiers hauing weapons and libertie to doe what shall please them will fauour nothing especially for that the sight of things that please men out of doubt is woone most daungerously to leade ignoraunt and vnwarie men to desire them and with the swéetnesse of robbing to entice them to all manner of mischiefe whereunto if thou prouide not thy friends and thy confederates for verie small occasion will become enemies Notwithstanding the Countrey of thyne enemies thou shalt suffer thy souldiers openly to destroye burne and consume because by the dearth of victualles and lacke of money Warres are woont to diminish and bee extinguished and contrarywise through abundance and riches they are nourished mainteyned but first before thou suffer thyne enemies Countrey to be destroyed thou shouldest giue aduice to thyne enemies threatning them what thou wilt doe if they will not yéeld vnto thée for that the perill of the miserie prepared and the feare of ruyne looked for ofttymes constraines men to graunt many things the which at the first by no maner of meanes had bene possible to haue brought them to passe but after they haue once receiued the hurt they will make little account of thée and despise al other things as though thou couldest doe them no more harme Albeit if thou knowest surely that in the Countrey of thyne enemies thou must tarrie long with thyne Armie suffer to be taken and spoyled those things onely which thou seest not to bee greatly profitable vnto thee but the same which is to bée thought may bée preserued for thy commoditie commaund openly to thy Souldiers that they forbeare Hauing made readie and set in order thy men tarrie not long in thyne owne Countrey nor yet in thy confederats least that consuming all thy prouision it seeme not that thou art of greater hurt to thy friends then to thyne enemies but rather conduct quickly thyne Armie into thyne aduersaries countrey whereby it be fertile and abundant there may bee taken at thy neede most plenteously those things that thou list but if it be otherwise thou shalt cause to be knowne y t thou séekest to prouide most louingly both for the wealth profite of thy friends Besides this thou oughtest to care with al diligence that marching or incamping by sea or land victuals maie safelie be brought forasmuch as by such meanes the marchants with all dilligence will bring all things whiche for the vse of an armie shalbe necessarie Moreouer when thou must passe by straights or march through rough and hillie waies then is it cōuenient principallie for the preseruation of thy things to send before shot on horsbacke and on foote for the kéeping of those places rocks or inclosed waies least the enimie taking it before thee maie both let thy passage to thy great hinderance and losse the contrarie thou oughtest to inforce thy selfe to do when thou vnderstandest the enimie to passe the like thou hast not onelie to take heede for receiuing harme but to enforce thy selfe to turne against the enimie those deceits whereby he thought to deceiue thee And when thou purposest to goe against him it is requisite to prouide before him and at vnwares oppresse him So diligentlie thou oughtest to prouide to lette him euerie waie if thou vnderstandest that he intendes to pursue thee ⸫ Of the order of the march in figure and of the placing of the weapons FOr somuch as there are diuerse formes of marching soo I thinke it good to note this onely one set downe in figure as verie necessarie and of greate force for an armie with his whole carriages to march with all wherein I partilie imitate the antiquitie as otherwise the order now vsed as for example let there bee an armie of 40000. footmen and 14000. horsemen according to the proportion set downe there is allowed to euerie hundred footemen fortie pikes fiftie shotte ten billes the which falles out to be 20000. shotte .16000 pikes and .4000 holberdes the which with the horsemen are to be diuided into three battailes the Voward the Maineward and the Rereward battaile In
vse will greatlie profit Thy battels beeing made and set in order it is requisite that thou leaue the ward within the trenches of the Campe for the defence of thy lodginges munition and carriages least the enimie vnderstanding the place to be left voide send his souldiers to take the campe and so to spoile all vppon occasion some Captaines will destroie their owne lodgings or els passe riuers or leaue beehinde them hils and deepe places to the end that the souldiers standing constantlie maie ouercome the aduersarie and obtaine the victorie or otherwise altogether to perish for that if they should thinke to saue themselues by running awaie they shall see by all manner of meanes taken from the possibilitie to escape Now beeing come to ioine battaile with thy enimie cause thy souldiers somewhat before to flourish oft their naked swords and holberds against the Sunne for that y t glistering of the weapons and their shining poynts through the brightnesse now of the one and now of the other against the resplendant beames of the Sunne doth shew a certeine horrible terrour of warre the which will strike a dreade and feare into the mindes of the enimies Likewise it is sometimes requisite that thy battailes goe forwardes with rumours and showtings sometimes running with violence forasmuch as the semblaunce of such things with the noise of trumpettes drummes and greate ordinaunce wonderfullie troubleth and feareth the heartes of the aduersaries also it is greate wisedome in a Captaine not with desire to be drawne to be the first to giue the onset but to staie thee neere thy trench till thou hast viewed thy selfe and the remedies of the enimies that is how manie battailes how they are placed of what condition and where they are disposed too fight for after this manner thou maist more commodiouslie see to thine affaires considering whiche of thine thou hast too sette against those of thy enimies and in what manner thy men are to bee ordeined and placed dooing in like sort too a good Phisition the whiche considering first the infirmitie and knowing the cause commeth afterwardes too giue remedie therefore ordeine thy men so as maie tourne moste vtilitie too thy businesse The manner of ordering of battailes latelie vsed I cannot greatlie commend for the armie beeing .20.30 or .40 M. they are diuided but into 3. battailes whereby ensueth manie perilles and discommodities because the Pike beeing but 5. yards three quarters long euerie man occupying a yarde and halfe a quarter of Pike can occupie but foure or fiue rankes at the most so that the rest are superfluous and lost besides they are easilie too bee compassed and too bee charged on euerie side wherefore I haue set downe an order of one of the battailes in figure according to my opinion the which if it may turne profit to my countreie I woulde be most gladde The occasion of the prosperous successe of the Romaines was onelye through their good orders by diuiding their Legions into cohortes the whiche were bandes of .400 and .50 the .50 were shotte the .400 were armed their weapons Pikes Swoordes and Targets the which were placed in quadrant manner .20 euerie waies beeing .10 battailes in front leauing a certeine space betweene euerie battaile for their retraite vpon occasion vnto the next order which were but sixe battailes and the rereward foure battailes all in like number keeping one breadth the voward were called Hastatie their battailes thicke and close the Maineward were called Principie who had such space beetweene the rankes as they might receiue the Hastatie the Rereward were called Triarij whose spaces betweene their ranks were such as they might receiue the Principie and Hastatie on the wings were placed seauen rankes of Pikes of straungers whiche did distend in length from the voward to the Rereward through these good orders they became conquerours of manie countries Now because of the diuersitie of the weapons hauing 20000. footemen I woulde diuide them into tenne battailes too euerie one of the battailes shall bee according to my proportion sette dawne .1000 shotte .800 Pikes and .200 Billes the which placed in two-folde wise according to my proportion set downe in figure will bee in breadth .45 and in length .22 and .10 ouerplus the whiche are to be placed at the discreation of the Sergiant Maior the shotte placed in the winges and rereward in maniples for their readier seruice who must be place a good distaÌ„ce from thy battaile thy men at armes vpon the wings of the shot thy Launces as two hornes in the front of thy battaile the light horse in the fronts of thy Launces the hargulater in the frontes of thy light horse who with the pistolaters are the first that begins the battaile thy great Ordinaunces to be placed in the fronts of the battailes or in such conuenient place as maie most terrifie the enimie there would be appointed certeine troupes of Launces whose guidons would bee contrarie to the rest the whiche the Germaine calls their Eorlorne hoope the French Infans perdus who must at such time and instant as shall be thought good by the General giue the charge vpon the enimies battails whatsoeuer shall happen who are for the same too receiue double paie The second battaile not too bee placed in the front with the first battaile as the Romaines did but in the rereward of the first so farre wide and with such distaunce as the horsemen and shotte a foote giuing the first charge may retire themselues without disturbaunce to the battells hauing thy shot placed as in the voward with the launces and shot on horsbacke the third battel to be placed in the rereward of the second with like distance with shotte and horse and so to the fourth fift and the tenth in the rereward of the which if occasion shall require thou maist as in the Rereward of the battaile place for thy defence certeine of thy carriages thy battailes beeing thus ordered thou shalt be sure no waies to be compassed by the enimies whereas thou maist easilie compasse in him not ordered in the like maner and thy battailes beeing but little yet as strong as the greater being stronglie fortified euerie waies with Pikes and when a signe is giuen your hargulaters pistolaters and launces may at the sodeine be with the formost or readie for anie other place of seruice Also your second battaile maie ioyne with the first and the third with the second and so to strengthen your battailes at pleasure as otherwise two or thrée of thy battailes to giue the charge to one of his battailes and if it should so hapen that thy first and second battailes should bee ouer throwne â—hy battaile ⧠The Battell in Figure shewing how euery Weapon should be placed to fight plast in this order thou maist retire thy selfe and leaue of the field mawger the head of thy enimie who in prosecuting thee disorder themselues as manie times happens maie be easilie conquered vsing thy battailes in this order
Spoyles and to those that be in authoritie there would bee greater honours giuen the which with benignitie and gentlenesse liberally giuen according to the deseruings of euery man it shall cause encouragement and vertue for the good to shewe valor and for the euill through feare to imbrace vertue Of that is to be done after the deedes of armes and of burying the dead HAuing withdrawne thy Souldiers froÌ„ the field it is most requisite with al humilitie to render thankes to the immortall God in most solemne maner the which being done with penitencie and deuotion from the heart he will vndoubtedly the better prosper thee in all thy affayres as he did Moses Dauid Manasses with infinite others that put their trust in him then prouide and with great diligence procure that the Obsequies be made most worshipfully to them which haue bene slaine in the deede of Armes for thou shouldest not make excuse neither of tyme nor of hower nor of place nor of perrill whether thou ouercome or be ouercomed For like as it is a godly thing to performe the Obsequies and according to the rights to see the dead buryed euen so it is very profitable for them that remaine aliue and rather altogether necessarie to shewe to the liuing this thy pitie towards the dead for surely when euery man seeth the dead bodies as it were for fearefulnesse left in the fieldes or els for despite left vnburied they iudge and presuppose the very same of themselues taking displeasure of such thinges causing hatred and a vnwillingnesse in the minds of the Souldiers to aduenture their liues knowing that if they happen to fight for their Countrey and to be slaine they are not like to be buried Wherfore the Generall and principall Officers must with eyes open see to preuent those mischifes that may insue as otherwise to render vnto the dead that of right they ought to haue Of the taking of prisoners and of the vsage of them ALthough y e antiquitie hath dealt hardly with their prisoners putting many to death yet Christianitie requireth to shewe mercie and considering that fortune is vncerteine and doubtfull and chaunce variable and mutable the which oftentimes beareth enuie to the happie successe to minister shame to glorie attained so during the warres aboue all things although great occasion giuen by the enemies extend thy mercie especially to those that be of authoritie and bearing office the which will procure the enemie to minister the like pittie vnto thee except thou hauing taken many and stande doubtfull of the field or such as haue dye shot Onyons Bakon Greâ—â—â— or such like caried to the destruction of than contrarie to the Cannons and lawes of the field those thou mayst lawfully kill It behoueth thee likewise if the enemie sendeth not vnto thee to send vnto him to know if thy prisoners taken may be raunsomed according to the auncient order of the field the which is euery Officer and Souldier vnder the degree of a Captaine to be rusomed for his moneths wages and those of fame authoritie render them for some towne or Hold or els for some such of thy friends being taken as thou greatly desirest to haue againe Good Captaines ought not to let their bands goe long vnfurnished of Souldiers being taken to their weakning and detriment of the Armie whom by raunsome and way of exchaunge or other meanes they may redeeme Captaines also ought to enquire whether any being taken and sent home vppon their faith and honour that at the day expyred they either pay the money or els sende them againe vnto their takers vntill better remedie be found the which otherwise will breede great dishonour to the Captaine giuing occasion to the enemie to kill and spoyle so many of his band as by them afterwards may be takeÌ„ The warres being ended then with wisedome and deliberation leasurely at thy commoditie al perill taken away determine what thou wilt doe with the enemie thou hast conquered Of Feasts and Tryumphes after the Victorie THE Romaines order and maner was after Victorie obtayned and all daungers past and ouercome that preparation should be made to feast y t whole Armie and that Tryumphes and Playes should bee made to lighten and reioyce the hearts of the Souldiers giuing them the better occasion to abide the paines and turmoyle of the warres and with greater courage to withstande the enemies force then of such spoyles as the Treasurie haue no neede of there should be imparted not only to those of Office but particularly to euery Souldier throughout the Campe the which with benignitie would be deliuered as fruits of their labors gotten with the hazard of their liues giuing vnto them great thankes for their paynes true hearts and valiaunt courage promising greater recompence The warres being once finished to those in Office and authoritie there would bee greater rewardes and honours giuen Hauing receiued an ouerthrow how to seeke reuenge IN fighting if thou happen to receiue y e worse it behoueth vs with great of ligence and policie to finde occasion of reuenge to take away y t shame receiued as otherwise to put feare out of thy soldiours minds it is good policy to retaine spies giuing vnto theÌ„ great rewards y t which by politique vsage may be learned y e state the strength the order manners determination of y e enimies by which meanes with secret vsage thou maist many waies haue due reuenge for that to those that haue newly obtained the victory haue the lesser care of the enimie becomming slothfull and rechlesse stragling héere there kéeping their thinges without forecast leauing their wards naked and their watches slender may with secret approch in the day time or by camisado in the night time with valiant couragious hearts be quite ouer throwne otherwise by a fewe trained out to the skirmish retiring thy selfe faining to run through feare till thou come to such place of aduantage as before thou hast plast ambushes of horsemen the which shall sodainly approch the enimie disordered and scattered to their great detriment as otherwise with thy hands of footmen placed in order of battell maiest approch thy enimie y t which séeing thy pollicy not hauing time to order themselues in the like will come foorth on heapes the which being then valiantly charged may put their state in hazard through the whych negligence the happie successe before obtained by this pollicie wyll turne thy enimie to great ruine Of truce and intermission of warres POlicy willeth thée not to séeke truce or delaie but by constraint of necessitie or for some aduauntage to bée taken as some aide looked for or in the meane time to growe into the secréetes of the Enemie to fifte his purpose by conference had with hym to vndermine hys dooinges and if he be not verie wel aduised to search the state of his force and gouernment being most secrete and vigilant in these affaires Now if feare enforseth the enimie to take truce learne by all
possible meanes whether it maie turne to thy profit or discommoditie if otherwise it maie little auaile them then it may much encourage thy own souldiours The truce being once made doo not at any time assault thy enimy nor yet stande vnprouided although thou stādest in such quiet as if thou hadst peace but haue as great regard as may be to the hidden hatred of thy enimie and wily sleights that being vnprouided he assalts thée not vnwares for asmuch as the mindes of them with whom thou hast made warre withall be secret vncertaine Wherfore make the watches and wardes as strong as if thou lookedst euery houre to be assalted giue speciall commandement to al thy souldiours that during the truce no iniury to be offered by them to y e enimy vpon paine of death by reason of the oath y ◠thou hast made in thy couenants to the enimie the which by no meanes thou shouldest breake or inuiolate considering that the fruits of falsehood besides the punishment of almightie God is euerlasting shame When thou sendest to thy enemie send the most valiant and noble men of thy armie the which be in the flower of theyr age tall lustie and of goodlie personage the which in al pointes should bee verie well armed because manye times it happeneth that the enimy séeing such men as commeth with the Captaine hath iudged the Armie to be the lyke beléeuing sooner that they sée then by reporte Precepts and rules of warre necessarie to bee obserued as well for Generall Captayne as Souldiour A Generall ought not to bée cruell vppon victorie nor insolent vpon good successe nor timerous of an ouerthrow but with most moderate magnanimity vpon the respect of occasion to shew mercie to the humble and to subdue the proude 2 Cicero prescribeth foure thinges to be in a gouernour or General which is experience valiance authoritie felicitie to y e which adde these 4 iustice fortitude pollicie and temperaunce first Iustice to reuenge fortitude to execute reuengment policy to prepare y e meane whereby to reuenge and temperance to limit and measure out how farre they ought to reuenge 3 That Captaine that with such righteousnesse can so rule his souldyers y e he wil suffer them neither to do wrong nor receiue iniury but with wisdom wil maintaine them in that which is right that Captaine must néedes be loued feared of his souldiours of the whych procéedeth true and vnfained obedeience 4 Alexander Seuerus saith the strength of wars lieth in the Souldiours whose great vertue consisteth in obedience towards their Captaine 5 Obedience in soudiours is nourished by feare and loue feare is kept by true iustice and equity looue is gotten by wisdome ioyned with liberalitie 6 Xenephon declareth that the souldiour which first serueth God then obaieth hys Captaine may boldlie with all courage hope to ouerthrow his enimie 7 Thrée necessarie pointes appertaining to souldiours the one to hearden the bodie to make it apte to paine the other to teach them to handle their weapons the third to learne them to kéepe theyr orders in marching as well in y e armie as in fighting or in camping 8 As it is necessarie to retaine citizens for horsemen the country for footmen so it is perilous to receiue straungers to serue in a cittie because thou shalt dread two enimies 9 Nature hath bread few strong men but industrie and exercise hath made many 10 And armie with labour and exercise dooth profite and preuaile whereas idlenesse doth hinder and decay 11 The choise of ground doth more preuaile then manhoode and manhoode doth more preuaile then multitude 12 He is hardlie ouercome the whych can truelye iudge of his owne and his enimies 13 No Counselles better then those which the enymies know not before thou accomplish them 14 Bring not foorth thy souldiours to fight the field before thou triest what they can doo 15 It is better to subdue the enimie through scarcitie and want of necessarie things then through many assaults to decay thy armie 16 If thou wilt know if anie spie be in thy campe or no send all thy souldiours to their lodginges 17 God Captaines will neuer fight the fielde but when necessitie constraines them 18 The aduised valiant souldiours auaileth more then the multitude 19 Aduertyse thy souldiours to despise delicate lyuing 20 He that disordereth his armie to followe the enimie becommeth of a conquerer conquered 21 Sodaine things doo make enimies afraide where things common are nothing set by 22 Offer not to fight the field except thou perceiue thy souldiours hope of victory 23 Alwaies with thy footemen couet to get the hils or high places so shalt thou accomplish thy exploites the better 24 If thou vnderstanding thy counsels are bewraied to thy enimies then chaunge thy intent and purpose 25 Let not thy enimies knowe after what manner you intend to fight least they goe about to preuent the same by one meanes or other 26 That gouernour that prepareth not necessarie victuals is already conquered 27 Men monie Iron and Bread is the strength of the warres 28 Practise to knowe a new enimie by skirmise before thou fight the field with him 29 When any mercinary souldiours wil leaue the enimy to serue thée retaine them so they become faythfull for theyr departure shall both weaken the enimy and make them fearefull 30 In pitching the field it is better to make many battels then few for that in making many the enimie cannot imcōpasse thée likewise thou maist make of one 2 of 2 thrée as occasiō shal serue otherwise thou maist charge a battel of y e enemies with two or thrée of thine the which will be to thy great aduauntage 31 New and sodayne things makes armies afraide slowe and accustomed thinges are a little regarded of them 32 The same that helpeth the enimie hurteth thée and that that helpeth thée hurteth the enemie 33 Consult with manie of those thinges which thou oughtest to doo and when thou determinest any exploit conferre with fewe 34 With punishments there would be rewardes wherby at one instant to make the souldiers to feare to hope as according to the worthinesse of the act so the reward should be 35 As he that fighting saued his Captaine or other souldiours rescewing them wold be well recompensed 36 Also he that first leapt vpon the walls of the enimy or first entered the campe of the enimie would bée well recompensed 37 He that killeth the first enimie or striketh the first enimie from his horse consideration would bee vsed 38 Euerie acte to the counsell knowne perfectlie would be openly punished and openly rewarded 39 Thus shall good gouernement bée amongest all soldiours and officers whereby any exploite to bée executed by this feare and hope shall bée the better doone and of all men to bée comemnded A Table to konwe from 500. men vnto 10000. howe many paces they do containe both in length and breadth in their march from 5. to 11
as often as you shall transgresse And as the vse of warres ought to bee applyed for the defence of right to shield vs from iniuries wherby to plant a commodious state of life so the studies thereof are to bee vsed in time of peace for exercise and in the time of warre for necessitie and for glorie and to suffer onely the Commonweale to vse it for an Arte so likewise as peace is the nourse of store and increase of things if respect in tyme bee not had for the prouision of Munition money weapons and men prepared both in mynds and by exercise trayned for the warres it wil cause in necessities but faynt warres beseeching the liuing GOD that this carelesse liuing in securitie be not so pernicious vnto the Commonweale as the detracting of tyme shall enforce vs to take counsaile when it is to late The Quéenes Maiestie with her wise Counsell hath made so good prouision of Munition for the Land likewise of Shippus for the Sea as no Realme for the quantitie better prouided but if men be not trayned and exercised for the vse thereof it will serue to no other purpose then men taken from the Land to bee Pylates of Shippes well appoynted in the daungerous Seas Besides her Maiesties prouision vpon euery occasion is not to bee broken neither vppon a sodaine inuasion easily to bee transported to the hands of her subiects for defence of her Maiesties Countrey the which y t Counsell hath wisely foreseene but their Commissions are so simply executed as I greatly doubt when necessitie shall enforce to the vse of the same they shal altogether be deceiued The reason is the Commissions are directed vnto the chiefe of euery Shiere and by them are appoynted such Muster maisters as hath good skill in the Law the flying of a Hawke or experience in choosing of a fat Bullocke or Shéepe supposing because we haue liued a tyme in peace that wee shall alwaies liue in this securitie despising to craue the assistance of the Souldier who hath aduentured his life for his Countrie being neuer so expert or of so good behauiour because he is poore and for that a Souldier will not see his Countrey deceiued by their Muster bookes as to put in so many able Caliuers so many able Corstets so many able Billes and so many able Bowes the which wil prooue when occasion shall serue to vse them to bee halfe lame I meane because such as are appoynted to haue a Caléeuer furnished shall passe the booke with an olde rustie Peece without a Flaske Touchboxe Martion Match Powder Sword or Rapier and Dagger and such as are appoynted to haue Corssets furnished that is to haue good Curates for their bodies Taces for their thighes Poldrones and Vambrases for their shoulders armes Burgonites for their heads good Pikes and Swordes and Daggers these shall passe the Musters with a little olde broken yron of their backs or if he haue an old Almon Riuet on his backe although he lacke his Taces and many other péeces so he haue a Pike he shall be very wel armed and yet men of that abilitie as they are are able some to furnish 1.2 or 3. men and keepe them continually in pay And the Bill men who are appoynted for execution and slaughter of the field the which of necessitie must be armed at all poynts these shal passe as men had in no estimation with a Skull on his head and a Pikestaffe on his shoulders Likewise the Bowmen without Iackes Skulles or sufficient Bowes according to their strengths with two or three Shaftes by their sides in their doublets and hose shal passe for able Bowmen through the sufferance wherof not only the Queenes Maiestie but the Countrey shall bee deceiued if it bee not presently looked vnto trusting the wise Counsell will see it reformed by assisting the chiefe of the Shiere with such Souldiers whome experience hath made to knowe what is méetest for men to apparell themselues withal for the warres and for that none are appointed but such as are of great abilitie for the prouision of the same so after sufficient warning giuen by the Muster maisters as is appoynted for their Furniture not well oyled and kept for the present vse if default bee founde either in lacke of such Furniture they to haue a fine set vppon their heads the which they should truely pay and that money to bee bestowed vpon Match and Powder the which should be spent vpon the trayning day and that such might be appoynted for the trayning of Souldiers as are knowne to haue experience to instruct and teach them that that they may profite themselues and their Countrie and not by fauour to choose such Captaines as are to bee taught by the poore Souldiers and that consideration by the Countrey for their paines might be vsed and at the daies appoynted for trayning the chiefe of the Shiere to be present in their warre-like attyre and to exercise themselues and their horses with running at the Ring and such poynts of seruice as is meetest for Horsemen as otherwise to see the trayning of Pikes and Shot whereby if election bee made of Captaines not able to instruct like a Captaine that others might bee appoynted that hath experience And if Noblemen and Gentlemen would see these exercises honourably frequented we should not feare the wicked practises of forreine Princes to be in hostile oppression for that those Nations seeing the discipline and martiall prowesse of a state so well gouerned prouided and defended may feare to offer vs iniuries being glad to desire fauour and league when things in this good stay and safetie are confirmed and established through this course of life we shall be most happie and do our Lord God best seruice so that our felicitie may hereafter endure for euer FINIS To vnderstand the number of weapons as well as of men Of the battell quadrant of people and grounds Of a baltell for the night the Moone Of ordering this armie in the march Of 〈…〉 Of a battaile called 〈…〉 saw or sheeres Of a batail for the night called a crosse How the great Sergeants charge should bee giuen him in writing How souldiers should behaue themselues the battell is turned Of electing and choosing of Captaines How Captaines ought to haue great regard to prouide all things for their numbers Of secreâ—â—â—â— to be vsed in seruice The regard of Captaines in chosing their officers The third The fourth The third The fourth The vij The choise of the plat ought to be by the consent of the chiefe Officers Of the policie of Caius Sulpitius whereby he ouercame the Frenchmen The poâ—â—â—â—â— of the Spaniards ouercame Amilcar How the cutting of trenches maie be the ouerthrow of the enimie How the flourishing of the Weapons before the battel against the Sun causeth a feare in the enimie How the good ordering of the Romaine Legions made them victors Of the making of the battels to be fought How the fighting of the Generall cannot benefite so much a common weale as his wise counsell Of the clemeÌ„cie of Alexander the great How Scipios chast hands was cause of his victories The Swizers the first inuenters of squadrons Tigrane ouerthrone by the RomaÌ„s hauing 150000. horsemen with 25000 footmen 6000 horsemen Caesar with his horse feared to encounter the squadrons of the poore Swizers The policy of Henry the 5. at Egincourt Horses necessarâ—e in the fielde Of the retraite out of thy enemies countrie An exhortation necessarie for all Captaines at the discharge of theyr souldiours How the Generall and Chieftaines are in conscience bound to be Mediators vnto the Prince for the reliefe of the hurt and lame Souldiers An example of Alexander Seuerus An excellent act made by Octauian Augustus for the maintenaunce of Souldiers How Policrates appoynted liuings for the wiues children of Souldiers slaine in the warres Solon decreed the same How dignitie of office shold be appoynted to such as haue serued truely and aduentured their liues in the defence of their Countrey How Charles the great called his Captaines companyons of kings and appointed them Iudges of offences How the chief of euery Shiere should be in their warlike attyre at the trayning day How those that hath experience in Martiall affayres should be appoynted for Muster maisters
in their seruice and from their Captaines which otherwise will be a cause of greater disorder and manie discommodities ⸫ An Oration to be made by the Generall before the Battell be fought VAliant Knights and Companions in Warre most thankfullie I accept your seruice for that you doe offer your liues as true subiects to accompanie me the Kings high General in the warres wherein you greatlie show your duties For of right you ought too loose your goods and to venture your liues at the commaundement of the King and for the defence and suretie of your Countreye giuing vnto you not onelie thanks for your companie but much more for your good counsell which dailie you giue me For in great conflicts seldome is found together both good counsell and stoute hearts minding not too enterprise this battell in hope of mans power for then had you reason wee should not giue battell seeing the great multitude in respect of vs. For as you saie the waightie affaires of a publike weale should not bee vnaduisedlie committed too the vncerteine of Fortune the which hath caused the King my Maister to apoint me in this daungerous and perilous warres First trusting that on our part there remaineth Iustice and sith God is the same onelie Iustice I trust assuredlie he will giue mee the victorie in this perillous conflicts for Iustice auaileth princes more that they haue then the men of Warre doe which they lead Wherefore sith our cause is iust and that we haue God the onelie Iudge thereof on our sides mee thinks no worldlie feare should make vs cease to giue the battell for I should show my selfe to be of small faith and also blaspheme God saying hee were of small Iustice for God sheweth his power there where the frailenesse of man hath least hope Then since by the King our Maister and Gouernour we are appointed and procured to come to this warre I haue determined my most louing Companions and fellow Souldiers to enter in battell and valiantlie to aduenture my life with you and if I perish therein I shall be sure it shall be for the saluation of my soule and the memorie of my person for to die through Iustice is not to die but to change death for life and thus doing if I loose my life yet I loose not my honour and all this considered I doe that which to my Prince and the Common-wealth I am bound For to a Prince it were great infamie and dishonour the quarrell being his owne should by the bloud of others séeke reuenge minding this daie to trie in battel whether the pleasure or will of the liuing God bee to giue vs victorie the which maie bee a warning to others of the great wrong offered vs if otherwise he suffer vs to perish the ende of the sword of the enimie is but the scourge of our offences The best I see therefore in this matter to be done is that we confesse our selues vnto the celestial God preparing our selues to receiue our redéemer euery man to pardon and forgiue his brother if hee haue done wrong or iniurie vnto him for oftentimes though the demaund of the warres be iust yet many mishaps befal therin through the offences of those which pursue and follow the same Now each thing accomplished as behooueth according too my saying then let God dispose things as hee shall seeme good Wherefore my louing valiant and stout Souldiers doubt not at all for this daie I must either vanquish mine enimies or els suffer death and if I die I do that which I néeds must Wherefore I will now cease to exhort you any more desiring you most louingly to consider that wherevnto your dutie leadeth you remembring that you are come as Knights and in the defence of your Countrie to wage battell beeing now come to that pinch that deedes must more auaile vs then words for peace ought too bee maintained by the tongue but warres ought to be atchiued by the sword Of the ordering of the battailes before they fight THe oration being made by the Generall and praiers finished to the immortall God it is requisite that thou haue care too bringe forth thy armie to the field with bright and shining armour which easilie maie bee done by giuing charge in time to the Captaiues and so to the officers that their burgonets corslets enleeuers holberds and euerie other peece of armour forasmuch as the cleannes and brightnes of the weapons maketh the armie séeme terrible and putteth feare and trauell in the minds of the enimies Then call forth thy bands the which being set in araie the Generall beeing expert hauing seene the preparation of the enimies giueth in charge too the Sergeant maior and the principall corporalls too accommodate and ordaine his souldiers in battaile according to the armie the men and the manners of them And if the enimie bee more puissant of horsemen thou hauing the commoditie choose thee straight and difficult places or at the foote of mountaines and where the horse cannot easilie serue If in footmen hee exceedeth then it is requisite to get the hills and places of aduauntage as the Sunne and winde c. and that with diligence to choose such fit places whiche either bee neere Rockes or Riuers and aboue all things where thou maist put in araie thy battailes and by the qualitie of thy place be able to let thy enimes that they neither compasse thee about nor inclose thee the which requires not onelie the counsaile and prudence of a wise Captaine but the counsaile of the most expert in the camp because oftentimes an Armie hapneth vpon such places And notwithstanding the Captaine ignorant how to choose such situation of ground as is best for him but of those that are present it is good to choose the best and to foresee which maie bee most profitable is surely a signe of a wise Captaine Caius Sulpitius to feare his enimies got a great manie of mules and other beasts vnprofitable for the warres causing a greate number of sackes to bee gotten which were so ordered vppon the backes of the beasts as they seemed men at armes giuing in charge whiles he was a fighting they should appeare vppon a hill whereby grew his victorie against the Frenchmen The Spaniards to ouercome Amilcar set in the fronts of their battels cartes ful of towe drawen with Oxen that béeing readie for the encounter they set it on fire causing the Oxen behementlie to thrust forwards into the armie of the enimie deuiding the same Thy number small and the fields large and open it is good to make ditches the which being filled with bowghes and slightlie couered with earth leauing voide spaces for thy horse and shot to procure skirmish the which being of the enimie encountered maie faine a running awaie and béeing prosecuted by the enimie shal be ouerthrown in the ditches where they are easilie slaine manie such notable diuises by wise Captaines hath beene practised the which vppon the sodeine put in