The arte of vvarre Beeing the onely rare booke of myllitarie profession: drawne out of all our late and forraine seruices, by William Garrard Gentleman, who serued the King of Spayne in his warres fourteene yeeres, and died anno. Domini. 1587. Which may be called, the true steppes of warre, the perfect path of knowledge, and the playne plot of warlike exercised: as the reader heereof shall plainly see expressed. Corrected and finished by Captaine Hichcock. Anno. 1591.

The office and duetie that appertaines to the Lanze-spezzaté, volentarie Lieutenants, the Gentlemen of a Band, or Caualliere of S. Georges squadrons.

THe sundrie degrées whereunto valiant souldiers with aspi∣ring minds séeke to ascend, for that they be many, & for that those which haue attained and serued in those roomes and other great offices, by diuers sinister meanes and accidents, be now and then disseuered and made frustrate from their charge, as ex∣perience hath made many times apparant, who yet neuerthe∣lesse being naturally desirous to continue in seruice, and per∣chance through forrain necessitie are driuen to remaine in pay, in attending further preferment: Therefore this place was first inuented for such persons, as a speciall seat wherein the flower of warlike souldiers doe sit, like a gréene Laurell garland that doth enuiron the martiall head of a mightie armie, whose order for warlike force or fame, giues not place to the Grecian Fa∣langes, the chiefest of the Romaine legions, or to the knightly cōstitution or couragious enterprises of those of Arthurs round table. For there neither hath bene, nor can be found any place of such honour or reputation, as to be a Gentleman of a Band, whether we serue for pleasure or for profite, or haue attained thereunto by merite: or whether we haue bene Corporal, Ser∣geant, Alfierus or Lieutenant, wherein Captaines somtimes •…•…o plant themselues, specially in the Collonels Squadre, and temporise the time, vntill preferment do fall: for thereby their former reputation is nothing disgraced, nor their charge had, in or of any other company, nothing derogated: Considering that those in these Squadrons either are, or ought to be souldiers of such policie and perfite experence, that they be capeable of any office vnder the degree of a Collonell, and may supplie any of those foresaid offices, or performe any other enterprise of great importance, commanded by the Captain, Collonel, or Generall.

And for that many youthes of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 parentage, and Gentle∣men of ancient houses do likewise follow the warres, I would that vpon due triall of their merite, they should enter into these* 1.1 Squadrons, which the Prince or Generall is to confirme, and make a distinct order of valiant aduenturous souldiers, and call them Caualliers of S. Georges Squadrons, at whose entrance thereinto, they shall take a solemne oth appertaining to their order, and their Corporall shall inuest them with some Band∣•…•…oll, Medall or Scarfe, whereu•…•…on is portrayed S. George his armes, which they must be bound to weare openly at all times and in all places, enterprises, skirmishes, battailes and as∣saults.

It is requisite that a singular good souldier, being the Gentle∣man of a band, and Cauallier of S. George his Squadron, if hée meane to gain the grace and fauour of his Captaine & Collonel, that not onely he be sufficiently valiant and wise, as of necessi∣tie is required at his hands: but it is also conuenient for him to be reasonable well horsed, and to haue in store all sortes of armes, as a Halberd, Hargabuse for the match or firelocke, Ar∣mour and Target of proofe, his Lance and case of Pistolets, his Pike, his Pertisan or Epieu to go the Round withall, that he may both day and night vary and change his armes at the offer of all enterprises is requisite, and as change of seruice doth call him foorth.

He must alwayes of necessitie haue more then one seruant, and ought to apparel him in galant order: these are to be néere his elbow to follow him with his armes. He ought alwayes to lodge himselfe as néere as is possible, to the lodging of his Col∣lonel or captain, to the intent y^e either armed, or without armes, he may alwayes, according as y^e cause doth require, be about his person, either on horseback or on foote, for that the principal gard of this singular personage, y^t is to say, the Collonel or Captaine, doth consist in the diligence and custodie of the Caualliers of S. George his Squadrons. These things notwithstanding, day & night whē it fals to his lot, or that he shalbe commanded by his Corporall to watch, he must dispose himselfe to be able to make particular gard, & that after a most exquisite order: wherein he must haue a special care (without making refusall at any time) to performe that which shalbe appointed him by his Corporall,

or by any other that shal command in the name of his Collonell or Captaine. His office in time of watch, for the most part con∣sistes in going the Round, searching the watch, kéeping good or∣der in the Corps of Gard, in being a coadiutour to y^e officer that guides the company or rules the watch, and is for the most part exempted from standing Sentinel, and such like dueties of a com∣mon souldier, vnlesse great necessitie or special seruice cōstrain.

It appertaines to him to haue good experience in going the Round, that in performing the same, he may discréetely gouerne in the ouersight of the watch, called the Sopraguardia, for in this point doth very much consist the prouident good order and forme that is to be obserued, in auoyding the stratagems, surprises, Sallies and disceits of the enimie. Approching néere to y^e Senti∣nel, he must giue eye and diligent regard in what order and sort he doth finde him vigilant, how readie he is in demanding and taking the word, & after comming nearer him, he must examine all that hath passed or fallen out whilest he hath bene in Senti∣nel, & the order he doth obserue, and what hath bene appointed him to do: the which if it be good he must confirme, and when he doth find it to be otherwise, he must rehearse & refer the same to the Corporal of the Sentinel, that he may vse diligent redresse.

Arriuing in any Corps de gard, he must aboue all things ad∣uertise them, that they alwayes kéepe fire light for the necessary commoditie of Hargabusiers, and for light in the night, taking order with the souldiers that they and their armes may remain in a forceable redinesse: through which his good instruction, there may grow to be no want, & so consequently he must in like cases procéed with like prouident diligence.

After this he must with great consideration and modestie, ex∣amine euerie particular thing, carrying a mind with himself to cōtinue & increase the same from better to better, & both in him∣selfe and to them vse necessarie aduertisemēts, & in such sort shall he passe through all the Corps de gards and Sentinels.

If it chance him to incounter another Sopraguardia or round, to shun the occasion of dangerous difference, which somtimes is accustomed to follow: or for pollicie, in fearing to giue y^e watch word to him that purposely comes to robbe the same, that com∣ming from the enimie secretly, counterfaits the Sentinell, or by some other practise, as it sometimes hath caused domage

to the grieuous losse and total preiudice of the armie, to preuent such inconuenience, let that Sopraguardia which shalbe nearest to the next adioyning Sentinell, turne backe, giuing the word after a due accustomed sort vnto the said Sentinel, to the intent the foresaid Sopraguardia may do the like▪ and when they are of accord, euerie one may follow his owne path, but if otherwise they do disagrée, the disceit remaines discouered: not onely in that counterfeit round, but also in the sained Sentinel, whom the Sopraguardia must examine and demand at his hand some speciall countersigne or double word, that thereby he may know him for an assured friend, or finde him an enimie or negligent person, the which of all men is verie well knowne to merite sharpe and extreame chastisement, which at no time, so néere as is possible, is to be omitted.

This former rule is to be obserued of those souldiers that be of one selfe nation: but when the Rounds or Sopraguardes be many and of sundrie nations, and the Corps of Gards likewise: then the Sopraguard comming into a quarter that is stranger vnto him, is bound to giue the word to the Sopraguard of that nation, & of that quarter: so that by such meanes as wel y^e suspi∣tion of disceit, as the occasion of discord shall be auoyded.

And if in case the said ordinarie Round or Sopraguard, do in∣counter in their owne quarter, with the extraordinarie, those that be ordinarie shall indeuour themselues to take the word of those that be extraordinarie. For so is it conuenient and most conformable to that order beforesaid, wherein I haue set downe what is necessarie for a Sopraguard or Round to do in a strange quarter. And for that it is requisite, as I haue alredie touched, that the Caualliers be alwayes about the person of his chiefe captain, without either being bound to Standerd, Guidon, or o∣ther Ensigne whatsoeuer, he must indeuour himselfe, when any enterprise or warlike affaires is committed to his charge, to be apt and readie to vse practised experience in directing & guiding a skirmish, in taking the view of a battery, in discouering of the enimie, in marching or making Alta, in Passa parde in the va∣lia•…•…nt repulse of a sodaine inuading enimie by Bawll en bouche, in taking view of the situation of a place, in guiding a Roade or troupe of Horsemen, in giuing Alarome to the eni∣mie, in plucking aduertisementes from the enimie, in pla∣cing

Imbas•…•…ades, in giuing Canuasados, and to know ve∣rie well how to execute with sound iudgement these and such like important affaires, the which for the most part apper∣taine to the Cauallieres of this Squadrone to performe. As likewise it hath bin the custome to giue thē the charge to plant Gabiones for the defence of the Artillarie, to batter and endo∣mage the walles, the Trenches, the lodinges, and the enemies Squadrones.

Let him remember when hée hath bin at any exploite, to bring backe againe into his Quarter, those souldiers hee hath led foorth to any enterprise, vnited and in rancke, marching together behind him, and neuer suffer them to returne disban∣ded one by one out of order, which is an occasion of great con∣fusion, and brings but small reputation to the Captaine and conductor of them.

Moreouer it is verie necessarie hée knowe how to make a roade and distroie the enemies countrie, the which likewise doth oftentimes appertaine to him to performe: in which ex∣ploite hee must beware aboue all thinges, that no souldier in those enterprises disperse or disband themselues, but with an assured good order, for the most part conformable to my follow∣ing discourse, wherein I set downe directions, how to conduct Souldiers to the skirmish. And particularlie where I declare that he ought to kéepe and maintaine for his people the stron∣gest place of situation, wherein he must skirmish, for that com∣monly souldiers being in disorder, wearied and loaden with spoile, may bée easilie put to flight, broken and oppressed of the enemies, vnlesse they bée seconded or shaded by some force∣able succour.

I suppose it likewise most necessarie, that hée indeuour him∣selfe to bee apt and sufficient at all times, and in all places to sollicite and negociate for his Prince or Chieftaine, any cause of what weight or moment soeuer, considering that most men are not fit to attempt the performance of such doubtfull and dif∣ficile causes: for although manie make great estimation of them selues, and presume much by their dailie reading and Theoricke of those weightie affaires, yet do they want and come farre short of that bold and readie practise, which plainly appeares, that the worthy professors of Armes possesse: and

specially in the presence of great Princes, whose Maiestie and reuerence for the most part, doth make cold and bring out of countenance the hoatest and most resolute determination. As Demosthenes before Philip of Macedone made apparent, when he was not able to pronoūce thrée woords of a long premeditate Oration, in behalfe of the Athenians.

This worthie gentleman of a band, this Caualliere of Saint Georges squadre, and likewise all other professors of warlike armes, ought to carie in mind, that of him and his equals the exercise of Armes is to be applied, and diligentlie to practise the same, to the intent he bée not for want of knowledge dispised of others: and not ignorantlie to dispise them that deserue due commendations, but rather to carie and vse the countenance of authoritie to those persons that merite not to beare swaie and gouernement, then towards forward souldiers. Yet for all that towards the rest in •…•…some other respects, hée ought to gratifie them and helpe them to his power, and so courteously win the good wils and friendly fauor of all souldiers his equals, to in∣struct and courteously to admonish euerie souldier priuatelie and apart, what appertaines to his duetie.

This Caualliere must be able also to traine souldiers, to make them march in orderly proporcions, to cast them in Ringes, Esses, Snailes, Hearses, Squadres, to receiue and giue charge, to faine skirmishes, onsets, retraites, and how to order any number of Souldiers, from a hundreth to fiue hundreth, for so manie may be in a band, and vnder one Ensigne, as the Swi∣•…•…ers and Germains yet vse at this day, and as in former ages our Countriemen haue vsed, which in some respects may passe without reprehension. If a Captaine be disposed to haue so ma∣nie vnder his Ensigne, when hée is not able to bring the num∣ber vnto a whole Collonelship, together with the knowledge of the order how to traine, hée must indeuour himselfe to be per∣fect in drawing platformes, in the Mathematickes, in the mar∣tiall Lawes, in besieging of townes, batteries, mynes, and ech thing else belonging to Martiall discipline.

Let this worthie Caualliere of Saint Georges squadre haue then before his eyes such like precepts, and manage of martiall affaires, that he may encrease his owne credite, win his coun∣trie fame, fauor of his Prince, & honor of his house and friends,

rather then for the regard of riches, statelie houses, liuings, and such like, but rather prefer prudent pollicie, courage, valor and approued experience before such base benefites, whereby hée may attaine to the lawrell Crowne, wherewith diuers mightie conquerors haue their heades adorned: That hée may be an ex∣ample to the reproch of such as lewdlie spend their daies in idlenes, prodigalitie, lust and obloquie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ☞