in it or other intrieate vvaies as through vvoods hils and vallies vvhere an Enemy may best lay his Ambuscadoes therefore vpon every such turning or crosse vvay a troupe of horse some foote ought to be placed vpon it to guard there till the Ordinance Carriages Baggage be past out of daunger How one is to march through a wood But in passing through a Forrest a great vvood or a Grove there ought to be placed good store of Horse vpon the vvaies that goes into it vvhere the Armie is to passe to round guard it vvel a svvel on the one side as on the other And if there be any plaine or open places in it the Horse are to overspread it and to dravv there vp in Battell for the seeuring of the passage till the Ordinance Baggage be al past and that the foote and Horse follovv vvhich are appointed as a Reserve to bring vp the Reere The Armie then having passed through a vvood come againe into a plaine Campagnie or Feild some Horse are to guard the vvay that comes out of the vvood till the Horse troupes are dravvn vp in those Fields and are possessed of the heigths thereof How and in what manner an Armie is to passe over a River When an Armie is to march through a Countrie vvherein there are Rivers Brookes the States Armie carries continually along vvith theÌ„ some ten or twelue boates having plancks Sparrs Beames anckors Cables laden in them and vpon those Block-Waggons that are dravvne with some teÌ„ or twelve couple of horse vvhich comming to a river they presently take them dovvne casts out their anckors laies them over the river as broad as it is as many as they have vse of ioyning them together laying the beames plancks sparrs boards vpon them so in an instant claps over a bridge over vvhich the Armie Ordinance Carriages may passe vvithout daunger Sometimes also for expedition sake they lay over bundles of floate or slag bridges bound vp in Canvass as also they make a bridge with Barrels Hogsheads in laying sparrs planckes vpon them being clasped fastned hard together so that foote horse and some small Feild peeces may march over them A Bridge then having good Inginiers Carpenters and vvorkemen is presently made over a River or a brook for the securing vvhereof there are certaine peeces of Ordnance dravvne vp and planted by the river side to play vpon an Ennemie if they should force the passage over it and likevvise dravve vp some Harquebussiers lighthorsemen firelocks and muskettiers to give fire vpon an Enemie vvhile the bridg is a making As soone as the bridg is layd over some firelocks halfepikes horse marches first over it to maintaine and make good the other side of the river till all the Armie carriages be come over takes also along vvith them foure or fiue small peeces of Ordnance to scoure the passage a vvaggon laden vvith povvder and amunition and some Pionniers to make the vvaies hedges ditches plaines expecting an Enemie at hand commonly cast vp a trench or a vvorke on both sides of the bridge having some 500 Souldiers to guard it till the Armie al the Carriages and Baggage be passed ouer it Novv if an Enemie should seeke to oppose 〈◊〉 your passage over it the Ordinance horse and firelookes above mentioned are 〈◊〉 â—â—rposely vpon the Riversside to free the passage and to cleare the Coast HAVING SHOWNE THE DUTIES OF THE Officers of the Feild touching the Infanterie or foote before J shew the severall forming makeing of Battels It is necessary that I briefly speak some thing of the Officers of the Feild which commaunds the Cavallrie or Horse troupes which are these namely Of the Quartermaster Generall THe Quartermaster Generall of the horse hath the particular Quartermasters of every troupe as his assistants to ease him and to helpe him to discharge his place either when the troupes are lodged in howses or formally quartered in the feild from him they receiue their orders and billets for their troupes chaulking the name of their Captaines vpon the doores of every howse where the troupe is to lodge The further duties required in a Quartermaster Generall are described in this second part in speaking of the Quartermaster Generall of the foote Of the Commissarie Generall The Commissarie Generalls place ought to be given to a souldier of great experience who hath bin bred vp in the warres being a man of valour wisedome discretion in a CoÌ„missarie Generall is required also vigelencie dexterity and an ability to compose Quarrels and punish disorders which maye arise betweene officer officer souldier and souldier what he cannot doe by faire meanes he hath power authority sufficent to punish them Jt is also his dutie to give out orders to appoint guards vpon avenues and passages to keepe a list of all guards Convoyes other actions to receiue orders from the Generall or the Lord Marshall of the feild to give it first to the Generall of the horse and afterward to the Quartermasters of the troupes that they maye giue them to their Captaines and superiour officers also to range embattaille the horse in that forme and order which his Generall or Lieutenant Generall shall finde good in whose absence he commaundeth the Horse Of the Lieutenant Generall The charge of a Lieutenant Generall of the horse is of great authority reputation and therefore he ought to be a man of great experience valour and wisedome carefull diligent for the well ordering of the troupes because he commonly marches with them lodged among them He must haue knowledge of the waies passages through Countries and choose the best waye least meeting with an Ennemie lying in Ambuscado vpon a march he maye giue him a blowe Therefore he must alwaies haue his minde buyssied vpon the motions of his Ennemie discovering from what part they maye annoye him be it either foote or horse in how many howers they can march vnto him by what passages they maye assault him to send out Scouts Spies to giue him true intelligence that he maye be provided for them against some suddaine attempt To giue encouragement to officers and souldiers in the day of battell to carrye themselves brauely to charge home and to finde out all advantages to breake and route their Ennemie He ought not onely to carry himselfe lovingly to the souldiers in hearing them willingly and assisting them in their necessities but also to punish offenders seuerely which will make him to be both feared loved and respected Of the Generall The Generall of the horse is one of the principall chiefs of an Armie who ought to be a Souldier of great experience and valour for the most part a personage discended of a noble familly Yea a man of a high spirit commaund for vnder his charge are the sinewes of the principall forces
of an Armie from whose magnanimity valour wiâ—edome procedes many times good successe when occasions are offred which are for the most part executed by the horse especially in the day of battell who charging in good order vpon an advantage maye happely rout an Ennemie and get the victorie wheras contrarie wise by the disorders of the horse it maye breed great confusion and losse of men The Generall of the horse ought to take perticular notice not onely of the Captaines and officers but also of every gentleman and souldier that carries themselves bravely in the face of their Ennemie and to honour and respect them in publick which will encourage others to do the like when occasion presente itselfe to advance them to military charges Contrariewise to punish Delinquents and such as doe not their endeavour in doing whereof he shall be honored loued feared and respected of all men last of all by his high commaund he giues commaund for the due exercising of his troupes and helps in them their necessities To conclude the proportion or grosse of the States horse answerable to their foote consists in eighty troupes of horse namely Curassiers Carrabins and Harquebusiers two Companies of Curassiers and two Companies of Harquebusiers being ioyned together according to his highnesse order make a battaillon or a Devision These also being formed ordered into ten Regiments maye be drawne as the foote are into three Brigades or Tercias making the Avantgard the Battle and the Reere as yow see them ranged in the first figure by observing their true distances What a goodly show it is to see these 80 troupes of Horse drawne into three brigades the Generall commanding in the head of the Avantgard the Commissarie Generall in the battell the Lieutenant Generall in the Reere being brauely mounted well armed with their skarfes and 160. Trumpetters sounding Tantara in honour of their prince and Countrie I leaue it to the report of those which have seene it Also of what excellent use service horse maye be off in the day of battell for the breaking of foote as also vpon execution for the cutting off of Convoyes gayning of passages and the beating in of an Ennemie salying out of a Towne beseiged I will leaue to the testimonie of historie and here wil I shutt vp this second part FINIS FIRST OF THE ORDERING AND FORMING of a Devision or a Battalion and then the forme of an Army of thirty thousand Horse and Foote raunged in Battell THe ordering of a Regiment according to his highnesse the Prince of Orange his coÌ„maÌ„d hath bin showne already in the first part of this book namely that CoÌ„panies being made into even files ten deepe foure or fiue Comapnies ioyned together make a division to wit the Pikes are drawne first into one bodie and then the Muskettiers into an other standing in their true distance of three foote in file Ranke and 18 foote distance betweene the Pikes the Muskettiers this is the first order The second is wheÌ„ the Muskettiers are equally devided as neere as may be and drawne vp on the right and left flankes of the Pikes there to giue fire by Rankes or to march away as these two first figures marked with number 1 and 2 doe shew Now the fittest number of men to make a devision of is accounted to be 500. Pikes Musketteires that is 25 files of Pikes and 25 files of Musketteires or more or lesse of the one or of the other as they fall out This number being so embattailed makes an Agile bodie the best to be brought to fight and two of them being ioyned neere one an other can best second and releiue each other better theÌ„ your great Phalanges which are unweeldy bodies the experience whereof was seene in the Battell of Nieuport for being once broken routed they can hardly be reallyed againe and cannot bring so many men to Fight as the Lesser Bodies doe Many of these Devisions being drawne together make a Tercia or one of the third parts of an Armie and three of them the whole For all the Officers and Souldiers of an Army are devided into three parts called Brigadoes or Tercias each of them having a severall name to witt the Vantguard the Battell the Reereguard Now that Tercia which is to march first is called the Vantguard that which marches in the midst the Battaille and that which comes vp last the Reere Everie one of them vpon a march every day takeing their turnes interchangeably for the second day of the march the Battaile becomes the Vantguard and the Reere the second day hath the Battaile and the third day the Tercia which had the Reere the first day is the Vantguard Moreover each Tercia may likewise be subdivided into a Vantguard a Battaille a Reere to the end each of them with the more convenience may be orderly brought to fight and by that Cheife which commaunds them Therefore the Battaill one of the Tercias of the Army being placed in the midst that of the Vantguard may be drawne on the right and the Reere on the left flanke of the Battaille Now the number of the devisions which each of these Tercias haue are ordered and devided after this manner two devisions before two in the midst and two behind standing aboue as you may see in some of the figures of the Battells following having six or 7 devisions placed in everie Tercia The seventh being vneven is placed as a Reserve behind the Reere to second the others in time of neede The first devisions of the Tercias standing in a right line are to give the first charge according to the order of their March The second devisions standing likewise in a right line makes likewise the second troupes and the third part of the Battaile Now these devisions are also ordered and ioyned that if the first should be overcharged and come to give ground then the second are to come vp and to releiue the first yet in such a distance as they may not hinder one an other in marching by them but finde place to come vp betwixt the first The third devisions are to be placed directly behind the second in a distance twise as as the second is from the first that if it should happen that the first division should stand behind the second that then the third might have roome enough to put it self into good order The Horse Troupes are commonly ordered the one halfe on the right the other halfe on the left flanke of the divisions and Battaillons of foote as the first figure of an Armie demonstrates And sometimes there may be Battaillions of Horse interlaced and placed betwixt the intervals and distances of the Foote as the ground and necessity may require For if an Enemies Horse should be ranged betweene his Battaillions of foote it is needefull then that the other side should observe the fame forme likewise and have horse to encounter horse least they
a formall and a setled quarter called Castra strataria is made Castra Strataria and the proprieties thereof The propriety of this Campe may be observed well out of the Instructions of Veget in the 22 chapter of his fust booke as also in the Castrametation of Hygnius Gromaticus according to these observations following First that the Quarter be made in safe place that is where there are no hils and heights which may commaund and serve as an advantage to an Enemie when he resolves to relieve the Towne or Fort beseiged or to assault the Campe for being lodged and fortifying himself vpon them he may easilie overlooke the Campe and then it is subiect to be played vpon by an Enemies Ordinance That it be made if it be possible neere vnto some brooke or river which may commodiously serve aswell for the watering of Horse and Cattell as also for the Souldiers and by which with shipping or boats one may bring vp Munition with provisions and Victuals to the Campe by the helpe of a running river or the winde for the saving of excessive charges when one is driven to bring them vp to the Armie by Convoyes and waggons which oftentimes causeth a dearth in the Armie for commonly Victulars and Sutlars raises the price of their Victuals and commodities according to the lengh of the way if they be constrayned to bring them vp by waggon hire Besides it is a great advantage for a Quarter to lie by a river side because sometimes the water may be carryed round about the Campe which will make it stronger then if it were lodged in a plaine Feild and fortifyed with some small Forts and Redoubts so that all that charge is saved in makeing of workes if the Campe may commodiously be enclosed about with water I say nothing of the great stinke caused by dead Horse and beasts as also by Butchers and their shambles which like wise is avoyded by the helpe of Water neither are men so subiect to sicknesse and pestilence which takes away many times a greater number of people and weakens an Armie more then if it were assaulted by an Enemie For the prevention of which inconvenience the Carrions panchescand garbidges of Beasts are cast into it and carryed away with the streame and the Butchers quartered in the most remote parr of the Campe One must also have a speciall care that there bee no thick-bussches and woods about it where an Enemie may lie in Ambuscado or fortifie themselves without any hindrance which would keepe a Campe in Continuall feare of being assaulted by an Enemie out of a wood To make choise then of the sittest places to encampe and Quarter in those are held the most commodious which are situated in a plaine Feild seing an Enemie may be discovered a far of having then time to draw into Armes to oppose them and that the Canon may play vpon them in case an Enemie would attempt to assault the Campe by force As many sicknesses are engendred by stanch end the putrifaction of the aire so likewise many are caused by Moorish grounds Marras and bogs in regard of the damps and fogs which riseth out of the waters as also poysonable vapours arising out of marshie grounds where vpon the Souldiers hutts are built Therefore one ought to be well informed before a quarter or a campe be made for an Armie whether those grounds bee covered or overflowhe with water which may often happen in Autume or Winter which were a great annoyance and hurt to the Campe if it were driven to stay there all winter and that one knew not the Condition of the place Againe it may serve for some vse to helpe the beseiged or those which come to relieve the Towne when they may turne the water by some places into the Campe or can cut some dikes or Seabanques or keepe vp the water by banks and sluces to make it overflow the Campagnie which will bring a greater dammago to the Campe then fire would doe therefore one ought to consider and ponder well all these things and to thinke vpon some remedie to prevent these inconveniences One ought also to make choise of such a place which yeelds good store of grà sse and hay for Cattell and straw for the accōmodation of the Souldiers because the want of fourrage for Horse will constraine them to fetch it farre by convoyes which is dangerous for the Souldiers when an Enemie lies vpon the snap for them and their Horses in those places where they are driven to fetch their fourrage which one is forced to doe with great Convoyes and excessive expenses Also there must be care taken that there bee no want of wood for fyring and building of Souldiers buts as also straw serving for the same vse A Campe ought not to quartered too neere the Towne Beseiged lest the Enemie may reach it and doe great annoyance to it with his Canon neither ought it to be quartered too farre of but that one quarter may with expedition relieve one another as also those which worke in the Approches if the beseiged should sallie out vpon them therefore the furthest and the nearest distance for the better safety of the Campe is to lie without Canon shot The Circumference measure greatnesse and largnesse of a Campe ought to be answerable to the greatnesse or littlenesse of it for one must not take a place too little for a great Armie neither a place too great for a small Armie for the one will not be able to defend the Campe because of the smalnesse of it and the other not able and sufficient to defend a great place Finally it is a point of great consequence for a Campe to have all the avenues and passages that comes to it well guarded so that an Enemie cannot lodge neare it to hinder the provisions and Victuals which comes to it for want where of many times an Armie is forced to rise A Campe then being endowed with all these Proprieties no question but it is well settled But seing that such places are seldome found which answers to all these proprieties described above one must accommodate themselves according to the propriety of the place and repaire that by Art which is wanting by Nature If there being any hils or heigths in it you must quarter and lodge vpon them when the nature of the place will afford it or if there be any other commodious place neere vnto the Quarter it ought to be taken in and environned with a Trench and a Redoubt made in it and Ordinance planted vpon it But this height being situated vpon a passage or place of importance a Fort is made vpon it in taking away as much as possible may be all advantage from an Enemie The seige of the Bosch may give vs an exsample herein where was a height situated vpon the way as you go to Vliemen and towards the Longstrate vpon the top of which hill a fouresquare Fort was made with foure Demy-Bulwarkes and besides
which they suspect there is a mine and so cut it of invvardly But for their advantage they make ready also their Countermine made in that place chambers their povvder attending the effect of the Enemies mine and vvhen he springs his mine then they retire themselues into their nevv vvorke cut off and the Enemy being lodged in that peece of the Bulvvarke or Rampart vvhich they haue quitted then they blovv up their Countermine and slay all those vvhich they find in it The like also is done in outvvorkes and Counterskarfes vvhen one is driven to quitt them and that one cannot keepe them any longer OF PALISADOES PALES TVRNE-PIKES BARRICADOES QVADRANT-TANTERNAILES AND BEARES THE TENTH CHAPTER WEe haue often made mention of Palisadoes and the use of them especially vvhen they are struck into the ground about dry moates for then they serue in stead of vvater against the sudden assault of an Enemie so that not onely the moates before great vvalls and Rampards ought to be set with them but also all Outvvorkes must be fortified vvith them They are likevvise of excellent use in the Field vvhen trenches are set round vvith them and struck in round about Forts and vvorkes vvhich lie in the most dangerous places They are of no lesse use also in Fortresses especially vvhen the Beseiged are constrayned to make cuttings off vvithin a tovvne or Fort moreover they are good to be struck in upon the topp of Breaches vvhereof vve vvill treat in the next chapter These Palisadoes then are made in this manner follovving one makes choise of good and strong Sparrs being some 3 or 4 ynches in Diameter but of severall lengths according to the place into vvhich they are to be struck vvhereof some of them may be 5 6 or 7 foote long Novv the lovver end of them must be sharpened and pointed and the upper end flatt that they may be driven into the ground vvith a mallet or a beetle one bores also a hole some 3 or 4 ynches under the head of the Palisadoe an other some three ynches under the first hole and a third hole on the side through the middest of the tvvo others in such sort that the nailes vvhich are driven through it resemble as it vvere the corners In some also they use to driue in tvvo nailes so that they are not struck in a right Angle but rises a little tovvards the head of the Palisadoe The length of these nailes must be some eight or tvvelue ynches and so bigg that they cannot be easely bowed or broken and the Head vvhich is driven into the Palisadoe is some-vvhat greater then that vvhich sticks out vvhich ought to be very sharpe When you are to use these Sparrs vvhereof you must haue good store you take first of the shortest size being but fiue foot long and strick in a long ranke of them as you shall finde necessarie They are driven into the ground the depth of a foot and a half or sometimes more according as the Earth is conditioned and thus you shall make your first ranke then you shall driue in an other ranke of Palisadoes being six foote long vvhich are set behind the first ranke to the end they may run in a right line vvith the first but must be struck in a little sidelings to the end that their nailes may fill all places necessarie and the heads of these Palisadoes ought to stand about halfe a foote higher then the others In the same manner you driue in the third ranke vvhich must be half a foot higher then the second and thus you may doe if you vvill driue in a fourth ranke yea as many as it pleases you These Palisadoes are represented unto you in the 164 figure For the Palisadoes vvhich are used against assaults there are two sorts of them The first is that sort of Palisadoes vvhich are sett upon the Parapets of Forts Outworks and Redoubts for to hinder an Enemy that they may not so soone assault or scale a place these ought to be 3 or 4 ynches in Diameter and some 6 or 7 foote long vvhereof the half past is driven into the Parepett and the other half stands upright For the other sort those great headed piles or pales clasped together vvith chaines and plates of yron vvhich stād alwaies upon Rāpards and Bulvvarkes covered vvith a little roof against the time of necessity vvhen as an Enemy seekes to assault a Fortresse For by this meanes he is repulsed vvhen he vvould scale a Rampard because these Palisadoes or logs being cast dovvne a vvall annoyes greatly the Beseigers in regard of their vveight vvhich they are not able to resist though they be armed with head peeces OF PALISADOES PALES VRIZ-RVYTERS CAVALLIERS DE FRIZE Called in English Turne-piks THE TENTH CHAPTER WEe haue observed in our declaration of Originall names vvhence the Cavalleries De Frize tooke their name to witt at the siege of Groeninghen in Frizeland vvhere they served for great use by stopping and hindring the Enemies horse when they came to relieue the Tovvn and then got this name of Vrize ruyters in Dutch Cavalliers de Frize in French and Frize Horses or Turne-pikes in English and besides the stopping of a suddaine charge of Horse they are of excellent use to be clapt on the topp of a breach or some vveake place of a Trench or a vvall and good store of them ought to be carryed along vvith an Army on vvaggons to be sett up in some Avenus or passages to stop and hinder the sudden attempt of an Enemy vvhen one hath no time to cast up a trench In Fortresses they are also of greater use then chaines or Barres vvhich crosseth the streets For a man may skip over a chaine and a good Horse will leap over it But being beset and crossed vvith Turne-pikes neither Foot nor Horse are able to passe over them seeing they have staves and sharp points through them on all sides They may be set up also in the streets of Suburbs and other places instead of Barres and vvhere some broad places are to be kept in joyning many of them together vvhich is done ordinarily in the expeditions of Warres They are made in this manner following you take a tree of firme wood vvhich will not cleave vvhere of the Diameter is five or sixe inches and some 10 or 14 foot long vvhich is made vvith six corners so that it hath six sides and in the midst of these sides one bores three or foure inches one from another cros-wise and thē puts through these holes round javelings vvhereof the Diameter is an inch and a half or at the most two inches the lengt of them is sixe or size foot and so made that they are all of one length which are made of a strong and a firme piece of timber which will not easily bend nor will be weakned by raine these are thrust through these holes so that they are of a just length on both sides and have as many
with the Generall especially when any peece of service is to be done or in the day of Battell which concernes his charge where he may freely speake his opinion and give his advice touching matters of weight and importance and though his opinion may be good yet if the most voices be of the contrary opinion and that things in the execution thereof fall out ill and contrary to his owne opinion he ought neverthelesse to give way and yeeld to the plurality of voices and wholy obeying his Generall be readye to execute all his commands giving thereby to understand that the contrary opinion held by him in the Councell of Warre was neither for want of courage nor affection A Colonell also ought to give all respect love and obedience to the Generall of the Army the Lord Marshall and the Sariant Maiour generall of the Field as having charge from the Generall to give out orders as also to quarter and appoint alarme places the place of Battle for marching choosing of Guards and sending out of convoies Moreover the Colonell once every weeke may call together all his Captaines to enquire of all offences hapned in his Regiment and examine duely the nature and quality of such offences and to prepare the cause for a more short and easie heareing in a Marshall Court for all Colonels are to repair to a court of Warre as often as they shall be warned as an assistant to the Lord Marshall and the president of the Councill of warre for all causes that shall be questioned there belonging to the Iustice of the Army Finally in quartering or lodging if his Regiment consists of two devisions his quarter is in the devision that is betweene his two battaillons assigned for his Regiment because he may give best and speedy directions to the whole this shall be showne more particularly when we come to draw out the quarter for a Colonell and his Regiment Of the Sarjant Majour Generall of an Armie THe Office of a Sariant Maiour Generall of an Army is a place and charge of a high degree whose command is full of action and therefore he ought to be an able a wise a grave and able person experienced in the way of his profession He is to come to the Lord Generall or Lord Marshall for his orders and directions for all watches and Guards that are to be placed and upon the charge of a quarter or a remove he is to march with the Lord Generall or Marshall in the Avantguard after he hath seen the Troupes setled in the order of their march and to view well the places appointed him by the Generall or marshall for the placing of the Guards upon the very first Arrivall of the Troupes Having received the word and his orders from the Generall or the Marshall he gives them to the three Sariant Maiours of the Tercias called also the three Corporals of the Feild and they give both the word and orders to the Sariant Maiours of every particular Regiment He himselfe in the beginning of the night after the warning peece is gone off and that all guards are setled he is to visit them and gives order to the three sariant maiours or grand Corporals of the field which attend upon the Avantguard the Battell and the Reere at what time they or some chiefe Officer of the feild shall go the grand round and if he or they finde any thing amisse or any thing extraordinary discovered either when he goeth himselfe or one of the three Sariant Maiours of the Brigades or any other chiefe Office they are to give him an account of what they find amisse and he is to advertize the Lord Generall or marshall therewith In a day of Battell or any kind of skirmish or fight he is to receive his directions from the Lord Generall or Marshall and to see them duely executed Also in a day of Battell he hath the ordering and disposing of the devisions and battaillons according to that forme which the Generall shall command him and upon all occasions must be active and stirring up and downe to spye out all advantages which might offend an Enemy and wisely to foresee all disadvantages which might bring the Troupes into any disorder or confusion Moreover he is to be the chiefe Officer with the Quartermaster Generall which is to be at the Randevous for the disposing of the Troupes of Horse and foote as also by giving out orders for the providing them with ammunition and victuals And being arrived first at the Randevous he is to give the Lord Generall and the marshall of the feild to understand the state of the army that the Lord Generall thereupon may give him command and direction how in what manner the army is to be ordered and afterward gives order to the sarjant maiours of the Tercias and they to the Sarjant maiours of every regiment for the providing of ammunition victuals and all things necessary for the ordering of the mareh Hee ought to be well acquainted with those passages and wayes throw which the Army is to march and doth commonly march himselfe in the head of the avantgard having some light horse and fire-locks to attend him and to send out some troupes to discover the wayes and passages for the discovery and preventing of Ambushments having the Captaine of the pyoniers and his men to waite upon him and the quartermaster Generall for the making and explaining of wayes for the Army that they may not be surprized on a sudden and drawing neere unto the place of quartering or encamping he and the quartermaster Generall riding afore do view and choose out such ground and villages as may bee most commodious for the lodging and quartering of the Army To conclude he is to have absolute command over the three Sariant Maiours of the Brigades otherwise called the three grand Corporalls of the field who are to be his assistants and his mouth as he is the mouth of the Lord Generall or the Marshall and therefore hath a vigelant eye over all things and sees that the Generalls commands delivered to him be strictly kept and observed The office of the three Sarjant Majours of the Tercias otherwise called the three Corporals of the field THe States Army by order from his highnesse the Prince of Orange is commonly devided vpon a march into three Brigades or Tercias In French he is called Le Mareschal or Le Sarjant Majour de battaille and in English one of the great Corporalls of the field A Sariant Maiour then of a Tercia doth receive his order immediately from the Lord Generall himselfe or the Lord Marshall but most commonly from the Sarjant Majour Generall aboue mentioned To wit in what forme the Brigade or Tercia is to be ordered and how many regiments of foot and horse are to march under it and with what ordnance and baggage He assignes and shewes them the place where they are to draw out in battallie and receives order from the Sarjant Majour
and that the Lawes Articles and ordinances of marshall discipline be strictly kept and observed that all banishments and proclamations comming either from the Generall or the Councell of warre be published and excecuted and by his authority to cause malefactours and offenders to be punished for an example of others And seeing that all he doth is for the generell good of the whole Army he ought to be feared honoured and respected of all men and in no wise contradicted seeing it is his proper charge to take care that the policie and discipline of the Army established by the Generall bee exactly kept and maintained under his authority All quarrels and duels hapning between officer and officer souldier and souldier either of horse or of foote ought to be brought before him seeing it is his office to right the wronged and to punish the offender or by his wisedome and authority to appease and compose them The Lord Marshall also when the Avantguard is drawn out and are ranged in battallie while the battell and the reere are dislodging he sees and commands that both horse and foot march orderly and in their owne place And with some choise troupes marcheth before the Avantguard and considers the waies and passages as Valleys Rivers Marras Boggs Mountaines Hills Hedges Woods Hollow and Narrow waies throw which the Army is to passe that he may order the march accordingly as also to send out Scouts Guides Spies to discover and get inteligence from an Enemy He marches also in the head of the armie Sometimes with the Sariant Maiour Generall the quartermaster Generall and the quartermaster of the Regiments as men experienced to view and make choice of the ground wherein the Army is to bee lodged and quartered He obserues also the order of marching quartering and fighting the three chiefe things belonging to an Army and sees and commands that the march quartering and fight bee conformable to that order which the Generall hath prescribed and the devisions and Troupes being ranged in battallie he is full of action and considers the place and soyle of the ground the advantages of the Sunn Winde and dust and how the troupes with the most advantage may be brought to encounter an Enemy takeing care that the order commanded by the Generall be not changed and when the troups are engaged in fight he sees that they be duely seconded and relieved and being overlaid or charged to cause them to retreat orderly for the avoiding of disorder and confusion having a watchfull eye upon all casualities which may happen for what the Lord Generall ordaines the Lord Marshall sees performed and executed to the end that both their desires may take one and the same effect For when commanders undertakes a warre and fights with councell and iudgment and sees all things also executed with wisedome discretion and valour giving the succes to God no man can then be blamed The Lord Marshall also ought to be acquainted with the Generals designe and whether he is resolved to fight with an enemie or no To consider whether he is to charg an enemy in the Front in the Reere or on the flankes to hinder them from quartering and to send out convoyes for the cutting off of his Victuals and provisions He ought to consider likewise how an Enemy lies encamped which way he can come to attempt him whether he is to march and whither his dessigne tends what order he keeps with what Troupes he may hinder or annoy an Enemy or being once ingaged in fight where and how he may best second and relieve his owne men either with horse or foot to place and bring up the devisions of Muskettiers where they may most offend and gaule an Enemy and the bodies of Pikes may with the most advantage be brought to give a charge or a shock Also to understand and get intelligence of what force and strength an Enemy is what baggage carriages and incumbrances he hath and from whence his victuals and provisions are to come to know whether any more forces are to ioyne with him and how and in what manner he may break their conjunction He is also to have in a readinesse an exact Mapp of that Country through which the Army is to march and a description of all the waies rivers and passages through which the Army is to passe having also by him good Guides which are well acquainted with the severall passages of that Country and place The Lord Marshall likewise with the Sariant Maiour Generall ordaines and appoints all places for watches and Guards either of Horse or Foote which they assigne to the three Sariant Maiours of the Tercias and they to the Sariant Maiours of the Regiments and the places which they are to maintain and make good also for alarme-places and the choice of ground to fight a battell in for the most safety and defence of the Army In the day of battell he must be stirring and full of action to give orders and directions where need most requires and to 〈◊〉 both officers and Souldiers to acquit themselves like men Vpon a march or the Army being encamped he ought to counsell Tradesmen and victuallers which bring provisions to the army and gives command that they be not wrongd and abused by the Souldiers but that they may sell their commodities peaceably Likewise he gives order by his authority to the Provost Marshall Generall and to the particular Marshalls of every Regiment that they set reasonable rates and prizes upon victuals and beere for the good of the poore Souldier There are divers other points appertaining to the office of the Lord Marshal of the field which for brevities sake I omit The Office and charge of the Lord Generall of an Army A Generall hath absolute command over the whole Armie and is to know and understand well the severall duties and charges of every inferiour Officer under his command and ought to be a personage of great experience wisedome and discretion and capable to discerne and choose the best of different opinions which may often fall out in the councils of warre He ought also to be a personage descended of some noble House and Family which will give a lustre unto his command and a man of undaunted courage and authority severe and austere in his commaund and to be greatly feared honoured and respected a man full of resolution and magnanimity in the day of battell and constant and resolute in desperate cases happy in his dessignes and enterprises but above all religious fearing and invocating God to be propitious and favourable unto him to blesse his designes and to pray unto the Lord of hoasts to give him knowledge understanding and policy to govern his armie well and that he may keepe it in good order and under good discipline whereby it may become not onely capable of vanquishing but also victorious which depends alone upon the Almighty power of the Lord of Hoasts and that neither good nor badd successe should make him
good distance without and there to stand make a halt till the Battell the Reere be also drawne out in obseruing a con venient distance betweene them In the interim the Ordinance Carriages waggons baggage that belongs to the Armie are likewise drawne out and put into order And the Guides Scouts and Pyonniers sent out before into the Countrie to discouver and to set out Centinels of Horse vpon all passages and heigths while the Armie is a marching forwards The Master of the Ordinance being present Commaundeth where the Ordinance and the traine of Carriages belonging to them shall march And giveth order to the Conductours Inferiour Officers to march forward as the nature propriety of the waies wil permit And if there be any rough waies which are to be explained he Ordaines the Captaine of the Pioniers and his men to make them plaine even likewise all the waggons of Amunition Victuals with the baggage are put in order by the Carriage Master conductours of the traine but the waggons and Carrs belonging to the horse they are ordered by their Officers to march according to the seignority of everie Regiment How the Artillerie and the Carriages are to March The Ordinance marches first with all the Carriages and the Pyonniers are alwaies by them having noe other waggons mingled among them so march in their order onely with one waggon before them laden with spades shovels Axses hachets hand biles and other instruments to make the wayes to explaine the ground ditches after which is drawne an Instrument which doth make a rut vpon the waye to show which vvay the Canon is to passe The lesser lighter pecces of Ordinance layd vpon their Carriages follovves the said Instrument aftervvard the great peeces dravvne upon block-vvaggons vvhen there is no danger but expecting to be encountred by an Enemie they dravv them vpon their Carriages for feare of loosing time in mounting them least an Enemie might fall suddenly vpon some part of the Armie Next after the Ordinance follovves the vvaggons vvith Instruments Tooles for Carpenters and Smiths the vvaggons laden vvith Bullets povvder and match and after them vvaggons vvith Pikes and muskets all vvhich being passed then follovves the vvaggons belonging to the Generall of the Ordinance his Inferiour Officers And after them all the vvaggons laden vvith munition for the Ordinance the Armie the vvaggons laden vvith Victuals provisions vvaggons for the sick and hurt and last of all the baggage belonging to the Officers of the vvhole Armie But vvhen necessitie requires some Feild peeces marches before in the head of the Armie vvhen an Enemie is expected to fall on vvith vvhich there marches some vvaggons laden vvith povvder match and Bullets to be vsed vpon any occasion All the Ordinance carriages and baggage being thus ordered and the armie devided into the Vantguard the Battell and the Reere the Sariant Maiours of the foote Regiments and the Commissaries of the Horse Troupes having order shevves vvhich vvay they are to leade the Troupes that they may give noc hindrance one to an other the Generall or the Sariant Maiour Generall gives Command that the Vantguard shall begin to march and sends out before it Guides light horsemen to discouver the passages yet so that they ride not so farre afore but that they keepe alvvaies vvithin sight of the Vantguard that vpon the discouverie of an Enemie they may advertize and givi them vvarnin of it in time The Vantguard then as is sayd hath commonly some small peeces of Ordinance marching before it vvhich likevvise may happen before the Battell in the Reere of all vvith a greater number of horse and foote as the necessitie may require so that the three Tercias of the Armie are all of thē provided vvith Ordinance vvhere it is thought most needeful and vvhere it is imagined an Enemie may give an attempt either vpon the Front the Reere or vpon either of the Flankes for vvhich one can give noe certaine rule but must defend themselves in that place vvhere the occasion presenteth it selfe When a Campagnie Heath or Feild is spacious and large then one may march in full Battaile by divisios close by one an other in good order vvhich an Enemy perceiving it may be he dares not offer battell othervvise every devision Battaeillion may march by it selfe vvith more ease and liberty then vvhen they are ioyned close together yet so that in case of necessity they may easely be dravvne vp together as likevvise the Ordinance baggage dravvne to that place vvhere they may be safest and best defended by the troupes if an Enemy should giue an attempt vpon them The vvaggons ought to be dravvne vp and ranged into eight or ten rancks close one to an other that they may march vvithout hindring one an other and the Ordinance may march vpon one of the flankes of the Armie and some Feild peeces before if necessity should require vvithout hindring or putting the rest of the vvaggons into disorder vvhich the Master of the Ordinance or the Carriage Master ought to Consider vvell and take a speciall care of The Chiefe Officer vvhich Commaundeth the Reereguard gives order that some Troups of light horsemen shall march vvith in sight of the vvhole Reere especially vvhen they are to passe over a Heath or Campagnie but the Countrie having mountaines hils vallies in it then the horse may be commaunded to march sometimes in the Vantguard sometimes in the Reere of all the Armie and keepe such vvatch and centinels vpon the highest places that an Enemy may not discouver the strength of the Armie as it passeth or in vvhat order it marches When the armie is to march throug some narrovv passages the Vantguard is commōly strengthened vvith some foote or Ordinance dravvne vp before it least an Enemie migt surprize it marches thē by files dravves vp as the conditiō of the place vvill permit In like manner the Reereguard in places of daunger ought to be strengthned as also the Battell to be ranged into such an order that the Ordinance Baggage being placed in the middest may come best to serve relieve the other Troups from vvhence they may send Harquebussiers as occasion serves to attend both vpon the Vantguard and che Reere and as the ground vvill best afford In case that the vvaies and passages be so narrovv that the Ordinance Carriages baggage takes vp so much time that the Vantguard cannot be easely seconded by the Reereguard then there may be appointed some Troupes of Reserve vvhich may march along vvith the Carriages Baggage to be disposed of in such a sort that they may the better relieve those Troupes vvhich should be overcharged by an Enemy Vpon such an occasion one ought to consider and observe vvell the nature conditiō of that passage throug vvhich the Armie is to march vvhether there be any vvindings and turnings
change or alter his Countenance but upon the hottest services to give out his orders and directions with temperance and moderation without impatience choller cruelty or emulation against those that are under his command especially those who have gained honour and deserved well which he ought rather to advance and reward which will make him to be honoured loved and respected of all men A Generall also ought to be qualified with these excellent vertues as wisedome valour experience providence constancy authority and liberality and should well ponder and consider the occasion which might move him or engage him into a fight or to give battell to an Enemy he ought to be sparing and a good manager of the lives of his men and not rashly and unadvisedly to hazard his Troupes for he may aswell vanquish by policie in putting on the Lyons skinne and foreseeing all advantages and disadvantages as by surprising an Enemy unawares as by laying hold upon an advantage when their Troupes are in disorder when they are dispersed when they are dishartened harryed and wearied out when they are pinched with hunger thirst and cold and such like casualityes which may befall them Also by seeking to divert amuze and devide their Armie while he keepes his owne in peace concord and unity which is one of the chiefest points of Warre To gaine time and advantagious places to prevent and hinder an Enemy from possessing them and to seeke by all meanes to breake an Enemies dessigne and with all expedition to put his own into execution and to premeditate and to overweigh with a thousand things which depends upon the warre having a vigilant eye upon all occasions for the Art Military hath many difficulties attending upon it and one is not able to expresse the many hazards straights and plunges which befals this profession He ought not lightly to hazard his men either in skirmishes or in a battell unlesse he be forced to it and that upon very good grounds and advantages for having flesht his men in small occasions it hartens and embouldens his men and gives them the more incouragement and assurance of good successe for they perceiving the valliant wise and able carriage and conduct of their leaders and Commanders especially of their Generall this makes them fight bravely and gives them hope of victory A Generall also ought to take the grave Councell and advice of his Chiefes and Commanders and as is said to make choice of the best and yet not to make known his owne resolution for many a brave attempt and enterprise hath been broken for want of Secrecy and if he should reveale it to some intimate friend yet to do it as sparingly and reservedly as he can by which meanes he shall gaine knowledge and experience and in an instant will be ready to lay hold upon such and such occasions as may execute his resolution and there by make him capable of prevailing A Generall ought to take care that his Armie be not wearied out and fatigated overmuch which breedes sicknesses causes the weakning thereof to see Command that the Regiments be well armed duely exercised in all the seuerall motions of warre that Iustice be readily executed to be fauourable to good men and seuere against Euill-doers Offendours It is also the Office of a Generall to giue Charge that the Armie be provided with Victuals amunitions and other things belonging to the warre A Generall ought to speake diverse languages for hauing to doe with sundrie Nations vnder his Command being able to speake vnto them in their owne language this giues a great deale of Contentment Moreouer he ought to be learned a good Mathematician well seene in the points of Fortification and to haue excellent Inginiers about him that are carefull in running the lines of Approches for the preseruation of the liues of men It is requisite also that he should haue good Guides and spies about him to get him intelligence of the State of an Enemie ought to spare no mony that way for the breaking of an Enemies dessigne and for the aduancing of his owne A braue Generall also considers that the force of an Armie consists not in the multitude of men but in Valliant well experienced souldiers Officers which are well instructed and trained vp in the vse of their armes knovves that Victorie consists not in many Troupes but that an Enemies army being stronger then his as hath often hapned by obseruing of good order dicipline choosing of aduantages of VVind Sunne and Ground together with the ready obedience of his men in executing of his Commaunds by experience in their profession they become more bould confident in fight so that an old beaten souldier knowes by heart what his Chiefe Generall will require of him As a Generall should be beloued so likewise he ought to be feared of the two among Cammon souldiers rather to be feared for the most part of them vvil be soner restrayned from doing euill for feare of punishment then for any loue they beare to their Generall To conclude he ought to be experienced in the beleegring of Tovvnes Forts to vievv all places of advantages vvhere an Enemy may most offend him to forrifie his Campe strongly with lines of Circumvalation Forts and vvorkes vpon it to know the site and situation of a tovvne hovv in what manner those vvithin are able to defend it vvith men and munition to cause his Inginiers to be very circumspect and carefull how they run their lines to sap forward to the vveakest part of the Tovvne or Fort which he intends to become Master of vvith diverse other things requisite in a brave Generall vvhich for brevities sake I will omit NOW FOLLOWES IN VVHAT ORDER an Army ought to march in over a Campaigne narrow passages Woods and Rivers HAving shovvne the severall Offices of the Officers of the field it resteth novv to speak something in what order an Armie ought to march The Armie then being come to the Rendevous or being to disencampe from any place the afternoone or evening before the breakeing vp of it orders is giuē out that the Souldiers shal be provided vvith Munition so many dayes Victuals as the Generall shall Command But an Enemy being neere at hand vvhen the Generall vvill conceale thē breakeing up they dravv into Armes silently without sounding of Drum or Trumpet The Generall being attended vpon before his Lodging by the Sariant Majour Generall the Quartermaster Generall the Captaine of the Pionniers and some other Officers The most part of the Armie being dravvne into Armes the Generall gives Command to the cheife Inginier Quartermaster or some other to throvv dovvne the Trench fill vp the Ditch and to make such gappes in it that vvhole devisions Battaillions may march through them After the Trench is cast dovvne the Generall or the Sariant Majour Generall from him gives order that the Avantguards shall draw forth and march a
should breake in vpon the foote divisions so by this meanes they may with the more convenience second and relieve one an other otherwise the Foote being overlayd with an Enemies Horse having not Horse at hand to charge and second them might be easely routed and overthrowne and though and Enemie have not placed Horse betweene their battaillions of foote yet it may easely be done according to the discretion and foresight of the Generall All which shal be clearly demonstrated to the Eye by figure first in beginning with an Army of six thousand Horse 24 thowsand foote embattailed into three Tercias with their severall divisions and afterward I will show the grounds and platformes of the Battaile of Nieuport in Flanders fought Anno 1609 betweene Prince Maurice of famous memorie Albert Arch Duke of Austria and then proceede on to represent vnto you the formes of Battailes shown by the Prince of Orange abouesaid his highnesse brother the Prince of Orange that now is till Anno 1635 which may give some satisfaction to those which are desirous to follow the profession of a Souldier The Demonstration of the figures following marked with great A. and B. THe two first figures marked with the figure 1 and 1 are two Divisions of 25 files of pikes a peece and ten rankes deepe ranged in Battaille The second two figures noted 2. and 2. are two Divisions of muskettiers consisting also of 25 files a peece and 10 Rankes deepe as abovesaid Now if you are desirous to alter this forme and divide your Muskettiers into two parts then you may draw vp 13 files on the right flanke and 12 files on the left flanke of the Pikes and giving them their true In tervals and distances for the Muskettiers to fall away then there are two divisions made of a Regiment and they stand as is shewed vnderneath marked with the figure 3. The figure B represents the forme of an Armie embattailed consisting of 24 Regiments of foote each Regiment making two divisions of 100 men and 20 divisions of Horse Curassiers and Harquebusiers each division consisting of 300 Horse makeing six thousand Horse in all ranged into three Tercias with the true number of feete and distances betweene them as the figures showes Note also where the gentle Reader sees a P marked within the Division that signifies Pikes and the division underneath are muskettiers marked with the Letter M. To conclude the Horse are noted in French with C for Cavallerie and in English with H for Horse The figures that are Coloured are distinguished thus The Pikes with a yellow the Muskettiers with a green and the Horse with a red colour THE ORDER AND FORME OF QVARTERING and Encamping of an Army HAvings howne the figures of Generall Formes and orders of embattailling ranged in the wat 's of the vnited Provinces vnder the Command of his Excellency Maurice Prince of Orange of famous memorie and his Highnesse Frederick Henrie Prince of Orange our Captaine Generall that nowis I will proceede on and shew how and in what manner an Armie ought to be encamped with the sevetall divisions of their quarters beginning fitst with a Company of Foote and Horse then with a Regiment and afterward an Armie entrenched and last of all come to handle Approches and all things depending therevpon for the beseiging and takeing in of a Towne or Fortresse which for the most part I have translated out of Mr. Adam Fritach an excellent Mathematician in his booke printed Anno 1635. THE FIRST CHAPTER Of three sorts of Campes or Leagers THere are three kindes of Campes The first is called in Latine Castra Temporaura that is A Campe which staies not long in a place but removes and changes euery day the second Castra Strataria a settled Campe which environeth a Towne or a Fortresse with intent to take it in and the third is called Castra Sustentoria a Campe lying vpon a passage or river to stop and hinder the incursions of an Enemie from getting into a Countrie The Campe which dislodgeth euery moment is called Castra Temporanea This Campe is also called a Flying Leager hiving no certaine place of abode but at every motion is continually to attend an Enemie vpon every remove and this Armie is to encampe when the Enemies Armie encampeth and therefore is called a Flying Campe because it is to hinder the Enemies progresse A Campe having a trench Cast vp about it or beset with Turne Pikes and Palissadoes Now for a Campe which is ready to remove vpon an instant we vnderstand that which takes vp a quarter onely for one night which forme requires a great deale of wisedome and circumspection especially when it is to march or Quarter not farre from an Enemies Countrie Therefore it is very necessarie that the Generall sends out before a good number of Horse to view and informe themselves of the nature and condition of that place where the Armie is to Quarter that night for the accommodation where of they ought to chuse as neere as possibly may be a place situated in a plaine Feld to which the Armie being come and that in good time by day the Quarters shall be made neere vnto the a dioyning villages if there be any and the Horse lodged about them in places of danger most suspected A campe may be encompassed with a Trench 4 foot high and 3 foote broad for their more safety against an Enemie which otherwise might give an attempt vpon some part of the Armie The moorish grounds where is Enemie is not feared that may be beset with Turne Pikes or with Palissadoes which may be taken vp againe when the Campe removes After the Thenches are in defēce the Souldiers begins to make their huts of forks lathes withes and straw or for a night onely with sticks and boughes or such things as they can get the carriages and waggons laden with Amunition Materials and Victuals are to be lodged in the middest of the Campe with a small trench cast vp round about them but some peeces of Ordinance are to be planted vpon those avenues and passages where an Enemie may best give on vpon the Campe when the watches and the Centinels are disposed of the rest of the Armie goes to take their rest the next morning at the breake of the day and at drummes beating the Armie dislodges and every one makes ready for to march away while the trench is a Casting downe lest an Enemy which followes the Armie might lodge in the same quarter But if the Armie is not to march through an Enemies Countrie and that one is assured they cannot come neere vnto the Campe so soone it is not necessarie to environ the Campe with trenches but the Souldiers are either Quatered in houses or feilds next adioyning to them in disposing of guards and Centinels in every place needfull and this order of march observed everie day till the Armie is come vnto that place which is resolved to be beseiged where then
assault of an Enemy The second manner of defence is made by Canon which must play continually from all places upon the workemen and Approches to doe them as much harme as possible may be whence it comes to passe that the Workemen are amazed and frighted when they see many of their fellow workemen fall and slaine miserably by the Canon which will abate their courage and make them worke more faintly in such sort that an Enemy is driven to leave of their worke till such time as the offensive side have made Batteries against the Beseiged But when it is not feisible they must be constrayned at last to breake up and quit the seige otherwise if they continue it wil be exceeding chargeable to them because no men will undertake the work but such as wil be soundly payed for it For every man hazards his life when Ordinance and Musketteirs play continually upon him and a man will not venter his life for nothing but will sell it at as deare a rate as he can besides in so doing it prolongs the time for an Enemy so that a Fortresse may sometimes be relieved or when Winter or bad weather comes on they may be forced to abandon the Siege The third manner is by makeing of all sorts of Outworkes and in takeing up the Ground whereunto an Enemie Approches which may be made during the siege and while an Enemie Approaches as by makeing of Ravelings Halfe-moones Horne-workes Tenailles and Traverses for all these workes may be made while an Enemie advances his Approaches towards a Towne or Fortresse but it were better they had bin made before the Towne was beseiged for the gaining of time and saving of charges which might be employed in other works The fourth maner is when the Beseiged make Counter Approches whereby they may resist an enemy that he may not get into the Outworkes and Counterscharfe with his approches where to hinder him they must cast up some Traverses and other lines running them from their outworks as it were to meet the Enemies works and so make them get ground as it were by peece-meale till they come to the Fortresse But neverthelesse one must observe well that they must be carryed and made so that they may alwaies flank upon the Beseigers works and approches and that the Approchers may do them as little harme as may be alwaies making them so that they lie open towards the Towne or Fort Beseiged from whence they are to be defended and must be so carried that they may give no advantage to an Enemy when he takes them in and see that they may be flanked from the Town and Fort both with Canon and Musket At the last seige of Bergen op Zoom there were many such Counter Approches made wherewith the Beseiged gauled the Enemy shrewdly insomuch that he was not able notwithstanding the losse of abundance of men to get a foot of ground of them having chests in the Counter-Approches which played continually with muskettiers and firelocks upon the Enemy and casting fireworks among them taking up also the ground and advantagious places before the Enemy could approach unto them which did disharten them much for assoon as Prince Maurice of happy memory came to Rosendale with his Army to relieve the Towne Marquis Spinola seeing no hopes of getting it after the losse of twelve thousand men was driven to rise without it and quit the seige OF ALL SORTS OF BRIDGES ESPECIALLY your flagg or Bulrush Bridges THE SEVENTH CHAPTER UPon an expedition of warre when of necessity an Army is to passe over a River or a Brook there are commonly carryed Boates or sloopes upon Waggons as hath been taught before having Beames or Boards all necessaries laid in the Boates to be used first they take downe the Beames and Posts and then the Plancks and Boards which is done in a trice when all things lie in order sometimes they carry onely Boats and sometimes onely plancks To make then a Bridge over a River first these Boats as many as you shall have use off to lay over the River are launced into the water which are bound together with ropes and fastened with Cables and Ankors in the bottome over which sparres and beames are laid and then plancks and bords layd orderly upon them for men to march over There are likewise such kind of bridges made with great boates in Fortresses lying upon a river side when an enemy is feared and where one dares not make any other bridge for it is drawn up every night like a draw-bridge that if an Enemy had any enterprise upon that place he might not passe over it There are made likewise bridges over the moates of the outworkes of a Fortresse but an Enemy being approached neere unto the Fortresse having made batteries to beate them down these bridges are broken down in the outworkes and sally bridges made to which they cannot do much harme for the making of which one takes some Barrels or Hoggs-heads bound about with iron and pitched unto which rings of iron are made fast for to put posts into them by which meanes these Barrels are ioyned together and lockt one to another upon which there are laid planckes for men to passe over and repasse and if one would take them up in the night they do it in such a manner that they are soon sundred one from another An Enemy cannot so easily spoile such a Bridge because it lies even with the water and if one part of it should be shot a peeces one may presenly help it againe with other Barrels and posts There is an other kind of Bridge over which one may give an assault whereof some of them are borne upon waggons and others upon boats and are made after the manner of Draw-bridges saving that they are lighter and are drawn upon the waggons or boates upon which they are laid but when one is to use them then they must take them downe Read the Treasury of the Mechanick Secrets of Augustine de Ramely The Artillery of Diego Vffano and the Theater of the instruments of Henry Leysing which treate of these things at large But of all Bridges none are found more necessary and usefull then those that are made of flaggs and Bulrushes For all others require great charges especially when some Ingenier takes some old invention from an ancient Author and gives it out for a new one for it is reason such a one should be recompenced because of his invention and afterward becomes a directour for the making of it as though no other could be made but that which he hath invented and so by this meanes makes his benefit of it and his count and reckoning according to his desire by making a bridge at such a high rate and charge that makes his masters purse light and his owne heavy But if you looke narrowly upon it you shall find it to be an old invention as one cast off and serves for no use The like doth happen here for when
proportion of a small Fort Royall where the proportion of the Polygones are of 5550 or 45 rodd When you resolve to cut off a worke a little more inward it will become narrower in a regard of the great work yet will be great enough to defend it selfe The Generall Cuttings of Crown-works will cost no great labour which may easily be showne in regarde it is very common An example thereof you may see in the 169 figure The cutting off being made one is forced to make a ditch between the worke quitted and the cutting off which ought neverthelesse to be done because one takes the Earth out of the ditch to make up the cutting off withall one must observe also that this cutting off must be made as strong as possible may be The cuttings off are maide only while an Enemy is approaching towards you but also when Towns and Forts are first fortified Your General cuttings off in Tenailles doth not differ from that which is made in Horn-works saveing that one make a Tenaile in stead of a Horn-worke The particular cuttings off of Horn-works is after so many wayes that one cannot shew here all the kinds of them A Cutting off is represented unto you in the 171 figure where a Horn-worke is cut off and two Revelings made in the sides of it which are defended by a third which are behinde the others though they have a sufficient defence of themselves yet the defence of the other Reveling is added to them over above and is defended from the Tenaille which is after it Besides this there is another kinde of cutting of a Horn-worke showne in the 172 figure In imitating these cuttings off one may make many others as necessity may permit and as an Enemy attempts upon you all which is impossible to marke out here A Generall cutting off a great wall or Rampard is used very seldome because the Besiegers and the Besieged will at last grow weary thereof Neverthelesse this hapned in the seige of Ostend which lasted three yeares three months and odd dayes for assoone as the Enemy had got into the wall by sapping and springing of mines they presenly had an other Cutting off ready to entertaine them in so much that dureing this seige there were many Counter-approches against approches Counter mines against the Enemies mines so that the Enemy could not get for a long time sarcely an inch of ground upon our men for there were above forty mines sprung on both sides when the Earth fel out men fought for that and turned up the Earth against them for these Generall and Royall cuttings off lasted till the Enemie had got more then halfe the Towne before they gate over the whole And though such a seige and such a great cuttings off happens but seldome yet you shall see an example thereof in the figure 173 where is showne how one ought to quit a whole part of a Towne or Fortresse vvith the Curtaine and Bulvvarks and hovv one by a cutting of a Bullvvarke or a Curtaine is more usual vvhereof vve savv an example at the seige of the Bosch in the Vucher Bulvvarks as also the last year at the seige of Breda vvhere both the Ginnekeis and Haghish Hornvvorks vvith both these Bulvvarks vvere most dangerously cut off Novv to represent unto you some cuttings off vvhich you may see in the 173 figure marked vvith A B and C. The letter C shovvs you hovv one ought to quit a vvhole Bulvvark and hovv you ought to make your Capital line after a Bulvvark is cut off Likevvise other kinds of cuttings off of Bulvvarks are represented unto you in the figure 174 175 176 177 and 178 after vvhich manner you may make many others and change and order them as an Enemie comes neere you and as the commodiousnesse of the place shall require It happens also sometimes that Curtaines are cut of invvardly vven as an Enemy may assault them vvith advantage becaus of their length You may then cut them of as is shovvn in 172 figure vvhen you have time enough to cut them of Royally But if time vvil not permitt you to make a royall fortification then you must make use of Traverses It is impossible to cut of a False-bray because of the little space vvhich is in it Notvvthstanding one may cast up some Traverses in it especially on that side vvhich the Enemy seeks to take in and tovvards vvhich part he vvould advance his gallery to the end you may not give too much to an Enemy but keep and maintaine the place as much as possible may be For the Besieged may lay hold on the same advantage as their Enemy doth vvhen he is once got into the False-bray and though vvhen he is in that they may cover the roof of it vvith planks one may neverthelesse set fire on it and disaccommodate the Enemy on all sides As for other vvorks as Revelings and Halfmoons you may see hovv they are cut of after the same manner as the Bullvvarks are if the vvorke vvhich is to be cut of be great enough and have place enough in it to be cut off But forasmuch as all this here showne concerneth principally the defence which ought to bee considered in ordinary Fortresses so one must have a speciall care to the materials whereof these workes are made for in making of them you must choose the best Earth that is to be got which will make your workes the stronger In outworkes you may alwayes take in the earth which is digged out of the moate· But because that sandy earth or earth mingled with sand is not so good it is lyned with rise or Brush which is layd betwixt and upon it In great Bulwarks where there is not Earth enough and besides that is sandy it must bee laid with rowes of Brush driving them in with stakes and sparrs of houses shot down with Canon But when the ground is so sandy that you cannot work it alone then you must lay dung and straw and other things betwixt it to make it hold together and you must wet the Earth as many times as is needful You may fortifie your Parapets with Gabions when you cannot make them otherwise and likewise you may set great musket baskets upon the top of the Parapet that it may be covered the better In Outworks one may make use of the ordinary Profile when you have time enough to make cuttings off or you may make them long before hand But the works which are made in great hast have no certaine rule howsoever you must make them as strong as possible may be and as meanes and time will give you leave Touching the cuttings off of Bulwarks and Curtains one can give likewise no certain rule only this you must ever have a care that all inward works and cuttings off lie open toward the Town or Fortres with this proviso also that they be not made so high but that the great works may over-look and command them For if the