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
a ranke both to fight and giue the enimie the shocke The which thing doth not fal out in many other battails that likewise doth embrace and occupie in euery respect lesse compasse of ground both the one and the other aduertisement is very substanciall for the most part of greatest aduantage for euery man of experience doth know how much it doth profit so néere as is possible to be planted placed in one vnited order and to take on hand to defend a small circuite of ground as by this forme doth verie well ensue and succéede Hée must set both in the one and the other of these places that is to say at the head and backe of the battaile the onely choise souldiers and best armed men which order hée ought likewise to obserue in those which must impale the rest the face the back and flankes of the battaile consisting of well armed Pikes specially if the situation of the ground and cariages do want as by reason is requisite and conuenient and place the Ensignes béeing accompanied with good Halberds men of valour in their accustomed standing of the footmens rankes Hée must make to his battaile two wings of Hargabuziers the one lesse and the other greater as the situation of the ground wil beare or suffer the which wings are to defend and flanke the maine square euen in the same sort as curtaines or bulwarkes with their casamates do flanke a fortresse It is verie necessarie for him to haue certaine souldiers besides the battaile and wings in the front vnder the name of the forlorne hoope and an other part that readily and couragiously béeing kéept behind the battaile may bée imploied in diuers néedefull enterprises without discouering or disseuering the wings or any other bodie of battaile ordained to other effect flanking himselfe with these wings hee may sometimes fight with great aduantage on all sides although the flankes of the said battaile be weaker containe a lesse quantitie of souldiers then the head or the backe and therfore with great iudgements these flankes ought to bée placed towards the strongest part of the situation aided with the wings of Hargabuziers and the â—…eregard for that sometimes one of the â—…ankes béeing forced to bâ—…ecome the front the said hargabuziers by good reason and very aduisedly may retire thrust themselues into the thréede of the rankes of the Pikemen from whence they may shoot and wound the enimie and defend their owne partie The forlorne hope in the front of the battaile must bée succoured with nâ—…w supplies from behind and if néede require from the winges that the front of the armed men bée neuer left naked and vncouered till the battailes bée so néere that they bée ready to crosse their pikes then must the other retire into the wings or behind the battaile to the cariages To forme and set in order this battaile with facillitie which in my opinion is the best founded firme profitable and most expedient and if necessitie did require more apt to iourney then many other forme of battailes bée I therfore say it is conuenient for the Sergeant to haue a long practise in Millitarie profession or else very good Theoricke or that which is better both the one and the other together for if a man do but only possessâ—… practised experience hee doth not alwaies direct and bring his enterprises to perfection but doth worke with more spéede and facillitie which is a thing verie necessarie and altogether requisite by Theorick only matters be wrought with perfection but much more coldly slow and with longer time The which defects and imperfections ought to bée fled of men that bée of valour It is an accustomed saying that practise for that it is a thing more material is said to bée the bodie and Theoricke the mind for that the same looking into the matter doth first dispose set in order and the other execute whereby it followes that the one the other ioined together doth make vs aptly to conceiue and readily to execute this office and euery other enterprise so that wée cannot desire any further direction And for that euery man ought to apply himselfe in all his actions to attaine to full perfection for the absolute performance therof hée ought to ioine practise with Theoricke which is reading specially in Algorisme Algebra the platformes of battailes the which in forming the order of this square battaile both instruct that you must deuide the whole number placing the souldiers which are to bée bestowed in this battaile by 21. taking from the quotient the roote of the quadrant number placing it in some part a side then multiplying the said quadrant roote by 7. you shal haue the number of souldiers which doth enter by rankes then multiplying the same roote by 3. you may find the number of the rankes which béeing done if you multiplie the number of that which amounteth by 21. the product shall shew the number of those souldiers which are not to be placed in main battail which may serue in many profitable vses and thus this quadrant battaile may bée formed Tartaglie Bresciano in his booke of Martiall inuentions giues rule to forme the same perfectly in other sort In the which it is necessarie to make quadrate the number 49. that is to multiply it in it selfe which will make 2401. this 2401. hée shal multiply by the number of souldiers hée would put in battaile shall deuide the product by the number of 100. and of the product hée shal after take the square roote the which roote wil bée the number of souldiers which shall enter into ranks shal deuide with the said roote the quotient already mentioned which ought to bée put in battail that which shal arise is the number of the ranks and the surpluse which doth arise in this last quotient are the souldiers which remaine out of the square the which are otherwise to bée emploied But to frame the square of men there is nothing to bée done but to take the square roote from the number of souldiers and the same roote will bée the number of souldiers which must enter into rank and the selfe same roote wil bee the number of the ranks this béeing done hée must force himselfe to maintaine and kéepe them in due order and iust square To obserue good order hauing made proclamation that euery one shall kéepe his place béeing assisted by the 4. Corporals and the Sergeant Maiors of the Regiments in their quarters Hée must diligently ryde héere and there about the squadrons vsing certain manifest knowne signes wherin order must bée taken openly not priuely to the intent they may be credited obeied of those that know the manner of this obseruation for by declaring the same secréetly priuately it is vneasilie very hardly executed of certain ambitious and ignorant persons which are accustomed to make profession that they are not to bée commanded more of this man then of
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
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
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
shall by the Prouost Martiall bée punished as Rebels of what calling or degrée soeuer they bée Two of these are appointed to the placing and ordering of shot and the other two for the â—…mbattelling of the Pikes and Halberdes who according to their worthines if death happeneth are to succéede the Sergeant Maior The Office appertaining to the Sergeant Maior generall DEw order and politike proportion by how much they bée necessarie in all humane affaires by so much more the weightie office of the Sergeant Maior generall is to bée had in estimation for vpon his charge aucthoritie doth depend only the good ordering of all causes but also the forme fashion and execution of the most principall matters for the readie and expedient seruice of the armie And likewise of ech other assemblie that is made through occasion of defence or offence of whaâ—… number of souldiers soeuer the which if this worthy Officeâ—… should want can neuer bée brought to passe and performed in such requisite sort as is conuenient Since that he is that person neutrall who doth kéepe together in accord the Captaines other Officers and souldiers manie times abused by their particular companie charge and offices more then is honest oâ—… conuenient And in effect it is hée that holdes a iust and equall ballance amongst the souldiers of euery in the Armie Prouided alwaies that it bée in those warlike affaires that are subiect â—…o order how to kéepe and obserue the same and such like matters and not in those things that appertaine to iustice and the rest of the office of the Marshal generall of the field as I meane to touch in the discourse of his Office Therefore this great Officer ought to haue certain sufficient and old trained souldiers about him to bée his continuall aide that is fower Corporals which may bée his consorts and coadiutors and in absence succéede him both in office and aucthority So that the Sergeant Maior by meanes of the aucthority giuen him by his Prince and through that which of custome hée doth carie by his office It is necessarie hée obserue diligent artificiall and readie meanes not only to maintain the said aucthoritie but requisitely to augment the same in the minds hartes of the Captaines of the officers souldiers contained vnder his charge and expedition to the end that in those orders fashions of squadrons battailes which hée hath determined with him selfe to vse or in those hée is to execute by the commaundement of his Captain general hée may haue such entire ready obedience as is requisite wtout the which what great diligence soeuer hée can vse is not sufficient to make any affaires or enterprises come to good issue in this important office the which might bée proued by many examples passed if wée would examine them It is most necessarie for him in his office to presuppose with himself consider of foresée al chances causes before the euent therof succéede before hand to foretell take order with others what is requisite to bée executed considering the time wherin he is to work is for the most part very short since ordinarily it doth fall in suddain rumors of Alarums so that in this hastie occasion of breuitie it is conuenient he procéede expediently orderly and readily not béeing dismaied of the enimies presence for the most part of all his actions are to bée performed euen in the face of the enimie Wherefore if hée did not gouerne himselfe warely politikely prouided with good consideration and if hée had not ordained before hand what is to bée done neuer any thing amongst so many things which hée ought to performe with perfection would succéede with happie felicitie for particularly in that time that Alarum is giuen to the souldiers vniuersally entire attention is not giuen vnto that which is commanded for the eares of all are occupied part with the rumor noise part through the clashing and clattering of the armour weapons they weare with other confusions that arise but béeing of a quicke inuention hée may suddainly perceiue and conceiue the nature situation order of the enimies aray altering and disposing accordingly his owne Besides this it is very conuenient for him to know distinctly how many Collonels priuate Captains there bée in the army of what qualitie kind their conduct guiding is and what grosse number of armed pikes halberds hée hath to command how many light armed or disarmed both of the one sort and the other the number of the Musket hargabuziers on foote the quantity of horsemen how many lances how many light horsemen how many Argoloteares what number of other souldiers of what valour or moment they are able to preuaile to the end that hée may afterwards order them about any exploit these to make the front these to bée the backe others for the wings flanks sléeues others to empale the squadrons others to enuiron the enimy others for the fit conuenient places to execute a slaughter such like others to defend the bagage artillarie munition others to entertain skirmish with the enimie for the forlorne hope others to guide and Ascolt or conuoy others to performe such other like seruice And for his better instruction must likewise accordingly haue a Roll of al the bands from the Lord high Marshal with their difference of weapon which hauing alwaies about him may reprehend the want and informe the muster Master Treasorer Hée shall likewise take order with euery Collonel Captain chieftain that in the day vpon any Alarum they conduct their bands into the market or place appointed for the main battail néere wher the artillary or munition is kept that they come not in a fond sort stragling ordispersed or vpon heapes as in disorder they are sometimes accustomed but orderly warely about the ensigne that they may make a forceable front gallant resistance where occasion offers giue a valiant onset wher néede requires for it hath bin oftentimes séene that this place of armes hath bin assaulted possest of the enimy it béeing a coÌ„mon custome that the munition of the Artillary is hoatly assaulted by the enimies the more to disseuer to break to deceiue disperse the army with more assurance ease that therby they may force the fort or break in where the munition is garded When they be entred into the place of armes euery band with the ensigne must attend to follow the sergeant Maior the Corporals in obedience silence after euery particular company is placed together in the order appointed by the Corporals sergeant Maior general the main real square battail of earth must bée made and not of number of men or of a fewe combatants and pikemen to the intent the head and the backe may bée of sufficient strength to shoulder downe the enimie by presenting a greater number of souldiers in one thréede of
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
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
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
and so consequently that which is vsed to the left shall go to the left By this meanes if the souldiers be accustomed to know their places put case they should be out of order yet should they be able to place themselues againe easily For the Ensignes do know alredie the place where they are accustomed to be planted in the battel and the Corporals knowing likewise their place may iudge also by ranke of eye vpon what part it is that they should place themselues so that those of the front shall steppe forwards to the front and those of the backe shall in like sort retire to their places Therefore the Corporals knowing in how many and what rankes they haue to arrange themselues it will follow that the souldiers not hauing any thing else to do but to imitate their Leaders and heads will readily range themselues euerie one in his owne place without hauing néede of any sergeant of a band nor any other to place them prouided that vse and practise hath made them perfect masters These things are instructed learned spéedily so that diligence be vsed that mē accustome themselues by little little and often the which after they haue once well learned they shall hardly forget It is moreouer necessarie to teach them to turne al at one time for it is somtimes requisite to make of the rereward the front or of one of the flankes the rereward according to the enimies face and according to the place of assault Now to answere towards the place néedful you haue no more to do but to turne your person towards the place appointed and so shall that part towards which the souldiers haue turned their faces be the front But he that would haue a whole battaillon turne all in one péece as if it were a massie body in this it were necessarie to haue great practise discretiō for to turne it vpon the left hand it is requisite to haue the left corner stay that those which be néere adioyning vnto the same do aduance themselues so slowly that those vpon the right corner be not constrained to run otherwise al wil be confounded but this may better be made apparant by experience then words The forlorne hope the light armed armed pikes are to be ranged in the front flanks rereward according to the proportion of the battell or as the seruice requires for these are to execute particular functions in cōuoyes forrages inuasions such like when it is not requisite to send great numbers of people The forlorne hope the pikemen hargabusiers are to begin the battel to fight amongst the horsemen without kéeping any order and therfore being lightly armed their office is to fight without stāding still or firme in running trauersing here there whether they pursue the enimies or be followed of them in which the pikemen wil do good seruice in backing sustaining the hargabusiers and may be able to make front to these that charge vpon them whether they be on horseback or foote or to follow those that be in flight to make entrance to thrust in amongst the enimies when they begin to stagger or sway Therfore al souldiers whether they be in maine battel in flanke forlorne hope in the impale or rereward haue néede to be well exercised that being disbanded they may immediatly finde againe their places rang themselues in the same aray they kept before wherein it is necessarie that all officers become more vigilant in execution then heretofore and the souldiers more obedient and expert in performing then at this day they be Our age brings forth Captaines more curious of gaine then of conseruing good order and troupes of officers rather to supplie number then sufficient to instruct The Ensignes thēselues are more in vse for a gallant shew then for any Militarie direction whereas the ancient Romaines did vse them for a guid whereby they knew how to put thēselues in order for euery one after the Ensigne did stay knew incontinently the place where they were to plant thēselues they knew that if the same did remoue or stand stil that they likewise ought to march or stay Therfore it is necessary that a camp haue diuers bands euery band his Ensigne wherin figures of number are to be portraited to shew what roome and place the same is of in euery regiment or armie and so consequently where the same is accustomed to be ranged And also necessarie Leaders and officers that the campe may haue diuers soules and so likewise diuers liues all souldiers then ought to gouerne thēselues according to their Ensignes according to the sounds the which being ordained set down according as they ought do command gouerne a whole regiment and armie The which so that it march in such sort as answeres to the batterie of the drums they shall easily kéepe their order and aray And to this end were the Flutes and fiffes found out and sounds of perfect accord for euen as men that dance by the measures of Musicke do not erre so likewise a whole battaillon which in march obeys the sound of the drum cannot breake aray and therefore the Romaines when they would change their pace when they would inflame appcase or assure the souldiers they did change sounds as the sounds did varie so likewise vsed they variety of names to them for they had the Dorike and the Phrigien sound the one did inflame the hearts of the souldiers the other did make méek appease them They had likewise other kinds of sounds as the Aeolien Iasien Lydien others the which did al serue to incite or coole the courage of men which diuersitie of batteries the Spaniards do presently verie well imitate a thing to be obserued of all good souldiers An armie that consists of diuers battaillons two or thrée fronts when they are constrained to break and are repulsed must retire one within another into the rankes of the next squadrons which of purpose are planted more thin so the first retyring enters into the 2. and the second into the 3. Note that in the first front of a square vpon the fal of any wounded or slaine souldier he the is next behind him in rank is his follower must enter and step into his roome and fill vp the void place that the front of the battel may still be maintained and so obseruing the retire of the battaillons and the renuing of their ranks we may accomplish both the Romain Gréeke discipline Those battaillons which are most necessarie to be had in vse ought to consist of pikes marching before the Ensigne behind it and on the flanks carrying light Uenecian rundels and targets on their backes and in the midst about the Ensigne the halberdeares must stand prouided alwayes that the notable personages good souldiers for seruice be dispersed as well in the flanks behind as before and not to put them all to one
brunt in the front as though they were immortall and not able to be ouercome By this order a battell shall be able to sustaine a charge of horsemen or footmen to repulse them after enter into the enimies throng for experience declares that the pikes are made voide of seruice when the rankes be closed pell mell togither for then the souldiers are almost one vpon the bodie backe of another Wherefore if the pikemen should haue no other weapons but their pikes and swords they should remaine naked which doth moue me to commend the rondell to receiue the blowes and to fight withall in any presse or throng whatsoeuer The halberdeares may verie well fight in a presse likewise with their halberds rather then the pikemen with their pikes The which halberdeares are expresly appointed for execution and so consequenly to follow the said rondels at the héeles to frée them from the charge of those that be armed through the great heauie blowes which they shall giue with their halberds But touching the rondels I would haue them alwayes to thrust with the point of their swords although it were but at the face the legges and féete if the enimie be not disarmed in other parts The ground that euery souldier doth occupie at large in marching in simple and single aray is thrée pace and being in battell two and when they fight one The distance of one ranke from another in simple and single ordinance and aray is foure and being ranged in battell two and in fight one The first sound of the Collonels trumpet is to enter into the ranke and march the second to alter the single aray into forme of battell and the thirde is to aduance and plant the battell The Collonel being in such a place as from thence he may sée his whole Regiment hauing the Caualliers of his squadre of S. George about him being such expert souldiers as I haue set downe in my second booke of directions togither with the Sergeant Maior and such as can execute any commission of importance his drum and trumpet maior about him to sound and cause his pleasure to be sodainly and spéedily vnderstood The Collonel must commande the sound to be made of his trumpet which is appointed for the ordinarie march and soone after to sounde that which is to trot and then at the selfe time that which commands and appoints the fight and combat When a battell doth consist of diuers battaillons he must not forget to exercise the first to retire within the battaillons of the second the second to retire within the battaillons of the third And to accomplish the same without breaking or disordering the squadrons The pikes in the flankes must retire as the battaillons retire the first into the second the 3. within the 4. the fourth within the 5. the fift into the 6. of the ranks and so consequently to the end The forlorne hope and horsmen shal likewise do their dutie These things done the retrait must sound and euery Ensigne must recoile his people apart to put them again in a new and single ordinance of aray for the march The enimie aduancing to fight in triangular battel with the point forward frame the battell of sheares to receiue enuiron and fight with the said pointed battaillon If the enimie march with a front stretched out in length make a triangle or pointed battel to pearce the same The baggage of an armie ought either to be in a place strong by nature or well defended by art and industrie togither with the followers of the campe pages and muchachos who must be chosen able to fight in a day of seruice for the defence of themselues and their masters baggage The spaces interualles galeries and passages which are amongst the ranks amongst the bands and amongst the battaillons do serue not onely to receiue one another either in retire or when the first ranke doth retire through the midst of the second and the 2. 3. 4. and 5. c. following him like a Laborinthus mase going forward to the last ranks and turning backe again or that his next follower steps a side and lets him passe and enter into ranke againe but also those spaces betwixt the battaillons serue the Caualliers such like that come go which carrie bring directions of the Chieftaines Collonels or Generals The forlorne hope and extraordinarie pikes must inuade the enimie with continuall great cries the battaillons or maine battell likewise at the first must giue a chearefull shout when encounter is giuen in the beginning and ioyning of the battels but afterward maintain a solemne silence that they may the better vnderstand what commandements and directions procéeds from their chieftain either for the altering of order or otherwise which cannot be heard or vnderstood if they continue a barbarous crie Squadrons battaillons must sometimes assault in great hast chiefly if the enimies artillery doe endomage them verie much and sometimes must abide the charge without remoouing when the place is vneasie that they shall be in danger to dismember specially if they be such as be not accustomed to the march maner of battels Therefore in conclusion these 4 things ought to be obserued of all armies first that all soldiors priuate bands be exercised a part in all things belonging to the wars secondly that they know how to range themselues in battell how to varie exercise and march in the same softly apace and in full course kéeping their araic Thirdly to learne that which appertaines to the exercise which they must accomplish in a day of battell and how to drawe forward and retire the artillarie to giue way and cause the Hargabuziers to issue out of the flanks hauing shot sixe or 7 Hargabusades a péece in running héere and there and without kéeping order so that they know how to ioyne and agrée with the pikemen and horsemen to whom the care ouer their safety belongs They shall retire by the flankes and by the interuals and passages each one into his place that is to say the hargabuziers of the flankes into the flanks the forlorne hope to the reregard there to range themselues according to the Collonels appointment as the day of seruice requires for if they should remaine and continue before the squadre or battel they shall hinder the maine battaillons in their fight and bring confusion The light armed pikes horsemen must likewise retire to their places vpon the ioyning of the battels The fourth exercise is as partly I haue touched before that euery one apply himselfe to vnderstand the commaundement of the Chéeftains the signification of the sounds and trumpets and the batterie of the drums by which be signified all that which is generally to be vnderstood that is to say when it shall be time to plant themselues in battell when they ought to march when to stay or go forward when to turne visage to one part or other to crosse the ground
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
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.
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
importance if before hand he haue not had great and manifest experience of them Note that it is much better to ouercome the enemy by weariing him with delaies then by furious fight put himselfe to the hazarde of doubtful fortune which oftentimes hath in battaile greater puissance then valour or vertue it selfe therefore alway procéede in these vncertaine ends of Armes rather assuredly then perrillously The order which the enemies hold ought first of all euer to be discouered The Generall being a man of iudgment dooth attend and take respect with prudence and with carefulnes both to his affaires and to the enemies and doth that is good or that which is pernicious in the one and in the other and doth preuent his traps and deceits neither suffers any thing negligently about himselfe nor assured about them In warres for the most part the victory comes by nothing els but the euill counsell and base mind of his aduersary therefore very hardly can he be ouercome that can measure and knowe both hys owne and his enemies forces and order When a Prince or his Generall hath fortefyed himselfe wyth Confederates with good and experienced Captaines wyth valiant Souldiours with Municion and weapons with money and strong places it followes that he endeuours himselfe to weaken the force interrupt and breake in sunder the aduersaries determinations the which thing may be performed spéedily or late according as occasion shall offer it selfe which is the fountaine and originall of all gracious acts To conclude the Generall the high Officers of the Army Colonels Captaines and Souldiours must daily serue God for Religion causeth good orders good orders brings good fortune good fortune makes good successe to arise in all enterprises The Armie wel paide discipline must be vsed without respect of persons Iustice to doo euery man right makes the Generall of great maiestie and reputation beloued and feared because hee dooth and is able to aduaunce the vertuous and correct the wicked For money is the flesh sinewes of the warres and ordeined for the same That warre is iust which a Prince commaunds for to recouer that is lost or to defende iniuries and wrongs offered to him by others FINIS FOR that there hath somwhat beene saide touching Townes of warre and fortifications Souldiours of iudgement doth know that a place besieged by the power of a mighty Prince cannot long endure without there be within the same a sufficient number of men Munition victuals when any of these three things lacke the enemy will soone haue the place besieged Therefore the sayde Captaine Hychcocke who hath beene the cause of printing this Booke of warre doe think it good to ioyne to the same worke this short discourse which declareth what proportion of victuals will serue one thousande Souldiours in a Garrison where the victuals must be prouided by her Maiesties Victualer As for example we wil make our proportion for Barwicke wherein I will shewe howe the chiefe Victualer and the petty Victualers gaines and profits shall rise that men may looke therein whereby all doubts and questions that may grow for that seruice shall be auoyded and the Garrison at all times well furnished with things necessary needful for victualing of one thousand Souldiours and after that proportion as the number shall fall out more or lesse Within this generall proportion heereafter I doe declare first for Bread and Beere the Bakehouse and Brew-house the Grayners for store the Windmilles the Horsemylles with theyr implements the caske and other necessary things the charges of men horses and carryages to the same belonging with theyr wages and allowance for theyr trauaile and seruice Howe thys proportion is to be prouided vsed deliuered and spent in reading ouer thys little worke following you shall find very short and playne Robert Hichcock A generall proportion and order of prouision for a yeere of three hundred threescore and fiue dayes to victuall a Garrison of one thousande Souldiours The order for the Bakehouse THe Souldiours hauing one pounde and a halfe of good wheaten bread for one pennie or one pound and a halfe of good white bread for j. d' ob the Bakers to aunswer for euery quarter of wheate beeing sweete good and marchantable deliuered at Barwicke xx sÌ„ Cleere of all charges and wasâ—…e which happeneth afterward by keeping the grayners or any other except casualtie of the Enemy after the deliuery thereof Necessaries and implements wood wages of Clarkes Bakers Myllers Carters Labourers or any other for the Bake-houses Windmils Grayners or carriage of prouision and for horse and Carts for the same are to be found by this rate size of bread without any other allowance to be demaunded sauing for wast and charges of as much wheate as the vse of baking shall be otherwise employed then to be deliuered in bread by theÌ„ who were charged with the receite from the shippes and keeping the grayners of the same The Bakehouses Windmils and Graynars béeing furnished with implements and necessaries at the entrance into seruice and in good order of repracion are so to be maintained and kept in and by all things except casualtie of the Enemy And are to be deliuered at the departure from seruice in as good order and furniture of all things as they were first receiued And considering the charge to maintaine the Bakehouse with the appurtenaunces and allowance to the pettie victualers of the Garrison after xxj loues of bread for xx A quarter of good wheat will make in good bread by order of this Booke xxv sÌ„ so haue yée of euery quarter for charges v. sÌ„ and after foure quarters the day for the whole yéere iij. C. lxv l. That is to say for wood to bake a quarter of meale in loafe breade xvj d' and after foure quarters the day for a yéere sum lxxx xvij l. vj. sÌ„ viij d' and for this repracion of the Bakehouse and the appurtenances yéerely l. l. Wages and victuall of two Clarkes two Myllers foure Bakers and foure Labourers yéerely one hundred fiftie pounde Maintenance of horse for carriage in this charge yeerely lxij l. xiij sÌ„ iiij d' All these allowances are found in the size of bread beside the branne The whole Garison béeing as before one thousande Souldiours will spend foure quarters of wheate a day and for the whole yéere xiiij C. lxiiij quarters Although by order this number wil serue yet the prouision to be at the least in Wheate for breade xx C. quarters for the prouision I account good wheate may be bought with ready money by former bargaines for seauen yeeres together for xiij sÌ„ iiij d' the quarter in Yorkshire Notinghamshire and Lincolnshire I account the charges of a quarter from the place it was bought to Barwick at iij. sÌ„ iiij d' that is to say where they sende it downe in Kéeles to giue for kéeling of a quarter iiij d' for freight of a quarter to Barwicke xvj d' and for the Purueyors charges for matts
water which in raine doth runne downe alongst the wood Euerie Souldier ought to carrie his Hargabuse Pike or Halberde vppon that Shoulder and side which is outward in rancke for that side which is discouered inward is more defended by the general order that is kept then any of the other Which order of carying Armes is not onely ready and commodious to vse at all occasions but also doth make a gallant shew and a generall forme of good proportion and true prospect a thing most necessarie for a man of valour to vse in all his doings Hee ought likewise euer to haue good regard to weare his weapon of like length the other Souldiers vse which in marching doth make the rancks to be of one iust line and in shew of a seemely and streight proportion causing the whole band to carie a braue and singular grace A Souldier ought euer to retaine and keepe his Armes in safetie and foorth comming for hée is more to be detested then a Coward that will loose or play away any part thereof or refuse it for his ease or to auoid paynes wherefore such a one is to be dismissed with punishment or made some abiect Pyoner Therefore during his seruice and after his returne home let him still be wedded to his weapons and armour that when hee is called vpon againe to serue his Prince he be not enforced to furnish himselfe againe with new Armes sometimes old of little value and lesse goodnes as some Souldiers now a dayes to their great discommendation do vse A custome altogether different from the true exercise of Armes and varying from the rule of other warlike Nations which make true profession of Armes amongst the which the Spaniards and Zuitzers at this day are to be commended the one for obseruing an apt sumptuous and warlike choise therein and the other for that they beare all sortes of Armes with great aduantage both in length strength the which vnto them becomes very familiar through the ability of body they possesse Those Souldiers which can not endure the toile and trauaile to beare Armes of defence namely the Pikeman and Halberdier are made subiect to receiue both blowes and death by the handes of their Enemies or through their disaduantage to take a shamefull flight or at the first encounter to remaine their prisoners Therefore it is very necessary for a Souldier to take paines in daily practise and to acquaint himselfe throughly in the exercise and carryage of Armes whereof hee ought to vse practise specially of those that bee offensiue and in those which ordinarily wée are accustomed to carrie as the Rapier and Dagger Pyke and Halberd with such like without making open and apparant profession of the practise thereof but secret and seuerall from the wide sight of the world that afterwardes hee may put the same in practise to his greater aduantage and commendation Finally the Halberdier who is armed either with Brigandine or Corslet ought of dutie to attend with his Halberd when his turne comes about his ensigne in marching set Squares in the Captaines Lodging and Tent for his guard and at the entrance of a house c. to bée the formost person to force the passage But in a day of battaile the old Romaine Shield and a short sharpe pointed sword to execute in a throng of men excéedes the Halberd and browne Bill Besides the pikeman which is armed all ouer with a Corslet and is to performe his dutie in a maine Square stand oâ—… Battaile to receiue the shocke of horse men or charge of the enemies infanterie There bee yet another sort of light armed Pikes which only haue the forepart of a Corslet and a Headpéece as is the Almaine Riuet or a good light Iacke or plate Coate these sometimes may be sent amongst the forlorne hoope of Hargabusiers to defend them from the inuasions of Horsemen But touching shot I would wish our Nation being men of strong constitution of bodie to beare a Peece betwixt the boare of a Caliuer and a Musket the which with smal vse they would be able to wéeld very well at the armes end which would cary a great aduantage in skirmish the which like vnto the Hargabuse they might as I said before exercise and with a galant and assured raising vp the crooked end of the stocke to his breast hauing before hand fitted the Coale of his match to giue quick iust fire wherof euer he must take the certain measure must then discharge amidst his modest trauerse to his greatest aduantage and to endomage his enemies which done he must first fold vp againe the â—…lne match in a ready and conuenient sort betwixt his fingers hauing both the endes of his match light at once that whilest the one is spent and in kindling againe the other may serue his turne Besides these foresaid weapons I would not thinke it inconuenient to haue in a band certaine Targets of proofe to march in the front which were very necessarie to defend a ranck of men in a streit lane passage breach or other place from the enemies shot they all closely and in a low order marching vnder the fauour and shade of them as in askirmish I saw put in practise when Cassimire did march with the States Armie vnder Louaine 1578. The Captaine is to set downe by the Generals appointment the summe of all their paies and the difference therein according to euery mans weapon and qualitie But to speake of other directions and Militarie obseruations A Footman that is a Souldier ought aboue all thinges to bee obedient to his Captaine and Officers and neuer abandon his Ensigne nor bee absent from his companie without leaue or speciall let In his march he ought to be modest ready in his rancke obserue a long distance in his Laumbande and kéepe an equall stay in his Alta. If wordes of aduertisement do passe ouer from rancke to rancke alongst the marching band let him deliuer those words plainly and with diligence which the Captaine giues ouer to be pronounced from mouth to mouth as to Passe Parole appertaines If the enemie cause sodaine Arme let his Bale en â—…ouche and his match in the Cocke shew his readie good will either to receiue repulse or giue charge If either for pleasure in a Muster or in any other shew in sport or earnest his company be commaunded to discharge certain volies of shot or a Salua he must either hold his Péece sidelong the ranckes whilest he doth prepare the same or with the end higher then their heads and discharge ouer the toppes of the formost ranckes for feare of hurting his companions which rule they ought to obserue and thereunto be constrained vppon paine of seuere punishment If any enterprise be made in the night let him not only keepe his match close from open shew or falling sparkes but be vigilant and keep silence to the intent that through his negligence and noise their actions be not discouered If he keepe
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
out may the better be apprehended Also if the scout-watch be taken from their quarter faining to be a souldier of the campe when they are to spie in the night they for so offending shal be cruelly punished with death 61 Item whosoeuer shall make anie wordes déedes or questions in the ward or in an ambush or in other place where respect and silence is néedfull shal be punished 62 Item he that should be reuenged of anie iniurie receiued either newly or before-time done by an indirect way that is traiterously and not by way of reason or by way of combate bodie to bodie by the licence of his Generall shall suffer death 63 Item he that should dare be so bold as to play with false cardes and dice or should vse in play anie priuy falshood theft or deceit in any wise shal be punished 64 Item he that of presumption should passe out of his place into another either before the battell or in marching should out of order make hast to go before to be the first that should come to the lodging of the campe or in marching should goe out of his rancke from one battaile to an other or he that doth not obserue the order of marching shall die 65 Item he that shall taske or ransom vpon his host or lodger or vpon any other that is not his lawfull prisoner by good order of warre and that he is lawfully taken the ransome excell not the articles of agréement that there be a iust ransome set vpon paine of punishment 66 Item he that shall enter in or goe forth by any other gate stréete or way then that which shal be accustomed into the citie pales or list or fort where the campe is lodged that is going ouer the walles or vnder some breach and not by the ordinarie gate let him fall into the paine of death 67 Item whosoeuer doth not immediately retire when hee shall heare the trumpet or drum sound the retreat either of a set battaile or of a skirmishe or batterie or of anie other fight or should goe in or come forth of the citie when the assault is giuen to the walles thereof shall die 68 Item he that speaketh or calleth or crieth aloud amongst the ordinance or in the battaile or in anie place where silence néedeth except he were a head or other officer or sergeant commanding some new order shall die 69 Item hee that shall commit anie thing whatsoeuer it be whereby it may be coniectured that it is against the prince and domageable to the generall and the campe shall die 70 Item drums and fifes must oft sound and exercise their instrumentes warning as the mouth of man to all pointes of seruice so must souldiers diligently learne and obserue the meaning of the same that none plead ignorance and neglecting their dueties to seruice appertaining Also sometimes they shall receiue from the higher officers or captaines secret commandementes by word of mouth the which must withall diligence be obserued and truely executed vpon the losse of their liues 71 Item no man in their marching through what place soeuer they shall passe shall set any thing on fire no not their cabbins and iâ—…camped place at their departing without commandement from the chief general vpon the pasue of the losse of their liues 72 Item iâ—… at any time any man shal in the time of his drunkennesse quarrell and fight with his fellowe and in so doing chance to kill him he shall in so doing receiue as great punishment by death as if he had bene sober 73 Item if any souldier doe drink himself drunke or be found drunke within the compasse of the day and night of his watch and specially if he be vnable to stand in Sentinel or do his duetie such a one must be most seuerely punished 74 Item note that souldiers shall sweare at their first entring into seruice that they will faithfully and truely serue their captaine for sixe monethes togither and when the sixe moneths are expired they shall sweare to serue him sixe monethes more if he reed them And if the captaine needeth them not so long but mindes to discharge his band the captaine shall allow ech of them halfe a monethes wages at his departing and so discharge them 75 Item there shall no man make anie showt or other stirring noise in anie corner or open place of Citie Town Castle Fort or Campe whereby any danger or inconuenience may grow vnto the companie any maner of wayes on paine of the losse of his life 76 Item he that shall disclose the watch-word to enemie or friendes except it be to such a one as hee shall be appointed by his gouernor or shall be found a sléepe in the watche scout or ward shal be punished with death 77 Item if any captaine for corruption sake shal giue licence to his own souldier or to any other souldier without the licence of the Generall to depart the campe shall receiue the same punishment that the souldier should receiue 78 Item that no souldier should goe out of the campe in the night time without the watch-word in danger of his life for if he be slaine so by the watche there is no blame to be laid vpon them that kill him 79 Item there shall no souldier go out of the campe without his armor and other weapons vpon the paine of the losse of his life 80 Item euerie captaine shal be sworne that he shall charge euery corporall vpon his oth that he shall denounce euery souldier that is vnder his charge and that is not able and meete to serue 81 Item in like case if the said corporall shall receiue anâ—…e new or strange souldier into his band his part and dutie is that he giue vnto the higher captaine knowledge thereof 82 Item no man of what condition soeuer he be shall â—… so bold as to conuey away anie offender vpon the paine of the losse of his life 83 Item that euerie souldier shall haue vpon his outermost garment some special signe or taken wherby he may be known such a one as the higher captaines shall agree vpon As for example he shall haue vpon his garment a red crosse and vpon his armour a red lace or such like whereby he may the better be knowne of his fellowes and if there be anie shall be sound without the said signes and tokens he shal be vsed as an aduersarie or enemy 84 Item that all souldiers entring into battaile assault skirmish or other faction of armes shall haue for their common crie and word S. George S. George forward or vpon them S. George wherby the souldier is much comforted and the enemy dismaied by calling to minde the ancient valeâ—… of England which with that name hath bin so often victorious and therfore he that vpon any siâ—…ster zeale shall maliciously omit so fortunate a name shal be seuerely punished for his obsâ—…ate erronious heart and peruerse mind 85 Item if anie Captaine or other Officers shall procure skâ—…mishe
or â—…ight the battaile without commaundement from the higher Officers for so offending they shall 〈◊〉 death 86 Item if that anie number of Souldiers be commaunded and placed by the head Captaines to defend or keepe anie Citie Tower Castle or Fort or anie other place and they beeing sharpely assaulted by the enemie once 〈◊〉 or thrice or ofâ—…ner in this case the lawe of â—…irmes is that the Lord Generall shall allowe and paâ—…e vnto such a number of souldiers but ordinarie wages neither is there by law of armes any thing more due vnto them and if the said Castles Towers or fortresse shall be solde or be betrayed by the said captaine officers or souldiers or otherwise yéelded without the commandement of the prince or at the appointment of the generall shall be as false traitors vsed 87 Item if anie Captaine Lieutenant Sergeant Corporal or other officer or souldiers giue into the hands of the enemie any citie fortresse tower or place of defence doth incurre as I haue said the danger of death if hee by chance be not more then constrained to deliuer vp the same or that it is like a man of valor would haue done so and therefore they ought neuer to abandon the place for words or letters of the enemie neither at the sight of the inuironing campe for it is not lawfull for the â—…astellane to leaue his Castle if he haue victuals men and munition or doth hope for succors Therefore respect is to be had which must be holden as a maxime that where the place may be defended by assault without batterie that at least one assault is to be abidden and mo to be aspected if it be possible and if it can suffer batterie they must abide at the least a volee of Canons and if the place be so weake that it cannot sustaine neither the one nor the other and that it be farre distant from succours to â—…eeld doth merite neither punishment of the prince nor of the enemie but otherwise being of force able to sustaine the enemies furie and cowardly or traiterously to deliuer the same merites death of the one and the other 88 Item if there be anie Citie Castle or other fort yeelded vp by the enemie without expugnation there shall no man be so bold to enter into the said place to spoile or otherwise to kill or do any outrage without leaue of the generall vpon paine of the losse of his life 89 Item there shal no man depart out from the precinct of the campe with anie bootie or spoile without leaue of the chiefest officers or head captaine vpon the paine of the losse of his life 90 Item if any man for feare forsaketh the place appointed him to fight in and for feare throweth downe his weapon the officers or souldiers may kill him without anie danger 91 Item if any man saying that he hath done some worthie thing in fight â—… be proued contrarie shuld be punished by death 92 Item if a Regiment or band shall by mutinies or otherwise incurre the lawes of the field it is requisite and necessary for that all shall not be put to death that euerie mans name be taken and put into a bagge and that the tenth lot should be executed The which although euerie man do not feele yet neuerthelesse he shall feare the euent 93 Item at such times as the General or captain doth muster traine or faine any battaile skirmish assault or other warlike encounter if anie souldier doth either negligently or wittingly hurt maime or kill his companion with powder bullet or meanes so euer such a one shall seuerely and exemplarly be puby what nished accordingly 94 Item that ech corporal and other officer shal haue either in written hand or print these martiall lawes and this booke wherein a priuate souldier is instructed bought and prouided at the charges of the whole squadron out of their paie to the end that it being continually repeated to the souldiers no man may plead ignorance but receiue condigne punishment according to his offence 95 Item that euery captain lieutenant ensigne-bearer sergeant or corporall so often as their bands squadrons and souldiers enter into ward shall appoint the clarke of the band or some one that can read once in the day or in the night to read vnto the companie that must attentiuely giue eare not only these martiall lawes heere set downe but also all the course of my directions belonging to a priuate souldier Corporall c contained in this booke for their instructions vnder paine of open punishment by the Generall or Marshall 96 Item that the foresaid officers after one twelue monethes seruice wherein the souldier hath had sufficient experience is inured in these preceptes and directions they shall euen as the schoolemaister doth the childreÌ„ call euery one particularly to account examine them seuerely heerein and to esteeme those for old and perfect souldiers that know these lawes and their dutie by heart and at their fingers endes and the rest Bisonians and fresh-water souldiers that are ignorant although they haue serued seuen yeares yea to place them in the most seruile seruices And if there be any that maliciously or disdainfully persist in their blunt ignorance either to disarme them and discharge them or else to punish them with open shame and infamie 97 Item if there be any man that shall infringe and not maintaine confirme and to his power diligently and dutifully kéepe and obserue these articles aforesaid such shall as periured persons with all seueritie be punished And if anie souldier or souldiers shall offend in anie maner of thing that doth belong and appertaine to the dutie of a souldier whereof there is no mention made in these articles such an offender shal be punished at the discretion of the Marshal of the field and Generall These articles must be opeÌ„ly read in the presence of the chief Captaines by the notary or scribe of the Court and after that they be read the oth shall be ministred vnto euery man by the pretor in this wise or the like wordes to the same end and purpose speaking vnto the whole companie and saying My brethren and friends that are héere present you haue heard the articles of our soueraigne containing the chiefe and principall points of our rights and lawes of the field and of the oath and the maner thereof which euery souldier ought to take All you therefore that do meane faithfully and valiantly to obserue maintaine fulfill confirme and kéepe the foresaid articles let him heere now either openly refuse to be a souldier or with me hold vp his finger and say after me All these articles which haue bene openly red vnto vs we hold and allow as sacred and good and those will we truely and stoutly confirme fulfill maintaine and kéepe so helpe vs God and his deuine word Amen These articles with others which for tediousnesse I omit would be published some vpon paine of death some with greater and some with
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
to gratifie them and helpe them to his power and so courteously win the good wils and friendly fauor of all souldiers his equals to instruct and courteously to admonish euerie souldier priuatelie and apart what appertaines to his duetie This Caualliere must be able also to traine souldiers to make them march in orderly proporcions to cast them in Ringes Esses Snailes Hearses Squadres to receiue and giue charge to faine skirmishes onsets retraites and how to order any number of Souldiers from a hundreth to fiue hundreth for so manie may be in a band and vnder one Ensigne as the Swiâ—…ers and Germains yet vse at this day and as in former ages our Countriemen haue vsed which in some respects may passe without reprehension If a Captaine be disposed to haue so manie vnder his Ensigne when hée is not able to bring the number vnto a whole Collonelship together with the knowledge of the order how to traine hée must indeuour himselfe to be perfect in drawing platformes in the Mathematickes in the martiall Lawes in besieging of townes batteries mynes and ech thing else belonging to Martiall discipline Let this worthie Caualliere of Saint Georges squadre haue then before his eyes such like precepts and manage of martiall affaires that he may encrease his owne credite win his countrie fame fauor of his Prince honor of his house and friends rather then for the regard of riches statelie houses liuings and such like but rather prefer prudent pollicie courage valor and approued experience before such base benefites whereby hée may attaine to the lawrell Crowne wherewith diuers mightie conquerors haue their heades adorned That hée may be an example to the reproch of such as lewdlie spend their daies in idlenes prodigalitie lust and obloquie The order of trayning Footemen necessarie to be obserued of all Sergeants Lieutenants and Cauallieres of the band FOr that the ignorance and decay of Armes in the beginning of this age and in these partes of Europe haue brought great confusion to diuers which haue rawlie and rashlie professed the same to the hazard of their liues and countrie And for that Mustering and trayning of souldiers to make them expert to seruice is one of the greatest errors hath bin committed therefore I haue thought good to borrow out of Master Stywards Booke of Martial discipline his maner and forme of trayning which I find in him set downe in more plaine and exquisite maner according to the moderne vse then of any that hath hitherto written so particularlie either in our owne tongue or in any other forraine language wherein the Authour doth merite great commendations whether the same procéedes of his owne experience or that he hath drawne it out of other mens trauailes But first before I enter into particulars I thinke it good to set downe what Charecters I meane to vse in these discriptions that they may bée the better vnderstood together with other notes appertaining to these present directions The Letters and Charecters C for Captaines L for Lieutenants S for Sergeants D for Drums F for Fiftes s for Hargabusiers a for Archers b for Halberdiers p for Pikes h for Horsemen The Orders which are to be obserued for the furnishing of the foresaid weapons Caliuers or Hargabuzieres or Muâ—…ketieres SUch must haue either of them a good and sufficient péece flask tutch-boxe pouder shot yron mold worme tyrebale rammer swoord and dagger and a morrion The like must the Muskete are haue with a forked staffe brest hye with a stringe to fasten to his wrest Such as serue with shot in raine mistes and windes must haue their péeces chardged and primed They must carie the tutch hoale of their péeces vnder their arme-hoales match light in their hands couertly and drie their péeces faire and cleane within and without so bée they seruiceable at all times hauing regard they kéepe their march and retyre of good distance in sunder their match and pouder verie drie and their péeces often chardged and discharged Archers or long Bowes NEcessarie it is that euery man haue a good and méete bowe according to his draught and strength light easie a light side iacke hanging loose to his knée with a skul swoord dagger nothing vpon his armes wherby in time of seruice hée may easilie draw the arrow to the head that they may deliuer the same with strength and art as Englishmen bée accustomed They must haue also a bracer and shooting gloue their stringes whipped and waxed ouer with glew their feathers drie and so is hâ—… seruiceable Pykemen THose bearing that warlike weapons especiallie the fronts where sometimes Captaines Lieutenants Sergeants and Cauallieres of bandes be oftentimes planted with Pikes and is the place for Gentlemen to serue in must haue a fayre Millan corsseâ—… with al peeces appertaining to the same that is the curats the collers the paldrons wyth the vambraces also the long taces with the burganet with sword and dagger their pykes of the vsuall length for the strength of the battaile doth consist in the same bearing the pykes on their sholders setting their thumbes vnder the same whereby it is ruled They must oftentimes practise to trayle push ward couch crosse c. as for the necessitie of the skirmish or battaile appertaineth Halberdeares or Bill-men THese bée gards vnto Captaines Ensignes which be most times chosen gentlemen of experience or Cauallieres of the squadre who as occasion serueth giue orders to the numbers in aray and the enemie approching to giue an onset certain of them bée appointed to aduance and maintaine the receit of them whose discréete leading and valiant courage doth much comfort the rest to follow the same These Cauallieres bee armed with corselets and bée placed in the hart of the battail vsuallie called the slaughter of the field or execution of the same who commonlie doe not fight but in verie great extremitie Because there is great alteration and deuision of weapons I meane to note vnto you the iust numbers to euerie hundreth at this present vsed which shall greatly profit to the making of your battailes from 100. vnto 1500. Men. Pikes Halberds Targets of proofe Shot 100 Men. 40 P. 10 H. 50 Shot 200 Men. 80 P. 20 H. 100 Shot 300 Men. 120 P. 30 H. 150 Shot 400 Men. 160 P. 40 H. 200 Shot 500 Men. 200 P. 50 H. 250 Shot 600 Men. 240 P. 60 H. 300 Shot 700 Men. 280 P. 70 H. 350 Shot 800 Men. 320 P. 80 H. 400 Shot 900 Men. 340 P. 90 H. 450 Shot 1000 Men. 400 P. 100 H. 500 Shot 1100 Men. 440 P. 110 H. 550 Shot 1200 Men. 480 P. 120 H. 600 Shot 1300 Men. 520 P. 130 H. 650 Shot 1400 Men. 560 P. 140 H. 700 Shot 1500 Men. 600 P. 150 H. 750 Shot Of Mustering and Training A Band or Companie being furnished with Officers Souldiers Armour Weapons and Munitions as aforesaid In times connenient resort whollie together to some ground necessarie to mustâ—…r march and traine
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
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
to issue without any impediment But it is verie néedfull for you in the beginning to make large and take roome inough THE THIRD BOOKE OF MILITARIE DIRECTIONS ENTREATING OF OBSERVATIONS in gouerning of Bands of Squadrons and battailes of Captaines Collonels and Sergeant Maiors generall And first the office of a Captaine which hath the guiding of a Band of men THat person which hath the charge to gouerne other men specially in matters of weight and of great importance the liues of men being committed to his handes vnder whose conduct if any quaile through rashnesse or want of knowledge he is bound to render account before God and therefore he ought to be of notable capacitie experience and exemplare in al his actions and enterprises since it is a generall note that the eyes of all those that be subiectes be turned towards their principall head and chiefe in whom as it were in a glasse they retaine an assured hope to behold most readie rules and perfect examples whereby they may guide and gouerne themselues In this particular charge of a Captaine the qualitie of his officers make almost a manifest shew of his valour and experience Therefore like an old and expert souldier as one that hath past through all those degrées and offices set downe in my two former bookes he must vse a circumspect care in leuying and making choise of his companie that is to make election of a pollitike and practised Lieutenant of a couragious Alfierus of a carefull Sergeant of gallant and valiant Caualliers of his squadre of valiant Corporals of a diligent Chancellour secretary or cleark of the band of a faithful furrier or Harbinger being of good iudgement and consideration and of a Surgian prouided of all things necessarie to minister according to his Act. But aboue all things let him proâ—…ide to retain in his band a preacher or such a person which may take care to minister the Communion to the souldiers and specially to roote obedience in their hearts who likewise euerie day may celebrate that sacred sacrifice of thanks which euen from the beginning hath bin vsed of the church And finally must haue for euerie hundreth a practised drummer of good vnderstanding When he hath gathered and vnited his companie the whole band being present his Minister must deuoutly reade certaine prayers afterward the Ensigne shal be publikely placed in the hands and recommended to the custodie of the Alfierus and as in my former discourse of this point command him to haue as much care thereof as of his proper life honour credite which he ought couragiously to aduance and display to prefer his party in a rightful quarrel according to my spéech where I set downe his duetie This done he must priuatly make election amongst his chiefest souldiers of so many Caualliers or Lancia Spezzata that is to say Gentlemen of his band as may amount to the number of two out of euerie squadre Some nations vse 50. to a squadre as the Suitzers and Germaines some others lesse according to their discretion but in my opinion 2â—… is a more conuenient number both for that the Corporall may the more often and with greater diligent carâ—… instruct sée to his charge theÌ„ if they were 50 Besides 25. souldiers deuided into 5. ranks makes a iust square so that by the same account 300. may containe 12. squadres and euerie one haue a Corporall of the same number whereof 10. Corporals haue the leading of mixt weapons the 1â—… charge ouer the Halbâ—…rdiers the 12. to consist of Gentlemen old and expert souldiers amongst whom the targets of proofe ought to be in number The Captaine at the same time when he consecrates his Ensigne must likewise solemnly constitute confirme a Corporall ouer the Caualliers of his squadre which he must dedicate to S. George and enrol their names by this title The Corporall and Caualliers of S. George his squadre He must inuest bestow vpon the corporal a scarfe of red white sarâ—…net and a Medall or iewell of gold or siluer double gilt wherein the portrature of S. George is liuely wrought to hang about his necke at his skarfe or otherwise and moreouer to him and all the rest of the squadre must giue a litle Phane or Penon of silke vpon a wyre whereof the Crosse must bée of red and the rest of the square white the other part of the sarsenet of the Captaines coulours or with what woords or deuise therein shal please him best They must weare this behind either vpon their burganets or vpon their hats if they will in a plume of red and white feathers specially in all enterprises and warlike attempts Besides this vpon their Casseckes or Mandillions towards their right brest a red Crosse of veluet satten or scarlet imbrothered or comlie stitched that they may appeare manifestly and bée knowen from the rest of the souldiers like worthie guides and leaders whose corage and valour may incite others to ascend to their dignitie and degrée They must solemnlie promise vowe and sweare to their possibilitie not only to bée the first to force the breach of a battered towne trench or fortresse to giue the first coragious onset vpon the maine battaile or the enimies squadrons to pearce a passage and gallantly guid the souldiers to the skirmish to suddaine sallies surprises escalados canuasados and such like but also to obserue maintaine and instruct the ignorant in all Militarie directions obseruations and martiall lawes of the field In respect hereof those that bée Cauallieres and Gentlemen of this squadre must bée intertained with a stipend and greater pay then the common souldier and with other notable signes of manifest difference by reason they either are or ought to bée the best and most practised souldiers in his whole band for this woord Lancia spezzata amongst the Italians is of no other signification then a tried experience in the warres To which Cauallieres he may fréelie and faithfully with great confidence and trust commit the charge of any office in his companie that is vacant or the performanâ—…e of any other enterprise or accident and may if hée will tearme them extraordinarie Lieutenants which hée must alwaies haue about him vpon any suddaine to execute his commaundement and supplie other Offices when time shall serue A Captaine ought to haue special and particular knowledge of al those things that appertaine to the office of a Lieutenant and the office of an Alfierus which if hée thinke good hée may linke both in one for amongst diuers nations now a daies one man commonly supplies both their Offices The office and dutie of the Sergeants of the Cauallieres of Saint Georges squadre whom he must estéeme as extraordinarie Lieutenants of the Corporals Clerke of the band Harbinger Drummes and Fiftes and finally the dutie of euery particular and common souldier that hée may presently redresse any thing a misse and vpon any new accident to instruct them either in marching encamping or feighting
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
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
backe of the rankes and squadron and not from the front or from any other place for in marching more attentiuely and with lesse occasion of tumult and turning those things be better vnderstood and are more capable which are spoken and proceede from behind the backe then from the front and flankes and with greater facilitie doth runne all along the rankes and as they say according to the word Passa Parola aduanâ—… the word The Sergeant Maior when his squadrons ariue at any strait passage or bridge or other narrow or diâ—…icile place that might disorder him must cause them passe ranke by ranke one after another so that the ranke being a little disseuered or broken let him frame the ranke a new so taking like order in euery rank he shal immediatly forme behind the strait and bridge in the fashion of the first appointed squadron and in this â—…ort may hée procéed with good consideration with as manie squadrons battailes as there be When he giues a volée of shot or makes a Salua of Musket Hargabussers it is much better for him to begin at the head theÌ„ in any other place that he may in due order ranke by ranke cause one to follow another euen to the backe and last ranke so that how much more it yéelds a gallant readie grace so much more makes it shew that those souldiers be practised and argues the sufficiencie of him that guides them When nothing eâ—…e of importance remains behind to be done and that the forward and maine battaile hath stood in squadrons to attend and receiue the reregard leâ—… him the same being ariâ—…ed disband the battaile hauing beforehand taken order with the Herbingers of the bands that euerie one guide the Alfierus of his owne companie to his proper quarter In disbanding the battaile let him guide the Ensignes into such a place of aduantage in height as from thence all the squadron consisting of the vantgard battaile and Rereward may with commoditie behold and sée them to the intent that euery souldier following his proper Ensigne may go therewith to his lodging and appointed quarter The order which is accustomed to bée obserued in assaulting the enemie aswell in the day as in the night I suppose it cannot expresly and particularly from point to point bee declared considering it must bée conformable to the stratagemes of the Prince or Captain generall that gouernes But I haue oftentimes séene them pâ—…t in practise and resolutely wrought with Incamisados with assured and secreat rootes and with imbuscades placed in a conuenient and apt couert such as growes to bée of aduantage to them that lies in ambush who ought to attend the time to assault silently and secretely hauing his Sentinels vedettes countersignes and voices such as bée plaine manifest able to bée vnderstood not double doubtfull and obscure The which sometimes with greaâ—… error and infinite losse hath caused one thing to bée taken for an other And this is to be done to the end that with good order in perfect sort ech thing that is hurtfull to the enimie may bée performed and put in practise Likewise the Sergeant Maior by his office must take â—…are to prouide for the munition principally al sortes of armes and armour victuals and other munition necessarie for his people Likewise to distribute the same to performe his office alwaies in the companie of the Master of the campe or Marshall of the field in planting the gard round about the campe and euer to procure the watchword with the which the said gards are to bée gouerned and after discharged if such like causes still procéede in gouernment in one selfe order but because they varie according to the custome of him that gouernes principally and sometimes as occasion â—…oth best require therefore I passe ouer the same with silence and it is sufficient that at this time I haue inferred that such like actions and operations appâ—…rtain to his office to the intent hée may alwaies remaine in a readines to accompâ—… them gallantly and according to the rules and obseruations that shalbée appointed him by his Prince Hée must take order that the bodies of the watch or Corps dâ—…gard bée ful stoared with souldiers according to the proportion of their capacitie and that at the least there hée as many for euerie Corps de gard as may commodiously supplie and maintain all the Sentinels necessary to bée made during the night allotting at the least one hower of the clocke to euery Sentinel and chiefly in the vnseasonable time of winter an hower a halfe at such time as the season is mean betwixt two two howers at the most at any other time that is serene and hoat time of the Summer forséeing alwaies the Corps de gard consist of so manie souldiers that they may bée able together with the commodious situation of the ground by the perfect proportion and placing of the Corps de gard or by meanes of the trenches or other defences already made they may in such sort sustaine the furie of any surprise at vnwares that the enimie is able to come or assault him withall Those Commissions of any importance that depend vpon his charge and are of other Officers to bée performed ought to bée committed to writing whereof they must haue a copie to the intent that they bée made void of vsing contradictions if in case they do not obey If there should arise any error of moment by this meanes he shall not be charged to faile in his duetie or be occasion of such casualties He must take order with the Sergeants with ech Alfierus with the Lieutenants with all leaders Captaines and Collonels to the intent that al that which is to be done of them may be willingly executed thereby with facilitie to shun the strife and emulation which oftentimes doth arise amongst them and that euery one of them may enioy that which iustly appertains vnto him But when for any occasion he cannot in like causes orderly gouerne them and that it shall not be good absolutely to command them let him then permit that there may be lots cast amongst them and this manner is to be vsed in case of verie extraordinarie seruice which sorte of procéeding doth not diminish or plucke away any of his aucthoritie since he commits to chaunce that which was in his choyse expresly to commaunde Finally it is requisite for a Sergeant Maior to be so studious in theorik reading practise and inuention that through his industrie he may inuent new Artificiall formes of Battels squadrons marching such thinges as appertayne to this important office For no man without inuention can be accounted excellent in his arte and profession Necessarie practises set out in proportions and figures for Captaines Collonels and Sergeant Maiors to vse in squadrons battailes and maine exploits in marching skirmishing retyring rescewing and such like THe curious conceits of sundrie ouerweening warriours and superficiall Captaines is such at these dayes as
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
fields is the best with a square battell and many pikes placing hargabuziers according to his discretion Since I haue spoken of the first maner of fight I will speake of the second which is when the enemie dooth assault at vnawares it is necessarie then couragiouslie not to loose any point of courage to place his people in square battell for that it is the most ready and most sure way that is making himselfe good flanks with the Hargabuziers of the band afterwards expecting the assault cause his battell to shut and close it selfe wel causing them to couche and abase 4 or 5 or somtimes 6 ranks of pikes in that case round about all the sides of the battel and the others to stand vpright vntill time of néede and the Hargabuziers are to hold their pikes vpon their thighes with their matches in their cockes a morce in their pan and all vigilant in a readinesse And the captaine before the battell valiantly giuing courage to his souldiors to performe the dutie of a leader aduertising that when the assault is giuen by horsemen that the pikemen couching and abasing themselues do hold the great end of their pikes fastned hard in strong earth to the end the pike may haue greater force What distance is vsed in Battell betwixt man and man ranke and ranke IN this present chapter you shall perceiue the order and maner that is to be obserued in the distance and space of ground betwixt ranke and ranke of souldiours in battell and how much space the souldiours do occupie from shoulder to shoulder aswell armed with Corslet as vnarmed Note that it is to be vnderstood of a pikeman I will first aduertise all Sergeant Maiors and all good Captaines and Sergeants and others that delight in profession of battels that there be two reasons wherefore the vnderstanding of these distances be of importance the one is to know how much ground is necessary to manage a battell how much space the circumference of the battell will take round about it according to the quantitie of the souldiours that are to be in the said battel And the other is that it is néedful to know how much space is limited to a souldior from shoulder to shoulder and from one ranke to another And this proportion hath bin found out and limited of great practised and cunning men to the intent that the said distance from one ranke to another may in a certaine space of time be accomodated that the souldiours may comodiously manage their pikes may fight and in such sort that one ranke of souldiours may succour an other that stand before them and deale in such sort that all the battell may worke good effect forasmuch as when they do accommodate themselues ouerstraite and narrowe they can neither fight nor yet hardlye mooue themselues And the same inconuenience would chance if souldiors were placed in battell one ouer farre from another or one ranke too much distant from an other Therefore it is a most conuenient thing to vse in this case those limited rules that the auncient and moderne souldiours haue set downe and such as our Captaines haue obserued The space therefore of grounde that one Souldiour with his necessaries dooth holde from shoulder to shoulder shall be of thrée foote and nothing lesse in such sort that when any battell is to bee made let vs put this example that if there be a ranke of 25 souldiours in a battell it is néedfull to imagine that the length of the said 25. footemen shall containe the space of 75. foote which is fiftéene pace Speaking of the Venetian pace which is fiue foote for the pace whereof I meane alwaies to speake The space moreouer of the ground that is to be obserued for the ouerthwart of a battell that is from one ranke to another that they may be able to manage themselues with their pikes aswell in marching as in fighting in maine battell no lesse then seauen foote is obserued from one ranke to another Moreouer to the intent he may more commodiously march with his pike on his shoulder the ground would be no lesse then of ten foote which is two pace but after when they are to close and ioyne more straite as I haue said before of 7. foote in such sort that a man in ranke with his space before him will amount to held vnto the other ranke ten foote which is two pace accounting thrée foote of ground which he holds with his person and the other 7 foote the space vnto the other ranke make 10 foote Let vs then presuppose this figure or example That he is to make a battell that is a perfect square of twentie euery way we must count how much ground the said battell will take in circuite and sée if the same be capable of the number of Souldiours which are appointed to be put and set in battell Our rule therefore shall holde vpon two fides that is vpon the fronte and the backe and taile of the battell where the Souldiours stand shoulder to shoulder in 60. foote which is 12. pace for both sides and both the foresaid sides be 24. pace The other two sides which be the flankes of the said battell where the space is left betwixt one ranke and an other of seauen foote and therefore the person of the souldier which is séene one with an other in such sorte that the battell which is to be made of 20 Souldiours for euery side a perfect square of people but not a perfect square of ground forasmuch as two sides will be 12. pace on a side which in both comes to 24. pace the other two will be for euery side 40. pace which is 80 pace and so hauing ioyned vnto the same 24. pace it will bee round about the said battell of 20 Souldiours on a side 104. pace which is 520. foote of circumference of ground and so alwaies this order is to be obserued not that you are to take a corde or a rod or pace to measure the distance of the said battell but by racke of eye by your witte and discretion consider this measure for whether it be more or lesse it little imports It dooth suffice that you obserue a certaine discretion that may come to the marke I haue written if it doe not light iust at leastwise néere the bounds and measure I haue set downe Now since we haue put this figure and example of a perfect square battel of people but not of ground for 20. souldiers we wil speak of an other forme or figure somewhat differing or disagréeing from such like battels and yet for all that of the same number of twentie Souldiours for euery side in perfect square the which is square of people of ground as some doe vse to make as may appeare in a battell of 400. Souldiours square in ground and people the which being in this forme hath for space of ground about in circumference 800. foote which is 160. pace This is sufficient to
remember you of the manner that is obserued in the distance and measure in the circumference of the battell And now returning to my discourse of one ranke from another when the Souldiours are ioined closed in battell with their pikes when they stand in terme to fight to me it séemes that then in that accident the battell is to close and ioyne as straight together as is possible in such sort as they may manage and bestir themselues with their weapons without being an impediment one to another to the intent that the rankes being straite in fighting or that the souldiors be inuaded by their enemies or that they recoile by force of an onset they néed not to fal to the ground but rather that they may by those ranks that bee behinde their backes receiue helpe that vndersetting them with their brests they may hold them straight vp vpon their féete And this is not onely my opinion but of diuers other mosâ—… excellent wits The other rule of the distance of seauen foote from ranke to â—…anke which we haue spoken of is meant of marching and the managing and exercising of a battell to the intent the soldiors may receiue exercise discipline in the said battell in the which alwaies the foresaid order of measure distance is to be obserued to the intent that the Sergeant the other heads which do gouerne them may the more comodiously manage and enter in and out through the space of the said ranks How battels of euery number of footmen are compounded and placed together in order MAny sundry be the waies which be obserued in compounding together the battels of footmeÌ„ but I verely thinke that the most expedient short way amongst practised soldiors is in these two sorts that is the one to ioyne together the battel with diuided maniples and the other to double the ranks of the aray The sergeant Maior Captaine or other Sergeant hauing first determined in his minde of how many men in a ranke he will make his battell knowing first the number of the pikes that are to be had so making of one company as he may do of many one onely battell procéeding to make the battell in which of the â—… waies he list either by parting it into maniples or by doubling the ranks It is therefore first requisite to set the footmen in aray that are to be found there present numbring all the pikes and accomodating the araye in such sort that the battell may afterwards be made withall spéed and that it may serue the turne for either of those two waies as I haue said It is necessarie therefore to know the place where the battell is to be set and to take care that there be so much space as may be capable thereof knowing the rules of distance which is vsed in warfare that is how much ground the Souldiours hold from shoulder to shoulder and how much distance is left betwixt ranke and ranke of pikes But touching the measure I néed to speake no more for that the officer may measure the ground by pases yet I would commend a Souldiour that is of such discretion that of himselfe can accomodate those things by racke of eye without such precise trouble in measuring the grounde And if a battell require 300. paces in circumference hee by racke of his eye maye sée whether the place bee capable or no noting that the rules to put the distance of ranckes is made for this other respect which is of much more importance that the rankes of the battell may fight without any impediment of the Souldiers foreséeing that euerie third ranke may succour the first with their pikes and speaking of battels you must euer thinke that I speake of pikes for battels are neuer made of hargabusiers it is verie true that hauing made the battels of pikes you may accommodate them afterwards as you list about the battels by the flankes in the corners hornes or betwixt one pike and another of the formost rankes of the battell or in such other sundry wayes as may best aid and helpe the battell let iâ—… suffice that of Hargabusiers there is neuer any certaine rule set downe but euer is to be vnderstood of the order of pikes in battell of the which two wayes where I speake how a battell must be made wel and spéedily I will endeuour my selfe to let you vnderstand the way the best I can Desiring therefore to worke by the first way I haue spoken of that is to make any battell by maniples if it be to be made of any one company alone let it be of what number soeuer of footmen it is first requisite to set the aray with intent to diuide it into thrée parts that is to say into 3. maniples which may be iust of as many rankes one as another in the which maniples you ought by numbring the rankes of the pikes cause the Ensignes of the said aray to kéepe one ranke like vnto the pikes and this is obserued when the thrée maniples be vneuen that is to say that two of them should chance to be of 20. ranks and the 3. of 19. or 18. rankes and then the Ensignes shal be numbred for one ranke but alwayes the other two maniples are to be of iust number as for example There is a company of 300. pikes the which if you desire to put in aray before you make your battell consider how many ranks they will be 5. in a rank and you shal finde them to be 60. ranks diuide the aray into 3. parts cutting them off at euery 20. ranks and after draw vp to the first ranke the second part that is the maniple of the middest and ioyne in order the first ranke to the head of the first maniple the which being on the right hand of the maniple with the Ensignes you shal draw then the 3. maniple to the left side ioyning the first rankes to the head of the other two maniples so that the aray hauing bene of fiue for a ranke the battel shal be one way 15. and the other way of 20. pikes Now desiring to haue the battell to be more large in the front then in the flankes the which I commend of what number soeuer the pikes are of he shall cause the Sergeant to go to yâ— flank where he would make the front and standing still a little distance forth of the battel he shal crie aloud Turne your faces this way the which being heard of the souldiers sodainly they shall turne them selues towards that side which he shall giue them notice of Obserue then this order at all times when you haue made a battell let the pikes be of what number soeuer let it suffice that I aduertise you that at al times when you list to make the front where the flanke is so that the place where you would make it be capable and commodious that you may frame and make the battell according to your determination you
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
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
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
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
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-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-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-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