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VVe must know that in a Legion there ought to be 10. bandes. But the first bande passeth al the rest, both in nomber of souldiours, and also in estimation, and cō∣monlye they be (as it is requisite) of very good callinge and wel brought vp in learninge: for this bande beares the Ea∣gle, which alwayes is the chiefest standard in the Romaine
armye, & the ensigne of al the whole Legion. These ha••e in reuerence and worship theyr Emperours pictures as pre∣sent tokens from God. This first bande contayneth .1105. footemen: heauye armed horsemen 132. And it is named Cohorsmiliaria, that is to saye, a companye of a thousande and mo souldiours. This bande is the head of all the Legiō: when soeuer they must fight, this band beginnes the battel, and are first set in order in the fronte of the battell. The se∣cond bande contayneth .555. footemen, & 66. horsemē of hea∣uye armour. And this band is called Cohors quigentaria, y• is to say, a cōpany of .5. hundred & mo souldiours. The third bande likewise hath .555. footemen, and .66. horsemen. But here they vse to place their strong & more expert mē, because this third bande is in the middes & strengthe of the battell. The fourth bande hath .555. footemen, & 66 horsemen The fift bande hath as manye, but it is requisyte they be valiante and couragious souldiours: because as the first Cohorte is set in the righte wynge, so the fift is set in the lefte winge.
These fiue bandes are set in a raye in the first battayle. The sixte bande hath .555. footemen .66. horsemen, and the same must be chosen and picked mē: for why, the sixt band is pla∣ced next behinde the standarde, and next the Emperours ar∣mes in the seconde front or battell. The seuenth bande hath .555. footemen .66 horsemen. The eyght bande hath .555. footemen 66▪ horsemen: but couragious men, as it is expe∣dient, because it is the middlemost bande in the seconde bat∣tayle. The nynthe hath 555. footemen .66. horsemen. The tenthe doth containe also .555. footemen 66 horsemen: vali∣ant and expert warriours, because in the seconde battayle it defendeth the lefte winge. These tenne bandes make a full and perfecte Legion, contayninge 6100. footemen, and 726. horsemen. There maye not be in a Legion anye fewer of harnest men: mo there hath beene oftentimes. For when one bande would not serue, by cōmaundement haue bene ta∣ken mo other bandes, of a Thousand souldiours in a bande.