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OF PALISADOES, PALES, TVRNE-PIKES▪ BARRICADOES, QVADRANT-TAN∣TERNAILES: AND BEARES. THE TENTH CHAPTER.
WEe haue often made mention of Palisadoes and the use of them, especially vvhen they are struck into the ground about dry moates, for then they serue, in stead of vvater against the sudden assault of an Enemie, so that not onely the moates before great vvalls, and Rampards, ought to be set with them, but also all Outvvorkes must be fortified vvith them.
They are likevvise of excellent use in the Field, vvhen trenches are set round vvith them, and struck in round about Forts, and vvorkes, vvhich lie in the most dangerous places.
They are of no lesse use also in Fortresses, especially vvhen the Beseiged are constrayned to make cuttings off vvithin a tovvne, or Fort: moreover they are good to be struck in upon the topp of Breaches, vvhereof vve vvill treat in the next chapter.
These Palisadoes then are made in this manner follovving, one makes choise of good and strong Sparrs being some 3 or 4 ynches in Diameter, but of severall lengths, according to the place into vvhich they are to be struck, vvhereof some of them may be 5, 6, or 7 foote long. Novv the lovver end of them must be sharpened and pointed, and the upper end flatt, that they may be driven into the ground vvith a mallet or a beetle: one bores also a hole some 3 or 4 ynches under the head of the Palisadoe, & an other some three ynches under the first hole, and a third hole on the side through the middest of the tvvo others, in such sort, that the nailes, vvhich are driven through it, resemble as it vvere the corners. In some also they use to driue in tvvo nailes, so that they are not struck in a right Angle, but rises a little tovvards the head of the Palisadoe. The length of these nailes, must be some eight or tvvelue ynches, and so bigg, that they cannot be easely bowed or broken, and the Head vvhich is driven into the Palisadoe is some-vvhat greater, then that vvhich sticks out, vvhich ought to be very sharpe.
When you are to use these Sparrs, vvhereof you must haue good store, you take first of the shortest size, being but fiue foot long, and strick in a long ranke of them, as you shall finde necessarie. They are driven into the ground the depth of a foot and a half, or some∣times more, according as the Earth is conditioned, and thus you shall make your first ranke: then you shall driue in an other ranke of Palisadoes, being six foote long, vvhich are set behind the first ranke, to the end they may run in a right line vvith the first, but must be struck in a little sidelings, to the end, that their nailes may fill all places necessarie, and the heads of these Palisadoes, ought to stand about halfe a foote higher, then the others: In the same manner you driue in the third ranke, vvhich must be half a foot higher then the second, and thus you may doe, if you vvill driue in a fourth ranke, yea as many as it pleases you. These Palisadoes are represented unto you in the 164 figure.
For the Palisadoes, vvhich are used against assaults there are two sorts of them. The first is that sort of Palisadoes vvhich are sett upon the Parapets of Forts, Outworks, and Redoubts, for to hinder an Enemy that they may not so soone assault or scale a place: these ought to be 3 or 4 ynches in Diameter, and some 6 or 7 foote long, vvhereof the half past is dri∣ven into the Parepett, and the other half stands upright.
For the other sort, those great headed piles or pales, clasped together vvith chaines, and plates of yron, vvhich stād alwaies upon Rāpards and Bulvvarkes covered vvith a little roof against the time of necessity, vvhen as an Enemy seekes to assault a Fortresse. For by this meanes he is repulsed, vvhen he vvould scale a Rampard, because these Palisadoes, or logs