and so consequently that which is vsed to the left shall go to the left By this meanes if the souldiers be accustomed to know their places put case they should be out of order yet should they be able to place themselues againe easily For the Ensignes do know alredie the place where they are accustomed to be planted in the battel and the Corporals knowing likewise their place may iudge also by ranke of eye vpon what part it is that they should place themselues so that those of the front shall steppe forwards to the front and those of the backe shall in like sort retire to their places Therefore the Corporals knowing in how many and what rankes they haue to arrange themselues it will follow that the souldiers not hauing any thing else to do but to imitate their Leaders and heads will readily range themselues euerie one in his owne place without hauing néede of any sergeant of a band nor any other to place them prouided that vse and practise hath made them perfect masters These things are instructed learned spéedily so that diligence be vsed that mē accustome themselues by little little and often the which after they haue once well learned they shall hardly forget It is moreouer necessarie to teach them to turne al at one time for it is somtimes requisite to make of the rereward the front or of one of the flankes the rereward according to the enimies face and according to the place of assault Now to answere towards the place néedful you haue no more to do but to turne your person towards the place appointed and so shall that part towards which the souldiers haue turned their faces be the front But he that would haue a whole battaillon turne all in one péece as if it were a massie body in this it were necessarie to haue great practise discretiō for to turne it vpon the left hand it is requisite to haue the left corner stay that those which be néere adioyning vnto the same do aduance themselues so slowly that those vpon the right corner be not constrained to run otherwise al wil be confounded but this may better be made apparant by experience then words The forlorne hope the light armed armed pikes are to be ranged in the front flanks rereward according to the proportion of the battell or as the seruice requires for these are to execute particular functions in cōuoyes forrages inuasions such like when it is not requisite to send great numbers of people The forlorne hope the pikemen hargabusiers are to begin the battel to fight amongst the horsemen without kéeping any order and therfore being lightly armed their office is to fight without stāding still or firme in running trauersing here there whether they pursue the enimies or be followed of them in which the pikemen wil do good seruice in backing sustaining the hargabusiers and may be able to make front to these that charge vpon them whether they be on horseback or foote or to follow those that be in flight to make entrance to thrust in amongst the enimies when they begin to stagger or sway Therfore al souldiers whether they be in maine battel in flanke forlorne hope in the impale or rereward haue néede to be well exercised that being disbanded they may immediatly finde againe their places rang themselues in the same aray they kept before wherein it is necessarie that all officers become more vigilant in execution then heretofore and the souldiers more obedient and expert in performing then at this day they be Our age brings forth Captaines more curious of gaine then of conseruing good order and troupes of officers rather to supplie number then sufficient to instruct The Ensignes thēselues are more in vse for a gallant shew then for any Militarie direction whereas the ancient Romaines did vse them for a guid whereby they knew how to put thēselues in order for euery one after the Ensigne did stay knew incontinently the place where they were to plant thēselues they knew that if the same did remoue or stand stil that they likewise ought to march or stay Therfore it is necessary that a camp haue diuers bands euery band his Ensigne wherin figures of number are to be portraited to shew what roome and place the same is of in euery regiment or armie and so consequently where the same is accustomed to be ranged And also necessarie Leaders and officers that the campe may haue diuers soules and so likewise diuers liues all souldiers then ought to gouerne thēselues according to their Ensignes according to the sounds the which being ordained set down according as they ought do command gouerne a whole regiment and armie The which so that it march in such sort as answeres to the batterie of the drums they shall easily kéepe their order and aray And to this end were the Flutes and fiffes found out and sounds of perfect accord for euen as men that dance by the measures of Musicke do not erre so likewise a whole battaillon which in march obeys the sound of the drum cannot breake aray and therefore the Romaines when they would change their pace when they would inflame appcase or assure the souldiers they did change sounds as the sounds did varie so likewise vsed they variety of names to them for they had the Dorike and the Phrigien sound the one did inflame the hearts of the souldiers the other did make méek appease them They had likewise other kinds of sounds as the Aeolien Iasien Lydien others the which did al serue to incite or coole the courage of men which diuersitie of batteries the Spaniards do presently verie well imitate a thing to be obserued of all good souldiers An armie that consists of diuers battaillons two or thrée fronts when they are constrained to break and are repulsed must retire one within another into the rankes of the next squadrons which of purpose are planted more thin so the first retyring enters into the 2. and the second into the 3. Note that in the first front of a square vpon the fal of any wounded or slaine souldier he the is next behind him in rank is his follower must enter and step into his roome and fill vp the void place that the front of the battel may still be maintained and so obseruing the retire of the battaillons and the renuing of their ranks we may accomplish both the Romain Gréeke discipline Those battaillons which are most necessarie to be had in vse ought to consist of pikes marching before the Ensigne behind it and on the flanks carrying light Uenecian rundels and targets on their backes and in the midst about the Ensigne the halberdeares must stand prouided alwayes that the notable personages good souldiers for seruice be dispersed as well in the flanks behind as before and not to put them all to one
where they shall ride amongst the souldiers on white horses clothed in white and pure silke crowned with bright triumphant garlands as the scriptures do witnesse This and such like belongs vnto such personages as take care of the souldiers in a warlike band Now then to conclude to make an end of my first discourse I would wish all valiant minded souldiers carefully to carrie in mind those precepts which are proper and due vnto a priuate souldier which I partly haue collected and set downe in this short pamphlet that when he shal be called vnto a hyer office he may deseruedly ascend the third steppe of martiall office and so by degrées rise to the height of supreme gouernment How pikes are to be carried in aray march or battaile THose that are appointed to carrie pikes in aray of rankes or battell must know that pikes amongst all other weapons that belongs to souldiers is of greatest honor and credite and truely whosoeuer doth carie and manage the same weapon wel and with good grace doth make a verie beautifull and pleasant shew to the beholders and chiefly when it is caried vpon the shoulder sustained and supported with a good grace and the hand that doth sustaine it be on that side the shoulder where it is placed and with il Gombedo alto They must likewise be aduertised which march in the formost ranckes if they be vpon the right side to hold their pikes continually in marching in the right hand and vpon the right shoulder without euer changing it and so likewise being vpon the left side of the ranck to hold it alwayes vpon the left shoulder those that be in the midst of the ranckes haue libertie to vse that side that is best for their commoditie either vpon the right or left hand and to moue their pikes from shoulder to shoulder at their choise and pleasure It is true that the iust carying of the pike of those that march in the midst of the ranckes is to hold it vpon the left shoulder to carie their right hand behind vpon their dagger or vpon their side and so generally all as well they that be in the midst as those that be in the head of the ranckes are to obserue this order to carie that hand which is at libertie behind them or vpon their sides Let him march then with a good grace holding vp his head galantly his pace full of grauitie and state and such as is fit for his person and let his bodie be straight and as much vpright as is possible and that which most imports is that they haue alwayes their eyes vpon their companions which are in rancke with them and before them going iust one with the other kéeping perfite distance without committing error in the least pace or step and euerie pace and motion with one accord and consent they ought to make at one instant time And in this sort all the ranckes entyrely are to go sometimes softly sometimes fast according to the stroke of the drum The héele and tippe of their pikes would be equally holden both of length and height as néere as is possible to auoid that they fall not out to be by bearing them otherwise like vnto Organ pipes some long some short The measure proportion thereof to hold the héele of the pike is this It is necessarie for him to haue an eye to the rancke that doth march before him and so carrie the butte end or héele of his pike that it may be iust ouer against the ioynt of the ham of the souldier that in march shall be straight before him and so euerie one from hand to hand must obserue the proportion of that height that is right behind vpon the ioynt of the knée for by doing so they cannot commit errour carying in their march that legge that is vnder that arme that sustaines and carries the pike of iust and euen proportion by mouing their pace right vnder the staffe of the pike going in their march as I haue said before iust and euen with a galant stately and sumpteous pace for by doing so they shal be estéemed honored aâ—…d commended of the lookers on who shall take wonderfull delight to behold them march in that order THE SECOND BOOK OF MILITARIE DIRECTIONS WHEREIN IS SET DOWNE THE office of a Sergeant Ensigne bearer Lieutenant and the Gentlemen of a band how to traine skirmish and discouer And first the Office of the Sergeant of a Band. SInce euerie officer through his continuall exercise and dayly diligence in executing his charge doth attaine vnto perfite experience by dayly practise which is as it were conuerted into nature therefore he which determines with himselfe to be accounted sufficient and of abilitie to discharge the place of a good Sergeant of a band with a forward intent to learne and bée thorowly instructed ought first to be a souldier that hath séene much and a Corporall of good experience according to the direrections of my first booke In which two roomes it is verie conuenient that he haue tasted and bene present at great diuersitie of seruice warlike enterprises and to carrie a resolute mind to delight in the exercise of this office to the end he be not found therin irresolute and ignorant and that likewise he faile not in the readie performing of any enterprise when martiall affaires do call him forth to put the same in execution First of all it is verie requisite that he haue most perfitely in memorie the number of all the souldiers of the band and distinctly with what weapons they are armed what quantitie of Corsâ—…ets and pikes how many armed and disarmed carrie short weapons what number of hargabusiers with murrians and without how many musket-eares how many light armed pikes and targets of proofe that the better more redily vpon a sodaine he may put the company in order He must euer plant the best armed in places most necessarie as at the front and backe the right and left side of a square The first ranck in ordinarie long marching the targets of proofe must go in as a readie rouer and bulwarke against the enimies shot next to them the musketyres then the hargabuziers and after them the armed light armed pykes amidst whose ranckes he must at al times place the Ensigne garded with halberds or bils then againe the light armed and armed pikes hargabuse and musket-eares and last of all targets of proofe by this equalitie of deuision the whole band at one instant shal be readie to receiue any suddain surprise of the enimy The sergeant carrying these things in his mind hauing laid a distinct plat he may verie easily varie their forme and order as he shall be appointed and as the situation of the place doth require or the accidents of warre do constraine He must neuer worke vnwarily or at al aduentures and tending to no determined purpose as those that doe not remember the perfite rules and reckonings of their
and vse thereof for it séemes to mee according to the opinion of diuers expert persons that they are not onely commendable but also most profitable and doe helpe those souldiers much that do learne and exercise them and the reason is this That those souldiers which haue not as yet had discipline and be litle practised in the managing of sâ—…reite aray and in turning thémselues in their aray and in managing all sorts of weapons as pikes specially the hargabusiers with the which it is requisite to cause them make certaine salutations in shooting of the Bissa and also in opening of the same in such sort as the hargabusiers may stand in continuall motion redinesse to charge discharge their péeces alwayes marching in aray sometimes large sometimes straite and sometimes softly and sometimes fast it makes them very disposed nimble and readie as wel in managing their weapons as in marching iustly and with a good grace in their aray and in the battell whereby it may appeare that the making of the Bissa and Caraguolo it of great profite and of importance and those are to be reprehended that despiâ—…e and forgoe them as I haue said before Therefore all good souldiers are to command the iudgement of him that was first the inuentor thereof and we are to search with all diligence to imitate the same rule which I will here God willing go about succinctly and at large to declare because in my former proportions of a King an S a D and a Snaite I haue not done neither touched the manner of this Bissa or Caraguolo the which I the rather thinke necessarie to the intent euery souldier may sée with his eyes a perfect example and way how to make it and to the end his error in this his wilfulnesse arise not to be his discredite in greater causes and to those that hold them méere trifles and feare to faile therin with a litle exercise shall find it easie I haue séene some Captaines that hath made the same most gallantly to their great commendation by men of the greatest authorite in the field If therfore you would make a single Bissa obserue the order set downe in this proportion Presupposing that the figure of this Bissa here set downe is the plaine or ground where the muster is made you must begin to enter with your aray where the taile of this Bissa is turning first on the right hand afterward on the left hand winding your aray about another time on the right hand and on the left vntil such time as you sée the Ensigne be come iust into the midst of the Bissa and that you thinke it be well issuing forth after out of the head of the Bissa as here is set downe causing them to make a goodly salutation your Hargabusiers at the opening and disclosing of the aray aduertising you that these three and thrée in the Bissa are the ranks of the footemen and the D signifying the Drums the E the Ensigne so that beginning this order and well obseruing it you cannot erre The double Bissa Desiring to make a double Bissa that is more inuironed and closed then the single as here appeares you must note that the rankes ought not to be past fiue in a ranke or sixe or seuen at the most for when they are ouer large they make the aray ouer broad taking care likewise that the place be commodious and capeable that the footemen may be spred that they may march without perill of entangling aduertising them that are at the front of the aray when they march in their entring into the place of armes where they are to make the said Bissa to take so much space in the same as is conuenient to do that which in your minde you haue determined Alwayes in turning and doubling the aray holding the path and way large and marching as streit as is possible if you desire that the same shal fal out well beginning the entrie at the taile as in the single is declared turning alwayes as you may perceiue is set downe by the figure before And after that you haue made an end to double it sufficiently in the last doubling as in the single Bissa you must issue forth making large So in this double hauing ended all your turning you must go compassing and making a circuit after issuing forth you must make a generall Salua with your péeces and this will be easie and to the beholders shal appeare intricate firie A plaine rule to set the Ring in aray IT is requisite if you desire to make the King a Caraguolo to hold the same order that is set down in making of the Bissa which is that the rankes do not passe the number of sixe or 7. footemen to the intent they do not confound them in going out although they may be made of a greater nuÌ„ber but theÌ„ it is requisite that those that guide theÌ„ at the front of the maine be wel practised for that it is perilous to intangle themselues Therefore you must take care to vse greater diligence in the ring and Caraguolo then you doe in the Bissa and the guider thereof must stand at the front of the aray and conduct them into the market place or where the assemblie of Armes is Presuppose therefore in your minde hauing in charge to make this ring or Caraguolo that here you sée set down in portrature to be likewise figured in your mind vpon the earth and vpon the place where you are to make it entring first where you sée the crosse and go forward marching at large and frame a round circle alwayes turning vpon the right hand leauing betwixt one circle another a large way so great that at your returne you may come within the said way where this word the issue out is set downe which doth note the turning backe when you are in the midst of the King or Caraguolo that is when you do sée you haue closed and shut them togither sufficiently hauing left betwixt the one circle and the other of the aray so much space that in the same you may returne backe so the one do not touch another Then shall you cause a goodly Salua to be made of all the Hargabusiers generally at one instant Afterwards returning backe by the left hand you shall issue foorth by that way that you haue left betwixt the one circle and the other as it is drawne in the plat where this word The issue out is marching alwayes right forth and as equally as you can and cause to be made at your issue forth another generall Salua by the Hargabusiers You may begin the said Caraguolo vpon what side yée list either vpon the right or vpon the left hand hauing care that if you begin it vpon your right in your issue forth to turne towards the left hand And so likewise if you begin vpon the left in your issuing forth to turne to the right for so you shall finde the way
haue besides his two assistantes a valiant and couragious seruant who is a practised souldier and not a nouice or yoongling as some verie fondly and vnaduisedly do entertain now adaies that continually being néere him as well in the maine square battaile or elswhere to second him with a péece pike or target of proofe may haue in such a one that intyre faith and assured credite that he should haue of a faithful companion whom he must not kéepe as an abiect seruant but he ought to maintaine him apparell him and arme him with conuenient armes of defence for sometimes it shall fall out in the daie of a fought battaile of a whole armie that those deputed seruants may haue the custodie of all the Ensignes in the maine square battaile and the Alfierus of ech companie as men well armed be placed in the head of the battaile or in some other principall or necessarie places which are to be gouerned and defended by practised and valiant Souldiers as particularly fell out at â—…uch time as the Marques of Vasto fought at Cresola in Lombardie against the Frenchmen which iourney was lost by the Emperialistes although that daie they fought valiantly and besides in other enterprises such men haue executed gallant seruice He must alwaies prouide a sufficient corpes de gard about his ensigne as well by day as night in what place soeuer he shal be although no suspition were to be had of the enemy that thereby he may remaine safe from all sodaine surprises or vnprouided casualties and the rather to maintaine the honour and reputation due to the ensigne whereby all sinister inconuenience may be auoyded and the maiestie and office of the same generally well respected Specially when time and place of suspect ministers occasion The Alfierus must march to the gard either armeâ—… with a Curase of proofe or some other conuenient garment of defence being still seconded with his seruant who is to carie either target halberd péece or pike or such weapon as he doth delight in which at the seat of the gard taking his Ensigne in his hand he must let rest in the kéeping of his seruant Neither is it requisite in going or marching that he vnlose and display the ensigne without some speciall occasion but ought to reserue the aduancing and displaying of the same at full vntill he come in the sight of chieftaine or prince or in the sight of the enemy or other places of seruice It is necessary his ensigne haue certain special countersignes and markes that it may easily be knowne of his souldiers both néere hand and farre off to the intent that in all exployts and at vnknowne sodains his souldiers may perfectly perceiue the same amongst the other ensignes different from the rest wherin the Alfierus must vse an exquisite manage that by his wise and valorous actions without anie other mans relation may discerne his vertuous actions and forward procéedinges which he ought to make apparant by some notable enterprise The Alfierus must be a man of good account of a good race honest and vertuous braue in apparell therby to honour his office and continually armed as well when no perill is feared as in time of danger to giue example to the rest of the souldiers not to thinke their armor burthenous but by vse to make it as familiar to him as his skin Finally he must be a man skilfull hardy and couragious of able courage to aduance and beare vp the Ensigne in all extremities secret silent and zealous able often to comfort animate and encurage the company to take in hand and maintaine such extremisies enterprises as they are appointed vnto and neuer to retyre but wheÌ„ of noble policie the higher officers command the same Unto this officer there should be certaine ceremonies vsed in deliuerie of the Ensigne reseruing it by oath in the presence of his hand at which time he must make vow and professe the same rather to be his winding shéete and therein to lose his life then through his default to lose the same whereunto euery priuat souldier should likewise be sworn as among the Romans it was vsed when he was not accounted a souldier but a théefe or robber â—…ill he had taken his oth And therefore their warres was called Militia Sacrata The office of the Lieutenant of a companie THat persons vpon whom anie charge doth depend and doth deseruedly manage anie affaire must frame himselfe to vse due diligence and with dexteritie suffer such tedious toyle as in these serious affaires succéed since that charge as I haue alreadie said signifieth nothing else but a burthen of affaires Therfore that a souldier may deseruedly mount vp to this degrée of worthy honour and martiall dignitie he must vse all circumspect care to performe his office like an expert Lieutenant that the companie be well gouerned which he must accomplish with a forward and willing mind though of duetie he is bound to performe the same aswell to content the minde of his captaine as to augment his own honour and reputation He must neuer appropriat vnto himselfe any one point of authoritie but diligently discipher and vnderstand all thinges and make relation thereof to his captaine of whom it is necessarie he take all his commissions and directions His part is to giue willingly and readily counsell and aduise to his captaine as often as he is demanded and otherwise neuer vnlesse he sée that the same may do manifest good or in case of present perill The Lieutenant ought to carie with him a diligent care of concord for that particularly the pacification of discords difference amongst the souldiers of his company appertains vnto him which must be done without choler or passion and must still handle them verie indifferently and curteously For his indifferencie besides the gaining of him trustie credite doth make easie the desciding of any difference or disagreement and is one point which of necessitie is most conuenient to an honorable peace-maker although it be a verie difficile thing to proâ—…ure peace in points of honour specially amongst souldiers that stand much vpon their Punctos and for that respect is it very hard to vse a iust balance therefore in such causes it is most requisite that euerie one of the interessed shew at the full his entire cause thâ—… which is a thing not vulgar neither of small importance And although the pacifier ought neuer to hang more vpon the one side then the other yet it is conuenient he haue some small respect to him that is wronged against reason rather then to him that is the vnlawfull worker of the iniurie But if he finde any difficultie in resoluing these differences let him confer with the Captaine to the end that he who is knowne to be the occasion and wil not agrée to an honest end may be immediatly discharged but if it be thought good that he remaine to serue a time for the execution of some speciall enterprise then the word both
mouth c. or such like appointing two or three rankes of Gentlemen of the 〈◊〉 of S. Georges Squaâ—…ie to lead the voward who know the encounter and how to ioyne and thereby that way by order of the officers the shot doth issue to skirmish betwixt the skilfull 〈◊〉 beforesaid The battaile may ioyne close togither if oâ—…casion requireth also the rest of the shot may waâ—…e thorow to helpe the voward EUen as presently you haue placed 12. in ranke with your halberds and Ensigne in the midst so may they likewise fal out to be 12. in ranke in bredth and 13. in length if you place your shot in the front rereward the which as occasion serueth may be brought to skirmish any wayes This battell as the ground serueth is verie strong against the enimie SOmtimes marching in straights and especially hauing some gard in the rereward for the safetie of the Ensigne you may send certaine rankes of pikes in the front towards the enimie which shall wade through to strengthen the battaile placing the one halfe of your shot to skirmish in the front the other halfe in the rereward SOmtimes hauing scope of ground standing in doubt of horsemen cause the numbers to march 12 in a ranke at large a good distance a sunder and so to stand stil euerie man towards their quarters placing their shot on al sides betwixt the pikes which after they haue discharged being charged with horse may retire to the halberds and your outward fronts farrie close togither vntil the shot haue charged at the repulse of the horsemen to open your pikes at large and the shot to be commanded to issue and to skirmish as they were in the fronts This battell is of great force To order and imbattell 400. in quadrant proportion FOure hundreth men whether they serue in one band or vnder two seuerall Ensignes may be brought to this quadrant proportion against the defence of the enimie by placing 15. in the front ioyning foure rankes of pikes in the voward foure in the rereward and foure in the flanks your halberds and Ensigne in the midst placing your shot in sixe wings for the rescuing of ech other the rest of your shot in the voward and rereward in Diamond wise This battell for so small a number is of great force THe ground may be such as it shal be necessarie to place the same number in manner of a herse or twofold battaile placing ten in ranke in length and 20. in bredth placing your halberds and Ensigne in the midst encountring the enimie on your broad side so shall you occupie more hands then the quadrant battaile doth taking vp lesse ground in marching then the other battaile You must cause them to sarrie close togither trailing their pikes on the ground being readie to offer the push to the footemen and to crosse for the defence of horsemen your shot to be placed as before you appeareth This is of great strength so that the enimie cannot enuiron you To embattaile 500. men in a quadrant proportion ACcording to the worthinesse of the Captaine the greater is his charge as one Captaine to haue charge of 500. men vnder one Ensigne the which if any Caualliere of the order would bring into quadrant battaile hée must place 16 Pikes in front making 4. rankes quadrant placing his halberds in the midst with the Ensigne so hath hée in the bodie of the battaile 250. men his shot to be placed in the front and Rereward 110. and in the flanks of the battaile in the 8. winges 140. the which béeing discharged may discharge retire whereby to be rescued by the rest They may in this proportion March any way vnto them néedefull bée it either to trauaile or else to win grounds by any aduantage SOmetimes by reason of the ground it is necessarie to bring such a number into an hearse or twofold battaile which may bée more auailable then the Quadrant battaile To bring them into this proportion you must place 13. Pikes in breadth and 21. in length your Halberds and Ensigne in the midst your shot in the fâ—…onts and wings Thus in order they may turne their faces and march any way to them néedefull which practise may greatly auaile at time of néede as vnto great numbers appertaineth In what sort Hargabuziers and Archers are to be guided to skirmish FOr that in all skirmishes shot is the first that beginneth the fight I haue thought good in some few figures to set downe how they may March skirmish inuade and retire in politikâ—… maner and how by rankes to rescue one another whereof the practise in this smal number wil giue a light to greater knowledge which still may increase as the deuises of new inuentions do spring wherein I would wish all worthie Gentlemen couragious minds to whet their politike industrie that therby they may shun diuers discommodities and vnknowen daungers attaine to the tipe of true valiancie but to procéede This number following vpon the sight of the enemies must march thrée in a ranke casting themselues in the proportion of a Ring so to abide there appointing themselues to approch stil in aray there to discharge by rankes and so in the Rereward to charge againe being readie for seruice still marching round and whéeling about like vnto the Rutters THis number encouÌ„tring the Ring must discharge by ranks and after the first ranke hath discharged to retyre betwixt the rankes vntil they come to the Rereward there to charge and to follow his loadsman to seruice againe Thus may you continually maintaine skirmish how litle or great soeuer your number bée it giueth great encouragement to the Souldiers standing but one shot and retireth THese two bands of Hargabuzers set to encounter the enemy on their broad sides the fronts discharge turne their faces retyring betwixt the other which aduance in like maner for their rescue These retire and charge againe to seruice by practising the skirmish in this sort you may bring bands of Archers to seruice to the great anoying discomfiting of the enemie These two bands change rankes and place on their broade sides These bands of Archers be brought to seruice by the Callieuers afore them THese bands of Archers béeing brought to seruice by the Hargabuziers although the hargabuziers bée accompted to be of greater force then they bee of and the Archers not now so much vsed in the field as they haue bin yet hauing light shaftes made to shot 12. or 14. scoore may kéepe their place shooting al together ouer the heads of the hargabuziers to the gauling blemishing and great annoy of the enemie THese two bands following discharge by rankes and returne to the Rereward and charge againe who béeing placed fiue in a ranke like to two hornes are to bée brought to skirmish in like proportion to this figure The fronts or voward hauing discharged the one retyreth on the left hand the other on the right hand vnto the Rereward there
Argolateares a pretie distance off In this sort if one squadron happen to be broken yet shal another make head vpon the enimie while they may retyre troupe againe which is the only safetie as wel of Horsemen as footmen And albeit in the day of seruice it is the part of the high marshall himselfe to giue order in what sort and with what troupes the charges shal be giuen or receiued it is also the Lieutenants part as well to giue his aduise as also to be a leader in all these actions He ought therefore to take great regard to the ground where he meaneth to giue the charge for if he charge in troupe the falling of a few horse in the for most rankes may disorder and foile the whole troupe Before the front of his owne footmen let him neuer giue charge for it hath bin séene that horsemen being repulsed haue bene foreed in vpon their own footmen disordered them Let the horse therefore charge vpon the flanke of the enimie and diligently attend if by any accident they can perceiue any breaking or opening in the side of his enimies battell and then sodainly to charge that breach for as horsemen are inferiours to wel ordered footmen so vpon any smal disorder they carrie with them victory And for that in our age there hath arisen diuers fodaine effects not looked for wrought by the good and well guiding of horsemen I thinke it good somewhat more amplie to delate vpon this point specially as I said before in appointing out a place apart from the battel ranks wherin the Cauallarie may be ranged to the intent they may with good scope fréely and fitly turne and run with their squadrons and ranks in charging the enimy in taking charge likewise of them and in all other enterprises considering that the troopes of horsemen in retyring or turning round do often disorder and break their own infanterie either through the discommoditie of the place or through the want of the good and warie guiding of them Contrariwise at other times by their aduised and spéedie serâ—… a small number of horsemen well bent and better guided haue bêene séene to enter very couragiously into a great battaite of the enimies footemen and either for that they were slenderly flanked with Hargabuziers or by the disaduantage of the grouÌ„d or being disordered by meanes of some errour or through some other sinister chance or by meanes the said battaile was guided by vnequall or vncertaine pase or through the naughtie indeuor and diligence of rawe and vnpractised souldiers or in going through a streight place or passage of water or otherwise horsemen haue easilie disordered and broken their battailes and all the rest of a whole armie But yet are they not able to encounter with a well ordered square battell of pikes if their couragious and well ranged rankes keepe their araie and when the horsemen charge doe clinge and sarrie verie néere together in the fore rancke and set shoulder to shoulder with their pikes well couched and crossed bending them in both their handes straight before them and their followers at their backes laying theyr pikes ouer their foregoers shouldiers and so stand at the push besides the shouldering of the foreranks together hauing pitched their pikes vnder one of their feete in the ground they stoope and bow downe so loe with their bodies that their followers may easilie come to seruice behinde their backes where some doe vse to place the light armed pikes who amongst some nations for want of brest plates of Iron vse tand lether paper platecoates iackets c. For a gorget thicke folded kerchefes about their neck a scull of Iron for a head péece and a Uenetian or lether Shéeld and Target at their backes to vse with their short Swordes at the close of a battaile and in a throng The squadron of pikemen hauing couched and crossed their pikes brest high closely sarred together are as hard to be pearst with horsemen as an angrie Porcapine or Hedgehog with the end of a bare finger Wherefore to ouerthrowe a maine square battaile planted in that order it is good to vse the aide of Hargolateares who must first scale the fronte and ranks of the battels and then being seconded by the lances men at armes breake their araie and whole battaile In the erecution whereof it is good to vse the Rutters order which somewhat differs from the French mans fight for he encountring the enemie cannot indure any troope to be néere his long stretched ranckes because of breaking his course but the retire fighteth in this sort When the retire is approched néere enough vnto the enemie the first ranke dooth aduance vpon them and when he hath discharged his Pistolet he doth run still in forward as dooth the French who doth still pursue his point but more short on the right hand or on the left according vnto the place where he is and so is also spéedely followed by the second ranke which dooth the same Then the third followeth the second to giue the charge as soone as euer he séeth him departed that stood before him all the rankes following one another in such maner euen vnto the last the hindermost runneth they fighting with Pistolets onely for to come vnto their foreriders they standing all along one at anothers backe And for so much as it is impossible but that when they do present themselues some of them or else their horses be slaine Therefore so soone as euer one of the formost ranke is séene to fall downe he that is in the second ranke directly behinde him that is departed or else disabled must take his place and the next behind him in the third ranke must furnish the same voide ranke wherein he was in the second and so the rest in like order so that they alwaies make their formost rankes of the most assured for in all things namely in â—…eates of armes the beginning is of greatest moment some to break the front of armed pikes do vse to cause the men at armes dismount and in their complet armor to charge them with their launces Some others hold an opinion that the maner of the Germans is best who kéepe alwaies their maine troopes standing cause only one ranke from the front to charge the same being repulsed to retire to the taile and backe of the standing troope then an other to charge and retire to the taile backe as the former whereby they maintaine the whole troope in full strength vntil they sée the footmen sway or breake that their horsemen enter Then presently they back them with an other ranke those againe with an other vntill they sée cause either to follow with the whole troope or to staie this is thought to be the surest and most orderly forme of charging of all others notwithstanding the accustomed whéeling about of the rutters which they vse with their whole troopes euery one after an other giuing the enemie