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.

A new inuention, and almost inuincible forme of fortifi∣cation, against the furious battery of Artillarie.

IT hath béene the common vse in all fortifications héeretofore, to place the earth behind the walles of the Fortresse, and therof to make Bulwarks and Ramparts, but in the construction of this inuincible fortresse, against the infernall furie of Artillarie, it is necessary to vse a new inuention to fo•…•…tefie. For the sayd earth be∣ing placed in forme of Rampart behindthe wall, cannot serue to resist the blowes of the Cannon, but then onely when the saide wall is ruinated: which is quite contrary to the proportion I meane to preferre. For in stéede that y^e wall dooth couer the earth, and dooth serue for defence vnto the same, I meane to make the earth to supply thys Office, and that it doo not onely hinder the Artillary from béeing able to batter the same wall, but also that it become a couer thereunto, to the intent the sight thereof may bée wholly taken away from the Enemie.

To performe which, it is necessary to plant and place the earth before the wall, & not as of ordinary is accustomed, to ioyne it close to the wall, but distant thirtie or thirtie fiue foote, in ma∣king a dry Ditch without water betwixt them both.

Thys earth shall be sustained vpon that side, which doth behold the Fortresse, with a little wall of foure foote thicknes in the foun∣dation, arising to be two foote thicke in the height. Upon that side which dooth looke towards the fieldes, it shall likewise be sustained with a little wall of sixe foote height from the toppe of the water, which is in the great Ditch, and dooth seperate this masse of earth from the Counterscarpe.

The plaine of thys earth shall be in thicknesse where it is most narrowe, which towardes the corners of the Flankers and Curtines, or more or lesse large as the proportion requires. And the largest, which is at the Angles, as well of the Curtines as Bulwarks 150. foote thick, which dooth arise to be 25. fadome, and for the gard of the sholders he shall haue 60. foote mounting to ten fadome. In sum, that the sholders in comprehending all the space, which is from the walles y^t the flanck makes, vnto the little wall, which dooth sustaine the masse of earth vppon the side of the great Ditch, shalbe 150. foote. That is to say, the earth shal haue in this

place 60. foote, the ditch betwixt the earth and the sholder of the wall 30. foote or more, and the sholder of the Bulwarke •…•…0. foote.

Héere I wold demaund of those which haue searched out so ma∣ny inuentions, to find the meanes to fortifie and make a Fortresse inexpugnable, wherein they haue thought to haue attained there∣vnto. If to find meanes to preserue it against the blowes of Artil∣lary, be the conseruation of Townes of war, I perswade iny selfe that this my inuention, doth approch very néere to that which they in vaine of long sought for, •…•…nd so in part I doubt not I shall satis∣fie their desire. For what store of Munition, what length of time, must be imployed, to batter this by the blowes of the Cannon, first 60. foote of the defence of the earth, and as much of the should•…•…r made to the wall: this masse of earth béeing a matter soft, which cannot be disseuered or dispersed, as I presuppose it should be, shal it not defend the sholder that stands behinde from rece•…•…uing any domage. And if the case be thus, what feare is to be had, y^e Townes being fortified by this meanes, but that they shall be able to defend themselues from any violence or fury of Artillary. For whilst the defences remaine whole and entire, the which serue vnto Fortres∣ses, in like case as armes, legs, and other members doo vnto the bo∣die, it is certaine that they may assure themselues, from falling in∣to the hands of the Enemy. Now this masse of earth, being placed as I haue said, may be named a Countergarde, y^e which may be so placed, that it shal not any thing hinder the flankers or defences of euery Bulwark, but that they shall be able to behold, and fréely to discouer, all that whatsoeuer shal show and present it selfe alongst the same, as may be more plainly iudged, by the view of y^e draughts and platforms of this inuention, which I haue set out at the ende of this discourse.

But to the end euery thing may be the more plainly vnderstood, I wil particulerly thus set downe all the parts. First, betwixt the Countergard, and the Counterscarpe, the which is the bounds and space of the ditch, the said ditch shal be at the least 80. foote large, and 25. or 30. déepe, as is shewed in this figure following, by the place marked with A. In the bothome of the said ditch, must bee made another little ditch, which shall be made 20. foote large, and 20. déepe, made in forme of this letter V. & marked with B. Thys little ditch shal be distant, and stretched out from the Countergard 10. or 12. foote, which space is marked C. At the foote of the sayde

Countergard, the little wall must be placed, surmounting y^e brinke of the water, as I haue made mention of héere before, coated with D. Betwixt this litt•…•…e wal and the Countergard, a little Allie shal be left, or spare of 4. foote large, marked with this letter. E. The masse of earth called Countergard, must be made in the fashion of a Kampart, but quite contrary to those which haue béene accus•…•…o∣med, to be placed behind and against the walles of Fortresses For in stéed that the Ramparts ordinarily haue theyr accesse towards the body of the Cittie, this shall haue his back turned towards the Champaine, and the Front towards the Cittie, the which backe shall be made in the forme of a ridge, slyding and leaning downe all alongst, from the top euen to the bothome, as doth the side of a roofe of a house, except that in the very top and height of the Coun∣tergar•…•…, there must be 8. or 10. foote of explanade or flat grounde, marked thus with F. And for that I haue before made mention of the wall, which must sustaine the Countergarde, also of the se∣cond dry ditch, which must be betwixt the Countergarde and the w•…•…ll, that doth enclose the Fortresse. Let this figure following suf∣•…•… for the vnderstanding both of this and the rest.

[illustration]

But to the intent the Reader may vnderstande the perfection of this worke the better. I will in part expound the properties & cir∣cumstances therof, & wherunto euery one doth particularly serue.

Touching the proportion and body of the fortification, as Cur∣tins, bulwarks, sholders, flanckes, and Caualieres, I presuppose that they are made in such due forme and order as hath béen accu∣stomed to be vsed, of those y^e be perfect Maisters in this arte, saue that I would haue the Curtines from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bend inward in Angle like a paire of tonges or forke, wherby it shal be very hard to place any Artillary to batter thē, and if it should be so that they were battered, yet might they bee well defended by the opposite sides, whereby an infinite number of Assailants should lose theyr

lyues, béeing so wel defended on all sides, and doo moreouer make this fortification, more forceably and longer time, to resist & con∣tinue against the Mattocke & Spade and such row•…•…ing Trenches, as were made by the great Turke, at the expugnation of Rodes, and Famagosta.

But to procéede to my former promise, first the circute of the wall, and the enclosure of this Fortresse, is not needfull to be made so great, and so thicke as hath béene accustomed to fashion them, that is to say, from 12. to 15. foote, but it will suffi•…•…e to giue them 7. or 8. foote in the foundation. For by this inuention, the wall is not subiect at all to the battery, neither to be thrust downe & loden by the Rampart, because there shall néed to be none, (if it to séeme good) as a thing not very necessary.

But if any Ramparts of earth be made, let them not with their massiue heauines thrust downe the standing wall, to auoy•…•…e the which, in clothing the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Curtines with walles, after you haue planted the foundations, which may be of the largenesse of 5. or 6. foote, or more straite, the wall on the outside must bee made according to the ordinary custome: but within, you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from 25. to 25. foote, apply thereunto Counterforts, other wise called Spurs, which are in length 15. foote, and large 2. or 3. foote, at the discretion of the workman, betwixt the which Spurres, the wall must not stand bolt vpright within according to the ordinary fashion, whether it be in height or in largenes, but the height must be like vnto a renuersed héele leaning, or as if it would fal reeling, and bend groueling vpon the Rampart. And if necessity require, to giue it more strength at the foote, to the intent it may y^e better sup∣port the heauy burden of earth. Moreouer, the space betwixt the one Counterfort and the other, must be made in round, like vnto a vaute, making the Spurres to serue for proppes and stayes.

The commodity which thys wall bringes, is, that it is exempt from great charge, from the violent thronging & thrusting of the earth. The stones thereof being battered in by the Cannon, wyll close and knit together with y^e earth▪ and so make great resistance, besides, they will not very much fill the Ditch when they are aba∣ted, rather falling toward the Rampart then otherwise. And the sayd Rampart hauing taken the proportion of a renuersed wall, wyll make a strait shape, like vnto the first face of the wall. And for thys respect, although the wall were taken away, & ruinated,

it can neyther fall nor slyde, and wyll make Fronte receiuing anie domage.

But to continue on my first discourse, hauing begun with the wall which dooth enuiron the circuit of the Fortresse or Cittie, I wyll goe on, and presuppose that the Ditch, which is made be∣twixt the wall and Countergarde, hath 36. foote in largenes, and is dry without water therby to haue commoditie to goe and come all along. The entrie thereunto, must be by the Cannoniers of the Flancks, which defend y^e same, which will serue to be of no small commodity to the Souldiours, hauing the meane to transport themselues easily and without danger, into all places where ne∣cessitie dooth call them.

The Countergard must be sustained on that side towardes the Cittie, with a little wall, which must be of lesse height then the earth, by thrée or foure foote, to the intent you may easily discouer, (béeing before the Counterscarpe) fiue or sixe foote of the Wall, which dooth enclose and shut vp the Fortresse.

This earth must bee spred vniformally, and couched betwixt the two walles, according to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 before prescribed, to the in∣tent that there may be nothing but it may discouer, and defende on all sides, and that no hinderaunce may be giuen to the Flankers and Caualiers to shoote and behold each place.

This proportion shal be very little able to be battered, and least before the Angles of the Bulwarks, and the midst of y^e Curtines, by reason of their thicknesse; and if it should receiue any batterie, it should be onely but vpon the height and top of the same. And in the space betwixt the one wall and the other, certaine hearbes for the nourishment of Cattle may be sowne, amongst which, to ioyne the earth more fast together, it is good to sowe a certaine Hearbe, called Medica, for that it was brought from Mede, which dooth bring forth a very long roote, specially when the ground hath béene plowed and laboured much before, which will procure it to be able to be defended, against the iniurie of the ayre, and of men, neyther néedes it to be sowne but from ten yéeres to ten. Shéepe that feede héereupon, become more fatte, and more sauerie then others, those that are nourished therwith, bring forth Lambes for the most part twise a yeere, as those of Brabant, Holland, and Lombardie haue tryed by experience, specially in Fraunce, where it is vulgarly cal∣led Sainctfoin, and so it yéeldes two commodities, for the roote doth

so binde the earth, that it will not easily dismember by the blowes of the Cannon, and the hearbe is good for the Cattle enclosed in the Towne, during the siege.

The little space or Allie, which is at the foote of the Counter∣gard, of 4. foote large shall serue, to the intent you may haue the meane to place therein diuers Souldiours, which may come and goe, as well before the Bulwarks, as before the Cur•…•…ines. And the little wall which is before the same, shall no•…•… be vnprofitable, for first it will hide and serue for Paralell to couer the Souldiours, which are behind it, that they cannot be end•…•…maged: but shal haue the meane and leysure, to be in such a readines, and apt order to offend the Enemy, during the siege, that no man shall be able to shew himselfe vppon the brinke of the ditch, but shall be in •…•…anger of his person. And secondly, if it should fall out, that the Enemie shold assay, to breake downe and •…•…uinate any part of the Counter∣gard by the blowe of the Cannon, this little wall would 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to stay that portion of earth, which might rowle & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…own be∣neath. It wold likewise prohibite the beating waues of the wa∣ter in the Ditch, from washing or wearing away the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Masse of earth. The little ditch 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Countergard, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 forme of thys letter V. will likewise carrie this good 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the great ditch were drawne dry, this should alwaies remain 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and would stop the passage of those that would passe to endo•…•…age the little wall, which doth cloth and co•…•…passe the Countergard.

And if meanes were made to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all the water, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 might defend themselues with arteficiall fires, made for that e∣fect: the which by reason of the forme of this little Ditch, made poynted at the bothome like a Romane V. will doo great executi∣on. For the enemy entring into the same, and not finding anie place where to make stay, but in the extremitie of the depth, not being able to proceede, as in an vniforme and flat both•…•…m, shall be burnt, wounded, and murthered most cruelly.

The great ditch, within the which the small one is comprehen∣ded, shall containe the foresaid largenes, from the foote of the little wall, which doth sustaine the earth of the Countergarde, vnto the opposite foote of the Counterscarpe, at the which there shall be an Allie of 6. foote large, to receiue the Souldiours which shall passe the great Ditch, to mount vpon the Corridor of y^e Counterscarpe, the which Allie shal be nothing séene of the enemy in any siege, but

contrariwise, it shall be discouered and defended by the defences of the Fortresse, that it shall not be possible for the Enemie to possesse if any long time, although he had employed himselfe to gaine the same.

To say something touching the commodious largenes of the ditch, I iudge the meane to be obserued, which in respect of the o∣ther two extreames, of great and narrow, doth carrie these com∣modities, which in the other be hurtfull & contrary. First it hydes and couers the sight of the foote of the wall: the Counterscarpe therof, doth prohibite the flankes or Cannonieres, which defende the bothome of the ditch, that they cannot be battered. The sayde ditch is frée and secrete, and doth greatly fauour the souldiours in a Fortresse, beeing enuironed with a Campe, for they may enter and issue, without receiuing any domage by the Enemy, during the siege. True it is that it may be the sooner fild vp, but that im∣perfection may be succoured, neyther shal the same haue such force in the straite ditch, as in that which is so large and very broade, in the which the Souldiours béeing easily discouered, and not hauing any great libertie to make residence therein▪ without danger, they must alwaies stand vpon the garde of theyr persons. The which will not fall out, if they be within a more straite ditch, exempt from all feare: for béeing couered by the bancks of the ditch, they onelie haue nothing to doo, but to apply themselues to make frustrate the Enemies attempts. The which kind of defence, is one of the best that can be inuented for the besieged, and most endomageable to the assaylants. For the enemy entering resolutely into the Ditch, and marching forward to assault, hee must haue regarde to three sides, the one, to the Front, which is the body of the Fortresse, and the two other, to the souldiours which are within the ditch, and may offend the Enemy by the sides, and specially vpon the banck, if he presume to march farre forward, and to passe further on then the Counterscarpe.

Now to giue thys Ditch his competent largenes, to the intent it may accomplish these foresaid good qualities, it ought but to be 100. foote broade at the most, and in depth if it be plaine, but 18. or 20. foote, giuing to the wall of the Counterscarpe such a conue∣nient enclyning, (as for 5. or 6. foote 1. foote,) to y^e intent it may be strong, & repulse the matter wherwith the Counterscarpe is to be filled. And for y^e the Counterscarpe is one of y^e most principal parts

of the ditch, I will finally dilate somewhat therof, therby to make manifest the faults of Counterscarps now in vse. Untill thys pre∣sent day, this part and member of the Fortresse hath béene made small account of, although it be one of the principal, and the which is as necessary to be valiantly defended, as any other part of the Fort, being the first which is assaulted, and possest by the Enemy. The negligence and sioth vsed héerein, falles out as I take it, ey∣ther in respect of dispising the same, or through the couetousnesse of the owners, which eyther thinking the same not commodious for defence, or for feare of disbursing ouermuch money in making it substantially, neglect the same. But before I passe any further, I think it necessary to set downe, which are the most defencible and principall parts of thys warlike Architecture.

The whole body of thys worke, is compounded of diuers mem∣bers being vnited together, for the particuler seruice and defence one of another, euen as the members of a well proportioned man.

Those parts which by the Architectes are named principall, be first the Flancks, within the which are made certain Cannonlers, which doo view and beholde the circute round about the Fortresse.

Secondly the sholders which doo hide & couer the flanks, and de∣fend them, from being ruinated and displanted by the Enemie.

Thirdly the Ditch which enuironeth all the Fortresse, bringing safety against suddaine Surprises, Camisades, Escalades. &c.

The fourth and last is the Counterscarpe, which serues for a Bulwarke and bancke to couer the Ditch.

These things considered, the Enemy to expugne such a For∣tresse, doth procéede by degrées, (not daring to bring theyr Soul∣diours to the butchery, by a desperate assault at y^e first,) and there∣fore they seeke to inuade and occupie the Counterscarpe, whereup∣on the Enemy, not hauing made his approches before hand, and entr•…•…nched vppon the same, can performe nothing to the purpose, for by lodging farre from the Ditch, they are not able to discouer and endomage any of these foresaid defences, by rea•…•…on of the im∣pediment which the height of the Counterscarpe yéeldes, the which before they are able to possesse, being duly made, oftentimes whilst the approches are in making, there doth ensue the death of manie valiant and worthy persons, the which are continually stayne by the succours which the other defences, that be in the body of the Fortresse doo giue vnto the Counterscarpe.

The manner which at this day is vsed of the Assaylants, whē they possesse the Counterscarpe, to make it serue their turne, is thus.

First they do pearse and breake the Counterscarpe, euen vn∣to the bottom, and to the brincke of the water, to the intent that by this way, they may haue means to batter the Forte of the wal about the Fortresse, with certayne Péeces which are conueyed through the Trenches, vnto that place, the which shall not be a∣ble to suffer any domage by the defences of the Fortresse, in so much, as the sides of these opening, serue for sholders and couers to those within the Trenche. This Trench doth likewise bring an other comoditie, which is, that the entrie into the Ditch ther∣by, shall be more easie and lesse painefull for the souldiours, then from the height of the Counterscarpe. And although this pollicie doth not serue to any great purpose, by reason it is impossible in any small time, to make such way in y^e Counterscarpe, that como∣diously it maybe capable therin to plant sufficient nūber of Pée∣ces, to make a cōuenient breach, therby in the end to giue assault: neuerthelesse; it is good to inuent some meanes to hinder and de∣lay the enemy from lodging there, so speedily as they are accusto∣med.

To accomplish the which, it is not the way to make the Coun∣scarpe with the earth of the Ditch, mixing among the same one bed of Faggots, & an other of earth and so from rancke to rancke to rayse it vp, neither with logs of wood and great piles of Tim∣ber•…•… these thinges being matter that in time corrupts, and wastes away, not being indurable: touching which point, I would wish the wise Ingeniour to consider•…•…, that the meane to ruinate the Bulwarke of a Fortresse, and to pearse a Counterscarpe, is not all one: for the one is cut down and mined by the many hundreth hands & force of men, and the other ruinated by the blowes of the Cannon, earth being proper to resist the furie of Artillarie, where it is not able to ayde agaynst the handie worke of man, as by ex∣perience is daylie prooued, that a man will make a greater hole and opening in any masse of earth, in two howres, then a Cannō in foure. The cause is, that a man by his industrie doth mine the earth, and doth displace the foundation therof, and so makes it to disseuer and dismember: but the blow of the Artillarie, dooth but only pearse it, and makes a hole according to the bignes of the

Bullet, leauing the masse of the earth entyre and whole.

These reasons receiued, we may conclude, that all soft matter, which doth suffer it selfe easily to be managed by y^e Pyoners, and which doth carry a bodie able to sustaine it selfe, gyuing by thys meanes leysure and time to the enemy, to bee able to execute his enterprise, (as by the nature of the earth doth appeare) such mat∣ters I say, bee not able to serue for the conseruation of the Coun∣terscarpe.

Being desirous therefore, to exempt and make it frée, from the daungers which the enemie dooth ordinarily vse, by reason he findes it comodious. And beeing willing to haue it firme and stable, and that the more older it growes, the more stronge it shall wexe, and that when the enemy woulde pearse the same hauing wonne it, that he shall suffer infinite paynes and trauails to entrench. That the matter raysed vp for his Trench, in place of defending and sauing his Souldiours, shall become theyr hurte and distruction, being battered and dispearsed with those bulletes which come from the Fortresse.

It is necessary to compound and fill the same, with hard and so∣lide matter, the which in tract of time, may incorpora•…•… and be re∣dused into a hard and difficile body, scarce able to be dismembred. That the enemy assaying to breake it, it may crumble and fall in to small péeces and powder: the which shall come to passe, if all these matters following be mixed together: as all broken péeces of stones, that matter which is found in the ruine of the walles, all rubbish, sheards of pottes, Tiles, Brick battes, olde Morter, &c. and all the fragments of stones, as well harde as softe, and so accommodating and filling the voyde holes with Morter and o∣ther stuffe that is hard, as Flint, Pible stones, drosse of Smithes &c. ioining one within another, by the choise and difference of the matter, and powdered with grauell, rubbish, dust, &c. and left to the iniurie of the watrie heauens a certayne time, the matter cannot continue so entyre, but that the worke beeing eaten into, by the falling showers of rayne, and dissolued with frost and heat will intermixe and so incorporate together, that it will be impos∣sible to be seperated without great labour. By these obseruati∣ons and the direction of Geometricall proportions, this new kind of fortefication may be brought to great perfection.