The first Dialogue:

GOod Captaine, I pray, if your leysure will permit, let vs haue your companie some few dayes, familiarlie to dis­course with you vpon such matter as time, cause, and oc­casion shall minister: for since the rumour of this trou­blesome world towards,The cause of the beginning of these Discourses. I meane, besides the brables of Ireland, the great preparations of the ambitious Spani­ard, pretended as is thought against vs, both my selfe, & other country Gentlemen, vnexperimented in such mar­tiall causes, haue not a litle mused thereupon: and so much the more, by reason of the straite charges and commands directed from her Maiestie, and her honourable priuie Counsell vnto vs of euerie Shire, to make good prouision of furniture, and our people to be well trained: the which see­meth not done without some great occasions knowne, or matters greatly suspe­cted: What thinke you of it?

Sir, I will drawe my leisure and poore skill to the vttermost, to satis­fie, in what I can, your curteous request. And first, concerning mine opinion touching the ambitious and proud minded Spaniard,The Spaniard, as well by his owne imperious incli­nation, as by the Pope & Clergies suggestion, & in­stigation of En­glish and Irish Papistes, hath these thirty years imagined Eng­lands subuersion. Example, in An­no 1588. I say; that besides her Ma­iestie and her honourable Counsell, it is not vnknowne vnto a number of honest gentlemen and souldiers of our nation, that the Spaniard hath aboue these thir­tie yeares, as well by his owne naturall imperious inclination, as by the Satani­call suggestion of the Romain Pope and Clergie, and continuall instigation of our English and Irish Papists, both desired, pretended and practised the vtter ruine, subuersion and conquest of our religion, state, and realme: the experiment whereof in Anno 1588. last, with his Inuincible Nauie, so by him tearmed, at­tempting our seas and coasts, we haue yet fresh in memorie: whereof wee may well say: Deus pro nobis pugnabat.

But doe you thinke that he will yet attempt the like, considering his foyles, and losses then receiued?

The Spaniard to be suspected for many reasons.Why sir, doe you thinke that so mightie a Prince, so proud and am­bitious a Nation, possessing so many mightie kingdomes, such inestimable In­dies, such plentie of wealth, such readie subiects, such skilfull warriours, such braue Conductors, such store of shipping, and hauing such an egger on as is the pestiferous Pope, will not yet attempt what he can, were it but to recouer his honour and reputation lost in the last action?

Yet many men hardly to be per­swaded.Truely Captaine, a number of vs countrie Gentlemen can hardly be so perswaded, and especially our common countrie people.

Indeede I doe not greatly maruell thereat, considering our long continued peace vnder our gracious Soueraignes raigne (whom God long main­taine ouer vs) wherein we haue not knowne what the name of warre hath meant, much lesse the effects therof:Peace breedes se­curitie; securitie, carelesse mindes: carelesse mindes, contempt of war: contempt of war, vnmartial minds. Men hauing li­ued long in peace, seldome suspect warre. Securitas parit periculum. By neglect of martiall disciplin, ma­ny kingdomes sub­uerted. Examples. Good to shake off securitie, and be carefull for our safetie. For long peace hath bred Securitie; securitie, care­lesse mindes; carelesse mindes: contempt of warre; contempt of warre, the dispising of souldiarie and Martiall discipline; the dispising of Martiall discipline, vnwilling mindes I feare me: so that it can hardly be beaten into our braines, I meane a number of vs, that we which so long haue found the fruites of peace, should euer feele the effects of warre. To proue that long peace, and neglect of Martiall disci­pline hath metamorphosed manly mindes, nay whole States and kingdomes; let vs consider the Macedonians prowesse, the Grecians policie, the Romaines va­lour, the Carthaginians stratagems, so long as they maintained Martiall discipline, ruled each the Monarchie in their times: but discipline neglected, disorders grew on, new Martialists sprung vp, and ouerturned their wealth, state, and kingdomes, with a finall ruine of their names and Nations.

I speake not this, but for example, to put vs the more in mind to shake off secu­ritie, to mistrust the worst, to make vs more readie and willing to be trayned in Martiall poyntes, not grudging at the charge, but frankely to offer it, to fit vs with furniture, and desirous to be instructed in the knowledge and managing of each armes in their kind; whereby if so proud an enemie should attempt anie thing against vs, we might be readie, with resolute mindes, to beard him to the vttermost. I could say much more, but this may suffice to a willing minde to conceiue.

Inueterat [...] opiniō not easie to be al­tered, touching blacke bils and bowes.You haue touched many pointes vnder a few termes, but (Captaine) all this and much more will hardly perswade our rurall sort; and I thinke many of vs Gentlemen not farre better minded: for in executing her Maiesties cōmands, for trayning our men, prouiding of armour, I heare many say, what neede so much a do, and great charge in Calliuer, Musket, Pyke and Corselet? our aun­cestors won many battels with bowes, blacke Billes, and Iackes. But what thinke you of that?

Time altereth the order of warre, with new inuen­tions daily. The fiery weapons Canon & musket.Sir, then was then, and now is now; the wars are much altered since the fierie weapons first came vp: the Cannon, the Musket, the Caliuer and Pistoll. Although some haue attempted stifly to maintaine the sufficiencie of Bowes, yet daily experience doth and will shew vs the contrarie. And for that their reasons haue bene answered by others, I leaue at this instant to speake thereof.

Why, do you not like of our old archerie of England?

I do not altogether disalow them;The reputation of Archerie much blemished, since the inuention of fierie weapons. true it is, they may serue to some sorts of seruice, but to no such effect as any of the fierie weapons.

Will not a thousand bowes handled by good bowmen, do as good ser­uice, as a thousand hargubuze or muskets, especially amongst horsemen?

No, were there such bowmen as were in the old time, yet could there be no comparison.

Your reasons.

First, you must confesse that one of your best Archers can hardly shoot any good sheffe arrow aboue twelue score off, to performe any great executiō, ex­cept vpon a naked mā,Bowes farre in­feriour vnto Cal­liuer or Musket. or horse. A good Calliuer charged with good powder and bullet, and discharged at point blanck by any reasonable shot, will, at that distance, performe afar better execution, yea, to passe any armour, except it be of prooffe, & much more neare the marke thē your Archer shal: And the said Calliuer at ran­don will reach & performe twentie, or foure and twentie score off, whereunto you haue few archers will come neare. And if you reply, that a good archer will shoot many shots to one;The readinesse of the one and the other: with their different execu­tions. Archers may shoot in v [...]llie. The execution of the bow not com­parable to the musket. Truly no, your archer shall hardly get one in fiue of a ready shot, nay happely scarce one; besides, considering the execution of the one and the other, there is great oddes, and no comparison at all.

But our bowmen may shoot by vollies, as thicke as hayle in the ayre.

They may shoot thicke, but to small performance, except (as I said) vpon naked men or horse. But should there be led but eight hundred perfect hargubu­ziers, or sixe hundred good musketiers against your thousand bowmen, I thinke your bowmen would be forced to forsake their ground, all premisses considered: and moreouer a vollie of musket or hargubuze goeth with more terrour, fury, and execution, then doth your vollie of arrowes. And againe, against a resolute troupe of horse, either Pistoletiers, Hargulatiers or Lanciers, they will stād lesse time (ex­cept they be well frōted with hedge, ditch or trēch; or seconded with a strong stād of pikes,) then either Hargubuze or Musket, considering the execution of the one & the other.The weapon not of deadly execu­tion, little to be feared. Bow men haue most vse in open field, and in set battels shot are vsed in all ser­uices. And what souldier is he, that commeth against a weapon where­in there is little hazard of life, which will not more resolutely charge, then against a weapon, whose execution he knoweth to be present death? Many more reasons might be alledged for the sufficiencie of the one, and the insufficiencie of the other, but others haue answered the same already, besides the proofe which dayly experience bringeth: and thus you heare mine opinion of your Bowes; desiring you (Gentlemen and others) not to conceiue sinisterly of me for this mine opinion, as not held of me for any dislike I haue of our old Archery of England: but that common experience hath made it most manifest in these our later warres: well wishing in my hart (had it bene Gods good will) that this in­fernall fierie engine had neuer bin found out. Then might we boldly haue compa­red (as our auncestors did) with the proudest Archers in the world.

But you must note this by the way,The fierie weapō without practise dangerous to the handler. that the fierie shot, either on horsebacke, or foote, being not in hands of the skilfull, may do vnto themselues more hurt then good: wherefore the same is often to be practised, that men may grow per­fect and skilfull therein.

Well, to stand in argument I will not, for I haue seene little triall either [Page 4] of the one or the other. But what thinke you of our abundance of blacke Billes which we thinke to be the next naturall weapon for the Englishman?

True it is, that in time past our nation hath performed round slaughter. worke therewith: but the warres and weapons are now altered from them dayes, and we must accommodate our selues to the now vsed weapons,To accommodate our selues to the now vsed wea­pons, ord [...]r, and times. order, and time, to answere our enimies with the semblable, else happely shall we finde ourselues short of our reckening, with our all-too late repentance. But might I haue, in stead of these blacke Bills and Iacks, so many good armed Pikes, I meane good Corslelts furnisht, I would thinke my selfe farre better either to offend or defend.

Why, would you not allow short weapon in the field?

Not many short weapon in the field. When to be vsed.Truly no, not many, yet would I not exclude them all. For I know them necessarie for many peeces of seruice; as to performe executiō if the enemie break, or flie; to mingle with shot to back them if neede be; to passe with Conuoyes, & to stand by your Artillerie; to creepe along trenches, and enter into mynes, where the Pike would be ouerlong;Target of Proof. but best for the myne or breach is the Target of prooffe,Pikes, most hono­rable weapon in the field. short sword, and Pistoll: but for the plaine field, neither blacke bill, Hal­bard, nor Partizan comparable to the Pike.

In a set battaile would you not haue Bills or Halbards for the guard of your Colours?

Short weapon a­bout the Ensigne not so a [...]ailable as the Pike. The Reasons.As few as might be▪ for in their steds farre better were so many armed Pikes, in mine opinion, considering that in set Battailes when men come to the shock, or push of the Pike, they sarrie close together, and the first three, fiue, or se­uen rankes do beare the chiefe brunt; and entred so farre, men buckle Pell-Mell, close together, by which time commonlie the one side reculeth or swayeth, and a battell once reculing doth not lightlie hold long, so that ere the Center of the Bat­taill be touched one side must fall to disaray; men once disordered, they commonly fall to rout, the rout is pursued with slaughter and ruine. Against horse the like reasons are to be made: thus either to offend or defend, farre better is the Pike, then either Bill, or Halbard. And to conclude, the strength of the Battaile is the armed Pike,The armed Pike, the strēgth of the battaile. so they be equally sorted with Harquebuze and Musket.

What meane you by equally sorted?

The equall sort­ment of weapons, offensiue and defensiue. Countrey people loth to bee at charge.I meane as much to offend, as to defend: To offend I would wish to euery hundred men 25 Muskets, & 25 Calliuers at the least, 40 armed Piks, 7 or 8 Hal­bards, and 2 or 3 Targets of proofe to defend, and so of all other numbers.

Your proportion I like well, but our countrey people are loth to be at the charges of so many costly weapons, although her Maiestie and her honorable priuie Counsell, haue giuen orders and directions for the same.

Our daungerous time to be regar­ded. Men liuing long in securitie, ama­zed in altera­tions.I perceiue it to be so, whereat I grieue not a litle, considering, how dan­gerous is the time; how malicious, strong, & politike is the enimie; how carelesse, yea senslesse are we; and how vnwilling to our owne weale? But should these your secure men once heare the Alarme of the enemie, (from the which God defend vs,) then should you soone see them alter their copies, chaunge their colours, forget their great bragges of blacke Bills and Bowes, and stand at their wittes ende what course to take; and should they yet recall their courage, and plucke vp their spirites, and dare to looke the enimie in the face, what guides (I pray) haue they?Want of good guides. It is not enough to say downe with them, downe with them, [Page 5] Lay on Billes and Bowes:Actions not effe­cted with words, but with condu­ction, order men with sutable weapons. they should encounter strong squares of armed Pikes, gallant squadrons of Muskets, braue troupes of shot, conducted by skilfull Lea­ders: then should they soone see the difference of weapons; the danger of the one, the litle doubt of the other, with repentance (perhaps) for not taking them to other weapons in time. Thus much I speak to our inueterate concei [...]ers of bowes and blacke billes.

But we haue trayned companies, and selected bandes, to answere our enemies with like weapons.Selected bandes.

True it is,Companies well trayned to great & good purpose. The daunger of ignorant leaders and trayners. there haue beene good orders set downe for the same, and no doubt, well performed in many partes of our countrie: but I my selfe haue seene many simple Leaders, simple in deede to traine, much lesse to bring men to fight: for where the blind leades the blind, both fall into the ditch.

You meane this by our countrie Gentlemen and Citizens, who haue the trayning of their shires and townes, and neuer came in warres, but her Maiestie and Councell haue so appointed it for many good respects.

I know it very well, for many good respects, but I am well assured that her Maiestie would well like of such countrie or citizen Captaines,Trayning Cap­taines very skil­full, ought to prouide good officers. as would be carefull to prouide themselues of good Officers; such as haue seene warres, and borne office in the same, I meane honest and valiant men, not tapsterly praters, and ale-bench braggers, who know no point of souldierie in the world. And if your Captaines were each furnished with one or two such good officers, I meane honest men, and of experience, no doubt, but they might then doe farre better then they now doe; and by such they might learne many good pointes of seruice, to their good, and their companies good instructions; yet not so much as thereby to become sufficient Captaines.

Our Captaines haue Bookes of Warre,Bookes of warre. whereby they may learne more in one daies reading, then you haue in a whole yeares seruice; and then no great neede of such, which were but charge to small purpose.

Truely good Sir, pardon me, you speake according to your skill; Now to aunswere you,Three sorts of warre writers. I say: Such bookes haue beene written by men of sun­drie humours, sundrie qualities, and sundrie professions. As some haue beene penned by learned men,1 as Politicians, Geometricians, and Mathematicians, which neuer saw any warres;2 Some by men of small learning, but by their practise and long continuance in warres; Some againe haue beene penned by men both of good learning and long experience in warres:3 the last of these are to bee best approued,The last [...]st ap­proued. Comparison [...]. as all men of iudgement must confesse. Now, the vnsouldier-learned, to the vnlettered souldier may be paralleld or comparaisoned, as the Phisition Theorike to the grosse practitioner, and vnto the learned souldier, as the Theorike onely vnto the Theorike and Practike ioyntly in a perfect Phisi­tion. And this is my opinion of the diuersitie of warre-writers, of all which I sup­pose the last to be chiefely followed.Reading Captains three sorts. Well, now to your reading Captaines: ma­ny of them that reade,1 do neither vnderstand the Methode nor meaning of the writer;2 many do vnderstand the Methode, and not the meaning; and some againe (as men of quicker conceipt,3 most fit for warres) do vnderstand both Methode & meaning:The best wa [...]ing experience, farre from a worthy Captains. yet by want of experience & practise, they are farre from a perfect soul­dier, and more from a worthie Captaine. The proofe of this is soone seene, for of [Page 6] your first sort,Example of the first sort. bring one of them into the field with a hundred men, he will ne­uer ranke them aright without helpe; and (God knoweth) with what puzzeling and toyle: there is the end of his seruice, yea and thinkes he hath done well too. Now let one of your second sort come into the field with the like number,Example of the second sort. he will ranke them three and three, but at euery third ranke he must call to his boy, holae sirra, where is my Booke? and hauing all ranked them, then marcheth he on faire, and farre wyde from a souldiers march: then commeth he to cast them into a ring, about, about, about, till he hath inclosed himselfe in the Center; now there is he puzzelled, hola maister stand still vntill I haue looked in my Booke: by this time there is a faire ring broken.Example of the third sort. Lastly, let your thirde quicke conceipted man come into the field with his companie, he rankes them by three, fiue, or seuen in a ranke: Pikes, halfe in front, halfe in traines; Colours and browne Billes in the middest; deuides his shot, halfe in vaward, halfe in rereward, and marcheth on in some prettie good sort, casteth his Ring, and happily commeth out againe; but two to one he misseth his counter-ring. Well, this is well, say our Citizens and countrie people. But how farre all these Captaines are wide to shew their souldiers the right vse of each weapon, a man of meane iudgement may perceiue, much lesse to bring them to the face of the enemie without a manifest daunger,Daungerous for vnexperimented Captains to bring men to fight. or wilfull ouerthrowe: Examples hereof I might recite enow, but I pray God, if euer it come to the proofe, we leaue not too many examples our selues. For there be many points in a souldier, and more in a Captaine, which can not be attayned by reading,Many points to be in a souldier, and more in a Captaine, not at­tained by rea­ding, but by ex­perience, and that de veras. Orderly trayning by good Trainers to good purpose. Points wherein a souldier is to be fully instructed. but by practise and experience; and that de Veras, as the Spa­niard sayth, in earnest; and not de Burla, in ieast. True it is, the trayning of men, is to good and very great purpose, especially were it done in such sufficient sort, and by such sufficient Trayners, as the waightinesse of the cause requireth: wherein each souldier should perfectly learne his march; knowe the seuerall sounds of the Drumme, to keepe his place and array in good order; when to march; when and how to charge; when to retire; when to stand; how to handle the weapon committed vnto him; with a number of other points, most needfull in these times to be throughly knowne vnto your trayned men, yea, and to others also, were it possible.

Trulie (Captaine) you deale somewhat roundly with our Citizen and countrie Captaines, scarce worth thanks at their hands.

Sir, I wold be loth to offend any; but being demāded, I must needs speak the truth, so neare as I can: for according to my opinion and skill, I haue answe­red your questions:Questions & de­mands do draw out semblable answers. Carefull & dili­gent men to be commended. Men of sundry constitutions fit for sundry pur­poses. Natural instinct doth worke won­derfull effects in all kind of pro­fessions. giuing you to vnderstand, that my opinion is not so of all: for I do know many sufficient Gentlemen and Citizens most willing to the seruice, who are highly to be commended for their good care and diligence therein: yet doubtlesse they will be to seeke in many points, if it should come to the proofe. True it is, all men are not of one constitution of body, humours, and spirits: for some men are fit for warres, some for peace, some for the countrie, some for the citie, some for learning, some for manuall crafts, some to gouerne, some to bee gouerned, some able to conduct a Companie, but not a Regiment; some a Re­giment, but not a Royall Campe: of which last sort verie few are to be found. To conclude, Naturall inclination doth worke wonderfull effects in all kind of Pro­fessions; for some men (being naturally humoured thereunto) do prooue better [Page 7] souldiours in fiue yeares experience, then some others in fifteene: and it is much, yea, it importeth all almost, to be often in Action. For a man haunting long the warres,To be often in a­ction breedeth knowledge. Comparison. Litle reputation of Souldiers in our age with vs. and seeing litle execution, is as one that vseth often the Fence-schooles, but neuer taketh weapon in hand. And if anie of my speeches may seeme vnto some, to exceede the bounds of Decorum, I haue bene vrged thereunto by the litle reputation had of Souldiers amongst vs: for surely, such as haue followed the warres are despised almost of euerie man, vntill a verie pinch of need doth come; then haue we faire speeches; good countenances for a litle time; but the action once ended, and the feare past, frownes do follow and cold rewards: so that the profession of Armes hath amongst vs, of all others, bene least esteemed in these our later dayes;The reasons. the reason is, we haue had litle need of warres, and consequently litle vse, whereby we are growne ignorant in the Arte.

Then I perceiue,Experience cou­pled with natu­rall instinct, most perfect. The bad reputa­tion of Souldiers springeth much from their owne disorders. The disorders of men of warre proceeding from two causes. 1. The bad electiō.2. The litle disci­pline. Fauorite electiōs. Experience makes men perfect, but most perfectest, if with Experience be coupled the naturall instinct you speake of: but me thinks, that the bad reputation we haue had of Souldiers in our age, springeth not of the litle vse we haue had of warres, so much, as from the disorder of such as haue pro­fessed the same.

I must confesse there hath bene, and is many times, great disorders committed by some professours and followers of warres; the which, in mine o­pinion, proceedeth from two causes: the one from the bad choise of some Cap­taines, Souldiers and Officers, made at the first, by those who had commission or authoritie for the same: next, by reason of the litle discipline vsed amongst those so chosen; for many haue bin chosen by fauor, friendship, or affectiō, litle respe­cting their experience, vertues, or vices; whereby most commonly, the fawning flatterer, the audacious prater, the subtill make-shift, is preferred before the si­lent man, the approoued person, or the plaine dealing fellow. Then such being chosen and preferred, how do you thinke the conduction shold be good? Againe, the Companies that are commonlie leuied,Faults cōmitted by the Iustices of peace in leuying of Souldiers. are drawne forth by the Iustices of peace, who to disburden their towne or shire of corrupt weeds, as they tearme it, do picke out the scumme of their countrie, thinking such men sufficient for the warres: what wrong thereby is done to the seruice, the issues of manie acti­ons do often times manifest. Now, such choise made both of souldiers and Cap­taines, what good can be expected from them? For litle amendment groweth where lewd Libertie beareth sway:Litle amendment groweth where lewd liberty bea­reth sway. for warres disorderlie vsed, is the Chaos of con­fusion; and warres well conducted and disciplined, is the Harmonie of Iustice.

I pray (good Captaine) sith you haue thus farre waded into the matter, let vs intreat you to shew vs the parts of a Souldier, the vse of his weapon, and the order of your moderne warre.

These three matters handled would aske a great volume, farre aboue my reach:All warres are either offensiue or defensiue. Maintained, managed and conducted by mo­ney, men and armes, by policie, order, and by good Chiefs. neuerthesse, to satisfie in part your curteous demaund, I will do my best. Then thus I beginne to reason: First, Warres are of two sorts, either offensiue, or defensiue; maintained and perfourmed with men, armour and money; managed with Policie, Order and Stratagems; conducted and perfected by a singular Generall, braue Commanders, and resolute Souldiers. To begin therefore from the lowest degree vnto the highest, I will declare vnto you what parts I could wish in euerie degree, and what order in the same, following herein for the [Page 8] the most part, the Italian and Spaniard, by whom the best discipline of warre in our dayes hath bene vsed, and supplying where they are defectiue.

What Nation, thinke you, do prooue best Souldiers? for we are of opi­nion, that there is no Souldier to the Englishman.

Trulie, for strength, valour, and courage, I suppose vs comparable to a­ny nation whatsoeuer:The English for valour and cou­rage comparable to anie. It is the nature of euerie nation to thinke best of themselues. Vegetius opiniōs & reasons, what climate breeds the best souldiers. but surely for subtill policie and martiall discipline, especi­ally in this our latter age, some other nations do exceed vs. And it is the nature of euerie nation to esteeme and thinke best of themselues: but Vegetius holdeth opinion, the man borne vnder the temperate Zone and climate, to be fittest for warres: For (saith he) the Souldier of the Septentrionall or North Climate, by reason of his wide distance from the Sunne, doth abound in hot bloud, and is of good courage, and great strength: entring into battell without feare, but rash and inconsiderate in the same: voyd of consideration and counsell in most of his actions. And on the contrarie, the Meridionall man, by reason of the neerenesse of the Sunne, the which they haue almost for their Zenith, are fearefull and faint-hearted, and verie loth to enter into battell, except constrained and vrged ther­unto; but withall, verie subtill, warie and sharpe-witted: therefore (saith he) Men of the middle Climate, participating of both the extreames, are best for the warres; as men hardie, quicke, of great direction and counsell, well proportio­ned, and of reasonable good disposition and health. But I suppose, that of either nation by militarie discipline and practise,Men born vnder any climate may proue good soul­diers by experiēce and discipline. may prooue good and excellent Warriours.

But yet, me thinks, that men of great stature are of greatest strength, and so most terrible to the enemie, and fittest for the warres.

True, in the first ranks tall men do make a faire shew, but now the artil­lerie and fierie weapon hath greatly diminished their authoritie: yet before this infernall engine was vsed in the world, the opinions of the most famous Cap­taines were different herein:Sundry opinions what statured mē be most fit for warres. The meane, best allowed. To bee serued with our owne nation is best for vs. for Alexander esteemed men of litle stature, for most valiant and hardie: Pyrrhus, per contra, liked the goodlie, tall and large proporti­oned men: but Iulius Caesar, as more considerate and wise, rather chose men of meane stature, as naturallie strong, of determinate minds and courage, and ca­pable of counsell and prudence. But we must be serued with our owne nation, out of the which ought to be chosen the most discreet, godlie, and vertuous Captains, and Officers of most experience, annexed with vertue, and Souldiers of honest be­hauiour and conditions, which (by skilfull Captaines) may soone be brought to be readie men.

THE SECOND DIALOGVE; WHEREIN IS declared the generall parts,The parts of a Souldier in gene­ral, his valorous determination grounded. • 1. Vpon defense of true religion. , • 2. For the honour of his Prince. , • 3. For the safetie of his country. , and • 4 To learne dili­gently the Arte he professeth, which is warre.  Many men of base birth by va­lour and vertue attained high de­gree. Maximinus. wished to be in a Souldier.

WEll now, I pray you declare the generall parts of a Souldier.

It is necessarie that he which entreth into this action, that hee ground his valorous determination vpon foure principles. First, vpon defence of true Religion: secondly, the honour of his Prince: thirdly, the safetie of his countrie: fourthly, diligently to [Page 9] learne the Art he professeth, which is warre, whereby many men of low degree and base linage haue attained vnto great dignitie, credit, and fame: as Caius Ma­rius, borne of poore parents in a village of the Arpines, came to be a famous com­mander of the Romanes: Valentinian, a poore mans sonne of Sybaly in Hungaria, a Romane Emperour: Maximinus, borne in a base towne of Thracia, vnto the like dignitie: and Nicholas Pichinnino, the sonne of a Butcher, to be Captaine gene­rall of Philip Vicount Duke of Millans army, and other Potentats of Italy. Many o­thers might be remembred, both English, French, Italian, and Spanish, borne of low degree, which by their value, vertue, prudence, and conduction, mounted to such high Types of honour.

Now he that taketh this resolution,He ought to be diligent, careful, vigilant, and obe­dient: and aboue all to feare God. To chuse honest Camaradas. ought to be diligent, carefull, vigilant, and obedient, and aboue all, to haue the feare of God. To chuse to his Camaradas and companions men well acquainted, and of honest conditions; no factioners nor mutiners, whose company is more dangerous then the diuell himselfe. With his Camaradas, hee is to demeane himselfe, sober, quiet, and friendly: rather seuere then lauish in speeches: for licentious talkers do easily loose their friendes, their estimation and owne quietnesse.

Let him bee mindfull to serue God; for although all professions are thereto bound, yet none more deeply then the valiant souldier, whose actions are euery houre in danger of death: and without doubt, he that so doth, fighteth with more bold resolution and courage, and is thereby brought through manifold daungers, and vnto vnexpectable euents.

Let him bee no blasphemer,No blasphemer. nor swearer: for besides that such a one is infa­mous to the world, he is assured to be punished by Gods diuine iustice, whereof many examples haue bene seene.

Let him abstaine frō dice,No idle game­sters. cards, & idle games; for common gamsters, although they haue many other good parts in them, yet are they not esteemed according to their better parts, but rather discredited, getting enemies, questions, and brawles, with many other inconueniences that followes.

Let him not be ouer curious in his fare and diet, but content himselfe with such prouisions as be prouided in the campe.Not curious in fare. To eschue drun­kennesse.

In any wise let him eschue the beastly vice of drunkennesse; for crammed pan­ches and drunken nowls are apt to nothing but to be sluggish, slothfull, and drow­sie, and in their drunken pangs to haue their throates cut. Examples whereof there are too many extant; as of Tomyris Queene of the Scythians, who ouerthrew Cirus, with his three hundred thousand Persians, in their beastly drunkennesse; & of Spargapises the said Tomyris son, who being first entrapped & foundred with the like vice of drunkennesse, was first by the same Cyrus defeated and taken; with ma­ny moe such examples.Gluttons & drū ­kard, bre [...]de ma­ny disorders. Besides, the souldier giuen to this vice of gluttony and drunkennesse, doth disturbe all townes, villages, and all lodgements wheresoeuer he commeth with his vnruly hurly burly and robberies, neuer contenting himself with the ability of his poore host; whereby great scandales do arise, causing many times many Townes, Cities and whole prouinces to reuolt from their Princes, caused by the disorder of such insatiable drunkards and gluttons. The which in­solencies are carefully to be preuented,Examples of pu­nishment. Decimare. & seuerely punished; as did Iulius Caesar at the siege of Placentia in Lombardie, Dezimare or tenth the ninth Legion by sound [Page 10] of the horne (an ignominious chastisement) for spoyling, & robbing certaine villa­ges of his friendes. And the Emperour Aurelius did seuerely punish such souldiers as did take any thing from their hoste perforce: with much more seuerity did Aufi­dius Cassius reforme the robberies & spoiles done by his disordered cōpanies.Aufidius. And Pescennius Niger did condemne vnto death, a whole Camarada of Soldiers, for ta­king a cocke from their hoste where they lodged, perforce: And great Tamberlan punished so seuerely one of his souldiers for such like offence, that the rigor there­of did so correct and discipline his campe, that where his army lodged three dayes together in one place, a tree ful laden with fruit, would at their departure remaine whole,Temperance, and Abstinence. and vntouched. On the contrary, the vertue of abstinence and tempe­rance hath bene such, and so great in some, as it hath rested a perpetuall fame, and praise to their names; and haue thereby atchiued great and honourable en­terprizes.

Chaste & honest.Moreouer let our souldier be chaste and honest in his liuing, refraining sensua­lity with all possible instancie, auoyding all occasions which might moue him to that vice: for those that do giue themselues thereunto, do commonly become cowards in their determinations, with litle felicitie, or good happe in their at­tempts. For they become lasey,Excesse of lechery breeds cowards minds and disea­sed bodies. Examples. sickly, and feeble, and chiefly, such as do cary wo­men with them, hauing most ordinarily their ends accompanied with dishonor and shame, and their effeminacy many times the hinderance of great actions: As it chanced vnto the imperiall campe, after their famous sacke of Rome, whereat they lost their Generall Burbon, so that the Prince of Orange, and other Imperiall Captaines, durst not meete nor stop the passage of Monsieur de Lautrech, Generall of the French army, which marched towards Naples, to regaine that kingdome, by reason that they sawe their souldiers so estranged from their former valour, as men corrupt and effeminate with the vices of the city: & as it fell out with Han­nibals army at Capua; which in short time, of valiant, became vile: of bolde and venturous, cowards and dastards: of carefull and vigilant, sluggards, slow and carelesse: whereby Marcus Marcellus made it knowne vnto the world, that Hanniball might bee conquered. The which vice ought with all rigour to bee chastened.

Decent in apparel. Ouer curious in attire is signe of a Carpet knight, a humour vnfit for warre.He ought to be very moderate, and not ouer garish in his apparell and garments: for it is a principle, found true by experience, that he that is curious in his gate and attire, is neuer like to proue a perfect souldier; for they require different humours, to the deepe skill in warre, and the daintie curiositie of Carpet knights. Exam­ples of garish campes, easily defeated, many might be produced, but time permit­teth me not: but the beauty and brauery of a souldier is his bright and glittring ar­mour, not gaudy attire, and peacockes plumes.

Yet places and times vnmeete to be respected.I do not thereby inferre, that a souldier comming to his Princes court, or in o­ther places absent from the warres, should not go more gallantly attired, accor­ding to the place and quality of his person.

Louing and obe­dient vnto his Captaine.He shall beare a great loue and true affection vnto his Captaine, and obay him, and the other officers of the campe, with great respect: for the very day that hee first entreth to be a soldier, he doth secretly sweare, and promise to serue his Prince, by obeying his officers: for the true order of warre is a very resemblance of true re­ligion, ordained of God, which bindeth the souldier to obserue Iustice, Loyaltie, [Page 11] constancie,Iustice, loyaltie, constan [...], pati­ence, silence and obedience. patience, and silence, and aboue all, obedience; through the which is easily attained the perfection in armes, and meanes to atchiue great enterprises though neuer so difficult: as Plato saith verie well, that loue and obedience is signe of a generous minde, not subiect vnto passions and vnrulie fits; for he that wanteth the vertue of obedience and patience,Not subiect vnto passions. Disobediēce bree­deth many mis­chiefes. Not to attempt any thing with­out his Captaines consent. though otherwise neuer so valiant a souldier, is vnworthy the name. For no greater mischiefe can befall a campe then disobedi­ence, nor from whence greater damages do proceede: too many examples thereof do abound. Therefore a good souldier ought not go against the determinations of his Generall, no nor to passe out of the trēches, although it were with intēt to shew his valour in some singular combat, or in any particular challēge, without his Ge­nerals licence (for he is not now his own man, but the Princes, who doth giue him pay) remembring the rigorous punishment which Manlius Torquatus did exe­cute vpon his own sonne Titus Manlius, Example of rigo­rous punishment for disobedience. commaunding his head to be stricken off in his own presence, for hauing passed his commaund in sallying forth to fight with Genutius Metius Captaine of the Tusculans, who gaue him the defie & challenge; nothing auailing the poore Gentleman, in hauing ouercome and slaine his enemy, nor the whole armies supplications, and intreaties. The like rigour vsed Posthumius Tiburtus against his sonne Aulus Posthumius, at his returne from his conquered enemie.

Put if his Prince maketh warres against other Christians, as commonly it falleth out, is it no grudge to the souldiers conscience to fight against them?

I suppose none,The souldier is bound to obey his Prince, without examining the cause of the war. for the souldier is bound to serue his Prince, and to de­fend his desseignes; and it toucheth him not, much to examine whether the warre be iust or iniust, not being against Gods true religion: but in such a case, I would wish men to be well aduised.

Our souldier ought patiently to suffer the aduersities and trauels that do fall out in the courses and chances of warre also,Patiētly to suffer the aduersities of warre. shewing tokens of true vertue, not to be ouergreedy and hasty for his pay, although he stand in great need thereof, but rather with chearefull countenance, shew his constancy, eschewing by all meanes possible, rebellions and mutinies, which often vpon such cases do succeede, and in no case be partaker with mutiners, for alwayes the end of such, is sharpe and shamefull death: examples whereof are rife in euery nation.

If in encounters and battels where he shall happen to be,Carefull execu­tion ere he fall to the spoile. An vnsouldierly part to be scra­ping and spoiling. the enemies happe to be ouercome, let him set all his care and diligence in execution of the victory with his weapon, and not in the spoile of apparell, robes, and trash: least he be ac­counted an vnruly scraper, as too many now a dayes be: for many disorders doe happen by the disorder of couetous spoilers, many times to the dishonour of the action, and losse of their liues.

The like consideration he ought to haue in the expugnation of any fort,To pursue the vi­ctorie throughly. Not cruell vpon cold bloud. city or towne. He shall pursue the victorie euen vntill the enemy be wholie yeelded, and rendred, and licence graunted to fall vnto the sacke and spoile: wherein he shall de­porte himselfe neither cruell nor couetous, as a number of bad and gracelesse fel­lowes doe, which without respect of God or man, do leaue no kinde of rauening crueltie vncommitted,Fauourable and mercifull to the humble vanqui­shed. with brutall rauishment both of women and maides, and with mercilesse murdering of poore innocents yeelded: rather in such cases shall he shew himselfe fauourable and mercifull to the humble vanquished, procuring [Page 12] to defend them, and especially silly women and maidens: for God, no doubt, will be well pleased in so doing.

To chuse the wea­pon wherein be most d [...]lighteth. The pike and corslet most hono­ra [...]le weapon for the footman. The musk [...]t of most execution of any fury manuall weapon. To practise all weapons. The sword and target important to many effects.Let him make choise of the armes which he meanes to vse, and whereunto he [...]indeth himselfe most affected and fit, and to exercise all sorts of weapons; as is v­sed in the schooles of the Ianizzaries Turkes. The pike and corselet is of most e­stimation with footmen, for being a weapon of most firmenesse in the field, wher­with all squares of men are formed, as a most sure defence against the fury of horsemen. Of fierie manuall weapons, the musket is of most execution and force; next to them, the calliuers; those to enuiron the pikes, and to be deuided into ma­ny small troupes and bands, do serue to best purpose.

Let him practise each sort of weapon, although he professe the Pike, Calliuer or Musket, and particularly the sword and target; the which in mine opinion is ve­rie important to many effectes, where men ioyne close together: and moreouer they be very necessarie, to view, and reknowledge batteries, to begin assaults, to make an entrance, to giue a Camisada, & to many other purposes presented in wars.

To learne the se­uer [...]ll sound of the drumme.Also must he learne the seuerall soundes of the Drum, whereby to obey to that which is commaunded (for the Drum is the Commaunders voice,) giuing due at­tention to vnderstand the same, and carefully to note and marke the signes made by the Captaine and officers, without pratling to his next companions; for it is one of the greatest faults that a souldier can commit, and a signe of great ligeritie and lightnesse.

It is also a great point in a souldier to be skilfull in swimming:To be skilfull in swimming. as at imbark­ments, disimbarkments, and passing ouer riuers, and sundry other occasions inci­dent to warres.

Couragious and resolute in encoū ­ters.In skirmishes and encounters, he should be valiant and resolute, for the soul­dier that is timerous, can neuer incline his heart to any haughtie enterprise, nor a fearefull fainting stomacke neither dareth to attend, nor attempt any hote charge, which for viletie and feare, is noted with shame and infamie amongst all warre­like nations.

Vigilant and carefull at senti­nell. Not to dis [...]rme himselfe vntill he see his ensigne vn­armed in corps de gard.Hee shall bee very carefull to bee alwayes vigilant, and readie, being placed for Sentinell or in the Corps de gard: where hee shall not put off his armour vntill his Ensigne-bearer bee first vnarmed, on whome he ought to haue his eyes fixed, to imitate, as he should vpon his Colours to follow in the field. The faults herein committed, are seuerely to be punished: for in Sentinels consisteth the security of the campe. The Romaines punished Caius Sulpitius with rigorous death, for his negligence herein, throwing him headlong downe from the high Capitoll rocks, what night the Gaules attempted the surprising thereof, which Marcus Manlius manfully defended.

Loyall to his Prince.Hee shall keepe vnspotted his fidelity to his Prince, and although there befall him many disgustos, and insufferable toyles, yet shall he not passe to the enemies campe, for not to be tatched a traytor, a foule and odious offence, rigorously to be punished amongst all nations, from all ages and times; and neuer yet traytor to his Prince made euer any good end, whereof too many examples do abound; The treason may be liked, but the traytor neuer beloued nor trusted.

No shifter from Company to Com­pany.He shall continue and assist in the company where he first began, without shif­ting from company to company: for vsing the contrary, he shall be esteemed a [Page 13] wauering companion of small consideration and constancie.

In his eating and drinking hee shall not be curious to keepe any precise houres,Not curious of houres for eating: but to preuent time. more then the time will permit; yet let him procure to preuent time herein: for a man hungry and ouerwatched, shall weakely performe his seruice in the field.

When he shall lie in Campe or garrison,To practise war­like exercises in vacant time. let him at vacant times occupie himselfe in warlike exercises, wherein vertue excelleth fortune: as in leaping, running, wrastling, tossing the Pike, pitching the Barre, throwing the Sledge, and in the practise of all sortes of weapons, which he shall vse for his recrea­tion: vnto the which exercises, I wish Captaines should inure their compa­nies, as did King Pyrrhus his souldiers, rewarding such as excelled herein.

It shall be wonderfull auaileable for him to reade Histories,To delight in rea­ding of histories. The profits pro­ceeding thereof. for nothing doth more reuiue the spirits, and sharpen and perfectionate the wits of man. There­in shall he finde the erecting, the gouernement, the alteration or fall of Mo­narchies, Kingdomes, and Common-wealthes: the courses and changes of times, and ages; the conductions, and stratagemes of battels wonne and lost; the carriage of braue men, and basenesse of bad persons; the vertue and fame of the valiant, the shame and infamie of the vile: the vse of auncient discipline, and manner of our Moderne warres. In fine, there shall he behold the state of Peace and Warre.

And for as much as no man can reduce those things vnto perfection where­of he is ignorant,Carefull to marke the courses kept by his superior officers. and knoweth not the Arte, let him diligently marke, consi­der, and remember the orders which the higher Officers doe obserue, in fra­ming their Squadrons of Infanterie and Cauallerie, and the place of the great Artilerie in the march, field and Campe; and the plot of the alodgement ac­cording to the disposition of the ground where the Campe shall then be, with the manner of the intrenching, with the placing of the Ordinance, and defences for the same.

And if he find himselfe at the siege of any strong place, towne or fortresse, let him diligently view the situation, and the order that is taken for the batterie thereof: and if happily he be within a fort of defence; let him well marke the course that is taken for the defending thereof. Thus viewing, considering, con­ceiuing, and obseruing all these aforesaide points, and manie more vsed in mi­litarie actions, and that which toucheth euery officer in particular, euen from the Caporall to the Captaine generall, to the end he may be throughly perfect in the Arte he professeth;The profession of armes foundation of Nobilitie. thereby to aduance and vantage himselfe, sith it is the verie source, mother, and foundation of Nobilitie: reason therefore it is, that it be perfectly vnderstood of the professours and followers thereof, seeing that all practices of mechanicall Artes do follow the same order and course to come to the cunning of their craft.

Good Captaine,So many good parts hardly to be found in one [...]. 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.

True it is,Euery honoura­ble souldier ought to endeuour him­selfe to attain [...] wha [...] he can. 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 [Page 14] be not able to attaine all;Some better then few, few better then none at 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.

Many good parts [...] a souldier, got­ten by experience, and perfected with learning.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.

Then I see you would haue a souldier to be learned withall, which you seemed to dislike in our booke Captaine at the first.

You mistake me farre, for I euer allow and honour the learned souldier: for what famous Commaunders haue there yet bene,Most famous Commaunders were learned. 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 first Dialogue:

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.

The orders obserued by Antiquitie I let passe, fal­ling in few tearmes, to our Moderne customes, wherein you shall vnderstand,All Campes for­med of men, wea­pons, munition, and good Chiefes. 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,The Cōmaunders of a campe in de­grees. Armie is deuided into sundry Re­giments. The Regimēt in­to sundry bandes. The officers of a Regiment. The number of a Band. 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,The Captaine and his officers of a Companie. 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 [Page 16] 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 first Dialogue:

FRiendly Captaine, your yesterdayes Discourses, haue so de­lighted, contented and enflamed both my selfe, and these o­ther Gentlemen, that we must needs entreat you to proceed, and to speake somewhat of the higher Officers of the field: wherefore I pray satisfie vs herein.

Gentlemen, I would those parts of skill were in me to answere your requestes, and to satisfie your expectations. Neuerthelesse seeing you are so well bent, and inclined to the vnderstanding of Militarie courses; I will, to my best abilitie and knowledge, declare vnto you such matters as I haue found by mine owne experience, eyther learned from the directions of braue Commaunders vnder whom I haue serued, or gathered out of the best authors which haue written vpon this subiect VVarre. Indeede at the beginning of these our speeches, I did not then thinke to haue marched so farre into this Martiall field,Discontinuance breedeth forget­fulnesse. for my fiue or sixe yeares discontinuance from action, had almost driuen all the courses, order and methode thereof out of my mind and memorie: but your curious demaundes and questions, haue both drawen me on, sharpened my wit, and refresht my memorie: wherein if I haue erred, or may misse hereafter (as no man but erreth, some more, some lesse) I submit my selfe to the censure and correction of men more experimented, and of better parts then my selfe.

Truely Captaine, you say very well; and I would we had many of no meaner partes, nor of no worse meaning then your selfe, in mine opinion; then no doubt, but our common souldiers should be better instructed, and be better dealt withall, then they now are by some of their Captains. But letting these mat­ters passe; I pray what order would you wish to be obserued in the trayning of our souldiers here with vs in the countrie, sith we are commanded to traine, and as yet I see litle good order obserued in the same.

Touching the true and orderly trayning of your people in this our Mo­derne [Page 32] Militia, I haue in generall roued ouer some part thereof alreadie; but not so particularly as such an action would require: wherein I could heartily wish, that, as neere as possible we might, we should reduce ourselues with such armes as we now vse, vnto the forme, manner, and course of the auncient Romanes in their Militia and discipline of warre,The militarie discipline of the Romanes to be followed. although ages, seasons, and inuentions, haue altered much and many weapons by them vsed.

I pray what order did the Romanes obserue in their warres? and how were they armed?

The Romanes deuided their foot people of warre into men armed with heauie armour, (or, as we may tearme it, armor complete) and into light armed men.Grauis arma­tura of the Ro­manes. Velites of the Ro­manes, and their armings. Those which were light armed, they called by one common name, Velites; vnder which word they vnderstood all such as carried slinges, darts, bowes, crosse-bowes, and such like: the greatest part of whom, were armed with a skull or close Cellat for the head; and had, besides their other weapons, a shield or Target vp­on their left arme to defend and couer themselues, and did fight or skirmish in straggling sort, a good distance from those that were armed with heauie or com­plete armour in Squadron. Vnto those may we well compare our shot, especially them of the forlorne hope, or Enfans Perdus, as the French doe terme them. Their people armed with heauie or complete armour,The arming of those of grauis armatura. had first a Cellat or Bur­gonet, which couered their head, and reached ouer their shoulders: then for their bodie a Cuyrasse, whose flappes or tasses couered their thighes, euen down to the knees; their legges and armes were armed with Greaues and Vambraces: and for their defence they carried a shield of foure foote long, and two foot and a halfe broad, bound about with a band of yron; and for weapon they had a sword, not ouer long, girt vnto their left side, & a short dagger vpon their right; and in their hand a Iauelin or Dart, which they called Pilum, the which at the beginning of their fight they did lance or dart at the enemie: vnto these may we compare our Corslets and Pykes, whereof we frame our battels or battaillions: and our armed halbards, partizans, and other short weapon. Commonly a Romane army con­sisted of two Romane Legions,A Romane armie. which was a Consuls armie, and of two Auxiliarie legions, which were of their friends or confederates.

Their Legion consisted at the first, but of three thousand footmen, and three hundred horse;Romane legion Coho [...]t, Centurie, Maniple. but afterwards encreased vnto 5.6 or 8000. foote. Their legion they deuided into Cohortes, Maniples, and Centuries. Euery legion of 6000. foote, was deuided into ten Cohorts, at 600. to euery Cohort, and euery Cohort into sixe Centuries, after 100. men to euery Centurie: and euery Centurie into foure Maniples, after 25. souldiers vnto euery Maniple, or into fiue Maniples, at 20. souldiers to euery Maniple. A legion distin­guished into 3. Hastati, Princi­pes, Triarij. Their order of placing. Moreouer, euery legion was deuided into 3. partes, or orders of battels, into Hastati, Principes, and Triarij. The Hastati were set in the front of their armie, in order of Squadrons thicke and sure; behinde them were placed the Principes, but with the order of their Squadrons more rare and thinner. After these againe were ranged the Triarij, but with the order of their Squadrons, much more thinner then the Principes.

Now their slingers, darters, archers, or crosse-bowes, and such light armed, were placed without these Battels,Velitat, their places to fight. or Squadrons on the flanks and front, between the horsemen and their armed battell: as we do, or ought to do (in mine opinion) [Page 33] our shot, some fil [...]ers of Pykes, Halberds, and such other short weapon.

What sort of men thinke you fittest to be chosen for souldiers, and to be trayned; and what order in their trayning?

I suppose,Whom fittest to be chosen for souldiers. Signes by the phisiognomie. men of the better sort, from the age of eighteene yeares vn­to thirtie yeares, are fittest to be chosen. Now the signes whereby to coniecture the persons most apt for warres, by the Phisiognomie, and proportion of bodie, are these: The eyes quicke, liuely & piercing; the head and countenance vpright; the breast broad and strong; the shoulders large; the armes long; the fingers strong and synowie; the belly thinne; the ribbes large; the thigh bigge; the legge full, and the foote leane and drie: for whosoeuer is of this disposition, and with these conditions, cannot chuse but be nimble and strong, which are two quali­ties, chiefly to be required in a souldier.

I could wish that those Bandes which are appointed to be trayned (for of the Officers I haue spoken before) should be by their Captaine,New souldiers to be often trai­ned. Muster-maister, and other Officers, trayned at the least once euery moneth, or oftener, as the wea­ther and season will permit: and euery Caporall, with his Cabos de Camera, to traine and instruct their Esquadra, especially of shot, once euery weeke, or once euery fortnight at the least: ensigning them the vse of their weapon, and order of sleight skirmish:Practise bree­deth readinesse. For often practise maketh men readie, especially and shot, the which without readinesse and skill is a weapon of litle aduantage; and in the hands of perfect souldiers, is a weapon of great aduantage, and of wonderfull execution.

Now the seuerall companies, hauing bene well applyed and taught for a time by their Captaine and other officers,Sundry compa­nies to ioyne to­gether. I would wish, should once euery three monethes, meete and ioine some foure or fiue companies together, in some con­uenient place, then and there to bring them into such formes as should be need­full for so many companies. And once a yeare at the least, all the companies of the whole shire to meete in some most conuenient place together, then and there to be instructed in the orders how to march,1. To march2. To encampe.3. To fight. how to encampe, and how to fight: deuiding them into so many parts or battaillions, as vnto their chiefe Officer shall seeme good.

What course would you wish the Captaine of a single companie to ob­serue in the trayning of his souldiers?

First hauing his companie leauied and chosen of the better sort of peo­ple, as is said,Rules to be obser­ued by a carefull Captaine. 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,Militarie points to be ensigned new souldiers. as before is declared; then to ensigne them the right carriage of their armes and weapon: then to knowe the seuerall soundes of the [Page 34] 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 [...]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:A good Captaine will soone make ready souldiers. and so by a continuall vse they may (by good instru­cters) become soone to be ready souldiers.

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?

The art of warre better deliuered by act thē words.To discourse vpō al these points particularly, it wold be ouer long: & might better be shewed in act thē in words: yet to satisfie you somewhat herein, I will speak of the particulars here & there, as I shal be occasioned, & shal cal thē to me­mory. First therfore,The Harquebu­zier his armings and weapons. 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 hāging by at Port-flask, or Flask-leather vpō the right thigh, & vpō 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.To charge. 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, & thē 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,To cocke the match. 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 endāger his fellows) to take the one end of his lighted match, with his forefinger, midle finger, & thōbe of his right hād, & 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,To leuell. 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,To discharge. & so to discharge his peece with agility hauing done the [Page 33] which,To retire. To recharge. 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;The musketier his arming and his forke weapon. 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,To charge. 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,To cocke his match. 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 and fore finger of his right hand, and with his middle finger to measure at what length to cocke the same,To leuell. 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,To discharge. 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,To retire. To recharge. go charge again: finally for other armes, a reasonable short sword, a meane dagger; with no morion, but a faire hat and feather.

Thus I perceiue your fiery shot haue many busie skils, without know­ledge of all the which it is hard to become a perfect shot.

True;Aduise. 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,How to bring the bisognios fir s [...] to the bullet. 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,The piker his ar­mings and wea­pon which the Spaniards do tearme Sen̄ora 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 [Page 34] 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,The pike of 17. or 18. foote. 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,The dagger. to weare a good short sword and dagger: for the dagger is a weapon of great aduantage in Pell mell.

Obiection.And if it be replied, that the souldier so heauie armed, is not for any great march,Answer. 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.Picha se [...]cha. And the Picquier, either armed or vnarmed is to be shewed and taught the carriage and vse of his pike;The carrying and handling of the 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.To make Alto, to arbolare, or ad­uaunce. To reare. 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,When to ad­uaunce. 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.To present, To charge. 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,To push. standing firme and sure vpon the left foote. But if the squadron be charged with any troupes of the enemies horse,To cowch. then must the Picquiers cowch their pikes fast vnder the right foote, hol­ding [Page 37] the same [...] the left hand, and bow downe the point thereof against the breast of the hor [...]e,To Couch. 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,The Romains Tesserarios their training. 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 into the field, there causing them to run,Vertuous exercis [...] to leape, to iumpe, to wrastle, to throw the sledge, to pitch the barre, and such like exercises; and sometimes also to learne to swim, as a qua­litie very befitting a souldier. Moreouer, they did many times cause their souldi­ers, as well foote as horse,To march out fai­ned skirmish. to march armed at all points, euen as it were to serue a­gainst their enemie, once or twise in a moneth, euery man carrying his owne pro­uision and victuals, and giuing and receiuing the charge, euen as in hostile fight: and this did they for the space of ten miles, fiue out, and fiue home. Thus with these exercises they brought their people to be able, quicke, and ready to serue v­pon all occasions, and did more good seruice with twentie thousand of such so trained and practised,Ready men, ad­uantagious. then with thirtie or fortie thousand of raw and vntrained men: But to haue a souldier to be very perfect, and a good executioner indeede, it is needfull to haue bin in some good peeces of seruice, & to haue seene men to fall on both sides,To be a good exe­cutioner must haue seene seruice. To tosse the pike. which doth flesh & harden a souldier very much. Finally the good Picquier ought to learne to tosse his pike well, with the due handling of the same, and to be skilfull therein; sith it is the weapon he professeth: for 100 of ready pikemen, are better then 200 that know not the vse of the weapon. Now the halbarders ought to be fully armed with a corslet as is the Picquier; but in mar­ching he is alwayes to beare the same on the right shoulder,The halberd. holding the lower end thereof, with his right hand almost close to his right thigh and knee.

You haue well discoursed touching the caryage and handling of the calliuer, musket, pike, and halbard. But now, I pray what meane you by doubling your ranke and file?

By ranke I meane euery row, or order of men, standing shoulder by shoulder,Ranke what it is. File what it is. either in march or squadron, reaching a long from the one side of the squadron vnto the other. And by file, I vnderstand all the line, order, or row of all the souldiers standing consequently one after another, from front to the traine, either in march or squadron. Now, the doubling of ranke or file is thus. First suppose your company to be of 100 pikes (as for the shot we will speake of here­after) and you would bring them into a iust square of men:The doubling of ranke and file. first search out the Cubike roote of your number, and it is 10; then (after the first order) you shall cause them by the sound of the drum,By single file. to embattell, to march vp in single files, at 10 men in euery file, & the head man of euery 10 to be a Caporal or Cabo de Ca­mera; and as the first 10 is come vp vnto the place where you meane to frame your squadrō, cause them to make Alto; then cal vp the second file, at 10 per file, causing [Page 38] them to march vp close pouldron to pouldron of the first tē, and there to firme & stand: then the third file, then the fourth and so consequently the rest, vntill your squadron be formed: your ensigne marching vp in the middle file, as in this fi­gure may appeare.

An other order is thus: you may march them vp in 2, 3, 4, or 5, files at once, and 10 rankes (for the number euen or od importeth nothing) if at 2 files at once,By maniple or many files. then are they marched vp and framed at fiue commings vp: if at 3 files at once, then at three marchings vp at 3 files per Maniple, which make 9 files, and 1 single file, at 10 men per file: which maketh your iust square of men. Now if you will march them vp, by 4 files at once, they are 2 marchings or Maniples, at 4 files, 10 rankes, and one Maniple, at 2 files per Maniple, and so againe is your squadron for­med. And againe if you would march them vp by 5 files at once, and 10 rankes, they come vp in 2 Maniples, and so is your squadron iustly framed.

How to double the rank [...].Your squadron being thus framed & set, at 10 rankes, & 10 files, thē to double the rankes, you shall cause vpon an other sound of the drum, those of the second ranke, to step in betwixt them of the first ranke, beginning either vpon the left or right hand first, as you will: and the 4 ranke to double the 3, and againe the 6 ranke to double the 5, and the 8 ranke to double the 7, and finally the 10 to double the 9, so shall your battell or squadron come to be 20 in breadth, and 5 in length or depth; or 20 files and 5 rankes, which is in forme of a battell of double front as by these figures appeareth.

[Page 39]

Here you see the rankes doubled into 20 files and 5 rankes. Then cause them vpon another sound of the drumme,To fall off. to fall of, or backe againe into their former places: and so to double againe vpon the other hand, and fall off againe. Now, to double the file;To double the file. cause the second file to double the first either vpon the left or right hand, as it shall please you to begin, and the fourth file to double the third, and the sixt the fift, and the eight the seuenth, and the tenth file to double the ninth, as in these figures following may appeare.

[Page 40]And here you may see the file doubled, reduced into fiue files, at 20 men per file, vpon the right hand: the like you shal cause them to do vpon the left hand: ha­uing first caused them to fall off from their file, bringing them into their former square againe.

Then shall you go vnto the traine of your battell or squadron, and vpon ano­ther sound of the drumme,To turne their faces and make front of any part you shall command all your souldiers to turne their faces vpon a sudden towards you: then causing them to double both ranke & file that way, as you did the other way before: thus with a litle paines taking and pra­ctise, you shall soone bring your souldiers to be ready and skilfull in these altera­tions of formes, and many more. The like may be done with any other greater numbers, either in battels or battallion, or by making the front of any flanke.

But to what end serueth all this?

Marie, to many good purposes: For the first order of doubling the ranks (besides the readinesse it breedeth in the souldiers) doth serue to alter vpon a sud­den your grand square of men,Doubling of ranks and files serueth to sundry purposes. into a square of ground, or into a battell of dou­ble front, and to many other purposes, in framing of many small battallions one grand square. And againe, the second order in doubling of the files, doth serue to many such other purposes: as if vpon a sudden your foot enemy shall come to charge you vpon the flanke, then by doubling their files, and suddenly turning their faces vpon the enemie, they shall make of flanke 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,To passe straights 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.

But if the squadron or maniple were of od nūbers, it wold not so fal out.

Od files or ranks.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 [Page 41] vnderstandeth this well, may do the like with any other numbers great or small.

And what course do you appoint the shot belonging to those numbers of pikes, to obserue in these alterations of proportion?

The shot appertaining vnto euerie such number,Shot, how to be practised. 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.Example. 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,Musketiers, how to discharge vpon a march. & 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:How to discharge vpon a counter­march. 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.

Musketiers wheeled into a halfe moone to discharge in vollie.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 [Page 43] 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.

Your calliuers or small shot, would you haue them to discharge in these maners and orders before spoken of and figured?

No;Calliuers deuided into small troupes to discharge by file. 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 gard to their watch, reseruing many other particular matters vntil I come to treat of the office of the Sergeant Maior, where many Militarie points shall be at large discoursed. You must note that euery single company marching & training alone,The arraunging of a small compa­ny to march. their pikes are first ranked by 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 or more in a rancke, according to their number (the number of euen or od, in ranke importeth nothing, as I sayd before) hauing their ensigne, and halbards contained within the center or middle ranke of their pikes. Then the shot is to be ranked altogether with the like number of men in a ranke, and [Page 44] then to cut them off, or deuide them at the middle ranke; leading the one halfe of them vnto the forefront of the pikes,Order to be ob­serued entring in­to the Corps de gard. and there to place them in euen files with the pikes, and the other halfe is to be brought vnto the traine of the pikes, and there filed in like maner, alwayes regarding to place the muskets of the first halfe of your shot, in the formost rankes, and those of the other halfe, in the hindermost ranke. Now thus marching on, and comming to the place of Corps de gard, the shot of the vantgard are to make Alto, or stand, then the pikes to march vp by, them; and the first ranke of pikes comming vnto the formost ranke of the shot, to make Alto also, and then the pikes to double their rankes, as before is declared, to bring themselues into squadron, euen ranke for ranke with the shot. This being done, then the other shot of the rereward is to march vp vpō the other hand of the pikes, ranke for ranke with the said square of pikes: and so is your squadron or battallion formed as by these figures following may appeare; where I suppose one or two companies together in march,The march. containing in all 100 pikes, and halberds, & 100 shot, they march on 5 per ranke; the shot of the vantgard makes their stand, then do the pikes march vp by them, & comming vnto their formost ranke of the shot do stand also; and there double their rankes, so are they 10 rankes, and ten files: lastly commeth vp the shot of the arereward & garnisheth the other flanke, euen ranke with ranke, and so is the squadron framed and garnished with shot.

[Page 45]Thus me thinks that I haue sufficiently intreated of this order of training, as for other sortes of imbattailing we will hereafter speake of, as occasion shall be offered.

THE SECOND DIALOGVE.

TThen I pray passe to your other officers of warre.

There be many petie officers vsed amongst vs, as Clarke of the band, Drummer, Forrage maister, Scout maister, Trench ma­ister, Quarter maister, Caporals of the field, & such like, of whom I will speake particularly nothing; but including them vnder the charge of other superior officers: of the which I will begin with the duty of a Sergeant Maior, whose office is of such importance, care, industry and skill, espe­cially in day of battell, that I must be constrained before I enter into the parts of his office, to describe the orders of fights and battels most vsed in these our mo­derne wars, as a thing most pertinent vnto the aforesaid officer, touching the sun­dry formes of battels vsed by antiquity; wherein (in mine opinion) the Romaines did most excell: I will speake, at this instant, litle more then what is sayd be­fore, considering that ages, times, occurrents, inuentions and customes haue altred, and dayly doth, what antiquity thought best and best assured.

The formes of battels in our time are not many, yet euery man almost hath a seuerall opinion thereof; but common reason and experience hath made most men confesse and agree, that of all formes the square battell, be it either of square of men, or square of ground, is the most assured, most strong, and most apt to bee reduced into any other forme.

What meane you by this word Battell?

By the word Battell, I vnderstand in this place a whole vnited body of souldiers well disciplined, all armed with pikes, to fight in day of battell, an act of armes, with good hope of victory, the which for more security hath the front, the traine, and the two flankes of complet corslets, to the end that being assayled or charged, they may make the face or front of any or euery side or part; and vali­antly receiue the charge, and may also charge and breake the enemy, and at­taine the victory.The ca [...]allery & shot, not contai­ned within the body of the bat­tell. Now in this body I vnderstand neither the shot, nor cauallery, the which are to haue an other order to another end.

Are these battels framed in one sort onely, or in more, or in many, or in how many; or what maner I pray are they made?

Your curious demand deserueth answer, I tolde you before that many sorts of battels haue beene framed by valiant and expert Captaines: but the best approued, and most vsed now, is the square battell, be it either of men or ground.

I would gladly know the reason why they make their battels square; and what is meant by square of men and square of ground.

The reason why battells are fra­med in quadrat proportion.Battels are made square, & so vsed, for that they are apt to frame the Front of euery side or part, which could not be if they were Triangles, or of any other forme vsed by antiquitie. And it doth much import that the Front be gaillard and strong: for the front once broken, the battell stands in hazard. And againe, to ser­rie or close Pouldron to Pouldron the square forme is best: for that they close e­quallie together, & strengthen the front to the victorie. And this shall suffice tou­ching the Quadrat.Square of men, & square of ground, what it is. Now, concerning the difference of square of men, and square of ground, I say: that the square of men is, when there be so many men in front as in flanke, or so many in length as in breadth; and this sort of battell com­meth to bee in ground two times, and one third more long then broade, and a Quadrat of ground will bee of men two times and one third more broade then long.

In how many maners may these square battels be made?

Were the Companies all of pikes, with corslets complet and not mixt with bare pikes, (which is not lightly to bee found) the framing of any of these sorts of battels would be very ready and easie, and might be soone brought into any proportion without confusion: the which being of pikes armed and vnar­med, will require more care,Battells consisting of armed and vn­armed pikes, fra­med in three ma­ner of wayes. labour, and paines, to the framing thereof. Now therefore I say, in three sorts or maners, most auaileable and most commo­diously are battels framed in these dayes, consisting of armed and vnar­med pikes.

1 The first manner is when an army doth march with the one halfe of the armed pikes in the foreward, and the other halfe in the reareward of the vn­armed pikes. Now in the body of this battell I vnderstand no short weapon, (but reserue them to another place and vnto another purpose, as before I haue sayd, and will heareafter speake more thereof) but all pikes, for the battell thereby wold be more readily framed, more brauer in sight, and more stronger to fight, in mine opinion.

2 The second fashion is, when the army marcheth company by company, with their armed pikes in the foreward and reareward of euerie particular com­panie.

3 The third order is, when an armie marcheth Maniple by Maniple, with the armed pikes in the Front and traine of euery particular Maniple. And besides this, when the armed pikes which do serue to arme the two flankes, do march the one part before, & the other part behind, and these also are called Maniples: for a Maniple is here called so many rankes throughout the battell, as the battell is in length,Maniple, what it is. at so many per ranke as they march in ordinance or array. And although the armed pikes which doe march at the head or taile of the arrayes of Maniples to arme the two sides, if it happen at any time that they march not to the full length of the battell, yet neuerthelesse when they be put vnto their office to arme the two sides, although they be not in length to the length of the battell, at so many in rank as is appointed to arme the two flankes, yet are they called Ma­niples also. And againe, any part of shot or pikes, that be drawne a part, to be set to defend any straight, or to scarmush, may also bee called a Maniple: but [Page 47] being shot,Shot in troupe [...]. are fitter called troupes, after the french word.

Now of these sundry sorts of imbattailling of men, as well of proportions of e­quality as of inequality, and of battallions of the same nature, as well euen as odde battallions, seruing to the framing of crosse battels with such other like, I will frame certaine calculations or tables, the which shall serue to sundry numbers of men & orders, according to the iudgement of the skilfull souldier, which shall be in the last booke of these discourses.

But me thinkes you are not much affected to haue any halberdes or billes in your battell, which is contrary to our opinion and custome: for we call them the gard of the ensignes, and slaughter of the field.

Truly,Halberds and short weapon no [...] liked of in the bo­dy of the battell. The reasons why. I would not wish any such weapon in the body of a standing battell, if we might be prouided otherwise of pikes: my reasons are these. For the pikes being Terciard or charged ouer hand to encounter a battell of foot­men, or couched vnder the foote to receiue any troupes of horse, do one of them fall so proportionally within or after another; euen as their rankes of men are di­stant in their seuerall stations, the second following the first, the third the second, and the fourth following the third, and so consequently euery ranke se­conding one another, that it seemeth it were as good for a man to come vpon a brasen wall (if they stand resolute) as vpon such a battell of pikes, except they should be marched or encountred with the like weapons and proportions. Now if this be the best course to receiue or charge footmen, then no doubt (not be­ing thus mingled with short weapons) it must needes be the best battell to re­ceiue a charge of horse.

Although you disalow and disproue to haue your battell of pikes mingled with short weapon; yet would you not alow them about the ensignes in the center of the battell?

For what purpose in the center of the battell?

To defend the ensignes with hand blowes.

I suppose it an error.Halberds not liked of about the co­lours. The reasons why. For who doth not know that if the enemy be like to be victor, the armed pikes will yeeld backward as they feele themselues distressed, so as when the pikes are in such maner crashed and clustred together, that they can no longer charge and push with their pikes, then will the throng or presse in the center be so great, that the halberds and bils shall haue little roome to strike; nay short swords will hardly haue rome at that instant either to thrust or to strike. I would thinke daggers would do more execution at that time, and in that presse vntill one side fall to flight:Daggers auail [...] ­able in pell mell. Short weapon in a stand of pikes vn­seemeli [...]. so I see no reason at all for halberds or bills to haue place in a battell or stand of pikes: Besides the vnseemely shew they make either by themselues in the center, or mingled among pikes.

So I perceiue you would quight exclude all halberds and bils out of your battell, and so not at all to be vsed.

Conclude not so short vpon me, because I giue them no place within the body of the battell. For if you remember, in our former discourses, at the e­quall sortment of weapons, I allowed to euery hundred of men 8 or 10 halberds. The which bils and halberds with other short weapons as swords and targets,Short weapon their places of best seruice. and long swords, and such like, shall serue as in a place of best seruice for them, to mingle with your naked troupes of shot, and also (placed with some pikes) for [Page 48] the gard of the cariage and munition and ordinance, or for execution if the ene­my begin to breake and slye, with sundry such seruices not contained in the bo­dy of the battell.

Well, you haue satisfied vs herein; but what thinke you of sundry other opinions touching the lining of battels with shot or bowes?

Lyning of battels with shot or bowes disliked. Lyning of shot in single ranke.Touching such lining I will shew you mine opinion against them. Now first for that kind of lining which is vsed in placing a pike and a shot, I am sure that the shot cannot be so hurtfull to the enemy, as they will weaken the battell: my reason is this. No army, I am certaine, shall be so ordered, that the battell shall be left bare without his troupes of shot before, to keepe the enemy doing in skir­mish, vntill the battels be ready to ioyne, and charge or couch their pikes: at that instant haue the shot, that line the battell, their time to serue, euen as the pikes are couched,The reasons. and not before. Now let men of consideration and experience iudge, whether it be possible for them to discharge aboue one shot a peece, and that not aboue three rankes of them; and thereupon, whether those shot can at that time of seruice be such a strength to the battel, as if an armed pike were in the roome. I do suppose the battell would be much stronger, if the shot were rid from thence, and pikes in their places. Then it falleth out, that this kind of lining is not good.Lyning with shot in another sort more tollerable. Now, touching another kind of lining with shot, which is 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, rankes of pikes; and then 3, 4, or 5 rankes of shot, and then pikes, and then shot a­gaine. In deede this kind of lining is the most tollerable, and yet not without his discommodities: for if such a battell ioyne with a battell of foote, the shot cannot play vntill the rankes of pikes before them are broken; which cannot be, but that their owne men and their enemy shall be mingled pell mell one among ano­ther. Then tell me by reason, how those shot can serue that are the lining, but they must needes kill as well their owne men, as their enemy, being thus min­gled at all aduentures. And if this be the end of their seruice (as indeede it is) by a forced necessity to kill without choise, then must it needes follow, that they are rather hurtfull then seruiceable in that place: farre better therefore pikes in their romes.

Lyning with bowes, a comber­some tying wea­pon.And now for your lining with bowes, a combersome tying weapon in a throng of men; it must needes bee concluded by reason, that where calliuers, which are no tying weapons, are yet vnprofitable, in that place how can bowes, to which it requireth such elbow rome, and are so troublesome, be any wayes in that sort commodious or to be allowed?

Your reasons and conclusions haue wonderfull well liked vs; wherefore now I pray returne againe to your framing of battels of pikes only, without short weapons.

I told you before, that battels are made most auaileably, and most commodiously, in three maner of wayes: shewing you euery seuerall order, and that when time shoulde permit, I would frame tables for the easie ordering of each.

But shall your tables serue for the framing of one whole bodie of a bat­tell, or for more?

Tables to be fra­med, and to what end.These tables shall serue to make either one, two, or three battels of an army, or so many as shall be requisite and needefull, either to offend the enemy [Page 49] or to defend; and also according to the situation of the ground, and shall serue on­ly to haue in a readinesse and memory, all that which a battell well ordered would require, according to the ground where it shall be; so that there shall neede no more but to commaund the men to be marshalled into the order that shall bee appointed to the framing of the battell, according to the situation of the ground. But first I will set you downe orderly a table of proportionall numbers, in such proportion as one would make the breadth of the battell to haue vnto the length, and so many will set downe of proportionall numbers, as shall suffice to make euery sort of battell,Proportinall numbers [...]e [...]uin [...] to the setting of battels. Proportions of e­quality. that may be more large then long, or equall; as hereafter shall appeare. And now of proportionall numbers, I will begin to speake of those which be in proportion of equality: as 1 to 1, 2 to 2, 3 to 3, 4 to 4, and 5 to 5, and 6 to 6, and so of more; prouided they bee of equall comparison the one to the other. But yet to frame a battell, those shall be taken which be in least propor­tion, as 1 to 1, and those numbers which are of equall comparison, as 1 to 1, doe serue onely to make the battell quadrat of number of men: that is, so many men in breadth as in depth of the battell. But when you will make a battell that may be of more men in breadth then in depth, then shall you take the numbers which be in proportion of inequality, so much as you wold haue the battell to be of more men in breadth then in depth;Proportions of in­equality. as 3 to 2, or 5 to 3, or 7 to 4, and such like, as shall be found in these tables following of numbers compared the one to the other in inequality: beginning with those of the least proportion.

To bring these fractions into whole numbers of proportion, you must worke thus: Multiply the whole number by the denominator of the fraction, and adding thereunto the numerator of the said fraction, the proportiō is found: as for exam­ple, to haue the battell to containe two times, and a third more broade then long▪ I seeke in the table 2 ⅓ whereof the whole number is 2, and the fraction is ⅓. Now multiply the whole number 2, by the fractions denominator 3, and it maketh 6, whereunto ad the fractions numerator, which is 1, and it amounteth 7, so is 2 ⅓ in proportion as 7 is to 3, and so must you worke any the like numbers.

In all these aforesayd proportions, to make the battels of proportion of equali­ty, that is as broade as it is deepe, or of inequality, which is more in breadth then in depth, both these wayes is to bee vnderstood of men, and not of ground; for of the proportions of ground I will speake hereafter.These proportions of men and not of ground.

Me thinks I vnderstand touching the proportions of equality, and ine­quality, & that is so broade as deepe, or more in breadth then in depth, vnderstan­ding of men, both of the one manner, and the other; but I would gladly (Cap­taine) that you would shew it vs by example, for so we shall the better conceiue of the matter.

I will most willingly: Therefore to begin, I will set downe to make a square battell of number of men, that is, so many men in front as in flanke: And let our whole number be 5000 men, of armed pikes, and single pikes one with ano­ther. Now to frame this quadrat battell, you shall take in the aforesaid tables, the numbers of proportions of equality, which are as 1 to 1. Then must you set downe your rule in this sort:The rule to frame a square battell of men. Setting downe first the proportion of equality for the first and second number, and the number of men for the third number, thus 1 prime, 1 second, 5000 third. This being done, multiplie the 3 number which is 5000, the number of men by 1, the second number, and it maketh still 5000, (for 1 doth neither multiplie nor deuide) then deuide the said first multiplied number 5000 by 1 the first number, and it maketh yet 5000. Now out of that 5000, you shall take the quadrat roote, which is 70. So 70 rankes of men shall your battell containe, [...] both in breadth and length; and there will remaine 100 men. For 70 multiplied into itselfe resulteth 4900, the which deducted out of 5000, there resteth 100 men, the which 100 men deuide by 70, so will there arise one more ranke of men, and yet will there remaine 30 men ouer, the which one ranke shall be ioyned vnto the 70 rankes aforesayd, so are they 71 in breadth and 70 in length: but to the end you may better vnderstand me, I will go shewing the same by figures, whereof this shall be the first.

[Page 51]

And the 30 men which do remaine out of the body of the battell, they shall be reserued for other purposes.

And this square battell of number of men may be done in a more shorter and readier way,A more exquisit way to frame any square battell of men. [...] thus. Take the quadrat roote of 5000 simply, which is 70, and with this 70 deuide the 5000 men, so will there come 71 for the breadth of the bat­tel, and there will remaine 30 men. And thus your battell will containe 70 rankes in length, and 71 men per ranke in breadth, with 30 men remayning as afore­sayd. Now although the battell be more broade then long, or more men in front then in flanke by one ranke, yet is it neuerthelesse, after the order of warre, called a square battell of men.

The table drawne aforesayd for the proportion of equality, that is, that the battell do containe so many men in breadth as in length, shall serue also to shew the order which is to bee obserued in the battels that are to be be made of more men in front then in flanke, that is, in proportion of inequality, as hereafter I will shew you, giuing you to vnderstand that all the figures shall haue their scala de­uided into pases,Geometricall scale. foote. and euery geometricall pase into 5 foote, of the which measure of feete I haue here vnder set downe the fourth part, which is three inches, for that [Page 52] euery foote is deuided into 12 inches, to the end you may conceiue what quantity of ground euery battell of pikes would require, allowing for euery mans station set in aray to fight, 3 foote in front, that is, from pouldron to pouldron, and 7 foote in flanke, that is 3 foote before, and 3 foote behind, for the vse of his weapon, and one foote for his owne station.

By this your example you haue satisfied me wonderous well, in giuing me to vnderstand how to set a battell quadrat of any number of men, which is so many men in front as in flanke: yet would I desire to know how to arme or impale this battell with armed pikes, both front, tayle, and the two flankes, considering that few armies haue all their pikemen furnished with corslets complete.

True, there are few armies that haue scarse the one halfe of their pikemen armed with corslets, which is a great part of the strength and beauty of the battell, therefore we must seeke a course how to impale any battell with such armed pikes as they haue:To empale the battell with your armed pikes the rule. to do the which these rules following shall serue to impale any bat­tell, as well of proportion of inequality, as of equality, the foreward, the reareward, and the two flankes, with pikes and armed corslets. Now I suppose the whole num­ber of pikes to be 5000, as well armed as vnarmed, whereof there be 2000 armed pikes with corslets; the sayd 2000 I will repart into two equall parts, by 2, or taking the ½ of 2000, which is 1000: and with this 1000, will I impale the two flankes, and with the other 1000 will I arme the front and traine of the battell. [...] Now first to arme the two flankes of the battell with 1000 armed pikes, I will deuide 1000 by 70, which is the depth or flanke of the battell, and the product will be 14 rankes of pikes to arme the flankes of the battell, with 20 pikes of surplussage: the 14 rankes shalbe halfed, or deuided into halues, which is 7 rankes; with the which 7 rankes I will arme the one side, and with the other 7 rankes the other side of the battell, or more or lesse vnto any side, as occasion or neede shall require: as in this figure following shall appeare.

[Page 53]And the 20 armed pikes which before remained,The Romaines. [...] shall be added vnto the other 1000 which are to arme the front and rearegard of the battell, so they are 1020 pikes armed: with these 1020 armed pikes, shall the front and rereward be armed thus; first deduct the 14 rankes, which went to arme the two flankes of 70 men in length, out of 71, which is the breadth of the battell, so resteth 57 rankes for the breadth: with this 57 deuide the 1020 armed pikes, and there will come foorth 17 rankes of armed pikes, to arme the head and tayle of the battell: and of these 17 rankes you shall set 9 rankes in the front, and 8 rankes in the reareward; with more or lesse on either, as neede and cause shall require: as by this 3 figure following shall appeare.

Thus this square battell of men commeth to be in length 70 rankes, at 71 men per ranke in front with 9 rankes of armed pikes in the vaward, and 8 rankes in the reareward: and with 7 ranks of armed pikes at each side in length, as you see. And remaining 51 armed pikes out of the impalement, the which you may place at the angles or corners of the vnarmed pikes, as ye see in the 4 figure, or where you shall thinke fittest for the defence and strength of the battell; and not to leaue them out, (for being part of the square) as you did the 30 pikes which before re­mained [Page 54] at the enlarging of so many men in ranke in the first figure. The which 51 armed pikes are now placed in the angles of the battell, as in the 4 figure before may appeare: that is, with 7 rankes at 2 men per ranke in the fore angles, and 6. rankes at 2 men per ranke in the reareward angles.

O how it delighteth me to haue learned of you, how to arme or impale a battell. But now would I faine know if there be this number of men in the bat­tell by you supposed, with the 30 at first remaining.

To know if there be in this battell the number of 5000 men, with the 30 which aduaunced at the first framing of the battell,The proofe. [...] do thus: multiplie the length by the breadth, that is 70 by 71 men, & it amounteth 4970 men; vnto the which adioyne the 30 which remained, so will they amount vnto 5000 pikemen, armed and vnarmed, as before was set downe, to set the said battell, in the first figure, which is your demaund.

This is verie easie; but now would I faine know, if they haue the propor­tion of equalitie.

That you shall know thus: deuide the breadth by the length, as to repart 71 by 70, the product is 1. And although that 1 do remaine of the breadth, yet it is called a square battell neuerthelesse.

Captaine, I am well satisfied in vnderstanding the proportion that a battell hath in breadth to the length: but now would I gladly know how long and large is this square battell of men, I meane how much ground it will occupie?

First you must vnderstand (as I told you before) that euery man martial­led in battell array to fight,A rule to know what quātitie of ground any bat­tell will require, each armed mans station 3 foote in breadth 7 foote for length. [...] will require in his station, 3 foot of ground in breadth, that is from shoulder to shoulder, and 7 foote of ground for length, that is 3 foot for before him, 3 foote for behind him, and 1. foote of ground for his own station. This being noted: then must you multiplie the 71 rankes of men in front by 3 foote, and they will amount vnto 213 foote, and the 213 foote shall be deuided by 5 foote, accounting 5 foote to a pase, and the geometricall pase to conteine 2 or­dinary going steps or pases of a man: so will there come forth 42 pases and 3 foot. By this reckening will the battell conteine 42 pases and 3 foote.

And now to know the length thereof in ground, you shall multiplie the 70. rankes of length of the battell, by 7 foote, so will there come 490 foote, the which 490 foote you must deuide by 5 foote (which is a pase) & there ariseth 98 pases; & so doth the battell conteine in length 98 pases of ground. Thus the square battell of number of men commeth to conteine more ground in length then in breadth about 2½ twise & third, as you haue seene in the 3 and 4 figures of the square bat­tell of men. Thus you haue vnderstood of a battell, square of number of men, with their armed pikes in front, in traine, and the two flankes: which is in such order as the said battell should be framed vpon the point to fight.

I haue very well vnderstood the order that should be kept, to know how broad and long is the battell of ground: but I beseech you to shew me now, the order to be obserued in the framing of the said battels, so that there should neede no more but the Sergeant Maior, to appoint the souldiers the order they should keepe, for to frame and order the said battell with speede and in readinesse.

A rule to frame these battels with speed.Truly, your demaund is good, sith that speedinesse is the proper and pe­culiar part of the arming of these battels. To do the which you shall worke thus: The armed pikes which are in the 2 flankes shall be accommodated and placed in [Page 55] the front and in traine of the battell, as in the calculation of the 3 and 4 figure, whereas there be 70. rankes, at 14 men per ranke, that is 7 men in ranke for the ar­ming of euery flanke, [...] then multiplying 70 by 14, do amount 980 armed men; and 980. armed men you shall deuide by 57. which is the rest of the breadth of the battell, (being of vnarmed pikes) & there resulteth 17 rankes, at 57 armed men per ranke. Of the which 17 rankes, at 57 men by ranke, there shall be adioyned 9 rankes vnto the front, and 8 rankes vnto the traine of the battell, with the other 9 and 8 ranks, which were before of armed pikes at the front and traine: So the bat­tell shall be in length or by flancke 87 rankes, at 57 men per ranke in front, with 18 rankes of armed pikes at the foreward, and 16 rankes of armed pikes in the reareward, as in this figure following shall appeare.

[Page 56] What to do with the remaines.And the 11 armed Pikes which remained at the last deuision, when it shalbe time to arme the two flankes of the battell with speed, then vnto one of the two flanks shall they be added, which is vnto that flanke where the same shall bee found wanting.

Me thinks that I vnderstand sufficiently, how to arme and set a battell with celeritie and speed at euerie occasion as shall be offered, and also the order to be obserued in setting a battell of equalitie, which is as manie men in breadth as in length: but now I would gladly learne how to frame a battell of inequality, which is of more men in breadth then in length?

Rules to frame all battels in pro­portion of ine­quality, or two fold battels.Sir, knowing how to frame the calculation of the proportion of equali­tie, that is, as many men in breadth as in length of a battell, it shall be verie easie for you to do that of inequalitie; which is a battell more broade then long: yet ne­uerthelesse will I giue you the instruction of the proportion of inequalitie. Now put the case, that you will frame a battell of proportion of inequalitie, which is of more men in breadth then in length, and that your number be 5000 men, of ar­med and vnarmed Pikes, as afore is sayd of the Square battell of men. And put the case that you will frame this battell ⅓ times more in breadth then in length (for this proportion is more vsed then any other in warres) for that this is the pro­portion which commeth to make a battell quadrat of ground, wherein most men are brought at once to fight in front. And to make this battell you shall take in the table 2 and ⅓ which is in proportion as 7 to 3: and these two numbers are to be set downe for the first, and second thing. Now to haue the length of the battel, the second number is set downe for the second thing, and the number of men which you wil haue to be embattailed for the third as hereunder appeareth. Then proceed as is done in framing the Square battell of men.The Rule. [...] [...]. Then multiply and deuide as before is said. The same order is to be obserued in euery other proportion of battels, which you would make of more men in breadth then in length, tearmed by some Englishmen, Bastard square, Brode square, and Base square, or by some others, Twise fold Battels. To worke the which, now multiply 5000 the third, by 3 the second, and they make 15000: and this 15000 shall be deuided by 7 the first, whereof the product is 2142, and 6 men remaining, of which 6 make no accompt. Now of 2142 extract the quadrat roote, which is 46 and 26 yet remaining, of which 26 make no reckening also, as before is said: and, this 46 (the roote of 2142) is the length of the battell. Now, the breadth or front thereof shall be found by deuiding the 5000 men by 46 the length of the battell, and there will come 108 men in ranke for breadth of the battell, and 32 men re­maining, the which 32 men shall stand out of the battell, as before is said in the Square battell of men. Thus shall this battell containe in flanke 46 rankes, and in front 108 men per ranke, as in this sixt figure will appeare. And there will re­maine 32 men, which are not contained within the bodie of the battell.

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Now hauing vnderstood how to frame this battaile of proportion of in­equalitie, which is of more men in breadth then in length, in euerie proportion with facilitie, shew me how to arme the same with armed pikes.

To arme this battell of inequalitie, that is, more men in front then in flanke, I wil shew you verie easily. Let vs suppose to arme this battel round about, the front,The order how to empale with ar­med pikes the bat­tels in proportiōs of inequalitie. the traine, and the two sides proportionally, according to the propor­tion that the breadth of the said battell hath vnto the length of the same, which is, as 7 vnto 3. Adde the said 7 vnto 3, and it is 10: so shall it be as 10 to 3. Then see in 5000 men, how many be armed with corslets, and I set that there be 2000, as before is said in arming the Quadrat battell of number of men. Now shall you part these 2000 armed pikes into two proportionall parts, as 10 to 3, the one part to arme the two flanks, [...] the other to arme the vaward and rereward of the battell; then place downe your rule in this sort. If 10 require ⅔ what 3/2000. Now multiplie 3 the second with 2000 the third, and it resulteth 6000: and this 6000 deuide by 10 the first, so will there come 600 armed men; and these 600 armed men shal be to arme the two sides: and deducting 600 out of 2000, there resteth 1400 ar­med men, the which are to arme the front and reregard of the battell. Now must these 600 armed men be reparted by the length of the battell, that is, by 46. so will there come 13 in ranke for the length. And of these 13 rankes, you shall place 7 per ranke on the one side, & 6 per ranke on the other side of the battel in length, as in the figure on the next page appeareth.

[Page 58] Remaines. [...]And there remaineth 2 ar­med

men, the which shall be ioyned with the 1400 armed men, and it maketh 1402, & with these 1402 shall the vaward and rereward of the battell be armed. Now for to arme this frōt & traine of the battell, there shall first be de­ducted 13 rankes of armed men of the length, out of 108 ranks, the breadth of the bat­tell, and there will remaine 95, and the 1402 armed men shall be deuided by this 95, and there will come 14 ranks at 95 men per ranke of ar­med men. Now of these 14 rankes there shall be placed 7 rankes at the front, and 7 on the rereward of the battell. So the battell shall containe in length or by flanke 46 rankes at 108 men by ranke in front, with 7 armed men per ranke on the one side, and 6 armed men per ranke on the other side of the battell in flanke, and 72 armed men remaining, the which you shall place where you shall thinke best, as here appeareth in figure.

[Page 59]Now the 72 men remaining, I haue placed in the 4 angles, as in this 8 figure aboue appeareth:

I perceiue how to arme a battell of proportiō of inequalitie, the vaward, the reareward, & the two sides: But (I pray) tell me, the battell being thus framed, how I may know whether this battell hath this proportion of his breadth to his length, that is 2 times and ⅓ more broade then long or as 7 to 3.

To know if the length to the breadth of the battell hath his proportion,The proofes. as 7 to 3, you shall deuide 108 the breadth, by 46 the length, the product wil be 2, and 16 remaining, which is about ⅓ of 46 a litle more.

But how shall I proue, that in this battell of inequalitie there be the 5000 men conteined?

Thus: multiplie the breadth of the battell 108, by 46 the length, and they will amount 4968, vnto the which adde the 32 men which remained, and the summe is 5000.

Now I beseech you to declare vnto me the length & breadth of ground, that the battell of inequalitie doth occupie.

Marrie,The rule to know the quantitie of ground this bat­tell conteineth. thus: It shall be supposed to allow 3 foote in breadth, and 7 foote in length for euery souldier, or litle more or lesse, as shall be thought good: Now multiplying 3 foote with 108 men, the breadth of the battell, it will amount 324 foote, and 324 foote shall be deuided by 5 (accounting 5 foote to a pase) thereof will come 64 pases and ⅘, which is 4 foote, and that is the breadth of the battell.

And to know the length of the battell, multiplie 46 rankes of length by 7 foote, there will come 322 foote: and deuide the sayd 322 by 5, there will come 64 pases and ⅖, which is 2 foote, for the length of the battell: which will bee neare about the length of proportion: and this is the perfect battell of ground.

I pray, let me aske you, In what manner might I accommodate the cal­culation of the battell, to the end that it might be done with dispatch and rea­dinesse, as you haue shewed me before in the Quadrate battell of number of men?

To doe this:The rule to ac­commodate this calculation with speed. [...] Where to place the remaines. deduct 13 rankes of armed men which are in the two flankes in length, out of 108 men in breadth, there will rest 95 per ranke in breadth of the battell. Then shall be sought in 13 men by ranke in length, how many armed men by multiplying 46 of length, by 13 rankes, will amount 598, and 598 shall be deuided by 95 the product will be 6 rankes of men, at 95 per ranke of armed men, and 28 armed men remaining: And of these 6 rankes of armed men, there shall be put 3 at the head, and 3 at the taile of the battell, with the other 7 rankes which were there before: And so the battell shall con­teine in length 52 rankes, at 95 men per ranke in breadth, with 10 rankes at the head, and 10 rankes at the taile of armed men, as I will shew you in this 9 fi­gure following: and there remaines 28 armed men, the which at the time that this battell is made, shalbe placed in one of the flankes, for there they want, as be­fore is said in the account of the 5 figure of the Square battell of men.

I rest so well satisfied with

your good discourses and de­monstrations, that I finde my selfe more and more desirous to demaund of you other particu­larities: wherefore I pray you to shewe mee the manner to march, and set a battell with speed, occasiō offering to fight.

Willingly, as farre as my small skill wil extend. Ther­fore touching the order of mar­ching, and out of the order of the said marching, to set a bat­tell with speed; I say that there are three manners obserued in the making therof: of the which before that I declare their or­ders one by one, I will with bre­uitie repeate all that which be­fore I shewed you.

Repetitions of the former.I haue told you before, how to make the Calculation of battels, as well of the squares of men, as of Proportiōs of inequalitie, containing more men in breadth then length (termed by vs En­glishmen Bastard squares, Broade squares, and Base squares.) And I haue told you of the proportion of the breadth vnto the length: and moreouer, how brode and long will the said battels containe in ground: the which instructions will serue to frame any other battell, that may be more brode then long in any other propor­tion, with the helpe of the Tables which before I haue shewed you: for in the same may be found euerie proportion that shall be needfull, to frame any battell which may be more brode then long in number of men, or equall.

Now wil I shew you the maner how to frame a battell with speed; and this shal be by the instructions of the tables before giuen.Out of 3 maner of marchings to frame a battell with speed. The first maner. And this battell shal be speedily set after the order of the three maners of marching, as at the beginning I told you. The first maner is, when the companies do march with one part of the armed Pikes at the foreward, and an other part at the rereward of the vnarmed Pikes, as I will shew you in the tenth figure.

In this case, hauing the Table in memorie, onely there resteth to commit vnto two expert officers (as Caporals of the field, or such like) at the time of setting the battell, that the one go vnto the head and the other vnto the traine of the Orde­nances or Arrayes: and let him that stands at the head, cause or commaund to turne or wheele either from the right hand, or from the left (as shal be most con­uenient) 95 rankes, at 10 armed men per ranke, and hauing finished, to set the 95 rankes at 10 armed men per ranke, he shall cause them to turne their fa­ces from that part whither the Ordinances or Arrayes do looke, as you shal see designed in the eleuenth figure on the page next following.

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[Page 62]Then besides this, let him place 32 rankes of the arraies of the vnarmed pikes at the backes of the armed pikes, so many as they be rankes in length in the battell of the vnarmed pikes, as in the 8 table before figured appeareth; afterward let him go from hand to hand, drawing out of the arraies 32 rankes of vnarmed pikes, and set them one by another shoulder to shoulder, as I haue demonstrated in the 12 figure, and as I will shew you in this 13 figure.

[Page 63]And as the Arraies of the vn­armed

Pikes shall be placed shoulder to shoulder one of another, at the backes of the first 10 rankes of the armed Pikes; then the Officer which stādeth with the armed pikes for the traine, shall drawe forth 95 rankes, at 10 men per ranke of armed pikes, and place them with their shoul­ders to the backes of the vn­armed pikes, as in this 14 figure shall appeare.

This being done, let the

Officer of the Vanguarde draw out three rankes of the armed pikes, and arme the one flanke at 7 men in ranke; and he that is at the Reregard, let him take 3 ranke of his armed pikes, & arme the other flanke, at 6 men in ranke, as in this fif­teenth figure appeareth.

[Page 64]And there remaines 72 ar­med

men: the which shall be placed in the angles of the Battell, in such order as I shewed you in the decla­ration of the fourth figure; and as here againe in this sixteenth figure shall ap­peare.

Or otherwise accōmodate

those 72 armed men afore­said (being of the number contained within the bodie of the battel) thus: let there of them be made 2 rankes, to set vnto the one or vnto the other flanke of the bat­tel, where you shal see most need & occasion, for the de­fence and strength thereof. But now they shalbe placed one ranke vppon the one flanke, and another vppon the other flanke of the bat­tell; as here in this seuen­teenth figure shall plainly appeare.

And there will yet remaine 8 armed men, to place where you shall thinke good. Aduertising you, that if you should haue set the 72 armed men which be­fore remained, at the head or tayle of the battell, it would not haue reached vnto one whole or full ranke vnto the breadth of the battell: for an intire ranke of the [Page 65] inner part of the battell in breadth is 95 men, that is, so many as the breadth of the vnarmed pikes do containe. Thus the battell declared by the aforesayd 17 figure will be in length 46 rankes, at 108 men per ranke in breadth, with the 7 rankes of armed pikes in the front, and 7 rankes in the reareward, and with 8 men per ranke of armed pikes on the one flanke, and 7 men by ranke of armed pikes on the o­ther flanke, as in the aforesayd 17 figure appeareth, with the 8 men which remai­ned, placed in the body of the battell.

Assuredly (Captaine) this order seemeth wonderfull good. But now vnto the other two orders which you spake of.

Touching the second maner of framing of battels. First the calculation or table of the battell must be had in memory (as before is sayd) in what proportion the said battell would be framed, and the army marching company by company, as I will shew you in the 18 figure: euery captaine shall be commanded by the Ser­geant maior, to make so many rankes of their pikes as the length of the battell shall containe, as in the 18 and 19 figures shall appeare. Now let vs suppose the sayd battell to containe in length 52 rankes, with 10 rankes of armed pikes at the head, and as many at the trayne, as is shewed in the declaration of the ninth and 14 figures, and that euery Captaine doe make 52 rankes, with 10 armed pikes before, and 10 behind, as in the 18 figure is shewed. And if a­ny Captaine be found which hath not to accomplish that number, let him ioyne with another Captaine, and betwixt them both let them make vp that number of 52 rankes. This being done, Captaine by Captaine shall set their rankes shoul­der to shoulder the one of the other, and shall so frame the battell 52 rankes in length, with 10 armed pikes by ranke before, and 10 behind. After that shall bee framed the battell, as I will shew you in this 20 figure following. This being done, one of the 4 Caporals of the field, shall go vnto the head, and another vnto the reareward: then he which is at the head, shall take away from the front of the battell 3 rankes of armed pikes, and arme therewith one of the flankes▪ at 7 men per ranke in length, adioyning vnto them the 28 armed pikes, which he lacketh to furnish out the length of 46 rankes at 7 men per ranke, as is said in the declara­tion of the 9 figure.

And the other Caporall or officer, which is at the traine of the battell. He also shall take away or draw foorth from the traine 3 rankes of armed pikes, and arme with them the other side or flanke, at 6 men per ranke, in length of 46 rankes. So shall the battell bee formed 46 rankes long, at 108 men per ranke in front or breadth, with 7 ranks of armed pikes in frōt, & as many in traine, & with 7 armed men per ranke on the one flanke, & with 6 men by ranke, on the other flanke armed pikes: as I shewed in the 8 figure of the table and also in the 21 figure following.

And there will remaine out of the body of the battell 32 men, and they shall bee placed as I sayd in the last of the third order, at the beginning: moreouer there remaines 72 armed men.

You must note and conceiue, that in the 18 figure, where the companies do march one after another by fiue in a ranke, and in the 19 figure, where they do come vp shoulder to shoulder to the framing of the battell, as may appeare, although the full number of companies do not there appeare, as is requisit: yet it is to be conceiued that they do consequently one follow another, but want of rome in paper cutteth them off.

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[Page 67]And the 72 armed pikes remaining, which are of the number contained with­in the body of the battell, shall be placed either in the foure corners of the vnar­med pikes, as in the 16 figure may be seene; or else in each of the two sides or flankes, as in the 17 figure appeareth, where there is one ranke adioyned vnto the one flanke, and another vnto the other flanke; or else you may arme and strength with the same 72 armed pikes, any one of the flankes, as neede or occasion shall require.

You haue described the first and second order of imbattailing excellent well, in mine opinion, therefore (I pray) proceede to the third.

The maner of the third order is thus,The third order by marching ma­niple by maniple. When the armie is caused to march Maniple by Maniple, with their armed pikes in vantgard and rearegard of euery particular Maniples; and with one Maniple all of armed pikes, which mar­cheth in the vantgard of the Maniples which haue their vnarmed pikes in their middle or center: the which Maniples of all armed pikes, is that which serueth to arme the one flanke of the battell. Besides this, there marcheth another Maniple of all armed pikes, after all the Maniples; and this Maniple serueth to arme the o­ther flanke of the battell. And the Maniples must march the one after the other, as in the figure appeareth.

Now, there resteth how to bring those into Maniples of this last order, which do march in the full length of the battell, with their armed pikes in front and traine; the which shalbe done in this sort. Let it be supposed (as the 17 figure of the second order doth shew) that there shall be drawne foorth 15 men in ranke of armed pikes in length of the battel, which serue to arme the two flanks, out of 108 men per ranke, the breadth of the battell, there resteth 93 men per ranke for breadth or front. And these 93 must be diuided into so manie parts, as one would that the Maniples should march in ordinance or arraies, the one after another, as the way will permit.

Now say that I will haue the Maniples to march by 5 in a ranke, then must I deuide the 93 (the breadth of the battell) by 5, whereof commeth Maniples 18, which shall containe in length rankes 46 at 5 men in a ranke; and one Maniple remaining at 3 men per ranke; the which Maniple is also 46 rankes in length, at 3 men in rankes. Notwithstanding it shall march (in marching) at 5 men in ranke after all the Maniples aforesayd. And the 18 Maniples doe march with 7 rankes of armed pikes before, and 7 rankes after: and the Maniple of 3 per ranke, shall, at the time of setting the battell, distend to the shoulders of the o­ther Maniples at 3 per ranke, with 7 rankes, armed pikes in front, and 7 rankes ar­med pikes in trayne. And the other two Maniples of armed pikes, which serue to arme the two flankes, the one marcheth in the vantgard, and the other in the reare­ward of the Maniples which haue their vnarmed pikes in the middle (yet at 5 in ranke) as appeareth in the 22 figure, and at the instant that the battell is to be set, the Sergeant Maior shall accommodate and fasten the Maniples of all armed pikes, that marcheth in the foreward of all the Maniples, into 46 rankes, at 8 men armed per ranke, and the other Maniples shall follow from hand to hand, poul­dron to pouldron, the one to the other, as the 23 figure and 24 declareth, begin­ning with the armed Maniple, which armeth the flanke at 8 men in ranke by length. These Maniples thus brought shoulder to shoulder, one to the other, then

[Page 69] shall follow that Maniple of and per ranke (the which yet marcheth at 5 per ranke in array) and shall distend vnto the shoulders of the other Maniple, at 3 per ranke, with 7 armed pikes in front, and 7 in traine. After all this shall follow the other Maniple of all armed pikes, and shall stretch foorth vnto 7 in a ranke vnto the shoulder of the other Maniples, to arme the other flanke of the battell. And thus is the battel framed 46 rankes in length, at 108 men by ranke in breadth, with 7 rankes of armed pikes in front, and 7 in traine, and with 8 armed pikes in ranke, on the one flanke, and 7 in a ranke on the other flanke, of armed pikes, as in the 24 and 25 figures: and there remaines 32 armed pikes, the which shall be pla­ced as I said before, in the last maner of the third order.

Aduertising you,Aduertisement. that although I haue giuen order and examples to arme the front, traine, and both flankes of the battell, in forme and manner as I haue set downe in the 24 and 25 figures, with placing the armed pikes which remained out of them which armed the front, traine, and both the flankes of the battell, in the angles & flankes of the sayd battell, as by their seuerall figures may be seene; yet, notwithstanding the aforesayd examples, they may be placed where most neede and occasion shall serue to strengthen the battell, either in front, in traine, or in any flanke. So may you also, as occasion shall require, set more armed pikes vpon any part, for the more strength and securitie of the battell. And this much may suffice,Fierie weapons. touching the body of a formed battell. Next ensueth, the fierie wea­pons, Muskets and Caliuers, how they should be placed.

I pray let vs vnderstand the order of them also.

As the armed pike is the strēgth of the battell,The armed pike is the strength of the battell, so is the shot the furie of the field. Shot and pikes of necessitie to be coupled. The one without the other of no great force. so without question, is the shot the furie of the field: but the one without the other is weakened the better halfe of their strength. Therefore of necessitie (according to the course of warres in these dayes) the one is to be coupled & matched with the other, in such conue­nient proportion, that the aduantage of the one may helpe the disauantage of the other. For a stand of pikes, though neuer so well armed, being charged & assailed with the like, or a lesse number of shot, by euery mans iudgement would haue the worse, & not able to abide the field, vnlesse they had shot, to answer their enemies shot. In like sort, any troupe of shot, though neuer so braue & expert, being in o­pen field, hauing no stand of pikes, or such other weapō, nor hedge, ditch, trench, or rampier, to relieue and succour them, could not long endure the force of horse, especially Launciers.The sortement of these weapons, offensiue and de­fensiue. Now the due sortement and matching of these weapons to offend, and defend, and to aide one another, as aboue is sayd, of the best experi­mented is accounted thus: Vnto euery 100 men, to haue one third pikes (with some few short weapon) and two thirds Calliuers.

But were the one halfe (or more) of your shot, Muskets, as the Spanyardes most commonly now vse, and so to be wished with vs also, then lesse number of shot would serue and more of pikes,The aduantage of musket. (as I sayd at the beginning of our discourses.) For euery Musket, considering the wonderfull execution of that weapon, may be va­lued for two Caliuers. Touching the placing of these fierie weapons about the body of the battell, there hath bene, and yet is, sundry opinions. Of some of them I haue already spoken in these discourses, namely, of lyning of battels with shot, or short weapon, by me disliked; hauing there declared my reasons for the same.

But before I come to the placing and ordering of shot (for being a weapon not skilfully and warily vsed, is of more daunger to our selues then to the enemy [Page 70] sometimes) I will put you in minde of one notable ouersight in our shot (espe­cially of the crooked stockt Calliuer;notable ouer­sight of our shot in charging and discharging their peeces.) For many souldiers ouer-curiously carrying and conueying their peece with the nose downeward, and striuing to be seene nymble and quicke in discharging, (not considering that one shot well bestowed, auayleth many vnaduisedly spent,) haue let slipt the bullet out of their peeces bar­rell vpon the ground, before the discharging thereof. Whereby it commeth to passe many times, that an hundred shot, hauing in skirmish discharged their peece three or foure times a peece, against two hundred of the enemies, and scarce slaine two of them. A great indiscretion, & to be better regarded and amended; the which may easily be done thus,A redresse and easie way, how to fasten the bullet. either after hauing charged and slipt the bul­let out of his mouth into the barrell of the peece, by mounting the nose thereof somewhat vpward, holding his peece firmely with his left hand, or else by stop­ping after the bullet, which is easily done, onely by putting two or three cornes of powder into the peece after the bullet.

How some do vse to place their shot about the battell of pikes.In placing the shot about the battell, some do vse to flanke the two sides of the battell with sleeues of shot, by 11, 13, 15, or 17 in a ranke, or more or lesse, as they shall thinke good; and place the sayd sleeues of shot, 10 or 12 foote distant from the armed pikes; and the rest of their shot in 4 great troupes at the angles of the battell, without the sayd sleeues, seruing for hornes or wings vnto the battell, and the horsemen to be placed without them againe, as in these figures follow­ing appeareth.

A better order to diuide your shot into troupes.But (in mine opinion) this order is not so good, as if the shot were deuided in­to sundry small troupes, trouping round about the battell the one to second the other: placed in forme as hereafter shall follow thus. First, your graund square (or more battailions if you will) being set,To girdle the stād of pikes with shot. then impale or girdle the same round about with shot, by 3, 5, or 7, or more, in a rank (according to the proportiō of the battell, neare adioyning vnto the armed pikes, to be by them guarded from the [Page 71] horse,The shot in small troupes, one to se­cond an other. if neede were; The rest of the shot deuide into many small troupes by 30 40, or 50 in a troupe, to troupe round about the battell, with some reasonable di­stance from the same, to maintaine skirmish or fight which way soeuer the ene­mie approch: Prouided that the same troupes be still maintained, one to second another, that the battell may be by them shadowed, to the end that the skirmishes or troupes of the enemies may not haue that aduantage, to play with their shot vpon your battell: for hee is but a foolish shot, that shooteth at, or among light skirmishers, where he may discharge vpon the body of his enemies battell, which standes thick together,The armed pikes once ouerthrowen the battell stands in hazard. and is a fayre marke to shoot at; for the armed pikes once ouerthrowen, which is the strength of the field, the victorie by all likelyhood is like to ensue.

The empalement, especially in the front, I would wish to be Muskets, some 3 or 5 in a ranke, according to the greatnesse of the battell; and those not to dis­charge,The girdling shot to discharge at 20 pases [...]ff, and not farther. vntill the battels approch within 20 pases distant, and then throughly to discharge in vollie vpon the face of the enemy: the which cannot chuse, but must slay many, and wound a number in the enemies front; the effect whereof shall breede great encouragement vnto you, and disencouragement, and weakening to the enemy. You may also (if you please) place at euery corner of your battel a squa­dron of Muskets, neare vnto the girdling shot, at 50 Muskets in each squadron, or as occasion shall require; who, vpon the enemies battell approching, wheeling a litle about, in forme of a halfe Moone, shall discharge their volly all at once, vpon the body of the enemies battell. What execution the Musket performeth, such as haue bene in good actions doe know very well; and scarcely to be beleeued of those which neuer saw any seruice. The figure of this battell, empaled with shot, cornered with Muskets, and trouped round about with the rest of their shot, win­ged with horse, as men at armes (if they haue any) and Launciers, and light horse, with the place of the field ordinance, and forlorne skirmishers, shall hereafter ensue, on the other side of the leafe.

[Page 72]

[Page 73]And if you would fight with the same number of men in sundry battallions of the same kind; deuiding them into 3 battallions, distinguished by vangard, battell, and reareward, worke thus: first deuide your grand number of men, which is 4968, by 3 and the product will be 1656 men for euery battallion. [...] Now, to frame their battallions in the same proportion that your grand square was of, which was, as 7 to 3, couch downe your number thus: 7—3—1656. Multiply, and deuide, and the product will come foorth 709, of the which extract the cubike roote, which is 26 men for the length or depth of the battallion; by this 26 de­uide the number of men for your battallion being 1656, and the product will bee 63 men, for the breadth or front of each battallion. Now the order to march these battallions vp to fight (wherein must be considered the ground, and diuerse other aduantages) the one to second the other, behold here in figure, where the vangard (being formost) hauing encountred the enemy, and finding themselues weake, re­tireth orderly, and the battell aduanceth, who ioyning with the vangard, do both together giue a second charge, & being yet distressed, the reareward marcheth vp close by the battell, & renew the fight a fresh; of the which order of battell, and bat­tallions, there shall be both figures & tables extant in our last booke. The shot & horse belonging to these numbers, are to be deuided, and placed by the Campe-Maister Generall, and Sergeant Maior Generall, on grounds of most aduantage.

or if it be thought good, the vantgard may be pla­ced in the middle, the battell on the right wing, and the reareward on the left wing; as the ground, occasion, and the commanders opinion shall con­curre, and euery battallion to haue his proporti­onall shot deuided into sundrie troupes, the one to second another, as before appeareth.

[Page 74] A particular de­c [...]aration of the former battell in figure.In the before figured battell, I haue placed and set downe the shot, and short weapons, belonging vnto the proportion of the said battell, as here following shall particularly be declared.

First, the battell or bodie of pikes, armed & vnarmed (containing in number 4968,The battell or bo­dy of pikes. as in the figure before appeareth) I haue framed in proportion of inequa­litie, being 2⅓ times more in breadth then in length in number of men (called commonly a broad square) which is in proportion as 7 to 3, which proportion co­uereth the due quadrate of ground,Impaled with armed pikes. as before I haue at large recited, being impa­led round about with 7 rankes of armed pikes, at 108 men per ranke in front, and 46 rankes in flanke. For the furnishing of which battell with shot, and short wea­pon, in due proportion to the same, I haue presupposed this course and order fol­lowing; after the rate to euery 100 men;The sortement of the weapons. 40 pikes, 10, halberds and short wea­pon, 25 Muskets, & 25 Calliuers. Which battell conteineth pikes 5200, (where­of is within the body of the battell, 4968 pikes) halberds and short weapon 1300, Muskets 3250, Calliuers, 3250; being in all 13000 men sorted and suted with weapons as appeareth, and seuerally placed to fight (as I suppose) to most aduan­tage, thus.

First the body of the battell containeth pikes 4968 armed and vnarmed; be­ing 108 in front, and 46 rankes in flanke; the which body is inuironed or gird­led with Muskets at 5 in ranke round:

Girdled with muskets.

1640

4 Squadrōs of Muskets, at the angles of the battel, at 50 per squadron.

0200

30 Troupes of shot, on the one flanke, at 30 in a troupe, amounteth.

Shot in troupes.

0900

30 Troupes of shot on the other flanke, at 30 in a troupe, amounteth

0900

17 Troupes of shot, in the forlorne hope, at 30 in a troupe, amounteth

0510

46 Troupes of shot, in the reareguarde, at 30 in a troupe, amounteth

1380

Summe totall of the shot bestowed about the battell.

5530

More shot is bestowed about the guarde of one part of the artilliarie

0350

More shot placed in guarde of the other part of the artilliarie

0350

Finally there is shot left to guarde the munition, summe

0270

Thus you see the whole number bestowed, amounts

6500

06 Troupes short weapō, mingled with the shot on the one flank at 30.

0180

06 Troupes short weapon, mingled with shot, on the other flanke at 30.

0180

05 Troups short weapō, mingled the forlorne hope, shot at 30 in tr. 0.

Halbardes and short weapons.

0150

08 Troups short weapō, mingled with the shot in the reareguard. at 30.

0240

More short weapon with the one part of the artillerie to guard

0200

More short weapon with the other part of the artillerie

0200

Finally the rest of halbardes and short weapon, are with the munition

0150

Thus also is bestowed the whole number of short weapon

1300

The remaines of the pikes where placed.Finally, there remained 232 pikes, the which are placed in two squadrons, with the rest of the halbardes and short weapon, containing in each squadron 116 pikes and 200 short weapon as in their seuerall figures may appeare. Aduertising moreouer,To draw some pikes out of the center of the bat­tell. that out of the body of the battell may be drawen some small number of pikes, to be employed with the other pikes and halbardes, at the guarde of the artillerie and munition: which roome shall serue for Drummes, Phiphes, Chirur­gians, and hurt men: where also is the place of the Generall, if he thinke good; [Page 75] But with this prouiso, that you draw not so many pikes frō the heart of your bat­tell, that you leaue the same heartlesse.

To conclude; The said battell is winged with 2 squadrons of men at armes;Men at armes. at 200 in each squadron, with 2 troupes of Launciers,Launciers. at 500 in euery troupe; and with 2 troupes of hargulutiers,Hargulutiers. and other shot on horsebacke, at 300 horse in eue­ry troupe. And before them againe is placed 14 peeces of field ordinaunce,Great ordinance. in two parts, hauing by them their guardes of shot and pikes, as appeareth.

Thus haue you here seene in figure the embattailling, and bestowing of 5200 pikes,The number of each. 6500 shot, and 1300 short weapon: and of 400 men at armes, and 1000 Launciers, and 600 hargoletiers, imbattailled and placed, and ready engaged to fight, as particularly aboue appeareth.

Truly, for mine owne part I haue litle skill to iudge, but in mine opinion, this seemeth wonderfull strong for one battell: but me thinkes, you haue framed your battell of more men in breadth then in length.

So it is;The broad square battell bring the most hands at once to fight in front. For I haue set 108 men in breadth, and 46 rankes in length: the reasons thereof I shewed you before: for by this meanes there commeth more hands at once to fight in front, and the flankes notwithstanding sufficient strong, especially hauing any aduantage by the seat, which battell commeth to be an e­quall square of ground, and a broad square of men, in proportion of inequalitie, as 7 is to 3,The square of ground. that is two times, and a third of men more broad then long.

But for these formes of battels, as they bring most hands to fight at once; so are they not equally strong on each side, as is the iust square of men: wherefore it behoueth the leaders thereof,A care to be had to the situation of ground. to haue a care to the situation of the ground, and to procure (as neere as they can) that the enemie may charge but in the front, so shall they be wonderfull strong either against horse or foote. And to encounter any foote enemie (for no great force of enemies horse may be brought into one Ile, I suppose) no forme more strong then this, for one onely battell.

Why, are there vsed more battels then one in one fight?

Yea truly,Venturous to set al our fortune vpō the brunt of one sole battell. So is it dangerous for vnexpert men to fight in sundry battallions. Men come not often to hand blowes, as in old time, the shot so imployeth the field. and with great reason and aduauntage, were men experte and skilfull. For as it is venturous to set ones fortune vpon the brunt of one sole bat­tell, so is it daungerous to frame many batallions, except men be very skilfull and well practised therein, by reason of the difficultie in seconding one another. And againe it is rarely seene in our dayes, that men come often to hand-blowes, as in old time they did: For now in this age, the shot so employeth and busieth the field (being well backed with a resolute stand of pikes) that the most valiantest and skilfullest therein do commonly import the victorie, or the best, at the least wise, before men come to many hand-blowes.

But your battell thus framed, and engaged to fight, what order take you therein then?

It is hard for any man to giue any direct course,Hard to ascer­taine any course of fight before the enemies order be knowen & seene. Occurrants of warre be mani­fold and strange. before the enemie bee knowen and seene. For the occurants of warre bee so manifold and strange, that sometimes vpon a moment, the first resolutions and courses taken are to be alte­red: as was well to be seene in our actions with the Spanyardes in anno 1588 at sea. Where our first determinations and appointed orders, were 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, [Page 76] which hereafter we will speake of.

The shot on horse backe cōmonly be­g [...]n the first skir­mishes. At the field ordi­nance doe com­monly begin the first puzzeling. The forlorne hope to disband, and hauing skir­mished to retire to the flankes. One troupe of shot to second an ether.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;The squadrons of muskets when to discharge. The couching of the pikes. 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 square of pikes handled by reso­lute men, not easie to be broken by horse. 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,Against foote to charge ouer­hand. Valour and skill is second meanes of victorie, but God the chiefe & first. The duties of di­ligent officers in time of battell. 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.

In few wordes you haue finished a battell: But your leaders and Com­manders, how are they this while employed?

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.

YOu spake of more sortes of battels, I pray therefore declare vnto vs their orders, how many, in what formes, and to what vses.

Although I haue before somwhat touched the same, not minding to medle farther then with our fights now most accustomed,The iust square of men best al­lowed, out of the which all other proportions may be reduced. 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 [Page 77] 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,The quadrat of ground. 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, Sundry ancient formes of battels now out of vse. 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,The daunger of raw men, 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,The Diamant battell. The framing thereof out of the graund square. 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 [Page 78] 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;A more stronger framin of the Diamant battell. 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 fellow, L following him vntill F. be his side fellow, then shall H. passe forward toward D. vntill he finde C. to be his side fellow, M. following, H. & Q. fol­lowing M. Then shall I. step vp betweene D. & K, and N. following I, & R. follow­ing N, and VV. following R. Likewise O, shall go nearer vnto K. vntill he finde P. his right side fellow, and N. on his left side: S. shall follow O, and X. shall follow S: then shall T. proceede towardes P, and Y. follow T. Lastly Z. shall step vp betweene &. and Y: So is there framed a perfect triangle or wedge battell; as in this figure fol­lowing shall appeare.

Here haue you seene, how out of a square of men hath bin first reduced a Dia­mant battell simple; and out of the Diamant a triangle or wedge battell in perfect order to fight, which is with 1. man in the first ranke, 3 in the second, and 5 in the third ranke, & so consequently augmenting 2 in euery ranke, with the Ensigne in the middest. Now, by this order out of 2 iust squares of men, are reduced 2 trian­gles; and of two perfect Triangles,Out of 2 iust squares of men is framed 2 trian­gles. Of 2 triangles is framed a Dia­mant. is formed a Perfect Diamant battel, by ioyning the two rereward parts together. But first out of the one Triangle must be drawen the last ranke of all, the which may be placed at the latter point of the Diamant battell, or else as the Sergeāt Maior shall thinke good. The figures of both which squadrons reduced into Diamant formes, and from Diamants into 2 Triangles, lastly adioyning the 2 Triangle backe parts together, is formed a perfect Diamant battell fit to fight; as by their seuerall figures here following may be seene.

[Page 79]

The square.

These two squadrons shal be reduced into 2 triangles, in manner as aforesaid, which will be in forme following.

The triangle.

In these 6 former figures, I haue declared the order how, out of 2 squadrons of men, to bring them into 2 Diamant formes simple, and out of 2 Diamant formes single, to reduce them into 2 perfect Triangles, by causing all their middle ranks to march vp, vntill they find their leadsman before them in their due distance: the which 2 Triangles, being thus perfected (as in the 4 and 5 figure may appeare) and ioyning the two backe parts together, do make this perfect Diamant forme to fight, as here by the 2 figures following shall appeare. But of the second fi­gure [Page 80] I haue drawen the latter ranke of one of the Triangles, being nine men, and placed them at one of the corners.

Now, touching the Sheeres battell, the same is to be made of 4 battallions of equal proportiō, working, as before you did with the Diamant & Triangle battels: the which 4 battallions being reduced (as before is sayd) into 2 triangles, and ioy­ning their two corners together, is framed the Sheeres battell, as here you see.

The Sheeres bat­tell.

Loe here the Sheere battell framed of 4 battallions; to backe the which you must draw vp 2, 3 or 4 rankes of pikes according to the proportion of the battell, and place them on the backe part thereof, as you see aboue designed by this let­ter O, where I haue backed the same with 2 rankes, at 18 men in a ranke. And also the same order is to be obserued in the Saw battell, as after appeareth. Next is the Saw battell, which containeth 3 sharpe angles framed of 6 battallions, in such order as the Wedge, & Sheeres battels before wrought, as here in the figure fol­lowing is designed.

[Page 81]

The Saw battell.

Thus you see this Saw battell framed and reduced out of 6 square battallions. But there is another order yet to frame these Diamant,An other order yet to frame their battels. Triangle, Saw, and Sheere battels, which is thus: Place in the first angle or ranke, one man; in the se­cond ranke 3 men, in the third ranke, 5 men, and in the fourth ranke 7 men; and so consequently adding vnto euery ranke 2 men, vntill you haue finished your bat­tell into such proportion as you shall thinke good.

Now, there haue I spent more time in those trifling formes and vnused propor­tions then I needed, but only to giue you content, and to the end to shew, that he, which is a Sergeant Maior,A Sergeant ma­ior ought not to be ignorant of any formes of embattailing as well ancient as moderne. ought not to be ignorant in any manner of proporti­ons, as well ancient as moderne; whereby he may be both able, skilfull and ready to frame, alter, and change his proportions, as occasion shall be offered, and that with facilitie and speed.

To what intent and purpose were these proportions of Diamant, Tri­angle, Sheeres, and Saw battels first deuised?

The Triangle and Diamant battels were inuented by antiquitie to en­counter the square,To what purpose these termes were first deui­sed. the Sheeres battell to encounter the Triangle or Wedge bat­tell, and the Saw battell to encounter the Sheeres battell. All the which are in small vse in our dayes.

Will you speake nothing of the Crosse battell, so much commended by some men; nor of the battell compounded of sundry battallions?

The Crosse battels haue bene most vsed by the Swedens, The crosse bat­tell, and order thereof. and high Ger­maines. The forme whereof, be it in sundry battallions seuerally appointed, or in one whole and entire battell all together ioyned, is no doubt, of maruellous great strength and verie excellent conueyance: by reason of the sundry places of safegard and defence ministred to the shot and hurt persons therein. It is commonly framed of 5 battallions or squadrons, 4 in crosse wise, and one in the middle: the which middle battallion may conteine your Ensignes and short weapons: but if it be framed of 4 battallions, with the center vnfilled, then may the center containe the impedimentes and baggage of the armie.

[Page 82]

A declaration of these Crosse bat­tels.I haue here figured a Crosse battell compounded of 5 battallions, the middle battallion conteineth the Ensignes and short weapons without their shot. And in the second figure I haue set downe the sayd Crosse battell, with their shot be­stowed, in the 4 voyde angles or corners, in 4 other battallions or squadrons, as may appeare. Now for as much as I intend to frame certaine Tables to the for­ming of euery sort & maner of all these foresayd battels & battallions of all num­bers of mē, from the smallest number vnto 10000 pikes, I will leaue at this instant to speake any more therof: hoping this already spoken to be sufficient for any wil­ling minded Gentlemen, which haue not yet seene wars, & desirous to vnderstand some points of martiall matters: for vnto those do I write, & not vnto the expert souldier, whose skill and experience, annexed with learning I honour and reue­rence.Speculatiō with­out practise, but halfe the Arte. For surely speculation without Practise, is but halfe of the Arte, but both ioynt­ly together maketh the same perfect.

Although we haue bin tedious vnto you, yet I pray let vs intreat you, to shew vs the order of the battell compounded of many battallions.

To deuide a small power into many parts, dangerous.To deuide a small power into many parts, were but dangerous: but ha­uing a sufficient and competent armie, the maner is now a dayes to deuide them but into 3, distinguished into Vantgard, Battell & Rereward; yet, if men were per­fect and ready, a sufficient armie might well be reparted into sundry battallions, contained in two or three frōts, neare after the ancient Romanes, the one to supply and second the other a matter of great importance, especially if it shold come to campall fight, by reason of the diuerse breathings and succouring one another; a thing seldome seene in our age.

What meane you by a sufficient and competent armie.

Not a handfull of men of three or foure thousand, as we vse now a dayes: But I vnderstand that a sufficient and able armie should conteine 12000 pikes and short weapons or there abouts,What to be a suf­ficient armie. and as many shot; making 24000 in both and also 6000 horse.

How would you repart these 12000 pikes and short weapon into 3 battallions, distinguished into vantgard, battell, and reareward: or into more bat­tallions. [Page 83] I pray shew vnto vs the order thereof in figures.

Of these 12000 pikes and short weapon, behold here in figure 11000 of them (for there is 1000 reserued for other purposes) deuided, first into 3 bat­tels, or squares of men, and then againe into 9 battallions, and lastly into 12, as by their seuerall figures shall appeare.

Into three bat­tels.

[Page 84] Into twelue bat­tallions.

Vantgard.The first or vantgard of the 11000 pikes reparted into 3 battels, contai­neth 4900 piquiers, whose square roote is 70, which is 70 rankes, and 70 men per ranke, or 70 in front, and 70 in flanke, or 70 ranks and 70 files: all which is all one. In the second of those 3 battels, distinguished by name of battell, is contained 3969 pikes whose square roote is 63 containing so many men in front and flanke.Battell. the third of those battels, tearmed by the name of reareward, doth con­taine 1936 pikes, Lastly,Reareward the cubike roote whereof is 44, and so many it containeth in front and flanke: being all square battels of men.

Now in the marching of these battels vp to fight, there is great and many con­siderations to be had;Many considera­tions in bringing men to fight. both for the wind, the sunne, and aduantage of ground, and also the quantity and quality of the enemy: as whether he do exceede more in foote, then in horse; and also their maner and forme of embattailing. All which considerations, and many more, must proceede from the good capacity, sound in­tendement, and militarie skill of our Generall, and other commanders of our ar­my; vnto whom if it shall so seeme necessary, and occasion so require, first to leade the vātgard alone to fight, the same is afterward to be seconded by the battel, mar­ching vp by the right or left flanke of the vantgard, and ioyning with whom, may renew the fight a fresh. And then if it fall out, that they should be againe distres­sed, the rereward is then to march vp vpon either the right or left side, as cause shall most require, and so ioyning with the other two, to renew againe their en­counter and fight, wherein both skill valour, and vertue must be shewed.

A consideration.And whereas I haue in those battels proportioned 70 men to the depth of the vangard, and but 63 to the battell, and 44 to the rereward, the which drawne [Page 85] vp together in that proportion should badly correspond by reason of their diffe­rent depthes, or flankes; it must be therefore considered, that the first shocke and brunt is commonly the hardest, and no doubt but many men of the first ranks must fall at their seuerall encounters: and comming so to passe (as of necessity it would) then these different proportions should soone come to be different; as a­ny iudicious men may conceiue.

Secondly,A declaration of the 9 battallions. the said number of the 3 battels are deuided into 9 battallions of the same kind and nature that their grand battels were of, whereof there is made 3 fronts, in the first front is contained 4 battallions or squadrons, with their seue­rall spaces betwixt. The second front or supply is framed of 3 battallions, with their seuerall spaces betwixt. And the third front or last hope and succour con­taineth 2 battallions. The which 2 battallions I haue placed vpon the two out angles of the 3 middle battallions; and in the voide spaces betwixt, is placed the impediments and baggage of the army. The seuerall breadth, depthes, and num­bers of euery of these battallions, are set downe in their seuerall figures.

To what purpose serueth the voyde spaces betwixt euery battell?

The voide spaces may serue for the troupes of shot to sallie out of skir­mish with the enemy,The voide spaces to what purpose. and to retire againe, and also for the 3 battallions of the se­cond front, to march vp and passe betwixt them, for the battallions of the first front hauing encountred the enemy, and feeling themselues distressed, are warily and orderly to retire with their faces and weapon point bent vpon the ene­mie. At which retiring the Battallions of the second front, are to aduance fore­ward, and to passe in betwixt the voide spaces of the first 4 battallions, and so all ioyning valiantly together with the first,Sundry charges and fresh heads. to make a fresh head, and to begin a se­cond fight. And being then againe distressed, they are all orderly to retire, as is sayd. Then lastly the two battallions of the 3 front, are to aduance the one vp by the one side of the other battallions, and the other vp by the other side of them; or as occasion shall most require: and then finally all ioyntly together to giue a third and finall fight. By which order it should seeme, fortune to abandon them thrice before that they should be quighte vanquished.

And last of all,A declaration of the 12 battal­lions. the former 3 battels are reparted into 12 battallions of the same kind, distinguished into 3 fronts. The first front whereof containeth 5 battallions, of 961 men in each battallion, whose square roote is 31 with their seuerall spa­ces betwixt. The second front is framed of 4 battallions, of 961 men each, whose square roote is still 31, with seuerall spaces betwixt euery battallion. And the third front is formed of 3 battailions, containing in each 625 men, whose square roote is 25 for front and flanke. The which three fronts of battallions, are order­ly to aduance, to charge, to retire, and to recharge, as in the former discourse is described.

The shot belonging vnto the said numbers, where are they to be placed and emploied?

The shot appertaining vnto euery of these battels and battallions ought to be deuided (in mine opinion) into sundry small troupes; trouping about the said battels and battallions to maintaine skirmish, and some to be placed vpon bankes,The shot parted into sundry troupes. ditches, and ground of aduantage (the situation yeelding such) according to the direction of the Sergeant Maior generall: and the cauallery a reasonable [Page 86] distance without the out angles of the battels or battalions,The cauallery. in troupes and squa­drons, seruing as wings to the same, and vpon groundes of aduantage and places fit for their seruice, with good regard had, that they passe not on the front of your battallions, for danger of disordering your owne squadrons vpon their retrait, as in folio 72 is described.

What quantitie of ground shall these battels and battallions require?

The quantity of ground for each souldiers sta­tion.I haue sayd before, that vnto euery picquier at the time of ioyning the charge, is to be allowed for his station in front or breadth, that is, from shoulder to shoulder, at the least 3 foote; and for depth, that is, for before and after 7 foote at the least, for his owne station, and for the vse of this weapon. And the voide spaces betwixt the battallions are to containe in breadth as much as do the bat­tallions of the second front, within the which they are to aduance and passe: so is it easily to be calculated, what quantity of ground such order of battels and bat­tallions will require. Moreouer it must be considered, that there must be a con­uenient space of ground remaine betweene the traine of the first order of bat­tallions, and the front of the second order, and in like sort from the traine of the second order, vnto the front of the third [...] order: as some 20, or 25 pases betwixt each, or such as the ground will permit, or occasion require.

What place is the generall and other chiefe commanders to keepe in these orders of fightes: or are they to be on horsebacke or on foote?

The Lord generall is to be well mounted, and the Campe-Maister Ge­nerall, and Sergeant Maior Generall, are to bee mounted on good geldings, Andadoras and not Corradoras. What comman­der and officers to be mounted. Whereby they may speedily passe from place to place, especially the Campe-maister and Sergeant Maior generall, to execute the Lord Generals commands, to keepe the squadrons in order, and to redresse the disordered: as in such occurrants shall be requisite.

The Generall his place, is commonly in the space vpon the front of the second order of the battallions:The Generall his place. from whence he may most conueniently send his directi­ons and orders: to do the which, besides the Campe-maister and Sergeant Maior Generall, & his Trumpet, and chiefe Drummer, he is to haue attendant vpon him certaine expert gentlemen both on horsebacke and on foote.

The Colonels of euery foote regiment, are with their companies to serue on foote, being arraunged to fight: their due place is the right angle of the first ranke of their squadrōs,The Colonels. & their Lieutenants in the left angle of the same ranks, the Cap­taines and other inferiour officers, in ranke also, as their place requireth; as more at large in their seuerall duties is declared.

But in case that a Colonell were in any peece of seruice with his regiment a­lone, then is hee to employ the place and office of a Generall, for the present ser­uice. The Ensignes are to be placed in the centre, or neare the center, towards the formost rankes of euery battell or battallion, and to stand in ranke also. Finally of these 12000 pikes and short weapon, there is reserued out, about 1000 to serue to other purposes: as to gard the artillery, munition, and impediments, and such other peeces of seruice.

Another order to deuide an army into sundry small squadrons. There is yet another order of deuiding an army into sundry small battallions, or squadrons of one kind, each squadron containing 100 pikes, 10 in front, and 10 [Page 87] deepe, embattailed by single files, of 10 men in euery file, the order and manner whereof is in folio 38, 42, 43, particularly described.

I pray, how should a regiment or many, or an army be martialled or em­battailled after this maner?The maner.

If you wold haue all your army deuided into battallions or squadrons of that kind, then are the Colonels of euery particular regiment, to cause the com­panies of their regiment to embattel themselues, vpon a sound of the drumme, in such smal battallions or squadrons of 100 pikes, in euery squadron 10 in front, and 10 deepe, as in folio 38, 39, and 4 may appeare.

And suppose that the 24000 footmen were reparted into 20 regiments, after 1200 into euery regiment: of the which 1200 men there is 600 picquiers, those 600 picquiers are to be embattailed into 6 small squadrons of 100 in each squa­dron, at 10 in front and 10 deepe. Being thus embattailed into sundry small squa­drons of one kind, they may with great facility be brought into any proportion you will, as by these figures following may appeare. Where you see embattailed the picquiers of three regiments seueral into their smal squadrons, of 100 in each squadron, at 10 in front, and 10 deepe, all in one front.

[Page 88]In the first figure you may behold 3 regiments embattailed into 18 small squa­drons; in the second figure behold the same reduced into a battell of double front, or into a due square of ground, which is twice so many men in front as in flanke: and in the 3 figure, you may see the said 3 regiments brought into a iust square of men; that is, as many men in breadth as in depth: the order whereof is thus.

The first regiment being embattailed into 6 small squadrons, and placed in one equall front, the second regiment (being embattailed in the like maner) is to march vp vnto the traine of the first 6 squadrons, there ioyning squadron with squadron, and answering file with file. After them againe is the other last 6 squa­drons to march vp vnto the traine of those 6 middle squadrons, and placed euen squadron with squadron and file with file: so that of these three regiments there is made one body of a battell of broade front, or due square of ground, which is twice so many men in breadth as in depth, as by the second figure may appeare.

The order.Finally, if you shold be occasioned to reduce the said three regiments into one grand battell of equall proportion, or due square of men: then place 4 of these small squadrons in one front, on whose traine 4 other squadrons, are to march vp; and then againe 4 others, and lastly the last foure squadrons; so that squadron with squadron, and file with file, may equally answere one another, as in the third figure may appeare. Where, of 16 of these small squadrons is framed a battell in proportion of equality: which is so many men in depth as in front: and there re­maineth out two small squadrons, the which are to serue to other purposes, either for a supplie, or to other seruices.

Thus haue you seene these three regiments embattailed and brought into sun­dry proportions.An army may be framed of sundry small squadrons. Likewise in the same maner may a whole army be ranged and ordered by good conductors, into sundry battallions, and distinguished, either into one, two, or three fronts: as the iust occasions, and the iudicious intendement of the good commander shall concurre and find conuenient.

By describing vnto vs these seuerall orders of reparting an army into sun­dry battallions & squadrons, ye haue contented vs wonderfull well: & it seemeth (in mine opinion) much aduantagious, being discretly and orderly handled. But how should the shot, due vnto those regiments, be placed and ordered?

The shot belonging vnto these regiments, deuided into sundry battels, battallions and squadrons, should be reparted into sundry small troupes, of 50 in each troupe, at 5 in front, and 10 in depth, or more, or lesse, as occasion shall pro­cure; the ordering and placing of which shot doth appeare, in folio 42 43, & 73, & is in many other places described; so that one troupe may alwayes be ready to se­cond another, and to giue breathing one to another.

But what haue you next to speake more of, before you returne to the office of the Sergeant Maior: by reason of whose office you haue made these sun­dry demonstrations of diuerse and many sorts of battels, and battallions, as a mat­ter most pertinent vnto the said Sergeant Maior his office.

I should now set downe the tables of all these sundry proportions: as first of battels in proportion of equality;Of tables to be framed. which is the iust square of men; their order of ranking; their deuiding into Maniples, and so marching vp shoulder to shoul­der, to bring them into their former order of battell, with the marching vp of [Page 89] their remainers: their due numbers of girdling shot, and the deuiding of the said battels into sundry battallions of the same kind: then againe, the tables of battels in proportion of inequalitie,Euen. which is more in breadth then depth: with their de­uisions into battallions of that sort, and the table of euen battallions for crosse battels, and of other proportions, with the quantity of ground that euery of them would require; but time permitteth me not: reseruing the same vnto the last booke of these our military discourses.

But I must now speake something by the way, of marching our battell through straightes, and being passed, how to fall againe into the former pro­portions.

When you come to any straight,To march an ar­my thorough straightes. it must be considered of what widenesse the passages are, and how many men may go in front easily thorow the same; and then may you accordingly, at your discretion, chuse whether you will draw your battell out into the former Maniples, that the same marched in before their com­ming into battell (as in the seuerall tables thereof shall be shewed) or into more Maniples or parts, if thereunto you shall be compelled by the narrownesse of the place:Drawne into Maniples. which likewise being so wide, that fewer Maniples then you marched vp before, will serue for their diuision, you may accordingly also draw them out into 3, 5, 7, or 9, Maniples, as the nature of the straight, and your iudgement con­curring together shall thinke meete.The Ensigne to be contained in the middle Maniple. Alwayes prouided, that the ensignes be contained in the middle Maniple: and hauing passed the straightes, you may a­gaine draw them vp shoulder to shoulder, as in the order of marching in Mani­ples, is before in folio 62, 63, 66, and 68 declared; whereby easily and without con­fusion they shall foorthwith fall in their former proportion. But as concerning your shot,The shot, in troupes most ser­uiceable. you shall not neede (except the straight be very narrow) to draw them out into any such parts, without it be those in the girdling, which as they stand in proportion in the battell, must be drawne out into Maniples with the pikes, for if mine opinion might be receiued touching the other shot, I would alwayes aduise, that the residue should euer more remaine in many small troupes, not aboue 40, or 50 shot, at the most in a troupe, as before I haue shewed, for that by experience I know the same to be of greatest force, and readinesse for seruice: be it therefore in plaine or straight, or how soeuer, the more troupes your shot be seuered into, the better shall the enemy still be applied;The one to second another. besides the seconding the one of the o­ther with such quicke dispatch, shall cause that after the first troupes haue once discharged, they retiring themselues behind all the rest, shall be sure against they come vp againe to haue leasure enough to charge sufficiently and surely, that few shot shall be spent in vaine, as they do when great numbers be clustred together.

Now,If the enemy cō ­straine to fight in the straight them to quarter your Army. if it should fortune (as most commonly it chaunceth) that the enemy should fight with you in the straight, then must you not draw your battell into those Maniples or parts, but consider whether the straight be such, as will suffice you to go thorough, holding the same proportion that you haue. If not, then con­sider whether squaring the battell into 4 parts,To quarter the battell into sun­dry battallions. you may with so many battallions passe to encounter with the enemy, if so you cannot, it seemeth vnto me the redi­est and safest way, to deuide your battell into more battallions, as for example: first to proportion them out into 4 or 6, if those bee not conuenient, then into 8, if you [Page 90] thinke that will not serue, then into 12 or 16 battallions, or as the passage will permit, which thing may more easily be brought to passe, if the body of your bat­tell do consist of pikes only, which, were the same of compound weapons, could in no wise bee so [...]odainely done, without great confusion; as a man of any iudgement may conceiue: and as by these figures following shall plainely appeare.

Not to enter vn­aduisedly into any straigh [...]s.But before the arriuall vnto such straights and passages, the wise Commander is carefully to consider, and to send sundry scoutes abroade to discouer: and also shall cause (if possible he may) the summities, higher grounds, craggy rockes, thickets, woods, and other places of aduantage, to be first possessed by his owne people, sending to that effect, shot, halfe pikes, and such like.

In deuiding and quartering of all which, as may appeare, the place of the Ensi­gnes is still crossed, to redresse the which the Sergeant Maior or Colonell, may place them where he thinketh fittest: drawing out, where euery Ensigne shall stand, one pike; and replace the same pike in the first roome of the Ensigne which at the out drawing of the Ensigne remained voide.

The first Dialogue:

TRuly (Captaine) this order for passing of Straights, doth cō ­tent me wonderfull well: and me thinkes, hauing ready men, and good officers, verie easie and readie to be perfourmed. But now (I pray) if there restes no more to be spoken herein, begin to shew vs the choosing & office of a Sergeant Maior, which in day of battel, seemeth an office of great importāce.

I did at the begininng of my second booke, declare vnto you, that a Prince leuying an Armie royall, doth by his Councel (or Coun­cell of warre,The chiefe Com­maunders of an Armie. Deuided into Re­giments. The officers of the Regiment. Deuided into Companies. The officers of a Companie. Sergeant Maior of a Regiment. A Sergeant Ma­ior generall. if there be any such in the realme) appoint first a most sufficient Ge­nerall, then a Camp-maister generall, a Captaine generall of the Cauallery, and a Captaine generall of the Artillerie. The Armie is deuided into sundrie Tertios or Regiments; ouer euery Regiment, a Camp-maister or Colonell. The Colo­lonell deuides his Regiment into sundrie bandes or companies, and ouer euerie companie a Captaine: euery Captaine hath his Lieutenant, his Alferes or En­signebearer, his Sergeants, his Caporals, and his Drummes and Phifes. Also eue­rie Regiment hath his Sergeant Maior; and ouer the whole Campe or Armie, a Sergeant Maior generall: of which Officer I meane now to treate.

THE SECOND DIALOGVE.

IN lodging and emcamping the regiments or army, the which being set­led, the Sergeant Maior, what is he then to do?

Presently to draw forth a corps de guard, about threescore or fourescore pases from the face of the encamping, of some fiue and twenty or [Page 104] thirtie souldiers, and those are to bee of one of the companies which was of the watch the night before, sith that vntill a fresh watch doe enter, and the 24 houres bee fully accomplished, it appertaineth vnto them that entred therein before, except a whole company be set there by day to the ward; and in such case it belongeth to the companies of shot,The orders to be obserued. if there be any particular shot companies in the campe. And this Corps de guarde which is to bee drawne out, is to be set in the selfe same place where the company of the watch is to bee placed at night.

To reknowledge the quarters and to reforme all in­combrances.This being done, hee is to reknowledge his quarters very well, and to see if there be any neede to raze plaine any places, that the souldiers may commodi­ously sallie foorth to the Alarme for it falleth out many times, that the compa­nies be lodged in orchards, gardens, vine-yards, and among bushes, from whence they cannot come but with some difficulty, the which he is to redresse; and to make plaine and easie any thing that may empeach and hinder the speedy setting of the battell, and framing of the squadrons; which as well for this purpose, as for the for­tifying of the campe, and leuelling the wayes and passages for the artillery, with such other seruices,Pioners to a­mend comber­some waies. there is alwayes in the campe certaine companies of pioners, the iurisdiction of whom doth belong vnto the Generall of the artillery, or to the Campe-maister Generall, vnto whom he is to repaire, to prouide him with speede of such as shall be needefull.

To go to the Campe-maister generall or his marshall, to re­ceiue orders from him to sundry purposes; as for the watch, the ward, gard for the munition, to scout, and disco­uer, who to pro­uide wood, and to assist in tren­ching. Being with his owne regiment alone, what he is to do. The Sentinels how to be placed. To consult with other officers.And if the whole army be there, he is to go vnto the Camp-maister Generall, and know of him how many ensignes of his regiment are to be put to the watch, and in what place or part, and what companies are to gard the munition, and in other most conueniēt places for the seruice & security of the campe; & such as are to go abroade to discouer, and to scout, and who are to prouide wood, water, and other necessaries; and what companies are to assist in making the trenches, and bulwarkes, and other fortifications, reparting the same workes amongst all the bandes of his regiment (for vnworthy is he the name of a souldier, which will not put to his helping hand in such cases) in sort that euery one haue their share of the labour in order. But if he be with his owne regiment alone, it then concer­neth him to reknowledge, foresee, and to prouide and giue order for all: and to place the Sentinels in such order and distance, that no man may passe out, nor en­ter into the quarters of the alodgement without their view and sight. And if his regiment be ioyntly with the other regiments or tertios of the same nation, or of another, he is to conioyne with the other Sergeant Maiors, and consult, counsell, and concurre with them touching the placing of the gards and Sentinels: so that there may be found no negligence nor imperfection, sith all this office consisteth in care, vigilancie, readinesse, and order.

To go to the Ge­nerall for the word, and orders to be obserued.It concerneth him also, to go vnto the Generall for the word, and to receiue the order and course to be followed the next day, and to go presently vnto the Campe-maister to shew him thereof: although that sometimes the Campe-maisters or Colonels themselues doe take the word and order from the Generall, and giue the same vnto the Sergeant Maiors, yet properly the doing therof doth appertaine to the Sergeant Maior his office.

To haue great care in placing the watches and gards.And as touching the watches and gards, he ought to haue great consideration, not to place them, if the enemy be at hand, before the entring in of the night: for [Page 105] he ought to preuēt, if possible it might be, that the enemy perceiue not where he setteth his watches and Sentinels.

And when it were time hee shall call together the company or companies,To fore aduer­tise the souldiers by the drumme maior. To reknowledge and view the pla­ces of gard and Sentinels. To appoint them the order in go­ing the roundes To visit and re­uisit all the a­foresaid or­ders. To reprehend the faultie. The negligence of Commanders breedes contempt in souldiers. The encampe­ment to be en­trenched. Where the corps de guard to be set. Naturall fence, good. which should bee of the watch; the which are to be aduertised thereof from the morning, by the Drumme Maior of the regiment, and he is then to set them in their places, the which as I said, ought to be reknowledged and viewed, and shewed vnto the Sergeants of such companies where they are to place their Sentinels, and he is to appoint them what order they are to keepe in going their roundes: alwayes reseruing a particular care, to visite and reuisit all the before appointed matters and orders.

And if he shall find any negligence or carelesnesse in such officers, he is to re­prehend and chasten them with such seuerity as the case and cause shall require, for in the not executing the same, he becommeth to be contemned, vnrespected, and his commandes and orders misprised: and so by consequence to introduce a very corrupt discipline.

What distance from the quarters and campe should the gards and wat­ches be placed and set.

In encamping an army, it is accustomed most commonly to entrench round about the quarters thereof, for more security and strength to the allodge­ment: and when it is so, the companies which haue the ward, are alwayes to sal­lie to gard the trenches, which is the wall of the campe. But in case there bee no trenches, the Corps de gard (in mine opinion) is not to be placed aboue 70, or 80, pases distance (as I haue said before) from the front of the allodgements in his place of armes; yet somtimes there be found ditches, bottoms, and vallies so strong, that it shall be good for the gards to be placed there, although they be far­ther distant off,Great silence is to bee kept in the body of the watch. then I speake of; for such strengths by nature do serue and stand in steede of ditches and trenches. But not finding such naturall fences, the wat­ches are to be placed, as before I haue sayd. For thus, as well for the security of the quarters, as for (if neede should require) to succour those companies, it is better they be placed neare then farre off. And it is to be noted, as a thing of great importance, that great silence be kept in the body of the watch, at the least all ru­mour and lowd noises are to be excluded,The Sentinels what distance a­sunder, and from the Corps de guard. and in their conuersations to talke mo­destly, stilly, and with low voices.

And the Sentinels, what distance should they stand from the Corps de guard?

About thirtie pases,The Sentinels the wall of the campe, therefore neare together. litle more or lesse.

And how farre the one from the other?

There ought to be no more distance betwixt them, then that they may easily discerne one an other, how darke soeuer the night be. For the Sentinels, be­ing the wall of the campe, & which do serue that no body may enter in, nor passe out thereof,Sentinels better double thē single. without being seene and discouered, now if they should be placed too wide a distance off, that would not follow, which is pretended.

And those Sentinels are they to be single?The Sentinell vi­gilant, silent and carefull.

No, but double, for foure eyes may see and discerne better then two, and because, if sleepe do assaile them, or could, the one (opprest with sleep) might walke, and the other stand vigilant at the watch, with all stilnesse and silence, and [Page 106] without talking, with open eyes, and ready listening eares; for many times it chan­ceth to heare that, which the obscurenesse of the night will not suffer to see: and if they do perceiue,In hearing or seeing any thing what the Senti­nell is to do. heare, or see any thing, whereof they ought to giue aduise to the officers, let the one go thither, and the other stay, and not to leaue the Sentinell post forsaken: and therefore, for these and such like causes, it is much more safer, requisite,The single Senti­nels, where. and needefull that they be double. But those which are set yet 30 pases farther, are to be single, which of some are improperly called forlorne Sentinels, not hauing the word, as the doubles haue, the which are to be placed in the same distance,His dutie what to do. as are the first, and commaund and order giuen, that in descrying any thing, they are to retire to the post of the double Sentinels, and giuing aduise and notice of what they heard or saw, are to returne to their places, without giuing the Alarme:Not to giue A­larme, but vpon reasonable cause. When to giue the Alarme. Feare and ima­ginations do di­sturbe mēs senses. but in case that there were any notable number of horse or foote dis­couered, in retiring vnto the double Sentinels, & all three perceiuing the same for certaine, and affirming it, then the Alarme is to be striken, and in other sort, not: For many times, vnto one man alone, feare or imagination doth cause few peo­ple to seeme many, and many things to seeme to be, which are not indeede: and at no time, is the Alarme to be striken in the campe without good and vrgent cause. For remedie whereof it is a matter of great importance, that the Sergeant Maior,To visite and re­uisite the Senti­nels, at sundry houres in the night, to good ef­fectes. euery night, at different houres, doe ordinarily visite and reuisite the wat­ches and Sentinels, as well to see that they obserue and performe his orders and commaundes, as to the ende that the officers and souldiers, vnderstanding his courses taken, be more vigilant and carefull in their watches, fearing to be punish­ed if they incurre into any defaults and negligences.

What call you the forlorne Sentinell, sith you say, they are improperly so termed?The proper for­lorne Sentinell, what it is.

The proper forlorne Sentinell is that, which is set, either on horse-backe or foote, as necessitie shall require, neare vnto the enemies campe; to the end, to espie and giue aduise if any companies or troupes shall sallie thereout, or if the campe do remoue secretly. And this such Sentinell is to be placed in some part so neare vnto the enemie, that being discryed and seene, he shall with great diffi­cultie retire and escape:An example. and is neuer set but vpon necessitie of such like aduises: As when Frauncis the French king, did relieue and victuall Landresie, which the Emperour Charles held besieged, who determined to giue him battell the next day before he were departed; and so Don Fernando de Gonzaga, who was Gene­rall, commaunded Captaine Salazar that he should that night put himselfe neare vnto the enemies campe, therby to vnderstand their desseignes and intents: but he missed to effect the same.The forlorne Sē ­tinell, not to haue the word but a different Conter­signe. So the French retired in safetie and wel without any per­ceiuing thereof. And thus these Sentinels haue not the word that is kept in our camp, for the incōuenience that might hap, if being takē by the enemy, & corrup­ted with rewards or otherwise, they thereby might know our word: but he ought to haue a differēt contersigne, that when he returnes, he may be knowne thereby.

What order is obserued in the day of the Word?

The order to be obserued in the day of the word.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 [Page 107] 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. With some the word doth passe no further then the Caporals. Dangerous to trust the word with raw soul­diers.

You say here, that the Sētinels 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.

Indeede among raw souldiers there is good reason for the same, for the sundry inconueniēces 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.

Then the Caporall hauing the Word, and the Sentinell, not: what is the Sentinell to do, when occasion is to demaund the Word?The Sentinell not hauing the word, what to do.

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 Sētinels post, & there himself taketh the Word.

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.

When any Officer or Captaine of the Round,The order to be obserued in ta­king the word, by the officers, and souldiers the one from the other. The shot; how? The pike; in what manner? The officer or Rounde; ought to giue the word vnto the Senti­nell first. The souldier set at Sentinell, not bound to reknow­ledge any person, without giuing the word. The word is the meane in warre to exclude all de­ceipts. The sight and hearing, easily deceiued, especi­ally by night. Example. A fowle errour. 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 Sē ­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 [...]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 cōmanded 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, whē 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,The Round fin­ding the Senti­nell vigilāt, neede not alwayes ap­proch neare him. 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.

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.

The Sentinell ought to suffer none to passe in or out of the campe without giuing the word. The officer or Round.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,Refusing to giue the word, he may discharge as at an enemy. How to deale with such as come into the campe. 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 thē 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.

Whē the Alarme is giuen, what the Sētinels are to do.When the Alarme is giuen, are all the Sentinels to retire to their Corps de guards.

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?

In such occasions doe all the Ensignes, which are at the watch make a squadron together,Whē the Alarme is giuē, what or­der is to be taken with the ensignes or companies. The Generals guard, and guard of the munition, not to stirre. To frame the squadrons with all diligence. To enquire the cause of the A­larme. To aduertise the Generall and Camp-maister thereof. The cōpanies set in squadron not to disseuer with­out licence from the Generall. To returne the Sentinels to their postes, or stations. or euery one apart?

They all ioyne together in that Corps de guard, which standeth most cō ­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 munitiō, 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 officers, giue aduise vnto the Regiments next vnto him, and aboue all, he is to aduertise his Camp-maister and Generall; without order from whom, the com­panies already set in battell may not returne to their quarters and guardes. And so the Sergeant Maior, after they be fully satisfied & assured that they may disbād and breake vp, hee ought to demaund licence of the Generall for the same, and shall returne to set his postes as before they were. And if he shall perceiue it to be needfull to reenforce and strengthen his guardes, he ought to do it with more or lesse numbers, as the necessitie shall require it.

I haue heard that some Sergeant Maiors do draw out of their principall Corps de guards where their ensignes & companies do stand, & the first Sētinels, [Page 109] other small Corps de gards;To draw out of the grand Corps de guard, other small Corps de guards. The small Corps de guard to what effect. but I know not to what end?

That Sergeant Maior doth not amisse: for that Corps de guard is of those souldiers which are for the Sentinels, and Round that night; for that the officer, when he is to relieue and change them, may find them more ready. And these Corps de guardes do serue also, that the Sentinels may haue succour neare at hand, if neede should require: and againe, they helpe also to keepe the guardes more vigilant, and the souldiers more ready to the seruice of their ensignes.

THE THIRD DIALOGVE.

WHat orders is the Sergeant Maior to obserue, in the times of fight with the enemy?

The Sergeant Maior cannot keepe any certaine rule therein, considering the diuersitie of chaunces, stratagems and po­licies, which in euery moment do happen in warre.

But in the action of battell, he is to see, and to foresee (as before I sayd) as well their owne, as their enemies orders, and disorders; to redresse with all valour, rea­dinesse, and skill,What the Ser­geant Maior is to do in the fact of battell. what is needfull in his owne squadrons, and to espie euery aduan­tage vpon the enemy: and valiantly to animate, order and encourage his soul­diers to valour, vertue and honour; and that with couragious and honourable words: and if by fortune any of his squadrons be disordered and broken, he must with all speedinesse, courage, and skill redresse the same.

But if any men in the rankes of his squadrons be hurt or slaine, either by the enemies great shot, or otherwise, so that wanting there those men which so are slaine or hurt, how are these rankes to be refurnished, so that it may be done without confusion?

The order of the Romanes, The Romaines order was to fight in battallions. The Greekes did fight in Phalan­gia, or square. Men slaine or hurt in the first rankes, how to re­forme the rankes. The fore rankes to be alwayes kept full. as I haue already sayd, was to fight in order of battallions, the one to second the other, which is a very strong order of fight, were men expert and skilfull therein: And the manner of the Greekes was in Pha­langia; which is a iust square of men, whom we do therein imitate: which manner of square of men is, each man standing consequently in ranke, and in file one after other: so that if any of the first files or rankes be slaine or hurt, the next soldier suc­ceeding the same man hurt or slaine, is to step vp into his place & roome, and the next after to follow him; and so successiuely one to follow another, euen vnto the center or traine of the squadron: in such sort that alwayes the formost rankes be fully furnished.

And what is to be done with those hurt and slaine men, for me thinkes they should be looked vnto.officers appointed to withdraw hurt and slaine men out of the battell.

The Spaniardes haue a laudable custome, which is, that they haue cer­taine men appointed of purpose, to retract and draw foorth of the squadrons, such men as be hurt, and to bring them vnto the chirurgians: and for such as bee [Page 110] slaine right out, to conuay them away, so that their slaine numbers is neuer light­ly knowne to the enemy. Which order I would wish to be receiued and obserued amongst vs.

What other parts are there yet in him to be required?

To be skilfull in giuing a Cami­sada. Example. To conduct the souldiers with great silence vnto the Cami­sada. To inuest their shirtes. To performe with resolution, and all celerity. In such diffi­cult attempts the Sergeant Maior to be con­ductor. Example. In Ambuscados the souldiors to be silent and ready. To charge sud­denly. The Sergeant Maior to be soli­citous with the generall for ar­mour, and other necessaries for his regiment. How the same to be reparted. To be the vni­uersall procurer of the souldiers good. Hurt or sicke men to be con­ueyed to the hos­pitals. All vnder offi­cers to assist the Sergeant Maior. The carriage-maisters. The Harbin­gers. The Sergeants. Lieutenant and Alferes. Drumme Maior. Caporals of the field. The Sergeant Maiors Coadiu­tors.Moreouer the Sergeant Maior ought to be very expert, and to be very skilfull, and well aduised, in the course which is to be kept in giuing a camisada: as that was, which was giuen vnto the Prince of Oranges army by the Spaniards, when he came to relieue graue Lodwike his brother, being besieged within Mouns in Henault, by Duke d'Alua, which was such, that he was faine to raise his campe, and retire toward Germany. Now in such cases, the Sergeant Maior must con­duct his souldiers with great silence, euen to the place of the enemies campe, and there shall he commaund them to put their shirtes vpon their armour, at one in­stant making ready to effect their desseignes, whereunto they shall passe with all speede and resolution, before that the enemy may be aduertized thereof by their Sentinels. And also when other great occasions are offered, where it is needefull to carry the souldiers with great silence, secrecie, and stilnesse, he is to be their guide; as did the Sergeant Maior Valleio, when Mondragon with his regiment pas­sed ouer the riuer Schalt, to succour their friends besieges in Targoes.

And in Ambuscados, which are to be done in places of couert; as woods, thic­kets, hollow wayes, or hils, he is to be carefull that the souldiers be silent and with­out noise, for not to be discouered, vntill their espials and watches, appointed for that purpose, doe giue them the signe of the conuenient time of their sodaine charge vpon the enemy.

Also it is the Sergeant Maiors part to be sollicitous and diligent with the prince or Captaine Generall of the army, and the other superiour officers, for the proui­ding of armour, and other necessaries for the companies of his regiment, and for the other munitions of powder, match, lead, and victuals: the which he shal cause to be reparted vnto the Sergeants of the bands, to be by them deliuered vnto the Caporals, who are to distribute the same among the companies.

And to conclude, he ought to be the vniuersall procurer of the souldiers good, procuring their payes, and that they be succoured in their necessities and wants. And if there be any hurt men or sicke, hee is to procure that they may be caried with all care, vnto the hospitals or such places deputed for the same, prouiding them of cariages, necessaries, and guides if neede require. To do all the which he hath all the officers of the regiment for helpers and ministers; which are to as­sist and obey him, For the cariage-maister is to furnish him with cartes, and cari­ages as shall be needefull, and the furrier maior, to prouide and bring munition at the day of battell: and the Sergeants to assist him, to set the squadrons and to keepe the companies in order and array: and the ensignes and Lieutenants to giue and notifie the orders and commandes to the gards for the seruice of the companies: and the drumme maior to proclaime and sound the generall com­mandes, bandos, and lawes of the field, and to giue warning vnto the Captaines, and companies, which are to haue the watch: and the Caporals of the field, being his Coadiutors, to assist and helpe him in all matters, and actions generall tou­ching his office, with whom he is to consult, and communicate his proper autho­rity vnto the best experimented of them (with leaue of his superiour comman­ders) [Page 111] and vnto which Coadiutor the Captaines and officers ought to be obe­dient,The Sergeant Maiors Coad­iutor. as vnto the Sergeant Maior him selfe, receiuing also from him their or­der and commaundes: and therefore it behoueth that he be a verie sufficient per­son, of good deserts, and knowen to bee such; to the ende, that the respect which is borne to him for his office sake, be not lost, if the partes requisite in such a personage be not found in him. It toucheth not onely the Sergeant Maior to be a generall maister of all Militarie discipline,The Sergeant Maior a general maister of all mi­litarie discipline. A procurer of the souldiers soules health in general. Banishing all publike crimes, and commō offenders. and the vniuersall procurer of all necessarie things for the souldiers bodies (as I haue sayd) but he is also pre­cisely bound to be the procurer of their soules health, by punishing and ba­nishing all publike crimes and sinnes out of euerie Band and Companie, as leud keepers of common women, theeues, pilferers, disordered persons, and drunkardes, bawdes and brawlers, and all such as liue infamousely, and aboue all to be verie carefull not to suffer anie blasphemer, yea, if it were possible, not to haue anie swearing by the name of God, sith that with all these sinnes the di­uine Maiestie is highly offended: which if herein he haue the care that is requi­red, he shall not faile to be well reputed,The reward of a good officer, both in heauen and earth. fauoured and esteemed of the Prince, vnder whose ensignes he warreth, and also bee blessed of God, both in heauen and earth.

THE FOWERTH DIALOGVE.

GOod Captaine, you haue verie well and largely declared the office, parts and duties of a Sergeant Maior, lying in the field and Campe; wherefore I pray let vs now intreate you to shew the parts of his office entring with his regiment into a fortresse or towne of garri­son, to defend and keepe the same.

Hauing found you so kind and curteous (Gentlemen) I can do no lesse but endeuour my selfe to content you in what I may:The Sergeant Maior entring with his regimēt into any Fort or towne of strength to keepe the same, what he is to do. 1. To reknowledge the place well.2. The places ne­cessarie for the Corps de guards, Sentinels, and Rounds.3. The place of assembly. To deuide the cōpanies, and the or­ders to be obser­ued he must giue in writing vnto euer Captaine. and therfore I say, that when anie regiment doth enter into anie fortresse, towne, or castell, to reside there for the defence thereof, the Sergeant Maior is presently to reknowledge and viewe euery part of the same, both within and without, and to consider the parts most necessarie where to place the Corps de guards, and to set the Sentinels: and also to marke the most conuenientest places for the Rounds to passe, and to see the place or places of assembly or Armes, whereunto the Captaines and Companies are to gather and assemble, if in case anie alarmes be giuen: and this being done, he is presently to deuide the Companies according as he shall see it most conue­nient for the guard and custodie of the place. And of this repartition (communi­cating it first vnto his Colonell) he is to giue an order and instruction in writing, firmed with his hand vnto the Captaines and Ensignes of euerie Companie, reseruing a copy thereof himselfe, to the ende that no officer might with reason excuse himselfe, if hee should chance to commit any fault or negligence in any [Page 112] thing touching the guard of that which was commaunded him, seeing it was deli­uered him in writing.

Great care to bee had in deuiding the guardes.And because there is great consideration and care to bee had in deuiding the guardes of a Fort, Hould, and Towne of defence, chiefly if any enemy army be expected to the same, notwithstanding that in all other times this care and foresight is to be obserued in this function:No companie to haue any one place assigned them to k [...]epe customably. The reasons. In the euening to assemble the companies of the watch. To draw lots, or cast dice for the quarters. No companie nor squadras to know their quarter vntill the very houre of seting the watch. To consider whe­ther the places for the Corps de guard be commo­dious. Reparations to be done. Garrits, and watch houses. The walkes for the Roundes to be made commodi­ous. he should in no case assigne vnto eue­ry company the part of the wall or bulwarke which they are ordinarily to keepe: for the most often that townes haue beene taken by practize, tracto, or treason, the principall cause hath beene, that the Sentinell or officer, which so selleth the place, hath knowne the part and quarter where ordinarily hee was to guard and watch, whereof wee haue many examples: and therefore hee ought to as­semble, and gather into the place euery euening, the companies which are to bee that night of the watch, and that they draw lots, or cast the dice for the quar­ters which shall concerne them to keepe: and the troupes or squadraes, and Sentinels shall obserue the same order: in such sort that neither any companie, may foreknow his quarter, nor yet the squadra, what part of the wall doth ap­pertaine vnto them, vntill the very houre that the watches be set, and placed in the same.

Now this partition being made (as is sayd) hee is to consider very well, whether the Corps de guard, where the company or companies are to enter into and stand, be fit and commodious; and also those of the gates and caualleros. And if they haue neede of repairing, let him cause it foorthwith to be done, and also the garrits and watch houses, where the posts and Sentinels are to be placed, and whether they bee sufficient to defend and keepe out the raine: and this to be done at the charge of the city or towne, as is accustomed. And if the Rounds cannot commodiously passe round about the wals, he is to cause it to be accom­modated foorthwith. And must see, that there be sufficient store of torches, cres­sets, linkes, and lanthornes, as well to be kept in the Corps de guard, as for the roundes and counter roundes. In placing the companies which are to haue the watch,To prouide store of torches and lights for the night. To set the watch an houre before night. No souldier suf­fered to disarme himselfe vntill the shutting in of the gates. The souldiers not to disarme vntil the Alferes be vnarmed. the Sergeant Maiors do vse different orders; for some do set them in the morning, and others in the euening; sooner, or later, as they shall thinke good. But in mine opinion, if necessitie did not otherwise constraine, I would alwayes set them (especially in sommer time) an houre before the sunne setting, as well for that the souldier should come supped, and so should haue no occasion there­fore to go out of the watch, as for that vntill the shutting in of the gates, no soldier should be permitted to disarme himselfe, giuing them to vnderstand how foule it is, and ill beseeming the profession of a souldier, that no sooner they are entred into the Corps de guard, but that their Corslets be hanged vp vpon the wals: yea and some doe vse it in the Campe, hauing the enemies army at hand, the which fault is intollerable, and they ought not to do it, vntill they see their Alferes disar­med first, on whom they ought to fixe their eyes, to imitate, as they do on their en­signes in the field,The orders to be obserued at the opening of the gates. to follow.

At the opening of the Gates, the Sergeant Maior ought to appoint the Sergeāt or Sergeants, that be of the gard, that they be present at the shutting & 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, [Page 113] 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,Not suffering the people to passe out or in by throngs. 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, The Sentinell to 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,Example of a practise. 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,To prouide wood for the corps de guard. Places to be pro­uided in the corps de guard to accō ­modate the armes 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;Not to suffer any gaming tables the watch entring in­to the place. To receiue their colors with great respect and reue­rence. To keepe good ac­count of the num­ber of the soldiers. 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,To haue regard that their Armes be complete and good, and incon­uenient order. 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,All apparitions yeelding terror to the enemy, to be esteemed. 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.

In what order do the Ensignes enter into the place?

Vnto the Corps de guard,The orders to be obserued by the companies entring into 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 [Page 114] carrie them aduanced vp,Another order set downe in folio 46. 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.Two companies entring at once into the Corps de guard. 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.

And the companies which stand at the ward, what are they to do when the others do enter?

They must attend ready armed and armes in hand, standing vpon one side of the Corps de guard,The companies which were at the watch, what to doe. 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,The Sergeant Maior is to visite the Corps de guard. 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.

Vnruly souldiers to be punished.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,The Roundes and counter Roundes. 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,Their dut [...]es and charge. 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.

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?

The counter Roundes are most commonly of officers, and therefore by reason and dutie the Round is to giue place,The Round is to giue the Word first vnto the counter Round. 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,The Sergeant Maior is to giue order for this point. 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 alwayes the Round to giue place, and giue the Word vnto the counter Round: and thence foorth shall appoint the counter Roundes to be of officers of [Page 115] the companies, as is accustomed.

And in case that in the one and the other there be officers, or that both be of souldiers, it is great reason that the Round do yeelde and giue the Word first, for that the counter Rounds be of more preheminence:The counter Rounds duty and charge. the which are not only or­dained to do the same which do the Roundes: which is to see vnto the care and vigilancie of the guardes and Sentinels, but they are also ordained to see if the Roundes do faile in their duties:The Gouernour and Sergeant Maior rounding extraordinarily is to giue the Word first vnto the Round. The Round is to giue the Word first vnto the Sentinell, and to take account of a such as they shall meete. If any passe out of the forest by night, to giue ad­uertisment ther­of. The guard not to retire by day till an officer come to remoue them. To visit and re­visit al things of­ten and as diffe­rent houres. To reprehend with grauity and curteous spee­ches. But this is to be vnderstood in case that the supra Roundes be as ordenary as the Roundes: for that when the Colonell or Gouer­nour of the fort, or the Sergeant Maior doe extraordinarily visite and Round, as they are wont to doe, then is it their part to giue the Word vnto the Round: the which being not aduertised that they be any supra Round, he is bound to giue the Word vnto none but only vnto the Sentinell: and all those which he shall meete, he ought to view, and take account of them, of that which they doe, and whither they go; apprehending such as he shall find faulty, or any other suspected person that he shall fortune to meete. And if by chaunce there passe any body by night out of the fort or garrison, as commonly it happeneth, it is needefull to aduer­tise the Sergeant Maior thereof, who should thereupon take order to change the Word which the watch had, for the inconuenience that might happen for not doing the same.

And the guardes by day, may they retire without farther order?

No truly, vntill the Sergeant Maior, or his Coadiutor, do come to with­draw them in such manner as they were set, placing the guardes that are to re­maine there by day. And for as much as I haue spoken very much touching this officer, I will conclude with saying, that he ought to visite and reuisite at diuerse and different houres, all things that he hath prouided, after their well ordering; and see how they be performed, reprehending and punishing what he shall find worthy punishment. But he ought to do this in good and curteous sort, and so­ber manner, knowing how to commaund with sweete and gentle words, ha­uing a naturall grace thereunto, and grauity, whereby to be obeyed, in such sort, that when hee would determine to execute his desseignes, and his superiours charges and commandes, all the souldiers and officers might beare him that due respect and obedience,The drumme is the voice of the commander. To prouide good Drummers. which should bee needefull to bring the same to effect. Finally, let the Sergeant Maior be very carefull to prouide good drum­mers, and men skilfull in their art, especially their Drumme Maiors; for the drumme is the voice of the commander in the field: and besides their skill with the drumme, to be men of good capacity and iudgement; also to speake sundry languages, being behouefull for many important occasions wherein they are to be emploied.

Captaine,Many good parts ought to be in the p [...]rsonage of a Sergeant Maior. you haue throughly discoursed touching the office of a Ser­geant Maior; whereby is to be vnderstood how many great and good parts ought to be in the personage called to this martiall function. Now I pray tell what de­gree of office commeth next.

THE FIRST DIALOGVE.

The first Dialogue:

THE SECOND DIALOGVE.

Refortifying of old places of strength. YOu haue declared of most things necessary to any new fortificati­ons: but now, because more commonly old Castels and Cities be repaired and refortified, then new forts erected; I pray, what or­der is there to be taken in such refortifications?

Situations of Ci­ties and fortres­ses.All Cities, Townes, Fortresses or Castels, do stand ei­ther on a plaine or on a hill, or on the sea shoare (as before is sayd) or else partici­pating of all three: now whether it be on maritime confines, or in land boundes, before that one come to raze downe the old wals, and to build vp new, these mat­ters following are first to be cōsidered, as well for the situation without as within.

THE THIRD DIALOGVE.

TOuching fortifications of either sort, and of the alterations and refortifying of old towns & Castels, we haue vnderstood sufficiētly: but when there is anie Armie leuied, what charge hath he therein?

An armie leuied, the charge of the Maister of the Ordinance.When there is an Armie newly leuied and framed, the Captaine generall of the Artillerie, or Maister of the Ordinance, as we call him, hath vnder his charge the Artillerie thereof, with munitions con­uenient of all sorts, kinds and qualities; and armour and weapons for the people of warre, a swell foote as horse: and vnder his commaund they are kept, deliuered, ordered and distributed.Cariages & peo­ple belonging to the Maister of the Ordinance. And to carrie the same, he conducteth vnder pay, horses, oxen, carts, waines, carters, wainemen, enginers, gunners, carpenters, smiths, foū ­ders, armorers, mariners, calkers, pioners, labourers, & other people of such ser­uice, which both ordinarie & extraordinarie, are wont, and ought to be vnder his charge and gouernement, for the seruice, vse and conseruation of the Artillerie, and of the Armour,Bridges built vpō boates. and of all sorts of Munition: and for bridges, barks & boats, and other Addresses and engines, which are vsed and needfull to be framed to passe riuers, and other passages, according as cause and occasion shal be offered. And for the administration and seruices of all the which rehearsed things, to assist and helpe him, he hath these officers following, among the Spaniards.

THE FOVRTH DIALOGVE.

WHat number of oxen and horses are necessary to draw euery par­ticular peece of great Ordinance?

Horses to draw a Cannon of the greatest size, &c. Horses to draw a Culuerine.To draw a Cannon of the greatest size, they vse to put 24 horses or oxen in faire weather, and in soule 30. And for a demy Cannon 18 or 20. And to draw a Culuerine in faire weather, 24, & in foule weather accordingly. To draw a Saker 12 or 14 beasts; and for a Falcon 8 beastes, &c.

A good cart, waine, or wagon, will cary 60 Cannon shot, and of others after that rate,Carriage of Can­non shot and o­ther munition. and are drawne with 6, or 8 horses: and after the same order and waight, go the other carts and cariages with powder, leade, match, iron, iron-tooles, ar­mour, and all other munition. One cart to cary a bridge barke: and all these things considered, the Captaine Generall of the Artillery taketh vp all these cartes and beasts at the Prince prices, being in their owne dominions; and in other countries as he may get them for pay.

Then being in others countrie, what order is to be obserued herein?

Order for beasts and Carriages.The Maister of the ordinance agreeth and bargaineth with some cer­taine persons who do offer themselues to serue in the actions with a thousand horse or two, as did one Andrew Dun, in the seruice of Charles the fift, in his warres of Gelderland and Fraunce.

What people and officers are necessary to attend vpon, and to conduct these cartes and carriages?

The officers and people for the car­riages.First the principall person ouer all the said horses, with 2 halberdiers attending vpon him, a clarke to take the account and muster of all these cariages, with his halberdier attendant, a Harbenger, and a Mayorall, which goeth with euery thousand beasts, a Cill Maister, or Lieutenant to the Mayorall, ouer euery 200 horses or beasts; a Prouost ouer the horses which draw the Artillery, two Car­penters, and two ferriers or smithes.

There would neede a great number of people and strength to lade and vnlade all these cariages; and to helpe about the Ordinance?

Pioners, vnder the Maister of the ordinance, & to what purposes.True, and therefore the Generall of the Artillery hath vnder his charge, a great number of labourers or Pioners, which of necessity must be had in a camp, and follow an Army, to make trenches, Rampiers, Minings, Countermines, [Page 137] ditches, caues; to make plaine the wayes for the army to march; to accommodate the passages for the Artillery to passe; to raise mounts to plant ordinance vp­on; to place and fill the gabbions; to digge earth for the same; to vndermine wals, and townes, and to raze those of any gained places downe; to cut timber to forti­fie withall; to digge wells for water, and great pits to bury and to cast therein, the garbedge, filthinesse, and offalls of the campe; and seruing to a number of such necessary vses.

Ouer the sayd Pioners there are Captaines appointed to gouerne them,Captaines ouer the Pioners. which should be men very expert in fortifications, trenching, mining, counter mining, and in all sorts of engines concerning a campe, and battery actions: and there­fore besides their experience, they ought to be learned and well skilled in all ma­ner of fortifications, both in campe, towne, or fortresse. These Pioners do go be­fore the campe with a sufficient band of souldiers for their guard,The Pioners guarded by soul­diers. The Pioners tooles. carrying with them mattockes, spades, shouells, pikaxes, crowes of iron, barrells, baskets, hampiers, and such other tooles; and ouer euery three or foure hundred Pioners a Captaine.

The gunners ought to haue ouer them a Maister-gunner, to rule and com­maund them,A maister gun­ner ouer all the gunners. and to see that they do their duties, and to be men sufficient in their art. He ought also to see all things prouided and necessary for the Artillery, as carriage, axletrees, wheeles, ladles, spunges, rammers, iron crowes, leauers, sho­uells, mattocks,His office and charge for neces­sary tooles. gabions, baskets, ropes, chaines, coynes for the breetch of eue­ry peece, to coyne it vp or downe: powder both serpentine and corne powder; cotton match, lintstockes, priming irons, their rules or instruments to take the le­uell, Taladros that is, engines to mount and dismount the ordinance; shot of all sorts and sizes, and heights; cartages of all sizes; trunckes, arrowes and balles of wild-fire, and stuffe to make the same, with all things necessary to his charge, office, and art; giuing still his diligent attendance vpon the Maister of the ordinance, to know his orders and commands, executing the same with all diligent care and fidelity.

It behoueth the Generall of the Artillery to procure and see all these aforesaid matters prouided,The maister of the ordinance his principall care and charge. and good orders kept in the same, as superiour commander therof; & that there be sufficiēt prouisions of al kind of munitions & armes, as well defensiue as offensiue, both for the infantery and Cauallery, & that there be won­derfull care had in the conseruing of the same, giuing order and charge thereof, vnto the Mayordomes; the which they are to distribute and deliuer out by Libra­zas, or Tickets, from the sayd Generall of the Artillery, or else not.

The Gentlemen of the Artillery attending vpon his person,Gentlelmen of the Artillery. ought to be men of great sufficiency to execute any orders by him cōmanded, being men very dis­creete and modest; for many inconueniences do follow, being grosse headed and disordered persons

The Captaine Generall of the Artillery,Particular parts of the Maister of the ordinance. besides the afore recited parts, ought to bee learned, and well read in histories, and stratagems of warre; seene in specu­lation of Geometrie & Mathematikes, with the practike therof; to know grounds & distances, waights, measures, qualities and the effects of the Artillery; to iudge where is the most conuenient part of any place to be battered;Sundry good con­siderations. how to conuay his ordinance thither; the place where to plant them, & the planting of the same, for to [Page 138] take any cōmoditie that might helpe the defendants: and regard that the enemy may not surprise his Ordinance; fencing them with gabbiōs, maunds, & trenches, and guarded with appointed troupes of shot, pikes, and short weapons; hauing a respect first to dismount the enemies Artillerie, that might in any manner annoy the campe; then to bend his batteries from two or three plantings, vpon most places of aduantage, as cause shall require, to ruinate their Curtine, and make good breaches: lastly, well regarding, that before any assault be giuen, to cut off all flankers, and trauesses of annoyance.

Skilfull in my­nings.He ought also himselfe to be skilfull in myning, and counter-myning, and in all artificial fire workes, and shooting in great Ordinance, not giuing ouermuch cre­dite vnto others, vnlesse they be men well knowen to be of experience and skill.

Then it seemeth, he should be a Maister-gunner also.

To be skilfull in shooting of great ordinance, and their particulari­ties.It is most requisite that he be well skilled in the arte, being maister ouer all; the which may easily be attained, hauing good speculation therein, annexed with some practise, knowing the names of euery particular peece, and their seue­rall waights, lengths, bignesse, and boares of the cylinder, their true dispart, the height and poize of euery their bullet, the quantitie of powder seruing to euery one, their distance at point blanke, their best vantage at Randon, their seuerall raunges, the goodnesse and difference of powder, the simples and compounds thereof, the ladles, sponges, and rammers befitting euery one, the making of all these, with a number of other points belonging to the arte.

What powder doth each peece require, according to his shot?

It consisteth much in the goodnesse or badnesse of the powder; for the powder being good the lesse will serue, is sooner fiered, doth better execution, & heateth not the peece so much.The quantitie of powder to seue­rall peeces, and their bullets. Cannon, Demy-Cannon. Culuerine. The cōmō vse is vnto euery double Cannō, of 58, 64, or 70 pound Bullet, to allow in powder the ⅔ of the waight of the shot: and to euery Demy-Cannon after the same rate: as for example; a Cannon of 64 pound shot, to allow 41⅓ pound of powder for his due charge, and so of the rest: and to euery whole Culuerine, and demy Culuerine (being peeces double fortified with mettall) to allow them in powder the ⅘ of the waight of the bullet: as for ex­ample; a Culuerine of 20 pound waight bullet, to giue of good corne powder 16 pound for his charge. And vnto the Saker, Mynion, and Falcon, somewhat better allowance;The Ladles. as almost to the waight of their bullet. The Ladle twise equally filled, to all these abouesaid peeces, is their due charge in powder. With the artil­lerie and munition there is alwayes a Corps de guard, both of Infanterie & Ca­uallerie. The charge of the placing & setting of them belongeth vnto the Camp-maister Generall, called with vs the High Marshall of the field.

The election of the officers.The election of all the aforesaid officers, and Gentlemen of the artillerie, En­giners, & Pioners belongeth vnto this Maister of the Ordinance, except the trea­surer, and Pay-maister; whom either the Prince or the Lord high Generall doth name & appoint:To haue wary & carefull people a­bout the Ordi­nance. but besides this aforesaid guard of foot & horse, it behoueth the Miaster of the Ordinance to set other carefull and warie people both to gard them and view them, that the Ordinance be not nayled, nor the munition fiered; as did a paisant, issuing out of Verona (being besieged by two great armies, of the Vene­tians and Frauncis the French king, and Marc Antonio Colonna defendant within) and set fire to the munitions of the Venetians campe.

[Page 139]The Captaine Generall of the Artillerie doth cause to bee payed all the offi­cers,The Maister of the ordinance his care for payment of his people. Their respect to him. Gentlemen, Enginers, and Pioners, which go vnder his conduction: and they ought to obey him, reuerence and respect him as their superiour, punishing their offences as they be committed, as well in peace as in warre: and commending and rewarding such as haue valiantly and vertuously demeaned themselues; so shall he be beloued, obeyed, and honored.

Truly this office is of great and honorable charge, and many businesses belonging to the same.

So it is indeede; and therefore encommended and bestowed vpon per­sonages of great qualitie, learning, wisedome and experience in martiall affaires: and one who is alwayes of the counsell of warre.

The first Dialogue:

WEll (Captaine) sith you haue in your former fiue bookes at large discoursed touching most martiall pointes; as well of souldiers, offices, officers, and Commanders, as also of most sorts of imbattailing of men, now most in vse; wherein you haue satisfied vs wonderfull well: yet, I pray (according to your promise) will you now describe vnto vs their seuerall tables,A farther request for figures and tables of battels. and figures to the same: whereby we (which are not skilled) may reape some knowledge from thence: and so shall haue good cause to yeelde you thankes for your great paines.

Although that I haue in our former discourses, declared (at large) of most sorts of imbattailing, both auncient and moderne; yet for better declaration and vnderstanding of the tables following, I must of necessity repeate a great part thereof againe.Errors found in battell. Touching errors found in battels (according to mine opinion) by reason of sundry compound weapons within the body of the same, I haue spoken already.What kind of bat­tels may be held for good and firme. Wherefore now let vs consider, and declare, what kind of battels (by rea­son) may bee held for good and firme, considering our now vsed fights, and the weapons most befitting the same, & suted in so good sort as may become able to abide or performe a victory, whereunto they are appointed. Principally therfore if you will rest vpon one sole and entire battell, whether the same be square of mē, or square of ground,To frame the squadron of pikes only. To empale with shot. Shot deuided in­to small troupes. or any other proportion, or forme, as hearst, crosse battell, or tryangle: the which two first (as I haue erst before sayd) do at this present day re­maine chiefly in vse among vs: or deuide your army into many battallions of that kind, which your graund battell shall be formed of: then set your squadron of bat­tell or battallions round about vnder the guard of the pikes, with such number of shot, as shall be best fitting vnto the proportion of the same, according to the Ser­geant Maior his appointment; either by 3, 5, or 7 shot in a ranke: and the rest to be reparted into many small troupes, of 30, 40, or 50 in a troupe; trouping round a­bout [Page 182] the battel, with a reasonable distance from the same, to maintaine skirmish, which way soeuer the enemie approcheth. Prouiding that the same troupes be still maintained, one to second another, that the battell may be by them shadow­ed, to the end that the enemies troupes or skirmishers may not haue that aduan­tage to discharge vpon the body of your battell.

The short weapō to be mingled with the troupes of shot.Now among these your troupes of shot, it shall be very behouefull to mingle some of your short weapons, as halbards, bils, swords and targets, halfe pikes, and such like: for there shall your short weapon do best seruice, mixed with your na­ked shot, to backe them, if they should happen to be distressed by the enemy.

Your battell thus framed, girdled, and enuironed with shot in troupes, the which troupes,Troupes of shot one to second an other. seconding one another, shall still keepe your battell shadowed, as in the figures of all their kinds, set downe before their seuerall tables, shall plainely appeare: alwayes regarding that your girdling shot do neuer discharge vntill the enemy commeth within 20,The girdling shot when to discharge or 30, pases of them at the least; and then to discharge roundly vpon the face and body of the enemy. The which being performed, if they be encountred with foote, they are speedily to retire vnto either flanke of the battell, or sleeued in betwixt the pikes, or if encountred with horse, to bend downe vpon one knee, vnder the guard and succour of the pike.

The rare victo­ries of the Ro­maines.Now hauing deepely considered the rare victories and great conquests of the auncient Romaines, atchieued (in mine opinion) by their due obseruing of true martiall discipline, and great readinesse in their politike and suddaine alterations of their proportions, wherewith to encounter their enemies, I find therein a most notable patterne of a right excellent Chiefetaine. The very circumspection of whom, by a most wonderfull regard, was cause vnto them, of so many, and such honourable victories:The readinesse of souldiers to be transported into any forme. wherein the continuall readinesse of their souldiers and people of war, to be transported (with all facilitie) into euerie forme, vpon anie oc­casion: and the skilfull direction of their Captaines was such therin, as to so victo­rious a people seemed to be most correspondent and conuenient. The which true discipline, obedience, skill, and readinesse, were it vsed (and more then it is) in this our age, I thinke warres would carry a farre better conduction then they now do.

The profit of true trayning.This kind of readinesse in souldiers, and the indeuour of a continuall vse vnto them in the same, especially in the time of their trainings (the which I could wish to be put in practise with vs by skilfull trainers) vpon what chaunce soeuer shold happen, hath no doubt, seemed vnto many, to be of no small importance and force; and the rather do I so iudge, for that hauing sounded the depth and com­modity thereof, I find the contrary negligence to beare with it a note of most great imperfection. The disposition whereof, leauing vnto the knowledge and regard of euery good and expert Captaine,Out of the grand square of men all battels to be redu­ced. and for that I haue at large discoursed thereof already in my third booke of these military discourses, I will at this pre­sent content my selfe, to shew vnto you the seuerall tables and figures of all these battels and battallions, with the arithmeticall rules to frame the same; and how that out of the grand square of men, may all these battallions and battels be re­duced, and that without any great confusion. The practike rules whereof I haue, as I sayd, at large set downe in these our former discourses, as in the third booke may appeare:In the third booke. moreouer I haue in sundry other places particularly declared and [Page 183] the orders of the embattailing of men now most in vse, with their order of impa­ling with armed pikes, their diuisions into Maniples, and the ready reframing of them againe into their grand square, as at large in the sayd third booke appeareth in many and diuerse places.

Finally in the aforesaid third booke, in folio 89, and 90, and in the fourth booke in folio 99, I haue described the order to draw your army through straights, and difficult passages, by quartering the same into such proportions as the straights will permit: especially if the enemy do constraine you to fight in the same, as most commonly it falleth out:In the fift booke. also in the fift booke, in folio 157 is dessigned a plat of encampement, with the arithmeticall rules of the same: in the consideration of all which, the value, and waight of this readinesse, may vnto the diligent re­garders (perchance) in their seuerall descriptions, giue some manifest appearāce.