and backe the better to discerne them one from another This manner as I haue alreadie touched is verie easie So that placing them in length doubling their ranks it brings them likewise to a verie formall order of battell as I haue sufficiently touched beforehand A Battell in forme of a crosse verie necessarie to be vsed as well in the night as by day because all the weapons are deuided by themselues THis battell following in forme of a full Crosse consisteth of 10. Ensignes euerie Ensigne hauing vnder it two hundreth souldiers so that the whole number cōtaineth 2000. mē It hath 4. fronts or faces whereof euerie one is accompanied with hargabusiers which may in time of necessitie be couered defended by the armed pikes so that the formost rankes be moued forwards all alongst the flankes sides of the shot This forme hath bene vsed of Spaniards and Italians It is a gallant battell and of force sufficient to resist the enimie in open fielde although they should set vpon you at vnwares besides superior both against horsemen and footemen the hargabusiers are 1000. the which are the halfe of the number These hargabusiers being deuided into 4. parts must be in euerie flanke 200. placing 14 in ranke euery way the halberds and Ensignes placed in the midst of the crosse are 200. and the whole number of pikes are 800. the which are to be placed on euerie quarter of the halberds 200. placing 14. euery way which make a iust quadrant of people so that there remaine to be placed by the Sergeant maior 16. pikes 4. halberds and 200. shot This rule may serue in proportion for any number being verie excellent for the night because ech weapon being deuided by themselues may be readie at the sodaine for any seruice either to giue battell or for defence of the Campe the horsemen and the field péeces to be placed as shall séeme best by the Chieftaines or the Sergeant Maior The bodie of a battell to be made in the night THe proportion of this Cressant or Moone is very conuenient and fit to be executed in the night there being a round ring drawne with a cord and a stake so that the Sergeant Maior according to my description in his office may place the companies that come to him and from hand to hand part them into seuerall companies according to this proportion for this forme doth require that it be done with expedition and it is no great labour to deuide the weapons without cōfusion either to march or otherwise to vse themselues seuerally from the rest in great or small companies as shal be néedful for that euerie weapon doth stand at his owne defence by it selfe the general artillerie Ensignes short weapons being safely enuironed with the armed pikes which may vpon the sodain by the Sergeant maior or the Corporals of the fielde be brought to any other forme of battell Also the Sergeant generall may place the Hargabusiers in so manie companies and so many formes and so farre distant one from an other as the situation of the place or the seruice thē present doth require to the intent that the maine bodie of the battell may be flanked and defended But for that I haue more largely touched this in the Sergeant maiors office I referre the Reader to the same aduertising him withall that all squadrons and battels in the night must haue euerie sort of weapons seueral by themselues whereby confusion may both be auoided and the troupes of souldiers remaine readie when they shall be called forth to execute any seruice what necessitie or sodaine assault soeuer befall Prouided alwayes that good watch scout be kept on horsebacke and on soote as néere the enimie as is possible by whose aduertisemēts you may know what is best to be accomplished The order of imbattelling before the fight THe Oration being made by the Generall and prayers finished to the immortal God it is requisite that thou haue care to bring forth thy army to the field with bright shining armour which easily may be done by giuing charge in time to the Captaines and so to the officers that their burgonets 〈◊〉 caléeuers halberds swords euerie other péece of 〈◊〉 be made cleane bright forasmuch as the cleannes and brightnes of the weapons maketh the armie séeme terrible and putteth feare trauel in the minds of the enimies Then cal forth thy bands the which béeing set in araie the Generall béeing expert hauing seene the preparation of the enimies giueth in charge to the Sergeant maior and the principall Corporalles to accommodate and ordaine his Souldiers in battaile according to the armie the men and the manners of them And if the enimie bee more puissent of Horsmen thou hauing the commoditie choose thée straight and difficult places or at the foote of mountaines and where the horse cannot easilie serue If in footemen he excéedeth then it is requisite to get the hilles and places of aduantage as the Sunne and winde c. and that with diligence to choose such fit places which either be néere Rockes or Riuers and aboue all things where thou maist put in araie thy battailes and by the qualitie of thy place be able to let thy enimies that they neither compasse thée about nor inclose thée the which requires not onely the counsaile and prudence of a wise Captaine but the counsaile of the most expert in the Campe because oftentimes an Armie hapneth vpon such places And notwithstanding the Captaine is ignorant how to choose such situation of ground as is best for him but of those that are present it is good to choose the best and to foresée which may be most profitable is surely a signe of a wise Captaine Caius Sulpitius to feare his enimies got a great manie of Mules and other beasts vnprofitable for the warres causing a great number of sackes to be gotten which were so ordered vpon the backes of the beasts as they séemed men at armes giuing in charge whiles hee was a fighting they should appeare vpon a hill whereby grew his victorie against the Frenchmen The Spaniards to ouercome Amilcar set in the fronts of their battels Cartes full of Towe drawne with Oxen that béeing ready for the encounter they set it on fire causing the Oxen vehemently to thrust forwards into the armie of the enimie deuiding the same Thy number small and the fields large and open it is good to make ditches the which being filled with boughes and slightly couered with earth leauing voide spaces for thy horse and shot to procure skirmish the which being of the enimie encountered may faine a running awaie and béeing prosecuted by the enemie shall bee ouerthrowne in the ditches where they are easilie slaine manie such notable deuises by wise Captaines hath béene practised the which vpon the suddaine put in vse will greatly profit Thy Battels being made and set in order it is requisite that thou leaue the warde within the trenches of the
discourse of sundrie obseruations to be had in memorie of Captaines Collonels Sergeant Maiors c. whereby a discreet leader may ' learne what he hath to accomplish in all sortes of battels and encounters whatsoeuer Diuers proportions of new inuented squadrons THis battell following hath beene vsed of the Spaniards marching alongst the side of a riuer two squares and a triangle battell of pikes flanked with shot empaled on the front rereward and left flanke with 7 rankes of pikes the forlorne hope in the front their horsemen on the left wing in this sort The proportion of this battell was caried by the Almains into Italy against the Zwitzers being enuironed round about with a raile fastned with iron hookes to be taken in sunder carried with them planted with musket and base shot to resist horsmen and the squares of footmen This figure ensuing consists of a square battell of Pikes flanked by shot seconded by sléeues of Halberdeares for execution and reléefe or deffence in skirmish when it comes to pell mell with 4 smal squadrons of musketeres at the corners of the maine battell all the whole being enuironed and impaled with pikes before whose vaward front are placed the forlorne hope two wings of horsmen marching along the sides of the battell THe proportion of this battell next following is onely for the safe retire of shot being repulsed by horsemen or otherwise who may at eight places retire into this squadron which stands in the proportion of a fortresse which vpoÌ„ the charge of the enemie may ioyne close in one maine square by causing the flanks to march vp to the corners of the square which vpon occasion disclosing againe may let out the shot which may enter into skirmish in circular wise as followeth THe manner of this battell next adioyning which is to be vsed of a great armie dooth somewhat resemble a cressant consisting of battaillons the Generall in the midst of the 4 chéefe squadrons the whole impaled with pikes flanked with shot fronted with the forlorne hope and winged with horsemen This battell following is both strong and ready for the safetie of the shot for that either the forlorne hope in the forward or rereward ' may succor one another retire or issue out vpon any side through the lanes and galleries betwixt euery battaillon and yet vpon the enemies onset may sarrie close together and make one firme and sole battaile the shot being before hand drawne in out of the enemies danger This squadron is likewise flanked with Musket and Hargabuziers and winged with horsemen A notable discourse of sundrie obseruations to be had in memorie of Captaines Collonels and Sergeant Maiors in directing training exercising imbattelling and instructing of soldiors for the better planting of any of the foresaid Battels or proportions EAch Captaine Collonell and Sergeant Maior must in his degrée take care of his charge The Captaines must sée that his officers do acquaint teach his souldiors all the particulars in my first booke and that his other officers be able to execute so much as I haue set downe in my second Booke of Militarie directions whereby together with some notes written presently they may learne such particular knowledge as when they come to put generall matters in execution the same séeme not strange vnto them for in the exercise of armes we ought to indeuour our selues to be perfect in such things as belong to a band when it is by it selfe and that which a band is to performe when it is ioyned with others in campe so that those souldiers which be cunning in the first may easily obserue all occurrences and commaundements in the second Therefore a band is to learne by it selfe to kéepe ranke in each kind of motion that is to say in marching slowlie softlie fast to learne all the sounds all the signes and all the blasts voices and cries wherewith the officers commaund in a battell and that euery one know perfectly the signification thereof no lesse then the Mariners the whistle of the maister of the ship in which souldiours must be readie and diligent to obey incontinently aptly at the stroke battery of the drums whether it be to march forward to stay or to recoile or to turne their faces and weapons towards any place To this end all Collonels must ordaine that all the drums haue one kind and maner of battery and that they do vse al one forme of sounding to the field of sounding the alarme and to vse one proper sound to plant themselues in battell to aduance themselues to recoyle to turne in battell themselues from one side to another to make retraite and in sum to signifie all other points that the voice of one person alone cannot make so easily to be vnderstood as dooth the sound of many drums the which make themselues to be hard in the greatest tumults and throngs The souldiors also ought to be so attentiue to hearken and giue eare to that which is spoken and commanded that they néed neuer to be deceiued the drums likewise ought to be ready to batter their caisses according to the sound of the collonels trumpets by the which they must altogether direct and gouerne their batteries The Collonels trumpet ought to be expert in all these sounds that he be able to vtter them so plainly that the drums take not one thing for an other but that he know how to expres the same according to his Collonels commandement néere vnto whose person he ought to be euer not to abandon him to yéeld a reason what mooues me to appoint trumpets for footmen it is in respect that they may be more cléerly vnderstood then drums can be if any great tumult should arise that the drums should alter change their sound for they are to be directed by trumpets the sound wherof is hier theÌ„ the battery of drums the which yâ— Zwizers who first inuented drums haue very wel â—…ried therfore let colloâ—…ls prouide that they haue truÌ„pets before their battailloÌ„s that the Chieftains may signifie admonish theÌ„ what they haue to do All these things togither with ech seueral sound must be taught shewed from point to point to ech particular band apart before they be ranged togither in battel to the intent they may haue the full art to maintaine their order ranks without that any place how difficile soeuer be able to disband or disseuer them And also that the sound of the trumpet be so familiar vnto them that they caÌ„not erre neither take one thing for another but that the Collonels bands be ech one priuatly fully instructed in all that which the battaillons ought to do being assembled with the armie And for that armes are brought to seuerall kinds of battels either in respect of the enimies in sight or for feare of some sodaine assault ech band ought to be exercised in such sort and so instructed that they may with great assurance march
sarrie close fight In like sort the sound of the said trumpets shall signifie when it is time for the artillary to discharge when to retire when the Musket Hargabusiers the forlorne hope and others are to set forward and when they are to retire and also when the first battels ought to retire to the second fronts and battaillons and when both together they are to arange themselues with those of the third finally at what time they must all retire from the battel the which things must in a plaine knowne vulgar sort be al set downe by the collonel and Chieftaine and suddenlye be signified by his trumpet the noise whereof shall giue sufficient intelligence to the other trumpets which are néerest him that it may so go from hand to hand to the furthest trumpet of the armie It should be good to vse a Cornet or a hunts mans horne for the retraite c. and a trumpet to begin the battell or contrariwise for it is a most difficile thing that the trumpetor should signifie so many diuers things with one instrument considering that the sound of a retraite dooth approch very néere vnto the sounding to the standard in such sort that then when as all men be troubled and as it were besides themselues they shall very hardly be able to discerne whether of these two things the trumpet sounds What the Sergeant Maior is to obserue touching the length of Pikes A Pike ought neuer to want in length any thing of fiftéene foot for this respect when the footemen are streightned and setled in order of battell they may for the aduantage and profite of the said armie in respect that the assaults of the enemie is to giue to the said battell couching bending their pikes against them worke so that the greatest number of rankes that is possible for the defence of the battell may endamage and offend the said enemies and therefore their pikes being shorter then fiftéene foote it prooues that no more of the ranks can fight but the first second and third standing all in order in their places and yet can the third ranke fight but discommodiously not aduance forward his pike to succor and defend the first ranke forsomuch as the distance of the ground from one ranke to another in any battell how straight and close soeuer it be would be neuerthelesse so much that men may manage and handle their weapons and sturre themselues without being a hinderance or trouble one to another Therefore it is to be considered that the distance of the ground which is betwixt one ranke and an other dooth take away a good portion of length in such sort that by reason we may sée that a pike ought to be in length fiftéene foot and no lesse for being so long footemen standing in order of battell in their places the third and fourth ranke may commodiouslye abasing themselues come in aright to succour with their pikes the first and formost rankes this is as much as I can imagine to be necessarie touching the length of pikes by reason of the succour the third and fourth ranke may giue to them before How pikes are to be raised vp and abased in closing and opening of a battell I Will not omit to put those in memorie that know not of the particular of those things that is required in making a battell of footmen Therefore those which would make a battell of footmen must be aduertised that in shutting vp of the said battell the rankes of the pikes aswell armed as vnarmed must not raise them vp confusedly but with order that is when the Sergeant Captaine or Sergeant Maior shall say raise or right vp your pikes then it is requisite that the first and formost ranke must begin to raise vp it selfe and that the second do not mooue to raise vp it selfe vntill the first be all raised vp so the third and fourth And finally the same order is to be obserued in all other rankes not to raise vp their pikes vntill such time that the rankes that are before them haue raised them vp and so from one to another all the rankes of the footmen must obserue this order aswell in battell as in araye The like order is to be obserued in battell and araye in laying downe their pikes vpon their shoulders forsomuch as ranke by ranke in order and without confusion they ought to let fall their pikes letting the first fall after the second the third and fourth following from one to another in the selfe same maner as hath béene declared in the raising vp of their pikes for by obseruing this order they cannot commit but rather make a gallant showe and preuent manie confusions How the Sergeant Maior Captaine or simple Sergeant are to gouerne themselues when their battell shall chaunce to be assaulted on foote and on horsebacke IN sundry and diuers manners and moreouer in diuers places and grounds battels are fought according to the occasions and the accidents that in Militarie occurrences doe chaunce at vnawares in time of warrefare abroade in Campania in Townes and in Fortresses for which causes it is necessarie that the wit of those that haue the managing thereof be prompt ready aswell in this as moreouer in finding out a good partie for himselfe all for the honor safetie of the prince whom he serues ioining to his couragious hart wit experience policie each aduantage that is possible to be vsed against his enemie therfore in two sorts do arise the means to fight one is when he doth séeke to fight with his enemie the other when he is sought of the enemie in such sort that it is néedfull he defend himselfe and therefore I say when the first occasion doothrise that the séekes the enemie speaking héere of striking battell in Campania it is requisite first he consider how the enemies armie is furnished with horsemen and footmen and if he looke to fight with horsmen that are to come to breake his battell in this case he is to be aduertised that he suffer himselfe not to be found if it be possible in Campania Rasa in the open fields or in plains but rather must accomodate his battell in some place of a hill or a mountaine or vpon some seat of ground which hath vpon one side either riuer or ditch or some other impediment against the enemies horsemen which on some side may be a difference as in some places be trées vines and diuers other such like as nature brings foorth in diuers places which are of great impediment vnto the enemies horsemen vnto foote battels are verie profitable and although the number of the souldiors are very small yet oftentimes by much aduantage remaine victorious but aduertisement is to be had that in such cases it is requisite that there be accomodated many hargabusiers in the battell many pikes for they be good against the enemies horsemen hauing to fight with footmen the open fields is the best with a square battell and
their meanes an armie is made abundant of all things propre commodious and necessary Furthermore he must make and set reasonable prises vpon the victuals in such sort as the souldiors be not taxed and pinched neither the victuallers so vsed but that they may be honest gainers which I meane of things necessarie as bread béere corne wine with such like but touching other things lesse necessarie he must suffer them to sell as they can that is to say all sort of stuffe cloth for garments sadles furniture for horses spicerie armor and such like merchandize After that he hath verie well consulted and taken aduise being accompanied with worthy Caualliers and old souldiers of sound iudgement and hath visited oueruewed wel discouered considered of al plots and places where the campe is to lodge or be planted he must with great reason iudgement depart the lodgings quarters as I haue séene duely obserued vnder Doâ—… Iohn of Austria and the Prince of Parma When the campe is to make long abode in any place he ought with a capable conuenient diuision measure the same either by view of eye by cord or other ingenious order after an experimented sort good iudgment as partly appeares by figure hereafter ensuing The Artilerie munition and victuals must be lodged in the strongest and safest place of the camp euery one of them hauing their ordinarie gard Let him haue a vigilant respect that about the munition and pouder there be no fire made neither any hargabusiers or light matches approch néere vnto the same but such souldiers as are armed with other sorts of weapons as pikes halberds c. to auoid the perillous scandale of fire Then must he appoint out and ordaine quarter by quarter and specially that euerie Nation may haue a commodious plot of ground for an assembly or an Alarme the which continually ought to be void and not occupied of any qualitie of person but garded both day and night with a good Corps de gard for their securitie Note that the said place of armes be so lotted out in â—…uerie quarter that from thence the front towards the enimie may be commodiously succoured and that souldiers may conuey themselues thither with all expedition togither with their Ensignes there to range theÌ„selues in battel therfore this place ought principally to be capable of such effects either by nature or art to be repaired strengthened with trenches towards the face front of the enimie prouided that the souldiers be not pestâ—…red for want of roome nor by euerlarge space the camp not sufficiently fortified therfore must he haue a note of al the names numbers of bands of horsemen and footemen and according to thaâ—… proportion cast their ground and scope of encamping togither with all their munition prouision and carriages Encamping with an armie in the field at the siege of a townâ—… c. I haue séene quarters for euerie nation first appointed out then seuerally euerie band lodged in forme of battell the pikes in the midst and the shot in the flankes and at the head of euery band and lodging of euery company the Ensigne planted and stucke in the ground towards the face of the enimie or citie hauing an equal iust propotion of ground before the Ensignes betwixt them the trenches to range theÌ„selues in battel which must be betwixt the Corps de gard of the priuate Ensignes and betwixt the other generall Corps de gard for the whole campe whether they be placed in trenches or otherwise for the saftie of the whole campe that plot of ground wherein the assembly of armes is to be but these directions I will hereafter set downe with greater diuersity that ech man may make choise according to his fancie Moreouer he must appoint out the market place for victuallers merchants in a large safe commodious place for all the campe He must likewise appoint out for euery quarter in some place out of the way a place for men to disburtheÌ„ nature to kill cattle beasts for victuallers to rost meate in to the intent that the rest of lodgings may be kept cleane and infection of aire auoided a general benefite for health In most manner of encampings he must so diuide the quarters as euery nation may be placed by it selfe and euery Collonel by himself dispose the horsmen footmen distinctly in sunder that euery quarter may haue his place of armes market place for victuals touching which he ought to take great care of equall distribution that he may entertaine gratifie with special commodity euery nation that serues in the army And that not only euery sort of weapon haue their seueral stréets but also that euery quarter company in the campe haue his seueral charge of Artillery It is most necessarie that he take great respect to lodge the army in a strong situation whereunto he must principally haue a vigilant eye as a thing that consists in great practise long experience in many coÌ„siderations He must likewise haue respect that the place be of good aire that aboue al things there be good store of water springs and specially of wood in time of winter Likewise that in the country adioyning frée from the enimies inuasion danger there be forage for horses straw for the souldiers to lie vpon make their cabbines withal that the ground be sandie or drie where they encampe c. Touching al the conditions belonging to encamping he must take a very speciall â—… circumspect care taking view of the same diuers many times with great coÌ„sideration It belongs vnto him likewise to learne out and know the most commodious way that is most fit expedient for the armie to march be conducted through whether it be in the ordinarie high way or ouerthwart a trauerse the countrie and that they do march that way whereas the passage is most commodious must assigne to euery battell a guide or two to conduct them the best and most easie wayes Let him prouide that the Pioners accommodate make easie euerie foule way strait passage encombrance and to cleare the wayes before the great ordenance whereupon one partie must attend and therein to performe so much as is conuenient without hauing respect to the commoditie or losse of any particular person or to the preiudice or discommoditie of the countrie wherin you march which things do lesse import then the perill the hinderance reputation of an army being an assembly of meÌ„ of so great valour importance for whom the Marshall ought alwayes to procure with al possible diligence al commodities and aduantage to kéepe the armie in reputation and to maintaine it sound lusty to the intent that with an vndoubted presage the Generall may promise himselfe victorie in due time and place Togither with the other aduertisements for the commodity enioying of victuals
an armie whether it be inferiour or equall to the enemie VVHen an armie dooth march néere vnto the enemies battels the high marshall Sergeant Maior and Collonels ought to vse diuers considerations First a Prince or his Generall not being of like force to the enemie or that he is not willing to giue battell because he will not hazard all his state and armie in one day into the hands of fortune he must prouide specially if he be inferior in Caualarie that he march through a countrie that is rough full of hils and where the situation of the ground is of such aduautage that the enemie haue not any motion to assault him But when he cannot shun the same then must he prouide at leastwise to enter into the action thereof to his great aduantage and almost with a certaine hope of victory the which will not arise to be difficile if he can apply the aduantage of situations to serue his turne In marching I would wish him to haue one part of his light horsemen so neere the enemie that euery houre he may haue notice what way he dooth march notwithstanding in a countrie where mounts and hils be not fauourable but that of necessitie you must march through plaines and champaine countries and that the enemie is néere at hand and that it is very hard to shun the battell I iudge it not farre amisse to accept the battell so that you be of greater strength in horsemen for being the stronger the iourney in no respect is to be fled for so much as horsemen yéeld the greatest part of the victorie when they bee well guided Charles the fift in Germany against the protestants armie by reason of the commoditie of the ground for the most part did not lodge his army further off from his enemies then commonly the shot of a Coluerine although he was far inferior in number Neuerthelesse that order cannot be alwaies vsed when an armie is in the champaine countrie for he that is in plaines and is not desirous to fight he must march from the enemie 9 or 10 miles and must determine to fortifie himselfe at each lodging in such sort that neither the enemies Cauallarie or infanterie may be able in battell to enter into his campe if not with great difficultie A meane fortification is sufficient in a champaine countrie chiefely when it is to be made with spéede which beginning of fortification when you meane to continue may encrease and be made as strong as you sée the case doth require When an armie dooth march inplaines and champaine countries that it comes to that point the it is able to haue any little riuer or wood which may couer one flanke of the said armie you must go about with all diligence to take this aduantage for that the same will arise to be of great importance Prouide euer that the bagage and the artillarie go continually on the contrarie side to the enemie or at leastwise in the midst of the armie The squadrons of men at armes must as appertaineth flanke the battels and rankes of footmen towards the enemie It is a laudable custome to deuide an armie into thrée squadrons that is to say into the auantgard battell and arreargard and that euery day they do exchange making of the auantgard the battell and of the battell the reargard it is requisite that euery one of them haue his necessary number of horsmen Hargaloteares that each one be disposed and placed in his due ranke Order must be carefully taken that amongst the ranks of the footmen vnprofitable people be not intermedled but that all the baggage be in a place deputed for the same vnder the Prouosts guidon Also that amongst the squadrons of the horsemen there be no vnprofitable horses nor other impediments The Rutters Cauallaries vse héerein a meruailous strict order and extreame diligence which verily dooth merit to be imitated It is a commendable thing also when the light horsmen be in such sort deuided and dispersed for discouerie of the countrie and espying the actions of the enemies armie as that they may continually returne and giue intelligences of the enemies demeanor whereby if néede require commoditie and leasure may be had to prouide for fight If the marshall of the field haue no experience of the countrie himselfe it is requisite that he carrie such a personage or worthie Cauallier with him as he knowes to haue experience that with them he may consider well of the situation and place whether he is to march with his armie through plaines by or néere hils or in valleys that haue hils ou both sides or by or néere to woods or alongst or néere a riuer It is also requisite the the light horse aswell for the discouerie of the enemie as otherwise to take the bredth of the straits passages go before and to make certificate that according to the bredth the hoast may march And put case that one part of the way be 15. foot broode the hoast shall be made to march by fiue in a ranke because euery footman will haue thrée foote in breadth from shoulder to shoulder and sixe foote in ranke betwixt ranke and ranke and one foote for euerie person so that 21 foote in breadth and 2 myles in length will containe an armie of ten thousand After the same reason whether there be 20 or 30 thousand footemen according to the measuring of ground by the foote they may be set in order very easily neither can the leader be deceiued whē he knoweth how many armed men euery place can containe and after the same order as the place dooth enlarge he must enlarge the rankes causing part of the shot to goe before the aray and part behind and others to go in succoures of the horsemen that go in viewing the passages and the ambushments with the whole dooings of the enemie and let an other part be for vantgard retrogard to the aray to be able to serue them at néed and an other part to go alwaies at the flankes of the raie the which if there be ditches shal serue as a countermure against the enemies horsmen And if they be men at armes they must march on both the sides of the battell and also of the Hargabuzies that do march by the flankes of the battell and the light horsemen to serue for scoutes both before and behind the aray There must be likewise abundance of Pyoners and labourers to make places plaine and to cast downe ditches bridges and to make defences and other necessarie things that are required in marching the which must be garded by your light horse and shot and when you depart to faine to go to some other place then that you go so and if there be no men at armes to appoint to euery regiment certaine Hargabuziers to serue on horsebacke the which may serue in stéed of men at armes and when occasion serues to serue on foote againe wherein the Caualiers of S.
of Armies as also that due order in Camps may be maintained let him therfore imitate the auncient Romans the very Maisters of the arte of war who neuer coueted other then y◠plaine to campe vpon entrenching thēselues nightly in as strong sure manner as if the enemy had encamped by them and that euen in places vtterly voide of all suspition to make these millitary trauails familiar vnto them and to auoide those idle or rather dissolute effrenate pastimes that our Christian Campes are bewitched withal to the vtter ruine of all good Millitary discipline and confusion of our Armies In a running Campe the readiest fortification is to impale it round with the cariages chayned together the sides of the carriages and horses shaded with thin boords with certain quires of paper betwixt cunningly compacted together which being accommodated to make sides bottoms and doores to the Carts carriages will serue wonderfully to empale an Army to make approches or to holde out Caliuer Musket shot Then let them bend the Artillary that waie where most suspicion is the enemy shall approch and if time wil permit to cast some Trench also without the carriages against Artillarie He must kéepe his souldiours in continuall millitary exercise and by fained allarmes to sée in what readines his bands would be if necessitie required to shew them all maner of waies how the enemie may attempt them discouering also to thē the remedy and howe they are to aunswer to those attempts for no man is borne a Souldiour but by exercise and trayning it is attained and by discontinuance againe it is lost as all other Artes and Sciences be In setling of a Campe beside the commodities of wood water and forrage the Generall must also cōsider how victuals may safely come vnto him and to leaue no Castles at his back to anoy them but that he séeke to possesse them ere he march forward for great is the anoyance that a little pyle at the back of an Army may doo as wel against forragers straglers as to cut off victuals from the Campe. The Generall is also by good plots to consider the situation of the Country how both fréend and enemy Townes lie from the Campe the hyls and vallies waies straits passages lakes riuers bridges their number quantity distance and euery particularity which may be doone by conference with his Discouerers-Guides Espyals other persons that know the Country conferring their assertions with his plots And so to consider whether the enemy may conueniently cut off his victuals or by Ambush anoy him in his march and for preuention therof to send abroad light-Light-horsemen Hargabuzers to garde the passages towards the enemies Garisons Before the Armie discampe all passages and waies for the souldiours and Artillary c. to passe should be discouered and skilful men appointed to lead them He ought not to suffer any band to march scattered but in battails order or at least in straits narrow passages inforce to drawe them forth in Herses and so soone as place serueth to reduce them again into the order of battaile and this is to be vsed in places of security for exercise as in places of suspect for safetie He ought to haue with him good Guides that perfecty know all passages hilles vallies c. for of the Country in generallitie the Generall himselfe ought perfectly to be informed by Plots Models wherby he shal the better conceiue any information that shal be brought him by espiall If the General haue sundry Nations vnder his gouernment it is not méete to gyue alwaies to any one Nation the Uaward considering the same being in marching towards the enemy the place of greatest honour the others will much repine against it and not without good cause The order therfore in marching should so be framed that euery Nation haue his turne without partial fauor to any one And if the number be great of any one Mercinary Nation it is not amisse to deuide thē both in marching imbattelling for sundry respects which in thys place I omit to show If any strait be kept by the enemie it is not méet first to charge them vpon the very front but to send light-Light-horsmen shot to skyrmish with them on either flancke and then wyth Targets of proofe to enter vpon them The Generall shold before he bring his Souldiours to deale with the enemy first in some champion place cause them to be ranged in forme of battaile making of his footmen sundry Battillions of these Battillions sundry Fronts to deuide his Horsemen also into sundry Troupes placing the men at Armes Demilances Light horsemen and Argoleteares euery Fort in seueral Troupes by themselues to cause the forlorne to issue out and skirmish thē before the Battillions as if the enemy were indéed present and vpon a signe giuen suddainly to retire The horsmen to charge and returne again to their place vpon their retire to cause certain sleues of pykes and light Armed to run out to their reskew as though the enemy did pursue them Then the Battillions of the first front to march forward bend their pikes and suddainly after the sound of the retrait to retire themselues orderly betwéen the Battillions of the second front then the second front to march forward and bend their pikes and the other that first retired to make head again vpon the enemy Last of all the light-Light-horsmen and light Armed footmen again to breake forth as it were to doo execution vpon the enemy fléeing which forme of trayning doth aunswer Ma. Digs his proportion of imbattelling These things if in pastime the souldiours be able orderly to performe there is good hope they wil honorably put it in execution vpon the enemy Otherwise to bring them without trayning to deale with the enemy is nothing els but to leade them to the butcherie As there is nothing more perrillous in giuing of battaile then to lay before the souldiours eyes any place of refuge to flée vnto but that the Generall should declare vnto them that there is no hope to escape but only by victory and heerin to imitate Hanniball so there is nothing more dangerous then to giue the enemy battaile in such a place where in troth hee hath no refuge or possibility to escape for that necessity maketh men desperate it vniteth them together it hath often béen séene that very small cōpanies by such like occasions beeing reduced to desperation thereupon resoluing to sell their liues déerely haue contrary to all expectation attained victory vpon their enemies in number farre greater The General must haue special care that the souldiours haue not in their faces the dust to blind them the wind to disturbe them or the sun beames to anoy them before they enter into any maine encounter the which impediments not only altogether but each one by him selfe alone doth bring great toile trouble and disaduantage Neyther let him lead his souldiours to performe any enterprise of
shot in the wings and rereward as appeareth following To augment from three vnto fiue YOu may likewise by placing seueÌ„ in ranke the which is the greatest force that 100. men may be brought into place 21. shot in the front and fiftéene in â—…ch wing the which seruice being very apt to skirmish is greatly vnto the anoying of the enimie also it is readie to retyre to serue round about the battaile of pikes as before IF in marching you vnderstand or perceiue that horsemen will assault you then place fiue pikes in ranke and betwixt euerie pike a shot so marching forward they fall to be ten ranke quadrant placing your halbeâ—…ds and Ensigne in the midst A quadrant mixed with shot LIkewise you may for the defence of horsemen place ten ranks of pikes euerie way your shot next vnto theÌ„ your halberds and Ensigne in the midst the pikes ends couched on the ground the better to defend the enimie A quadrant defending the shot THis proportion sheweth the march or quadrant order at large of a hundreth men verie necessary to bee vsed in shew to the enemies when thou vnderstandest their â—…umbers to excéede thine Placing 7. Pikes in the Uoward also 7. pikes in the Rereward next vnto them 6. pikes in the second rankes your Billes or Halberds together with your Ensigne in the midst with the Drum and Fifte as is before mentioned the which number when thou perceiuest the enemie to take view of thine thou shalt alter and cause the second rankes of the Uoward and Rereward to steppe forward to furnish the voide spaces the which shall make of 7. thirtéene in a ranke Also if thou perceiuest the enemie pretending to encounter thee hauing no place of refuge shall cause the ranks that stepped forward to retire to their places and to sarrie close together remouing out of the second rankes into the winges the Halberds to step forward in their places wil be 7. euery way quadraÌ„t as in the order before is mentioned your shot to bée placed in the Uoward rereward may skirmish retire as occasion serueth The March at large Practises of training appertaining to the charge of two hundreth Men. FIrst marching fiue in Ranke 40. rankes containe two hundreth men suting their weapons as before they may bée brought to these orders following auailable for diuers intents although the same for a time séeme painfull although Archers bee not as heretofore they haue bin yet is it good in some of my figures following to shew you when you haue Archers how to place them SOmetimes deuide the Pikes and the Halberds into three parts by 1â—… rankes 7 to a ranke placing your Ensigne in the midst so ioining them together maketh a Hearse battaile readie at the suddaine against the enemie placing in the Uoward 40. Hargabuzers and 20. Archers and in the Rereward 10. Hargabuzers and 30. Archers LIkewise according to your ground you shall place your vttermost rankes with your best and fairest Corselets the which serueth not only to the shew but otherwise to the strength of the battaile commaunding your Officers to place 10. in a ranke the rest to follow on their march 10. in a ranke Likewise your Halberds and Ensigne in the midst which falleth to bée 10. euery way quadrant the which is a iust hundrethâ—… your Hargabuzers placed in the Uoward and Rereward and your Archers in the flankes the which is a iust 100. also as héere followeth SOmetimes by commaundement of the General or head Officers you are to accomplish some exploit by night the which béeing led by your guides through straites wrong ground woods c. It is nedefull that euerie pikeman and bilman take holde of his loadsmans weapon placing your shot betwixt your Pikes and your Ensigne in the midst your Pykes to march fiue in a ranke 16. rankes is iust 80. Pikes beside your Halberds The ouerplus of your shot to bee placed in the Rereward SOmetimes occasion scrueth to march through long broome corne fearne c. so that souldiers must traile their pikes from the ground close together at the halfe pikes in the Uoward the sharp ends of the pikes forward and in the Rereward the sharp ends of the pikes to the ground who may at the suddaine béeing assailed with Horsemen presently aduance and couch their pikes euery way for defence from the Horse your Hargabuzers in the front and Rereward the Archers in the flankes ALso when you shall bée called to the assaults of Townes Fortes trenches c. you must endure the great shot if it bée not dismounted wherefore the Officers must cause the soldiers to march a good distance a sunder and euerie man close to his loadsman march with expedition the shot making way to the hand weapons and all iointly together to employ themselues vnto victorie your Hargabuzers vnto the Uoward your Archers next to your Pikes as this example sheweth Certaine pointes to exercise and traine 300. men to seruice A Captaine hauing charge of 300. men that bée expert in seruice may oftentimes victoriouslie accomplish exploites and pointes of seruice to them committed which great numbers vnperfect may not attaine vnto The better to instruct the same here follow certaine Orders and strengthes in aray which practised in time conuenient may bring perfection of seruice at neede Sometime placing such numbers by 5. in ranke may bée brought to diuerse points of seruice conuenient 60. rankes containe 300. men 5. in ranke TO bring the first march of 5. in a ranke into a quadrant proportion you must deuide your long weapons into thrée parts placing soure in ranke your halbers and Ensigne in the midst and ioyned close togither fall out to be 12. quadrant euerie way your shot placed in the wings readie to skirmish in the bodie of the battaile are 120. pikes thirtie halberds and in the wings 140. shot in the rereward thirtie shot thus is the number at the sodaine brought to strength SOmetimes augment your rankes from fiue to seuen â—…o 〈◊〉 rankes containes 300. men which are to be ioyned vnto other numbers and to be brought to force SOmetimes augment these 7. rankes here adioyning to 9. the long weapons of the same containe 18. rankes your shot placed in the voward rereward as the ground may serue is a hearse or broade square By these exercises of augmenting rankes as doe appeare souldiers may be brought to perfection of order in aray and by the same be brought in quadrant or herse battaile according as numbers and ground will serue Orders of training three hundred men SOmtimes the Captaines with their bandes aforesaid be appointed to some eâ—…polits with such silence that Drums sound not nor clap weapons neither vse any noise vntill they haue recouered the place conuenient for their enterprises Also sometimes the Officers in Rereward sendeth a woorâ—… passing from man to 〈◊〉 vntil it come to the voward from one ranke to an other which may bée said Sarâ—…a aduance Bullet in the
mouth c. or such like appointing two or three rankes of Gentlemen of the 〈◊〉 of S. Georges Squaâ—…ie to lead the voward who know the encounter and how to ioyne and thereby that way by order of the officers the shot doth issue to skirmish betwixt the skilfull 〈◊〉 beforesaid The battaile may ioyne close togither if oâ—…casion requireth also the rest of the shot may waâ—…e thorow to helpe the voward EUen as presently you haue placed 12. in ranke with your halberds and Ensigne in the midst so may they likewise fal out to be 12. in ranke in bredth and 13. in length if you place your shot in the front rereward the which as occasion serueth may be brought to skirmish any wayes This battell as the ground serueth is verie strong against the enimie SOmtimes marching in straights and especially hauing some gard in the rereward for the safetie of the Ensigne you may send certaine rankes of pikes in the front towards the enimie which shall wade through to strengthen the battaile placing the one halfe of your shot to skirmish in the front the other halfe in the rereward SOmtimes hauing scope of ground standing in doubt of horsemen cause the numbers to march 12 in a ranke at large a good distance a sunder and so to stand stil euerie man towards their quarters placing their shot on al sides betwixt the pikes which after they haue discharged being charged with horse may retire to the halberds and your outward fronts farrie close togither vntil the shot haue charged at the repulse of the horsemen to open your pikes at large and the shot to be commanded to issue and to skirmish as they were in the fronts This battell is of great force To order and imbattell 400. in quadrant proportion FOure hundreth men whether they serue in one band or vnder two seuerall Ensignes may be brought to this quadrant proportion against the defence of the enimie by placing 15. in the front ioyning foure rankes of pikes in the voward foure in the rereward and foure in the flanks your halberds and Ensigne in the midst placing your shot in sixe wings for the rescuing of ech other the rest of your shot in the voward and rereward in Diamond wise This battell for so small a number is of great force THe ground may be such as it shal be necessarie to place the same number in manner of a herse or twofold battaile placing ten in ranke in length and 20. in bredth placing your halberds and Ensigne in the midst encountring the enimie on your broad side so shall you occupie more hands then the quadrant battaile doth taking vp lesse ground in marching then the other battaile You must cause them to sarrie close togither trailing their pikes on the ground being readie to offer the push to the footemen and to crosse for the defence of horsemen your shot to be placed as before you appeareth This is of great strength so that the enimie cannot enuiron you To embattaile 500. men in a quadrant proportion ACcording to the worthinesse of the Captaine the greater is his charge as one Captaine to haue charge of 500. men vnder one Ensigne the which if any Caualliere of the order would bring into quadrant battaile hée must place 16 Pikes in front making 4. rankes quadrant placing his halberds in the midst with the Ensigne so hath hée in the bodie of the battaile 250. men his shot to be placed in the front and Rereward 110. and in the flanks of the battaile in the 8. winges 140. the which béeing discharged may discharge retire whereby to be rescued by the rest They may in this proportion March any way vnto them néedefull bée it either to trauaile or else to win grounds by any aduantage SOmetimes by reason of the ground it is necessarie to bring such a number into an hearse or twofold battaile which may bée more auailable then the Quadrant battaile To bring them into this proportion you must place 13. Pikes in breadth and 21. in length your Halberds and Ensigne in the midst your shot in the fâ—…onts and wings Thus in order they may turne their faces and march any way to them néedefull which practise may greatly auaile at time of néede as vnto great numbers appertaineth In what sort Hargabuziers and Archers are to be guided to skirmish FOr that in all skirmishes shot is the first that beginneth the fight I haue thought good in some few figures to set downe how they may March skirmish inuade and retire in politikâ—… maner and how by rankes to rescue one another whereof the practise in this smal number wil giue a light to greater knowledge which still may increase as the deuises of new inuentions do spring wherein I would wish all worthie Gentlemen couragious minds to whet their politike industrie that therby they may shun diuers discommodities and vnknowen daungers attaine to the tipe of true valiancie but to procéede This number following vpon the sight of the enemies must march thrée in a ranke casting themselues in the proportion of a Ring so to abide there appointing themselues to approch stil in aray there to discharge by rankes and so in the Rereward to charge againe being readie for seruice still marching round and whéeling about like vnto the Rutters THis number encouÌ„tring the Ring must discharge by ranks and after the first ranke hath discharged to retyre betwixt the rankes vntil they come to the Rereward there to charge and to follow his loadsman to seruice againe Thus may you continually maintaine skirmish how litle or great soeuer your number bée it giueth great encouragement to the Souldiers standing but one shot and retireth THese two bands of Hargabuzers set to encounter the enemy on their broad sides the fronts discharge turne their faces retyring betwixt the other which aduance in like maner for their rescue These retire and charge againe to seruice by practising the skirmish in this sort you may bring bands of Archers to seruice to the great anoying discomfiting of the enemie These two bands change rankes and place on their broade sides These bands of Archers be brought to seruice by the Callieuers afore them THese bands of Archers béeing brought to seruice by the Hargabuziers although the hargabuziers bée accompted to be of greater force then they bee of and the Archers not now so much vsed in the field as they haue bin yet hauing light shaftes made to shot 12. or 14. scoore may kéepe their place shooting al together ouer the heads of the hargabuziers to the gauling blemishing and great annoy of the enemie THese two bands following discharge by rankes and returne to the Rereward and charge againe who béeing placed fiue in a ranke like to two hornes are to bée brought to skirmish in like proportion to this figure The fronts or voward hauing discharged the one retyreth on the left hand the other on the right hand vnto the Rereward there
to charge againe euery one a fresh following his loadsman to seruice Orders of shot verie necessarie for diuers intents of seruice auailable ACcording to the number of the enimies you must answers them with like proportion and numbers hauing great regard to obtaine the hill wind water wood marish strength of vitch coppes c. the which greatly auaileth Sometimes the aduantage of ground is such that small numbers may repulse greater numbers The grounds large and plaine make your main-ward of shot large and strong the better to answere the enimie the fronts to discharge and retyre to the Rereward there to charge againe and béeing thus ioined in skirmish with the enimie the Officer or hée that guides must foresée the best way to repulse and ouerthrow the enimie sending two wings to slanke the enimies and to encounter them the which béeing wisely foreseene will greatly profit SOuldiers likewise in marching charging or discharging inuading and skirmishing may from the first rankes and front of the square returne and wind himselfe thorow the ranke béeing seconded by his companions following this example THese thrée bands marching at large may wade thorough in skirmish or retyre betwixt the rankes as occasion serueth either band rescuing other to charge in the Rereward and to aduance to seruice againe Thus may you continually maintaine skirmish or volles of whole shot These practises and others of better inuention together with such like warlike exercises in times conuentent may bring perfection to seruice with shot at néede the rather through the good industrie and painfull trauaile of the Officers and the Souldiers by whose gentle patience it is sooner obtained The order of skirmish how it is to bee gouerned when it is to bee accepted and when to bee auoided IT béeing necessary for euery Sergeant Lieutenant and Caual liere of the band to know when where and in what order a skirmish is to bee gouerned when to bee auoided and when to bée accepted to the benefite of the whole band regiment or Armie I thought good to ioine to those proportions of training somewhat touching the same wherein for that there bée sundrie occasions which moue and constraine men to enter into skirmish I wil amongst the rest choose out thrée which I iudge most principall and of greatest importance The first is when wee will giue the enimie experience and triall of our valour and force and cunningly to perswade him by a souldier that yéelds of purpose or alter sides to giue credite to some thing which may arise to our commoditie and his domage Likewise by taking some of his souldiers prisoners to vnderstand the state of our enemies the which may bée more aptly termed the winning of aduertisements the which things is most expedient wée put in practise The second is when wée determine to gaine any passage or any fortresse or strength which is in the enemies possession or like to fall into his hands if preuention bee not vsed and hauing occupied and gained the same to retaine it for the seruice of our Campe. The third is when wée are of mind to kéepe the enimie so occupied as hée march not at his pleasure or that when wée do march our selues he become not domageable to our own people or to the bagage or any thing that is ours being of importance When therfore wée will giue trial or experience of our selues to the enemie gaine intelligences or win aduertisements of him it is requisite there be election made of a leader some worthie Caualliere that is indued with prudent pollicie and noble valour who must gouerne this skirmish which leader must take with him a quantitie of chosen souldiers according as the accustomed vse is must haue culled out of euery band so many as wil amount to the number of 10. out of ech hundreth a hundreth out of a thousand and a thousand out of ten thousand or some such like reasonable portion When the leader of the skirmish hath made choise of the place and ground fit for his purpose wherein hée meanes to méete with the enimies the which will not be difficile for that he is the chooser inuentor and author thereof he must then conduct thither a quantitie of good souldiers with an assured array and order Hauing first and beforehand exhorted theÌ„ to due obedience and opened and conferred with them the chiefe circumstance of his meaning both how long and in what manner the enterprise is to be performed to the intent that when he hath accomplished and erecuted so much as he was determined it do not séeme strange vnto them to make retire For the which there did arise great quarrell and bloodie issue in Germanie betwixt two Italian captaines Giouan Dominico Napolello of Naples and captaine Loatello of Cremenâ—… both valiant gentlemen the one of them perswading the other to retyre from a skirmish begin to the purpose before mentioned by appointment of their superiours but by reason the one would not obey it was the cause of great disorder He must likewise haue a prouident foresight and be verie circumspect that like a good souldier he go verie warily considerately into the fight and skirmish euer watching attending for his continuall aduantage to the end that retyring himselfe vpon a sodaine the enimy may remaine rest repulsed amazed and oppressed that the whole armie may conceiue and be kept in a good impression and opinion of victorie Now this foresaid leader being arriued with the people in the sight of the enimie he must immediatly with his souldiers occupie and take possession of the ground which doth best please him which is most apt for his purpose in effect is the strongest He must take order that these hargabussers be accompanied with armed pikes and corselets without whose fellowship hargabâ—…siers ought neuer to be sent about any enterprise specially wheÌ„ they suspect they shall méete with the enimy or with horsemen Whensoeuer souldiers are to enter into skirmiâ—…h their leader must deuide them into so manie parts as he shall think expedient which diuision must be vsed according as the quantitie of the people will beare so that in euerie part their ought to be at the least 50. souldiers and 5. or 6. seuerall parts and companies Neuerthelesse alwayes foreséeing and prouiding that as well all the parts togither as the number of the souldiers of euer to part by themselues be like in proportion to the qualitie and force of the enimy and equal to the quantitie of their number the which may be knowne verie well there by view and discouered by meanes of spies or by manifest and assured fame To euerie which part he must appoint a sufficient head guid a noble Cauallier of Saint Georges squadre Then must he send out certaine souldiers that be most nimble and readie to prouoke the enimie and when they be ioyned in skirmish he must sodainely increase the fight with sending forth the second part and then rest a little to behold to
some other enterprises but these things cannot be accomplished without long abode in warres 7. yeares seruice at the least of an armie in sundrie hazards of fights and battailes Therefore it is necessarie for the Sergeant Maior in time of rest when the enimie is absent to cause the bands to assemble and to put them in sundrie sorts of standing and marching battailes to reduce them sometimes into small squadrons of 400. 500. 600. 700. 800. 900. 1000. in a battaile more or lesse at his pleasure and to cause these battailes to march forwards swiftly or slowly to sarrie open shut close and disclose their squadrons some times in sundrie battaillons reduce themselues vpon a sodaine into one maine square and from that againe to haue passages galleries for the shot through diuers places of the same marching forwards and backward according to the stroke of the drumme to stay and retyre in perfite measore with no lesse facilitie then Gentlemen dance their Measures by a noyse of vyolens as hereafter ensueth When the army can perfitely do this then cause them sodainly to make any flacke or front or turne entirely togither as if it were one bodie without breaking aray for it is a cunning point to make a squadre to march vpon one corner maintaining his square forme This and such like varietie in marching brings the souldier to be verie readie so that although he neuer saw the enimy in the face yet he may be rather accounted a trained souldier then he which hath bene 20 yeares in seruice and in 20. battailes if this skil be wanting in him and merites the name of a raw souldier and Bisognia Note that there is no battaile apt to march but only the square battaile or the compound of squares all others as the Lunule the Triangle the Pentagonall and the Hexagonall the circular and ouall battailes and others which easily may be inuented neuer serue to any vse but onely in fixed and immoueable battailes for presently and by and by in marching they disorder Therefore great consideration is to be had betwixt a marching and standing battaile which kinde of immoueable battailes though of themselues they are smally seruiceable considering that in all encounters continuall motion is required it being vnpossible to train men to that perfection but that in marching they shall breake their aray yet for exercise sake and for some speciall seruice it is most conuenient for the Sergeant Maior oftentimes to plant his souldiers into those fashions of imbattelling that appeare hereafter by figures sodainely changing them from a triangle to a square and from one shape to another and thereby bring them into such perfection in these lesse necessarie and hard cunning toyes that the other plaine seruiceable formes may séeme most plaine and easie He must beforehand premeditate as partly I haue touched and cast in his minde in what sort with most facilitie he may bring his men to order of battaile committing to the peculiar Sergeant of euery band the charge to draw theÌ„ forth in sléeues and maniples and so cause one to march close vp by another till al the battailes be furnished placing alwaies the Ensignes and drums in the middle rankes of the battaile There néede no such curious order to be vsed in placing the shot in any forme of battaile but only to put them into certaine wings and flankes for the battailes and if he thinke good euery wing to be deuided into sundrie pettie troopes of 25. 50. or 100. men a péece and euerie of these troopes to haue a leader which is either Corporall Sergeant or Cauallier of Saint Georges squadre so that to maintaine a skirmish first one Corporall or leader marcheth forth and bringeth to the face of the enimie his troope who presently discharging retyre themselues and in his place another leader with his companie presents himselfe continuing this order of supply succouring seconding shadowing and encreasing the skirmish continually maintaining the same without any intermission either inuading retyring or in any charge or enterprise a requisite obseruation for the forlorne hope But the place being large it shall be requisite to present oftentimes many of these troopes at once to the face of the enimie who hauing deliuered their volée of shot may if it be thought good march about and giue place to those that shall supply their place so relieue succour one another by turnes And this kind of discharging and supplying may in the open field be verie well maintained in the ring march as the rutters do so that in whéeling about the head shall be sure alwayes to haue charged before the taile haue discharged and thus in a circular march the skirmish all day shall continue In plaine ground he shall neuer turne out any shot to the skirmish without certaine sléeues of pikes to gard them vpon the retraite from the charge of horses and also troopes of short weapons as swords and targets Halberds or such like to backe them if at any time they should come to the sword or ioyne pell mell with the enimie and such were called of the Romaines vindices but if euery shot had likewise at his backe a light leather or Uenecian target to vse with his sword when he saw occasion they would doe great good seruice Our English bowes for want of shot and fornecessitie to gall and disorder a troope of horsemen drawing néere to them may â—…erue to verie good purpose but they must be garded with Pikes or shadowed with shot c. The Sergeant Maior must likewise haue knowledge in Arithmetike Algebra of those proportions which are set out by M. Digges in his Stratioticos whereby he may sodainely for all forme of battailes resolue how many ranks and how many in a ranke to frame battailes what number of Pikes of Halberds of Musket and Hargabuse shot is requisite how manie maniples or sléeues euerie battaile may be resolued into how many rankes of pikes in the front backe and flankes how many rankes of Halberds to gard the Ensigne vpon sight of the ground to iudge whether it be capable of such a multitude and what forme of imbattelling may best agrée vnto it c. When he doth cause any squadron or battaile to turne his face or front he must take order that the souldiers turne onely their bodie and face but not their armes and weapons whose points they ought to kéepe in their hands thereby to shunne the noyse that by linking and striking togither they will make and to auoid confusion which oftentimes in such cases doth fallow since that in this sort more readily and with greater silence this act is executed all the weapons remaine readie and fast in the souldiers hands the which order makes a verie stately shew and after brings great commoditie when they must of new accommodate themselues and make large in the flanckes to march at large Let al that which he determines and appoints to be done be commanded and ordained from the
hauing experience onely ruleth and giueth order to their owne charge and appoint and place such in the fronts Rereward and wings as to them séeme most conuenient This proportion is after the Almaine manner of imbattelling much like vnto the order of the Romaines who deuided their Legions into diuers Cohorts to this intent that when the fronts were wearied the Mainward and Rereward succéeded which the late experience of the Frenchmen hath tried that the deuiding of the battell into many bands so that they haue pikes sufficient to impale the Halberds or Bils and to euerie Band their number of shot and Horse is more auaileable then any battel being made of a whole bodie or as the Gréeks tearme it a Phalange for they are to be drawne out in length or bredth as the ground or occasion serueth to charge and encounter the enimie placed in one battell vpon euery quarter to their detriment and ouerthrowing of any so placed being of sufficient strength for defence of horse and though the first or second or third should be ouerthrowne yet be rest kéeping their order are to succéede Whereas the battell being one after the frontes be ouerthrowne the Rereward is readie to run the which being disordered can hardly recouer to place them in order againe An order to imbattell a Collonels charge COllonels and Chieftaines who oftentimes according to their experience and worthinesse of seruice haue the charge and leading of 1500. men more or lesse to whom is committed diuers sundrie exploits and points of seruice in the fielde whereof they discrie any multitude of horsemen pretending for to charge them and to enuiron your battel hauing no waghon borough or pale of carriages water hedge ditch or other succours but only the strength of their manual weapons pollicy of defeÌ„ce vpon the sight of the enimies must cast in this sort the Uoward Rereward to become one strength to serue and sarrie close togither to couch to crosse and defend as by this order may appeare The thrée vtmost rankes must consist of faire armed and skilfull Gentlemen and Caualliers and others pitching their pikes on the ground couching crossing them the two rankes next giuing the push at the length of the pikes the shot placed within the pikes for safegard stand readie to shoote charge stil in their places This order to encounter with footemen if it be possible will recouer the aduantage of wind hil and full in good order on the one side of the hill to ioyne in fight where God giueth the victorie before these same encounters An excellent order to repulse horsemen Reuiue your souldiers with meat drinke and good counsell and with comfortable words to animate and encourage them withall How to imbattell 1500. men in quadrant proportion AS before I haue set forth the order or imbattelling of 1500. men in two fold wise the which in some ground is much auaileable for that it occupieth more hands then the iust square in fight at one instant notwithstanding such must be assured that the enimie can approch but one way which else may be preiudiciall therefore in the plaine field the iust square or quadrant is the strongest order that may be neuertheles it is conuenient that at such times as you purpose to ioyne battel with the enimie hauing Ordinance and other carriage to place the same on the wings and Rereward thereby to impale the squadron to the intent the enimie enter not but in the fronts Also the expert Captaines must foresée to obtaine hill wind sun or any other aduantage the which diuers wayes greatly profiteth If your battell be assaulted with horsemen and lances then couch and crosse your pikes as appeares in the last figure against footemen sarrie close trailing your pikes vntill the encounter and then to offer the push till repulse be giuen and God giue victorie In the fronts you must place your best armed and most valiant men as well to encourage the rest as to be a terrour to the enimies your shot to be placed in the wings and rereward for being placed in the fronts they cannot well retyre but vpon their owne pikes or else vpon the shot in the wings To bring 1500. men to this proportion you must place sixe rankes of pikes 59. in ranke euerie wayes which comes to 500. and 12. the shot to be placed in 4. troups in the wings 10. in ranke which is 400. And 300. ten in ranke and 29. in bredth in the Rereward the which are to succéed the other troupes after they haue discharged the 50. shot and 48. pikes are to be placed about the Artillarie or otherwise at the discretion of the Collonell the Captaines and Lieutenants with the Sergeants to be placed about the battell to giue order as may best preuaile The Chieftaine Collonel to be placed within the battell as appeareth in this figure The Characters to be vsed in proportions of greater Squadrons BUt to touch more at large greater numbers both how they are ranged and battelled wherein the Sergeant Maior generall of an armie is called to vse his office I do here according to my promise set downe sundrie proportions of diuers kinds for the better vnderstanding whereof it is requisite to carrie in minde the signification of these Characters These Characters S Signifie Shot ☌ or this P Signifie Pikes ✚ or this H Signifie Halberds E Signifie Ensignes â–¡ Signifie Launces â–µ Signifie Light horsemen * Signifie Argoletteares A Quadrant or twofold battell of 2000. men THe form of this battel following which represeÌ„ts a quadraÌ„t hath bene ofteÌ„ vsed as very profitable of many Italians wel experienced of great authoritie in the field it is as it doth appeare flanked enuironed with two great bodies or sléeues of Hargabusiers the which containe in number for ech flank 380. men in the Uoward 100. and in the Rereward 140. which shot are to be carried about the battel very commodiously for seruice and as they shall séeme otherwise to be imployed by the Sergeant Maior In the bodie of the battell are 800. pikes 200. Halberds or Bils and ten Ensignes hauing to euery Ensigne 200. men the which to be brought to this forme you must place 45. in rank for the breadth and 22. in ranke for the length The Captaines Lieutenants and Sergeants as appeareth by this figure in the heart of the battel although this manner or forme giueth scope to mooue which way they list yet I hold it best not to suffer theÌ„ to stir much and the litle mouing which is to be granted to them must not be ouer hastie but in pace â—…loe sober well measured vnlesse he hath to set againe the like battel of the enimie for then the last rankes must be somewhat quicker in stirring And to bring tenne thousand or twentie thousand to this order readily they must in setting forward march with maniples well seuered and deuided hauing a Sergeant Lieutenant or Cauallier at the head
Campe for the defence of thy lodgings munition and carriages least the enimie vnderstanding the place to be left voide sende his Souldiers to take the Campe and so to spoile all vpon occasion some Captaines will destroie their owne lodgings or els passe riuers or leaue behinde them hils and déepe places to the ende that the Souldiers standing constantly may ouercome the aduersarie and obtaine the victorie or otherwise altogether to perish for that if they should thinke to saue themselues by running away they shall sée by all manner of meanes taken from the possibilitie to escape Nowe béeing come to ioyne battaile with thy enimie cause thy Souldiers somewhat before to flourishe oft their naked Swordes and Halberds against the Sunne for that the glistering of the weapons and their shining pointes through the brightnesse nowe of the one and nowe of the other against the resplendant Beames of the Sunne dooth shew a certaine horrible terrour of warre the which will strike a dread and feare into the mindes of the enemies Likewise it is sometimes requisite that thy battailes goe forwardes with rumours and showtings sometimes running with violence forasmuch as the semblaunce of such thinges with the noise of Trumpets Drummes and great Ordinance woonderfully troubleth and feareth the heartes of the aduersaries also it is great wisedome in a Captaine not with desire to bée drawne to bée the first to giue the onset but to staie thée néere thy trench till thou hast viewed thy selfe and the Rendies of the enemies that is howe manie battailes howe they are placed of what condition and where they are disposed to fight for after this manner thou maist more commodiouslie sée to thine affaires considering which of thine thou hast to sette against those of thy enimies and in what manner thy men are to bée ordeined and placed dooing in like sort to a good Physition the which considering first the infirmitie and knowing the cause commeth afterwards to giue remedie therefore ordeine thy men so as may turne most vtilitie to thy businesse The manner of ordering of battels lately vsed I cannot greatly command for the armie being 20. 30 or 40. thousand they are deuided but into 3. battels whereby ensueth many perils and discommodities because the Pike being but fiue yards thrée quarters long euerie man occupying a yard and halfe a quarter of pike can occupie but foure or fiue rankes at the most so that the rest are superfluous and lost besides they are easily to bée compassed and to be charged on euerie side wherefore I haue set downe an order of one of the battels in figure according to my opinion the which if it may turne profite to my countrie I would be most glad The occasion of the prosperous successe of the Romaines was onely through their good orders by diuiding their Legions into cohorts the which were bands of 400. and 50. the 50. were shot the 400. were armed their weapons pikes swords and targets the which were placed in quadrant manner 20. euerie wayes being 10. battels in front leauing a certaine space betwéene euerie battell for their retrait vpon occasion vnto the next order which were but sixe battels and the rereward foure battels all in like number kéeping one bredth the voward were called Hastatie their battel 's thicke and close the Maineward were called Principie who had such space betwéene their rankes as they might receiue the Hastatie the rereward were called Triarij whose spaces betwéene their rankes were such as they might receiue the Principie and Hastatie on the wings were placed seauen rankes of Pikes of strangers which did distend in length from the voward to the rereward through these good orders they became conquerours of many countries Now because of the diuersitie of the weapons hauing 20000. footemen I would deuide them into tenne battels to euerie one of the battels shall be according to my proportion set downe 1000. shot 800. pikes and 200. Billes the which placed in twofold wise according to my proportion set downe in figure will be in bredth 45. and in length 22. and ten ouerplus the which are to be placed at the discretion of the Sergeant Maior the shot placed in the wings and rereward in maniples for the readier seruice who must be placed a good distance from thy battel thy men at armes vpon the wings of the shot thy Lances as two hornes in the front of the battell the light horse in the fronts of thy Lances the hargulaters in the fronts of thy light horse who with the pistoleters are the first that begins the battel thy great ordinance to be placed in the fronts of the battels or in such conuenient place as may most terrifie the enimie there would be appointed certaine troupes of Lances whose guidons would be contrary to the rest the which the Germaine cals their Forlorne hope the French Infants perdus who must at such time and instant as shall be thought good by the General giue the charge vpon the enimies battels whatsoeuer shall happen who are for the same to receiue double pay The second battell not to be placed in the front with the first battell as the Romaines did but in the rereward of the first so far wide and with such distance as the horsemen and shot a foote giuing the first charge may retire themselues without disturbance to the battels hauing thy shot placed as in the voward with the lances and shot on horsebacke the third battell to be placed in the rereward of the second with like distance with shot and horse and so to the fourth fift and the tenth in the rereward of the which if occasion require thou maist as in the rereward of the battell place for the defence certaine of thy carriages Thy battels being thus ordered thou shalt be sure no wayes to be compassed by the enimies whereas thou maist easily compasse in him not ordered in the like manner and thy battels being but little yet as strong as the greater being strongly fortified euerie way with pikes and when a signe is giuen your hargolateares pistolateares and lances may at the sodaine be with the formost or readie for any other place of seruice Also your second battell may ioyne with the first and the third with the second and so to strengthen your battels at pleasure as otherwise two or thrée of thy battels to giue the charge to one of his battels and if it should so happen that thy first and second battels should be ouerthrowne thy battel placed in this order thou maist retire thy selfe and leaue of the field maugre the head of thy enimie who in prosecuting thée disorder themselues as many times happens may be easily conquered vsing thy battels in this order I hold to be of greatest force and most auailable THese 4. foresaid battels were taken by M. T. Steward out of his second booke Captaine Francesco Ferretti della Osseruanâ—…a Militare out of whom he hath likewise borrowed the greatest part of his Pathway to
Militarie Discipline wherein he hath followed the steppes of Leonard and Thomas Digges Gentlemen in their Stratioticos for the which they merite great commendations by the benefite our country may reap by their trauels But neuerthelesse because I will not attribute that vnto my selfe which is none of my owne I haue thought good to deale more directly and not to reape the fruites of other mens toyles and therefore in following my determination in setting downe diuers battels this battell following I borrow out of M. Digges his Stratioticos The proportion of a battell out of M. Digges Stratâ—…oticos MAster Digges in his third booke intituled Stratioticos hath imbattelled an army of 30000. footmen and 6000. horsemen which hâ—… for an excellent forme of imbattelling figures thus First as you may behold he hath diuided the Armie into two Fronts or faces hath separated them into 8. battaillons euery of them hauing 30. in a ranke and 33. rankes They are armed in the front with 7. ranks of pikes all the rest of the short weapons as swords and targets halberds billes or such like Euery battaillon containeth 1000. men lacking 10. and are placed 3. or â—… paces one from another The second front is diuided into fiue great battaillons euerie one of them being of 2000. men 40. in ranke and 50. rankes euerie battaillon armed in the front with 6. rankes of pikes These battaillons ought to be one from another at the least 25 paces the one front of battels from the other at least 60. paces in or nigh the middle battaillon of this second front shal be the Generall himselfe when he séeth time These battaillons are impaled on either side with 100. ranks of pikes 7. in a ranke and on the backe with 6. rankes of pikes without these hath he placed the shot in 24. troups euery troup containing 100. There is also the forlorne hope before the face of the battell likewise 18. troupes of shot 100. a péece who after they come to the face of the enimie disband and maintaine sâ—…ir mish Last of al the wings of horsemen which M. Digges hath placed in a preposterous order by placing the Argolatâ—…ares last but I both altering their course names say that two of the first are Argolateares 50. in a ranke 25. rankes the second light horsemen 30. in a ranke 33. rankes and the last Demie lances 30. in a ranke 25. ranks Thus there is in the first front of pikes 1680 In the second front 1200. In the impalement 3800. These in all amount to 6680 so is there left 320. pikes to be imployed in loose fléeues to accompanie such thâ—…t short weapon as shal remaine for the gard of the Ordinance Likewise in the first front there are of short weapons 6240. in the second front 8800. so there do remaine 960. short weapons to be imployed togither with the remnant of the pikes for gard of the Artillerie or carriages or else to mingle with the shot in the forlorne hope the which when they shall grow to pell mell with the enimie will do great seruice Also after the battels approch they may retire with the forlorâ—…e hope to assist their horsemen The shot you may behold sorted in troupes 1800. in the front and in either wing 2400. so doe there remaine 400. shot more to ioyne with the pikes and short weapons extraordinarie in any seruice Thus after the great Ordinance on either side haue discharged the Forlorne hope is continually to be supplied with new troupes of shot from the flankes and wings and these troupes of the Forlorne hope that haue discharged should retire betwéene the battaile and the troopes of horse to the backe of the wings so maintaining the flanckes alwaies furnished and thus skirmish may continually be maintained with fresh men the battell alwaies impaled But after the battell begins to approch the forlorne hope must withdrawe themselues then is your first battell strongly fronted and impaled with pikes to abide any charge of horsemen and after their pikes are broken are together with the rest of the short weapon to deale with the enemie and during the continuance of the fight betwéen these battailons the shot may continually discharge in the face of the enemie Likewise there may be certaine small carriages some laden with muskets some with Calabashes others with murdering fire balles and these cariages may during the battell continually spoile the enemies front being safely garded betwéen the battaillons but if fortune should abandon them in the first encounter and that they be broken by the enemies yet haue they those ample spaces betwéene the battaillons of the second front to retire vnto there to make head and giue the enemie battell againe And these spaces or lanes betwéene the battaillons serue not onely to receiue the skirmishers or other that shall retyre but also for the messengers which among the Romans were called Mâ—…ndatores to passe to and fro and to signifie vnto all parts from time to time the Generals pleasure The Argolateares are to gallop the field and scale the side of a squadron the light horsemen to charge vpon the skirmishers and the lances to breake vpon the scaled battel and one to helpe an others course as néed dooth require Thus farre M. Digges prefers this battell which he would haue vsed when no aduantage is gained by the nature of the place but that the Generall must trust to the strength of his good order wherein hee dooth wish such perfection in ouâ—… souldiorie as was in the Romane that they might be able to fight and retire in order and so make many sundry heads vpon the enemie if fortune did abandon them in the first or second encounter the which is farre better in respect of our common brute maine battel or 3 battailes in one front committing the whole field to one brunt of seruice which is a barbarous order therefore it were good the soldiours of our time did applye practise and reforme diuers errors The figure of a Battell out of Monsieur de Bellay his instructions in the Arte of warre MOnsieur de Bellay in his first booke of Militarie discipline sets downe this proportion of a battell This battell euen as the other before consists of receipts one into an other so that the front being broken they must retire into the voide spaces of the second front and they both consequently being repulsed to plant themselues within the thirde last succours the pikes of both flankes ought to retire as the battels retire that is to say the first ranke ought to retire within the 2 and the 2 within the 3 the 3 within the 4 the 4 within the 5 the 5 within the 6 so consequently the rest The Hargabusiers and horsemen must likewise do their duetie according to all warlike order But for your further and perfect instruction howe this battell and all other of like qualitie are to be directed read the Chapter following which is intituled A notable
through the enimies countrie fight if néed require the officers instructing shewing the souldiers that which they haue to do if they were assaulted on one side or other at vnawares And that they be taught the order to resist the enimie in a day of battell or when the enimie doth approch in sight they ought to learne how a battel must begin and how one battaillon doth abord another battaillon of the enimies and to shew them the place where they ought to retyre if they be repulsed and who must enter into and supply their places and to what signes to what sounds to what voyces they ought to obey and that which they must do when they heare these voyces and sounds and sée those tokens signes and to accustome them with the sundrie sorts of battels and fained assaults in such sort that afterwards they may not onely dare to abide but also desire the fight in good earnest the which assurance shal so much the rather encrease by how much they sée themselues wel instructed ordered ranged rather then by their proper hardines chiefly if these battailons be ranged in such sort that they may easily succour one another which is of no small importance to encourage assure the souldiers For admit that I should be of the first combatants that I know into what part I ought to retire my selfe being ouermatched and likewise who he is that must come in my place I shall alwayes fight with a better heart beholding my succours néere at hand rather then if I neither knew them nor saw theÌ„ Likewise if I be in the second place although the first be repulsed that I behold them to recoile yet the same shal not astonish nor appale me for that I alredie know what this recoile doth signifie a thing which beforehand I shal desire to come to passe to the intent that I may be he that shall gaine the victorie and that the first do not carrie away the honour of the fielde alone to themselues These exercises therefore be most necessarie both for young and olde souldiers for it appeares that although the Romaines knew perfitely what were to be accomplished in a particular band and so consequently in a whole armie and that they did learne all these things in their youth in Câ—…mpo Martio yet neuerthelesse they were afterwards continually exercised as wel in the time of peace as when their enimies did front them Ioseph in his historie saith that the continuall exercise of the Romaine armie did make the common multitude of those that followed the campe serue in a day of battell as well as the souldiers for both the one and the other knew how to kéepe their ranks and in kéeping them how to fight in them But an armie of new souldiers whether they be leuied to serue presently or that an order be taken to haue them in readines to be imployed in time to come they will arise to proue vnprofitable without these practises and exercises Therefore order being so necessarie all Captaines Collonels and Sergeant Maiors must with double industrie and trauell instruct or cause to be instructed those which be ignorant and to continue and maintaine the same in those which are perfect imitating the steps of those excellent Captaines which haue trauelled to maintaine this discipline The souldiers therefore in priuate bands being instructed to kéepe their rankes by 3. and 3. fiue and 5. or 8. and 8. without hauing respect to the number euen or odde for that it is a thing of no importance but an obseruation brought vp without foundation specially Vegetius can yéeld no reason therefore but only vse They must then in marching softly or in hast learne to multiplie as two ranks of fiue to make 10. two of 10. to make 20. and by and by at one instant to bring them from the same rankes and to place them in their first and simple order of aray And to the end they may assure and accustome themselues the better it is necessarie they make Lymassons when they are in simple and single aray and to aduertise them that the second person in ranke doe kéepe alwayes iust behind the first without loosing him and the 3. right behind the second and so of the rest This done togither with the directions of my second booke eâ—…h band must apart be set in order and in the estate that is required and requisite to range them when a whole battell is planted togither To performe which the Pikes of the flankes and the Hargabusiers shall come out of aray and shall place themselues on the one side and the Corporals of the Pikes shall make head one of the Corporals and his people first and another of the Corporals and his people next the Corporall of the Halberdeares shall follow hauing the Alfierus with his Ensigne in the middest of the Halberds Then the other Corporals with their Pikes shal make the reregard with their people It must be shewed to euerie Corporall the place which he ought to kéepe at all times who likewise must declare the same plainely and particularly to euerie priuate souldier of his squadre The Captaine must be at the head of the aray and the Lieutenant at the backe the Sergeant hath no staying place vnlesse the Captaine do appoint him one but must alwayes trot here and there all alongst the rankes to see good order kept and to commaunde the performance of his Captaines pleasure Let continuall vse accustome the souldiers to know of themselues how to range themselues in battell for the better learning whereof they must be made to march forward and backward and to passe difficile places without troubling and breaking their aray the which if they be not able to doe they are not to be esteemed old souldiers although they haue serued twentie yeares The difficultie likewise is great to cause them place themselues vpon a sodaine in their first aray being broken or dispersed by reason of vneasie passages or that the enimies haue disseuered them for in this it is requisite to haue had good and great exercise of a long continuance Therefore that the same may be accomplished it is necessarie to haue two things obserued maintained the one that the Ensignes may be easily knowne by colours and figures of number and that the chiefe members and officers haue certaine cognisances or markes vpon their armes and apparell and the other is that one selfe band be ranged alwayes in one certaine and knowne place of the battaillon without causing the same to alter roomes and that the Corporals know the places that they must enter into without shifting at any time but if that one Corporall be accustomed to be in the formost ranke that he remaine there alwayes and the souldiers in the places which hath ben ordained them from the beginning And if that any one band hath bene taught to be in the right corner of the battell that the same doe not stirre from thence
Argolateares a pretie distance off In this sort if one squadron happen to be broken yet shal another make head vpon the enimie while they may retyre troupe againe which is the only safetie as wel of Horsemen as footmen And albeit in the day of seruice it is the part of the high marshall himselfe to giue order in what sort and with what troupes the charges shal be giuen or receiued it is also the Lieutenants part as well to giue his aduise as also to be a leader in all these actions He ought therefore to take great regard to the ground where he meaneth to giue the charge for if he charge in troupe the falling of a few horse in the for most rankes may disorder and foile the whole troupe Before the front of his owne footmen let him neuer giue charge for it hath bin séene that horsemen being repulsed haue bene foreed in vpon their own footmen disordered them Let the horse therefore charge vpon the flanke of the enimie and diligently attend if by any accident they can perceiue any breaking or opening in the side of his enimies battell and then sodainly to charge that breach for as horsemen are inferiours to wel ordered footmen so vpon any smal disorder they carrie with them victory And for that in our age there hath arisen diuers fodaine effects not looked for wrought by the good and well guiding of horsemen I thinke it good somewhat more amplie to delate vpon this point specially as I said before in appointing out a place apart from the battel ranks wherin the Cauallarie may be ranged to the intent they may with good scope fréely and fitly turne and run with their squadrons and ranks in charging the enimy in taking charge likewise of them and in all other enterprises considering that the troopes of horsemen in retyring or turning round do often disorder and break their own infanterie either through the discommoditie of the place or through the want of the good and warie guiding of them Contrariwise at other times by their aduised and spéedie serâ—… a small number of horsemen well bent and better guided haue bêene séene to enter very couragiously into a great battaite of the enimies footemen and either for that they were slenderly flanked with Hargabuziers or by the disaduantage of the grouÌ„d or being disordered by meanes of some errour or through some other sinister chance or by meanes the said battaile was guided by vnequall or vncertaine pase or through the naughtie indeuor and diligence of rawe and vnpractised souldiers or in going through a streight place or passage of water or otherwise horsemen haue easilie disordered and broken their battailes and all the rest of a whole armie But yet are they not able to encounter with a well ordered square battell of pikes if their couragious and well ranged rankes keepe their araie and when the horsemen charge doe clinge and sarrie verie néere together in the fore rancke and set shoulder to shoulder with their pikes well couched and crossed bending them in both their handes straight before them and their followers at their backes laying theyr pikes ouer their foregoers shouldiers and so stand at the push besides the shouldering of the foreranks together hauing pitched their pikes vnder one of their feete in the ground they stoope and bow downe so loe with their bodies that their followers may easilie come to seruice behinde their backes where some doe vse to place the light armed pikes who amongst some nations for want of brest plates of Iron vse tand lether paper platecoates iackets c. For a gorget thicke folded kerchefes about their neck a scull of Iron for a head péece and a Uenetian or lether Shéeld and Target at their backes to vse with their short Swordes at the close of a battaile and in a throng The squadron of pikemen hauing couched and crossed their pikes brest high closely sarred together are as hard to be pearst with horsemen as an angrie Porcapine or Hedgehog with the end of a bare finger Wherefore to ouerthrowe a maine square battaile planted in that order it is good to vse the aide of Hargolateares who must first scale the fronte and ranks of the battels and then being seconded by the lances men at armes breake their araie and whole battaile In the erecution whereof it is good to vse the Rutters order which somewhat differs from the French mans fight for he encountring the enemie cannot indure any troope to be néere his long stretched ranckes because of breaking his course but the retire fighteth in this sort When the retire is approched néere enough vnto the enemie the first ranke dooth aduance vpon them and when he hath discharged his Pistolet he doth run still in forward as dooth the French who doth still pursue his point but more short on the right hand or on the left according vnto the place where he is and so is also spéedely followed by the second ranke which dooth the same Then the third followeth the second to giue the charge as soone as euer he séeth him departed that stood before him all the rankes following one another in such maner euen vnto the last the hindermost runneth they fighting with Pistolets onely for to come vnto their foreriders they standing all along one at anothers backe And for so much as it is impossible but that when they do present themselues some of them or else their horses be slaine Therefore so soone as euer one of the formost ranke is séene to fall downe he that is in the second ranke directly behinde him that is departed or else disabled must take his place and the next behind him in the third ranke must furnish the same voide ranke wherein he was in the second and so the rest in like order so that they alwaies make their formost rankes of the most assured for in all things namely in â—…eates of armes the beginning is of greatest moment some to break the front of armed pikes do vse to cause the men at armes dismount and in their complet armor to charge them with their launces Some others hold an opinion that the maner of the Germans is best who kéepe alwaies their maine troopes standing cause only one ranke from the front to charge the same being repulsed to retire to the taile and backe of the standing troope then an other to charge and retire to the taile backe as the former whereby they maintaine the whole troope in full strength vntil they sée the footmen sway or breake that their horsemen enter Then presently they back them with an other ranke those againe with an other vntill they sée cause either to follow with the whole troope or to staie this is thought to be the surest and most orderly forme of charging of all others notwithstanding the accustomed whéeling about of the rutters which they vse with their whole troopes euery one after an other giuing the enemie
merchandise he must yet further care to lodge his armie in such a place that as néere as is possible it may be an impediment to the enimies prouision or commodity He must ordaine that the footmen and horsemen of euery nation be placed diuided in such sort that by their orderly lodging the seat of the campe may be well garded easily and frankly defended Besides this it is necessarie to dispose and plant the Corps de gard and the bodie of the watch about the Camp in places most suspected and best for the purpose which in the day must consist of horsemen in the night of footmen to the intent the army may at all times remaine without feare of sodaine surprises or be assaulted vnprouided which thing as it is of maruellous molestation so sometimes it may be incrediblie preiudiciall When the strength and force of the souldiers and al the camp following are constrained to take armes and to put themselues in squadrons either in the day or night by occasion of the enimie or any other necessarie acccident that may happen The high marshall of the fielde ought diligently to prouide that the Artillerie the munition and the victuals be safely kept with their ordinarie appointed gard The like care ought he to haue that vpon any sodaine surprise Camisado or sally out of a besieged towne the gard about the campe and in the trenches be strengthened and renforced with a new supplie for the more saftie of the munition tents cabbens and other baggage and therefore the said gard ought at the first to be planted in places strong by nature or else fortified by art These things he must perfâ—…rme with a certaine diligent modestie thereby not to displease any person that either particularly or principally either is or hath bin inuested with the like charge as the Sergeant Maior the general of the Artillerie or the Lieutenant of the whole armie besides other priuate Collonels and Captaines c. which aduertisement I only giue by the way for that he may endeuour himselfe to please euerie one although the authority of his office doth expresly extend resolutely to command in things pertaining to the saftie of the field and campe Let him moreouer call continually to memory that the art of warre doth require a sharpe and exemplar manner and condition of chastisement therby to remaine the better obeyed the which thing is of principall great importance for since that in that place his Prince doth not only fight for the dearest thing he hath but also for the health of his proper person and all his subiects it behooues him to be readie and perfite in such causes Besides it is a most necessarie thing for him to note that there is gathered togither in the Armie great numbers of people of diuers customes of sundrie ages and of minde and disposition not alwayes correspondent Therefore he that through insolency wil not obserue the lawes of armes so important as nothing more in the honorable exercise of Militarie profession let him be constrained to obserue due obedience through horrour feare of punishment To the Marshal of the fielde it appertaines to take order euerie day soone after the Diana that the Conuoyes Ascoltes and safegards do appeare before and come to his lodging to receiue their Commission not only for the safegard and assurance of the merchants and victuallers which come and go from the campe but also as wel for the baggage of the footmen as the horsemeÌ„ who are of custome enforced to prouide both for forrage from time to time and for manie thinges necessarie for prouision for their horses other beasts cabbins things néedful to be vsed in the campe These connoyes safgards Ascoltes ought to be of horsemen and guided by a Captaine of great discretion experience When the armie shall remoue the high marshall must first giue order to the master of the Ordinance that he set forth the Artillerie with all the carriages munition c. then the master of the victuals and cariages afterwards He must after giue order to the Sergeant Maior in what sort he will haue the battell to march that day and to the scoutmaster which way he will send his vauntcurrours to discouer if all be cleare who must from time to time giue intelligence what occurrence he discouereth The high Marshall when he goeth to view the ground where he intendeth to incampe may by his authoritie take such number of horsmen as he shal think conuenient and then is he to consider that there be nigh at hand as I said before wood water and forrage enough for the Army and if he intend long to lodge in that place then must he make his campe the larger and prouidently consider that euery Regiment haue his conuenient place that the tents and cabbins be not pitched and made nigh the ring of the campe that there bée large places of assemblie within the campe that it be well intrenched and fortified for which respectes it is requisite that the Martial haue knowledge in Geometrie Arithmetike and that he haue in a readinesse sundrie plats models formes as partly I haue annexed hereunto whereby he may be able to resolue for any number or situation what forme or quantitie of Campe is most conuenient and presently stake it out assigning â—…ue place for euery Regiment of footmeÌ„ horsmen carriages Ordinance Munition euery particularitie as hereafter shal more plainly be declared For lodging of footmen especially in a running campe I haue partly in this chapter touched but for lodging of horsemen it is not amisse to imitate the Rutters who commonly alwayes lodge in such closes as they finde enuironed with trées or quicke set hedges and ditches placing their horses in due order round about the fielde two paces one from another with railes betwéene them leauing al the void ground in the middle for the Captaines tents cabbines for the horsemen So that in that sort in a field of two or thrée acres I haue séene a guydon of Rutters very well lodged commodiously with railes or poles betwéene their horses and bowes about them for the winde or heat some with hales ouer them to kéepe them from the raine their saddels bridels and al other their furniture hanging vpon poles readie by them neatly kept blacked their mangers also before them for all such necessaries the Ruiters carrie with theÌ„ in their wagons and carriages besides little whéele barrowes to carrie away their doung so that their campe is no lesse cleane orderly then a princes stable A faire stréete they alwayes leaue betwéene their owne cabbines their horses They haue certain troopes of their seruants whom they cal their knights and these troupes alwayes attend that so soone as the Marshall hath limited their quarters they depart immediatly to the next woods for poles bowes stakes and other necessaries to build their campe stables and cabbines other go for forrage that
Georges squadre may very well be imployed It is requisite that all souldiers follow their leaders and carrie a great care and diligence in marching to the intent that by sudden assaults they be not at euerie step to arise in a rumor and confusedly to runne héere and there and the one to go contrarie to the other and finally comming about them not to be able to do any thing of any profit For which cause thou oughtest to march with thine armie through euery place in battell ray whereby the souldiers may be made more apt and spéedie to make a voyage and quicke and ready to resist if néed shall be The Souldiers according to my former directions being trained to follow the Ensignes apt to obey commaundements and to behaue themselues valiantly according to their place and order if thou march in a plaine countrie it is requisite that thy pikes march in battell ray retiring thine armie into a little space so that by the straightnes and facilitie of inlarging thou be not constrained to extend thy selfe into too much length which fashion of marching séemes to giue occasion and power to the enemie to assault commodiously their aduersaries according to the occasion to endomage them he beholding the commoditie to defend themselues to be taken away forasmuch either with more largenesse comming against thée the which is woont to happen both the hornes being compassed it is like that he shall easily disorder thée and put thée to flight or els giuing charge on the flanke in the midst of the battell hauing already broken thine order sodenly stop thy men from being able to go forward being closed in the arayes of the enemies Wherefore minding to retire in a maine battell and to returne to resist they shall be able to do little good as those that haue vsed such a maine battell which for want of thicknes is nothing strong but altogether weake Also if the enemie should charge thée on the rearward thou shalt be brought to the very same necessitie because thou shalt be so compassed as thy fronts shall not be able to succour the last or the last to succour the first For the which thing it is alwaies better and more sure and easier to gouerne the bands that march close and square theÌ„ thin and long especially forasmuch as to an army that marcheth long oftentimes happens that of some thing séeme doubtful and vncertaine there groweth suddenly feare and terror because sometimes it hath chaunced that men discending from high and hillie places into the plaine to places expedient and open and the formost séeing the last of the same band by a great distance to come after supposing themselues to be assaulted of some ambush of enemies it hath béene séene that they haue suddenly turned to fight afterwards no otherwise theÌ„ enemies gone together by the eares with their owne companions If as I said before the victuales carriages and munition be not conducted in the midst of the armie but if otherwise the hindermost part would be garded defended of the most valiant souldiers as in the fronts because that at vnawares may happen many things thy light horsmen going before disciphering and espying where they may passe hauing occasion to passe by mountaines woodes places closed with hils and most great desarts because the enemie many times will lay an ambush priuilie by the passage to assault his aduersarie who taking little héed thereof haue béene easily broken and brought to vtter decay The which ambush if the conductor by way of exploratoures shall foresée with a little paine hauing preuented the suares of the enemie may win a worthie name of politike prudence and likewise saue his armie from imminent ruine And as for the plaines thou with thine owne eies maist sée a far of forasmuch as in the day dust mooued and lifted vp into the aire dooth shew the moouing and stirring of the enemy and in the night the fires and flames signifieth the campe to be there When thy men are to be conducted and not fight thou oughtest to remooue by day if peraduenture some thing do not constraine thée for the which thou thinkest it good to go in hast to come before thine enemie where in déed for such occasion thou must remooue in the night so that thou know it may safely be doone to fight with the enemie Lead thâ—… meâ—… not in hast but softly inforce them not to make two long a iourney forasmuch as labour taken before a man come to fight is seâ—…ne very often vainly to consume and waste the strength of their hobies And marching in the country of thy friends it is néedful to commaund thy souldiers that in no manner of wise they touch or spoile any thing but rather altogether to refraine considering that souldiers hauing weapons and liberty to doe what shall please them will fauour nothing especially for that the â—…ight of things that please men out of doubt is wooâ—…t most dangerously to lead ignorant and vnwarie men to desire them and with the swéetnesse of robbing to eutice them to all manner of mischéefe wherevnto if thou prouide not thy fréends thy confederates for very small occasions will become enemies notwithstanding the countrie of thy enemies thou shalt suffer thy souldiers openly to destroy burâ—…e consume because by the dearth of victuals lack of money wars are woont to deminish and be extinguished and contrariwise through aboundance and riches they are nourished and maintâ—…ined but first before thou suffer thine enemies countrie to be destroyed thou shouldest giue aduise to thy enemies threatning them what thou wilt do if they will not yéeld vnto thée for the the perril of the misery prepared the feare of the ruine looked for oftentimes constraines men to grant many things the which at the first by no maner of means had bin possible to haue brought theÌ„ to passe but after they haue once receaued the hurt they will make little account of thée and dispise all other things as though thou couldest do them no more harme Albeit iâ—… thou knowest surely that in the country of thine enemies thou must tarrie long with thine army suffer to be taken spoiled those things only which thou séest wil not be greatly profitable vnto thée but the same which is to be thought may be preserued for thy commodity coÌ„mand openly to thy souldiers that they for beare Hauing made ready and set in order thy men tarry not long in thy owne country nor yet in thy confederates least that consuming all thy prouision it séeme not that thou art of greater hurt to thy fréends theÌ„ to thy enemies but rather conduct thy army spéedily into thy enemies country whereby if it be fertile and aboundant there may be taken at thy néede most plentiously those things that thou list but if it be otherwise thou shalt cause to be knowne that thou séekest to prouide most louingly both for the wealth profit of thy fréends Besides
this thou oughtest to care with al diligence that marching or incamping by sea or land victuals may safely be brought for somuch as by such means the merchants with all diligence will bring all things which for the vse of an army wil be necessary Moreouer wheÌ„ thou most passe by straights or march through rough hilly wayes theÌ„ is it coÌ„uenient principally for the preseruation of thy things to send before shot on horseback on foot for the kéeping of those places rocks or inclosed waies least the enemy taking it before thée may both let thy passage to thy great hinderance losse the contrary thou ought enforce thy selfe to do when thou vnderstandest the enemy to passe the like thou hast not onely to take héede for receiuing harme but to inforce thy selfe to turne against the enemy those deceits whereby he thought to deceaue thée And when thou purposest to go against him it is requisite to prouide before him at vnawares oppresse him so diligently thou must find means to let endomage him euery way if thou vnderstandest that he intends to pursue thée The marshall of the field must foresée the whether soeuer the army doth retire or vse an ordinary march iourney that the captains that lead distinct seuerall bands must with mutuall diligence by horsemeÌ„ riding to and fro measure the march of the army neither suffer the Ensignes to go any thing out of sight The auantgard to obserue with what pace the middle battell marcheth and so likewise the middle battell the rereward that euery battell may be ready at hand for all sodaine incursions of the enemy to succor the battell which is circumuented finally fight if a man be forced or aduantage doth serue with al the power of the army vnited together Of the order of the march in figure and of the placing of the weapons Forsomuch as there are diuers formes of marching according to the ground and diuersities of mens minds I haue onely thought it good to set downe this figure ensuing as very necessarie and of great force for an armie with his whole carriages to march withall Wherein I partly imitate the antiquitie as otherwise the order now vsed as for example Let there be an armie of 40000. footemen and 14000. horsemen according to the proportion set downe there is allowed to euerie 100 footmen 40. pikes 50 shot and 10 halberds the which falles out to be 20000 shot 16000 pikes and 4000 halberds the which with the horsmeÌ„ are to be deuided into thrée battels The voward the mainward and the rearward battell In the voward shall be placed 10000 footemen whereof 4000 pikes 1000 halberds and 5000 shot In the front of the voward battel are to be placed 2000 argolateares on horsebacke 1000 launces Then there are to be placed the pioners who are to be garded with 500 shot of each wing The Sergeaat Maior must giue in charge that these pioners beate downe and make plaine the ground before them in their march in such bredth as occasion shall serue to make your battels or necessity procure or the straightnes of the place permit Also the Sergeant hath to appoint these pioners that if they be charged by the enemies hauing their weapons to defend themselues amongst the shot or otherwise to retire themselues by the wings of the battell and to be placed at the discretion of the Sergeant Maior in the battell Next after these Pioners shall follow 2000 shot next vnto the shot the carriages of the first battell with all the impediments Then followeth 2000 pikes and 1000 halberdeares with the Chiefetaine in the midst then followeth the other 2000 pikes after the pikes the carriages of the merchants and purueyours who must by the appointment of the Generall march armed for the defence of their charge theÌ„ follow the other 2000 shot and if you passe through any dangerous places it is requisite so to march as you may suddenly bring them to a quadrant battell sending alwayes before 100 Hargaloteares on horsebacke and 100 lighthorsmen for vauntcurriers to discouer and view the straights and passages as otherwise to take their bredth and to giue certificate to the officers whereby they may make their march thereafter and to view that all places be frée from â—…mbushes and traines of the enemie whereby the armie may the more safelier and quietlier passe sending from the frontes as necessitie requires ayde to assist the Curriers Then must follow your maine battell of footemen the which is 20000. footemen whereof 10000. shot 8000. pikes and 2000 Halberds the which are to be diuided in this manner next vnto the shot of the voward battell must be placed the carriages of the maine battell with bagge and baggage who must be placed by quarter then 4000 pikes next the pikes 2000 halberds with the General in the midst then the other 4000 pikes after the pikes the carriages of the merchants as appeares by this figure The weapons of the rearward battell to be diuided as in the voward who must send forth courriers from the rearward to espie whether the enimie doth prosecute thée to take aduantage to thy hinderance or no and you must place next your shot in the rearward one thousand Lances and 2000 Hargolateares your 10500 shot of the maine battell are to be placed as wings in all your battels who must be placed 16 paces from the sides of the battels Next vnto the shot must go the Artillerie of the fielde with their carriages with like distance on both the sides of the battels then must be placed 1000 men at armes of ech side of the battels Likewise 1000 Lances of ech side and 2000 Hargolateares as appeareth by the foresaid figure The high marshal must giue in charge that in al dangers ontill the footmen may be brought to forme of battell that the Ordenance Artillerie may be readily and equally diuided into the two hornes of the battel to terrifie the enimie to the vttermost and if so be that the enimie wil attempt the battel on the wings let the Hargolateares with the rest of the horse and shot in the wings make the like difference thus euery part shal be of like sort defended vntill thou hast made thy battell as pleaseth thée If this order cannot please the march withall through a suspected place you may practise that which is thought of the Generall and his wise counsellours and Captaines to be most expedient neuerthelesse I thought it not amisse to set downe this order in figure with the diuision of the weapons for that being well considered and with aduise well ordered you may make presently as many battels as you will and in what order you please euen by hand without any great trouble or toile THe proportion of this march ensuing was vsed of the Lantgraue of Hesson the buke of Saxonie in their wars against the Emperour Charles the fift their maine square battell of pikes being flanked fronted and backt
it would bréede but confusion and the thing being of it self most plaine it should be tedious to rest longer thereupon This only I would wish the Marshal or campemaster to obserue that his shot be lodged toward the outside of the camp that they may be always ready at that ring of the camp vpon any alarme the which he may do by diuiding the vttermost seuen regimeÌ„ts into halfe as you sée by the pricked lines leauing the seueÌ„ spaces marked with L for the 7000 shot the other noted with M for 7000 pikes al the other regimeÌ„ts marked with N shal be the lodgings of the 16000 short weapons Thus in the north moity of your campe are al your armed both horsemen footmen lodged Now the other moity must serue for the lodgings of the vnarmed as Pioners Carters Carpenters Smithes Butchers Uictuallers all other sorts of Mecanicall artificers togither with a large place of assembly for the souldiers to retire vnto to put themselues in order vpon any alarme and also to exercise themselues in sundry sorts of actiuitie You shall therefore from the southside of the Generals pauilion 600 pace southward extend out your first maine stréete of 40. pace broade and crosse him againe with an other stréet running east weast 360 pace distant froÌ„ the southside of the Generals pauilion This streete néede to be but 300 pace in breadth Againe extend out the second narrow stréets that run parallel to the first maine stréete till you come to the crosse stréete last made so haue you O your place of assemblie 330 pace brode and 540 pace long P shal be appointed for the munition and officers attendant on the artillarie Q the market place round about this market place may be lodged the Butchers Bakers Cookes and victualers of all sorts About the munition quarter besides the officers and Gunners may the Smithes Carpenters Whéele wrights labourers attendant on the ordinance be placed About the place of assembly may be the tents of all such as furnish the campe with things néedfull for the souldiers as Armorers Taylers Shoomakers and all such like artificers Yet remaine there two long swares of earth either of them 540 pace long 190 pace brode héere you may settle the Carters Wagoners with their horse and Oxen for the carriages themselues must alwaies impale that part of the campe that is not otherwise by nature and arte fortified In these two quarters also may be lodged the pioners and all other sort of labourers that aptly cannot or ought not be placed in or about the former courtes or quarters of assemblie Last of all you shall discribe 60 pace distant from all those regiments and their quarters already set downe The ring of the campe causing some prettie trenche and vaumure to be throwne vp placing your ordinance vpon the same as in this figure is described and betwéene the ordinance your carriages and this may suffice if the enemie be not very puissant or néere at hand but if you suspect the ariual of the enemy or that you know him stronger in the field then your selfe would therefore encampe surely vntill further aid come vnto you then shall you without this ring 100 pace distant cause your pioners and souldiers for vpon such an occasion he is not worthie to beare the name of a souldier that will not set his hand to the Spade you shall cause them I say throw vp another rampire with certaine bulwarks at euery corner and likewise in the middle of the Curtaine that Musket shot may play betwéene them or if time would permit it were conuenient euerie 12 score to haue of these circular platformes with a Uamure to defend the small shot for in so short time it is impossible to make any sufficient rampire to abide a batterie neither can a campe be furnished of victuals to abide any long time and that is the cause why I haue discribed those plaine circular formes which in fortification of a fowne or for were more ridiculous and in a campe to make them more exquisite were no lesse foolish curious The forme and proportion of the Campe. The forme of another Campe. IN the second booke of Marshall discipline Maister Steward as I take it out some Italian translation sets downe this maner of Campe which I will bréefely touch After the returne of the discouerers and espials he must according to their relation march to such a place where he may encampe to store himselfe and hinder the passage of victuals to his enemies wherein he must conferre with the chéefe Purueyour and with the Sergeant Maiors and others whether it be fit for the fight well defenced wholesome in aire drie vnder foote plentie in water wood and medowe and haue frée passage for forrage victuals munitions c. If there be any pallace hall or house the same is to be allotted for the Generall otherwise a sit proportion of encamping so as the men at armes may lodge about the Generall which I note thus â–¡ The Launces and light horse about them thus noted â–µ Then next Merchants and victualers thus M. V. The pikemen thus ☌ being next about theÌ„ The Hargabuziers in the square about them thus S. TheÌ„ haue you the lodgings for the artillarie thus DD or a Gun Then next the Bulwarkes the trenches 80 pace in breadth The crosse broade wayes to the campe 30 pace wherein Marchants artificers and victualers may lodge but his speciall drift is that vpon any suddaine Camisado whilst the shot pikes and light Hargolateares make resistance the light horsemen Launces with the men at armes may haue leasure to arme themselues and repaire to the Generals Pauillion or pallace where with their Launces and chasing staues in fronte on foote they are in the manner of Pikemen to trie the vttermost of their strength to saue their Generall and the armie together with their owne honour and with their Launces encounter couragiously with the enemies Pikemen who being already wearied with their former encounter shall be able to maintaine the fight vntill the footemen of their part being refreshed giue a new onset and put their enemies to flight Thus would he haue the footmen the horsemen the marchants and purueyours the craftsmen souldier to souldier back to backe and ridge to ridge making the lodgings double vpon the banke of the ditche and in the curtaines he may place artillarie round about and before it for safetie or els with the cariage of the Munition and the cariage of the whole armie enuiron it for his defence in which he shall immitate the Turke who with his carriage with Cammels and the artillarie dooth eâ—…chaine and fortifie the Campe which we in liew therof plant Gabions Baskets and Barrels full of earth if the campe make continuance néere vnto the artillarie the Gunners must lodge who haue charge thereof and then the Hargabuziers c. as before and as this figure sets out Heere place the Plat of incamping
whatsoeuer but that he must gaine the same by a long siege Fyrst he must with al dilligence and good counsaile oftentimes discouer and view the situation of the place and choose the seate where hee may Encampe and lodge his Souldiours Aboue all things he must beware that he plant himselfe in such a place as that the ayre become not corrupted taking for example Mounsieur de Lawâ—…rec at the siege of Naples who by his occasion besides the ouerthrowe of his enterprise lost both all hys Armie and his owne lyfe with the ruine of a great part of the Nobility of Fraunce That he choose likewise a place that is proper for his purpose through the commoditie of wood and water and other necessary things for mans sustenaunce and couert and safe from danger of the enemies Artillary as much as is possible If the place that hée dooth besiege be great and furnished with great number of Footemen and Horsemen which be able to make sallies and come to skyrmish he must incontinently take order that hys Campe bee fortifyed in such sort as he shall thinke most conuenient to fronte the force of the enemie Thys doone he must take from the enemies all the commodities he can as water and all other things which may yéeld them sustenaunce or reliefe and to reduse them to the greatest necessity he can Moreouer it hath béene séene by experience that to deuide an Armie and to make it ouerweake when it is neere a Cittie is a very dangerous thing principally when there is great force of braue and valiant Souldiours within the Towne As fell out at the siege of Florence where two Chiefes were elected the one on thys side the Riuer Arno towards the North which were the Almaines and the other towards the South where was the person of the Generall with the greatest force of the Armie Florence therefore to deliuer it selfe from such continuall toyle did sallie out by night and assault the Almaine Armie with such furie that had there not béen great disorder amongst the assailants the Almaine Armie had entirely béene ouerthrowne and Florence had béen deliuered from siege on that side Wherefore I thinke the most assured and the easiest way is to enclose and restraine the besieged Towne by means of Forts as was practised in the warres at Mirandell and Sienna Uisite dilligently all the waies and passages by the which succours may be giuen to the Towne besieged At euery such place you ought to make a Forte and to approoch so néere as with foure Forts or more you may enuiron all the Cittie I woulde not haue these Forts for that they be litle to be feeble neither that they should be situate in such a place but that they might ayde one another The forme which I would wish them to be of I haue héere sette foorth Afterwardes with the rest of his Armie he must plant him selfe in such a place as from thence at time of neede he may succour his Forts or at the least with one part thereof hauing fyrst sounded the force of the enemie then taking the Artillary which he shall thinke most necessary hee shall endeuour himselfe to become the Maister of the Countrey round about him specially of such places as he is able to force Héereby he may reape great coÌ„modity as well by victualles wherby he may nourish his Armie as that thereby hee shall take away from the besieged all hope of succour and likewise by that meanes cause his Armie to be feared so that the Countrey eyther through loue or feare shall neyther take occasion to rebell or yéeld him any resistance What is to be obserued when any Cittie or Fortresse is able to be expugned by battery c. to approach and besiege the same â—… Presently haue declared howe much it importeth to choose for encamping a plotte of ground commodious healthfull and assured now I will speake of the order which is to be vsed and necessary to be obserued when a Generall supposeth himselfe able to gayne a Fortresse or Cittie by maine force of Armes Fyrst the Marshall of the fielde must goe with practised souldiours and of tryed experience in the warres well accompanied to the intent they may safely viewe and consider the circuite and situation of the Towne and to sée vpon what side Trenches may be made for the planting of the Artillarie Aboue all he must be careful and prouident that the earth be of such nature and qualitie that it will receiue the Spade Pickaxe and be apt to make Trenches in and other necessary thinges to couer themselues against the enemie To thinke that a man may perfectly discouer view a Towne or Fortresse eyther in the day or in the nyght it is impossible for in the day the enemie will not giue a man leaue or leysure at leastwise if they be men of courage In the night one cannot directly and thorowly neyther discouer the flankes Bulwarks and Ditches neither behold many particularities which be necessary to him which will aptly in good order prepare himselfe to make an assault But the same discouery may be well and commodiously doone when the Trenches shall be made the which may bring him euen to the Ditches There the Generall himselfe may at his ease behold and discerne all that he desires to know Touching the manner and fashion to make the Trenches although there be diuers opinions neuerthelesse for the greater satis-faction of the Reader I haue drawne out diuers fashions which séeme to be most commodious most sure and most easie as in the sundry portratures of thys Booke dooth appeare But aboue all he must prouide that in the Trenches there be places to plant the bodie of the watch assured and in such sort as they may be able to giue succoure one to another Likewise there ought to be issues or passages to goe out of them as you may behold by thys figure Thys doone you must choose a place to plant your Artillarie with Gabions Wooll-packs and other Engines proper to those affayres and carefully take order and foresee that the Maister Gunner and Cunstable of the Artillarie and other inferiour Officers haue experience and good knowledge herein Accomodate thicke boardes or tymber close together where the battery is planted for the Artillarie to run vpon and foresee that those planckes yeelde a certaine fall and discending to towards the Cannones to the intent that after they bee recueled they may be the more easily brought againe into theyr places By this meanes the péeces shall remaine assured from running and sincking into the grounde in wette and rainie weather Diuers are of opinion that the Artillarie ought not to bee planted any further distance of from the Fortresse more then one hundred and fyftie pases if the situation of the grounde will permitte I will omitte to speake of the qualitie of the Artillarie Onely I say that according to the vse in this age the Cannons ought to bee of thréescore renforced in
they must be continued on euen to the Gates thereby to cut of sallies And against all the Portes make a Bulwarke of Gabions one vppon an other and if it bee possible néerer the Towne then the Trenches both to stoppe their battery alongst the Trenches and to barre theyr sallies Upon that side towardes the Campe must be made Ditches little Trenches for the Corps de Garde of those that must guard the Trenches wherein must remayne such number of Combattants as they may be able to repulse the enemie vntil succour arriue which must be vpon great necessity and then beeing ayded with some mayne squadrone to repulse them with great furie For the better prohibiting and knowledg of which issues and sallies it is not only requisite to aduaunce the Trenches euen to the Counterscarpe and brincke of the Ditch but also to haue lost Sentinelles euery night betwixt the Towne and the Trenches within the sayd Ditch if it be dry Wherein lykewise a good Ingeniour may worke many good deuises The Marshall must if occasion serue fortifie towardes the Champayne place the Princes or Generals lodging in the midst of the Campe that he may giue order to all mutinies sallies allarums and disorders And if the Towne be well peopled to make certaine such Fortes as before I haue set downe gouerned wyth valiant Captaynes and good bandes of Soldiours to kéepe shorte the enemy And those lodgings or Campes so well distributed that they may remayne safe from inuasion yet so apt to come together that vpon the ariuall of any Armie they may at one instant issue out and be ranged together in battaile to fight and therefore if a Riuer passe through the Towne a bridge must be placed to passe ouer guarded at both endes with bandes of Souldiours that thereby victualles and succours may be barred from the enemy It is rather to be placed aboue then beneath vpon the Riuer in respect to auoyde burning by artificiall fyre or else to be planted where they looke chéefely for succours Obseruations for an assault and the sacke of a Citty WHen the batterie of the Cannous haue made sufficient breach and that the same is saultable great diligence and celeritie is to be vsed for that diuers thinges at one instant are to be done The Campe must be all in armes and in battayles the Assaylants ready in the Trenches to giue assault the Pyoners to carry Ladders or such Engines as are inuented for the safety of the Souldiours If the Ditch be full of water and that the same hath neither beene cut down nor drawne drye by artificiall Milles and buckets such as béere Brewers vse Then must the Pyoners roul forward the artificiall Bridge made vpon Barrels of purpose for that respect hauing before cut the Counterscarpe to put the same into the ditch the which must be done nimblie and at one instant During which time the Artillarie must beate towardes that place to barre the besieged from endomaging the action Also when the great Master of the Artillarie shall perceiue the batterie to haue made large easie and sufficient breach to haue displaced the flankers He must giue aduertisement that the Assailants may procéede if the assault be first determined vpon Which beeing concluded the assailants must remayne ready and in order to aduance when the last blow of the Cannon is gyuen and that they beholde the ruinous fall of that which was determined to bée battered then shall all the Artillarie discharge great and small And when the Souldiours begin to march forwardes to the assault each one shal shoote to breake the remparts and other strengthes which it may be the enemy hath made and thereby to amaze them the more But then must the great Artillarie cease to shoote at the batterie for feare of hurting your own people but they shall shoote at the defences which shall be somewhat further of and the which might aryse to be hurtefull to the sayd Assailantes But the lesse Péeces shall alwayes shoote at the breach vntil such time as they sée their people past the Ditch and that they be mounted as high as the saâ—…d breach and so cease there It hath béene vsed of some to put all the Campe in Armes hauing determined in what place they will assault which is in the greater number the better but in two at the least for pollicie to make shew with inuaston cryes and noyse of Drums towards that place where hee meanes not to giue the assâ—…ult to amaze those within the Forte and also to seperat theâ—… into diuers places to the intent they may haue lesse at the breach and accordingly put his people in order that is to say at the two places where he meanes to make the assault in good earnest consisting of strong and puissant bandes all which companies must marche close and sacried together in this order following First if néede should require there must bee certayne people ready to carry Ladders and such Engines to addresse and reare them to the breach After them must followe the men at Armes and other Souldiours well armed which must goe ioyntly together with them that carry the Ladders The shotte aswell Musket as Hargabuziers ought to bee within the Trenches and so euery band which is to assault is to remayne in order and must march aflote and in troupe for whether it be to ascend the breach or Ladders the last must thrust the formost forwardes and vpwardes And from the time they begin to march the Artillarie must shoote to the end the enemies haue no leysure to shoote at them that march in the Ditches And when they are within the sayd Ditches the small Artillarie must alwaies batter at the defences and breach vntill such time as thy come hande to hande And likewise the shotte aswell Musket as Hargabuziers must be vpon the brincke of the Ditch alwaies shooting and defending that not one of the towne do so much as appeare at their defences or loope-holes The high Marshall of the fielde must stand with the rest of the Armie ranged in battaile and placed in such conuenient sort as is néedefull And this for thrée reasons First if the enemies should giue charge vpon the Armie during the assault hee must bee of sufficient power to defende the Campe which must bee so well fortified that he may resist anie force or inuasion Secondly if it bee necessary a fresh supplie for the assault hée must culle out such and so manie as will serue the turne and send them immediatly Thirdly if the Assailants shoulde bee repulsed and that they did retyre which is to be presupposed will be in disorder confusedly neither is it otherwise possible and that those of the towne thereupon doe make a sallie it being not like that those should be brought to make front that were so lately forced to retyre The high Marshall must then march in order with some maine Battillion to succour his people to repulse the enemies and so
dooth likewise plainly expresse the mistery hid cunning of fortifycation and declare in ample and fine drawne plots goodly plotformes needfull inuentions and noble works of great suretie and maiestie worth the noting and meete for men of warre to haue in euerlasting memory And now to tell you how thys Booke came to my handes it is to be vnderstood that a Gentleman called William Garrard seruing the King of Spayne fourteene yeeres in his warres drew and made this same Booke with great iudgement good leysure and comming into England in short time after sickned and before his death sent the sayd Booke to Sir Thomas Garrard Knight vnto whom he was a very neere kinseman Sir Thomas hauing regarde to the seruice of her Maiestie and his Countrey and seeing the time required the publishing of the same conferred with mee about the same praying me to correct the faultes of the Booke the which I haue doone with good consideration Confessing though somewhat I haue seene and red beside my experience in the warres that neuer to thys day came such a Booke into myne hands for goodnes for plainenes for perfectnes true demonstrations hoping that no man of iudgement but will yeelde due commendations to the dead deuiser of thys large and worthy volume and that the reading of the same shall so please content all that shall behold it that they shall giue their common consent that the Booke is worthy the embrasing to be red to be knowne and the directions therein to be followed The worke it selfe is sufficient to winne fauour and perswade more good matter then any Booke that euer I sawe touching the arte of warre to the reach of myne vnderstanding as knoweth Almighty GOD who send you all happines 1590. Alwaies yours in most humble manner Robert Hichcock THE FIRST BOOKE OF MILITARIE DIRECTIONS In the vvhich is set out hovv a good Souldiour Disnier and Corporall ought to behaue themselues in vvarres Togither with the Martiall Lawes of the field and other necessarie Notes and Offices And first what is to be required and necessarie to be obserued in a priuate Souldier THE platforme of a Fortresse by how much more it is planted vpon a sure foundation by so much more it is perticipant of a firme and forceable perfection which reason duelie considered it ought to lead euery man so to rule himselfe in all his affaires as he may be both apt to receiue and able to performe all vertuous valerous actions Therfore he that desires to become a Souldier of assured good quality to the intent he may be able to perseuer in each enterprise beare out euery brunt stoutly and serue sufficiently he ought to haue a strong body sound free from sicknesse of a good complexion So shall hee bee able to resist the continuall toâ—…le and trauaile which of necessitie hee must dailie take as continual and extreame cold in the winter immoderate heate in the Sommer in marching in the day keeping sentinell in the night and in his cold Cabben in secret ambushes and in Trenches where perchance hee shall stand a number of houers in the water and myre vp to the knees and besides vpon Bulwarkes breaches in espials iâ—… Sentinels perdues and such like when occasion requires and necessitie constraines of all which exploits and discommodities he must perforce be partaker Wherefore that man which is not of such sufficiencie in bodie to the end hâ—…e spende not his time in vaine it is verie requisite he resolue himselfe to exercise some other profession for although some do hold that few men be strong by nature but many by exercise and industrie yet that notwithstanding strength of bodie is first to bee required in respect that a Souldier must be as well acquainted and as â—…ble to beare continual trauail as a Bird can endure to flâ—…e yea and to put on a resolute minde to beare all the miserics and haâ—…ardes of warlike affaires A Soldier is generally iâ—… be chosen betwixt 18. and 4. 6. yeares Moreouer I suppose it most necessarie that euerie man according to the nature of his bodie and the inclined motion of his minde make election of his Armes and weapons as of pike halberd or 〈◊〉 neuerthelesse respect ought to be had to the pâ—…oportion oâ—… his person and to take such Armes as doth best agree with the same to a tall man a Pike to a 〈◊〉 stature a halberd and to a litle nimble person a Peâ—…ce But if he preferre his proper disposition before the qualitie of his person it is verie necessarie hee exercise that weapon he makes choise of to the intent he may attaine vnto a moste perfect practise of the same for as no man at the first time when hâ—…e takes any toole or instâ—…ument in his hand growes immediatly at that instant to be a perfect artificer euen so it is with a Souâ—…dier 〈◊〉 experience hath instructed hâ—…m touching whâ—…ch I meane to say somewhat Hee which seekes to attaine and attribute to himselfe the honourable name of a Souldier must first employ his time in practise of those Armes wherewith hee meanes to serue and so applâ—…e his time that when any enterprise shall cast him foorth to make proofe thereof hee may be able to handle his Peece with due dexâ—…eritie and his pike with an assured 〈◊〉 since these be she weapons wherewith now Mars doth most coÌ„â—… arm his warlike troupe and trie each doubtfull fight of bloudy 〈◊〉 for in this our age experieÌ„ce practise makes apparant that Archers amongest forrâ—…ine Nations be neuer vsed and the Halberd but either amongst fewe or fewe in number The Archer serues to small purpose but when he is shadowed with some Trench or Bulwarke free from Hargabuse or Mushet shet Or that lyning a band of Hargabusiers he doth second them in any 〈◊〉 onset and then a whole flight of 〈◊〉 so that they be light and able to flie aboue twelue score will meruâ—…ilously gaule any maine battaile of footmen or Squadron of Horsmen The Halberd likewise doth onely serue in the sacke of a Towne in a bâ—…rach in a Sallie or Canâ—…isado to enter a house or in the throng of a stroken battade to execute slaughter Wherefore touching these two weapons vnlesse necessitie constrame and that Hargabusiers be wanting Archers may well be spaâ—…ed and these great numbers of Halberdiers and Bill men which are and haue bin in times past vsed in England may well be left off saue a sew to guard euery Ensigne and to attend vppon the Colonell or 〈◊〉 which man Army will amountâ—…d a 〈◊〉 number to depresse 〈◊〉 ouercome and flying enemy Therefore a Souldier must either 〈◊〉 himselfe to beare a Peece or a Pyke 〈◊〉 hee beaâ—…e a Peece thâ—…n must he first learne to hold the same to 〈◊〉 hâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his two formost fingers and his thâ—…mbe and to plant the great 〈◊〉 on hâ—…s breast with a gallant souâ—…dierlike grace and being ignorant to the intâ—…nt he may
without iust occasion enforcing them then the proâ—…ost marshall Lieutenant of the â—…and or sergeant shall compell him or them with violence to kéepe his or their rankes in order and if so be that he or they so disordered doe chance in this case to be slaâ—…e there shall no man be blamed by his or their deathes by the law of the field for by such disordered people the whole armie may be in danger of ruinating by the enimie 18 Item if that by the appointment of the chiefe rulers of the armie there be a battaile fought and that by the mightie power oâ—… God the victorie be obtained on your side the law of armes is such that if any souldier hath receiued his monethes wages aforehand he shall be discharged of the same neither shall he serue any longer for the said wages after the day of victorie neither shal owe any thing for it but he shal be set frée from the moneths seruice 19 Item if it chance that in time of skirmish or in any other conflict with the enimie some one do aduenture to â—…lie and run away from his fellowes if in the flying his Capâ—…aine or any other souldier by shooting at him or by striking at him do chance to kill him they shall incurre no danger for so doing and if such a flier chance to escape at that time and afterwards be taken let him according to the law of armes suffer death for the same for one such a recreant may be the ouerthrow of a great multitude 20 Item it standeth with the law of armes that ech common souldier shal be sworne that they will not haue amongst themselues any priuate counsels assemblies or conuenticles vpon paine of the losse of their liues 21 Item there shall no souldier neither in time of marching nor during the time of their incamping hold or keepe any whispering or talke or secretly conuey any letters vnto their aduersaries without lycence from the chiefe Captaine vpon pain of the losse of his life 22 Item if there be any one or a more number that shal go about any treason or any other conspiracie to be committed against the Campe or garrison such a traitour or conspirâ—…ur shal be accused vnto the knight marshall and he that bewrayeth and accuseth such an offender shall haue for his reward a monethes wages or more as the fact is hainous so the reward is to bee increased vnto the partie that reueâ—…leth the same and the offender to receiue the reward of a false â—…tour 23 Item that no souldier shall be suffered to be of a ruffiâ—…nlike behauiour either to prouoke or to giue any blow or thrust or otherwise wilfully strike with his dagger to iniurie any his fellow souldiers with any weapon whereby 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 times ensue vpon paine of the losse of his life 24 Item if any one beareth hatred or malice or any euill will â—…or any occasion done vnto him and so striketh him hee looseth his hand if otherwise he séeketh reuenge then by law he looseth his life 25 Item if any souldier be warned to watch and ward and he do not come he shall be punished at the discretion of the captaine but if any souldier be sommoned to watch and hée appeare and after the watchword giuen the watch set he departeth and leaueth the watch such a one shall without mercie be punished with the losse of his life neither shall any man set an other to watch in his place without the leaue of the Captaine vpon paine of his life 26 Item that no souldier or souldiers draw his or their swords or vse any other kind of weapon with violence to do hurt within or without the Campe during the time of the warres vpon paine of death It hath lately béene vsed with more fauor of life as such an offender to loose his hand but it is the discretion of the Lord chiefe Generall in whose hands lyeth both the life and death of the offenders after their arrainment and iust condemnation 27 Item the like law is against the officer officers of any band in the campe if he strike any souldier without such occasion as is permitted him in the articles to do otherwise he may defend himselfe 28 Item that no person or persons presume to be mustered or to take wages before he be sworne to bée faithfull and truely to serue his Prince in those warres present vpon paine of death 29 Item that the Harold at armes shal proclaime publish al that the Generall shall giue him in charge in the place places where he is commanded and not to adde or diminish any part or parcell thereof vpon paine of death 30 Item there shal no souldiers or other men procure or stir vp any quarrell with any stranger that is of any other nation and such as serue vnder one head and Lord with them neither in their gaming or otherwise vpon paine of the losse of his life 31 Item there shall no souldier or other person being in Campe or march take away any thing from any man being their friend by violence or deceipt as their victuals or other necessaries vpon paine of the losse of his life 32 Item when that there are any victuals caried or brought vnto the campe no man shall run out to take any part of them before they be brought to the appointed place for the purpose no though they offer for them more then they be worth vpon pain of the losse of his life 33 Item if that the prouost martiall haue at any time taken an offender and according to his office he carieth him to be punished and if that one or more souldiers seeke to rescew the said malefactor and in this stirre the offender escape he or they that are the occasion of this escape shal be punished with the like punishment as the malefactor should haue bene whether it be by life or otherwise according as the waight of the crime requireth 34 Item if there be anie sound that hath entered his name vnder two captaines and hath taken wages armour and weapons beforehand such a person shal be taken for a periured man and by the law of armes shall for the same lose his life 35 Item if any man that hath a place appointed him by the harbinger or officers for his tent or lodging hee must hold himselfe content withall neither shall hee molest any man lodging within his tent or cabbin or other lodging at any time for anie occasion vpon paine of the chiefe captaines displeasure and such punishment as he shall thinke most fit for the offence 36 Item that no man shall sound and make any alarme erâ—…ept it be néede or vpon commandement from the higher officers vpon paine of the losse of his life 37 Item when of necessitie the alarme is made each man must be stirre him to be ready for battaile vpon paine of the losse of his life 38 Item at the first warning of the drum or secretly all souldiers must be
in a readinesse and resort to the place appointed which commonly is the market place being first of all vnited with his ensigne and from thence in order of aray to the enemies as they be coÌ„manded vpon the pain of the losse of his life 39 Item all souldiers being horsemen or footmen must diligently in order of aray by sound of drum or trumpet accompany the ensigâ—…e to watch ward or reliefe of the same being there silently in a readinesse to withstand or discouer the enemies as occasion shall serue to brute the alarme with the vsuall worde arme arme or bowes bowes if â—…n 〈◊〉 or anie bandes be in paie vpon paine of losse of their liuâ— 5. 40 Item all souldiers must keepe their armor and weapons faire cleane and seruiceable to a readinesse at euerie sodaine none intermedling but with his owne euerie one to helpe other to arme and diligently to resort to the place of seruice at scrie and larum vpon paine 41 Item all souldiers must honestly intreate and truely paie victuallers and artificers allowed for the reliefe being friends or enemies and with curteous words encourage such to victual and relieue the companies or campe vpon paine 42 Item all souldiers in watch ward march or otherwise shall haue special regard that if there be man or woman desirous to speake with the superiors or being thy enemies for feare doe forsake his owne power and resort to thee let such secretly be conueied to the Lord chiefe generall regarding that they view no secrets least they be double spies vpon paine of the losse of their liues 43 Item captaines and officers must oft frequent and resort vnto the souldiers lodgings to sée in what state their armor and inunitions be and to giue great charge that their furniture be alwaies in a readinesse their corslets with all peeces belonging to the same and their caliuers to be made cleane and oiled to haue match powder drie bullets fit for their peeces stringes whipped for their bowes their billes and halberdes to be kept sharpe And often to view euery particular vpon paine 44 Item he that shall depart out of the place where he shal be put by his head or any officer whatsoeuer for a lost Sentinel spy watchman scout or warder aswell by day as by night as it often happeneth to discouer some dealings of the enemy without attending and staying for him that placed him there to take him away except he should remoue in hast to aduertise his head of the successe of the enemies assaulting or doing anie outrage shall be punished with death 45 Item whosoeuer should rashly offend or hurt either in word or deedes any man belonging to the deputies or head officers of iustice or captain there being in pay for sergeants And they being appointed to carrie no other weapon with sicles or staues but billes or halberds they may be knowne for men of iustice and not for Souldiers 46 Item whosoeuer standeth within or without the campe or barres to watch or scout and doth his dutie so euill that thorow his negligence the enemy setteth vpon the campe at vnawares he shall die 47 Item he that vnder colour of doing the duetie of a scout or spie perceiuing the enemies haue assaulted the campe and he with such faining lieth still shall die for it 48 Item he that shall forsake the defence in generall or particular of the batterie of the trench of the passage of a bridge or other like to him committed but lightly not forced goeth away shal be for so offending punished with death 49 Item whosoeuer entring into a Citie taken by force followeth not his ensigne whither soeuer it shall go vntil the Generall make proclamation that euerie man shall take booties And if the general cause no such proclamation to be made that souldiers make spoile he shall incurre the paine of death and if proclamation be made that they shall cease from taking praies and booties and after licence giuen if they giue not ouer they shall fall into the same punishment 50 Item whosoeuer seeing the ensigne vnder the which he warreth in fraies or fight by chance be fallen in the hands of the enemies if he be there present and doe not his indeuour to recouer it and when it is cowardly lost to punish the souldiers which haue suffered it to be cowardly lost with death 51 Item he that shall flée from the battaile being in the face and front of the enemies or shall go slowly and slackly to ioyne and a front with them in case it be to fight a field battaile or in anie skirmish what soeuer shal be punished with death 52 Item he that shall faine himselfe sick to auoid the fighting of the enemie or because he would not goe to anie other enterprise to vse his handes but I meane there for to rob for to such affaires they will be ready inough shal be cruelly punished 53 Item whosoeuer seeing his generall or his captaine or other coronell and officer of the campe in the hand of the enemies and succoureth him not with all his power and may doe â—…t not respecting any danger shall suffer death 45 Item he that shall rob or spoile the people of the countriâ—… or subiectes or vassels of the prince 〈◊〉 sâ—…rueth shall die 55 Item he that by theft should sceale or rob the armor weapons or horses or other thing from anie other seruing against the enemies shall die 56 Item hee that should ransome or taxe or otherwise misvse the people of the countrie except they should be enemies or rebels to the prince shal be greatly punished 57 Item he that shall play at any game for his armor weapons or horses which are written vpon the roll or through his negligence shall lose them or lend giue away or lay them to pawne let him die 58 Item he that goeth further then two hundreth steppes or paces from his quarter without licence of his captain specially when the campe looketh or staieth to be assaulted by the enemies except he should be sent for by his heades shal be punished with death 59 Item he that shall goe longer then the houre appointed in the night abroad in the campe wandring except hee should be sent by his superiours for a matter of weight from head captain to head captaine by a counter-token shall be cruelly punished 60 Item he that shall lodge strangers whether he be of the campe or not without licence of the generall or of his captaine either in his lodging or vnder a tent except he be of his chamber or squadron or by the captaine appointed for seruice forth of the campe shall be punished But euerie one ought to be in the night with their Camerads and chamber-fellowes and not to be deuided from their lodgings that occasion seruing they may be ready with their weapons in their handes neither ought they to lodge watch or scouts or of the search for that the spies hauing no lodging any excuse being found
office whereof there be now adayes ouer many for when it is necessarie for them to alter their order and that perforce they must quite change the forme and fashion that then they obserue they know not which way to begin Therefore to the end his order and ranckes may be to the purpose duely and directly changed and with facilitie disposed let him euer disseuer and deuide one part of his weapons from another causing euery one to turne and enter into their ranckes and order by themselues so shall he procéed in taking away setting forward and intermixing one sort of rancks within another very orderly And thereby the ful proportion of his baÌ„d shal be framed as he hath determined or as it is deuised by him that commands either in marching forward and backward or in turning without disorder by 3. 5. 7. or 9. in a ranck as the Lieutenant Captaine or Sergeant Maior appoints He ought euer to beware that in ordering the rancks and appointing the souldiers their places that they begin not to make debate or stomake one another for dignitie of place the which doth oftentimes fal out to their great anoy and domage and the officers tedious toile for in enterprises of great importance euen in the presence of the inuading enimy some vaine glorious fellowes are accustomed to striue for the chiefest places the which roomes by all reason of duetie appertaine to the best armed and not to any others whose vnrewly rashnes may be the ruine of the whole band Therefore fit and conuenient places are to be obserued with humilitie the naked in their places and the armed in theirs but to touch one point which we haue alredie spoken of I iudge it most conuenient that the armed those for skirmish excepted must remaine in Maine stands and battailes as some say so abide by the stake who ought to be so wel armed as they may beare and support the blowes of their enimies and resist any furious charge either of horsemen or sootemen Whereas besides their well ordered ranckes by reason they be armed they make a more galant shew giuing courage to thy owne people and discourage to the enimie and in proofe are more profitable then the disarmed who remaining in their roomes the contrarie succéeds The Sergeant of the companie must haue speciall regard when victuals cannot be had for money by forage or otherwise to make repaire togither with the clarke of the band to the principal munitions that his companie â—…ast not of famine and from thence procure to haue so much as he wel caÌ„ or as is coÌ„uenient and according to his receiued order so must he depart and distribute all manner of munitions amongst the Corporals that euerie one of them may giue to their souldier their portion The like ought he to vse touching powder for the Hargabusyres and Musketyres lead for bullets match for them to burne and ech thing else whereof they haue néede to the end they may alwayes remaine in order and be verie well prouided and stored as néere as is possible as is most conuenient and to perswade the souldier that to gaine a place of more account he will spare his pay to arme himselfe the more brauely He must likewise haue diligent eye that the said munition of match powder be conserued warily from wetting and kept with a speciall spare from vntimely spending for this prouident precept doth import verie much in all enterprises by reason that the negligence of the Sergeant touching this necessarie foresight care hath bene the cause that the shot haue not bene able readily to performe their duties according to the appointed determinations or as necessitie did require by reason of their vnwarie kéeping their munition in wet weather or their generall want through vain mispence by which meanes many most notable â—…rrors haue succéeded of great losse and moment to the hinderance shame and totall ruine of a whole companie or campe Therfore it is most expedient that the Sergeant togither with the seuerall corporals do diligently and narrowly examine visite search and view the proper flaskes tutch-boxes pockets other places where the souldiers are accustomed to carie kéepe their powder and match and peruse diligently all those things without negligence faining or fauouring diuers haue receiued great ignomie shame in their office for want of the performaÌ„ce thereof wheras by carying a contrary care they haue bene vniuersally wel thought of and commended of al good souldiers and valiant Captaines Therefore as occasion doth serue and offer he may admonish put in minde and reprehend with dexteritie the souldiers vnder his charge and guiding To him it appertaines to lay his helping hand about al things necessarie for his companie as well in prouiding for them as dispencing or deferring necessarie charges except for the prouision and deuiding of lodgings which is the office of the Furrier or Harbinger who ought to be very tractable diligent altogither officious not being partial to any one for peculiar profite or pleasure and therfore it is necessarie a Sergeant should know how to write for it is hard by memorie to discharge his charge The Sergeant must be careful to accompanie at the houre appointed the guard to the place of the watch in going vp and downe alongst their stanckes when he hath placed them in order to sée them kéepe due distance make the Laumband march in straight line with their ranckes carrie their armes in conformable proportion and if vpon pleasure they giue a volée of shot in passing to aduertise them to doe it orderly with due forme one rancke after another as they passe ouer against the Generall or other great officer or personage and not in a confused sort altogither or by péeces When he is arriued at the Corps of gard and hath placed euery one in order and prouided for all things necessarie for the watch of that night he must then giue his aduise and counsell to the Corporals that they kéepe good order in their Sentinels yea sometimes and verie often it is good that he himselfe aide them to choose out the most fit places for them to stand in to the end that the circuit of ground which for all their safties is to be kept may be conueniently garded At the ioyning of the day the night or somwhat later he shal secretly giue the Corporals the watchword with the which they are to gouerne the gard as wel by night as day the which word by the commandement of his Captaine he must procure the Sergeant maior to giue him or of some other that shall haue the charge to giue the same for want of his presence or in place of this great officer He must arme himselfe in such sort that he be no lesse apt then any other souldier to be able at time of néed both to defend himselfe and offend the enimie touching which effect Duke Octauâ—…o Farnese in the expedition of 12000 footemen and 600. horsemen
passed or fallen out whilest he hath bene in Sentinel the order he doth obserue and what hath bene appointed him to do the which if it be good he must confirme and when he doth find it to be otherwise he must rehearse refer the same to the Corporal of the Sentinel that he may vse diligent redresse Arriuing in any Corps de gard he must aboue all things aduertise them that they alwayes kéepe fire light for the necessary commoditie of Hargabusiers and for light in the night taking order with the souldiers that they and their armes may remain in a forceable redinesse through which his good instruction there may grow to be no want so consequently he must in like cases procéed with like prouident diligence After this he must with great consideration and modestie examine euerie particular thing carrying a mind with himself to coÌ„tinue increase the same from better to better both in himselfe and to them vse necessarie aduertisemeÌ„ts in such sort shall he passe through all the Corps de gards and Sentinels If it chance him to incounter another Sopraguardia or round to shun the occasion of dangerous difference which somtimes is accustomed to follow or for pollicie in fearing to giue the watch word to him that purposely comes to robbe the same that comming from the enimie secretly counterfaits the Sentinell or by some other practise as it sometimes hath caused domage to the grieuous losse and total preiudice of the armie to preuent such inconuenience let that Sopraguardia which shal be nearest to the next adioyning Sentinell turne backe giuing the word after a due accustomed sort vnto the said Sentinel to the intent the foresaid Sopraguardia may do the like and when they are of accord euerie one may follow his owne path but if otherwise they do disagrée the disceit remaines discouered not onely in that counterfeit round but also in the sained Sentinel whom the Sopraguardia must examine and demand at his hand some speciall countersigne or double word that thereby he may know him for an assured friend or finde him an enimie or negligent person the which of all men is verie well knowne to merite sharpe and extreame chastisement which at no time so néere as is possible is to be omitted This former rule is to be obserued of those souldiers that be of one selfe nation but when the Rounds or Sopraguardes be many and of sundrie nations and the Corps of Gards likewise then the Sopraguard comming into a quarter that is stranger vnto him is bound to giue the word to the Sopraguard of that nation of that quarter so that by such meanes as wel the suspition of disceit as the occasion of discord shall be auoyded And if in case the said ordinarie Round or Sopraguard do incounter in their owne quarter with the extraordinarie those that be ordinarie shall indeuour themselues to take the word of those that be extraordinarie For so is it conuenient and most conformable to that order beforesaid wherein I haue set downe what is necessarie for a Sopraguard or Round to do in a strange quarter And for that it is requisite as I haue alredie touched that the Caualliers be alwayes about the person of his chiefe captain without either being bound to Standerd Guidon or other Ensigne whatsoeuer he must indeuour himselfe when any enterprise or warlike affaires is committed to his charge to be apt and readie to vse practised experience in directing guiding a skirmish in taking the view of a battery in discouering of the enimie in marching or making Alta in Passa parde in the valiaâ—…nt repulse of a sodaine inuading enimie by Bawll en bouche in taking view of the situation of a place in guiding a Roade or troupe of Horsemen in giuing Alarome to the enimie in plucking aduertisementes from the enimie in placing Imbasâ—…ades in giuing Canuasados and to know verie well how to execute with sound iudgement these and such like important affaires the which for the most part appertaine to the Cauallieres of this Squadrone to performe As likewise it hath bin the custome to giue theÌ„ the charge to plant Gabiones for the defence of the Artillarie to batter and endomage the walles the Trenches the lodinges and the enemies Squadrones Let him remember when hée hath bin at any exploite to bring backe againe into his Quarter those souldiers hee hath led foorth to any enterprise vnited and in rancke marching together behind him and neuer suffer them to returne disbanded one by one out of order which is an occasion of great confusion and brings but small reputation to the Captaine and conductor of them Moreouer it is verie necessarie hée knowe how to make a roade and distroie the enemies countrie the which likewise doth oftentimes appertaine to him to performe in which exploite hee must beware aboue all thinges that no souldier in those enterprises disperse or disband themselues but with an assured good order for the most part conformable to my following discourse wherein I set downe directions how to conduct Souldiers to the skirmish And particularlie where I declare that he ought to kéepe and maintaine for his people the strongest place of situation wherein he must skirmish for that commonly souldiers being in disorder wearied and loaden with spoile may bée easilie put to flight broken and oppressed of the enemies vnlesse they bée seconded or shaded by some forceable succour I suppose it likewise most necessarie that hée indeuour himselfe to bee apt and sufficient at all times and in all places to sollicite and negociate for his Prince or Chieftaine any cause of what weight or moment soeuer considering that most men are not fit to attempt the performance of such doubtfull and difficile causes for although manie make great estimation of them selues and presume much by their dailie reading and Theoricke of those weightie affaires yet do they want and come farre short of that bold and readie practise which plainly appeares that the worthy professors of Armes possesse and specially in the presence of great Princes whose Maiestie and reuerence for the most part doth make cold and bring out of countenance the hoatest and most resolute determination As Demosthenes before Philip of Macedone made apparent when he was not able to pronouÌ„ce thrée woords of a long premeditate Oration in behalfe of the Athenians This worthie gentleman of a band this Caualliere of Saint Georges squadre and likewise all other professors of warlike armes ought to carie in mind that of him and his equals the exercise of Armes is to be applied and diligentlie to practise the same to the intent he bée not for want of knowledge dispised of others and not ignorantlie to dispise them that deserue due commendations but rather to carie and vse the countenance of authoritie to those persons that merite not to beare swaie and gouernement then towards forward souldiers Yet for all that towards the rest in â—…some other respects hée ought
if your armie doe march he worke not any domage to your people to your baggage to your munitions other things of importance It is verie expedient that the leader of this skirmish be valiant and wise who must determine to keepe occupied the enimie that by the practise thereof it may arise to bee profitable to the performance of some other his purposed enterprise After he hath made choise amongst his souldiers of those which must skirmish he must deuide them as is before rehersed and he with the rest of the people to him vnited as néere as is possible must march alongst the strongest situation of the ground then must send those that are deputed and appointed to the skirmish one after another to the taile of the enimies battel against whom they must skirmish and fight euen as an old beaten dog about some Bul or furious beast doth here and there snatch bite and turne about him that in the end he doth kéepe him occupied wearie him if not ouercome When he hath put these things in execution he must gather togither his people in the best sort he can in the aforesaid order If in marching his owne campe doe feare to be assaulted at the backe or that he hath suspicion of his baggage or doubts some impediments on the flankes then must the leader of the skirmish make repaire with his people to that place where hee suspects the enimie will take aduantage and march farre off and with such distance from his campe and his battailes as he shall thinke conuenient and as the nature of the place doth require to the intent he may bring to effect his determination and prosecute the same to a good end the which is to auoid the inconuenience that the enimy neither hurt nor hinder his baggage and munition And in this sort with good order he must follow and accompany his owne people and with those that be appointed for the fight must kéepe occupied and intertaine the enimy stil skirmishing retyring and marching as it alwayes fals out and chanceth to him that valiantly defends himselfe Concluding then I say that it séemes good and verie requisite that the skirmish for the most part should be fled and shunned except it be in respect of some of the thrée foresaid occasions or some such like which thereunto may be adioyned procéeding of a practised and aduised iudgement for it is a verie rash and vnaduised thing to loose men of valour to no purpose as of necessitie in skirmishes doth succéede And besides the losse of such persons of estimation which ariseth by reason of rash disorder Moreouer it hath bene oftentimes séene that whilest he goeth about to succour one band presently enclosed by the enimie and put to flight by reason it hath bene negligently gouerned as for the most part it fals out whē men go to skirmish moued by a fantastical rage vain ambition and to smal purpose without a sufficient appointed chiefe or head or rather without speciall commission from the captaine Generall the which aduertisement is principally to be noted there hath such inconuenience succéeded that an armie hath sometimes bene constrained to hazard and come to the fight of a maine battell vpon a suddaine a thing maruellous perillous and that ought of necessitie to be fled without manifest aduantage of a perfite and a well practised Generall Sundrie aduertisements fit for a worthie Cauallier to obserue 1 First in the view of a batterie 2 Secondly in describing the condition of a situation of any place 3 And thirdly in disclosing the order the enimie obserues either encamping or marching Although an excellent and prudent captaine Generall in all his affaires must vse the seruice of practised souldiers such as may be supposed to haue sufficient knowledge in these aforesaid respects yet doe I coniecture it verie necessarie to make choise of a man that besides his sufficient experience in diuerse warlike practises of training ordering directing and leading souldiers yet would I wish the said worthy Cauallier to carrie a hautie and hardie heart a bold and valiant bodie and moreouer that he be accompanied with an excellent iudgement in matters appertaining to the exercise of Armes specially in those causes cōuenient to be accomplished by him or his equals Who after he hath receiued commission to view any batterie and that he is sufficiently armed able to defend himselfe which as néere as is possible he must finde the meanes to be he ought to take with him some one hargabusier a man of valour to repulse and annoy the enimies which are at the defence if hée should stand in néede or be discouered and to the intent he may aid him in other accidents that might fall out but after he is guided and entred into the action of his enterprise he must aduisedly enforme himselfe and take the view how great the breach is and how hye the entrance is of ruinated earth and both what and how great the difficultie is to ascend thereupon considering well what effect the fall of the wall hath made and being ascended or at leastwise so néere as is possible hauing done his indeuour to mount vp the breach he must go about to view secreatly and sufficiently the largenesse within which is betwixt the battered wall and the houses and how much the fal of the battery is in that place and togither with this he must indeuour himselfe to sée if the said batterie be flancked within or not if it be safe or secure if the place be plaine easie or hard and headlong to ascend and in sum he must consider by what means and which is the best way that they within may defend themselues Al the which so néere as is possible he ought to doe with great diligence and wisdome as well in perfite discouery of all these important difficulties as in spéedie returne taking view and making choise at the same instant of the most close couert way wherein the souldiers may with greatest commoditie approch to giue assault to the breach and batterie Ouer which troopes it doth for the most part appertaine to this Cauallier to be the guide Now vpon his returne he must make full discourse of euerie particular to him that hath sent him to the intent that his prince or General may with al spéed appoint the order of the assault that the lesse time may be giuē the enimy to make contermures bulwarks and trenches to defend himselfe I am of opinion likewise that that souldier or worthy Cauallier ought to be no lesse then the foresaid of a practised and pregnant wit to whom charge is giuen to discouer the qualitie and condition of the situation of the enimies countrie or the place where he remaines who after he hath considered of the same although he that sent him hath not expresly declared him his meaning and intention touching the same or his ful meaning yet being conducted to the place he must with the least shew rumour or noise
be Hargabusiers on horseback specially when warres be made in large and open countries or else howsoeuer it be situate for being men of valour they may both on horsebacke and foote doe great seruice as often hath bene tried by manifest experience in our time specially in the late warres of Flanders vnder my Collonel the Baron of Sheuerau in seruice of Don Iohn of Austria and the Prince of Parma where I being of the number of the Gentlemen of his owne band haue séene dayly excellent good seruice done by them as well by discouering the enimies ambuscades as to draw them into the danger of our footemen And likewise in the spéedie taking and kéeping a passage of importance in winning aduertisements and the watch word from the enimie in taking prisoners in breaking the way for frée passage in clearing and beating the hye wayes and scowring them frée from the enimie and fléebooters in making roades courses and incursions in discouering the countrie and taking view there of like to light horsemen specially in the absence of the Cauallerie of the Campe. And therfore I conclude that they shall be found to be a knot and kind of necessarie souldiers prouided that they be practised and aboue al ful of valour and aspiring minds not to be common souldiers taken at vnawares out of ordinarie bands of footemen neither such as carrie a dull base and abiect mind or disposition If the Collonell had the authoritie to be able to kéepe togither a band with a standerd or Guidon and a trumpet to them would do singuler good seruice which neuerthelesse when seruice on foote did call them forth might deliuer vp their horses Lances Hargabushes with firelocks vnto their seruants kept and maintained for that purpose enter into ranke or battaile amongst the rest of the Caualliers squadre and so should the ordinarie and common custome of hauing horses amongst priuate souldiers be auoided saue such as are permitted and granted to some officers as in my former discourses I haue alredie declared The which obseruation shal bring to passe that the souldiers in marching and in other enterprises shall go togithers and be vnited about the Ensigne which is a thing most conuenient and necessarie and ought greatly to be shunned for that horses by ouerthwart trauersing are accustomed to deface thâ—… squares and break the rankes of the footemens battailes which truely is verie odious and of great disturbance and discommoditie but that which I speake of this extraordinarie band is to be vnderstood and taken when there is no ordinarie bands of horsemen ioyned to a Collonels Regiment He ought to take vigilant care that the Gentlemen of his band and Caualliers of his squadre being continually about his person do diligently performe that which they are appointed of him to do by commission or otherwise and that they make faithfull and true relation to him of euerie particular thing that hée may be euer fully informed of all things and chiefly of that which doth passe in the watch worthy necessarie to be noted as wel by day as by night since that by going the Round which doth appertaine principally to these Caualliers many things of moment importance may verie well be obserued being able to execute any of the inferiour offices both quickly conceiue and sensibly vtter any new accident The Collonel must most carefully with humble courtisie court his captaine generall vse great respect towards him obey him giue him faithfull counsell and to the end he may performe this thorowly well he must neuer refuse toile or trauell since that to take pain about matters of like importance is agréeable and conuenient to honorable personages his equals whereas easie delicacie curiositie appertaines to women or other effeminate persons who estéeme more of belly cheere gallant attyre and riches then of the péerelesse prise of valor vertue and that prefer a fraile bodie before an immortall soule Some hold opinion that a Collonel hauing to allot ouâ—… what number of pikes short weapons and shot is to be in euery band that it is farre better to haue but one sort of weapons so shall the Captaine euer accompanie his owne souldiers whereas otherwise they being disseuered in a stand battaile he must either loose the companie of his shot or pykes the one of them being committed to a second and the short weapons to a third which doth nothing so much encourage the souldier as to see his Captaine companion of his perils and the contrarie no lesse dismaieth him but for that foughten fields chance seldome in our time I cease to wade further therein only aduertising that amongst the rest of his souldiers the armed pikes must be gently vsed shewing them a chéerefull and good countenance who must be chosen men verie hardie and valiant He must procure that his officers diligently performe his comissions and that faithfully they make relation of euerie particular thing that he may be enformed of all in specially that which happens in wards as well in the day as in the night for they going in circuit as appertaines vnto them may well perceiue what chanceth of any great importance So that by obseruing these aduertisements the industrie of the Leader doth appeare wheras not being wel looked vnto great ruine doth arise To conclude when his Regiment is discharged either at the end of the warres or otherwise he ought to take care that he in any wise procure that they may be conducted wholly togither and afterwards disband them in such a place as from thence euerie souldier may easily and without feare transport himselfe into his owne countrie and if it be possible hauing his health his armes and his apparell entyre for otherwise if souldiers be disseuered in far countries they suffer great inconuenience in hard difficile passages in victuals and lodgings the which doth cause their destruction the discredite and dishonour of their conductour and is a great blot in the fame of our nation as those that haue séene Holland the Lowcountries can witnes wherfore it is a thing to be reformed for the increase of our credite and old naturall valour The election office and duetie of the foure Corporals of the field GReat regard would be had to the choosing of these as wel for their calling yeares and valiantnes as otherwise for their experience lenitie and wisedome Whereby these warlike affaires may be the readier sooner executed otherwise it may be preiudiciall to the whole armie These 4. bée vnder the Sergeant Maior generall to appoint set order and make battaile and battailes and to guide euery particular person therein according to their degrée and office and as the necessitie of the same shall require to instruct and reforme whose commaundements all Captaines and souldiers with their officers must obey but in march approch Canuisado skirmish retraite watch ward or what other seruice by them shal bée commaunded whose authoritie likewise is such as if any resist they
that and do replie in contraries wheras they ought to employ themselues to nothing more then obedience without hauing respect to any other particular profit or commoditie Hée must take order and command expresly al Collonels Captaines and Officers that continually they remain firme kéep their appointed places the which places ought to be such as bée feared to bée of greatest danger importance as the front the backe the flank the sléeues wings of the Hargabuziers the like wherof may bée obserued in the other battailes when it is necessary to forme more then one as oftentimes it fals out Let him obserue diligently to procéede in all these respectes with a modest low voice not with rough woords to souldiers but with swéet smooth spéech if it bée possible with signes and tokens rather then with words for by that maner of procéeding souldiers remain more attentiue better instructed then with crying calling which for the most part procures disobedience causeth contempt of aucthority moreouer in matters of importance procures smal effect And so euery Captain hauing his place some in the front some in the rereward some to lead shot in the winges others to guide the forlorne hope ech one must carefully as I haue said execute obey the Sergeant Maiors commandement whether it be by signe or by voice by Drum or trumpet or by any other manifest token aduertisement These obseruations bée of great force wherwithall amongst other his good qualities in nature custome requisite for this person to possesse it is most necessarie that hée bee well giuen to Religion that hée be charitable courteous louing towards the souldiers vse exquisite example for their better instruction which aboue all things must not bee villanously entreated neither otherwise dispised but as much as may be corrected with a gentle hand and alwaies with lenitie fauored If in the night by reason of Alarums he bée to set the armie in order hee must before hand haue appointed the Captaines that their lanternes quarieres torches or cressets bee in a readines vpon any suddaine to bée light vp the which they must doe prouided alwaies that it bée necessarie and expedient and that particularly it hath bin of purpose ordained and commaunded that then they guide behind them euery band by themselues into the place of Armes but the Hargabuziers of euery company disseuered from the Pikes and other weapons which Pikemen shall gather within them their Ensignes in safetie and the Hargabuziers shal march iust after them and before them as shal bée appointed or séeme most expedient And to the intent the same may bée more spéedely performed the fower Corporats and Sergeant Maiors of the regiments shall verie aduisedly go to the assigned places quarters of the lodgings for this respect if it bée possible that al the people may arise may arme themselues may ioine in one ariue at the same instant at the place of armes where they are of this worthy Officer to bée receiued and put in squadre in the forme of a halfe Moone or cressant within the compasse of the hornes of the said Moone euery Alfierus as hée ariueth must compasse plant himselfe in the forme of a crowne one by one with their Ensignes in their hands amongst them those that be armed with rondels targets if there bée any as for a small competent number it is requisite ther should bée vnlesse those of proofe which must lead the shot then behind them the armed with halberds after these that bée light armed pikes and about the vtmost compasse of the said circle in both the tippes hornes of the moone the armed pikes are to be planted and the Sergeants Lieutenants must attend to apply themselues for the conseruation kéeping of the order of these last Kinges without Now the rest of the Collonels Captaines with the person of the Captain general the Cauallieres of his owne squadre and a great part of the lightes Drums must stand in the void place betwixt both the hornes before the Ensignes where reseruing the messages ambassages of aduertisements that go and come in such cases they may consult and determin vpon such things as are to bée done The entrance of this void place ought to bée turned towards the strongest situation of the said ground if it bée conuenient and the ground wil permit let it be garded with certain field péeces and shot The hargabuziers in the self same time are to be disposed placed by the Sergeant Maior so far distant from the foresaid squadre in so many places so many proportions as the situation of the ground parts and qualities doth require being conformable to that present seruice therby the better to flank fortifie assure the foresaid principal battail And to euery troupe of hargabuziers hée shal appoint the other halfe and moity of the Officers Drums lights if it bée conuenient to the intent that in fight or otherwise in all causes they may readily worke and performe exploits neither do I thinke it good that in these affaires of the night Geometricall measures be necessarie and much lesse Arithmetical numbers but the carefull diligence of valiant and discréete officers is most expedient and necessarie who must euer frame themselues conformable and be in these actions altogither obedient to the Sergeant Maior particularly putting in execution his order and pleasure The proportion of this foresaid Cressant was vsed of Alexander Vitellus in the night vpon the toppe of a mountaine against the mightis Lutheran League In the day time the armie rising and setting forward to march and standing in doubt of the enimie the Sergeant Maior must forme the ordinance and battaile of the armed and disarmed Pikes of the Halberds and other weapons in such sort that hauing to double the rankes to make them greater the battails may fall out in due proportion that is to say that the front and the backe way deuide equally the armed Corslets and. Pikes alwayes prouided that the flankes be not left disarmed and void of Pikes so shall he bring to passe that the short weapons shal enclose the Ensignes iust in the midst amongst them kéeping defended betwixt them and the armed Corslets and Pikes as well on the front as on the backe the disarmed Pikes the which to make number and to fill vp roome ought not to be refused amongst a great number of footemen in the field since it is verie hard for all men to arme themselues they being armed onely with a brest plate and burganet or with a coate of plate or iack a scul are good to turne on amongst shot And as the quantitie number of Pikes principally togither with other short weapons is the verie strength force of the armed footemen So the musketeares hargabusiers serue to no other end but to flank to raise ruine deface all defences to make imbuscades to
skirmish diligently to execute such like enterprises and finally to pursue the enimy defending or expugning some strong place fortresse passage or breach or what other condition soeuer When he hath put the ordenance and march in this foresaid forme and maner that he doth carry in mind the Theorick Rules which before are mentioned he may so ingrosse and double the ranks specially when he aspects and stayes for the enimie that he may frame the square battaile of ground or of number aâ—…d of men both the one and the other without any difficultie He may likewise cause euerie particular Sergeant place all the Pikes armed and disarmed with the other weapons they haue in charge and also the Ensigne in so many liâ—…es rankes as the people of the other bands likewise armed by their Sergeant are formed and fashioned Besides it would be very good for the Sergeant Maior first of all aduisedly to consider with the Sergeants how many lines or ranks they are to be by companie prouided alwayes that one band be like vnto another in quantitie of lines rankes that their proportion may answere and be correspondent These bodies so ordained are of many called maniples or scales as thus Marching in this order he may cause al the Alfieres of euerie Regiment to march in ranke vnited togither without mixing themselues with others that pertain to other Collonels or with other priuate captains and when the maniple be doubled the battel is complet engrossed euery Alfierus may go to his own band and remain with the same for the more satisfaction of his company and his greater saftie And returning with the said order of maniples to march in long ordinance as before euery Alfierus shal turne amongst the other Alfierus or Ensigne bearers where he remained first The Hargabusiers must march disseuered from the battaile the one halfe in Uantgard and the other half in reargard or somwhat distant of vpon the right hand vpon the left hand as the way shall serue with most commoditie or as shall be thought most necessarie if suspect be had of the enimie so that according as néede doth require redoubling the rankes and causing one to enter into another or knit and ioyne togither he may engrosse them and put them in order with good aduisement to flanke this foresaid principall battaile in as good forme as he possible may It is a most necessarie note to be had in memorie that as wel the two wings or sléeues of Hargabusiers as also the front or backe part of the ordained battaile or generall square are alwayes recommended as before I said to the worthy Collonels and Captaines and honorable officers and souldiers to the intent they may alwayes giue remedie by discourse consider and by courage determine of al matters making choise of the chiefest part in those affaires of importance without attending or aspecting for counsell if in case such counsell be not present and readie at hand Neither is it to be misliked or out of course but as I iudge a thing verie necessarie to send for Uantgard and Reargard and on both sides some what farre off from the battaile squadrons troopes or hornes of Hargabusiers out of the forlorne hope the which without mouing the souldiers of the battaile the ordained square and flankes may verie sufficiently performe all enterprises discoueries and do great seruice of maruellous importance and profite and in effect may assure the way and passage to the squadrons that come behind or go before from surprises c. Marching out of danger or suspicion of the enimy the Sergeant Maior deuiding euerie armes by themselues must forme the accustomed ordinance and marching with this hée may accept the companies which ariue as they come and send the Hargabusiers of the front of this companie to the Uantgard of the Hargabusiers of the foresaid formed rankes and those of the backe to the reargard the Ensignes to the place of the Ensignes and the forepart of the Pikes and Halberds to the front and the hindermost part to the backe of this square battaile and ordinance in the midst of the day when the Armie makes Alâ—… to rest in the morning when they dislodge and at night when they encampe let the Sergeant Maior accompanied with the Marshall of the fielde range the armie into sundrie formes of battailes and squares that ech one may be well acquainted with euerie sort of battaile the which although part of them be not to march withall and not in vse yet for exercise sake and for that sometimes they are found to be profitable when they are diligeÌ„tly ordained and disposed being conformable to the situation of the ground and correspondent to that present enterprise specially when they be contained and framed of a great number of people I haue thought good in my figures hereunto annexed to set downe some of old and some of newe inuentions hoping that some of them may satisfie our curious conceited Captaines But to delate further of these foresaid particulars the Sergeant Maior must euerie day repaire to the Lord high marshal or the Lieutenant generall to receiue direction in what sort that day the armie is to march whose pleasures knowne he must as â—… said before sort euery kind of weapon by it selfe and then draâ—… them forth in maniples or sléeues in 3. 5. 02 7. in a ranke or morâ—… as occasion serues and so to place euerie band that their Cap taines may be with them to direct and animate them which iâ—… these our dayes is almost impossible to be done euery smal banâ—… being deuided into seuerall weapons so that he cannot in time of such generall seruice accompanie his owne band which surely is repugnant to antique Discipline Some hold opinion vnlesse the souldiers bee rawe and vntrained men that it is not good to aduenture the brunt in one maine square battaile but rather in diuers squadrons and sundrie battillions specially if by the continuance of many yeares seruice they be trained in such sort as in the furie of the fight they can both march forward if they preuaile or retyre vpon disaduantage and yet maintaine perfectly their arayes then by no meanes the battaile is to be committed to one hazard of fortune but imitating the Romaines ancient warlike discipline to place themselues in thrée or foure seuerall fronts with conuenient spaces for the first to retire and vnite himselfe with the second both these if occasion néede to serue with the 3. the shot hauing conuenient issues and lanes continually during the fight to discharge their péeces which will make an incredible spoile of the enimie so that vpon the charge of horsemen retyring within the squadrons who ioyning togither may bend and crosse their pikes to receiue the shocke and repulse them vpon whose retyre vnclosing their thorowfares lanes and galleries againe the shot and musketeares may issue out vpon their backes and either follow with the heat shore of their bullets or he imployed vpon
nothing can please their fantasie but such as doth best agrée to their own humours and inuentions specially in ordering and imbattelling souldiers wherein euen as the sundrie vse of diuers nations at this day do differ so do the minds of many new leaders alter change embrace despise inuent and set downe manifold wayes to plant an armie in ranged battell in the fielde which I well considering haue thought good in part to make collection out of diuers Authors Italian Spanish French Latine and English and part such as of my owne experience I haue séene put in practise of the Spaniards and other warlike nations vnder Don Iohn D'austria and the Prince of Parma out of both which Callenders I haue chosen the greatest number that séeme any thing to the purpose that thereby at leastwise the dainty tasted monthes of our age may light vpon some apt for their digestion But before I wade into great numbers M. Stewards formes shall serue my turne to satisfie the priuate Captaines Lieutenants of Regiments and Collonels as fit for their peculiar offices and will first begin with a table of discouerie of all marches within the compasse of 1500. men A Table to discouer numbers by hundreds placed by 3. 5. 7. 9. c. in ranke and aray assembled from one hundreth vnto a 1500. As thus marching 3. in ranke 34. rankes containe 102. men by which example you may plainly perceiue the methode following and discouer like numbers  Rankes Men. 3. in Ranke 34 is 102 67 is 201 100 is 300 5. in ranke 20 is 100 40 is 200 60 is 300 80 is 400 100 is 500 7. in ranke 15 is 105 29 is 203 43 is 301 57 is 399 72 is 504 86 is 600 100 is 700 9. in ranke 11 is 99 22 is 198 33 is 296 45 is 405 56 is 504 67 is 603 78 is 702 89 is 801 100 is 900 11. in ranke 9 is 99 18 is 198 27 is 297 37 is 406 46 is 506 56 is 616 64 is 715 74 is 820 81 is 897 91 is 1017 100 is 1100 13. in ranke 8 is 104 16 is 208 2â—… is 299 31 is 404 39 is 507 46 is 70â—… 54 is 〈◊〉 62 is 〈◊〉 69 is 1014 78 is 1105 8â—… is 1196 92 is 1230 100 is 1300 15. in ranke 7 is 10â—… 14 is 210 20 is 300 27 is 404 34 is 510 40 is 600 47 is 707 54 is 810 60 is 900 67 is 1005 74 is 1110 80 is 1200 87 is 1305 94 is 1410 100 is 1500 An order to imbattell 600. men at the sodaine against horsemen and footemen IT is appointed vnto the Lieutenant of a Regiment or vnto two or thrée Captaines to bring 600. men to conuey charge or do exploits as the commandement of the higher officers shall appoint them The Leader or Captaines aduertised of straites passages and situations of the countries also on what part the enimies be most like to assault them must giue order vnto your officers to place 13 in front as here is set downe by proportion of figure your Ensigne in the midst with the halberds your shot placed in the wings as appeareth At such times as the enimies shall assault you ioyne both your bands become one strength as the ground doth serue This order is verie necessarie to doe many exploits How the like number may be brought into the manner of a hearse to defend horsemen SOmetimes marching by 10. in rank vpon the fight of the enimies diuide into two parts and ioyne their broad sides diuided togâ—…ther become in one strength which bring thus placed is in length 24 in bredth 10. Against horsemen they must pitch their pikes on the ground and crosse them against footemen beare aboue hand They must sarriâ—… close togither and not disseuer to follow or flie leâ—…t their disorders make place for the enimies to enter as by this proportion doth appeare Somtimes for the saftie of your shot you must receiue them within the gard of your pikes This H signifieth horsemen galloping the fielde to break vpon you where they may best enter most easily as by the void space appeareth the ouerplus of your shot to be placed in 4. wings without the battel This proportion to disseuer is verie perillous How to imbattell 900. souldiers at the sodaine MArching with 900. men and vnderstanding by scout or spie that the enimie pretendeth to skirmish with them or otherwise to ioyne battel you may diuide your bands in thrée parts marching 9. in a ranke placing officers betwixt euerie band that being assaulted may ioyne the Uoward and the Rereward to the middleward so fall they out to be an hearse battell placing your shot in the wings that they may the better resort to the skirmish likewise to retyre as occasion scrueth this is a singular good order for the obtaining of any grounds or doing of exploites An order how to imbattell 900. men at the sodaine An order to imbattell the like number in Quadrant proportion WHen battels are to be made if the Sergeant Maior should chance to be absent giue commandement vnto the Sergeants of the bands to bring their companies seuerall and then ioyne your bands and sorted weapons the brode sides togither as your number serues your Captaines drums and 〈◊〉 with your Ensigne placed in the midst of the execution as well for the saftie of the same as for the comforting of the souldiers neuerthelesse such order is taken that Lieutenants and Sergeants of bands with other seruiceable Gentlemen of S. Georges squadre be placed to leade the Uoward and Rereward of the battell where onsets be vncertaine whose beautifull Armours pollitike and couragious charge is a great terrour to the enimie and a great comfort to their owne companie the shot to be placed in foure froupes with two wings in the Rereward for that they may easier maintain skirmish round about the battell on which side soeuer they be assaulted An order to imbattell 1200. men quadrantly at the sodaine THe foure Quarters ioyned in one seeme to be 1200. men vnder 4. Ensignes euerie way who at the enimies sight must place 13. in ranke which fall to be a quadrant euerie way which â—…odainly may ioyne their long weapons togither making one Quadrant of the foure your drummes and fiffes with the Captain placed next to the Ensigne the Lieutenants in the wings and the Sergeants in the Uoward and Rereward wherby they may the better giue intelligence by signe or word what is best to be done 300. men being shot in the wings and the 300. in Demie Diamondwise after the Almaine manner in the midst the which being discharged the musket and hargabus shot will greatly preuaile This wayes they may march wholly togither or retyre any wayes to seruice néedful ready with their shot to encounter the enimie any wayes in skirmish either wing rescuing other as néede shall require And although the Sergeants maior appointeth order for the same yet the Sergeants of euery band
a volée of their Pistolets For execution of iustice on such as are offendors in any bands of horsmen albeit in some countrie it be vsed that euery Captaine of an hundred men at armes may call vnto him certaine of the chéefe of his band and heare and determine all causes and offences by any of his bande committed yet surelye I holde it more conuenient that all matters concerning life be harde by the Lord high marshall who may cause to sit with him the said Captaine whose souldior is to be adiudged and such other of the said band as to him shall séeme méete and the souldiour condemned to death to be executed by the said band euen as the footmen are and by the same kind of weapons that the offendors vsed In conclusion it is therefore requisite that the Cauallerie be stil paide punished 〈◊〉 kept in good order that they haue sufficient horses armor weapons péece and launce that they be ready in all exploits both in Sentinels Couriers forrages marching vpon theyr gard in time of suspect and without suspect in skirmish and in fight But for that my onely meaning was to set downe a discourse for footmen I therefore say that the infantery be the veines for warres and the Cauallerie the flesh Horsmen be likewise good to make couriers or roades to discouer to charge with spéed vpon the enemies back or flanke to make an imbuscade in a roade or otherwise which are rather to consist of geâ—…dings theÌ„ of stoned horses for doubt of naying To make waye force a passage through the midst of the enemies with money or munition behind them for the succour of a fortresse besieged for the passage of waters in breaking the course of the water for the more easie wading through of the footmen to pursue the enemie that is put to flight to carry and conuey secretly behinde them footmen both with péeces and pikes who ought to carrie their pikes lowe their matches close vntill in this sort vndiscouered they become vnto the place appointed For these and such like exploits horsemen be necessarie in a Campe being a great commoditie and reputation to a Prince and sharpe spurs to a well ordered armie The office of the Scoute maister or Maister of the watch THis Officer must take a solemne oath to be true and iust in his office nightly to attend vpoÌ„ the General to receiue the watch word the which at the setting of the watch he shal 〈◊〉 deliuer vnto the Captaines conferring first with the Sergeant Maior Generall and shall diuers times prooue the same watch as well to sée if they sléepe not as if he finde them in such fault to accuse theÌ„ to the higher officers who ought to appoint theyr punishment according to the tenor of the articles of martial lawes He ought diligently to view note round about the Campe all the places of suspect where the enemies in the night time might approch that he may accordingly afterwards dispose of his Scoutes and therefore he should attend vpon the high marshall at such time as he goeth to make choise of a méete plat to incampe on and then to speake his fancie touching the conuenience or inconuenience of the seat in respect of due place for the scouts So soone as the Trumpet soundeth to the watch at night he must immediatly repaire to the Lieutenant of the horsemen requesting him to assigne a compotent number of horsemeÌ„ to attend vpon the scoute that night and then mâ—…st hee giue them charge vpon paine of death that none of them abandon theyr places vntill the discouerers be come into the field and haue taken their places For the setting of the watch and order how to plant the same peruse my two first bookes of directions specially in the Corporals Sergeants Lieutenants and Caualliers of S. Georges squadrons orders neuertheles if it shall be thought good of those that gouerne this maner ensuing may now and then be vsed First he shall set the ring watch round about the impalement of the Campe viz. a Halberd or Bill a Bowe Hargabushe or Musket and a Pike and euerie one a pike length from an other then without them certaine little troopes fiue or sixe in a troope of footmen of different weapons vi shot pikemen and short weapons and these troopes alwaies to send foorth a couple whereof a Hargubuzier alwaies to be one and these to prie and harken what they can discerne Againe without this foote scout other small troopes of horsemen fiue or sixe in a company these likewise to disperse theÌ„selues abroade to discouer what they can And if they happen to sée or heare any thing presently to report the same to the foote scoute and one or two of the foote scoutes to repaire to the Scoutmaster who must if it be matter of importance open the same presently to the high Marshall Besides all this in time of suspect it were requisite that a stand watch be maintained within about the ordinance but because that appertaineth not to the scoutmaster I let it passe It is requisite in the long cold winter nights to change and relieue the watch at euerie houres end in autumne the spring at the end of an houre and a halfe and in the hoate season of summer at two houres end but these things must be ordered more or lesse as the scoute maister and other principall officers shall thinke méete for the better preseruation of the people and the accomplishment of the seruice sending forth rounds euerie houre In the morning so soone as the trumpet soundeth to the reléefe of the watch he must repaire to the sayd Liuetenants tent there to receiue by his assignement a conuenient number of horsemen to scoure that day and then shal he giue order vnto some to ride to the highest hils to view round about what they can espie and others to the valleys and other obscure passages woods or such like and to ride one from another a good distance so as if one chance to be surprised by the enemie yet the rest may escape and bring intelligence therof so soone as the scoutmaister shall receiue any aduertisment by the Courriers he shall forthwith repaire to the high Marshall and informe him of euery particularitie In the placing of his night watches sentinels he must vse great consideration first in setting his little troopes or bodies of the watch in some places of strength so as they may be able when the enemie shall approach to make resistance and defend themselues vntill such time as the campe may put themselues in armes and besides these troopes he shall giue order that two or thrée shall walke foorth one waie and as many another way and if they happen to sée any matches light or heare any noyse foorthwith one to repaire to the body of the watch and so to the scoutemaister and the other to stay till they can more plainely perceiue what the matter is And it shal
with shot was empaled with Lances men at armes with a batâ—…aillon of Argolatâ—…ares on horsebacke in the â—…auntgard The whole battell 〈◊〉 with Artillerie and the carriages of the campe and munition on the side from the emperialists garded with a squadron of 〈◊〉 shot and lances The victuallers betwixt the rearward and the main battel empaled with horsemen bring backed with 〈◊〉 and Argolateares The order how to encampe an armie and to accommodate the same according to the situation of the ground IN respoâ—…t 〈◊〉 no resoluâ—…e rule can be giuen to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 since that the same so often alters and changes according to the quality of the ground the quantity for distance oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the enimie diuersitiâ—… in minde of the Marshall or Generall I will therefore procéede to speake of the 〈◊〉 of the â—…ampe of his situation forme compasse and fortification and the commodities and orders which be thereunto necessarie First touching the situation I say that being in a plaine farre from hils it is necessarie to haue a riuer or such quantitie of water as the same may commodiously nourish a whole armie and the Cauallarie and prouide that from the adioyning woods if there be any you may fetch al sort of wood and fewell for the necessitie of the armie and that likewise prouision he had of hay and straw for the horsemen for these be the things that an armie cannot carrie about with it When prouision is made of these necessaries the armie must be so well fortified as the enimy cannot â—…aise the same The greatnes and circuite of the lodgings must not be so great that the same may be an impediment that a man cannot at all times vse succour and defence when néede doth require nâ—…ither ought it to be so little that the armie cannot haue al his commodities necessarie places for victuals and for merchants which follow the armie Touching the forme fashion of the campe the same must be such as these portratures following make shew accoÌ„modating the same neuerthelesse to the situation of the ground In the portrature is described and drawne all the quarters with their places the lodgings for the Generall and the wayes to issue out where in for further instruction I will somewhat delate but he that is more curious let him reade Ieronemo Cataneo his example out of whom I tooke this If it chance that an armie must lodge amongst mountaines in a ground full of hils diuersly situated as in vales croupes of mountaines riuers woods caues such inequalities If the Marshal be a man of experience in the wars and know how to lodge an army he may serue his turne therwith greatly with smal labor fortifie his camp lodgings But aboue all things he must be careful the he do not plaÌ„t himself in such a place the the same be subiect to any hils or other height of ground that doth command ouer him from whence the enimie might looke into his lodgings and so batter the cortines of his rempares For if the enimies armie occupie this mountaine or hill the Generall of the campe shall be constrained to dislodge his armie and so be forced to fight to his great disaduantage To lodge an armie in the fielde with his due measures being of good proportion according to the situation of the ground you must know how much space of ground must be had for the quarters of the Cauallarie and how much for the Infanterie with their places of armes stréetes and other necessaries for the seruice of their lodgings For example suppose there is a campe of 60000 fighting men that is to say 2000 men at armes 10000 light horsemen 48000 hargabusiers Corslets light armed pikes and halberds To euerie man of armes I giue 7 lodgings and to euerie light horseman 4 and euerie lodging as well of men at armes as light horsemen shall containe 50 foote of earth that is to say fiue foote large and 10 foote long as this figure declares To euerie souldier on foote with a seruant or a page I will giue 64 foote of earth for his lodging which shall be 8 foote in square as this figure declares This done you must accommodate the place for the General from 200 to 250 foot euen in the midst of the campe and from that place shall be drawne two straight stréetes which shal crosse ouerthwart with two straight angles right in the midst of the place for the Generall which two stréetes shal be called the principall stréetes and shall serue for a Corps de gard towards the enimie Suppose that next of all I will lodge 500 braue souldiers or gallant warlike Caualliers next to the Generals lodging to euerie one of these I will giue two lodgings that shal be of the same circuit that the men at armes are Besides this about the Generals plot I wil draw two plots the one for the market and the other for victuals which two shall containe as much ground as the lodging of the volentarie Caualliers of the Generals traine or Caualliers of S. Georges squadre to the General which termes doth best fit all such Gentlemen as volentarily follow the campe to sée seruice to court the Generall About the plots and lodgings of these Caualliers I will draw out a stréete of 25. foote about the which shall be the quarters of men at Armes and light horsemen with their stréetes and voide places in the midst About the horsemens quarters shal be drawne a stréete of 50. foote large round about which is to be compast out the quarters for the footemen with their stréetes and void places At the end of one of the principall streetes towards the enimy you must draw out the generall place of armes which must containe as much at the least as halfe the lodgings for the footemen do containe In one of my figures I haue not drawne this void place for that I haue set the trench so farre from the lodgings that going about the campe within the circuit of the said trench you may easily make a generall place for armes At one corner of the campe towards the enimie must be appointed a place for the munition of the Artillarie and at the backe of the campe must be drawne out the lodgings for the pioners and for the cattell that is killed for the nourishment of the campe with other necessarie things The victuallers must lodge in the void places of the quarters and all along the streetes The trench must be made far distant from the lodging from 200 to 250 foote The place of Artillerie is comprehended in the Calcull of the footmens quarters and would be distant from the trenches that enuirons the lodgings from 200 pace to 250 at the least as in my discription it is drawne 250 foote distant The places necessarie to be accommodated for quarters for souldiers to do their naturall businesse in and to lodge other persons which are lodged in the said
at this marke ******* An other proportion of Encamping MEssire Guillaume du Bellay Seigneur de Langeay Knight of the Order and Lientenant to the king of Fraunce at Turin in his first booke of Millitarie Discipline dooth in this sort following lodge one of his legions of footemen consisting of 12 bands with two bands of horsemen containing euerie one 100 men at armes 100 light horse 50 Estradiots and 50 Hargolateares The Collonell is placed in the miost two crosse stréetes of 300 pace long and 60 large for marchants artificers and victualers the place before the trenches 60 pace to set the watch to exercise armes and to range the souldiers in battel There be two quarters for footmen 6 bands a péece and two quarters for horsemen the which their vallets are to entrench with a smal french for to auoide the stealing of their horses which the footemen often do the ends of the 4 stréetes are to be shut with railes or gates The proportion of a twofold campe IN this proportion the greatest part of the armie is placed in the one halfe with the Generals lodging The market place noted thus M. The place for munition at the one side and that for victuals at the other The place for cattel is thus marked C The place for artificers is thus A. As by this figure appeareth being enuironed with souldiers lodgings The manner how to dislodge and march away from the enimies Armie HAuing as I suppose sufficiently declared what an Armie ought to obserue as well in marching as in camping I haue thought good in briefe sort to shew what is to be done in the dislodging of an armie presupposing that the two armies being enimies are lodged in the view one of another or at the leastwise but small distance betwixt them And for that it is a thing which imports the high Marshall verie much to know how he ought to gouerne himselfe in such an affaire he must therein haue speciall considerations To retire in the night and so to get away from the enimie séemes to be the onely most assured way that can be chosen neuerthelesse that way is not sufficient to accomplish his determinations if he which meanes to retire be not aided by the situation of the ground and other qualities of the place and countrie whether he meanes to retire To touch particulars I say when you dislodge in the night it behoones you to vse the greatest diligence you can which neuerthelesse as I said is no wayes sufficient vnlesse you be aided by the situation of the ground for he that is to march through plaines and open places without hauing any wood or vallie to retire his armie vnto when the enimie doth perceiue his retrait verie hardly as I haue said shal he be able to procure his saftie For when the enimies Cauallarie haue attained him they will easily constraine him to stay and force him to fight against his will with great disorder and specially if he conduct Artillerie and other impediments appertaining to an armie which no reason would that he should leaue in pray and spoile to the enemies Moreouer an army must not be made to march faster then his ordinarie pace for if it should be hastned with an extraordinarie spéedie pace the same would augment the euill opinion the souldierâ—… haue had to coÌ„ceaue by reason of their retire which is a very dangerous thing for thereby may arise a disorder without redresse as oftentimes hath béene experimented The armie which pursues hath not these difficulties besides she may leaue behind all her bagage and if their souldiers be pressed to march fast their armie thereby shall become so much the more couragious specially if the Generall Collonels and Captaines vse magnificent spéeches and words of aduantage as is conuenient should be vsed in such cases Therefore howsoeuer it â—…all out the retraite made in the night séemes to me not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 assured if the same be not accompanied with the situation of the place the which was very well foreséene and put in practiâ—…e by Frauncis the French king of Cambrasis when in the night he did march awaye from Charles the fift for by the succour of a great wood he put all his armie in safetie the which had entire past the said wood before the enemies Cauallarie could ouertake them and then hauing made Alta by reason of the aduantage they had through the commodity of the situation of the ground where he was encamped he was able to fight with the emperialists Contrariwise they hauing ouer hastily followed thâ—… French army at the issue of the word setting vpon them remained for the most part either taken or slaine or repulsed The Protestants in Germanie did vse the same polliciâ—… when they retired away from the Emperor who was so 〈◊〉 â—… 〈◊〉 vnto them that they could not no not in the night 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the empecialists did follow them for whilst the Protestants did enter into a valley in the which they could not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out great disaduantage they did spéedely seaze vpon a hil where they placed a good troope of horsemen and footmen with certaine field péeces by meanes of this hill of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hand which they had fild full of Hargabuziers they did barre the Emperors campe from following them euen accordingly as they had determined when as the Emperor being approched and perceiuing them to be retired into so strange a place both by nature arte he suffered them to passe Therefore I say by the 〈◊〉 of the situation of the ground and countrie a man may assure his retraite as by these examples appeares And so the retraite made by night is alwaies best for then you may with greater oportunitie and leasure winne or attaine to any place of aduantage whereas the retire made by day without assurance of some place of aduantage is most dangerous vnlesse it be that he which makes the retraite be much more stronger in horsemen Therefore the armie which is the weakest ought to kéepe himselfe as farre off from the enemie as he can to the intent that when he will retire he be not constrained to fall into some notable disorder THE FIFT BOOKE OF MILITARIE DIRECTIONS ENtreating of the great Master of the Attillarie of the Master Gunner of generall Notes of Fortification of the besieging expugning and defending of a Portresse c. And first The Office of the great Master of the Artillarie THIS great Officer and man of singuler estimation after hee is by hys Prince or Generall Captaine appointed to take charge of the Artillarie he must make an inuentory of euerie small particuler persell that accompany the peeces of Ordenance for that they be almost infinite in number to the intent the same may alwaies remain ready at time of néed that therof he may make good account as appertayneth to hym that doth possesse an office of such importaunce When he is to march in Campania as it is to be presupposed
his prefixed and limitted bonds of the other bancke by the violent course of the running of the water The which bounds marks ought to be fore-seene and the largenes of the Riuer artificially measured if the same be desired to be doone exactly that iustly at the same instant when néede doth require he may serue his turne neyther with more nor lesse number of barkes or boates then so manie as is necessary for the breadth of the Riuer for if there shoulde bee more or lesse there would arise great confusion or disturbance Thys arteficiall brydge is an instrument very much vsed amongst great Armies in the warres at these dayes as was manifest by the preparation of one made at Namures for Don Iohn of Austria and this figure following is the forme thereof It shall be sometimes good to plant Souldiours vppon this bridge who may be able to withstande and repulse the enemies vpon the other shore that they doo not displant the same but that you may be able to recouer the shore and sustaine the bridge The Anckers béeing cast and Cables ready to let at large it is necessarie to let the head of the bridge slyppe downe slackly and be disseuered from the banckside where it was ioyned together which you are determined to leaue and to aspect the running of the water carry the bridge to the otherside of the Riuer ayded by the industry of those men that be vpoÌ„ it to make the passage more easie The Armie béeing passed the Riuer the bridge being disseuered péece from péece drawne on lande the boords nayled to the boates euen as they bee must be layde vppon a broade Waine or Wagon made of purpose for the carriage of them after the Armie so shall the boate remaine with the bottome turned vp towardes the skyes and the boordes ioyned together lye flat vpon the wagon vnderneath readie for any other action Prouision of Horses and Oxen will easily conduct these Engines after the Campe whilst the boate and the boords be nailed together and layde vppon a carriage prepared of purpose for the same as before appeareth Hee must make meanes to haue a sufficient number of people and of apt proportion to make gard and watch about the Artillary munition arteficiall fire waines wagons other things necessary for the siege of the enemy with diuers other accidents the which people must goe with him continually day and night to kéepe good and perfect watch Besides this he must haue a band of Pyoners of conuenient and sufficient quantitie who ought to haue a carefull and vigilant Captayn that may alwayes guide them vnder an Ensigne that they may be the more vnited together and the better conducted and gouerned Hée must moreouer fore-sée that lykewise they be defended and assured from inuasion of the enemies with a good number of souldiours whilst they make the wayes euen and perfect where the impediments thereunto appertayning and all the Campe must passe The sayd Pyoners must be prouided oâ—… Spades Pickeares some with Leauers Crowes of Iron Baskets Whéele barrows and other Instruments apt to such vse and affayres â—…o plant Artillarie and to entrench the place in the Campe that shall be by the prouest Martiall assigned for Munition It shall be very conuenient if it were possible to pay theÌ„ their wages euery night for since they are not men of estimation and honour such as men of warre be and right souldiours they oftentimes wil depart without lycence at their own pleasure Neither haue they respect of incurring danger of punishment or hazarde of life no nor to bring great discommoditie to an Armie The which through the benefite of theyr worke is very well accommodate and strengthened in diuers respects not onely touchching the foresaid causes but also to make Trenches Gabions Mynes Ditches straight and crooked and all other platformes conuenient and necessary for the Armie The great Maister of the Artillarie must haue about him a Squadron which may be called the Gentlemen of the Artillarie Lanze spezzate or Caualiers of the Cannon such as I haue described in my seconde Booke to be of S. George his squadron in which booke they may reade speciall notes about their duties speciallie in the Chapters of discoueries These Caualieres euerie one hauing the ouersight of a Péece especially at a battery when they must see continually that the Gunners doe their duety I would wishe to be very sufficient personages to the intent they may be able to know how to execute the great Maisters ordinances in things necessary to be performed in so great actions and that particulerlie they desire to be accounted discréete and modest souldiours whose office is continually to sollicite and kéepe in order such men as be vndiscreet and rude Not onely the great Maister and his other Officers but also these worthy Caualieres ought to be of sufficient vnderstanding and experience to know howe to charge euery Péece and afterwardes be able to perceiue as néere as is possible what effects the shotte of euery Cannon will worke the shotte of euery Culuerine the demie of them both and likewise what euery Peece is able to performe to the intent he be not alwaies ouer-ruled by the iudgement of euery Gunner which his experience is both profitable to his Prince and commendable to his proper credite and reputation It is a speciall note for them to obserue that Wine Uineger be apt to coole and refresh the Artillarie when it is ouer hote through often shooting In these and such like matters hee must delight himselfe that he may be of perfect experience and be fullie prouided for all exployts that may fall and for any other notable respect worthy of great consideration Hée must take assured order that the Péeces of Artillarie be well planted vpon theyr cariages forceablie substantially and in respect of the performance of this seruice hee must carrie with him more then the ordinarie store of Spades Shouels Barrels Salt Spokes Plates Naues Axâ—…ltrées broad Nailes Spykings and other ordinarie yron worke that he may vpon a suddaine with the helpe of a Smith and Carpenter and other like Artificers which are appointed in cases of such néede yéeld a supply to all such things which shall be lost broken and destroied in a long voyage or els by many volles of shot Note that the great Maister ought to haue good vnderstanding and experience how to prepare with great aduantage with Gabions and Rampiers of earth or with wooll packs the place where the batterie must be planted to the intent the said batterie may take effect that the flankers and curtine may spéedily and with little charge be battered ruinate that all things may succéede according to his determination in as perfect order as is possible and that it may take away and make frustrate all the enemies defences bursting and displanting theyr Péeces tormenting them in as terrible sort as he can deuise procuring and alwaies fore-séeing that there
such sort that a man neede not to feare that they shall not remaine firme and iust although they be shotte from the morning euen vnto the euening The greater the battery is made and with the greater number of péeces the more shall he astonish the enemie and make easie his enterprise specially if the battarie may be crossed and trauersed If you can haue the commoditie to rayse vppe a Caualier or Mount so that thereby the Curtine may be discouered the same shall remaine of great aduantage Note that you must continually shoote without ceasing if it be possible for it imports very much when ye giue the besieged no leysure to take breath or make repayre Cease not likewise to shoote in the night for the performaunce whereof there is manie good meanes as héereafter if leysure will permitte I meane to write of You shall make your Trenches néere to the Ditch principallie on that side where the batterie is made and there you shall place a good troupe of Hargubuziers and those of the most expert and brauest Souldiours in the Armie who likewise must haue theyr Corpes de garde with theyr issue and passage theyr Corpes de garde may behaue themselues in that order as you may behold in such sort as they may likewise serue for the flancks the enemies Artillary first displanted These Hargabuziers or rather Musketeares must haue Péeces of two ounces of Calibre for by such like the besieged are greatlie troubled principally when the walles and Bulwarkes begin to ruinate This figure next following makes my former words more apparant By reason that for the most parte the 〈◊〉 couer the flanckes so that a man cannot easily endomage them the said Counterscarpes must be cutte and opened in such sorte that the flanckes may be battered But touching the filling vp of the Ditches and to couer and choake them is a worke both difficile and long if they within the Fortresse be men of courage and experience vnlesse it bee a rowling Trench If the fortification be of earth the ruine thereof may be attempted by entering into the Ditch and cut it downe as oftentimes it hath béene experienced Nowe resteth it to speake somewhat of Mynes and Caâ—…es for that they be matters of great effect as hath béene often tryed aswell in times past as in these dayes And although sometymes they haue not fallen out according to mans pretence the same did aryse rather because they were not well made then for any other respect Heerein diuers reasons may be alleaged Amongst others it hath béene tryed that going about to mine walles or Platformes the fyre hath burst out and forced that part towards the mouth which was artificially stopt rather then to ouerthrow and ruine the Bulwarke as was determined The same might easily fall out by reason there was small height giuen to the Caue or vaute and that by that meanes shee coulde not take her accustomed force to ryse vpwarde and worke the effect but contrariwise she bursteth out by that parte which is most féeble without working very little or any domage at all to the Fortresse To confirme this saying I will speake that which hath béen seene by experience that is hauing put powder not in great quan titie within Caues and Chambers which haue not béene entyrely stopt but haue diuers issues as doores and windows the same hath procured great ruines and much more then a man woulde thinke Therefore in mine opinion the same hath come to passe for that the fyre hath had both space and height to worke his forces the which hath beene such as there hath beene no obstacle or encounter which woulde haue béene sufficient to haue repressed the same and sent it to the open places but it hath wrought and performed his course according to the effect of his nature Therfore when these Caues or Uautes are made as dooth appertaine gyuing them such forme as this Element may worke his force and effect certaynely they bring foorth marueilous effects But for that these thinges are necessary to be entreated of in particulers I will beginne a fresh to dâ—…late somewhat more largely thereof Therefore when an Armie doth march to besiege any Citty It is necessary before hand to examine the intelligences of such persons as perfectly knowe the situation thereof the strength and all the wayes and passages vnto the same And hauing together with the principall Captaynes made full discourse thereof for theyr perfect instruction determination must be made what is to be done vppon theyr approch to the Towne and what lodgings must be ceased vpon at the first whether one two or more according to the situation of the place and as is most conuenient For it is euer much better for two reasons to lodge euen at the first as neere vnto the Portes and Gates as it is possible The one is that the enemy thereby shall be much abashed and discouraged the other is that they shall haue no leysure to burne the adioyning houses where the Army may lodge if before it be not already done neither shall these bee hindered to take their Lodgings or mount their Artillarie to goe to that lodging a fresh vpon an other day Sometime it hath béene séene that the Armie hath planted lodged it selfe before 3 or 4 gates at one instant one part of the Campe as soone as an other the which hath beene tryed very good so that there were people enough in the Armie The Marshall of the hoast must be accompanied with so forcible and strong a band of horsemen and footemen that he may ouermatch those of the Town who if they chaunce to sallie forth either on foote or on horse-backe to repulse them as furiously as is possible euen within the Gates for sometimes there falles out such disorder and confusion that either they may enter Pesle Mesle or kill some Chiestana or make such a slaughter of Souldiours that the Towne shal be much the sooner taken at the leastwise vpon the repulse the Master Gunner or Ingeniour following the great Marshall may haue commodity to view and discouer the places and plottes where the Artillarie is to be planted c. Which beeing accomplished the Marshall is to sound the retraite and to lodge as néere the Towne as is possible so that it be without the batterie The approches be made by Trenches and Maunds Wooll sackes as before I haue declared and as heereafter may appeare by figures in the defence of a Town Neuerthelesse they must be accommodated according to the situation of the grounde and turned and compassed according to the opposite Bulwarkes of the enemy the which are to bee begunâ—…e in the night specially the planting of the batterie The Trenches are to be made high great large and déepe for the safety of the Soldiours and such men of account as vse to come into them in respect that the Prince himselfe may sometimes goe into them neuertheles verie seldome The Trenches beeing begunne where the Artillarie is
Cutters of stone and Quarels such like The Fortresse must likewise be well furnished with all sorts of Armes and weapons that they may be distributed to the souldiours people seruants prentises and great Mnchaches when occasion doth require for it is as great a praise to coÌ„serue a place as to conquere it It behooues him moreouer to be very circumspect and carefull against Camisades and suddaine surprises cheefely when the Enemie is so neere that in one night he may come thither and giue a scalade as Alba Casall and diuers other Fortresses haue felt The Corpes de gardes and the Sentinels be not sufficient when a man hath to deale with an hardie Enemie which willingly doth try fortune and delights in actions of the night the which when they be well conducted grow to meruailous issue Besides the dilligence vsed in the placing of the bodies of the watch and Sentinels I thinke it very requisite there should bée sent foorth of the Cittie or Fortresse eyght or tenne Horsemen to skoure the way on that side that the Enemie might come to gyue the scalade and assault for by this meanes you shall remaine assured that there can nothing fall out whereof you shall not be aduertised in due time to prepare your selfe for defence For want of Horsemen vse some Footemen for lost Sentinels a Culuerine shot from the Towne To preuent the dangers which a man may receiue by hys owne proper Souldiours let not any of them know what Quarter they haue to kéepe neyther in what place they must be sette in Sentinell but euery night change Quarter and sende out continuall Rounds by the Gentlemen Caualiers of S. Georges Squadron and Souldiours appointed for that purpose who carefullie may visite both the bodies of the watch the generall places of Armes in the Towne and the Sentinels vpon the walles and in the stréetes according to the dutie of theyr Office prescribed them in my second Booke I iudge it likewise requisite that he which is Chiefe which dooth commaund and hath the kéeping of a Fortresse must not in any case permit his Souldiours to practise deuise and become familiar with the Enemie as hath béene oftentimes séene and principally of the Italians and our Nation but contrariwise ought to defend them the â—…ame and altogether behaue themselues like Enemies Suffer not often to enter into the Towne the Enemies Drums and Trumpets for they may be of such craftie and practised qualitie as might become very hurtfull and as by experience was séene in the warres of Parma at the taking of Torchaira where by the practise of a Drummer which had the commodity to view discerne the measure and height of the Ramparts the Towne was taken and the Prince of Macedonia the Gouernour thereof slayne Therfore to auoyd such inconuenience some haue vsed to blindfield the Enemies Drum and Trumpetter with a scarfe vpon his first comming to the Sentinell without the Gates and froÌ„ thence to send a Sergiant or other trustie Officer with him to the Gouernour who accompanying hym vntill hys returne may disband hys eyes a Hargabuze shot from the walles I cannot héere passe ouer with silence one note amongst other great trauels and toyles in warfare which fals out in the defence of a Fortresse In that sometimes a Prince or Generall wil commaund thee to goe into a Towne or Castell which before hande you know by effect to be of small defence wherefore considering it is a difficile thing for a Souldiour of approoued experience to yeeld account of hys honor together with the losse of a Fortresse many haue thought it good to refuse such a charge by meanes whereof they haue lost the good grace of theyr Prince and haue béene diffamed of him of the people and accounted as cowards and dastards Wherefore in my iudgement a Souldiour of honour ought rather to accept such a charge then to refuse it yea if it were to runne headlong into manifest danger dooing his dutie neuerthelesse with as great dilligence and valour as he can possible It is good for all that he giue his Prince or Generall to vnderstand that the same place is of no defence neuerthelesse to doo hym seruice he is resolutly determined to hazard his life therein Now if hys Chiefetaine be of discretion as it is to be presupposed he is and one that will not shewe himselfe ingratefull towardes his Souldiours he wyll honour this Souldiour and recompence hym for hys valour and loyaltie To come to the defence of a siege I woulde first require the Chiefetaine to reade my generall notes of fortification wherin and in the other parts of this Booke he shall finde many good aduertisements and obseruations Moreouer let him aboue all things victuall hys Fortresse well for though it be otherwise inuinsible yet for want of the same it may be lost for a Towne beeing once besieged it is hard to victuall the same or to discharge it of improffitable mouthes for the one is very hard vncertaine the other doth profit smally touching which Florence and Sienna in the wars of Italie may be an example who going about to vse this remedie were in the end smally discharged But alas with what difficultie and incredible compassion did they obtaine the least part of theyr intent a thing more miserable then is necessary to be rehearsed therfore according to the place persons requisite prouision ought in due time to be made and to be kept in Storehouses for the siege time The number of Souldiours to defende a Fortresse ought to be greater then those for the ordinary defence of the same when it is not besieged to the intent there may be store to make sallies and issues and besides in the time of a siege many be destroyed and faile eyther by sworde or sicknes It is accounted most necessary for the defence of a Cittie or Fortresse to haue a thousand Souldiours for euery thousand pase yea and a farre greater number according to the bignesse of the Bulwarks and circuit of other places When the Enemie hath enuironed the Towne and begunne hys approches it is requisite the Souldiours should likewise enuiron the walles and lodge and make theyr Cabbens at the foote of the Curtines and Ramparts that according to theyr due appointed Quarter they may be ready vpon all occasions of seruice keeping neuerthelesse sufficient Corpes de garde in the Market-place Towne-house and other strength to brydle the mutinous mindes of the Townes men Hée must with all dilligence vse all possible meanes to garde and kéepe the Ditch with the way which is made in the Counterscarpe which commonly is called the couert way The same dooth very much import for his defence and the better dooth hee trauaile the Enemie if he can hinder the sayde Enemie from approching for if he make approch he may easily enter within the Ditch and open the Counterscarpe to batter afterwardes the Casemates and to Myne and dig downe the Ramparts Hée must not fayle
béeing of accord with the Marshall of the Fielde must vse his endeuour towards the prouision of ordinary victuals that it may be well conducted and better kept sometimes if it be possible renuing the same specially in a Country that is aboundant and distribute the old amongst the souldiours but for al that this must be doone when as it cannot otherwise be spent or kept good that he may drawe the money disbursed at the Officers and Collonels hands Amongst these sufficient store of victuals prouided by this Comessarie and his followers I haue séene it thought very necessary to conduct with the Armie flockes and droues of beastes great and small the which is of little hinderance or impediment because they are not of burden and for that by themselues they may be kept in good disposition and the rather béeing ayded by the Princes strong arme of authoritie This Comessary may vsually send out safe-gards or sealed Patents that there may be respect had vnto Townes and other places aboundant in scraw Corne Meale Beere Wine Oyle Cattle Powder Flesh Salt Wood Fruite and such other necessary things specially where such places be taken and comen vpon at vnawares by the Armie These commodities and Munitions he must cause to be kept with good order to the intent they may the longer serue and with one of the Generals Trumpets which may accompany the said safegards or patents or with some small Troupes of souldiours and nayle them vpon the gates of the Townes Cattles or houses these and the presence of the Trumpet with a small gaâ—…de of men of war is of sufficient force to cause the said place to be respected so much as it ought or as is necessary the which Office was very wel executed in the yéeres 1578. 1579. 1580. vnder Don Iohn and the Prince of Parma The Generall of the Armie ought to examine often and verie narrowly the principall Officers that good orders may alwaies with great diligence be executed and coÌ„tinually with circumspect care alwaies kéepe open the vigilant eyes of the minde and those of the body warie and still waking as well in aspecting occasion as also in accepting and executing theÌ„ with rare prouidence and valour It is very requisite that he alwaies carrie with him a good and faithfull Guide and to the intent he may not by craft or trechery be deceiued such Guides ought alwaies to goe vnder a sure gard giuen in charge and recommended to good Captaines to good Officers and tryed Souldiours and sometimes it shall bee good to carry them bound and specially in a suspected Country or that they be of a strange language and vnknowne to them For sometimes either of peruerse purpose or fainting hart in suddaine assaults which at vnawares arise by meanes of the Enemie and by the suddaine noyse of Allarmes they doo flée away and saue themselues Sometimes eyther through the commodious darknes of the night or els through the knowledge of the Country vnknowne to those they haue guided But to satis-fie both Guides and Spyes instruments so necessary and profitable to the honourable profession of Armes a man must neuer appoint or limit any certaine bound to expences but rather largely and liberally pay and recompence them without making any spare For as it is a thing most manifest and cleere that hauing such as be good and faithful the victory remaines as it were certaine so the contrary dooth easily succeede when his continuall and wakefull eye hath not respect to these substantiall aduertisements Neyther can any Captaines execute or commaund with more assurance or better to the purpose then those which are well conducted and led by Guides and instructed so neere as is possible of all the Enemies determinations and in what manner and forme he will worke by the intelligences of his Espyals But hee must beware hee take carefull paynes to examine all things himselfe without trusting to the indirect endeuor of any other person And therfore it is a most necessary and excellent quality to vnderstand and speake many languages by imitating that most famous and victorious Emperour Charles the fist since that hee himselfe dyd vnderstand the speech of euery Nation accustomed to practise with him and to the most part of them sententicusly and pithilie coulde aunswer by reason that not onely for thys respect the beneuolence of diuers Nations and particuler persons is gained which is a thing that much imports but also moreouer deceite is auoided which through the defect and naturall vice of diuers malignent Interpreters might ensue wherefore it is euer good to be doubtful Hée must of necessitie haue with him such persons as be professed in Souldiours Architecture for the most part properlie called by the name of Ingeniors who must haue knowledge to cause and cast out the proportion of Trenches to make them of sufficient defence and to frame massiue Bulwarks large and reall Ditches Gabions radled round about to forme great Parapets and not onely to be good inuentors with iust proportions but also more studious of the plots and formes and those things that be therunto correspondent and how to accomodate himselfe to the reasonable situation which is to be fortefied and the in effect they haue greater knowledge in warlike then in domesticall Architecture of which I haue in a particuler discourse intreated in my fist Booke Likwise it is very good he take delight chiefly in cases of suspect although he haue lodged his Armie in a place that is of a good strong situation to compasse the most weake places thereof with ditches Trenches of good proportion reasonable wel flancked That he take care to kéepe repayre those places that be strong by nature with all dilligent and arteficiall meanes For so much as from those places that appeare most assured manie great â—…uines are receiued either through the negligence of the wearied watch or through the secret policie the aspiring mindes of the enemie neither ought he to omit or flée any toyle or trauell for good Souldiours in vrgent necessities by examplare incouragement doe more willingly and readily worke then the Pyoners themselues as was very well performed in enuironing the Campe against the Lanzgraue and the rest of the Lutheran sect in that trouble some time of Charles the fifth Emperour and as succéeded specially in Inglistate one of the francke townes where vpon the suddaine was made a wonderfull worke of Trenches of sufficient force to resist the incredible furie of the enemies mighty Armie who had the aduantage both in horse-men footemen Artillarie with the which thrée daies continually they did batter assault and made wonderfull slaughter amongst the Emperiall Squadrons placed with great disaduantage in a discouered and open ground by reason of the low situation determining to force the Emperiall Armie to dislodge the better after eyther to conquer or driue them the Country The which through this great worke of Trenches and together with many Carres planted vppon the one side
and vppon the other the great Riuer Danubie and in front with certaine Pondes and Ditches of water and vpon the backe the town of Inglistate it was altogether compassed and enuironed of sufficient force But touching these respects looke in my fourth booke where I haue particularly touched this matter Moreouer it is necessary that the Captayne Generall doe sometimes ryde by night about the Campe and admonish the watch that they remaine ready and vigilant since that in the eies and eares of so fewe the health sauegarde of all the Campe doth consist As little as may be he must suffer alarums to be gyuen to his people either by daye or by night or at any tyme whatsoeuer but if thereunto hee bee constrayned lette him make it secretly and without striking vp the Drums or sounding Trompets but rather vse Drum stickes and Surdines Or otherwise in respect and place of those Instruments which in such cases are accustomed to be sounded It is very conuenient he send some persons of authority of purpose therunto appoynted to passe round about and through the Campe to aduertise appoint spéedily such thinges as are to be performed hauing before hand had perfect discouerie of the enimie and giuen resolute commission to make the alarum Which quiet kinde of procéeding shall afterwards cause lesse traueyle and much more reputation to his people and to himselfe and to his enemy great confusion and disconragement perceiuing that by their pollitike and valiant procéeding they do smally estéeme or feare them Which at sundrie alarums in the Campe surprises of Townes Camisadoes c. I haue in the low Countries vnder Don Iohn seene pollitikely put in practise Hee ought when any alarum shall chaunce to bee gyuen to take order with the high Marshall with as great dilligence as he â—…anne to double the Corps de garde and watch which ought before hande to be placed with great Iudgement in places that bée strong by nature or otherwise fortefied by arte Besides he must carry a speciall care and vse a singuler dilligence not to giue occasion of Mutinies the which are accustomed for the most parte to bring foorth extreame ruine chiefly when they bee of naughtie nature although the dignitie authority and power of the Captayne Generall bee very great for there is almost neuer any remedy vsed agaynst such vprores without great losse of reputation and authority so great is the terrible furie of this franticke encounter He neuer ought to suffer his Collonelles neither his Captaines to haue any dead payes or supply their roomes by others that passe vnder their names in Muster for in time of important neede many times the Captayne Generall shal finde his Forces very much weakened contrarie to his expectation A thing verie daungerous for the totall ruine of the whole Armie Together with this aduertisement hee ought to be alwayes courteous and liberall towards those that do follow him to the intent his Chieftaine may courteously entertayne those that be good Souldiours A thing worthy to be noted He must search by all meanes possible to kéepe his Armie continually couragions and wyth aspiring mindes by arteficiall functions to the enemies confusion Sometimes dispearsing a rumor that hee hath intercepted and taken certayne aduertisements of importance Somtimes to â—…aigne that he hath the commoditie to ayde himselfe with the succours of many Princes and coÌ„mon Princes although there be no such matter To make ioyfull Triumphes and shewes with Artillarie arteficial fyres and bondfyres in the euenings and sometimes making shew that he hath a desire to assault and inuade the enemy by night by Camisado they beeing vnprouided as did Charles the fift against the Lantzgraue vppon the arriuall of Counte de Bure with succours out of Flaunders or as did Iulian Romero vnder the Duke of Alua when the Prince of Orange was repulsed from before Mountes in he nault Besides this hee may vse like functions artes or Stratagemes to aduance his warlike affayres for it is a vertue to vse deceit in Militarie actions thereby to further the procéedings of iustice against manifest enemies when it is lawfull to assault either with crafte or force either openly or couertly for that which doth succéede whether it fall out by deceit or valour is comendable in warlike actions As did Don Iohn in suprising the Castell of Namures a thing which fell out to be the safty of himselfe the whole Countrey and the cause whereby hee had meanes to reuenge himselfe of his enemies at such times as we gaue theÌ„ that famous ouerthrow betwixt Namures and Gibloe Let the Generall haue great care to such chaunces and accidents as haue néed of present remedy repayring them with carefull prouidence by reason that the most occasions which fal out in wars can suffer no delayes for whilst some haue béene in consulting and deferring the matter but a little moment of time they haue at that instant receiued losse not able to be recouered therfore to proceede with a wise and spéedie policie is of infinite aduantage yea and altogether necessary He must alwayes haue in memory the not by reason he is Superior in number multitude of souldiours he may make assured account of victory but rather through the good order he doth obserue in disposing framing a ready obedience and the exercise of a true approued practise in warlike actions is the only meanes to performe the same dooth cause the difference thorowly to bee discerned betwixt one Captaine Generall and an other For the art of Militarie profession dooth nourish in the breastes of men which follow this exercise a valiant and aspiring mind to fight Therfore as from thence safty and victory doth procéede so contrariwise by not possessing the same losse and totall ruine doth follow Since that practise doth make a man abound with exquisite qualities whereby courage is kindled in our harts and contrariwise quenched in him that is a Nouice and fresh water souldier in the exercise of these causes which in euery respect is grounded vppon long experience conference and reading and not by proud and presumptuous rashnes He must likewise remember that many times in new begun wars specially against straunge nations a new forme of fight is requisite The election of new armes is necessary the varying of order the studie of a new art Likewise it is good to Campe and discampe often when it may be done without manifest perill and without suspicion or daunger of the enemy for thereby the infection of the ayre is auoided and souldiours kéept exercised who by lying still become flouthfull and negligent Moreouer the Marshal of the field hauing at euery lodging either planted or entrenched the Campe it is most necessary for the Generall beeing accompanyed with some Caualieres of his owne Courte and guarde hauing before hym hys generall Trumpet and his Guidon or Cornet displayde without which hee ought neuer to goe abroade to ride vp and downe to visite the quarters
places of armes Munitions and Trenches And to the intent he may kéepe the Souldiours in their Lodgings and in their proper quarters when it is expedient that they should not wander about the armie for some good and speciall purpose Let him cause some small stampe or countersigne to be giuen or disâ—…rsed to the Captaynes to the end that they gyuing them to the Officers or souldiours they may accomplish all theyr necessary businesse without being hindered or stayed of the prouost who must carry a vigilant respect touching this charg so that those which haue not such countersignes or stampes and bee founde foorth of their quarter may be chastised without remission according to the proclamation and bande made to that effect When the Generall cannot in time readily paye his Souldiours as many times it falles out through want of money or by reason of some other accident it is néedefull for him to make prouision that the Countrey where he remaynes may beare them or els let him carrie them into a barraine place smally inhabited to the intent that not béeing able to liue but with great spare through the want of many delicate thinges they may bee more patient in attending theyr paie He must permit that the baggage of all sort of people the victuals the Munitions with the other impediments and finally al the disarmed may haue a seueral Captaine Chiefe Ensigne euery one apart if their number will beare the same for that they must march vnited together and in order as shal be most expedient and conuenient to the intent they doo not cause great disturbance and confusion through their sâ—…oe or ouer-hasty going which is an ordinary thing amongst them béeing vnruly people Let the Generall as before I saide carry a speciall care to the choyse of his principall Officers and that in the election he haue more respect to the valour vertue of the person then to any particuler fauour otherwise he may in time be brought to repent hys choise and hardly redresse his calamities Therfore let him often and vnlooked for resort vnto the Captaines Collonels Tents to sée what towardly readines they are or may bee in of a suddaine and that he cause the Captaines make often like resort vnto the souldiours and vnder Officers to sée if they be in the like orderlie readines for any suddaine seruice and by degrées discending froÌ„ one to another to make speciall proofe of euery mans sufficiencie For the better performance wherof he must receiue into his hands the order of all Offices in writing together with all the names of the souldiours in the Band wherby he may likewise sée whether he haue his iust number And consequently examine euery Officer whether they haue a sufficient proportion of Armour weapon shot powder artillary fireworks boates to make bridges to passe Riuers spades mattocks and euery other particularity before the Armie march The Generall hauing receiued his whole Armie entirely hee must assemble his Counsell and to ordaine staiâ—…ts and lawes for the gouernment of his souldiours first communicating the same with his Collonels and Captaines causing them also to impart them to their Bands suffering euery man franckly with due reuerence to speake obiect and by writing if they list to offer vnto the Counsell what they can against any of them which obiections considered they shal resolue vpon such like Lawes Penalties as I haue adioyned to the dutie of a souldiour in my first Booke beginning alwaies with Lawes for the feare of God and the Christian faith and so follow on for the Prince Country and Campe. And then cause euery Collonel and Captaine to take his oath and they likewise to cause euery souldiour at his Ensigne to take hys oath to obserue and as much as in them shall lye to cause to be obserued euery of those lawes and Edicts so agréed vpon He must not onely cause the foresaid lawes to be written or imprinted in seuerall Bookes giuen to the Collonels Captaines other Officers and Corporals therby to instruct euery priuate souldiour perfectly in theÌ„ but also to prouide that the Prouost General doo prosecute the offenders breakers of these Edicts who with his followers must be specially respected as before is set downe The General is by good speciall and perfit plots Maps Models to know the situation nature and property of the Country and his parts where he is to passe with his Armie whether it be plaine champion or woody ful of waters furnished with strong Townes or no and to proportion the Horsemen and Footmen of his Army accordingly For if it be most part champion and full of forrage it is meet to haue the more Horsemen if it stand vppon straits and fortefyed places he is to haue the more Footmen Light Horsmen are in all places for discouery fetching in of booties pursuing of victory very seruiceable and not to be spared The General ought also to learne by good espial how his enemy is appointed for against the French who abound with shot and haue few pikes the Launce Light-horsmans staffe of the North is singuler good especially in the plaine but against the Switzers and Launce Knights the Launce auaileth litle but the Argoleteares and Pistoleteares shall much more anoy them It shal be likewise very coÌ„modious to haue some cariages allowed in pay to attende on euery Band of footmen as wel as on horsmen who besides the carriage of necessaries for vse may also in time of Skirmish and other encounters serue to carry hurt men out of the field They be very good to empale the Armie specially if the cartages horses bee arteficially flancked and shadowed with boordes filled wyth quires of paper Whilst faire wether is the Generall must acquaint hys Souldiours to sleepe on bare ground and though the Enemy be far absent yet duly to maintaine their Scoutes to watch and ward and performe all Millitary orders as curiously as if the Enemy were present so shall it not séeme gréeuous when necessity requires it If he haue many horse he must sée that the Marshall of the field plant his Campe where good store of forrage is néere otherwise in forraging farre off he may greatly hazard his companies if good Conuoyes be not sent with his Forragers and their iourneyes discreetly directed Good regard must also be had that the Camp be not subiect to any hill from whence the enemy may beate with great Artillary nor so disioyned froÌ„ water as the enemie may easily cut you from it neither yet so low as the Enemy cutting the bancks of anie Riuer may drowne the Campe. If there be no great Riuers but only small Fountaines or Wels to water your Armie then must good watch be kept that they be not by the enemy poysoned and infected The Generall shold not so much séeke to place his Camp in seates strong by nature as to fortify them by arte as wel to kéep his Souldiours from idlenes the only ruine