The foure bookes of Flauius Vegetius Renatus briefelye contayninge a plaine forme, and perfect knowledge of martiall policye, feates of chiualrie, and vvhatsoeuer pertayneth to warre. Translated out af [sic] lattine, into Englishe, by Iohn Sadler. Anno. 1572. Seene and allovved, accordinge to the order appointed.

¶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 y^e 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,

which is bowed towardes it selfe with a brassen cyrcle. The horne of the wilde bulles beinge bounde with siluer is best hearde, when it is moderated with arte, & the breath of him that bloweth it. For by these with most certayne & vndoub∣ted soundes, the armye doth knowe whether they oughte to staye or go forwarde, or certainlye to retyre: whether they should followe the chase anye longe waye, or sounde the re∣traite. Muta signa, be the Eagles, Dragons, banners, redde peno••celles, redde scarfes, feathers, crestes of hel∣mets. For whether soeuer the leader shall commaund these to be caryed, thyther of necessitye must al the souldiours go, following and waytinge vppon their owne ensigne. There be also dumme signes, whiche the Captayne of the warre doth commaunde to be obserued: in the horses, in garmen∣tes, and also in the verye armoure: to the intent the ennemy maye be knowen from their owne companye. Moreouer he signifyeth some thinge with his hande, or (after the cruell maner of rude and straunge people) with a whippe, or els w^t mouing or styrring his apparel which he hath on. All which thinges all the souldiours shoulde acknowledge both to fol∣lowe and vnderstande in their places, in iourneys, in all ma∣ner exercise of the campe. For continuall vse of that thinge is necessarye in time of peace, whiche in the confusion and trouble of y^• battayle should be kept. Also there is a dumme and common ••igne, as often as in the goinge of a multitude, the dust styrred vppe, ryseth like cloudes, and doth bewraye the comminge of the ennemye. Likewyse if armyes be de∣uided, the flame of fyre in the night, and in the daye time the smoke, doth signify vnto their fellowes that, which by no o∣ther meanes can be shewed. Sometimes they do hang out beames in the Turrettes of Cittyes, which other whiles be∣ing raysed vppe, and other whyles letten downe, do declare what thinges be done.