A discourse of military discipline devided into three boockes, declaringe the partes and sufficiencie ordained in a private souldier, and in each officer; servinge in the infantery, till the election and office of the captaine generall; and the laste booke treatinge of fire-wourckes of rare executiones by sea and lande, as alsoe of firtifasions [sic]. Composed by Captaine Gerat Barry Irish.

THE FIRSTE CHAP. Declaringe the partes and sufficiency required in aprivat Souldior.

HE which intereth into the noble profession of ar∣mes firste and principally oughte to by agoode Christian, fearefull of God and devoute, that therby his proceedinges may the better prevai∣le, and finish with ahappy ende. Secondly to buylde his valerouse determinationes with a constante and uncorrupted zeale in servinge his prince with geeat love and punctuality. Alsoe to by obediente to his Officeres from the loweste to the higheste in degree. If otherwise he by inclined he erreth much, yea and harelly all the goode part••s in him can prosper. Litle or no a peerance can by of his furtherance or goode success, hardly any body can truste in him, or hope of any goo∣de

proceedinges of his, hee is to by litle esteemed in referinge to his chardge any office or comaunde; No man of qualitie and goode par∣tes can truste in him, or keepe him Company.

Hee which intered into this noble profession of armes oughte to shun eschewe and forsake all basenes imagined and thought of manes mynde. And he oughte diligently to applee him self to learne the ar∣te of warr, from whence proceedeth all nobilitie, and wherby, many men of lowe degrees and base linadge haue attayned into high de∣grees dingnitie and fame, as CAIUS MARIUS decended of poore and vile parentes in a Viladge of the Arpines, came to by a Romaine Emperor; and trough his vertue. VALINCIAN a po••••e man is son of Cibaly in Hongari came into the licke dingnitie, and alsoe MAXI∣MINO borne in a poure Castel in Thrasia, Nicolas Pichino a boucheres son by his vertue and valor, came to by Captaine generall of Philipp Viconte Ducke of Milan is army and of all the Potentates of Italie.

The Senoria of Venecia was governed by Francisco Carmanola a poure man is son, and that trough his prudence and valor. Many mo∣re borne of loe degre, and base linadge, came into the licke and sem∣blable dingnity, and creditt, and raised unto honorable degrees and reputation, of perpetuall memory. So let none by ingnorante, that vertue valeur prudente and braue conduction is the true. Way of proceedinge in the noble profession of Armes.

Let him alwayes with a pure and senseare harte aboue all thinges by Carefull to serue God, for although all professions are therunto bounde, yet none more deeply then the braue Souldior, whose actio∣nes are day and nighte in danger of death, (more then anny other) and douptles he that soe doth a complish, fighteth with a more reso∣lute determination, and suche men moste comonly are a fisted by the divine power: fighting in a iuste cause, and with a cleere conscience; Wher of there have beene to many examples, which i have read in antciēte Auctores, and noted my self the same in many incounteres.

He is alwayes bounde to by carefull, and vigilante in acomplishing his obligationes, and principally to by obediente. For mishinge this pointe, the other goode partes whiche in him do ocurr are of litle or noe estimation. Aboue all thinges lett him alwayes liue in the feare of God, and let him by no blasphemer, for in this worlde it is moste o diouse, and can not escape withoute severe punishmente of his Divi∣ne majestie. Wherof theyr have beene many examples and we see that such blasphemers in the warres are shot in the mouth, or receive other

impedimentes in the same, and comonly dee a moste miserable death, for theyr wicked a customed inclination to that diabolicall vice.

Lett him by carefull to chuse to his comarades and fellowes oulde Souldiers if posible, and men well acquainted, and of good conditiō, and to by yerie carefull that they bee no factioners nor mutineres, whose Company are more dangerouse then the divell, he is to by quiet and frindly, and rather seveare then licentiouse in spiches, for such like persones moste comonly doe loose there estimation togither with theyr owne quietnes, and are wonte to have many un happiecrosses in this worlde, and to be litle reputed, and hardly can prosper as wee dayly see.

In his diet let him not by to couriouse nor inclined to delicate mea∣tes, rather to distribute, well his meanes and contente him selfe with such provitiones, as the campe or place shall affourde, for those that are given to there belly, and to the unsatiable vice of drunknes are ap∣te for nothing, and moste comonlie are subject to many disgraces, wherof theyr are many examples. Prisco Captaine of Maurish, Em∣peror of Constantinopla, a prehended and defeated the Kinge of Mo∣saquio de Salabia, and his army, who beinge blinde drunk with drin∣king to muche wine in the Selebratinge of a certaine sacrifice don for the soule of a brouther of Mosaquio. Which bienge killed the evenin∣ge before in a certaine skirmish, and the victorious Soulders havinge ended theyr, figt they fell to eatinge and drinkinge, and for that vice, and there litle care, and beeinge found unprovided and forgetfull in a complishinge there obligation were defeated, as many more unsa∣tiable drunkardes and gluttons have beene. There contraries suppo∣singe afterwardes to finde theyre enemy in the like trap, with the like forgetfulnes wherin they were founde. Thinkinge and consideringe that they were a smale distance of. They determined to turne, and fall uppon them, and revenge them selfes, and release theyre kinge or die in his recoveringe, which they agried uppon with a resolute de∣termination: soe that Prisco nor none of his shoulde escape, and had itt not beene for a Captaine of horse named Gencono who beeinge hoth prudente and experiment in warr. Comaunded that those under his chardge shoulde in no manner take anny liberty in not acomplishin∣ge, with theyre military obligationes. Wherof hee and his officers tooke a spetiall care; so that at the arivinge of his enemy, and deter∣mined to fall on with greate fury, he fell on them with greate courad∣ge, and constrayned them ro retire, and turne theyre backes. And

with the like or semblable fortune Tomires queene of the Scithians did overcom kinge Ciro, and his three hondereth thousande Persians in theyre Slugish, and beastely drunknes, who came to revenge the death of Sargapiso hir son, who beeinge before slaine by Ciro, and the selfe same succes happened Achab kinge of Iraell againste kinge Be∣nado of Ciria, so that trough the inclination which som have to this vice causeth greate disorders, destruction of the co••on wealth, and rebelliones, wherof theyre are many exāples, Not contentinge them selues with the ability of theyre poore hoste, wher by greate scandles do offten tymes arise, causinge townes citties, and provences to revol∣te from theyr prinses, by resultinge of thies unsatiable drunckardes, which un ruly disorderes and filthy examples are to by well looked unto, and severely punished; the Tirantinos for this vice drived a way the Romaines, and theyre Captaine Cajo Lucio, and rendered them to Haniball his enemye. Abidio Casio did soe seaverely punishe his Souldie∣res for theyre disorders and insolences, that in five dayes space he co∣comaunded to hange al moste the one hause of his army, for theyr robberies, and unruly factes comited a gainste the contry people: Whiche severitie caused the enemy townes to yealed unto him, and with willinge myndes provided his army vvith vituales, and all other necessaries Pesenio niger for takinge a cocke per force from theyre hos∣ste condemned to death a vvhole comarade of Souldieres, Marques de Pescaro comaunded to cutt of the eares of a Souldier of his for leavin∣ge his order in marchinge, and for his intente to make spoyle in a vil∣ladge, (vvhere he vvas aprehēded) the Souldier repleeinge to the Mar∣ques that he vvoulde rather suffer death then receive such an offron∣te, to vvhiche the Marques condecended presently, and commaunded to hange him in the firste tree; Greate Tamberlan punished soe severlie one of his Souldieres for the like or semblable offence, that the rigor therof did soe corecte and feare his vvhole army, that vvhere his campe did continue three dayes to gither, a tree full loaded vvhith fruite at there departeture remayned vvhole and untouched (a mer∣vayllouse example to all Souldiores to imitate this vertue) and ab∣staine from all disordered apetites, and patiently with greate cou∣radge to indure hunger and misery, when extreame necessitie, soe re∣quireth, as did the army of Cesar in the seedge of Abarico in France, vvho seeinge the Emperor, takinge greate greefe and compassion of theyre hunger, for vvhich cause he vvas determined to retire his cam∣pe; vvhereunto they vvoulde by no meanes condecend, re pleeinge

that firste they shoulde finish theyre lives by chance of cruell fortu∣ne or hunger, rather then give overtheyre interprice. And vvith the like constancie valerouse and noble determination they tooke in Du∣raco, eatinge earbes and rootes: In the honorable regaininge of Breda by Spinola many examples may by given of the necessitie of theyre Souldiores, and greate constancie, vvhere ihave seene many brave Souldiores compelled to extreame and intolerable necessitie, and ne∣verthelesh vvoed that they shoulde rather die in that honorable acte then spott theyre honor by runninge a vvay in suche a famouse oca∣tion of perpetuall memorie.

Marques de Pescora vvith his ovvne handes kiled tvvo Souldieres findinge them forceinge a gentle vvooman decended of noble linad∣ge in the sacke or tacking of Genoua. Let him bee carefull to by vvell armed if posible beeing both honorable and profitable, and that be∣sides it licketh much his superiores; Alsoe let him bee carefull in vvell a parelinge him selfe, a cordinge to his a bilitie and pay, and in no ca∣se let him hy not overloaden vvith muche b••gadge vvhiche is agreate empedimente in o cationes of marchinge, and specially in tyme of service. For wee dayly see that trough to much bagadge the whole ar∣my is often tymes troubled, and of the same resulteth many disgra∣ces, and somtimes is wholy loste. It importeth much an honorable Souldier to goe as lighte as may bee posible, without anny impedi∣mente that shoulde cause him to bee absente from his coulors. Much bagadge in o cationes of march causeth much trouble and care, and specially when it is loste as often times happened.

He is to be carefull and vigilante in keepinge his culores or watch with greate puntualitie, and beeinge imployed in centery or rounde let him by verie warie in a complishinge his obligaciones, and special∣ly not to fall a sleepe for beeinge soe founde it lieth in the disgression of the Officer to use him a cordinge his desert, as did Phirates in Corin∣to going in the rounde of that Cittie, and findinge a Souldier a ••leepe killed him, when other wise the leaste affronte he coulde have, was to bee in publike punished, and that for example to the reste, that are not wourdie to carie armes for ther carelesh mindes and litle honor.

Let him looke well not to refuse his Officieres beinge comaunded in o cationes of his Majesties service, and be no meanes let him not by absente from his garde beinge on the watch withoute licence of his officer, though he thinketh the place to bee peasable, and of no sus∣picion. If he thincketh to goe forwarde, or to bee prefered in this ar∣te

he profesheth, he is to a complish with greate care and punctua∣litie his obligationes, that bee his care and diligence he may dayly hope of better prefermente. Let him consider that oure predecesso∣res were not Captaines nor Master de campes, nor that they were borne vvith thies offices but rather vvith goode partes, dilgence and goode service optained the same honorablie.

Let him not marry if he hopeth to a complish vvell his obligatio∣nes, or to bee prefered, for in o cationes of march if shee goe a longe vvith him hardlie can he vvell a complish with his obligationes, if his meanes be litle and beinge chardged vvith many children, consider vvhate and how many crosses shall happen, and he muste of force ne∣glecte in a complishinge the obligationes of an honorable Souldior in the righte performance of the kinges service, or forgoe his wife and children, for he hath inough in a complishinge vvell vvith the one, and give over the other.

In the corpes de garde he is to behave him selfe sober and honeste, and looke vvell that he fall not unto any quareles, for theyre he gi∣veth bad example, as alsoe sheoweth litle respecte to his Majesties ser∣vice, and seemeth that he neyther feareth nor respected his Officeres. Wherfore the Officer is to punish him, for suche as are given to qua∣reles in suche places are moste comonly accounted for couardes, for it is knowen that suche places is not for quareles, nor fightinge, nor by no meanes can be permited, and so suche as are given to quareles in suche or semblabel places, are a compted for couardes, and for men of litle expectation of theyer valor before theyre enemy, and ought not to escape vvithoute severe punishmente.

He is to be earneste to imitate the goode partes, and verteuse ca∣riadge of those vvhich raise unto degrees by theyre prudente gover∣mente, and to marke those that are daylie declininge ttough theyr bad and unruly factes; litle fearinge God or man. Of such persones litle expectation can be of theyre furtherance, or happie success, but rather hated and envied by God and the vvorlde; so let him allwayes imitate te beste.

In all places in townes, Citties, or Villadges where he is lodged, let him by kinde and amiable vvith his hoste, and let him demaunde for no delicate meates nor regalose, as som are incliued unto, but rather conforme him selfe with his hoste: For all thinges don vvith amitie in thies ocationes is far better, and more laudable then rigor, and dis∣orderes. Wherof often times resulteth greate scandeles, disgraces, and

revoltes. If it shoulde chance, as som times happened that his patr••o•• or hoste shoulde be aman of unreasonable conditiones, let the Soul∣dier then repayre to his Officer that he might by changed into ano∣ther place, or els see his cause remedied better. If it be his chance to happen in the expuungnation of any Cittie towne or forte, let him not be avaritions but rather folowe and Persue the victorie untill such time as his contrarie be wholy yealded, and licēce granted to the spoy∣le and sacke. Wherin he shall sheowe him selfe neyther covetouse nor cruell, (as many gacelesh Souldiores doe) who vvithoute feare or respecte of God or man doe spare no kinde of crueltie uncomitted) with bestiall ravismente both of maydes and vvoomen, vvholie givin to theyre bruthis inclination withoute concience, reason, or conside∣ration: like vvicked and blinde men, robbinge, of ch••nges and mona∣steries built for divine sacrifice. Wholy given to theyre disordered fil∣thy a petites, and murtheringe of poore people, and inoo••tes yeal∣ded, which rather to the contrarie they shoulde sheowe them selves fearefull of God, and mercifull to the homble vanquised, and ra••••er defende them then offēde them, and in particular the honce•• of woo∣men, as did Don Pedro Conde de Feria in the expanguation of Du••••, brought all the woomen to the church of that towne, and defended them from the furie of the Emperores people, vvho at that time re∣resolved to put all to the sowrde.

If in batteries, assaultes, or in counteres be shall happen to overco∣me his enemy. Let him be of a generouse determination and set all his care in executinge the victorie, and in no vvife to attende the spoyle, nor leaue his order as doe many nowe adayes, like 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and base factioneres to the greate dishonor of the action and losh of ••••ly••••li∣ves, and of litle regarde of theyre owne honor and reputation.

He is to serve and fighte in his prince his cause and de••gnes with afection and constancie, and he is not to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vvhether the ••po••e by juste or unjuste, soe that it by not againste Godes true Religion. But in such o cation he is to looke vvell to his conscience, and to be vvel advised, for Godes cause is to be loocked unto aboue all thinges.

In all ocationes that shall happen or falle oute in the courses of vvarr, and specially in travailes and adversities, he is peri••h••ly to in∣dure and suffer them. That therby his vertue may 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 knowen the uncorrupted affection he beareth to his prince, in acom∣plishinge his obligationes, vvith a generouse minde and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 constancie, not murmuringe of his sloe paymente 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••e com∣pelled

to stande in greate nede therof. And specially let him be mo∣ste carefull not to yealde, or by any meanes give eare to Mutenies or Rebelliones, whiche sometimes resulte of suche cases, and vvhose ende moste comonly is Sheamefull death, vvher of there have beene toe many examples.

He whiche intereth in to this noble profession of vvarr oughte sen∣ce the day of his asentasion to serve his prince with greate loue and loyaltie, and obey his Officeres and willinglie fighte for a juste cause, for suche vertues seeme to be a similitude of a generouse minde, and true religion. As Platon saieth that loue and obedience are signes of a high; and generouse minde, and he that wanted the vertue of obe∣dience is un wourdie of this name, for cause that trough disobedience resulteth the greatheste disgrace than can happen to an Army.

Let him be careful bin not murmuringe nor speaking ill of any Of∣ficer of his nor of any that serveth his prince, for it seemeth a bad cu∣stome; resultinge of litle prudence and respecte, to speake ill of him whome he is bounde to defende, and by whome he is to by governed, and comounded, but rather honor and respecte him: though his ver∣tue and goode partes are not agreeable to his obligationes, never∣thelesh for beinge a minister to his prince he is thereunto bounde.

Let him by no meanes trough his comarades wife, nor for any thin∣ge that shoulde give him lawfull occation of discontentemente, be∣cause that of suche like inconueniences and disordered apetites resul∣teth many quareles and scandeles amonghste Souldieres, and oftener kill one another trough the same; then for any other o cation. Ney∣ther is he to receive the boy of another withoute licence, so that the∣reby he may the better acomplish his Masteres service.

In all ocationes of marchinge, skirmish incounteres, or assaultes with the enemy by force of armes, all Officieres are to by obeyed and respected for it belongeth to them or any of them to see all thinges well ordered; and specially where theyre devitiones fall. Not onelie those of his Company, or Regimente, but whosoever of the army, (be∣inge so comodiouse for the Kinges service.) In such semblable occa∣tiones let him not stande uppon termes, not disputes as some doe, in sayinge do not knowe youe for my Officer▪ Let him not by ingno∣rante therin, because that the Officer may lawfully punish him, for if otherwise it falleth oute, and that the Officer doth complaine of him to the higher Superiores, he shall by reprehended for his ingnoran∣ce, for because that at all times and occationes his owne Officieres

can not be presente, wherfore he is to obey all Officeres.

Let him exercise him selfe in all sorte of Weapones, and of them let him choose the armes whereunto he is moste a fected, and findeth more fit for his purpose, the pike and coselett a mongste foote men is of moste estimation, for beinge the moste firmeste to defende and mantaine a place beinge vvell ordered and sett; and specially again∣ste the furie of horse. Of manual firie weapons the Musket is of grea∣teste execution, nexte to the same the caliver, both which are to in viron, and line the Pikes in theyre due devitiones, a cordinge as time place and occation shall require.

Let him practice him selfe in eache sorte of Weapon, to imitate as neere as posible the Ianisaros Turcos, who were moste experte in ar∣mes trough theyre continuall exercice; And let him frequente the sworde and target, and specially i woulde vvish oure Irish to frequen∣te the same for beinge more inclined to this sorte of weapō more then a ny other Nation, and besides that of all Nationes none are more fitt for the same, nor more resolute. This vveapon is of greate im∣portance in many occationes, and specially when men close togither, or to vive or recnoledge a ny narowe or straighte pasadge or place as trenches, fortes, batteries, assaultes, encamisada, and for other pur∣poses in warr; and specially a boute the cullores or to defende or of∣fende in a ny narow place.

Let him alwayes a plie him selfe vvith affection to vvarlike exerci∣ces, because that vertue exeleth fortune, and it avayleth him, much to reade histories, and to be experte in Aritmeticke, for it doth both revive and perfectionate manes vvitt. There be shall he understande the cariadge, prudence, and valor of braue men, and base inclina∣tion of bad persones, the alteration or decayinge of Kingdomes, and comon vvealthes, the braue and prudente conduction and stra∣tagemes of battelles, both vvon and loste, the vertue and valcor of the renoomed, the shame and infamie of the vile, the maner and use of ancient and moderne vvarres vvith the stratagemes used both for the one and the other.

If he happen to be at the siedge or takinge of any stronge place or fortress, he is diligentlie to vive, the scituation the orderes and in∣dustrie used for the defence therof; and the stratagemes used for the vvininge of the same; consideringe thiese aforesaide and many more used in vvarres, and that vvhich toucheth everie Officer in particular, even from a Corporal to a Captaine generall, to the ende he may be

perfecte in the arte he profeseth, that by his vertue he may be ad∣vaunced into greater dingnitie; sith that this arte he profesheth is the moother and true fundation of nobilitie. Therfore reason it is that it be perfectly understoode of the Professores and followeres therof, seinge that the practice of mecanicall artes do folowe the same order and course to come to the cunninge of theyre crafte. And that besi∣des that no man can reduce into perfection those thinges wherof he is ingnorante, and knoweth not the arte, vvithoute much practice, and specially in this soe noble and couriouse arte, who for the execu∣tiones therof, vvith prudence and auctoritie is required both longe and diligent practice and theorike. It importeth him muche to be a goode swimer which is one of the foure qualities required in a Soul∣dier, to be rebuste or stronge of boddy, nemble and skillfull in armes, and obediente, thies are the foure qualities a foresaide required in a Souldier. Thus yove see who manny goode and honorable partes are vvished to be in a perfecte Souldier, not learned be heersay nor gai∣ned withe ease and vaine glorie, but rather in a plienge him selfe well vvith affection, care, diligence, valor, and practice, and specially per∣fected with learninge and longe exercice in vvarr.