the terror of Muskets Caliuers and Pistolls they would haue used the lesse Bowes Speares and Bills as the actions of these famous kings shews their Captains to be the most expert Likewise we must confesse Alexander Caesar Scipio and Hanniball to be the worthiest and famoust warriers that euer were notwithstanding assure your selfe had they knowne Artillerie they woulde neuer haue battered Towns with Rammes nor haue conquered countries so easily had they bin fortified as Germanie France and the Low countries with others haue bin since their days Although the ground of ancient Discipline is the most worthiest and the most famous notwithstanding by reason of fortifications stratagems ingins arming with Munition the discipline is greatly altered the which we must follow and be directed as it is now otherwise we shall repent it too late The difference betwixt Launtiers and Pistolers TRue it is as Monsieur de la Nowe saith a squadron of Rutters meaning Pistolers ought to beate a squadron of Launtiers It were a great follie of me either to deny his reasons or deeds the little experience I got was from him and from such others as himselfe Touching Monsieur de la Nowe he is knowne to be one of the worthiest and famous warriers that Europe bred in his days I do perswade my selfe a squadron of Pistolers ought to encounter so many Launtiers if they should enter into the squadrons of Lantiers as Monsieur de la Nowe saieth Without doubt the Pistol discharged hard by wel charged with iudgement murthers more than the Launce out of a hundred Pistolers 20. nor scarce 10. at the most do neither charge pistoll nor enter a squadron as they shoulde but commonly and lightly always they discharge their Pistols eight and fiue score off and so wheele about at which turnes the Launtiers charge them in the sides be they wel conducted if they should enter as Monsieur de la Nowe speaks the Launtiers haue or ought to haue one Pistoll at the least touching their arming and mounting they ought to be rather better than worse The captains or captaine that charges either with troups or troupe cares not much whether the cōpanies breake their launces or not but desires thē to enter resolutely and to keep close together If they be wel conducted their leaders command more than half of thē to carie their swords or pistols in the bridle hand rather than faile to vse the sword pistoll quit their Lances but they wil be sure to place the best of the Lantiers in the forefront Lightly of euery hundred 15. or 20. know how to breake being wel broken with care of the goodnesse of the staffe and head the blowe of the Launce is little lesse in valor vnto the pistoll the charge of the Lantiers is terrible and resolute being in carier to breake the enemies perceiues their resolution is to enter and not to wheele about like vnto the pistolers seldome or neuer at al shal you find pistolers charge or enter a squadron either horse or foot on the spurs like vnto the Launtiers but softlie on a trot or soft pace persuading themselues as it is true their Pistolls giue as great blowes without the force of the horses Considering the resolute charge done with the might of their horses the Launtiers are more terrible and make a farre fairer shew either in Muster of Battaile for example the Almaines during the time they carried Launces caried a farre greater reputation than they doo now being pistolers named Rutters The most Chiefes or Souldiers of account are armed at the proofe of the Pistoll If the Leaders commaund their troupes to spoyle horses the Launces are more sure for diuers Pistolls faile to goe off if they doo they must be charged with discretion being ouercharged it shakes in a mans hand so that often it toucheth neyther man nor horse If the charge be too little it pierceth nothing to speake of True it is being pickt and chosen the Pistolers murther more would they doo as Monsieur de la Nowe directes them But it hath beene seldome or neuer heard that Launtiers gaue place vnto Rutters but I was often in their companie when they ranne away three from one Launtier both in great troupes and small True it is the great Captaine the Admirall Chatillion chose often to fight and would haue diuers or the most of his horsemen to bee armed wyth one Pistoll and a good Curtilace hee had great reason for the most of his followers on horsebacke were Gentlemen of qualitie or resolute Souldiours that fought for the Religion Diuers of the Gentlemen were in quarrells for their houses or for their particular reputation but all in generall were resolute valiant faithfull men of warre that fought either for religion or reputation to maintaine their wordes after the olde Romane fashion Being such men no weapons comes amisse for constancie and true valor ouerthrows al pollicie being in Armes readie to fight without delayes Besides the nature of the Frenchmen is such that they will grudge to carrie any Armes but such as please themselues vnto the which their Leaders were faine to agree partly against their wills fearing otherwise to offend their humours knowing it lay in them to followe whome they lifted especiallie their Realme beeing diuided into factions being al vnited their kings were faine to hire Switzers and Almaines for their battailes on foot I meane armed Pikes which is the bodie of all battailes To prooue Musketiers the best small shot that euer were inuented THe difference betwixt the Muskets and any other peeces that are vsed If it be in a battaile howsoeuer the ground or place falles out in Trenches either assailing or defending Townes Forts or Fortresses or in defending or assailing streights or passages whether it be by night or day in my iudgement fiue hundred Muskets are better than 1000. Caliuers or any other such shot and are to bee valued from that rate vnto the greatest numbers My reasons are thus the Musket spoyles horse or man thirtie score off if the powder bee anie thing good and the bearer of any iudgement If armed men giue the charge few or any carrie Armes of the proofe of the Musket being deliuered within ten or twelue score If any great troupes of horse or foote offers to force them with multitude of smaller shot they may discharge foure fiue or sixe small bullets being deliuered in volley the which pearceth al they strike vnlesse the enimie bee heauely armed the which are not vnlesse it be some 100. of a 1000. at the most of either horse or foote By that reckoning 100. Muskets are to be valued vnto 200. Caliuers or more the Caliuers may say they will discharge two shot for one but cannot denie but one Musket shot doth more hurt than two Caliuers shot farre or nere and better cheape although the Musket spend a pound of powder in 8. or 12. shot and the other smaller shootes twentie and thirtie of a pound Considering the wages and
would grudge by reason all or the most part of these companies belong vnto them For example our Band of horsemen Pentioners did account them the fairest Band of ordinance in Europe for the number because all the men at armes are Gentlemen of qualitie wherefore I doo value this Band better than twice as manie of any other let them bee of what Nation soeuer I may speake it by good experience out of this Band there may be pickt 15. or 20. sufficient to answere so many at all deedes of armes let it be chosen out of any Armie be it neuer so great considering their charges in payes expences in victuals munition and their liberties for dueties I meane to conuoy guard and to watch so many priuate Launtiers as this faire Band musters in all of horses vnder their Ensign or Guydon would excell them my reason is as I said before because euery Launtier is a master and receiues his owne pay To prooue Hargulatiers more seruiceable than Speare men tearmed by vs light Horsemen THE difference betwixt our Northerne Speares Light Horsemen we tearme them and the Light Horsemen tearmed by the strangers Hargulatiers as much to say Hargabushes or Petronels on horseback Touching the mounting and arming of these hargulatiers I shewed you before the seruice of all Light horsemen consists chiefly in marching of great marches Caualgades the strangers terme it I meane to surprise Cōpanies a farre off in their lodgings or marches likewise to defeat conuoyes to conduct conuoyes as much to say direct it to spoyle necessaries that come to furnish their enemies and to conduct necessaries to furnish their own campe or seruice Also to scout and discouer to spare the armed men I meane the Launtiers the other horsemen likewise both to conduct spoile forragers with the like seruices They be neuer commanded to do any exploits on men of Warre without being accompanied with Launtiers or armed Pistolers I meane Curaces on horseback Diuers march with swords without Pistoll or Launce especiallie the Frenchmen For these seruices it is necessarie to haue in armies or troupes for euerie 500. Launtiers or armed Curaces 100. of these kinde of light horse from that rate to the greatest numbers If horsemen bee directed to assaile troupes at their lodgings either in villages streights or fields where it requires too great a march for footemen to keepe companie with the horsemen without doubt these hargulatiers are farre better then the spearemen my reasons are these when the horsemen approach the enemie if it bee in a village lightly they must passe through barriers and narow streights bard with waggons both of victualls of their men of warre where commonlie the Enemie keepes guardes watch If the passage bee such either in entring a village or straight that horsmen cannot finde place to enter and to charge these hargulatiers light on foot do no lesse dutie than foote hargabushiers If the enimie be lodged either too strongly or to manie for the assailants to doo any good on their quarter as ye must think a 1000 stronglie lodged in a village or streight with good guard and order are worth 2000. without let them be of one valure and conduct then the assailant will addresse an ambush perhaps in a passage or narrow streight short of the Enemies quarter where he will also cause all or the most of those Hargulatiers to light then place and hide them in such sort that 100. shot wil spoyle and defend ten times more than themselues vnles the enimies bring shot to displace them if they doo the Ambush may dislodge if hee thinkes the partie vnequal the which he could not were his Hargulatiers Hargabushers without horses beeing ingaged to fight I confesse also the Hargulatiers farre better than the spearemen for this seruice if troupes of armed curaces launtiers or others chance to meete by fortune with the like enemies in a champion the Hargulatiers vnarmed march on both sides of their squadron like wings of shot about a squadron of pikes vntil the launtiers or curaces charge diuers of their Hargulatiers march skirmishing before the squadrons like forelorne men after the Almaine phrase when the squadrons charge they flye on both sides to their fellowes They place their armed Hargulatiers behinde the squadrons they execute more than the Launtiers after the Launtiers break into the enemies squadrons for the armed hargulatiers ought to be as well mounted and armed for curace and caske sauing their beauers as the launtiers the most of them as I shewed you before carrieth a pistoll besides his caliuer or petronell Let it bee for what seruice Captaines can deuise these hargulatiers are better than our sort of speare men that wee tearme Light Horsmen I perswade my selfe that all the warriers in Europe sauing our selues and the Scots will bee found to be of my minde I am sure the Earle of Essex Generall Norris the Lord Willoughbie Sir William Russell Sir Richard Bingham with the most of all that serued against the great Captaines I meane the Prince of Parma and his followers will say and confesse as I doo For example the famous Mounsier de la Nowe commanding chiefe of the warres vnder the Prince of Orange and the States in Flaunders had 5. Cornets of these spearemen all Scotts he finding little seruice with these kinde of arming and mounting changed them vnto Launtiers and Hargulatiers the which afterwards prooued to be seruiceable as braue bāds as any other vnder his charge especially the company of Seaton True it is braue men wil shew themselues valiant with any kind of weapons al maner of ways but the best sort of arming and mounting is the more profitable the more seruiceable Although our two nations I meane English and Scottish may compare in my opinion do excell all the rest of the world in value and strength notwithstanding neyther of both our Nations can compare with the Strangers for the mounting and arming vnlesse we resolue to be Launtiers Pistolers and Hargulatiers as I shewed before Our discipline is to haue 1000. Spearmen and some 200. Launtiers from that rate to the greatest numbers which ought to be 1000. Lantiers and 200. Spearemen Likewise from that rate to the greatest and those 200. ought to be Hargulatiers I know no reason but 2000. Lantiers 2000. Pistolers 1000. Hargulatiers should not Master 20000. Spearemen on horsebacke Likewise from that rate to the lesser numbers you must think the reason was that our kings of England Scotland fought always or the most part on foote because their whole trust was on the footmen and that all strangers mastred them with horsemen Assure our selues let vs keep their discipline with horsmen none shal master vs number to number although they were more Let vs not erre in our ancient customes although our famous Kings Hen. 5. Edw. 3. and Hen. 8. were the most worthiest warriers that our nation euer had notwithstanding you may be assured had they knowne
expence of two to one the Musket is better cheape and far more seruiceable Some thinke the Musket cannot march far in a day or night or cōtinue long without rest by reason of their weight nor skirmish so nimblie nor so often by reason of their length weight and sore recoyling Armed men are heauier loaden than the Musketiers and more combersome in carriage lightlie no great troupe matches ten miles without resting although it be but a little at euerie stand and nere the enemie the Musketiers are suffered to quit their weight leauing their Muskets in their rests the armed men will not be suffered to disarme themselues in their march let thē stand neuer so often if they be within fiue houres march of an Enemie any thing equall of either horse or foote by that reason they haue a little aduantage Fewe Captaines will force any great troupe of footemen to march aboue 15. miles without resting if the Enemie be equall and in hazard to fight although it be 20. miles both armed men and Musketiers wil not stick to march if their Leaders haue any credite with them and discretion to furnish their troupes with victualls and necessaries that belongs vnto such a march Touching their often discharging nimblenes profit I answered before For recoyling there is no hurt if they bee streight stocked after the Spanish manner For their weight and sure shooting the Muskets haue aduantage on all the other small shot by reason they shoote in their rests true it is were they stocked crooked after the French manner to be discharged on the breast fewe or none could abide their recoyling by reason of their great charges of powder but being discharged from the shoulder after the Spanish manner with the thumbe betwixt the stocke and the face there is neither danger nor hurt if the shooter haue any discretion especiallie not to ouerload their pecces and take heede that the bullets ioyne close to the powder Few seruices of importance are executed in the field without armed men and where armed men wil march the Musketiers are il conducted vnlesse they doo the like let it bee neuer so farre The ouerthrowes of all Battailes and great fights are giuen within two miles the most in halfe a mile for that space were it further the Musketiers march as their leaders needs to wish them Touching light skirmishes vnles it bee to some purpose none vseth them vnles it bee rawe men or light headed that delights to heare the peeces crack as I saide before the most seruice consists either to defend or assaile passages by water or by straits or to assaile townes forts fortresses or whatsoeuer seruice you can inuent if it be done on great troupes the musketiers are the terriblest shot most profitable that euer was deuised The Spaniards do vse them most findes their seruie terrour such that I perswade my self shortlie al or the most of their small shot will be Musketiers True it is I doo thinke it necessarie to haue of 1000. shot 200. Caliuers from that rate to the greater number and such shot for this purpose when occasiō presents to make great marches Caualgades the strangers calls it to giue Camisadoes on troupes that are lodged a farre off to surprise Townes Fortresses or passages that are simply mand and negligentlie guarded or to lye in Ambush a farre off to cut off conuoyes passengers and such services These lighter shot are necessarie to march great marches with horsemen for these purposes the which are often taken behind the horsemen for expedition of great marches to doo executions vnlooked for To proue the Pike the most honorable weapon carried by Footemen THe Pike is the most honorable weapon that is carried by footmen the Pike is the strength of al battailes I know no reason but two thousand Pikes 1000. Musketiers shuld not retire ten miles although it were all champion grounds from 3000. horsemen mounted armed as Captaines can deuise The Pike is the chiefest weapon to defend and to enter a breach although diuers guards nere a place assieged are furnished onelie with shot short weapons as armed Holberts Targets and such weapons by reason their Trenches are narrow and deepe to couer them from the defendants shot in which trenches the Pikes haue no conuenient place to fight notwithstanding about their batteries and in diuers places nere vnto these guards they make large Cordigards where they place their Ensignes in some and in all strong guards of Pikes meaning thereby to put their strength and rest chieflie on that weapon wherefore the experimented Spaniards commands all their chiefe men on foote to carrie the Pike What number of short weapons there ought to bee amongst one thousand armed men from that rate to the greater nūber I Perswade my selfe there ought to bee amongst one 1000. Pikes 200. short weapons as Holberts or Bills but the Bills must be of good stuffe not like our common browne Bills which are lightlie for the most part all yron with a little steele or none at all but they ought to be made of good yron and steele with long strong pikes at the least of 12. inches long armed with yron to the midds of the staffe like the Holberts for example like vnto those which the Earle of Leicester and Sir William Pelham had in the Low Countries for their guards being made thus no doubt but it is a necessarie weapon to guard Ensignes in the field trenches or townes and a good weapon to execute but no better thā the halberd Because the Frenchmen make their halberds with long neckt pikes and of naughtie stuffe like our common browne bills diuers of our Nation condemnes the Halberdes but let the Halberds bee of good stuffe and stronglie made after the Millaine fashion with large heads to cut and broad strong pikes both to cut and to thrust then no doubt the Halberd is nothing behinde the bill for all manner of seruice and armes a souldier fairer than the bill Both Bills and Halberds ought to haue corslets with light Millain murrians the foreparts ought to be of reasonable proofe I meane of the proofe of the Caliuer discharged ten or twelue score off so ought the pikes also to haue the foreparts of the corslets of the like proofe fifteene or twenty of euery hundred from that rate vnto the greatest numbers I knowe no reason that a thousand armed men ought to aske aboue two hundred targetters of the proof those weapons are very combersome they are best to arme men to discouer breaches or for the defendants to discouer trenches or the enemies workes and for to couer shot that skirmishes in streights their weights are such that few men will endure to carie thē if they be of good proofe one houre I perswade my selfe the best arming of targetters is to haue the corslets of reasonable proofe and the targets light so the bearers may the better and nimbler assaile and fight the longer in defending To prooue
A Briefe discourse of Warre Written by Sir Roger Williams Knight VVith his opinion concerning some parts of the Martiall Discipline Newly perused Imprinted at London by Thomas Orwin dwelling in Paternoster Row ouer against the Signe of the Checker 1590. TO THE MOST HOnorable my singular and best Lord Robert Earle of Essex and Ewe Vicount Hereford and Bourghchier Lord Ferrers of Chartley Bourghchier and Louayne Master of the Queenes Maiesties horse and Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter Roger Williams wisheth increase of all Honor and Vertue MOst honorable Lord hauing busied my self more than two yeares in writing sundrie actions that passed in our daies especiallie the great actions of the Netherlanders since the first arriuall of Duke D' alua vntill the late sieges of Sluce and Bergis hauing resolued to print and dedicate them vnto your Lordship diuers occasions perswades me to craue pardon for a time assuring your Lordship if health and libertie permits leaue to present them vnto your selfe in the French tongue hoping by those meanes to bee rightlier iudged than I haue been hethervnto In troth but for the negligence of a seruant that lost part of my discourses I would not haue printed any thing without the whole wherefore I haue taken boldnes to present your Lordship with some of my lost papers humblie desiring you to accept them as from a Souldier that hath but smal skill in writing or inditing but could I doo better assuredlie it should bee vnto your selfe and shall bee in any thing I can performe Beare with my faults be assured of my loue and command my life next vnto my sacred Soueraigne deare Countrie Your Lordships most bounden to serue Roger Williams To all men of Warre in generall NOble Souldiers of what qualitie soeuer where I discourse of the vertues and vices that aduanceth and ouerthroweth all actions all that hath their honor to lose may claime part of the vertues neither needes any to bee grieued at the vices vnlesse they condemne themselues guiltie the greatest Captaines of Europe can witnesse that I robbed neither superiour nor companion of his right much lesse hath been euer my thoughts to wrong any generall action the which all or the most of you that knowe me will beare witnesse when my Netherlanders discourses with others comes out I thinke Gonsalua was called the last graund Captaine but I perswade my selfe neither he nor any other before him had euer carried that name without the seconding of a number of braue companions The most worthiest Caesar although hee was highly ambitious notwithstanding in his Commentaries written by himselfe hee imputed part of his honour vnto his Lieftenants and Officers Wherefore should not others doo at the least the like being not worthie to be compared vnto the basest sort of his followers no honorable minds can bee free from honorable ambition but the ambitiō may be such let the minde be neuer so great if hee robbs the honor of his companions he wrongs himselfe and imbates his action Few men of iudgement but knowes it impossible for one man to conduct an Armie without Officers vnpossible for any state to knowe the worth of their Captaines without being in action with great enemies but for that triall the Parisians Gauntois Antwerpians and such would onelie place squadrons in battailes chuse grounds march in what order you would arme men in good order fortifie and discourse with other matters to the shew as though they had been great masters of Campes but when they were tried with the furie of expert executioners their warres prooued but May-games Although I perswade myselfe my Discourse bee Vnpleasant with small iudgement notwithstanding being perswaded by honourable good friends I tooke courage to print it true it is no action ought to be printed without the consent of sundrie Actors or at the least by one Principall which ought to signe his workes with his name otherwise wee finde the most Actors wronged and robbed of the most of their reputation some with enuie or malice others with glorious ambition sometimes you haue most honorable quiet Estates wronged with ambitious follies libells the which are hardlie knowne and found out but being signed by the author deserues hee well the honour is his if ill the shame shall be his Men of Warre ought to bee more open hearted more liberall and more affable than any other profession although their secrets ought to bee but vnto fewe their hearts must be open vnto the multitude and liberall to confesse good deserts as well as with their purses although their resolutions be agreed on by two or three notwithstanding the more affable they shewe themselues vnto the multitude the greater will be their voges and loues Some tearme men wise for not speaking many words true it is idle speaches are windes and a disgrace vnto the speaker but bee they to good purpose the more hee speakes the greater is his praise You must thinke to repeate great actions it requires many words to perswade the fewe expert companions to offend or defend a fewe words will serue but to animate or disswade the rude multitude the more words and the oftner the better Wee doo finde the most Conquerours were greatlie aduanced with the orations of their Orators as well amongst the seruilest sort as the rude multitude without speaches the wise can not be discerned from the foolish nor without triall of gouernement against equall enemies the perfects Captaine cannot bee knowne from the most ignorant Otherwise ignorance will condemne Generalls their followers and actions let them bee euer so great although themselues neuer carried places of reputation either in field or towne nor commanded more than ouer their owne seruants saying wee haue knowne great Potentates Campes and Courts Let no man bee so simple to iudge them worthie to condemne great actions or their actors without being imployed in their great affaires it is hard for men to gouerne themselues well harder to gouerne a few more harder to gouerne many much more a great multitude some can gouerne a houshold and cannot gouerne a towne some can gouerne a towne and not a whole countrie A man may be sufficient to conduct a priuate companie and not sufficient to command a Regiment likewise sufficient for a Coronell and not for a Generall But whether it be for policie or Armes it is an error to thinke men without triall worthie to bee compared vnto the others tried in what place soeuer great or small Diuers play Alexander on the stages but fewe or none in the field Our pleasant Tarleton would counterfeite many artes but hee was no bodie out of his mirths Many haue a vertue few hath many none haue all the most men lookes into their fellowes faults but fewe lookes into their owne beare with mine I will beare with thine loue mee I will loue thee let vs loue each other and God will loue vs all on that condition noble superiours Roger Williams wisheth to you all honour
Bow men the worst shot vsed in these days TOuching Bow men I persuade my selfe fiue hundred musketers are more seruiceable than fifteene hundred bow-men from that rate to the greater numbers in all manner of seruices my reasons are thus among 5000. Bowmen you shall not finde 1000 good Archers I meane to shoot strong shoots let them be in the field 3. or 4. months hardly find of 5000. scarce 500. able to make any strong shootes In defending or assayling any trenches lightly they must discouer themselues to make faire shoots where the others shot spoile them by reason they discouer nothing of themselues vnlesse it be a litle through small holes Few or none do any great hurt 12. or 14. score off they are not to be compared vnto the other shoots to line battels or to march either in the wings of any battailes or before as we terme them from the Almaine phrase forlorne hope Diuers wil say they are good to spoile the horsmen I do confesse it if the horsemen come within their shootes and can not charge them by reason of their trenches or guards of pikes Lightly when the horsemen approach within twelue score the trumpets sound the charge if it be on shot that lies where they cannot charge they are ill conducted that leade any great troup of horsmen to charge trenches Commonly the Cornets or Guydons charge one an other if there be any of both sides if not few horsemen well conducted will charge either trenches or battailes of footmen vnlesse they see a faire entrie or the footmen begin to shake as good Captains wil soone perceiue If they do charge they will be sure to be well accompanied with small shot which soone terrifieth bowmen especially the musketters besides the horsemen are all well armed in such sort that Bowmen cannot hurt the men let them say what they list when the men are sure the arrowes will not pierce them they wil be the valianter although the horses be killed and the Masters seruice lost for that day notwithstanding they thinke it better to be taken prisoner sixe times than killed once beside the munition that belongs vnto Bowmen are not so commonly found in al places especially arrowes as powder is vnto the other shot Also time and ill weather weakneth the bowes as well as the men In our ancient wars our enemies vsed Crossebows and such shoots few or any at all had the vse of long bowes as we had wherefore none could compare with vs for shot but GOD forbid we should trie our bowes with their Muskets and Caliuers without the like shot to answere them I do not doubt but al honorable and others which haue serued in the Low Countries will say as I doo notwithstanding some will contrarie it although they neuer sawe the true triall of any of those weapons belonging eyther to horse or foote alledging antiquitie without other reasons saying we carried armes before they were borne Little do they think how Caesar ended all his great actions in lesse than twelue yeeres by their reckoning none could prooue great Captaines that followed him which began and ended in that time as Duke D'alua said the longer experted the more perfect T'rue it is long experience requires age age without experience requires small Discipline Therfore we are deceiued to iudge men expert because they carried armes fortie yeeres and neuer in action three yeeres during their liues counting all together Some wil say what discipline could there be seen in the actions of the Netherlanders and France counting them ciuil wars touching the Netherlanders the worlde doth know their warres dured 23. yeeres without anie peace putting all together not 15. months The wars of France dured 30. yeres true it is they had often peace a long time together wherefore it cannot be compared vnto the other notwithstanding in these actions were imployed all the brauest Nations of Europe their greatest Captaines enginers and counsellors for warre What Fortifications are best to withstand a royall batterie and to prooue a wet ditch better than a drie SOme will condemne me for my strange names of Fortifications they ought to pardon mee for my part I know no other names than are giuen by the strangers because there are few or none at all in our language If a man shuld call a Casamate a slaughter house the multitude would thinke I speake of a place to kill biefes such matters if I should call a Cauilere a moūt diuers would aske what to do to place windmills or artillery if I should call a rampire a wall they would think I lied vnlesse it were made of lime and stone therefore as the most languages calls London and Bristow as we do so is it best for vs to call their inuentions as they do touching Muskets Caliuers and Hargubuziers with other things wee agree with their names The best dry ditch is to haue the ditch 100. paces broad 50. foote deep 4. Casamats on euery side of the Bulwarkes the lowest to flanke the bottome of the ditch from the one side vnto the other the second like wise within ten foote with broad Casamats that the Artillery may be raised hie behind to beat a long the ditches as nigh to the botome as can be deuised the third and fourth Casamats likewise within ten foot one of another to flanke the ditch in euery part as lowe as may be deuised also the fourth Casamate must flanke the Counterskarfe in euery part the Counterskarfe ought to bee three score broad rising from the foote to the head the head ought to couer the ditch and rampire as high as the fourth Casamate you can not bestow too much cost on the Counterskarfe Counterskarffe for before the enemie possesse the Counterskarffe hee cannot batter to take away any of the flankes wherefore it ought to bee made with all the arte that can bee deuised with lime and stone from the foote to the head especiallie for fortie paces nere vnto the head It were not amis although it hath been neuer seene before to haue mines like vautes ouerthwart to the midds of the Counterskarsse which mines ought to be flanked with two lowe Casamats out of the head of the Bulwarks likewise from Bulwarke to Bulwarke in that sort my reason is when the assailant lodgeth in the Counterskarffe they must bee couered with Trenches the which will bee hardlie done by reason of these mines The mines cannot bee hurtfull let the Enemie finde them they cannot lodge in them we knowe it by good experience he that possesseth a mine first hauing an entrie that cannot bee cut off hath treble aduantage though the mine were sodainely made much more being made artificially with time and care hauing a Casamat to flanke it The Counterskarffe ought to haue parapets cut in them foure foote deepe euerie trench to flanke one another from the head to the foote of the Counterskarffe I meane place to lodge what troupes pleaseth the defendants to guard
vnto mechanickes Also the proud Towne of Antwerpe which was left in good guard and Discipline by the late famous Prince of Orange hauing in it better than 16000. as well armed and in as good order as any Garrison in Europe furnished plentifullie with artillerie munition and all necessaries for warres for want of Chiefes to direct thē this prince of Parma made them slaues with lesse than 8000. men The difference betwixt raw men and expert Souldiers WHat is a multitude without Chiefes but bodies without heads Nations must not flatter themselues what they haue bin but what they are The Grecians and the Macedonians had the Monarchie so had the Romaines with others what are they now The people wanting their Chiefes and their accustomed braue minds All these actions with the rest that haue been aforetime or in our daies were executed by the lesser numbers and the praise of euerie seuerall action belonging vnto lesse than a dozen Chiefes It is an errour to think that experimented Souldiers are sodeinlie made like glasses in blowing them with a puffe out of an yron instrumēt There can be no Leaders of good conduct vnles they haue beene in foughten Battailes asseiged and defended Townes of warre the longer experted the more perfected The Duke of Alua was wont to say In leesing of 100000. in 10. yeares action their prooues not 20. famous Leaders To conclude a multitude without experimented Leaders that haue to warre with expert Captaines are to be compared vnto a Nauie in a Tempest without Masters or Pilots One noble opinion of Mounsieur de La Nowe THE famous Mounsieur de La Nowe was wont to say It was necessary for the greatest commanders to giue eare often vnto all their vnder Officers I meane their simplest Captaines to heare their opinions concerning their Discipline in open audience His meaning was noble without ambition for in all Armies there are a number of Captaines better Souldiers than many higher Officers which can neuer bee knowne without place to execute their art which must bee in action and audience before famous Superiours These liberties and curtesies make a number employ their wits and valours daily to aduance their credites It hinders no great Officers vnlesse they meane the warres should end with themselues it aduaunceth the Warres and Actions when they are gone other experted knowne men are placed in their roomes This order must maintaine good Discipline otherwise ignorance happens often into the high places vnknowne vntill actions bee ouerthrowne Those will say wee are expert and as valiant as the others let them say and bee what they list vnles they be knowne to be expert of action it is not necessarie for a State to hazard their action in trying their experience and vnknowne fortunes What corrupted the discipline of the Netherlanders chieflie placing their ignorant cousins fauorites to command Who could haue won Gaunt Antwerp Bridges Iper with an 100 other townes that wanted no necessaries for warres if there had been expert Commaunders in them These strong places were lost shamefullie without blowes with twentie ouerthrowes in the field with the like disorders Therfore this noble La Nowe would say alwaies Checune a son mety as much to say Euerie man ought to haue place according to his art The martial Byron would say also These Coronells of three dayes marres all the Armies of the world Notwithstanding it must be confest that some quick spirites proue to bee expert with small actions but so rarelie found that it is dangerous to giue them charge before they be well knowne What makes the Spaniards discipline to be so famous as it is Their good order otherwise it is wel knowne the Nation is the basest and cowardlie sort of people of most others so base that I perswade my selfe ten thousand of our Nation would beate thirtie of theirs out of the field let them bee chosen where they list sauing some 3. thousand which is in the Lowe countries And those for all they bee conducted by ancient expert Captaines accompanied with other Nations nothing inferiour to those Spaniards both for valour and conduct notwithstanding the trained Troupes of our Nation did beate them always number to number both in Generall Norris his time sithence In their Countries the world dooth know fiue thousand of our Nation made guardes at the gates of Lisborne foure dayes although there were in the Town fiue thousand Spaniards 4000. Portugeses carrying armes besides they were assured of all the Burgesses for they had sent into Spaine and kept in the Cytadell their wiues children chiefest goods Also by reason of our Armie staying in Galitia where 6000. of ours ouerthrewe 16000. of theirs Before we arriued at Lisborne they had 20. daies respit to arme and put themselues in order but had our Armie not touched at the Groine and sailed strait to Lisborne as the Earle of Essex did neither Soldier nor Captaine can deny but the towne had been ours for it was vnmanned without any good order when wee arriued had our Nauie entred wee would haue entred the Towne or the world should haue witnessed so manie Englishmen had bin buried in that place But let all the Captaines of Europe iudge rightlie of our proceedings from the first to the last considering our small means great crosses they cannot denie but both our valour and gouernment deserued 100. times more praise than the attempt of Duke Medina and his on England notwithstanding they wanted neither men victualls munition nor money Also the worlde knowes wee were not set out with our Soueraignes royall Forces notwithstanding we gaue them the law 30 daies in their Countries When sicknes with other wants forced vs to imbarke being followed with their Armie we returned towards them with lesse than 4000. Where the Earle of Essex sent his Trumpet to dare their Generall the Countie of Fuentes to finde himselfe in the head of his troupes to change the blows of the pikes giuing him signall of his attire and feathers so did Generall Norris command the Trumpet to tell them our small number to dare their whole Forces to battaile but the cowardlie besonions perceiuing our resolution before we could arriue within 3. miles of thē al their footmen ran away to Lisborne being 3. for one Fuentes with Don Gabriel de Ninis knowing wee had vnder fiftie horsemen staid where they were incamped hauing with thē at the least 600. horsemen notwithstanding the alrrme being giuen vs the Earle and General Norris with the most of the Chiefes giuing order to our Squadrons to keep in that order we marched and to march with al speed to recouer the top of a hil a fine place to giue battell assigned vnto them by the trumpet within halfe a league of their quarter The Earle Generall and Chiefs with the horsemen aduaunced with speed to the top of the hil both to discouer the Enemies order and to choose a commodious place to fight At their sight wee perswaded our selues by
their fashion to receiue battaile our ensignes being displayed on the top of the hill and our squadrons possessing the ground that we thought most fit after resting a while perceiuing their cowardly resolution aduāced our battaile towards their quarter vnknowne to vs but that all their forces had bin in that village At our approch they ran away in such sort that our horsmē being but 50. in al amōgst whom were diuers of our Chiefs besides the Earle and his brother made 200. of them run away that they kept in the Reregard This proofe with diuers others had we on them in our Portingall voyage But to speake troth no Armie that euer I saw passes that of Duke de Parma for discipline good order the which it pleased others to follow it were not amisse And to that ende I thought good to show some parte of the discipline and orders amongst them None comes to be high Officers vnles they be knowne to be expert and tried Souldiers of action of long continuance or for courtesie to grace their Armies with young Princes or Nobilitie or at the least Gentlemen of good qualitie neither must these contemne the basest Master of their Campe. For all their birth they must bee knowne valiant and of good discretion These Noble men are placed Generalls of horsmen or commaund a Cornet but they will be sure to looke that their vnder Officers shall bee expert and knowne men they shall not choose their owne fauorites and followers which maketh them to maintaine the like discipline when they come to be expert themselues for without doubt none can command so well as those which haue been commanded Their State is gouerned with two sorts of people Captaine and Clergie As the Captaines ambition perswades the king to encrease his Warres to maintaine their estate in wealth and greatnes so dooth the Clergie perswade him also to warres to maintaine their State against thē of Religion By this means the State of Spaine during this gouernement can neuer be without warres and continuall warres must make expert Souldiers The long continuance of their Armie THis Armie of the Prince of Parma hath been in action vnbroken since Charles the fift his troubles against the Germaines They haue continued in the Low Countreyes three and twentie yeares When the Duke D' alua brought them thether he found them readie disciplined in Regiments vnder Ensignes and Cornets although the Gouernors Captaines and Souldiers were changed with casualties of Warres notwithstanding the Armie was continuallie maintained with one purse discipline from the first houre vnto this which must be about 50. yeres For that time we must confesse none had the schoole of warres continuallie but themselues Their actions shewes their discipline which were not amisse for others to followe Their order is where the warres are present to supplie their Regiments being in Action with the Garrisons out of all his Dominions Prouinces before they dislodge besonios supply their places raw men as wee tearme them By these meanes hee traines his besonios furnisheth his Armie with trained souldiers yet though these Garrison men be wel trained Souldiers God knowes they are but raw men for a long time in respect of the men of Action then iudge you what difference there is betwixt expert Soldiers raw In my poore iudgement as I shewed before all their discipline consists in the Spanish They maintaine also certaine companies of ordinances chiefly to content the Nobilitie as I will shew hereafter they keepe in good order their Caualeri Italians Burgonians and Albanetes for their great numbers I meane to supplie their Armies as occasion presents They make most account of the Wallons Burgonians and Italians for the Almaines they care not but will hire them onelie to serue their turne when their Enemies leauie Germaines against them They haue great reason for as long as any Prince or Estate keepes continuallie 7000. expert footemen 3000. horsmen though his leuied Armie be 50000. the ten thousand will both discipline them and keepe thē in order for out of the 10000. he may draw cōtinualy 100 or two experimented Soldiers to make officers to train the others Besides he places diuers great Officers out of his assured 10000. amongst his mercenaries in the which he shews great discipline for there can be no dāgerous muteny in any Army vnles some of the Chiefes be priuie vnto it and easily preuented if it be discouered and can not be but discouered by reason of this good order How they diuide their Armies THey diuide their Armies into Regiments All the Spanish Colonells are tearmed Masters of the Campe. Although al their Armie be diuided into Regiments be they neuer so many Colonels there are none termed M. del Campo but the Spanish Although there are but foure Tertias Spanish which are called de la Lyge de Lombardy de Naples and de Flandrie to grace the Spanish they giue often the name of M. del Campo vnto others but neuer aboue sixe at a time the which must be famous Mondragon being Colonell of the Wallons afore Serexe for his famous seruice was called M. del Campo so was Ionas Oria hauing no Regiment for his famous seruice at Malta and in other places These foure Tertias when they are most are scarce 6000. strong they make vp their 10000. I named before with Burgonians Italians Wallons One of these Tertias when the Duke of Alua came downe was called Tertia de Sardinia For their disorder the Duke executed their Captaines in Amsterdam in Holland cassid the Tertia entertaining the Souldiers a new To keepe the honour of the braue Souldiers they termed this Tertia Tertia Veche to giue example vnto others It is necessarie to remember this Discipline with other executed by the Duke of Alua. This Tertia of Sardinia had to their Colonell a valiant Captaine named Don Gonsalo de Drakemont being commanded to Frizeland against Lodowicke the worthie Count of Nassaw brother to the famous Prince of Orange to stop his course Duke d' Alua sent Sir Iohn de Lamy Count de Aranberge Chief with other troupes of horse and foote Besides this Tertia being approched Count Lodowicke vnderstanding his strength Aranberge would haue staied where he was vntill the arriuall of the Count de Megem the which would haue ioyned with him that night with more forces The ambition of this Colonel and Captains was such they forced Count Aranberge with vrging words touching his reputation and credit both to approch and charge some of Lodowicks troups the which brought them into an ambush where Lodowicke was who defeated them in route leauing Count de Aranberge dead in the place with diuers other Chiefes At their returne Duke d' Alua rewarded them as I shewed you before Another time a great Regiment of Almaine mutined for wāt of pay in their outrage they spoiled Count Laderne their owne Colonel Duke d' Alua called them into a field both to be mustred and