to mutine against him with other disgraces vnderhand to vndoo him if the Duke had not taken resolution to sack Rome to content the men of warre Also the braue Count Egmont with others of his Nation for al their seruice were executed most cruelly by Duke D'alua and the Marquis of Berges with Mountenie poysoned in Spaine onely to bring to passe their determination against the Netherlanders Also Marke Anthonie Colono whose house and himselfe folowed always the house of Austria beeing Vice-Roy of Naples reputed and feared for the greatest Captain in Italie was sent for into Spaine and before he could speake with the king he was poisoned in his way to the Court The last day two or three noble men Porteguises taking armes made to the Sea coast hauing discouered sir Francis Drakes fleete the Spanish perceiuing their greatnes executed one Count and poisoned the other although some of them were the men that sought to bring them into the countrie and most assured them Looke also to their proceedings with Naples Millain the wrongs to Francis Fortza Ferdinando of Aragon with diuers other the like actions T'his discipline gouernment do I know by good experience for I serued vnder the Ensignes of the M. del Campo Iulian Remero 22 moneths and Mondragon 18 moneths with the domestiques of the braue Don Iohn de Austria eight months always in action As I saide before their discipline must be good for good Chiefes makes good Souldiers The least of thirty commanders they had alwayes amongst them were sufficient to command 10000. Soldiers A campe continually maintained in action is like an Vniuersity continually in exercises when famous Schollers die as good or better step in their places Especially in armies where there be euery day new inuentions stratagems of wars change of weapons munition all sort of engins newly inuented corrected dayly Some may aske me as I did Philip de Comines in reading his booke where he speaks much to the praise of Lewis the xj but nothing how he quited his Duke of Bourgondie true it is at the defeate of Harlam Colonell Morgan and his Regiment were discharged from the Prince of Oranges seruice my selfe being one arriuing in England the saide Colonell with a number of others were imployed into Ireland At that instant the Prince of Condie was newly escaped out of France into Germanie I hauing nothing to doo hearing the saide Prince meant to return into France with an armie my self 4. other companions resolued to imploy our seruice with that Prince being in Germanie with smal purses finding the Prince not able to martch in six moneths hauing no meanes to liue we returned for England passing throgh Lier in Brabant we were brought before the Master of the campe Iulian Romero who entertained me with such curtesie that I remained with him Thus did I enter into the Spaniards wars and do thinke it no disgrace for a poore Gentleman that liues by wars to serue any Estate that is in league with his owne To proue Lantiers more seruiceable than men at arms considering the numbers that do duties THe difference betwixt the men at Armes companies of Ordinances as they tearme them and the Launtiers called by the strangers Light Horsemen by vs Demilances I must confesse a companie of men at Armes to be the most honorablest priuat charge that a man may haue in the warres principally because these charges are giuen vnto Princes Nobilitie or men of great qualities in the wars To euery seuerall company belongeth one Ensigne one Guydon and one Cornet the Ensigne ouer the men at Armes the Guydon ouer the Archers the Cornet ouer the light horsemen Considering the number of hands to come to fight to do duty I persuade my selfe the greatest warriors think the Lantiers more profitable and more seruiceable my reasons are these a man at Armes ought to haue 5. horses for euery horse he receiues as much pay as a Launtier commonly the men of Armes makes no conuoyes that belongs vnto an Army the most of them are men of quality as we tearme men of warre eyther gentle or cashed Officers wherefore they are fauoured for their skouts guards and watches If they be commaunded to any of these duties out of their fiue horses it is much if they send three commonly one and two halfe of them keepes but foure horses the most three the rest is loden with baggage perhaps lame iades sufficient with curtesie to passe the Musters being trimmed vp with help of their witnesses how they wer hurt in seruice deuises Lightly they are not commanded to march vnles the Army dislodges if they do Cornets of Launtiers and Hargulatiers are commanded with them The men of Armes neuer breake their soft paces vnlesse they charge or retire the others often are commaunded to great marches to do exploits Caualgade as the straungers terme it beside they must skout discouer with all duties that belongs vnto an Army either in lodging or march and fights often when the men of Armes see no enemy when they doo fight lightly it is a battaile then the Launtiers receiue and giue the first blowes The first charge being well conducted and directed tryes the most of the fortune of a daies seruice 100. men at Armes are as chargeable as 500. Launtiers and doo not the duetie neither in fights nor guards as halfe so manie Touching the barbd I meane the arming of the horses I thinke it to little purpose seeing all squadrons of pikes be lined with Musketiers or Caliuers the lesser of both pearceth any arming that horses vse to carrie In stead of Maces the Launtiers may carrie one Pistoll the which is lighter and farre more terrible than thrice the force we haue in these daies True it is it is necessarie for the shocke of a horse to weare a little Cuisset to couer the knee so ought al the Launtiers to be We know it by experience let a horseman be armed the forepart of his curaces of a light pistoll proofe his head peece the like two lames of his pouldrons the like two or three lames of his tasses of the like proofe the rest I meane his tasses cuisses pouldrons vambraces and gauntlets bee also so light as you can deuise With one pistoll these kinde of arming shal be found heauie for the most men to carrie all day long and too heauie for the most horses to carie ten hours together and to do any seruice As I said before the Launtiers are as well mounted for one horse a peece if hee haue not two vnles he be too base minded and the warres verie bare Besides all Launtiers receiue euerie man his own pay and haue nothing to doo with Master nor anie bodie sauing his Officers that commaunds him to doo his duetie in the warre Wherefore I perswade my selfe they maintaine these Ordinances as they tearme them chieflie as I said before to keepe the ancient customes fearing in breaking that order diuers of their great men
the terror of Muskets Caliuers and Pistolls they would haue used the lesse Bowes Speares and Bills as the actions of these famous kings shews their Captains to be the most expert Likewise we must confesse Alexander Caesar Scipio and Hanniball to be the worthiest and famoust warriers that euer were notwithstanding assure your selfe had they knowne Artillerie they woulde neuer haue battered Towns with Rammes nor haue conquered countries so easily had they bin fortified as Germanie France and the Low countries with others haue bin since their days Although the ground of ancient Discipline is the most worthiest and the most famous notwithstanding by reason of fortifications stratagems ingins arming with Munition the discipline is greatly altered the which we must follow and be directed as it is now otherwise we shall repent it too late The difference betwixt Launtiers and Pistolers TRue it is as Monsieur de la Nowe saith a squadron of Rutters meaning Pistolers ought to beate a squadron of Launtiers It were a great follie of me either to deny his reasons or deeds the little experience I got was from him and from such others as himselfe Touching Monsieur de la Nowe he is knowne to be one of the worthiest and famous warriers that Europe bred in his days I do perswade my selfe a squadron of Pistolers ought to encounter so many Launtiers if they should enter into the squadrons of Lantiers as Monsieur de la Nowe saieth Without doubt the Pistol discharged hard by wel charged with iudgement murthers more than the Launce out of a hundred Pistolers 20. nor scarce 10. at the most do neither charge pistoll nor enter a squadron as they shoulde but commonly and lightly always they discharge their Pistols eight and fiue score off and so wheele about at which turnes the Launtiers charge them in the sides be they wel conducted if they should enter as Monsieur de la Nowe speaks the Launtiers haue or ought to haue one Pistoll at the least touching their arming and mounting they ought to be rather better than worse The captains or captaine that charges either with troups or troupe cares not much whether the cōpanies breake their launces or not but desires thē to enter resolutely and to keep close together If they be wel conducted their leaders command more than half of thē to carie their swords or pistols in the bridle hand rather than faile to vse the sword pistoll quit their Lances but they wil be sure to place the best of the Lantiers in the forefront Lightly of euery hundred 15. or 20. know how to breake being wel broken with care of the goodnesse of the staffe and head the blowe of the Launce is little lesse in valor vnto the pistoll the charge of the Lantiers is terrible and resolute being in carier to breake the enemies perceiues their resolution is to enter and not to wheele about like vnto the pistolers seldome or neuer at al shal you find pistolers charge or enter a squadron either horse or foot on the spurs like vnto the Launtiers but softlie on a trot or soft pace persuading themselues as it is true their Pistolls giue as great blowes without the force of the horses Considering the resolute charge done with the might of their horses the Launtiers are more terrible and make a farre fairer shew either in Muster of Battaile for example the Almaines during the time they carried Launces caried a farre greater reputation than they doo now being pistolers named Rutters The most Chiefes or Souldiers of account are armed at the proofe of the Pistoll If the Leaders commaund their troupes to spoyle horses the Launces are more sure for diuers Pistolls faile to goe off if they doo they must be charged with discretion being ouercharged it shakes in a mans hand so that often it toucheth neyther man nor horse If the charge be too little it pierceth nothing to speake of True it is being pickt and chosen the Pistolers murther more would they doo as Monsieur de la Nowe directes them But it hath beene seldome or neuer heard that Launtiers gaue place vnto Rutters but I was often in their companie when they ranne away three from one Launtier both in great troupes and small True it is the great Captaine the Admirall Chatillion chose often to fight and would haue diuers or the most of his horsemen to bee armed wyth one Pistoll and a good Curtilace hee had great reason for the most of his followers on horsebacke were Gentlemen of qualitie or resolute Souldiours that fought for the Religion Diuers of the Gentlemen were in quarrells for their houses or for their particular reputation but all in generall were resolute valiant faithfull men of warre that fought either for religion or reputation to maintaine their wordes after the olde Romane fashion Being such men no weapons comes amisse for constancie and true valor ouerthrows al pollicie being in Armes readie to fight without delayes Besides the nature of the Frenchmen is such that they will grudge to carrie any Armes but such as please themselues vnto the which their Leaders were faine to agree partly against their wills fearing otherwise to offend their humours knowing it lay in them to followe whome they lifted especiallie their Realme beeing diuided into factions being al vnited their kings were faine to hire Switzers and Almaines for their battailes on foot I meane armed Pikes which is the bodie of all battailes To prooue Musketiers the best small shot that euer were inuented THe difference betwixt the Muskets and any other peeces that are vsed If it be in a battaile howsoeuer the ground or place falles out in Trenches either assailing or defending Townes Forts or Fortresses or in defending or assailing streights or passages whether it be by night or day in my iudgement fiue hundred Muskets are better than 1000. Caliuers or any other such shot and are to bee valued from that rate vnto the greatest numbers My reasons are thus the Musket spoyles horse or man thirtie score off if the powder bee anie thing good and the bearer of any iudgement If armed men giue the charge few or any carrie Armes of the proofe of the Musket being deliuered within ten or twelue score If any great troupes of horse or foote offers to force them with multitude of smaller shot they may discharge foure fiue or sixe small bullets being deliuered in volley the which pearceth al they strike vnlesse the enimie bee heauely armed the which are not vnlesse it be some 100. of a 1000. at the most of either horse or foote By that reckoning 100. Muskets are to be valued vnto 200. Caliuers or more the Caliuers may say they will discharge two shot for one but cannot denie but one Musket shot doth more hurt than two Caliuers shot farre or nere and better cheape although the Musket spend a pound of powder in 8. or 12. shot and the other smaller shootes twentie and thirtie of a pound Considering the wages and
to receiue their pays Into this place he commanded also al his Caualery with other footmen to come The mutinous Regiment being viewed with commissaries he placed the horsemen in Squadrons round about them commanding them to charge them like enemies vnles they would deliuer the mutiners into his hands The poore Almains seing thēselues deceiued fearing the furie of the horsmen deliuered vnto him all that he demaunded To reuenge their mutinie and to maintaine Discipline hee executed of them 200. Since that time we cannot learne that the Almaines mutined in the Spanish Armie Their great Officers in order as they commaund IN the absence of the Captaine Generall the hie Marshall or master of the Campe general commandeth al. After him the Generall of the horsemen after him the Generall of the Artillerie after him the eldest master of the Campe next vnto the Masters del Campo the Lieftenant general of the horsemen after him the Lieftenant of the Artillerie These Officers direct the field for the rest of the Colonells and Officers none meddle further than his owne particular charge vnles they be authorized Although the Threasurer at wars be an honorable place commanded by no bodie but by the Captaine generall he nor none of the others meddle with the Martiall Discipline I meane the Auditores Commissaries Muster masters such Touching the charge and duties of the Captaine Generall and the other great Captaines I refer it vnto the famous warriours which wrote it often before What other Officers ought to second their great Officers THe office of the Marshal is painful great for he medleth with the whole affaires of the warres he hath to serue and to help him the Serieant maior Quarter masters Prouosts and Captaine of the Spions The Generall of the horsemen hath to serue him his Lieftenants Colonells Captaines and Scoutmasters The Generall of the Artillerie his Lieftenant Commissaries of munitions Gentlemen of the Artillery Colonel of Pioners Trench-masters Carriage-masters The Treasurer is chiefe of al the others he the Auditor Muster-masters Commissaries aswell for musters as for victuals deliuer their accounts only vnto the captain general or to his deputy authorised by him for the vse of the King There is also one Secretarie authorized by the King who lookes into all their dealings and knows all the secret onlie that passeth betwixt the King and the Captaine generall This Secretarie hath always diuers blanks signed by the King With those blāks they haue redressed sodenly many disorders which could not haue bin done if they had bin forced to stay to know the Kings pleasure The greatnes of their Generall and Obeysance vnto his King ALthough the General hath his commission absolute from the King to alter to redresse place to displace whom he lists as occasion presents Notwithstanding he doth nothing without the aduise and consent of his counsaile of warre if he should he is sure to be dispised and contemned not only by his counsel of war but by his whole Armie in generall who will not faile to appeale vnto the King Estate of Spaine which redresseth presētly any disorders For sodain dispatches the King hath his counsell of war seuerally for euery of his kingdoms and prouinces where he hath occasion to vse Viceroyes or Captaine Generalls All these Counsailes of wars both in Spaine and abroad are expert and principall Captaines sauing a few Diuines and Ciuililians ioyned with them to aduise and redresse their high mindes and ambition the which is done easier and better by wise perswasions than by extreame iustice for if iustice were executed to the vttermost fewe great Captaines should liue The most great captaines cannot denie but their profession ouer-reacheth themselues more than anie other because all their speaches deeds and minds consists in ambition for honour seeking to ouerthrow all estates to aduance their owne weighing no perill in respect of fame I speake this for Captaines in generall but there are honest vertuous and iust yet so few that the number must bee imbraced els the multitude of the enemies would bee too to manie for the fewe friends If a Captaine be a good counsellor in Warre a good executioner or a good engioner he ought to be imbraced and as noble Sir Philip Sidney said borne withall vnlesse his faults are too intollerable How they diuide their Horsmen THey diuide their Caualerie into an 100. vnder a Cornet Vnles it be their two Generalls the most of the aduantagers and aduenturers march vnder the high Generall so doo all his domestiques When he is in person in the field his Cornet is alwaies foure or fiue hundred they giue seuerall commissions vnto Launtiers to the Hergulutiers to fiue hundred Launtiers they ioyne a hundred Hergulutiers they keep that rate from the lesser number vnto the greatest These Launtiers are called light Horsmen notwithstanding they are aswell mounted as the men at armes for one horse a peece and aswell armed sauing the barbd for their greeues and maces the most carrie one Pistoll but all carrie a curtilace I meane a good broad sworde Their Hergulutiers are also well mounted for 1. horse a peece more than halfe curaces of the proofe with an open burgonet or Millaine murrions many haue pistolls besides their peeces but all haue good curtilaces Both Launtiers and Hargulatiers haue al cassocks euery company seuerall colours to be knowne The diuisions of their foote bands THeir Commissions for foote Bands are like vnto ours some Ensigns 300. some 200. the most of an 150. Euery hundred hath forty armed men of which there must be 30. pikes the tenne others are halberds targets of the proof al their Gentlemen vantagers are armed men the most carry the pike hauing plasterons of the proofe I meane the fore part of the armour the 60. others are shot In the later dayes of Duke D'alua 25. of euery 100. were commaunded to be Musketters With their armed pikes and musketters they execute most of their seruices They found such seruice in the musket that this Prince of Parma hath the most of his shot musketters The order of their marching VVHen the Armie marcheth one commaundes the vangard another the battell the third the rereward None of these nor of the Officers appoynted with them whatsoeuer occasion presenteth although their fellowes were in fight dares breake out of his place to offer to fight without commaundement from the Principall If the Generall be in person hee is knowne by a signall like vnto a Cornet which is carried hard by him As hee sends often to know the State of his Armie in all the quarters so doo they send others vnto him as occasion presents both to acquaint him of their Estate to know his direction To giue equall honor vnto al their troups they alter their marches euery seuerall march He that had the vangard to day to morrow is to haue the rereward the third the battaile When occasion presents to diuide their Army into seueral parts to