the troupes of stradiots Crosbowers and archers on horsebacke should be placed and aduanced in winge more furder forward towards the Enemy then the hearse or winge of dimilaunces And I would also that all the societies of the weapons of volee I meane the archers and Crosbowers on horsebacke should be placed aduanced before and nearer to the Enemie by some 10. 15. or 20. paces then the troupes and societies of stradiots and that the troupes of archers should not march altogether by themselues without any troupes of Crosbowers amoÌ„gst or betwixt them in respect that they are different kindes of weapons but I would that the troupes of archers and Crosbowers should march in their troupes seperated but yet in their troupes intermingled about 15. or 20. paces distant one troupes from another which is to be vnderstood a troupe of archers and a troupe of Crosbowers and a troupe of archers a troupe of Crosbowers and so the rest some troupes fifteene some twentie paces one from another and those not all of one equal frunt but oblique the one to the other I meane some aduaunced furder forward towards the Enemie and others more backward in winge and Reregard Retired And that I would to the intent that when the formost societies and troupes of weapons of volee had giuen their volees of quarrels and arrowes either at horsemen or footmen their Enemies and that they were casting about againe and retiring to giue place to other troupes of weapons of volee to second and succeed them that then some other troupes of weapons of volee that are in winge Reregard of them should in their troupes put spurres to their horses and aduaunce themselues forward and seconde and supplie their fellowes places retired with new volees And I woulde also that euerie three societies of Crosbowers and Archers on horsebacke should haue one troupe of 10. of 15. of 20. or 25. stradiots with their double headed Launces continuallie vppon all charges and other seruices to attend vppon them in Reregard some 15. or 20. paces distaunt ready vpon any occasion to aduaunce themselues forwarde and succour them as also vpon the disordering or ouerthrowe of the Enemie to followe the Chace and doo execution vppon their Enemies disordered or broken bee they horsemen or footmen And I would that no societie nor troupe of Archers nor Crosbowers on horseback should be vnder the number of 10. nor aboue the number of 15. nor that any troupe of Stradiots shoulde exceed the number of 25. nor be vnder the number of 10. And to the intent that euerie troupe of Stradiots should knowe vppon which 3. troupes of Crosbowers and Archers they should attend as alâ—o that euery 3. troupes of Archers and Crosbowers should giue their charges and volees and make their Retraites and worke all other effectes in the fielde together it were conuenient that euery 4. troups of stradiots archers and Crosbowers on horseback and their Conductors should alwaies lodge in their quarters in Campe together but I meane not that the soeieties of archers of Crosbowers and stradiots should lodge all in one hale or tent together but that the hales and tents of euerie different sort of weapon of euery such 4. troups should be placed one next vnto another and that al their Cariages vpon any remoue of campe should march together and that all the Conductors and the chiefs of the societies of tennes as also all their soldiors of euery different sort of weapon shuld know frequent keep company one with another in Campe should vow to liue and die together as if they were but one â—ind 〈…〉 societie and Camerada And as I haue placed this first 1300. light â—â—â—smen of different weapons in the order before described so would I in the very same sort and form reduce the second number of 1300. stradiots archers and Crosbowers on horsbacke vppon the left side and flanke of the dimilaunces that are vpon the left flanke of the men at armes which are in wing of the left side of the Reregard which performed I would then giue order that the third diuision and number of 1300. stradiots archers and Crosbowers on horsebacke should be deuided into 2. diuisions or parts that is into 650. in each diuision and that the first 650. stradiots archers and Crosbowers on horseback should in the like order as abouesaid bee reduced in their societies and troupes vpon the right flanke of the dimilaunces that are reduced on the right flanke of the men at armes that are in wing on the right side of the principall battle And that the other diuision and number of 650. stradiots archers and Crosbowers on horseback should bee likewise reduced in their societies and troupes vpon the left flanke and side of the broad square of dimilaunces that are on the left flanke of the men at armes that doo arme the left side of the a Rereregardrereward And I would that all those 4. winges of light horsmen stradiots archers and Crosbowers on horseback should vppon any occasion of battle great incountrie or skirmish behaue themselues in fight according to the instructions that are heereafter described and set downe where amongst other matters I make speciall mention of those 3. different sorts of light horsmen And now as I haue reduced and placed these 4. battles of footmen and armed them and their weapons of volee with many squares and troupes of horsmen of diuers different sorts of armors and weapons so would I in this sort following arme those 4. squadrons with certen field peeces according to the ordinarie vse of this time for the greater annoiance of the Enemie and for the more sure guard of the battles First incase there were any little hil or high ground of aduantage of any conuenient neerenesse vnto the two formost battles that might command the open fieldes and plaines where the Enemies battles should march and approch then I would there place so many field peeces as should bee requisite for that ground of aduauntage with some trench or trenches by good numbers of laborers and pioners vppon the sudden cast and those peeces well and stronglie guarded with conuenient numbers of piquers halbardiers and archers and would place the rest of the field peeces vpon the flanks of the battles in their most conuenient places with their powder bullets and all other thinges that do appertaine to the vse of them for the annoiance of the Enemie But incase there were no such grounds nor ground of aduantage as aforesaid where to plant such peeces of artillerie then would I place 3. fawcons ranforced of 6 poundes the bullet and one fawconet ranforced of 3. pounds the bullet some 8. or 10. paces wide from the right corner of the vaungard and aduaunced furder forward then y â— frunt and Corner of that battle by the like number of paces with their gunners and all their aides and thinges appertaining vnto those peeces well guarded with conuenient numbers of halbardiers And so likewise would
men in motion they doo worke verie little or no effect as well in respect that no harquebuziers howe good soeuer they bee can take their sightes so certenlie from point at blanke in a great distance as they may in a much nearer distance as also that they can a great deale lesse take their sights from the ends of their peeces at their enemies in motion a great distance off although it be within the points and blankes of their peeces besides many other causes and particularities concerning the same in my booke of discourses by me set forth 1590. conteined All which well considered it dooth behoue all good and skilfull harquebuziers not to discharge their peeces aboue 20. 30. or 40. paces at the vttermost although their peeces will carrie point and blanke a much greater distance But here it is to be noted that this kind of skirmishing of lose shot of societies of threes is not so good by a great deale as to skirmish in societies of 4. in euery societie and that by reason that euery formost harquebuzier of 4. next to the enimie discharging his peece as effectually as he may and retiring behind the hindermost of his societie to charge againe whilest the second aduauncing forward and trauersing his ground doth supplie the place of the first harquebuzier that did first discharge and is now retired as aforsaid and so consequently the third harquebuzier vpon the discharging of his fellowe before him that at the first was the second to aduance and supply his place and then againe the fourth that did first of all discharge and hath now againe very well charged hiâ— peece doth vpon the dischargeing and retiring of his fellowe before him aduaunce forward and trauessing his ground supplie his place which orderly discharging recharging againe and discharging recharging againe and againe with good aduisement doth by the societies of 4. giue more time and leisure to euerie harquebuzier that hath discharged his peece to retire and charge verie well againe without heating of his peece then societies of threes aforesaid can doo considering that in those skirmishes of loose shot it is conuenient that onelie one of euerie societie of 4. should bee formost and should discharge alone to the intent aswel to giue leisure to their fellowes one after another to recharge againe as also to haue 2. or 3. harquebuziers continuallie ready with their peeces charged one after another stil to aduance forward and supply the others place ready to discharge at the enemy For if they should discharge 2. or 3. or al at one time then vpon their error espied by the enemies and taking the aduantage thereof by a sudden approch they should find themselues vnsupplied and vnsuccoured the one of the other to their great danger and mischiefe But here it may be demanded what I doo call the well charging of peeces of weapons of fire Whervnto I answer That I doo allow neither harquebuze nor mosquet for well charged in seruices of the fielde vnlesse they bee charged with conuenient charges of powder and with softe browne paper or the refuge endes of matches or something else with their skowring stickes thrust close to the powder to restraine the same and likewise vppon the bullet the like or a more quanâ—â—â—â—â— to keepe close and restraine the bullet or when at the least I would that some such thing should be thrust vpon the bullet with the skowring stick to keep the same close to the powder therewithall to the intent that euerie souldior vppon his lacke of bullets might vse his fellowes bullets I woulde that all the harquebuzes throughout the field should be of one Caliuer and heigth and that all the ordinarie bullettes for the field I meane not the full bullets that first with great leisure they charge their peeces withall before they march out of the Campe which are or ought to be of the iust Caliuer and heigth of their harquebuzes but the ordinarie bullets for skirmish that those bullets I say should not be aboue two bores lower then the heigth of their peeces whereas farre otherwise the most bullettes for the field heere in England as well of Mosquets as of harquebuzes are 4. 5. and many 6. bores lower then the height of the peeces which with the souldiors not restraining the powder nor bullettes as aforesaid is the cause that the powder how good soeuer dooth neither carrie the bullets so farre point and blanke nor yet doo giue so violent blowes as beeing otherwise well charged with more full bullets they would doo nor yet can possiblie shoot with any certentie although it were from a steadie rest either at horses or men standing still within point and blanke by reason that such bullets doo naturallie mount and flie wide howe true soeuer the peeces are besides that the powder for lacke of restraining as aforesaid dooth lie in the Cannon of the peece loose and the bullet through the too much smalnesse thereof in comparison of the peece doth vpon euerie little accident fall out and droppe to the ground where as ordinarie bullets for the field that are not aboue two bores lower then the heigth of their peeces doo carry the bullets the peeces being otherwise true and well charged as aforesaide further point and blanke and with a great deale more certentie and besides doo giue a more forcible blow as aforesaid then such ouer small bullets can doo But now the second way of skirmishing is that such little societies of threes and of fowers may skirmish by discharging their peeces almost or neere about one time but that must be performed by the discharging and retiring to charge again of such little troupes other such little societies of like numbers that are a conuenient waie distant vpon both their flankes but something retired and therefore haue kept their shot aduancing forward as well to espy some aduantage to giue their volees at their enemies effectuallie as to giue time and leisure to other little troupes that haue discharged and therfore retired to recharge and aduance forward againe The third waie of skirmishing is of greater troupes as of 6. of 9. of 12. of 15. of 18. or of 21. And this kind of skirmishing in so great troupes doth resemble the first mentioned skirmishing of loose shot of 3. souldiors in euerie societie and that in this sort that euen as the societies of 3. did deuide themselues into 3. single discharginges as aforesaid so must these greater troupes deuide their dischargings into 3. volees as for example if the troupe be of 6. then the 2. foremost may discharge at or neere about one time and then trauessing their grounds retire behind the hindermost two to charge againe whilest the two second being now formost doo aduance forward to espie their aduantage to discharge effectuallie which when they haue perfourmed then they likewise are to retire againe recharging vntil they be hindermost giuing place vnto their next two
and aduising all leaders of mosquetiers that will worke good effect and winne reputation with that kinde of weapon in the field that they do not permitt their mosquetiers to discharge their peeces at their enemies aboue 8. 9. 10. or 12. skores at the furdest and therewithall to take their sightes at point and blanke from their rests and without their rests Also I would that some conuenient numbers of mosquetiers should be commaunded to charge their peeces with conuenient charges of powder and with 5. pistoll bullets of a meane Caliuer and height with some quantitie of soft browne paper or something else both betwixt the powder and haile shot of war as also after the haileshot to restraine both powder and bullets to the intent that the same may worke the more forcible and terrible effectes And that the same mosquetiers should be commanded not to discharge their peeces when their companies do discharge theirs with single bullets but that they should reserue their shot vntill some squardron of footmen or square or troupe of horsemen should approch within 10. 15. or 20. paces to charge them At which time I would haue them to giue their volee of hailshot of warre from their rests at their Enemies approching within the aforesaid distances and not any furder because they may be the more sure to hit either horsmen or footmen which in greater distances they cannot so certenlie performe And heere it is to be furder noted that such as doo talke of giuing volees of mosquet shot 30. 24. or 20. skores off at squares or troupes of horsemen or footmen that are in march or in any motion of the field do greatlie erre as men that neuer had any good experience of that weapon in actions of the field vnlesse peraduenture it hath been to their owne mischiefe incountring with olde bandes Italians Wallouns or Spaniards who were neuer so ill aduised as in vaine to giue their volees so great distances off and therfore doo reserue their shot to discharge at the enemie not aboue 8. 9. or 10. skores off at the vttermost although it bee at a whole square or troupe of horsemen or footmen vnlesse it were out of some fortification from whence they may discharge their peeces with full bullets and Demain puesto as the Spaniards call it For although the mosquet ranforced and well charged with good powder woulde carrie a bullet point and blanke 24. or 30. scores doth it therefore follow that they should giue Volees of mosquet shotte 24. or 20. skores off when that in failing to take their iuste point and blanke no more but the length of a Corne their bullettes doo worke as much effect at the starres as against the enemie that they shoot at Besides that in so great a distance of ground how truly soeuer they take their sights at point and blanke the aire dooth worke verie great effect with their bullets that are lower by 4. or 5. bores then the heigth of their peeces to carrie them by mounting or otherwise from the marke or markes that they are shot at Certen Orders directions and briefe speeches to be obserued by a Sergeant Maior and Captaines and leaders of Archers in the field ALl the most notable and excellent kinges and their great captaines of our English nation in times past who as it is most manifest by many notable histories both auncient and moderne were not any wayes inferior in knowledge and skill in the Arte and science military to the greatest kinges and captaines of our age deceased but did also farre exceed and excell all the Princes and Captaines of this obscure time of Ignorance in christendome nowe liuing in all proceedings and actions militarie as it is most apparant by the many battâ—les great victories by them in diuers ages and against many warlike nations obtained did contrarie to the vaine and friuolous opinions of our newe English men of warre of this time so greatly esteeme of our archers through the continuall and great experience they had of their woÌ„derful miraculous effects in all battles and great in countryes that vpon the composing forming of any Armie the same being deuided into fiue partes alwaies three partes of the fiue did consist of archers And because archers in all actions militarie were so continually greatly emploied they vsed to reduce them into the most conuenient orders and formes that they could deuise for them with their arrows to work their greatest effects against both horsemen and footmen their Enemies which was into the forme of hearses which hearses were broad in frunt and narrow short by flankes which is to be vnderstood of many soldiors in euery ranke and but of fewe rankes by flankes in such sorte as what nombers soeuer of archers they placed in frunte that is in euery ranke the archers by flanke did neuer exceed the nomber of 7. or 8. rankes at the most And the causes and reasons were these that the archers being reduced into their hearse or hearses as also into their conuenient distaunces in frunt and by flankes euery one of them without any trouble through the too much nearenes of their fellowes in the same ranke or by the ouermuch nearenes of the ranke ranks before them might without any impediment shoot and roue of any mean height at their enemies being either horsemen or footmen ouer the heads of the rank or ranks before them and therewithall that the hindersmost ranks being so few by flanks as aforesaid might the more easily see their Enemies that they shoot at As also that by the fewnesse of their rankes the hindermost ranke and rankes being the nearer to their Enemies should the more easilie reach their Enemies with their volees of arrowes whereas otherwise if the rankes were many then by the ouerpluralitie of rankes the hinder rankes should be depriued of the sight of their Enemies that they should shoot at and also should be driuen to shoot their arrows at their enemies too high a compasse and by such meanes worke the lesse effect against their enemies All which considered I thought good in this place to shew how any number of archers should be reduced into the forme of a hearse or diuers hearses which is a thing of great facilitie to be performed because that the Captaine or Captaines of archers haue no more to do but to say vnto their archers Ranke your selues archers 7. in a ranke or if they will make a hearse of 8. rankes then ranke your selues 8 in a ranke as in the first part of this my booke concerning the reducing of single bandes into rankes is verie particulerly contained which being by the archers performed thrughout the whole band or as manie bands of archers as they will bring into a hearse then their Captaines and conductors are to lead them by the flanke and corner of the squadron where those archers shall be reduced into winge and there drawing those archers as far out and
incredible small resistance against the blowes of such innumerable arrowes as aforesaid Howbeit peraduenture some professing armes will saie that harquebuziers may with a great deale more aduantage encounter with Archers then mosquetiers because that harquebuziers may incounter with Archers deuided into great numbers of societies and troupes and therewithall may giue their volees of bullets in motion at the archers aswell as the archers their volees of arrowes in motion at them Wherevnto I answer that if the volees of mosquetiers bullets from their rests be so vncerten at men in motion as I haue before mentioned then of necessitie the volees of harquebuziers themselues discharging in motion at the archers likewise in motion must needs be a great deale more vncerten besides that if harquebuziers do discharge 9. 10. 11. or 12. skores distant at the archers as the archers may doo at them it will bee found that in 10000. of their shot they will not hit so many as 10. archers so wonderful vncerten by all true experience of all wel practised and skilfull souldiors are those weapons of fire So as I come to conclude also that a farre greater number of harquebuziers are no waies able to abide the terror of a much smaller number of archers I meane if the archers bee of a thousand or any greater number whereby they may reduce themselues into many formes and troupes And now as I haue alledged diuers reasons to shew and proue that a smaller number of archers reduced into many greater and smaller troupes haue great aduauntage to ouerthrow and breake a great deale greater nomber of mosquetiers in the plaine open fields euen so am I perswaded by the like causes and reasons that 500. harquebuziers in the plaine and open fields reducing themselues into many societies of loose shot as also into greater troupes as I haue before in other places whereas I haue shewed in what sort harquebuziers should skirmish declared were able with great facilitie to ouerthrow and driue out of the fieldes 500 mosquetiers I meane if neither the harquebuziers nor the mosquetiers had any other weapon to succor them but themselues by reason that the harquebuziers being dispersed into many societies of loose shot and into greater and lesser troupes may trauesse their grounds and inlarge themselues and giue their volees in continuall motion Iauing only at the instant when they take their sights and discharge their peeces at the frunt flankes and backe of the mosquetiers standing still like buttes without motion at their rests whereas mosquetiers reducing themselues into diuers broad squares or troupes according vnto their most conuenient orders of aduauntage to discharge their peeces from their rests cannot discharge their peeces although with haileshot of warre at the harquebuziers to any effect by reason that they are dispersed and in continuall motion Howbeit if any man will saie that mosquetiers might without their rests likewise reduce themselues into many little societies and greater and smaller troupes and so with great aduauntage in respect that their peeces wil carrie point and blanke a great deale surder then harquebuzes skirmish with the harquebuziers Thereunto it is to be aunswered that it is not possible that mosquitiers although they were al men of great force and strength should be able with their forehandes to support and beare their so heauie peeces to discharge and shoote with any steadines or certentie Considering that for any man to discharge any peece either harquebuze Currier or mosquet without a rest effectualâ—lie it doth behooue him to haue his peece of such lightnesse as he may be Maister of his peece and not his peece through the great heueth thereof maister of him that is that hee may with dexterity discharge it steadily and with ease from his forehand taking his sight either from point at blanke or at least from the end of his peece with some kind of certentie which if his peece be any thing too heauie for him with facilitie ease to mannage it is not possible for him to performe although it were at a firme and steadie marke by reason that he striuing with all his force to beare the end of his peece to discharge the same with some steadinesse and certentie the same ouermaistring his forces with extreame heueth doth make him to shoot iust either at the centre of the earth or else at the seuen stars without dooing any hurt to the enemie Besides that when he hath once or twise discharged to recharge againe it dooth not onlie through the great length and heueth of his peece require a much longer time then for a harquebuzier to recharge his harquebuze but also doth so weary the mosquetier that it doth bereaue him of his forces in such sort as he is to work in a maÌ„ner no effect other then by his seldom discharging to make a great noise So as in this matter I come to conclude that as mosquetiers as I haue in certen other places before men tioned through the great distance that their peeces wil carie and the great blowes that they will giue aswel with hail-shot of war as with single bullets haue in their conuenient and due times and places great aduantage against harquebuziers Euen so for skirmishes harquebuziers for the causes and reasons before alledged do in their effects farre exceed and excel mosquetiers And thus farre concerning these matters before handled All Captaines both of horsemen and footemenne and their officers shoulde instruct and teach their bandes that when they are reduced into their simple or single order or into any forme of squadron or into any other form that when any briefe speeches or words are spoken either by y â— coronel or sergeant Maior or by their Captains to y â— intent that the same should passe from the hindermost rank to the formost rank or from the formost to the hindermost or from flank to flanke y â— then they do in no wise faile with all celerity to passe that speech or worde without stop or stay vppon seuere punishment of euerie ranke that shall be found not to passe the same euen to the verie first or last ranke and so likewise from flanke to flanke And the commandement of the passing of those briefe speeches or wordes in bandes single doo appertaine to the Captaine his Lieutenant or Sergeants and if it be in diuers bandes reduced into forms either to march or fight then those commandements of briefe speeches or wordes doo apperteine chieflie to the coronell or Sergeant Maior or to his deputie Lieutenant and not to any Captaine or Captains or their officers without the speciall commandement of one of the three aforesaid officers All drummers should bee very skilfull and perfect in all the different strokes that are to direct and command al captaines and their souldiors be they either in Campe field or Towne All trompettors also aswell such as doo belong to bands of horsemen as others that doo belong
dominions in the continent and Ilands that doo belong to that seniorie which haue beene euer in many ages so well armed as in Venice itselfe the common multitude of the Citizens and people who neuer beare any office in the common wealth but certen base offices doo so well content themselues with the gouernment and great and equal iustice of the Magistrates and their superiors that although they haue all sortes of armors and weapons of warre for footmen in all their houses yet it is not to be found in any Chronicles or histories of Venice that euer they did take armes or reuolt against their Duke Senate nor Nobilitie And that in like sort al the dominions that do belong vnto Venice that are in the continent of Italie and elsewhere although all the common people of those dominions bee armed and weaponed yet through the great care had by the state of Venice of their prosperitie with equall great iustice ministred euen to the very least of them they finde themselues so well contented to liue vnder the quiet and happie gouernment of the Venetians that they haue not in many and many yeares once offred any kinde of reuolt against them but haue rather at such times as some parts of those dominions haue beene by force wonne and possessed sometimes by the Imperiall and somtimes by the French and other Princes at one time or other reuolted from the gouernment of such straungers and returned againe to the obedience of the Venetians Besides which it is to be noted that the Cantonnes and confederate people of Suitzerland since they through the great extortions and iniustices of the Dukes of Austridge and their officers and substitutes did take armes and by battle and victorie with the death of the Duke Lupold and slaughter of a great part of his Nobilitie redeeme and reduce themselues into a ciuill and popular State haue neuer reuolted nor that the people of certen principalities of Germanie through the great iustice by their princes and Magistrats equallie ministred and the well ordering vsing of the people haue at any time rebelled I mean the Suissers against their Magistrates nor those Almaines against their princes By which examples with manie others which for breuities sake I omit this old prouerbe is verefied Opus Iustitiae pax which may be interpreted that the effect of iustice is peace From all which I come to conclude that no Emperor King nor Common wealth that doo gouerne their Subiectes with great and equall iustice and therewithall doo effectuallie shew to haue great care of their increase prosperity and happinesse need any waies to doubt any reuol◠or Rebellion against them by their subiectes and people although they haue al sorts of armors and weapons of war in their houses but that it is rather verie requisite needfull for all great Princes and Common Wealthes that wil maintaine and defend themselues and their dominions against forren Nations to well arme weapon and exercise their people in matters militarie and that they doo establish good Lawes for the good and orderlie perfourmance of the same All which before considered mine opinion clearelie is that of all other places it is most conuenient that the armours and Weapons of all Shieres should be kept by such rich men as doo finde those armors and weapons in their owne houses and such as are found by the common purse of parishes that they should be kept in the chiefe mens houses of those parishes where the soldiors dwell that vppon occasion of those seruices should weare and vse them aswell in respect that all men by all reason will be more carefull to keepe and maintain in good order such apparell armor and weapons as were bought at their owne charges then great Townes or Gentlemen or Corporalles that neuer bought the same Besides that vpon any sudden alarum or giuing of fire to the beacons vpon the enemies comming to inuade or other occasion of seruice when the souldiors of the whole shire shoulde with al celeritie arme themselues march to the place of assembly generall there to reduce themselues vnder their Ensignes and Captains and vnder their higher and lower officers I say that all sortes of souldiours may presentlie and with a great deale more celeritie apparell arme and weapon themselues in warrelike manner the same beeing in their owne houses if they be owners of the same or otherwise presentlie to apparell arme and weapon themselues in such houses of the same Towne whereas the furniture is kept and themselues doo dwell then to runne to Gentlemens or Corporalles houses or to great townes 3. or 4. miles off where their armors furniture are kept there in hubbledeshuffe disorderlie to arme themselues wherof besides diuers other disorders that do ensue often times vpon such sudden Alarmes and armings little men doo put on great or tall mens armors and leaue little armors vnfit for great men to put on according to the olde saying first come first serued And so likewise they do mistake the right choosing of their apparell and Weapons whereof inseweth great disorder and confusion And these sudden disorders with others that I omit cannot vpō such sudden alarmes be possiblie preuented the armors weapon◠being so placed although al the particuler names of the soldiors were written vpon the apparel armor weapons And now as I haue set downe mine opinion concerning y e election and enrolling aswel of diuers sorts of horsmen as of footmen to diuers different sorts of armors and weapons with many other particularities So would I now wish al matters military being brought into the perfectiō aforsaid that all the souldiors aswell horsemen as footmen should in som conuenient place appointed for y e purpose vpon the holidaies during certen moneths in y e summer in the afternoone after they come from church exercise themselues with such weapons as they are inrolled vnto as archers to shooting game at Rouers long buts with their long bowes according to the ancient vse of England and that the harquebuziers in the presence of the chiefe men or officers of y ◠parish in trauessing their grounds as if they were in skirmish should with their peeces well and orderly charged as I haue in my instructions and discourses before particularly declared at a great But discharge 4. shot and so likewise that the mosquetiers should with their mosquets well charged with full bullets from their restes discharge 3. or 4. other shot And this at the charge either of the parishes or of such rich men as doo find such souldiors or otherwise as it may be better considered of and deuised Also I would that such soldiors as are piquers being disarmed should with blunt piques learne to march soldiorly as also with dexeritie to handle and manage them thereby the better to know how in seruice to handle their sharpe piques as also the halbarders with blunt halbardes made for the purpose should learne
of the like nomber all of Piques Not aboue 5. ranks of Piquers closed in frunt flanke backe are able to make heade with their Piques to reache or hitt the first ranke of Launces charginge for diuers reasons An Obiection answered Why the sixth seuenth and so consequentlie the rest of the inner rankes can not as orderly let fall couch their Piques to the mis chiefe of the Enemies as the 5 formost rankes An obiection aunswered The great effects that a squadron of Battleaxes enuironed about with 5. rankes of Piquers do work Some Sergeants Maâ—ors of this time doe through lacke of vnderstanding and skill thinke a battell of extremitie and necessitiâ— to be better then a battell according to art and discipline formed Great bandes of footmen of 500 to euerie Ensigne are a great deale better then bands of 150. or 200. for diuers causes and reasons The causes and reasons wherefore y â— Princes of Germanie doe vse great bandes of 500 in their seruice of the Empire An example to proue that great bands of Souldiers are more requisite then small bands Soldiors are to be ruduced into their simple and single order of ranks be fore they are to be broug to any forme of squadron The great readinesse and dexteritie in forming of squadâ—ons with great compertiments out of bands of 500. Diuers disorders and confusions that doe ensue in forming of squadrons with litle compertiments out of bands of 150. Diuers confusions that doe ensue of many little compertiments of piquers Hâ—ere it is to be noted thaâ— although the Author doth praise allowe great bands of 500 in the which diuers different sorts of weapons are incorporated to be more conuenient for the forming of squadrons then small bands of 150. or 200. of the like different â—orâ—es of weapons yet he doth not disallow that in a puisant army there shuld be some small bands of 1â—0 or 150. amoÌ„gst the great but those onely of weapons of volee as of Archers or harquebuziers incorporated with some conuenient nombers of halberdiers or battle axes for diuers purposes Where Ensigâ—bearers footmâ— are â—o be loâ—ged How an Ensignebâ—arer in seruice in the fielde ought to carrie his Ensigne Ensignes of â— conuenient bredthe and lengthe more better then Ensignes that are verie large With what respecte the halâ—ards that are for the guard of the Ensignes are to march How Ensigne-bearers vpon the sight and nere approach of the enemie are to mannage their â—â—signes How an Ensignebearer marching by an Emperor or king or their Lieutenant generall is to behaue himselfe How Ensigne-bearers are to vse their ensignes when the squadron maketh a pausâ— How all the ensignebearers of a squadron marching in the field are 〈◊〉 carrie their Ensignes All Ensigne-bearers are to receaue their directions from the Standard bearer of the Emporor or king 〈◊〉 he be in the field Where the Standeardbearer of an Empep or king should be plaâ—eâ— When the Standardbeaerr of an Emperor or of a king is to display his standdard Cerren other parâ—icularities concerning the Standard and Standdardbearer of an Emperor or of a Kinge 4 different â—nd principall wâ—iâ—s for harquebuziers to enter into skirmisâ—e The first way for harquebuzers to enter into skirmish The commodities that ensue to harquebuziers by this first way of skirmishing Three principall waies wherein the chiefe effects of harquebuziers in skirmish do consist Harquebuzieâ—â— in skimish are not to discharg their peeces aboue 20. 30. or 40 paces in distance Societies of threes not so good by a great deale for harquebuziers to skirâ—ish in as societies of foures Now harquebuzes and mosquets ought to bee charged All the harqâ—â— buzes through out the field ought to be of one Caliuer â— height All the ordinarie bullets for the field ought not to bee aboue 2. bores lower then the heigth of their pecees The discommodities of bullets that are 4. 5. or 6. bores lower then the heigth of their peeces The second way for harquâ—buziers to skirmish in The third way of skirmish No trâ—â—ps of shott are to giue their volees in diuisions aboue the numberof â—1 The fourth way of skirmishing The skirmishing of loose shot in hubbledeshuâ—â—e Discommoâ—â—â—ies ensuing by this manner of skirmishing â—riefe speaâ—es to be vsed â—hot when â—â—y are too â—â—cke in skirâ—ish by their â—aders â—riefe speaches 〈◊〉 be vsed to â—ot vpon any rounde or rounds of adauntage eâ—â—ied â—erten other â—lefe speaches â— be vsed vnto ot for diuers â—rposes The harquebuzes of a yard long the Cannon and â—anfor ced backward of as great and greater effectâ— then the heauy Caliuers that are nowadaies in vse But small effect â—rought by harquebuzes in skirmishe aboue 50. paces off A very skorne â—o giue volees of harquebuze shot at the enemy 10. 12. or 14 â—kores of What distanâ—â— oblique doâ— means 〈…〉 lique altogither vsed by the harquebuzes and light horsemen Hongarians and other oriâ—ntall nations The Persians only of all the orientall nations doe vse men at Armes Distances oblique in the field of great aduauntage for all light horsemen How harquebuziers are to giue their volees being reduced into a square in some ground of aduauntage How mosquetiers are to discharge their peeces being reduced into a â—â—oade square Mosquetiers are not to discharge their peeces at the enemie aboue 10. or 12. skores 〈◊〉 the furthest Mosquets charged with haile-shot of warre within 10. 15. or 20. paces doe worke great effecte It argueth but small experience in those that would haue mosquetiers in the field to giue their volees of shot 30 24. or 20. scores off Why mosquetiers are not in the field to giue their volees of shotte 20 24. or 30. scores off The account made of archers in times past The auncient â—orme of reduâ—ing of archers â—ere into hearâ—es How to reduce archers into Hearses Archers reduced into hearses are neuer â—o giue their volees but vpon a signe giuen An aunswer to such as doe thinke archers inferior to mosquetiers in the plaine field 1500. archers able to breake 3000 mosqueters The aduauntage that archers haue of mosquetiers Their oppinion that thinke harquebuziers of greater aduauntage to encounter with archers then mosquetiers refuted The aduauntages y â— archers haue of harque buziers Reasons to proue that 500. harquebuziers are in skirmish able to ouerthrow as many mosquetiers Mosquetiers are not able in skirmish to vse their peeces without rests to any effect with restes they cannot skirmishe For any man to discharge his peece effectual ly it behoueth him to be maister of his peece and not his peece maister of him Instructions to be giuen by Captains and officers to their bands for the passing of any briefe speâ— ches or word To whome the commaundement of passing of briefe spea ches doth appertaine The duetie of trompettors drummers The care that all Captains officers of â—andes are to â—aue to instruct â—heir bandes To reduce men at aâ—mes or dimilaunces into their simple or single order of
〈◊〉 â—nstrucâ—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 and orders Militarie requisit for all Chieftaines Captaines 〈◊〉 higher and lower men of charâ—◠〈…〉 to vnderstand 〈…〉 Composed by sir 〈◊〉 â—mythe knight 1591. And now first imprinted 1594. Imprinted at London by Richard Iohnes dwelling at the signe of 〈◊〉 and Crowne neer to Saiâ—â—â—â—drewes church in Holborne 1594. To the Knights Esquiers â—nd Gentlemen of the English Nation that are honourably delighted in the Art and Science Militarie THE chiefe cause and principall end of the first association of men dispersed from a solitary sauage life into Citties Common wealths or other ciuill societies was that by meanes thereof they might enioy a certain coÌ„mon good tranquility happines whervnto al humane kind how barbarous soeuer is naturallie inclined and the speciall waies or meanes to preserue and continue those ciuil societies thus assembled vnited in their desired quiet prosperous estate and to defend them from the vnnatural rapines violence and oppressions of their domesticall wicked neighbors and from the incursions and inuasions of forren Enemies is Religion pollicie and discipline militarie Religion saith Plato is the foundation of al CoÌ„mon wealths and of humane societie execution of good lawes and administration of Iustice which is rightly to be called pollicie is the fountaine of felicitie And the exercise of Armes and of the Art and discipline militarie is the maintainer of peace and ground of securitie without these and euery one of these no kingdome can continue and the Common wealth where they are with good order established doth prosper and flourish For ouerpassing the commoditie and necessitie of Religion and pollicie to be dilated of by Diuines and states-men as more agreeable to their profession and impertinent to my present purpose Concerning the Art and science Militarie this may I boldly trulie write and affirme that by the exercise therof all Empires kingdomes and Common wealthes haue come to their height and soueraintie and haue maintained their happy state and prosperitie And by neglecting the same they haue declined decaied and finally been made praies to their Enemies The Art Militarie it was that established the Empires of the Egyptians Assirians Medes Persians Grecians and that inlarged the dominions of the Romains to so wonderful greatnesse This Art it was by the which great Alexander with a handful of souldiors as they may be tearmed did vanquish infinit Armies and did conquer a great part of the world and beyond the hope expectation of almen did march vnto the vâ—most parts of the Earth then known And the neglecting thereof againe hath beene the decay and ruine both of those and many other most noble Empires and Kingdomes and hath caused the losse of all Greece and a great part of the Romaine Empire and without the great grace especiall goodnesse of Almighty God wil be the ruine of the rest By men of Warre saith Aristotle Common wealths are conserued and that the Art Militarie should be alwaies practised in any well ordered kingdome it is both profitable and necessarie which Gelon king of Scicilie wel knowing and considering that people vnpractised in Armes through idlenesse and want of experience incur danger to be subdued He caused often in his kingdome rumors of warres and inuasions of Enemies to bee raised and therevpon made present preparation of resistance leuied souldiors trained and exercised them in al points of militarie discipline and led them foorth in warlike order some certen daies march towards the sea coast as though hee intended presentlie to giue battle to his enemies inuauding but his souldiors expecting the enemies and when they should fight he emploied them in certaine labors and trauailes such as he thought conuenient saying that in performing the same they should both ouercome sloth and Idlenesse two mortal Enemies of the common wealth and that their enemies besides vnderstanding how they were void of Idlenesse and exercised in Armes would neuer haue the boldnesse to inuade them The like prouident care haue diuers other noble kings Emperors and gouernors of Common wealthes had for the continual exercise of their people in matters militarie both for the continuance of their owne estates and to the terror of their enemies vpon iust occasions of iniuries offred But seeing at this present day the contrarie and that the aâ—ncient and true knowledge of discipline militarie is in most parts of Christendome by ciuil Warres corrupted and greatly decaied I for the benefit of my Countrie and Nation wherevnto I wish aâ—prosperitie and happinesse and for the commoditie of you Gentlemen vnto whom matiers and affaires of Armes and also of Iustice do most properlie appertaine haue with some labour and pains collected and set downe in this treatise Certen orders instructions and obseruations Militarie the most of which in seruices of diuers warres vnder notable Captaines of diuers Nations I haue seen practised the rest by reading of diuers histories I haue other wise obserued giuing you therewithal to vnderstand that my intent purpose is not to treat in this booke generally of all matters militarie by lande which are inâ—inite for I handle not therein the approching and besieging of Citties and places forâ—ified nor the forming and fortifieng of Campes nor the lodging and dislâ—dging of armies nor the making of Bridges ouer riuers to passe ouer Armies nor inâ—inite other maâ—ters and stratagems militarie Al which some at one time and some at another haue beene very wel written off by many principall Captaines and gentlemen of diuers Nations and some of them also handled by me in some other Books of mine that I haue composed which I haue not as yet put in print But in this booke I haue begun and chieflie handled as the Reader may see the reducing of footmen and horsemen into their simple and single order of rankes from point to point and after how to reduce them into many forms of troups squadroÌ„s battles in the field that chieflie to the intent to enter into skirmish to giue battle with the most aduantage which of al other matters military are of greatest importance to work the highest effects in the field by reason that thereby great victories are atchieued and sometimes Empires Kingdomes and dominions conquered And for most of al those matters that I haue written of I haue alledgâ—d manie reasons to fortifie and prooue the same All which not withstanding I doubt not but that in reading aâ—d perusing of this my treatise in this malicious time there â—ill bee some found cast in the mould of that good fellow who going to another mans house vsed to carie both his eies in his head and returning home to his owne put them vp in his pocket Many I meane that will find fault for one that will commend and some as saint Ierome writeth vpon the like occasion that wil curiouslie search and sift euery sentence clause word and sillable yea and the very letters of my writing and then censure
feet And so in like maner the second third and fourth ranks so subsequentlie al the rest of the ranks must in al points perform the like shoulder their pikes one after another carry the butends of their piques 3. foot or more from the ground straight in discent towardes the right hams of the souldiors piquers marching before them euerie ranke beeing so euen in frunt that the butend of no piquers pique may preceed the one the other in the same ranke and so euen and straight by flanks that the butend of euerie piquers pique may be iust point and blanke towards the right hamme of the piquer preceding in the ranke before him And so they must al with great silence and with a graue and soldiorlike grace march But whereas in this place I doe instruct that all the soldiors of the first ranke and so subsequentlie of all the rest of the rankes one after another should first fall back with their right feet almost a foot behind their left to the intent that their piques should fall the more leisurely to their shoulders and that then all the soldiors of the first ranke at one instant should raise and lift vp their left feet about a handfull from the ground and letting them fall againe to the ground should march forward first with their right feet that instruction I doe giue partlie in respect that the same being orderlie performed as aforsaid it dooth giue a very comelie grace vnto the soldiors in their first beginning to march but chiefelie because that the leisurely falling backe of all the soldiors of the first ranke with their right feet to shoulder their piques and so subsequentlie of all the rest of the rankes one after another with the lifting vp also of their left feet about a hand full from the ground is a warning to euery hinder ranke presently to prepare themselues to march whereas by not performing the same or the like leisurely and soldiorlike warning vpon the stroke of the drum or briefe speeches pronounced as aforesaid it often commeth to passe that the soldiors of the second ranke are suddenlie and disorderly cast too great a distance behind the first ranke and so consequentlie all the rest of the rankes by the sudden shouldering of their piques and stepping forward of the first ranke And I doe further aduertise that the soldiors piquers of any priuate band marching in their single order of rankes doe in any wise obserue the distances of 16. or else 18. feet betwixt euerie rank ranke by flankes and 6. or else 7. feet betwixt euery soldior and soldior in frunt that is betwixt soldior and soldior in euery ranke And this in case the ground will permit them or otherwise that they do march in conuenient distances in frunt and by flanks according to the ground and occasion And in this place because I haue mentioned and touched the distances that ought to be obserued by a single band of piquers and other weapons marching in their simple and single order of ranks I thought it were a conuenient place also to handle and write at large of the many and different distances that ought to be obserued as well in frunt that is in euery ranke from frunt to backe as by flanks that is betwixt euery ranke and ranke not only by single bands but also by squadrons and battels for many purposes and that not onelie by footmen but also by horsmen of diuers different sortes of armour and weapons Howbeit considering that the same hath been briefelie touched although to no great purpose by some other writers of forreigne Nations And that if I should enter to write and discourse of those matters effectuallie it would require manie sheetes of paper and therefore would be very long and tedious to the Reader I thought good to ouerpasse those particularities as thinges very well knowne to all skilfull men of warre of all warlike nations and to proceed to other matters that doe require more particular instruction And that the rather because the many and different distances that are vppon diuers different causes and occasions to be obserued by horsemen as also by footmen are such and so many as they cannot bee expressed by writing but with verie great difficultie for that the same cannot bee particularlye set downe but by the measures of paces and halfe paces and by the measures of more and fewer feet of halfe feet and quarters of feet and other such measures which I thinke no man of any experience can possibly by writing rightlie expresse without failing or erring more or lesse And that by reason that sometimes single bandes are to march in open places where they haue roome inough to inlarge their ranks both in frunt and by flankes thereby to beautifie and giue grace vnto such companies And at other times they are to march thorow Citties and Townes where the narrownesse of the streats doe not giue them roome to inlarge themselues in their distances thereby to make the greater show at other times also bands are to march in the field readie to be reduced incorporated with other bands at which time they are to march more close in neerer distances both in frunt and by flanks And so likewise being incorporated into squadrons they are for diuers different purposes as somtimes for their greater ease to march to giue the greater show and to bewtifie the squadron they are to march in the rankes inlarged and at other times vpon the expecting of the enimie being not yet in sight or beeing in sight they are to straighten their rankes more or lesse or that vpon the neare approch of the Enemies squadrons of both horsmen and footmen they expect and doubt a charge of horsmen in frunt or flankes or both or that they themselues are with their piques to charge a contrarie squadron of footmen For al which and diuers other occasions and purposes they are to reforme themselues into diuers different distances And as piquers and short weapons either in single bands or reduced into squadrons are for diuers purposes to reforme themselues into such varietie of distances Euen so weapons of volee reduced into sleeues wings and other formes are to vse some of the like and other sorts of distances And as footmen are for such different causes and occasions to obserue such varietie of distances as aforesaid Euen so horsmen of diuers armors and weapons as men at Armes Dimilaunces Stradiots Reistres and other sorts of light horsemen are to reduce themselues into diuers different distances according to the effects and nature of their armors and weapons and are again to reforme themselues into other distances according to new occasions and directions sometimes for one purpose and sometimes for others All which variety different sorts of distances and many others are of very great difficulty to bee by writing rightly expressed in their iust and proportionate measures and yet y â— notwithstanding it is
reducing againe of the same into the forme of squadron first aboue set downe to be placed and drawne as they were at the first before the regiment entered into the straights But incase that the Coronell being entered into the straights should doubte to be assailed by the enemie either in vauntguard or in Rereward then hee ought to place a couple of fawcons or of fawconets either in frunt or in backe as he doubteth to be assailed with some conuenient quantitie of powder and bullets and other thinges necessarie strongly guarded and accompanied with some numbers of archers light armed piquers and halbarders as also some mosequtiers so that those soldiors of weapons of fire do not come too neare the powder belonging to those field peeces and in y ◠sort those 2. field peeces are to be drawne by their horses and accompanied with their gonners pioners and guardes of diuers sorts of weapons as aforesaid in frunt and backe according to the occasion And now concerning the most conuenient and sure placing of the cariages and baggages of the Regiment I meane for the passing through the straight for the placing and marching whereof it is first to be considered whether they expect or doubt the enemie more in frunt and vauntgard when they shall be passing or passed through the straight or in backe and Rereward when they are entring entered into the straight or that they doubt to be assailed both in vauntgard and Rereward Now if in case they doubt to be assailed by the enemie in Rereward then the Coronell is to commande all the carriages and baggages to be placed in the midst of the weapons of volee y ◠are in vauntgard with some conuenient numbers of light armed piquers and halbarders for y e better guard of the same but in case that they doubt to be assailed in vauntgard and not in Rereward then they are to place the cariages in the midst of the short of the Rereward accompanied with some light armed piquers and halbarders as aforesaid But if they doubt to be assailed both in vauntguard and Rereward then the Coronell is to commaund all the cariages and baggages to be placed in the midst betwixte al the compertiments of piquers I meane the one halfe of the piquers before and y ◠other halfe behind the carriages euerie Carre or waggon hauing two harquebuziers or archers for y ◠guard of them Howbeit here it is to be noted that the carriages of the chiefe substance of the powder that doth belong to the Regiment be they waggons or Carres that do carrie the same do with their officers Carters and pyoners march either formost of all the rest of the Carriages or else hindermost of them all or else vpon some occasions halfe before and halfe behind as the Coronell vpon any occasion shall thinke most conuenient but in any wise a conuenient waie distant from all the rest of the carriages and that the same carriages of powder be well accompanied with some good numbers of archers and halbarders but with no harquebuziers nor mosquetiers thereby to auoid all accidents of fire Also euerie Wagō or Carre ought to haue a couer of the hides or skinnes of buffes made of such largenesse that the same may couer all the barrels of powder from wet as also that such couers of buffe wil resist the force and furie of all kind of bals and other inuentions of artificiall fires and wilde fire which peculiar property the skins of those beasts haue aboue all others And now as I haue very particularly shewed howe a squadron of 2100. should be reduced into form in diuers different sortes and that the same squadron consisting of 2100. armed men piquers is now last of all reduced into 60. souldiors in frunt which is intended in euery rank frō frunt to back and 35. soldiors by flank which is to be vnderstood 35. ranks which proportion of squadron is broder in number of piquers in frunt then long by flanks by more then a third part which by most Sergeants Maiors is esteemed to bee of a great deale greater aduauntage to fight for diuers causes and reasons which heere I omit then any iust squadrons of armed men are by reason that squadrons that are iust square in number of men that is as many piquers by flank as in frunt are accounted to bee out of proportion and that in respect that such squadrons are a great deale longer by flankes then broade in frunt because that the distaunces betwixt ranke and ranke bee it either to march or fight are a great deale more then they are betwixt euery soldior and soldior in frunt which is to bee vnderstood in euerie ranke So to satisfie such as would vnderstand of the forming of a iust squadron of piquers I meane a iust square of like numbers of men in frunt flankes and backe as aforesaid and not a iust square in ground I would take 6600. piquers which number I would command y ◠sergeant Maior Maior to draw out of 4. of 5. regiments to reduce them into 12. compertiments euery cōpertiment of 5. in frunt 60. by flanks which maketh iust 300. piquers in euery compertiment al which 12. cōpertiments of 300. piquers in euery compertiment beeing reduced into squadron either by doubling those compertiments by back or by flank or flanks or any other waies as I haue before very particularlie set downe doo come to be a iust squadron of 60. piquers by frunt flankes and backe ouerplus not any one souldior And this kind of iust square of armed men by frunt flankes and backe hath beene holden by some men of warre and yet is to be the most strong and puissant kind of squadron of all others in respect that the number of rankes by flanks are equall with the number of souldiors in frunt and backe whereof ensueth say they vppon the ioyning of two squadrons and a battle well fought that commonlie many of the souldiors of the first rankes are either ouerthrowne wounded or slain in the place vpon which accidents the souldiors that are in the next rankes directlie behind them are presently to bestride them I meane to stand ouer and defend them if they be but wounded and if they be slaine then to take their places and so subsequentlie euery hinder ranke to fill vp the ranke before them so as only the hinder ranks shal come to diminish and lacke number by the supplying and filling vp of the former ranks By meanes of which entring of souldiors out of the hinder rankes still to fill vppe the formost rankes for the causes aforesaid the opinion of some men of warre hath been and is that a iust squadron of armed men is of more resistance and annoyance against the enemie then a broad squadron in frunt and shorter by flankes is I meane both the one squadron and the other being neere about one number of souldiors Besides all
troupes or squares of horsmen haue the comming of the enemies battles and squares and troupes of horsmen so apparant and cleare in their sightes as that they might succour and aide the said two formost battles vpon all needfull and requisit occasions and causes All which reducements of those foresaid 4. battles being by the Coronels Sergeant Maiors Captaines and other officers with great order and celeritie perfourmed then I hauing such conuenient numbers of men at arms of dimilaunces of Stradiots of Archers and Crosbowers on horsebacke as are before particularlie set downe to arme the flankes of the aforesaid foure battles I would first giue order that the 240. men at Armes shoulde bee deuided into 4. winges that is into 60. men at Armes in each wing euery which number of 60. men at Armes I would reduce either into 3. rankes of 20. in euery ranke or else into 4. rankes of 15. in euerie ranke and woulde place two of those hearses or broade squares of men at Armes the one euen by flanke and right ouer againste the middest of the right flanke of the vauntguarde and the other broad square or hearse of men at Armes in like sort euen by flanke and right ouer against the middest of the lefte flanke of the Reregard And so likewise in the very same order I would place the other two broad squares of men at Armes the one by flanke right ouer against the midst of the right flanke of the principall battle and the other broad square by flanke right ouer against the middest of the left flanke of the a Rereregardrereward But yet it is to be vnderstood by this before written that I would place all those 4. hearses or broad squares of men at Armes so farre distaunt in winge from all the flankes of those foresaid 4. Battles and so farre wide and cleare from all the Sleeues Winges and Troupes of the Weapons of Volee footemen as that those hearses of men at Armes might vppon all good occasions offered giue a charge vppon the Enemie bee they horsemen or footmen without any waies troubling the Weapons of volee or receiuing any trouble or let by the Weapons of Volee to giue their charges with great order And therewithal that vpon their charges giuen they may retire to giue new charges without disordering their owne weapons of volee or any waies troubling the rankes of their owne squadrons of armed footmen The dimilaunces also belonging to those men at Arms which according to discipline ought to bee in number double as manie as the men at Armes which is that the men at Armes being 240. the dimilaunces ought to bee 480. which number 480. Launces I would deuide into 4. broad squares or hearses of 120. in euerie hearse euerie which number of 120. dimilaunces I woulde reduce either â—nto 4. rankes of 30. in euery ranke or else into 5. rankes of 24. Launces in euery ranke and woulde place two of those winges the one by flanke in a manner euen with the right flank of the hearse or wing of the men at Armes reduced vpon the right flank of the vauntgard and the other wing of dimilaunces in a manner euen by flanke with the left flanke of the wing of the men at armes that are reduced vpon the left flanke of the reregard But yet both those two winges of dimilaunces I would place a little aduaunced more forward then the winges of the men at Armes and so farre distant by flanke from both the foresaide winges of the men at Armes as that there might be ground and roome enough betwixt them for sixe little troupes or societies I meane two troupes or societies of archers on horsebacke and 4. troupes of Crosbowers on horsebacke of 10. in euerie societie to place themselues in their troups in conuenient distances separated and oblique each one troupe from the other readie vpon any charge by the Launces or men at Armes giuen or vnto them by the Enemie offered to galloppe by the flankes of the Launces or of the men at Armes but somthing more backe and in Rereward of them and to giue their volees of quarrels and arrowes at the enemie before the Launces or men at Armes should come to ioine and shocke with the enemies horsmen or charge their footmen or otherwise to giue their volees at any squadrons or troupes of horsmen or footmen according to any other order and commandement vnto them by their superiors giuen And in like sort as I haue placed those 2. winges of dimilaunces with their troupes of Crosbowers and archers on horsbacke betwixt them and the flankes of the 2. formoste winges of men at Armes as aforesaid Euen so would I in the verie same sort place the other two winges of dimilaunces of 120. in each winge reduced either into 4 rankes of 30. in euerie ranke or else into 5. rankes of 24 in euery ranke almost euen and right ouer against sauing a little more aduanced forward then the flankes of the two hindermost winges of the men at Armes that are reduced the one vpon the right flanke of the principall battle and the other vpon the left flanke of the a Rereregard-Rereward with the like numbers of troupes or societies of Crosbowers archers on horsbacke betwixt them euerie little troupe of those weapons of volee seperated and oblique in distances the one from the other as are reduced and placed betwixt the flankes of the. 4. â—ormost winges of men at armes and dimilaunces All which with great order being performed then of al y â— rest of the numbers of Stradiots of archers on horsbake and Crosbowers on horsbacke which in all do amount to 4040. I would take out 60. stradiots 40. Crosbowers 40. archers on horsebacke which are in all 140. horsemen which numbers I would reserue for such other employments as hereafter shalbe mentioned and would deuide the rest which in all are 3900. stradiots Crosbowers and archers on horsebacke into 3. diuisions or parts that is into 1300. in each diuision in euerie which 1300. I would there should be like numbers of euery one of those 3. foresaid different sorts of weapons or as neare thereabouts as they could be deuided which done then would I appoint one of those 3. partes of different sorts of light horsemen which are in number 1300. to arme the right flanke of the winge of dimilaunces that are vpoÌ„ the right flanke of the men at Armes which do arme the righte flanke of the vauntgard And I would giue order to all the Captaines Conductors of al the aforesaid light horsemen men of the first 1300. that they should deuide and reduce all the numbers of their stradiots of Crosbowers and archers on horsebacke into little troupes and societies of tennes fifteens in euerie troupe and that euerie societie and troupe should be of distincte and like weapons by themselues and that euerie one of those societies should be lead by the heads and chiefe of their societies that all
I would that the treasure should be caried either vpon mulets or horses or rather vpon close couered waggons after the manner of Germanie and those carriages placed towardes the midst of the square on the right hande and that the waggons or Carts that do carrie the cheife substance of the powder should be placed also towardes the midst of the square on the left hand and that both those sorts of carriages should bee very strongly guarded with good numbers of halbardiers and that all the great ordinance of batterie and artillery with powder and bullets and all other things belonging vnto them should be placed and drawen with their horses or oxen aswell vpon the frunt and backe as vpon the outer flankes and sides of the same square And I would that all the rest of the carriages should be reduced into 2. 3. or 4. ranks in the forme of a Rainebow a semicircle or halfe round at the back of the most important publique cariages which are beâ—ore reduced into square in such sort as that the midst of the halfe round should be directly behind and verie neere the foresaid square of Cariages and that both the endes of the semicircle should be so farre extended and drawn into a great Compasse circular that the right ende thereof should haue right ouer against the left flanke corner of the same but a good distance wide the hinder part of the right flanke of the principall battle and that the lefte end of the same halfe round should aâ—so haue right ouer against the right flanke and corner but a good distance wide the hinder part of the left flank of the a Rereregardrereward and that in such sort as that semicircle or halfe round of Cariages might seeme as it were to halfe compasse and embrace the backes and Rerewards of all the 4 battles and their weapons of volee which Reducement of Cariages being performed I would then take the 500. halbardiers and the 900. piquers which at the first forming of the 4. battles were reserued and not any where placed and would also either from the beginning reserue vnplaced or at least would drawe 400. archers 400. harquebuziers and. 400. mosquetiers out of the 7000. archers and the. 3000. harquebuziers and mosquetiers which are reduced and placed in many sleeues winges troupes and other formes vpon the flankes Corners and Reregards of all the aforesaid 4. battles and would deuide all the aforesaid 900. piquers 500. halbadiers and 12000. wepons of volee of different sorts into 4. parts 3. parts of the which being reduced into diuers squares and troupes I would should be reduced vpon the backe and both the Corners of the semicircle with certen fawconetts and Robynets for the guard of the backe and ends of the semicircle of Cariages and therewithall would also place many of 〈◊〉 the harquebuziers and mosquetiers aforesaid vpon diuers of the Carriages themselues that from thence vpon any approach of the Enemie they might discharge their peeces at them to their terror and mischiefe Now as for the fourth part and diuision of the weapons aforesaid I would they should be placed in many hearses and troupes vpon the frunts and flankes of the aforesaid square of carriages as also vpon the ynner parts and corners of the halfe round And as for the 140. stradiots archers on horsebacke and Crosbowers on horsebacke I would that 100. of them should be placed vnder their Conductors in diuers little troupes societies vpon the backe and Rereward of the halfe round for the more sure guarde of the same and the rest which are 40. light hor-men I would that they being deuided in their litle troups and societies should be for the guarde of the inner parte of the semicircle or else that the Enemies Army being in frunt of the aforesaid 4. battles that 20. of those light horsmen vnder a sufficient Conductor should serue for discouerers on the right hand of the whole Armie and that the other 20. light horsmen vnder the like Conductor should discouer on the left hand whether there were any vnlooked for troupes of the enemie approching and thereof to giue aduertisement to the Generall of the Armie or to the Lord Marshall And now all these reducements before set downe being performed It is to be noted that for so puissant an Armie as this of 28000. horsemen and footmen of our English Nation is there cannot be fewer then 4000. pioners and labourers besides the waggoners Carters and other baggagers of the Campe aswel for the leuelling plaining of groundes where the Armie and artillerie shal passe as also for the fortefying of Campes and approching of places fortefied with trenches Crosse trenches and gabions and for the making of mounts and working in mines and infinite other thinges appertaining to the Armie and Campe which 4000. labourers and pioners I would vpon the day of battle appoint and place in this sort following First I would that besides their spades shouelles and mattocks which they should haue alwaies by them readie to performe any labour or worke to them appointed by their Captaines and Conductors that euerie one of them should haue a good halbard or blacke bill with a good dagger either hanging before them or vppon their Girdles at their backes And so I would likewise that all the Waggoners Carters and other baggagers of the Campe should bee appointed with the like weapons alwaies vppon their cariages readie vppon any occasion for them to take and vse or else that euery sort of them should haue such other weapons as they haue most skill to handle And of the pioners and labourers I would appoint some conuenient numbers to bee with the field peeces that were placed vppon the fruntes and corners of all the 4. battles to helpe to remoue turne and mannage them Also I would take 1600. more of those pioners and labourers and would deuide them into 4. diuisions or parts of 400. in euery diuision vnder their Captaines Leaders and would appoint euery one of those 4. partes deuided into their societies of tens to attend vpon the aforesaid 4. battles and that they should be placed at the backs and in Rereward of the societies of halbardiers that are in Rereward of the weapons of volee of the 4. battles readie to cut any trenches or to perform any other commandment vnto them giuen as also vpon the ouerthrow of the Enemie with their blacke Bils or other weapons to follow the Chase and doo execution vpon the Enemie flying as the souldiors halbardiers placed at the backes of the weapons of volee ought to doo because that according to right discipline vpon the ouerthrow of the Enemie it is not any waies lawfull for battles and squadrons of footmen to breake their rankes and orders to the intent to follow the Chase And as for all the rest of the 4000. labourers and pioners I would place them deuided vnder their Captaines and leaders aswel for the gard of the aforesaid square and
more at the least of the length of their piques which with the thicknesse of all the 4. ranks before them doo come to make them to leese 15. foot or more of the length of their piques so as there remaineth only 3. foot of y â— length of their piques beyond y â— formost and first ranke the which 3. foot of their piques towards the Enemie reaching too short to annoy either horses or men doo rather through the shortnesse of the same reaching so little a waie beyond the first ranke trouble the foremost rankes of their fellowes then worke any other good effect and therefore those piques of the fifth ranke are rather to be kept still vprighted with the points some thing bent towardes the Enemie then any waies to bee couched as the piques of the 4. foremost rankes are and so likewise the piquers of the sixth seuenth and eighth rankes and subsequently of all the rest hauing no possibilitie at the first charge either of horsemen or footmen to annoy them they are to keepe their piques still vprighted the pointes something bent forward towardes the enemie to shew themselues in the sight of the enemy ready to succour the formost rankes rather then any waies to beare the pointes of their piques any lower But if any man will say that all the backer rankes of piquers may orderlie and easilie succour and supplie the places of such piquers of the fore rankes as come to be slaine wounded or ouerthrowne and so resist or repulse either horsemen or footmen entring as I my selfe in the beginning of this booke haue particularly set downe Therevnto I answere that the piques that are in the backer rankes vppon the accidentall breaking in of any men at Armes into the foremost ranks of piquers or vpon the entring of any of the formost ranks of the contrarie squadron of footmen are through the hauing of so many other ranks of piquers before them with the great length of those weapons in a presse so vnmaniable and therefore of so little effect when battles come to ioine that most of the piques of the inner rankes I meane of the sixt seuenth and eighth and so consequentlie of the rest of the middle rankes through the letting fall of the pointes of their piques forward how leisurely soeuer to couch and bend the points of them to the annoiance of the enemies do through their great length so intermingle and intricate with the piqueâ—â— of the former rankes that euery sudden touch of the piques that are in the ranks before one another do so disorder beat and turne aside the points of the piques from their intended thrusts at their enemies as that they rather turne them through their great length to the trouble of the ranks before them then any waies to resist repulse or annoie the Enemie But now it may be demanded of me wherfore the sixt seuenth and so consequentlie the rest of the inner rankes should not as orderlie one after another let fal and couch their piques to the resistance and mischiefe of their enemies as the 5. formost and first rankâ— of piquers may Wherevnto I answer that the 4. or 5. first rankes hauing apparant and cleare in their eies and sights the comming of their Enemies in squadron be they horsemen or footmen may with greater order and leisure all one after another couch their piques and charge a contrary squadron of footmen or receiue a charge of horsemen then the other inner rankes of piquers can who vpon the breaking in and entring of some of the men at armes in one place or other or y â— entring of some part of the squadron of their enemies footmen more in one place then in another as sometimes it happeneth cannot so well and clearely see the comming and entring of their Enemies by reason of so many ranks of their fellowes before them as that they may so wel in iust and conuenient times moments and distances orderlie and effectually let fall and couch their piques as the 4. or 5. foremost rankes haue doone Vpon which accidentes it dooth ordinarilie happen that such inner ranks are driuen to let fall and couch their piques vpon suddens least y â— by their not couching them they should by their enemies approching them too neer leese the vse of the points of their piques Which sudden letting fall and couching of their piques dooth cause the aforesaid intermingling and intricating and confused ouerthwarting of piques with piques a great deale more in the inner rankes then any waies in the formost 4. or 5. rankes as aforesaid By all which it is to bee considered and noted that neither horsmen Launces nor footmen piquers can enter vnder the points of my squadron of battleaxes empaled and inuironed in frunt flanks and back with 5. ranks of piques as aforesaid but that they must of necessitie abide the first violence of the pointes of them 〈◊〉 they find them already in great order and leisure couched to resist and repulse them Whereas farre otherwise it doth behooue the inner ranks of a squadron consisting all of piquers to obserue the entring of their Enemies be they horsemen or footmen in such moments iust distances as that they may be sure to let fall and couch their piques when their Enemies are entred and do come within 4. or 5. ranks of them which if they should faile to performe then it were too late for such inner rankes to couch their piques either againste horsemen or footmen now entred and comne within and vnder the length of their piques But vnto this some vnskilfull soldior may obiect and say that the inner rankes may still carrie their piques couched readie to resist or repulse their Enemies entering Or otherwise that they letting fal and couching their piques after that their Enemies be entered within lesse then 5. or 4. rankes of them may so farre retire and pull them backe as that they may recouer the vse of the points of them against their Enemies to their great annoiance Vnto which obiections I say that it is not in the force and strength of the most puissant soldiors of any Nation that liue still to carrie their piques couched no nor yet to beare them abouehand ouer their fellowes heades but a verie little while considering the great length and heaueth of them And therefore they must neuer let fall and couch them vntill such instant needfull times as their Enemies do approach them in so neare distances as they must presently either with one entire thrush if they bee the formost 4 or 5. rankes or with diuers thrusts in iust instantes and times if they be the inner rankes vpon the entering of the Enemie be driuen to make head and succor the rankes before them for if the inner rankes should through lacke of skill thrust at their Euemies before they come within the reach of their piques then they should worke no other effect but thrust their owne fellowes that are betwixt
them and their Enemies to their trouble or mischiefe in their heads necks or backs And for aunswer to the other obiection that the ynner rankes of piquers letting fall and couching their piques may pul and retire them so farre backe as that they may againe recouer the vse of the points of them against their Enemies entered I say that if the enemies be they either horsemen or footmen be entered but only .7 6. 5. 4. or 3. feete within and vnder the length of any of the piques of the inner ranks that it is not possible for such piquers in respect of the ranke and rankes that are so neare and close behind them to pull their piques with their armes so farre backe as any waies to recouer y ◠vse of the pyonts of them against such Enemies as are comne within and vnder their piques as aforsaid whereof insueth that those inner rankes haue vtterly lost the vse of their piques and therefore must let them fall to the great trouble of the leggs and feete of the rankes of their fellowes aduauncing forward and betake themselues to their swords and daggars which are not weapons any waies able to repulse or resist armed men with battleaxes or halbards By all which before alleaged I thinke it is most apparant that the 5. rankes of piquers that do empale enuiron my squadron of battleaxes by frunt flanks and backe are ranks enough to restist any Charge or Charges of Launces aswell and a great deale better then if the same squadron were all of piques because that the 4. or 5. first rankes only are those that do worke al the effects to the resisting repulsing of Launces charging or that are with their thrush to resist and repulse any charge of a squadron of footmen piquers their Enemies and if any Launces by chaunce should breake through those 5. rankes then the battleaxes and short staued and long edged and short and strong pointed halbards in the handes of well armed men are readie at the heeles of the 5. rankes of their piquers and do wonderfully both with blow and thrust at the heads and faces of horses or men kill wound ouerthrow or repulse either horsemen Launces or footmen piquers whose first charges and furies haue bene before greatly staied and weakened by y ◠resistance of the first 5. ranks of piquers as aforsaid For it is to all men of vnderstanding in matters Militarie most euident that short staued battleaxes or halbards of not aboue 6. foot long in their whole length do no waies in their blowes nor thrusts either against horsmen or footmen trouble entermingle nor intricate one with another by reason of their shortnesse as the rankes of piques do through their great lengthes which piques doo no waies kill nor hurt but only with their pointes as is before at large declared By all which I come to conclude that 4. or 5. of the first rankes be it in frunt flanks or backe I meane which of them soeuer vpon the comming of the enemie be made frunt doo worke far greater effectes then all the rest of the inner rankes of piquers can possibly do for in troth all y ◠inner ranks of piquers besides the 5. first ranks doo neither against horsemen and chieflie against footemen halbarders or battleaxes well armed no nor yet against armed men with swordes and targets vsing their targets only to defend their faces from the points of the piques worke any important effect as it is most manifest by the reasons causes and accidents by me before alledged And thus hauing at large shewed by diuers reasons the imperfections of squadrons that doo consist onelie of piques with the great perfections and effects of squadrons of battleaxes enuironed onely with 5. rankes of piquers as also howe all sortes of squadrons that are commonlie in vse in the open fieldes in these daies and also in al former ages ought to be reduced into form with many other different particularities I will omit diuers other sorts forms of little battles that are conteined in som printed books of diuers languages as of Crossebattles of battles in triangle battles in form of stars with many other such battles of diuers shapes fashiōs extraordinary y ◠are rather set forth to fill vp books to please y ◠curious then for any great vse of them by reason y ◠such phantastical battles are no waies able in the open fields to march encoūter with such squadrons as I haue before described and set down And yet somtimes armies may march vpon such strange extraordinary grounds as in marching ouer mountains or high hils y ◠haue varietie of forms of rising descending grounds y ◠it is not possible to form such great squadrons in such forms as I haue before declared and described but that vpon the comming of the enemie they must bee forced to deuide their three battles of vauntguard battle and Rereward that they marched withall in the plaine and open fieldes into as many varieties of little battles and formes as the aduantages and formes of the varietie of groundes where they presently find themselues doo present vnto them and therewithall to flank their armed men on euery side with weapons of volee All which a Lord Marshall or sergeant Maior may with a great deale more facilitie perform then to forme such great squadrons as I haue before described reduced and formed But heere I thinke it good to aduertise the Reader that I haue heard verie crediblie reported that there is another kind of forming of a battle amongst some of the Sergeants Maiors of our Nation in these daies greatly in vse and that is That they place foure piquers with their piques aduaunced in square according to the greatnesse of the squadron that they meane by guesse to form with the number of piquers that they haue for that purpose And somtimes they place in the middest of the frunt betwixt the two formost piquers a third piquer and so likewise they place two other piquers vpon the midst of ech flanke one betwixt the said piquers that are in flanke with a fourth piquer also in the midst betwixt the two hindermost piquers which 8. piquers when they haue placed in as iust square in their distaunces as they can then they command al the piquers that they meane by guesse to reduce into squadron beeing all behind and in Rereward of the 8. piquers in square presentlie to run into the void place within the square of the 8. piquers and there to fall into their rankes with hubbledeshuf as well as they can vntill they haue filled vp all the distances and empty place within y ◠square of the said 8 piquers which being performed they hold this way not only for a verie ready forming of a squadron but also for a most excellent waie of reducement because that there is not any Sergeant Maior so vnskilfull although hee be vtterly ignorant in Arithmetique nor that he
piquers of a single band or squadron ought to carie their piques vpon their left shoulders How a single band coÌ„sisting of 5 different sortes of weapons should be formed to march in the plaine and open fields A great aduauntage and readines for bands marching in this sort to be reduced into other forâ—es How Captains marching with their bandes in their simple and single order of rankes should double all their rankes by right line How Captains should double the ir rankes by flankes How Captains should triple their rankes by right line How Captains should triple their rankes by flanks It is to be noted that in all reducements of squadrons into forme with the compertiments of bands that the middle most part of the frunte is the highest place in estimation and that the right hand of the same frunt is the second in degree and that the left hand same frunt 〈◊〉 the lowest place in degree And that the first second and thirde rankes but chiefely the first are the places of greatest estimation for the gentlemen of the bands if there be any to bee placed in the presence of their Captains to shewe their valours How where any ouerplus of broken rankes of piquers should place themselues It is contrary to discipline that any ranke of disequall number to the rest of the rankes should march either in frunt oâ— backe How Captains hauingâ—by tripling their rankes brought their bandes into disproportion may and ought to remedie the same Another speciall point to be lookt vnto by Captaines in doubling oâ— tripling their rankes by right line or encreasing them by flankes The causes and reasons why in reducing this band into their simple single order of ranks euery sort of weapon is placed in the order aforesaid Harquebuziers emplâ—ied in skirmish or for ambushes or som other like causes ought to be backt with halâ—ards Archers and musquetiers are not to depart from the bodie of the squadron Where the Drommers Phifers of a sin gle bande marching in their single order of â—ankes ought to be placed Where the En signebearer is alwaies placed The pique the most honourable weapon for soldiors on foote How Ensigne-bearers ought to cariâ— their Ensignes marching through a great Citie or Towne How Ensigne-bearers should be armed Euerie Ensign-bearer is to haue a deputie Ensignebearer What manner of men I would wish the Ensignebearers and their deputies to be The deputie Ensignebearer how he should be armed and what weapon he should caâ—y The deputie Ensignebearer is to take the like oathe for the guard of the Ensigne that the Ensignebearer hath taken Prehâ—minences of right due to the deputie Ensigne-bearer How Sergeants of baÌ„ds should be armed The office of Sergeants in marching with their bands How a Captain leading his band through any Citie or great Towne ought to marche A great shame for any Captaine or Lieutennant to lead his band in the field vpon a swift running horse No priuate band neither of horsemen nor footmen being reduced into their single order of rankes or into any square ought to disorder and breake their rankes vntill the Captaine hath geuen coÌ„maund ment or licence to the Ensignebearer to lodge c. No squadron consisting of diuers bands ought to disorder and breake their rankes vntill the Coronell or Coronells or Sergeants Maiors do come to the ranke of Ensignes and licence them to departe and lodge The Ensigne-bearers of euery Regiment must at the time of their lodging fixe their Ensignes vpright in the ground in the place of assembly in the frunt of their quarters Brief speaches to be vsed by Captains to their soldiors when they would haue them to vpright their piques Brief speaches to be vsed by Sergeant Maiors or Captaiâ—es to their soldiors when they would haue them to charge or receaue a charge of another squadron of piquers How piquers should charge or receaue a charge of an other squadron of piquers Piquers when they approch their enemies ar not to shake clatter their piques but are to carry them firme steady The opinion of such as do vain ly hold that piquers in squadron should lie at the push of â—y pique thereby with thrusts and foines to annoy their enemies answered Briefe speaches to be vsed by a Sergeant Maior or a Captaine to their soldiours piquers when they are readie to be charged by a squadron of Launces How piquers should resist a charge of Launces How piquers should receiue a charge of Launces in case the Sergeant Maior or Captains should thinke good to place any weapons of volee before them The formost ranks of a squadroÌ„ of piquers cannot conâ—eniently and aptly encouer guard aboue 3 rankes of Harquebuziers nor aboue 2 rankes of musqueâ—â—â—rs against the charge of Launces a Euerie Geometricall pace doth consist of 5 foot euerie foot doth consist of 12 Geometrical inches or inches as we terme them by the Rule so it is to be vnderstoode by the Reader in all my writinges where I speake of paces How and in what distances harquâ—buziers or mosquetiers are to discharg their peeces from vnder a squadron of piques b The order that mosquetiers should obserue in charging their peeces in the foresaid action The oppinion of Mounsieur de la Noue The opinion of the author fortified with reasons coÌ„trary to the opinion of Mounsieur de la Noue An obiection answered Weapons of fire are no waies to be placed nor yer to be suffred to enter within the bodie of a squadron of piques Brief speaches to be vsed by Captains to their soldiors when they should make of flanke 〈◊〉 How a Sargâ—ant Maior or Captain in making of flankâ— frunt is to reduce their piquers into their due proportion are distances How to make of backe frunt How Captains or Coronells of horsemen aâ— to make of flanke frunt â— doth behoue the Generall and the â—ord Marshal of an Armie as also the â—ergeante Maior generall alwaies to â—aue about them a â—erfite roll of all the Coronells and Capâ—ains names with the â—umber of euery â—ne of their Regiâ—ents and what â—umber of soldiors also doe appertaine â—o euerie â—nsigne â—and aswell of horse men as of footmen â—hroughout the whole armie that â—hereby vpon all occasions they may giue present orders and directions The waie and order â—ow a squadron â—hould bere duced â—nto forme in the oâ—en fields either to marche or fight All Coronells and Sergeants Maiors of Regiments aswell of â—orâ—emen as of footâ—en ought to haue â—ontinually about them a Roll of all â—he Captains and â—heir Lieutenants names that are in â—heir Regimentes â—ith the nomber of soldiors and diffeâ—ent armors and â—eapons that do beâ—ong to euery band â—r companie therby â—o giue present diâ—ections Three different formings of squadrons The firste The second waie to forme squadrones The third order of forming of squadron Squadrons may be formed of compeâ—timents of like odd numbers or of diffeâ—ent odd numbers or oâ— diâ—â—eâ—ent euen and