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.

¶Of the bignes and fashion of Gallyes called Liburnae. Chap. xxxvij.

AS touching the quantity or greatnes of the Gallyes named Liburnae, the least of all haue euerye one, one row or bench of Oares: they that be somwhat grea∣ter haue two, they that be of a conuenient bignes haue three or foure, or els sometime fiue. Neyther let this thing seeme straunge to anye man, seinge that in the battell at Actium, there were much greater Gallyes then I haue spoken of, so that some had sixe ranckes of Oares and aboue. But small boates y^t serue for scoutes, and go alwayes with the greater Gallyes, haue almost twenty rowers in eche syde: the olde Brytaines termed these kindes of boates Pictas.

Their vse is sodenlye to steale vppon the ennemyes shippes, and to meete with their prouision by the waye, and to spye out theyr counsell, and to geue warninge of their comming. And if you will not haue them discryed by their whitenes, you maye coloure their sayles and tacklinge with a lighte blewe, because that is like the Sea coloure: and with the same likewyse staine your pitche wherewith you dresse your shippes, and let your souldiours and Marriners apparel, be likewyse couloured with the same, that neyther in the night nor daye time, they may well be espyed in their scouting.