best abilitie and knowledge declare vnto you such matters as I haue found by mine owne experience eyther learned from the directions of braue Commaunders vnder whom I haue serued or gathered out of the best authors which haue written vpon this subiect VVarre Indeede at the beginning of these our speeches I did not then thinke to haue marched so farre into this Martiall field for my fiue or sixe yeares discontinuance from action had almost driuen all the courses order and methode thereof out of my mind and memorie but your curious demaundes and questions haue both drawen me on sharpened my wit and refresht my memorie wherein if I haue erred or may misse hereafter as no man but erreth some more some lesse I submit my selfe to the censure and correction of men more experimented and of better parts then my selfe Gent. Truely Captaine you say very well and I would we had many of no meaner partes nor of no worse meaning then your selfe in mine opinion then no doubt but our common souldiers should be better instructed and be better dealt withall then they now are by some of their Captains But letting these matters passe I pray what order would you wish to be obserued in the trayning of our souldiers here with vs in the countrie sith we are commanded to traine and as yet I see litle good order obserued in the same Capt. Touching the true and orderly trayning of your people in this our Moderne Militia I haue in generall roued ouer some part thereof alreadie but not so particularly as such an action would require wherein I could heartily wish that as neere as possible we might we should reduce ourselues with such armes as we now vse vnto the forme manner and course of the auncient Romanes in their Militia and discipline of warre although ages seasons and inuentions haue altered much and many weapons by them vsed Gent. I pray what order did the Romanes obserue in their warres and how were they armed Capt. The Romanes deuided their foot people of warre into men armed with heauie armour or as we may tearme it armor complete and into light armed men Those which were light armed they called by one common name Velites vnder which word they vnderstood all such as carried slinges darts bowes crosse-bowes and such like the greatest part of whom were armed with a skull or close Cellat for the head and had besides their other weapons a shield or Target vpon their left arme to defend and couer themselues and did fight or skirmish in straggling sort a good distance from those that were armed with heauie or complete armour in Squadron Vnto those may we well compare our shot especially them of the forlorne hope or Enfans Perdus as the French doe terme them Their people armed with heauie or complete armour had first a Cellat or Burgonet which couered their head and reached ouer their shoulders then for their bodie a Cuyrasse whose flappes or tasses couered their thighes euen down to the knees their legges and armes were armed with Greaues and Vambraces and for their defence they carried a shield of foure foote long and two foot and a halfe broad bound about with a band of yron and for weapon they had a sword not ouer long girt vnto their left side a short dagger vpon their right and in their hand a Iauelin or Dart which they called Pilum the which at the beginning of their fight they did lance or dart at the enemie vnto these may we compare our Corslets and Pykes whereof we frame our battels or battaillions and our armed halbards partizans and other short weapon Commonly a Romane army consisted of two Romane Legions which was a Consuls armie and of two Auxiliarie legions which were of their friends or confederates Their Legion consisted at the first but of three thousand footmen and three hundred horse but afterwards encreased vnto 5.6 or 8000. foote Their legion they deuided into Cohortes Maniples and Centuries Euery legion of 6000. foote was deuided into ten Cohorts at 600. to euery Cohort and euery Cohort into sixe Centuries after 100. men to euery Centurie and euery Centurie into foure Maniples after 25. souldiers vnto euery Maniple or into fiue Maniples at 20. souldiers to euery Maniple Moreouer euery legion was deuided into 3. partes or orders of battels into Hastati Principes and Triarij The Hastati were set in the front of their armie in order of Squadrons thicke and sure behinde them were placed the Principes but with the order of their Squadrons more rare and thinner After these againe were ranged the Triarij but with the order of their Squadrons much more thinner then the Principes Now their slingers darters archers or crosse-bowes and such light armed were placed without these Battels or Squadrons on the flanks and front between the horsemen and their armed battell as we do or ought to do in mine opinion our shot some filâ—ers of Pykes Halberds and such other short weapon Gent. What sort of men thinke you fittest to be chosen for souldiers and to be trayned and what order in their trayning Capt. I suppose men of the better sort from the age of eighteene yeares vnto thirtie yeares are fittest to be chosen Now the signes whereby to coniecture the persons most apt for warres by the Phisiognomie and proportion of bodie are these The eyes quicke liuely piercing the head and countenance vpright the breast broad and strong the shoulders large the armes long the fingers strong and synowie the belly thinne the ribbes large the thigh bigge the legge full and the foote leane and drie for whosoeuer is of this disposition and with these conditions cannot chuse but be nimble and strong which are two qualities chiefly to be required in a souldier I could wish that those Bandes which are appointed to be trayned for of the Officers I haue spoken before should be by their Captaine Muster-maister and other Officers trayned at the least once euery moneth or oftener as the weather and season will permit and euery Caporall with his Cabos de Camera to traine and instruct their Esquadra especially of shot once euery weeke or once euery fortnight at the least ensigning them the vse of their weapon and order of sleight skirmish For often practise maketh men readie especially and shot the which without readinesse and skill is a weapon of litle aduantage and in the hands of perfect souldiers is a weapon of great aduantage and of wonderfull execution Now the seuerall companies hauing bene well applyed and taught for a time by their Captaine and other officers I would wish should once euery three monethes meete and ioine some foure or fiue companies together in some conuenient place then and there to bring them into such formes as should be needfull for so many companies And once a yeare at the least all the companies of the whole shire to meete in
and fore finger of his right hand and with his middle finger to measure at what length to cocke the same to fall with a proportioned length into the pan The which being done let him retire his right foote somwhat backe and stand firme vpon the same and holding fast both the musket and rest with his left hand to raise the but end of his musket from his thigh vnto his breast and to fasten the same firme and close vnto his right shoulder and brest holding fast the sayd hinder part of the stocke betwixt his right thombe and fore finger drawing downe the serre with the other three fingers and so taking due leuell to discharge Hauing performed the which let him vncocke his match clap his musket vpon his shoulder with a halfe turne and so retire trailing his rest or forke by the stringe and giuing place to others go charge again finally for other armes a reasonable short sword a meane dagger with no morion but a faire hat and feather Gent. Thus I perceiue your fiery shot haue many busie skils without knowledge of all the which it is hard to become a perfect shot Capt. True and therefore often to be practised But here let the muster-maister and trayning Captaine be well aduised not to suffer their shot to cary any bullet about them in time of their trainings and fained skirmishes for feare of danger that might thereby ensue among themselues But now and then after their training to take euery shot single and to see him charge his peece orderly with pouder and bullet as aforesaid and hauing a great but erected to that purpose the which ought to be in euery hundred or Baily-wicke to cause them to leuell and discharge at the blancke thereof orderly one after another encouraging those which do make the fairest shot Now for the Pike which the Spaniards do tearme SenÌ„ora y Reyna de las armas the Queene and mistresse of weapons The souldier which carieth the same is to bee well armed with a good corslet furnished with his gorget Morion tasses pouldrons vambraces and gauntlets also to be armed as he ought to be whatsoeuer opinion other men may hold to the contrary supposing a bare payre of Cuyrasses onely sufficient but I am of opinion that the armed Picquier ought to bee armed in all points as I haue said for defence and then to offend to be weaponed with a good Pike of ground Ashe of seuenteen or eighteen foote long at the least well and strongly headed with the cheekes three foote long or there about and for other weapon to weare a good short sword and dagger for the dagger is a weapon of great aduantage in Pell mell And if it be replied that the souldier so heauie armed is not for any great march or speedy execution I say that among well ordered Regiments there are also yet some vnarmed pikes that is without any corslet or at the most the bare cuyrats onely and morion the which the Italians do call Picche secche Now these are reserued imployed in such peeces of light seruice And the Picquier either armed or vnarmed is to be shewed and taught the carriage and vse of his pike as first to tertiar or carry the same orderly vpon his shoulder holding the same with his foure fingers vpon the vpper part of the staffe his thombe vnder the staffe neare vnto his shoulder basing downe the blunt end thereof to aduaunce the point and poizing the pike with an equall poize vpon his thombe and shoulder alwayes in march keeping the lower end of his pike on the one side of his foremans legge still aduertising that in march the pike is to be carried vpon the right shoulder of euery souldier throughout euery file sauing the vtmost file on the left side of the arrayes or ordinances which are to carry their pikes vpon their left shoulders onely alwayes regarding how those of the foremost rankes doe carry their weapon the rest to do the same throughout euery ranke and file following for order and forme do require the same Next hee is to be taught how to plant his pike on the ground at any stand or Alto then how to arbolare or aduaunce his pike that is to reare his pike vpright against his right shoulder and with his right hand stretched downe vnto his thigh to hold the same neare vnto the but-end betwixt his foure fingers and his thombe stretching his forefinger downeward vnto the but-end of his pike and so aduaunce the same vpright high against his right shoulder resting and staying the same with his right hand against his right thigh and knee as before is sayd Now this is to be done at such times as being brought into a Ring and serreyng close shoulder to shoulder then to aduaunce their piks in this sort at the enclosing thereof so to continue vntill they fall out of the ring againe into a larger march Also the same is vsed by some at their arriuing vnto the corps de guard at the setting of the watch before their chief Commander or officer euen as the first ranke shall arriue into the corps de guard some ten or twelue pases from the place of their stand to arbolare their pikes and so rancke after ranck carrying them in the same order vntill they come vnto their place of station there to make Alto and to plant their pikes vpon the ground as the squadron is formed But principally the souldiers marching in squadron and vpon point to come to the push of the pike with their foote enemy then are they first to aduaunce their pikes as is said bearing the same orderly with the right hand against the right thigh and the left hand aboue neare about the shoulder and so to charge vpon the left hand and push standing firme and sure vpon the left foote But if the squadron be charged with any troupes of the enemies horse then must the Picquiers cowch their pikes fast vnder the right foote holding the same 〈…〉 the left hand and bow downe the point thereof against the breast of the horâ—e hauing his right hand ready to draw his sword if occasion shall be offered Now how necessary and auayleable this continuall vse and practise is may easily be gathered from the sundry victories of the auncient Romanes Who both in their Campes and Garrisons had their Tesserarios which were as our Sergeant Maiors to ensigne and teach their people of warre the vse and managing of their armes at all idle and vacant times The old souldier sometimes once in a day and the Tirones which we terme Bisognios or new souldiers twise in the day or as occasion serued so were their people alwayes ready and perfect And againe they did not onely practise them in the knowledge of their weapons but many times also did conduct their Companies for their recreation
vpon our ioyning with the enemie quite altered and chaunged and so changing dayly as occasions were offered And in land seruice more occurrantes do befall hourely which hereafter we will speake of But now partly to answere your demaund First the enemie discouered approching and engaging vs to fight happely some skirmishes may be begun by the hargoletiers and light horse but the battels approching and comming within shot the field ordinance on both sides if there be any begin to go off at which artillerie the first puzzelling doth commonly begin each part attempting to surprise the others ordinance then the loose shot in the forelorne hope on both sides begin to disband and fall to flat skirmish their office performed hauing bene well bearded they retire to the flankes and reareward of the battell from whence they are supplied and continually seconded with other fresh troupes so still maintaining fight till the horse do offer to charge the which are commonly encountred with horse againe if not then the shot retire behind their stand of pikes and are then also aided with their halberdes and short weapon and some halfe pikes mingled among them vpon whose charging the Muskets of impaling and the squadrons at the angles doe roundly bestow their vollie in the face of the enemie then the pikes are couched fast vnder the right foote guarding the girdling shot vnder their succour the which girdling shot are to kneele vpon their right knee vnder the couched pikes closing close together do stād with resolute hart hand and body holding the pike at a reasonable distance in the left hand their swordes ready drawen in their right hand of the first 3 or 4 rankes being sure to stand firme and couching their pikes point to the breast of the horse for that is the place of most aduantage A squadron of pikes thus couched and handled by resolute and honest men I cannot see how any troupe of horse dare venture vpon them and if they do yet not able to breake farre in if men stand resolute so of force must they retire with losse and disaduantage But if they be encountred with equall numbers proportions and force of pikemen then if they will they aduance their pikes vntill they come to the push then with charging ouer hand to thrust and push couragious and valiantly at which time valour and skill is shewed as second meanes of victorie but God the first cause and giuer of all Gent. In few wordes you haue finished a battell But your leaders and Commanders how are they this while employed Capt. Euery one according to his office place to encourage animate the souldiers to redresse with speed any disorders happening in their own troupes to espie the disorders or negligence of the enemy taking aduantage vpō such occasion with sundry other points which in their seuerall duties shall be declared The second Dialogue wherein is declared the order of many ancient formes of imbattailing Gentleman YOu spake of more sortes of battels I pray therefore declare vnto vs their orders how many in what formes and to what vses Capt. Although I haue before somwhat touched the same not minding to medle farther then with our fights now most accustomed yet neuerthelesse drawen on by your good and curious demaundes I will the best I can particularly describe them Therefore as I haue before declared of all formes of battels now in our age most in vse best approued and best allowed of is the iust square of men as equally strong on euery side and most fit and best assured for the open field and out of which quadrate all other formes may easily be reduced Next vnto that and most aduantagious indeede to fight is the quadrate of ground by good regard had wherein many hands are brought at one time to fight Of both the which formes I haue before largely discoursed as well the manner how to frame them as their due sortement with weapons and shot to the same I will now speake somewhat of the rest of the which there are many sorts seruing in old time vnto many purposes but now with vs quite out of vse as the Diamant battell the VVedge battell or Triangle the Sheers battell the Saw battell the Moone battell the SDG battels and the Crosse battell with such like and chiefly the battell compounded of sundrie battallions the which last recited of all others I thinke to be the most strong and aduantagious were men expert skilfull and ready but raw as in our dayes they be very difficult and dangerous to be handled The nearest therefore vnto the square of men is the Diamant battell vnto the framing whereof out of the said square there needeth no more but whereas the leader stood before on the square of the battell let him appoint another to go to the next corner or angle thereof and willing the pikes to turne their faces vpon him and they shall straight out of the square march into a Diamant proportion which forme when you are disposed to alter do no more but appoint the leader to the square where he first stood commaunding the pikes to turne their faces vpon him and they shall forthwith march into a square battell againe The facilitie is great both herein and in all others and that without any confusion as by their seuerall figures following shall appeare the which I haue framed of 25 letters the better to giue you to vnderstand And againe out of the Diamant forme may be reduced two triangles by cutting or diuiding the same in the middest at the two flat angles as in this figure of a Diamant forme may appeare by the prickes running along of 2 triangles may be framed a Sheeres battell and of 3 or 4 triangles may in like sort be framed the Saw battell by ioyning the angles together as in their figures following shall appeare Here you see the square reduced into a Diamant forme with onely turning their faces vnto the right angle E as aboue appeareth so marching on do fall into a perfect Diamant forme with two sharpe angles and two flat But in their march they will stretch ouer-long each man from his leadesman so will it be of no force to fight by reason of their raritie thin standing as in the former figure may appeare by F.B. by L.G.C. by G.M.H.D. by VV. R.N.N.E the two sharp angles and so of the rest To reforme the which fault First commaund your men to stand in the forme they are then causing the two sides of the first angle E to stand yet firme and commaund euery one of the rest except the said two sides to march on one after another vntill he come to finde himselfe in a due distance each after his leadsman thus F. shall march vp towardes B. vntill he finde A. to be his left-side fellow thē there to rest thē againe G. shall proceede towards C. vntill B. be his side
some most conuenient place together then and there to be instructed in the orders how to march how to encampe and how to fight deuiding them into so many parts or battaillions as vnto their chiefe Officer shall seeme good Gent. What course would you wish the Captaine of a single companie to obserue in the trayning of his souldiers Capt. First hauing his companie leauied and chosen of the better sort of people as is said let your rawe Captaine for so I terme those which neuer were in action prouide himselfe if possible he may of a good Lieutenant and a sufficient Sergeant and a skilfull Drummer Then let his people be suted with such sort of weapon as is appointed The which I would wish to be as I haue said before to euery hundred of men 25. muskets 25. Calliuers and 40. or more of pikes and corslets and the rest short weapon as halberds swordes and targets and such like Now hauing suted euery man with a conuenient weapon I would wish your Muster-maister if your Captaine haue not the skil for your Muster-master ought to be a man of experience first to declare vnto them the partes that ought to be in a souldier in generall as before is declared then to ensigne them the right carriage of their armes and weapon then to knowe the seuerall soundes of the Drumme next to learne to keepe his ranke and file orderly and so to march eyther swift or slowe step by step with the sound of the Drumme then how to keep their array being cast into a ring or any other forme with the comming out againe and returning into a counter-ring and out of the same into a march and counter-march then how to make their Alto or stand and how to double their rankes vntill they bring themselues into a iust square of men if their numbers will permit it and how to double their â—â—les eyther vpon the left or right hand and so to fall off againe both from file and ranke and being in squadron how to turne their faces on either or any part making front on any flank or traine as occasion shall be offered Then the perfect vse and managing of euerie weapon in his due nature and kind and so by a continuall vse they may by good instructers become soone to be ready souldiers Gent. Here be manie good parts vnder a few words but they are too briefe for me to vnderstand wherefore I pray dilate more at large thereof and first what meane you by the cariage of his weapon Cap. To discourse vpoÌ„ al these points particularly it wold be ouer long might better be shewed in act theÌ„ in words yet to satisfie you somewhat herein I will speak of the particulars here there as I shal be occasioned shal cal theÌ„ to memory First therfore the soldier that is appointed to cary a calliuer is first to be ensigned how to cary his peece vpon his left shoulder with his flaske at his girdle or haÌ„ging by at Port-flask or Flask-leather vpoÌ„ the right thigh vpoÌ„ the left side of his girdle to haue his touchboxe fastened by the string hanging downe somwhat long by the strings sufficient to be taken and to prime his peece with touch-powder and on his right side a Bullet bagge or purse of canuas or leather for bullets Also some three or foure yards of match in seuerall peeces hanging at his girdle with one peece of match of a yard long in his left hand holden fast by the third finger of the same hand hauing the one or both the endes of the same lighted or fired Also to be prouided of a priming iron or wyer of a steele and flint stone to strike fire vpon any suddaine occasion either to spare the burning of match or to fire their matches if the same do chance to go out Then how to charge his peece either with his flask or bandelier theÌ„ to let slip the bullet down into the barrell after the powder and to ramme the same with paper tow or such like thrusting the same downe with the scouring stick if time will permit or else a more readier way thus After that the bullet is slipped downe vnto the powder to put after the same some two or three cornes of powder which will wedge fast the bullet This being done let him hold his Calliuer with his left hand as in his charging hee ought to do the like griping the same by the stocke somewhat neare vnder the cock betwixt his thombe and foure fingers then holding the nose of his peece somwhat vpward for not to endaÌ„ger his fellows to take the one end of his lighted match with his forefinger midle finger thoÌ„be of his right haÌ„d so to cock the same hauing a regard that it may fall due within the pan finally if it be a crooked stock peece to set the same vnto the left side of his breast retiring his right foot some halfe step behind the left or aduancing the left foot some halfe pace before the right and so to take his due leuel holding the hindermost part of the stocke betwixt the thombe and fore-finger of his right hand with the other three fingers to draw to the serre so to discharge his peece with agility hauing done the which to retire souldier-like and charge againe giuing place to his next fellow or seconder But being a straight stocked peece the which I hold for the better he is to place the same vpon the right side of his breast fast against his shoulder leuelling and discharging as aforesaid And for other armes he is to be fitted with a short sword and meane dagger and a Spanish morion Now the musketier is to cary his musket vpon his left or right shoulder for it importeth not much on whether so they obserue the order of the first rancke with his Forke or rest in his left hand fastned about his hand wrest or little finger by a string hauing his flask and touchbox fitted as before is sayd or hauing a bandalier the same to be ouer the left shoulder and vnder the right arme Now to charge the same he must hold his musket with his left hand hauing his rest trayling by the string and put the but end of the stocke vpon the ground then with his flaske or bandalier to charge his peece with powder slipping downe the bullet into the barrell after the same and to fasten it with two or three cornes of powder as is aforesayd then to clappe the musket into his forke planting the lower end or pike of the rest into the ground neare vnto his left foote and resting the but ende of the stocke vpon his left thigh then to prime his pan with touch powder And hauing his match ready as before is sayd to take the peece of match that hangeth by the midle or third finger of his left hand betwixt the thombe
into the field there causing them to run to leape to iumpe to wrastle to throw the sledge to pitch the barre and such like exercises and sometimes also to learne to swim as a qualitie very befitting a souldier Moreouer they did many times cause their souldiers as well foote as horse to march armed at all points euen as it were to serue against their enemie once or twise in a moneth euery man carrying his owne prouision and victuals and giuing and receiuing the charge euen as in hostile fight and this did they for the space of ten miles fiue out and fiue home Thus with these exercises they brought their people to be able quicke and ready to serue vpon all occasions and did more good seruice with twentie thousand of such so trained and practised then with thirtie or fortie thousand of raw and vntrained men But to haue a souldier to be very perfect and a good executioner indeede it is needfull to haue bin in some good peeces of seruice to haue seene men to fall on both sides which doth flesh harden a souldier very much Finally the good Picquier ought to learne to tosse his pike well with the due handling of the same and to be skilfull therein sith it is the weapon he professeth for 100 of ready pikemen are better then 200 that know not the vse of the weapon Now the halbarders ought to be fully armed with a corslet as is the Picquier but in marching he is alwayes to beare the same on the right shoulder holding the lower end thereof with his right hand almost close to his right thigh and knee Gent. You haue well discoursed touching the caryage and handling of the calliuer musket pike and halbard But now I pray what meane you by doubling your ranke and file Capt. By ranke I meane euery row or order of men standing shoulder by shoulder either in march or squadron reaching a long from the one side of the squadron vnto the other And by file I vnderstand all the line order or row of all the souldiers standing consequently one after another from front to the traine either in march or squadron Now the doubling of ranke or file is thus First suppose your company to be of 100 pikes as for the shot we will speake of hereafter and you would bring them into a iust square of men first search out the Cubike roote of your number and it is 10 then after the first order you shall cause them by the sound of the drum to embattell to march vp in single files at 10 men in euery file the head man of euery 10 to be a Caporal or Cabo de Camera and as the first 10 is come vp vnto the place where you meane to frame your squadrō cause them to make Alto then cal vp the second file at 10 per file causing them to march vp close pouldron to pouldron of the first tē and there to firme stand then the third file then the fourth and so consequently the rest vntill your squadron be formed your ensigne marching vp in the middle file as in this figure may appeare Here you see them drawne vp in single files at 10 men in euery file and so your squadron is framed 10 files and 10 rankes or 10 in flanke and 10 in front An other order is thus you may march them vp in 2 3 4 or 5 files at once and 10 rankes for the number euen or od importeth nothing if at 2 files at once then are they marched vp and framed at fiue commings vp if at 3 files at once then at three marchings vp at 3 files per Maniple which make 9 files and 1 single file at 10 men per file which maketh your iust square of men Now if you will march them vp by 4 files at once they are 2 marchings or Maniples at 4 files 10 rankes and one Maniple at 2 files per Maniple and so againe is your squadron formed And againe if you would march them vp by 5 files at once and 10 rankes they come vp in 2 Maniples and so is your squadron iustly framed Your squadron being thus framed set at 10 rankes 10 files thē to double the rankes you shall cause vpon an other sound of the drum those of the second ranke to step in betwixt them of the first ranke beginning either vpon the left or right hand first as you will and the 4 ranke to double the 3 and againe the 6 ranke to double the 5 and the 8 ranke to double the 7 and finally the 10 to double the 9 so shall your battell or squadron come to be 20 in breadth and 5 in length or depth or 20 files and 5 rankes which is in forme of a battell of double front as by these figures appeareth Here you see the rankes doubled into 20 files and 5 rankes Then cause them vpon another sound of the drumme to fall of or backe againe into their former places and so to double againe vpon the other hand and fall off againe Now to double the file cause the second file to double the first either vpon the left or right hand as it shall please you to begin and the fourth file to double the third and the sixt the fift and the eight the seuenth and the tenth file to double the ninth as in these figures following may appeare And here you may see the file doubled reduced into fiue files at 20 men per file vpon the right hand the like you shal cause them to do vpon the left hand hauing first caused them to fall off from their file bringing them into their former square againe Then shall you go vnto the traine of your battell or squadron and vpon another sound of the drumme you shall command all your souldiers to turne their faces vpon a sudden towards you then causing them to double both ranke file that way as you did the other way before thus with a litle paines taking and practise you shall soone bring your souldiers to be ready and skilfull in these alterations of formes and many more The like may be done with any other greater numbers either in battels or battallion or by making the front of any flanke Gent. But to what end serueth all this Capt. Marie to many good purposes For the first order of doubling the ranks besides the readinesse it breedeth in the souldiers doth serue to alter vpon a sudden your grand square of men into a square of ground or into a battell of double front and to many other purposes in framing of many small battallions one grand square And againe the second order in doubling of the files doth serue to many such other purposes as if vpon a sudden your foot enemy shall come to charge you vpon the flanke then by doubling their files and suddenly turning their faces vpon the enemie they shall make of flanke
or Musket considering the execution of the one the other And what souldier is he that commeth against a weapon wherein there is little hazard of life which will not more resolutely charge then against a weapon whose execution he knoweth to be present death Many more reasons might be alledged for the sufficiencie of the one and the insufficiencie of the other but others haue answered the same already besides the proofe which dayly experience bringeth and thus you heare mine opinion of your Bowes desiring you Gentlemen and others not to conceiue sinisterly of me for this mine opinion as not held of me for any dislike I haue of our old Archery of England but that common experience hath made it most manifest in these our later warres well wishing in my hart had it bene Gods good will that this infernall fierie engine had neuer bin found out Then might we boldly haue compared as our auncestors did with the proudest Archers in the world But you must note this by the way that the fierie shot either on horsebacke or foote being not in hands of the skilfull may do vnto themselues more hurt then good wherefore the same is often to be practised that men may grow perfect and skilfull therein Gent. Well to stand in argument I will not for I haue seene little triall either of the one or the other But what thinke you of our abundance of blacke Billes which we thinke to be the next naturall weapon for the Englishman Capt. True it is that in time past our nation hath performed round slaughter worke therewith but the warres and weapons are now altered from them dayes and we must accommodate our selues to the now vsed weapons order and time to answere our enimies with the semblable else happely shall we finde ourselues short of our reckening with our all-too late repentance But might I haue in stead of these blacke Bills and Iacks so many good armed Pikes I meane good Corslelts furnisht I would thinke my selfe farre better either to offend or defend Gent. Why would you not allow short weapon in the field Capt. Truly no not many yet would I not exclude them all For I know them necessarie for many peeces of seruice as to performe executioÌ„ if the enemie break or flie to mingle with shot to back them if neede be to passe with Conuoyes to stand by your Artillerie to creepe along trenches and enter into mynes where the Pike would be ouerlong but best for the myne or breach is the Target of prooffe short sword and Pistoll but for the plaine field neither blacke bill Halbard nor Partizan comparable to the Pike Gent. In a set battaile would you not haue Bills or Halbards for the guard of your Colours Capt. As few as might be for in their steds farre better were so many armed Pikes in mine opinion considering that in set Battailes when men come to the shock or push of the Pike they sarrie close together and the first three fiue or seuen rankes do beare the chiefe brunt and entred so farre men buckle Pell-Mell close together by which time commonlie the one side reculeth or swayeth and a battell once reculing doth not lightlie hold long so that ere the Center of the Battaill be touched one side must fall to disaray men once disordered they commonly fall to rout the rout is pursued with slaughter and ruine Against horse the like reasons are to be made thus either to offend or defend farre better is the Pike then either Bill or Halbard And to conclude the strength of the Battaile is the armed Pike so they be equally sorted with Harquebuze and Musket Gent. What meane you by equally sorted Capt. I meane as much to offend as to defend To offend I would wish to euery hundred men 25 Muskets 25 Calliuers at the least 40 armed Piks 7 or 8 Halbards and 2 or 3 Targets of proofe to defend and so of all other numbers Gent. Your proportion I like well but our countrey people are loth to be at the charges of so many costly weapons although her Maiestie and her honorable priuie Counsell haue giuen orders and directions for the same Capt. I perceiue it to be so whereat I grieue not a litle considering how dangerous is the time how malicious strong politike is the enimie how carelesse yea senslesse are we and how vnwilling to our owne weale But should these your secure men once heare the Alarme of the enemie from the which God defend vs then should you soone see them alter their copies chaunge their colours forget their great bragges of blacke Bills and Bowes and stand at their wittes ende what course to take and should they yet recall their courage and plucke vp their spirites and dare to looke the enimie in the face what guides I pray haue they It is not enough to say downe with them downe with them Lay on Billes and Bowes they should encounter strong squares of armed Pikes gallant squadrons of Muskets braue troupes of shot conducted by skilfull Leaders then should they soone see the difference of weapons the danger of the one the litle doubt of the other with repentance perhaps for not taking them to other weapons in time Thus much I speak to our inueterate conceiâ—ers of bowes and blacke billes Gent. But we haue trayned companies and selected bandes to answere our enemies with like weapons Capt. True it is there haue beene good orders set downe for the same and no doubt well performed in many partes of our countrie but I my selfe haue seene many simple Leaders simple in deede to traine much lesse to bring men to fight for where the blind leades the blind both fall into the ditch Gent. You meane this by our countrie Gentlemen and Citizens who haue the trayning of their shires and townes and neuer came in warres but her Maiestie and Councell haue so appointed it for many good respects Capt. I know it very well for many good respects but I am well assured that her Maiestie would well like of such countrie or citizen Captaines as would be carefull to prouide themselues of good Officers such as haue seene warres and borne office in the same I meane honest and valiant men not tapsterly praters and ale-bench braggers who know no point of souldierie in the world And if your Captaines were each furnished with one or two such good officers I meane honest men and of experience no doubt but they might then doe farre better then they now doe and by such they might learne many good pointes of seruice to their good and their companies good instructions yet not so much as thereby to become sufficient Captaines Gent. Our Captaines haue Bookes of Warre whereby they may learne more in one daies reading then you haue in a whole yeares seruice and then no great neede of such which were but charge to small purpose Captaine Truely
gard to their watch reseruing many other particular matters vntil I come to treat of the office of the Sergeant Maior where many Militarie points shall be at large discoursed You must note that euery single company marching training alone their pikes are first ranked by 3 4 5 6 or 7 or more in a rancke according to their number the number of euen or od in ranke importeth nothing as I sayd before hauing their ensigne and halbards contained within the center or middle ranke of their pikes Then the shot is to be ranked altogether with the like number of men in a ranke and then to cut them off or deuide them at the middle ranke leading the one halfe of them vnto the forefront of the pikes and there to place them in euen files with the pikes and the other halfe is to be brought vnto the traine of the pikes and there filed in like maner alwayes regarding to place the muskets of the first halfe of your shot in the formost rankes and those of the other halfe in the hindermost ranke Now thus marching on and comming to the place of Corps de gard the shot of the vantgard are to make Alto or stand then the pikes to march vp by them and the first ranke of pikes comming vnto the formost ranke of the shot to make Alto also and then the pikes to double their rankes as before is declared to bring themselues into squadron euen ranke for ranke with the shot This being done then the other shot of the rereward is to march vp vpō the other hand of the pikes ranke for ranke with the said square of pikes and so is your squadron or battallion formed as by these figures following may appeare where I suppose one or two companies together in march containing in all 100 pikes and halberds 100 shot they march on 5 per ranke the shot of the vantgard makes their stand then do the pikes march vp by them comming vnto their formost ranke of the shot do stand also and there double their rankes so are they 10 rankes and ten files lastly commeth vp the shot of the arereward garnisheth the other flanke euen ranke with ranke and so is the squadron framed and garnished with shot Thus me thinks that I haue sufficiently intreated of this order of training as for other sortes of imbattailing we will hereafter speake of as occasion shall be offered THE SECOND DIALOGVE VVherein is declared of quadrat battels both of men and ground opinions tocuhing the mingling of short weapons with the pikes and lyning of battells with the same confuted the framing of battels of pikes in three sorts the placing of shot about the batell with the places of the horse and artillery Gentleman TThen I pray passe to your other officers of warre Capt. There be many petie officers vsed amongst vs as Clarke of the band Drummer Forrage maister Scout maister Trench maister Quarter maister Caporals of the field such like of whom I will speake particularly nothing but including them vnder the charge of other superior officers of the which I will begin with the duty of a Sergeant Maior whose office is of such importance care industry and skill especially in day of battell that I must be constrained before I enter into the parts of his office to describe the orders of fights and battels most vsed in these our moderne wars as a thing most pertinent vnto the aforesaid officer touching the sundry formes of battels vsed by antiquity wherein in mine opinion the Romaines did most excell I will speake at this instant litle more then what is sayd before considering that ages times occurrents inuentions and customes haue altred and dayly doth what antiquity thought best and best assured The formes of battels in our time are not many yet euery man almost hath a seuerall opinion thereof but common reason and experience hath made most men confesse and agree that of all formes the square battell be it either of square of men or square of ground is the most assured most strong and most apt to bee reduced into any other forme Gent. What meane you by this word Battell Cap. By the word Battell I vnderstand in this place a whole vnited body of souldiers well disciplined all armed with pikes to fight in day of battell an act of armes with good hope of victory the which for more security hath the front the traine and the two flankes of complet corslets to the end that being assayled or charged they may make the face or front of any or euery side or part and valiantly receiue the charge and may also charge and breake the enemy and attaine the victory Now in this body I vnderstand neither the shot nor cauallery the which are to haue an other order to another end Gent. Are these battels framed in one sort onely or in more or in many or in how many or what maner I pray are they made Capt Your curious demand deserueth answer I tolde you before that many sorts of battels haue beene framed by valiant and expert Captaines but the best approued and most vsed now is the square battell be it either of men or ground Gent. I would gladly know the reason why they make their battels square and what is meant by square of men and square of ground Capt. Battels are made square so vsed for that they are apt to frame the Front of euery side or part which could not be if they were Triangles or of any other forme vsed by antiquitie And it doth much import that the Front be gaillard and strong for the front once broken the battell stands in hazard And againe to serrie or close Pouldron to Pouldron the square forme is best for that they close equallie together strengthen the front to the victorie And this shall suffice touching the Quadrat Now concerning the difference of square of men and square of ground I say that the square of men is when there be so many men in front as in flanke or so many in length as in breadth and this sort of battell commeth to bee in ground two times and one third more long then broade and a Quadrat of ground will bee of men two times and one third more broade then long Gent. In how many maners may these square battels be made Capt. Were the Companies all of pikes with corslets complet and not mixt with bare pikes which is not lightly to bee found the framing of any of these sorts of battels would be very ready and easie and might be soone brought into any proportion without confusion the which being of pikes armed and vnarmed will require more care labour and paines to the framing thereof Now therefore I say in three sorts or maners most auaileable and most commodiously are battels framed in these dayes consisting of armed and vnarmed pikes 1 The first manner is when an army doth march with the
one halfe of the armed pikes in the foreward and the other halfe in the reareward of the vnarmed pikes Now in the body of this battell I vnderstand no short weapon but reserue them to another place and vnto another purpose as before I haue sayd and will heareafter speake more thereof but all pikes for the battell thereby wold be more readily framed more brauer in sight and more stronger to fight in mine opinion 2 The second fashion is when the army marcheth company by company with their armed pikes in the foreward and reareward of euerie particular companie 3 The third order is when an armie marcheth Maniple by Maniple with the armed pikes in the Front and traine of euery particular Maniple And besides this when the armed pikes which do serue to arme the two flankes do march the one part before the other part behind and these also are called Maniples for a Maniple is here called so many rankes throughout the battell as the battell is in length at so many per ranke as they march in ordinance or array And although the armed pikes which doe march at the head or taile of the arrayes of Maniples to arme the two sides if it happen at any time that they march not to the full length of the battell yet neuerthelesse when they be put vnto their office to arme the two sides although they be not in length to the length of the battell at so many in rank as is appointed to arme the two flankes yet are they called Maniples also And againe any part of shot or pikes that be drawne a part to be set to defend any straight or to scarmush may also bee called a Maniple but being shot are fitter called troupes after the french word Now of these sundry sorts of imbattailling of men as well of proportions of equality as of inequality and of battallions of the same nature as well euen as odde battallions seruing to the framing of crosse battels with such other like I will frame certaine calculations or tables the which shall serue to sundry numbers of men orders according to the iudgement of the skilfull souldier which shall be in the last booke of these discourses Gent. But me thinkes you are not much affected to haue any halberdes or billes in your battell which is contrary to our opinion and custome for we call them the gard of the ensignes and slaughter of the field Capt. Truly I would not wish any such weapon in the body of a standing battell if we might be prouided otherwise of pikes my reasons are these For the pikes being Terciard or charged ouer hand to encounter a battell of footmen or couched vnder the foote to receiue any troupes of horse do one of them fall so proportionally within or after another euen as their rankes of men are distant in their seuerall stations the second following the first the third the second and the fourth following the third and so consequently euery ranke seconding one another that it seemeth it were as good for a man to come vpon a brasen wall if they stand resolute as vpon such a battell of pikes except they should be marched or encountred with the like weapons and proportions Now if this be the best course to receiue or charge footmen then no doubt not being thus mingled with short weapons it must needes be the best battell to receiue a charge of horse Gent. Although you disalow and disproue to haue your battell of pikes mingled with short weapon yet would you not alow them about the ensignes in the center of the battell Capt For what purpose in the center of the battell Gent. To defend the ensignes with hand blowes Cap. I suppose it an error For who doth not know that if the enemy be like to be victor the armed pikes will yeeld backward as they feele themselues distressed so as when the pikes are in such maner crashed and clustred together that they can no longer charge and push with their pikes then will the throng or presse in the center be so great that the halberds and bils shall haue little roome to strike nay short swords will hardly haue rome at that instant either to thrust or to strike I would thinke daggers would do more execution at that time and in that presse vntill one side fall to flight so I see no reason at all for halberds or bills to haue place in a battell or stand of pikes Besides the vnseemely shew they make either by themselues in the center or mingled among pikes Gent. So I perceiue you would quight exclude all halberds and bils out of your battell and so not at all to be vsed Capt. Conclude not so short vpon me because I giue them no place within the body of the battell For if you remember in our former discourses at the equall sortment of weapons I allowed to euery hundred of men 8 or 10 halberds The which bils and halberds with other short weapons as swords and targets and long swords and such like shall serue as in a place of best seruice for them to mingle with your naked troupes of shot and also placed with some pikes for the gard of the cariage and munition and ordinance or for execution if the enemy begin to breake and slye with sundry such seruices not contained in the body of the battell Gent. Well you haue satisfied vs herein but what thinke you of sundry other opinions touching the lining of battels with shot or bowes Capt. Touching such lining I will shew you mine opinion against them Now first for that kind of lining which is vsed in placing a pike and a shot I am sure that the shot cannot be so hurtfull to the enemy as they will weaken the battell my reason is this No army I am certaine shall be so ordered that the battell shall be left bare without his troupes of shot before to keepe the enemy doing in skirmish vntill the battels be ready to ioyne and charge or couch their pikes at that instant haue the shot that line the battell their time to serue euen as the pikes are couched and not before Now let men of consideration and experience iudge whether it be possible for them to discharge aboue one shot a peece and that not aboue three rankes of them and thereupon whether those shot can at that time of seruice be such a strength to the battel as if an armed pike were in the roome I do suppose the battell would be much stronger if the shot were rid from thence and pikes in their places Then it falleth out that this kind of lining is not good Now touching another kind of lining with shot which is 3 4 5 6 or 7 rankes of pikes and then 3 4 or 5 rankes of shot and then pikes and then shot againe In deede this kind of lining is the most tollerable and yet not without his discommodities for if such
following Then besides this let him place 32 rankes of the arraies of the vnarmed pikes at the backes of the armed pikes so many as they be rankes in length in the battell of the vnarmed pikes as in the 8 table before figured appeareth afterward let him go from hand to hand drawing out of the arraies 32 rankes of vnarmed pikes and set them one by another shoulder to shoulder as I haue demonstrated in the 12 figure and as I will shew you in this 13 figure And there will yet remaine 8 armed men to place where you shall thinke good Aduertising you that if you should haue set the 72 armed men which before remained at the head or tayle of the battell it would not haue reached vnto one whole or full ranke vnto the breadth of the battell for an intire ranke of the inner part of the battell in breadth is 95 men that is so many as the breadth of the vnarmed pikes do containe Thus the battell declared by the aforesayd 17 figure will be in length 46 rankes at 108 men per ranke in breadth with the 7 rankes of armed pikes in the front and 7 rankes in the reareward and with 8 men per ranke of armed pikes on the one flanke and 7 men by ranke of armed pikes on the other flanke as in the aforesayd 17 figure appeareth with the 8 men which remained placed in the body of the battell Gent. Assuredly Captaine this order seemeth wonderfull good But now vnto the other two orders which you spake of Cap. Touching the second maner of framing of battels First the calculation or table of the battell must be had in memory as before is sayd in what proportion the said battell would be framed and the army marching company by company as I will shew you in the 18 figure euery captaine shall be commanded by the Sergeant maior to make so many rankes of their pikes as the length of the battell shall containe as in the 18 and 19 figures shall appeare Now let vs suppose the sayd battell to containe in length 52 rankes with 10 rankes of armed pikes at the head and as many at the trayne as is shewed in the declaration of the ninth and 14 figures and that euery Captaine doe make 52 rankes with 10 armed pikes before and 10 behind as in the 18 figure is shewed And if any Captaine be found which hath not to accomplish that number let him ioyne with another Captaine and betwixt them both let them make vp that number of 52 rankes This being done Captaine by Captaine shall set their rankes shoulder to shoulder the one of the other and shall so frame the battell 52 rankes in length with 10 armed pikes by ranke before and 10 behind After that shall bee framed the battell as I will shew you in this 20 figure following This being done one of the 4 Caporals of the field shall go vnto the head and another vnto the reareward then he which is at the head shall take away from the front of the battell 3 rankes of armed pikes and arme therewith one of the flankes at 7 men per ranke in length adioyning vnto them the 28 armed pikes which he lacketh to furnish out the length of 46 rankes at 7 men per ranke as is said in the declaration of the 9 figure And the other Caporall or officer which is at the traine of the battell He also shall take away or draw foorth from the traine 3 rankes of armed pikes and arme with them the other side or flanke at 6 men per ranke in length of 46 rankes So shall the battell bee formed 46 rankes long at 108 men per ranke in front or breadth with 7 ranks of armed pikes in frōt as many in traine with 7 armed men per ranke on the one flanke with 6 men by ranke on the other flanke armed pikes as I shewed in the 8 figure of the table and also in the 21 figure following And there will remaine out of the body of the battell 32 men and they shall bee placed as I sayd in the last of the third order at the beginning moreouer there remaines 72 armed men You must note and conceiue that in the 18 figure where the companies do march one after another by fiue in a ranke and in the 19 figure where they do come vp shoulder to shoulder to the framing of the battell as may appeare although the full number of companies do not there appeare as is requisit yet it is to be conceiued that they do consequently one follow another but want of rome in paper cutteth them off And the 72 armed pikes remaining which are of the number contained within the body of the battell shall be placed either in the foure corners of the vnarmed pikes as in the 16 figure may be seene or else in each of the two sides or flankes as in the 17 figure appeareth where there is one ranke adioyned vnto the one flanke and another vnto the other flanke or else you may arme and strength with the same 72 armed pikes any one of the flankes as neede or occasion shall require Gent. You haue described the first and second order of imbattailing excellent well in mine opinion therefore I pray proceede to the third Capt. The maner of the third order is thus When the armie is caused to march Maniple by Maniple with their armed pikes in vantgard and rearegard of euery particular Maniples and with one Maniple all of armed pikes which marcheth in the vantgard of the Maniples which haue their vnarmed pikes in their middle or center the which Maniples of all armed pikes is that which serueth to arme the one flanke of the battell Besides this there marcheth another Maniple of all armed pikes after all the Maniples and this Maniple serueth to arme the other flanke of the battell And the Maniples must march the one after the other as in the figure appeareth Now there resteth how to bring those into Maniples of this last order which do march in the full length of the battell with their armed pikes in front and traine the which shalbe done in this sort Let it be supposed as the 17 figure of the second order doth shew that there shall be drawne foorth 15 men in ranke of armed pikes in length of the battel which serue to arme the two flanks out of 108 men per ranke the breadth of the battell there resteth 93 men per ranke for breadth or front And these 93 must be diuided into so manie parts as one would that the Maniples should march in ordinance or arraies the one after another as the way will permit Aduertising you that although I haue giuen order and examples to arme the front traine and both flankes of the battell in forme and manner as I haue set downe in the 24 and 25 figures with placing the armed pikes which remained out of them which armed the front traine and both the flankes of
the battell in the angles flankes of the sayd battell as by their seuerall figures may be seene yet notwithstanding the aforesayd examples they may be placed where most neede and occasion shall serue to strengthen the battell either in front in traine or in any flanke So may you also as occasion shall require set more armed pikes vpon any part for the more strength and securitie of the battell And this much may suffice touching the body of a formed battell Next ensueth the fierie weapons Muskets and Caliuers how they should be placed Gent. I pray let vs vnderstand the order of them also Capt. As the armed pike is the strēgth of the battell so without question is the shot the furie of the field but the one without the other is weakened the better halfe of their strength Therefore of necessitie according to the course of warres in these dayes the one is to be coupled matched with the other in such conuenient proportion that the aduantage of the one may helpe the disauantage of the other For a stand of pikes though neuer so well armed being charged assailed with the like or a lesse number of shot by euery mans iudgement would haue the worse not able to abide the field vnlesse they had shot to answer their enemies shot In like sort any troupe of shot though neuer so braue expert being in open field hauing no stand of pikes or such other weapō nor hedge ditch trench or rampier to relieue and succour them could not long endure the force of horse especially Launciers Now the due sortement and matching of these weapons to offend and defend and to aide one another as aboue is sayd of the best experimented is accounted thus Vnto euery 100 men to haue one third pikes with some few short weapon and two thirds Calliuers But were the one halfe or more of your shot Muskets as the Spanyardes most commonly now vse and so to be wished with vs also then lesse number of shot would serue and more of pikes as I sayd at the beginning of our discourses For euery Musket considering the wonderfull execution of that weapon may be valued for two Caliuers Touching the placing of these fierie weapons about the body of the battell there hath bene and yet is sundry opinions Of some of them I haue already spoken in these discourses namely of lyning of battels with shot or short weapon by me disliked hauing there declared my reasons for the same But before I come to the placing and ordering of shot for being a weapon not skilfully and warily vsed is of more daunger to our selues then to the enemy sometimes I will put you in minde of one notable ouersight in our shot especially of the crooked stockt Calliuer For many souldiers ouer-curiously carrying and conueying their peece with the nose downeward and striuing to be seene nymble and quicke in discharging not considering that one shot well bestowed auayleth many vnaduisedly spent haue let slipt the bullet out of their peeces barrell vpon the ground before the discharging thereof Whereby it commeth to passe many times that an hundred shot hauing in skirmish discharged their peece three or foure times a peece against two hundred of the enemies and scarce slaine two of them A great indiscretion to be better regarded and amended the which may easily be done thus either after hauing charged and slipt the bullet out of his mouth into the barrell of the peece by mounting the nose thereof somewhat vpward holding his peece firmely with his left hand or else by stopping after the bullet which is easily done onely by putting two or three cornes of powder into the peece after the bullet In placing the shot about the battell some do vse to flanke the two sides of the battell with sleeues of shot by 11 13 15 or 17 in a ranke or more or lesse as they shall thinke good and place the sayd sleeues of shot 10 or 12 foote distant from the armed pikes and the rest of their shot in 4 great troupes at the angles of the battell without the sayd sleeues seruing for hornes or wings vnto the battell and the horsemen to be placed without them againe as in these figures following appeareth But in mine opinion this order is not so good as if the shot were deuided into sundry small troupes trouping round about the battell the one to second the other placed in forme as hereafter shall follow thus First your graund square or more battailions if you will being set then impale or girdle the same round about with shot by 3 5 or 7 or more in a rank according to the proportiō of the battell neare adioyning vnto the armed pikes to be by them guarded from the horse if neede were The rest of the shot deuide into many small troupes by 30 40 or 50 in a troupe to troupe round about the battell with some reasonable distance from the same to maintaine skirmish or fight which way soeuer the enemie approch Prouided that the same troupes be still maintained one to second another that the battell may be by them shadowed to the end that the skirmishes or troupes of the enemies may not haue that aduantage to play with their shot vpon your battell for hee is but a foolish shot that shooteth at or among light skirmishers where he may discharge vpon the body of his enemies battell which standes thick together and is a fayre marke to shoot at for the armed pikes once ouerthrowen which is the strength of the field the victorie by all likelyhood is like to ensue The empalement especially in the front I would wish to be Muskets some 3 or 5 in a ranke according to the greatnesse of the battell and those not to discharge vntill the battels approch within 20 pases distant and then throughly to discharge in vollie vpon the face of the enemy the which cannot chuse but must slay many and wound a number in the enemies front the effect whereof shall breede great encouragement vnto you and disencouragement and weakening to the enemy You may also if you please place at euery corner of your battel a squadron of Muskets neare vnto the girdling shot at 50 Muskets in each squadron or as occasion shall require who vpon the enemies battell approching wheeling a litle about in forme of a halfe Moone shall discharge their volly all at once vpon the body of the enemies battell What execution the Musket performeth such as haue bene in good actions doe know very well and scarcely to be beleeued of those which neuer saw any seruice The figure of this battell empaled with shot cornered with Muskets and trouped round about with the rest of their shot winged with horse as men at armes if they haue any and Launciers and light horse with the place of the field ordinance and forlorne skirmishers shall hereafter ensue on the other side
opening of the same and the souldiers alwayes to betake them to their armes not suffering anie to carrie cloake mantle or such like thing to trouble them at that instant and that there first passe foorth at the wicket which serueth for that purpose fiue or sixe souldiers who shall discouer take knowledge and viewe seuentie or eightie pases out abroad into the fields and finding all things safe and secure the gates shall be opened first suffering the in-people to passe foorth and that not by throngs as commonly is vsed but by litle and litle orderly especially if there be cariages cartes or baggage and vntill all those be passed out he shall suffer none to enter in neither permit them to approch nigh vnto the gates And the issuing out of the people being ended with the like regard and order ought the out-people to enter alwayes hauing in the Corps de guard of the gate both by day and night two Sentinels one at the weapons and the other in the field and that euerie one of these should haue a Spontone or a long sharpe iron to the end that when any waine wagon or cart laden with hay or such like doe passe by he may therewith thrust the same thorough to know if there be any deceipt therein hidden For a Garrison may easily be deceiued by such guiles and stratagemes Like as Caesar de Napolie did attempt at Turine although he effected it not being preuented by the aduise and diligence of a Smith an inhabiter of that place He is to cause wood to be prouided for all the guardes although that cold weather constraine it not for that to light their matches it is alwayes needfull to haue fire And that in the Corps de guard there be place commodious to hang vp their Corslets and to accommodate their peeces in good order seeing not onely that it is necessarie that the souldiers may with speede and readinesse betake them to their Armes if in case the Alarme be striken but also to auoyd all confusion and also for the adorning of the Corps de guard And when the Ensignes or companies shall enter for guard or watch into the place the Sergeant Maior is to be present and he ought not to suffer then anie gaming Tables but the souldiers to receiue in their Colours with great respect and reuerence sith they represent the authoritie Royall and in doing the contrarie it repugneth all good Militarie discipline And he is to keepe a good account and reckening with the souldiers that serue in euerie Companie according to the muster that they made whereof he is to haue fede and certificate from the Pay-maister or Treasurer and knowing thereby that they bring to the guard and watch much lesser number of people then they receiue pay for he ought to take a reckening of the officers of the Companies and for being carelesse herein manie souldiers do serue manie times but badly And he ought not to suffer that in their entring in or going out from the watch there want anie peece of their Corslets or Morian to the shot neither that they serue with rustie armour nor of the antique fashion neither that anie Pike do want his head cheekes or arming for that in hauing them it doth not onely beautifie the squadron but it maketh it to seeme more then it is which is a circumstance of great importance sith all the apparitions which may yeeld terror to the enemie are to be esteemed and much accounted of Gent. In what order do the Ensignes enter into the place Capt. Vnto the Corps de guard the shot goeth alwayes in the Vantgard and there arriuing do open making a lane or streete betwixt the which the Pikes do enter and march in their Arrayes and in mine opinion they should not carrie them aduanced vp as I haue many times seene vsed but they should passe in betwixt the shot with their pikes on their shoulders marching as they come and at their ariuing vnto the head of the shot where the Captaine standeth without opening or disaraying and then aduance their pikes abiding in their rankes and so from hand to hand each ranke to do the like and then the shot at that arriuing and rearing of their pikes shall draw neare and empale the first rankes on each side and so consequently the rest vnto the end of this order in such sort that the squadron may remaine formed and garnished And if by chance two companies do come at once into the place as many times it chanceth then ought they ioyntly to forme the squadron with their shot on each flanke and the corslets not to breake their arrayes aduertising that alwayes the ensignes be in the center thereof Gent. And the companies which stand at the ward what are they to do when the others do enter Capt. They must attend ready armed and armes in hand standing vpon one side of the Corps de guard vntill that those companies which do enter haue finished their squadron and then do they march in order towards their lodging accompanying first their Coulours home And the Sergeant Maior is to bee carefull to visite euery day the Corps de guards whereby he shall cause that neither the souldiers nor officers do absent themselues from their watch and that there be no brawles nor brables therein And it doth import much that hee doe the like in the Roundes and counter Roundes And if any should dismeanor himselfe breeding question or braule either in word or deede he is seuerely to be punished for the great inconueniences that may ensue thereupon being so many men together with weapon in hand And he is to prouide that the Roundes and counter Roundes be of more or lesse men or more or lesse continued according as neede shall require but they neuer should returne to their Colours from whence they departed vntill they haue furnished their quarter the which they ought to bestow and spend in giuing turnes about the wals veiwing the vigilance and carefulnesse of the Sentinels and the like ought those to doe which doe goe their Roundes in the towne Gent. When the Roundes and counter Roundes do meete as well in the campe as in a Castle who is to giue the Word one to the other first Capt. The counter Roundes are most commonly of officers and therefore by reason and dutie the Round is to giue place and to giue the Word first vnto the counter Round But for as much as Captaines themselues do vse to round in the ordenary quarters it is conuenient to the end that none may iustly be agrieued and to disbarre all oddes and inconueniences that the Sergeant Maior as a person vnto whose charge and office is the disposing and appointing of the guards Roundes and counter Roundes do giue order vnto the companies in what manner they are to behaue themselues in this particular point which shall be that
a Corps de guard both of Infanterie Cauallerie The charge of the placing setting of them belongeth vnto the Camp-maister Generall called with vs the High Marshall of the field The election of all the aforesaid officers and Gentlemen of the artillerie Enginers Pioners belongeth vnto this Maister of the Ordinance except the treasurer and Pay-maister whom either the Prince or the Lord high Generall doth name appoint but besides this aforesaid guard of foot horse it behoueth the Miaster of the Ordinance to set other carefull and warie people both to gard them and view them that the Ordinance be not nayled nor the munition fiered as did a paisant issuing out of Verona being besieged by two great armies of the Venetians and Frauncis the French king and Marc Antonio Colonna defendant within and set fire to the munitions of the Venetians campe The Captaine Generall of the Artillerie doth cause to bee payed all the officers Gentlemen Enginers and Pioners which go vnder his conduction and they ought to obey him reuerence and respect him as their superiour punishing their offences as they be committed as well in peace as in warre and commending and rewarding such as haue valiantly and vertuously demeaned themselues so shall he be beloued obeyed and honored Gent. Truly this office is of great and honorable charge and many businesses belonging to the same Capt. So it is indeede and therefore encommended and bestowed vpon personages of great qualitie learning wisedome and experience in martiall affaires and one who is alwayes of the counsell of warre The Captaine Generall of the Cauallery his Election charge and office THE FIRST DIALOGVE VVherein is reasoned of the Election charge and dutie of this officer the comparison of the Infanterie with the Cauallerie with examples of both and of certaine peeces of seruice to be performed with the horse Gentleman I Pray now to the Captaine Generall of the horse Capt. The Captaine Generall of the Cauallerie is commonly chosen appointed by the Prince for being a charge of so high authority preheminēce it is alwayes encommended bestowed vpon a personage of honour title or some very honorable Gentleman who hath had great experience practise in warre considering the great and waightie occasions that commonly therein are offred to be performed and effected with the Cauallerie and so he that is chosen to this charge ought to haue in him all or the most of the good parts to be expected in a High Lord Generall of an Armie the which may be considered when I come to speake of that officer referring the same vntill then except some particular points which may fall out in questions by the way Gent. Then shall we gladly heare them remarke them also but which thinke you to be of most vtilitie in the warres either the Cauallerie or Infanterie Capt. In mine opinion the Infanterie is to be preferred being well instructed and disciplined in their Arte. Gent. But I haue heard the contrarie opinion in approuing the horse saying that they are the reputation of the Prince and armie Capt. I hold partly the same estimation of them but yet I would gladly haue mine opinion excused that they are not comparable to deale with resolute foote except vpon great and manifest aduantage and in place and ground of very great fauour for them For a resolute stand of pikes with their conuenient troupes of shot will giue them sore stops and returnes with dishonour as hath plainly appeared by the memorable battels of our famous kings of England obtained with their foot cōpanies against the proud Cheualry of France as at Agincourt field at sundry other their honorable battels Yea many times it hath bin seene that shot companies alone being helped by some aduātage to put them to the foyle as did the Marquise de Pescara with 800 shot onely breake foyle and disorder Charles de la Noye then vice Roy of Naples with all his Cauallerie at the battell of Pauia Another exāple we haue of the Countie Francisco Carmagnolla being Captaine Generall of Philip Vicoūt Duke of Myllan his armie going with six thousand horse against the Switzers was by them repulsed by the valour and length of their pikes who hauing regathered his disordered troupes considering from whence their disaduantage grew turned head againe vpon the enemy and he himselfe and his companies dismounted on foote and with their Launces in hand framed a foote squadron and charged the enemy a fresh and so brake and ouerthrew them in number aboue fifteen thousand who by force of horse could not bee remoued imitating herein Marcus Valerius Coruinus who being Consull Captaine against the Samnites in the first Punik warre and in their last battell not able to breake on thē by reason of their lōg pikes wherewith they defended thēselues commaunded his horsemen to dismount and on foote armed as they were with their Lances to fight with the enemie whereby he ouerthrew them put them to flight with the victorie and their baggage remaining in his hands And againe in the battell that Constantine Roxianus Captaine Generall to Sigismund king of Polonia had with Basilius the great Duke of Muscouia by the riuer Brisna who surmounted him much in horse three thousand footemen onely which he had in his armie wan him that day the honour and victorie Many examples more might be recited both ancient and moderne but I rest with these remembring that among the ancient Romanes their foot was alwayes of more estimation then their horse holding a true opinion that the infanterie well disciplined is the sinew of the warre the fortresse of the Realme and the wals of the Citie Gent. But I haue heard say that in these warres of Netherland after that the Gran Commandador dyed that the states reuolted with determination to cleare their countrey quite of the Spaniardes that Don Alonzo de Vargas who had then the Spanish Cauallerie in charge did great exploits therewith in encounters which he had with the state foote and horse Capt. It is true But you must consider that those were old and experimented souldiers resling vpon a valiant resolution the others Bisonniòs and raw people raised vp vpon a suddain conceipt in which actions is maruellously to be marked the difference betweene men of experience and Bisonnios the braue carriage of the one and the bad conduction of the others as appeared in the reencounter at Tilmont and at the succouring of Captaine Mountsdock being taken by them of Mastrich and most notably in the sack of Antwerpe where not to the number of 5000. Spaniardes inclosed within their Citadell gaue the ouerthrow and foyle vnto aboue 16000. of the Antwerpians brauely armed encamped within their owne towne In like sort at the ouerthrow of Gibleo where not aboue 600. horse of Don Iohn de Austria his troupes defeated aboue 15000. of the
against foote shot if they be not friended with hedge ditch or some such place of aduantage in their middle troupes is the Guidon placed Finally the Hargulutiers Carbines or Hargubuziers on horsebacke not armed at all or else with light arming and they haue a good Hargubuze or a Petranell or horsemans peece as some call it with a good short sword and dagger well girt vnto him mounted vpon a pretie light horse such as be our Northerne nagges befitted with a saddle bridle and furniture correspondent with a necessarie flaske and touch-boxe for his peece and a purse at his girdle with bullets and his other necessaries These and the other shot on horsebacke do serue principally for great Caualgadas they serue to watch to ward to discouer to scoute to forrage to skirmish for Ambuscados for gaining of a straight hilles and ground of aduantage to be put for a forlorne Sentinell to discouer the enemies proceedings to spoyle forrages and to assaile troupes at their lodgings either in villages straights or fields and if occasion serue they may alight and serue on foote either to assaile a straight to surprise a barrier to performe an Ambuscado and in such points of sudden seruice doe the dutie of foote shot wherein they may do many good peeces of seruice to the enemies annoyance who if the enemy bring shot to displace them they may dislodge if they find the party vnequall and betake them to their horse And in good conductions they are alwayes seconded with armed Pistols or Lances for they are not lightly turned out to any peece of seruice vpon armed men without being accompanied with Lances or cuyrats on horsebacke I meane armed petranels or pistoliers They ought to bee very nimble both to mount on horsebacke and to dismount to manage their horse euery manner of way to be very ready and quicke with their peece discharging on euery part as cause shall require inuring their horse both to the crack and fire and learne to performe three actes at one instant his bridle hand his peece and his spurres wherein consisteth fine skill with viuacitie of spirite attained by often vse and practise For they are the forlorne skirmishers on horsebacke who hauing performed their dutie doe retire behind their Lanciers and armed pistols And it is not inough to know how to ride a horse well and vnpractised in his peece neither is it inough to bee skilfull in his peece and ignorant in his horse but the one must bee coupled with the other to make a perfect Hargulutier For the fierie weapons being in hands of vnexpert men either on horsebacke or foot is of all other the most daungerous to themselues and being in the hands of perfect souldiers is a weapon of most execution and aduantage To conclude all these aforesaid mounted people ought to be seene haue some skill in diseases of horses and to know remedies for the same and if neede require to set a shoe also All their baggage doth passe with the munition and baggage of the campe Gent. How are these troupes sorted Capt. The discipline now vsed doth require vnto euery fiue hundred Lances and armed Cuyrats one hundred or one hundred and fiftie of these aforesayd light horse Gent. What course doth this Generall of the horse take with his troupes in field campe or garrison Capt. First he taketh a roll of the bands committed to his charge euen as doth a Colonell of Infanterie with his with the names of their Captaines viewing well their mounting and arming to see it be sufficient and his seuerall sortes of horsemen disposed in seuerall troupes as I sayd before in the morning when the trumpet soundeth to make ready the horse hee shall repaire to the Lord Generals tent to know his pleasure the which being knowne he bringeth forth the Generals Ensigne or standard whereunto his Captaines doe repaire with their companies in a readinesse whom he ranketh in good troupes each sort by them selues with their Cornets and Guidons in middest of their troupes And as occasion shall be offered to send them abroad he shall appoint such as shall watch scoute and discouer and others to relieue them againe committing them to the Scout-maister When the Camp-maister Generall goeth to view the ground to encampe vpon the Generall of the horse sendeth sufficient troupes to attend vpon him When the armie entreth into the campe he shall with all his Cauallerie remaine mounted in the field vntill the Infanterie be all encamped then to enter orderly with his horse troupes and repaire vnto their allodgements vsing therein indifferencie to each band in their kinde giuing order vnto his Scoutes that they come not out of the field vntill the trumpets sound to the watch at night and Corps de guardes set and Sentinels brought forth of the campe and placed at their postes He must appoint horses to attend on the Forragers to guard and defend them till they returne with their forrage He must also appoint a conuenient conuoy of horse to guard the victuallers of the campe as well from the enemy as from vnruly souldiers In the order of his skirmishes encounters and charges he must giue order one troupe to second another that if the first bee repulsed being well seconded they may haue time to regather themselues into order againe sparing his armed mē frō such skirmishes his Lāciers what he may reseruing them to encounter with their equals or breake vpon the enemies battell as occasion is offered but alwayes hauing a carefull regard that his bands charge not too neare the front of their owne foote squadrons for feare of inconuenience that might ensue as it fell out at the ouerthrow of Gibleio but rather espying what aduantage he may to charge the enemy in flanke or in rereward For it is a great point of a man of warre to finde the occasion and to take it when it comes Gent. But hath he the chiefe ordering of the squadrons of horse in battell in march and in allodgement Capt. No not the chiefe in those points for that belongeth to the Lord high Marshall or Camp-maister Generall whose office is herein as the Sergeant Maior Generall with foote companies The Campe-maister Generall or high Marshall his Election charge and office THE FIRST DIALOGVE VVherein is set foorth the parts to be expected in a Lord high Marshall his authoritie in an Army and in the administration of iustice both ciuill and criminall what officers attend vpon him with certaine Martiall orders and lawes c. Captaine THe office of the Campe-maister Generall or Lord high Marshall the Prince with great consideration and aduise doth encharge vpon a personage of great prudence and industrie and of great experience and skill in martiall causes for that the administration of iustice both ciuill and criminall belongeth vnto his charge and also the encamping of the Army and the fortifying
the front and so bee ready with double hands either to receiue or giue the charge For those battels of square of ground or battels of double fronts do bring many hands to fight at once being verie aduantagious for footmen against footmen as reason and experience proueth and sheweth And againe if you draw or diuide your battell or battallions into maniples to march through straights or narrow passages this order of doubling the files is verie ready and auaileable as thus If your battel or squadron be of 5184 pikes whose square roote is 72 now your passage will permit but 8 men to march in front then must you diuide your square root 72 by 8 so commeth it to be 9 maniples of 8 men in rank or breadth And say yet againe that the straight or passage doth fall yet more narrow or straighten lesse then to containe 8 men in front thē cause euery maniple at the verie entring of the straight to double their files and so of 8 you shall make 4 files per maniple the which being shouldred vp close together will containe no more roome in breadth then the 8 did before And hauing passed the straight cause them to fall into their former proportion and so maniple after maniple in passing the straight Gen. But if the squadron or maniple were of od nūbers it wold not so fal out Capt. That importeth not for the od file or rank which resteth vndoubled may in passing of the straight close vp shoulder to shoulder vnto the rest obseruing their proper stations in files and if the passage will not permit that then to fall backe after the traine of their maniple hauing passed the straight to sleeue vp in file pouldron to pouldron of their fellowes and so to fall into their former proportion The like of any other od numbers may be done with very great facility Now for as much as I entend to frame both figures and tables of sundry sorts of battels and battallions in our discourse following I will at this instant bee the more briefe supposing this at this present to suffice For he which conceiueth and vnderstandeth this well may do the like with any other numbers great or small Gent. And what course do you appoint the shot belonging to those numbers of pikes to obserue in these alterations of proportion Capt. The shot appertaining vnto euerie such number may be practised in the like or semblable sort either alone by themselues or placed in two grand sleeues along by the flanks of their squadron or battallions As for example If vnto the former number of 100 pikes there were proportioned suted 100 shot calliuer and musket these would I draw out into 5 per rank which would make 20 ranks Those 20 ranks would I cut off or deuide in the middest so should I haue 10 ranks for to sleeue the one flanke of the battallion and 10 ranks for the other flanke at 5 men per ranke or 5 files in euery ranke which is all one These 2 sleeues being placed may be doubled with the pikes by ranke or file for practise sake only But if you were engaged to fight with the enemie I would wish all great sleeues of shot to be deuided into many small troupes the one still to second another as hereafter shall be declared shewed And lo here another order the 2 grand sleeues being al musketiers as the battell or battalliō doth aduance march on toward the enemy comming once within reach of the musket then the first ranks of these sleeues of muskets many discharge in marching in this sort The first ranks stepping some two or three paces forward there those of the right sleeue to step one halfe pace toward the right hād those of the left sleeue one half pase toward the left hand hauing in the meane space made themselues ready and cocked their matches then with readinesse expedition all those of thē first ranks their muskets being vpon their rests or forks to discharge at once and keep their station charge againe permitting other rankes to proceed before them Then presently those of the second ranke to step vp iust before the first rank as the battell or battallion marcheth and so to discharge as their former fellowes had done before then the 3. rank before the 2. the 4. before the 3. and so all the other ranks consequently with this kind of double march and at the traine of the last rank those of the first to follow vp againe and so consequently the rest But if it chance their squadron of pikes to be distressed forced to retire they are to discharge at the enemy retiring backe vpon a countermarch as these figures following shal plainlie denote vnto you the maner and order The First Figure The second Figure with the Muskets discharging in marchings The third Figure vpon the retrait the shot discharging vpon a Counter-march There is yet another order of discharging of troupes of Muskets in vollie the which I haue seene vsed by the Italian and Spaniard thus Your Musketiers being deuided into sundrie troupes of 30 40 or 50 in a troupe the one to second the other then the two first troupes standing vpon the two angles of your squadron or battell may bee drawne vp by two officers by three foure or fiue at the most in a ranke and the said officers being at a sufficient distance to discharge shall cause the Musketiers to close somewhat neere shoulder to shoulder and so wheeling them about in figure of a halfe Moone shall at their due semi-circle or halfe compasse cause the Musketiers to make Alto and clapping their muskets on their rests close one by an others shoulder and each one hauing a care to his forefellowes they shall at one instant discharge altogether at one vollie vpon the enemy and so retire giuing place to other troupes the maner and forme whereof shall by these figures following appeare Troupes or squadras of muskets at 50. per troupe 5. in ranke Gent. Your calliuers or small shot would you haue them to discharge in these maners and orders before spoken of and figured Capt. No but I would with the calliuers or small shot to be deuided into sundry small troupes of 20 30 40 or 50 in a troupe and by their seuerall officers to be led vp and to skirmish in single file discharging readily one after another in file and so wheeling about vpon the left hand to retire giuing place vnto others to second them and to fall into their forme of troupe againe and then recharging aduisedly to be ready to come vp to second others as their turne commeth of which maner of small troupes shall often in our discourses following be denoted and shewed Now to conclude these orders of training I will set downe one point more to be obserued by one single company or two or three companies ioyntly comming into the Corps de