when drain'd near dry Thus our Pharsalia England's Tragedy Was Acted in a bloody Scene till Death With slaughter tir'd was almost out of breath What Lands what Kingdoms might our men have â—ane With that Bloods loss which Civil hands have drawn Such Pow'rs united as our Fields distain'd By Conquering on vast Empires might have gain'd Have overset bold Ott'mans Rising Throne And seen his Conquests far beneath their own A Description of the Battel of Bosworth-field fought between Richard the Third King of England and Henry Earl of Richmond known afterward by the Title of King Henry the Seventh c. AFter the Death of Edward the Fourth Richard Plantagenet Duke of Glocester having caused his two Nephews to be murthered usurped the Throne endeavouring to establish himself therein as he had first acquired it viz. by blood so that greatly oppressing his Subjects and especially the Nobility as also causing Queen Ann his Wife secretly to be made away that he might marry Elizabeth his Neece Daughter to his Brother King Edward the Fourth divers conspired against him and amongst the rest the Duke of Buckingham who had been the main Instrument in helping him into the Throne but raising Forces and being unsuccessful in his attempt his men flying and leaving him to shift for himself he resorted to the House of one Banister who had been his Steward and had got a good Estate under him where for a time he secured himself in disguise to attend his better fortune though it proved otherwise for King Richard seting 1000 l. upon his head the same Banister in whom he confided discovered him to the Sherif of the County who seizing upon him in the Disguise or Habit of a Gardiner carried him to Salisbury where by the Command of the King without Arraignment or Tryal he was beheaded And now by a secret Contract the Earl of Richmond being betroth'd to the Lady Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to Edward the Fourth after having escaped many Dangers beyond the Scas and his Faction being strong in England prepares with such an Army as he could well gather by the favour of the Duke of Brittany and increased by such English as fled to him for fear of the Usurper for England and landed at Milford-Haven his Retinue not exceeding 2000 but was soon increased to a far greater number by those that daily came to joyn him which made King Richard advance with his Army to oppose him and pitched his Tents at Radmore near Bosworth in Leicestershire and both Armies being drawn up in Battalia the Lord Stanly with a great Detachment kept aloof on the Hills and the King suspecting he intended to revolt from him to his Enemy sent to him to advance but he refused saying he would do it when he saw his time whereupon King Richard in a great Rage commanded his Son whom he had in Hostage for the Fathers Fidelity instantly to be beheaded but was by some of his Favorites perswaded to defer it till the Battel was over by which means the young man escaped for both Armies joyning with great fury a bloody and doubtful fight ensued so that for a long time the Scale of Victory hung in an equal poise King Richard commanding and fighting courageously in all parts but the Lord Stanly when both Armies had tried their Strengths and were weary with fighting coming in with his fresh men bore down all before him so that King Richard perceiving the Fortune of the War to go against him like a man in despair resolving not to survive it charged with great fury amongst the thickest Squadrons and having killed and beaten down many was at length over-pow'red and himself slain falling upon heaps of his Enemies his Crown was afterward found in a Hawthorn-bush and himself stripped naked was carried all bloody upon a Horse to Leicester and there buried in the Grey-Friars with much Solemnity after its being exposed two days to the People In this Battel called the Battel of Bosworth-field 6000 men on either side were slain and amongst them divers of Note And now the Earl of Richmond being Crowned in the Field marched to London and soon after solemnly married the Lady Elizabeth joyning the Houses of Lancaster and York he being the Heir of the one and she the Heiress of the other And so the Discord to soft Concord yields That with the Bones o' th' slain made white the Fields Dividing Friends in an unfriendly Jar Rending the tor'ring State with Impious War Whilst Father against Son Brothers with Brothers fight Not caring who was wrong or who was right But smeer'd with Blood in Cruelty delight Being emulous who most cou'd vent his Rage Such is the fate when Civil Arms ingage A description of the Battel of Seminara fought in the Kingdom of Naples between King Ferdinand then intituled to that Kingdom and the Great Gonsalves Caâ—tain of the Spaniards on the one part and the Lords Obignny and Persive for Charles the French King on the other part Anno 1495. CHarles the French King victorious in Italy having won many strong Places and Countries and amongst the rest the Rich and Fertile Kingdom of Naples Ferdinand in whose right it was raising an Army of Spaniards Sicilians Italians c. and entred the Provinces the French had a little before brought to their Subjection in order to recover them advancing as far as the Country of Seminara to oppose whom the Lord Obignny Governour of Calabria for the French King and the Lord Persive Governour of Bosilicula marched with their united Forces from their appointed Rendezvous at Terranova to Seminara to fight the King or besiege him in the Town who knowing nothing of their Conjunction and ignorant of their number issued out of the Town upon news of their approach to give them Battel not staying for the Troops he expected from Puglia Campagnia and Arbuzzo though Gonsalves counted the expertest Captain of his Age laboured to disswade him from fight for being in the flower of Youth and height of his Spirit he rather strove to expose his Valour than hearken to good Counsel and so having made an excellent Speech or Oration to animate the Captains and Souldiers to do their utmost he marched towards Terranova three miles along the Hills and coming to the River lodged his Foot on the left Bank and his Horse-men he stretched on the right to serve for a Wing and so continued to expect the Enemy By this time the French and Switzers came in sight and Obignny cast the latter into a firm Battalion placing the Foot raised in Calabria behind them as a Battel of Succour dividing the Squadron of Horse between them being Men at Arms and in the same order the light Horse-men and so in a square Battel they pass d the River whereupon the Spanish Horse advanced to oppose them but being hotly charged by the thick Battalion of the French in the Advaunt-guard after many of them were beaten down and slain the rest were obliged to retire by
furiously together fell both of them grievously wounded one in the Eye and the other in the Cheek and thereupon the Souldiers rushing together to their rescue great slaughter ensued for Aliprandoe's Regiment that joyned as the Advance-guard was not so suddenly re-inforced as intended which in the end being over-matched by the men at Arms made them wheel off which did not a little discourage their Fellows who suddenly coming on had their flank left open to the shot of the main battel and those Horse that wheeled off being charged upon as flyers altho the Marquess laboured to make them face about finding no place amongst the Squadrons to make their retreat good entered amongst the Ranks of the German foot which put them into great Confusion for finding their battel was behind the Ensigns they brake quite through and the French likewise pressing on got in at the breach making great slaughter especially of the hindermost of those that fled and when the Switzers who stood over-against the Italians perceived this wavering as likewise the slaughter of the Germans they likewise fell upon them with great fury neglecting the Italians with whom it was expected they would have ingaged so that they who before were hard enough put to it by the Gascoins and old Switzers who fought in their front and weakned by the breaking in of their own Horse the French Horse likewise charging them in the Rear were not able to withstand the fresh charge but their Captains being most slain and their Ensigns thrown down turned their backs and fled yet being hotly pursued they were most or them slain and amongst them divers men of great Note viz. Vulcain Son to the Earl of Furstemberg Michael Preusinger Lieutenant to Brannor Scaliger Antonya Vrste a Captain of Great Fame Hildebrand Tunnie Balthasar Chaldese James Figero Matrice Bursea Adam Brall and the Baron of Grimstein and Aliprando near dead of his Wound was found amongst the dead bodies and taken Prisoner and when the Italian foot perceived the Germans broken and dispersed and that the Horsemen had left the Field they made good their retreat and with little loss got about Midnight to Asti whither the Horsemen were gotten before them and soon after came the Marquess with his Helmet much bruised and battered and shot with a Harquibus-shot into the Knee so that the Victory was intirely left to the French. And of the 40000 that were in the Field on both sides 12000 are acounted to be slain whereupon Carignanâ— surrendred to the Duke of Haghein Thus Peimont sees the blood of Foreign Lands Reeking in Streams upon her thirsty Sands Such is the Fate where cruel War Commands A Description of the Battel of Lochen fought in Saxony between Charles the Fifth Emperour of Germany and John Fredrick Dake of Saxony on the twenty fourth of April Anno Dom. 1547. THE Emperour Charles the Fifth being displeased with divers Princes of the Empire and the mis-understanding growing daily greater they thought it the surest way to arm on all parts and stand upon their Guard which making the Emperour suppose it the best way to fight them separate he pursued John Fredrick Duke of Saxony upon his return into his own Country by such speedy marches that the Advaunt-guard of his Army attacked the Saxons before they expected they were arrived in those parts which created much Fear and Consternation yet maintaining only a kind of a flying fight till the gross battalions came up the Duke had leisure to put his Troops in Order and formed his Battel in this wise viz. He commanded the Foot-men of the Earl of Bichenlinghen in whom he reposed the greatest trust and the Horse-men of John Ponecan and Gaugulph of Eslenhen to take their Stations in the front ordering them that if they charged they should retire and avoid as much as in them lay entering into a hot dispute till the signal was given to assure them the other Battels were in a readiness then he cast 6000 foot-men into two Squadrons and supported them with 500 Horse-men riding himself from Rank to Rank to give necessary Orders and Directions for what was wanting placing another 2000 Horse as a Wing to cover the Foot on the Right side and so closing his Battel to prevent the Enemies breaking in he stood in array to expect the Event whilst the Emperour with whom was the King of Romans and the Great duke of Alva placed in the Vaunt-guard of his Army 600 Launces with 600 Hungarian Horse-men 700 Italian Horse-men and 100 Harquibusiers on Horse-back then he divided them into three Troops the Hungarians he placed on the Right wing the Germans on the left and the Italians in the middle and of the rest of the Forces he made his battel dividing it into three Squadrons of whom he committed one to the charge of the King of Romans but the others he led himself the one consisting of 700 Horse-men and the other of 1000 part Lances and part Harquibuses commanding the whole Army to advance in such order that the front might be broad and extended that so they might prevent being inclosed and thus-both Armies being in array and the Duke not perceiving it commodious to retire proceeded with a moving Oration to incourage his Men by putting them in mind of the Prowess and Valour of their Ancestors and exhorting them to fight like men for their Liberties Lives Wives Children and Country and that for his part he would not be wanting to fight or succour as occasion should require it Nor was the Emperour wanting to incourage his Souldiers to the like effect so that now there being nothing wanting but the Signal to joyn battel that was not long delayed for the Trumpets suddenly sounding the Imperial Battel moved with great swiftness but the Horse coming into dirty and slippery Ground were so mired that the Ear-guard was forced to give back till the Advaunt guard had passed it lest by pressing on they should have broken the Array and caused Confusion and Disorder to have ensued which gave the Saxons Opportunity to charge the Front before the Rear could come up insomuch that a hot and desperate fight ensued for the battel being begun in the Right-wing the Saxons poured in their shot like Hail and had made great slaughter had not the Italian and Hungarian Light-Horse-men come in and charged them in another part which for a time allay'd their fury whilst in another part the men at Arms of Naples and the German Harquibusiers sorely pressed their main battel so that the Advaunt-guard became open and began to scatter although the Duke laboured all that in him lay to keep his men in their Ranks and to admonish them with Words and Actions to do their utmost to support his Honour yet fear had so possessed them that they could not be kept in their Battels but began incontinently to disrank so that the Imperialists thrusting into their Array brought them in a short time into great Distress and Confusion whereupon
which means the slaughter was scattered over aâ— the field and had been very great haâ— not the approach of Night put an end to it yet there perished by the Sword c. 18000 besides a great number that perished in the River and amongst the slain Hasan Bassâ— the General Mahomet Beg Achmet Beg Suffer Beg Meni Beg Framulan Beg Curlii Begâ— Operd Beg and Goschus Bassa together with Sinan Beg Amurath's Nephew the only Soâ— of his Sister As for the Prisoners taken they were many yet few of note though the spoil of the Camp was very great The Battel thus happily obtained the Christians as well the Commanders as the Soldiers fell on their knees and gave immortal thanks to the God of Battels to whom alone they ascribed their success The News of this overthrow coming to the Knowledge of Amurath he highly raged and at the Instigation of his Sister who refused to be comforted for the loss of her Son sent a blasphemous denuntiation of War stiling himself there in Monarch of the World and a Mighty God on Earth c. Thus those that sought for Blood with Blood were pay'd And meeting Death their cruel fury stay'd Who had with Flame whole Realms in Ashes lay'd A Description of the famous Battel of Lutzen fought on the sixth day of November Anno 1632. between Gustavus Adolphus the Warlike King of Sweden and Duke Walenstine Generalissimo of the Imperial Army THE King of Sweden having entered the Empire with an Army and overthrown Count Tilly the Imperial General with incredible slaughter the Terror of his Name spread wide which caused many Towns and strong holds to be at his Devotion nor was it expected but that every where being victorious he would in a short time make himself Master of the Empire though to oppose him Walenstine Duke of Frizland was made Generalissimo and another huge Army raised which the King upon notice of their being at Lutzen resolved to attack and therefore in the most secret manner marching all Night he came within sight of them in the Morning and drew up into battel in this manner viz. He divided this Army into two fronts and each of these into the Wings and battel with their Reserves each of the Wings composed of six Regiments of Horse lined with five bodies of commanded Musquiteers every one of them advancing with two Field-pieces in their front which plaied continually on the Imperialists The battel in each front consisting of four Brigades of foot a reserve of foot being placed between the two middle Brigades of the first front and a reserve of Horse hindermost of all between the two middle Brigades of the rear or second front and before each Brigade marched six pieces of great Ordnance which the King himself who would ever be in places of greatest danger led committing the lest to Duke Bernard of Saxon Weymar and the main body to Dodo Kniphausen Serjeant-Major and General of the whole Army under whom commanded many experienced Collonels and Captains c. of sundry Nations The order of the Imperial Army was in this manner viz. It being drawn into one large front was divided into three bodies the Right Wing of Horse which tended to the town of Lutzen was committed to the Count Rodolpho Coloredo appointed for that day Serjeant-Major-General of the Army and was lined with commanded Musquiteers besides supported by others that were lodged in the Gardens and had likewise the advantage of certain Windmils standing upon small Hills whereon they planted nine pieces of Ordnance the Mills and Millers Houses serving them for a good shelter the main battel or middleward was commanded by the Generalissimo's station being in the head of the Regiment of Piccollommine's consisting of Horse which was placed in the middle of the foot Regiments the left wing placed opposite to the right was commanded by Collonel Henderick Holek lately made Lieutenant velt Marshal under velt Marshal Lupenheirne yet no longer than till the other who was absent should take the field Both Armies being ordered in battel array and the advantages of the Ground which was in a manner a plain Campain unless some few ditches that proved troublesome being taken by either General as well as the time and opportunity would permit as likewise those of the Wind and Sun which in this case is ever observed by great Captains to be no small advantage to those whom they favour The fight began with the thundering of the great Ordnance by which many were overthrown on either side but the eager Souldiers desired to come to a close fight so that advancing hastily towards each other after the small pieces that were in the head of the Musquiteers on the Kings part were fired they gave their Salvos upon which the Horse that supported them charged furiously upon the German Horse so that many were slain and a great number beaten down who were most of them troden under foot and the King having commanded Collonel Stolhaunsh a Fleming to charge the Cuirassiers who were all in black Armour himself advanced at the head of the right Wing with his Pistol in one hand and his Sword in the other and when he had fired his Pistols regarded not to recharge them but charged upon the Enemy with his Sword so furiously that although they fired thick upon him and flashes were even in his Face he desisted not till he had broke their Array yet a Regiment of Croats taking the Advantage of the Kings being hotly ingaged thrust between the Right Wing and the main battel in order to seize upon the Baggage and blow up the Powder but Collonel Bulach making head against them they were obliged to retire yet upon his wheeling about to recover his station they fell on his Rear and much disordered that squadron of Swedish Horse but a sudden Mist falling it was not perceived by the rest of the Imperialists And now the fight being hot on all parts and the King out of the greatness of his heat and Câ—thâ—ge still pressing on and entering amongst the Ranks of those Iron-men as he called the Cuirassiers being himself only clad in a buss Coat and not being well supported he was overlayed with numbers for his men being in danger to be hemmed in by the Cuirassiers and the Regiment of Picolmaini which came fresh to charge them were obliged to give ground and retire towards their own bodies to prevent the danger they foresaw so that the King being left open to the shot of the Enemy received a shot in his left Arm by a Musquet-bullet which in the heat of his Courage he at first sliâ—oveed but perceiving the blood gush out abundantly and that the bone was splintered he thought fit to give way to necessity and thereupon calling to the Duke of Saxen Luenberg who charged with a party on his right Couzen says he I am surely wounded help me to make my retreat the which whilst the Duke laboured to do the Squadron at the head of which
Cromwell's own Guard and the best of his old Soldiers were forced to Retire whilst seconded by those numerous Supplies of fresh Soldiers who served like the Turkish Asapi to blunt the Royal Swords so that their wearied Arms no longer able to hold out they were forced to Retreat notwithstanding the Generous Example of the King who performed things worthy of wonder executing at once the part of a brave Commander and a valiant Captain in which he had his Horse twice shot under him yet could he not bring them to rally for being pressed and overpowred by numbers they had not time or space to do it in so that in the end the retreat turned into a disorderly flight whilst the Enemy following close at their heels entred Pell mel with them into the City And now notwithstanding the flight and confusion the cry went through the field to save the King who although he was pressed by Duke Hamilton and others to reserve his fortune to a better day yet scarcely could he be induced to quit the field nor would he till he perceived it impossible to rally his men and too plainly found the battel was irreparably lost and that Cromwel had entred and possessed himself of a part of the City and soon after took the Fort Royal by assault putting all he found therein to the Sword but not without considerable loss especially of the Cheshire men 1600 of which fell in the attempt and now when it was almost too late the King left the field and by the Aid of divers Loyal Souls after a considerable while concealing himself found means to escape beyond the Seas In this fatal battel fought on the third of September most of the Kings foot were either killed or taken Prisoners but of the Horse about three thousand escaped out of the Field those that account the least recon 3000 that were slain though none of note amongst them and the chief of the Prisoners were the Earls of Derby Lauderdale Cleveland Shrewsbury and the Lord Wentworth and of the Scots the Earls of Cranworth and Kelly and the Lord Sincler with divers Knights and Gentlemen and soon after Duke Hamilton and Major General Massey and others were taken This strange and wonderful Victory as the Juncto then sitting at Westminster gave it out though they had ten to one in the field made the Sectarian party greatly rejoyce and to appoint publick days of Thanksgiving as if God were the Patronizer of Villanies But since they miss'd of what was most their Aim We won't their further wicked Acts proclaim Lest by such Monsters we the Nation shame A Description of the Great and Memorable Battel fought before the City of Vienna in Austria on the 11. of September Anno 1683. between the King of Poland the Elector of Bavaria the Duke of Lorain c. and the Grand Visier Cara Mustapha c. VIENNA being pressed by the Turkish Power and the Garrison therein under Ernestus Count of Staremberg greatly weakned by sickness and the loss sustained in divers Sallies the Duke of Lorain having joyned the King of Poland they thought not convenient any longer to hazard a place of such Importance but to attempt the Relieving of it at the Price of a Battel and so on the 10 of September 1683. about eight in the Evening the Armies marched in order to it making together between 70 and 80000 fighting men the King of Poland commanding the Right Wing the Dukes of Lorain and Bavaria the Left and the Elector of Saxony and Prince Waldeck the main Body and in this order with what speed and silence they could they marched through a great Forrest the which had the Enemy taken care to have fortified would have proved a work of much difficulty Cara Mustapha the Grand Visier trusting to his number of men expected not to be attaqued in his Camp he being at his sitting down before the place 120000 strong but finding himself mistaken he thought it best to Rouse out of that Security and upon the Approach of the Christian Army detached 10000 Horse with an express command to possess themselves of the Passes c. but the Christians before that had passed them yet they advanced to Charge the Front of the Army but being gauled by a Regiment of Foot lodged in a Vineyard for that purpose which was supported by three other Battalions they only fired and wheeled off with great Cries whereupon the King of Poland and the other Commanders drew the Army up in three Lines all closed without any Interval and in that firmness they encroached upon the Enemy at what time the Turkish Horse advanced with great shouts hoping to break the Array of the Battel but perceiving the Christians stood firm to expect them they made a halt and discharging their Harquibusses at a distance wheeled off whereupon the first Line fired upon them and the whole Army advanced by a slow March still gaining upon the Infidels and making of them a considerable slaughter who Returning charged as before at a convenient distance and so wheeled off continuing often to do the like and as often the Christians fired upon them and so proceeded till within two Furlongs of their Camp at what time a Body of Foot and Dragoons were detached to Attaque their Canon of which they soon became Masters without any considerable loss the Enemy wanting Foot in a readiness to defend them nor did their Horse make any great resistance yet they made a shew to charge the Right wing in the Flank to prevent which the King of Poland commanded the second Line to advance and make a Front on that side whilst in Person he charged their Front with the first Line making them continually to give ground and whilst the Fight was hot on both sides the Turks in the Trenches made a furious Assault upon the City strugling even at the utmost hazard to carry it and so resolute they were in throwing themselves into the Ditches and Breach that great slaughter ensued which obliged Count Steremberg the Governour to send with all speed to the Duke of Lorain for assistance least the Turks at that juncture should enter and mix the ruine of the Citizens and Garrison-Soldiers with their own when immediately the Margrave of Baden was detached with 5000 Horse and 3000 Dragoons who entering the Trenches at the time the Garrison sally'd the Turks that were in them were cut in pieces and trodden down on all hands to the number of 6000 which unexpected bad success made known to the Visier and finding that now his hopes were altogether frustrated of entering the City in the time of the confusion he gave ground towards the Evening with the Gross of his Army in hopes to make an orderly retreat to the Camp but being furiously charged by the Christians he fled beyond it yet the Generals suspecting they might Rally and fall upon them under the favour of the Night would not enter the Camp by reason it might be
Companion c. The Relation of the Great and Memorable Battel fought in Battel Field in Sussex between Harrold King of England and William Duke of Normandy on Octob. 14. 1066. KING Harrold having no sooner defeated the Army of Norvigians and Danes in the North with exceeding slaughter in which of note fell Harfagar King of Denmark Tosto his Brother and Olave his Son but News was brought him that the Normans under the leading of their Duke were landed in the South whereupon he made such speed with his Army that before they could pass through the County of Sussex he was drawing out of London and so with the like celerity marched to give them battel after having sent back the Messenger who came from the Duke of Normandy to demand possession of the Kingdom by vertue of a promise he had made him when being a private man he was taken Prisoner upon his Coast so that both Armies pitching their Tents upon a great Plain now known by the name of Battel-field the King sent divers Spies to view the Norman Camp who being taken and presented to the Duke he generously feasted them causing them to be carried from Tent to Tent and then they were dismissed without any damage or detriment And now Duke William a second time sending to demand the Kingdom or a single Combat with King Harrold and both of them being refus'd as also another proffer which was to hold the Kingdom as a Feudetary of Normandy the Armies drew out on the 14th of October 1066 to try the Fortune of a King and Kingdom by more Swords than one when being set in array of Battel and incouraged on either side with moving Orations the bloody Blast was sounded and the Kentish Men who claimed the Avaunt-guard or From of the Battel as their Right moved and charged the Enemy in the Front with great fury the Battalions and Wings of Horse on the other parts doing the like yet keeping firm in their thick and closed Ranks so that what with the shot of Arrows and those that came to the Sword and push of Pike a bloody and doubtful Fight ensued nor could the Normans with the continual wheeling of their Horse and shot of Archers of which they mostly consisted dismay or disorder the English Battel thoâ— in their motions they shot a slaunt in the Air that the Arrows in their fall might disable the inmost Ranks and gaul the Horse which the Duke perceiving and finding that unless he could loosen the Battel it was in vain for him to expect the Victory nor had he any hope of return his Fleet being before fired at his command he ordered the Retreat to be sounded but â—n such a manner that the whole Army consisting of 50000 Horse and Foot might suddenly face about and charge at the Signal appointed to be given which Stratagem answered his Expectation for the English supposing the Normans fled suddenâ—y disranked to pursue them so that their Orders being open and the Duke rallying 〈◊〉 is Men broke in with a furious Charge â—nd made such slaughter that the ground was covered with heaps of the slain nor â—ould the King though he laboured to cast â—â—em into a thick Body restore the Battel â—ut as he was intent upon it he received the â—ot of an Arrow which entred his Brain â—nd of which Wound he fell down dead â—ter which a miserable slaughter ensued â—ough a party of the English cast themselves into a Ring and manfully resisted however being in the end routed on all parts there fell 97974 by the Sword and shot of Arrows amongst which were the King and his two Brothers Leosin and Grith together with the flower of the English Nobility and of the Normans not above 9000 and although their Duke escaped he had three Horses slain under him yet by this Battel so gained he won a Kingdom for the Land being thus deprived of her King and Nobles no farther resistance was made but all things were left to the disposal of the Conqueror who soon after caused himself to be Crowned King and is known in our Cronologies by the style oâ— King William the First or William the Conqueror Thus Normans fierce possess'd our fruitful Soile And stain'd with blood the famous British Isle Speed de vitae W. C. The Battels of Jerusalem or Jerusalem noâ— by the Armies of the Western Princes December 25. 1099. JErusalem being in the hands of the Infidels their unheard of Cruelties loudened the crys of the oppressed Christians anâ— obliged them to importune their Patriarch to implore the Christian Princes to send their Armies by Battel to rescue them from their Oppressors who accordingly sending his Letters full of lamentations by one Peter a Hermit with other proofs and attestations of the miseries they suffered in the Holy Land such credit was given to them that in a short time an Army of 300000 men were raised wearing on their Breasts red Crosses in token of their holy Warfare and were chiefly under the leading of Godfry of Bulloin Duke of Lorrain and his two Brothers Eustace and Baldwin Hugh brother to the French King Raymond and Robert Earls of Flanders Robert Duke of Normandy Son to William the Conqueror Stephen de Valois Earl of Chartires Adimer Bishop of Podolia c. and with this Army they passed the Hellespont covering the shores of Asia and brought a great Terror upon the Infidels who gathered what Forces they could to oppose the progress of such a War and were not altogether unsuccessful for Peter the Hermit advancing before the rest of the Army with 40000 men raised in the Territories of the Church being furiously charged by the Enemy lost the greatest part of his Forces and was obliged to retire with the rest to Civite a Town a little before abandoned by the Turks not daring to depart thence till the arrival of Duke Godfry when with their united Forces the Christians marched to the City of Nicea which they besieged and made themselves Masters of it in fifty days finding therein great Riches and many Persons of note amongst whom were the Turkish King Solyman's Wife and two Children and the King who came to the Relief of it with the whole power of the lesser Asia consisting of 60000 Horse and Foot was overthrown with such slaughter as covered the Fields with the dead Bodies and filled the Ditches with blood nothing being to be heard but crys and dying groans for the Christians following the Execution 40000 of the Infidels fell by the Sword which brought such a Terror upon those Parts that Cities and Towns were abandoned without so much as being disputed Antioch only of all in that large Tract held out yet made but a weak resistance for after a furious Assault it was taken which being known to the Garrisons of Iconium and Haraclea they surrendred upon the first summons still flying before the Victors and daily sending to his Cozen Axan the Persian Sultan for Aid but he not being able to
Wings of the Lithuanian Horse and placed the Foot behind the Men an Arms to support them and so riding from Rank to Rank he admonished them to do their utmost for the Honour of their King and Country and not by any Cowardize in them be a means to lose a Battel upon which depended their Lives and Liberties c. He would have proceeded but whilst he was speaking the Moscoviâ— sounded the Charge whereupon commanding the Captains in the Vaunt-guard to break in upon the Enemy with their Spears mauger their shot of Arrows each battel moved furiously and although the Arrows flew thick as Hail yet the Poles passed on though some yet but a few oâ— them were slain so that the Archers being frustrated in a trice they brought iâ— to the Sword so that the Lithuanian stretching out their Wings and theâ— straitning them made good their Archers who sorely gauled the Moscovites who being on all sides in a manner oppressed could neither give back nor brake through in the front and those that were behind still thrusting them forward break their Array bearing out side-ways upon the Wings of the Lithuanians so at one time they attacked two Incounters in divers places so that the fight being hot on all parts and the Duke finding himself over-charged sent to Command the Horse-men in Ambush to advance who soon discovered themselves and came on with horrid crys and sounds of Trumpets to be thought more dreadful in their number which the Polonian General perceiving ordered his Battel to stand firm yet Polosky a Palatine of that Kingdom turned on them a squadron of Foot-men which had not been much shaken and sustaining the first shock of their Arrows gave Command for all the Harquibusiers to fire at once and so by a swift advance came to the push of Pike and Halbert causing the Moscovite Horse-men to recoil yet their Ranks being close they could not expand themselves or travers their Ground by reason of which they were obliged to sustain the fight in that narrow compass with great slaughter so that it was a pitious sight to see Men and Horses dead lying on heaps weltering in Blood and groaning out their last whilst in that part where the General fought the Ranks of Moscovites were broken and disordered and the Right Wing of Horse almost all cut in pieces so that the middle Battel wherein was yet the Person of the Great Duke was attacked on all sides and the foremost Ranks pierced through so that he despairing to restore the fight gave back and now the Foot that had routed his Ambushment of Horse having nothing to do charged upon his Battel of Succour and entring their Ranks who had been shaken before by the Lithuanian Horse they with their Pikes and Scimiters made a miserable slaughter putting them in all parts to the rout of which the Duke having notice and how those Horse he had laid in Ambush were likewise defeated whom he scarce thought as yet to have made their attack he with a Troop of his Nobles that were his Guard retired out of the Battel and left his Men to shift for themselves making all the speed he could to escape that Ruin and Desolation into which he had brought his Army which once known nothing but flight and confusion followed whilst the Poles had the Execution of them for many Miles with great slaughter In this Battel fought on the eighth of September 13000 men were slain and many of them of Note all the Baggage and rich Pavilions with the Great Dukes Standard taken as likewise was Michael Goliza but Smolensco being strongly fortified could not be regained Thus Blood still flows thus cruel Mars still raves And Drowns the Plains with Seas of Purple Waves A Description of the Great and Memorable Battel fought in Persia near the City of Coy or Coios between Hysmael the Persian Sophi and Selymus the First of that Name Emperour of the Turks SElymus to obtain the Diadem having caused his Father Bajazet the Second to be poysoned and to secure himself in the Throne strangled his three Brethren being grieved that his two Nephews Amurath and Aladine yet lived the one by securing himself in the Persian Court and the other in that of the AEgyptian Sultan upon the former's making some Inrodes into Capadocia he took an opportunity to quarrel with Hysmael the Persian Sophy and thereupon raising an Army of 300000 Horse and Foot and under pretence of his having aided his Rebels he marched to invade his Country and so drawing his People after him over the huge Mountains of Scodrasci Moscii and Ante-Taurus he passed along the Banks of the River Euphrates holding his way Eastward till he came to the River Araxis where he found all the Country wasted and destroyed by the Persians upon which the Army began to fall into great want of many things so that the Souldiers were forced to feed upon wild Fruits when in the mean time Vsta-Ogli the Persian General approached him with an Army of 80000 Horse and whilst either Army was at some distance one from the other Hysâ—ael came in Person to his Camp and from thence sent a Heraulâ— to Selymus to know why in a Hostile manner he had entred his Country having no Title thereto to which the Turk hautily reply'd That his Grandfather his Uncle and himself had greatly endamaged the Ottoman Empire by making several Incroachments Inrodes and Invasions and aiding the Rebels in the Reigns of Mahomet Bajazet and his own yet he esteemed them not a sufficient ground of War but sought after his Enemy young Amurath his Brother's Son who had lately wasted Cappadocia whom if he would quietly and friendly deliver into his Hands he would withdraw his Forces but if he refused to gratifie him therein he would with Fire and Sword not only destroy the Confines of Armenia but the very heart of Persia Notwithstanding these promises and Threats the Persian refused to comply with his demands in delivering up the young Prince to certain Death yet for that day both Armies lay in their Trenches but the next day they drew out and each being put in Battel-Array and incouraged by moving Orations to do their utmost the bloody blast was sounded after which the Persian Horsemen came on with great Futy over-setting the Vaunt-guard and overthrowing the Asapi by heaps these are a sort of ordinary Souldiers placed by the Turks for the most part to dull the Swords of the Enemy with their Blood and often set formost in Assaults to fill up the Trenches with their dead Bodies when they besieged a Town that the Janizaries may pass the easier over them nor was that all for the Persians at the same time charged the Spahi or Turkish Horsemen in either Wing causing them in some Confusion to give Ground which Selymus perceiving and finding they would soon charge the Battel of the Janizaries in the middle of which himself remained he caused the Orders to open to the right and the
Alexander Vitteli who lay with their Regiments in the Territories of Pisa to haste to the Camp yet take such a way that they might follow in the Ear of Franaio's Troops and fall upon him as they found their Advantage whilst himself with a detached Power would oppose him in the Front which accordingly hapned after some skirmishing by the way in the Town of Gabiniano so that there the fury of the battel increasing they fought on all parts with great Fury especially in the Market-place where Franaio leaping from his Horse and taking a Pike in his Hand greatly incouraged his Souldiers nor failed Marmaldo to do the like who casting his men in a thick wedge sustained the charge valiantly whilst a part of Franaio's Foot sheltring amongst the Chesnut Trees that grow thick towards the Wall of the Town poured in their shot like Hail and as they saw it convenient advanced in parties and having camisado'd the Enemy as soon retired which the Prince of Orange who fought on Horseback perceiving pressed on to dislodge them to whose Relief with a Troop of Horse came Nicholas Mussio a Greek of great strength with whom the Prince fought hand to hand and although Mussu with his Battel-Ax had bruised his Helmet the Prince still pursued him with his Sword but entering too far amongst the Trees he received two mortal Wounds by Harquibuss shot and fell from his Horse and instantly died being stripped by the Souldiers of his Cloth of Siver-Coat and guilt Armour whereupon his Men were so discouraged that many of them fled away fearfully and unpursued of which Advantage Franaio laying hold cried Victory the better to hearten his own Souldiers and drawing his Troops close together made a desperate charge on those that yet stood firm so that the Streets were covered with dead Bodies and the Channels murmur'd with Streams of Blood nor had Victory failed to have declared on his part had not the Lansquenets of German Foot who were placed without the Town as a Battel of Succour advanced and restored the fight for upon the flying of Rusales a Collonel of Horse with those under his Command the News was carried to the Camp before Florence that the Prince was slain and his Army routed but these fresh Forces coming on and renewing the fight with great fury the Florentines after they had disputed Street by Street and House by House with the Imperials found themselves too weak to make any further resistance so that Franaio and Paul his Lieutenant after they had for many hours defended a strong House and from thence with their shot and Wild-fire overthrown many of their Enemies finding the battel inevitably lost yielded themselves to Marmaldo when being brought into his Presence armed as they were taken he said to Franaio in a great Rage And did you think when you hanged up my Drummer against the Law of Arms it would have been my Fortune to have had you in my Power To which Franaio without the least shew of fear or dejection replyed This is the chance of War and the like may also befall you serving in the War but if you take my Life you shall gain by my Death neither Profit Honour or Praise yet Marmaldo having caused him to be disarmed wounded him with his Sword in the Throat and left him to the Souldiers to be dispatched who incontinently slew him Nor fell there in this Encounter less than 2000 men being the more memorable for that the two Generals were slain with many more of Note upon News of which defeat of their Forces the Florentines yielded up the City having defended it to the last Extremity leaving no unclean thing un-eaten whereupon the Emperour deprived them of their Francises and made Alexander d' Medicis base Son of Lawrence d' Medicis Duke of Florence and of all the Countries depending thereon Thus one Succesless Battel Florence lost And a free State with servile Bondage cro'st Made Italy's chief Garden droop her Head As if her sragrant Flowers had all been dead A Description of the Memorable Battel of Cheresoles fought in Peimont between Alphons Marquess of Guisto General for Charles the Fifth Emperour and France Duke of Anghien General for Francis the French King Anno 1544. FRancis Duke of Anghien with a grea◠Power laving Siege to Carignano 〈◊〉 strong Town in Peimont Alphons Marque◠of Guisto Governour of that Province fo◠Charles the fifth Emperour of Germany◠thought it highly concerned him to hinde◠so important a Place from falling into th◠Hands of the French and thereupon drawing his Forces into a Body he resolved to raise the Siege at the hazard of a battel no◠was not many days before the Armies confronted each other and began the fight after they were arranged in battel array with their Cannon and thereupōn the Squardrons of Horse moved with great Courage the first that charged being the Horsemen of Thermes and Balleone which charge they maintained with so much Valour that many were slain on either part and a great many borne to the Ground with their Lances who for the most part were troden to death by the Horses so that they soon came to use their Swords and Battel-Axes but Thermes at length bending his Forces upon the Italian Foot-men was beaten from his Horse and taken Prisoner by a common Souldier nor could Baleone's Wing by reason of its being much inferior in number long resist the French men at Arms so that many in that sharp conflict were slain and amongst them Julio Azzo Son to the Prince of Tuderto and Baleone having his Horse slain under him himself at the same time wounded hardly escaped being taken Prisoner but the battel under the Command of Raimond de Cordona and Seisneich had better fortune for charging upon the Grevers a sort of Souldiers brought up in the Territories of Geneva they so plied them with Harquibuss-shot that they put their Battel into much disorder and won from them the Ground they had a long time maintained as likewise a Cottage that sheltered them from the shot of the other Wing with some pieces of Ordnance nor was it effected without great slaughter on either side so that a Troop of Horsemen were immediately sent to succour them lest they should be all cut off In this Encounter Monsiew Destro and Charles Drosse Collonels of Horse were slain as also Monsieur de Assier a young Gentleman of great hope for the Spaniard desirous to revenge old Wrongs pressed furiously upon the French-men in this part of the battel insomuch that they obliged them to retire with great slaughter even to the Gates of Carmagnola and at the same time the German Foot who had lain upon the Ground to avoid the shot o◠the great Ordnance rose up and set forward to the battel and Aliprando their Commander going some paces before them challenged out Monsieur de Mole a Captain of the French to fight him i◠single Combat which after being accepted both Captains mounted and running
the Duke finding the Day lost used what Industry he could to make an orderly retreat into the Neighbouring Wood but by reason his Array was broken the Imperialists entered with him making great slaughter of his men and pressed so furiously upon him that although he stoutly defended himself yet at length he was taken Prisoner by Hippalito a Venetian and disarmed as likewise were a great number of his men and some prime Commanders In this Battel 2000 foot were slain as likewise 800 Horsemen and 700 wounded on the part of the Saxons but of the Germans the slain exceeded not 500 there were likewise taken 42 Ensigns with all the Plate Jewels Baggage and Furniture of the Camp though the Saxons made a kind of a marching or running fight for the space of fifteen miles in all continuing about eight hours and after this Victory all the Country of Saxony submitted to the Emperours Pleasure as soon after did most of the other Estates and Principalities that combined to withstand and oppose him Thus Saxony in her own Confines prest Through one great loss is many years distrest Labâ—ring with War till Peace at last gave rest A Description of the Memorable battel of Muscle-borough-field fought in Scotland between Edward Seimour Duke of Somerset and James Hamilton Earl of Arran Regents of England and Scotland Anno 1547. A Great difference arising between the two Nations upon the Scots refusing as it had been agreed upon in the days of Henry the Eighth to give their young Queen Mary sole Heiress to the Crown of Scotland to Edward the Sixth King of England c. The English under the leading of the Duke of Somerset and other Nobles entered that Kingdom resolving by War to prosecute them for their Obstinacy and oblige them if possible to the performance of what they without any Colour or Reason had refused whereupon on the third of September Anno 1547 the Lord Regent passed the Tweed with an Army consisting of 10000 foot of which 600 were Harquibuses 4000 men at Arms and Demilances with 2000 light Horse-men of whom 200 were Harquibusiers mounted and 1300 Pioneers the Train of Artillery consisting of fifteen great pieces besides a Fleet of sixty five Vessels whereof a great Gally and thirty four Ships were well appointed for War the rest being Victuallers and Tenders and on the ninth of September incamped within two Miles of the Scotish Army under the command of the Earl of Arran who the next Morning dislodged as likewise did the English and advanced towards each other though the former had but a bad welcome for some of the English Ships riding at Anchor in the River let flye so soon as they came within reach of their shot and killed a Captain together with twenty five Souldiers which made the Battalion of Archers commanded by the Earl of Argyle retreat nor could they be perswaded to advance which made the whole Army change the intended course by marching more Southwardly nor stayed they till they had possessed themselves of the Hill called Fauxside-Bray which made the duke of Somerset the English General send some Troops thither to secure the Hill it being of great advantage to those that possessed it and so successful was he therein that he procured in a short time several pieces of Cannon to be mounted thereon which afterward proved very serviceable in battering the Enemies Ranks and in the Emergency the Council debated on Horse-back what was to be done as not having liesure otherways to do it and came to result this viz. that the Lord Grey of Wilton Marshal of the Army and Captain General of all the Horse-men should with his band of Bulloiners and other Troops to the number of 1800 Horse-men advance to charge the Enemy in the Front whilst Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Thomas Darcy Captains of the Pentioners and Men at Arms together with the Lord Fitz-Walter and his band of Demilances to the number of 1600 should be ready to support him that so by a furious charge they might break or disorder the thick front of the Enemies Pikes and although this was a hazardous undertaking yet the Captains disputed not the Order only the Lord Grey desired the General that if he should miscarry in the Enterprize he would be good to his Wife and Children and so taking leave he advanced to meet the Scots who with no less speed came on in so thick a Wedge that it appeared very difficult if not impossible to pierce their Array for the Earl of Angues who commanded the Vaunt-guard had in his Battel 8000 Men and four or five pieces of Cannon which served as a flank on his Right and on his Left he had 400 Horse men and was supported with 10000 Highlanders and in the Rear-ward was the Earl of Huntly with 8000 Scots and 4000 Irish Archers who served as a Wing unto them both being furnished likewise with Ordnance as in the other battel nor was this all for the English had the difficulty of a great Slough or miry Ditch to struggle with in their Passage which not only obliged them to break their Ranks but mited divers of them that were not skilled in leaping yet surmounting these they came to a furious charge insomuch that although at the first onset the battel was not broken yet it swaied and gave back to Admiration so that the English gained Ground apace but the Lord Marshal finding he was not at that time capable of forcing their Ranks he made a softly retreat towards the Hill that they might disrank to follow him and he thereby have an opportunity to give a second charge before they could fall into order in which retreat he lost twenty five of his men and had divers wounded many of them Persons of Quality as the Lord Generals Son and Sir Thomas Darcy c. Nor did they fail to lay hold on the Kings Standard borne by Sir Andrew Flammock but it was so well defended that they only broke the Staff and carried away the nether end but the English Commanders having rallied their Troops and by moving Orations dissipated the fear the late slaughter occasioned and being re-inforced Peter Meucasa Captain of a Company of Harquibusiers on foot drew up in the front of the Enemies battel and was seconded by Peter Gamboa a Spanish Captain who commanded 200 Harquibusiers on Horseback who with their shot made such slaughter that the Scots durst not advance and by that means the English Archers had time to march on the Right-hand of our foot-men and feather them with their flights of Arrows and the great Ordnance playing transverse within Musquet-shot and the foot-men who had been obscured by the Horse advancing in good array the Scots began to shrink together though they were far superior to the English in number and quickly losing all Courage betook themselves to open flight their General the Earl of Arran flying foremost nor did Angues stand to it but followed with great Celerity so that the
Bisballus Horatius and Virginius Orsini Noble Romans and of the Venetian Nobility Agustinus Barbadicus Benedictus Superantius Vincentius Quirinus Johanes Lauretanus Marinus Contarenus Catharinus Maleperta Georgius Andreas Barbadious Marcus Antonius Landus Francisous Bonus Hieronemas Contarenus Antonius Poscaligus and Hierom Venerius all of the Order of the Senators with many of the Spanish Nobility not mentioned by Name The wounded of Note were Venerius the Venetian Admiral John de Austrae Paulus Forano the Count de San Fiora Marcus Molini Thomasius de Medici Martello Reverio Biffoli Marteuno Guicardini Spina Mazingi Juliâ— Maldini Guianovo Magnali Johanes Marea Pucci Toraboni Figliazi Fredricus Eâ—ecello and Gerardo but not many of them dyed of their Wounds they being mostly given with Arrows After this Renowned Victory was obtained and the account thereof taken the Generals and great Commanders assembled in Council to consider what was further to be done and ended in this Determination viz. That Don John of Austria with the Spanish Fleet and Collumnius or as some call him Gollonia with the Popes Gallies should return to Mesina in Sicily by reason Winter approaching it was no fit Season to besiege any Place of Importance But Venerius the Venetian Admiral repairing his Navy kept the Mediteranean and won many strong Holds from the Turks both on the European and Asian shores and so vexed was Selymus upon the news of this Defeat that in a sullen Humor he shut himself up for three days not admitting any to speak with him but those that brought him Necessaries and then in a Rage passed a bloody Decree to Massacre all the Christians in his Dominions which had been wickedly put in Execution had not the Grand Visier laid many Reasons before him to divert him from it nor have the Turks to this Day repaired the Loss but remain inconsiderable to what they formerly were at Sea saying That God has divided the World by giving to the Christians the Sea. and to the Turks the Land. Turkish Hist in the Life of Selymus the Second Thus were the Proud Insulting Turks subdu'd Who had so many Lands with Slaughter strew'd Whilst Grecian shoars beheld the woful Wrack And trembl'd at so great a Ruin's crack Toe Sea too Blush'd with an unwonted stain Shrinking to see her self the shambles of the slain A Relation of the Battel of St. Quintines fought in France between Aeneas Montmorency High Constable of France and General for Henry the Second French King and Philbert Duke of Savoy Lieutenant-General for Philip King of Spain Anno 1577. THE War being proclaimed between France and Spain Philbert Duke of Savoy with an Army of 13000 Horse an 40000 Foot and 8000 Pioneers laid Siege to the Important Town of St. Quintines in Vermandois to the Relief of which the French King sent Montmorency High Constable of France with an Army consisting of 4000 Horse and 20000 Foot with all the flower of the French Nobility who served as Volunteers in this Enterprize and with him he drew a Train of twenty pieces of Ordnance when being come within fifteen Miles of the Place he detached 2000 Horse causing them to advance and find out the Foard oâ— the River which they must pass about three Miles on this side the Town which they accordingly did but found it so narrow that only six Horse a Breast could pass it not was it abandoned bnt defended on the other Bank by a Regiment of Spanish Harquibusiers who upon the approach of the gross of the French Army were reinforced with some Troops of Horse who kept their station notwithstanding the Canon plaid against them with great Fury but it was not long e'r the Duke of Savoy understanding the French Army was much Inferior to his in number calling a Council it was after some Debate resolved therein that the French should not give themselves the trouble oâ— passing the River as they intended and for that purpose were laving over Bridges But that leaving a sufficient number to block up the Town the rest of the Army should immediately pass over and give them Battel whereupon Count Egmont was commanded to lead the way with a 1000 Horse Burgundians and Spaniards seconded by Ernesâ—â—â— and Ericus Dukes of Brunswick with 2500 Horse after whom followed Count Mansfield with 800 Dragoons and Count Horne with a 1000 Men at Arms seconded by a 1000 Horse detach'd from divers Troops and in this manner they forced the Passage without much Resistance and ranged themselves in Battel array for Montmorency rather desiring to put a Supply into the Town than come to a Battel only kept them busie with light Skirmishes whilst the Parties he had appointed for that purpose passed the River at greater Distances nor did he altogether fail herein for 300 resolute Frenchmen did enter but finding the gross of the Spanish Army press upon him he by little and little began to retire towards the Hills Skirmishing in the mean time to retard their March especially with the Light house who sought to delay him till the gross of the Army came up But finding in the end that his Retreat might prove disadvantageous to him as not having any means of escaping a Battel if the Spanish General would oblige him to it he put his Army in Array resolving to try the Fortune of War which he had scarce done before the Count of Egmont gave a furious Charge upon the advanced Parties of French Horse and being seconded by the Dukes of Brunswick Count Home Count Mansfield and Collonel Horckstrate after a sharp dispute wherein the French behav'd themselves with much Resolution and Bravery fresh Troops of Spanish Horse still coming in and much slaughter made Montmorency was obliged to suffer his Horse men to Retreat to the Body of Foot who casting themselves close together in a thick Squadron stood firm and strongly sustained the Charge making it a bloody and doubtful Fight which the Duke of Savoy perceiving poured in fresh Troops to prevent the retreat of those that were almost wearied out commanding Count Egmont to renue the Charge upon the Foot men with greater fury sending other Troops at the same time to charge the Horse that they might not have leisure to put themselves into Array so that the French-men continually having fresh Forces to contend withall overpowred with number and wearied especially the Horsemen betook themselves to flight abandoning the Foot to the mercy of the Enemy so that a great slaughter ensued the Fight being maintained in a flying manner over the Plains so that on the part of the French there were slain to the number of 6000 and of note John Duke of Anguen Brother to the King of Navar Vicecount Touraine Nephew to the Constable the Lords Campodenary Eyrrie Galan Plenot and Gelot with many others the Horse consisting mostly of Nobility the wounded were about 2000 and of note Montmorency Constable of France the Dukes of Longeville and Montpensire the Marshal of St. Andrews Lewis Brother to the Duke of
Mantua Vasey Courtain and Roche du Maine the Rhinegrave the Count Rochfocault the Lords Obigney the two Birons Montbrun and Merne and about 4000 taken Prisoners with all the Bagage and Ammunition whilst on the part of the Spaniards not above 1000 were slain the chief being the Sieur Binecourt Master de Camp and two Noblemen of Germany Count Mansfield was wounded in the thigh and Count Monbrey in the knee After this Battel the strong Town of St. Quintines fell into the hands of the Spaniard as likewise did Haron and Chastellet they ranging freely in those parts for that Summer without any interruption Out of Notalis Comes c. Thus VVars sad Chance we see in blood is writ And Vict'ry flies to whom she thinks most fit VVhilst mighty Realms contend for Soveraignty By the devouring Sword brave Heroes dy Mix't with Plebean deaths the Nobles ly A Relation of the great Sea-fight fought off the Coast of England between the English and Spaniards in the year 1588. vulgarly called the fight of the Spanish Invasion KIng Philip of Spain fretting in his mind at the prosperous success of Elizabeth Queen of England both abroad and at home and more especially resenting her assisting the Flemings in their Wars held against him in the Low-Countries as also the depredations made by Sir Francis Drake and others in the West-Indias he at the Instigation of Pope Sixtus V. and some English Fugitives prepared a great Navy to Invade England for whose vastness and seeming strength it was named by the Spaniards the Invincible Armado though in the sequel it proved otherwise This great Fleet at its setting out consisted of 130 Galleoons Gallies-men of War and Tenders containing 57808 Tuns where in were 8405 Marriners 19295 Souldiers or Landmen and 2088 Gally-slaves furnished with 220000 great shot 4200 Kintaâ—s of Powder 1000 Kintals of Lead for small bullets 1200 Kintals of Match 7000 Musquets and 10000 Halberts with Partisam Field-Pieces and other Provisions requisite for such an undertaking of which the Duke of Medina Sidona was Admiral and was to be joyned by the Prince of Parma Governour of Flanders and to be supplied with further necessaries which accordingly he provided and prepared in all parts of those Provinces upon notice of which and the other preparations the Queen whom they thought by reason of the close carrying on of their design to surprize unprovided for so important a defence caused her Navy Royal immediately to be fitted out under the command of Charles Lord Howard of Effingham whom she constituted Lord Admiral and Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admiral with a Squadron was dispatched to the West of England there to cruze and observe the motion of the Enemies Fleet whilst Henry Lord Seymour second Son to the Duke of Somerset stood with Forty Sail to the Coast of Flanders to prevent Parma's joyning with Medina and thereupon mustered an Army of Land-Forces consisting of 10000 Horse and 32000 Foot with part of which she not only Encamped at Tilbury in Essex but with the rest secured the Places that seemed to Render the Enemy the easiest Access of Landing though through many distresses and disappointments the Spaniards had met withall it was confidently reported and believed by some that they could not in any convenient time make their intended attempt or enterprize yet contrary to the expectation of the English they on the 11. of July cast Anchor in the Chanel and from thence sent a Dispatch to Parma in the King's name to joyn his Forces with them and send such necessaries as were convenient to further the Expedition but on the 20th following about noon being discried by the English they hasted out of the Harbours and on the 21. of the same instant viz. the Lord Admiral Howard Drake Hawkins and Forbisher the most expert in Maritime Affairs that Europe then afforded played furiously in the Rear of the Enemy who were drawn up in the form of a half Moon and so battered Rechalde who commanded a Gally of great force that he his Squadron being put to the worst was so disabled that he had fell into their hands had he not been Received shatter'd as he was into the middle of the Armado as likewise was the Catharine of Spain a Ship of great burthen although the Spanish Admiral declined fighting as much as was possible bulwarking the smaller Vessels with those of greater force bearing from the Coast of England towards Calais so that a great Ship of Biscay commanded by Don Oquendo being fired on the 22. of June a great Gally commanded by Pedro Valdez fell into the hands of Sir Francis Drake in which beside the Commander Don Pedro de Valdez were Vasques de Sylvas and Alanzo de Saijs and other Noblemen the whole number of Men on Board according to their own computation being 430 which were made Prisoners and disposed of in divers places till they were afterward Ransomed nor fared the Vice Admiral De Oquendo better for his Ship having received great damage by fire she was taken with much treasure and carried into Plymouth and although hitherto it had been a kind of a moving Fight the Spaniards shewing an unwillingness to Ingage before they Received their Succours and supply from the Prince of Parma who was indeed blocked up at the same time by the Hollanders who stood upon their guard on the Coast yet now the English Admiral pressed their towring Castles with his shot so furiously that many of them were miserably rent and torn with small damage to the English for that the Spaniards being high built could not well bear their Canon upon the English Ships whose hulls were much lower and when at any time they did the Commanders with their nimble Ships shifted and tacked to a better and more commodious station of anoying the Enemy and so incessantly the Batteries were made that nothing was heard but the thundring of the Canons and the cries of Men whilst ascending smoke made dark the Skies But the Lord Admiral not thinking it convenient to graple with such strength who had a strong Army on board After he had taken and sunk Twelve of their Ships and Gallies and killed them above 5000 men whilst they lay at Anchor before Calais in vain expecting the Prince of Parma A stratagem was found out to break and disperse them which took more effectually than what had before been put in practice viz. into Eight of the oldest and least serviceable English Vessels were put Pitch Tarr Rosin Hemp Flax and other combustible matter their Guns charged and rammed higher than usual with stones crossbar-shot pieces of Iron and the like when in the Night time the wind standing fair they were sent amongst the thick Squadrons of the Spaniards under the Conduct of two expert Sea-Captains viz. Mr. Young and Mr. Prowess with a command to fire them so soon as they were within Musquet-shot of the Enemy and let them drive which by Trains lay'd for that purpose they accordingly did with
Method Lay your budg-barrel or Cartrages of Powder to the Wind-ward and your Linstock with the fired Match to the Lee-ward placing your self on the right side of the Piece and having cleansed the Concave and the Touch-hole fill your Ladle but so as no Corns may scatter over then charge it into the piece as home as you can turning it by the end of the staff with your Thumb and Fingers being sure to keep your Body clear of the Muzzle and so drawing out your Ladle ram a wad by three or four quick stroaks of your Rammer to prevent the Powder from scatteâ—â—â—â— in the Chamber then put in the shot and after it a wad in like manner so that the Powder may be forced yet closer whereby it will deliver the shot with greater violence and prevent any Vacancy that may occasion the bursting of the piece and whilst this is doing you must cover the Touch-hole to prevent any accidental fire from falling into it then prime by drawing a Train to the base Ring and so give fire ever observing not to touch the Touch-hole with your Match-coal lest it blow both that and your Linstock out of your hand and disable it for some time of doing service especially if the Touch-hole be any thing large If you are required to shoot at a random mark or by Elevation you ought to understand that the Random of a piece is the intire distance from the place of discharge to the place where the Bullet first falls or grazes on the level Line or on the Ground by Artists termed the Horizential Plain and to obtain the true knowledge of this it must be practised in a level Ground where nothing may obstruct the level Line or leveling of the shot and therein observe the distances of the paces from the Piece to the fall then mount the Muzzle one degree and take again the like notice and in still mounting by degrees you will be capable of perceiving how far the piece will carry mounting or at the level with an equal proportion of Powder even to the tenth degree or so high as your piece is capable of mounting which will in a good piece advance thirty or forty paces of five feet to the pace through which means an experienced Gunner by his Map may be certain at what distance to make his shot whether into the Trenches or a Town or to dismount the Enemies Cannon or to batter a Wall Bulwark or the Ranks of an Army but if he would make a good shot at a party of moving Horse or Foot or at a Ship under sail Observe in the first place your length to know certainly whether or not you are within reach and if so it being in a straight Line in the second place consider the slowness or swiftness of the motion of the men or ship you intend to hit and thereupon lying upon an equal level neither too high nor too low fire at another mark some distance before it and beyond that so by the two motions the Bullet and the Mark you design to hit may meet for although the Bullet flys with incredible swiftness yet it requires some small time to accomplish its end But if you aim at any Light either on the Sea or on the Shoar in a dark Night then fix a piece of lighted Match or a bit of a Torch on the Muzzle of the piece and bringing that ánd the middle of the base Ring even with the light if it stand still or be passing on in a direct line and give fire by which means if your piece be steady and carry true you can hardly miss your aim If a shot by reason of over-rash charging with one above proportionable size stick in the piece whereby if it be fired hastily it indangers the breaking dissolve bay Salt in Vinegar and pour it in at the Touch-hole till it has melted the Powder then strike the piece where the Bullet sticks the piece being lowred with the muzzle downwards and it will fall out if not let the piece dry and then put Powder in at the Touch-hole till you find a small charge and so give fire having struck the Bullet before with your Rammer to loosen it It is worth observing that if a piece by reason of its being often shot off be very hot it loses much of its force every time after the second or third time lessening something of its motion as to the distance wherefore if the occasion will permit it is best to let them cool between every shot but if not cool them as well as you can with your Spong diped in Water c. If at any time a Gunner for want of skill or by mistake has placed his piece amiss so that the shot flys wide of the mark to mend it he must observe how much wide he was if the shot has hit any part near the mark and if it be too high then must he bring the piece a degree lower or according to the distances he perceives he erred in but if on one side then must the piece be breeched about and if too low it must be better leaveled ever observing that in making a true shot it is requisite to bring the middle of the base Ring even with the middle of the muzzle Ring both which being exactly measured may be notified by sticking up a nail by the help of a piece of Wax or Clay and both those brought even with the mark only the top of the former to be seen give fire and your Expectation if the piece be a clever shooter will be answered Many it is true leavel their Ordnance by Rule and indeed it is the exactest way though somewhat tedious yet may it be done without any Rule by the help of a steady Eye especially if the piece be true and a far shooter only it requires the Gunner to be skilful in guessing at the distance of the mark whither it be in a right Line mounting or declining by bringing the mark even with the Muzzle and Base-ring exactly in the middle It is not the least of the Gunners care to procure good powder such as may easily take fire and retain its full strength for powder in long lying taking unseasonable wet or the like will lose so much of its strength that a pound and a half will not work the effect of one pound nay that which is at the bottom of the Barrel is much more forcible than that which is at the top and the reason is because the force of the Salt-peter if it be not moved or stired about tends downward now to know good powder from bad observe these Rules First feel whether the Corns are well dryed being of a dark blewish colour and taste much of the fire secondly take some of the Corns and lay them upon a sheet of white paper and if when you fire them they leave a black mark or yellow sindge behind them then is the powder gross and earthy and will neither endure