fifteene in flanck so marching fiue in a ranck there shall be fortie fiue rancks fiue to a rancke as by the figure next folowing more plainly appeareth Thus marching with your men by degrées fiue in a rancke or more what number soeuer if the companie may equally be deuided into three parts thē they may be brought into a Square battell so that you deuide thē by C. and L. as this figure signifieth so that euery part heereof is fifteene rancks fiue to a rancke and when you will haue them brought into a iust Square battell make a stande and cause the front of your Company to stande that doone procéede forwarde with the second and so with the thirde vntill they become vp to the front the which three parts so placed will make a iust square battel 15. both in fronte and flancke as the example following more plainly sheweth vnto you These are the thrée parts which I spake of before nowe bringing them vp in order as you sée they shall make a iust Square battell with all their Ensignes in the midst thereof which shall be more plainly séene vnto you by figure of these thrée parts brought into a square battel Also there are a great number of good battailes which haue beene vsed among olde Seruitors men of experience which are very good to be vsed against the Enemies and as they are good so they are dangerous for they will be soone disordered where Souldiours are not throughly experienced and trained vp in seruices but the fight in these dayes are cleane contrary to the fight in times past for wee vse altogether Shot Pykes and Horse with a few Holberds and Targets for the which weapons there is no better order of imbattelling then the square battell also if there be 20000. or 30000. in the fielde then to deuide them into thrée or foure squadrons which is a most strong way if occasion serue as thys figure more plainly sheweth The fore Front of the foure Squadrons THese square platformes beeing well and strongly impayled with shotte as most commonly wee vse in the fielde is the most strong way and best to be vsed if that you haue any great number as ten twenty or thirty thousand in fielde for then you may deuide your pikes as you finde your selfe best aduantaged against your enemies eyther in 2. 3. or 4. squadrons as best serueth for the grounde where you make your stande but if your commpany be small as 2. or 3. thousand pikes in the fielde then it were not good to deuide them but vpon some great aduantage of grounde or stopping of a streight way or some gap which occasions ought most chiefly to be fore-séene for it hath euer beene obserued for a principle amongst auncient Souldiours and Seruitors of experience that the stronger your Pikes are together the more of force is your battaile accounted and the more companies your shotte bee deuieed into the better they may maintayne the skirmish with their enemies and the apter for seruice These premises considered as before mencioned you will of your selues confesse that the square battailes are best to be vsed in these dayes for that wee vse not the weapons which hath béene vsed in olde time as Cros-bowes long bows black Billes with such other like weapons but if you happen to méete with your enemies in any Countrey full of hilles or Mountaines then your Crosse battaile is very good or a base crosse bataile as by Figure I haue sette down in most plaine manner and forme following The forme of a Crosse Battaile o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p h h h p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p D E F p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p h h h p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p h h h p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p p p p p p p o o o o o o o The forme of a base Crosse battaile Place this battaile at folio 68. after the Crosse battaile These are the formes afore spoken of both of the Crosse battell as also of the base Crosse battell which are very good to be vsed as aforesaid for the defending of your shotte from the Horsemens descending downe eyther hyll or Mountaine How to make a battell called the broade Square THis broade square battell is very good to be vsed if you be but of small strength for that it maketh a fayre shewe in the sight of your Enemies and in time of fight vseth manie hands more then the iust squares for if his enemies be before him he is like to doo great slaughter for it will inuiron his enemies rounde about But there be some of a contrary opinion the which I yeeld vnto for in mine owne opinion the iust square is best because it serueth most commonly in most places of grounds but this broade square serueth as the grounds will serue for we be not sure alwaies of a place fitte for the square battel and also theyr strength may be such by woods waters or false grounds or such like that the broade battell is much the better if helped by these aduantages But howsoeuer you make your battaile you must haue a great regard to the situation of your ground and the strengthes about the same The order and forme of a broad square battaile which is very good to be vsed if so aduantaged with strengthes as I haue before spoken of as woods
Lande And as Hermes sayth vnhappy is that Prince that esteemeth himselfe happy to haue his Cofers full of treasure and his counsaile full of men of euill and corrupt liuing Also let vs remember the woorthy saying of Socrates who sayth that if a Prince be mercifull liberall and louing his estate shall prosper and his wisedome shall helpe him in hys neede If he be iust his subiects shall reioyce in him his Realme shall prosper his estate continue for glorious is that Country and Common wealth and fortunate is that Prince that is Lord of young men to trauaile and olde sage persons at home to giue graue and wise counsaile Thus hauing spoken sufficient I will conclude most humbly beseeching God so to blesse her Maiestie with long life to raigne ouer vs that wee may by her gracious proceedings be long gouerned God confound her foes and bring to lyght all traiterous Conspiratours against her most excellent Maiestie God so blesse her honourable Counsaile with increase of wisedome that all theyr consultations may redownd to the safe keeping and honour of this most famous England Amen Gyles Clayton THE ORDER OF MARTIALL DISCIPLINE AND FIRST OF THE ELECTION OF A Lorde Lieuetennaunt or a Generall for the Prince AS the entrance into warres and martiall discipline is of great charge and importaunce as wherevnto requireth no small regard and consideration to be admitted for in this blessed peace we haue continued a great time for the which wee thinke our selues in a most happie and blessed estate which is true but let vs not flatter our selues too much in this security of life and so lay away the vse of warlike weapons the which is the only preseruer maintayner of that blessed peace for as Valerius Maximus sayth without the vse and knowledge of wars and the exercise thereof this blessed peace cannot be maintayned and preserued And Augustin and Barnard both Catholike Doctors of the Church affyrmeth that this sweete and quyet peace cannot be maintayned and kept without the vse of war and Martiall exercise with such policies as is possible to be vsed for the defence of his Countrey and Common-weale and especially for the maintenaunce of true Religion wherefore it shall first and principally be considered that Officers be chosen therin of all degrées to serue in the same and those also that be men of godlie conuersation great wisdome expert and politique in Martiall affaires faythful and loyall to theyr Prince and Countrey and of such magnanimitie and courage as rather couet to climbe to honour by desert then to liue a cowardish life with shame These Officers ought also to be of ripenesse of witte at a suddaine to perswade and diswade as the cause shall require of great lenitie in their spéech and actions whereby to winne the loue and liking both of enemyes and friendes A Campe Leagar or Garison furnished with such Officers cannot but florish as the Laurell in all behauiours in so much as the Officers being themselues faythfull expert and godly the common Souldiours must needes be the better both by instruction and example of lyfe and knowe how to liue in all duetie and obedience so that vertue thus bearing sway on euery side vnitie thence immediatly springeth wherin they all in one lincke beeing knitte together there is no doubt but they must néedes preuaile against their enemies for loue and concorde in Campe or Leagar is a discouragement to the enemies and an encouragement to themselues Who by such meanes are ledde doe suppose and thinke no toyle paynefull to winne honour so forceable is loue vertue and obedience in all kindes of gouernement But on the contrarie part where corrupt gréedy and churlishe Officers are who séeking nothing more then their own priuate gaine and commoditie not regarding at al the poore souldiour whose life for his wages and honour of his Countrey is solie aduentured but what ensueth of such Officers but mutinies and discords and in fine by such onely occasions commeth the vtter raine and confusion of an whole Army But the Officers be diuers for so it is néedefull for the gouernment of a Campe or Leagar is as the gouernment of a Realm or Countrey and requireth lyke Officers to minister iustice and to suppres wrongs and iniuries and as that Common-wealth though the Lawe be neuer so pure cannot long continue in securitie where the Magistrates bee ignorant of the same so that Campe or Leagar not hauing good skilfull and politike Officers to rule place gouerne and defende their Souldiours to order their Campe to make their battailes of diuers sortes for the best aduantage against theyr enemies and for the greatest strength to place Ambushes To endomage the enemy by aduauntage and also by politike foresight to fore-sée the traps snares and Engines of the enemie and thereby to preuent the same cannot long endure But to conclude a Generall must haue an especiall care to bee well prouided for the true payment of his Armie for the want of pay doth not onely inféeble and abate the courage of Souldiours when they shall bee pincht both with hunger and colde but it bréedeth mutinies it causeth discordes it neglecteth seruice and le ts slippe opportunities To sette downe in particulars what great daungers hath happened for want of pay woulde aske a longer discourse then were requisite wherefore maintaine discipline and sée your Souldiours be well payd and well punished The Office and duetie of a Colonell generall WHen this Colonell is chosen of his Lord Generall and receiues his aucthory from him he shall choose his Captaines Lieuetennants and Sargeants Harbengers Ensignes Drums and Phifes and that his speciall care be in chusing of good Captaines Lieuetennants and Sargeantes and that they been men of gouernment expert and skilfull in seruice of such ripenes of witte which may vpon the suddaine perswade and diswade as the cause shall require He shall also examine his Captaines what choise they haue made of their Officers whether they be men of sufficient knowledge or no if hee findes them to be good then hee is to assigne euery Captaine what weapon his Souldiours shall vse He is to haue an especiall and great care in chusing of hys Lieuetennant for that he ought to be a man of great experience and knowledge in seruice for it appertaineth to him only if occasion serueth to inrancke men in time of seruice to alter and chaunge them as beste serueth for their aduantage And lastly hee shall giue great attendaunce on his Generall that he may be ready at his commandement to know his pleasure for that paynes is honorable and of great credite a place best fitting a man of countenaunce and credite whose experience ought to be great and to excéede the knowledge and experience of all other Lieuetennants The high Treasurers Office YOU ought also to choose vnto you an high Treasurer which is an Offyce of great reputation and therefore hee ought to be a man of wisdom and expert in Martiall affaires
to be placed according to his seruice and skill Also he is to sée there be no want of victualles powder shotte or match if any such thinges be wanting he is to assigne it to his Captaine or Leiuetenant who shal sée it prouided for them in a readines at all times He is to accompany the watch to place of stand either to market place or to watch Hyll and at the breaking vp to take the watch worde of the Sargeant Maior or high Marshall wherefore he ought carefully to giue attendaunce on the Sargeant Maior and hys Captaine to be ready at his commaundement For good Sargeants in a disordered company shall finde toyle more then enough vntill such time as they haue well trayned them and therefore his Captaine is to haue great regarde and consideration of him Corporalles and Launcespazadoes charge IT is necessarie for the readines of seruice that fiue Corporals be chosen which ought to men of honest behauiour and experience euery Corporall hauing his squadron appointed to him who is not onely to exercise them in the vse of theyr weapons to see them that they be well furnished with all necessaries as shot powder match bullets and such like but to haue a speciall care in kéeping their furniture cleane and seruiceable If any defaults be founde they are to complayne if amendment be not found presently to the Sargeant or Leiuetennaunt who shall see it presently reformed bee it in Garrison or Campe. Thus iustice and aucthortie shall be mayntayned and faultes amended Also the Launcespazadoes shall supply the charge of the Corporals in theyr absence if occasion at any time call them The Clarke of a Bandes charge CLarkes of Bandes ought to be men of sober and wise behauiour perfect in accounts for that hee is to take the names of euery Souldiour seruing vnder his Captaines colours He is to be carefull in kéeping of his accounts betwéen his Captaine and the Souldiours and to sée that euery Souldiour haue his pay well and truely payd and to prouide them all thinges necessary and especially in time of sicknes the which will be a great credite both to himselfe and his Captaine and the onely way to winne the heartes of hys Souldiours Also he must be present at euery turne as watch Musters and other méetings and assemblings with his bill of names to call his Captaines Souldiours and of euery one being absent to make certificat thereof Many other things might be spoken of touching his Office which for breuity I ommitte A Chirurgions Office and duetie THose Chirurgions shoulde bée men of honest and good conscience and such as shoulde worke according to arte not practising new experiments vpon poore souldiours by meanes whereof many haue béene vtterly maimed wherefore the Captaines are to haue a special care in choosing their Chirurgions that they be skilfull in their science or arte and to see them haue all thinges necessary as Oyles Balmes salues and Instruments sufficient for his turne allowing sparing carriages for the same Also that euery Souldiour shall giue to the foresaide Chirurgion euery moneth two pence as in times past hath beene accustomed to the augmentation of his wages in consideration wherof he ought readily to imploy his industry vpon the sore and wounded Souldiours not intermodling with any other cures to them noysome regarding alwayes that hee bee truely payde his wages and all dueties to him belonging that he may be able to prouide al such stuffe as to him belongeth It serueth his turne at néedefull times in the night to go through the watch without the worde when vpon straight occasions he is to goe to his cures Drums and Phifes duetie IT is necessarie that euery Captaine haue two Drums the one to be resident with the colours the other to march with the Troupes as vpon occasion they shall be drawn forth also it were not amisse to haue one Phise for that it is a good lightsomnes to the Souldiours Those Drumers ought to be men of personage faithful secret and trusty they ought to haue sundry languages and to know the sound and cal of all marches charges retreites alarums and such like pointes of warre for many times they are sent to parlie with the enemy to summon their Fortes or Townes to redéeme and conducte prisoners and diuers other messages If such Drums or Phifes fortune to fall into the handes of the enemie no gyfte no faire spéeches neither force nor terror shall cause them to bewray any secrets knowne to them They must often times practise their Instruments and teach the company the soūd of march charge retreit alarums and such like that is necessarie to be knowne They must bée obedient to their Captaines Lieuetennants and other Officers when soeuer they command them either to goe or stand or to sound any point of warre what they thinke best many other things belongeth to their offyce and duetie as in diuers places in this booke you shall finde Furnishing of Souldiours to the Fielde FIrst that all Corporalles and Launcespazadoes leading of shotte shall in his owne person sée them to be well furnished in all pointes as followeth that they haue their full number of Souldiours and euery Souldiour to haue a sufficient Caliuer Flaske and Touch boxe pouder bullets mould priming yron match rammer worme burgenet and one sword and dagger to teach them to march to charge and discharge with a fayre retreit not touching one an other kéeping their faces vpon the enemies and in raine or moist weather to hould their Péece vnder their arme with the touch-hole of their Péece close vnder their armehole their match being fyred betwéene their fingers in the palme of their hande so shal they be ready at euery suddaine Prouided alwaies they kéepe their match and pouder dry their Péece cleane scoured within and without if any fault be found therein immediatly to be amended The Corporall of the pikemen his Office and duety A Captaine should choose a sufficient man stronge and expert in the handling of his Pike to be Corporall of his companie of Pikes for that it is a most stronge and warlike weapon This Corporall shall teach the Souldiour often times to vse his Pike in pushing and trayling the same in good order both for the beauty of the battaile and for the necessity thereof and to sée them haue sufficient and good Corslets for they bee the greatest strength of your battaile and a terror to the enemies and in any wise sée them fitte and easie for their bodies that they may be able to vse their weapons in time of fight which is a great defence in a Campe and chosen chéefely for the battaile They must haue Morions Swordes and Daggers their Pikes of vsuall length sharpe pointed and well nayled and cause them in time of marching to lay their Pikes on theyr shoulders and their thums vnder the same the but ende on the outside of his leades mannes Legge After this sorte to march to Muster to retyre and Imbattaile
it come to the end of the same which worde must be spoken with soft spéech as it shall not be hearde but amongst themselues béeing in battaile in like manner they may performe the same by a signe giuen them of the Marshal Captaines or other like Officer To march stooping SOmetimes the whole Companie shall march stooping as vnder a hedge or hyll or such like and suddainly shall fall flatte on the grounde as in Ambush which shall suddainlie ryse againe and sette vpon theyr Enemies in good order of aray the which may astonish the Enemie your assaulting thē so suddainlie Keeping of array in the darke AT such times euery Souldiour shall carry the end of hys leadesmans weapon for making any noyse and by that meanes they shall keepe theyr aray in darke nights or marching through straights or woodes or such like Marching and retyring SOmetimes marching towardes the Enemies and retyring againe they shall alwaies keepe theyr faces vpon theyr Enemies and theyr Pykes couched readie to encounter with their Enemies Trayling your Pykes SOmetimes trayling your Pykes on the grounde the Uoward bearing theyr heads of Pykes in theyr handes and the Rereward trayling the heads on the ground ready to receiue the Enemie A shew as if men were slayne SOmetimes marching in order of battaile certaine of the Companie shall fall heere some and there some as if they were slaine with shotte the next man following shall step in the place of his leadesman so that there be no place left for the Enemie to enter in if anie ranck be not full let it be in the body of your battaile A suddaine Allarum MAnie times it hath beene vsed among Souldiours of experience to giue Allarums to theyr friendes as among themselues to foresée whom they might prayse or discommend according to theyr readines found in them although they vsed thys as a necessary meane to the intent their Souldiours should be the more carefull yet still to deceiue them is a meane to make secure and not careful if they be oftentimes mocked wherefore to vse it is good at times conuenient but not too often But most commonly when the enemie maketh any Allarum it is to accomplish some exployt eyther to lye in Ambush to cast a bridge to plant Ordenaunce to entrench or to breake vp some passage or viewing your numbers and strength or such like but when any Allarom is giuen in the night change the worde Pointes of a good Captaine AT times conuenient trayne your Souldiours and pitch them in square battailes round or breade battailes and other strengthes which good Captaines and Officers will vse at times conuenient which will be a great ease to the Souldiours at what time soeuer they be called to imbattaile and a profit to the whole Campe in time of neede No brunt to bee made in time of Muster or Campe. NO man shall make any brunt or noyse vpon the sight of any Hare Deare or Fore neither breake his array to stay the same if it be in Muster or March lesse in Camping or in time of seruice Spoiles or booties to be deuided YOU shall giue the company to vnderstande and knowe that if any exployte or enterprise be executed and doone the victory ouercome the enemies taken or slayne all such spoyles or booties as is gotten shall be brought to the colours and there shewed and a noate taken of the same and at conuenient time to be sould by the sounde as a generall bootie and so deuided in equall portions to euery man his parte as well them that keepe the fielde in order of battaile as to them that entred the fight and brought the sayd bootie away Care in carrying bagages YOU shall haue a great regarde that no Souldiour take any bootie or pillage to hinder himselfe or annoy his company but as he may be discharged of the same at euery suddaine ready to his weapon or place for the practise of the enemie is to sette suddainly vppon such men so laden with baggages a great hinderance to the Souldiour and an incouragement to the enemie Hurte Souldiours to be considered IF any Souldiour be hurt in this time of fight of body or Limmes spent his weapon broken his Armour or such lyke losse he shall be considered of out of the sayd bootie and the rest to be equally deuided Souldiours charge for intreating Messengers IF any man or woman what Nation soeuer they be friend or foe come to speake with any of the high Officers of the Campe or Garrison it shal be conuenient for any such Souldiour to bring them into such a place as they shall sée but little and send worde to the sayde Officers kéeping them safe vntill the sayde Officers pleasure bee to send for them or to knowe in that behalfe and in the meane space to intreate them gently with good wordes what Nation soeuer they be For such persons are not knowne to most Souldiours Souldiours charge in trauailing THat no Souldiour in time of trauelling within the Realm of England or other dominions vnder our Prince shall allure any woman mayde or widdowe to follow the Campe vnhonestly neyther shall haue any without the licence of the Marshall they shall not spoyle nor destroy any cattell Pulline or such like victualles he shall not stray out of his way to filch or steale any manner of thinge whatsoeuer neither commit any other outrage but shall kéepe the high wayes appointed for them to iourney in accompaning their Ensigne and honesily regarding the saftie of the same The cousaile of olde Souldiours CAptaines hauing any olde Souldiours seruing vnder them shall giue eare vnto them speaking of experience or seruice with discréete policie and shall rewarde them and aduance thē to the vttermost of his power according to the value of their good counsaile for such men sometimes be vnto a Captaine and his company much auaileable So must he punish busie bodies therevnto presuming without experience or discretion Captaines Lieuetennants and Officers with Souldiours charge IT is conuenient and a most necessary pointe of the Captaine Lieuetennant or Sargeant to frequent oftentimes with the Souldiours in their Lodgings Tents or Cabins to veiw how they be prouided and furnished of all manner of thinges to them néedefull and that they liue an honest ciuill and Christian life as Christian men ought to doe not presuming by meanes of warres to vse such libertie as if Gods Lawes and our Princes were forgotten as some Souldiors of diuers Nations in times past haue doone in vsing the vices of great oathes in swearing to the blaspheaming of the almighty God also in the excesse of drunkennes bringing thēselues into the likenes of brute beasts to their great dispraise before God and man also in vicious lyuing contrary to the Law of God which may not be vnpunished also in fighting and quarelling lyuing in malice with his fellows which is vile or in any other vice vsed amongst the company Such persons must be sharply punished for God is
waters and false groundes with such other lyke The fore Front A perfect rule to bring your men into a square battaile of what number soeuer they be so that their Ensigne may be in the middest thereof as by example with a small company so you haue but foure hundred Pikes in the fielde the 4. square roote whereof is 20. then putting 20. men into a ranck there will be 20. ranckes 20. men to a rancke the which 20. ranckes beeing orderly placed the one behinde the other wil make a iust square battaile if so placed as by thys Figure more plainely is shewed vnto you The order of a square battaile impayled with winges and troupes of shotte as in the fielde is vsed in these dayes ⧠Certaine Rules of Armes very needefull and necessary to be foreseene both of Generall and Captaines * ALthough it be not néedefull yet I will put you in minde of the great incombraunces which may happen in the fight of a battell wherefore be sure that your Horsemen in charging the Enemie be as much distante from the maine battell as may be or els it may be an occasion in retyring from the Enemie to breake the rancks of your men and so disorder the whole maine battell for sometimes it is pollicie to make a retreite as occasion shall serue Also you are to lodge your Horsemen in time of Leaguor or Campe within the palle or quarters of your footemen because they are not so soone Armed and mounted ready to defende as the footemen Also you ought to know how that the Townes and Fortresses be strengthened eyther by nature or by industry by nature those are strong which are compassed round about with Riuers or with Fennes by industry those which stand vppon hyls or Rocks those likewise may be strong which stande on the plaines eyther by Castell Turrets turnings or crookednes thereof with many other such like which may endanger the Enemy on euery side both on front and flanck Also when you are minded to besiedge any strong Towne or Holde you shall first suffer them to sowe theyr séede and fieldes and so stay a time till it be gréene aboue the ground to the intent they should lacke the same graine which they haue sowne and that you may the better hope to reape the same for your commoditie Also you are to exercise practise your Souldiours in actiuitie and déedes of Armes when as you are not in any great danger of the Enemie for the perfectnes thereof and in time of seruice for renowne and honour Also if any Generall Colonels or Captaines béeing in Leaguor or Campe and hath any want of victuals let hym then fayne himselfe to make a composition or agréement with his Enemies and during some proces of time in this practise you may be eyther prouided of theyr victuals or others at the least And when you haue by thys policie and meanes gotten away theyr victuals graine then you may with ease kéepe them short and famish them Also if you be minded to win any Cittie or strong Hold then you shall first foresée which way is best to ouercome all the small Townes rounde about the same and so ouercomming them with violence shall driue them into the Cittie or strong Holde for succour at their fréendes and Countrimens hands the which multitude of people béeing driuen into the Cittie you may with more ease famish and ouercome them Also if you be minded to make an assault first chéefelie you ought to haue a care in giuing the first onsette wherein you shall be valiant and couragious and very hotely to assault them on euery side the which hath oftentimes gotten many victories Also he that will be counted a man at Armes and seruice must be valiant and couragious most vigilant to obserue the deuises of the Enemie and in taking some paines to exercise his Companie such Seruitors shall incur least perils and may hope most of victory Also there is no purpose better then that which is hid from the Enemie vntill such time as you haue executed the same Also to know in the warres how to vnderstande occasions and in the taking thereof helpeth more at such times then any other thing Also nature bréedeth many lustie strong men but practise and exercise maketh many Also you are to vnderstand that where discipline is vsed with lenitie and curtesie more preuaileth then furie rashnes without discretion or wisedom Also you shall vnderstande that the valiantnesse of your Souldiours more preuaileth then the multitude and sometime the situation helpeth more then the valiantnes Also you may vnderstand that new and suddain things maketh many Armies amazed and feared and accustomed things daily vsed are little regarded Wherefore make your Armie to practise and to know with small fights a new Enemie before you enter the fight with him Also he that with disorder foloweth the Enemie after that he is broken he wil doo no other but become of a Conquerour in the fielde the looser thereof Also hee that prepareth not sufficient and necessary victuals to liue vpon both for himselfe and for his Company may soone be ouercomewith stroke of weapons Also hee that trusteth more in Horsemen then in Footemen or more in Footemen then in Horsemen Must first accommodate himselfe with the ground and situation Also when you perceiue in the day that there be any cōming to espy your Leaguor then cause euery man to goe into hys Tent or Cabbin and change your purpose if you perceiue he hath fooreseene your Leaguor or Campe. Also you may consult with many thinges which you ought to doo but the same thing which you doo conferre with fewe Also you shall vse such meanes that the Enemies may not by any meanes know how you will order your battels in fight and in what manner soeuer you order them make that the first may be receiued of the second and so of the third Also if you will make a sette battaile neuer change to any other purpose but to the same for which you haue appointed it for if you doo it will breede discention and discord Also you shall accustome your Souldiours to despise and hate delicate lodging great fare and cut apparrell for that it is dangerous vnto them in time of seruice Also I will put you in mind of a saying which hath béene vsed in times past and most néedfull to be obserued in these daies Whereas they said that men yron money and bread was the strength of the warres they sayde true but of those foure the first two be best and most necessary because men and yron finde money and bread and not money and breade to finde men and yron For men with yron may prouide both for bread money and all such like necessaries as to the wars belongeth And lastly I would wish you not to be slow in the exercising of your Souldiours in actiuitie when time and place serueth for that is your greatest strength in seruice for if your
King of Macaedonia father to Alexander the great to oppresse and to bring them in seruitude vnder his subiection I could alledge many more which hath beene suppressed onelie for lacke of the vse of warlike weapons and thinking thēselues to be in most securitie and peace as the Assirians Persians Athenians such like And the Cittie of Rome which might haue beene perpetuall but thought themselues in peace and fell to inordinate ryot and pastimes not doubting nor fearing any thing which was hurtfull vnto them or their Common-weale which thing was to theyr great ruine and ouerthrowe Euen so where ouermuch libertie is giuen men may be troden down vnder foote and brought to most horrible miserie calamitie if they giue thēselues only to pastimes pleasures and forsake the vse and exercise of warlike weapons which are the defence both of Prince Country Religion iustice lawes and subiects the which are altogether maintained and protected by Armes onely And therefore the most famous Conquerers and mightie Captaines did deuise with most dilligence all maner of waies to bring their men to be perfect in the knowledge of all manner of things appertayning to the warres As manifestly appeareth by the warlike Games which the Princes of Grecia ordained vpon the Mount Olimpus And also by the orders and exercise that the auncient Romans vsed in sundry places and specially in Campo Martio and in theyr sumptuous Theaters which chiefely they builded for that purpose whereby they made their Souldiours of such experience that they obtained with small company in fight against a great multitude of enemies such wonderfull and meruailous victories as in many credible Histories are mencioned And also by the same meanes their stragling people which followed the Campes gotte such vnderstanding in those actions of Armes that they in the day of battaile beeing lest destitute of succour were able without any other helpe to sette themselues in good order of battaile for theyr owne defence against the enemie and in such times of seruice they haue doone theyr Countrey great seruice So that the antiquitie esteemed nothing more happy then to haue the Country full of men of vnderstanding and knowledge in warlike actions and Martiall discipline Which thing is least regarded in this Realme most neede of it for that we haue so many euill pestiferous enemies roūd about vs which are ready continually if oportunity serue thē to worke our ruine and decay Wherfore stirre vp your selues euery man with courage and boldnes of minde to the exercise of your warlike weapons which is honourable and most worthy to be preferred before all exercises For the vse heere of being laid aside breedeth more sedicions and warres then if they were daily had in vse so perfectly practised for experience in seruice doth much more preuaile then many multitudes of people beeing without vnderstanding and knowledge in this most honourable seruice Wherefore sith the necessity of this seruice of warre and Martiall exercise is so great and also the necessary vse of them so manifest that euen peace herselfe in manner doth challenge her cheefe defence protection such is the worthines of Martiall exercises for as by proofe wee see that the glory thereof cannot easily finde roote but in the harts of such most worthy men which continually exerciseth themselues in these warlike weapons for the glory of their Prince Country and also for their own honour and magnanimitie Wherfore these exercises being of such force which bringeth all those that exercise the same to such honour and fame both of Prince and Countrey that I would in hart that all English men might shewe their good will in the exercise thereof But hauing so fewe men of experience in these dayes we see that euery one hauing serued but a yeere or two it is a great matter Nay if he but crosse the Seas and make hys abode but one month he is accounted a Souldiour But for my part I haue serued these sixteene yeeres in Ireland and in the Low Countries and haue seene many peeces of seruice in both places and yet I dare not account my selfe a Souldiour For the name of a Souldiour is most honourable and those that beare the name or title thereof shoulde be men of vnderstanding and knowledge and well experienced in warre Martiall discipline Doe we not find in many places of the holy Scripture both in the bookes of Moses in the booke Numbers in the booke of Iosua and in diuers other places of the Scripture where they vsed no little regard not onely in chusing of theyr Captaines and leaders but as well in prescribing of Lawes and Martiall discipline of warres the which in times past were appointed by the Almighty God himselfe moreouer promised gyfts to those which could perswade the children of Israell As by example in the booke of Numbers as I remember in the foureteene chapter howe God promised with his owne mouth to rewarde Caleb for his constancie couragious perswasion to the children of Israell And Dauid beeing a man of small account among the great Warriours yet for his worthines and famous behauiour in killing and ouerthrowing Goliah what great riches and rewards receiued hee with the Daughter of King Saul But in Englande we neuer consider neyther of hys actions nor of his knowledge and experience but most commonly our Captaines are chosen more for fauour then for knowledge more for freendship then for experience for if they haue a good opinion in him they neuer consider his desert whether he be a man able to discharge his place or no. But I haue no doubt that euery manshalbe hereafter better looked vnto both for theyr knowledge as also for their experience desert And Varro sayth there be three things not to be suffered a wise man vnder the gouernaunce of a foole a liberall man in subiection to a caytife and a foole sette in authoritie Wherfore it is most commonly seene where good order gouernaunce faileth obedience decayeth boldnes increaseth deceit escapeth iniuries preuaileth auarice corrupteth and the estate of a Weale publique soone after decayeth But least I should offend I will conclude with a fewe other examples as in Spayne in Fraunce in the Low Countries and many other places what great intentions are among theyr Princes Gouernours the which is a great perrill and an endangering to their Princes and their Common wealth Countrey in an euil and dangerous estate Wherefore let vs be thankfull to God for giuing vs so louing and gracious a Princesse who foreseeth such euill intentions least they should breede to such inconuenient sores which may not be cured For her Maiestie considereth that the strength of her Realme is the freendship and loue of her people And Marcus Aurelius sayth that Princes liue more safely in gathering to them men of good vnderstanding and knowledge then with theyr treasures of money for the loue of a Princes Subiects to theyr Prince is the whole strength of the
Clarke euery man aunswering to his owne name so marching foorth as he is called that no man vnto two names make aunswer If any Souldiour be sicke or hurt béeing not seruiceable pay him his wages and sende him home with a pasport into hys owne Countrey then immediatly furnish hys roome with an able Souldiour If any Souldior hauing his health limbes absent himselfe at such times let him be punished as in the statutes héere following is mentioned to the example of the rest The buriall of the dead WHen as any Souldiour is slaine or otherwise dead the Company shall bring the dead body to the ground with the sound of the Drum and such solemnitie as his scruice meriteth and deserueth if conueniently you may The Souldiours duetie in keeping cleane his furniture EUerie Souldiour must keepe cleane his Armour and furniture alwaies placing the same in hys Tent Cabben or Lodging in such a readines as hee may presently and on a suddaine finde the same eyther by night or by day readie to attend on the Ensigne if occasion serueth of a suddaine that no other take any part thereof The aduauncement of a Souldiour ALso euery Souldiour shall helpe to Arme the one the other so that they may with dilligence resort to theyr Ensigne and whosoeuer comes first and sheweth himselfe in best readines with honest and good behauiour in the vse of his weapon and aray shall not onelie merite thanks reward of his Captaine but shall be aduaunced by degrée of office as it falleth in the Companie Punishments for not keeping cleane theyr furnitures IF any Souldiour be negligent in the kéeping cleane of hys Armour or other Furniture or neglect hys dutie as aforesaid after once warning thereof he shal be punished as for that offence is most méete which is a great dysgrace and discredite and not worthy the name of a Souldior but to be banished as an idle person neuer to come in place of seruice any more Trayning your Souldiours in time of Musters YOU shall first make deuision of your weapons and lette euery kind by himselfe in like Companies which in the opinion of diuers notable Warriours wil be a great strength to your bande for if you haue too many of one sort and too fewe of another when you shall come to the setting of a battaile you shall finde a great weakenesse by reason thereof but the remedy is easie For let euery Ensigne be like prouided and appointed so many Shotte so many Pykes and so many Bils or Holberds then shall your company of Footemen be in good order Likewise for your Gydorne of Horsemen cause euery Gydorne to haue so many Launces and as many Light horse all well furnished as they doo vse in these dayes of seruice then shall you haue good order of battaile throughout your whole Armie You are further to consider how many sorts of weapons will serue viz. What shotte what Pykes and what Holberds will serue and to appoint necessary shotte is one of the hardest things that belongeth to the warres because it is so vncertaine for euer as your number increaseth so your shotte diminisheth according to the number for in a small number you shall haue neede of the third part of shotte and in the bigger number the fourth part of shotte serue and in the greater number the fift part of shotte will serue and so vpwards Marching your men by degrees ALL these things finished accordingly then march foorth your Souldiours with theyr seuerall weapons first your Mus-kets then your Caliuers your Pykes and in the midst of your Pykes put your Holberds or Eyls with your Ensigne in the midst thereof so marche them about awhile tyll you may view your whole companie to see whether they be of like strength and in good order in euery place both your Uoward and Rereward keeping good order in theyr aray The Almaines trusted much in the push of the Pykes therefore they will in no wise haue more shotte then Pykes for ouermuch weakning of the body of the Battell the more shotte you appoint for the body of the Battell the weaker is the Battell when it shall come to the push of the Pykes or fight and yet not in any wise to lack shotte sufficient for many times it hath béen seene that battailes hath béene gotten by shotte onely without push of Pyke or stroke of weapons Augmenting your ranckes in time of battaile WHen you are ready and determined what battaile to make if it be a Quadrent battaile then you may augment your rancks from thrée to fiue and so to seauen then to nine and eleuen and so on till you haue brought them to a Squadrant Proportion alwaies your Holberds Ensigne in the midst of your Pykes then shall yée know the strength and force of your battaile place your shotte on the flancks of your battaile by themselues a good space of and there let thē shoote skyrmage and retire with theyr faces alwaies vpon the Enemies till they be perfect and so learned to retyre to some place of safetie which place is héereafter more plainelie declared Captaines Lieuetenants and Sergiants charge in deuiding their weapons EUery Lieuetenant or Sargiant of a Bande shall vsuallie sute the Companie euery weapon by himselfe and when they shall march with the Ensigne whether it be to muster or place of assembly to be imbattailed or in any other time of seruice they shall furnish them as they be accustomed in these dayes in the Low Countries that is to say with Targetors Muskets Caliuers Pykes and then your Holberds and Bylles in the mids of your Pykes with your Ensigne Drum and Phife then the rest of your shotte and such like that you may be of like strength both Foreward and Rerewarde so march your men and sometimes cast them in a King which is verie necessarie for young Souldiours to knowe the order thereof for it is a most needefull thing as heereafter shall be more plainely shewed vnto you Furnishing Launses Light-horse or Carbines to the field IN like manner troupes of Horsemen being furnished with Carbines Launces and Light Horse shal in like strength march or imbattaile so that their Gydron may be garded in the Uowards and Rerewards of like strength so that they neede no more but turne theyr faces towardes their Enemies to skyrmage at euery suddaine Rules to be obserued and shewed vnto young Souldiours in time of Musters or other times conuenient SOmetimes béeing imbattailed they shall wade from the one end of the battaile to the other to strengthen the same with so manie rancks of Souldiours as they shal command leauing one ranck of men which is called the man of aduauntage standing still on the out side thus vsing them you shall find your battaile in like strength euery where Receiuing a word to goe through the battaile AT times they shall receiue a word to goe through the battaile from the one ende to the other which shall passe frō man to man till
or exploite without the licence of the Lord Lieuetenant vpon paine That no man goe a forraging further then they be appointed by the forrage Master which is garded by the Marshals appointment vpon paine That all priuate Captaines being no head Officers of the Leaguor or Campe which must be continually busied doe watch and ward with their Colours themselues vpon paine That all Souldiours Horsemen and Footemen learne the sounde of both Trumpets and Drums which serueth to call as the mouth of Man and that they be ready at all such calles eyther on Horse or Foote vpon paine That no man doo his naturall easement within the Leaguor nor within certaine space of the same for anoying the Skowtes or standing watch except the same be buried three foote within the ground immediatly vpon paine That no man goe out of his aray eyther in day of battel or in marching vpon paine That no man carry any woman to the Leaguor or kéepe her in the Towne except she be his lawfull wife vpon paine to be punished as a vile person or a vagabond and neuer to be accounted a Souldiour in any seruice Also if any Souldiour béeing a common swearer and leaueth it not after once warning of hys Captaine or Lieuetenant shall be punished as a slaue or villaine to the example of others Also that no man take any thing of the Princes subiects without he pay truely for it or it be giuen him vpon paine Also that no man be lodged in Garison or Leaguor but onely by the Quarter Maister appointed for the same vpon paine Also that all Souldiours intreate theyr Hostis and theyr familie well béeing the Princes Subiects to the intent they may be welcome if they come againe or others in theyr places for els we shoulde not onely make warre with our Enemies but also vpon Princes friendes vpon paine Also that no Souldiour be a common dicer or drunkarde which is the onely way to wast his wages which should bee his maintenaunce otherwise to goe like a slaue vpon paine Also that no priuate Captaine nor others come from hys watch or warde beeing appointed to the same in Leaguor or Garison till they be released by other Companies or els dyscharged for what a shame is it to a Captaine when his companie dooth not theyr duetie for want of hys presence and be distressed by the meanes therof what account is such a Captaine able to make to his Prince or Lord Lieuetenant that will come away leauing his Ensigne and Companie behind him in like manner to any other man Wherefore no man shall depart from his Company vpon paine Also in times of lodging the Leaguor all Horsemen shall keepe on horsebacke vntill such time as all footemen be entered into the Leaguor or Campe and euery man appointed the quarter or place of assembly vpon paine Also those Horsemen shall see the Skowtes sette foorth to skowte vppon the high groundes on all sides of the Leaguor and to sée all Cariages Ordenaunce and Municions cleerly entred into the Leaguor or Campe before they enter or dysmount they shall remaine in theyr Armours till the place of encamping be made vpon paine Also if any allarum be made the Sargiant Maior shall resort to the place of assembly dilligently there to place euery Souldiour in good order of battaile and in the strongest manner to be deuised vpon paine The cause of allarums or shewe of Enemies to the Leaguor eyther by night or by day SOmetimes to viewe your order of array and to discouer your numbers Sometimes to viewe your Horsemen howe they be appointed with great horse for the battaile and light horse and such like Sometimes to view your Ordenaunces what store of Cannons you haue for battery fielde Peeces for the battell and such like Sometimes to viewe the situation of your Leaguor how they may best bring the allarum in the night by Canuisado or otherwise Sometimes to viewe the placing of your victuals or powder and howe they may best take or destroy the same Sometimes to traine men out of the Leaguor to bring them into the place or lappes of theyr ambush Sometimes to kéepe men waking and so to weary them with allarums whereby they shall not be able to appeare in theyr places at time of neede Sometimes to kéepe in Skowtes or Forragers vntill they doo some exployt eyther in victualing some holde or els making some breach or such like Sometimes they will mount as many Footemen as they can vppon baggage horse to make a great shewe of Horsemen Heere followeth the poynters of the Leaguor or Campe which shall take view of the place appointed THE High Marshall the Quarter Maister the Maister of the Ordenaunce the Captaines of the Pyoners or french Maisters diuers other Officers with certain Lieuetenants of euery warde to view the place appointed which Officers shall be well and strongly guarded with one or two thousand horse at the least for great honour consisteth in the safe keeping of your Marshall and other heade Officers also they be a good asiuraunce for the rest of the Armie which followeth It behooueth them to haue circumspect Skowtes which shall march before them strongly guarded with a company of Pykes and shotte or troupes of Light Horsemen least your enemies lie in ambush or deuise some other engin when you thinke least of them how to overthrow your Marshal which were a great discomfort in a field to your Souldiours and a greater encouragement to the Enemies Wherefore make your Marshall strong that goeth before and hee shall bee a good strength to them that follow and when the Marshall is arriued at the place appointed for the Armie where they shall lodge and that hee and the rest of his companie haue viewed round about the same then it shall be meete for the Captaine of the Pyoners and the Carriage Maisters to returne to the Armie to sée theyr Companie and carriages conueyed to the place before appointed and to leade them as in times past haue béene vsed which is to march but fiue or sixe myles in foure howres so your Arinie shall come at time conuenient to theyr lodging to prouide forrage and such necessaries and not to be ouertoyled and made wearie for a wearie man béeing assailed in time of his wearines is halfe ouercome by the reason of hys wearines In lodging the Armie aforesayde YOU shall lodge the Armie where they may be Lordes of theyr commodities which may not be spared as Wood water and pastures which must be good and swéete alwaies kept cleane being thus furnished the Marshall and quarter Master shall appoint to place the Arinie on the higher ground where they may haue the most aduantage against the enemies if they should approache them The Master of the Ordenance shall place his charge to the most aduantage of the hyll where they may best discouer and shoote to those partes where the enemies might best approche Also if your enemies assault they shall climbe vppe
to you whereby their strength is deminished and their breath shortned Also if you will meete with your enemies descending from your Leagar which is on an hill your force and strength is the more for a man going downward is of more force then he that goeth vpward And when hee hath found out such a commodious ground as best befitteth him and lookes for the comming of his enemies then it is good to lodge your Army both horse and foote all in one Leagar or Campe vnlesse it be before a Towne or Castle that you minde to besiege and inclose on euerie side but for a remoouing Leagar or a Leagar lying styl and is not at the stege of neither Towne nor Castle and lookes for the comming of theyr enemies then I thinke in my opinion that men bee of more force lying together in one Leagar or Campe then to lodge in seuerall companies The proportion of your Leagar or Campe. YOU shall make your Leagar or Campe large according to the number of your Armie neither bigger nor lesse then your company serueth therto Pitch your Leagar foure square deuiding the same into foure partes by two great stréets reaching crosse through your Leagar or Campe from the one side to the other two partes for horsemen and two partes for footemen Poynt the place of assembly on the highest part thereof and make the same so large as to imbattaile your number of footemen and in such order as men may passe with ease to the same by the stréetes appoynted You shall point your Market place in the middest of your foure streetes whereas your horsemen shall assemble in time of allarams by night where they shall both arme themselues and kéepe on horsebacke ready to issue forth if néede be Lodge your Generall néere the place of assemblie vpon some commodious grounde Your stréetes are to be made as most commonly is vsed iij. score and tenpaces broad without any annoyance of tentcordes or stakes so may men march in good order with theyr Ensigne to the place of assembly but in any wise looke that your Leagar be neither too large nor too little for your companies for by either of them you are the weaker and point the Artillarie places in such sorte and places as may bee most daungerous to your enemies whensoeuer they assayle you and neere vnto the Artillarie leaue some voyde place to assemble your men together in battailes at time of alarum And if your strength bee great so that you make more battailes then one then you must haue more places of assemblie then one for euery battaile would haue a place of assebly and so to make a stand til occasion serueth with the Artillarie before them in time of allarum besides the horsemen so shal you bee sure if your men be well placed that your Leagar or Campe shal be well warded and defended for a man know eth not on which side the enemies will come wherefore it is good to place your men euery way for your best aduantage Also I woulde wish as I haue sayde before that euery horseman should be ready at the sound of such allarums and to resorte with spéede to the sayde assembly there to doe any seruice if néede shall require at any such times Intrenching your Campe or Leagar ALso if you intend to stay in your enemies Lande specially knowing your enemies to be at hand then it shal be néedfull by the opinion of diuers olde Seruitors to entrench your Campe or Leagar with a Trench of twelue foote déepe and fiftéene foote broade and as wee vse nowe in these dayes which shall haue small Ordenance in them and small shotte to flancke your Trenches and one bastian to be leuell within compasse of your shotte and if you looke not for manie enemies to assayle you then it shall bee sufficient to make the The plat for Incamping Place this battell 268 folio at this mark ****** Trenches of your Leagar but eyght or nine foote deepe and seauen foote broade and at such times all men shall helpe the best they can But if you haue not many enemies at hande and intende to remooue daylie tyll oportunitie serueth then it shall bee sufficient to make your King or Pale with your carriages placing your Ordenances amongst the same to your best aduantage with your stand watch in the midst your Scout watch without the same both on horsebacke and on foote for your better security Intrenching your powder and Treasure ALso it behoueth you to haue a speciall care in bringing your carriages loden with Powder and Treasure to the Master of Artillarie his lodging where you shall safely entrench and watch the same with good and stronge watches and none to come néere the same but his Officers and the watch who hath the same in charge Commaundement to bee giuen to the troupes of horsemen at your first arriuall at the Campe or Leagar AT your arriuall at any Campe or Leagar you are to giue commaundement to euery horseman that no man shall dismount from his horse backe vntill such time as euery footeman be quietly lodged and that at such times good and sure Scoutes bee sette foorth towardes the enemies so farrre as you can learne for vppon those Scoutes at such times dependeth the wealth and euerthrow of your Armie for when footemen be busie in making theyr Lodging and Cabines then they be out of array and strength and if then they shoulde be supprised of the enemies it were enough to cast away the whole Armie But a good Scoute will repayre euer to the highest places of grounde where they may see on euery side of the Leagar and especially towardes the enemies so may they bee sure to discouer on euery side both on high groundes and valies and if they list to discouer farther let parte of the same companie remayne still on the high grounde where they bee which shall not stirre vntill they make theyr returne backe againe So shall your Leagar or Campe be sure to haue aduertisement though the former Scoutes were ouerthrowne and taken wherfore be sure to haue alwaies good and sufficient Scoutes for your better securitie Scoute watch on foote YOU are also to place your Scoute watch on foote rounde about the Leagar or Campe sixe score with out the Ring of the same by fiue men in a companie beeing so néere together as one may sée another in a light night in a dark night the one to sende to the other euery halfe quarter of an houre to know what brunts or noyse they heare And if the Scouts on horse were so vsed fiue in a companie and to send the one to the other as I haue sayde before I am in that opinion it would be of more force then the body of a watch standing stil me thinkes this were great safty to the Leagar Likewise euery fift man to haue the watch worde and no more Those which watch shall vse great silence without great occasion giuen by the enemies comming then
to make allarum with the vsuall worde arme arme then euery man shal make haste the one helping the other and bée in a readinesse with his weapons for their best defence tyll they be retyred to the stande watch of the Leagar wherby they may fight and be reskued of all the Souldiors of the Leagar or Campe wherefore they shall haue great regarde that they make no allarums but vpon iust occasiion Euery fift man shall haue the watch word for that night so watching for at that time they are as Scoute Masters also the chéefe Scoute Masters are appointed to sette the watch and at certayne times to bring them reliefe and to search and examine the same both on horsebacke and foote also the stande watch shoulde haue great care in hurting the Scoutes when as at any time they make their retyre Speciall care to be fore-seene both in watching and warding ALso the Lorde Liuetennant the high Marshall with the rest of the Counsell must appoint a sufficient number of men both on horsebacke and foote to watch and warde the Leagar or Campe in the which appointment they ought to vse great discretion to fore-sée that there be no want of men for the furnishing thereof Also that no man be ouertoyled or wearyed either in watching or warding for according to the number of your strength so you are to deuide your companies that no man shall watch but euery fourth night which will be very well both for the Souldiours for the strength of your Armie for by the ouerwatching of your men may be a great heauinesse and dulnes vnto them and a great weakning vnto your whole Armie And for the appointment of the bodie of the watch at the Artillarie you must in any wise appoint that very stronge as your number will serue for the safe kéeping of your Artillarie and the wealth of your Leagar Also it appertayneth to the prouost Marshall at such times to set the stand watch and Scoutes both on horsebacke and on foote but the watching of the place of Artillarie belongeth vnto the Officers thereof which are appointed by the high Marshall and the Master of the Ordenance as I haue before sette downe How the Sargeant Maior Captaine and simple Sargeant are to gouerne themselues when theyr battaile shall chaunce to be assaulted on foote and on horsebacke IN sundry and diuers manners and moreouer in diuers places of groundes battailes are fought according to the occasions and accidents that in Millitarie occurrents doe chaunce at vnawares in time of warfare abroade in the plaines in Townes and in Fortresses for which causes it is necessary that the witte of those which haue the managing thereof be prompt and ready as well in this as moreouer in finding out a good partie for himselfe all for the honour and safety of the Prince whom he serues ioyning to his couragious heart witte experience policie and each aduantage that is possible to bee vsed against his enemie therefore in two fortes doe arise the meanes to fight one is when he dooth séeke to fight with his enemy and the other when he is sought of the enemy in such sort that it is needefull to defende himselfe And therefore I say when the first occasion doth ryse and that he séekes the enemie speaking héere of striking battaile in the playnes it is requisite first he consider how the enemies Armie is furnished with horsemen and footemen and if he looke to fight with horsemen that are to come to breake his battaile in this case he is to be aduertised that hee suffer himselfe not to be founde if it be possible in the open fieldes or in the playnes but rather must accomodate his battaile in some place of a hill or a mountaine or vppon some seate of ground which hath vppon one side either Riuer or ditch or some other impediment against the enemies horsemen which on some side may be a defence as in some places bee Trées Vines and diuers other such like as nature brings foorth in diuers places which are of great impediment vnto the enemies horsemen and vnto foote battailes are very profitable and although the number of Souldiours are very small yet oftentimes by much aduantage remaine victorious But aduertisment is to be had that in such cases it is requisite that there be accomodated many Hargabuziers in the battaile and many Pikes for they be good against the enemies horsemen Hauing to fight with footemen the open fieldes is the best with a square battayle and many Pikes placing Hargabuziers according to his discretion Since I haue spoken of the first manner of fight I will speake of the second which is when the enemie deoth assault at vnawares it is necessary then couragiously not to loose any point of courage to place his people in square battaile for that it is the most ready and most sure way that is making himselfe good slanckes wth the Hargabuziers of the band afterwardes expecting the assault cause his battaile to shutte and close it selfe well causing them to couch and abase 4. or 5. or somtimes 6. ranckes of Pikes in that case round about all the sides of the battaile and the others to stand vpright vntill time of néede and the Hargabuziers are to holde their Péeces vpon their thighes with their matches in their cocks a morce in their pan and all vigilant in a readinesse And the Captaine before the battaile valiantly giuing courage to his Souldiours to performe the duety of a leader aduertising that when the assault is giuen by horsemen that the Pikemen couching and abasing themselues doe holde the great ende of their pikes fastned harde in stronge earth to the ende the Pike may haue the greater force THE SECOND PART With a Kalender contayning the square of any number from one hundred to ten 1000. seruing for the ordering of iust squares bastard squares and broade Squares and most sufficient for the imbattailing of any number * With certaine rules of marching by degrees the which of a suddaine you may with ease bring them into a Square battell or a broad Square of what number soeuer By Gyles Clayton seruitour late Lieuetenant to the Right honorable the Lord North Lorde Lieuetenant Generall of Cambridgeshyre AT LONDON ⧠Printed Anno. Domini M. D. XCI To the Right honorable and his very good Lorde the Lord of Hunsdon Lord Chamberlaine of her Maiesties houshold and Gouernour of her Towne of Barwicke G. C. wisheth increase of all honourable vertues RIght honourable and my very good Lord hauing receiued so many bountifull rewards with an infinite number of good words for other of his writings the which it hath pleased your good Lordship so fauourably to accept is not thereby onely encouraged nowe once againe to betake himselfe to his penne but also he is emboldened to present to your L. view this his small labour which containeth the approoued order of Martiall Discipline And as it is the common opinion of all worthy men right honourable
my very good Lord that among all things that is to be preferred warre is the one and that because whosoeuer behaueth himselfe honourably in the exercise thereof representeth the true Image of the most great and omnipotent God because among the high titles attributed according to his will and diuine Maiestie in the olde and holy Law hee hath alwaies beene content to be reuerenced and called by the name of the GOD of hostes so if this worthy exercise of Martiall Discipline be vsed and had in practise for the glory of God and the defence of Christ hys Gospell or for the defence of a Kingdom or Common-weale no doubt there is but that the great GOD of Hostes is our chiefe Generall and most worthy Captaine And as your honour being not inferiour to any in the exercise heereof not onely for your owne honour and magnanimitie but for the better vpholding of Christes Gospell for the defence of our gracious Soueraigne her Lawes and louing Subiects for the exercising of warlike weapons and the often vsing of them breedeth peace but if warlike weapons should be layd aside and Martiall discipline forgotten then would it be with vs as it was with the Romans For as Scipio saith after the Romans layd aside the vse of theyr warlike weapons and Martiall exercises they fell into great idlenes outrages ryot and wantonnes for more hurtfull was this time of peace to Rome then during the whole course and season of the warres for that whilst they had enemies in Affrick they knewe not what vices and inordinate ryot ment in Rome Wherefore may it please your good Lordship in this time of peace there must be had speciall regard to see these warlike weapons vsed and practised and not that euery common fellow be sette in authoritie but those which be men of experience knowledge for what profiteth these Companies heere in England with all theyr muster and traynings May I speak it without offence there is not in conscience two Companies among twentie which hath men of experience to instruct them in the exercise of theyr weapons For it is not sufficient to haue store of Armes weapons Munitions and furniture but also to haue men of experience to vse them and good Gouernours in the knowledge of Martiall discipline to lead thē The Realme thus gouerned with men of experience and knowledge there is no doubt but it will continue and florish For as Varro sayth exercise of warlike weapons and rumors of warres breedeth peace And for that your Lordship beeing a most loyall and faithfull friende to her Maiestie and a most worthy and famous Generall best befitting your honourable estate for the better safe keeping of thys little England I haue thought it good for to discouer this briefe discourse of Martiall discipline vnto your good Lordship hauing not any better thing to bestow of you whereby to witnesse my good will for if I had I would with all willingnes impart the same And for that your Lordship knoweth the earth which yeldeth salte beareth no other thing and the ground that hideth golde will beare no kinde of grayne so from a slender wit exercised in Martiall discipline your Lordship will looke for no gyfts but fruites of a most willing minde And albeit they are many who allured by your manifolde vertues regarde you and mooued through your true noblenesse of minde to honour you yet as one not inferior in affection to any but in good wil surmounting many thus I boldly presume leauing it to your honourable humanitie as a personage most meete and bulwarke most sufficient against the barking impes of the enuious and blunt hastie bolts of the foolish whose eyes beeing sore cannot beholde the Sunne and theyr wits so weake are not able to penetrate the subtiltie of Martiall experiences and therefore as slothfull neglect them or as malicious wholy contemne them But proceeding too farre in these speeches peraduenture I may be misliked and therefore least I should seeme entred so farre that I cannot find the way out I will conclude Thus beseeching your good Lordshippe to pardon me in discharging my duetie and to receiue with cheerefulnesse defend with willingnes and to reade with friendlines thys rude worke which I offer to your good L. as an outwarde signe of my inward good will Thus beseeching God most earnestlie to blesse and prosper both you and yours heere on thys earth with health and increase of honour and magnanimitie and send you in heauen most assured happines Your Lordships most humble in all dutifull seruice to be commaunded Gyles Clayton ⧠THE SECONDE PART ⧠Formes of Battels very necessary to be vsed in place of seruice euery Battell best befitting the place of ground FOR as much as I haue vndertaken to sette down the ordering of certaine Battels with the ordering of your men to march by degrées so that on a suddaine you may bring them into a Square battell of what number soeuer they be and to the intent that such as reade thys Booke may without difficultie vnderstand the ordering of euery Battell place of seruice according as they in the discription are appointed I thought it good to shewe you the figure of euery one in his place Wherefore I wyll first declare vnto you by what figure and Letters you shall finde the Footemen the Horsemen and euer other Officer in his place of seruice The Letters and Characters T for Targetters O for Musketters o for Caliuers P for Pykes H for Holberders G for Generall M for Marshall T for Treasurer C for Captaines L for Lieueten B for Bylles n for Carbines m for Light horse M for Launseares c for Cariages S for Sargiants E for Ensignes D for Drumes F for Fifes The summe and contents of the Figures following 1. In the figure following is described the marching of your men into a ring the meaning whereof is more plainly sette downe as followeth 2. In the second figure is shewed how to order a Battell or bonde of men and to bring their men into a Square battell with theyr Pykes on the fronte of the said battell 3. In the thirde figure is described the manner of marching by degrees of what number soeuer and at the first sight of your enemies to bring thē into a iust Square battell so that your Ensignes may be in the midst 4. In the fourth figure is shewed the ordering of three square battels of Pykes and to what vse they serue 5. In the fift figure is signified the ordering of the foure Squadrons of Pykes and to what vse they serue 6. In the sixt figure is declared the ordering of a Crosse battell 7. In the seauenth figure is shewed the ordering of a base Crosse battell and wherefore it best serueth 8. In the eyght figure is shewed the ordering of a base Square battell and to what vse it best serueth 9. In the ninth figure is declared a perfect Square battell of foure hundred Pykes 10. In the tenth figure is
shewed the forme of a battell on foote without Horsemen imployed wyth Shotte readie the fight 11. In the eleuenth figure is plainly shewed the order and forme of a Square battell readie the fight in Fielde impayled both with Carbines Light-horse and Launces as in these dayes we vse ⧠The order of Imbattayling Although these thinges being first sette down as marching by degrees and casting of a Ring extendeth not to olde Captaines and Seruitors of experience yet it is not hurtefull to such as be younge Seruitors which would be glad to learne experience and knowledge in these Martiall exercises which is a most honourable lyfe so vsed FIrst you shall vnderstand that if two or three Captaines hauing vnder theyr leading two or thrée hundred men to each Captaine bee sent into the enemies Countrey to doe some notable exployte or to conduct any Conuoy through the same then they shall march thrée or fiue in a rancke as is most cōmonly vsed when they be few in nūber for the spéedines of their way passing through streights for in such waies a man may not march aboue 385. at the moste for few men being not strengthned with horse cannot long endure in the enemies Countrie But say it happeneth that their enemies come suddainly vppon them so that they rannot set their men in order of battaile as they woulde then it shall be good for those Captaines to cast their men in a Ring as they marched before fiue or thrée in a rancke with the greatest part of their shotte in the midst of their Pikes your Holbards or Billes next the Ensigne being placed in the middest of all and those shotte which bee in the Rereward of your company if occasion serueth shal be deliuered to certaine of your Corporalles which shal lead them in winges to skirmish with the enemie but of all thinges haue a care to take all aduantages that may be both of wind ground and Sunne and be sure that your Corporals be men of knowledge and able to discharge their dueties and charge committed vnto them If they be not so skilfull as you would The plat for Incamping The Battell called a Crosse verie excellent both for night and day A two-fold Battell of 2000 men These Charecters are to be vsed in the place of the other where this letter H was placed for B as heere you may see These Characters S Signifie Shot  ♂ or this P Signifie Pikes  ✚ or this B Signifie Halberds  E Signifie Ensignes  Signifie Launces  Δ Signifie Light horsemen  * Signifie Argoletteares wish them to be then sende out with them one or two Sargeants if you canne spare them from the battaile for they ought to be skilfull Souldiours and to knowe howe to bring theyr companies to the face of their enemies and howe to charge and retyre with the best aduantage And if your place of meeting be large it were good to appoint many of your Corporals with seuerall companies of shotte to méete your enemies in the face and when they haue deliuered theyr powder and shotte they shall make their retreite to the battaile and then certaine other shotte which are within the battaile shall issue foorth and reskue them and to supply their place of seruice tyll such tymes as they haue furnished themselues and beeing thus furnished and refreshed are ready to make a new supply if needed shall require Thus may they continue a long time and maintaine your battaile But if you meet your enemies vpon the plaines then must you appoint certaine of your Pikes with Halbards or bils to defende your shotte from the charge of horsemen thus dooing you shall be able to defend your selues in all places and to encounter with the enemies though they assaulte you on euery side were more in number by thrée partes These premises considered so performed as before mencioned may redownd to the great credit magnanimity of such Captaynes as performeth such an exployt and also honour and renowme to their Souldiours which were so resolute in their seruice for a Souldiour or Seruitor had rather choose to dye with honor in the fielde then to be any way or meanes dishonoured in seruice This Gentlemen is my opinion and the good opinion of diuers olde Souldiours and Seruitors if you bee assaulted on a suddaine which sometimes happeneth This is the King which I haue declared vnto you which King is very necessary to be vsed as I haue declared be fore so that you cast and deuide your men with their seuerall weapons as aforesayde and shal be more plainely seene in the next Figure following A Corporall with shot o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o A Corporall with shot o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o For the straites Corporall o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o In this order for the playnes o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o A perfect rule to bringe your men into a square battaile on a suddaine with theyr Pikes in the Front the which at times were very good if by chaunce you méete with your enemies in any broade way thus march your men by degrées fiue in a rancke euery Captaine by himselfe with their pikes on the front of theyr array so euery Captaine marching with theyr seuerall companies may on a suddaine bring their men into a square battaile with their pikes on the Front of the sayde battaile the which is very good if by broade wayes or woods they happen to meete with their enemies for the defence of their horsemen and for your better vnderstanding thereof I haue héere in Fygure more playnely sette it down to shewe you the meaning thereof Thus is the foresaid marching by degrees fiue in a ranck brought into a Square battell with theyr Dykes on the front so also you may order your Companies and bring them into thys proportion of what number so euer they be if neede requireth Heere you shall further vnderstande howe many men may march in a ranck and on a suddaine to bring them into a iust Square battaile of what number soeuer they be so that your Ensignes may be in the midst thereof IF you happen to espy your enemies and are driuen to make a square battell with spéede then deuide the roote of your Company of what number soeuer they be into thrée equall parts and the thyrd part of your men ought to march by the way as by thys figure more plainly appeareth Say there be but 2. hundred fortie fiue men to march through the Enemies Countrey the roote of those two hundred fortie fiue must be taken which is fifteene which number may bée equally deuided into three parts béeing fiue in fronte
men haue not practise in theyr weapons and so be expert and cunning in the vse thereof your Companies shall be much weaker then those which are practised and perfect Not to giue battell without the aduice and counsaile of diuers olde Seruitors and men of experience THere be many men of good seruice and experience saith it is not good for a Generall or Leader of an Armie to be ouer hastie in gyuing battaile to the Enemies except it be vpon some great aduantage for that it is a matter of weight and ought very wisely and carefully to be foreseene for that his honour and wealth of a Realme lyeth thereon Wherefore first you are to consider and to examine the estate and strength of the enemies howe they be furnished with men of seruice and experience also with Armour and weapons both for Horsemen and footemen as also with other strengthes Then you are to consider with your selues of your owne strength and what number of men you haue likewise how expert they be in theyr weapons and whether they bee well appointed for such seruice or no. Then if you finde your owne partie good you may proceede if but indifferent then it is the opinion of olde Seruitors of experience not to be too hastie to giue the battaile if you may otherwise choose although it hath béene oftentimes séene that a few in number hath forced to fight or els to retyre and if that smal company doo tarry and fight it out then they doo determine with theÌ„selues euery man to be resolute that one man is worth two at such times and commonly it is séene that the greatest number is carelesse and thinke themselues most sure of the victory but victory is vncertaine for God giueth victory where he pleaseth Wherefore I woulde wish all Leaders though they be more in number then their Enemies not to be too hastie but kéepe themselues stronglie together and if in case you giue the battaile then doe it with courage and resolute mindes determined to abide the time of good fortune and victory and doubtlesse one of those men so determined is woorth three others A way to march and conduct foorth the Armie Place this battell 293. fallio at this marke ****** ⧠A breefe Kalender for the better vnderstanding how to augment your Companies by degrees and in marching eyther by 3. 5. or 7. to bring them into a square battell as to say in the first number adde three times 1. is 3. three times 2. is 6. three times 3. is 9. And so forth for the first Table the seconde and the third Numb Addit 1 3 2 6 3 9 4 12 5 15 6 18 7 21 8 24 9 27 10 30 11 33 12 36 13 39 14 42 15 45 16 48 17 51 18 54 19 57 20 60 21 63 22 66 23 69 24 72 25 75 26 78 27 81 28 84 29 87 30 90 31 93 32 96 33 99 34 102 35 105 36 108 37 111 38 114 39 117 40 120 41 123 42 126 43 129 44 132 45 135 46 138 47 141 48 144 49 147 50 150 51 153 52 156 53 159 54 162 55 165 56 168 57 171 58 174 59 177 60 180 61 183 62 186 63 189 64 192 65 195 66 198 67 201 68 204 69 207 70 210 71 213 72 216 73 219 74 222 75 225 76 228 77 231 78 234 79 237 80 240 81 243 82 246 83 249 84 252 85 255 86 258 87 261 88 264 89 267 90 270 91 273 92 276 93 279 94 282 95 285 96 288 97 291 98 294 99 297 100 300 The square roote of this 300. is 17. vnplaced 11. FINIS The second Table Numb Addit 1 5 2 10 3 15 4 20 5 25 6 30 7 35 8 40 9 45 10 50 11 55 12 60 13 65 14 70 15 75 16 80 17 85 18 90 19 95 20 100 21 105 22 110 23 115 24 120 25 125 26 130 27 135 28 140 29 145 30 150 31 155 32 160 33 165 34 170 35 175 36 180 37 185 38 190 39 195 40 200 41 205 42 210 43 215 44 220 45 225 46 230 47 235 48 240 49 245 50 250 51 255 52 260 53 265 54 270 55 275 56 280 57 285 58 290 59 295 60 300 61 305 62 310 63 315 64 320 65 325 66 330 67 335 68 340 69 345 70 350 71 355 72 360 73 365 74 370 75 375 76 380 77 385 78 390 79 395 80 400 81 405 82 410 83 415 84 420 85 425 86 430 87 435 88 440 89 445 90 450 91 455 92 460 93 465 94 470 95 475 96 480 97 485 98 490 99 495 100 500 The square roote of this 500. is 22. vnplaced 11. FINIS The third Table Numb Addit 1 7 2 14 3 21 4 28 5 35 6 42 7 49 8 56 9 63 10 70 11 77 12 84 13 91 14 98 15 105 16 112 17 119 18 126 19 133 20 140 21 147 22 154 23 161 24 168 25 175 26 182 27 189 28 196 29 203 30 210 31 217 32 224 33 231 34 238 35 245 36 252 37 259 38 266 39 273 40 280 41 287 42 294 43 301 44 308 45 315 46 322 47 329 48 335 49 342 50 350 51 357 52 364 53 371 54 378 55 385 56 392 57 399 58 406 59 413 60 420 61 427 62 434 63 441 64 448 65 455 66 462 67 469 68 476 69 483 70 490 71 497 72 504 73 511 74 518 75 525 76 532 77 539 78 546 79 553 80 560 81 567 82 574 83 581 84 588 85 595 86 6â—2 87 609 88 616 89 623 90 630 91 637 92 644 93 651 94 658 95 665 96 672 97 679 98 686 99 693 100 700 The square roote of this 700. is 26. vnplaced 24 FINIS ⧠Heerefolloweth a breefe discouerie of euery battaile before figured the square rootes whereof I haue most plainelie sette downe in Figure following which serueth to imbattaile from 100. to 1000 and so you may proceede on forward as before to 10. 20. or 30. thousand For such occasions of busines at this present driues me to conclude with more breuity then at the first I determined 100. FIrst you shall vnderstand the square roote of 100. is 10. none vnplaced bastard square 11. in Front 9. in flanck 1. vnplaced broade square 14. in Front 7. in flancke 2. vnplaced 200. The square roote of 200. is 14. 4. vnplaced bastard square 15. in Fronte 13. in flancke 5. vnplaced broade square 20. in fronte 10. in flancke none vnplaced 300. The square roote is 17. 11. vnplaced bastard square 18. in fronte 16. in flancke 12. vnplaced broade square 25. in front 12. in flancke none vnplaced 400. The square roote is 20. none vnplaced bastarde square 21 in fronte 19. in flancke one vnplaced broad square 28. in front 14. in flancke 8. vnplaced 500. The square roote is 22. 16. vnplaced bastard square 23. in front 21. in flancke 17. vnplaced broad square 31. in front 16 in flancke 4. vnplaced 600. The square roote is 24. 24. vnplaced bastarde square 25. in front 24 in flancke none vnplaced broade square 35. in front 17. in flancke 12. vnplaced 700. The square roote is 26. 24. vnplaced bastard square 27. in front 25. in flancke 25. vnplaced broade square 38. in front 18. in flancke 16. vplaced 800 The square roote is 28. 16. vnplaced bastarde square 29. in front 27. in flanck 17. vnplaced broad square 40. in front 20. in flancke none vnplaced 900. The square roote is 30. none vnplaced bastarde square 31. in fronte 26. in flancke 1. vnplaced broad square 42. in front 21. in flancke 18. vnplaced 1000. The square roote is 31. 39. vnplaced bastard square 40. in front 25. in flancke none vnplaced broad square 45. in front 22. in flanck 10. vnplaced FINIS COurteous Gentlemen great occasions of present busines calleth me from my penne which driues me to conclude in more breefe manner then I was determined Wherein I haue erred through ignoraunce I haue no doubt but you will pardon of curtesie may opportunity serue I will proceede further In the meane time I beseech you accept of this my good meaning vnto you so shall I with all willingnes rest thankefull vnto you most louing and courteous Gentlemen G. C.