¶Howe manye kindes there be of ensignes of warre. Chapter .v.
MAnye thinges oughte to be well learned and marked of them that fight: for why, negligence ought not to be pardoned, where as they fighte for life and death. But amongest other thinges nothinge is more profitable to the victorye, then to obeye the warninges of the ensignes. For when as in the hurlye burlye of battayles, a great nom∣ber cannot be ruled with one voyce onelye, and when as of verye necessitye manye thinges forthwith must be commaū∣ded and done: the auncient vse and experience of all nations hath inuented, how the whole armye by the ensignes should knowe and follow that, which the onlye Captayne iudged to be profitable and expedient. Ther are therfore as it is ma∣nifest, thre kindes of ensignes, one sort hauinge voyce which are called Vocalia, another partlye hauing voyce, and part∣lye not, whiche they call Semi••ocalia, the thirde withoute voyce, and they are called Muta: of ye which they that haue voyce, and they that partlye haue voyce, are perceyued and knowen by the eare: but the dumme without voyce, are re∣ferred to the eyes. Vocalia, are sayd to be they, which are pronounced with the voyce of a man, so that in the watche•• or in the battayle it is accompted for a tokē: as for example: victorye, rewarde, vertue, God be with vs. The triumphe of the Emperour & suche other, whatsoeuer they will geeue which haue the greatest authoritye and power in the armye. Yet we must knowe that these woordes must euerye day be altered: least by vse the ennemyes maye knowe our token or watcheworde: and searchers or spyes may be amongest our men without daunger and punishment. Simi••ocalia be cal∣led which are geuen by the trumpette, or the hornes, or the shawme. The trumpet which is streight is called Buccina,