some most conuenient place together then and there to be instructed in the orders how to march how to encampe and how to fight deuiding them into so many parts or battaillions as vnto their chiefe Officer shall seeme good Gent. What course would you wish the Captaine of a single companie to obserue in the trayning of his souldiers Capt. First hauing his companie leauied and chosen of the better sort of people as is said let your rawe Captaine for so I terme those which neuer were in action prouide himselfe if possible he may of a good Lieutenant and a sufficient Sergeant and a skilfull Drummer Then let his people be suted with such sort of weapon as is appointed The which I would wish to be as I haue said before to euery hundred of men 25. muskets 25. Calliuers and 40. or more of pikes and corslets and the rest short weapon as halberds swordes and targets and such like Now hauing suted euery man with a conuenient weapon I would wish your Muster-maister if your Captaine haue not the skil for your Muster-master ought to be a man of experience first to declare vnto them the partes that ought to be in a souldier in generall as before is declared then to ensigne them the right carriage of their armes and weapon then to knowe the seuerall soundes of the Drumme next to learne to keepe his ranke and file orderly and so to march eyther swift or slowe step by step with the sound of the Drumme then how to keep their array being cast into a ring or any other forme with the comming out againe and returning into a counter-ring and out of the same into a march and counter-march then how to make their Alto or stand and how to double their rankes vntill they bring themselues into a iust square of men if their numbers will permit it and how to double their â—â—les eyther vpon the left or right hand and so to fall off againe both from file and ranke and being in squadron how to turne their faces on either or any part making front on any flank or traine as occasion shall be offered Then the perfect vse and managing of euerie weapon in his due nature and kind and so by a continuall vse they may by good instructers become soone to be ready souldiers Gent. Here be manie good parts vnder a few words but they are too briefe for me to vnderstand wherefore I pray dilate more at large thereof and first what meane you by the cariage of his weapon Cap. To discourse vpoÌ„ al these points particularly it wold be ouer long might better be shewed in act theÌ„ in words yet to satisfie you somewhat herein I will speak of the particulars here there as I shal be occasioned shal cal theÌ„ to memory First therfore the soldier that is appointed to cary a calliuer is first to be ensigned how to cary his peece vpon his left shoulder with his flaske at his girdle or haÌ„ging by at Port-flask or Flask-leather vpoÌ„ the right thigh vpoÌ„ the left side of his girdle to haue his touchboxe fastened by the string hanging downe somwhat long by the strings sufficient to be taken and to prime his peece with touch-powder and on his right side a Bullet bagge or purse of canuas or leather for bullets Also some three or foure yards of match in seuerall peeces hanging at his girdle with one peece of match of a yard long in his left hand holden fast by the third finger of the same hand hauing the one or both the endes of the same lighted or fired Also to be prouided of a priming iron or wyer of a steele and flint stone to strike fire vpon any suddaine occasion either to spare the burning of match or to fire their matches if the same do chance to go out Then how to charge his peece either with his flask or bandelier theÌ„ to let slip the bullet down into the barrell after the powder and to ramme the same with paper tow or such like thrusting the same downe with the scouring stick if time will permit or else a more readier way thus After that the bullet is slipped downe vnto the powder to put after the same some two or three cornes of powder which will wedge fast the bullet This being done let him hold his Calliuer with his left hand as in his charging hee ought to do the like griping the same by the stocke somewhat neare vnder the cock betwixt his thombe and foure fingers then holding the nose of his peece somwhat vpward for not to endaÌ„ger his fellows to take the one end of his lighted match with his forefinger midle finger thoÌ„be of his right haÌ„d so to cock the same hauing a regard that it may fall due within the pan finally if it be a crooked stock peece to set the same vnto the left side of his breast retiring his right foot some halfe step behind the left or aduancing the left foot some halfe pace before the right and so to take his due leuel holding the hindermost part of the stocke betwixt the thombe and fore-finger of his right hand with the other three fingers to draw to the serre so to discharge his peece with agility hauing done the which to retire souldier-like and charge againe giuing place to his next fellow or seconder But being a straight stocked peece the which I hold for the better he is to place the same vpon the right side of his breast fast against his shoulder leuelling and discharging as aforesaid And for other armes he is to be fitted with a short sword and meane dagger and a Spanish morion Now the musketier is to cary his musket vpon his left or right shoulder for it importeth not much on whether so they obserue the order of the first rancke with his Forke or rest in his left hand fastned about his hand wrest or little finger by a string hauing his flask and touchbox fitted as before is sayd or hauing a bandalier the same to be ouer the left shoulder and vnder the right arme Now to charge the same he must hold his musket with his left hand hauing his rest trayling by the string and put the but end of the stocke vpon the ground then with his flaske or bandalier to charge his peece with powder slipping downe the bullet into the barrell after the same and to fasten it with two or three cornes of powder as is aforesayd then to clappe the musket into his forke planting the lower end or pike of the rest into the ground neare vnto his left foote and resting the but ende of the stocke vpon his left thigh then to prime his pan with touch powder And hauing his match ready as before is sayd to take the peece of match that hangeth by the midle or third finger of his left hand betwixt the thombe
the front and so bee ready with double hands either to receiue or giue the charge For those battels of square of ground or battels of double fronts do bring many hands to fight at once being verie aduantagious for footmen against footmen as reason and experience proueth and sheweth And againe if you draw or diuide your battell or battallions into maniples to march through straights or narrow passages this order of doubling the files is verie ready and auaileable as thus If your battel or squadron be of 5184 pikes whose square roote is 72 now your passage will permit but 8 men to march in front then must you diuide your square root 72 by 8 so commeth it to be 9 maniples of 8 men in rank or breadth And say yet againe that the straight or passage doth fall yet more narrow or straighten lesse then to containe 8 men in front thē cause euery maniple at the verie entring of the straight to double their files and so of 8 you shall make 4 files per maniple the which being shouldred vp close together will containe no more roome in breadth then the 8 did before And hauing passed the straight cause them to fall into their former proportion and so maniple after maniple in passing the straight Gen. But if the squadron or maniple were of od nūbers it wold not so fal out Capt. That importeth not for the od file or rank which resteth vndoubled may in passing of the straight close vp shoulder to shoulder vnto the rest obseruing their proper stations in files and if the passage will not permit that then to fall backe after the traine of their maniple hauing passed the straight to sleeue vp in file pouldron to pouldron of their fellowes and so to fall into their former proportion The like of any other od numbers may be done with very great facility Now for as much as I entend to frame both figures and tables of sundry sorts of battels and battallions in our discourse following I will at this instant bee the more briefe supposing this at this present to suffice For he which conceiueth and vnderstandeth this well may do the like with any other numbers great or small Gent. And what course do you appoint the shot belonging to those numbers of pikes to obserue in these alterations of proportion Capt. The shot appertaining vnto euerie such number may be practised in the like or semblable sort either alone by themselues or placed in two grand sleeues along by the flanks of their squadron or battallions As for example If vnto the former number of 100 pikes there were proportioned suted 100 shot calliuer and musket these would I draw out into 5 per rank which would make 20 ranks Those 20 ranks would I cut off or deuide in the middest so should I haue 10 ranks for to sleeue the one flanke of the battallion and 10 ranks for the other flanke at 5 men per ranke or 5 files in euery ranke which is all one These 2 sleeues being placed may be doubled with the pikes by ranke or file for practise sake only But if you were engaged to fight with the enemie I would wish all great sleeues of shot to be deuided into many small troupes the one still to second another as hereafter shall be declared shewed And lo here another order the 2 grand sleeues being al musketiers as the battell or battalliō doth aduance march on toward the enemy comming once within reach of the musket then the first ranks of these sleeues of muskets many discharge in marching in this sort The first ranks stepping some two or three paces forward there those of the right sleeue to step one halfe pace toward the right hād those of the left sleeue one half pase toward the left hand hauing in the meane space made themselues ready and cocked their matches then with readinesse expedition all those of thē first ranks their muskets being vpon their rests or forks to discharge at once and keep their station charge againe permitting other rankes to proceed before them Then presently those of the second ranke to step vp iust before the first rank as the battell or battallion marcheth and so to discharge as their former fellowes had done before then the 3. rank before the 2. the 4. before the 3. and so all the other ranks consequently with this kind of double march and at the traine of the last rank those of the first to follow vp againe and so consequently the rest But if it chance their squadron of pikes to be distressed forced to retire they are to discharge at the enemy retiring backe vpon a countermarch as these figures following shal plainlie denote vnto you the maner and order The First Figure The second Figure with the Muskets discharging in marchings The third Figure vpon the retrait the shot discharging vpon a Counter-march There is yet another order of discharging of troupes of Muskets in vollie the which I haue seene vsed by the Italian and Spaniard thus Your Musketiers being deuided into sundrie troupes of 30 40 or 50 in a troupe the one to second the other then the two first troupes standing vpon the two angles of your squadron or battell may bee drawne vp by two officers by three foure or fiue at the most in a ranke and the said officers being at a sufficient distance to discharge shall cause the Musketiers to close somewhat neere shoulder to shoulder and so wheeling them about in figure of a halfe Moone shall at their due semi-circle or halfe compasse cause the Musketiers to make Alto and clapping their muskets on their rests close one by an others shoulder and each one hauing a care to his forefellowes they shall at one instant discharge altogether at one vollie vpon the enemy and so retire giuing place to other troupes the maner and forme whereof shall by these figures following appeare Troupes or squadras of muskets at 50. per troupe 5. in ranke Gent. Your calliuers or small shot would you haue them to discharge in these maners and orders before spoken of and figured Capt. No but I would with the calliuers or small shot to be deuided into sundry small troupes of 20 30 40 or 50 in a troupe and by their seuerall officers to be led vp and to skirmish in single file discharging readily one after another in file and so wheeling about vpon the left hand to retire giuing place vnto others to second them and to fall into their forme of troupe againe and then recharging aduisedly to be ready to come vp to second others as their turne commeth of which maner of small troupes shall often in our discourses following be denoted and shewed Now to conclude these orders of training I will set downe one point more to be obserued by one single company or two or three companies ioyntly comming into the Corps de
renowne and fame Gent. If in fight the Ensigne be broken and the Enemie do carie away a part thereof doth the Ensigne-bearer lose thereby his reputation Capt. No not a iot so that hee keepeth the verie trunke of the staffe in his hand When the Companie doth march the Ensigne-bearer may carie his Colours resting vpon his shoulder eyther open or folded vp but making a stand or Alto he is bound by dutie to aduance the Ensigne and not to campear it or pitch it on the ground for that is the tricke of a Bisognio and doth repugne the authoritie and grauitie of his office In fights in encounters in musters and in presence of the Lord Generall he must cary his Colours displayed passing by him he must aduance it only bowing the point somewhat downward without any more ceremonies but if he passe by the king or Prince he shall withall bow somewhat one of his knees as a difference from the Generall In Ordinances or framed battels alwayes the Ensignes do march in one large or long ranke iointly in the middest of the Squadron the most place of honour is the left and right out-sides the Ensigne on the right hand carying the preheminence who giueth direction and order to the rest in this sort if hee beareth his Ensigne on his shoulder loose so are all the rest to carie theirs and if fardled vp all they are to do in the like order and so imitating him in all other maners and shewes and if he deliuereth his vnto his Abanderado and take the Halberd the rest are to do the like and the selfe same orders are to be obserued by the Auanderados for it is an vnseemly shew to see in a ranke of Ensignes different orders one from another The Abanderados are vsed to be souldiers and some do set their owne seruants to that office These ought to go well apparelled and well armed for I haue seene sometimes amongst the Spaniards the Alferes themselues to passe into other ranks to fight leauing the Ensigne with the Abanderado but I like it not for it is not lawfull for the Ensigne-bearer to leaue his Colours neither to fight but with the same in his hand and that vpon such occasions as before I haue declared no though it were to shew his valour and prowesse In the lodging the Ensigne shold be accompanied with a Corps de garde although it be in place of quiet and out of all suspition as well for the authoritie and reputation of the same as to auoyd manie inconueniences which happen to succeed through mutinies brawles and frayes It is also conuenient that the Ensigne-bearer haue alwayes with him a Drum to call his companie together and for such occasions as shall be offered for the Ensignes should be of such veneration and haue bene so respected of the Souldiers that there hath seldome bene seene any one flying to the sanctuarie thereof auoyding the Souldiers furie to bee pursued or hurt esteeming their Ensigne a thing inuiolable as it fell out in Brescia when the mutinous souldiers wold haue slain the Lord Lewes Yearts their Generall who flying to the Ensigne it was enough to cause them to leaue off so shamefull and so abhominable attempt When the Souldiers do enter into any Corps de gard either in Castle towne fortresse or campe they ought not to disarme themselues vntil they see their Alferes first vnarmed vpon whom they should haue their eyes fixed to imitate as they haue vpon the Ensigne he beareth to follow wherefore the Ensigne-bearer is not to disarme vntil the gates of the Fort or place of defence wherein they are be first shut if it be in campe or field when it seemeth that he may safely do it not otherwise to the end that the souldiers take not example from him of vnsoldiarie negligence and slouth but rather of all vigilancy care and paine Gent. You haue largely set downe the aduertisements touching this Officer wherein you haue notified many martiall points vnknowne to vs therfore I pray proceed to the Lieutenants office and dutie Capt. This Officer amongst the Spanish companies is not vsed but amongst vs the Italians French therfore I will touch somewhat of him by the way The Lieutenant his office and duty He therefore that is chosen to this office ought to be a man of great experience fidelity and valour who in the absence of his Captaine carieth his roome charge and command vnto whom the souldiers and vnder-officers are to obey for the time as vnto the Captaine himselfe notwithstanding he must vse it with such discretion and moderation that he arrogate not too much vnto himselfe but at his Captaines returne he shall with all loue truth and dutie enforme him of all things and matters passed If any questions and ciuill debates do arise amongst the souldiers of his band he is to pacifie iudge and determine the same with grauity and good speeches whereby he shall binde them more firmely vnto him in obedience and loue and when as he cannot concert and agree them he is to referre them ouer vnto his Captaine but the most faultie and offenders hee may cause to be apprehended and send them to the Colonell or Marshall It is his charge and office to see that the Company be prouided of all necessaries aduertising the Caporals to see well to their charges and aduising the Sergeant to be diligent carefull and ready in his office wherein he shall ayd help assist him both in ordering the company and in setting the watch the which he is precisely bound to perform himself in the Sergeāts absence or time of infirmity He is to passe with the Companie vnto the Corps de garde to see the watch and Sentinels set and often times to visite and reuisite the same and to perswade the souldiers to respect with obedience their Sergeant and Caporals wherefore it importeth him to be well spoken discreet and wise to moue perswade them with sound reasons to the obseruation and obedience of Militarie discipline disburdening thereby his Captaine of manie and sundrie toiles It toucheth him also to see the souldiers appointed to their lodgings giuing order for the same vnto the Harbenger and how he shall distribute the baggage and cariage amongst the particular souldiers and the sicke men carefullie to bee looked vnto not suffering these Harbengers or Furriers to rob purloine and filch as they are wont to do whereby great scandals do arise as at the rising of the Vlishingers and in sundrie other places hath appeared His place of march his Captaine being present is in the Rere-ward of all the company but after any fight or skirmish in retiring marching out of the field he is to passe before and the Captaine in the rere-ward Now for as much as by that as shall be declared in the ordinarie Captaines office may easily bee vnderstood the dutie of this officer hauing the whole
thereof seeing that all practices of mechanicall Artes do follow the same order and course to come to the cunning of their craft Gent. Good Captaine you haue largely discoursed vpon the points and parts in generall which ought to bee in a souldier and mee thinkes so many good parts are hardly to be found in one man Capt. True it is and very rare in deede yet euery honorable souldier that resolueth to follow warres ought with all his endeuour to trie to attaine to all those good partes according to his capacitie and wit and although his abilitie be not able to attaine all yet vnto some some better then fewe fewe better then none at all the first to be honoured the next to be accepted the third to be reiected Thus may you see how many good partes are requisite to a perfect souldier not learned by hearesay nor gayned with ease but with care diligence industrie valour practise and continuance and most of all perfected with learning annexed with long exercise and vse Gent. Then I see you would haue a souldier to be learned withall which you seemed to dislike in our booke Captaine at the first Capt. You mistake me farre for I euer allow and honour the learned souldier for what famous Commaunders haue there yet bene vnlearned and without letters Themistocles Alcibiades Alexander Caesar Scipio with all the rout of the braue Romane Commaunders and as many braue men as euer were since were men learned and read Thus I rest for this time till a new day to beginne The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF WARRE DISCOVRSES AND MARTIAL DISCIPLINE The first Dialogue VVherein is declared the particular parts of sundrie Martiall Officers from the Caporall to the Captaine of Infanterie Gentleman CVrteous Captaine your yesterdayes Discourses haue giuen vs such content that we are now inflamed to know further herein Wherefore I beseech you to proceede with your Martiall matters describing vnto vs each office in particular whereunto my selfe and these other Gentlemen will giue our diligent attention Capt. The orders obserued by Antiquitie I let passe falling in few tearmes to our Moderne customes wherein you shall vnderstand that all Campes are framed of Men Weapons Munition and good Chieftaines wherein there is some difference in euery Nation but the course which herein I meane to follow shal be most after the Italian Spaniard who haue had the chiefe managing of warres in Europe these 50. or 60. yeares and with whom I haue most frequented and serued A Royall campe therefore being leuied and gathered the Prince with his Councell of warre appointeth a most sufficient Generall then a Campe-master generall a Captaine generall of the Cauallerie a Captaine generall of the Artillerie the Campe is deuided into sundry Tertios or Regiments ouer euery regiment a Campe-maister or Colonell the Campe-maister deuides his regimēt into companies ouer euery company a Captaine also euery Regiment hath his Sergeant Maior and ouer the whole armie a Sergeant Maior Generall Touching the number of a seuerall Company some thinke 100. some 150. sufficient but whether it be of 100.150.200.300 or more or a Regiment of such seuerall companies being fitted with Captaines and Officers of sufficiencie it importeth not much for some Captaines can better gouerne 300. then some others 150. Now the Captaine hauing his cōpany appointed which he is to direct gouern and cōmaund he chuseth his Lieutenant Ensigne Sergeant Drumme Phifes Cabos de squadra or Caporals and Cabos de camera Now for sundry often occasions offred in warre the which must be encountred with order policy gouernmēt of nūbers more or lesse it is necessary to deuide the cōpanies into Squadras as well pikes as shot conteyning each Squadron twentie fiue men and ouer each squadron a Cabo de squadra with which office I meane to beginne The Caporall his election and office Capt. When the Captaine electeth his Caporals he ought to do it with such consideration that amongst his souldiers one chosen to this office none should excell him in valour vertue experience and diligence yea and in age also to the end he might be respected with more loue and reuerence so that he deport him selfe among them as a father with his children his conditions being a patterne vnto them asswaging and ending their debates and quarrels reducing them vnto amitie with louing one another in such sort that they may all be of one will desire and ligue Let him learne perfectly euery souldiers name and to know the qualitie valour of euery one in particular be earnest with them to keepe their armor neat cleane and bright and often to practise the weapon they carrie he himselfe ensigning and teaching the Bisognios and rawe men for besides that it concerneth euery one in particular for his owne defence and thereby the better to know his valour and skill nothing doth more reioyce and glorifie a Campe then the glittering shew and shining of their armour He shall perswade them to goe neat and cleane in their apparell but with modestie and profite He shall reprehend them for swearing and lewd speeches and shall not permit them any prohibited games the which he must doe with such sagacitie and warie meanes that they result not against him and so reiect and contemne his reputation thereby loosing their loue and his former respect for the punishment remaineth not in his hands nor in any other inferiour Officer but it appertaineth to the Campe-maister or Lord high Marshall In presence of his superior Officers he is to obserue array order obedience as the rest of the souldiers doe but being with his Squadron alone in any skance trench Ambuscado or abroad at the watch or to such other effects he beareth at that time his Captains authoritie as being at watch or guard in any open place he is to enscance and fortifie as commodity and the place will permit to resist the attempt of the enemie being by them charged ordering and appointing all his companie to stand with their weapon readie bent still without rumor and resolute to defende And being at watch in the Corps de guard let him prouide fire cole and wood to make light as well by day as by night especially if his Squadron be shot to spare the ouer much wasting of match whereof he must see they be well prouided as also of powder and bullet and concerneth to him the distribution of the same amongst them Being appointed to ward or watch let him prouide to be first refreshed with victuals and his Camarada also then enter thereunto orderly from whence neither he nor any of his Squadron is to depart vpon paine of life vntill the Sergeant doe call and commaund him from the same In placing of the Sentinels there are so many aduertisements to be giuen as there are differences of situations and places and therefore it is to be remitted
and fore finger of his right hand and with his middle finger to measure at what length to cocke the same to fall with a proportioned length into the pan The which being done let him retire his right foote somwhat backe and stand firme vpon the same and holding fast both the musket and rest with his left hand to raise the but end of his musket from his thigh vnto his breast and to fasten the same firme and close vnto his right shoulder and brest holding fast the sayd hinder part of the stocke betwixt his right thombe and fore finger drawing downe the serre with the other three fingers and so taking due leuell to discharge Hauing performed the which let him vncocke his match clap his musket vpon his shoulder with a halfe turne and so retire trailing his rest or forke by the stringe and giuing place to others go charge again finally for other armes a reasonable short sword a meane dagger with no morion but a faire hat and feather Gent. Thus I perceiue your fiery shot haue many busie skils without knowledge of all the which it is hard to become a perfect shot Capt. True and therefore often to be practised But here let the muster-maister and trayning Captaine be well aduised not to suffer their shot to cary any bullet about them in time of their trainings and fained skirmishes for feare of danger that might thereby ensue among themselues But now and then after their training to take euery shot single and to see him charge his peece orderly with pouder and bullet as aforesaid and hauing a great but erected to that purpose the which ought to be in euery hundred or Baily-wicke to cause them to leuell and discharge at the blancke thereof orderly one after another encouraging those which do make the fairest shot Now for the Pike which the Spaniards do tearme SenÌ„ora y Reyna de las armas the Queene and mistresse of weapons The souldier which carieth the same is to bee well armed with a good corslet furnished with his gorget Morion tasses pouldrons vambraces and gauntlets also to be armed as he ought to be whatsoeuer opinion other men may hold to the contrary supposing a bare payre of Cuyrasses onely sufficient but I am of opinion that the armed Picquier ought to bee armed in all points as I haue said for defence and then to offend to be weaponed with a good Pike of ground Ashe of seuenteen or eighteen foote long at the least well and strongly headed with the cheekes three foote long or there about and for other weapon to weare a good short sword and dagger for the dagger is a weapon of great aduantage in Pell mell And if it be replied that the souldier so heauie armed is not for any great march or speedy execution I say that among well ordered Regiments there are also yet some vnarmed pikes that is without any corslet or at the most the bare cuyrats onely and morion the which the Italians do call Picche secche Now these are reserued imployed in such peeces of light seruice And the Picquier either armed or vnarmed is to be shewed and taught the carriage and vse of his pike as first to tertiar or carry the same orderly vpon his shoulder holding the same with his foure fingers vpon the vpper part of the staffe his thombe vnder the staffe neare vnto his shoulder basing downe the blunt end thereof to aduaunce the point and poizing the pike with an equall poize vpon his thombe and shoulder alwayes in march keeping the lower end of his pike on the one side of his foremans legge still aduertising that in march the pike is to be carried vpon the right shoulder of euery souldier throughout euery file sauing the vtmost file on the left side of the arrayes or ordinances which are to carry their pikes vpon their left shoulders onely alwayes regarding how those of the foremost rankes doe carry their weapon the rest to do the same throughout euery ranke and file following for order and forme do require the same Next hee is to be taught how to plant his pike on the ground at any stand or Alto then how to arbolare or aduaunce his pike that is to reare his pike vpright against his right shoulder and with his right hand stretched downe vnto his thigh to hold the same neare vnto the but-end betwixt his foure fingers and his thombe stretching his forefinger downeward vnto the but-end of his pike and so aduaunce the same vpright high against his right shoulder resting and staying the same with his right hand against his right thigh and knee as before is sayd Now this is to be done at such times as being brought into a Ring and serreyng close shoulder to shoulder then to aduaunce their piks in this sort at the enclosing thereof so to continue vntill they fall out of the ring againe into a larger march Also the same is vsed by some at their arriuing vnto the corps de guard at the setting of the watch before their chief Commander or officer euen as the first ranke shall arriue into the corps de guard some ten or twelue pases from the place of their stand to arbolare their pikes and so rancke after ranck carrying them in the same order vntill they come vnto their place of station there to make Alto and to plant their pikes vpon the ground as the squadron is formed But principally the souldiers marching in squadron and vpon point to come to the push of the pike with their foote enemy then are they first to aduaunce their pikes as is said bearing the same orderly with the right hand against the right thigh and the left hand aboue neare about the shoulder and so to charge vpon the left hand and push standing firme and sure vpon the left foote But if the squadron be charged with any troupes of the enemies horse then must the Picquiers cowch their pikes fast vnder the right foote holding the same 〈…〉 the left hand and bow downe the point thereof against the breast of the horâ—e hauing his right hand ready to draw his sword if occasion shall be offered Now how necessary and auayleable this continuall vse and practise is may easily be gathered from the sundry victories of the auncient Romanes Who both in their Campes and Garrisons had their Tesserarios which were as our Sergeant Maiors to ensigne and teach their people of warre the vse and managing of their armes at all idle and vacant times The old souldier sometimes once in a day and the Tirones which we terme Bisognios or new souldiers twise in the day or as occasion serued so were their people alwayes ready and perfect And againe they did not onely practise them in the knowledge of their weapons but many times also did conduct their Companies for their recreation
vpon our ioyning with the enemie quite altered and chaunged and so changing dayly as occasions were offered And in land seruice more occurrantes do befall hourely which hereafter we will speake of But now partly to answere your demaund First the enemie discouered approching and engaging vs to fight happely some skirmishes may be begun by the hargoletiers and light horse but the battels approching and comming within shot the field ordinance on both sides if there be any begin to go off at which artillerie the first puzzelling doth commonly begin each part attempting to surprise the others ordinance then the loose shot in the forelorne hope on both sides begin to disband and fall to flat skirmish their office performed hauing bene well bearded they retire to the flankes and reareward of the battell from whence they are supplied and continually seconded with other fresh troupes so still maintaining fight till the horse do offer to charge the which are commonly encountred with horse againe if not then the shot retire behind their stand of pikes and are then also aided with their halberdes and short weapon and some halfe pikes mingled among them vpon whose charging the Muskets of impaling and the squadrons at the angles doe roundly bestow their vollie in the face of the enemie then the pikes are couched fast vnder the right foote guarding the girdling shot vnder their succour the which girdling shot are to kneele vpon their right knee vnder the couched pikes closing close together do stād with resolute hart hand and body holding the pike at a reasonable distance in the left hand their swordes ready drawen in their right hand of the first 3 or 4 rankes being sure to stand firme and couching their pikes point to the breast of the horse for that is the place of most aduantage A squadron of pikes thus couched and handled by resolute and honest men I cannot see how any troupe of horse dare venture vpon them and if they do yet not able to breake farre in if men stand resolute so of force must they retire with losse and disaduantage But if they be encountred with equall numbers proportions and force of pikemen then if they will they aduance their pikes vntill they come to the push then with charging ouer hand to thrust and push couragious and valiantly at which time valour and skill is shewed as second meanes of victorie but God the first cause and giuer of all Gent. In few wordes you haue finished a battell But your leaders and Commanders how are they this while employed Capt. Euery one according to his office place to encourage animate the souldiers to redresse with speed any disorders happening in their own troupes to espie the disorders or negligence of the enemy taking aduantage vpō such occasion with sundry other points which in their seuerall duties shall be declared The second Dialogue wherein is declared the order of many ancient formes of imbattailing Gentleman YOu spake of more sortes of battels I pray therefore declare vnto vs their orders how many in what formes and to what vses Capt. Although I haue before somwhat touched the same not minding to medle farther then with our fights now most accustomed yet neuerthelesse drawen on by your good and curious demaundes I will the best I can particularly describe them Therefore as I haue before declared of all formes of battels now in our age most in vse best approued and best allowed of is the iust square of men as equally strong on euery side and most fit and best assured for the open field and out of which quadrate all other formes may easily be reduced Next vnto that and most aduantagious indeede to fight is the quadrate of ground by good regard had wherein many hands are brought at one time to fight Of both the which formes I haue before largely discoursed as well the manner how to frame them as their due sortement with weapons and shot to the same I will now speake somewhat of the rest of the which there are many sorts seruing in old time vnto many purposes but now with vs quite out of vse as the Diamant battell the VVedge battell or Triangle the Sheers battell the Saw battell the Moone battell the SDG battels and the Crosse battell with such like and chiefly the battell compounded of sundrie battallions the which last recited of all others I thinke to be the most strong and aduantagious were men expert skilfull and ready but raw as in our dayes they be very difficult and dangerous to be handled The nearest therefore vnto the square of men is the Diamant battell vnto the framing whereof out of the said square there needeth no more but whereas the leader stood before on the square of the battell let him appoint another to go to the next corner or angle thereof and willing the pikes to turne their faces vpon him and they shall straight out of the square march into a Diamant proportion which forme when you are disposed to alter do no more but appoint the leader to the square where he first stood commaunding the pikes to turne their faces vpon him and they shall forthwith march into a square battell againe The facilitie is great both herein and in all others and that without any confusion as by their seuerall figures following shall appeare the which I haue framed of 25 letters the better to giue you to vnderstand And againe out of the Diamant forme may be reduced two triangles by cutting or diuiding the same in the middest at the two flat angles as in this figure of a Diamant forme may appeare by the prickes running along of 2 triangles may be framed a Sheeres battell and of 3 or 4 triangles may in like sort be framed the Saw battell by ioyning the angles together as in their figures following shall appeare Here you see the square reduced into a Diamant forme with onely turning their faces vnto the right angle E as aboue appeareth so marching on do fall into a perfect Diamant forme with two sharpe angles and two flat But in their march they will stretch ouer-long each man from his leadesman so will it be of no force to fight by reason of their raritie thin standing as in the former figure may appeare by F.B. by L.G.C. by G.M.H.D. by VV. R.N.N.E the two sharp angles and so of the rest To reforme the which fault First commaund your men to stand in the forme they are then causing the two sides of the first angle E to stand yet firme and commaund euery one of the rest except the said two sides to march on one after another vntill he come to finde himselfe in a due distance each after his leadsman thus F. shall march vp towardes B. vntill he finde A. to be his left-side fellow thē there to rest thē againe G. shall proceede towards C. vntill B. be his side
our word but he ought to haue a differeÌ„t contersigne that when he returnes he may be knowne thereby Gent. What order is obserued in the day of the Word Capt. I haue already told you that the Sergeant Maior doth take the same from the Generall and giueth it vnto the Sergeants and they vnto the Caporals and Sentinels but with this consideration that the Sergeant Maior giue not the same vnto the Sergeants being in Campania vntill the very instant that they set the Sentinels and watch And if they be in towne of garrison Citadell or Fortresse of defence not vntill the shutting in of the gates and the Sergeants Caporals not to giue it vnto the Sentinels vntill the very point of their placing at their standes or postes Gent. You say here that the SeÌ„tinels should haue the Word but I haue heard say that among our English seruitours in the Low Countreis the Word passeth no further then the Caporals and the Sentinels not to haue the Word at all Capt. Indeede among raw souldiers there is good reason for the same for the sundry inconuenieÌ„ces that might otherwise follow thereon But with the Spanish Tercios where they be experimented men aswell in militarie actions as in firme loyaltie to their king this order hath bene obserued as I speake of Gent. Then the Caporall hauing the Word and the Sentinell not what is the Sentinell to do when occasion is to demaund the Word Capt. The Sentinell finding any occasion is to cause the partie to stand and presently with an audible voyce to call his Caporall who with speede from the Corps de guard repaireth to the SeÌ„tinels post there himself taketh the Word Gent. What order is obserued among the officers and souldiers in taking the Word the one from the other being a thing of such importance we would gladly know it Capt. When any Officer or Captaine of the Round will vpon any occasion draw neare vnto the Sentinell the Sentinell being a shot ought to cock his burning match hauing the peece charged and primed and so to present it and being a pike man to Terciar or charge his pike and no farther off then that with so low a voyce as they may but vnderstand one another to demaund the Word and in like order and consideration ought the officer or Round to giue it vnto the SeÌ„tinell when he commeth to visite it the which Sentinell ought by no meanes to suffer any person to come neare vnto him except he giue him first the Word no although he knew him to be his Captaine or Sergeant Maior or Camp-maister for the souldier being set at the Sentinell is not bound to acknowledge any person for to permit him to approch vnto him but such as shall giue him the Word which was giuen by the Generall and so to the guardes by the mouth of the Sergeant Maior which is the â—eanes and instrument vsed in warres to exclude all suspectes decits For we see the sight and hearing is easily deceiued although it be by day then how much more by night as was well to be seene by Publius Considius one of Caesars Captaines a man esteemed for valiant and skilfull as one who had serued in the armies of Lucius Sylla and Marcus Crassus whom Caesar sending to reknowledge and view the campe of the Heluetians his enemies with certaine spies to see if Titus Labienus had gained possessed a hill whereunto Caesar had sent him he missed erred so much in the reknowledging thereof that he came running vnto Caesar told him that the hil which he had coÌ„manded Titus Labienus to gaine was already possessed by the enemy being quite the contrary which caused that Caesar failed to defeat the enemy that day And therefore in cases of such importance there ought great care and consideration to be had And againe the officer or Round wheÌ„ he goeth visiting the post or Sentinels if he find them ready vigilant being that which is expected he hath no neede to approach alwayes vnto them but to passe along and visite the rest and if he finde them all with this watchfulnesse ready let him returne to his Corps de guard Gent. I haue heard say that the Sentinell ought not to suffer any person to passe by without giuing him the word and me thinks that you say that the officer or Round finding the Sentinell waking vigilant and hauing seene them may returne to his Corps de guard without giuing the Word Capt. The obligation and duty of the Sentinell is not to permit any person to passe in or out from the campe without giuing him first the word neither yet to come neare where he standeth but if the officer or Round do passe through the Sentinels within distance of 8 or 10 pases it is sufficient that hee speake and passe by and is not bound to giue the Word But if in case they were to come from out of the campe he is in no wise to suffer them to come neare to reknowledge him although it were at the abouesaid distance without giuing him the Word and if happely such person will not giue it he may discharge at him as at his enemy And although he giue him the Word he is not to permit him to enter freely into the campe but to accompany him vnto the double Sentinels consigne him vnto them for that one of theÌ„ may forthwith conuey him to the Corpo de guardia and there deliuer him to the Sergeant or Alferes or to the Captaine of the companie who are bound to giue present aduise thereof vnto the Sergeant Maior vnto whom it concerneth to conuey him to the Camp-maister or Generall if the case so require Gent. When the Alarme is giuen are all the Sentinels to retire to their Corps de guards Capt. No sir for they neuer should forsake their postes without licence of their officer and that they doe withdraw them except those which do giue the Alarme who seeing so great a furie of the enemies to come vpon them which they are not able to withstand that then indeede they ought to retire to their Corps de guards Gent. In such occasions doe all the Ensignes which are at the watch make a squadron together or euery one apart Capt. They all ioyne together in that Corps de guard which standeth most coÌ„modious for a place of armes the which the Sergeant Maior ought to shew them before hand whither also the rest which are in their quarters should repaire but not those which are guarde to the General nor those that do guard the munitioÌ„ nor out of the place of armes or at the guarde of the quarters for those are not to leaue their postes or stations but of the others the Sergeant Maior shal frame his battell or squadron with all possible speede diligence and then shall presently enquire the cause of the Alarme the which being knowne he shall presently by his
opening of the same and the souldiers alwayes to betake them to their armes not suffering anie to carrie cloake mantle or such like thing to trouble them at that instant and that there first passe foorth at the wicket which serueth for that purpose fiue or sixe souldiers who shall discouer take knowledge and viewe seuentie or eightie pases out abroad into the fields and finding all things safe and secure the gates shall be opened first suffering the in-people to passe foorth and that not by throngs as commonly is vsed but by litle and litle orderly especially if there be cariages cartes or baggage and vntill all those be passed out he shall suffer none to enter in neither permit them to approch nigh vnto the gates And the issuing out of the people being ended with the like regard and order ought the out-people to enter alwayes hauing in the Corps de guard of the gate both by day and night two Sentinels one at the weapons and the other in the field and that euerie one of these should haue a Spontone or a long sharpe iron to the end that when any waine wagon or cart laden with hay or such like doe passe by he may therewith thrust the same thorough to know if there be any deceipt therein hidden For a Garrison may easily be deceiued by such guiles and stratagemes Like as Caesar de Napolie did attempt at Turine although he effected it not being preuented by the aduise and diligence of a Smith an inhabiter of that place He is to cause wood to be prouided for all the guardes although that cold weather constraine it not for that to light their matches it is alwayes needfull to haue fire And that in the Corps de guard there be place commodious to hang vp their Corslets and to accommodate their peeces in good order seeing not onely that it is necessarie that the souldiers may with speede and readinesse betake them to their Armes if in case the Alarme be striken but also to auoyd all confusion and also for the adorning of the Corps de guard And when the Ensignes or companies shall enter for guard or watch into the place the Sergeant Maior is to be present and he ought not to suffer then anie gaming Tables but the souldiers to receiue in their Colours with great respect and reuerence sith they represent the authoritie Royall and in doing the contrarie it repugneth all good Militarie discipline And he is to keepe a good account and reckening with the souldiers that serue in euerie Companie according to the muster that they made whereof he is to haue fede and certificate from the Pay-maister or Treasurer and knowing thereby that they bring to the guard and watch much lesser number of people then they receiue pay for he ought to take a reckening of the officers of the Companies and for being carelesse herein manie souldiers do serue manie times but badly And he ought not to suffer that in their entring in or going out from the watch there want anie peece of their Corslets or Morian to the shot neither that they serue with rustie armour nor of the antique fashion neither that anie Pike do want his head cheekes or arming for that in hauing them it doth not onely beautifie the squadron but it maketh it to seeme more then it is which is a circumstance of great importance sith all the apparitions which may yeeld terror to the enemie are to be esteemed and much accounted of Gent. In what order do the Ensignes enter into the place Capt. Vnto the Corps de guard the shot goeth alwayes in the Vantgard and there arriuing do open making a lane or streete betwixt the which the Pikes do enter and march in their Arrayes and in mine opinion they should not carrie them aduanced vp as I haue many times seene vsed but they should passe in betwixt the shot with their pikes on their shoulders marching as they come and at their ariuing vnto the head of the shot where the Captaine standeth without opening or disaraying and then aduance their pikes abiding in their rankes and so from hand to hand each ranke to do the like and then the shot at that arriuing and rearing of their pikes shall draw neare and empale the first rankes on each side and so consequently the rest vnto the end of this order in such sort that the squadron may remaine formed and garnished And if by chance two companies do come at once into the place as many times it chanceth then ought they ioyntly to forme the squadron with their shot on each flanke and the corslets not to breake their arrayes aduertising that alwayes the ensignes be in the center thereof Gent. And the companies which stand at the ward what are they to do when the others do enter Capt. They must attend ready armed and armes in hand standing vpon one side of the Corps de guard vntill that those companies which do enter haue finished their squadron and then do they march in order towards their lodging accompanying first their Coulours home And the Sergeant Maior is to bee carefull to visite euery day the Corps de guards whereby he shall cause that neither the souldiers nor officers do absent themselues from their watch and that there be no brawles nor brables therein And it doth import much that hee doe the like in the Roundes and counter Roundes And if any should dismeanor himselfe breeding question or braule either in word or deede he is seuerely to be punished for the great inconueniences that may ensue thereupon being so many men together with weapon in hand And he is to prouide that the Roundes and counter Roundes be of more or lesse men or more or lesse continued according as neede shall require but they neuer should returne to their Colours from whence they departed vntill they haue furnished their quarter the which they ought to bestow and spend in giuing turnes about the wals veiwing the vigilance and carefulnesse of the Sentinels and the like ought those to doe which doe goe their Roundes in the towne Gent. When the Roundes and counter Roundes do meete as well in the campe as in a Castle who is to giue the Word one to the other first Capt. The counter Roundes are most commonly of officers and therefore by reason and dutie the Round is to giue place and to giue the Word first vnto the counter Round But for as much as Captaines themselues do vse to round in the ordenary quarters it is conuenient to the end that none may iustly be agrieued and to disbarre all oddes and inconueniences that the Sergeant Maior as a person vnto whose charge and office is the disposing and appointing of the guards Roundes and counter Roundes do giue order vnto the companies in what manner they are to behaue themselues in this particular point which shall be that
grauity and knowledge sith so many things do concerne him to direct gouerne and administer and principally the allodgeing or encamping of the Army the which seemeth to be a matter of great importance and skill Capt. No greater matter of charge that I know of in the warre for besides that it requireth great practise and experience to discerne what part is fittest for the Cauallerie and what place for the Infanterie and in what quarters the Artillery ought to be planted in what parts the Corps de guard scouts Sentinels yet without comparison it behoueth him much more to haue the reason iudgemēt skill to discerne whether the situatiō hath the parts and cōmodities to be required whether it be pitcht in a place fit conuenient to defend thē frō the attempts of the enemy that the prouisions victuals may safely passe come vnto the campe with a number of such other points to effect the which it is very important and necessary that he be wel skilled and practised in the country where he warreth that he be very wel seene skilfull in the Geography thereof hauing the same perfectly drawne in plats and Mappes with their Cities Townes villages forts fortresses farmes and Countrie houses and the distance frō one to our instructions for God knoweth what world may fall out yet ere we dye Capt. Well Gentlemen sith you do still egge and draw me on with your curious demaundes I will shew you the best I can the orders obserued by the best Italian and Spanish Encampers You know that I haue shewed you before of the generall and particular parts of a souldier their seuerall offices euen frō the Caporall vnto his Camp-maister generall the number of a band their due sortment difference of weapons and their seuerall vses the orders of training marching and embattailling in sundry manners now most in vse the seuerall parts and dutie of euery officer in degree with a number of other points which now I remember not Now lastly to your demaund touching the marching and allodgement of a campe I say That when an Armie marcheth neare vnto the enemies Army it is needfull that there be had many and great considerations as first when the one Armie is not of equall force vnto the other or when one is not disposed to come to the fact of battell for not to put by one onely battell into the hands of fortune all a mans habilitie whole rest in fine as many misaduised men haue done therefore to prolong time and to shunne the doubtfull fact of armes it were needfull to make choise to march if possible you may through mountaine groundes and hillie and with such aduantage of seate and ground that the enemy may not with any reason of aduantage assault you But when this may not be yet eschued at the least it is to bee procured to be done to the best aduantages and as it were with a certaine hope of victory the which may partly bee performed when you know how to profit your selfe with the aduantage that the situation will affoord And in your marching I would wish you to send some part of your light horse so neare vnto the enemy as continually you haue notice of all their orders and courses True it is that when you are in a countrey where this aduantage of hils is not to be found and must of necessitie march through plaines and champaine fields and haue the enemy neare at hand it were then very hard to shunne and auoide battell the which I would rather wish to be done then otherwise especially if your Army do surmount your enemy in Cauallerie for in such cases the battell is not to be refused your strength consisting most in horse the which by good conduction giueth a great part to the victory This manner of marching vpon grounds of aduantage we reade antiquitie to haue vsed as did Fabius Maximus when he encamped a long time with the Romane Armie against the conquerour Hanniball in our time as did Charles the fift in Germanie against the Protestants Army both the which by reason of the situations and seates did many times encampe and lodge with their armies not distant one from the other aboue a Culuerine shot the which might possible be by reason of the hilles and mountaine seates abounding in them places But this is seldome seene in the plaines and champain grounds in the which it is needfull for him that shunneth the battell to march and passe at the least eight or ten myles distant from the enemy and must thinke to fortifie at euery allodgement in such sort and manner that neither horse nor foote in any array of battell may not but with great difficultie charge or enter vpon you the which is sufficient with a campall fortification or running campe as some terme it and chiefly because it ought to be done with great speede and diligence the which encamping when it shall seeme you good to continue may bee reduced into such strength as might seeme sufficient And in the marching which the armie shall make through plaines and champain fieldes when it commeth to passe to haue either any litle riuer wood or groue to couer one flanke of the campe all diligence is to bee vsed to gaine such sayd aduantage for it will be a matter of great importance Alwayes hauing a regard that the artillerie munition and other impediments doe alwayes passe on the contrary side from the enemy and also that the squadrons of men at armes Lanciers do flanke the arrayes and battallions next toward the enemy in sort and maner conuenient And moreouer a laudable custome it is to deuide the campe into three squadrons or battels that is in vantguard battell and rereward and euery day to change the point making the vantguard battell and the battell rereward and the rereward vantguard and that euery one of these partes may haue their due proportions and numbers of Cauallerie and shot distinguished in their conuenient places aduertising with great diligence and care that there bee not mingled any vnprofitable people among the Ordinances and squadrons of the Infanterie and that euery battell be placed in their due appointed places and distances vnder their Ensignes and colours in such sort that all the troupes of Cauallerie be quite cleared of vnprofitable horses and other impediments wherein the Germaines horsemen do keepe great order care and diligence very necessarie to be imitated It is a very good custome besides that part of the light horse be continually abroad at discouery scout and to watch after euery action that the enemies Armie doth that you may bee alwayes aduertised thereof so that if occasion bee you may haue time space and commoditie to prepare to the encounter and battell Touching the order of marching the campe there can bee no particular rules set downe more then I haue before spoken