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 THIRD BOOKE OF MILITARIE DIRECTIONS, ENTREATING OF OBSERVATIONS in gouerning of Bands, of Squadrons and battailes, of Captaines, Collonels, and Sergeant Maiors generall.

And first, the office of a Captaine which hath the guiding of a Band of men.

THat person which hath the charge to gouerne other men, specially in matters of weight and of great importance, the liues of men being committed to his handes, vnder whose conduct if any quaile through rashnesse or want of knowledge, he is bound to render account before God: and therefore he ought to be of notable capacitie, experience, and exemplare in al his acti∣ons and enterprises, since it is a generall note that the eyes of all those that be subiectes, be turned towards their prin∣cipall head and chiefe, in whom as it were in a glasse, they retaine an assured hope to behold most readie rules and per∣fect examples, whereby they may guide and gouerne them∣selues.

In this particular charge of a Captaine, the qualitie of his officers, make almost a manifest shew of his valour and experi∣ence: Therefore like an old and expert souldier, as one that hath past through all those degrées and offices set downe in my two former bookes, he must vse a circumspect care in leuying and making choise of his companie, that is, to make election of a pollitike and practised Lieutenant, of a couragious Alfierus, of a carefull Sergeant, of gallant and valiant Caualliers of his squadre, of valiant Corporals, of a diligent Chancellour, secretary, or cleark of y^e band, of a faithful furrier or Harbinger,

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being of good iudgement and consideration, and of a Surgian prouided of all things necessarie to minister according to his Act. But aboue all things let him pro•…•…ide to retain in his band a preacher, or such a person which may take care to minister the Communion to the souldiers, and specially to roote obedience in their hearts: who likewise euerie day may celebrate that sacred sacrifice of thanks, which euen from the beginning hath bin vsed of the church. And finally must haue for euerie hundreth a prac∣tised drummer of good vnderstanding.

When he hath gathered and vnited his companie, the whole band being present, his Minister must deuoutly reade certaine prayers, & afterward the Ensigne shalbe publikely placed in the hands, and recommended to the custodie of the Alfierus, and as in my former discourse of this point, command him to haue as much care thereof, as of his proper life, honour & credite, which he ought couragiously to aduance and display, to prefer his party in a rightful quarrel, according to my spéech where I set downe his duetie. This done he must priuatly make election amongst his chiefest souldiers of so many Caualliers or Lancia Spezzata, that is to say, Gentlemen of his band, as may amount to the number of two out of euerie squadre. Some nations vse 50. to a squadre, as the Suitzers and Germaines, some others lesse, ac∣cording to their discretion: but in my opinion 2•…•…. is a more con∣uenient number, both for that the Corporall may the more often and with greater diligent car•…•… instruct & sée to his charge, thē if they were 50▪ Besides 25. souldiers deuided into 5. ranks makes a iust square, so that by the same account 300. may containe 12. squadres, and euerie one haue a Corporall of the same number: whereof 10. Corporals haue the leading of mixt weapons, the 1•…•…▪ charge ouer the Halb•…•…rdiers, & the 12. to consist of Gentlemen, old and expert souldiers, amongst whom the targets of proofe ought to be in number. The Captaine at the same time, when he con∣secrates his Ensigne, must likewise solemnly constitute & con∣firme a Corporall ouer the Caualliers of his squadre, which he must dedicate to S. George, and enrol their names by this title, The Corporall and Caualliers of S. George his squadre. He must inuest & bestow vpon the corporal a scarfe of red & white sar•…•…net, and a Medall or iewell of gold or siluer double gilt, wherein the portrature of S. George is liuely wrought, to hang about

his necke, at his skarfe or otherwise: and moreouer to him and all the rest of the squadre, must giue a litle Phane or Penon of silke vpon a wyre, whereof the Crosse must bée of red, and the rest of the square white, the other part of the sarsenet of the Captaines coulours, or with what woords or deuise therein shal please him best: They must weare this behind, either vpon their burganets, or vpon their hats if they will in a plume of red and white feathers, specially in all enterprises and warlike at∣tempts: Besides this vpon their Casseckes or Mandillions to∣wards their right brest a red Crosse of veluet, satten or scarlet, imbrothered or comlie stitched, that they may appeare manifest∣ly and bée knowen from the rest of the souldiers, like worthie guides and leaders, whose corage and valour may incite others to ascend to their dignitie and degrée.

They must solemnlie promise, vowe and sweare to their possibilitie, not only to bée the first to force the breach of a batte∣red towne, trench, or fortresse, to giue the first coragious onset vpon the maine battaile, or the enimies squadrons, to pearce a passage, and gallantly guid the souldiers to the skirmish, to sud∣daine sallies, surprises, escalados, canuasados, and such like, but also to obserue, maintaine, and instruct the ignorant in all Mili∣tarie directions; obseruations and martiall lawes of the field.

In respect hereof those that bée Cauallieres and Gentlemen of this squadre, must bée intertained with a stipend and greater pay then the common souldier, and with other notable signes of manifest difference, by reason they either are or ought to bée the best and most practised souldiers in his whole band: for this woord Lancia spezzata amongst the Italians, is of no other signi∣fication, then a tried experience in the warres. To which Cauallieres he may fréelie and faithfully with great confidence and trust, commit the charge of any office in his companie that is vacant▪ or the performan•…•…e of any other enterprise or accident, and may if hée will tearme them extraordinarie Lieutenants, which hée must alwaies haue about him vpon any suddaine to execute his commaundement, and supplie other Offices when time shall serue.

A Captaine ought to haue special and particular knowledge of al those things that appertaine to the office of a Lieutenant, and the office of an Alfierus, which if hée thinke good hée may

linke both in one, for amongst diuers nations now a daies, one man commonly supplies both their Offices.

The office and dutie of the Sergeants of the Cauallieres of Saint Georges squadre, whom he must estéeme as extraordi∣narie Lieutenants of the Corporals, Clerke of the band, Har∣binger, Drummes and Fiftes: and finally, the dutie of euery particular and common souldier, that hée may presently redresse any thing a misse, and vpon any new accident to instruct them either in marching, encamping or feighting, so that hée may •…•…ée able to commaund them, according as time, place, & reason doth require, without contradiction or appointing that to bée done of one Officer, which ought to be done of an other: or that hée doth commaund them to do thinges not conuenient, and much lesse that which is not lawful or not honorable. Which order of pro∣céeding doth verie much displease & bring m•…•…n of warre in mis∣like of such vndirect dealings; Since the principall point and practise whereunto▪ their exercise in Armes doth tende, is to at∣taine Reputation, Honor & Credite, hee must continually court his Collonel and chieftain, forceing himself to be one of the first that doth salute him in the morning, & of the last to depart from him in the euening, •…•…hat thereby he may bée sufficiently instruc∣ted & informed in euery particular act and practise, which is to be put in execution, touching the performance of any enterprise or warlike act, since that in those cases a warie man may best take hold of occasion, wherof hée ought to make triall in time of war▪ the which hee is likewise to accomplish, aswell for the seruice of his chiefe and Prince, as also for his owne satisfaction, and the honor, benefit, and reputation of his souldiers.

Let him in some sort prouide with as much aduantage, and commoditie as he can, that his souldiers baggage bee alwaies conducted from place to place, alwaies prohibiting superfluitie, and in long voiages, their corslets and arme•…•… of heauie burden: prouided that hée march not in suspected places, and in the eni∣mies countrie, but not otherwise.

Let him take order that his souldiers bée light in apparell▪ so that it be warme, and haue as litle baggage & otherwise loade•…•… as may bee, to the intent they may vse all their diligence about their weapons, and not to hale back for feare of loosing the same, but rather haue respect to the warie kéeping of their Armes,

and that they may rather, more •…•…ent and determined to feight, in hope of gaine and honor, then suspected through the doubt of loosing that which they already possesse.

Hée must not bee couetous, neither retaine one penie of pay from his souldiers, but rather distribute amongst them, all the aduantages, dead paies, and Capisoldi: to the intent they may bée well pa•…•…ed and rewarded which merite the same, so shall hée gayne honour and make them assured in perillous seruice.

Let him restraine souldiers from hauing horses, thereby to auoid confusion, for that commonly euery one must march about the Ensigne, to the intent the rankes bée not broken and dis∣turbed by horses: And that souldiers bée not occupied in going abroad for forrage for their horses, as of necessitie they must, which is proper to horsemen and not to footmen, but onely those which are to bée permitted with the Lieutenant, the Alsierus, and some of the Cauallieres of Saint Georges squadre, that are Gentlemen of greatest experience, for that they may serue in stéede and place of light horsemen, to view, discouer, conduct and carie a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or commaundement with great spéede, when and where néede •…•…oth require.

It is necessarie for him to haue some knowledge and sight in making bulwarkes, trenches, platformes, skonces, fortresses, and such like, & to know the nature and qualitie of them, aswel that with aduantage hée may bée able to know how to assault, as also to make them with facil•…•…tie, in times and places most necessarie: which vnderstanding and art, is particularly con∣uenient for him, considering the defence of men of warre in the field, for the most part consistes aswell in trenches, bul∣warkes, and perfect platformes, as in a good and well gouer∣néd squadre and maine battaile.

Hée must haue with him a p•…•…ire of Lanternes for the campe, some cressets, linkes, or torches that blowe not out with the winde, and such like to vse in the night, and in stormes and tempestes for seruice of the companie, as in Roundes, Alar•…•…nis &c.

And for his proper commoditie and ornament a Pauillion or Lent of sufficient capacitie, vessels to accommodate his victu∣als and furniment for the fire and kitchin, of small weight

and disturbance in carriage, and certain houshold stuffe necessa∣rie for himselfe and his traine, to the intent hée may so néere as is possible commodiously make supplie to the continuation of things requisite for victuals.

Hée ought alwaies to lodge with his band, and remain with the same both in good and euill, and continually shewe himselfe louing and courteous, and take such part as the souldiers do: for contrariwise, taking his ease, and suffering them to bée lod∣ged or fed miserably, bréedeth him hatred or contempt.

Neither ought hée to shun toile and trauaile, but carefullie take delight and liking to bée alwaies the first, that with proui∣dent prudence doth lay his hand to any worke, or performe any enterprise which is conuenient to bée done: for that for the most part the rude stubborne multitude of souldiers is not constrai∣ned and forced so much, to do his dutie by compulsion, as they be voluntarie moued therunto through shame, and a reuerent res∣pect they haue to the example of their superiour: Neither let the practise of the same bée painfull vnto him, for that to liue at ease and to bée curious of his owne commodious being, and suffer his souldiers tast the toiles of trauaile, is rather the order of a deli∣cate Prince, then of a carefull and coragious Captaine.

Let him not faile euery night that hée is of the watch, to send his Sergeant to take the woord secretly of the Sergeant maior, (where with the watch of that night ought to bée gouerned) or of some other that shall bée appointed to giue it, which hée must vse wisely and warely, since that negligence in like cases may bée the ruine of him and his companie, and consequently of a whole armie.

Hée must haue tried experience, and full practise in all the points noted of mée in my two first Bookes, and bée perfect in the conduct of Martiall affaires, that with great facilitie hée may bée able to know, and with great aduise to deale in all the particulars belonging to all the degrées of souldiers vnder his estate, and of lesse estimation then a Captaine.

It behooues him to carie a valiant and coragious hart, that vpon all suddaines hée may bée able to execute all enterprises, and that hauing ouer viewed, ordered and disposed those things that bée necessarie, hée may bée able to execute the same with such prompt and readie dexteritie, as appertaines to the terrible and

bloodie accidents of armes. And although there bée verie few who haue such happie successe, as they may bee accompted for∣tunate and politike both together: Neuerthelesse it is requisite he bée prudent, & discypher and looke before hand into such things as are like to fall out, that hée may with discréete modestie vse either good or euill fortune, whether soeuer shall arise: for the life of man is to bée compared to the play at Tables, in the which the p•…•…er may desire and deuise which is his best cast, but yet which way soeuer the dyce turne, either good or euill, hée ought with as great discretion and art as hée can, accommodate himselfe and serue his turne withall.

Hée should possesse and bée indued with a noble mind, that hée may alwaies haue the same inclined to discréete liberalitie, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to nigardl•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by which vice wee sée many 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and fall into most opprobrious chances, into treasons and pernicious rebellions, which are men worthie of most shamefull corrections.

I iudge it likewise verie necessarie for him to bée eloquent, •…•…nce that qualitie hath great efficacie in perswading of mens •…•…nds, which often times haue much néede to bée wakened and pricked forward with a spu•…•…re, specially in those terrible acci∣dents that fall out in the exercise of armes, which in painfull perillous actions, would otherwise languish, faint, and become fearefull: Therefore l•…•…t the loue towards God, the care of their Countrie, their present perill, the example of magnani∣mitie in their forefathers, the quarrel, cause, and benefits to soule and bodie, bée meanes to make them valiantly accomplish their actes.

Hée ought neuer to make conference, concerning that which hée is to put in execution, neither of any one thought, imagina∣tion, or inuention appertaining to the state of these warlike at∣tempts and affaires, but with those persons of whom hée may assuredly reserue faithfull and friendly counsell, for that the importance of such and so great dealings, ought euer to be had in suspition of discouerie. Therefore a wise and carefull man will euer haue a warie & iealous eye ouer such weighty affaires.

Now the order for him to punish his souldiers in cases wher∣in they are not guiltie of death, I thinke the most important punishment which appertaines to the Captaine to giue them,

is openly amidst the whole companie & band, shamefully to dis∣arme them, to take away their money & chiefest garmēts, & so to banish them & send them packing: for to put them to death, or furiously to beate them, belonges to the office of y^e Master of the camp & Marshal of the field, & not to the Captain, for if hée should beate his souldiers, hée should make himself hated & embase him self, & bring his souldiers either to become mutinous or abiects.

Note, that it is not sufficient only for a Captaine to haue or∣dained his companie discréetely, & therin to haue great numbers of good men, which is to say, in warlike affaires valiant men, but aboue all thnigs it is very necessary when hée shall come to blowes & fight, hée should aduenture & performe the same to his manifest aduantage, or else constrained therunto by pure neces∣sity, although hée ought to flie the last so much as hée is able, ob∣seruing this for a generall rule, not to fight either by chance, either for pleasure or for ambition, as many times wée sée done by rash & ambitious chiefes and Captaines.

Moreouer, hée must worke in such sort, that his souldiers haue very good occasion & apt meanes to win the victorie, & that they be fresh & lusty, to the intēt that in fighting they may ouercome: for without these and like aduertisements by tempting fortune, men for the most part both loose, and are ouerthrowne.

It is very conuenient hée procure the hauing of an ample and autentike Patent of his Collonel, with as large woords of fauor as may be, wherein must bée declared at the instance & appoint∣ment of what Prince the expedition is made, & so with modestie and prudence hée shall vse the aucthority that is giuen him, but neuerthelesse there, as it behooues him so to doe.

It is not requisite that in all places hée suffer his Ensigne to bée displayed: the maner & doing wherof shewes force & aucthori∣tie, the which many times is not to bée vsed, neither in ech place. When a man is inferior to others, hée ought to vse great dexte∣ritie & modesty, which euer fals out both to be commodious and cōmendable. And moreouer according to y^e order of passa parole, of aduertisements from mouth to mouth, hée ought euer to ob∣serue a silent & assured plaine information to his▪ whole band, wherby they may vpon the suddain alter aray, make alta, march slow or fast, close or in wide ranks, or prepare their péece, match and •…•…ullet for a suddain Alarum, inuasion, skirmish or defence▪

A Captain that must leauy a band, is to make his election and choise of his officers & souldiers, not only approued & sufficiētly, but also vse such spéedy march in his expedition & iourney, that hée may ioyne his company to the rest of the armie, at or before the appointed day and place.

When hée may march by land with his company, let him neuer haue desire to go by sea, hoping to spare cost & shorten time, for by becomming subiect to the indiscretion of the wind, either through long aboad, or some accident by shipwracke or tempestes, there hath risen many times great disturbance & ruine without reme∣die, since by this defect many good occasions and of great impor∣tance hath bin lost and made frustrate.

Hée ought neuer to take iourney in hand without a guide, the which he must procure to bee giuen him by the chiefe that doth command him, to the intent he may alwaies remain execused & faultles from those errors, that by such defects may or do cōmon∣ly arise, which diligence is not only particularly to be vsed, when any iourney of smal length is to be guided: but if any long iour∣ney is to bée made (not being able to do better) hée must circum∣spectly haue him alwaies by his side, neither ought to haue him slip away from him or absent, since that euery smal error or going out of y^e way in a iourney & marching, doth displease soul∣diers & warlik persons, & yéelds lesse reputation to the Captain, who ought alwaies to march with them, & to prouide & procure through his aucthority all things necessarie, with the greatest fauor & aduantage possible. Hée ought alwaies to keepe his soul∣diers exercised, by often taking view & muster of them, marching sometimes along in ranks by 3. 5. 7. & 9. &c. in a rank: sometimes in training them in Kings, esses, dées, battailes, squadrons, tur∣ning one rank through an other, in leading them to skirmish, & in such sort as I haue set down in my second booke, practise them daily. And sometimes he must cause his souldiers to shoot vollées of shot, sometimes all at once, sometimes by ranks, & sometimes mixed. The which vollées vpon y^e signe or sound of drum or word of mouth by the Captain must be accomplished with celeritie, & closely together & cunningly, & not out of disorder or by péeces, a great while one after another, but vpon their discharge, iointly together, without rumor, noise or tumult they must all charge a∣gain, & vpon a signe giuen by th•…•… Captain, giue a fresh vollée &c.

Hée must likewise delight to sée them well armed with all sortes of armes, euery one according to the weapon hée beares: and sometimes likewise exercise them in running, leaping, wrastling, throwing the barre, and ordinarilie cause them to bée wakened in the morning betimes, charging the Drummes to strike the Diana through out all the quarter.

A Captaine may at all times accompanie his band with the sound of Drum & Fift, which must giue order to their continual March and directes: all their other enterprises, vnlesse to accom∣pany prisoner, to entrench, make plain the way, to make & carie fagots, baskets, or gabions from the wood, & such like seruile and peasantly seruice, hardly digested of honorable souldiers.

Hée to the intent hée may bée both loued and obeyed of his soul∣diers, must applie himselfe to be prouident and politike in paci∣fiyng discordes, & al such difference as shall arise amongst them, wherein if hée find any obstinate, so soone as hée hath performed his indeuor, and that thereby they will not agrée and become friends, so soone as their pay is ended, hée ought to discharge them. In times past it hath bin vsed of notable Collonels to permit the combate, and cause them fight it out, therby to extin∣guish their obstination, to bridle their furie, and giue notable ex∣ample to the rest: the which order although it hath bin tried to auaile verie much for their good gouernment, yet it is not to bée vsed amongst Christians, the generall Counsell hauing forbid∣den the same: vnlesse to feare the parties he faine that the same shall bée performed of them to the vttermost, and at the ioyning in fight to cause them stay, and take other order of punishment, except they accord, and to discharge them.

A Captaine ought to vse all art and industrie to inuade, en∣domage, and ouerthrow the enimy, specially infidels: and aboue all things to bée franke of minde, and to feare nothing but disho∣nest fame. Likewise that hée purchase aucthoritie amongst his souldiers by the meanes of vertue and valour, let him procure by practise and effectuall experience to bée accompted a wise and a worthie valiant Captaine, rather then to beare the name of a simple, weake, and vndiscréete Collonel, for the name of a Cap∣taine is a type and title of speciall honour.

Hée must likewise in respect of a certaine inward desire of emulation, not carie a base and abiect mind, but still aspiring

with great subtiltie, by good inuention and industrie, of a firme and faithfull disposition, and neuer subiect to forgetfulnesse, to the intent he may retaine in memorie those things that be wel done, and all commendable enterprises, the which do maruel∣lous and incredibly delight and féede mens minds and disposi∣tions.

A Captaine must euer take care that his whole charge be still furnished with men, armour, weapons and munitions, with all things néedfull, and distributed at conuenient times.

He must suffer none through idlenesse to neglect his armour, weapons, and other furniture, whereby he shall grow vnready to seruice at néede, but giue his officers commandement cir∣cumspectly to looke to the same.

Souldiers should be prohibited from ouermuch libertie, nei∣ther to vse whoorehunting, drunkennes, common swearing, quarelling, feighting, cosining, or such like, but that spéedie cor∣rection is to be vsed.

Prouision of victuals, armour and munition being made, it must discréetely be vsed in due time by victuallers appointed, and to be distributed vnto the souldiers, and to sée that the vic∣tuallers & other artificiers, lending vnto souldiers vpon their credite at néede, vntill their pay day, may be truely satisfied.

If any souldiers be taken prisoners, to be ransomed home in due time that his hands remaine not vnfurnished.

Diuers points of seruice are committed to y^e Captaine, wher∣in great discretion and seruice is to be vsed, as in a Conuoy, Canuisado, Ambush, skirmish, approch, assault, retrait, surprise, passage of riuers, streights, sodaine fortifications, discoueries, &c. As in these and such like occurrences, it is necessarie to vse the aduise of expert souldiers, whose opinions are worthy to be obserued, gratifying and rewarding them according to the va∣lue of their counsels. So likewise a Captaine must sometimes proue and circumspectly try by fained pretenses, affirming that he meanes to performe certaine exploites, and will march to some place nothing pretending the same, to the intent to disci∣pher those that be busie bodies, rash and vnsecreat in counsell, and such as presume without knowledge or experience: after∣ward reuealing the same, may trie the truth and punish the of∣fenders, as to his duetie and office is conuenient.

The office of a Collonel.

A Ualiant and worthie Collonel, after he hath a lawfull dis∣patch of his Prince, and hath obtained his patent and prest money, to conduct that number of souldiers his charge and expe∣dition shall containe, with all conuenient diligence, and accor∣ding as he is appointed, he must make election of as many cap∣taines as be néedfull, distributing to euerie one 300. for a band, which number is of most conuenient quantitie: for by reducing companies to a lesse number, as in our time is vsed, specially amongst the Spaniards and Italions, and well followed by the French and our English, they may rather carrie the name of Lieutenants and centurions, then beare the title of Captaines. Besides a band being made of a small number, the treasurers consume much more money amongst the great store of officers, the which ought to be by al meanes possible auoyded of a polli∣tike Generall, and of a prudent Prince, to auoyd extraordinarie expence and confusion, which doth easily arise amongst the mul∣titude of officers.

He must be prouident to entertaine those that be old captains, practised, and beare a good port, and that be loued and desired of the souldiers, whom he ought to accompanie and preferre with the greatest authoritie he can giue, with ample, sealed, and au∣tentike Patents, thereby more spéedily and more easily he may accomplish his affaires.

It is requisite he equally depart to euerie one, the quantitie of that prest money he hath receiued, to the intent the Captaine and the officers arise not to be burdened, taxed, and consumed by ordinarie and extraordinarie meanes, and other manifest wayes in spending about those affaires. And to the intent the souldiers may tast of the beneuolence of their Collonel, for by that meanes credite is sustained, and his traine augmented, a thing most necessarie to personages that supply so great a place. For it is requisite that men in the beginning be not discoura∣ged for want of necessarie prouision, yea rather to lend of his owne (considering he is to be paid againe) then his souldiers should be brought to any extremitie.

The distribution of thè prest money ought to be preferred

with great prudence, for afterwards at the bancke, the same otherwise may be retained, and substraction made of all the whole money, either in the first pay or those that follow, more or lesse as it séemes expedient, principally for the vse and com∣moditie of the souldiers, considering (that according to the pro∣uerbe) A man can hardly at any time serue two masters, and therefore he must stand vpon this speciall point, to be more carefull not to doe any thing preiudiciall to the honorable ex∣ercise of Armes, then to please the couetous and insatiable hu∣mour of some Captaines, whom in effect it pleasures but lit∣tle, in respect their gréedie desire is neuer satisfied: Neuerthe∣lesse it fals out to be a maruellous losse and hinderance to the enterprise, specially to men of valour and souldiers, without whose aid a Collonel is but of smal force and value: and to con∣clude, money must alwayes be procured, dispersed, and spent with great discretion, order, and consideration, since the same is so necessarie to man, as it is called the sine wes of warres.

It is a thing most requisite that he carrie with him at the least, one Minister, a man of good life, who exemplarly attende about the care of Ecclesiasticall matters, wherin aboue al other things we ought thorowly to be staid and instructed.

He must likewise haue in his Regiment besides the ordina∣rie Surgeans, an excellent and tried Phisition, well prouided of all drugs and spiceries, and of other things necessarie to be ministred to those that be sicke.

His Lieutenant for his Regiment must be of a singular qua∣litie and excellent experience, who not onely must particularly gouerne his owne band and companie, but also with great prudence and pollicie take care and charge ouer all the people which are in the bands vnder his Collonell, wherin the Lieute∣nant must procéede according to my rules for the Lieutenant of a priuate band, and the notes in my second and third booke. His awne Alfierus as Generall and superiour to the rest of the En∣signe bearers vnder his Collonnelship, must be guided and go∣uerned by a singular and substanciall souldier, a Gentleman of an ancient house, courteous, wise and endewed with good con∣ditions.

The same order he ought likewise to obserue, in the election

of his Caualliers of S. Georges squadre, of his Sergeants, of his Corporals, of his drummers, and euerie other officer.

It is a thing most necessary and conuenient, as in my second booke, and the office of a Captaine I haue touched, That a Col∣lonel should retaine in his regiment, and specially in his owne band about him, a number of wise and worthy souldiers, to bée the Gentlemen of his Companie, Lance Spezzate, or serue for extraordinarie Lieutenants, whom I in the memorie of the ancient valour of our nation, entitle by the name of the Caual∣liers of S. Georges squadre, whom the Collonell must not onely vse and entreat well with an aduantage in their pay, but also feast them, cherish them, and set them oftentimes by course at his owne table, and alwayes shew them a courteous counte∣nance, with which shew of friendly courtisie, souldiers be in∣credibly fedde, and contrariwise maruellously displeased with the hautie lookes of proud disdaine. For al those that make pro∣fession of this worthie art, are of great curiositie and courage, and therefore men of warre ought neuer (against right) be vil∣lanously handled, either in word, déede, or countenance.

He must create a Sergeant Maior, that is a souldier of great experience, and that particularly is a professour of that office, to the end he know precisely what is to be preferred in euery pra∣ctise: such a one as can yéelde thereof a perfect account and dis∣course, and that consequently can much better by déede then by word execute any enterprise. And for that in his office it is ne∣cessarie for him to varie and change purpose, with infinite ad∣uertisements and considerations, as the shortnesse of time now and then requires, the discommoditie of the place and seat ther∣of doth inforce, the order of the enimies doth constraine, or ac∣cording to his owne proper pollicie, or the prouident prudence of his Collonel: but for that this place doth not permit to speak particularly of euerie point, I will passe ouer the same, and onely referre all to the prouidence of his long and approoued experience, which of necessitie is required vnto him, which I further referre to my following discourse of the Sergeant Maior generall.

He ought to make a Marshall of his lodgings, who must bée his principall Furrier and Harbinger, that must attend with great diligence, to procure lodging for all, without pleasing any

one particular person for any priuate commoditie whatsoeuer, but must equally distribute, and depart the quarters & lodgings according as néede requires: neither is it to be borne withall, that he do make frée any houses or lodgings, neither go about any such like gaine, a most dishonest and vnlawfull robberie, which oftentimes doth cause great losse and discommoditie to men of warre, small reputation to their conductour, and great vexation and disturbance to the poore people, who for the most part are innocent. The Collonels harbinger hauing allotted out lodgings to euery band, he must prefer the particular distur∣bation to the vnder harbingers.

A general Drummer ought likewise to be created and appoi∣ted, who may take charge and care ouer al the rest of the Drum∣mers, whose office & custome amongst them is to conserue and keepe orders, to the intent they may bée obeyed, and that euerie one performe his duty appertaining to his office, as to strike the batterie in marching in battaile, or disseuered, to make ge∣nerall bands and cries, to strike the Diana in the morning, and the Salue or Aue maria in the euining at y^e closing of the night, and in sounding the march, the call, the charge, the battell, the retrait, with such other like obseruations and necessarie things to be done.

He must procure to haue part of euerie munition for his re∣giment, out of the principal and generall munition, as Corstets, Pikes, Halberds, Hargabuses with their furniture, match, lead, powder, of all sort of victual, and ech thing else as occasion and necessitie requires, which he must cause his Sergeant Ma∣ior to distribute amongst his bands, that his souldiers be not exacted on in the prise. The like deuision he must cause him to make by money it selfe, but neuer more then that which rests as due to them, as manie verie maliciously haue accustomed to do, making merchandise thereof to the losse & ruine of their soul∣diers: towards whom they are bound continually to procure manifest commoditie & profite. The like is to be obserued in all other things necessary & conformable to this before said, without selling of furniture to them of excessiue prise, for nothing is more dishonorable or more miserable, then to extort vpon soul∣diers.

It is verie requisite that he examine the election and choise,

that euerie Captaine hath made of his officers in euery band, and whether they do thorowly possesse or approch verie néere to the perfite experience they ought to do, of whom and not other∣wise he shall like and allow. Note that these aduertisements, make manifest apparence, and sets forth to the view of the world, the inward valour of the conductour and Collonel: for if he neglect these obseruations, the contrarie doth easily ensue.

I iudge it a thing not out of square, but rather most expedient that the one halfe of the Caualliers of S. Georges squadre should be Hargabusiers on horseback, specially when warres be made in large and open countries, or else howsoeuer it be situate, for being men of valour, they may both on horsebacke and foote doe great seruice, as often hath bene tried by manifest experience in our time, specially in the late warres of Flanders, vnder my Collonel the Baron of Sheuerau, in seruice of Don Iohn of Au∣stria, and the Prince of Parma, where I being of the number of the Gentlemen of his owne band, haue séene dayly excellent good seruice done by them, as well by discouering the enimies ambuscades, as to draw them into the danger of our footemen. And likewise in the spéedie taking and kéeping a passage of im∣portance, in winning aduertisements and the watch word from the enimie, in taking prisoners, in breaking the way for frée passage, in clearing and beating the hye wayes, and scowring them frée from the enimie and fléebooters, in making roades, courses and incursions, in discouering the countrie and taking view there of like to light horsemen, specially in the absence of the Cauallerie of the Campe. And therfore I conclude that they shall be found to be a knot and kind of necessarie souldiers, pro∣uided that they be practised, and aboue al ful of valour and aspi∣ring minds, & not to be common souldiers, taken at vnawares out of ordinarie bands of footemen, neither such as carrie a dull▪ base and abiect mind or disposition.

If the Collonell had the authoritie to be able to kéepe togi∣ther a band with a standerd or Guidon, and a trumpet to them, would do singuler good seruice, which neuerthelesse when ser∣uice on foote did call them forth, might deliuer vp their horses, Lances, & Hargabushes with firelocks vnto their seruants, kept and maintained for that purpose, & enter into ranke or battaile amongst the rest of the Caualliers squadre, and so should the or∣dinarie

and common custome of hauing horses amongst priuate souldiers be auoided, saue such as are permitted and granted to some officers, as in my former discourses I haue alredie de∣clared. The which obseruation shal bring to passe that the soul∣diers in marching and in other enterprises shall go togithers, and be vnited about the Ensigne, which is a thing most conue∣nient and necessarie, and ought greatly to be shunned, for that horses by ouerthwart trauersing are accustomed to deface th•…•… squares, and break the rankes of the footemens battailes, which truely is verie odious and of great disturbance and discommo∣ditie: but that which I speake of this extraordinarie band is to be vnderstood and taken, when there is no ordinarie bands of horsemen ioyned to a Collonels Regiment.

He ought to take vigilant care that the Gentlemen of his band and Caualliers of his squadre, being continually about his person do diligently performe, that which they are appointed of him to do by commission or otherwise, and that they make faith∣full and true relation to him of euerie particular thing, that hée may be euer fully informed of all things, and chiefly of that which doth passe in the watch worthy & necessarie to be noted, as wel by day as by night▪ since that by going the Round, which doth appertaine principally to these Caualliers, many things of moment & importance may verie well be obserued, being able to execute any of the inferiour offices, & both quickly conceiue and sensibly vtter any new accident.

The Collonel must most carefully with humble courtisie court his captaine generall, vse great respect towards him, obey him, & giue him faithfull counsell: and to the end he may performe this thorowly well, he must neuer refuse toile or trauell, since that to take pain about matters of like importance, is agréeable and conuenient to honorable personages his equals, whereas easie delicacie & curiositie appertaines to women, or other effe∣minate persons, who estéeme more of belly cheere, gallant at∣tyre and riches, then of the péerelesse prise of valor & vertue, and that prefer a fraile bodie before an immortall soule.

Some hold opinion that a Collonel hauing to allot ou•…•… what number of pikes, short weapons, and shot is to be in euery band, that it is farre better to haue but one sort of weapons, so shall the Captaine euer accompanie his owne souldiers, whereas

otherwise they being disseuered in a stand battaile, he must ei∣ther loose the companie of his shot or pykes, the one of them be∣ing committed to a second, and the short weapons to a third, which doth nothing so much encourage the souldier, as to see his Captaine companion of his perils, and the contrarie no lesse dismaieth him: but for that foughten fields chance seldome in our time, I cease to wade further therein, only aduertising that amongst the rest of his souldiers, the armed pikes must be gent∣ly vsed, shewing them a chéerefull and good countenance, who must be chosen men, verie hardie and valiant.

He must procure that his officers diligently performe his co∣missions, and that faithfully they make relation of euerie par∣ticular thing, that he may be enformed of all, & in specially that which happens in wards, as well in the day as in the night, for they going in circuit as appertaines vnto them, may well per∣ceiue what chanceth of any great importance. So that by obser∣uing these aduertisements, the industrie of the Leader doth ap∣peare, wheras not being wel looked vnto great ruine doth arise.

To conclude, when his Regiment is discharged, either at the end of the warres or otherwise, he ought to take care that he in any wise procure, that they may be conducted wholly togither, and afterwards disband them in such a place, as from thence e∣uerie souldier may easily and without feare transport himselfe into his owne countrie, and if it be possible, hauing his health, his armes, and his apparell entyre: for otherwise if souldiers be disseuered in far countries, they suffer great inconuenience, in hard & difficile passages, in victuals and lodgings, the which doth cause their destruction, the discredite and dishonour of their conductour, and is a great blot in the fame of our nation, as those that haue séene Holland & the Lowcountries can witnes: wher∣fore it is a thing to be reformed for the increase of our credite and old naturall valour.

The election, office and duetie of the foure Corporals of the field.

GReat regard would be had to the choosing of these, as wel for their calling, yeares, and valiantnes, as otherwise for their experience, lenitie and wisedome.

Whereby these warlike affaires may be the readier & sooner executed, otherwise it may be preiudiciall to the whole armie.

These 4. bée vnder the Sergeant Maior generall, to appoint, set order, and make battaile and battailes, and to guide euery particular person therein▪ according to their degrée and office, and as the necessitie of the same shall require, to instruct and re∣forme, whose commaundements all Captaines and souldiers with their officers must obey, but in march, approch, Canuisado, skirmish, retraite, watch, ward, or what other seruice by them shal bée commaunded, whose authoritie likewise is such, as if any resist, they shall by the Prouost Martiall bée punished as Rebels, of what calling or degrée soeuer they bée.

Two of these are appointed to the placing and ordering of shot, and the other two for the •…•…mbattelling of the Pikes and Halberdes, who according to their worthines if death happe∣neth, are to succéede the Sergeant Maior.

The Office appertaining to the Sergeant Maior generall.

DEw order and politike proportion, by how much they bée necessarie in all humane affaires, by so much more the weightie office of the Sergeant Maior generall is to bée had in estimation, for vpon his charge & aucthoritie doth depend only the good ordering of all causes, but also the forme, fashion, and execution of the most principall matters, for the readie and ex∣pedient seruice of the armie. And likewise of ech other assem∣blie that is made, through occasion of defence or offence, of wha•…•… number of souldiers soeuer, the which if this worthy Office•…•… should want, can neuer bée brought to passe and performed, in such requisite sort as is conuenient: Since that he is that per∣son neutrall, who doth kéepe together in accord the Captaines, other Officers and souldiers, manie times abused by their par∣ticular companie, charge, and offices, more then is honest o•…•… conuenient. And in effect it is hée that holdes a iust and equall ballance amongst the souldiers of euery in the Armie. Proui∣ded alwaies that it bée in those warlike affaires that are subiect •…•…o order, how to kéepe and obserue the same, and such like mat∣ters, and not in those things that appertaine to iustice, and the rest of the office of the Marshal generall of the field, as I meane to touch in the discourse of his Office.

Therefore this great Officer ought to haue certain sufficient and old trained souldiers about him to bée his continuall aide, that is, fower Corporals which may bée his consorts and coad∣iutors, and in absence succéede him both in office and aucthority: So that the Sergeant Maior by meanes of the aucthority giuen him by his Prince, and through that which of custome hée doth carie by his office: It is necessarie hée obserue diligent, artifi∣ciall, and readie meanes, not only to maintain the said aucthori∣tie, but requisitely to augment the same, in the minds & hartes of the Captaines, of the officers & souldiers contained vnder his charge and expedition, to the end that in those orders & fashions of squadrons & battailes, which hée hath determined with him selfe to vse, or in those hée is to execute by the commaundement of his Captain general, hée may haue such entire & ready obedi∣ence as is requisite, w^tout the which what great diligence soeuer hée can vse, is not sufficient to make any affaires or enterprises come to good issue in this important office, the which might bée proued by many examples passed, if wée would examine them.

It is most necessarie for him in his office, to presuppose with himself, consider of, & foresée al chances & causes before the euent therof succéede, & before hand to foretell & take order with others what is requisite to bée executed, considering the time wherin he is to work, is for y^e most part very short, since ordinarily it doth fall in suddain rumors of Alarums, so that in this hastie occasion of breuitie it is conuenient he procéede expediently, orderly, and readily, not béeing dismaied of the enimies presence, for the most part of all his actions, are to bée performed euen in the face of the enimie: Wherefore if hée did not gouerne himselfe warely, politikely, & prouided with good consideration, and if hée had not ordained before hand what is to bée done, neuer any thing a∣mongst so many things, which hée ought to performe with per∣fection, would succéede with happie felicitie, for particularly in that time that Alarum is giuen to the souldiers, vniuersally en∣tire attention is not giuen vnto that which is commanded: for the eares of all are occupied, part with the rumor & noise, & part through the clashing and clattering of the armour & weapons they weare, & with other confusions that arise, but béeing of a quicke inuention hée may suddainly perceiue and conceiue, the nature, situation, & order of the enimies aray, altering and dis∣posing accordingly his owne.

Besides, this it is very conuenient for him to know distinctly how many Collonels & priuate Captains there bée in the army, & of what qualitie & kind their conduct & guiding is, and what grosse number of armed pikes & halberds hée hath to command, how many light armed or disarmed, both of the one sort and the other: the number of the Musket & hargabuziers on foote, & the quantity of horsemen, how many lances, how many light horse∣men, & how many Argoloteares, & what number of other souldi∣ers, & of what valour or moment they are able to preuaile: to the end that hée may afterwards order them about any exploit, these to make the front, these to bée the backe, others for the wings, flanks & sléeues, others to empale the squadrons, others to enui∣ron the enimy, & others for the fit conuenient places to execute a slaughter, & such like, others to defend the bagage, artillarie, & munition, others to entertain & skirmish with the enimie, & for the forlorne hope, others to guide and Ascolt or conuoy, & others to performe such other like seruice. And for his better instruction must likewise accordingly haue a Roll of al the bands, from the Lord high Marshal, with their difference of weapon, which ha∣uing alwaies about him may reprehend the want, and informe the muster Master & Treasorer. Hée shall likewise take order with euery Collonel, Captain, & chieftain, that in the day vpon any Alarum, they conduct their bands into y^e market or place ap∣pointed for y^e main battail, néere wher the artillary or munition is kept, that they come not in a fond sort stragling ordispersed, or vpon heapes, as in disorder they are sometimes accustomed, but orderly & warely about y^e ensigne, that they may make a forcea∣ble front & gallant resistance where occasion offers, & giue a va∣liant onset wher néede requires: for it hath bin oftentimes séene that this place of armes hath bin assaulted & possest of the enimy, it béeing a cōmon custome, that the munition of the Artillary is hoatly assaulted by the enimies, the more to disseuer, to break, to deceiue, & disperse the army with more assurance & ease, y^t therby they may force the fort, or break in where y^e munition is garded. When they be entred into the place of armes, euery band w^t the ensigne must attend to follow the sergeant Maior, & the Corpo∣rals in obedience & silence, & after euery particular company is placed together in y^e order, appointed by y^e Corporals & sergeant Maior general: the main & real square battail of earth must bée

made, and not of number of men, or of a fewe combatants and pikemen: to the intent the head and the backe may bée of suffi∣cient strength to shoulder downe the enimie, by presenting a greater number of souldiers in one thréede of a ranke, both to fight and giue the enimie the shocke: The which thing doth not fal out in many other battails, & that likewise doth embrace and occupie in euery respect lesse compasse of ground, both the one and the other aduertisement is very substanciall, & for the most part of greatest aduantage, for euery man of experience doth know how much it doth profit, so néere as is possible, to be plan∣ted & placed in one vnited order, and to take on hand to defend a small circuite of ground, as by this forme doth verie well en∣sue and succéede.

Hée must set both in the one and the other of these places, that is to say, at the head and backe of the battaile, the onely choise souldiers and best armed men, which order hée ought likewise to obserue in those which must impale the rest, the face, the back and flankes of the battaile consisting of well armed Pikes, spe∣cially if the situation of the ground and cariages do want, as by reason is requisite and conuenient, and place the Ensignes bée∣ing accompanied with good Halberds, & men of valour in their accustomed standing of the footmens rankes. Hée must make to his battaile two wings of Hargabuziers, the one lesse, and the other greater, as the situation of the ground wil beare or suffer, the which wings are to defend and flanke the maine square, euen in the same sort, as curtaines or bulwarkes with their casamates, do flanke a fortresse.

It is verie necessarie for him to haue certaine souldiers, be∣sides the battaile and wings in the front, vnder the name of the forlorne hoope, and an other part that readily and couragiously béeing kéept behind the battaile, may bée imploied in diuers néedefull enterprises, without discouering or disseuering the wings, or any other bodie of battaile ordained to other effect, & flanking himselfe with these wings, hee may sometimes fight with great aduantage on all sides, although the flankes of the said battaile be weaker, & containe a lesse quantitie of souldiers then the head or the backe: and therfore with great iudgements these flankes ought to bée placed towards the strongest part of the situation, & aided with the wings of Hargabuziers, and the

•…•…eregard, for that sometimes one of the •…•…ankes béeing forced to b•…•…ecome the front, the said hargabuziers by good reason and very aduisedly, may retire & thrust themselues into the thréede of the rankes of the Pikemen, from whence they may shoot and wound the enimie, and defend their owne partie. The forlorne hope in the front of the battaile, must bée succoured with n•…•…w supplies from behind, and if néede require from the winges, that the front of the armed men bée neuer left naked and vncouered, till the battailes bée so néere that they bée ready to crosse their pikes, then must the other retire into the wings, or behind the battaile to the cariages.

To forme and set in order this battaile with facillitie, which in my opinion is the best founded, firme, profitable, and most ex∣pedient, and if necessitie did require, more apt to iourney then many other forme of battailes bée: I therfore say it is conueni∣ent for the Sergeant to haue a long practise in Millitarie pro∣fession, or else very good Theoricke, or that which is better, both the one and the other together, for if a man do but only possess•…•… practised experience, hee doth not alwaies direct and bring his enterprises to perfection, but doth worke with more spéede and facillitie, which is a thing verie necessarie and altogether re∣quisite by Theorick only, matters be wrought with perfection, but much more coldly, slow, and with longer time: The which defects and imperfections ought to bée fled of men that bée of va∣lour: It is an accustomed saying, that practise, for that it is a thing more material, is said to bée the bodie, and Theoricke the mind, for that the same looking into y^e matter doth first dispose & set in order, and the other execute, whereby it followes that the one & the other ioined together, doth make vs aptly to conceiue and readily to execute this office, and euery other enterprise, so that wée cannot desire any further direction.

And for that euery man ought to apply himselfe in all his ac∣tions to attaine to full perfection, for the absolute performance therof, hée ought to ioine practise with Theoricke, which is rea∣ding, specially in Algorisme, Algebra, & the platformes of bat∣tailes, the which in forming the order of this square battaile both instruct, that you must deuide the whole number, placing the souldiers which are to bée bestowed in this battaile by 21. ta∣king from the quotient y^e roote of the quadrant number, placing

it in some part a side, then multiplying the said quadrant roote by 7. you shal haue the number of souldiers, which doth enter by rankes, then multiplying the same roote by 3. you may find the number of the rankes, which béeing done, if you multiplie the number of that which amounteth by 21. & the product shall shew the number of those souldiers which are not to be placed in main battail, which may serue in many profitable vses, and thus this quadrant battaile may bée formed.

Tartaglie Bresciano in his booke of Martiall inuentions, giues rule to forme the same perfectly in other sort. In the which it is necessarie to make quadrate the number 49. that is to multiply it in it selfe, which will make 2401. & this 2401. hée shal multi∣ply by the number of souldiers hée would put in battaile, & shall deuide the product by the number of 100. and of the product hée shal after take the square roote, the which roote wil bée the num∣ber of souldiers which shall enter into ranks, & shal deuide with the said roote the quotient already mentioned, which ought to bée put in battail, & that which shal arise is the number of the ranks and the surpluse which doth arise in this last quotient, are the souldiers which remaine out of the square, the which are other∣wise to bée emploied. But to frame the square of men, there is nothing to bée done, but to take the square roote from the number of souldiers, and the same roote will bée the number of souldiers which must enter into rank, and the selfe same roote wil bee the number of the ranks, this béeing done hée must force himselfe to maintaine and kéepe them in due order and iust square.

To obserue good order, hauing made proclamation that euery one shall kéepe his place, béeing assisted by the 4. Corporals and the Sergeant Maiors of the Regiments in their quarters: Hée must diligently ryde héere and there about the squadrons, vsing certain manifest & knowne signes, wherin order must bée taken openly & not priuely, to the intent they may be credited & obeied of those that know the manner of this obseruation: for by decla∣ring the same secréetly & priuately, it is vneasilie & very hardly executed of certain ambitious and ignorant persons, which are accustomed to make profession that they are not to bée comman∣ded more of this man then of that, and do replie in contraries, wheras they ought to employ themselues to nothing more then obedience, without hauing respect to any other particular profit

or commoditie.

Hée must take order and command expresly al Collonels, Cap∣taines and Officers, that continually they remain firme, & kéep their appointed places, the which places ought to be such as bée feared to bée of greatest danger & importance, as the front, the backe, the flank, & the sléeues, & wings of the Hargabuziers, the like wherof may bée obserued in the other battailes, when it is necessary to forme more then one, as oftentimes it fals out.

Let him obserue diligently to procéede in all these respectes, with a modest & low voice, not with rough woords to souldiers, but with swéet & smooth spéech, & if it bée possible with signes and tokens rather then with words, for by that maner of procéeding souldiers remain more attentiue, & better instructed, then with crying & calling, which for the most part procures disobedience, & causeth contempt of aucthority, & moreouer in matters of im∣portance procures smal effect. And so euery Captain hauing his place, some in the front, some in the rereward, some to lead shot in the winges, others to guide the forlorne hope, ech one must carefully, as I haue said, execute & obey the Sergeant Maiors commandement, whether it be by signe or by voice, by Drum or trumpet, or by any other manifest token & aduertisement.

These obseruations bée of great force, wherwithall amongst other his good qualities, in nature & custome requisite for this person to possesse, it is most necessarie that hée bee well giuen to Religion, that hée be charitable, courteous & louing towards the souldiers, & vse exquisite example for their better instruction, which aboue all things must not bee villanously entreated, nei∣ther otherwise dispised, but as much as may be corrected with a gentle hand, and alwaies with lenitie fauored.

If in the night by reason of Alarums he bée to set the armie in order, hee must before hand haue appointed the Captaines, that their lanternes, quarieres, torches or cressets bee in a rea∣dines, vpon any suddaine to bée light vp, the which they must doe: prouided alwaies that it bée necessarie and expedient, and that particularly it hath bin of purpose ordained and com∣maunded, that then they guide behind them, euery band by themselues into the place of Armes, but the Hargabuziers of euery company disseuered from the Pikes and other weapons, which Pikemen shall gather within them▪ their Ensignes in

safetie, and the Hargabuziers shal march iust after them and be∣fore them, as shal bée appointed or séeme most expedient. And to the intent the same may bée more spéedely performed, the fower Corporats, and Sergeant Maiors of the regiments, shall verie aduisedly go to the assigned places & quarters of the lodgings, for this respect if it bée possible, that al the people may arise, may arme themselues, may ioine in one, & ariue at the same instant at the place of armes; where they are of this worthy Officer to bée receiued, and put in squadre in the forme of a halfe Moone or cressant, & within the compasse of the hornes of the said Moone, euery Alfierus as hée ariueth, must compasse & plant himselfe in the forme of a crowne, one by one with their Ensignes in their hands, & amongst them those that be armed with rondels & tar∣gets if there bée any; as for a small competent number it is re∣quisite ther should bée (vnlesse those of proofe which must lead y^e shot,) then behind them the armed with halberds, & after these that bée light armed pikes, and about the vtmost compasse of the said circle, & in both the tippes & hornes of the moone the armed pikes are to be planted, and the Sergeants & Lieutenants must attend to apply themselues for the conseruation & kéeping of the order of these last Kinges without: Now the rest of the Collo∣nels & Captaines; with the person of the Captain general, & the Cauallieres of his owne squadre, and a great part of the lightes & Drums, must stand in the void place betwixt both the hornes before the Ensignes, where reseruing the messages & ambassa∣ges of aduertisements that go and come in such cases, they may consult and determin vpon such things as are to bée done. The entrance of this void place ought to bée turned towards y^e stron∣gest situation of the said ground, & if it bée conuenient, and the ground wil permit▪ let it be garded with certain field péeces and shot. The hargabuziers in the self same time are to be disposed & placed by the Sergeant Maior, so far distant from the foresaid squadre, & in so many places & so many proportions, as the situ∣ation of the ground, parts and qualities doth require, being con∣formable to that present seruice, therby the better to flank, forti∣fie & assure the foresaid principal battail. And to euery troupe of hargabuziers hée shal appoint the other halfe and moity of the Officers, Drums & lights, if it bée conuenient, to the intent that in fight or otherwise in all causes they may readily worke and

performe exploits, neither do I thinke it good that in these af∣faires of the night, Geometricall measures be necessarie, and much lesse Arithmetical numbers: but the carefull diligence of valiant and discréete officers, is most expedient and necessarie, who must euer frame themselues conformable, and be in these actions altogither obedient to the Sergeant Maior, particularly putting in execution his order and pleasure: The proportion of this foresaid Cressant was vsed of Alexander Vitellus in the night vpon the toppe of a mountaine, against the mightis Lu∣theran League.

In the day time the armie rising and setting forward to march and standing in doubt of the enimie, the Sergeant Maior must forme the ordinance and battaile of the armed and disarmed Pikes, of the Halberds and other weapons, in such sort, that hauing to double the rankes to make them greater, the battails may fall out in due proportion, that is to say, that the front and the backe way deuide equally the armed Corslets and. Pikes, alwayes prouided that the flankes be not left disarmed and void of Pikes, so shall he bring to passe that the short weapons shal enclose the Ensignes iust in the midst amongst them, kéeping defended betwixt them and the armed Corslets and Pikes, as well on the front as on the backe, the disarmed Pikes, y^e which to make number and to fill vp roome, ought not to be refused a∣mongst a great number of footemen in the field, since it is verie hard for all men to arme themselues, they being armed onely with a brest plate and burganet, or with a coate of plate or iack & a scul, are good to turne on amongst shot. And as the quantitie & number of Pikes, principally togither with other short wea∣pons, is the verie strength & force of the armed footemen: So the musketeares & hargabusiers, serue to no other end but to flank, to raise ruine & deface all defences, to make imbuscades, to skir∣mish diligently to execute such like enterprises: and finally to pursue y^e enimy, defending or expugning some strong place, for∣tresse, passage, or breach, or what other condition soeuer. When he hath put the ordenance and march in this foresaid forme and maner, & that he doth carry in mind y^e Theorick & Rules which before are mentioned, he may so ingrosse and double the ranks, specially when he aspects and stayes for the enimie, that he may frame▪ the square battaile of ground or of number a•…•…d of men,

both the one and the other, without any difficultie.

He may likewise cause euerie particular Sergeant place all the Pikes armed and disarmed, with the other weapons they haue in charge, and also the Ensigne, in so many li•…•…es & rankes as the people of the other bands likewise armed by their Ser∣geant are formed and fashioned. Besides it would be very good for the Sergeant Maior, first of all, aduisedly to consider with the Sergeants, how many lines or ranks they are to be by com∣panie: prouided alwayes that one band be like vnto another in quantitie of lines & rankes, that their proportion may answere and be correspondent. These bodies so ordained, are of many called maniples or scales, as thus.

[illustration]

which verie easily may be ingrossed thus,

[illustration]

And in this sort shal he cause one band to march behind another, being annexed and ioyned néere togither, and that euery one of thē be guided by an officer into a place & ground able to receiue them, causing the first company and maniple to march somwhat disseuered from the other, & to make space & stay, he may ordaine that the second comming forward it may be placed vpon his flanke: so in like sort shal the third to the second, the 4. to the 3. & the 5. to the 4. and so consequently continuing this order, he shal by & by forme a grosse square and gallant battell, that with ad∣uantage may be able to contend with the enimie. And it is true y^t some haue affirmed, that the fewer number of maniples there be, the case is so much better, but in this case it is very hard to obserue the iust order of so many men by rank, & of such number of ranks as the perfect rules of Theorick doth assigne, by reason that many times all the companies and bands are not of equall number, neither are they all armed alike one to another.

Marching in this order he may cause al the Alfieres of euerie Regiment to march in ranke vnited togither, without mixing

themselues with others that pertain to other Collonels, or with other priuate captains, and when the maniple be doubled & the battel is complet & engrossed, euery Alfierus may go to his own band, and remain with the same, for the more satisfaction of his company and his greater saftie. And returning with the said or∣der of maniples to march in long ordinance as before, euery Al∣fierus shal turne amongst the other Alfierus or Ensigne bearers where he remained first. The Hargabusiers must march disseuered from the battaile, the one halfe in Uantgard, and the other half in reargard, or somwhat distant of, vpon y^e right hand, & vpon the left hand, as the way shall serue with most commo∣ditie, or as shall be thought most necessarie, if suspect be had of the enimie, so that according as néede doth require, redoubling the rankes, and causing one to enter into another, or knit and ioyne togither, he may engrosse them and put them in order with good aduisement, to flanke this foresaid principall battaile in as good forme as he possible may.

It is a most necessarie note to be had in memorie, that as wel the two wings or sléeues of Hargabusiers, as also the front or backe part of the ordained battaile or generall square, are al∣wayes recommended, as before I said, to the worthy Collonels and Captaines, and honorable officers and souldiers, to the in∣tent they may alwayes giue remedie, by discourse consider, and by courage determine of al matters, making choise of the chiefest part in those affaires of importance, without attending or aspe∣cting for counsell▪ if in case such counsell be not present and rea∣die at hand.

Neither is it to be misliked or out of course, but as I iudge a thing verie necessarie to send for Uantgard and Reargard, and on both sides some what farre off from the battaile, squadrons, troopes or hornes of Hargabusiers out of the forlorne hope: the which without mouing the souldiers of the battaile, the ordai∣ned square and flankes may verie sufficiently performe all en∣terprises, discoueries, and do great seruice of maruellous impor∣tance and profite, and in effect may assure the way and passage to the squadrons that come behind or go before from surprises, &c. Marching out of danger or suspicion of the enimy, the Ser∣geant Maior deuiding euerie armes by themselues, must forme the accustomed ordinance, and marching with this, hée may

accept the companies which ariue, as they come, and send the Hargabusiers of the front of this companie to the Uantgard of the Hargabusiers of the foresaid formed rankes, and those of the backe to the reargard: the Ensignes to the place of the Ensignes and the forepart of the Pikes and Halberds to the front, and the hindermost part to the backe of this square battaile and ordinance: in the midst of the day when the Armie makes Al•…•… to rest, in the morning when they dislodge, and at night when they encampe, let the Sergeant Maior accompanied with the Marshall of the fielde, range the armie into sundrie formes of battailes and squares, that ech one may be well acquainted with euerie sort of battaile, the which although part of them be not to march withall, and not in vse, yet for exercise sake, and for that sometimes they are found to be profitable, when they are diligētly ordained and disposed, being conformable to the situa∣tion of the ground, and correspondent to that present enterprise, specially when they be contained and framed of a great number of people, I haue thought good in my figures hereunto annexed, to set downe some of old and some of newe inuentions, hoping that some of them may satisfie our curious conceited Captaines. But to delate further of these foresaid particulars, the Sergeant Maior must euerie day repaire to the Lord high marshal, or the Lieutenant generall, to receiue direction in what sort that day the armie is to march, whose pleasures knowne, he must, as •…•… said before, sort euery kind of weapon by it selfe, and then dra•…•… them forth in maniples or sléeues, in 3. 5. 02 7. in a ranke, or mor•…•… as occasion serues, and so to place euerie band that their Cap taines may be with them to direct and animate them, which i•…•… these our dayes is almost impossible to be done, euery smal ban•…•… being deuided into seuerall weapons, so that he cannot in time of such generall seruice accompanie his owne band, which sure∣ly is repugnant to antique Discipline.

Some hold opinion, vnlesse the souldiers bee rawe and vn∣trained men, that it is not good to aduenture the brunt, in one maine square battaile, but rather in diuers squadrons and sundrie battillions, specially if by the continuance of many yeares seruice they be trained in such sort, as in the furie of the fight they can both march forward if they preuaile, or retyre vp∣on disaduantage, and yet maintaine perfectly their arayes: then

by no meanes the battaile is to be committed to one hazard of fortune, but imitating the Romaines ancient warlike discipline, to place themselues in thrée or foure seuerall fronts, with con∣uenient spaces for the first to retire and vnite himselfe with the second, & both these (if occasion néede) to serue with the 3. the shot hauing conuenient issues and lanes, continually during the fight, to discharge their péeces, which will make an incredible spoile of the enimie, so that vpon the charge of horsemen rety∣ring within the squadrons, who ioyning togither may bend and crosse their pikes to receiue the shocke, and repulse them, vp∣on whose retyre, vnclosing their thorowfares, lanes, and gal∣leries againe, the shot and musketeares may issue out vpon their backes, and either follow with the heat shore of their bul∣lets, or he imployed vpon some other enterprises: but these things cannot be accomplished without long abode in warres & 7. yeares seruice at the least of an armie in sundrie hazards of fights and battailes.

Therefore it is necessarie for the Sergeant Maior, in time of rest when the enimie is absent, to cause the bands to assemble, and to put them in sundrie sorts of standing and marching bat∣tailes, to reduce them sometimes into small squadrons of 400. 500. 600. 700. 800. 900. 1000. in a battaile, more or lesse at his pleasure, and to cause these battailes to march forwards swiftly or slowly, to sarrie, open, shut, close and disclose their squadrons, some times in sundrie battaillons, reduce themselues vpon a so∣daine into one maine square, and from that againe to haue pas∣sages & galleries for the shot through diuers places of the same, marching forwards and backward according to the stroke of the drumme, to stay and retyre in perfite measore, with no lesse fa∣cilitie then Gentlemen dance their Measures by a noyse of vyo∣lens, as hereafter ensueth. When the army can perfitely do this, then cause them sodainly to make any flacke or front, or turne entirely togither, as if it were one bodie without breaking a∣ray, for it is a cunning point to make a squadre to march vpon one corner, maintaining his square forme. This and such like varietie in marching, brings the souldier to be verie readie, so that although he neuer saw the enimy in the face, yet he may be rather accounted a trained souldier, then he which hath bene 20, yeares in seruice, and in 20. battailes, if this skil be wanting

in him, and merites the name of a raw souldier and Bisognia.

Note that there is no battaile apt to march but only the square battaile or the compound of squares, all others as the Lunule, the Triangle, the Pentagonall and the Hexagonall, the circular and ouall battailes, and others which easily may be inuented, neuer serue to any vse, but onely in fixed and immoueable bat∣tailes, for presently and by and by in marching they disorder. Therefore great consideration is to be had betwixt a marching and standing battaile, which kinde of immoueable battailes, though of themselues they are smally seruiceable, considering that in all encounters continuall motion is required, it being vnpossible to train men to that perfection, but that in marching they shall breake their aray, yet for exercise sake, and for some speciall seruice, it is most conuenient for the Sergeant Maior, oftentimes to plant his souldiers into those fashions of imbat∣telling, that appeare hereafter by figures: sodainely changing them from a triangle to a square, and from one shape to another, and thereby bring them into such perfection in these lesse neces∣sarie and hard cunning toyes, that the other plaine seruiceable formes may séeme most plaine and easie.

He must beforehand premeditate, as partly I haue touched, and cast in his minde in what sort with most facilitie he may bring his men to order of battaile, committing to the peculiar Sergeant of euery band, the charge to draw thē forth in sléeues and maniples, and so cause one to march close vp by another till al the battailes be furnished, placing alwaies the Ensignes and drums in the middle rankes of the battaile.

There néede no such curious order to be vsed in placing the shot in any forme of battaile, but only to put them into certaine wings and flankes for the battailes, and if he thinke good, euery wing to be deuided into sundrie pettie troopes, of 25. 50. or 100. men a péece, and euerie of these troopes to haue a leader, which is either Corporall, Sergeant, or Cauallier of Saint Georges squadre: so that to maintaine a skirmish, first one Corporall or leader marcheth forth and bringeth to the face of the enimie his troope, who presently discharging retyre themselues, and in his place another leader with his companie presents himselfe, con∣tinuing this order of supply, succouring, seconding, shadow∣ing and encreasing the skirmish, continually maintaining the

same without any intermission, either inuading, retyring, or in any charge or enterprise, a requisite obseruation for the for∣lorne hope. But the place being large, it shall be requisite to present oftentimes many of these troopes at once to the face of the enimie, who hauing deliuered their volée of shot, may if it be thought good, march about and giue place to those that shall supply their place, & so relieue & succour one another by turnes. And this kind of discharging and supplying, may in the open field be verie well maintained in the ring march, as the rutters do, so that in whéeling about, the head shall be sure alwayes to haue charged before the taile haue discharged: and thus in a circular march the skirmish all day shall continue.

In plaine ground he shall neuer turne out any shot to the skirmish, without certaine sléeues of pikes to gard them vpon the retraite from the charge of horses, and also troopes of short weapons, as swords and targets, Halberds or such like to backe them, if at any time they should come to the sword, or ioyne pell mell with the enimie, and such were called of the Ro∣maines vindices, but if euery shot had likewise at his backe a light leather or Uenecian target, to vse with his sword when he saw occasion, they would doe great good seruice. Our English bowes for want of shot and fornecessitie, to gall and disorder a troope of horsemen, drawing néere to them, may •…•…erue to verie good purpose, but they must be garded with Pikes or shadowed with shot &c.

The Sergeant Maior must likewise haue knowledge in Arithmetike, Algebra, & of those proportions which are set out by M. Digges in his Stratioticos, whereby he may sodainely for all forme of battailes, resolue how many ranks, and how many in a ranke, to frame battailes, what number of Pikes, of Hal∣berds, of Musket and Hargabuse shot is requisite, how manie maniples or sléeues euerie battaile may be resolued into, how many rankes of pikes in the front, backe and flankes, how ma∣ny rankes of Halberds to gard the Ensigne, vpon sight of the ground to iudge whether it be capable of such a multitude, and what forme of imbattelling may best agrée vnto it, &c.

When he doth cause any squadron or battaile to turne his face or front, he must take order that the souldiers turne onely their bodie and face, but not their armes and weapons, whose points

they ought to kéepe in their hands, thereby to shunne the noyse that by linking and striking togither they will make, and to a∣uoid confusion, which oftentimes in such cases doth fallow, since that in this sort more readily and with greater silence this act is executed, all the weapons remaine readie and fast in the soul∣diers hands: the which order makes a verie stately shew, and after brings great commoditie, when they must of new accom∣modate themselues, and make large in the flanckes to march at large. Let al that which he determines and appoints to be done, be commanded and ordained from the backe of the rankes and squadron, and not from the front or from any other place: for in marching more attentiuely, and with lesse occasion of tu∣mult and turning, those things be better vnderstood and are more capable which are spoken and proceede from behind the backe, then from the front and flankes, and with greater facili∣tie doth runne all along the rankes, and as they say, according to the word Passa Parola, aduan•…•… the word.

The Sergeant Maior, when his squadrons ariue at any strait passage or bridge, or other narrow or di•…•…icile place that might disorder him, must cause them passe ranke by ranke one after another, so that the ranke being a little disseuered or broken, let him frame y^e ranke a new, & so taking like order in euery rank, he shal immediatly forme behind the strait and bridge in the fa∣shion of the first appointed squadron: and in this •…•…ort may hée procéed with good consideration, with as manie squadrons & bat∣tailes as there be.

When he giues a volée of shot, or makes a Salua of Musket & Hargabussers, it is much better for him to begin at the head, thē in any other place, that he may in due order ranke by ranke cause one to follow another, euen to the backe and last ranke, so that how much more it yéelds a gallant & readie grace, so much more makes it shew that those souldiers be practised, and argues the sufficiencie of him that guides them.

When nothing e•…•…e of importance remains behind to be done, and that the forward and maine battaile hath stood in squadrons to attend and receiue the reregard, le•…•… him, the same being ari∣•…•…ed, disband the battaile, hauing beforehand taken order with the Herbingers of the bands, that euerie one guide the Al∣fierus of his owne companie to his proper quarter.

In disbanding the battaile let him guide the Ensignes into such a place of aduantage in height, as from thence all the squa∣dron, consisting of the vantgard, battaile, and Rereward, may with commoditie behold and sée them, to the intent that euery souldier following his proper Ensigne, may go therewith to his lodging and appointed quarter.

The order which is accustomed to bée obserued in assaulting the enemie, aswell in the day as in the night, I suppose it can∣not expresly and particularly from point to point bee declared, considering it must bée conformable to the stratagemes of the Prince or Captain generall that gouernes: But I haue often∣times séene them p•…•…t in practise, and resolutely wrought with Incamisados, with assured and secreat rootes, and with imbusca∣des placed in a conuenient and apt couert, such as growes to bée of aduantage to them that lies in ambush, who ought to attend the time, to assault silently and secretely, hauing his Sentinels, vedettes, countersignes and voices, such as bée plaine, manifest & able to bée vnderstood, & not double, doubtfull and obscure: The which sometimes with grea•…•… error and infinite losse, hath caused one thing to bée taken for an other. And this is to be done, to the end that with good order & in perfect sort ech thing that is hurt∣full to the enimie may bée performed and put in practise.

Likewise the Sergeant Maior by his office must take •…•…are to prouide for the munition, principally al sortes of armes and ar∣mour, victuals, and other munition necessarie for his people: Likewise to distribute the same, to performe his office alwaies in the companie of the Master of the campe, or Marshall of the field, in planting the gard round about the campe, and euer to procure the watchword, with the which the said gards are to bée gouerned, and after discharged, if such like causes still procéede in gouernment in one selfe order: but because they varie accor∣ding to the custome of him that gouernes principally, and some∣times as occasion •…•…oth best require, therefore I passe ouer the same with silence, and it is sufficient that at this time I haue inferred, that such like actions and operations app•…•…rtain to his office, to the intent hée may alwaies remaine in a readines, to accomp•…•… them gallantly, and according to the rules and obser∣uations, that shalbée appointed him by his Prince.

Hée must take order that the bodies of the watch or Corps d•…•…∣gard,

bée ful stoared with souldiers, according to the proportion of their capacitie, and that at the least there hée as many for eue∣rie Corps de gard, as may commodiously supplie and maintain all the Sentinels, necessary to bée made during the night, allot∣ting at the least one hower of the clocke to euery Sentinel, and chiefly in the vnseasonable time of winter, an hower & a halfe, at such time as the season is mean betwixt two, & two howers at the most at any other time that is serene and hoat time of the Summer: forséeing alwaies the Corps de gard consist of so ma∣nie souldiers, that they may bée able, together with the commo∣dious situation of the ground, by the perfect proportion and pla∣cing of the Corps de gard, or by meanes of the trenches or other defences already made, they may in such sort sustaine the furie of any surprise at vnwares that the enimie is able to come or assault him withall.

Those Commissions of any importance that depend vpon his charge, and are of other Officers to bée performed, ought to bée committed to writing, whereof they must haue a copie, to the intent that they bée made void of vsing contradictions, if in case they do not obey. If there should arise any error of moment, by this meanes he shall not be charged to faile in his duetie, or be occasion of such casualties.

He must take order with the Sergeants, with ech Alfierus, with the Lieutenants, with all leaders, Captaines and Collo∣nels, to the intent that al that which is to be done of them may be willingly executed, thereby with facilitie to shun the strife and emulation which oftentimes doth arise amongst them, and that euery one of them may enioy that which iustly appertains vnto him.

But when for any occasion he cannot in like causes orderly gouerne them, and that it shall not be good absolutely to com∣mand them, let him then permit that there may be lots cast a∣mongst them, and this manner is to be vsed in case of verie ex∣traordinarie seruice: which sorte of procéeding doth not dimi∣nish or plucke away any of his aucthoritie, since he commits to chaunce, that which was in his choyse expresly to commaunde. Finally, it is requisite for a Sergeant Maior, to be so studious in theorik reading, practise and inuention, that through his in∣dustrie he may inuent new Artificiall formes of Battels, squa∣drons

marching, & such thinges as appertayne to this impor∣tant office. For no man without inuention, can be accounted excellent in his arte and profession.

Necessarie practises set out in proportions and figures, for Captaines, Collonels, and Sergeant Maiors to vse in squadrons, battailes, and maine exploits in marching, skirmishing, retyring, rescewing and such like.

THe curious conceits of sundrie ouerweening warriours and superficiall Captaines is such at these dayes, as nothing can please their fantasie but such as doth best agrée to their own hu∣mours and inuentions, specially in ordering and imbattelling souldiers: wherein euen as the sundrie vse of diuers nations at this day do differ, so do the minds of many new leaders alter, change, embrace, despise, inuent and set downe manifold wayes to plant an armie in ranged battell in the fielde, which I well considering, haue thought good in part to make collection out of diuers Authors, Italian, Spanish, French, Latine and Eng∣lish, and part such as of my owne experience I haue séene put in practise of the Spaniards, and other warlike nations, vnder Don Iohn D'austria and the Prince of Parma, out of both which Callenders I haue chosen the greatest number that séeme any thing to the purpose, that thereby at leastwise the dainty tasted monthes of our age may light vpon some apt for their dige∣stion. But before I wade into great numbers, M. Stewards formes shall serue my turne to satisfie the priuate Captaines, Lieutenants of Regiments, and Collonels, as fit for their pecu∣liar offices, and will first begin with a table of discouerie of all marches within the compasse of 1500. men.

A Table to discouer numbers by hundreds, placed by 3. 5. 7. 9. &c. in ranke and aray, assembled from one hundreth vnto a 1500. As thus, marching 3. in ranke, 34. rankes containe 102. men, by which example you may plainly perceiue the methode following, and discouer like numbers.

	Rankes.	Men.
3. in Ranke.	34	is 102
67	is 201
100	is 300
5. in ranke	20	is 100
40	is 200
60	is 300
80	is 400
100	is 500
7. in ranke.	15	is 105
29	is 203
43	is 301
57	is 399
72	is 504
86	is 600
100	is 700
9. in ranke.	11	is 99
22	is 198
33	is 296
45	is 405
56	is 504
67	is 603
78	is 702
89	is 801
100	is 900
11. in ranke.	9	is 99
18	is 198
27	is 297
37	is 406
46	is 506
56	is 616
64	is 715
74	is 820
81	is 897
91	is 1017
100	is 1100
13. in ranke	8	is 104
16	is 208
2•…•…	is 299
31	is 404
39	is 507
46	is 70•…•…
54	is 〈◊〉〈◊〉
62	is 〈◊〉〈◊〉
69	is 1014
78	is 1105
8•…•…	is 1196
92	is 1230
100	is 1300
15. in ranke	7	is 10•…•…
14	is 210
20	is 300
27	is 404
34	is 510
40	is 600
47	is 707
54	is 810
60	is 900
67	is 1005
74	is 1110
80	is 1200
87	is 1305
94	is 1410
100	is 1500

An order to imbattell 600. men at the sodaine against horsemen and footemen.

IT is appointed vnto the Lieutenant of a Regiment, or vnto two or thrée Captaines to bring 600. men to conuey, charge, or do exploits, as the commandement of the higher officers shall appoint them. The Leader or Captaines aduertised of straites, passages, and situations of the countries: also on what part the enimies be most like to assault them, must giue order vnto your officers to place 13▪ in front, as here is set downe by proportion of figure, your Ensigne in the midst with the halberds, your shot placed in the wings as appeareth. At such times as the enimies shall assault you, ioyne both your bands & become one strength as the ground doth serue. This order is verie necessarie to doe many exploits.

[illustration]

How the like number may be brought into the manner of a hearse to defend horsemen.

SOmetimes marching by 10. in rank, vpon the fight of the eni∣mies, diuide into two parts and ioyne their broad sides diui∣ded tog•…•…ther, & become in one strength, which bring thus placed, is in length 24 & in bredth 10. Against horsemen they must pitch their pikes on the ground, and crosse them, against footemen beare aboue hand. They must sarri•…•… close togither, and not disse∣uer to follow or flie, le•…•…t their disorders make place for the eni∣mies to enter, as by this proportion doth appeare. Somtimes for the saftie of your shot you must receiue them within the gard of your pikes. This H signifieth horsemen galloping the fielde to break vpon you, where they may best enter & most easily, as by the void space appeareth, the ouerplus of your shot to be placed in 4. wings without y^e battel. This proportion to disseuer is verie perillous.

[illustration]

How to imbattell 900. souldiers at the sodaine.

MArching with 900. men, and vnderstanding by scout or spie that the enimie pretendeth to skirmish with them, or other∣wise to ioyne battel, you may diuide your bands in thrée parts, marching 9. in a ranke, placing officers betwixt euerie band, that being assaulted may ioyne the Uoward and the Rereward to the middleward, so fall they out to be an hearse battell, placing your shot in the wings that they may the better resort to the skirmish, likewise to retyre as occasion scrueth: this is a singular good order for the obtaining of any grounds or doing of exploites.

An order how to imbattell 900. men at the sodaine.

[illustration]

An order to imbattell the like number in Quadrant proportion.

WHen battels are to be made, if the Sergeant Maior should chance to be absent, giue commandement vn∣to the Sergeants of the bands to bring their compa∣nies seuerall, and then ioyne your bands and sorted weapons the brode sides togither, as your number serues, your Captaines, drums and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, with your Ensigne placed in the midst of the execution, as well for the saftie of the same, as for the comforting of the souldiers: neuerthelesse, such order is ta∣ken, that Lieutenants and Sergeants of bands with other ser∣uiceable Gentlemen of S. Georges squadre, be placed to leade the Uoward and Rereward of the battell, where onsets be vn∣certaine, whose beautifull Armours, pollitike and couragious charge is a great terrour to the enimie, and a great comfort to their owne companie: the shot to be placed in foure froupes, with two wings in the Rereward, for that they may easier maintain skirmish round about the battell, on which side soeuer they be assaulted.

[illustration]

An order to imbattell 1200. men quadrantly at the sodaine.

THe foure Quarters ioyned in one, seeme to be 1200. men vn∣der 4. Ensignes euerie way, who at the enimies sight must place 13. in ranke, which fall to be a quadrant euerie way, which •…•…odainly may ioyne their long weapons togither, making one Quadrant of the foure: your drummes and fiffes with the Cap∣tain placed next to the Ensigne, the Lieutenants in the wings, and the Sergeants in the Uoward and Rereward, wherby they may the better giue intelligence by signe or word what is best to be done, 300. men being shot in the wings, and the 300. in Demie Diamondwise, after the Almaine manner in the midst, the which being discharged, the musket and hargabus shot will greatly preuaile.

[illustration]

This wayes they may march wholly togither, or retyre any wayes to seruice néedful, ready with their shot to encounter the enimie any wayes in skirmish, either wing rescuing other, as néede shall require. And although the Sergeants maior appoin∣teth order for the same, yet the Sergeants of euery band hauing experience, onely ruleth and giueth order to their owne charge, and appoint and place such in the fronts, Rereward and wings, as to them séeme most conuenient.

This proportion is after the Almaine manner of imbattel∣ling, much like vnto the order of the Romaines: who deuided their Legions into diuers Cohorts, to this intent, that when the fronts were wearied, the Mainward and Rereward succée∣ded, which the late experience of the Frenchmen hath tried, that the deuiding of the battell into many bands, so that they haue pikes sufficient to impale the Halberds or Bils, and to euerie Band their number of shot and Horse, is more auaileable then any battel being made of a whole bodie, or as the Gréeks tearme it, a Phalange: for they are to be drawne out in length or bredth as the ground or occasion serueth, to charge and encounter the enimie placed in one battell, vpon euery quarter to their de∣triment, and ouerthrowing of any so placed, being of sufficient strength for defence of horse: and though the first or second, or third should be ouerthrowne, yet be rest kéeping their order are to succéede. Whereas the battell being one, after the frontes be ouerthrowne, the Rereward is readie to run, the which being disordered, can hardly recouer to place them in order againe.

An order to imbattell a Collonels charge.

COllonels and Chieftaines, who oftentimes according to their experience and worthinesse of seruice, haue the charge and leading of 1500. men more or lesse, to whom is committed di∣uers sundrie exploits and points of seruice in the fielde, where∣of they discrie any multitude of horsemen, pretending for to charge them, and to enuiron your battel, hauing no waghon, bo∣rough, or pale of carriages, water, hedge, ditch, or other succours, but only y^e strength of their manual weapons, & pollicy of defēce vpon the sight of the enimies, must cast in this sort the Uoward & Rereward to become one strength, & to serue and sarrie close

togither, to couch, to crosse and defend, as by this order may ap∣peare. The thrée vtmost rankes must consist of faire armed and skilfull Gentlemen, and Caualliers and others, pitching their pikes on the ground, couching & crossing them, the two rankes next giuing the push at the length of the pikes, the shot placed within the pikes for safegard, stand readie to shoote & charge stil in their places. This order to encounter with footemen, if it be possible, will recouer the aduantage of wind, hil, and full, in good order, on the one side of the hill, to ioyne in fight, where God gi∣ueth the victorie before these same encounters. An excellent or∣der to repulse horsemen. Reuiue your souldiers with meat, drinke, and good counsell, and with comfortable words, to animate and encou∣rage them withall.

How to imbattell 1500. men in quadrant proportion.

AS before I haue set forth the order or imbattelling of 1500. men in two fold wise, the which in some ground is much a∣uaileable, for that it occupieth more hands then the iust square in fight at one instant, notwithstanding such must be assured that the enimie can approch but one way, which else may be preiudiciall, therefore in the plaine field, the iust square or qua∣drant is the strongest order that may be: neuertheles it is conue∣nient that at such times as you purpose to ioyne battel with the enimie, hauing Ordinance and other carriage, to place the same on the wings and Rereward, thereby to impale the squadron to the intent y^e enimie enter not but in the fronts. Also the expert Captaines must foresée to obtaine hill, wind, sun, or any other aduantage, the which diuers wayes greatly profiteth. If your battell be assaulted with horsemen and lances, then couch and crosse your pikes, as appeares in the last figure, & against foote∣men sarrie close, trailing your pikes vntill the encounter, and then to offer the push till repulse be giuen, and God giue victo∣rie. In the fronts you must place your best armed and most vali∣ant men, as well to encourage the rest, as to be a terrour to the enimies, your shot to be placed in the wings and rereward, for being placed in the fronts, they cannot well retyre, but vpon their owne pikes, or else vpon the shot in the wings. To bring 1500. men to this proportion, you must place sixe rankes of pikes 59. in ranke euerie wayes, which comes to 500. and 12. the shot to

be placed in 4. troups in the wings 10. in ranke, which is 400. And 300. ten in ranke, and 29. in bredth in the Rereward, the which are to succéed y^e other troupes after they haue discharged, the 50. shot and 48. pikes are to be placed about the Artillarie, or otherwise at the discretion of the Collonell, the Captaines and Lieutenants with the Sergeants to be placed about the battell, to giue order as may best preuaile: The Chieftaine & Collonel to be placed within the battell, as appeareth in this figure.

[illustration]

The Characters to be vsed in proportions of greater Squadrons.

BUt to touch more at large greater numbers, both how they are ranged and battelled, wherein the Sergeant Maior ge∣nerall of an armie is called to vse his office, I do here according to my promise set downe sundrie proportions of diuers kinds, for the better vnderstanding whereof, it is requisite to carrie in minde the signification of these Characters.

These Cha∣racters

• S Signifie Shot.
• ☌ or this P Signifie Pikes.
• ✚ or this H Signifie Halberds.
• E Signifie Ensignes.
• □ Signifie Launces.
• ▵ Signifie Light horsemen.
• * Signifie Argoletteares.

A Quadrant or twofold battell of 2000. men.

THe form of this battel following which represēts a quadrāt, hath bene oftē vsed as very profitable of many Italians, wel experienced & of great authoritie in the field: it is as it doth ap∣peare, flanked & enuironed with two great bodies or sléeues of Hargabusiers, the which containe in number for ech flank 380. men, & in the Uoward 100. and in the Rereward 140. which shot are to be carried about the battel very commodiously for seruice, and as they shall séeme otherwise to be imployed by y^e Sergeant Maior. In the bodie of the battell are 800. pikes, 200. Halberds or Bils, and ten Ensignes, hauing to euery Ensigne 200. men, y^e which to be brought to this forme, you must place 45. in rank for the breadth, and 22. in ranke for the length. The Captaines, Lieutenants and Sergeants, as appeareth by this figure in the heart of y^e battel, & although this manner or forme giueth scope to mooue which way they list, yet I hold it best not to suffer thē to stir much: and y^e litle mouing which is to be granted to them, must not be ouer hastie but in pace, •…•…loe, sober & well measured, vnlesse he hath to set againe the like battel of the enimie, for then the last rankes must be somewhat quicker in stirring. And to bring tenne thousand or twentie thousand to this order readily, they must in setting forward, march with maniples,

well seuered and deuided, hauing a Sergeant, Lieutenant or Cauallier at the head and backe, the better to discerne them one from another. This manner, as I haue alreadie touched, is ve∣rie easie: So that placing them in length doubling their ranks, it brings them likewise to a verie formall order of battell, as I haue sufficiently touched beforehand.

A Battell in forme of a crosse, verie necessarie to be vsed, as well in the night as by day, because all the weapons are deuided by themselues.

THis battell following in forme of a full Crosse, consisteth of 10. Ensignes, euerie Ensigne hauing vnder it two hundreth souldiers, so that the whole number cōtaineth 2000. mē. It hath 4. fronts or faces, whereof euerie one is accompanied with har∣gabusiers, which may in time of necessitie be couered & defended by the armed pikes, so y^t the formost rankes be moued forwards all alongst the flankes & sides of the shot. This forme hath bene vsed of Spaniards and Italians. It is a gallant battell, and of force sufficient to resist the enimie in open fielde, although they should set vpon you at vnwares, & besides superior both against horsemen and footemen, the hargabusiers are 1000. the which are the halfe of the number. These hargabusiers being deuided into 4. parts, must be in euerie flanke 200. placing 14 in ranke euery way, the halberds and Ensignes placed in the midst of y^e crosse, are 200. and the whole number of pikes are 800. the which are to be placed on euerie quarter of the halberds 200. placing 14. euery way, which make a iust quadrant of people, so that there re∣maine to be placed by the Sergeant maior 16. pikes, 4. halberds and 200. shot. This rule may serue in proportion for any num∣ber being verie excellent for the night, because ech weapon be∣ing deuided by themselues, may be readie at the sodaine for any seruice, either to giue battell, or for defence of the Campe, the horsemen and the field péeces to be placed as shall séeme best by the Chieftaines or the Sergeant Maior.

The bodie of a battell to be made in the night.

THe proportion of this Cressant or Moone, is very conuenient and fit to be executed in the night, there being a round ring

drawne with a cord and a stake, so that the Sergeant Maior ac∣cording to my description in his office, may place the companies that come to him, and from hand to hand part them into seuerall companies, according to this proportion: for this forme doth re∣quire that it be done with expedition, and it is no great labour to deuide y^e weapons without cōfusion, either to march or other∣wise to vse themselues seuerally from the rest, in great or small companies as shal be néedful: for that euerie weapon doth stand at his owne defence by it selfe, the general artillerie, Ensignes & short weapons being safely enuironed with the armed pikes, which may vpon the sodain by the Sergeant maior, or the Cor∣porals of the fielde, be brought to any other forme of battell. Also the Sergeant generall may place the Hargabusiers in so manie companies, and so many formes, and so farre distant one from an other, as the situation of the place or the seruice thē present doth require, to the intent that the maine bodie of the battell may be flanked and defended. But for that I haue more largely touched this in the Sergeant maiors office, I referre the Reader to the same: aduertising him withall, that all squadrons and battels in the night, must haue euerie sort of weapons seueral by them∣selues, whereby confusion may both be auoided, and the troupes of souldiers remaine readie, when they shall be called forth to execute any seruice, what necessitie or sodaine assault soeuer be∣fall. Prouided alwayes that good watch & scout be kept on horse∣backe and on soote, as néere the enimie as is possible, by whose aduertisemēts you may know what is best to be accomplished.

The order of imbattelling before the fight.

THe Oration being made by the Generall, and prayers fini∣shed to the immortal God, it is requisite that thou haue care to bring forth thy army to y^e field with bright & shining armour, which easily may be done, by giuing charge in time to the Cap∣taines, and so to the officers, that their burgonets, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, calée∣uers, halberds, swords, & euerie other péece of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be made cleane & bright, forasmuch as the cleannes and brightnes of the weapons, maketh the armie séeme terrible, and putteth feare & trauel in y^e minds of the enimies. Then cal forth thy bands, the

which béeing set in araie, the Generall béeing expert, hauing seene the preparation of the enimies, giueth in charge to the Sergeant maior and the principall Corporalles to accommo∣date and ordaine his Souldiers in battaile according to the ar∣mie, the men, and the manners of them. And if the enimie bee more puissent of Horsmen: thou hauing the commoditie, choose thée straight and difficult places, or at the foote of mountaines and where the horse cannot easilie serue. If in footemen he ex∣céedeth, then it is requisite to get the hilles and places of ad∣uantage, as the Sunne and winde, &c. and that with diligence to choose such fit places, which either be néere Rockes or Riuers: and aboue all things, where thou maist put in araie thy bat∣tailes, and by the qualitie of thy place be able to let thy enimies, that they neither compasse thée about nor inclose thée, the which requires not onely the counsaile and prudence of a wise Cap∣taine, but the counsaile of the most expert in the Campe: be∣cause oftentimes an Armie hapneth vpon such places. And not∣withstanding the Captaine is ignorant how to choose such situa∣tion of ground as is best for him, but of those that are present it is good to choose the best, and to foresée which may be most profitable, is surely a signe of a wise Captaine: Caius Sulpitius, to feare his enimies got a great manie of Mules and other beasts vnprofitable for the warres, causing a great number of sackes to be gotten, which were so ordered vpon the backes of the beasts as they séemed men at armes, giuing in charge whiles hee was a fighting they should appeare vpon a hill, whereby grew his victorie against the Frenchmen. The Spa∣niards to ouercome Amilcar, set in the fronts of their battels, Cartes full of Towe, drawne with Oxen, that béeing ready for the encounter, they set it on fire, causing the Oxen vehemently to thrust forwards into the armie of the enimie, deuiding the same. Thy number small, and the fields large and open, it is good to make ditches, the which being filled with boughes, and slightly couered with earth, leauing voide spaces for thy horse and shot to procure skirmish, the which being of the enimie en∣countered may faine a running awaie, and béeing prosecuted by the enemie, shall bee ouerthrowne in the ditches, where they are easilie slaine, manie such notable deuises by wise Captaines hath béene practised, the which vpon the suddaine

put in vse, will greatly profit. Thy Battels being made and set in order, it is requisite that thou leaue the warde within the trenches of the Campe for the defence of thy lodgings, mu∣nition, and carriages, least the enimie vnderstanding the place to be left voide, sende his Souldiers to take the Campe, and so to spoile all: vpon occasion some Captaines will de∣stroie their owne lodgings, or els passe riuers, or leaue behinde them hils and déepe places, to the ende that the Souldiers stan∣ding constantly, may ouercome the aduersarie and obtaine the victorie, or otherwise altogether to perish, for that if they should thinke to saue themselues by running away, they shall sée by all manner of meanes taken from the possibilitie to escape.

Nowe béeing come to ioyne battaile with thy enimie, cause thy Souldiers somewhat before, to flourishe oft their naked Swordes and Halberds against the Sunne, for that the gli∣stering of the weapons, and their shining pointes, through the brightnesse nowe of the one and nowe of the other, a∣gainst the resplendant Beames of the Sunne, dooth shew a certaine horrible terrour of warre, the which will strike a dread and feare into the mindes of the enemies. Like∣wise it is sometimes requisite that thy battailes goe for∣wardes with rumours and showtings, sometimes running with violence, forasmuch as the semblaunce of such thinges with the noise of Trumpets, Drummes, and great Ordi∣nance, woonderfully troubleth and feareth the heartes of the aduersaries: also it is great wisedome in a Captaine, not with desire to bée drawne to bée the first to giue the on∣set, but to staie thée néere thy trench till thou hast viewed thy selfe and the Rendies of the enemies: that is, howe ma∣nie battailes, howe they are placed, of what condition, and where they are disposed to fight, for after this manner thou maist more commodiouslie sée to thine affaires: considering which of thine thou hast to sette against those of thy eni∣mies, and in what manner thy men are to bée ordeined and placed, dooing in like sort to a good Physition, the which con∣sidering first the infirmitie, and knowing the cause, commeth afterwards to giue remedie, therefore ordeine thy men so as may turne most vtilitie to thy businesse.

The manner of ordering of battels lately vsed, I cannot greatly command, for the armie being 20. 30 or 40. thousand, they are de∣uided but into 3. battels, whereby ensueth many perils and dis∣commodities, because the Pike being but fiue yards thrée quar∣ters long, euerie man occupying a yard and halfe a quarter of pike, can occupie but foure or fiue rankes at the most, so that the rest are superfluous and lost: besides, they are easily to bée compassed and to be charged on euerie side: wherefore I haue set downe an order of one of the battels in figure, according to my opinion, the which if it may turne profite to my countrie I would be most glad. The occasion of the prosperous successe of the Romaines, was onely through their good orders, by diuiding their Legions into cohorts, the which were bands of 400. and 50. the 50. were shot, the 400. were armed, their weapons, pikes, swords and targets, the which were placed in quadrant man∣ner, 20. euerie wayes, being 10. battels in front, leauing a cer∣taine space betwéene euerie battell for their retrait vpon occasi∣on vnto the next order, which were but sixe battels, and the rereward foure battels, all in like number, kéeping one bredth, the voward were called Hastatie, their battels thicke and close, the Maineward were called Principie, who had such space be∣twéene their rankes as they might receiue the Hastatie: the rereward were called Triarij, whose spaces betwéene their rankes were such, as they might receiue the Principie and Ha∣statie, on the wings were placed seauen rankes of Pikes of strangers, which did distend in length from the voward to the rereward: through these good orders they became conquerours of many countries. Now because of the diuersitie of the wea∣pons, hauing 20000. footemen, I would deuide them into tenne battels, to euerie one of the battels shall be according to my proportion set downe 1000. shot, 800. pikes, and 200. Billes, the which placed in twofold wise, according to my proportion set downe in figure, will be in bredth 45. and in length 22. and ten ouerplus, the which are to be placed at the discretion of the Ser∣geant Maior, the shot placed in the wings and rereward in ma∣niples for the readier seruice, who must be placed a good distance from thy battel, thy men at armes vpon y^e wings of the shot, thy Lances as two hornes in the front of the battell, the light horse in the fronts of thy Lances, the hargulaters in the fronts of thy

light horse, who with the pistoleters are the first that begins the battel: thy great ordinance to be placed in the fronts of the bat∣tels, or in such conuenient place as may most terrifie the eni∣mie: there would be appointed certaine troupes of Lances, whose guidons would be contrary to the rest, the which the Ger∣maine cals their Forlorne hope, the French Infants perdus, who must at such time and instant as shall be thought good by the General, giue the charge vpon the enimies battels, whatsoeuer shall happen: who are for the same to receiue double pay. The second battell not to be placed in the front with the first battell, as the Romaines did, but in the rereward of the first so far wide and with such distance, as the horsemen and shot a foote giuing the first charge may retire themselues without disturbance to the battels, hauing thy shot placed as in the voward with the lances and shot on horsebacke: the third battell to be placed in the rereward of the second, with like distance with shot and horse: and so to the fourth, fift, and the tenth, in the rereward of the which, if occasion require, thou maist as in the rereward of the battell, place for the defence certaine of thy carriages. Thy battels being thus ordered, thou shalt be sure no wayes to be compassed by the enimies, whereas thou maist easily compasse in him, not ordered in the like manner, and thy battels being but little, yet as strong as the greater, being strongly fortified euerie way with pikes, and when a signe is giuen, your hargo∣lateares, pistolateares and lances, may at the sodaine be with the formost, or readie for any other place of seruice. Also your second battell may ioyne with the first, and the third with the second, and so to strengthen your battels at pleasure, as other∣wise two or thrée of thy battels to giue the charge to one of his battels, and if it should so happen that thy first and second bat∣tels should be ouerthrowne, thy battel placed in this order, thou maist retire thy selfe and leaue of the field, maugre the head of thy enimie, who in prosecuting thée, disorder themselues, as many times happens, may be easily conquered, vsing thy bat∣tels in this order, I hold to be of greatest force and most auail∣able.

THese 4. foresaid battels were taken by M. T. Steward out of his second booke, Captaine Francesco Ferretti della Osseruan∣•…•…a Militare, out of whom he hath likewise borrowed the grea∣test part of his Pathway to Militarie Discipline, wherein he hath followed the steppes of Leonard and Thomas Digges Gen∣tlemen, in their Stratioticos, for the which they merite great commendations, by the benefite our country may reap by their trauels. But neuerthelesse, because I will not attribute that vnto my selfe, which is none of my owne, I haue thought good to deale more directly, and not to reape the fruites of other mens toyles, and therefore in following my determi∣nation in setting downe diuers battels, this battell following I borrow out of M. Digges his Stratioticos.

The proportion of a battell out of M. Digges Strat•…•…oticos.

MAster Digges in his third booke, intituled Stratioticos, hath imbattelled an army of 30000. footmen and 6000. horsemen▪ which h•…•… for an excellent forme of imbattelling figures thus.

[illustration]

First as you may behold, he hath diuided the Armie into two Fronts or faces, & hath separated them into 8. battaillons, euery of them hauing 30. in a ranke, and 33. rankes: They are armed in the front with 7. ranks of pikes, all the rest of the short wea∣pons, as swords and targets, halberds, billes, or such like. Euery battaillon containeth 1000. men lacking 10. and are placed 3. or •…•…. paces one from another.

The second front is diuided into fiue great battaillons, eue∣rie one of them being of 2000. men, 40. in ranke, and 50. rankes: euerie battaillon armed in the front with 6. rankes of pikes▪ These battaillons ought to be one from another at the least 25▪ paces, & the one front of battels from the other at least 60. paces: in or nigh the middle battaillon of this second front shalbe the Generall himselfe, when he séeth time.

These battaillons are impaled on either side with 100. ranks of pikes 7. in a ranke, and on the backe with 6. rankes of pikes: without these hath he placed the shot in 24. troups, euery troup containing 100. There is also the forlorne hope before the face of the battell: likewise 18. troupes of shot 100. a péece, who after they come to the face of the enimie, disband and maintaine s•…•…ir▪ mish.

Last of al the wings of horsemen which M. Digges hath placed in a preposterous order, by placing the Argolat•…•…ares last, but I both altering their course & names, say that two of the first are Argolateares 50. in a ranke, 25. rankes: the second light horse∣men, 30. in a ranke, 33. rankes, and the last Demie lances 30. in a ranke 25. ranks. Thus there is in the first front of pikes 1680 In the second front 1200. In the impalement 3800. These in all amount to 6680 so is there left 320. pikes to be imployed in loose fléeues to accompanie such th•…•…t & short weapon, as shal remaine for the gard of the Ordinance.

Likewise in the first front there are of short weapons 6240. in the second front 8800. so there do remaine 960. short weapons to be imployed togither with the remnant of the pikes for gard of the Artillerie or carriages, or else to mingle with the shot in the forlorne hope, the which when they shall grow to pell mell with the enimie, will do great seruice.

Also after y^e battels approch, they may retire with the forlor•…•…e hope to assist their horsemen. The shot you may behold sorted in troupes 1800. in the front and in either wing 2400. so doe there remaine 400. shot more to ioyne with the pikes and short wea∣pons extraordinarie in any seruice. Thus after the great Or∣dinance on either side haue discharged, the Forlorne hope is continually to be supplied with new troupes of shot from the flankes and wings, and these troupes of the Forlorne hope that haue discharged, should retire betwéene the battaile and the

troopes of horse to the backe of the wings, so maintaining the flanckes alwaies furnished: and thus skirmish may continual∣ly be maintained with fresh men, & the battell alwaies impaled. But after the battell begins to approch, the forlorne hope must withdrawe themselues: then is your first battell strongly fron∣ted, and impaled with pikes to abide any charge of horsemen, and after their pikes are broken, are together with the rest of the short weapon, to deale with the enemie, and during the con∣tinuance of the fight, betwéen these battailons the shot may con∣tinually discharge in the face of the enemie. Likewise there may be certaine small carriages, some laden with muskets, some with Calabashes, others with murdering fire balles: and these cariages may during the battell continually spoile the enemies front, being safely garded betwéen the battaillons: but if fortune should abandon them in the first encounter, and that they be bro∣ken by the enemies, yet haue they those ample spaces betwéene the battaillons of the second front to retire vnto, there to make head, and giue the enemie battell againe. And these spaces or lanes betwéene the battaillons, serue not onely to receiue the skirmishers or other that shall retyre, but also for the messen∣gers, which among the Romans were called M•…•…ndatores, to passe to and fro, and to signifie vnto all parts from time to time the Generals pleasure.

The Argolateares are to gallop the field and scale the side of a squadron, the light horsemen to charge vpon the skirmishers, and the lances to breake vpon the scaled battel, and one to helpe an others course, as néed dooth require.

Thus farre M. Digges prefers this battell, which he would haue vsed when no aduantage is gained by the nature of the place, but that the Generall must trust to the strength of his good order, wherein hee dooth wish such perfection in ou•…•… souldiorie, as was in the Romane, that they might be able to fight and retire in order, and so make many sundry heads vpon the enemie, if fortune did abandon them in the first or se∣cond encounter: the which is farre better, in respect of our com∣mon brute maine battel, or 3 battailes in one front, committing the whole field to one brunt of seruice, which is a barbarous or∣der, therefore it were good the soldiours of our time did applye, practise, and reforme diuers errors.

The figure of a Battell out of Monsieur de Bellay his instructions in the Arte of warre.

MOnsieur de Bellay in his first booke of Militarie discipline, sets downe this proportion of a battell.

[illustration]

This battell euen as the other before, consists of receipts one into an other, so that the front being broken, they must retire into the voide spaces of the second front, and they both conse∣quently being repulsed, to plant themselues within the thirde & last succours, the pikes of both flankes ought to retire, as the battels retire, that is to say: the first ranke ought to retire with∣in the 2, and the 2 within the 3, the 3 within the 4, the 4 within the 5, the 5 within the 6, & so consequently the rest. The Harga∣busiers and horsemen must likewise do their duetie according to all warlike order. But for your further and perfect instruction,

howe this battell and all other of like qualitie are to be directed, read the Chapter following, which is intituled A notable dis∣course of sundrie obseruations to be had in memorie of Cap∣taines, Collonels, Sergeant Maiors, &c. whereby a discreet leader may' learne what he hath to accomplish in all sortes of battels and encounters whatsoeuer.

Diuers proportions of new inuented squadrons.

THis battell following hath beene vsed of the Spaniards, marching alongst the side of a riuer, two squares, and a tri∣angle battell of pikes, flanked with shot, empaled on the front, rereward and left flanke with 7 rankes of pikes, the forlorne hope in the front, & their horsemen on the left wing, in this sort.

[illustration]

The proportion of this battell was caried by the Almains into Italy against the Zwitzers, be∣ing enuironed round about with a raile, fastned with iron hookes, to be taken in sunder & carried with them, planted with musket and base shot, to resist horsmen, and the squares of footmen.

[illustration]

This figure ensuing consists of a square battell of Pikes flan∣ked by shot, seconded by sléeues of Halberdeares, for execution and reléefe, or deffence in skirmish when it comes to pell mell, with 4 smal squadrons of musketeres at y^e corners of the maine battell, all the whole being enuironed and impaled with pikes, before whose vaward & front are placed the forlorne hope, & two wings of horsmen, marching along the sides of the battell.

[illustration]

THe proportion of this battell next following is onely for the safe retire of shot, being repulsed by horsemen, or otherwise, who may at eight places retire into this squadron, which stands in the proportion of a fortresse, which vpō the charge of the ene∣mie may ioyne close in one maine square, by causing the flanks to march vp to the corners of the square, which vpon occasion disclosing againe may let out the shot, which may enter into skirmish in circular wise as followeth.

[illustration]

THe manner of this battell next adioyning which is to be vsed of a great armie, dooth somewhat resemble a cressant, consist∣ing of battaillons, the Generall in the midst of the 4 chéefe squa∣drons, the whole impaled with pikes, flanked with shot, fronted with the forlorne hope, and winged with horsemen.

[illustration]

This battell following is both strong and ready for the safe∣tie of the shot, for that either the forlorne hope in the forward or rereward, 'may succor one another, retire or issue out vpon any side, through the lanes and galleries betwixt euery battaillon, and yet vpon the enemies onset may sarrie close together, and make one firme and sole battaile, the shot being before hand drawne in, out of the enemies danger. This squadron is like∣wise flanked with Musket and Hargabuziers, and winged with horsemen.

A notable discourse of sundrie obseruations to be had in memo∣rie, of Captaines, Collonels, and Sergeant Maiors, in directing, training, exercising, imbattelling and instructing of soldiors, for the better planting of any of the foresaid Battels or proportions.

[illustration]

EAch Captaine, Collonell, and Sergeant Maior, must in his degrée, take care of his charge. The Captaines must sée that his officers do acquaint & teach his souldiors all the particulars in my first booke, and that his other officers be able to execute so much as I haue set downe in my second Booke of Militarie directions, whereby together with some notes written pre∣sently, they may learne such particular knowledge, as when they come to put generall matters in execution, the same séeme not strange vnto them, for in the exercise of armes we ought to indeuour our selues to be perfect in such things as belong to a band when it is by it selfe, and that which a band is

to performe when it is ioyned with others in campe, so that those souldiers which be cunning in the first, may easily obserue all occurrences and commaundements in the second. Therefore a band is to learne by it selfe, to kéepe ranke in each kind of mo∣tion, that is to say, in marching slowlie, softlie & fast, & to learne all the sounds, all the signes, and all the blasts, voices and cries, wherewith the officers commaund in a battell: and that euery one know perfectly the signification thereof, no lesse then the Mariners the whistle of the maister of the ship, in which soul∣diours must be readie and diligent to obey incontinently & aptly at the stroke & battery of the drums, whether it be to march for∣ward, to stay, or to recoile, or to turne their faces and weapons towards any place. To this end all Collonels must ordaine, that all the drums haue one kind and maner of battery, and that they do vse al one forme of sounding to the field, of sounding y^e alarme, and to vse one proper sound, to plant themselues in battell, to aduance themselues, to recoyle, to turne in battell themselues from one side to another, to make retraite, and in sum to signifie all other points, that the voice of one person alone cannot make so easily to be vnderstood, as dooth the sound of many drums, the which make themselues to be hard in the greatest tumults and throngs. The souldiors also ought to be so attentiue, to hearken and giue eare to that which is spoken and commanded, that they néed neuer to be deceiued: the drums likewise ought to be ready to batter their caisses according to y^e sound of the collonels trum∣pets, by the which they must altogether direct and gouerne their batteries. The Collonels trumpet ought to be expert in all these sounds, & that he be able to vtter them so plainly, that the drums take not one thing for an other, but that he know how to expres the same according to his Collonels commandement, néere vnto whose person he ought to be euer, & not to abandon him: & to yéeld a reason what mooues me to appoint trumpets for footmen, it is in respect y^t they may be more cléerly vnderstood then drums can be if any great tumult should arise, & that the drums should alter & change their sound: for they are to be directed by trumpets, the sound wherof is hier thē the battery of drums, the which y^• Zwi∣zers who first inuented drums haue very wel •…•…ried: therfore let collo•…•…ls prouide y^t they haue trūpets before their battaillōs that y^e Chieftains may signifie & admonish thē what they haue to do.

All these things togither with ech seueral sound, must be taught & shewed from point to point to ech particular band apart, be∣fore they be ranged togither in battel, to y^e intent they may haue the full art to maintaine their order & ranks, without that any place how difficile soeuer, be able to disband or disseuer them. And also that the sound of the trumpet be so familiar vnto them, that they cānot erre, neither take one thing for another, but that the Collonels bands be ech one priuatly & fully instructed in all that which the battaillons ought to do, being assembled with the armie. And for that armes are brought to seuerall kinds of bat∣tels, either in respect of the enimies in sight, or for feare of some sodaine assault, ech band ought to be exercised in such sort and so instructed, that they may with great assurance march through y^e enimies countrie & fight if néed require, the officers instructing & shewing the souldiers, that which they haue to do, if they were assaulted on one side or other at vnawares.

And that they be taught the order to resist the enimie in a day of battell, or when the enimie doth approch in sight, they ought to learne how a battel must begin, and how one battaillon doth abord another battaillon of the enimies: and to shew them the place where they ought to retyre if they be repulsed: and who must enter into and supply their places: and to what signes, to what sounds, to what voyces they ought to obey: and that which they must do when they heare these voyces and sounds, and sée those tokens & signes: and to accustome them with the sundrie sorts of battels and fained assaults, in such sort, that afterwards they may not onely dare to abide, but also desire the fight in good earnest: the which assurance shal so much the rather encrease, by how much they sée themselues wel instructed, ordered, & ranged, rather then by their proper hardines, chiefly if these battailons be ranged in such sort that they may easily succour one another, which is of no small importance to encourage & assure the soul∣diers: For admit that I should be of the first combatants, & that I know into what part I ought to retire my selfe, being ouer∣matched, and likewise who he is that must come in my place, I shall alwayes fight with a better heart, beholding my succours néere at hand, rather then if I neither knew them nor saw thē. Likewise if I be in the second place (although the first be repul∣sed, & that I behold them to recoile) yet the same shal not astonish

nor appale me, for that I alredie know what this recoile doth signifie: a thing which beforehand I shal desire to come to passe, to the intent that I may be he that shall gaine the victorie, and that the first do not carrie away the honour of the fielde alone to themselues.

These exercises therefore be most necessarie both for young and olde souldiers, for it appeares, that although the Ro∣maines knew perfitely what were to be accomplished in a parti∣cular band, and so consequently in a whole armie, and that they did learne all these things in their youth in C•…•…mpo Martio, yet neuerthelesse they were afterwards continually exercised, as wel in the time of peace, as when their enimies did front them. Ioseph in his historie saith, that the continuall exercise of the Romaine armie, did make the common multitude of those that followed the campe, serue in a day of battell as well as the soul∣diers: for both the one and the other knew how to kéepe their ranks, and in kéeping them how to fight in them. But an armie of new souldiers, whether they be leuied to serue presently, or that an order be taken to haue them in readines to be imployed in time to come, they will arise to proue vnprofitable without these practises and exercises. Therefore order being so necessa∣rie, all Captaines, Collonels, and Sergeant Maiors, must with double industrie and trauell instruct or cause to be instructed, those which be ignorant, and to continue and maintaine the same in those which are perfect, imitating the steps of those ex∣cellent Captaines which haue trauelled to maintaine this disci∣pline.

The souldiers therefore in priuate bands being instructed to kéepe their rankes by 3. and 3. fiue and 5. or 8. and 8. without ha∣uing respect to the number, euen or odde, for that it is a thing of no importance, but an obseruation brought vp without founda∣tion, & specially Vegetius can yéeld no reason therefore, but on∣ly vse. They must then in marching softly or in hast, learne to multiplie, as two ranks of fiue to make 10. & two of 10. to make 20. and by and by at one instant to bring them from the same rankes and to place them in their first and simple order of a∣ray.

And to the end they may assure and accustome themselues

the better, it is necessarie they make Lymassons when they are in simple and single aray, and to aduertise them that the second person in ranke, doe kéepe alwayes iust behind the first without loosing him, and the 3. right behind the second, and so of the rest.

This done togither with the directions of my second booke, e•…•…h band must apart be set in order, and in the estate that is re∣quired and requisite to range them, when a whole battell is planted togither. To performe which the Pikes of the flankes and the Hargabusiers shall come out of aray, and shall place themselues on the one side and the Corporals of the Pikes shall make head, one of the Corporals and his people first, and another of the Corporals and his people next, the Corporall of the Halberdeares shall follow, hauing the Alfierus with his Ensigne in the middest of the Halberds. Then the other Corporals with their Pikes, shal make the reregard with their people.

It must be shewed to euerie Corporall the place which he ought to kéepe at all times, who likewise must declare the same plainely and particularly to euerie priuate souldier of his squadre.

The Captaine must be at the head of the aray, and the Lieu∣tenant at the backe, the Sergeant hath no staying place, vn∣lesse the Captaine do appoint him one, but must alwayes trot here and there all alongst the rankes, to see good order kept, and to commaunde the performance of his Captaines plea∣sure.

Let continuall vse accustome the souldiers, to know of themselues, how to range themselues in battell: for the bet∣ter learning whereof, they must be made to march forward and backward, and to passe difficile places without trou∣bling and breaking their aray, the which if they be not able to doe, they are not to be esteemed old souldiers, although they haue serued twentie yeares.

The difficultie likewise is great, to cause them place them∣selues vpon a sodaine in their first aray being broken or dis∣persed, by reason of vneasie passages, or that the enimies haue disseuered them, for in this it is requisite to haue had good and great exercise of a long continuance. Therefore

that the same may be accomplished, it is necessarie to haue two things obserued & maintained, the one that the Ensignes may be easily knowne by colours and figures of number, and that the chiefe members and officers haue certaine cognisances or markes vpon their armes and apparell: and the other is, that one selfe band be ranged alwayes in one certaine and knowne place of the battaillon, without causing the same to alter roomes: and that the Corporals know the places that they must enter into, without shifting at any time, but if that one Corporall be accustomed to be in the formost ranke, that he remaine there al∣wayes, and the souldiers in the places which hath ben ordained them from the beginning. And if that any one band hath bene taught to be in the right corner of the battell, that the same doe not stirre from thence, and so consequently that which is vsed to the left shall go to the left. By this meanes if the souldiers be accustomed to know their places (put case they should be out of order) yet should they be able to place themselues againe easily. For the Ensignes do know alredie the place where they are ac∣customed to be planted in the battel: and the Corporals know∣ing likewise their place, may iudge also by ranke of eye vpon what part it is that they should place themselues: so that those of the front shall steppe forwards to the front, and those of the backe shall in like sort retire to their places.

Therefore the Corporals knowing in how many and what rankes they haue to arrange themselues, it will follow that the souldiers, not hauing any thing else to do, but to imitate their Leaders and heads, will readily range themselues euerie one in his owne place, without hauing néede of any sergeant of a band, nor any other to place them, prouided that vse and practise hath made them perfect masters. These things are instructed & lear∣ned spéedily, so that diligence be vsed, & that mē accustome them∣selues by little & little and often, the which after they haue once well learned, they shall hardly forget. It is moreouer necessarie to teach them to turne al at one time, for it is somtimes requisite to make of the rereward the front, or of one of the flankes the rereward, according to the enimies face, and according to the place of assault. Now to answere towards the place néedful, you haue no more to do, but to turne your person towards the place appointed, and so shall that part towards which the souldiers

haue turned their faces be the front. But he that would haue a whole battaillon turne all in one péece, & as if it were a massie body, in this it were necessarie to haue great practise & discretiō, for to turne it vpon the left hand, it is requisite to haue the left corner stay, & that those which be néere adioyning vnto the same, do aduance themselues so slowly, that those vpon y^e right corner, be not constrained to run: otherwise al wil be confounded, but this may better be made apparant by experience then words.

The forlorne hope, & the light armed & armed pikes, are to be ranged in y^e front, flanks & rereward, according to the proportion of the battell, or as the seruice requires, for these are to execute particular functions, in cōuoyes, forrages, inuasions & such like, when it is not requisite to send great numbers of people. The forlorne hope, the pikemen & hargabusiers, are to begin y^e battel, to fight amongst the horsemen without kéeping any order: and therfore being lightly armed, their office is to fight without stā∣ding still or firme, & in running & trauersing here & there, whe∣ther they pursue the enimies, or be followed of them, in which the pikemen wil do good seruice in backing & sustaining the har∣gabusiers, and may be able to make front to these that charge vp∣on them, whether they be on horseback or foote, or to follow those that be in flight, & to make entrance & to thrust in amongst the enimies, when they begin to stagger or sway. Therfore al soul∣diers, whether they be in maine battel, in flanke, forlorne hope, in the impale or rereward, haue néede to be well exercised, that being disbanded, they may immediatly finde againe their places & rang themselues in the same aray they kept before, wherein it is necessarie that all officers become more vigilant in execution then heretofore, and the souldiers more obedient and expert in performing, then at this day they be. Our age brings forth Captaines more curious of gaine then of conseruing good order, and troupes of officers rather to supplie number then sufficient to instruct: The Ensignes thēselues are more in vse for a gal∣lant shew, then for any Militarie direction, whereas the ancient Romaines did vse them for a guid: whereby they knew how to put thēselues in order, for euery one after the Ensigne did stay, knew incontinently y^e place where they were to plant thēselues, they knew y^t if the same did remoue or stand stil, y^t they likewise ought to march or stay. Therfore it is necessary that a camp haue diuers bands, & euery band his Ensigne, wherin figures of num∣ber

are to be portraited, to shew what roome and place the same is of in euery regiment or armie, and so consequently where the same is accustomed to be ranged. And also necessarie Lea∣ders and officers, that the campe may haue diuers soules, and so likewise diuers liues: all souldiers then ought to gouerne thēselues according to their Ensignes & according to the sounds the which being ordained & set down according as they ought, do command & gouerne a whole regiment and armie. The which, so that it march in such sort as answeres to the batterie of the drums: they shall easily kéepe their order and aray. And to this end were the Flutes and fiffes found out, and sounds of perfect accord: for euen as men that dance by the measures of Musicke do not erre, so likewise a whole battaillon, which in march obeys the sound of the drum cannot breake aray, and therefore the Ro∣maines, when they would change their pace, when they would inflame, appcase, or assure the souldiers they did change sounds, & as the sounds did varie, so likewise vsed they variety of names to them, for they had the Dorike, and the Phrigien sound: the one did inflame y^e hearts of y^e souldiers, the other did make méek & appease them. They had likewise other kinds of sounds as the Aeolien, Iasien, Lydien & others, the which did al serue to incite or coole the courage of men, which diuersitie of batteries, the Spa∣niards do presently verie well imitate, a thing to be obserued of all good souldiers. An armie that consists of diuers battaillons & two or thrée fronts, when they are constrained to break and are repulsed, must retire one within another into the rankes of the next squadrons, which of purpose are planted more thin, & so the first retyring enters into the 2. and y^e second into the 3. Note that in the first front of a square vpon y^e fal of any wounded or slaine souldier, he y^e is next behind him in rank, & is his follower must enter and step into his roome, and fill vp the void place, that the front of the battel may still be maintained, and so obseruing the retire of the battaillons, and the renuing of their ranks, we may accomplish both the Romain & Gréeke discipline. Those battail∣lons which are most necessarie to be had in vse, ought to consist of pikes marching before the Ensigne, behind it and on y^e flanks, carrying light Uenecian rundels and targets on their backes: and in the midst about the Ensigne the halberdeares must stand, prouided alwayes that the notable personages & good souldiers for seruice be dispersed as well in the flanks & behind as before,

and not to put them all to one brunt in the front, as though they were immortall and not able to be ouercome. By this or∣der a battell shall be able to sustaine a charge of horsemen or footmen to repulse them, & after enter into the enimies throng: for experience declares that the pikes are made voide of seruice when the rankes be closed pell mell togither, for then the soul∣diers are almost one vpon the bodie & backe of another. Where∣fore if the pikemen should haue no other weapons but their pikes and swords, they should remaine naked, which doth moue me to commend the rondell to receiue the blowes: and to fight withall in any presse or throng whatsoeuer. The halberdeares may verie well fight in a presse likewise with their halberds, rather then the pikemen with their pikes: The which halber∣deares are expresly appointed for execution: and so consequen∣ly to follow the said rondels at the héeles, to frée them from the charge of those that be armed, through the great & heauie blowes which they shall giue with their halberds. But touching the rondels, I would haue them alwayes to thrust with the point of their swords, although it were but at the face, the legges and féete, if the enimie be not disarmed in other parts.

The ground that euery souldier doth occupie at large in mar∣ching in simple and single aray, is thrée pace, and being in bat∣tell two, and when they fight one. The distance of one ranke from another, in simple and single ordinance and aray, is foure, and being ranged in battell two, and in fight one.

The first sound of the Collonels trumpet is to enter into the ranke and march, the second to alter the single aray into forme of battell, and the thirde is to aduance and plant the bat∣tell. The Collonel being in such a place as from thence he may sée his whole Regiment, hauing the Caualliers of his squadre of S. George about him, being such expert souldiers as I haue set downe in my second booke of directions, togither with the Sergeant Maior and such as can execute any commission of im∣portance, his drum and trumpet maior about him to sound and cause his pleasure to be sodainly and spéedily vnderstood. The Collonel must commande the sound to be made of his trumpet, which is appointed for the ordinarie march, and soone after to sounde that which is to trot, and then at the selfe time that which commands and appoints the fight and combat.

When a battell doth consist of diuers battaillons, he must not forget to exercise y^e first to retire within y^e battaillons of the second, & the second to retire within the battaillons of the third. And to accomplish the same without breaking or disordering the squadrons. The pikes in the flankes must retire as the battail∣lons retire, the first into the second, the 3. within the 4. the fourth within the 5. the fift into the 6. of the ranks, and so consequently to the end. The forlorne hope and horsmen shal likewise do their dutie. These things done, the retrait must sound, and euery En∣signe must recoile his people apart, to put them again in a new and single ordinance of aray for the march.

The enimie aduancing to fight in triangular battel with the point forward, frame the battell of sheares to receiue, enuiron and fight with the said pointed battaillon. If the enimie march with a front stretched out in length, make a triangle or pointed battel to pearce the same. The baggage of an armie ought either to be in a place strong by nature, or well defended by art and in∣dustrie, togither with the followers of the campe, pages and mu∣chachos, who must be chosen able to fight in a day of seruice, for the defence of themselues and their masters baggage.

The spaces, interualles, galeries and passages, which are a∣mongst the ranks, amongst the bands, and amongst the battail∣lons, do serue not onely to receiue one another, either in retire, or when the first ranke doth retire through the midst of the se∣cond, and the 2. 3. 4. and 5. &c. following him like a Laborinthus mase, going forward to the last ranks and turning backe again, or that his next follower steps a side and lets him passe and en∣ter into ranke againe, but also those spaces betwixt the battail∣lons serue the Caualliers & such like that come & go, which car∣rie & bring directions of y^e Chieftaines, Collonels or Generals.

The forlorne hope and extraordinarie pikes must inuade the enimie with continuall & great cries, the battaillons or maine battell likewise at the first must giue a chearefull shout, when encounter is giuen in the beginning and ioyning of the battels, but afterward maintain a solemne silence, y^t they may y^e better vnderstand what commandements and directions procéeds from their chieftain, either for y^e altering of order or otherwise, which cannot be heard or vnderstood, if they continue a barbarous crie. Squadrons & battaillons must sometimes assault in great hast, chiefly if the enimies artillery doe endomage them verie much,

and sometimes must abide the charge without remoouing, when the place is vneasie, & that they shall be in danger to dismember, specially if they be such as be not accustomed to the march & ma∣ner of battels. Therefore in conclusion, these 4 things ought to be obserued of all armies: first that all soldiors & priuate bands be exercised a part in all things belonging to the wars: second∣ly, that they know how to range themselues in battell, how to varie, exercise, and march in the same, softly, apace, and in full course, kéeping their araic. Thirdly to learne that which apper∣taines to the exercise which they must accomplish in a day of battell, and how to drawe forward and retire the artillarie, to giue way and cause the Hargabuziers to issue out of the flanks, hauing shot sixe or 7 Hargabusades a péece in running héere and there, and without kéeping order, so that they know how to ioyne and agrée with the pikemen and horsemen, to whom the care ouer their safety belongs. They shall retire by the flankes and by the interuals and passages, each one into his place: that is to say, the hargabuziers of the flankes into the flanks, the for∣lorne hope to the reregard, there to range themselues according to the Collonels appointment, & as the day of seruice requires, for if they should remaine and continue before the squadre or battel, they shall hinder the maine battaillons in their fight, and bring confusion. The light armed pikes & horsemen must like∣wise retire to their places vpon the ioyning of the battels. The fourth exercise is, as partly I haue touched before, that euery one apply himselfe to vnderstand the commaundement of the Chéeftains, the signification of the sounds and trumpets, and the batterie of the drums: by which be signified all that which is generally to be vnderstood: that is to say, when it shall be time to plant themselues in battell, when they ought to march, when to stay or go forward, when to turne visage to one part or other, to crosse the ground, sarrie close, & fight. In like sort the sound of the said trumpets shall signifie, when it is time for the artillary to discharge, when to retire, when the Musket & Hargabusiers, the forlorne hope, and others, are to set forward, and when they are to retire, and also when the first battels ought to retire to the second fronts and battaillons, and when both together they are to arange themselues with those of the third, & finally at what time they must all retire from the battel, the which things must in a plaine & knowne vulgar sort, be al set downe by the collonel

and Chieftaine, and suddenlye be signified by his trumpet, the noise whereof shall giue sufficient intelligence to the other trumpets, which are néerest him, that it may so go from hand to hand, to the furthest trumpet of the armie. It should be good to vse a Cornet or a hunts mans horne, for the retraite, &c. and a trumpet to begin the battell, or contrariwise: for it is a most difficile thing, that the trumpetor should signifie so many diuers things with one instrument, considering that the sound of a re∣traite, dooth approch very néere vnto the sounding to the stan∣dard, in such sort that then when as all men be troubled, and as it were besides themselues, they shall very hardly be able to discerne whether of these two things the trumpet sounds.

What the Sergeant Maior is to obserue touching the length of Pikes.

A Pike ought neuer to want in length any thing of fiftéene foot, for this respect, when the footemen are streightned and setled in order of battell, they may for the aduantage and profite of the said armie, in respect that the assaults of the enemie is to giue to the said battell, couching & bending their pikes against them, worke so that the greatest number of rankes that is possi∣ble for the defence of the battell, may endamage and offend the said enemies, and therefore their pikes being shorter then fif∣téene foote, it prooues that no more of the ranks can fight, but the first, second and third, standing all in order in their places, and yet can the third ranke fight but discommodiously, & not aduance forward his pike to succor and defend the first ranke, forsomuch as the distance of the ground, from one ranke to another, in any battell, how straight and close soeuer it be, would be neuerthe∣lesse so much, that men may manage and handle their weapons and sturre themselues, without being a hinderance or trouble one to another. Therefore it is to be considered, that the distance of the ground, which is betwixt one ranke and an other, dooth take away a good portion of length, in such sort that by reason we may sée, that a pike ought to be in length fiftéene foot, and no lesse, for being so long, footemen standing in order of battell in their places, the third and fourth ranke may commodiouslye abasing themselues, come in aright to succour with their pikes, the first and formost rankes, & this is as much as I can imagine

to be necessarie, touching the length of pikes, by reason of the succour, the third and fourth ranke may giue to them before.

How pikes are to be raised vp and abased, in closing and opening of a battell.

I Will not omit to put those in memorie, that know not of the particular of those things that is required in making a battell of footmen. Therefore those which would make a battell of foot∣men, must be aduertised, that in shutting vp of the said battell, the rankes of the pikes, aswell armed as vnarmed, must not raise them vp confusedly, but with order, that is, when the Ser∣geant, Captaine, or Sergeant Maior shall say, raise or right vp your pikes, then it is requisite that the first and formost ranke must begin to raise vp it selfe, and that the second do not mooue to raise vp it selfe, vntill the first be all raised vp, & so the third, and fourth. And finally the same order is to be obserued in all o∣ther rankes, not to raise vp their pikes vntill such time that the rankes that are before them haue raised them vp: and so from one to another, all the rankes of the footmen must obserue this order, aswell in battell as in araye. The like order is to be ob∣serued in battell and araye, in laying downe their pikes vpon their shoulders, forsomuch as ranke by ranke, in order and with∣out confusion, they ought to let fall their pikes, letting the first fall after the second, the third and fourth, following from one to another, in the selfe same maner as hath béene declared in the raising vp of their pikes, for by obseruing this order they can∣not commit, but rather make a gallant showe, and preuent ma∣nie confusions.

How the Sergeant Maior, Captaine, or simple Sergeant are to gouerne themselues, when their battell shall chaunce to be assaulted, on foote and on horsebacke.

IN sundry and diuers manners, and moreouer in diuers pla∣ces and grounds battels are fought, according to the occa∣sions, and the accidents that in Militarie occurrences doe chaunce at vnawares, in time of warrefare, abroade in Cam∣pania, in Townes and in Fortresses: for which causes it

is necessarie, that the wit of those that haue y^e managing there∣of, be prompt & ready, aswell in this, as moreouer in finding out a good partie for himselfe, all for the honor & safetie of the prince whom he serues, ioining to his couragious hart, wit, experience, policie, & each aduantage that is possible to be vsed against his e∣nemie, therfore in two sorts do arise the means to fight: one is when he doth séeke to fight with his enemie, & the other when he is sought of the enemie, in such sort that it is néedfull he defend himselfe, and therefore I say, when the first occasion doothrise, & that the séekes the enemie, speaking héere of striking battell in Campania: it is requisite first he consider how the enemies ar∣mie is furnished with horsemen and footmen, and if he looke to fight with horsmen that are to come to breake his battell, in this case he is to be aduertised, that he suffer himselfe not to be found (if it be possible) in Campania Rasa, in y^e open fields, or in plains, but rather must accomodate his battell in some place of a hill or a mountaine, or vpon some seat of ground which hath vpon one side either riuer or ditch, or some other impediment, against the enemies horsemen, which on some side may be a difference, as in some places be, trées, vines, and diuers other such like, as nature brings foorth in diuers places, which are of great impediment vnto the enemies horsemen, & vnto foote battels are verie profi∣table, and although the number of the souldiors are very small, yet oftentimes by much aduantage remaine victorious: but ad∣uertisement is to be had, that in such cases it is requisite, that there be accomodated many hargabusiers in the battell, & many pikes, for they be good against the enemies horsemen: hauing to fight with footmen, the open fields is the best, with a square bat∣tell, and many pikes, placing hargabuziers according to his dis∣cretion. Since I haue spoken of the first maner of fight, I will speake of the second, which is, when the enemie dooth assault at vnawares, it is necessarie then couragiouslie not to loose any point of courage, to place his people in square battell, for that it is the most ready and most sure way, that is, making himselfe good flanks with the Hargabuziers of the band, afterwards ex∣pecting the assault, cause his battell to shut and close it selfe wel, causing them to couche and abase, 4 or 5 or somtimes 6 ranks of pikes in that case, round about all the sides of the battel, and the others to stand vpright vntill time of néede: and the Hargabu∣ziers are to hold their pikes vpon their thighes, with their mat∣ches

in their cockes, a morce in their pan, and all vigilant in a readinesse. And the captaine before the battell, valiantly giuing courage to his souldiors, to performe the dutie of a leader: ad∣uertising, that when the assault is giuen by horsemen, that the pikemen couching and abasing themselues, do hold the great end of their pikes fastned hard in strong earth, to the end the pike may haue greater force.

What distance is vsed in Battell betwixt man and man, ranke and ranke.

IN this present chapter, you shall perceiue the order and ma∣ner that is to be obserued in the distance and space of ground betwixt ranke and ranke of souldiours in battell, and how much space the souldiours do occupie, from shoulder to shoulder, aswell armed with Corslet as vnarmed. Note that it is to be vnderstood of a pikeman, I will first aduertise all Sergeant Maiors, and all good Captaines and Sergeants, and others, that delight in profession of battels, that there be two reasons, wherefore the vnderstanding of these distances, be of importance: the one is to know how much ground is necessary to manage a battell, & how much space the circumference of the battell will take round a∣bout it, according to the quantitie of the souldiours, that are to be in the said battel. And the other is, that it is néedful to know, how much space is limited to a souldior from shoulder to shoul∣der, and from one ranke to another. And this proportion hath bin found out and limited, of great practised and cunning men, to the intent that the said distance from one ranke to another, may in a certaine space of time be accomodated, that the souldiours may comodiously manage their pikes, may fight, and in such sort that one ranke of souldiours may succour an other that stand be∣fore them, and deale in such sort that all the battell may worke good effect, forasmuch as when they do accommodate themselues ouerstraite and narrowe, they can neither fight nor yet hardlye mooue themselues. And the same inconuenience would chance, if souldiors were placed in battell one ouer farre from another, or one ranke too much distant from an other. Therefore it is a most conuenient thing, to vse in this case those limited rules, that the auncient and moderne souldiours haue set downe, and such as our Captaines haue obserued. The space therefore of

grounde, that one Souldiour with his necessaries dooth holde from shoulder to shoulder shall be of thrée foote, and nothing lesse, in such sort, that when any battell is to bee made, let vs put this example, that if there be a ranke of 25 souldiours in a battell, it is néedfull to imagine, that the length of the said 25. footemen shall containe the space of 75. foote, which is fiftéene pace.

Speaking of the Venetian pace, which is fiue foote for the pace, whereof I meane alwaies to speake. The space moreouer of the ground that is to be obserued for the ouerthwart of a bat∣tell, that is, from one ranke to another, that they may be able to manage themselues with their pikes aswell in marching as in fighting in maine battell, no lesse then seauen foote is obserued from one ranke to another. Moreouer to the intent he may more commodiously march with his pike on his shoulder, the ground would be no lesse then of ten foote, which is two pace, but after when they are to close and ioyne more straite, as I haue said before, of 7. foote: in such sort, that a man in ranke with his space before him, will amount to held vnto the other ranke, ten foote, which is two pace, accounting thrée foote of ground which he holds with his person, and the other 7 foote, the space vnto the other ranke, make 10 foote. Let vs then presuppose this figure or example: That he is to make a battell that is a perfect square of twentie euery way, we must count how much ground the said battell will take in circuite, and sée if the same be capable of the number of Souldiours, which are appointed to be put and set in battell.

Our rule therefore shall holde vpon two fides, that is, vpon the fronte and the backe, and taile of the battell, where the Souldiours stand shoulder to shoulder, in 60. foote, which is 12. pace, for both sides and both the foresaid sides be 24. pace. The other two sides which be the flankes of the said battell, where the space is left betwixt one ranke and an other of seauen foote, and therefore the person of the souldier which is séene one with an other, in such sorte that the battell which is to be made of 20 Souldiours for euery side, a perfect square of people, but not a perfect square of ground: forasmuch as two sides will be 12. pace on a side, which in both comes to 24. pace: the other two will be for euery side 40. pace, which is 80 pace, and so hauing

ioyned vnto the same 24. pace, it will bee round about the said battell of 20 Souldiours on a side 104. pace, which is 520. foote of circumference of ground, and so alwaies this order is to be ob∣serued, not that you are to take a corde or a rod, or pace, to mea∣sure the distance of the said battell, but by racke of eye by your witte and discretion consider this measure, for whether it be more or lesse, it little imports. It dooth suffice that you obserue a certaine discretion, that may come to the marke I haue written, if it doe not light iust at leastwise néere the bounds and mea∣sure I haue set downe. Now since we haue put this figure and example of a perfect square battel of people, but not of ground for 20. souldiers, we wil speak of an other forme or figure, some∣what differing or disagréeing from such like battels, and yet for all that of the same number of twentie Souldiours, for euery side in perfect square, the which is square of people & of ground, as some doe vse to make, as may appeare in a battell of 400. Souldiours, square in ground and people: the which being in this forme, hath for space of ground about in circumference 800. foote, which is 160. pace. This is sufficient to remember you of the manner that is obserued in the distance and measure in the circumference of the battell.

And now returning to my discourse of one ranke from an∣other, when the Souldiours are ioined & closed in battell with their pikes, & when they stand in terme to fight, to me it séemes, that then in that accident, the battell is to close and ioyne as straight together as is possible, in such sort as they may manage and bestir themselues with their weapons, without being an impediment one to another, to the intent that the rankes being straite in fighting, or that the souldiors be inuaded by their ene∣mies, or that they recoile by force of an onset, they néed not to fal to the ground, but rather that they may by those ranks that bee behinde their backes receiue helpe, that vndersetting them with their brests, they may hold them straight vp vpon their féete. And this is not onely my opinion, but of diuers other mos•…•… excellent wits.

The other rule of the distance of seauen foote from ranke to •…•…anke, which we haue spoken of, is meant of marching and the managing and exercising of a battell, to the intent

the soldiors may receiue exercise & discipline in the said battell, in the which alwaies the foresaid order of measure & distance is to be obserued, to the intent that the Sergeant & the other heads which do gouerne them, may the more comodiously manage and enter in and out through the space of the said ranks.

How battels of euery number of footmen are compoun∣ded and placed together in order.

MAny & sundry be the waies which be obserued in compoun∣ding together the battels of footmē, but I verely thinke that the most expedient & short way amongst practised soldiors is in these two sorts: that is the one to ioyne together the battel with diuided maniples, and the other to double the ranks of the aray. The sergeant Maior, Captaine, or other Sergeant, hauing first determined in his minde of how many men in a ranke he will make his battell, knowing first the number of the pikes that are to be had: so making of one company, as he may do of many one onely battell: & procéeding to make the battell in which of the •…•… waies he list, either by parting it into maniples, or by doubling the ranks. It is therefore first requisite, to set the footmen in a∣ray that are to be found there present, numbring all the pikes, and accomodating the araye in such sort that the battell may afterwards be made withall spéed, and that it may serue the turne, for either of those two waies, as I haue said. It is neces∣sarie therefore to know the place where the battell is to be set, and to take care that there be so much space as may be capable thereof, knowing the rules of distance, which is vsed in warfare that is, how much ground the Souldiours hold from shoulder to shoulder, and how much distance is left betwixt ranke and ranke of pikes. But touching the measure I néed to speake no more, for that the officer may measure the ground by pases: yet I would commend a Souldiour that is of such discretion, that of himselfe can accomodate those things by racke of eye, without such precise trouble in measuring the grounde. And if a battell require 300. paces in circumference, hee by racke of his eye maye sée whether the place bee capable or no, noting that the rules to put the distance of ranckes, is made for this other respect, which is of much more importance, that the

rankes of the battell may fight without any impediment of the Souldiers, foreséeing that euerie third ranke may succour the first with their pikes: and speaking of battels you must euer thinke that I speake of pikes, for battels are neuer made of hargabusiers: it is verie true that hauing made the battels of pikes, you may accommodate them afterwards as you list about the battels, by the flankes in y^e corners & hornes, or betwixt one pike and another of the formost rankes of the battell, or in such other sundry wayes as may best aid and helpe the battell: let i•…•… suffice that of Hargabusiers there is neuer any certaine rule set downe, but euer is to be vnderstood of the order of pikes in bat∣tell: of the which two wayes, where I speake how a battell must be made wel and spéedily, I will endeuour my selfe to let you vnderstand the way the best I can. Desiring therefore to worke by the first way I haue spoken of: that is, to make any battell by maniples, if it be to be made of any one company a∣lone, let it be of what number soeuer of footmen, it is first requi∣site to set the aray with intent to diuide it into thrée parts, that is to say, into 3. maniples, which may be iust of as many rankes one as another, in the which maniples, you ought by numbring the rankes of the pikes, cause the Ensignes of the said aray to kéepe one ranke like vnto the pikes, and this is obserued when the thrée maniples be vneuen: that is to say, that two of them should chance to be of 20. ranks, and the 3. of 19. or 18. rankes, and then the Ensignes shalbe numbred for one ranke: but alwayes the other two maniples are to be of iust number, as for example. There is a company of 300. pikes, the which if you desire to put in aray before you make your battell, consider how many ranks they will be 5. in a rank, and you shal finde them to be 60. ranks: diuide the aray into 3. parts, cutting them off at euery 20. ranks, and after draw vp to the first ranke the second part, that is, the maniple of the middest, and ioyne in order the first ranke to the head of the first maniple, the which being on the right hand of the maniple with the Ensignes, you shal draw then the 3. maniple to the left side, ioyning the first rankes to the head of the other two maniples: so that the aray hauing bene of fiue for a ranke, the battel shalbe one way 15. and the other way of 20. pikes. Now desiring to haue the battell to be more large in the front, then in the flankes, the which I commend, of what number soeuer the

pikes are of, he shall cause y^e Sergeant to go to y^• flank where he would make the front, and standing still a little distance forth of the battel, he shal crie aloud, Turne your faces this way, the which being heard of the souldiers, sodainly they shall turne them selues towards that side which he shall giue them notice of. Ob∣serue then this order at all times: when you haue made a bat∣tell, let the pikes be of what number soeuer, let it suffice y^t I ad∣uertise you, y^t at al times when you list to make the front where the flanke is, so that the place where you would make it be cap∣able and commodious, that you may frame and make the battell according to your determination, you must cause them to turne their faces towards that side where you would haue the front of the battell to be. I iudge it good likewise to aduertise you, that desiring to make any battell with maniples, for that it often∣times fals out, that some rankes in the aray do remaine vnper∣fite, which are called broken rankes: these are taken out & are accommodated about at the sides of the Ensignes, so diuided ne∣uerthelesse that they may remaine in good order. The which Ensignes, alwayes when you make any battell, you must haue respect that they may haue a large roome and space, that they may accommodate themselues with the souldiers, which make the broken number, as for example in aray of fiue and fiue in a ranke, in the last ranks there remaines 3. or 4. souldiers, which do not furnish out the full ranke. And the like is to be obserued when you are to part your aray into 3. maniples, and that they haue some rankes more then the entire and full aray. As would fall out hauing to make an aray of 500. pikes, and put the case that you would place them 7. and 7. in a ranke, they would fall out to be 71. rankes, and 3. pikes more: and diuiding into thrée parts these 71. pikes and 3. pikes, they amount to 23. rankes, dou∣bling the 3. maniples, as I haue said, so that 3. times 23. makes 69. rankes, and there is ouer and besides two rankes of the aray and 3. pikes, which is in all the brokē number 17. pikes, which in making of y^e battell, must be set aside by themselues, vntil the 3. maniples be ioyned in battell, the which on one side will be 23. pikes, & on the other 21. The 17. pikes then that are taken out, shal be accommodated, diuided here & there where the Ensignes stand. And when it fals out that there doth arise to be pikes or broken rankes, that are so many as were able to make a whole

ranke in the battel, then it is to be made, ioyning it either before or behind the Ensignes, or at the flankes of the battell, or where it shal fal out to be best, for it imports not much: and so you work by this rule of maniples, in one companie alone as well as with many. And hauing to make a battell of sundrie companies, the true rule is to work by these maniples, and you must procéed in this sort. First take order with all the heads of the companies, that they frame all their order of aray in one manner and sort, & if any of the said heads haue any greater number of pikes then his commission doth allow, let him take them forth & giue them in supplie to those Captaines that are found to haue lesse then he hath appointed for their aray. Let vs then vse this example in this sort, that is, that if there be found in companie or in any other place, vnder the gouernmēt of ten Captaines, to the num∣ber of 3. thousand souldiers in aray, that is to say, only pikes, af∣ter the rate of thrée hundred vnder euerie Captaine, being iust 3000. of which the Sergeant Maior hauing to make a battaillon must do in this sort. He must giue order to all the Sergeants of the bands, that they make all their araies after one sort, & after one number, and the one head or front being distant from the other a little, he shall cause their arayes to march, and let vs put the case that the Sergeant Maior haue giuen them order, that they place themselues sixe and sixe, there will be in euerie com∣panie 50. rankes, and so it is néedfull that euerie one haue put their aray 6. and 6. in 50. rankes, and desiring to ioyne and close these battels, he shal cause these companies to march one after an other, & shall close them togither, ioyning the first rankes to the head of the aray one of another, knitting the maniples to their portion: and this battell will fall out to be on one side 50. pikes, which wil be flanks, and the other which wil be the front, wil be of 60. pikes, for so much as being 10. maniples, 6. in a rank, it wil fal out to be iust, as I haue said before: to make it a right square, it wil be of 54. on euery side remaining out of y^e battel 84, which at pleasure may be put in ranke, & so taking 54. out of 84, there remaines 30. pikes, which being not able to make a ranke, are to be placed about the Ensignes, as I haue said before.

There be othersome, that hold this other manner in making of battels, to double the ranks, that is, hauing set his araie, and marching with them, they begin at the head of the aray, where

the Sergeant staying, doth cause them to march forward, and the first beginning to passe, doth appoint the second that it ioyne it selfe with the first, and so the third with the fourth. And fi∣nally the ray going forward, doth cause the rankes to double two by two: so that if first the ranke were 9. and 9. they arise to be 18. in a ranke. And desiring to make them more large, he may put 3. rankes in one, which will be 27. in a ranke, and so he may double them to what number he wil, and of as many ranks as he will, but it is requisite before he make his aray, to consider well how many pikes he hath, and afterward accommodating his aray to his appointed number, that by doubling it by two or thrée rankes, it may become as square as is possible, neither is he to do it without this consideration, for otherwise working by haphazard, it fals out to be euill fauoured, to be by halfe more long then large, and sometimes double: But it is first necessarie for him to number the rankes of the aray, and consider if dou∣bling two rankes at a time, it will fall out to be well, or better to double it thrée at a time. And this must be well considered, for otherwise he shall make and vnmake to his great disgrace. Therefore now I conclude, that the first way is euer best & most readie without toile or trouble in doubling and redoubling: So that helping your memorie with certain Tablei or Tariffas made of purpose to know the numbers of the souldiers that are to en∣ter into ranke, and what number of rankes will performe the iust square, you can neuer erre, but vpon any sodaine, set in bat∣tell any number of souldiers whatsoeuer.