That the Romaines, through the onely exercise of armes haue ouercome all Nations. The firste Chapiter.

IN any maner of warre, not so much in the great nūber of men & manhood without skyll, as in knowledge and practise, doth consiste the victory. For why we see that by no other meanes the Romaines haue subdued y^e whole worlde vnto them, but by exercise of armes, the exacte knowledge of en­camping, and vse of warre. Howe coulde els the Romaines being but a fewe, haue preuayled against the Frenchemen being so many in nombre? How durst els the sayd Romains being of so small stature, haue aduentured against the Ger­maines being so highe and tall? It is very euident that the Spaniardes not onely in multitude, but also in strengthe of body, haue excelled our men. With the Aphricans in subtil­tie and ryches, we were neuer comparable. No man at any tyme hath doubted, but in sciences & wysedome, the Grekes haue farre passed vs. But alwayes we founde it profitable to those an actiue and wyse souldier, to teache hym, if I may so terme it, the lawe of armes, to confirme his knowledge by dayly exercise, to make him vnderstande by trayning hym at home, suche thynges as may befall in battayle abroade: and sharpely to take punyshement of the dull and slouthfull soul­diour. For the knowledge of warre maketh men more bolde to fight. No man feareth at any time to doe that whiche hee perswadeth him selfe he hath throughly learned. Surely in battayle a small nombre well practised, soner getteth the victory, then a rude and vnskilfull multitude, alwayes in daunger of slaying.

¶Out of what countreis a younge souldiour should be chosen. Chapiter .ij.

THe order of thinges for our purpose doth require, that in the first parte we intreate, out of what prouinces or countries younge souldiours should be chosen. For it is most sure and euident, that in all places bothe cowardes and hardie men be bredde. But yet, because one nations doth excelle an other in warre, and the clymate of the heauē doth very muche auayle, not onely to strengthen the body, but al­so the minde, for in this place what is of the best learned men moste approued & allowed, I meane not to pretermit. They say that all nations whiche be nigh to the Sunne, parched & dried with ouer muche heate, haue more witte in deede, but yet lesse bloud within thē. And for that cause, they dare not manfully & boldly stande to it when they fight, wel knowing how litle bloud they haue, & feare much therfore wounding. Contrariwyse, the people of the North, whom the Sunne burneth not so nere, being more rashe and vnaduised, yet a great deale better blouded, are moste ready of all, & desirous of warre Out of the more tēperate costes then should soul­diours be chosen, whiche both may haue bloud enough, and so not force neither for hurting nor killing: & haue wisedome also sufficiēt, wherby wisely to kepe a moderate meane & ad­uisedly by circumspect councel, to preuaile in their fighting.

¶Whether out of the countrey, or out of the citie, yong souldiours may be taken moste conueniently. Chapiter .iij.

IT foloweth that we knowe, whether out of the countrey or out of the citie, a young souldiour maye be chosen more cōuenient. As concerning which part none, I thinke euer doubted, but the common rude sorte alwayes was fittest for the warres: whiche is brought vp abroade, & vseth to take paine, that can abide sunne burning, that passeth not for the shade, that neuer knewe what bathes ment, ignorant of de­licatenes, simple of minde, content with a litle, hardened in euery parte to abide & beare labour. Howbeit, sometime ne­cessitie [Page 2] so constraineth, that euen out of cities they be forced to the warre. Suche therefore when they are ones made sworne souldiours, let them learne to toyle & trauel, to rūne to & fro, to cary burdēs, to abide y^e sunne & dust. Let thē fare hardly & homely, let them sometimes be occupied abroade, sometimes in their tētes: then at the length let thē be taught to vse their armour. And if the armie shall soiourne long a­broade, they must be kept hard to their taske, & holden farre from all allurementes of the citie, that by this meanes both the strēgthe of their bodies and myndes may encrease. Nei­ther is it to bee denied after the citie was buylded, that the Romaines went al [...]ayes out of the same vnto warre. But then were they not weakened with pleasures of the bodie & deliciousnes. The sweate which was gotten in running and other exercise of Campus Martius, the youthe washte it away with swimming in the ryuer Tyber. The warriour & husbandman, were all one, onely they differed in kynde of ar­moure. Whiche thing is altogether so true, that it is moste true, howe that vnto Quintius Cincinnatus, as he was at plough, the greatest authoritie amongest the Romaines in tyme of warre, the office Dictatura, was offered and geuen. Out of the countrey therfore the force of the armie seemeth chiefly to be supplied. For it comes to passe, I can not tell howe, that hee lesse feareth death whiche hath tasted least pleasure and delicious [...]es in his lyfe.

¶Of what age those young souldiours should be, whiche should be thought allowable. Chapiter .iiij.

NOwe let vs searche of what age it is conuenient that wee chose our souldiours. Uerely if wee wyll obserue old custome, so soone as they growe any thing toward mans state, about fourtene and sixtene yeares, euerye man wyll graunte, they should appeare at the m [...]ster, for not on­ly more spedely, but also more perfectly all thinges are lear­ned whiche we learne in our younge tyme. Besydes, agilitie and actiuitie, fitte for warre, as leaning & running, must be tried and put in vre before the bodie be infeebled by age: for it is readines gotten by former practice that maketh a good [Page] souldiour. The younger sorte must be chosen as saith Salust, for no sooner were younge men able to awaye with warre, as they learned vsually and painfully in the campe, the prac­tise of the same. And it is better that a yonge man exercised should alledge that all his age to fight is not yet come, then that he should truely lamente that the same were already paste. Let him also haue space and tyme to learne euery poincte thereof. For whether you will make a good horse mā, a good footeman, a good archer, or teache a man at armes all his numbers, places, and gestures: that he forsake not his stan­ding, that he breake not araye: to caste his darte with good ayme and strength, conningly to entrenche and driue his stakes, to welde his terget well, to awarde onerthwarte strokes, warely to auoyde blowes, and boldely to stryke his enemie: It semeth no small nor lyghte poinct of warre. A souldiour in this sorte instructed, shal not be afrayd but take pleasure to fight with what so euer enemy in the fielde.

¶Of what stature yonge souldiours should be chosen. Chapter .v.

MArius Consull of Rome, I knowe, alwayes chose younge souldiours of tall stature, so that he woulde allowe none for horsemen in the wynges and fronte of his battayle, but suche as were sixe foote hyghe, or fiue & tenne inches at the least. But then was there more plenty of people, & more that followed the warre. For as yet had not ciuile dissention spent awaye the flourishing youth of the ci­tie. Therefore if nede so r [...]quire, it is mete to haue regarde more of strengthe then of stature, and that we are not herein deceiued, we haue Homere for wytnes, who declareth that Tideus was but small of persone, but yet of good courage and stomake.

¶To knowe by the countenaunce and making of the body whiche souldiours are like to proue good. Chapter .vj.

[Page 3]HE that wyll goe about to muster men, must be verye carefull that by the continuance, by the eyes, by the sure compacting and ioyning of the lymmes, he chose them whiche may be able to perfourme the parte and dutie of souldiours. For not only in men, but also in horses and in dogges, the chiefest power is signified by many tokens, as the best learned men haue declared in their wrytinges, and as also the Poete Virgill speaking of Bees, thus noteth to be obserued.

Let the young man therefore that shalbe a souldiour, not looke drowsely, let hym be straighte necked, broade brested, let his shoulders be well fleshe, let him haue strōg fyngers, longe armes, a gaunte belly, slender legges, the calfe and feete not to full of fleshe, but knitte faste with harde and stronge synowes. Fynding these tokens in a souldiour, you neade not greatly complayne for wante of tall stature. For more requisite it is that souldiours be stronge and valiant, then huge and great.

¶What sciences younge souldiours should be skilful in, whiche should be either chosen or refused. Chapiter .vij.

IT followeth diligētly to be knowen what sciences young souldiours should haue learned, that are either to be ad­mitted or vtterly refused. I suppose that fishers, fowlers, Pasterours, linnen weauers, and whosoeuer that dealeth with any thing that betokeneth a womanishe nicenes, should be vtterly banished the campe. Smythes, Carpēters, But­chers, Hunters of the harte and wylde boares, maye moste conueniently be called to warre. And herein consisteth the safetie of the whole common wealthe, that wee choose our souldiours, not so muche for goodly bodie as for manly cou­rage of minde. The strengthe of the realme, and the name [Page] of the Romaynes lieth in the firste examining of th the soul­diours that are chosen. And let none thinke this a small of­fice, and euerywhere to be committed to euery one, whiche of dyuers vertues that Sertorius had, was thought of the olde Romaynes to be chiefest, and moste commendable for youth▪ vnto whome the defence of countreis, and fortune of warre is to be committed, ought to come of a good stocke if it may be, and also be wel conditioned. Because honestie ma­keth a mete and able souldiour: for whylest they dare not flie for shame, they thereby get the victorie. To what vse should we trayne and brynge vp a cowarde, to let hym remayne in the campe and spende wages vpon hym? Neuer Sped that armie well in battayle, whereof, hee that tooke the muster, was any thing negligent in allowyng the souldiours. And for as muche as vse teacheth, and we finde by experience, he­reof proceade euery where so many discomfitures and da­mage by the enemy: whyles to long peace causeth vs make so negligent and carelesse choise of our souldiours, whyles the honest are suffered to followe the citezins trade, whyles yong souldiour loth to leaue their masters, dissemble y^e mat­ter that they be fauoured and borne withall, whyles suche fellowes are made out as their maisters are wearye of, and therefore wyllingly forgoe them. Circumspect men for this cause with as circumspecte diligence muste of this younger sorte chose both meete and able persones.

¶Wha [...] tyme younge souldiours should be registred and bylled. Chapiter .viij.

FOr all this, notwithstanding, vpon these foresayde to­kens, a younge souldiour maye not by and by be bylled or preste, but wee m [...]st firste see by exercising hym what he can do, that wee may knowe certainly whether hee be a meete fellowe for so great a purpose. It is necessary that hee bee ready and stronge, wee must vnderstande whether hee can perfectlye learne the knowledge and feates of ar­mes, [Page 4] and whether he hath a good souldiours stomake or no. For a great sort although by syght they seame alloweable, yet when they come to be tried, they are vntollerable. The lesse worthy therefore must be lefte, and the worthier succe­de them, and be placed in their roume. In euey conflicte the multitude auayleth nothing so muche as manhode Let the younge souldiours therefore after they are bylled, by conti­nuall exercise learne the feates of armes. But a presump­tion of long securitie, hath brought these thinges out of vse. Whome shall a man finde that is able to teache that whiche hee hym selfe hath not before learned? out of histories then or other authours, wee must learne againe that olde lesson. Yea, but they seame to haue written the noble actes and suc­cesse onely of warres, leauing these which wee nowe doubt of, as thinges throughly and sufficiently knowen. The La­cedemonians, Atheniens, and other of the Greekes, haue wrytten manye thinges in their bookes, whiche in thier to [...] are called Taktika, that is to saye, ordinarie mat­ters pertayning to warre. But wee must searche out the martiall pollicie of the people of Rome, who, of small boundes haue enlarged their dominion, wel nighe to the re­gions of the Sunne, & extended the same nere to the worldes ende. This necessitie compelled mee to ouerlooke manye au­thours, and in this present woorke moste faithfully to sette forth what thinges Cato Censorius hath written of warre: what Cornelius Celsus, and what Frontinus hath brieflye comprehended, and what Paternus, the moste diligent main­teiner of the lawe of armes, hath orderly put in wrytinge. Al which thinges are prouided for by Augustus, Traianus, and Adrianus constitutions. I chalenge no manner autho­ritie to my selfe, but gathering of y^e forenamed, what things haue bene dispersed, make of them as it were abridgemētes called Epitomes.

¶That younge souldiours be exercised in mar­ching, running, and leaping. Chapiter .ix.

[Page]THe first and principall thing that a souldiour must be doing withall, is to learne howe to marche well. For there is nothing in iournying or in battayle more to be obserued, then that all the souldiours do kepe their arraye, whiche can not well be done but by walking ofte apace, and iuste and euen one with another. For a cōfused and disordred armie, standeth ofte in great perill & daunger of the enemy. Therefore in fiue howres, a souldiour must be able to go .xx. myles in sommer. But going a full pace, whiche is swifter, in as many howres he must be able to ridde .xxiiii. miles. A more spedie pace then this, is plaine rūning. The space wher of cannot be iustely limited. The younger sorte must chiefly vse to runne, that with greater violence they may set vppon their enemies, that with more haste when nede is, they may take the more commodious places, or preuent their enemies if they would doe the lyke: that, being made out for scowtes, thei may more cherefully go forward, more redily retourne & more easely ouertake their enemies whē they flie. To lea­ping also the souldiour must be vsed, for iumping of ditches, for passing depe places, whiche els might hinder them: that when such kinde of difficulties happen, they maye goe ouer without any maner of trouble. Moreouer, in the encounter & ioyning of battayle, when a warriour setteth forward run­ning and [...]eaping, he da [...]els his enemies eies, and puttes him in marueilous feare, and sodainly striketh him ere he can be ready to resiste, or by any meanes able to defende him selfe. And as touching the exercise of Pompey the great, Saluste in this wyse semeth to make mention. With the lightest in leaping, with the swiftest in running, with the strongest hee stroue in casting the barre. For he could not otherwyse pos­sible haue matched Sertorius, except he had with often and sundrie exercises prepared thus him selfe and his souldiours for the battayle.

¶What younge souldiours shoulde vse to swymme. Chapiter .x.

[Page 5]IN sommer euery younge souldiour with his fellowes, should exercise swymming. For they shall not euer haue bridges ready to passe ouer ryuers withall, and when an armie retireth or hath his enemies in chase, it is oftentimes constrained to swymme. Sodaine showers or great snowes, make the waters breake out, and by ignorance herein, soul­diours are subiecte to daunger, not onely on behalfe of the enemie, but also for drowning and perishing thēselues. Therefore the auncient Romaines, whiche by so manye warres and continuall perylles, came to be excellent in all warre matters, those the fielde Campus Mar [...]us, harde by the ryuer Tyber, that in the same when they had lefte exer­cising their weapons they mighte washe of cleane [...] the sweate and duste. And when they were weary with running refreshed them selues with swymming. And it is very ne­cessary that not alone the footemen be able to swymme, but also the horses them selues, yea, and the pages whiche they call Galeareos, that is to saye head piece bearers, least the vnskilfull miscarie when necessitie shall approche.

¶Howe warriers afore tyme caused their souldiours to vse for exercise wicker tergettes, and cudgels at a stake or poste. Chapter .xj.

AUncient men as we finde in bookes, trayned vp yong souldiours after this manner. They did wrythe and make of twigges hurdlewise, rounde tergettes twise as heauy as a common terget. And the same olde captaines moreouer, gaue the souldiours insteade of swordes, great wodden cowgels as heauy agayne as their vsuall and won­ted wasters. And thus bothe in the morninge and at after noone▪ the younge souldiours were occupied at an exercyse called the stake. And this vse of the stake, is not onely neces­sarye for souldiours, but also for maisters of sence. Neither was any euer thought either in the place of exercise, or in the fielde, a tried and valiaunt fellowe, that had not bene very [Page] well exercised at y^e stake. And for euery souldiour was there a stake dryuen into the grounde, so faste, that it might not stirre: and so depe, that it might bee sixe foote aboue the grounde Against this stake, as against the enemie, the yong souldiour did aduaunce hym selfe with his wicker and his waster, as with a sworde & a buckeler. Sometyme he stroke alone as it were at the heade or at the face, sometyme hee made at the [...]yre, sometyme belowe at the legges, sometime hee would geue barke, sometyme steppe in, sometyme euen leape at it, and as earnestly and artificially would hee fighte with the same stake, as if his enemy had bene in place before him. In whiche [...] of exercise, this was generallye to bee obserued: that so the younge souldiour shoulde striue to venne w [...] his ennemie, that he him selfe in no parte laye open to any blowe.

¶That younge souldiours should be taught to foyne and thruste, not to cutte and stryke downe right. Chapiter .xij.

FUrthermore, they did learne to pricke, not to cutte. For suche as vsed to strike downe blowes, the Romaynes woulde easely ouercome, and besides laughe at them, when they had done. A downe stroke come it neuer so violēt­ly, seldome kylleth: by reason of armoure and bones, that defende the vitall partes. Contrariwyse, a sricke out twoo inches depe, dispatcheth a man: for running inwarde so, it must needes pearce the liuely partes. Besides, when a man reacheth vp to strike a downe stroke, hee lieth open, both of his arme and his syde: but castinge a pricke, a man is euer warded, and the enemy hurte before the pricke bespied. And certaine it is that the Romaines vsed chiefly to fighte after this maner. Deuising for this cause a wycker [...] and a wooden waster twyse againe so heauy as was customable, that whē the souldiour should take in hande the wonted and lighter weapōs in dede, hee might vnburdened, as it were, fight both more easely, and also more cherefully.

¶That younge souldiours be taught cunningly to handle weapons. Chapter .xiij.

MOreouer, the younge souldiour must bee perfectly enstructed, cunningly to handle his weapon: whiche thing is set forth by them that teache the same in the fieldes, or other places of exercise, the whiche vse yet in some parte is kepte For it is playne that euen nowe, in all maner of battayles, those that can best vse and hādle their weapōs, doo fighte a great deale more conuenientlye then others. Wherein the difference may bee perceiued betwene a well practised souldiour, and him that hath had litle or no exerci­se: when as they that are but meanely this waye instructed, farre passe and goe beyonde their fellowes in artificiall and cunning fighting. And so carefully did our auncestours ob­serue this practised discipline, that thei doubly rewarded the teachers thereof. And as for the souldiours whiche had but smally profited in this same practise, in steade of wheate wer fayne to take barley, and not one of thē had euer any wheatē breade geuen him, till in the presence of the lieutenante, the captaines and suche as were chiefe, they had shewed by sure proofes that they had fulfilled all thinges which were to be required in a good souldiour. For there is nothing more sure, more happy, nor more commendable then suche a com­mon wealth, whiche hath plēty of experte and learned soul­diours, It is not glistering and gaie apparell, it is not ple [...] ­ty of golde, siluer, & precious stones, that makes the enemies to stoupe or seke for fauour, but the onely terrour of weapōs that subdueth thē. Besides, in other thinges, as saith Cato, if ought be done amisse, it may afterward be amended: but a faulte committed in battaile, is altogether past cure, whē present punishement followeth by and by vpō the ouersight. For either they are forthwith slayne whiche haue cowardly or ignorauntly foughte, or els being once put to flight, they dare not euer after deale and encounter againe with those that ouercame them.

¶That younge souldiours should vse to caste dartes and other shot. Chapiter .xiiij.

[Page]BUt I returne to the same wherewith I begonne. The younge souldiour whiche is exercised with the cudgell at the post, must at y^• same post caste dartes, as it were at a man, but muche more heauie must those dartes be, then suche as afterwardes he shall by occasion vse in deede. In whiche exercyse, the teacher of this maisterie, must take di­ligent heede, that euerye one whurle his speare stronglye, that with good leuell he hitte the poste, or els goe very nere it. This exercise maketh a man strong in the armes, and ve­ry expert also in whurling and casting.

¶That younge souldious should be dili­gently taught to shoote Chapter .xv.

ALmoste the thirde or fourthe parte of younge soul­diours, suche as were thoughte fittest to make ar­chers, with wooden bowes and arowes for the same, were wont for exercise to shoote also at the stake. For this purpose were there teachers chosen, and cunning fellowes in deede, diligently to take heede that the souldiour helde his bowe well and cunninglye as hee shoulde doe, that hee drewe home and stronglye, that his lefte hande were euer stead [...]e, that he ruled his ryght hande well, that he eyed and mynded the marke altogether at the whiche hee woulde shoote: that whether hee were on horsebacke or on foote, he endeuoured to shoote euer as straight as coulde bee. Whiche arte both had neede to be learned diligently, and also with daylie vse to be kept cōtinually. And how necessary and pro­fitable good archers are in battell, Cato in his bookes of the knowledge of feates of warre plainely declareth. And Clau­dius with archers well practised before, ouercame that ene­my, with whom til then, he was neuer able to deale. Uerely Scipio Aphricanus, when he should ioyne battaile with the Numantines, whiche had sometime subdued the armie of y^e people of Rome, thought it was not els possible for him to get the victorie, except he placed in euery bande a certaine of chosen archers.

¶The younge souldiours should be vsed to cast stones with a slinge, or with the hande. Chapiter .xvj.

IT is conuenient that the younger sorte bee diligentlye exercised in casting stones, either with handes, or with slinges. They, whiche firste inhabited the Iles called Ba­leares, are reported to haue first founde out and deuised the vse of slinging, and so carefully besides to haue exercised the same, that the mothers would suffer their little boyes not to eate any meate, but that whiche they had stricken and kylled with a slinge. And oftentimes rounde stones throwen leuell out of a slinge or slingestaffe, against warriours fenced with helmettes, cors [...]ettes, and coates of plate, are more greuous then anye kynde of arrowes: when as vnto those partes whiche be whole and safe, they do bring a deadlye wounde: and without anoiance of bloud, the enemy is forthwith slaine with the stroke of the stone. Uery well knowen it is that in al battayles of the old aunciēt men, slingers haue bene alowed: and because to carie a slinge is no labour at all, euery soul­diour therefore must often vse this exercise. For sometyme it falleth out, that in stony places a skirmishe may be had: that some highe grounde or hille, shal neede defending: that with stones and slinges, the forayne enemies must be dryuen from the assaulte of townes and cities.

¶Of the exercise of leaden plummettes. Chapiter .xvij.

THe exercise also of leaden of plummettes, whiche they call Martiobarbulos, as who saye weapons of Mars the God of battell, should be taught younger souldi­ours. For not longe agoe, in the Illirian sea, there were of late twoo legions to the numbre of sixe thousande, who, for that they handled these weapons manfullye and skilfully, were called Martiobarbuli. By these for a long space it is certaine that all warres were very valiauntly ended. In so [Page] muche that till Dioclesian and Maximian were Empe­rours, it was thought good that these aforesayde, for their prowes and manhoode, deserued worthely to bee named Martiobarbuli, Iouiarii, and Herculiam, as who shoulde saye, the champions of Mars, Iupiter and Hercules. And they by commaundement were preferred before other le­gions, and their vse was to carie fiue of these kyndes of plū ­mettes within their tergettes: whiche if the souldiours could hansomely and conueniently caste, they that wre ar­med with tergettes, seemed in a maner to doe as good ser­uice as those they call archers. For they wounde the ene­mies, and gall their horses, before they can come not onelye to fighte hande to hande, but also to the stroke and daunger of the darte.

¶Howe younge souldiours should be exercised to vaulte or mounte on horses. Chapiter .xviij.

NOt onely of the younge souldiours, but also of stipen­darie souldiours, the vaulting of horses hath alwayes bene straightly looked to. Whiche vse verely hathe cōtinued to this our age, although they would haue it seeme nowe as though it were not so▪ Horses of woode in wynter were set in a house, in sommer in the open fielde. Upon these the younge sorte were compelled to mounte, at the first with­out armour, vntyll with vse and exercise, they could doe in­differently well, afterwarde in their harneis they were for­ced to doe the same. And so great regarde was there hereof, that they learned, not onelye on the right syde, but also on the lefte, bothe to gette of and on: yea, euen with drawen swordes, or long poles in their handes. And here was the commoditie of this continuall exercise, that these which in peace had plied this practise so diligently, when neuer so so­den a tumulte was moued in battayle, with the leaste war­nynge that coulde be, could mounte and horse them selues.

¶That younge souldiours should vse to carie weyght and burdens. Chapiter .xix.

YOu should often force the younge souldiours, to take vp a three score pounde weight, and to walke with the same a wonted souldiours space. And needeful is this for theim whome neede ofte compelleth, in many a shrewde iourney to cary victuall and armoure. Neyther should this be thought a harde matter, if great neede so require: for what can not dayly exercise ouercome and make at lengthe very easie? That this forsayde kinde of exercise, the souldi­ours of foretyme haue vsed, the Poete Virgill wytnesseth in these wordes.

¶What kynde of armour souldiours of olde tyme were wont to vse. Chapiter .xx.

NOwe is here fitte place to shewe with what kynde of armour and weapons the young souldiours should be furnished & fenced. But in this point the olde custome is vtterly layde asyde. For although horsemen in armes did good, as we haue of the Gothians, Alanes and Hunnes for example, yet it is playne that the footemen were naked and vnarmed. For after y^e citie of Rome was builded, vnto wor­thie Grecians tyme, the armie of footemen was fenced bothe with coarselettes & headpieces. But whē the exercise of Cā ­pus Martius, by negligence & slouthfulnes, was geuen ouer and discontinued, armour begon to seame heauy, & was not worne ofte of souldiours. Therefore firste they made a peti­tion to y^e Emperours, that they might weare no more coar­selettes, afterward y^t they might lay away their helmettes. And so whē they should go to fight against y^e Gothiās, being naked of their brestes, & hauing nothing of their heads, they wer oftētimes by y^e multitude of archers vāquished & ouercō. And notw^tstanding so many misfortunes which haue hapned [Page] euen to the destructions of so mightie and great cities. No man hath regarde as yet to restore againe to the footemen, either their coarselettes or headpieces: whereby it comes to passe that naked men in the forewarde in daunger euer of wounding, haue greater mynde of flying then they haue of fighting. What can an archer on foote do without harneis? without head piece? which can not holde his bowe and buc­keler both together? What shall the standerd bearers doe in battayle, aduauncing the ensigne with their lefte hande, & haue nothing to saue their heades or their brestes? Mary a footeman perchaunce, whiche seldome doth exercise & hand­le his armour, wyl thinke a brestplate troublesome & heauy. Howebeit, by dayly vse he might well enough away withal, whiche, though it beare heauy thinges, yet neuer complay­neth. But they, whiche wyll not take payne to carie aunciēt armoure for their furniture, shall vnfurnyshed beare the blowes awaye, and catche their deathes wounde. And that whiche is a greater griefe, and more shamefull to be spoken of, either become captiue, or betraye their common wealthe by running away. So that eschewing exercise and laboure, with y^e greatest shame that can be, thei are slaine like beastes. Wherefore was an hoste of footemen of our auncestours a­foretyme called a wall? but because the legions, besides their tergettes armed with dartes or other shotte, made a goodly glistering shewe also with coarselettes and headpie­ces: in so muche that the archers were fenced on their lefte armes with splēces or gauntelettes. Footemē that had ter­gettes besides their coarselettes and head pieces, were also constrayned to harneis their right legges. And thus were they armed whiche fought in the forefront of the battayle, and were called Principes, as who faye the firste and fore­moste to perilles. And they, in the seconde order, whiche were called Hastat [...], that is to saye speare men: and they in the thirde order called Triarii, as who shoulde saye of the reare warde, ready in the thirde place to fighte. But these Triarii were wont to stoupe and keepe thē within the fence of their tergettes, leaste standing vp they might be woūded [Page 9] with their ennemyes weapons, and that when neede should requyre, hauing rested themselues so well, they might more vehementlye assaulte and set vppon their ennemyes. And certaine it is that these often haue gotten the victory, whē the spearemen before them called Hastati, haue bene slaine, The auncient warriours had also amonge their footemen, such as were called lighte harnessed men, as Slingers and other with lighte Armoure, which chiefelye were placed in the out sydes or winges, by whom euer the vnset was geuē ▪ and these were of the swyftest and best exercised sort, neither were they very manye, because in retyring if necessitye con­strayned, they were succoured and receyued of those in the forefronte, so that the whole battayle stoode still vnbroken. There hath a custome continued almost to this oure tyme, that al souldiours vsed cappes made of skinnes, which soul­diours they called Pannonicos, deuised for this purpose, y^• the head peece should not seeme heauie to any man in fighte, whiche did bere alwayes somewhat on his heade. But the shotte which the armye on foote did vse, were called Pila, fastened with thinne yron to the foreparte of a triangle of nine inches, or a foote longe, which beinge faste in the Tar­gette could not be cute awaye, and beinge skilfullye and va­liantlye directed, coulde easelye breake in sonder anye har­nesse: of the which kinde there be verye fewe weapons nowe amonge vs. But the forrayne barbarous footemen that haue Shieldes or Tergettes, do chiefelye vse these Dar­tes, whiche they call Bebras: and of them they haue two or three a peece. Moreouer we must know, that when the mat­ter is tryed with Dartes, the souldiours must set their lefte feete before, for so in throwing theyr dartes when they step in with their right legge, the stroke is much more vehemēt. But when the matter is come to y^e pintch (as they terme it) and fight as it were at the halfe sword, thē must their righte feete be formost, that theyr sydes be from theyr ennemyes, least they catche a wound, and that theyr right hand be rea­dye to geeue a blowe when neede is. Therefore it is mani­fest, that yonge souldiours shoulde be furnished and fenced, [Page] with al cunning and pollicye in fighting, and with all man­ner of armour and weapons. For needes must he fight more boldlye, that beinge safe of breast and heade, standes not i [...] feare of woundinge.

¶Of the fortifyinge of Campes. Chap. xxi.

THe souldiours also ought to learne to fortifye their Campes, for there is not a more safe, nor a more ne­cessarye thing in all warre. For whye, if the army be well planted, the souldiours so safe enbulwarked, voyde of all care passe ouer dayes and nights, yea euen thoughe their ennemyes besiege them, they are as safe as though they had a walled Cittye on their backes. But the knowledge here­of, is vtterlye come to nothinge: it is longe agoe, since that when any would pitch theyr Campes, they vsed to entrench them, and sette stakes before them: so that we haue knowen, when the forrayne horsemen as wel by daye as nighte, haue come of a sodayne manye armyes, manye times haue beene maruelously annoyed. But not onlye the foole hardy with­out y^e Campe suffer these thinges: but whē as by any chaunce in the forebattell they beginne to retyre, they haue not a de­fence of the Campe, where to saue themselues, & so are kil­led vp like dogges: and so longe do they dye, as theyr en­nemyes please to pursue and chase them.

¶In what places the Campe shoulde be pitched. Chap. xxij.

THe Campe shoulde alwayes be placed, especiallye if the ennemyes be nighe, in a place oute of daunger, whereas maye be plentye of woode, forage & water. And if there they be likelye to lye long, a consideration must be had, for the holsomnes thereof. They muste also take heede that there be no hill nighe, higher then the Campe, whiche if their ennemyes take, they maye greatlye annoye [Page 10] theym. They muste also consider whether the fielde where they woulde encampe, hath beene wonte at anye time to be ouerflowed with sodaine waters: whiche by the like chaūce mighte force the hoast to remoue. Accordinge to the nom­ber of souldiours, and the carriages, y^• Campe must be for­tifyed, leaste the greater multitude be crowned into small roume, or least the small nomber be constrayned to stande a loufe one from another, and more scatteringe then is con­ueniente.

¶In what forme the Campe shoulde stande. Chapiter .xxiij.

A Campe muste be pitched sometime fouresquare, sometime threesquare, sometime halferounde, as the qualitye or necessitye of the place shall requyre. But the gate which is called Porta Praetoria, that is to saye, the gate for the Captayne, must be eyther Eastwarde, or els in suche a place that is full before the ennemye, or if they be iourneyinge, it muste stande that waye whether the armye meaneth to goe. Hard within this gate the first hundreds, (that is to saye) the chiefe bandes or companyes of souldi­ours do pitche theyr Pauilions and place their Standers.

But the gate which is named Decumana, (that is saye) the greate gate or entrye into the Campe is behinde the Cap­taynes gate, oute of the which suche souldiours as offende, are ledde to take their punishement.

¶Wyth what thinges a Campe shoulde be fortifyed. Cap .xxiiij.

DIuers wayes a Campe may be fortifyed, & especiall thre wayes, for if they be not driuen to a marueylous pinch, they cut turfes out of y^• ground, & w^t thē make [Page] a wall as it were a wall three foote high aboue the grounde, so that wher the turfes were digged, euen iust before it their be a ditche. Then in all hast must their be [...] ditche made nine foote broade and vii. foote deepe. But when ennemyes of great force are at haude: the Campe must be fenced rounde about which a verye large ditch, so that it be by the line (as they call it) twelfe foote broade, and nine foote deepe. But after they haue set hedges aboue the same euerye way with earth throwen out of the ditche, and cast vppon the hedges it will be reared foure foote highe, and thus shall it be .xiii. foote deepe, and xii. foote broade, aboue the which, must be stakes of very tough woode well entered, which the souldi­ours are wont to carry. For the which purpose it is good to haue alwayes in readines mattockes or spades, rakes, scut­tels or baskets and other kinde of implementes.

¶Howe a campe shoulde be fenced when the ennemye is at hande. Chapter .xxv.

IT is an easye thinge to fortifye a Campe, when enne­myes are farre of, but if the ennemyes do come faste vp­pon them, then all the horsemen and halfe the footemen, are set in battayle raye, to breake the brunte of the ennemy: the residue behinde them, when they haue drawen the dit­ches, do fortifye the campe, and by a cryer is wont to be pro­claymed what y^e first companye hath done, what the second, what the thirde, what the fourth, vntill they haue finished all the whole worke. Then come y^e Captaynes to vewe and measure the ditche, and suche as haue wrought leaselye and slouthfullye are therefore punished. After this sorte thenne the yonge souldiour must be trayned, that when neede shall requyre hee maye by and by fortifye the campe withoute trouble.

¶How the yonge souldiours maye be trayned, that in the battayle they keepe good order and theyr arraye, and space betweene one and an other. Chap. xxvi.

IT is certayne that there is nothinge more profitable in fight, then that souldiours exercise daylye themselues to goe in battayle in good order and arraye, neyther run­ninge on heapes, nor scatteringe abroade more then is ex­pedient. For truly when they are thicke thronged together, they lose theyr space they should fight in, and euerye one eue­rye where letteth another: and when they stand thinne that eche maye be seene howe he standes, they shewe a waye to y^e ennemye to enter and go through the armye.

And thus if the ennemye shall cutte and parte the armye, & come to the backes of them that fight, verye feare must nee­des bring all thinges out of order. Therefore the yong soul­diours must be brought forth alwayes to the field, & as they are by name billed, they must be called to y^e battayle: so that the battayle be longe right out at the first and single: that it be not hollowe, that it be not croked, y^• the souldiours stand, of like and conuenient distance one from another: then they muste be charged of a sodaine to double the fronte: so that thoughe they go as faste as euen they are accustomed in the fielde, yet they maye keepe theyr arraye. Thirdlye com­maundemente muste be geeuen, that forthwith they bringe themselues into a quadrangle forme. That done, they must turne them into a triangle (wedgewyse as they terme it) y^• is to saye, small before, thicke and broder afterwarde. This good orderinge of souldiours hath done verye much good, & beene profitable in warre. They must also be warned to con­ueye themselues into a rounde forme, whereby when as violently the ennemye doth breake into the battell, the soul­diours with this practise may be able to resist them, least all the whole multitude be compelled to runne awaye, and by that meanes greuous perill followe therevppon. If the yon­ger sorte can by dailye exercise ones perceyue these thinges, [Page] they shall a greate deale more easelye saue themselues when they fight.

¶Howe much space the souldiours must go and come when they be brought forth to marche: And how often they must be exercised in a moneth. Chapiter. .xxvij.

MOreouer the custome hath bene and remayneth still, and also is in the decrees of worthye Augustus, and Adrianus Emperours, it is prouided in the same, y^• thrise in the moneth, as well horseme [...] as footemen, should be brought forth to marche, (for so do they terme this kinde of exercise.) The footemen armed & furnished with all ma­ner of weapons, were commaunded to go and come y^• space of .10 myles from y^e Campe a marching pace, so that some part of the way they might runne ouer merilye. The horse­men deuided by troupes in armour, likewyse wente euen as longe a iourneye, and as such on horsebacke are wonte to do for exercise: Sometimes they followed, sometimes gaue backe, and forcinge theyr horses, ranne them out vppon the spurre, not onlye in y^e plaine fieldes, but also in places steepe downe, and verye highe both horsemen and footemen were caused to go vp and downe, so that hap what happe could to them in their fight, these practised souldiours had very well forelearned.

¶Of the perswasion to warrefare, and of the man­hoode of the Romaynes. Chap. .xxviii.

IN consideration of my faythfull promise and vowe (most puisaūt Emperour, I haue gathered together into this litle booke, these things which I haue chosen oute of all authors, which haue written the science and Arte of warre­fare: that in mustering and exercising of yonge souldiours, if anye man woulde be dilligente, hee maye easelye make a stronge armye: but followinge the auncient manhoode that [Page 12] hath bene in times past. For neyther is all martiall bloud and stomacke quite gone and decayed in men, nor yet lands which brought forth y^e Lacedemoniās, y^e Athenians, Mar­ [...]ians, Samnites, Pelignes, yea & the very Romaines them­selues, be barren and vnfruitful. Haue not the people of E­pirus, sometime preuayled verye much in armes? Haue not the Macedonians and Thessalians by warre, conqueringe first y^• Persians, come as farre as Indie? And it is manifest that the Danes, the people of Media and Thracia, haue al­wayes bene such stoute warriours, y^• Mars himselfe is fay­ned to haue bene borne among them. It were to long to rec­ken vp the strength of all countryes, when as they all consist in the Empyre of the Romaynes. But greate securitye and longe peace hath made men partlye delighte in idlenes, and partlye in seruice at home in the common wealth. By such meanes therefore it is well knowen, that the care of warre­lye exercyse was at the first negligently handled, afterward dissembled, last of all broughte into obliuion & quite forgot­ten. Neyther let any man marueyle that this hath chaun­ced in the time late passed: when as after the first warre be­tweene the Romaynes and the Carthagiens, when 24. yea­res were come and gone, peace so weakened the Romaynes throughe idlenes and disuse of Armoure, which before had bene euerye where conquerours, that in the seconde warre of Carthage, they were by no meanes comparable to Han­niball. After so manye Consulles loste: so manye Cap­taynes slaine: so manye armyes cast away: finding a meanes to learne the vse and exercise of war­fare, they came at y^e length to be cōquerours agayne. At all times therfore should yong men be chosen and exercised, for cheaper certayne it is to instruct a mans owne souldiours in armes, then to hyre straungers for moneye.

Into howe manye kindes the Arte of vvarre maye be deuided. The first Chapter.

WHat soeuer belongeth to warre (as the singuler and notable Authour a­monge the Latynes doth testifye) cō ­sisteth of armoure and men: What­soeuer partayneth to warre, I saye is deuided into three partes, Horse­men, Footemē and Nauyes. Of the horsemen one sort be called winges, because that like vnto winges they defende the battayle on both sydes, which nowe be called Vexillationes, that is to saye, companyes of men of warre all vnder one Standard, a Velo, because they do vse banners or Ueiles, termed gli­stering flagges or ensignes. There is another sort of horse­men which be named, Legionacij, because they be ioyned to the Legion: like to the which are deuised another kinde (& for their harnes they weere of their legges) called Ocreati.

There be likewyse two maner of Nauyes, one which may be called Foystes or Gallyes, and the other of shippes. The horsemen keepe the playnes, the Nauyes the seas and wa­ters, the footemen the hilles, Cittyes the champion groun­des and also steepe places. Whereby we see that the foote­men are most necessarye for the common wealthe, doinge good seruice euerye where. And whereof a greater nomber maye be maintayned with lesse cost and charge. An host of men is in lattine Exercitus, of the verye thinge it selfe, and of the vse of exercise hath therefore so proper a name geuen vnto it, to the intente it should neuer forget what it was cal­led. The footemen are deuided into two partes, the one sort Legionaries, the other Aides: the Aides were sente from their part takers and confederate Nations. The Romaine vertue doth farre exceade all other in the orderinge of their [Page] Legions. A legion hath y^• name Ab eligendo, which worde of it selfe requyreth theyr fayth and dilligence by whom the souldiours are allowed: For reskewe & ayde the lesser nom­ber, for legionarye souldiours a much greater nomber hath euer customablye bene appointed.

¶How the legionarye souldiours and those that are sente for ayde do differ. Cap. ij.

THe Macedonians, the Greekes, the Troyans, did vse those battayles which they called Phalanges, about y^e nomber of .8000. men in a Phalange. The French­men and Spaniardes, and many barbarous Nations, vsed in battell such as they called Gaternas, wherin were 6000. harnessed menne: the Romaynes haue Legions, in the which are .6000 warriours or moe. But what difference maye seeme to be betweene the Legions and Aydes, I will plainly declare. Those which are sent for aydes come from sondrye places, for diuers and sondrye hyre: neyther in tray­ning, in knowledge, nor in disposition one like another, farre vnlike be theyr fashions, their vse of their Armour cleane of another sort. And needes must they be longe of getting the victorye, which before they come to fighte differ thus after this sort. Finallye whereas expedition requyreth, it is ve­rye expedient that all the souldiours at one onlye warning, should straighte way turne themselues: then howe can they do all a like that, which they are commaunded, when they neuer kept anye companye altogether before: and yet these thinges solemnlye vsed, often exercised, almoste dailye con­firmed, profit not a little. The aydes went alwayes wyth y^• legionarye souldiours, as lighte harnessed men in the fore­battayle, rather for an helpe in fightinge then a principall succour. But a Legion where is but one peculiar kinde of souldiours, hauinge in it complete harnessed men (that is to saye) first and foremost Principes, then Hastati, the thirde Triarij or of the rerewarde, the Ensigne bearers: then lighte harnessed men, as casters of [...]artes, Archers, men [Page 14] with Slinges, Crossebowe men: hauinge also in it m [...]n at Armes, and such as be annexed vnto the Legiō called legio­narye horsemen, and all these in one register: when as with one minde and one consent they [...]ortifye y^e campe, order their armye, and ioyne battayle together, beinge safe and sure on euerye syde, needing no maner of outward helpe or ayde.

What multitude is so manye, that suche an armye shall not conquere? As we are plainlye taught by the great prowesse of the Romaynes, which vsinge Legions alwayes in suche sort aforesayd, ouercame so manye ennemyes as eyther wil­linglye they would, or all thinges considered, they possible coulde.

¶The cause why Legions haue beene wasted and deminished. Chap. iij.

THe name of Legions remayneth yet till this day, but through negligence of former times, y^e strength ther­of is abated: for y^• ambitiō preuenting manhoode, hath got awaye his due rewarde: & souldiours nowe a dayes are promoted by fauour, which neuer were promoted but onlye by labour. And againe for this cause, y^• whē we haue payed a certen their wages, & with a pasport (as y^e custome is) dismist thē, we neuer substitute other in their roumes. Besides it cā not be chosen, but some must fall sicke, become weake & so be discharged: some geeue ouer warfare, or dye by one chaunce or other: y^• except euery yeare, (yea almost euery moneth) as many againe succeede them, & come in theyr place: an ar­mye be it neuer so greate, must needes consume & wast. An other cause there is why legions may be lessened: A souldi­our takes muche paine in a Legion, armoure is heauye and burdenous, rewardes come sloulye, punishementes ryfe & sharpe, which thinges the most part to auoyde, if it mighte be, seeke to be sworne and serue for ayde, where bothe they take lesse paynes, & are more sone preferde. Noble Cato y^e Elder, both valiant in armes, & who that being Cōsull had oftentimes himselfe conducted an army, he thought yet, he might profit y^e cōmon wealth a great deale more if he put in [Page] wrytinge what belonged to warre: for valiance and noble actes continue but one age, but what things are written for the profitte of the common wealth, are remembred through­oute all ages. The like haue manye other done before, but especially Frontinus, writinge to y^e gracious Prince Traia­nus, for this endeuour and trauaile was very much commē ­ded. These mens ordinaunces, these mens instructions, as much as in me lyeth, briefelye and faythfullye I intende to put in wrytinge. For seinge that whether an armye be well ordered or euill, the expenses are as greate of the one as the other: it shalbe profitable not onlye for the time present, but also for euer hereafter, if by your maiestyes good prouision, (moste noble Emperour) stronge and polliticke vse of Ar­mour maye be renued and established, and whatsoeuer dissi­mulation for fauour hath tofore beene practised, the same maye by your meanes be redressed and amended.

¶What nomber of Legions the auncient Ro­maynes ledde wyth them to the warres. Chapter. .iiij.

VVe finde in al Authors that euerye Consull, against the greatest nomber of ennemyes, leade neuer mo thē two Legions, reckening there with the aydes y^• came from theyr frendes & confederates. So well exercised were they, so stoute and valiant, that they thought two Legions sufficient for any warre whatsoeuer. Wherfore according to the rule of the lawe of Armes, and trade of warres, I wil declare the olde maner of ordering of a Legion: which des­cription if it shall seeme somewhat diffuse or homelye, im­pute not the same to mee, but to the hardnes and difficultye of the matter it selfe. With a diligent and attentiue minde, they must therefore be reade ouer and ouer, that they maye be throughlye vnderstode and perfectlye remembred. For needes must that common wealthe be vnuincible, that hath a gouernour so skilfull in chiualrye, as when hee will, can make both stronge and valiaunt Armyes.

¶How a Legion shoulde be ordered. Chapiter. .v.

AFter much diligence hath bene vsed in choosing such of the yonger sorte as shalbe of good stomacke & cou­rage, and also practised before for the space of foure monethes or more: then at the commaundement and by the authoritye of the mightye soueraine Prince, a legion is fra­med & made. For souldiours beinge once bilde, pricked and registred they vse to be sworne. And hereof therefore comes that Ceremonious taking of an othe in warre, of the which this is the forme. They sweare by God y^e father, by Christ the sonne, and by the holye Ghoste, and by the Maiestye of y^e Emperour or Prince, which after God, oughte to be belo­ued and worshipped of all mē lyuing. For when as the Em­perour or Prince hath receyued the tytle of royall maiestye, vnto him (as if God were presently and corporally with vs) our faythfull obedience must be performed, and moste vigi­lante and diligent seruice declared and shewed. For whoso­euer lyueth eyther out of the warres or in the warres, doth then serue God, when as hee faythfullye loueth him, whom God hath appointed to rule and raigne ouer him. But to this, do the souldiours sweare, that they wil do all thinges valiantly, which the Emperour or Prince doth commaūde: that they will neuer forsake y^e warres, neyther refuse death for the Romayne common wealth.

¶Howe manye cohortes or bandes shoulde be in one Legion, and howe manye souldiours should be in one bande. Cap. vj.

VVe must know that in a Legion there ought to be 10. bandes. But the first bande passeth al the rest, both in nomber of souldiours, and also in estimation, and cō ­monlye they be (as it is requisite) of very good callinge and wel brought vp in learninge: for this bande beares the Ea­gle, which alwayes is the chiefest standard in the Romaine [Page] armye, & the ensigne of al the whole Legion. These ha [...]e in reuerence and worship theyr Emperours pictures as pre­sent tokens from God. This first bande contayneth .1105. footemen: heauye armed horsemen 132. And it is named Cohorsmiliaria, that is to saye, a companye of a thousande and mo souldiours. This bande is the head of all the Legiō: when soeuer they must fight, this band beginnes the battel, and are first set in order in the fronte of the battell. The se­cond bande contayneth .555. footemen, & 66. horsemē of hea­uye armour. And this band is called Cohors quigentaria, y^• is to say, a cōpany of .5. hundred & mo souldiours. The third bande likewise hath .555. footemen, and .66. horsemen. But here they vse to place their strong & more expert mē, because this third bande is in the middes & strengthe of the battell. The fourth bande hath .555. footemen, & 66 horsemen The fift bande hath as manye, but it is requisyte they be valiante and couragious souldiours: because as the first Cohorte is set in the righte wynge, so the fift is set in the lefte winge.

These fiue bandes are set in a raye in the first battayle. The sixte bande hath .555. footemen .66. horsemen, and the same must be chosen and picked mē: for why, the sixt band is pla­ced next behinde the standarde, and next the Emperours ar­mes in the seconde front or battell. The seuenth bande hath .555. footemen .66 horsemen. The eyght bande hath .555. footemen 66▪ horsemen: but couragious men, as it is expe­dient, because it is the middlemost bande in the seconde bat­tayle. The nynthe hath 555. footemen .66. horsemen. The tenthe doth containe also .555. footemen 66 horsemen: vali­ant and expert warriours, because in the seconde battayle it defendeth the lefte winge. These tenne bandes make a full and perfecte Legion, contayninge 6100. footemen, and 726. horsemen. There maye not be in a Legion anye fewer of harnest men: mo there hath beene oftentimes. For when one bande would not serue, by cōmaundement haue bene ta­ken mo other bandes, of a Thousand souldiours in a bande.

¶Names and degrees, of the chiefe and prin­cipall men of the Legion. Chap. vij.

[Page 17]NOwe that I haue set forth the auncient orderinge of a Legion, I will declare the names and offices of the principall souldiours: to speake plainlye and proper­lye, shew by what name euery souldiour was first registred and billed. The chiefe Tribune was appointed by the des­cretion and iudgement of the Emperour, by his solemne E­pistle or letter written to that effecte. The vnder Tribune came vp by his seruice. And he is called Tribunus a tribu: of geuing euery one his right: because he hath authoritye o­uer the souldiours, which Romulus first chose out of y^e Tri­bes (that is to saye) out of y^e wardes, hundreds, or other such like companyes of the peoples of Rome. Those souldiours Ordinarij, are called such as haue charge in the battaile, & leade the first rankes or rayes. They were called Augusta­les, which were ioyned to those ordinarye souldiours by the Emperour Augustus. Fla [...]iales in like sort, as it were Se­cundi Augustales, noble Vespasian added to the Legions. Aquiliferi, are they which carrye the Eagle. Imaginarij or Imaginiferi, whiche carrye the Images or pictures of the Emperours. Optiones ab optando, whē those next going before them were sicke or greeued, these as it were their suc­cessours & supplying their places, were wont to take vppon them all their whole charge. Signiferi, are the Standarde bearers now called Draconarii. Tesserarii be they, whiche gaue the watche worde to the souldiours of all the Legion. And this worde Tessera, is the commaundement of y^e chiefe Captayne, to call the armye eyther to any worke or battell. Campigeni, that is to saye, Antefignani, are therefore so named, because by their endeuour and manhoode, y^e maner of exercise doth encrease in the fielde. Metatores, are those which go before y^e armye, to chose them a place to encampe in. Beneficiarij, so called whō the Tribune to benefite pre­ferreth and promoteth. Librarii, that kepe a booke of y^e soul­diours accompts. Tubicines, Cornicines, and Buccinato­res, which by blowing a trumpet, brasen horne or Sagbut, cause the souldiours to ioyne battaile. Armaturae duplares, were souldiours, which had double allowance of victuals. Simplares, which had ordinary allowance.

[Page] Mensores, which in the campe measured out by y^• foote to y^• souldiours, places to pitch their tentes in, or appointed eue­rye souldiour his lodginge in the Cittyes. Torquati dupla­res, souldiours with double chaynes: & Torquati simpla­res, souldiours such as wore a single chayne al of golde, had it, for some reward of manhoode and vertue. Which who so deserued, besides the prayse and commendation sometimes had double allowance of victuals. There were also Candi­dati duplares, suche as laboured or stoode for double allow­ance of victuals: and Candidati simplares, suche as labou­red for single allowance. These be the principall souldiours which haue anye prerogatiue or priuiledge aboue the other. The rest are named Munifices, because they are cōstrayned to loke to their charge and office.

¶The names of them which ledde the auncient orders of souldiours. Chap. viij.

THe olde custome hath beene, that the chiefe leader of the Legion, shoulde promote the Centurion or Cap­tayne of the vaunte guarde called Primipilus, whose office was not onlye to take charge of the Eagle or chiefe standard, but also to haue vnder his leading in y^• first battell foure Centuries, that is to saye .400. souldiours. This cap­tayne as the chiefe of al the Legion, did obtayne manye pro­fites and commodityes. Also the chiefe of them which be cal­led Hastati did leade in the second fronte, two Centuries, y^• is to saye, 200 men, whom we do nowe call Ducenarium, that is a Captayne of two hundered. But the principall of the first band, had vnder his gouernment one Centurie, and an halfe, that is to saye .150. men, and the orderinge of all thinges in the Legion whatsoeuer. Likewyse the second cal­led Hastatus, did leade as manye as did the firste, that is to saye, 150▪ men. The first or chiefe Triarian, did leade an hū ­dred men: so that these fiue ordinarye souldiours, gouerned tenne Centuries of the first cohor [...]or bande, and vnto whom the auncient fathers did great houor, and also appointed to [Page 17] their commoditie: for this ende chiefly, that the other soul­diours of all the legion with all kinde of labour and humble seruice should endeuour thē selues to attain such rewardes. There were also centurions or vnder captaines, which had the charge of a single centurie or iuste hundred, whiche bee named Centenarii, there were Decani. That conducted ten souldiours, whiche are nowe called the chiefe of one compa­ny in one pauilion or tent. The seconde cohorte hath fiue cen­turions, likewyse the thirde, the fourth, the fifthe, and so to the tenth cohort. And so in al the legion were .155. centuriōs.

¶Of the office of him that is called Praefectus legionis, the lieutenauntes deputie. Chapter .ix.

SUche as sometime had beene Consuls, sent the Empe­rours lieutenantes to warre, vnto whome al the whole armies and those whiche were sent for ayde, as well in peace as in necessarie time of warres were alwaies obediēt: whose roume it is certaine that right excellent famous men, as maisters of the souldiours doe nowe supplie, which were wonte to haue the gouernement, not onely of twoo legions, but also of a greater nūbre. But the very chiefe and peculiar iudge of the legion was Praefectus, hauing common autho­ritie of the beste estate or order, & in the absence of the lieute­naunt, as it were his deputie or vicegerent, had the greatest power of all. The tribunes or centurions, and all the other souldiours, were all at his cōmaundement. This same gaue the watche their charge, and when any voiage was to bee made gaue onely commaundement. If a souldiour had com­mitted any faulte, this deputie forthwith by his authoritie, commaunded the marshall to take punishement of him. Hee tooke charge of all the souldiours armoure, also of the hor­ses, apparell and vitaile. Hee might commaunde seuere pu­nishement to be executed, and exercises, not onely of the foo­temen, but also of the horsemē daily to be practised. Him self as a diligent and sober ouerseer, trayned vp the legion com­mitted to his charge, alwayes honestly and diligently in all [Page] good seruice & industrie, as one not ignoraunt that the va­liauntnes of the souldiours redounded chiefly to the commē ­dation of the captaine.

¶Of the office of the chiefe ouerseer of the campe. Chapiter .x.

THere was also an ouerseer of the campe, though not of great authoritie, yet occupied in no meane or small affaires: whose office was to see to the encamping of y^e armie, to all fortification, to ditching and entrenching. The tentes or hales of the souldiours, withal the bagge and bag­gage were ordred euer as it seemed good to him. The sicke souldiours besides of euery tente, with those that had theim in cure, all expences belonginge to the same, concerne his onely trauell and diligence. Cartes or wagons, shotte or ar­tillery, timber, edge tooles, wherewith to hewe and sawe the same, for opening of ditches, when a bulwarke should be purposed, and for more commodious conueyinge of water, this matter pertayneth properly to him. Hee did moreouer forsee that there wanted not at anye tyme either strawe, or woode, battring rammes, crosse bowes, field pieces, & other kinde of ordinaunce. This officer, after long and great expe­rience of warrefare, was chosen as one moste experte, and cunningest wel to teache and enstructe others in that, which hee him selfe had done with commendation.

¶Of the office of the maister of the artificers. Chapter .xj.

MOreouer, there are in a legion Carpenters, and such as make preparation, as Cartwrightes, Smithes, Painters, and other artificers, for building places to winter in. For y^e speedy making of engines, wooden towers, and other thinges wherewith y^e enemies cities are annoied, and their owne better defended. And either to make newe, or to repaire the olde shaken armoure, weapons, wagons & other kinden of ordinaunce. They had also forges or shoppes for tergets, or b [...]clers, for coates offēce, for bowes, in which arrowes, dartes, helmets, & al kinde of weapōs were made. [Page 18] For this was his speciall charge, that no necessarye thinge should at any time be missing in the campe: in so muche that thei had also pioners, which after the maner of the Bessians, working vnder the ground, & vndermining the foūdacion of the walles, would sodainly issue out & take their enemies ci­ties. Of all these, the maister of y^e artificers had the charge, and was the onely ouerseer.

¶Of the office of the chiefe tribune or Colonel. Chapiter .xij.

A Legion, as it is before said, hath .x. cohortes, but the first cōteined a .1000. or more souldiours, in y^e which were such placed as were sent, for their great wealth for birth, for their learning, for comlines, for vertue, & man­hode. Ouer this cohort the tribune had the gouernemēt, pas­sing all other in knowledge of armes, in goodly personage, in honest manners and condicions. The other cohortes as it seemed good to the prince, were ruled by other tribunes or gouernours. But so great regarde was there had for the ex­ercising of the souldiours, that not onely the said tribunes or gouernours did commaunde their owne souldiours com­mitted to their charge to exercise them selues, euery daye in their owne presence: but also they thē selues being perfecte in the knowledge of armes, did exhorte and encourage other the rather by their example, often to doe the lyke. The tri­bunes carefulnes by this industrious traueile was verye muche commended, when as his souldiours went cleane in apparell, when their armoure was sure and brighte, when they often exercised them selues by vse to become skilfull.

¶Of the centuries, or hundredes of the footemen, and of their ensignes, or penoncels or banners. Chapter .xiij.

THe firste and chiefe standerd of all the legion is the eagle whiche he that carieth is called Aquilifer. Also there be caried in euery cohort dragōs, and those that carie them, are called Draconarii. But the auncient men of warre, because they knewe that in the fightinge of the b [...]taile [Page] it might so fall out that array in the armie might very soone be brokē: for remedie thereof, they deuided the cohorts into centuries, or hūdredes, & to euery hundred they appoin­ted a peculiar ensigne, so that it was written with letters in that ensigne or flagge, of whiche cohort or bande, & of which centurie in order of the same cohorte, euery one was. The whiche the souldiours beholdinge and readinge, in neuer so great hurly burly, could not farre wander from their com­panies of their own tent. Moreouer, they cōmaunded the cē ­turions, which now are called Centenarii, beinge valiaunt warriours in complet harnis, to gouerne euery centurie or hundred, the crestes of their helmets being set ouerthwart, to thentent they might be more easely knowen, and to thend there might be no great disorder, when as an hundred soul­diours might followe, not onely their ensigne, but also their centurion or captaine by the marke or ensigne in his helmet. Againe the centuries or hundredes were deuided into com­panies of ten souldiours, so that ouer ten souldiours abiding vnder one pauilion, one was chiefe ruler called Decanus (as who say y^e chief of ten) which is named y^e head of y^e company. And y^• cōpany oftē was called Manipulus, for that, y^t hād in hād as it were, they faught alwayes iust & iointly together.

¶Of the trompes of the legionary horsemen, called Turmae. Chapiter .xiiij.

LIke as among the footemē, there was century (that is to say, the nūbre of a hūdred mē) or Manipulus, which is lesse▪ y^• is y^• nūbre of x. euē so is turma called amōgst y^e horsemē. One troupe doth cōteine .32. horsemen. The cap­taine ouer these is called Decurio, the leadear of .30. or mo of horsemen. For an .100. footemen go vnder one centuriō, & vnder one ensigne: likewise vnder one Decuriō .32. horsemē, vnder one ensigne. Moreouer, like as y^e centuriō to be chosē, should be a mā of great strēgth, of tall stature, cūningly and strōgly to tosse his pike, throw his darte, knowing very skil­fully how to fight w^t his sworde, & how to turne & welde his terget, hauing very good knowledge in hādling his weapon, [Page 19] vigilant, sober, nimble, and actiue, a doer rather then a tal­ker, whiche can holde in his owne souldiours, learne them feates of warre, make them exercise their weapons, see they bee well apparailed, & cleane shoode, that euery souldiours harnisse be without ruste, well skoured and bright: So the Decurion to bee chosen Captaine of a troupe of horsemen, muste firste of all bee a handsome man, a comelye and tall man, able with prayse and admiration of all men to mounte on his horse, though he be harnissed & armed at all pointes, whiche can cunningly handle the staffe, & aduisedly bestowe his arrowes, which can enstructe y^• souldiours of his troupe (that is to say) the horsemen committed to his charge, in all maner of thinges whiche appertaine to a horseman: whiche will see that they often make cleane their mayle, furbushe their harnisse, their speares and helmettes. For the gliste­ring of armoure breedeth and striketh, a great feare to the enemy. Who wil take him to be a valiaunt souldiour, which lettes his armoure ruste and be euil fauoured by negligēce. And it is cōuenient that not onely the horsemē, but the very horses also them selues be at commaundemēt, and wel bro­ken. The chardge therfore as well of the men, as of the hor­ses, of health no lesse then exercise, coucerneth the Decurion or captaine of the horsemen.

¶After what sorte the legions should be se [...] in order. Chapiter .xv.

NOwe by the example of one legion, wee wyll declare after what manner a whole armie shoulde bee set in araye, if necessarily they must ioyne battayle spedely. This thing if neede shall require, may bee applied to mo le­gions. The horsemen must bee placed in the wynges. The fore fronte of the footemen in the first cohorte or bande, must beginnne the arraye in the right wynge. Hereunto must bee ioyned the seconde cohorte. Then the thirde cohorte in the middest, and there withall the fourth. The fifth cohorte must stande for the lefte wynge, but before and behynde the stan­derdes. [Page] Those whiche fought in the fore fronte or firste bat­tayle, were called Principes: that is to saye, chiefe and prin­cipall souldiours, as those in complete harnisse whiche had helmettes, coarselettes, legge har [...]isse, shieldes, swordes & great daggers, and fiue leadē plommettes in their shieldes, whiche they doe caste at their firste ioyning. Also two kindes of dartes: the one greater, with an yron heade thre square, of nyne inches longe, the staffe fiue foote longe and a halfe, whiche they named Pilum, at this tyme called Spiculum. This vsed the souldiours oftentymes to caste, for that the same directed with cūning, and throwē with good courage, striketh through both footemen with shieldes, and horsemen with their complete harnis: the other lesse, and was a kinde of darte with an yron head, three cornered of fiue inches lōg, the staffe of three foote and a halfe: whiche they were wonte to call Verriculum, but nowe Verutum. The firste and chiefest souldiours in the firste araye, called Principes, and the seconde called Hastati, were wonte to be furnished with this kynde of weapons. Behinde these were suche as were called Pherentarii, and light armed men, which nowe with harnisse and armoure wee place for ayde. Next were suche as bore shieldes, with leadē plummettes, swordes & dartes, as now a dayes almost all our souldiours vse. Then archers with helmettes, brestplates, & swordes, arrowes & bowes. Likewyse slingers whiche with slinges, or staffeslinges, did caste stones. There were also that were called Tragularii, whiche did shoote arrowes with hande bowes, and crosse bowes. The seconde battell was likewyse armed, and those whiche were placed in that bande were called Hastati, that is to [...]aye, pikemen or spearemen. But in the seconde bat­tayle the sixt bande was set in the right wynge: to the which the seuenth bande was ioyned. The eighte bande kept the middle fronte of the battayle, hauinge the nynthe ioyned to it. The tenthe cohorte in the seconde battayle, did alwayes [...]epe the lefte wynge.

¶After what maner the Triarians, and also the Centuriens should be armed. Chapiter .xvi.

AFter all these battels, the Triarians, or souldiours of the rerewarde were placed with shieldes, coarselets, helmettes, beinge harnissed on the legges, hauinge swordes, great daggers, leaden plūmettes, and two dartes, the whiche did reste kneelinge vppon one knee: that if the firste battaile were ouercome, these might repayre and make vp the battayle againe, and set on the enemies a freshe and recouer the victorie. But all the standerd or banner bearers although they were footement, had on coates of mayle or plate, of the lighter sorte, and helmettes couered with beare skinnes, to terrifie and make aferde the enemies. The Cen­turions also had coarselettes, brigantines, shieldes and hel­mettes of steele, but with crestes ouerth warte, and couered with siluer, that they might bee the better knowen of their souldiours.

¶Nowe that the battayle being ioyned, the complet harnissed men stoode as a wall. Chapiter .xvij.

THis thing also must bee knowen and diligently obser­ued, that in open warre the firste and seconde battaile should stande sure and vnmoueable. The souldiours also of the rerewarde, should abyde and reste. The light ar­med souldiours, and terget men, archers, slyngers, that is to saye, suche as were armed with light harnisse should goe before the armie, and prouoke the enemies. And if they could put the enemies to flighte, they shoulde pursue them, but if they were ouermatched and ouerlayde with the power and multitude of their enemies, they muste retire to their owne companie, and stande behinde them. But the complet armed men muste receiue the brunte of the battayle, and stande as wee saye, lyke a brasen wall, and they must not onely caste dartes, but also with swordes fighte neerer hande. [Page] And if they put the enemies to flight, these complete harnis­sed men must not pursue them, least they should disorder the bande, and breake the battelraye, and so the enemies retur­ning and sodainly comming vpon them, so disordered & scat­tered abroade, might easely ouercome them. But the lyght armed men, with the slingars, archers and horsemen, muste pursue the enemies in the chase. By this good order and dili­gent prouision, and circumspection, this legion shall either easely vanquishe their enemies, or els shalbe out of daunger if they chaunce to be ouercome: because it is necessarely re­quired in this companie, not, without great cause, either to geue backe or flie themselues, or pursue their enemies recu­lyng.

¶The names of souldiours, and the orders and de­grees should be wrytten in the shieldes. Chapiter .xviij.

BUt, least souldiours sometimes in the hurly burly of a battayle, should departe from their owne companie: they did painte in diuers bādes, diuers signes or mar­kes in the shieldes, whiche they called Digmata, that is to saye, signes, markes, or tokens: lyke as they vse to doe now a dayes. Moreouer, in the shieldes, the name of euery soul­diour was written with letters, and also of what bande euerye one was, or of what hundred. Thereby by these it is manifest that a legion well furnished and ordred is, as it were, a moste sure defenced citie, which caried with it euery where all thinges necessarie vnto battayle: neither feared the sodaine comminge of the enemies, whiche also in the middle of the playne fieldes coulde fortifie it selfe quickely with trenche and bulwarke. Whiche also had within it selfe all manner of warriours, and furniture fitte for the warre. Therefore if any do couet in open battayle to ouercome the rube and barbarous people, let hym earnestly desire & praye that according to the wyll and pleasure of God, and the ap­pointement of the victorious prince, and the good guiding & [Page 21] ordering of a valiaunt captaine, the armies maye bee repai­red and made vp againe with younge and freshe souldiours. And within shorte space younger men being skilfully picked out and exercised diligently euery daye, both in the morning and after noone, with all manner of martiall affayres and feates of warre, shall sone be equall to those olde souldiours whiche haue subdued the whole worlde. Neither let your maiestie be moued O Caesar, that the olde custome which in tymes paste did flourishe and was best liked, is nowe altered and chaunged. But the cōtinuance of this good prouision & happie successe consisteth in you, that is for the safetie of the common wealth, bothe to inuente newe thinges, and to re­store the olde. Euery woorke seemeth harde before a man as­saye: but if experte and politike men bee appointed to picke out and choose souldiours, an armie meete for the warres, may quickely be gathered, and diligently instructed: for any thing may bee [...]ought to passe by diligence and pollicie, if sufficient and competent expenses be allowed.

¶Besides the strengthe of the body, the cunning or knowledge of ciphers and countyng, must be regarded in younge souldiours. Chapter .xix.

BUt for as muche, as in armies there bee many scholes and exercises of cheualrie, whiche doe require cunning and expert souldiours, it is verye expedient that they which doe admitte and allowe the young souldiours, should searche out diligently, and knowe in euery one the bignes of the stature, the strengthe of the body, and the promptnes of his mynde. But in certaine the cunning of ciphers and au­gurim, and exercise of reckening and casting accompte is re­quired. For the accompte of all the whole legion, whether it bee of the diligent seruice, or of the numbers of souldiours, or els of money, is daily registred in the actes or chronicles, with greater diligēce almost then the trade of victualling, or ciuile gouernement, is noted in the register bookes of the [Page] citie. They note also the continual watches in time of peace. Also the warding on the daye tyme, and the charges or offi­ces in carying from place to place: amongest all the centu­ries and companies, what the souldiours doe by course: that none be charged or burdened more then is due and right, or if any haue libertie graunted and are exempted. The names of thē whiche ordred their courses, are noted in the bookes. When any man hath receiued a pasporte, and for how many dayes it is noted in the abbridgementes. For at that tyme a pasporte was graunted very hardely, except it were for most iuste and probable causes. Neither the souldiours whiche were lately begonne and entered, were assigned to any cer­tayne seruice, nor any priuate charge committed vnto them. For why, it was not thought meete and conuenient that any souldiour of the prince or chiefe captaine, whiche is founde meate, drincke and clothing, of the commō prouision, should attende vpon priuate commodities. Notw [...]hstāding, there were souldiours appointed to wayte on the chiefe Iudges & tribune, and other that were in authoritie, whiche were cal­led Accensi, that is to saye, souldiours appointed to bee a­bout great officers. For whē the legi [...]n was fully made vp & perfecte, these were added whiche nowe wee doe call Super­numerarios, aboue the iust number. And yet the very ordi­narie souldiours, did carie ferdels or būdels into the campe, that is to saye, woode, haye, water, and strawe. For of this they were called Munifices, because they did those commen­dable thinges whiche they were charged withall.

¶Howe souldiours ought to put aside the halfe part of any gift in money, or other thinges geuen them, in the keeping of suche as are standerd bearers. Chapter .xx.

THis thing in times paste was excellently wel ordeined and appointed of the auncient men, that the one halfe of suche thinges as were geuē the souldiours, should be set aparte with the standerdes, and there should be kepte [Page 22] for the vse of these souldiours, least through excesse and riot, or the getting of vayne thinges, it might be wasted of their owne companions. For the moste parte of men, and namely the poorer sorte, doe spende and laye forth willingly so much as they haue, or can come by. But this sequestration or put­ting aside of the money, firste of all is proued profitable and commodious, euen for their fellowe souldiours. For seing that they are susteined and foūde meate, drinke, and clothing of the common expences, their goodes which they haue got­ten in warre are encreased, according to the equall parte or one halfe of those thinges which were giuen them. Further­more, the souldiour whiche knoweth his money to be kepte with the standerdes, dothe neuer minde to forsake the stan­derdes, but rather to sticke to them. He fighteth more stout­ly and valiauntly for them in the battaile, as all men are cō ­monly wont to doe. That is to take care for those thinges wherin he knowes their whole wealth and substaunce doth consiste. Finally, there were set abroade tēne bagges in eue­ry bande, in the whiche these thinges were put. There was also ioyned the .xi. bagge, into the whiche the whole legion did put a certaine portion to be bestowed on the burials: that if any of the companies died, [...]uner all charges should be ta­ken out of that eleuenth bagge. This accompt was kept in a basket or cophin by standerd bearers (as the report is nowe) And therfore, suche were standerd bearers, as were not on­ly faithfull, but also learned and skilfull, whiche could both safely kepe thinges whiche were cōmitted to their custodie, and also geue iuste accompte of that, which they had in kea­ping, to euery man.

¶Promotions and dignities in the legion, are so disposed and ordered, that none is aduau [...]ced thereto before he haue passed through the .x. bandes or companies of the legion. Chapiter .xxj.

I Thinke verelye that among the Romaynes, the legions were appointed and ordered, not onely by the pollicie of man, but also by the inspiration of God. [Page] In the whiche, tenne bandes are so sette in order and ioyned together, that of all those is made as it were one bodye and one societie. For the souldiours are aduaunced, and proceade through diuers bandes, and diuers companies as it were rounde about, one after an other, so that from the first bande going forwarde in order by little and little hee came to the tenth bande, and againe from thence he came backe agayne through the reste to the firste bande: hauing better prefer­rement, and his wages stil augmented. Therefore the Cen­turion or chief captaine of the forewarde, after that he ruled and gouerned all the bandes rounde about in course, by sun­drie exercises and feates of armes: in the first bande he ob­tained that rewarde, whereof redounded innumerable com­modities to him out of y^e whole armie. Like as Primicerius, or he that hath the chiefe authoritie in the principall office of the ouerseers or other rulers, doth come to some honest and gainefull preferrement in warfare: euen so the horsemen of euery bande, doe courteously vse their owne companie with good fellowe shippe: because the horsemen and footemen do naturally vary & disagree one with an other. Therefore by this ioyning, and as it were linking together of the armie, good agreement was kept and continued throughout al the bandes, both of horsemen and footemen.

¶What difference is betwene trumpetters, blow [...]rs of hornes, or shawmes and suche like. Chapiter .xxij.

MOreouer, an armie hath trumpettes, cornettes, and shawmes. The trompetters doe call the souldiours to battayle: and againe doe call them backe blowing the retraite. The cornettes were an ornament to set foorthe the whole armie, bothe in the marching forewarde toward to the battaile, and also in the retiring from the fighte. As often as these do blowe, not onely souldiours, but also stan­derdes, are ready at the [...]ounding of them to remoue. There­fore, as oftē as the souldiours marche forward alone to any [Page 23] busines or skirmishes, the trumpetters doe blowe, and the souldiours only do come together at y^e sound of the trūpets. As often as the standerdes must be remoued, the blowers of cornettes do sounde. But when they do fighte, both y^• trum­pettes and the cornettes doe sounde together. Also Classicū, is called that noyce whiche the trumpetters doe make with the soūde of a cornet. This is a notable signe of great power and authoritie royal, because this is soūded when the prince, chieftayne, or generall captaine is present, or els when a souldiour for some hainous offence is put to death. For this must nedes bee done by the statutes and lawes of the gene­rall: but if the souldiours goe forth to kepe the watches, to carie thinges from place to place, or to doe any woorke, or to make a rode, at the sounde of the trumpettes they doe it, and by the sounde of the same doe retire to the cāpe agayne. But when the standerdes doe marche, or in marching when they should staye, the blowers of the cornettes sounde to bothe these. The whiche thing in dede for this cause is obserued & kept in all maner of exercises, skirmishes, rodes, and mar­chinge forwarde of the armie, that in the fighte the souldi­ours might more easely obeye: if the captaines should com­maunde them, either to fight or to staye, to pursue, or to re­tire. For this proofe is plaine that such things must be prac­tised at vacant time and leasure, whiche of necessite must bee atchieued and done in the battell.

¶Of the exercise of souldiours. Chapiter .xxiij.

THe appointing and administration of an armie, being orderlye descrided, let vs returne to exercise againe: whereof (as it is sayde already) Exercitus, that is an hoste hathe deriued the name. The younge and newe souldiours were exercised with al kinde of weapons & feates of chiualry, both in the morning and after noone. But the olde beaten and expert souldiours, once a daye were exerci­sed in armes. For neither longe age, nor number of yeares, doth teache the feates of armes, but the continuall vse & stu­die [Page] of exercise: and a souldiour not exercised and trainde vp in feates of warre, although hee hath beene neuer so longe in wages, yet hee is alwayes but a younge begynner, and altogether ignoraunt in handling his weapon, whiche on the holye dayes is set abroade for to behoulde in the exercise. Therefore not onely they, which were vnder the chiefe mai­sters, did learne by daylye exercise the handlyng of armoure and weapons, and the swiftenes and nimblenes of the body, but also all the souldiours a lyke did exercise the same. For swiftenes and agilitie of the bodye, and also the cunning bothe to stryke the enemie and defende hym selfe, is chieflye gotten by exercise and practise, especially if they fight neere at hande with swordes. But this is more weightie and need­full that they learne in their playing exercise to keape theyr orders, and that in so great sturres and thronges, beinge vsed to the lyke in these exercises, wherin they are firste trai­ned and entered, they doe wayte vppon their owne banners and ensignes, and that among the well trayned and experte souldiours, there bee no erroure or disordre committed, al­though in the common sorte there may bee very great con­fusion. It is also very good that the younge souldiours bee exercised with some poste or stake, where they maye learne to stryke at the sydes, the legges, and heades, eyther with the thruste, or with ryght downe strokes. Let them also ac­custome to leape and strike together: to vawte against their shielde, as if they were dauncynge, and skypppe downe againe: sometyme to runne forwarde skipping and leaping, and fetchynge of gamboldes, sometyme to steppe awaye quickelye, and leape backe agayne. Let them exercise also to throwe dartes a farre of at the postes or stakes, that they bothe maye bee more cunninge in castinge straighte, and more nimble and quicke with the right hande. But the ar­chers and slyngers, dyd set vp some broome for a marke, or bundels of shrubbes, or strawe, that standing sixe hundred foote from the marke, oftentymes they might hitte it with their arrowes, or with their stoones leuelled out of a slynge staffe. Therefore, more boldely they did that in the battell [Page 42] whiche before they had exercised in sporte in the fielde. They muste also at all tymes accustome them selues, that they swynge the slynge, but once about the head onelye, when a stone is caste out of it. And all the souldiours did vse with one hande to caste stones of a pounde weighte, whiche exer­cise is thought more readie, because it needeth not a slinge. They were also compelled alwaye and with continuall exer­cise, to caste dartes or leaden plummettes: in so muche that for the horsemen in wynter season, large galeries were couered with tyles or shingles, whiche are cliftes of woode: or if they did fayle, with readde, flagges or stubble, or els strawe: and also certayne large places made for the foote­men, and couered in lyke maner: in the whiche in the tyme of stormes, wyndes, or foule weather, the armie was en­structed and exercised with armoure and weapons vnder couert. But the other dayes in wynter, if snowe and rayne dyd ceasse, they were compelled to exercise them abroade in the fielde: leaste if this custome should be lefte of, the mindes and also the bodyes of the souldiours myght bee weakened. At is good also that they vse often to cutte downe woode, to carye burdens, to leape ouer ditches, to swymme in the Sea, or Ryuers, to walke a good rounde pace, or to runne yea, although they bee loden with the weyght of their ar­moure & other burthens: that daily labour in time of peace▪ mighte not seeme harde, or paynefull in tyme of warre. Therefore, lyke as the whole legion is exercised, euen so the aydes oughte to bee exercised daylye. For lyke as a well tryaned and exercised souldiour desires the battayle, euen so the vnexperte and ignoraunt, dothe feare the same. Laste of all wee muste knowe that in fyghte, vse and experience, dothe auayle more then force. For if the teachynge to han­dle weapons doe ceasse, and cunnyng in feates of armes be not regarded, then a countrey clowne is as good as the best souldiour.

¶Examples of exhortations, and the exercise in warlike affaires, taken of other artes and sciences. Chapiter .xxiiij.

THe wrastler, the hunter, the carter, commonly for a small rewarde, yea, for fauour of the common people, vse to kepe and encrease their cunning and knowledge with daily exercise. Muche more it behoueth a souldiour, by whose manhode and valiauntnes, the common wealth is de­fended and preserued, perfectly to knowe, and by continuall exercises to retaine and kepe the cunning in martial affaires and feates of warre: to whome often chaunceth not onelye a glorious victorie, but also proies of great price: and whome, also both the lawe of armes and the good iudgement of the general, will aduaunce to wealthe and honoure. The cun­ning stage plaiers do not leaue of their exercises, loking on­lye for prayse and commendation of the common people: a souldiour then chosen and admitted by a solemne othe, whe­ther he be a young souldiour or an olde, ought not to ceasse, discontinewe or bee slacke in the exercise of chiualrie, who muste fight both for his owne saffetie, and also for the liber­tie and safegarde of his countrey: especially seinge there is an olde and wyse saying, that all maner of sciences do [...] con­siste in continuall studie and exercise.

¶A rehersall of Iron tooles and other engines of the legion. Chapiter .xxv.

AN army also commonly vanquisheth and conquereth the enemies not onely through the multitude of soul­diours, but also through diuers kindes of Iron too­les, and other engines. First of all, it is furnished with shot, whiche no coate armooure nor tergettes are able to abide. For in euery century or hundred, they vse to haue a fielde piece: the whiche a mule was appointed to drawe. And the companies of one pauiliō, that is to say .xi. men, were assig­ned to addresse, and set forth the same. For the greater these [Page 25] peeces be, the further and more strongly they shoote the pel­lets. And they not onlye defende the Campe, but also in the field they are planted behinde the battell of the complete ar­med men. The brunt and violence wherof, neyther y^• horse­men with coates of fence, neither footemen with their shiel­des, are able to withstand. And there are wont to be in one Legion lv. fielde peeces: also tenne greater peeces called O­nagri, that is to saye, in euerye cohort one, and they are car­ryed in tilted cartes with two Oxen, that if by chaunce the ennemyes came to assaulte the rampyre and bulwarke, the campe mighte be defended with arrowes and pellets. The Legion also doth carrye with it, boates made hollow of one peece of timber with very longe cordes, and sometimes also with yron chaynes: and forasmuch as they are ioyned toge­ther (as they saye) all of one peece of timber and bordes ioy­ned together, and layde vppon them: by the helpe of these, both the footemen and horsemen safelye passe ouer ryuers, which otherwise without bridges they could not passe ouer. It hath also yron clampes which they call Lupos, and yron hookes fastened to great longe poles. Likewyse it hath for dispatching the worke about the ditches and trenches, mat­tockes, spades, shou [...]ls, rakes, maundes, baskets, chipaxes, sawes, with the which stakes and other stuffe are squared & sawen a sunder. It hath also artificers with all kinde of yron tooles, which for the assault of the Cittyes of the ennemyes maye make engines, which they call Testudines, and Mus­culos, that is to saye, engines of warre to beate downe wal­les, wherby they are defended which do approch the walles of a Cittyes besieged. And Arietes, which were peeces of or­dinance, made lyke a rammes head to beat downe y^• walles. And Vineas, which are an ordinaunce of warre made of tim­ber & hurdles, vnder the which men went surely to the wal­les of a towne besieged. Also battell rammes & towers mo­uable. But least in rehersing euery thing more be sayd then neede: a legion ought euery wher to carye with it all maner of thinges, which are thoughte necessarye in anye kinde of warre: that in what place soeuer it shall pitch the Campe, it may make an armed Cittye.

What maner or of what nomber an Armye shoulde be of. The first Chapter.

IN the first Booke I haue shewed the muste­ringe and exercyse of yonge souldiours: in y^• seconde was taught the orderinge of a Legi­on, and the knowledge & science of warfare. But this third booke doth sound the Trom­pettes and bloweth out the Alarum. For therefore are those thinges written before, that these wherein the cunninge of conflictes and the chiefest pointe of the victorye doth consist, mighte the sooner, by obseruing some order in teachinge, be vnderstoode: and thereby profite the more. An host or ar­mye is called a multitude, as well of Legions as of aydes, and also of horsemen, gathered together to make warre.

The maner whereof is, to be knowen of the maisters of ar­mes. For whereas we reade examples of Xerxes, Darius, Mithridates, and other kinges, which haue had in theyr ar­myes infinite nombers of people: it doth euidently appeare that ouer great armyes, haue oftner bene destroyed through the greatnes of their owne nomber, then throughe the man­hoode of their ennemyes. For the greater multitude is sub­iecte to manye chaunces: in iourneyes and vyages, it is al­wayes slower by reason of the vastnes thereof. And when it traueyleth a lengthe, it chaunceth oftentimes to be inua­ded, and to suffer losse, thoughe the ennemyes be but fewe.

And in passinge of roughe places or ryuers, it is oftentimes deceyued by the lettes and stayes of the carryages. More­ouer for the great nomber of cattel and horses, forage is ga­thered and gotten not without great labour.

[Page]Also the trouble and daunger in prouidinge grayne, and the scarcitye thereof, which in anye maner of vyages is to be a­uoyded, doth eftsones encumber the greater armyes. For with howe greate studye and diligence soeuer victualles be prepared, yet the moe that they be employed and distribu­ted vnto, the sooner they do fayle. The very water also some­times doth scantly suffice a greate multitude. If so be that y^• armye by chaunce should be put to flighte, it must needes be that of a great nomber, a great meanye must be slaine: and that they which haue escaped being once thorowly afrayde, will afterwarde feare to fight againe. But the auncient mē of warre which by experience had learned remedyes against incumberaūces, would not haue theyr armyes so huge in nō ­ber, as well trayned vp in the feates of warre. Therefore in smaller battayles, they thoughte one Legion with the ay­des ioyned vnto it, that is to saye, tenne Thousande foote­men and two Thousand horsemen, able to suffice: which ar­mye the Pretors beinge as meaner Captaynes, did vse to leade forth when anye vyage was in hande. If the power of then ennemyes were great, then the mighte of the Consulles (as who saye a greater authoritye) was sent with xx. Thou­sande footemen, and foure Thousand horsemen. If that an infinite nōber of cruell people had rebelled: then in so great and daungerous time of neede, two Captaines, namely both the Consulles were sent with two armyes, with suche com­maundemente, that they shoulde foresee that the common wealth should take no damage nor detriment. Finally whē as y^• Romaynes almost al their time fought in diuers real­mes against diuers and sondrye ennemyes, their souldiours were for this cause the more sufficiente, because they iudged it not so profitable to haue great armyes, as well instructed and trayned in the knowledge of feates of armes: Yet pro­uided alwayes that there should not be in the campe a grea­ter nomber of the confederate helpes, then of Cittizens of Rome.

¶After what maner the health of an army [...] should be maintayned. Chapiter .ij.

NOwe I will declare (which thinge ought chiefelye to be foreseene) how the health of the armys may be pre­serued: that is to saye, by reasonable places, waters, time, medecine, and exercise. For the places that the souldi­ours do not tarye long in a pestilent and vnholsome country, nigh vnto marisses or fennes, apt to breede sickenes: nor in fieldes wanting water, nor hillles without woode: nor in y^e Sommer withoute tentes and pauilions: least that goinge late from their place, they bring sickenes on them throughe the hea [...]e of the Sunne, and wearines of their iourneye: but rather in Sommer season y^• they come to the places wher­vnto they meane to trauayle, before it be day: that in cruell and could Winter they trauayle not by night through frost and snowe, or sustaine the scarcitye or want of wood: or litle store of apparell. For that souldiour can neither be health­full nor fitte for anye voyage, which is constrayned to [...] for could. Neyther let the armye vse noysome or [...] wa­ters: for the drincke that is made of naughtye water is like to poyson, and breadeth the pestilēce in those that drincke it. Nowe as touchinge that anye companye of souldiours be­ing sicke by anye such chaunce, maye be refreshed with con­uenient meates, and healed with the helpe and cunning of y^• Phisitions: the dyligence of th [...] rulers and Tribunes, yea and of the lieuetenaunte himselfe which executeth the grea­ter power, shalbe requyred herevnto. For they are in verye ill case vppon whom the necessity both of warre and sicknes doth lye. But the experte and cunninge menne in feates of warre haue thought, that dailye exercises of armes coulde more auayle to y^e health of souldiours, then Phisitiōs could. Therefore they would haue the footemen in raigne & snow, continually to be exercised for health vnder couert, at other times in the plaine field▪ Likewyse they commaunded that the horsemē should daily exercise both themselues and their horses, not onlye in the plaine: but also in most difficult pas­sages [Page] as in steepe downe places, & in the gaping of ditches. That nothing mighte happen vnto them in the necessitye of fight, which they knew not before. Wherof it is to be vnder­stande with howe greate studye and dilligence, the armye should at all times be learned the knowledge of armes: whē as the vse of labour both maye get them health in theyr ten­tes, and victorye in the battaile. In the time of Haruest & Sommer, if a multitude of souldiours to tarye longe in a place, there must needes aryse most hurtful sicknes, both of the infection of the water, and smell of the verye filthe with corrupte breathinge and naughtye ayre: whiche none other way can be kepe from them, but with often remouing of the Campe.

¶Wyth how great care and regarde, forage or grayne ought to be prouided and kepte. Chap. iij.

ORder doth requyre that we should now speake of the prouision of forage & grayne. For scarcitye doth more consume an armye, then fighting: and hūger is more cruell then y^e sword. Moreouer other casualtyes be helped in time, but the prouiding of forage & victuall hath no helpe or remedye, vnlesse they be layed vppe before hande. In any maner of enterpryse this is one and the chiefest counsayle y^• thine armye may haue sufficiēt to liue with: that lacke of ne­cessarye thinges maye weaken the ennemyes. Therfore be­fore warre be begonne there ought to be a wyse and prudēt deuyse, for money and other charges, that forage, grayne, & other victuals (whiche the olde custome did requyre of for­rayners) might be gathered in time: and greater store ther­of then is sufficient alwayes layed vp in suche places as are strongly fenced, and most conuenient to serue the turne. If so be that the tributes or paymentes do fayle, all thinges must be compassed & gotten with money payed before hand. For possession of riches is not without care, except it be kept with force of armes. But manye times there is twyse as [Page 28] much neede, & a s [...]ege oftētimes is longer then they thin [...]ke it wilbe: when as the ennemyes themselues beinge almoste famished, do not geue ouer to besiege them whom they hope may be ouercome wyth famyne. Furthermore whatsoeuer cattell, grai [...]e, or wyne, the ennemye that causeth warre cā preuente and take to their owne prouision of victuall: (the owners thereof not onlye beinge warned by publicke com­maundement, but also constrayned by chosen sear [...]hers) the fame must be brought to conuenient houldes, and streng the­ned with garrisons of armed men: or to safe and surelye de­fenced Cittyes: and the forraine people muste be called ear­nestlye vppon, to keepe themselues and all that they [...]ue within theyr walles before the enemyes [...] enter in. For the repayring of the walles and all maner of ordinance, muste be loked too before. For if the ennemyes do once pre­uent them beinge otherwyse occupyed, euerye thinge is dis­ordered through feare: aud such things as are to be demaū ­ded of other Cittyes, are alwayes denyed after that the pas­sages be once stopped. But to keepe those thinges trustelye that may be saued, and to destribute them moderatlye, is as good as if there were plenty, namely if from the beginning they be well looked to. But it is to late to spare when no­thinge is remayninge. In harde and daungerous voyages the auncient warriours did vse to bestowe the victuals, ra­ther accordinge to the nomber of the souldiours, then to the worthynes of them. So that after the necessitye was past, then recompence was made to those that were worthye, of the common charge and coste. In the winter, the scarcenes of woode and forage, in Sommer the lacke of water is to be auoyded. But the wante of grayne, wyne and vyneger, and also of falte, at all times is to be shunned: so that such soul­diours as can do least seruice in the fielde, should defend the Cittyes and houldes with armoure, arrowes, [...]ingstaues, slinges, and also stones, artillerye of all sortes. And chief [...] ­lye wee must take heede that the vncyrcumspecte simple for­rayne people confederate with vs, be not deceyued by the craft and periurye of the ennemyes.

[Page]For oftentimes deceitful couenaunts and fayned peace, haue done more harme to suche as are lighte of credite, then the force of armes. By reason whereof, the ennemyes if they be altogether do suffer hūger, and if they be dispersed they are easelye onecome by such as euery foote will be skirmishing with them.

¶After what maner they ought to foresee, leaste the souldiours do make any sturre or sedition. Chap. .iiij.

AN armye gathered oute of sondrye places sometime doth stirre vp sedition and vprore, and when they are not willinge to fight, they fayne themselues to be an­grye: to the intente they shoulde not be ledde to battayle. Whiche they chiefelye do, that liued at home idlye and deli­ciouslye. For they, which would shrincke frō fighting, rūne headlong into such desperatnes, because they are greeued w^t the sharpenes of y^• laboure, wherwith they are not acquain­ted, which notwithstanding in the voyage they must needes sustayne, and moreouer because they are afrayde to enter in­to battayle. To the which wound men haue vsed to layema­nye and diuers medecines: that they maye be holden, whiles they be yet a sunder in theyr places, to all maner of know­ledge and exercise with most strete sharpenes of the Tribu­nes, lieuetenauntes, and also the chiefe and principall of the armye: that they obserue nothinge els, but their solempne vowe and promise, and that wyth descretion: that they haue no [...]eysure to set their mindes on pasportes: let them vse cō ­tinuallye to attende to theyr name, and to their ensignes: let them practise dailye the runninge of the field (as they terme it) and the dilligent beholding of the handlinge of armoure and weapons: They must be helde verye often to these exer­cises, and that most part of the daye, euen till they sweate a­gayne, to shootinge and to throwinge stones, eyther with a stinge or with the hande, to weare armour that they maye weilde themselues in it, to pitching the barre, and with wa­sters [Page 29] as thoughe they should fight with swordes, now with the point, nowe with the edge to strike one at another.

Also they must with like diligence be trayned in running & leaping, that they may skippe ouer ditches, if the sea or a ri­uer be nye to their tentes. In Sommer time all t [...]e souldi­ours shoulde be constrayned to swimme: moreouer to cutte downe woode, to iourney through bushye and shrubbye pla­ces, to square timber, to scoure the trenche, to take and kepe some place, and to endeuour themselues wyth shieldes, vio­lentlye meeting one [...]nother, that they be not beaten from it by theyr owne companyes. In suche wyse the souldiours of the Romaynes beinge exercised and trayned at home, whe­ther they be of the Legions or of y^• aydes, or of the horsemē, when they shall come from diuers places to take a voyage, they must needes through an ambitious desyre to trye their manhoode, rather wyshe for warre, then for peace. No mā doth take anye thought for seditious styrring, which hath a­nye confidence in his cunninge and strength. But the Cap­taine ought to be cyrcumspecte, if there shalbe anye trouble­some or seditious souldiours amonge all the Legions, or ay­des, or troupes of horsemen, that he may know them by the Tribunes, deputyes & principall men, not for the ill will of the enformers, but for the truth of the matter: and the same to be seperated from the Campe by some witty deuise, to do and accomplishe some thinge, whiche euen vnto themselues maye seeme such, as in a maner they would wishe for: or els let them* fortifye and keepe some holdes and Cittyes, * w^t such a preetye subtiltye, that whereas in deede they be reiec­ted and dispysed, they maye seeme to be chosen of purpose.

For a multitude doth neuer burst out to disobedient stubber­nes with like agreement: but they are styrred vp by a fewe, which hope they may with a nomber offende freely without punishment, for their vices and wickednes. If so be that ex­treeme necessitye shall requyre a remedye to be had therein, the best way is after the maner of our forefathers to punishe onlye the Authors and beginners of such faultes, that feare may come to all, punishment to a fewe. Notwithstanding [Page] those Captaynes are more worthy of prayse, whose armyes laboure and vse hath instructed to sobernes and humilitye, then they whose souldiours the feare of punishmente doth constrayne to obedience.

¶Howe manye kindes there be of ensignes of warre. Chapter .v.

MAnye thinges oughte to be well learned and marked of them that fight: for why, negligence ought not to be pardoned, where as they fighte for life and death. But amongest other thinges nothinge is more profitable to the victorye, then to obeye the warninges of the ensignes. For when as in the hurlye burlye of battayles, a great nom­ber cannot be ruled with one voyce onelye, and when as of verye necessitye manye thinges forthwith must be commaū ­ded and done: the auncient vse and experience of all nations hath inuented, how the whole armye by the ensignes should knowe and follow that, which the onlye Captayne iudged to be profitable and expedient. Ther are therfore as it is ma­nifest, thre kindes of ensignes, one sort hauinge voyce which are called Vocalia, another partlye hauing voyce, and part­lye not, whiche they call Semi [...]ocalia, the thirde withoute voyce, and they are called Muta: of y^e which they that haue voyce, and they that partlye haue voyce, are perceyued and knowen by the eare: but the dumme without voyce, are re­ferred to the eyes. Vocalia, are sayd to be they, which are pronounced with the voyce of a man, so that in the watche [...] or in the battayle it is accompted for a tokē: as for example: victorye, rewarde, vertue, God be with vs. The triumphe of the Emperour & suche other, whatsoeuer they will geeue which haue the greatest authoritye and power in the armye. Yet we must knowe that these woordes must euerye day be altered: least by vse the ennemyes maye knowe our token or watcheworde: and searchers or spyes may be amongest our men without daunger and punishment. Simi [...]ocalia be cal­led which are geuen by the trumpette, or the hornes, or the shawme. The trumpet which is streight is called Buccina, [Page 30] which is bowed towardes it selfe with a brassen cyrcle. The horne of the wilde bulles beinge bounde with siluer is best hearde, when it is moderated with arte, & the breath of him that bloweth it. For by these with most certayne & vndoub­ted soundes, the armye doth knowe whether they oughte to staye or go forwarde, or certainlye to retyre: whether they should followe the chase anye longe waye, or sounde the re­traite. Muta signa, be the Eagles, Dragons, banners, redde peno [...]celles, redde scarfes, feathers, crestes of hel­mets. For whether soeuer the leader shall commaund these to be caryed, thyther of necessitye must al the souldiours go, following and waytinge vppon their owne ensigne. There be also dumme signes, whiche the Captayne of the warre doth commaunde to be obserued: in the horses, in garmen­tes, and also in the verye armoure: to the intent the ennemy maye be knowen from their owne companye. Moreouer he signifyeth some thinge with his hande, or (after the cruell maner of rude and straunge people) with a whippe, or els w^t mouing or styrring his apparel which he hath on. All which thinges all the souldiours shoulde acknowledge both to fol­lowe and vnderstande in their places, in iourneys, in all ma­ner exercise of the campe. For continuall vse of that thinge is necessarye in time of peace, whiche in the confusion and trouble of y^• battayle should be kept. Also there is a dumme and common [...]igne, as often as in the goinge of a multitude, the dust styrred vppe, ryseth like cloudes, and doth bewraye the comminge of the ennemye. Likewyse if armyes be de­uided, the flame of fyre in the night, and in the daye time the smoke, doth signify vnto their fellowes that, which by no o­ther meanes can be shewed. Sometimes they do hang out beames in the Turrettes of Cittyes, which other whiles be­ing raysed vppe, and other whyles letten downe, do declare what thinges be done.

¶Howe great subtiltye ought to be vsed when an armye is remoued the ennemyes beinge nighe. Chapter .vj.

[Page]THey which with great diligence haue learned the fea­tes of warre, do affyrme: that mo perilles are wont [...] to happen in iourneyes, then in y^• very battell it selfe. For in ioyninge together of the battayle, all the souldiours be armed and see the ennemye in the face, and comes wyth courage to fight against him. But in the iourney a souldiour is lesse armed and lesse headfull, and he is sodenlye troubled with the force and deceite of the priuye inuasion of the enne­mye. Therefore the Captayne ought with all diligence, and with al care to foresee least in going he suffer inuasion of his ennemye: and that, althoughe not easelye, yet withoute da­mage or losse, he resist and repell the same. First of all he ought to haue perfectlye set forth the passages of all the coū ­tryes in the which the warre is: so that hee maye learne the distances of places, not onlye by the length thereof, but also the fashion or qualityes of the wayes: that hee consider the shortnes of wayes, the turninges, the mountaynes, the ry­uers beinge faithfullye described vnto him. In so much that the wittyer Captaynes are affyrmed to haue had the iour­neying descriptions of coūtryes, in which they must needes haue to do, not onlye dyligentlye noted, but also painted be­fore their eyes: that they might point out the waye to them that should go, not onlye with the aduisement of the minde, but also with the sight of the eyes. Furthermore he shoulde dyligentlye enquyre euerye thinge seuerallye of the wyser men, and such as be of reputation and skilfull of the places, and so gather the truth of a meanye. Moreouer when there is daunger in chosing the wayes, he shoulde take meete gui­des and cunninge, and deliuer the same to the safe keepinge of others, with a sure promyse eyther of punishment or of re­warde, if they serue trulye. For those guides shalbe profita­ble when they shall vnderstande that in no wyse they can es­cape or runne awaye, and that for their faythfulnes & truth rewardes be prepared, and for their vntruth and false dea­linge punishmentes are readye. Also it muste be foreseene y^• wyse and experte men be soughte, least the errour of two or three maye purchase daunger to the whole multitude.

[Page 31]Sometime ignorance and bolde rudenes doth promise ma­nye thinges, and beleueth that he knoweth y^• which hee doth not know. But the chiefest point of this warenes and heede taking is: that it be kepte close vnto what places & by what wayes the armye should passe forth. For it is thought y^• in al vyages the thinge which muste be done, shoulde be not kno­wen. For this cause the olde men of warre haue had in their Legions the badge or signe of Minotaurus, that as he was sayd to be hidde in the innermost and most secrete place of y^e maze or intricate place called Labyrinthus: euen so the in­tent of the Captayne should be kept secrete and hidde. That iourneye is taken in hand without feare, which the ennemye doth not so much as once suspect: but because spyes sent out on the other parte, do eyther see or suspecte which waye the armye goeth, and manye times there wanteth not runnaga­tes and traytours: it must be declared howe these beinge at hande, may be preuented and resisted. The Captayne rea­dye to marche forth with his armye, must sende most trustye and fine witted men with the best tryed horses: which maye searche the places throughe which they must take their ior­neye, before and behinde, on the righte hand and left hande, least the ennemyes go about to set an ambushmente, and lye in waite to deceiue them. But y^• searchers or spyes do worke more safelye by night then by daye. For he, after a certaine maner is a traytour to himselfe, whose spye or scoutewatch maye be taken of his ennemyes. Therefore let the horsemē go first: after them the footemen, carriages, Archers, pa­ges, and in the middest the waggons must be placed: so that part of the light armed footemen, and light harnessed horse­men do followe. For seldome as they do marche on, they are inuaded before, but more often behinde. Also on the sydes y^e carriages ought to be garded with a good company of soul­diours. For they that lye in waite, oftentimes with a cōtra­rye course rushe into some other place of the armye, then where they are suspected. This also is specially to be obser­ued, that y^• part, to the which the ennemye is lykest to come, may be fortifyed with the most choise horsemen, with lighte [Page] armed men, and also with archers on foote set purposely to withstand them. If so be that the ennemyes do assayle on e­uerye syde, then euerye syde must be defended. But least so­daine trouble should excedingly hurte them, the souldiours are to be warned aforehande, that they be ready with mind and courage, and that they haue theyr weapons in theyr hā ­des. For sodaine chaunces which amase men most whē they are put to theyr pintche, are nothing fearefull, if they be pro­uided for aforehande. The olde men of warre did most dilli­gentlye take heede least the souldiours in theyr fight should be troubled by the pages sometime beinge hurt, sometimes being in feare, and least archers throughe theyr crye should be made afrayde: leaste that eyther beinge scattered farre a sunder, or gathered togethered on heapes, they might let their owne partye more then profite them, & by reason ther­of further the ennemyes. And therefore euen as the souldi­ours marche forth, so they also leade the carryages well ap­pointed vnder certaine ensignes. Finallye they did choise of the verye pages (which they cal headpeece bearers) such as were fit and cunninge by experience: whom they make as it were Captaynes, ouer two hundred fletchers & other yong fellowes, and not aboue. Unto these they gaue banners or flagges, y^• they might know to which ensignes they oughte to gather their carryages together. But the fightinge men are deuided from the carriages a preatye space, least beinge thrust thicke together while the armye is in marchinge for­warde, they may be hurt in fight. As the places do differ, so the maner of defence should be altered. For in y^e open fieldes horsemē vse to assault the armye, rather then footemē. But in places full of woods, hilles, or fennes, footemē are more to be dreade. This also muste be auoyded, least y^• while one sort make to much hast another sort through negligence go­ing to slowlye, y^e armye be broken a sunder in the middest or els peraduenture be made thinne. For y^e ennemyes alwayes make their inuasion there, where the armye is slender.

Therefore the most expert Captaynes of the field, the depu­tyes or the Tribunes must be set before, whiche maye staye [Page 32] them that go to faste, and constrayne them to make hast that go to slowlye: for they that go a greate waye before, if a so­daine inuasiō come, do not so much couet to retyre, as to flie. But they that be last, being left behinde of their owne com­panye, what with the violence of the ennemyes and theyr owne dispayring, are straight waye ouercome. We must al­so know, that the ennemyes do priuilye laye ambushmentes in such places as they perceyue meete for them: or els do as­sayle them with open battaile. But least anye priuye places may do hurte, that the dilligence of the Captayne prouideth for, whose dutye it is to searche euery thing before hand. Al­so the ambushe beinge perceyued, if it be compassed aboute pollitikelye, it doth suffer more perill and daunger, then it went about to do. But if an open power be prepared in the mountaines, the higher places must be taken vp with aydes sent before: to the entent that when y^e ennemyes shal come, he maye be on the lower grounde, and then he dare not ad­uenture to withstande, when he seeth armed men as wel be­fore him, as aboue his head. If so be that the wayes be nar­rowe, and not safe enoughe, yet it is better that souldiours go before, with hatchets and axes, and with labour to make the wayes open and plaine, then in neuer so good a waye to suffer perill and daunger. Moreouer we ought to know the vsuall trade of oure ennemyes, whether by nighte, or in the dawning of the daye, or in the time of repaste, their custome is to assayle theyr wearyed ennemyes: and to e [...]chewe that, which after their accustomed trade we thincke they will do. Furthermore it behoueth vs to knowe, whether they canne do more with footemen, or horsemē: whether with slingers, pykemen, or archers: whether they excell vs in nomber of men, or munition & fence of armour and weapons: & then we ought to order that thing well, y^• we know profitable to our selues, & contrary to them. We ought also to consider & de­liberate, whether it be better to begin our iourney by day or by night: what & how great distaunces be of the places to y^• which we couet to make hast: least in Sommer y^• scarcity of water hinder vs in iorneying: in winter daūgerous fennes & [Page] such as men cānot passe, or great waters: and by such mea­nes y^• iourneye being letted, our hoast may be cōpassed [...]ren­trapped before it can come to the place appointed. As it is our commoditye at all times to auoyde these thinges: so if y^• ignorance or negligence of y^e ennemyes shal geue vs occasiō, it oughte not to be let passe: but we ought instātly to allure the traytors & spyes, to the intent that we may knowe what our ennemye both presently and afterwarde doth purpose to do: and with horsemen in readines, or light armed footemē, prepared for the purpose to beguile them, and so to cast them into a sodaine feare, as they be ranginge abrode seekinge for forage and victuals.

¶After what maner greate ryuers maye be passed ouer. Chap. .vij.

IN the passinge ouer of ryuers [...]hey that are not verye cyrcumspecte, are oftentimes excedinglye molested. For if any water be rough and boysterous, or the chanell ve­rye broade, it manye times drowneth the carriages and the boyes and nowe and then slouthfull and lyther souldiours. Therefore after the foorde be serched, two troupes of good horsemen vpon chosen horses are appointed, beinge seperate a sunder a reasonable space, that the footemē and carryages maye passe ouer through the middest: for the former troupe doth breake the violence of the waters, and the latter doth gather and put ouer such as be caughte and were vnder the water. But when the floude is deeper, so y^• neyther footemā nor yet horseman can passe it: if it do runne through plaine places, it is best to deuide y^e ryuer into many partes w^t dit­ches, & thus being parted, y^e passage ouer wil be easye. But ryuers are made easye to passe ouer wyth boates, or with spearestaues rammed fast into the earth▪ & plantchers layed ouer them, or els with muche labour to gather together as many emptye vessels as can be, and to laye boards ouer thē But the experte horsemen vse to make bundells of drye ree­des or flagges, vppon the whiche they do put theyr armoure [Page 33] and weapons, least they shoulde synke. They [...]em selues, and their horses dyd swymme after their bundels and so passe the ryuer. But experience hathe founde out this to be a more commodious waye, that the hoste doe carie with it in cartes certayne boates, whiche they call Monoxilos, that is to say boates somewhat broade, made hollowe, all of one beame, very light according to y^e kinde & fines of the woode, hauing boardes lykewyse and Iron nayles in a readines for that purpose. And thus a bridge being made without delay, and bounde strongly with roopes (whiche for the same pur­pose muste be prepared, wylbe as stronge for the tyme as if it were a brydge of stone. But the enemies are nowe alrea­dye vppon the bankes, and their vse is to lye in wayte, and to come vppon them that passe ouer of a sodayne. Against the whiche extremitie or neede, companies well armed, are set in the banke on eitheir syde, least they being deuided by the chanell that runneth betwene them, should be opprest of the enemies. But the surest waye is, to fasten stakes before on both sydes, that if any assaulte be made they maye sustayne it without harme. If so bee that the brydge bee necessarye, not onely for passinge ouer, but also for comminge backe a­gaine, and prouision of victualles: then at either ende it shoulde haue souldiours to defende it, and broade ditches should bee cut out of it with a rampire made by it, and the souldiours should keepe and defende the brydge as longe as they shall haue any necessarie affaires in those places.

¶After what maner a campe should be placed. Chapiter .viij.

THus hauing described the maner how an armie should be ordred in the iourney, it seemeth good next to come vnto the orderinge of the tentes, wherein wee muste remayne. For in tyme of warre, a fortified or walled citie is [Page] not alwayes ready in the waye to abyde at, and it is an vn­wyse poincte aud very daungerous, that they shoulde staye or abyde euery where without any munition or forte: when as the souldiours being busied to take their meate, or scat­tered abroade to doe anye thinge pertayning to their charge: it is an easie matter to fynde out wyles to entrappe them or euer they bee aware. Finally, the darkenes of nyghte, the necessitie of sleape, the scatteringe of the horses when they feede, doe minister occasion to sodayne inuasions. In pit­ching a campe, it is not inough to chose a good place: except it be suche one that an other better then it can not be founde, least wee, forsakyng the better place, & our enemies takyng it to their vse, wee may chaunce to smarte for it. Wee muste also take heede in Sommer, least either corrupte water be nyghe the armie, or holsome water be farre of: In Wynter least wee lacke store of forage, or plentie of woode nowe and then: leaste the fielde wherein wee muste abyde nowe and then bee ouerflowed with sodayne stormes, leaste it bee pit­ched in steepe downe and roughe places, and suche as if the enemies shoulde besiege vs, wee myghte hardely get forth: leaste it bee within the reache of oure ennemies arrowes, when they caste them from hyghe places ouer oure heades. The whiche thinges being foreseene warely and dilygently as they ought to be, thou shalt make the campe, either foure square, or rounde, or three cornered, or els longewayes, ac­cording to the necessitie of the place. For the fashion or forme is not preiudiciall to any commoditie. Neuerthelesse, those campes are thought fayrest, whiche are longer by the thirde parte, then they are broade. But they that vewe and suruay the fielde, ought so to measure euery foote thereof, that the armie maye bee compacted accordinge to the numbre of the same. For if the campe be narrowe, they in the forefronte hemme it in to straightly. And if it be to broade, they scatter farther then they should doe. There be three wayes where­by they saye a campe may be fortified. The first they saye, is some what sleight, seruing them one night onely whyle they are in their iourney, that is to digge vp turues and to laye [Page 34] them in order rounde about the campe vppon heapes, and aboue them in good order to make a pale. I meane to sette stakes there, or briers and brembles. A turfe it cut of earth, that conteineth both the grasse, the rootes & the earth also, and is cut out of the ground with an Iron spade or such like, it is made halfe a foote deepe, a foote broade, a foote and a halfe long. If it be so that the grounde be so sandy that after the fashion of a bricke, a turfe can not be cut vp, then euerye man must set to his helping hand to the making of a ditche, whiche must be fiue foote broade and three foote deepe, in the inner side whereof a rāpire must be raised: so that the armie may take their rest without feare. But if the campe remaine in one place, then whether it be sommer, or winter, if so be y^e enemie be at hande, it must with greater care and labour be fortified: for euery hundred haue their stations appointed out by the captaines and generals of the field, whiche they take and kepe thē vnto: and laying of their shield & fardels about their owne ensignes, [...]hey girde their swordes vnto them, & caste a trenche about the armie of .ix. foote, or .xi. or .xiii. foote broade, or els if they feare a greater power of enemies .xvii. foote broade, (for it is a custome alwayes to obserue an odde numbre) then they raise vp a rampire and hedge it about, or els driue stakes into it, & bowes of trees, least y^• earth should slide a way: vpon the whiche rāpire they make battilmentes and fortresses, euen as they doe vpon a stone wall. The cap­taines do measure out this worke with poles or perchies .x. foote long, least any man should digge lesse then he ought, or els through his fellowes negligence shoulde digge out of square. The tribunes also ouerse this worke, neither do they departe if they be good & diligēt in their office, before that al be finished. Now least there should be any sodaine inuasiō on thē that labour, all the horsemen & part of y^• footemē whiche doth not worke by reason of prerogatiue of dignitie, do stand armed in readines before the trenche, that they maye with­stande the enemies inuading thē. Therfore, within y^• campe y^• stāderds are first set in their places: because there is nothing more to be had in reuerēce of y^e souldiours, thē y^• maiestie of y^• same. The pauilion called Praetoriū, is prepared for y^• chiefe [Page] captaine and his companie. Other tentes are pitched for the tribunes, vnto whome water, woode, forage, are mi­nistred by certayne companies assigned to those charges. Then accordinge to their degree, are places appointed in the campe for the legions, aides, horsemen, and footemen, wherein they may pitche their pauiliōs: and there be chosen of euery hundred foure horsemen and foure footemen, which doe keape the watches by nighte. And for as muche as it semed vnpossible, or a very harde thing, in the watche tower for euery one to continewe watching all the whole nighte: therefore the watches are deuided by an howre glasse into foure partes, that it shoulde bee neede for noone to watche more then three howres in the night. The watches are be­gonne by a trompetter, and after the howres be ended, they are called awaye agayne by a blower of a horne. But for all this, the tribunes doe choose and pyke out fitte and tried men, whiche maye goe aboute the watches, and shewe if a­nye faulte maye appeare, whome they call Circuitores, that is to say searchers of the watche. Nowe are these made a certayne degree in the warres, and are called Circitores, that is to saye, officers going aboute to see good rule in the nyghte. Yet we muste knowe that the horsemen ought to watche without the trenche and bulwarke. But euery daye tyme, after the campe bee pitchte, they doe vse to take order for warding and posthorses, some in the morninge, some af­ter noone, for weareing of the men and horses. Among the chiefe and speciall pointes, it behoueth the captayne, whe­ther hee remayne in the campe or in a citie, to prouide that feeding for the cattell, conueying of grayne & other kindes, the cariage of water, woode, and forage bee made assured and without daunger, from the inuasion of their ennemies. Whiche thynge otherwyse can not come to passe, excepte in meete and conuenient places, by whiche the prouision of oure victualles muste passe, there bee sette and disposed places of refuge and succoure: whether they bee cities or defenced castels. If so bee that any oulde munition bee not founde, there muste hastelye bee made sure fortresses [Page 35] compassed about with great ditches. For the worde fortres­ses, is so named being deryued of this woorde forte: as who saye, a litle forte or castle, within the whiche a certayne nū ­ber of horsemen and footemen continuing, hauing charge to watche and attende for the same, doe conducte and make safe the waye, for the conueyaunce of victualles. For the ene­my dare scarcely aduēture to come to those places, in which he knoweth his aduersaries to abide both before & behinde.

¶What maner, and howe great thinges should be con­sidered, to vnderstande whether we ought to fight with skirmishing, and lying in wayte, or with open battayle. Chap. ix.

VVhosoeuer will vouchesafe to reade these bridgemēts briefly gathered out of the moste experte and tried au­thours, he coueteth quickely to heare the law, or ma­ner of a fielde foughten, and the preceptes of rules of figh­ting. But an open or a set battayle, is soone determined by the triall of two or three houres space: after that all hope of the syde which is ouercome, doth once beginne to fal & decay. Therefore al thinges should be thought on & assaied before, that it come to the vttermoste & laste breaking of. For good captaines doe not assaye the fielde with open battaile, where ensueth common daunger to al, but alwayes closely and pri­uily, that by that meanes they might destroye, or at the least terrifie their enemies, their owne souldiours being yet fresh and lustie. Concerning whiche parte, I wyll declare suche thinges as are very necessary, whiche I haue gathered out of olde wryters. The chiefe art and commoditie of the cap­taine, is oftentimes to debate & entreate of his owne power, and also if his enemies power, taking vnto him throughout all his armie experte and cunninge men of warre, and also wyse and discrete men, that (all flatterie set a part) which is very hurtefull, hee maye knowe whether hee or his enemies haue the greater number of fighting men: whether his men or y^e enemies be better armed, & furnished with artillerie, whiche are moste exercised, and which in greatest daungers [Page] are more valiaunt. He must also enquire whether part haue better horsemen, and whether better footemē. He must also knowe that the strengthe of the armie doth chiefly consiste in the footemen: and among the horsemen hee must see whiche were beste with the launce, and whiche with the bowe, who haue the best armoure, the best horses: last of al, whether the places in whiche they must fighte, be more commodious for the enemies then for them selues. For if we delite in an hoste of horsemen, we must desire the playne fieldes: if in an hoste of footemen, we must chose suche places, as be narrowe and streight, enuironed and stopped with ditches, marisses, and fennes: or w^t trees, & sometime hillie places: for the whiche armie, store of victuall must be had, rather to muche then to little. For hunger (as men say) dothe pinche inwardly, and oftentimes doth ouer comme without di [...]te of swoorde. But chiefly he must consulte and deliberate, whether it bee more profitable to prolong the vrgent necessitie of battaile, or to fight it out of hande. For sometime the aduersarie doth hope that the voiage may soone be ended: and if it may be delayed and lōger, either the armie is famished for lacke of victuals, or is called away to their owne, through the loue and desire that they haue thereof: or els hauing done nothing worthy of prayse, is compelled to departe through dispaire Then ma­ny discouraged with paines and wearines doe forsake him: some betraye him, and some yelde them selues to their ene­mies. For in aduersitie faithfulnes is rare, and he that came welthie, nowe beginnes to be bare and neady. It is profita­ble also to knowe what maner of man the aduersary is, what his companions are and leaders, whether they be rashe and hastie, or ware and circumspect, whether they bee hardy or feareful: cunning in the feates of warre, or such as are wōte to fight at all aduenture: what valiaunt people haue foughte with them, what cowardly and fearefull: of what trustines our aydes be, and of what force: what courage his armie is of, and what also our hoste hath: and whiche parte doth more hope for the victorie, for by suche cogitations manhoode is [Page 36] either encreased or diminished. By the encouraging of the captaine, euen those whiche despaire are muche boldened, & if hee bee not feareful, they waxe couragious, if he hath done any valiaunt acte, either by laying wayte, or by other occa­sion offered: if thinges goe not well, but fall out vnluckelye with their enemies: if he can vanquishe any of his enemies, either suche as bee weaker, or not so well armed. But you must take diligent hede that you bring not foorth the armie to fight at any tyme, if it be doubtfull or fearefull. It is very necessary to knowe whether you haue newe souldiours or olde. Whether they haue bene some little time in warres, or haue continued a good whyle in peace and quietnes: for they are to bee esteamed as younge souldiours whiche haue not fought a long season. But when the legions, aides or horse­men doe come from sundrie places to vs, a noble and worthy captaine oughte to exercise euery company seuerally in all kinde of weapōs and artillerie by the tribunes or marishals thereto appointed, whose diligence hee hathe tried before: and after warde shall exercise them gathered together into one place, as though they should fighte in open battaile. Hee him selfe shall often trie and proue what cunning they haue, what force, howe they agree together, whether they can be readie at the sound or blowing of the trumpettes, at the she­wing of the ensignes, yea, & at euery becke and commaunde­ment. If they doe amisse in any poinct, they must be exercised and enstructed, vntil they be cunning and experte. Although they maye bee fully enstructed in runninge in the [...]ielde, and other exercise: in shootinge, in throwyng dartes, in settinge the armye in ordre: yet they muste not rashely bee broughte to the open or sette battayle vppon euerye lyght occasion, but they muste fyrste bee entered and acquainted with litle encounters. Therefore the paynefull, discrete and wyse Captayne, doothe iudge of his owne, and also of his ad­uersaries power, euen as hee and his councell shoulde iudge of a ciuile matter betwene partie and partie. If he be founde [Page] more able and better furnished in many thinges, let him not differ the conuenient and fitte occasion of fighting. But if he perceiue his enemie to bee the better, let hym auoyde the opē and sette battayle. For a fewer in numbre, and weaker in strengthe, oftentymes vnder good captaines haue obtained the victory by sodayne inuasions, and lying priuely in wayte.

¶What must be done if any captayne haue an army out of vse of fighting, or an armie of younge souldiours. Chapiter .x.

ALl artes and sciences, and all our dayly workes doe proceede and encrease by continuall vse and exercise, which if it be true in smal thinges, howe muche more ought it to bee obserued in the greatest affaires. And who doth doubte that the knowledge and skyll of warre, is more mightie then all other thinges: by the whiche libertie is mainteined, and the dignitie of a prince enlarged, and the Empire mainteined and preserued. The Lacedemonians, in tymes past (all other kyndes of learning set a side) did iudge this onely to be obserued, and after that the Romaines lyke­wyse. And euen at this tyme, the barbarous and straunge nations, doe also thinke that this onely ought to be obserued and kepte. And they haue suche confidence herein, that they thynke all other thinges doe consiste in this: or that they may obtayne all thinges throughe this. This vnto them that muste fight, is very necessary, by whiche they may saue their lyfe, and obtaine the victorie. Therefore a captaine vn­to whome the worthie honoures of so great power and au­thoritie are geuen: to whose faithfulnes and prowes, the goodes of the possessours, the defence of cities, the safetie of the souldiours, the honour of the common wealthe is com­mitted: ought to be carefull, not onely for the whole armie, but also for euery particuler cōpanie of the same. For what­soeuer doth happen in the warre otherwyse then well, the faulte is his, but the iniurie and hurte is common. There­fore if he guide an armie of younge souldiours, or suche as [Page 37] haue bene long out of vse in chiualry, he ought diligently to trie and searche the strengthe, courage and experience of e­uery bande of the legion, and also of euery company of the horsemen. Let him also knowe (if it bee possible) by name, who is captaine vnder him, who is tribune, whiche bee his housholde seruauntes, whiche be cōmon souldiours in euery hande, and howe muche he can doe in the warre: and let him get great authoritie by sharpenes and seueritie: let him pu­nishe all the souldiours faultes by the lawes, let him not bee thought to winke at any that offendeth, let him vnderstande and knowe the proofe and triall of all in sundrie places vpon diuers occasions. These thinges (as it behoueth) being thus ordred and looked to, when the enemies doe wander abroade carelesse, dispersed here and there for booties, then let him sende expert and tried horsemen, or els footemen with the younge and meaner souldiours, to the entent that if, by occa­sion the enemies bee foiled, they might bee made more cun­ning, and the other more bolde and hardie. Let him place certayne companies very priuely to come sodainly on the e­nemies at the passing ouer of Riuers, at the stiepe or fall of mountaynes, at the narrowe straightes of woodes, at the daungerous passages of fennes and other wayes. And let him order his owne iourney so, that beinge readye and well furnyshed, he may set vpon them, either when they are ea­ting or sleaping, or being idle, careles, vnarmed, vnshodde, their horses being scattered abroade, suspecting nothing: be­cause in suche skirmishes his souldiours may bee boldened and encouraged. For they whiche before of a longe tyme or neuer in their life haue seene men wounded or [...]layne: at the first sight are so afrayde, that they quake and tremble: and being amased throught feare, haue more mynde of flying thē of fighting. Furthermore, if the enemies doe range abroade to make inuasions, let him set vpō them after they be weary with their longe viage: and let him inuade the hindermoste, euen at vnwares. Let him also sodainly preuēt with chosen mē, such as either for forage, or for a bootie do tarie a great waye from their companie. For these thinges must be tried [Page] firste, whiche if they haue ill successe, it doth small harme: if they prosper well, it doth muche auayle. It is the pointe of a good captayne to minister and breede causes of discorde amongest th ennemies. For no nation though it bee very little, can quickely be destroyed of the enemies, except it bee consumed with priuate dissensions and hatred within it self. For ciuile discorde and hatred is to hastie and rashe in see­king the destruction of the enemies, and to careles and vn­heedy of foreseing of their owne defence and safetie. And in this enterpryse, this one thinge muste bee foretolde, that no man shoulde dispayre of the perfourminge of those thinges whiche haue bene done before. But some man may saye that no man in many yeares space doth enuironne an army which is pitched, in a place compassed about with a ditche, a ram­pire or trenche. I aunsweare hym thus, that if this heede were taken the sodaine inuasion of enemies, neither by night nor daye, coulde doe any hurte at al. The Persians following the example of the Romaines, doe pitche their campes with diches drawen about: and for as muche as all places in a manner be sandie, they fill sackes, whiche they caried empty with earth very dustie and drie (which in those places is dig­ged) and with an heape of them they doe make a rampire. Al the barbarous people hauing their cartes ioyned together in a rounde compasse, after the manner of a rampire, do passe ouer the nightes quietly, and out of daunger of them that do inuade them. And doe we feare that we can not learne those thinges whiche others haue learned of vs? These thinges must be learned by experience, and also by reading of suche thinges as before tyme were obserued: but being left of for a great whyle, no man hath sought them out, because that as long as peace flourished, the necessitie of warre was far out of mynde. But least it may seeme impossible to renewe and restore the knowledge of marshall affayres, being long intermitted and decayed for lacke of exercise, examples may sufficiently teache vs in this point. The knowledge of war­fare hath oftentymes bene forgotten with them of olde, but [...] hath bene sought out againe in bookes, and confirmed by [Page 38] the skill and authoritie of good captaines. Scipio Aphrica­nus, did take the armies which were in Spayne, being oftē ­times ouercome vnder dyuers generall captaines: and ob­seruing the order and preceptes of warfare, hee so diligently exercised thē in casting of ditches, & making trēches, that he would saye commonly that diggers muste bee defiled with myre, whiche would be washed with the bloud of their ene­mies. And at the lengthe with those he so fired the Numain­tines, that their citie was taken, and neuer one escaped. Me­tellus receiued an armie in Aph [...]ike, whiche was subdued vnder Albinus their generall captaine: whiche he did so re­paire with olde preceptes and pollicie of the auncient war­riours, that afterwarde they ouercame them, of whom they had bene subdued before. The Germaines also in Fraunce, destroied the legions whiche Cepio, Manilius and Sillanus led: the remnaunt wherof, whē Caius Marius had receiued, he so enstructed them with knowledge and skill of fighting, that hee destroyed in open battayle an innumerable multi­tude, not onely of Zelanders, but also of Germaines, & Hun­garians For it is easier to enstructe souldiours of new vnto prowesse, then to cal againe them that be throughly afraide.

¶What thinges should be done the same daye, that the open or set battaile should be ioyned. Chapiter .xj.

THe more easie feates of warre beinge declared before, the order of the trade & knowledge of warfare, dothe moue me nowe to come to the doubtfull daie of the opē fight, and mortall daie vnto nations and people. For the whole victorie consisteth in the successe of open battayle. Then at this tyme so muche more ought the captaines to be diligent and carefull, in as muche as greater renowne is hoped for of them that be diligent, and the greater daunger dothe followe them that bee slouthefull and vnexperte: in whiche the vse of skilfulnes, the knowledge and pollicie of fighting, incontinent doth trie and rule all the matter.

[Page]In olde tyme they were wonte to bryng forth the souldiours to fight, refreshed before with a small portion of meate: to the intent that their meate receiued might make them the quicker: and that in the longer bickeringe they mighte not be wearied with hunger. Great care also must be had, if the enemies be present, whether you bryng forth the souldiours to the battell out of the campe, or out of a citie, least whyles the armie goeth forthe through the straighte passage of the gates by smal numbres, it be discomfited of the enemies ga­thered together in a readines. Therefore this muste be pro­uided, that all the souldiours doe issue forth of the gates, and the armie be set in araye before the enemy come. If [...]o be that the enemies beinge ready come to them abiding still in the citie: let their issuing foorthe, either bee differred, or at the least dissembled: that when the aduersaries shall beginne to aduaunce and boaste them selues against those whome they thinke wyll not come forth of their citie: when as they shall retire, and purpose to gette some bootie, and so shall breake their araie, then they beynge astonied, let the moste choice and piked men rushe out, and foorthwith set vpon them at vnawares. But this must be obserued that the souldiours be not wearied with any long iourney: least you compel the horses being wearie after their running to the opē battaile. He that shall fight, must needes be muche weakened with the trauayle and payne of the iourney. What shall he doe that commes blowyng & panting to the battel? This thing the oulde men of warre haue alwayes shunned, and in the tyme late passed, when as the Romayne captaines, through ignoraunce, haue not bene ware of, (so that I wyll saye no more) they haue vtterly cast away their armie. For the state or condition is vnlyke, for him that is wearie, to fight with him that is well refreshed: he that sweateth with him that is freshe: he that runneth with him that stode still.

¶We must diligently searche out▪ what myndes the souldiours be of, when they should fight. Chapiter .xij.

[Page 39]THe very same daye that the souldiours shall fighte, it is meete to searche diligently what they thinke. For fearefulnes or confidence is perceiued by the counte­naunce, talke, going, & mouing: neither ought you to be very bolde, although the young souldiours do couet to fight. For battaile is pleasaunt to suche as haue not tried it, and you may be assured that the battayle muste bee prolonged if the expert warriours be afrayed to encounter with their enne­mies. Yet with the aduertisementes and exhortations of the captaine, manhode and courage encreaseth in all the army, specially if they can perceiue suche order and meanes inuen­ted for the battayle that shall be foughten, that they may be in hope easely to attayne the victory. After this, the coward­nes and ignoraunce of the enemies must be declared. And al­so, if they haue beene ouercome of vs before tyme. Suche thinges also muste bee declared, by the whiche the mindes of the souldiours through hatred of the aduersaries, may be stirred to anger and indignation. For this is geuen natural­ly almoste to all men to be afraide, when as they come to y^e ioyning of battaile. But without doubt they are more feare­full, whose mindes the very sight of the enemies doth amase and trouble. But that feare is mitigated by this remedie, if before you shall fight, you doe often set your armie in araye in safe places: from whence they may vse both to vewe the ennemies and to knowe them. Sometime they maye ven­ture some thing of good occasion, and so either chase or [...]lea the enemies: that they maye knowe the manners and fa­shions of the enemies, their armoure and their horsemen. For the thynges whiche are practised by experience, are lesse fearefull.

¶Howe a meete place should be chosen to fight in. Chapiter .xiij.

IT behoueth a good captaine to know, that the very place wherein they must fight, doth contayne a great part of the victory. Take paines therefore, that when you shall ioyne [Page] battaile, first you haue the aduauntage of the place: whiche the higher it shalbe when as it is taken, it is thought to bee the more commodious. For the dartes & other weapons are cast down with greater force against them that be vnder: and the higher part doth driue them back that withstande, with greater violence. He that forceth him selfe against the rising or bending of an hill, he doth take on hand a double conflicte, both to striue with the place and with the enemie. But here must be discretion had, and a difference made if you hope for the victorie through your footemen, against the horsemen of your enemies, you must choose rough places, vneuen, and full of hilles. But if you seeke the victorie against the foote­men of your enemies throughe youre horsemen, you muste choose suche places as bee in deede some what hygher, but playne and open, encumbred neyther with woodes, nor with [...]ennes.

¶Howe an armie ought to be set in order, that in the battell it may be inuincible, or not easely ouercome. Chapiter .xiiij.

HE that goeth about to set his battell in good order, he ought to forsee three thinges: the Sunne, the duste, & the wynde. For the sunne before their faces, doth ble­mishe or basell their sight, a contrary wynde dothe turne a­waye your dartes and beatheth them downe, and furthereth those of the enemies. The duste gathered before the face fil­leth the eies and closeth them vp. The vnskilfull captaynes vse to auoyde these incommodities euen in that very momēt when they set the battaile in araie: but a wyse and circum­specte captaine oughte to take heede betime, & forsee things to come▪ leaste a litle whyle after the daye comminge, the course of the sunne being chaunged, it maye be hurteful: and leaste a contrarie wynde dothe ryse, euen in the tyme of the battayle. Therfore let the rankes be so set in araie that these may be behinde vs: and (if it may be possible) that they maye be full in the face of our enemies. Acies is called an armie [Page 40] set in order and in good araye, and the forefronte of it is pla­ced directly against the enemies. This forefronte in open or sette battayle, if it be wysely sette in ordre, dothe helpe and profite very much. If they be ordred vnskilfully, if they were neuer so good warriours, yet with ill setting in araye, they are soone vanquished and ouerthrowen. The rule of setting in araye, is that in the firste rancke bee placed the experte and oulde beaten souldiours, whome in olde tyme they cal­led Principes, that is the moste experte and valiaunt souldi­ours. In the seconde ranke muste bee appointed archers, being armed with curets or breastplates, and the beste soul­diours with dartes or els speares, who of olde were called Hasti, that is pikemen. Euery armed man was accustomed to take streight foorthe three foote space betweene one and other. That is to saye, in the space of a myle, a thousande sixe hundreth three score and syxe, are placed and sette in lengthe, that neyther the battayle maye appeare thynne be­tweene the souldiours, and that there maye bee roume e­nough to handle their weapons. They would haue betwene one ranke and other, a space behynde their backes, sixe foote in bredthe, that they that fyghte, myghte haue roume to come forewarde and goe backewarde. For the dartes in leaping and running, are caste with a greater violence. In those twoo rankes are placed suche as are of riper age, har­die through vse and experience, and also armed with more heauie and weightie harnesse. For these as a wall within them selues can not be compelled, either to retyre, or to pur­sue their enemies: leaste they should disorder their rayes: but are ready to receiue the enemies marchinge forwarde, and by standing stoutly to it and fighting valiauntly, eyther to driue them backe, or put them to flyghte. The thyrde or­dre or raye, is placed of the lyghtest armied menne, of ar­chers, beynge younge men, of good casters of dartes, which in oulde tyme were called Ferentarii, that is, men armed in lyghte harnisse, readie to come quickelye to succours.

The fourthe ordre muste be sette with the moste readie soul­diours, which are armed with shieldes, with young archers [Page] and such as fight with dartes and leaden plūmettes (which they name Martiabarbulos, all which were called light har­nissed men. Therefore wee muste knowe for as muche as the twoo first orders doe stande still: the thirde ordre & the fourth with their dartes and arrowes, must alwayes goe forthe to prouoke the enemies. If so be that they can put thē to flight, then they with the horsemen doe pursue. But if they be driuē backe by the enemies, they returne to [...] firste and seconde ordres againe, and amongest them euery one takes his owne place. But the firste and seconde battayle, as soone as they come to fight with dinte of swoordes, and shorte dartes, that is (as they saye commonly) to hande strokes they endure and heare of, the brunte of all the battaile. In the fifthe raye or battayle, sometyme were planted field peeces, and shooters in crossebowes, slingers both with the slyngestaffe, and with the hande. They be called Fundibulatores, whiche caste sto­nes with staffeslinges. The slinge staffe is a staffe foure foote long: to the whiche through the myddes is bounde a slinge of leather: and being forced with both handes, dothe caste leuell the stones in manner of a great gunne. Funditores, be suche as caste stones with slynges made of flaxe, threede, or great heares, for these they doe call the better, they doe throwe stones, fetching their arme rounde about their head. They that had no shieldes, did fight in this order, whether it were with stones caste with hande, or with dartes: whom they did name Accensos, as who saye, as yet younger men and not expert, but afterwarde added and put to the legion. The sixte order, was vpholden and stayed with the moste valiaunt and couragious warriours, and suche as hadde shieldes and were fenced with al kinde of armour and wea­pons: whome the auncient men did name Triarios, that is to saye souldiours whiche be set alwayes in the rerewarde, whiche were the strongest men. These are alwayes placed after the laste rankes: that being rested & freshe, they might more sharpely assaile their ennemies. For if any thing had happened otherwyse thē well vnto the first orders, al y^e hope of recouery did hange and depende of their force & strengthe.

¶The maner of measuring by the foote, how much space in the battell should be betweene euery man in length, or in breadeth, and howe much be­twixte euerye rancke. Chap. xv.

BUt after that I haue sette forth in what maner the ar­mye ought to to be set in arraye, nowe I wil declare y^e footinge and measuringe of the same. In one myles space one battell doth containe 1666. footemen: because that euery souldiour doth occupye three foote space. If that you would ordeine sixe battelles in a myle space, there must nee­des be 9996. footemen. But if you woulde pitche the same nomber in three ranckes, you must take .2000. paces. But it is bettter to make mo battelles, then to disperse them far­ther a sonder. But I sayde before that there oughte to ap­peare betweene euery rancke behinde their backes sixe foote in breadth. And the fighters as they stande to take euery one a foote. And therefore if you would set in araye vi. ranckes or battelles: 42. foote in breadth, and a myle in lengthe will containe an armye of tenne Thousand men. But if you would set the same in araye deuide into three battelles .21. foote in breadth, and two myles in length, will containe the armye of tenne Thousande me [...]. After the same reasō, whe­ther there be xx. thousand or .30 thousande footemē, accor­dinge to y^e measuring by the foote, they maye be set in araye verye easelye. Neyther is the Captaine deceyued when hee knoweth howe many armed men euerye place can containe. Finallye if the place be somewhat streight, or if the nomber be sufficient, then it is best to set them in nine battels or moe. For it is better that they fight thicke together, then seuered further, & a great distaunce one from another. For if y^e bat­tell be made to slender and thinne, the ennemyes do easelye breake through, and disturbe the araye by violent inuasion, and no helpe afterward can be had. But what bandes ought to be set in the right wi [...]g, what in the lefte, and what in the middest, it is [...] a custome and maner, either accor­dinge to their dignityes & degrees, or els for the order and fourme of the ennemyes it is altered.

¶Of settinge the horsemen in order Chap. xvi.

AFter y^• the footemen be set in battel raye, the horsemē are set in y^• winges, so y^t all they y^• be in complete har­nesse, & such as haue lances be ioyned to the footemē. But archers & such as are not well armed, let them roue a­broade, & keepe a loufe from those which are better armed, & more valiant souldiours. For the sydes be defended w^t horse­men, and the winges of the ennemyes must be seperate, scat­tered and disturbed by the quicke and light horsemen. The Captaine ought to know against what troupes of the enne­myes, or against what ranckes of his ennemyes, hee muste place his troupe of horsemen. For I knowe not by what hid or secrete waye, yea rather by some heauenlye meanes, some do fight against some better then others: and they that had ouercome stronger men, oftentimes are ouercome of y^t wea­ker. If so be that the horsemen be not equal, y^e swiftest foote­men, after the maner of the olde warriours with light Ter­gettes, exercised to the same purpose should be ioyned wyth them, whom they did name Expeditos velites: that is to say light and nimble for skirmishes. Which being done, though there were neuer so stoute horsemen of the ennemyes, yet cā they not be able to matche an armye so mingled and tempe­red. The olde Captaines inuented this remedye that they vsed to exercise certaine yonge men that ranne notablie, and did alwayes place of them betweene euerye two horsemen a footeman, with light sheldes, swordes and dartes.

¶Of aydes or rescues which are placed be­hinde the battell. Chap. xvii.

BUt the best waye is and doth most auaile to the obtay­ning of the victorye, that the Captayne haue in a rea­dines behinde the battell, the moste pyked and choise souldiours of the footemen, horsemen, with the deputyes, rulers & Tribunes attending onlye to that purpose. Some about the winges, some in the middest, that if the ennemyes [Page 42] in any place do violently assault them, and striue to burste in by force, the may steppe forth sodenlye and fulfill the places, least the battell raye might be disturbed and broken: and so by shewing their manlines and courage, they might abate y^e stoutenes of the ennemyes. The Lacedemonians first inuē ­ted this waye: whom the men of Carthage haue followed: afterwarde the Romaynes in all places haue obserued the same. There is no better order or placinge of a battell then this. For the forefronte which is placed directlye against the ennemyes, oughtt onlye to do this, if it be possible, eyther to driue backe the ennemye, or els to discomfite him. If it be set like a wedge small before and broade behinde, or sprea­ding open like a payre of sheares, you must needes haue be­hinde the battell souldiours, more then ordinarye: of which you woulde make your battell wedgewyse, or open like the sheares: if it should be ledde in and out like a sawe, it shalbe made likewyse of the superfluous souldiours. For if you be­ginne to put out anye souldiour set in araye, out of his place, you shall disturbe and bring all out of order. If anye troupe of the ennemyes departe from their companye, and beginne earnestlye to inuade eyther your winge or anye other parte, vnlesse you haue souldiours more then ordinarye, whom you maye set against those troupes: whether you take horsemen from the battell or els footemen: whiles you wou would de­fende one part, you shall endaunger the other by dispoyling of it so. If you haue not a sufficiente multitude or plentye e­noughe of fightinge men, it is better to haue the battell lesse pitched, so that you place verye manye to serue for ayde and succour: for you must haue manye choise men about the mid­dle part of the battell, pyked out of the wel armed footemen, of which you maye make your battaile wedgewyse, and so shortly breake into the armye of your ennemyes. And it is verye good to enuirone the winges of your ennemyes bat­tell with the horsemen aboute your winges, appointed and kepte for this purpose, whiche are furnished with lance and armour, and the light armed footemen.

¶In which place the first and chiefe Captaine ought to stande, in which the seconde, and in which the thirde, Chap. xviij.

THe Captaine which beareth the chiefest rule and auc­toritye, vseth to stande betwene the horsemē and foote­men on the righte syde. For this is the place in which all the battell is ruled, from whence is the streighte and free passage to the skirmish. And therfore doth he stand betwene both those cōpanies, that he may both guide with wisedome and counsell, & also exhorte with his auctoritye & estimation, as well the horsemen as footemen to fight. He with y^e horse­men which are aboue the ordinarye nomber, and the lighte footemen mingled with them, must cōpasse the left winge of the ennemyes which standes against the same, & alwayes as­sault & presse on them beehinde their backes. The seconde Captaine is set in the middle battell of the footemen, which may staye & strengthen y^e same. This Captaine must haue w^t him the most valiant & wel armed footemen, of them that be ouerplus. Of the which eyther he himsellfe maye make his battel wedgewyse, and burst the forefront of the ennemyes: or els if the ennemyes shall make theirs wedgewyse, he may make his battell open like the sheares, that he maye meete & encounter with the ennemyes wedge. In the lefte syde of y^• armye y^e third Captaine ought to be very valiant in armes, wyse and cyrcumspect: because the left syde is more in daun­ger, & as it were stands in the battaile maymed and weake. Therefore he must haue aboute him good horsemen, whiche are aboue the ordinary nomber, & the most nimble footemē, by the which he maye alway enlarge the lefte winge, least it should be cōpassed about of the ennemyes. But the shoute or crye (which they do call Barrithum) muste not be raysed vp before that both the battelles be ioyned. For it is the pointe of such as be vnskilfull, and cowards to crye aloude a great waye of, when as the ennemyes are made more afrayde, if with the dint of weapons come together the hedious shoute and crye.

[Page 43]But you must alwayes caste and studye to set your battaile in arraye before your ennemyes: because you maye at your owne wil and pleasure do that, which you thincke to be fitte and profitable vnto your selfe, when no mā doth let or with­stande: by this meanes also you shall more encourage and bouldē your souldiours, and discourage your ennemyes.

For they are moste couragious, whiche dare prouoke and chalenge their ennemyes. And the ennemyes do beginne to feare, when they see the battell set in order and arraye: and this commonlye also commeth hereof, that you beinge now set in order and well prepared, maye preuente and assaulte your enemyes, ordering themselues & tremblinge for feare. For it is one part of the victorye to disturbe the ennemye be­fore you fight.

¶Wyth what meanes the vallantnes and deceytes of the ennemyes in the battell, maye be with­stande and preuented. Chap. xix.

BEsydes the priuye onsettes & sodaine inuasions vppon occasiō, which y^e Captaine of an army doth neuer omit: somtime it is good to set vpon the ennemyes, whē they are wearyed with long iourneyes, dispersed through passing ouer of ryuers, letted with fennes or marisses, trauailinge in the toppes of mountaynes, scattered in the plaine fieldes, and sleaping quietlye in their abyding places. For when the ennemye is hindred or troubled with other busines, he maye be slaine before that he can prepare himselfe. If so be that y^• aduersaryes be ware and cyrcumspect, and that there is no oportunitye of lying in waite: then with like choise and ad­uauntage, we must fight hande to hand with our ennemyes, which knowe and see all as well as wee. For this cause the skill and knowledge of warre doth no lesse helpe them that be enstructed, in this open fight, then in the priuye deceiptes and lyinge in waite. But aboue all thinges you muste take heede, least vppon the left winge (whiche more commonlye doth chaunce) or els on the righte (whiche happeneth verye [Page] seldome) your souldiours be compassed aboute of the multi­tude of the ennemyes, of troupes of horsemē, rouing abrode whom they call Grumos. Which thinge if it shall chaūce, one helpe and remedye is: that you turne your winge (as it were the insyde outward) and make it rounde, because that they being turned, may defend the backes of their fellowes. But in that corner where most perill and daunger is, muste be placed the moste valiance men: for there the greater vio­lence and brunte is wont to be. Likewyse against the araye of the ennemyes comming wedgewyse, you may resist with certaine and ordinarye meanes. Cuneus, is called a compa­nye of footemen, which ioyned with the forebattell goeth in like order small before & broade behinde, and so doth inuade and breake the arayes of the aduersaryes: for so muche as y^• dartes be caste of a great manye into one place. The whiche thinge the souldiours do name Caput Porcinum, the swy­nes heade: against the whiche that order and raye is appoin­ted, which is called Forfex, opening like a payre of sheares. For this battell is made of wel chosen souldiours, set thicke together, in forme and likenes of the letter V: and doth re­ceyue the wedge or sharpe battell of the ennemyes: and en­closeth it on both sydes, which being done, it cannot pearce throughe the forebattel. Also Serra, is called a companye which beinge appointed of the stoute and valiant souldiours fighteth in battaile, sometime marchinge forwarde, some­time recoylinge as a sawe goeth when it is drawen, and is placed before the forefront directly against their ennemyes, that the forebattell disordered, may be brought into araye a­gaine. But Globus is called a companye of men of warre, which beinge seperate from their owne battell, doth inuade the ennemyes with an vncertaine and sodaine comming vp­pon them: against the which is sent another globe or troupe of horsemen, of a greater nomber of people & more valian [...]e. You must also marke wel that a litle before the time, wher­in the battell is ioyned, in no wyse you do alter your rayes, or remoue anye companyes from their owne places vnto o­thers. For straight wayes doth ryse discorde and confusion [Page 44] of all thinges, and the ennemye doth soner set vppon them beinge vnprepared and altogether disordered.

¶How many kindes of wayes an open or set bat­tell is ioyned, and howe also that armye which is lesse in nomber and strength, maye obtayne the victorye. Chap. xx.

THere be seuen kindes of open fighting, when the ban­ners displayed in defiance on both partes, do ioyne to­gether in fight. One kinde of fight is with a long fore­front, and a foure cornered armye: as now a dayes alwayes almost they vse to fight: but this kinde of fight, they that be skilfull and expert in armes, do not iudge to be best: because that when the battell is stretched forthe in lengthe, an euen plaine grounde is not alwayes in the waye nighe hand and readye, and if sometime there be anye emptye or hollowe place, or bowing or crouking in the middle part, in that part oftentimes the foreranke is broken. Moreouer if the enne­mye do passe you in multitude, hee doth compasse eyther the righte or the lefte winge on the sydes: in the which there is great daunger, except you haue aboue your ordinarye nom­ber, which maye staye and put backe the ennemye. He onlye ought to ioyne battell after this sort, which hath both mo in nomber, and more valiant fighting men: that he maye com­passe his ennemye of both the winges, and enclose him as it were within his owne armye. The seconde kinde of fighte is common, which is better then anye other. In which if you wyll appointe a fewe stoute and couragious men in a place conueniente, although you be troubled with multitude and manhoode of your ennemyes: yet maye you easelye winne the victorye. The maner of this fight is that when the bat­telles set in araye do ioyne together, then shall you seperate the lefte winge a good waye of, from the righte winge of your aduersarye, that no dartes or arrowes maye come as farre as it.

[Page]But you shall ioyne your right wing to his left winge: and there first beginne you the battaile: so that you do assaulte & compasse about the left syde of it, to y^e which you shall ioyne your selfe, with the best footemen and most tryed horsemen: and that you maye come to the backes of the ennemyes, by thrusting them out of place an ouerrunning them. If so be that you once beginne to make your ennemyes to recoile: and geue backe frō thence: if your owne men do come on w^t ­all, you shal obtaine most certaine victorye: and that part of your armye which you remoued frō your ennemye, shal re­mayne in safety. But in this kinde of fighting the battel is ordered after the similitude of y^e letter A. or els the Car­penters squyre. If so be y^t the aduersary do the same before you: you shal gather together vnto your left winge, y^e extra­ordinarye souldiours, as well horsemē as footemen: which before I sayde must be set behinde the battaile: and so shall you withstand your aduersarye with great force & strength, that you be not driuen backe with crafte and pollicye. The thirde kind of fight is like vnto the seconde, but in this point it is the worser: because you beginne with your left winge, to fight with your ennemyes right winge. For the inuasion is very weake, & they that fight in the left winge with much difficultye do assault their ennemyes openlye. The which I will more plainelye declare. If you shall at anye time haue your left winge a good deale the stronger, then ioyne toge­ther the most valiant horsemen and footemen: and in y^e con­flicte bende y^e same first to the right winge of the ennemyes, and as much as is possible, make hast to driue backe and cō ­passe the right syde of your aduersarye. But seperate the o­ther parte of your armye in which you knowe that you haue the worst fighting men, a good waye of from his left wing, that it maye not be inuaded with swordes, or that the dartes come vnto it. In this kinde of fight you must take heede least your crosse battel be beaten throughe w^t the wedge or sharpe battell of your ennemyes. But by this way in one case ye shal fight profitablye, if your aduersaryes righte winge be wea­ker, and your lefte winge a great deale the stronger. The [Page 45] fourth kinde of fight is such: when as you haue set your bat­tell in arraye, foure or fyue hundred pases before they come to the ennemye, sodenly when he lookes for no suche thinge, you must couragiouslye set forward both your winges: that you maye on both his winges put the ennemye to flight, and so soner attaine y^e victorye. But this kinde of fight although it do quickely ouercome, if it shall set forth verye expert and valiant souldiours, yet it is full of daunger, because hee that fighteth in such wyse is constrayned to leaue his middle bat­taile naked, and to deuide his armye into two partes. And if the ennemye be not ouercome at the first brunte, he hath af­terwarde occasion, whereby he may both set vppon the win­ges deuided, and the middle battel also left withoute ayde & succour. The fifte kinde of fight is like to the fourth. But it hath this one thinge more, for because it doth set lighte ar­med men and archers before the first battell: that they may resist the inuasion of ennemyes, and let them for breaking in: for so doth hee set vppon the left winge of the ennemye wyth his right wing, and with his owne left wing the right wing of the ennemye. If so be that he canne put the ennemyes to flight, he doth straight way winne the fielde: if not, the mid­dle battaile is in no ieopardie, because it is defended of the light armed men and archers. The sixt kinde of fight is the best of all, and in a maner like the second: which they do vse that dispayre or mistrust of the nomber of theyr owne souldi­ours, and also of their manhoode. And if they do sette them well in araye and good order, althoughe it be with a small nomber, they do alwayes get the victorye. For when as the battell set in araye doth approche and come to thennemyes, ioyne you your righte winge vnto the lefte winge of thenne­myes, and with the most tryed horsemen and swiftest foote­men, there begin to fight. But remoue and take awaye the other syde of the armye, a great waye from the right syde of your ennemye, and stretch it out a length as it were a spitte or a darte. For if you shall beginne to beate the lefte part of his armye, both of the sydes and behind, without doubt you shall put them to flighte. But thaduersarye cannot succour [Page] his y^• be in daunger, neither with his right winge, nor w^t his middle battell: because your battell is stretched forth & rea­cheth it selfe al in length, after the fashiō & similitude of the letter .I. & goeth a great way of frō thēnemyes: w^t the which kinde many times they bicker in their vyages. The .7. kinde of fight is, which through y^• helpe & benefit of the place, doth helpe him y^• doth fight. In this kinde also you may w^tstand & match wyth your aduersary, both wyth a small nomber, & also with lesse valiant souldiours, if you haue on one syde an hill, or y^e sea, or a ryuer, or a lake, or a Cittye, or fennes, or rockes & stiepe downe places: by y^• which the ennemyes can­not come vnto, & set y^• residue of your armie in straight battel raye. But in y^t winge which hath no defence, you must set al your horsemen & Gūners. Then with more safetye you shal encounter w^t the ennemye, after your owne will & pleasure: because of one part y^e nature of the place doth defende you, of y^• other part almost a double strēgth of horsemē is set. Not­withstāding this thing ought to be obserued, which is most necessary: y^t whether you would fight, you right winge w^t his left wing, there set the valiant men: or whether your left with his right wing, there place y^e stoutest men: or whether you would make a wedge or sharpe battell in the middest, by the which you might breake y^e battel rayes of your enemies: in the same wedge you must ordaine & set the most experte & cunning souldiours. For the victory is wont to be atchieued by a few. The matter doth altogether rest in this, that by a wyse and discreete Captaine, chosen men be set in those pla­ces, which by skill are thought most fit and commmodious.

¶That a waye should be geuen to the ennemyes to de­part, that they may more easelye be destroyed in flyinge awaye. Chap. xxi.

MAnye men being ignorante of the feates of warre, do thincke they maye haue a greater victorye if they can compasse the aduersaryes eyther w^t straitnes of pla­ces, or w^t multitude of armed mē: y^• they can finde no way to depart or flie away. But they which are so enclosed be more encouraged & boldned through desperatiō: & when ther is no [Page 46] hope at al, feare doth cōstraine them to fighte. He doth couet willingly to die w^t company, which knoweth most certenly y^• he must needes dye. Therfore is the saying of Scipio cōmen­ded, which sayd, y^• the way wherby the ennemies might flie shold not be fortifyed. For if a passage to depart awaybe once opened, as sone as y^• minds of al do agre to rūne away: they are slaine & murdered like beasts, neither is there any daū ­ger to them y^• pursue, when as they y^• be ouercome haue tur­ned their weapons into flighte, with the which they mighte haue bene defended. After this sort y^• greater y^• an armye is, so much more easy a great nomber is ouerthrowē, for there is no nōber to be required, wher the hart of y^e souldiers once sore afraied & discouraged, doth not so much couet to shun y^• weapons of the ennemyes, as their faces. But being enclo­sed, though few in nōber, & weake in power: yet in this same point they be equal to their ennemyes, for as much as being in despayre, they know that they hopinge for no escape, muste needes fight. For this only hope haue they y^t be desperate, to loke for no safetye or life at all.

¶After what maner ye may depart frō the ennemye, if you do not like of your purposed battel. Chap. xxii.

AL thinges beinge orderlye declared & made plaine, which the trade of warre hath by experience & know­ledge obserued: one thing remayneth to declare, af­ter what maner we may retyre frō the ennemies. For they y^• be expert in the knowledge of warre & in examples, do testi­fye, y^• no where any greater daūger doth appeare. For he y^• before the ioyninge together doth recoyle, doth both take a­waye good hope frō his owne armye, & doth encourage and bolden the ennemyes. But forasmuch as this thing doth of necessity happen oftentimes, we must declare by what mea­nes the same may be done safely. First of all that your owne men do not knowe that therefore you departe, because you shunne to ioyne battel: but y^• they may be brought in beleue that they be called backe by some pollicye, for this intente y^• the ennemies may be allured vnto a more cōuenient place, y^• [Page] may be the more easelye vanquished: or els if the ennemyes should pursue after them, priuye waytes might be layed the better. For it must needes be that they wil be ready to flye, which perceyue theyr owne Captaine to despayre. This also is to be auoyded, that the ennemyes in no wyse perceyue of your departure away, and so forthwith runne hastelye vppō you. Therefore manye haue set their horsemen before their footemen: to the ende that they running to and fro, shoulde not suffer the ennemyes to see when the footemen departed. Also they withdrewe euery rancke or batteile particularly, beginninge at the first and called them backewarde. The o­ther remayninge still in their order and place: which after­warde by little and little re [...]oylinge, they ioyned vnto them which they had withdrawen. First after the wayes were searched, some did retyre with the armye by night: to thin­tent that whē the daye came, the ennemy [...]es could not ouer­take them that went before. Moreo [...]er the lighte harnessed men were sente before to the hilles, by the which the armye might sodainlye be called againe withoute daunger: and if the ennemyes woulde followe on, they were discomfited of the light harnessed men, which gotte the place before them, with y^e horsemē also ioyned to them. For nothing is thought more daungerous, then if they whiche lye in the ambushe should meete them that pursue them, vnaduisedly or before they haue prepared themselues. This is the time wherein ambushmentes or trappes conuenientlye are layed, because there is greater boldnes and lesse care against them that are in flying. For of necessity, of greater securitye and lesse care­fulnes ensueth greater perill and daunger. Ennemies are wont to come sodainlye vppon such as are vnprepared, or ta­kinge their meate, wearye in theyr iourneye, feedinge their horses, and suspectinge no suche thing at all. Which thinge both we our selues must avoyde, and in such maner of occasi­ons we must annoye our ennemye. For neyther manhoode, nor yet the nomber of men can helpe suche as be oppressed by such a chaunce: for as muche as he that in battaile is ouer­come in open fight, although pollicy and cunning doth there [Page 47] auayle verye muche, yet he may accuse or alledge ill fortune for his defence: but he that hath fallē into y^e sodaine comming on of the ennemyes, and theyr ambushes layed for them: can alledge nothinge to excuse his falte: because he mighte haue auoyded it, and knowen before by scoutes and spyes meete for the purpose. Whensoeuer any armye or companye doth retyre, this subtiltye is commonlye vsed. A fewe horsemen do followe after with a straight iourney: a stronge power is secretely sent by other places or wayes: as sone as the horse­men come to the ennemyes, they trye and assay lightly what they can do and so depart The ennemye thinketh streight y^• whatsoeuer lying in wayte had beene, that is gone and past, and so waxeth carelesse & negligent [...] then that power which was appointed by a secrete waye, comminge on them so­denlye, doth oppresse them at vnwares. Manye when they departe awaye from the ennemye, if they goe throughe anye woodes, do preuent and take rockes or straight places: least their ennemyes shoulde there lye in wayte for them. And a­gayne they stoppe the waye behinde theym with trees cutte downe, which they call Compedes, that is to saye fetters or gyues, to the entente they maye let their ennemyes in pur­suing them: and in such wayes there is occasion for both the partyes, as well the one as the other to lye in waite. For he that goeth before, doth leaue ambushmentes as it were be­hinde him in valleys meete for the purpose, or mountaynes full of woodes, into the which when the ennemyes shal fall, he returneth quickely and helpeth his owne companye. But he that followeth by backe wayes, doth sende light harnes­sed men a good waye before: and gettinge before, doth kepe his ennemye from passing ouer, to the ende that he may en­cclose him beinge deceyued both behinde and before. And as wel he that goeth before maye returne backe, as also he that followeth (thoughe it be farre of) may sodainlye come vppō them that are a sleape in the night, by some deceipte or polli­cye. In the passinge ouer of ryuers, he that goeth before, doth assaye to oppresse that part which is sent before to passe ouer, whiles the residue are scattered in the ryuer. But he [...] [Page] that followeth in hast, doth trouble those y^t coulde not passe ouer before.

¶Of Camelles and men of armes vpon barded horses. Chap. xxiii.

SOme Nations haue vsed in times paste, to bringe forth Camelles in the forebattell: as the people called Vrci­liani, in Affricke & they that be called Macetes, at this daye do bring forth the same. But this kinde of beastes: be­ing apt for sandye and drye places, and to abyde thirst, is re­ported to go y^• streight wayes without wādring, yea though they be troubled with dust through the wynde. But sauinge for the strangenesse, if it be put awaye from the thinges that it hath bene accustomed with, it is of no force in the warre. The barded horsemen for the munitiō of armour which they beare, are in deede safe from woundes. But for the hinde­rance and waightines of armour, it is an easye thing to take them: and many times they be in danger to gi [...]es and sha­res: they be better against footemen scattered abroade then against horsemen in fight: neuerthelesse being set eyther be­fore the Legions, or els ioyned with the Legionaryes, what time as they ioyne together in fight, that is to saye, hande to hande: oftentimes they breake and inuade the forebattell of the ennemyes.

¶After what maner we may withstande Chariot­tes armed with hookes, and also Elephantes in the battell. Chap. xxiiii.

KInge Antiochus and kinge Mithridates, had Chari­ottes in the warre armed with hookes. Which as at the first broughte greate feare in the battell, so after­ward they were laught to scorne: for the armed Chariottes doth hardlye finde a plaine and euen fielde at all tymes: and with a small let it is holden backe, & one horse being vexed or woūded, it is disappointed. But these things haue perished [Page 48] and decayed, chiefely through the pollicye of the Romayne souldiours. After they came to fight, the Romaines sodenly thorow out the fieldes did cast caltroppes: on y^e which when as y^e Chariottes fell in their running, they were destroyed: this same Tribulus or caltroppe is, an instrumēt of defence fastened together w^t .iiii. yron pin [...]es: y^e which whatsoeuer waye you will cast it, doth stande with three corners or pric­kes, and with the fourth, standing vp right is verye daunge­rous. The Elephantes by reason of y^e greatnes of theyr bo­dyes, the fearefulnes of theyr cry or braying, the strangenes of their forme and shape, do trouble both men & horses in the battayles. Kinge Pyrrhus brought these first against the Romaynes in Lucania. Afterward Hanniball in Affricke, kinge Antiochus in the East parte, Iugurtha in Numidia, had many of them, against the which they inuented sondrye kinds of armour and weapons to withstand them. For a certaine Centurion in Lucania, w^t a sworde cut away frō one of them y^e hand or long snoute (which they call Promnistidē) and two barded horses were ioyned to the Chariottes; vpon whom such as were called Clibanarij sitting, did directe a­gainst the Elephantes longe speares called Sarissas, that is to say, the longest poles they could get: for being fenced with yron armour, neither were they hurt of the Archers (which the beastes did carrye) & they shunned the violence of the E­lephantes throughe the swiftnes of the horses. Some other haue sent out against the Elephants, souldiours in complet armour: so that in their armes and helmettes or shoulders, were sette great sharpe prickes of yron, least the Elephant with his hande or longe snoute, maye laye holde of the man that came to fighte against him. Yet the olde men of warre chiefelye appointed lighte harnessed men called Velites against the Elephantes. Velites, were yonge men wyth lighte armoure, of a lustye and liuelye bodye, whiche shotte and cast dartes verye well on horsebacke. These when they ranne besydes the Elephantes, wyth broade speares and greater Dartes, then they were wonte, killed the bea­stes: but when hardines and boldnes grewe, afterwarde [Page] manye souldiours together cast al at once their dartes, that is to saye, theyr shotte against the Elephantes & so wounded them. Yet this also they vsed to do, y^• slingers w^t slingstaues & round stones leuelled out of their slinges, did ouerthrow, and kill the men of Inde which ruled the Elephantes with y^• towers also: and there was no safer waye to destroye them inuented then this. Moreouer the souldiours made roume for the comminge of the beastes, where they mighte breake into the battell: whiche when as they came so farre as the middest of the hoast, the troupes of armed men compassed them about on euerye syde, and toke both the beast and their rulers not hurte nor wounded. It is verye good also to set certaine field peeces behinde the forebattel of a greater big­nes, then the residue layed vppon cartes wyth two horses or Mules, for suche do shoote leuell their pellets farther and w^t greater violence: and when the Elephantes come within y^• reache of the darte, the beasts are stricken through with the shotte of the Gunners. Notwithstanding the yron is thrust broder and more surelye into them, because in great bodyes are made greater woundes. Wee haue rehersed manye ex­amples and engines against the Elephantes, to the intente that if at anye time necessitye shall requyre, it maye be kno­wen what defence may be had agaynst so huge and terrible beastes.

¶What ought to be done if eyther part, or the whole armye doth flye. Chap. xxv.

VUe must knowe, if one parte of the armye hath ouer­come, & another doth flye, we should not yet dispayre: when as in such an extremitye y^e constancy of the Cap­tayne maye get the whole victorye to himselfe. This thing hath happened in very manye warres: and such haue beene accompted to haue the vpperhande, as haue not dispayred.

For in such like case, he is thought to be more valiaunt, whō aduersitye doth not discourage. Therefore let him first take the spoyles of the ennemyes slaine, and as they do terme it, [Page 49] let him gather the field, let him first reioyce and triumph w^t a shoute and the trumpettes. By this boldnes and confidēce he shall make the ennemyes afrayde: so shall he encrease the courage of his owne men, and go away as though he were a conqueroure. If so be that by any chaunce all the armye be discomfited in the battell with great losse of men, yet manye haue had good lucke in recouering and rescuing that which was lost, and therfore such remedye in the like distresse must be soughte. Therefore a wyse and cyrcumspect Captayne, ought in open or set battel, to fight so aduisedly and warely, that if any thing should happē otherwyse then wel, through mutability of warres, and mans fraile condition, he might deliuer him & his ouercome souldiours without greate losse or displeasure. For if hilles be nighe, if anye defence be be­hinde their backes: if, althoughe the other go away, all the most valiant stande stoutely to it, they shall saue themselues and theyr owne companye. Oftentimes and armye now dis­comfited, if it can recouer strength againe, doth slea them y^• pursue, dispersed & scattered abroad out of order. For they which reioyce and aduaunce themselues, are neuer in more daunger, then when from sodaine fiercenes & boldnes they are chaunged into sodaine feare. But what successe soeuer follow, they must be gathered together that remayne aliue, and must be encouraged with meete exhortations, and cheri­shed & comforted by repayring of their armour. Then must there be newe choice had of freshe souldiours, and new aydes must be sought for: and then a freshe assault & inuasion must be made vpon the conquerours if occasion serue, by some pri­uye lying in waite: for this is verye good & profitable: and so boldnes may be recouered againe. Neyther cā opportunity want at such tymes: because mens mindes are commonlye puft vp with pride, through good lucke and prosperous suc­cesse, & then are lesse cyrcumspect & fearefull. If any man thincke this to be y^e greatest misfortune y^t can be, let him [...] & remember, that they cōmonly, which get the victory, haue the worse alwayes in the beginninge of the battell.

Generall rules of warres. Chap. xxvi.

[Page]IN all maner of battelles, the state or condition of the set­tinge forth is suche, that whatsoeuer is profitable to you, is hurtfull vnto the aduersarye: that whiche doth helpe him, is alwayes hurtfull vnto you. Therefore wee neuer ought to do or dissemble anye thinge after his will and plea­sure: but to do that only which we iudge to be profitable vn­to our selues: for you do against your selfe, if you followe y^• which he hath done for him selfe. Againe, whatsoeuer you haue attempted for your selfe, it will be hurtfull to him if he minde to imitate it. In time of warre, he that in posting or conueyinge of his carriages is dilligent: and taketh greate paynes in exercisinge his souldiours: shall incurre lesse pe­rill and daunger. A souldiour must neuer be broughte forth into the battell, before you trye and proue what he can doe. It is better to subdue the ennemye throughe scarcitye and lacke of necessary thinges, by sodaine inuasions, by terrour and feare, then wyth open battel: In which fortune cōmon­lye beareth more swaye, then manhoode and prowesse.

No coūselles are better then those, which the [...] kno­weth not before you accomplishe them.

Occasion and oportunitye is commonly more profitable in warre, then valiantnes.

It is very good to entice & receiue suche as flye from their Captaynes, if they do it faythfullye and dissemble not: be­cause suche as forsake their owne Captaynes, and go to the contrarye partes, do discourage the aduersarye more then they that be slaine.

It is better to kepe some in readines behind y^• forebattelles for succours, then to haue y^e souldiours scattered abroade.

He is hardly ouercome, which cā truly iudge of his owne power, and also of his ennemyes power.

Manhoode doth more auaile then multitude of men.

The opportunitye of place doth oftentimes profite more thē manhoode.

Nature bringeth forth fewe valiaunte men, but dilligence doth make many by good enstruction and discipline.

An armye with labour doth profite and proceede, with idle­nes it doth decaye.

[Page 50]Neuer bringe forthe a souldiour into the f [...]elde, excepte thou perceiue that he hoopeth for the victorye.

Sodaine thinges do make ennemyes afrayde, thinges com­mon and stale are nothing set by.

He y^• rashlye pursueth the ennemyes when his owne men are oute of araye, will soone geue to the ennemye y^• victorye which he had gotten.

He that doth not prepare graine and other necessaryes, is ouercome without any dent of sword.

He that hath more store of mē & also more valiant, let him fight with the forefront foure square: which is the first way of settynge an armye in araye before described.

He that thīketh himselfe vnequally matched with his en­nemye, let him with his righte winge driue backe the lefte wing of the ennemye: which is the second waye.

He that knoweth himselfe to haue his left winge, the stron­gest and best furnished: let him set vpon the righte winge of the ennemye: which is the thirde waye.

He y^t hath the most expert & cunning souldiours, must set on both the wings of his ennemyes battell together: which is the fourth waye.

He that is Captaine of the lighte armed men, let him in­uade both y^• winges of the ennemye, placing y^e light harnes­sed mē which are quicke & ready, before the forefront: which is the fift waye.

He that hath not sure trust, neither in y^• nomber of his mē, nor in their manhoode: if he purpose to fighte, let him driue backe the left wing of the ennemyes, with them of his right wing: the residue of his men being stretched in length after the forme of a spit or broche: which is the [...]i. way.

He y^• knoweth himselfe to haue the fewer & weaker men after the seuenth waye, oughte to haue of one syde, either a mount, or a Cittye, or the Sea, or a riuer, or els some other succour or safegarde.

He y^• hath most confidence in his horsemē, let him seeke y^• higher places, & do his chiefe feates of armes by y^e horsemē.

He that hath most trust in his foote armyes: let him get y^e higher places for the footemen, & accomplishe his enterprise [Page] chiefelye by them. When a spye of the enemyes doth go to and fro in y^• campe verye priuily, let euery man be comma [...]i­ded in the day time to resort to his pauilion, & straight way [...] the spyes is apprehended.

When you shall know that your counsell and purpose is bewrayed to the ennemyes: then you muste chaunge your intent and purpose herein.

That which chiefely ought to be brought to passe, intreat and deliberate with manye: but that which you do intende to do herein, communicate with verye fewe and those moste trustye & faythfull, or rather deliberate and consult of them wyth your owne selfe and no mo.

Punishment and feare do amende souldiours abyding in one certayne place: in a vyage oriourneye, hope and rewar­des do make them better.

Good Captaynes do neuer fight in open or set battell, but vppon good occasion, or very great necessitye.

It is a good deuise rather to oppresse the ennemye wyth hunger and famine, then wyth the sworde.

As touchinge an armye of horsemen, there be manye ru­les and precepts: but seing that this part of warrefare hath profited and proceded through vse and exercise, through the kinde of armour, and y^e worthines of horses: I suppose that nothinge is to be gathered out of bookes, when as this pre­sent instruction may be sufficient.

Let not the ennemyes knowe after what maner you intende to fight, least they go about to preuent and withstand y^e same by one helpe or other.

I haue orderly declared thinges, O valiaunt and mighty Emperour, whiche being approued, diuers & sundry times, through faithfull and diligent experience, the moste worthy authours haue set foorth and published: that vnto the cun­ning of shooting, which in your grace the Persian doth praise and maruayle at: vnto the knowledge and comelines of ri­ding of horses, whiche the people of Hungarre and Scithia, called Hunni, & Alani, would gladly imitate if they could: and to the swiftenes of running, wherein the Saracine, and [Page 51] man of Inde, can not matche with you: to the exercising of handling the weapons, & vsing al kinde of artillerie, wherin the captaines and maisters of the fielde are glad, that they knewe some good examples to followe: (vnto all these thinges I saye) a rule or trade howe to fighte in battayle, yea, rather pollicie howe to gette the victorie, muste bee an­nexed: that as much as you can through puissance and marueilous good orderinge of your common wealth, you may shewe the office and per­fourme the dutie, bothe of an Emperour and a souldiour.

That cities ought to be fenced either vvith handvvorke, or na­ture, or bothe. The first Chapter.

CIties and castels are fenced, either by na­ture, or with hande, or els with both, which is rekened the stronger. By nature: as with the heighte or craggines of the place with the sea, with fennes, or with riuers. By hande, as with ditches and walles. In that benefite and helpe of nature, the moste safetie consisteth in y^e wittines and counsell of the chooser: in the playne grounde, full necessary is the diligent trauel of the builder. And we see some very auncient cities so builded in playne & open fieldes, that although the helpe of situation did faile, yet with cun­ning and workemanship they were made inuincible.

¶That wales should [...]ot be made streight but with many coignes. Chapiter .ij.

MEn in times past drewe not y^• circuite of their walles streight lest they might be apt to receaue the strokes of the battering ramme. But laying the foundation they enclosed their cities with many wyndinges & turnings in and out, and in the very corners did builde many towers. For this cause, that if the enemy would set ladders or other engines vnto a wall builded after suche order, hee might bee beaten downe, not onely before but also on the sides, and in a manner behinde, as enclosed in a lane or bought.

¶After what sorte earth may be heaped vp and ioyned to a wall, so that it shall neuer be beaten downe. Cap. iij.

A Wall which can neuer be throwen down is made af­ter this maner. Make two walles on the towne side of y^• ditche a good way distant a sunder, then caste be­tweene them that earthe whiche yowe throwe out of the ditche, and beate it downe harde with beetels and weig [...]tie instrumentes: so that, that whiche is firste and nexte to [...]he [Page] vtmoste stonewall, be somewhat lower then the stonewall it selfe, and the seconde a good deale lower then the firste: that from the citie men may goe vp easely to the battlementes, as in the rising of an hil, or after the māner of steiars. A wal thus strengthened with earthe, can neuer be beaten downe with any ramme, and though the stones should chaūce to be throwen downe, yet the greate heape of earthe that is ram­med betwene the walles, doth withstande them, that geue thassaulte, as well as any wall.

¶Of portcluses, and howe gates may be safe from burning. Chapter .iiij.

MOreouer, wee must take heede least the gates be bur­ned with fier, for the whiche cause they should be co­uered with leather and yron. But that is more profi­table whiche in the olde time hath beene inuented, that be­fore the gate there should be a fortresse, in the entring wher­of is a perculles, hanging with rynges of Iron and ropes: that if the enemies should enter in, the same being let down, they might bee enclosed and destroyed. And the wall aboue the gate, must so be made with holes that wee maye power downe water and quenche the fier vnderneath.

¶Of making ditches. Chapiter .v.

BUt the ditches before the cities muste bee made verye depe, and very broade: that they maye not easely bee made euen, and filled of the besiegers. And that the water running ouer, may stoppe the vndermining of the en­nemie. For twoo manner of wayes is vndermining letted, either with the depenes of the ditche, or ouerflowyng.

¶Howe to kepe them whiche stande on the wall harmeles from the arrowes of the enemies. Chapiter .vj.

[Page 53]IT is to be feared sometyme, least that many archers dry­uing the defenders downe, maye sodenlye take the wall. Therefore it shall bee good to haue in the citie complette harnis and store of shieldes. Moreouer, mantils, clokes, and heareclothes, maye bee hanged before them, and so receyue the shotte of arrowes: for the heades of the arrowes cannot easelye pearse throughe that whiche yeldeth and waueth to and fro. There is also a remedy founde: to make hurdles of woode, called Metellae, and to fille them with stones, and to set them betwene twoo battlementes so cunningly, that if the ennemies should clyme vp by ladders and touche anye parte of them, the stones may turne vpon their heades.

¶By what meanes it ought to be forseene that they that are besieged be not famished. Chapiter .vij.

THere be many kyndes of defending and assaultinge of cities, whiche wee wyll speake of in places conueniēt. Nowe wee must knowe that there be twoo kyndes of besieging. One when the enemy appointing his men in dew places, doth with continuall assaultes assaile the besieged. The other, when as he kepeth them from water, or trusteth that they will yelde through famishement, hauing stopped all victualles from comming to them. For by this deuise hee him selfe being quiet and safe, doth wearie his enemies. A­gainst whiche chaunces, the townes men vpon small suspi­cion of their enemies, ought moste diligently to place within the walles all kynde of foode, whereby man may lyue: to the entent that they them selues may haue aboundaunce, & their enemies through nede compelled to rayse their siege. And not onely porcke or bakon, but also al kinde of fleshe, y^t may be preserued close, ought to bee layde vp, that through the helpe of fleshe graine may suffice. And pulleyn likewyse in a citie may be kepte without charge. And for suche as be sicke very necessary. Especially foder must be gotten in for horses: and suche as can not be brought in must be burnt. Likewyse [Page] of wyne vineger and al other kinde of graine, or fruite great store must be layde vp, and nothing that may be profitable to thē, ought to be left for the enemies. Gardens also, both for the profite and pleasure of them, ought not to be neglected, in the grasseplotes and yardes of houses. But it dothe litle profite to haue gathered muche together, except from the beginning, the deliuerie or distributiō be moderated by such conuenient ouerseers, as haue charge thereof with a good & profitable measuring of the same. For they be neuer in daun­ger of famine, whiche vsed in time of plentie to kepe sobrie­tie and moderation in spending. Also the youth and weomē, whiche are vnfitte for warre, many tymes are thruste forthe foor wante of vitailes, least scarcitie vppresse the souldiours, by whome the cities often haue bene defended and kepte.

¶What kynde of thinges must be prepared for the defence of walles. Chapter .viij.

IT is conuenient that there be prepared, to set the engines of the enemies or fire, suche thinges as are apte to burne, rosyn, brymstone, cleare pitche without dregges, oyle, called Incendiarium, that is to saye, ready to set any thinge on fire. Iron of both tempers to make armour and weapōs, and coales ought to be saued in store houses, woode also for speare staues, and arrowes, must be layde vp in store. Roūd stones out of riuers which for their roundnes are somewhat heauy, and meete for the casters, must be gathered moste di­ligently: with the whiche the walles and towers should bee filled. The leaste stones of all are to throwe with slinges, or slingestaues, or els with the hande, the greater stones are shotte with the gunnes. But the greatest of all, by reason of their weight & rowling fashion muste be layde in fortresses, that they being throwen downe headlong vpon a soden, may not onely ouerwhelme y^e enemies vnderneath, but also may breake their engines. Also mightie great wheeles muste be framed of greene woode, or rowlers cut of very strōg trees, [Page 54] whiche they call Taleae, muste be made smoothe, that they may rowle, whiche sliding downe doe ouerthrowe the soul­diours with the sodayne vehemencie, and make the horses sore afrayde. There must be also in readines beames & tra­singes or boordes. And nailes and pinnes of iron of diuers quantities. For suche engines of the enemies muste bee hin­dred by other lyke, specially whē as the walles or fortresses vpō a soden shall haue neede to be made higher, least the mo­ueable towers of the enemies should rise aboue them and so take the citie.

¶What ought to be done if store of stringes or cordes doe fayle. Chapter .ix.

IT is also expedient to gather very diligently good store of stringes or sinewes, for as muche as y^• ordinaunce whiche is called Onager and Balista, and other like, excepte they be bent and drawen with cordes or sinewes auayle nothing. Notwithstanding, the bigge heares of the tayles or manes of horses, are thought good for the lesser artillery. But it is a thing moste certaine, and hath bene tride in the Romaines neede that weomens heares in suche kinde of ordinaunce are no lesse profitable. For in the long siege of Capitolium (the chiefe castell of the citie of Rome) their artillerie being mar­red with the continuall and wearisome fight of the enemies, and cordes or stringes failing them, the matrones of Rome cutte their heare from their head & brought it to their hus­bandes as they were fighting, & so repairing their engines, they draue backe the force of their enemies. For those honest and chaste [...]weomen, rather chose with heades for a time dis­figured to liue at libertie with their husbandes, then with all the [...] trimming to be subiecte to their enemies. It is also good to get together hornes & rawe hides, for the couering of complet armoure, and other engines and munitio [...]s.

¶What should be done that the besieged lacke not water. Chapiter .x.

[Page]IT is a greate profite and commoditie for a citie, to haue within the walles welles, and springes, euer continuing, and enduring. If so be that the nature of the place doe not serue, thē must you digge pittes of what depenes soeuer you thinke good, and drawe vp the water with ropes. But some tyme the places which are fenced with moūtaines & rockes, are more drie then other. In suche a case you may builde a forte at the foote of the hil, & so shal you by digging finde wa­ter. And from of the forte defende it with dartes, or other shotte appointed for the purpose, that there may bee free go­ing and comming, for the fetching of water. If it be so that the water be without the caste of the darte, & yet in the side of an hyll vnder the citie: it is mete that a little forte (which they cal a blockehouse) be builded betwene the citie and the springe: and there to be placed ordinaunce and archers, that the water may be defended from the enemies. Moreouer, in all the publike and common buyldinges of the citie, and in many priuate buildinges there should be cesternes moste di­ligently ordeined, that they may be receites for rayne water whiche falles from the houses. For thirste doth seldome o­uercome them whiche in a siege haue vsed water onely for their drinke, though it were neuer so little.

¶If [...]ault should fayle in the citie, what ought to be done. Chapiter .xj.

IF the citie stande by the sea, and salte bee wantinge, take water out of the sea, and poure it into broade vessels, and by the heate of the sunne it wyll turne to salte. If so bee that the enemy doe stoppe thee from the water (for that oftē tymes doth chaunce) then take the sande, whiche the sea ca­steth vp, and washe the same with fresh water, and that wa­ter being dried, will turne likewyse into salte.

¶What should be done when the enemy doth first assaulte the walles. Chapiter .xij.

[Page 55]VUhat time as the assault is geuen to a Castell or Cit­tye, great is the daunger on both partes, but greater is the bloudshedde of them that geue the assaulte. For they that couet to enter the walles, with rerrible prepara­tion shewe forth al theyr armye, and wyth noyse of men and trumpettes fray the towne, hoping therby to make it yelde. Then the townes men being astonyed at the first brunte (for feare dismayeth the vnexercised) if they know not the expe­rience of suche daungers quickelye loose their Cittye, if the ennemye set ladders to the wall. If it be so that at the first meeting the ennemye be put backe by bolde and warreli [...]e men, streight waye the townes men waxe boulde, and then they fight not with feare, but with courage & cunning.

¶A rehearsall of engines with which the walles are assaulted. Chap. xiij.

THe engines that are set to walles are in latine called Testudines, Arietes, Falces, Vineae, Plutei, Musculi, Turres. In Englishe, Snayles, Rammes, Hookes, Uines, deskes, Myse, Turrettes. Of which particulerlye after what maner they may be made, by what maner cun­ninge also they may fight or be driuen backe, I will hereaf­ter declare.

¶Of the battering Ramme, the hooke and the snayle Chap. xiiii.

THe engine called Testudo, that is to say, the snaile is ioyned together of timber and boards, which to kepe awaye fyre is couered wit [...] lether or hear [...]clothes, or any patched clothe. This engine hath within it a beame which is headed with a croked yron called Falx, that is to say an hooke, to thende that it may drawe stones out of the wal­les, or els the heade of the selfe same beame is couered all with yron, and is named Aries, that is a Ramme: eyther because it hath a verye hard forehead to cast downe the wal­les, [Page] or els because after y^e maner of Rammes it goeth backe­warde, to the intente it maye strike with a more vehemente force. But Testudo, hath taken that name of the forme & similitude of the verye snayle in deede: because like as the snayle somtimes pluckes backe her head, sometimes puttes it forthe: euen [...]o this engine, sometime draweth the beame backe, sometime thrusteth it oute, that it maye strike with greater power.

¶Of sheddes, deskes and countermur [...]. Chap. xv.

THe engine named Vinea, that is a vyne, is compacte of light woode and it is viii. foote highe, seuen foot [...] broade, and xvi. foote longe. The coueringe of it is double with boardes and hurdles. The sydes also are hed­ged with roddes, least they should be pearsed with violence of stoones and dartes. The out syde is couered with rawe & new hydes, or els with tyltclothes, that it be not set on fyre. A nomber of these are ioyned together in a rowe: vnder the which the besiegers being safe, do pearse the foundations of the walles to throw them downe. Plutei are called, which after the similitude of a compassed vaute or arche, are com­pacted of roddes, and couered aboue with heareclothes or lether, and are moued as it were a cart, vnto what part so­euer you will, with three little wheeles, of the which one is set in the middest and two in the heade or forepart. These do the besiegers bring to the walles: and standing vnder them wyth arrowes, or slinges, or dartes, driue awaye the defen­ders from the walles, that they maye better s [...]ale the wal­les with ladders. But that that is called Agger, or coun­termure, is raysed vp of earthe and woode against the wall, from the which the dartes are throwen.

¶Of engines called Musculi. Chapiter .xvj.

[Page 56] MVsculi be lesser engines, wyth the whiche the men of warre being couered, if myre or the ditche of the Cit­tye do hinder them, do not onlye fill the same, but al­so make it harde with stoones, woode, and earth broughte therevnto. To the ende that the moueable towers maye be ioyned to the walles without anye let or hinderaunce. They be called Musculi, of beastes of the Sea like vnto myse. For like as they, although they be lesser, yet the ayde and helpe y^e Whales, in going before them for dashinge against rockes: euen so these lesser and shorter enginnes appointed to serue the greate mouable towers wyth wheeles, do prepare the way for their cōminge, and fortifye the passage before them.

¶Of towers mou [...]ble. Chap. xvij.

TOwers are a kinde of engines ioyned together of bea­mes and boardes, after the similitude of buildinges. And to kepe so great a worke from fyringe by the en­nemyes: it is most dilligētly fenced on all partes with rawe hydes or tylt clothes: for the heighte of it is proportionable to the breadth, for sometime they be xxx. foote broade by the square, sometime xl. or l. But the tallenes or height must be such, that they may passe in height, not onlye the walles, but also the towers of stone. These towers must haue many wheeles cunninglye made, by the easye rolling of the which so great a frame may be moued. And it is present daunger to the Cittye, if the tower come once to the walles. For it hath with it a nomber of ladders & diuers wayes maye set men into the towne. For in the lower part it hath the Ramme, w^t the violence of which it beates downe the walles About the middle it hath a bridge made of two beames and hedged w^t roddes which may quicklye be brought forth, & set betwene the tower and the wall, & the men of warre going by y^e same out of the engine passe ouer into the Cittye & take the wal­les In the higher partes of the same tower, be placed pyke­men and Archers, whiche from an highe maye ouerthrowe the defenders of the Cittye, wyth pykes arrowes and sto­nes Which being done, the Cittye is taken without delay. [Page] for what helpe doth remayne, when as they which did trust to the height of their walles, sodainlye beholde aboue them a wall of their ennemyes higher then theirs.

¶Howe the mouable tower may be set on fyre. Chap. xviii.

THis euident and apparant daunger many wayes may be resisted. First if your souldiours be strong & bould, a nomber may issue forth together. And dryuinge a­waye the ennemyes, pull of the lether and set fyre on the to­wer. If so be y^t they dare not issue forth, let them dischardge the greater artillerye, and such as they call Malleoli & Pha­laricae, with fyre shotte, that rentinge the hides or tyltclo­thes a sonder the flame maye be hidde inwardlye. Malleoli be as it were, arrowes which burne all where they light.

But Phalarica after the maner of a Iauelin hath a stronge heade of yron, and betweene the hollownes or pype thereof and the staffe, it is wrapped rounde aboute wyth brimstone, rosen, pitche & towe soked in oyle apt to burne, the which be­inge discharged leuell with the violence of your artillerye, breaketh the coueringe, and s [...]ickinge in the woode oftenti­mes burneth the whole turret. Also you maye let downe men wyth roopes when your ennemyes be a s [...]eape, & wyth lanternes priuilie hidde, burne theit engines, and then pull them vp againe.

¶Howe you maye make your walles higher. Chap. xix.

THat part of the wall to y^e which the engine commeth, maye be made higher either wyth morter and stones, or with claye or bricke, or wyth bards and planckes, and so shall not the defenders [...]e oppressed wyth the heighte of the turret. And the turret being to lowe shall serue to no vse. But they that besiege townes, vse oftentimes this pol­licye. First they build such a tower as may seeme lower then the walles of the Citty: afterward they make another litle tower within of bourdes and plankes, and when the to­wer is ioyned to the walles sodainlye they putte forthe that [Page 57] little turret with roopes and pullyes, oute of the which the armed men going forth, because it is higher then the walles straight waye take the Cittye.

¶By what meane the earth maye be digged, that the engine can do no harme. Chap. xx.

SOmetime they do set longe beames headed wyth yron against the comminge of the engine, and so keepe of the same from the wall. But when as the Cittye of Rho­des was besieged by ennemyes, and they had made a tower wyth wheeles aboue the heighte of all the walles and to­wers, this remedye was inuented by the witte of a certaine craftes man: in the night he vndermined the wall, and that place to the which the daye after the tower shoulde be remo­ued, he made hollowe within casting, out the earth, none of the ennemyes perceyuing it: so that when that great frame was driuen and forced forward with the wheeles, and came to the place whiche vnderneath was made hollowe before, straight waye it soncke, the grounde yeldinge to so greate a weight, so that it coulde not come neare y^• walles nor be mo­ued anye further, and by this meane the Cittye was delyue­red and the engine left behinde.

¶Of ladders and the frame of tymber wyth ropes, of the bridge, and of the sweape. Chap. xxj.

VUhen the tower comes to the wall by all meanes pos­sible they driue the ennemye from the wall, with sto­nes, dartes, arrowes, pellettes & such like. This be­ing done, and ladders set to the wall, they take the Cittye. But they which do scale the walles with ladders, manye ti­mes sustaine perill and daunger after the example of Ca­paneus: by whom this manner of assaulte with ladders is sayde to be first inuented, who was slaine with so greate vio­lence [Page] by the Thebanes, that he was thought to be destroyed with thunder. And therfore the besiegers do enter the wal­les of the ennemies with these engines called Sambuca, Ex­ostra and Tolleno, that is to saye, a frame of timber & roo­pes, a bridge, and a sweape. Sambuca is called after the si­militude of an harpe: for like as in a harpe there be stringes, so in the beame which is nexte the towers, be roopes which do loase and set at lybertye the bridge wyth pullyes, from y^e vpper part, that it may go vppon the wall: and straight way the men of warre issue out of the tower, on [...] goinge ouer vp­pon it, do inuade the walles of the Cittye. Exostra is that bridge which we spake of before, which sodainly is stretched forthe of the tower vnto the wall. Tolleno is this, when a beame is set fast and deepe vppon the earth, vppon the which in the highest toppe, another beame is ioyned ouerthwarte, longer by the one halfe in measure so equallye, that when you pull downe the one ende, the other ryseth vppe. In the one ende of this wyth hurdles and boardes, is made roume for a few men to stand in. Then pulling the one ende downe with roopes, ye lifte vppe the other ende, & so set your men vppon the walles.

¶Of the lesser kinde of Ordinaunce called Balista. Of the greater named Onager, of that which is called Scorpio, of Crossebowes called Arcubalistae, of slingstaues and slinges, by the which the wall is defended▪ Chap. xxij.

AGainst these incōmodityes such kindes of ordinaunce defende them that be besieged, Balistae, a lesser kinde of ordinaunce, Onagr [...] a greater, also that which is called Scorpio, Arcubalistae, Crossebowes, Fustibali, slingstaues, archers and slinges. Balista is a kinde of Ordi­naunce bente with roapes or cordes, the which the longer and greater that it is, so muche the further it casteth y^• shot, and this kinde of ordinaunce if it be cunninglye framed, and afterwarde discharged by skilfull men that know the reech [Page 58] and compasse of it, doth pearce throughe whatsoeuer it stry­keth. That which is named Onager, serueth to shoote stoo­nes withall: and because the roopes of it are greate, there­fore the stones are mightye that it casteth. For the greater and larger the engine is, so much the greater stones it hur­leth in maner of thunder. There is no kinde of ordinaunce more violent then these two sortes. Scorpiones were called in the olde time such as nowe we terme Manubalistae, so na­med because that with small arrowes they kill mē. I thinke it superfluous to declare Fustibalistas, Arcubalistas & Fun­das, which experience at this present knoweth wel enoughe. The ordinaunce that I named Onager, if it shoote mightye stoones, doth not onlye ouerthrow horsemen and footemen, but also breaketh the engines of the ennemyes in sonder.

¶Against the engine named a Ramme, be flockebeddes or matresses very good, also roopes and great pillers. Chapiter .xxiij.

AGainst the battring Rammes or hooks, ther be ma­nye helpes and remedyes, for some with cordes lette downe their tiltclothes and other patched geare, and mattresses, and so let them hange in such places as y^e ramme doth beate, that the violence and force of the engine may be broken with the softnes of these, and not throwe downe the wall. Some others with a nomber of men, do from the wall catch the Ramme wyth roopes, and drawing it a syde ouerthrowe it: Manye vse to tye vnto roopes a peece of y­ron muche like vnto a payre of sheeres full of teethe, which they call Lupum, and so eyther they do ouerthrowe the Ramme caughte with the same, or els lifte it vppe, that it hath no force to stryke. Sometime they throwe downe huge stones of marble, or other of like hardnes from y^e wal­les, and all to breake the Rammes.

[Page]If the force of y^e Ramme shalbe so greate, that it shall beate throughe the wall and cast it downe (as oftentimes it chaū ­ceth,) then is there none other helpe but to pull downe your houses, and make another wall within, & so betweene two walles to slea your ennemyes, if they breake in.

¶Of vndermining and throwing downe walles that waye. Chap. .xxiiij

THer is another kinde of assault, that is vnder y^• earth and priuye, which is called vndermininge. The ma­ner of it is this, a nomber of pyoners digge in the earth as myners do, and makinge a trench [...], by that mea­nes seeke to destroy the Cittye. The which by two wayes they bring to passe. For eyther they do enter the Cittye, and by nighte when the townes men are not ware of it, do issue oute of their trenche, and vnlockinge the gates let in theyr owne armye, and slea the ennemyes in their houses at vn­wares: or els whē they come to the foūdations of the wall, they digge vnder a great part of it, and with drye timber vn­derset it, that for a whyle it maye not fall, afterwarde they laye manye fagottes and suche lyke drye fuell about it, and hauinge placed theyr souldiours in araye, they set fyre to it, so that the pillers of woode and boardes being burnte, and the wall there with falling sodainly, they haue a way layed open for them to burst in at.

¶What the townes men oughe to do, if the ennemyes brust into the Cittye. Chap. xxv.

IT is manifest by infinite examples, that they which haue entered theyr ennemyes Cittye oftentimes haue beene so slaine, that not one hath escaped. Which thinge withoute doubte doth come to passe, if the townes men do keepe their walles and towers, or take first the highest places.

[Page 59] For then suche as be of age, both men and women, do ouer­whelme with stones and other kindes of weapons, suche as do breake in: the which to auoyde, wyse Captaynes set open the gates of the Cittye: to thintent that hauing leaue to de­parte, they maye not resist. For desperation in such a case, is a necessarye enforcement to manhoode.

The townes men haue onlye this helpe, whether the enne­myes enter by day or by night, to holde and keepe their wal­les and towers, and to clyme vppe to the highest places, and so to ouerthrowe theyr ennemyes on euerye syde, in all the streetes of the Cittye,

¶What heede oughte to be taken, Ieast the ennemyes priuilye take the wall. Chap. xxvj.

MAnye times y^• besiegers do inuent some guile or craft, and by a counterfette desperation depart a good way of. But when as, after feare is past, the vnheedefull and carelesse townes men haue taken rest, watch of the wal­les being geuen ouer, the ennemyes come priuilye with lad­ders, takinge occasion of the darckenes of the nighte, and so clyme the walles. For which cause a greater and more dil­ligente heede muste be had, when as the ennemye is gone a­waye: and in the verye walles and towers, ought small ca­bines to be made, in which the watche men in winter season may be defended from showers and colde, and in Sommer from the heate of the Sunne. This thinge also experience hath founde that in the towers is good to keepe fierce dog­ges and quicke of smellinge, whiche can perceyue the com­minge of the ennemye by the sente, and geue warning ther­of by barkinge.

Also geese by like skil of nature declare by their cryings, the [...]odaine inuasions of the ennemyes by night. For the French men enteringe into the chiefe Tower or Pallace of Rome (called Capitolium) had for euer blotted out the name of the Romaynes, had not Manlius w^tstode them beinge raysed [Page] vppe with the cryinge of geese. And by the meanes of one goose they were saued, which afterward subdued the whole worlde.

¶How the town [...]s men maye be deceyued. Chap. xxvii.

ABoue all thinges it is counted the greatest matter, not onlye in sieges, but euen in all kindes of warre, to spye out and knowe dilligentlye the custome and vse of the ennemye. For you cannot conuenientlye by layinge wayte for them deceiue them, excepte you knowe at what houres they cease from theyr labour, and at what time they be lesse cyrcumspecte, whether at none or towardes euen or in the night, or at such times as they eate their meate, when as y^• souldiours of both sydes are dispersed to take their rest, and to refreshe their bodyes. Whiche thinge when the be­siegers perceiue, subtillye they withdraw themselues from battell, that they maye geue free libertye to the ennemye to be verye negligent. Which negligence what time as it shal­be greatest, for that they feare nothinge, then the besiegers shall sodenlye bringe their engines and ladders to the wal­les, and take the Cittye. Therefore in the walles the tow­nes men ought to haue stones and ordinaunce in a readines, to thende that as sone as the deceipte is knowen, they maye resist and haue at hande such thinges as they may roule, and cast vppon the heades of their ennemyes.

¶What the besiegers oughte to do that they be not entrapped of the townes men. Chap. xxviii.

IF the besiegers likewyse be negligente, they are as sone caught by deceipt as the other, for whether they be occu­pyed at meate, or sleape, or els scattered a sonder throughe idlenes or anye other necessitye: then the townes men sodē ­lye rushe forth, they slea them ere they be aware, sette on fire their enginnes, rammes, and the verye countermurs, and [Page 60] ouerthrowe all the workes that were made against them. For this cause the besiegers do make a trench, a stones cast of, and so furnishe the same, not only with a pale and stakes, but also with turrettes and fortresses, that they may easelye withstande them that issue forth of the Cittye, which worke they call Loriculam, and oftentimes when a siege is descri­bed in anye historye, yee shall reade that this or that towne was compassed rounde aboute with this paleworke called Loricula.

¶Wyth what kinde of ordinance Cittyes maye be defended. Chap. xxix.

AL kinde of shot, either pellets of leade, or Iauelines, short dartes, or longer dartes, the higher that they come downe, so much more violentlye they fall vpon those that be vnder them. Arrowes, also shotte with bowes and stones throwne with hands, slinges or slingstaues, from how much the higher place they be cast, so much the deeper do they pearse. But Bal [...]stae and Onagri, two kindes of or­dinaunce if they be warelye discharged by such as be skilful and cunning, they do cutte in sonder euery thing they meete with, and against this kinde of ordinance can nothinge be a sufficient defence▪ For whatsoeuer it strikes in maner of thū ­der it vndoeth it & goeth through it.

¶Howe ye maye knowe what heyght your lad­ders and other enginnes ought to be of. Chap. .xxx.

LAdders and other enginnes do verye muche auayle for the takinge of towne walles, if they be made of such heighte that they ouer reache the towne.

The heyghte of the towne yee maye take two maner of wayes, for eyther maye you tye a slender line to the one ende of an arrowe, and so shootinge it, when it shall come to the toppe of the wall, by the lengthe of the lyne you maye know [Page] the heighte of the wall, or els when the sonne eyther setting or rysinge doth caste a shadowe from the towers and walles to the earthe, then measure the lengthe of that shadowe, thine ennemyes not knowinge thereof. And afterwarde sticke vppe a poole tenne foote hye aboue the grounde, and measure likewise the shadowe therof, the which being done, ye maye easelye knowe the heyghte of the wall or towne, by proportion of the poole, seinge that a bodye of this heighte casteth a shadowe of this or that lengthe.

And thus haue I sette forth for the common commoditye and profitte (as I suppose) of those thinges, which auncient writers of chiualrye haue lefte behinde them, and the latter age by experience hath necessarilye founde out touching the assault a [...]d defendinge of Cittyes. Marye this one thinge I cannot to muche warne you of, that you prouide dilligent­lye that there be neyther scarcitye of meate nor drincke in your Cittye besieged, for that cannot by anye meanes be re­medyed. Therfore the longer time that you suppose y^• siege wil endure, so much the more victualles must you laye vppe in your towne.

⸪ And thus much the maner of warre on lande, beinge declared sufficientlye, with the meanes of defendinge and assaulting of Townes: I will consequently treate of warre helde on the Sea, and of shippes and Gallyes, and first of y^• Liburnian Gallyes.

Preceptes to be obserued in makinge warre vppon the Sea. Chapiter. xxxj.

THe maner of makinge warre vppon the lande, suffici­entlye declared at your maiestyes commaundemente (most mightye and worthye Emperour) the portion yet not spoken of, as I trowe, is of warre vppon the Sea. [Page 61] Of the feates and cunninge whereof the lesse therefore re­mayneth to be spoken, for that the Sea beinge quieted now this good while, wee keepe warre with other strange Nati­ons vppon the lande. Notwithstanding that the people of Rome for the worshippe and commoditye of their greate re­nowne: and not for anye necessitye growing by sodaine com­motion, but least at anye time it mighte suffer daunger, al­wayes had an armye in readines. For no man dare geue oc­casion of warre, or do, or offer anye wrong to that kingdome or people, whom hee knoweth well prouided, and readye to withstande and to reuenge the same. Therefore at Misenū and Rauenna Cittyes of Italye, at eche there abode a Legi­on of Romaynes with y^• Nauies: that they should not leaue the Cittye vndefended: and when as occasion serued, with­out delay or fetching much compasse, they might passe to al partes of the worlde. For the Misenates had lyinge harde vppon them Fraunce, Spayne, the Moores, Affricke, E­gipte, Sardine, and Cycil. The Rauennates vsed to passe with a streighte course into Epyrus, Macedonia, Achaia, Propontis, Pontis, East Asia, Creta and Cyprus: and to these with most speede, because in warrelye affayres speedi­ [...]es and swiftnes doth more auayle then manhoode.

¶The names of the Iudges which gouerned the Nauye. Chap. .xxxii.

THe chiefe Captayne of the Nauye of the Misenates, did gouerne the shippes or Gallyes which laye in Cā ­pania, on the weste syde of Italye: but the Captayne of the Nauye of the Rauennates, did keepe them that re­sted in the Sea called lonium on the Easte syde of Italye: vnder the which there were appointed .10. Tribunes, in e­uerye bande one. But euerye Gallye had such a one as was called Naua [...]chus, that is, the maister or gouernour of the shippe whom they called also Nauicularium, a Pilote or cō ­ducter of shippes. Which besides other duties of Mariners, did carefullye and dilligentlye euerye daye, helpe the gouer­nours [Page] and rowers, and further also wyth all possible indu­stry, all maner of exercises of the souldiours.

¶Why the Lyburnian Gallyes were so called. Chap. xxxiii.

DIuers countryes at diuers and sundrye times haue beene able to do muche vppon the Sea, and therefore haue had diuers and sondrye kindes of shippes. But what time as Augustus foughte the battell at Actium, whereas Antonye by the ayde of the people of Liburnia, was chiefely ouercome, it appeared by the experiment of so greate a conflicte, that the Liburnian shippes were more fit for the warres then others. And according to the fashion of them, did the Romayne Emperours afterwarde builde their Nauye, borrowing of them both their name and their likenes. For Liburnia is a parte of the countrye called Dal­matia, lying nighe to the Cittye called [...]adera: after whose example now the shippes of warre are builded, & be named Liburnae.

¶Wyth what dilligence the Gallyes or ship­pes called Liburnae are made. Chap. xxxiiii.

LIke as in buildinge of houses men seeke dilligentlye for good morter and stones, euē so ought good stuffe be soughte for the framinge and makinge of shippes, and so much rather because the daunger is greater if a shippe be faltye, then an house. Therfore if you wil builde a Libur­nian vessell, chose chiefely to make it of Cyprysse and Pyne tree, Larche & Firre, then any other tymber. And for your nailes, it is more profitable to haue them of brasse then yrō, althoughe the cost be greater. For yron nayles will sone be rustye with water, and so consume: but brasen nayles for all the water, do keepe their naturall substance still.

¶What heede must be taken in cuttinge downe of Timber. Chap. xxxv.

[Page 62]THe Timber whereof Gallyes must be made, oughte to be cutte downe betweene the xv. and the xxiii. daye of the Moone. And this must especiallye be obserued. For none other but onlye that which is cutte in these eyghte dayes, will be free from wormes and rottinge. That which is vppon anye other daye hewed downe, within a yeares space, wilbe worme eaten and turne to dust. And this do all Carpenters know to be true, by their skill and dailye expe­rience.

¶In what monethes Timber should be cutte downe. Chap. xxxvi.

IT is good cuttinge of Timber in Iulye and August, and so till the first of Ianuarye, for then be trees most without sappe, and therefore the timber both drier and stronger. But you must beware that straight vpon the cutting downe your Timber, you square it not, nor make your shippe of it, as sone as you haue squared it. For timber asketh a double dryinge tyme, one before it be sawen, and another after, and so shall it be thorowlye drye, and fitte for your vse: wheras if you put greene Timber or boarde into a shippe, within a whyle after when it waxeth drye, it will shrincke and make wyde riftes, which is most perillous for those that are in the shippe.

¶Of the bignes and fashion of Gallyes called Liburnae. Chap. xxxvij.

AS touching the quantity or greatnes of the Gallyes named Liburnae, the least of all haue euerye one, one row or bench of Oares: they that be somwhat grea­ter haue two, they that be of a conuenient bignes haue three or foure, or els sometime fiue. Neyther let this thing seeme straunge to anye man, seinge that in the battell at Actium, there were much greater Gallyes then I haue spoken of, so that some had sixe ranckes of Oares and aboue. But small boates y^t serue for scoutes, and go alwayes with the greater Gallyes, haue almost twenty rowers in eche syde: the olde Brytaines termed these kindes of boates Pictas.

[Page]Their vse is sodenlye to steale vppon the ennemyes shippes, and to meete with their prouision by the waye, and to spye out theyr counsell, and to geue warninge of their comming. And if you will not haue them discryed by their whitenes, you maye coloure their sayles and tacklinge with a lighte blewe, because that is like the Sea coloure: and with the same likewyse staine your pitche wherewith you dresse your shippes, and let your souldiours and Marriners apparel, be likewyse couloured with the same, that neyther in the night nor daye time, they may well be espyed in their scouting.

¶The names and nomber of the windes. Chap. xxxviij.

VUhosoeuer caryeth an armye with his Nauye, ought to foreknow the signes of stormes and whirlewindes. For Gallyes haue more often beene taken away with tempestes and surges, then with the force of ennemyes. In the which behalfe the whole cunning and knowledge of na­turall Philosophye is to be vsed. By the which we learne y^• nature of wyndes and tempestes, by a certaine deuine kinde or meane. And in a roughe and raginge sea, euen as heede takinge doth defende and saue them that be ware and cyrcū ­specte: so negligence doth cast them a waye that lie rechles & carelesse. Therefore he that wilbe skilfull in saylinge, ought first to consider the nomber, and also the names of wyndes. Olde warriours perswaded themselues that accordinge to the situation of the foure coastes of Heauen, that onlye foure principall windes did vsuallye blowe from euery part ther­of, but a latter tyme founde oute twelue windes by experi­ence. Wee haue set forth the names of the same, to put all maner of doubt cleane awaye: so that the principall windes beinge declared, wee maye shewe those also, whiche are ioy­ned to the same, both on the righte syde and on the lefte.

Therefore from the place where the sonne stayeth in the Springe time, that is to saye, frō the chiefe and middle point of the Easte, commeth the plaine Eastwinde. Unto this is [Page 63] keepeth the middle pointe of the South, vnto this is ioyned on the right syde the South southeast wind: on the left syde the South southwest winde. The plaine west wind keepeth the middle point of the West. Unto this on the right syde is ioyned the West Northwest winde, on the left syde y^• West Southwest winde. The plaine Northwynd doth keepe the middle point of y^e North▪ vnto which is ioyned on the righte syde the North northeast winde, & on the left syde y^• North-northwest wind. Of these oftentimes bloweth one at once, sometime two at once, but in greate Tempestes, yea three are wonte to blowe together. The Seas whiche of their owne nature are still and quiet, through the vehemencye of these windes, waxe roughe with raginge and troublesome waues. As these windes blowe accordinge to the nature of times or places: so tempestes are turned into calme wea­ther, contraryewyse calme weather into tempestes. And [...] luckye winde bringes a nauye to the most desyred hauen: th [...] contrarye winde compelles a man to lye a loofe, go backe a­gaine▪ or els to sustaine perill. And that man therefore dot [...] seldome suffer shipwracke, which hath diligently considere [...] the nature and reason of the windes.

¶In what monethes men may sayle more safe­lye then others. Chap. xxxix.

NOwe it followeth to speake of monethes and daye [...], for neyther doth the violence or raginge of the sea suf­fer men to sayle al the yeare long: but some monethes are most conuenient to sayle in, some be vncertaine & doubt­full, and other not to be vsed at all. During the course of y^• cleare and lightsome time of Sommer, that is to say, after the rysinge of the Pleiades, in latine Vergilie, in english the seuen starres: from the xxvii. day of Maye: vnto the rysing of the starre called Arcturus, otherwise in Greeke Bo [...]tes: that is to saye, vnto the xiiii, daye of September saylinge is thought good and safe, because through y^e benefite of Som­mer, the rage of the winde is assuaged▪ After this time vn­to [Page] the vi. day of Nouember, sayling is more vncertaine and more daungerous: because after the xiii. day of September Arcturus doth ryse, the most vehemente starre of all other. The xxiiii. day of September commeth in the raginge time of the Equinoctiall. About the seuēth daye of October do a­ryse certayne starres called Haed [...]pluu [...]ales, betokening rayne. The xi▪ of October doth ryse the starre called Tau­rus. But from the moneth of Nouember the going downe of the seuē starres which is in winter, doth trouble the ship­pes wyth manye tempestes. Therefore from the xi daye of Nouember vnto the x. day of Marche, the Seas are shutte vp. For whye the verye shorte dayes, the longe nightes▪ the thicknes of clouds, the darckenes of the ayre, the double ra­ginge of the windes, showers, and snowes: doth much trou­ble and driue awaye, not onlye Nauyes from the Sea, but also goers, by the waye, or trauellers from a iourney on the lande. But after the byrth day of sayling (as I may terme it) or first settinge forth of shippes to the Sea, which is kept solemne with yearely games and common shoes, or specta­ [...]les of manye Nations. The seas are daungerous to proue vnto the xv. daye of Maye, by reason of manye starres rayg­ninge, and also of the time it selfe: not that the trauayle of marchantes shoulde ceasse, but because there is more heede to be taken, when an armye doth fayle wyth Gallyes, then when the foolish & greedy hardines for priuate marchandise doth make hast therevnto.

¶After what maner the signes and tokens of tempestes maye be obserued. Chap. xl.

MOreouer the rising and going downe of certaine star­res doth styrre vp & cause most vehement tempestes: in y^• which although certayne dayes be marked by y^• testimony of authors, yet for as much as they be sometimes altered by diuers chaūces, we must confesse & acknowledge that mans nature cannot know perfectlye the condition or state of heauē. The rysing of tēpestes yerely is of thre sorts. For by experience we find y^• [...]pestes do happen either about [...]ne certayne daye of the yere prefixed, or before it, or after, [Page 64] wherevpon the tēpestuous seaso [...]s that go before y^• day ap­pointed or middest of winter, we call by y^• name of a Greeke word Procheimasin, those y^• ryse iust at y^e ordinary day we name Epicheimasin: those y^• followe the same we terme Metach [...]imasin. But to reherse euerye thinge by name, it seemeth both vn­meete for this place & to long. Seing y^• many wryters haue declared dilligently y^• course & order, not only of monethes, but also of dayes in this case. Also the motions of planettes many times trouble the clerenes of the ayre, when as at cer­taine dayes appointed by God the creator of the world, they draw neare or depart from some of the xii. signes. Likewise the dayes wherein the Moone chaungeth are commonly ful of tempestes & fearefull to such as vse the sea.

¶Of s [...]gnes and tokens whereby to know the clearenes and troublesomenes of the ayre. Chap. xlj.

BY many tokens may men foreknow both stormes after a calme, & fayre weather after tempestes, & this doth y^• cyrcle of the moone declare as in a glasse. A ruddie co­loure betokeneth windes, a blewish or skye coloure, rayne. A colour mixt of both, foretelleth stormes & ragīg weather. A pleasant & brighte cyrcle doth promyse cleare weather to shippes, especially if the fourth day after y^• chaūge, her hor­nes be not blunt & redde, nor yet darkened with much moy­sture. Furthermore in y^e Sonne ye must marke whether at his rising or settīg, his beames be chereful & of one colour: or by reason of a cloude ouer against it, they be of diuers co­lours, & whether they be bright & glisteringe, or redde like fyre, which is a signe of wynde y^t will shortly follow: or pale and speckled which betoketh raine sone after. Likewyse by the ayre & sea, & the greatnes and fashion of the clouds, may maryners knowe the chaūges of weather if they geue their minde to it And some tokens may they learne of byrdes, and some of fishes, as Virgill in his Georgikes doth very wise­ly declare, and Varro in his bookes of sayling doth dilligēt­ly set forth the same. And these things do Pilats & maisters of shippes professe themselues to know, so farre forth as vn­learned experience without any profound learning hath en­structed them.

¶Of ebbing and flowing of the Sea▪ Chap. xlii.

THe Element of the Sea is y^e third part of the worlde: whiche besydes the blowinge of the windes doth also moue by it selfe. For at certaine houres as well in the daye time as in the night, it runneth to and fro by ebbing & flowing. And sometime like a running brooke, floweth to y^• landwarde, sometime backe into the deepe againe. This doublenes of the mouing of the Sea, doth helpe the course of shippes if it be wyth them, and hinder them if it be contra­rye. Whiche thinge must be eschewed wyth greate heede­fulnes of him that intendeth to fight. For the violence of the tyde cannot be ouercome by any helpe of Oares, when as y^• winde it selfe doth geue place thereto. And because that in diuers conntryes thorowe the state of the moone encreasing or diminishing: at certaine houres the tydes do alter, Therfore he that goeth about to make warre on the Sea, oughte to knowe before hee ioyne battell, the vsage of the Sea in that place.

¶Of the knowledge of places, and of the rowers. Chapiter .xliij.

THe dilligence and cunning of the Marriners and go­uernours, is to knowe the places and hauens where they sayle, that they maye esche we shallowe places & suche as be daungerous, by reason of rockes appearinge or hidde. For the deeper that the sea is, so much the more safe & quiet it is. In marriners is requyred dilligence, in y^e Mai­ster skilfulnes: in the rowers strength and manhoode. Be­cause that a Sea battell is ioyned when the water is calme: and Gallyes when they strike their ennemyes shippes with their stemmes & forepartes, are driuen with Oares and not with wind. And also when they shunne the brunt of others, they vse the helpe of Oares, and not winde thereto There­fore loke what parte hath strongest rowers and cunningest [Page 65] Captaine and maister, that same carryeth the victorye.

¶Of weapons and ordinaunce of shippes. Chap. xliiii

A Land battel requyreth many kindes of armour and weapons, but that which is fought on the Sea, nee­deth manye mo kindes, both of armour & weapons, and also enginnes and ordinaunce, euen as they should [...]ight on the walles & towers of a Citty. For what is more cruell thē the fight vpon the Sea? whereas men be killed▪ not on­lye with water, but with fyre. Therefore there must be a spe­ciall regarde had of harnesse and other coueringes, that the souldiours he fēced with complete armour, coates of plate, helmets and legge harnesse. For no man can complaine of the waight or burdē of his armour, which fighteth standing in the shippes: ye maye make your shieldes both stronger & larger, to beare of the strokes of stoones, hookes, and clam­pers, and other kinde of weapons vsed in shippes. Dartes and stones are caste betweene both partyes, with arrowes, pellettes, slinges, slingstaues, leaden plummettes, greater ordinaunce, lesser ordinaunce, yron bowes or Crossebowes: and (which is a more gre [...]ous thing) they that presume and thincke themselues sur [...] by reason of theyr manhoode, after their Gallyes be ioyned [...], do passe ouer into y^• ship­pes of their ennemyes on bridges layed ouer betweene.

In the greater gallyes they do make vppe fortresses and to­wers, that as vppon a wall, so they maye from aboue more easelye wounde and slea their ennemyes. Also they vse to wrappe arrowes in towe, pitche and bri [...]stone, and so kin­dling them▪ to shoote and strike them into the sydes of theyr ennemyes shippes, and so sodainly to set them on fyre by reason of the pitche and rosen, wherewith the sydes of the ship­pes are alreadye annoynted. One sorte are slaine with the [...]word, and stones or pellettes, another sort are compelled to burne in the water, and amonge so many kindes of deathes (which is the must cruell of al) their bodyes vuburyed, must be deuoured and confumed of fishes.

¶Howe wyles maye be wrought on the Sea. Chap. xlv.

AS the vse is in a fielde battell, so likewys [...] on [...] wa­ter, you may priuilye steale vppon your ennemyes at vnwares, or in [...]eekes and str [...]ightes conuenient, you maye hyde a nomber of Gallyes readye to come forthe when neede shall requyre, that your ennemyes being vnpro­uided, may the sooner be ouercome specially if they be wea­rye with longe rowing, or if the winde or tyde be contrarye to them▪ or if they sleape suspecting none ill, or if the rode or corner which they keepe haue no way to issue out. If oppor­tunitye to fight do come as you would wishe, then must your men fall to it cherefullye hauinge these helpes, and so ioyne your battell as maye be most for your aduauntage. If so be that the foresight of the ennemye be such, that they will not be beguiled, but encounter in open fight, then your Gallyes muste be placed in araye not straighte as souldiours be in a fielde battell, but bowinge in, after the similitude of y^e halfe moone, so that the two endes come oute, and the middle be hollowe, that if the ennemye shall assaye to burst throug be▪ he may be caught and compassed in, by reason of the very or­der and araye. But in the winges must ye place the chiefest strength both of your Gallyes and of your souldiours.

¶What should be done when open battel is ioyned on the Sea. Chap. xlvj.

MOreouer it is profitable that your nauye be alwayes in the deepe sea and at libertye, but your ennemyes alwayes driuen to the shoore. For they do loose all force and strength in fighting, which are thrust to lande. In this sea [...]ight, three sortes of weapons helpe muche, named in latine. As [...]eres, Falces, Bipennes. Asser is when a scle [...] ­der and a long beame much like the sayle yeard, doth hange on the mast, and hath both y^• endes headed with yron. This serueth in steede of the battell Ramme, and beinge driu [...] [Page 66] mightely and with great force, it throweth done and killeth both Mariners & souldiours, & oftentimes beateth through the shippes sydes. Falx is a verye sharpe yron, croked like a hooke, which beinge put vppon greate longe pooles, doth sodenlye cut the ennemyes tackeling a sonder, and the roo­pes that beare vppe the sayle yarde: and so the sayle clothes falling downe together, doth make the shippe more [...]lowe & vnprofitable. Bipennis is a double edged axe, on both sy­des verye broade and sharpe, with the which the moste skil­full Mariners when as the battell is hottest, they go downe into a small boate, and priuilye cutte a sonder the roopes wherewith the rudders of the ennemyes shippes are tyed Which thing beinge done, the shippe is streight way taken as vnarmed. For what helpe is left when the rudder is lost. As touchinge the shippes of pastyme which are vsed in the y^e ryuer of Danubius, in daily watchin­ges, I purpose to speake nothing at all, because that in them by often vse, hath bene founde more cunninge, then our auncestours haue left to vs in wryting, and my purpose was only to gather such thinges together, as I finde written in Bookes.