Inventions or Devises. Very necessary for all generals and Captains, or Leaders of men, as well by Sea as by Land: Written by William Bourne. An. 1578. At LONDON Printed for Thomas Woodco dwelling in Paul's Churchyard, at the sign of the black Bear. decorative border To the right Honourable his singular good Lord, the Lord Charles Howard, Baron of Effingham, Knight of the most noble order of the Garter. POndering with myself (right noble and worthy Lord) how I might by some means or ways, show myself in any respect, partly to requite your Honourable Lo: great gentleness and good countenance always borne towards me from time to time, I could not hold myself satisfied, until I had some thing to present unto your Lordship, whereupon I am so bold as to dedicate this rude and simple Treatise unto your worthiness, hoping that you will accept it, as a true token and a sign of my good will towards your humble Lordship. The thing is such, as you have already seen the written copy at my good Lord and Master's hand the Earl of Lincoln: the content thereof is, as touching Inventions or Devises, and first of Martial affairs by Sea, and concerning ships: and then do follow devices appertaining unto Ordinance: and in like manner Devises of the walls of towns, Castles and Forts: and also there are Devises as touching Martial affairs by land, with other such like, as the Contents of the table in the beginning of the book doth show. (I hoping that your good Lordship will take these simple and rude Devises in good part) beseech God to prosper your Honour in all your attempts, and to give happy success in all your doings, with increase of Honour, and long life, in perfect health. Amen. By your Honours at commandment, William Bourne. The Preface to the Reader. Friendly Reader, it is possible that you may dislike of me, for that I am so bold, as to publish these hard and difficult matters of divers new Inventions or Devises, the which some of them I have gathered by one mean, & some by another, but the most part of them hath been mine own invention upon sundry causes in the affairs that I have had to do. And as it may chance at sometime any person may be driven unto an extremity, and the thing seemeth unpossible to be avoided, yet by some small and slender Devise the danger thereof may be prevented, whereas otherwise the peril thereof must needs have happened: and yet that thing that hath prevented the cause, hath been thought to be of no importance when that it hath been known, and before it hath been known it hath seemed most unpossible: wherefore I have thought it good for to draw them together into this rude and barbarous volume, more for that to have them in remembrance, if that there doth happen any cause to use them, than the finesse of the writing or penning of them, for the writer thereof is most unlearned and simple, desiring you gentle Reader, to bear with my rudeness, considering that it is the good will that I do bear unto my native Country, for to profit the common wealth as much as lieth in me, which is the occasion that hath made me to write these rude and simple Inventions or Devises: Although there is no doubt, but that there be a great number of most excellent and Politic and wiser or finer heads: that I being so rude and simple a person, to presume to be a meddler in those causes, for that the first inventions or Devises is are concerning matters by Sea and ships, both in martial affairs and otherwise thereunto appertaining: And also there be Inventions or Devises of Ordinance, aswell for service as otherwise thereunto appertaining: and also there be Inventions or Devises, as touching the walls of cities, towns or castles appertaining unto Martial affairs: & in like manner there be Inventions or Devises, as touching matters in the field, as well meet for generals as for Captains or leaders of men, with other necessary Devises or Inventions, as in the table following it doth appear, the which Inventions or Devises are very necessary to be had in memory, although that it is possible that those men that hath been trained of long time in Martial affairs, perhaps may or do know a great number of better Devises than these, yet notwithstanding I have written these, and although for their simpleness they will do them no good, yet I am assured that they will or can do them no hurt, although that they be but of a simple man's inventing, for all Arts, Sciences, or faculties, had a beginning before they came unto their perfection: and yet it is possible there hath been divers inventions that have come unto no perfection or purpose, and yet notwithstanding they are rather to be better commended than those persons that have great revenues or livings of their own, yea and some have great livings of the Queen's highness, & yet they do practise no other thing, but how to live easily, to satisfy their lust and pleasure, and some of them, if they do practise any thing, that shall be but mischief in the common wealth, etc. For by practising, they may attain unto knowledge in any affairs, though it be possible that some will say that in Martial affairs that practice is to no purpose, if that he have not seen the service in the field. And also it may be said again, that there is a number that have seen service in the field, and yet have no judgement at all in those affairs, for that we may see by common experience, that some persons have been trained up all the days of their life, to go unto the sea 20. 30. and 40. years, and yet have no knowledge to be the Master of a ship to take charge, for that they will practise nothing: & other some persons by practice be able to take charge in the space of 3. or 4. years, and be as sufficient men as those, to take charge, that have been masters the space of 20. years, etc. Wherefore we may see the practice doth much avail, for by practice he that hath seen but a little experience of service, by consideration of that service that he hath seen, may practise further: for it is not possible if a man had seen service a hundredth years, yet at a time in service in the field there may happen such a matter, that in all that time the like hath not been seen nor happened: therefore in the reading of such authors as have written in any affairs, although that he hath had no great experience in the matter, yet practice shall much avail him: so that you may conclude, that he that hath seen much and hath never practised nothing, can have no judgement in any matter, than you must needs confess, that he that hath seen little and doth practise, may have some judgement, etc. But than it must needs be said, that he that hath seen experience and doth practise, must needs become cunning, according unto the sharpness of his wit, and the valiantness of his courage: And furthermore, if one should ask this question, and as it is many times said, if that such a noble man came in the field, that it is no fight against him, but if that he doth come into the field he shall have the victory, and the question is true that it will come so to pass, then what should be the cause thereof? Now it is possible some will allege one cause, and some another cause, as I have heard a number of men's opinions, and yet few or none of them the truth: for admit that there may be two men elected or chosen, so indifferently in all respects as may be possible, both in wisdom, stature, age, and manhood or courage, and in all other matter alike, and that they do not differ in no respect, and those two men have been trained up in service in the field of long time, and have seen great experiences in service in the field, as in sieges, and in being besieged, and in the doing of other great exploits, and they have been both of them always in those services, that if the one hath been there, the other hath been here in like manner: but the one in the beginning being a Noble man's son, did always serve near the General, or as one in counsel with the General, and hath at more years of age served as a General, & the other hath always served but as a common Soldier, or an inferour officer or Captain: & admit the one of them should come into the field, the one against the other of them, and their strength or number of men to be in manner equal: and admit that he that hath the smaller power is the Noble man, there is, no doubt, except great fortune be, but that he that is the Noble man that hath served as a General, shall prevail and have the victory, and the cause is this, he that doth serve as a General, or hath been in counsel with the General of long time, he doth know how for to provide and set forth an army: and contrariwise he that hath served but as an inferior Captain, hath no other care, but to train his men: the General and his counsel, doth foresee where for to lodge and provide for the army, and all other necessary matters, and have their spyalls abroad, and do know what manner of men be meetest for all manner of purposes, and in like manner do know what manner of ground is best to encounter with the enemies, and also knowing how the enemies are prepared, & so accordingly doth order and prepare his battle, to prepare for every mischief that may happen, for that he hath seen and heard so oftentimes the experience of those matters, whereas those that have served as inferior Captains or Soldiers, have never had any occasion to consider of those matters, but only to train their soldiers & to make them handsome, how to keep their order, and to handle their weapon: but for any other order of embattling of themselves, if that they came for to fight in the field, it was always at the discretion of the General and his Counsel. And furthermore, admit that in the fight of a field that they are overthrown, or have given the overthrow, the General of the army & his Counsel have perfect intelligence by what means that hath happened, & what thing stood with them, & what thing stood against them, that is to say, if that they that were overthrown had foreseen such a cause, than they had not been overthrown, & also they that did give the overthrow, if that these had not done such a thing they had not prevailed: so that the General & his Counsel doth perfectly understand of the matter, what was with them, and what was against them, for that they do hear what hath happened in every place in the army, if that it be worthy of knowing, whereas he that doth serve but as an inferior Captain, doth hear nor see no other matter, but those matters that have happened in his own band, or near unto him: and the General and his Counsel have authority to send for, and to examine every person, that can say any thing in any matter whatsoever that it be, etc. And furthermore, there is a greater matter than this, whereby that those that are the Generals or in counsel near about the General, if that they be given unto practice and have good wits, whereby that they may have a great deal further instructions and knowledge in those affairs, than any other common Captain or Soldier: which is this: for what is he that is a Soldier or any other person, but if that he doth know any further matter or skill and secret than any person doth know, but that he will make means to show it unto the General, whereby that he may have the better reward or entertainment; so that you may conclude, that if forty or fifty thousand men were in the field, that if that there be any person that have any knowledge or cunning, but that it will be uttered and showed unto the General, then if the General be valiant, liberal and wise, as it is a place for a wise man, there is no doubts but that if he be given to practise those matters, he must needs of force become most excellent, for that an infinite number of other men's practices are put into their heads, so that of force they must needs exceed all other men in Martial affairs, whereas he that is but an inferior Captain, although that he be given unto practice, can never attain to that which the other hath, for that he hath not the like instructions in those affairs, not to be a General except great fortune be. And thus (gentle reader) I do cease to trouble you any longer, desiring you to bear with my rudeness, that I should take upon me to publish any new Inventions, and especially in these affairs, considering what a number of wise and valiant Gentlemen and Soldiers, and other learned persons there he in England. And there is no doubt, but that they do know a number of better than these, but yet I am assured, although that it will do them no good, yet it will do them no hurt, and it is possible that in the reading of these rude Inventions, they may find in some of them, that thing that may pleasure them, and they themselves may further gather of them: for at the first Inventing of any Art or Science, yet they that came after them brought it unto perfection: so that upon these rude and base Inventions, that there may be some further matter gathered of them, and may come unto perfection, although some of them do come unto little purpose, etc. And thus gentle Reader, I desire you to bear with my rudeness, although that I have written any thing that you may mislike of, for that some of them perhaps may seem to be but trifles or toys, yet it may be possible that some of them, if that it be equally considered of, may do some pleasure unto you. The Table of the Contents of the Devises, and first for Martial affairs by Seas and Ships, etc. THe first Devise is how for to know, whether that any ship be hire of board, than the ship that you are in, and also whether she doth under top you or over top you, and to know it justly a mile before that you do come at her, etc. Fol. 1. The 2. Devise showeth, how for to arm a ship for to fight with your enemies, etc. Fol. 2. The 3. Devise showeth, how for to use a plain or open deck with hatches, that it is not possible to enter the ship without spoiling of the enemies. Fol. 3. The 4. Devise is, what to observe in the laying of any ship aboard. Fol. 4. & 5. The 6. Devise showeth, how for to prevent a man of war, that he shall not be able to lay you aboard, nor to enter his men with ease, but that ten men shall be able to keep out one hundred. Fol. 5. The 7. Devise showeth, how for to sink a ship that hath laid you aboard, without shooting of Ordinance. Fol. 5. & 6. The 8. Devise showeth, how for to discomfit a whole navy of ships that do ride in any place, for the defence thereof, although that you be not the fourth part of their strength. Folly▪ 6. & 7. The 9 Devise showeth, how for to discomfit an army of ships by sea, where the principal force doth stand by one or two ships, etc. Fol. 7. & 8. The 10. Devise showeth, how for to encounter with an army of ships of war by sea, etc. Fol. 8. The 11. Devise showeth, how for to make provision that another ship shall not come aboard of you, to put you in ieopera die of firing, etc. Fol. 8. The 12. Devise showeth, how for to pass by any castle that doth stand by the mouth of any haven or harbour, that they must come so near that they cannot pass, but to be put in jeopardy of sinking, etc. Fol. 9 The 13. Devise showeth, how to prevent him that meaneth to blow your men over board when that you have entered your men, & also by what means you may burn & amaze his men, and to make the ship the easier to be entered, etc. Fol. 9 The 14. Devise showeth, how for to use a ship that she shall not sink, but always swim and bear sail, etc. Fol. 10. The 15. Devise showeth, how for to make provision in a ship for to save your men from being spoiled with the great Ordinance, etc. Fol. 10. & 11. The 16. Devise showeth, how for to chain a haven or river, although that it be a mile broad over, in such sort that no ship shall pass by night nor by day, etc. Fol. 11. The 17. Devise showeth, how for to make a ship to draw or go but a little way into the water, and yet to sail well by the wind. Fol. 12. The 18. Devise showeth, how for to make a ship or bark in that order, that you may sink unto the bottom with her when you list, and also how for to make her swim above the water again at your pleasure, and being sunk unto the bottom, the men in her to be safe from drowning. Fol. 13. 14. The 19 Devise showeth, how that you may make a boat to go without cares or sail, etc. Fol. 15 The 20. Devise, is as touching a water mill in a boat. Fol. 15. The 21. Devise showeth, how for to make an engine or instrument to know the way or going of a ship, that is to say, to know how fast or softly that any ship goeth, to know how many leagues that she hath gone, for any time assigned, &c: Fol. 15. 16. & 17. The 22. Devise showeth, how that you may make ropes fast unto a ship that is sunk, etc. Fol. 17. & 18. The 23. Devise showeth, how for to make such provision that a man may go down unto the bottom of the sea, and remain there, and make ropes fast unto any thing at his pleasure, and be safe, etc. Fol. 19 The 24. Devise showeth, how to make a Grapnel in such sort, that the more weight it hath, the faster it holdeth. Fo. 20 The 25. Devise showeth, how to find a leak in a ship, if that it be in such a place that you cannot see where that the water doth come in. Fol. 20. The 26. Devise showeth you, how for to get up unto the top of a mast of a ship, that hath never a rope fast thereunto, etc. Fol. 21. Devises of Ordinance. THe 27. Devise showeth, how for to keep a river by night, that is to say, to shoot perfectly at a ship by night with a piece of Ordinance, the ship being under sail and going. Fol. 22. The 28. Devise showeth, how for to use a battery, to shoot both night and day, and to shoot perfectly unto the mark, etc. Fol. 22. The 29. Devise showeth you for to bring Ordinance unto any place in the night, and to give level unto the mark in the night, and to shoot perfectly at it, if that the night be never so dark, as soon as your Ordinance is placed, etc. Fol. 23. The 30. Devise showeth, how for to shoot at a ship that is under sail and going. Fol. 24. The 31. Devise is, how for to use that piece that is not truly bored, to make a perfect shot. Fol. 24. The 32. Devise showeth, how for to make provision to carry a Cannon over any Marish ground or owes, if that it be never so soft, and in like manner to place a battery upon any ground how soft so ever it be. Fol. 25. The 33. Devise showeth, how for to clear a piece of Ordinance that is cloyed with the shot, or over charged with powder, and the shot will not go home. Fol. 25. & 26. The 34. Devise showeth, how for to uncloy the touch hole of a piece, if that there be any spick or nails driven into her. Fol. 26. The 35. Devise showeth, how for to carry a Cannon over a river or water without any boat. Fol. 27. The 36. Devise showeth, how for to know, whether that any piece of Ordinance be sufficiently mettalled or not. Fol. 28 The 37. Devise showeth, how for to know whether that any piece be clear within, and without any honey combs. Fol. 28. The 38. Devise showeth, how for to break any piece of Ordinance with his ordinary charge or loading, and the ordinary shot, etc. Fol. 28. & 29 The 39 Devise showeth unto you, how if that in the giving of level, that if you do lay the piece but an inch awry, how for to know how much that it will be awry at the mark, etc. Fol. 29. The 40. Devise showeth, how if that a city or town be besieged, & have no Ordinance, by what means that they may make them Ordinance to defend themselves. etc. Fol. 30. The 41. Devise showeth, how to out shoot another person with all one shot, and with one sort, and one weight of powder. etc. Fol. 31. The 42. Devise showeth, how to shoot three times in a piece at one lading of her, etc. Fol. 31. & 32. The 43. Devise showeth, how for to make any piece of Ordinance to go off at any hour or time appointed, by itself, and no person there. Fol. 32. The 44. Devise showeth, how for to make a piece go off when you list, and no person there. Fol. 32. & 33. The 45. Devise showeth, how that you shall know whether that any piece of Ordinance be truly bored, that is to say, whether that the hollowness of the piece be right in the middle of the metal, etc. Fol. 33. The 46. Devise showeth, whether the piece be taperred bored, that is to say, to be wider towards the mouth of the piece than it is at the bottom or breach, etc. Fol. 34. The 47. Devise showeth, how that you shall know the true thickness of the metal of any piece in every place. Fol. 35. The 48. Devise showeth, how for to know how many inches, or what part of an inch will make a degree in any piece of Ordinance, etc. Fol. 35. & 36. The 49. Devise showeth, how for to level a piece in a ship, at any mark or ship. etc. Fol. 36. The 50. Devise, is as concerning the flancking the front of a battery, etc. Fol. 37. The 51. Devise, is as concerning the mountant carriage for ships Ordinance. Fol. 37. & 38 The 52. Devise is, as concerning the making of draft or field carriage, to lad them backwards behind the men. Fol. 38 The 53. Devise is, as touching a screw to coin a piece of Ordinance, to what level you list. Fol. 38. & 39 The 54. Devise showeth, how for to make an engine, for to know the strength or the weakness of powder. Fol. 39 The 55. Devise showeth, how for to make a ball of metal, and in the time of service it doth exceed all other fire works. Fol. 40. & 41. The 56. Devise is, as touching the making of a trunk for to shoot Caliver or arqebus shot. Fol. 42 The 57 Devise is, as touching an engine for to take up the side of any piece of Ordinance. Fol. 42. The 58. Devise is, how to make a charge to lad any piece at one time. Folly 42. & 43. The 59 Devise showeth, how for to make an engine for to way your powder or your shot, etc. Fol. 45. The 60. Devise showeth, how for to overthrow the wall of any Town, without any shooting of Ordinance, etc. Fol. 46. The 61. Devise showeth, how for to break down the walls of a town or castle, or to break down strong and huge gates, etc. Fol. 46. & 47. The 62. Devise showeth, how for to make a skalling ladder, in such sort, that they that are upon the ladder shall have the advantage of the fight, of them that are upon the vamers of the walls of any town or castle, whether that it be to stand at the push of the pike, or otherwise. Fol. 47. & 48. The 63. Devise showeth you, how that you may prevent the undermining of any town, although that it be a town situated in a dry place. Fol. 49. The 64. Devise showeth you, how that you shall know where that underminers be in the ground. Fol. 50. The 65. Devise showeth, how for to make away or a vault in the ground to place powder in, to blow up any Castle or Fort, or the walls of a town, and how to make the train to give fire, etc. Fol. 50. 51. & 52. The 66. Devise showeth, how for to direct the way in the ground for the undermining of it, to come right under any place assigned, which is the principallest point in undermining, etc. Fol. 52. & 53. The 67. Devise showeth, how if that any Town have a breach in a wall, and the battery is so continued that they cannot make it up, than it doth show unto you how to make it defensible, etc. Fol. 53. The 68 Devise showeth you, if that you will cast a ditch out of the ground, and would make a wall or rampire of that stuff, and you would have the wall so thick, than this Devise will show unto you, how hie it will be of that stuff, and if that you would have it such a height, than you may know in like manner how thick that it will be of that stuff, etc. Fol. 53. 54. & 55. The 69. Devise is, as touching how for to make the trenches for an army, or the curtains of the walls of any fortifications. Fol. 56. The 70. Devise showeth, how for to make the trenches against any town that is besieged, that the people may pass from the Camp & to the Camp, without being spoiled, which is commonly called a rolling trench. Fol. 56. & 57 The 71. Devise showeth, by what means they may make such provision to shadow the place whereas great Ordinance is planted, that the small shot shall not annoy them that are occupied about the great Ordinance, if that it be upon such platforms or places, that there is no baskets to defend them, or to shadow them. Fol. 57 58. The 72. Devise is, as touching the knowing of any thing done, or for to be done speedily, etc. Fol. 58. & 59 The 73. Devise showeth, how for to convey letters secretly. Fol. 59 The 74. Devise showeth you, how to convey any great quantity of letters or books, that you would not have them found, and to convey them secretly and not to be known. Fol. 60. The 75. Devise showeth, how that you shall know the minds of your friends, what they will do, or what that you should do for them. Fol. 60. 61. 62. The 76. Devise showeth you, how that you may send letters unto your friends, and also receive letters, although that you be so besieged in a town or fort, that no man neither come unto you, nor you pass forth. Fol. 62. The 77. Devise doth show, how many men will stand upon any piece of ground, they being in their battle or marching form, whereby that you may view what number of men that there may be of them, etc. Fol. 62. 63. & 64. The 78. Devise showeth, how for to know how many ranks of men will be in a mile of length, whereby you may by the view of their marching know the number of them. Fol. 64 and 65. The 79. Devise showeth, the square root or number or battle of any number of men. Fol. 65. & 66. The 80. Devise showeth, how for to embattle yourself square upon the ground, that is to say, that the ground shall be as many foot the one way, as it is the other way, and also there is a table made for that purpose. Fol. 67. 68 & 69. The 81. Devise showeth unto you, if that you have any charge or battle given unto the side or flank of the battle, then on the sudden the side of the battle shall be as strong as the front. Fol. 70. The 82. Devise showeth you a way, for to know how many men will be in arancke, and how many ranks that there shall be of them for any number of men assigned to be square upon the ground, what space so ever that you would have between man and man, both in length and breadth, and also for to know how many foot of ground squarely they will stand upon or occupy. Fol. 70. 71. 72. & 73. The 83. Devise showeth you a way for to know this, when that you have sorted your weapons and knowing the number of weapons of every sort, and you would be so many men in a rank, that doth show unto you how many ranks that there will be of them of every sort of weapons. Fol. 73. 74. The 84. Devise shweth this, if that you are imbattelled, and would take another piece of ground, which you cannot do, except that you must pass through a strait, this Devise doth show unto you, how that you may pass thorough and never alter the form of your battle. Fol. 74. & 75. The 85. Devise showeth, how that you may shift yourself from one number of men in a rank. unto another number of men in aranck, and do it with ease. Fol. 75. & 76. The 86. Devise showeth, if that it were so that in the forefronts if that the men were spoiled either with shot, or by any other misfortune, it doth show you to supply those rooms with men presently again. Fol. 76. & 77. The 87. Devise is, touching the considerations of things in the joining of battles, what things are to be foreseen. Fol. 78. & 79. The 88 Devise showeth you, what is to be done if that you are too weak for your enemies. Fol. 79. & 80. The 89. Devise showeth you, what places to go unto for refuge, if that your enemies have gotten between you and home. Fol. 80. The 90. Devise showeth, how that you may carry your match close and not be seen in the night, and also by that means you may keep it from the wet in rainy weather. Fol. 80. & 81 The 91. Devisesheweth, how you shall know if that it be in the night, if that there be any horsemen stirring, if that the night be never so dark. Fol. 81. The 92. Devise showeth, how for to travel by night or by day, in such places that you would not be seen. Fol. 82. The 93. Devise showeth, how that an armed man may swim over a river. Fol. 82. The 94. Devise showeth, how that you may make a bridge upon a sudden, that a whole army of men, and their carriages may pass over any river or haven, if that it be not of too great a breadth. Fol. 83. The 95. Devise showeth, how for to make such provision, that you may make as many boats in one day, as shallbe able to carry a whole army of men over a haven or river at one time, and of that provision you shall carry with you, one cart or Wagon shall bear as much of that stuff, as shall make as many boats, as shall bear 5 or 6. hundred of men at once. Fol. 83. 84. & 85. The 96. Devise doth show unto you how that you may draw your Ordinance before in the front of the army, and their mouths forwards ready to be shot off, and the horse behind the Ordinance, etc. Fol. 85. & 86. The 97. Devise in like manner doth show how for to draw or drive the Wagons or carts, and the horse to be behind. Fol. 86. The 98. Devise is, as concerning certain small Ordinance, for to empale an army. Fol. 86. & 87 The 99 Devise is, as touching pikemen against horsemen. Fol. 88 Th' 100 Devise showeth, how that you shall know whether that any ground be higher or lower than the ground that you do stand upon. Fol. 88 & 89. The 101. Devise showeth, how for to know whether that it be possible to bring water unto any place from the head of any spring, and how high that it may be raised. Fol. 89. The 102. Devise showeth, how for to turn a water another way, etc. Fol. 89. & 90. The 103. Devise showeth unto you, if that you have any occasion to lift or weigh any thing up from the ground, and to do it after colepresse wise, and you knowing the weight of the thing that is to be lifted, and then you may know before hand whether it will lift the thing or not. Fol. 90. & 91. The 104. Devise showeth, how for to lift any thing with a wheel, and you knowing the weight of that thing that is to be lifted, than you may know what weight will lift it or weigh it up, as the less weight will weigh the bigger, which is known by the compass of the wheel, and the compass of the axle-tree. Fol. 91. The 105. Devise showeth unto you, if that one wheel doth turn another, than you may know if that the one wheel be turned once about, you may know how many times that the other wheel shall be turned about by the number of teeth. Fol. 91. 92. The 106. Devise showeth in like manner if one wheel doth turn another without teeth, as with a rope or chain, then by the turning of the one you may know the turning of the other, by the circumference of both the wheels. Fol. 92. The 107. Devise showeth, how for to place a glass in a house or chamber, for to see what things be abroad in the fields. Fol. 92. 93. & 94. The 108. Devise showeth, how for to make iron, lead, or stone, or any kind of metal to swim, without the aid of any thing to help it, or cause it to swim. Fol. 94. The 109. Devise showeth, how it may be possible to burn any thing that is apt to take fire, as gunpowder, Ocum, or Flexe, or pitch, or such other like, half a mile, or a mile from you, and to do it by glasses. Fol. 95. & 96. The 110. Devise showeth, how it is possible to see a small thing a great distance of, as to read a letter a quarter of a mile from you, or to see a man four or five miles of, and to view a town or castle six or seven miles of, and to see the windows thereof. Fol. 96. & 97. The 111. Devise showeth, how to make a crane or engine, that may lift a great weight, as 100 to weigh 100000. weight. Fol. 97. & 98. The 112. Devise is as touching the making of engines to thrust from or to pull to you, with great force or strength. Fo. 98. The 113. Devise is, as touching the making of strange works, as the brazen head that did seem to speak, or birds of wood or metal made by Art to fly, and birds made of wood or metal to sing sweetly, at certaives hours appointed, etc. which the common people doth marvel at. Fol. 98. 99 FINIS. Now shall follow certain Devises as touching Martial affairs by Sea and Ships. FIrst this, whether any Ship be higher or lower of board than the Ship that you be in, & also whether you do over top her, or undertop hit; it is very necessary for him that is a Captain of a Ship to know, for by that means there may grow great advantage, by the knowledge of it, and in like manner great inconvenience by not knowing of it: for when he doth know before that he doth lay a Ship aboard where for to enter his men to the most advantage, and also it is a great likelihood to do most good. And this way you shall know it most certainly: stand you upon the Poop of your own Ship, and look you upon the other Ship, and if you do see the Horizon circle over the top of the Poop of the other Ship, than the Ship that you are in, is higher of board than the other Ship, but if you do see any part of the other Ship higher than the line of the Horizon, than that part of the other Ship is higher of board than your Ship, by so much as you do see above the line of the Horizon, for this is general for ever, look whatsoever you do see even with the Horizon, is just in height equal with your eye, neither higher nor lower▪ so that by this means you may know what height any Ship is in every place, comparing her by your Ship, as this. If your own Ship be higher than the other Ship, then go you lower in your own Ship, until such time as you do see that part of the Ship even with the Horizon, and then look upon your own Ship, and mark where the Horizon cutteth, than that part of your Ship is just equal in height with the other, & by this means you may view any Ship in every place at your pleasure: and then to know whether the other Ship doth overtop you, or undertop you, either go up yourself, or send up upon the shrouds, and then where you do see the top of the other Ship just with the Horizon, than your eye is in height just with the other Ships top, whether you be under or over the top of your own Ship, and this is true without any fail, as I do further show in the first Book of the Treasure for travelers, the 8. Chapter. The 2. Devise. AS touching this, how to arm a Ship of war, to fight with another Ship or Ships, this must be considered, that you keep your men as close as you may, for being spoiled with small shot, or Quarrels, & Arrows: wherefore you must have a bonnet of a sail, or else some other Canuesse stretched and made fast all alongst the waist and decks of the Ship, and also to arm the forecastell & the Poop with Mantles or gowns and such other like, to shadow your men, and then in like manner your tops to be armed, to shadow your men: but now in these days, the topfight is unto little effect, since the use of Calivers or Muskets in Ships; for a man may arm the top for the Quarrels or Arrows, but it is not possible to arm it against the Calivers: wherefore it is not good to have many men in the tops in these days, for they will be but spoiled. And also, you must catharp your shrouds, and also to have a netting to go with chains in your waist, & in like manner abaft your main shrouds, according to the building and contriving of the Ship, and then you must appoint your small shot to stand at the loupes & such other like places, to beat at your enemies: in like manner the Gunners to use their great Ordinance, & so consequently every person to look to his charge that the Captain hath appointed him to do. And also, the Captain must appoint the Carpenter to go into the hold of the Ship, with such provision as is meet for the purpose, to stop any leak if any chance. And also, to send down the Surgeon into his Cabin, which ought and must be in the hold of the Ship, and he for to have all such provisions as is meet for his purpose in a readiness, to the end to dress the hurt men. And these things ought the Captain of any Ship to foresee aforehand, with divers other causes, as the things stall require, which I for brevity do omit. The 3. Devise. ANd furthermore, you may make a plain Deck or Orloppe, that hath but plain hatches, and hath no other fight, that it shall be in manner unpossible to win the Ship, without the sinking or spoiling of the Ship, as this, to take up two of the hatches, one before, and another abafte, as you shall see it most convenient for your purpose, and at the corner of the hatch make a hole with an Auger, so that at the four corners of the hatch there be four holes, and so right against every hole, when the hatch is laid, bore it with that Auger down through the come and the beams and all at the four corners, and then take a piece of wood of a seven or eight inches long, and three or four inches thick, whether it be round or square it is all one matter, and then bore a hole with the Auger through the little piece of wood, through the middle, beginning at the one end, and out at the other end, and so to have for every corner of the hatch, a bolt of iron, with a good broad head, and to be of length to go through the hatch, the chockes of wood endlong, and the come of the hatch and beam, and all that it may be afore locked underneath, and this to use two of the hatches, and then when you do see cause, you being a Merchant man, that any Ship doth assail you, than set up the two hatches in the Ship, and look that the bolts be sure locked underneath the Deck, and then these hatches will lie seven or eight inches higher than the rest, so by that means there can no man come upon the Deck, but that they may either launch a Pike at him, or shoot a Calyver, or use a crossbow, or draw a long bow, and so generally there is no weapon, but that they may use at them round about the hatch, that it is not possible to be unspoiled upon the Deck, and being two hatches, used thus, the one hatch shall clear the other. And this devise is a hundred times better than the Spardeckes, etc. The 4. Devise. AS touching the laying of any Ship aboard. If your Ship be higher of board than the other Ship, then view her where that the best place is for to enter her, that is to say, where she hath least force against you to defend herself, & where your men may enter with most ease: & of that the other Ship be higher of board than your Ship, them you must lay her aboard, that you may come unto the chain walls to enter by the shrouds, either the fore shrouds, or the main shrouds, etc. And furthermore, this must be most principally observed, if you have any consort or consorts of any other Ship, or Ships, that doth come to help you, or you come to help them, that you do not lay them aboard the one upon the one side, and the other upon the other side, for then the one of you shall do the other of you hurt, ten times more than the enemies, both with your great Ordinance, and also with your small shot, and your own Quarrels, and Arrows: wherefore if that the other Ship be aboard already alongst the side, then if that you cannot have room to lay him aboard on that side, then lay him aboard athwart the Stem, or athwart the Stern, as you shall see to your most advantage, but in any wise come not aboard on the other side, for than you shall spoil yourself, & your consort in like manner. The 5. Devise. IF so be any Ship hath laid you aboard, and that you are too weak for him, then if so be that you do see the wind and the tide to be all as one, or if that it be calm, then upon a sudden put down an Anchor, and then as soon as ever your Ship doth ride, than the tide will carry the other Ship away from you, and then if that the wind and the tide be all one, it is not possible for the other Ship to come near you again, not until the tide doth turn, to come unto the windward again. The 6. Devise. AND if any Ship do give you chase, and you do know that you are too weak for him, and also, although he saileth better than your Ship, then when he doth come near unto you, and there is no remedy but he must needs lay you aboard, then go you hence afore the wind between your two sheets, and then as the other Ship doth fetch upon you, and be ready to lay you aboard, always keep your Stern unto him, and suffer him not to come up by your side, so shall you drive them to enter at your Stern over your Poop, and then they shall enter so painfully, for that they must clamber up by their own Ships boulespret, such a narrow place as the Stern is, that a few men shall be able to keep them out, and this you may do with ease, as long as you have room to go afore the wind, that he shall never be able to lay you aboard, but only at your Stern, so that the Steerage be well looked unto, for as soon as you do see him press to come up by your side, then louffe you from him, and so by this means he shall not be able to come near any other place but your Stern. etc. The 7. Devise. IF any Ship hath laid you aboard about your bows, and if you would sink him, then let your Anchor next unto him hang a Cockbell with a strong Painter, or rope, that the cross or Floukes may hang a little underneath the water, and then by the means of the heaving and setting of both the Ships with the Sea, the Anchor will rend or pluck out the plank of the Ships side with Anchor Floukes, and yet it will do your own Ship no great hurt, for that still the Anchor hangeth level but at one height, and the most hurt that it may do unto your own Ship, it will pike but a hole, but for the other Ship, she falleth down upon it with her whole weight a fathom long together, which must needs with two or three plonges rend out the plank of the ships side. etc. The 8. Devise. IF that an army of Ships do ride in any Haven or River to defend any place, or to keep any place for receiving of any more strength or victuals, & that they mean to ride there still, and have placed themselves in such order, that no ship may pass by them, either to man a place, or to victual that place, thus it may be done: first this, prepare such a sufficient number of bad or old ships as shall be convenient, and then put such kind of stuff into them as will quickly be fired, and then when you do see convenient time that the wind and tide doth serve your turn, send those old ships before with a few men for to govern them under sail, and with boats to save themselves, and then let them a little before set them on fire, and lay the principal ships aboard cross their Halce or Stem, and then there is no doubt but they shall drive them to let slip their anchors, or consume them with fire, and then the more men that there be in number aboard, the greater shallbe their terror, if that they have not boats enough to save themselves, and then presently after that, you may come in, and do your exploit, for that they will be in such a maze with the fire, that you may do what you list: for if this devise had been put in practice by County Mongomery when he went unto Rochel, there is no doubt but they had both discomfited, or spoiled all those ships that did ride before Rochel, and also the Count Mongomery might have landed at his pleasure. The 9 Devise. WHere there is any Fleet that doth pass through the Sea, that doth carry either some principal person of estate, or else some great quantity of treasure or other riches, and have certain ships of great force to waft them, and to do such an exploit, to come by the spoil of the, it may be thus handled, if it be not disclosed: the secrets of the matter is this. Get some great ships of countenance that are but bad, & let them seem to be the Admiral, & to encounter with their Admiral or principal ships of force, & then when that they be aboard, to set them on fire, having such things aboard as will burn with great terror: and this will set a Ship on fire very suddenly, set a great Cauldron of Pitch or Tar upon the fire, and make a great fire under it, and then let all the tackle above the head be newly tarred, and also have such things near, as will take fire presently, and then whilst you are aboard of them, set fire on it, and it will be at the top on a sudden, and so shall you consume both the Ships with fire, and the men in your Ship are already prepared to save themselves with their boats: then the other Ships may follow the spoil or chase at their pleasure, and then when they do see their chiefest force taken from them, than they will be discouraged presently. The 10. Devise. THe principallest matter for to encounter with an army of Ships by Sea, is, to have the weathergage of them for divers causes, and for that those causes are not unknown unto most men, I do cease for the saying of any thing therein: and in like manner never go above two Ships in a rank, for if you do, the one shall annoy the other of them, and the closer you do enforce your enemies, the more advantage you shall have of them, for one shall hinder or hurt another of them. The 11. Devise. IF you have any great principal Ship of great force of Ordinance, and for fear of those Devises before spoken of, lest any Ship do come aboard, to put you in danger of firing, than it is best to prepare certain strong Masts for to put out at the ports round about the Ship, and to have pieces framed with bolts without board, twenty or thirty foot from the Ship, from one Mast unto another, that no Ship may come between them, and those framed Masts may lie within board, until such time as occasion shall be to use them, and to take them in, and put them out at their pleasure, as need of service doth require. The 12. Devise. IF it happen so that there be any place where there is an exploit to be done, as the aiding of any place either with men, or victuals, or such other like, and there is Ordinance so placed at the entrance, that it seemeth not possible to pass it, for that the Channel cometh so near unto the Ordinance, yet by this means at a sudden it is possible for a whole Fleet to pass, as this. Prepare two or three old great ships more or less, according unto the discretion of them that have viewed the place, where the Ordinance is that you do mean to pass with your fleet, then seeing your time convenient, run aground with those old Ships right in the face of the Ordinance, with their sails standing, and then they will shadow with their holds and sails all the rest of the fleet, till such time as they shall be passed the principal danger of the Ordinance. The 13. Devise. IF you have laid any Ship aboard, and you do perceive that he hath made a train, to the intent that when you have entered your men, to blow them over board, to prevent that, do this: first prepare certain earthen pots made of purpose, that will hold two or three pound of powder more or less at your discretion, and that the pot have three or four little ears round about the side, that you may make a little piece of match fast thereunto upon every side of the pot, which being filled with powder, and the mouth of the pot being stopped, and the pieces of match set on fire, then where you do perceive that the train is made, there throw in of these pots, and then the fall of the pot will break the pot, and so the match that hangeth by the pot side, will set the powder on fire, and so set fire on their train, etc. And also these pots be very necessary to be thrown whereas men do stand thick, for to burn them, and to amaze them with the powder. And also of these pots they may throw into the place of the chiefest fights of the ships, to amaze the men, and so by that means they may the easilier enter the ship. etc. The 14. Devise. TO cause a ship that she shall not sink: first let her be sufficiently ballested, and then prepare as many casks as half the ships burden cometh unto, and let all the casks be made close and tied, that no water may come into them, & then the cask being laid close unto the ballest, and fraped down close, that it doth not stir, than the ship will not sink for any leak, for the cask will make her swim, and the ballest will make her bear sail. The like may be done by making close of the hatches, so that the Orlop be under the water, so that the sperkets be tied. The 15. Devise. ANd furthermore, for to make provision in a ship that your men be not spoiled with great Ordinance, and especially to prevent the hail shot, and Crossebarre shot, or chain shot, and yet your men to stand in a readiness at all times, then do this: first prepare Elmen planks of 4. or 5. or 6. inches thick, or any other plank of such wood as will not rend or splenter, and then in such a convenient place under the Deck, let it be strongly stanshioned all alongst the middle of the ship with two rows of stantions, and to be of 4▪ or 5. foot asunder between the two rows of stantions, and that will be like the case in a Galley that the Canon lieth in, and then that done, throw all the old ropes you can get, and fill that full therewith, and then when you are in fight with your enemies, look of what side he is of you, than those men that are not occupied, either about the Ordinance or the tackling of the Ship sails, may go unto the further side of those planks, and be safe from the violence or spoiling of them with the shot, for the ropes that are within the case, will kill the violence of the shot, and especially the Crossebarre shot, or chain shot, which is the chiefest spoiling of men, and yet notwithstanding the men are in a readiness whensoever you have any occasion to use them, whether it be to enter the other Ship, or to defend that Ship which you are in. The 16. Devise. FOr the prevention of the 8. Devise, that is to say, to let them that should pass by any Bulwark or platform, they must chain their Haven or harborrow, if it be of any great breadth, than it must be done in this manner: for that the chain is of such great weight, that it is almost unpossible to make any engines to stretch or weigh the chain above the water, therefore when the chain is laid cross the water, they must prepare certain great Lighters made of purpose, with certain engines, as Capstines, or Gears, or such other like devices, to weigh the chain above the water, and so to let the Lighter ride by the said chain at all times, and when they would have Ships to pass too and fro, than the chain may be sunk to the bottom, and when that they would have no Ships pass, than the Lighters may weigh the Chains. Being near unto any place, whereas Ordinance is planted, it is not possible to pass in. And by this means they may chain a harbour that is a mile broad over, having Lighters sufficient enough to weigh the chain above the water. And also by this devise, they may stop any passage upon a sudden, although they have no chain, when it is so dark, that the watch of any Castle or Bulwark cannot see them to make fast some great Cabell cross the water, and to under-run the said Cabell with boats. The 17. Devise. FOr to make a Ship to draw or go but little into the water, and to hold a good wind, and to sail well both by and large, were very necessary, and especially in these our shallow Seas, amongst such a number of sands and banks, and as I have showed in my third Book, called A Treasure for travelers, the 6. and 7. Chapter, how to alter the bigness of Ships, and to keep that mould and proportion in all points. Wherefore if you would have a Ship to draw but a little water, and to sail well by the wind, then do this, she must have a flat bottom, like as the Binelanders and Plaites have on the other side of the Sea in Flanders, and as I have showed in the 9 Chapter in my book before mentioned, that all Ships that be slatie, will sail well with the wind: but now to make it to sail well by the wind, then do this. That place where as the Keel should stand, must be open into the Ship, and made tied on both the sides, as high or deep as the Ship doth go into the water when she is laden, and in that there must be made a thing to be let down, and to be wound up again as need shall require, which thing must be in this manner, to be as long as almost the length of the Keel, and to be well plancked and made strong, according unto the bigness of the Ship, and to be beaten down into the water four or five foot, according unto the quantity of the Ship, and then when you would have it to hold a good wind, cause that to be let down into the water, and then that will not suffer the Ship to fall to Leewardes: and then when that the wind is large, and that you are to pass any shallow water, it may be wound up again, and by this means you may make a Ship of a hundred Tons not to draw five foot water, having length and breadth correspondent to bear the tonnage. The 18. Devise. ANd also it is possible to make a Ship or a Boat that may go under the water unto the bottom, and so to come up again at your pleasure, as this, as I have declared in my Book called The Treasure for travelers, in the 4. Book called Staticke, that any thing that sinketh, is heavier than the proportion of so much water, and if it be lighter than the magnitude of so much water, than it swimmeth or appeareth above the water, according unto the proportion of weight, and then this being true, as it is most certain, than any magnitude or body that is in the water, if that the quantity in bigness, having always but one weight, may be made bigger or lesser, than it shall swim when you would, and sink when you list: and for to make any thing do so, then in the joints or places that do make the thing bigger and lesser, must be of leather, and in the inside to have Skrewes to wind it in and also out again: and for to have it sink, they must wind it in to make the thing less, and then it sinketh unto the bottom: and to have it swim, then to wind the sides out again, to make the thing bigger, and it will swim, according unto the body of the thing in the water. And to make a small Ship or Bark or Boat, do this, the Bark being made of purpose, let there be good store of Balest in the bottom of her, and over the Balest as low as may be, let there be a close Orloppe, such a one, that no water may come into it, and then in like manner at a sufficient height, to have another close Orlop that no water may come through it, and that being done, then bore both the sides full of holes between the two close Orlops: and that being done, then make a thing like the side of the Bark or Ship that may go unto the side of the Ship, the one for the one side, and the other for the other side, and that must be made so tied and close, that no water may come through it, and that done, then take leather, such a quantity as is sufficient for to serve your purpose, and that leather must be nailed close, with such provision, that no water may soak through it, and to be of that largeness, that the thing may go close unto the Bark or Ship side when you would, and come in again, to let sufficient water in, that it shall not be able to swim. And now this being done, than you must make provision of Skrewes or other engines, to wind the two things on the insides of the Bark or Ships, that you may wind them in or out at your pleasure and that done, then for the hatch or Skotel, that you must go in or out, you must have leather round about it, that you may bring that together as a purse mouth, and so with a small Skrewe, you may wind it so close together, that being in the bottom of the water, there shall no water come in, and that done, than you must have one Mast, that must be of such sufficient bigness, that it must have a hole bored through the one end unto the other, as a Pomp hath: and that done, then when that you list to nnke, than you must sound the deepness of the water, and foresee that the water will not rise higher than the top of the Mast, for the hole that goeth through the Mast must give you air, as man cannot live without it: & now when you would sink, then with your Skrewes wind the two sides inwards, and water will come into the holes, and so the Ship or Bark will sink unto the bottom, and there it may rest at your pleasure: and then when that you would have it swim, then with the Skrewes wind out the things on both the sides, and that will thrust the water out again at the holes, and so it will rise and come up above the water, and swim as it did before, etc. The 19 Devise. ANd furthermore, you may make a Boat to go without oars or Sail, by the placing of certain wheels on the outside of the Boat, in that sort, that the arms of the wheels may go into the water, and so turning the wheels by some provision, and so the wheels shall make the Boat to go. The 20. Devise. ANd also, they make a water Mill in a Boat, for when that it rideth at an Anchor, the tide or stream will turn the wheels with great force, and these▪ Milles are used in France, etc. The 21. Devise. ANd in like manner, they may make an engine to know the way or going of a Ship, for to know how fast or softly that any Ship goeth, which is very necessary for all them that goeth of long voyages, in a number of causes. The instrument is to be made in this manner. There must be made a little small Boat, and then there must be placed a wheel in the Boat, that the arms thereof must go in the water, and so as the Ship passeth or goeth in the Sea, so the way of the Ship doth turn the wheel by the arms that goeth in the water of the Sea, and from that wheel or wheels that goeth on the outside of the little Boat, there cometh an axle-tree▪ & upon that there is a note, with six or eight teeth more or less, as the deviser or maker shall see good, and that note shall turn another wheel by the teeth, on the Circumference: and the wheel work may be so framed or pitched, that when the wheel on the outside of the little Boat hath gone 50. or 100 times about, that the note on the axle-tree shall turn the inner wheel but once about, and then the thing being tried, that when the wheel with arms that goeth in the water, hath gone once about, that the Ship hath gone so many foot or inches justly, and then when the wheel on the outside hath gone such a number of times about, than the inner wheel is turned once about▪ and then it may be said, that the Ship hath gone so much, when the wheel is turned once: and then that wheel shall have a note upon the axle-tree thereof, and turn another wheel by the teeth of the Circumference, and so you may make one wheel turn another, and to have so many motions, that the last wheel shall not be turned about, until the Ship hath gone 500 or 1000 leagues. As for example this. The wheel that goeth on the outside of the little Boat, when that it is turned round once, the Ship hath gone just six foot, that is, one Fathom, and now the note that goeth on the axle-tree, doth turn a wheel by the teeth, in such sort, that when the outward wheel hath gone 100 times about, that it is turned once, and then you may conclude, that when the first wheel on the inside of the Boat hath gone once about, that the Ship hath gone 600▪ foot, or 100 Fathoms: and now this first wheel doth turn another wheel in the like order, that is, for 100 turning, to turn the other but once, & then you may conclude, that the Ship hath gone 100 times 100 Fathom, and that maketh 10000 Fathoms, and that containeth four leagues, and then there is an axle-tree on that wheel with a nut that turneth a third wheel by the teeth on the Circumference, in that order as before is showed, that when the second wheel is turned 100 times about, that the wheel is turned once, and then you may conclude, that when the third wheel is turned once about, that the Ship hath gone 100 times four leagues, that is 4000 leagues. And by this order, this engine or instrument shall show unto you how much the Ship hath gone, by the turning of the wheels. And to see and know how the wheels doth turn, than there must be made certain spurs, such as the hand or the poynters of the dyalles of a Clock hath, to come from every wheel, and so to be marked round about, in such order as the dyalles have for the hour of the day, but those divisions may be divided but into eight parts or sixteen parts, and so the director that cometh from the first wheel, will show in his turnings the number of Fathoms, and the second wheel will show the number of leagues, and the third wheel may show you the number of scores of leagues, and so to have another to show the number of 100 leagues, and so forth at your pleasure you may make as many motions in it as you list, as it shall be most meetest for the purpose, & best for continuance. And this instrument being towed in a little small close Boat, will show unto you the way of any Ship, that is to say, how fast or softly that the Ship goeth through the water, etc. The deviser of this engine or instrument was Humphrey Cole. The 22. Devise. AS I have declared in the fourth part of my Book called A Treasure for travelers, how to weigh sunken Ships, so in like manner I do think it good to show how to make their ropes fast unto any sunk Ship, if it be sunk very deep in the water that they may come by no part thereof at a low water, than it is very tedious and difficult to make any ropes fast unto it, for that no man may come at it to make any ropes fast unto any strong place thereof: yet the Venetians and the Jtalians do use to dive under the water, which we here in England cannot do for two causes. First, our Country is more colder than theirs. And secondly, their Sea water is more clearer than ours for two respects, for their water doth not ebb and flow as ours doth, so that the wash of their Sea is always in one place, and our water doth rife and fall, and the water sometime beateth in one place, and sometimes in another place, which doth cause our water to be always thick, and in like manner by the means of the ebbing and flowing, it causeth a tide or stream to run too and fro, which will not suffer the water to be clear, and so forth. And also, the Venetians and Italians have (when that they do dive under the water) a place of refuge to take air or breath in, by some great vessel of metal of sufficient bigness, and of weight, and let it down unto the bottom, with the bottom of the vessel directly upwards, so standing upon three or four feet upon the ground in the bottom of the Sea, and being let precisely down with the bottom upwards, it is full of air, and then when that they cannot hold their breath no longer, than they do repair unto the said vessel, the feet thereof being so high, that they may go easily under it, and there under the vessel they do breathe themselves in the air in the bottom of the Sea, etc. But Englishmen be not used to do that: wherefore in my opinion, this is a very good way, that Englishmen may use to make their ropes fast unto any soncken Ship or vessel at a still water, that is to say, at a low water, or a full Sea in the night, to prepare certain Glasses being made of purpose, to be tight, that water cannot get in, and to put lights or Candles into them, and then let them down whereas the soncken Ship is, so shall they see how for to take the best hold of the Ship, and then having prepared their Gratnels and their engines, they may catch hold of the sunken Ship at their pleasure, for you may see any light through the water, and also any thing that is near unto the light. etc. The 23. Devise. ANd furthermore, they may make such provision that any man may go down unto the bottom of the water, and remain there at his pleasure, as this: first prepare leather, and make a case of it in this manner. First for his head, and that must be made large enough, and then there must be two holes for his eyes, and then set in Glass, and make it tied round abouts it, and so make the body and the sleeves for his arms, and to be closed so close, that no water may come into it. And that done, than there must be a long Trunk made of Leather that must be hollow within, that must be longer than the deepness of the water, and that must be tight too, and then at the uppermost end or top there must be a bowl, or such a thing that will swim, that through the Trunk that is like a rope, the air may pass down unto him that is in the bottom of the water, and so the man that is put into the case of Leather, and that being made tight, that no water may come in unto him, and especially unto his Mouth and Nose, and so to have air to come down through the Trunk of leather, than he having sight through the Glass, he shall be able to endure to tarry in the water, and also to see in the water how for to make ropes fast unto any thing that is sunk in the water, etc. The 24. Devise. ANd also for the making of a Grapnel, that shall hold fast any thing it happeneth to take hold of, it must be in this manner, that is to say, that it must be made of good iron, and very substantial and strong, of two pieces, to go upon a very strong pin, that the joint may go too and fro, and then the end that must take hold, the ends must be turned inwards, like as a pair of Pincers doth, and then above the joint or pin, than the ropes must be made fast thereunto upon both the cheeks or ends thereof; and that done, the more weight that this kind of Grapnell taketh hold of, the faster it keepeth it, by the means that the ropes upon the upper end by the means of the weight, doth draw it togetherwards, so by that means the thing that it hath taken hold of cannot slip from it, etc. The 25. Devise. IF any Ship have a leak in her, and will not be found, for that you cannot see where the water doth come in, then take an earthen pot, and leave nothing in the pot, and then a boards end, and set the mouth of the pot upon the boards end, with the pot upon it in the hold of the Ship, and then lay your ear, and hearken unto the pot, and if you be near unto the leak, you shall hear the running in of the water, and the nearer you do come, the more breefer you shall hear it, and the farther off you be, the less you shall hear it, so by the removing of it tuo and fro, you shall hear in what place it is in the Ship, etc. The 26. Devise. ANd if a Ship have her Masts standing, and never a rope fast unto the top of it, and for to get up unto the top thereof, than this he must do, they must first prepare either a green strong withie, & for that the Mast is smooth, then there must be made a certain number of things of iron, with a hole through them as a beadestone hath, or as the Trockes for the apparel of a Mast, but they must be three cornered and sharp, that it may take hold of the wood, and not slip, and then they being put on the withie, or such other like, then let that part that is about the mast, have those triangles of iron, and the other part to go about the body of him that doth go up the Mast, in such form, that it may be so slack, that he may set his feet upon the Mast with ease, and so he setting his feet upon the Mast, and leaning backwards, shall raise himself, and when that his feet is as high as he can, than he must give his body in, and then iam or lift the withie up higher with his hands at a sudden, and so by that means he may get unto the top of the Mast, for in leaning backwards, and the harder that he leaneth, he causeth that things that are about the Mast, that they will not slip. etc. And by this order, the Neagers in Ginny do use to go up unto the top of a tree, and if that it were 60. or 70. foot high without a bough. And if that the Mast have Treseltries at the top thereof, than they may do this, to make a small line fast unto an arrow, and so to shoot it over the top of the Mast, and then with the small line or string you may draw up a bigger, and so still from the less unto the bigger, until that you have such a one up as will serve your turn to go up by. etc. The 27. Devise. AS touching the keeping of a Havenor River by night, in such sort, that you would have no ship nor other vessel to pass, neither by day nor by night, than you must devise some imagined mark or marks upon the farther side of the water, & then you must plant your Ordinance right upon those marks, and then in the night you must place lights in those places, and then if that there doth come any Ships in the night, they will shadow or take away the sight of the light from you, and then you may be assured, that the ship is right with the mouth of the piece, and then you shooting off your piece, you shall hit the ship if that it be discreetly handled, as I do more at large declare in the 26. Chapter of my book, called, The Art of shooting in great Ordinance. The 28. Devise. FOr to continue a battery both night and day, you must do this: when that all your Ordinance be laden and leveled unto the breach or marks assigned, and would continue the same day & night, then take your Quadrant, and look at what degree that the piece lieth, and then plome the middle of the mouth of the piece down unto the ground, and there make a mark, and then plome the middle of the tail of the piece down unto the ground, and there in like manner make another mark, and then draw a right line from both the marks, and the line to be longer by two yards, than the two marks, and that done, you may continue to shoot all the night, for the degrees in the Quadrant will give the piece the true height of the mark, and the line underneath the piece will lay the piece right upon the mark, as I do more at large declare in the 24. Chapter of my book, called, The Art of shooting in great Ordinance. The 29. Devise. FOr to plant Ordinance in the night, and to shoot presently at any mark assigned, do this. First, seek the ground meet for your purpose, and then take an Astrolabe, and hang that upon your thumb by the ring, and then turn the Athilleyday or rule with the sights up and down, until that you do see the mark that you do mean for to shoot at through both the sights of the Athilleyday, the Astrolabe for to hang perfitly upright, and then look upon the Astrolabe at what degree that the Athilleyday doth point unto, and keep that in remembrance, for that giveth the piece the true height of the mark, and then where that you do mean for to plant your Ordinance, there make a mark, and then go backwards twenty foot, and then view the mark that you do mean for to shoot at, that it be right over the mark that you have made upon the ground, and right with that mark make another mark, and then go a little further backwards, and then view it again, and see that the mark that you do mean for to shoot at, and the other two marks that you have made upon the ground, to be all three upon one right line by the the sight of your eye, and if that they be not, than you may amend them, and set them right, and then those two marks will rule the matter, so that you may lay the piece right upon the mark, and then you bringing your Ordinance in the night, you may shoot presently, as I do more at large declare in the 25. Chapter of my book, called, The Art of shooting in great Ordinance. The 30. Devise. AS touching how to shoot at a Ship tha● is under sail in a River, they must do this, they must plant their Ordinance against some imagined mark, upon the farther side of the water, and then when that they do see that the ship doth begin to close the imagined mark that their Ordinance lieth right against, then give fire unto the Ordinance, and they shall make a perfit shot, as I do more at large declare in the 14. Chapter of my book, called, The Art of shooting in great Ordinance. The 31. Devise. IF that you have a piece of Ordinance that is not truly bored, that is to say, if the core or concavity do not go right in the middle of the metal, but that it doth lean more the one way than it doth the other way, that piece will never shoot right upon the mark, except they do this: look toward which side the metal of the piece is most thickest, unto that side the piece will cast the shot, and for remedy thereof they must do this. First they must seek where the metal is most thickest, and that being known, then when that you do set up the dispart of the piece, you must put half the diversity of the thickest of the metal, that it is thicker on the one side more than it is on the other side, unto the length of the dispart, and then you must set the dispart justly upon that side and place that the metal is most thickest, and then when you do make any shot with that piece, you must give your level justly upon the thicker side of the piece, that is to say, the metal of the breech of the piece, and the dispart, and the mark, to be all three upon one right line by the sight of your eye, as I do more plainly show in the 12. Chapter of my book, called, The Art of shooting in great Ordinance. The 32. Devise. IF that any place be to be besieged that standeth upon a marish ground, so that it is thought unpossible for to bring the Cannon unto it, yet notwithstanding it is possible by this devise both for to bring the Cannon unto it, and also for to place the Cannon against it, although that the ground be never so soft. First, let them prepare a flat bottomd boat for every Cannon, & if that it were a Cannon of 8000. weight, the boat but 20. foot long, and 8▪ foot broad, if that boat were in the water, the boat will swim with that Cannon at one foot deepness going into the water, than it is a plain case whether that it be marish ground or owes, it will not sink half so much to be drawn over it, being in the boat, and the boat to be made tied, that no water or dirt do come in: and then if that the ground be so soft, that they can bring no horses to make the draw it, yet it may be drawn by men, and 80▪ men will draw it, and if every man do draw but 100 weight, the boat to be made at that end that goeth forwards flatlong, that it may strike against nothing. And I am of that opinion, that it is not possible to make any better kind of platform to place their Ordinance upon in the boat, for if the ground were never so soft, it can sink no further into it, nor so far neither, as it will into the water. And by this means they may both bring their Ordinance, and place their Ordinance in any ground how soft so ever it be, at their pleasure. The 33. Devise. IF that it happeneth so that you have any piece of Ordinance, which when you have laden her, the shot will not go home unto the powder, and that the piece is so cloyed, that if the piece be shot off, she will break: to save the piece, and uncloy the piece, do this: for if that it were in any place of service, if the piece do break, there may happen three great dangers, as this. First, the lack of the thing when they should use it. And secondly, the loss of the value of the thing. And thirdly, the hurt that may happen by that means. etc. And for to uncloye the piece, if that you cannot by no means, stall the piece, and then put in clean water at the tutchhole, until that it doth stand full of water, and then koyne up the breach of the piece, that the mouth of the piece may stand dripping downwards▪ and so let the water drop out of the mouth a two or three days, and still put in more water, and keep the touchhole full of water, and so by that means the water will soak out all the Peter from out of the powder in the piece, and then that being done, you may prime fresh powder in at the tuchhole, as much as may be sufficient to blow out the shot that is in the piece, and in like manner you may save the Peter, by setting a tub or vessel under the mouth of the piece. etc. The 34. Devise. IF through treason or otherwise, the enemies have cloyed the touchholes of your Ordinance, and that you have no Drill for to boar it out upon the sudden, and yet you are driven to use your Ordinance, then scale your piece, both the shot and the wadde, but not the powder, and then put in a lower or smaller shot without a wadde, and then make a train of powder from the powder in the piece, unto the mouth of the piece, and then give level unto your enemies, and so give fire at the mouth of the piece, and then the force of the blast of the powder will blow out the nail or spike out of the tuchhole: but if it do not, than heat the piece there about the tutchhole, and then take a quantity of wax or clay, and make it like a cop about the tutchhole, and then take oil and heat it hot, and power it on the tutchhole, and that will so seek by the fides of the nails, that when you do load the piece and shoot her off (as afore is declared) there is no doubt but it will blow out the nail, and clear the tutchhole of the piece. The 35. Devise. IF so be it happeneth so, that there is in the pasing of an army a river or water in the way, and the water to be of great deepness, and they having no boats, and that they can make provision to put over their men, now to carry over their Ordinance, they may do this: first, with plank and timber let them make a thing square like a platform, of sufficient strength, and then let them place one of their pieces of Ordinance upon it, and then let them prepare empty cask, and let them be made tied, and then take as many of these cask as may be sufficient to boy or swim with the said piece of Ordinance, and then let this cask be made fast, and fraped hard unto the said platform round about the said platform, aloft upon the platform, for the platform must not be upon the cask, for then the weight of the piece would overthrow the platform, and so they may convey their Ordinance over any haven or river, without boats, and so they may make as many of these platforms as is sufficient to serve their turn, and you may know how many cask will boy or swim with any piece of Ordinance, as this: five tun of cask will carry a double Cannon, four tun will carry a demie Cannon, and three tun or less will carry Culvering, etc. taking any thing more than a pipe or boat unto 1000 weight of the piece. etc. The 36. Devise. FOr to know whether any piece of Ordinance be sufficiently mettalled to bear her charge with powder, than this is general, that in the clamber before the tutchhole, so far as the powder doth reach to the mouthwards, that the metal is in thickness as high as the shot is round about, and somewhat thicker, and if that the metal be not in thickness as much as the height of the shot, than she is too slenderly mettalled. The 37. Devise. FOr to know whether that any piece of Ordinance be clear within without any honey combs or cracks, then take a steel Glass when that the Sun shineth, and then turn the beam or shadow of the Sun into the piece mouth, and so you shall see into the piece, whether there be any flaws or honey combs in the piece by the light of the Sun upon the Glass. And also, if the Sun shine not, then take a short Candles end, and then take a long pole stick, that may reach unto the bottom of the piece, and make a cleft in the end of the stick, and then put that into the mouth of the piece unto bottom, if you see cause, and so you shall see if that there be any faults in the piece in like manner. The 38. Devise. ANd furthermore, you may break any piece of Ordinance, although that the piece of Ordinance be sufficiently mettalled, & without cracks, flaws, or honey combs, and also having no more but her common charge or lading, as this. If that it happeneth so that you might come by your enemy's Ordinance, and they being laden already, you might cause them to break at the next shooting of them in this manner. Prepare certain things made of iron, made of purpose, of a foot long or more at your pleasure, and the point to be very thin and sharp, and smooth, and at the other end to be half an inch thick or more, and to be smooth and taper ground from the point unto the greater end, and then put into the piece that thing close underneath the shot, and then the shot being round, it is apt to run upon that, and then the piece being shot off, the shot will be choked, or stick fast in the piece by the means of the bigger end of the thing of iron put into the piece, for that the shot hath no room for to go by, and then the violent blast of the powder must needs break the piece. The 39 Devise. AS touching the giving of level with any piece of Ordinance, and for to know if that the level be laid awry, and for to know how much awry the shot will be at the mark, it is thus known; look how many times that the length of the piece is unto the mark, so many times that quantity that the piece is laid awry, so many times that quantity that the length of the piece is unto the mark, so much it shall be awry at the mark: as for an example, the piece is ten foot long, and it is laid one inch awry beside the mark in the giving of level, and the mark is twenty score from the piece, and there is six times the length of the piece in every score, and the mark being twenty score off, the shot must be six time twenty inches beside the mark, and that is ten foot, as I do more at large declare in the tenth Chapter of my Book called The Art of shooting in great Ordinance. The 40. Devise. IF that any place be besieged, & have no Ordinance for to defend themselves as many times in the middle of a Country that are not near the fronters, there may be great Cities or Towns that are well walled, that hath no Ordinance, and may many times lack divers things meet to defend themselves, as powder and shot, etc. and yet they have strength enough of men to defend themselves, and yet notwithstanding they may make provision for to make both Ordinance, and also powder and shot, etc. although that they have no other metal, but only lead: and there is lightly no City nor Town, but that it hath lead good store, & then they may make them Ordinance of lead to serve their turn by the good foresight in the basting thereof, that is to say, to put in the more substance of the metal: for let them make the thickness of the metal to be round abouts, once and a half the height of the shot, the piece will be able to bear the ordinary charge of powder, and then the weight of that piece will be more than double the weight of that piece which is of brass or yron: And in a Town where as is help enough, it maketh no great matter for the weight, for that they have no great cause for to transport it very far. And also, they must not shoot in those pieces too often at a time, for heating of them too hot, but they may shoot moderately, and use them so, that they do not overheate them, etc. And as for powder, the use of the making thereof is commonly known unto all men, and there is no Town, but that the earth in some places is good for to make the Petre of. And as for shot that may be cast of any metal therefore if that they have any persons of experience, they may both make them Ordinance, and also powder and shot to serve their turn, etc. The 41. Devise. NOw shall follow two or thee devices, which is a common question among Gunners, although that there is no use of service in it, and that doth appertain unto Ordinance, more for pleasure in the wagering thereof, than to any other purpose, as this to say, I will out shoot any person in one piece with all one kind of shot, both in weight and otherwise, and with one kind of powder, and with equal weight, and in the like kind of advantage in all points, and that is by this means, the shot to be both fit for the piece: then prepare a piece of linen cloth or woollen, and then wool that same round about the shot, that the shot may go stiff into the piece, that it may go home unto the powder, and in so doing, you shall shoot further than it would do, if it were unwoolled. And also, if that you do shoot in a piece both with one kind of shot, and with one weight of powder, and like advantage in all points, the last shoot shall over shoot the first by this means, for that the piece is made warm, and that causeth the powder to fire the better together, etc. The 42. Devise. AS touching this, how to lad a piece at one time, and to make the piece to shoot three times off at the once lading of the piece, which is done in this manner. First prepare a piece of small match that will keep fire, or else a piece of blue thread, and that will keep fire, and then put the one end of that into the mouth of the piece, so that the end go unto the breech of the piece, and the other end to hang out, and then lad the piece but meanly, so that she have not her full charge, and then put in a close wad, and then lad the piece again but meanly with some less Powder than it had at the first, and then put in another close wad, and that done, then lad her the third time, and put up the Powder close, but you need not wad it, except you list, and then set the end of the thread on fire, and that will fire the first, and make the piece go off, and yet the thread burneth still, and so shooteth off the middlemost, and afterwards it burneth unto the last, & so the piece hath shot off three times, and this you may do by handling it discreetly, and may shoot a shoot at every time. The 43. Devise. FOr to make a piece go off at any hour or time appointed, although that there be no person there to give fire unto the piece, yet this you may do, and it will go off at any time appointed, as this. First the piece being charged, take a match, and prove what length it will be burned in an hour, & when you know justly how much in length will be burned in an hour, then according unto that time that you would have the piece go off, measure out so much just in length as will be a burning in that time, and then at that place, let it be laid at the tutchhole, the piece being primed to lay powder upon the match, & then the other end to be fired, then when the match is burned unto the powder, the piece will go off, and so by this means the piece will go off at any hour or time appointed, whether that it be in long time, or short time, etc. The 44. Devise. FOr to make a piece go off when that you list, you nor no other person being there for to give fire unto it, you must do this, the piece being laden and primed, then in the tutchhole take a piece of small wire, of two or three inches long, and bend it, that both the ends may come together, and then put that into the tutchhole of the piece when that the piece is primed, and the bought end to stand upwards, and then put the end of a long string through it, and then lay a little powder upon the tutchhole, and there make a piece of match fast unto it, and let the match be lighted, and then the other end of the line you may carry unto what place you list, and then when that you would have the piece shot off, then draw or pull the line or string, and it will give fire unto the piece, etc. And also you may set powder on fire with a burning glass where the Sun shineth. The 45. Devise. FOr to know whether that any piece of Ordinance be truly bored, that is to say, that the core or hollowness doth go right in the middle of the metal, that it do not decline or lean more unto the one side, than it doth unto the other side, for to know the same, do this. Take two streightstaves, and make them fast at the one end, that they be not wider asunder at the one end than they be at the other end, and so made fast, that they do not serve; and then put one of the staves into the mouth of the piece near unto the tutchhole, and then try the piece round about on every side with an inch rule, and so you shall know whether that the core or hollowness doth go right in the middle of the metal, and if that it do not, you may know by the inch rule how much it doth differ, etc. as I do more plainly show in the second Chapter of my Book called The Art of shooting in great Ordinance. The 46. Devise. FOr to know whether that any piece of Ordinance be tapered bored, that is to say, that it is wider at the mouth, than that is within towards the breech of the pieces, that you shall know by this means, take a rammer head upon a staff that is the true height of the mouth of the piece, which within a quarter of an inch, or else that it may go close, and then put that into the piece, and if that it do go down unto the breech of the piece, than it is not tapered bored, but if that it will not, than it is tapered in that place, and then take a lower rammer head, and then prove again, and so by making divers proofs, you may know how much that the piece is tapered bored in every place, and the piece may be so tapered bored, that it may be much the worse, and the same may be so tapered bored, that it is never the worse, but rather the better. They are the worse tapered bored that are wide at the mouth, and narrower and narrower inwards, for this cause, that those that do lad the piece, and do not know it, may put in a shot that he doth think is fit for the piece, and that may rest by the way, and not go down unto the powder, and that may chance to break a piece. And also, if the shot be so small, that it will go down unto the powder, than it is possible the shot being too small for the mouth of the piece, that it may serve in the deliverance, and also, the shot will not fly so far as it would do if it were close for the mouth of the piece, etc. Now those tapered bored pieces that be never the worse, as those that are all of one height equal within a foot, or a foot and a half of the breech, and afterwards unto the tutchhole is narrower & narrower, those pieces are not the worse, but rather the better in some respects, for that it is stronger, so that the shot may go close unto the powder, for the greatest fault that may hap by that means, is this, that the plate of the ladle must be the rounder bent, and also in the sponging, there may be a fault: for if the Sponge be too big, it will not go unto the bottom, and if it be fit for the bottom, than it will be to low for the rest of the piece, etc. The 47. Devise. FOr to know how thick any piece is in metal in every place, you may know it by the 44. devise going before, as you do try whether the piece be truly bored: and also if the piece be truly bored, you may try the thickness of the metal in this manner, take the thickness of the whole metal with your Calleper Compasses upon the outside of the piece, and then try it with an inch rule how many inches high the mouth of the piece is, and then pull that from the whole thickness of the metal, and then look what doth remain, then half that shall be the true thickness of the metal of the piece in that place that you have measured, and by this means you may know the thickness of the metal in every place, etc. And also, if that you have no Caleper Compasses, than you may plome the piece upon both the sides with a plummet of lead upon a string, by laying a two-foote rule cross the breech of the piece, doing afterwards as before is rehearsed▪ And also, if that it be a round piece, than you may gird the piece, and so find the thickness of the whole metal, as I do more declare in the fourth Chapter of my Book called The Art of shooting in great Ordinance. The 48. Devise. FOr to know how many inches, or what part of an inch will make a degree in any piece of Ordinance, to be level at any mark, with an inch rule, it is thus known: first measure the length of the piece, how many foot it is in length, and then double that measure, & then multiply that number of feet into inches, that done, as 7. unto 22. seek the circumference of such a circle (that is to say) first multiply that number of inches, double the length of the piece by 22. & look what that cometh unto, divide that again by 7. & that will show the circumference of such a circle, and then divide that number again by 360. & that will show unto you how many inches & parts of an inch will make a degree, etc. as I do show how many inches and what parts of an inch will make a degree, for the length of sundry pieces in the 8. Chapter of my book called The Art of shooting in great Ordinance, etc. The 49. Devise. ANd furthermore, as touching the making of a shot by Sea out of one Ship unto another, this is to be considered, the heaving and the setting of the two Ships, and also the stirring, as I do more at large declare in the 14. Chapter of my Book called The Art of shooting in great Ordinance, but to give level unto any mark or ship for the rightness thereof, this is the best way in a Ship not to stand poring at the breech of the piece, as it is commonly used amongst Gunners, but to give level right do this. You having given the piece the height that she shall lie at, then as you shall see cause, bid him that is at the helm to go aloof, or romer, and then let one stand ready with a lintstock to give fire, and then stand you right behind the piece a two or three yards off, & then mark the middle of the mouth of the piece, and the middle of the tail of the piece, that by the casting off, the Ship be right with, the mark by the sight of one of your eyes, then give fire, & you may be assured that the shot goeth right, etc. The 50. Devise. ANd also in the placing of a battery against any Town, it is to be foreseen that you may flank the front of the battery, and also the pits or ditches that you have laid your labourers in, that do hale the bousing tackles to bring the Ordinance unto their places again when that they are laden. etc. The 51. Devise. ANd furthermore, as touching the Ordinance in ships, and especially that Ordinance that is under the Decks, for that it is very troublesome to hale them in, and lad them, and especially if that the ship doth held with a Sail-bearing. And also, it is troublesome to make a shot at any mark if that the ship doth held, for that both the Trocks or wheels will always run close unto the ships side, so that he shall never bring the piece right upon the mark, except that he be able to coon the ship for to do it with the Steerage. Wherefore in my opinion the carriage of of the Ordinance that is underneath the Deck, were much more readier and easier to be handled, to be made in this form following, that is to say, the carriage for the lower parts to go upon four low Trockes, as the common mountant carriage that in the ships is now used, but the upper part that the tronions lieth in, to go upon an axle-tree or Standard, as a Windmill doth, and then this piece when it is either to be pulled in, or else to be laden, then there is no more to be done, but to bring the piece right back upon the Trockes, and then as soon as the mouth of the piece is within the port, then to bear the breech or tail about, as you do the tail of a Mill, and then you may lad her, and so turn her mouth against the port again, and so put her out without any lifting of the Trocks of the piece about, as is now used, which is a great pain and a trouble in a great piece of Ordinance, and also, they cannot bring the piece unto the mark, except it be by the Steerage (as before is declared) and if that the ship doth heeled, but if that the piece be in this kind of carriage, then although that the ship doth heeled never so much, and although that both the forewheeles or Trockes doth run close unto the ships side, yet notwithstanding the piece lying in that kind of carriage before rehearsed, yet nevertheless the piece may be put off from the one side of the port unto the other at your pleasure, as far as the port will give leave, for that the piece is to be put too and fro even as a brace that standeth on a Much, for that the piece doth stand upon an axle-tree or Standard, as a mill doth. etc. The 52. Devise. ANd also there is devised by a high Dutchman, how to make the carriage for any small piece of Ordinance, as a Falcon, or Falconet, or a Rabnet, to lad her backwards, and so to turn her forwards again, and so shoot her off, for that this piece hath no axle-tree, but that there is made fast unto the carriage or stock, two stoops, or part or ends of an axle-tree, whereon the two wheels doth go upon, so by that means the breech or tail of the piece, is to be let down, and the mouth of the piece to be turned topsey turvey right backwards, for that there is neither axle-tree nor transome in the stock or carriage, to let the turning of the piece over again. etc. The 53. Devise. ANd also there is devised by john Skinner, one of the Queen's majesties men, a certain serewe, to set underneath the tail of any piece of Ordinance: so that you may bring her unto what level that you list, without any coins: which is very necessary to be used for great Ordinance in a number of causes, for that it shall take away the charge of the carrying of coins, and yet much more better than the coins be. etc. The 54. Devise. ANd as touching this, how for to make an Instrument or Engine for to know the goodness or the badness of powder, (that is to say) to know the strength or weakness thereof, they may do it in this manner: first, make in metal or iron a round box, of an inch and a half in breadth more or less at your discretion, and of two inches deep more or less, at your discretion, and then let that be placed so, that it may stand upright, and have a little touchhole at the lower part thereof, and then let the uppermost part at the mouth thereof, have in metal or iron a lid or cover, that may go with a joint upon the one side thereof, and the cover or lid to be of a reasonable weight, & the other side of the cover or lid right against the joint to have a square hole fitted of purpose, and then upon that side that the joint of the cover or lid is of, there must be raised a thing that must have of iron or other metal a part of a circle, and the end of that must go through the square hole in the lid or cover, and the other end to go with a pin or joint right over the joint of the cover or lid, and the said crooked thing or part of a circle, to have teeth or notches, like unto a Saw, and the teeth to stand upwards, and then it is finished, and then, whensoever that you list to prove the strength of powder, and you having of divers sorts of powder, then weigh some small quantity of the powder, and then put that into the Box, and then let down the cover or lid, and then give fire unto it at the touchhole, and then the powder will blow up the cover or lid, and then the teeth or notches being well filled or trimmed of purpose, will hold up the lid at the highest, and yet not staying in the blowing of it upwards, for that the teeth standeth so, to stay it that it shall not come downwards, and then trying or proving divers sorts of powder, you shall know which is the best or strongest powder, or weaker powder, by the blowing up of the lid or cover, you putting in the powder by weight. etc. And this is the form of the engine or instrument. Lid. Box. Tuchhole. The 55. Devise. AS divers Gunners and other men have devised sundry sorts of fireworks for the annoyance of their enemies, yet as far as even I have seen or heard, I never know not heard of any good service done by it, neither by sea nor by land, but only by powder, and that hath done great service, for that the force of it is so mighty, and cometh with such a terror. But for their other fireworks, it is rather meetest to be used in the time of pleasure in the night than for any service. And for to make this kind of ball, do this: Prepare the mould of a double Culvering shot, and that is five inches high, and then take clay, and make it round in a ball, as much as a Minion shot, that is three inches high, and then let it be dried as the Founders do use to dry their moulds, and then stick that clay round about with iron nails, leaving the nails an inch without the clay, and then put that mould of clay into the mould of the Culvering shot, and look that the nails do so bear, that the ball of clay do stand right in the middle of the mould of the Culvering shot, and also, make the mould of clay, so that it may have a tuchhole to come into the clay, and then take Bell mettle or other course pot brass, and then fill the mould of the Culvering shot with that metal, and that being done, than it is finished, and so make as many of them as you list, and then that being done, pick out all the clay again that is in the ball, that was cast in the Culvering shot mould, and then fill that with good corn powder, and then that being filled near full, then take some receipt of soft fire work, that will not burn too hastily, and fill up the rest of the ball, and then it is perfectly finished. And then in the time of service either by sea or by land, it is very good to throw in amongst your enemies, where they do stand thick, as they be very good to defend a breach, or such other like causes, as this, to take it in his hand and to fire it, and then to throw it amongst your enemies, and as soon as the firework is burned unto the powder, the ball will break in a thousand pieces, & every piece in a manner will do as much hurt as a arqebus shot, so that there is no kind of firework comparable to this kind of Ball, for service in the time of need. The 56. Devise. ANd also as touching the fire works, they may make a trunk that may shoot 20. or 30. or 40. Caliver or arqebus shot, and deliver every shot severally by itself, and to come out with great force, as this: let the Trunk of firework be made according unto the accustomable manner, and with the kinds of receipt, and then either the wood being thicker than of custom, or else some pretty pipes of iron put into the sides of the trunk, and to go through unto the fire work in the Trunk, and then fill all those with good corn powder, and a shot after it, and then as the fire work doth burn downwards, so it doth shoot offal the arqebus shot that is on the outside of the Trunk, if that there were 40. of them. etc. The 57 Devise. ANd also there is devised a certain Engine, that goeth some with a screw, and some with a nut, upon teeth that you may lift up the side of a whole double Cannon, setting it under the axle-tree, and so you may take off the wheel of the Cannon, & these be very much used in Germany, & in Dutchland, to lift up the side of a great Dutch waggon when that it is laden. etc. The 58. Devise. ANd furthermore, for that I have seen the inconvenience thereof, as touching the lading of Ordinance in ships, and especially of those Ordinance that are under the Decks, in the time of service, when that they do charge their Ordinance with a ladel, it is very cumbersome, for that the ladle must be twice filled, and the twice turning of the rammer head, is trouble some in a straight room, besides the openness of the powder, in the doing thereof, whereby there may grow great inconvenience, if that they be not very circumspect in the doing thereof, and furthermore for to lad a piece with a carteredge, there is this inconvenience in the doing thereof: for if that the piece have any honey combs in it, that may chance to stay or let the carteredge, in such sort, that you shall scant get the carteredge home unto the bottom of the piece: for if by chance that the carteredge should double, or stick, or go awry by the way, you shall have very much for to do to drive it home unto the bottom of the piece, whereby in the time of service there might happen great inconvenience to be so cumbered etc. Wherefore I will show unto you how that you may make an Engine that you may call a charge that shall lad a piece at one time, and shall be done as soon as you shall do it with a carteredge, and also you may empty the carteredge into the charge, and shall ram up tho powder all at once, and lay it more closer than the ladle without the turning of the ladle or of the rammer head, and shall keep the powder more closer than the lady shall, and the making thereof followeth as this: first take a ladle head, such an one as the ordinary ladles hath, and then take the plate, such a plate as you make all ladles of, but that you must have more plate than the ladle hath, and then when that you would make this Engine or charge for a piece, then bend the plate round, that it may go easily into the mouth of the piece, and then make it fast unto the ●●dell head▪ that is fit for that piece, and let the plate of the charge be of such length, that it may hold so much powder as is sufficient to lad the piece, and then the hole that is in the charge head, let that be made wider than the ordinary Ladle heads, that it may have a staff go easily through it, to that intent that you may draw it in and out at your pleasure: and then fitting that with a staff, then put upon that staves end a rammer head made of purpose, that may go fit and close in & out through the plat of the charge easily, and then let there be another smaller staff made fast unto the charge head, and then it is finished: and then whensoever that you list to lad a piece with that charge, do this first: draw in the rammer head close unto the bottom of the charge, and then fill the charge with powder, and then put that into the mouth of the piece, holding that by both the staves, and so putting it unto the bottom of the piece, and then thrust in the rammer hard with one hand, and then draw back the charge staff with the other hand, & so drawing back the plate of the charge, the rammer head thrusteth out all the powder, and so the rammer head doth put up the powder close in the piece, and will lad the piece clean without the spilling of any powder, and doth make but one work of all: which (in my opinion) is very necessary to beeused in the time of service, and is less work than to do that with a ladle, and if that your powder be in carteredges, you may put in the carteredge into the charge, or else you may empty it into the charge, at your discretion. The charger. The rammer. The charge & rammer The 59 Devise. ANd furthermore, as touching the making of an engine or instrument, which is very necessary for Gunners for to have to fit every piece, with his true weight of powder, & especially for to weigh the carteredges that be filled with powder, & is less troublesome than to have a pair of Balance: neither shall he use to have so many weights, for that one weight of half a pound, shall be able to weigh 50. or 60. pound, which kind of things are altogether used in south Spain, to weigh all kind of Merchandise, which they do call Statery: & it is thus made: First prepare one scale, & then let that be stringed as a scale, or ordinary balance is, with a hook at the end of the strings, & then make a beam of iron or wood about three quarters of a yard long, more or less at your discretion, & then within an inch of one of the ends let it have a pin through, and a clave or such a thing as all other balance have to hold it up by, that the pin may go through, & to be pliant to go too and fro, even as all other balance hath, and then to have one weight, & that to have a ring, and then, when that you would weigh any thing, put the ring upon the longer part of the beam, to be marked with notches, and at such a notch the ring of the weight being there, it will weigh one pound, & at another notch, two pound, and at another 3. pound, and so forth, unto 40. or 50. pound, which is a very necessary thing for Gunners to have, to weigh their things withal, and is but of small charge. of Martial affairs by land, as touching the walls of Towns or Forts. The 60. Devise AS touching this, how for to overthrow the wall of any Town or Fort, or Castle, it may be thus done without any Ordinance, so that it be not watered about it, as this, take certain great timber, and undershoare or prop the wall in diverse places, and that done, then dig or undermine the wall, all alongst the wall side as long: as you do think it sufficient for your purpose, and so undermine it, until that you be more than half way under the foundation of the wall, and then make fires unto every one of the shores or props, and burn them asunder, and then as soon as the wall doth miss the shore or prop, and the foundation of that side digged away, the wall must needs fall presently, etc. And by this means they may burn the parcolese or gates of any Castle or Forte, if that they be not of iron. The 61. Devise. furthermore, they may in like manner break down the walls of any Castle, or Fort, or Town, with great rams made of purpose, with great heads of iron and steel, some may be made to hang by provision, and to be drawn back by the strength of men, and so by violence to run against the walls of a Town, and othersome may be made to run on wheels, and to run with violence of a number of men against the Walls, and so break them down, and also these kinds of provision be most specialty too break down the Gates or Parcollese of any Castle or town. The 62. Devise. HOW to make a scaling ladder in such sort that they that are upon the ladder, shall have the advantage in the fight of them that are upon the vamer of the walls of any Town, or Castle, or Fort, whether that it be to stand at the push of the pike, or handling of any other weapon whatsoever that it be, and this ladder that I speak off must be made in this manner. First prepare your stuff accordingly, of sufficient strength, and then according unto the accustomable manner, make a double ladder of three pieces of timber, and stave it accordingly, as of custom it hath been used beforetime, and then the view of the place being taken, that is to be scaled, for to make the length of the ladder, then make the length of the ladder accordingly, that it may stand or rest within a foot or two, or three, of the height of the top of the Wall, and then for the top of the ladder, do you cut three pieces of small timber of six foot long, and then let them be made fast by some means at the upper end of the ladder, that it may stand like a platform upon the top of the Ladder to the wall-wards, and then let there be three braces stand, or made fast underneath the platform upon the top of the ladder, to bear the platform from the three ladder staves, unto the three pieces of the platform on the top of the Ladder, and then to that purpose, that men may be able to stand upon the platform, on the top of the Ladder there may be sawen certain fillettes of light boards, that are strong, such as are used to be made for the spardeck or grating of Ships, that may lie so close together, that a man's foot cannot go through, and then at the lower end of the ladder, to have three pikes upon the three pieces of timber, that the ladder do not slip, when that it is set unto the wall, and then the ladder is finished. And then to raise the ladder to set it unto the wall, they must make a fork of timber that must be as long as the ladder, and that fork doth serve both for to raise the ladder, and also to stand underneath the platform of the ladder, to be a stay to help to bear the weight of the men upon the top of the ladder, etc. And this ladder being raised, a number of them, they may stand on the tops of the ladder, as firmly as they that do stand upon the vamer of the wall, and six men may stand and fight upon the top of every one of the ladders, and handle his weapon, for there may stand three ranks of men upon the platform, besides them that are coming up the ladder. And this ladder is twenty times better than the other kinds of ladders in all these respects. If the other plain ladders be too long, than they that do defend, may by force put them over: and if that the ladder be to short but one foot, it will be so painful unto them that shall rise, to recover the wall, that one man may keep down ten men: but in this kind of ladder, if that it be three or four or five foot too short, yet they may stand and fight, and one may help another over the wall being armed men, they may get over with ease. The form of the ladder doth follow. The 63. Devise. IF any town or fort be situated in a dry ground, when that they be subject unto undermining, then to avoid the danger thereof, they may do thus, let them first make a vent down in some place within the town, and so dig deep under the foundation of the town, and also under the town ditch, and then when that they have digged without the ditch, then let them dig all about under the ground, as they may conveniently, and so make a way round about the Town, underneath the ground, on the outside of the town: and the soil that they do dig out, in the digging of it, they may rampire the walls with that stuff, and then whensoever that they are besieged, and do doubt undermining them, they may make search every day in the said place, and so it is not possible for them to undermine, but that they shall hear them, and perceive where that they be: and also that place will be a let unto them. And then you may use against them what policy that you list, to annoy them at your pleasure, and prevent them of their purpose, etc. The 64. Devise. AS touching this, for to know whether there be any undermining in the ground, and where that they be, it is thus known: take a latin basin, and go unto the place that you do so suspect that underminers may be, and set that basin upon the ground, and then put five or six peason into that basin, and if that there be any underminers near hand, then at every stroke that they that are in the ground do make with their tools, the pease will make a jar in the basin: and also the effect will the more appear, if that you do bind a sackful of will as hard as you can, then setting the basin wiith pease upon that, you shall hear every stroke that is made in the ground, and this is one of the best things that may be devised to be placed in any place, for to know where that underminers be, as in the Devise going before, to place it in the vault under the ground, or also where that there is no such way under the ground, yet they may make divers ventes or deep holes in the ground: and this being placed there, they shall hear every stroke that the underminers do strike, etc. The 65. Devise. AS touching this, how for to make a cave, to the intent to place powder, and to to give fire to blow up any fort or bulwark, or the wall of any Town, it is thus to be done, when that you do begin for to dig, to make your vent into the ground, let it be of some distance from the place that you do mean to blow up, and then when that you are entered into the ground, then do not dig right toward the place, but indent it sometimes one way, and sometimes another way, that the way be not straight, to this end, that you may fortify the vent of the way so strongly, that it may be able to resist the force of the blast of the powder, and the vent of the way to be as narrow, as may be near unto the place or vault that the powder is placed, and in like manner to dig as deep as you may into the ground, and so when you have digged near, until you do come unto the place that you do mean to blow up, than you may dig somewhat nearer upwards, that you do not place the powder too deep under the ground, but at a reasonable distance, and then in the room that you do place the powder in, there let it be right over the powder or vault of 7. 8. or 9 foot higher than the barrels of powder, to this intent, that it might take his vent upwards, for the air that is in that hollow place, will be the occasion of the lifting, or raising, or rending of the ground right over it. And then when that you have placed the powder in the vault that is sufficient for to serve your turn, and the more in quantity, the greater shall be the effect of the raising of the thing. Then before that you do ram up, or make up the vent of the way you must make your provision for the place to give fire unto; which is best to be done, by making a trunk in boards, made and sawen of purpose, to be of length from the mouth of the entrance, unto the vault that the powder doth stand in, and that must be placed or laid all alongst, that it may be close, and the provision put into it, that must give fire unto the powder in the vault: and then ram up the way that was made unto the vault that the powder standeth in, both with earth and strong timber, etc. and that troncke of boards shall keep the provision of the train, without any foil or moisture to hurt it. And you may make your provision so, that you may choose whether you will give fire by a train, with a match lying all alongst in it, made of purpose, boiled in certain mixtures rolled in Serpentine powder, or else by a small line, to go with a pulley, all alongst the trunk or case, and the line to pass through a great quantity of powder, in the vault, where the powder standeth, & then when that you would give fire unto the powder, then to make the fire fast unto the line, and so to draw the fire unto the powder by alyne, etc. The 66. Devise. AS touching this, for to dig a way in the ground, to come right under any place assigned, the way being crooked, indenting sometimes this way, and sometimes that way, as it may not be made straight, that is somewhat difficult, and asketh a good consideration in the doing thereof: for if that the powder be not placed right under that thing that is meant to be blown up, than the thing should be of little effect: wherefore in the ordering of the way of a mine to come right under any place assigned, it must be thus handled: first, they must know the true distance unto the place that is meant to be blown up, from the place that you do begin for to dig, or enter into the ground, and that being known, then look precisely, which way that the place doth bear, and then draw or make a plat of the same, with a scale or trunk of measure thereunto appertaining, and then according unto the distance, from the entrance, unto the place assigned, draw out how many foot or yards that you will go, first on the one side, and then on the other side, indenting the way in the ground, and not to go right upon the place assigned, and so by that means, knowing what quantity of measure, you have gone, first one way, and then another way, in the ground, and by that proportion in the way, both by the direction of the way, and the quantity of measure: in the way you may go directly unto the place assigned in the ground, and you may mark your plat firmly, how that you will do it, before that you do enter into the ground, according unto the distance of the places assigned. And also it may happen so, that when that you are in undermining in the ground, and have purposed to go so many foot one way, and so many foot an other way, and that you have made your plat so, yet there may be such impediments or lets in the ground, that you cannot do it according unto your first meaning, than you may mend it and alter it in your plat, according unto the way that you may go, and so to come unto the true place assigned, and so you may alter your plat according unto the place that you may go, until that you do attain to come unto the place assigned, to mark the vault in the ground to place the powder in it. etc. The 67. Devise. IF it happen so, that those that have besieged a Town, have made a breach in the wall of any Town, and that they do continue to batter both night and day, so that they cannot make up their breach in the night: then the next way is to make that place defensible in this manner: let them cast a ditch or trench within, on the inside of the wall all alongst the breach, right against it, of a sufficient depth, and of wideness, to be defensible, and then let them place their Ordinance against the breach, and also flankers in like manner, to scour the ditch within on the inside of the wall. etc. The 68 Devise. I Do think it not unmeet to be spoken of this, for to know if any ditch or trench be cast, that if the ditch be made so many foot broad in the brim, and so many foot broad in the bottom, and so many foot deep, that if you would have a wall or rampire made of that stuff, if you would have it so many foot broad in the bottom, and so many foot broad on the top, then to know justly how many foot high the wall will be of that stuff, which is hewed out of the ditch, when the earth is settled: or else for to know if that you would have the wall made so high, then to know what thickness that would bear, being made of that stuff which is hewed out of the ditch: and for to know that, do this. First, according unto the wideness of the ditch in the brim and in the bottom, put both the numbers together, and that done, then take half that number, and then according unto the deepness that you mean to make the ditch, multiply the two numbers together, that is to say, the number offeets of the depth of the ditch, and the breadth thereof at the brim, and the bottom being added both together, and then look what number it cometh unto, then if you would know how high it would make the wall at such a thickness at the bottom, and the top, then add these two numbers both together, and then take half that, and divide that out of the number of the ditch so multiplied, and that number that standeth in the quantity line, shall be the height of the wall. And furthermore, if you would have the wall so many foot high, and would know how many foot thick it would be of that stuff, then divide the height out of the number of the ditch so multiplied, and that which standeth in the quantity line, shall be the thickness of the wall in the middle, and then you knowing that, you may use the thickness of the bottom and the top at your discretion. And for the better understanding of the matter, you shall have this example by a ditch that I would have made of 20. foot broad in the bottom, and 10. foot deep, and I would have a wall made of that stuff, to be sixteen foot at the bottom of the wall, and eight foot at the top of the wall; now my desire is to know how many foot high it would be, of that stuff that cometh out of the aforesaid ditch when the wall is settled and dried; you shall know it thus: first add the wideness of the brim, and the bottom of the ditch both together, & that is twenty foot for the brim, and twelve foot for the bottom, and those two numbers together, maketh 32. then take half that number, and that is sixteen, and then the deepness of the ditch being ten foot, multiply them two numbers together, that is to say, sixteen times ten, and that maketh 160. and now I would have the wall sixteen foot broad at the bottom, and eight foot at the top, and those two numbers added together, maketh 24. and half that is 12. foot: now my desire is, to know how many foot the wall will be high, which to know, do this: divide the 160. by 12. which is the thickness of the wall in the middle, and that number that standeth in the quantity line, is the height of the wall, and that cometh unto thirteen foot and four inches just, so that you may conclude, that a ditch being cast, that is twenty foot at the brim, and 12. foot in the bottom, and 10. foot deep, will make a wall of sixteen foot at the bottom, & eight foot on the top, and 13. foot ½ in height. etc. Furthermore, by the example of the ditch, I would have the wall fifteen foot high, my desire is to know how thick the wall would be of that stuff, then divide the aforesaid number of 160. by 15. and then there will stand in the quantity line 10. and 10. will remain over, so that you may conclude, that the wall of 15. foot high, will be 10. foot thick, & eight inches, and then you may at your discretion, make it as broad in the bottom as you list, and look what you do broad it in the bottom, it will lack the same at the top. Therefore if you make it 15. foot at the bottom, it will be but six foot, and eight inches at the top. The 69. Devise. AS touching the entrenching either of an army, or the enclosing of a Town, they must observe this order, that they may flank the corteyne of the trenches, and in the more places, that they may flank the more stronger, is the places so entrenched, and also most specially to flank the corners, or collyan points, and also the ways or torn pieces, where that there is vents for people to pass in and out: and also that order is to be observed in the building of any fortification, as the walls of Cities, or Towns, or Forts, or Castles: for if it be so that they cannot flank the sides of the walls, the thing can be of no force, as commonly all those Castles and Forts that were builded in the time of King Henry the eight, were rounds, or parts of rounds, which are of no force, for that they cannot flank the ditches. Wherefore I had thought for to have showed what manner of corteyne of a wall is the best kind of fortification, which I do omit, and you may make the number of corners or collyans points, with the cortaines of the walls, according unto the quantity or bigness of the City, Town, or Fort, at your discretion, as need doth require, as four square, or five square, or six square, or seven or eight square, as need shall require, according unto the bigness of the place. etc. The 70. Devise. ANd as touching the besieging of a Town, they must devise to make a trench, that the people may pass to the Camp and from the Camp, without being spoiled with the shot of the Town, which is commonly called a rolling trench, and it must be thus made, as coming near within the shot of the Town, at some convenient place, either coming out of some wood, or else behind the brow of a hill, there to begin to cast the trench, first to go right out one way and cast the earth to the townwards, and then to turn another way, and so to cast the earth towards the townwards, and so to continue, first one way and then an other way, until that you do come unto the Camp, and so in that trench the people may pass too & fro with safety, and also they that are in the town cannot know what number of men there doth pass too and fro, etc. The 71. Devise. AS touching this, I do not think it unmeet to be spoken of how for to shadow men on a platform, where that they are unprovided of baskets, as it may happen in divers places on a platform by the sea side, or on a platform on the top of the wall of any town, or in such other like places, when there happeneth to be any service on the sudden, where as great Ordinance is placed, and that for the openness or bareness of the place, that they have nothing to shadow them, but that the small shot doth or may beat them from their Ordinance: then to prevent that, this is the remedy, for to prepare canvas, and set up stanchines all alongst, and so to shadow their men with the canvas, and then when that the pieces be laden, then with a piece of a line to draw up the neither edge of the canvas, and so to level the piece, and shoot it off under the canvas, and so by that means the enemy shall see no mark to shoot: for otherwise they will be shooting at the place whereas they do see any number of men together: but if that they do not see to what place that men do assemble together, they cannot tell where for to shoot with their small shot. And also, I do not think this devise hurtful to be used upon the tops of the walls of a town, whereas men have any great recovery, and also if that any man list to look towards the enemy, he may but put up the cloth, and see better than they may do out of any lops, for that they will always await with their small shot, to see if that there be any pearing out at the lops to shoot at them. The 72. Devise. AS touching this, how for to know of any things done, or to be done speedily and in the shortest time, some have devised to do it by one means, and some by another means, as this: by the preparing of certain swift horses, being laid in divers places, at the end of every eight or ten miles, to the end to have fresh horses, etc. which is the best way. And other some have devised to do it, by training up of a dog to go between two places, and then he being beaten from the one place, will run unto the other place directly, and then when that they would have any letters sent speedily, than they have made provision to hang them about the dog's neck, etc. and a dog will run a great way in a little time, if he had reason and did understand what he were willed for to do, but the swiftest way is to be done by that means which the Romans taught the English Britain's, when they caused them to make a wall to defend themselves against the Picts, which was by certain tronckes made of brass laid in the wall: and at the end of every two or three mile they had a gate, which was both watched and warded, and so by that means whensoever that they had any occasion to give any warning unto them that should defend the said Picts, then look unto what place that the Picts did make any assault unto them, they were certified through the said trunks of brass, where that they were, and what hurt they had done, and what number that there were of them, etc. and by this means they would have word what was done, and what was to be done twenty or thirty miles in one hour space. Wherefore in my opinion this is a very good devise for to be used in the walls of any town of war, to be laid all alongst the walls of the town from the one gate unto the other gate, whereby there might be warning given from any one place unto another upon the sudden. etc. The 73. Devise. AS touching this, how for to convey letters secretly, and not to be found and known, whereas there is great await laid▪ and great search made upon every person that do pass too and from for letters, you may do this: you having some Dog or some bad Spaniel that will not be lost from you: and some Dog that will not come unto hand to be taken up, prepare a collar for him that may be hollow within, and let it be a collar to look unto worth nothing, and in that collar you may convey your letters without any suspicion, for the man may be searched, and yet the Dog will follow his master running too and fro, and no person can tell whose Dog it is, and will as soon take the Dog to be some of their own companies, as otherwise. etc. Another way to convey letters secretly, is, to make up the letters and roll them up round together, and then they may cause some kind of box to be made of metal, with a close cover, to be round and long, so that it may go into the mougth of a bottle, and then the letters being put into that small box, and the box covered and made close that no liquor can soak into it, than put that box into the bottle, and then you may fill it with wine, or such other like, and send that by any person that you would have them come unto, and it will not lightly be suspected. etc. The 74. Devise. ANd furthermore, if that you have any great quantity of letters or books that you would convey secretly, and would not neither lose them, nor have them found, nor known, and that there is weight laid for such things, then do this: first prepare a runlet or small barrel, that will be made tied, of sufficient bigness to hold those letters or books, and then lap them in a sear cloth, and then take off the head of it, and put them into the small barrel, and then put in the head of it again and hoop it up close again, and make it tied that no lickour may come into it, and then take a great cask, a butt or pipe, or a hoshead at your discretion, and then take out the head of that and put in the small barrel with letters, and so put in the head of the great cask again, and so make it tied again, and then you may fill that cask with wine, or with whatsoever you list, etc. And then that cask or piece of wine lying amongst other, it may be transported from place to place at your discretion, and never to be known what is in it, no otherwise than the other cask, and it may be tasted at any of the heads or sides in every place, as the other vessels are in all points, and there shall be nothing seen nor known: and also it is very good for you to sow the little barrel in a piece of course woollen cloth, and then it will not knock in the vessel to be heard in the removing of it too & fro, and then you may transport it either by water or byland, and it will never be suspected. etc. The 75. Devise. ANd furthermore, there may be such means made, that you may know the mind of your friends, although that you may not come at them, nor send unto them, by the form of certain lights in the night, as this, you having consulted or talked together, that if that they do show you so many lights, and standing on such a fashion or form, that it signifieth such a thing is done by the enemy, or else that you must do something, and in such a form, that it signifieth such a thing, etc. accordingly unto the tokens that you have agreed upon, etc. And furthermore, you may devise by the forms of lights in the night, to cause your friends to write a letter by, and so by that means to declare your whole mind unto your friends: as this, you having agreed upon them, that if that there be so many lights, and stand after such a fashion, that it signifieth to wright A, and if so many lights, and in such a form, then to write B, and so forth unto the numbers of the letters, according unto the form & number of the lights so showed, and then at the end of every word so written, to show but one light for a stop, for the end of a word, etc. until that you have finished. And furthermore, in like manner by lights in the night is the most speediest thing to have any thing known, that may be to give warning unto any country to be in a readiness upon the sudden, as we here in England, do prepare for the use thereof, by the firing of the beakons, etc. And furthermore it is used unto a further practise underneath the king of Spain's dominions, upon the south coast called Andelazia, within the straits of luberaltare the sea being called Mare Mediterraneum, as there is small towers all alongst the coast that they do keep watch in, and at the end of every league or in less distance, there is one of those small towers: and it is so ordained amongst them, that they can tell whether that any of the Turks, or moors galleys hath been on the coast, and what number of Galleys that there be of them▪ and whether that they have landed or been a shore, and whether that they be gone or remaining still, by the very form and the numbers of lights, that the one tower doth show unto the other, and by this means of those lights they will know of things done a hundredth leagues from them all alongst the coast in one night, for that the one of the towers doth take of the other tower, etc. The 76. Devise. ANd furthermore, you being in a town, if that you do know that you shall be besieged, you may make such provision before hand, that you may send letters, and receive letters of your friends from time unto time, whereby that you may declare your pleasure and your estate to your friends, and also to know your friend's mind, etc. as this, if that there is an Pigeon or Dove house in the town, let them be well cherished before hand, and then carry a certain number of those Pigeons unto your friends, and in like manner take a certain number of Pigeons from your friends, and then let them be kept close in a house that they cannot get away, and when that you are besieged that you cannot send unto your friends nor your friends unto you, than when you list to send any letters, take one of those Pigeons, and make the letter fast about her neck, by some provision, that it doth not trouble her wings, and so she will repair unto those Dovehouses that she hath been cherished at, and hath been long using unto, & then the Dovehouse being searched every night▪ you shall come by the letters, etc. The 77. Devise of Martial affairs by land. AS touching Martial affairs, I have seen no greatexperience, therefore I am more bold than wise, for to say any thing thereof, considering the great number of discreet & valiant Gentlemen and Soldiers, that hath been trained up of no small time in those affairs, that I being so simple & rude, should in any respect meddle therewith: but yet notwithstanding, they may make the less account thereof, and not envy the rude writer of it, for that they be but written, as slender Devises: and first this for to know, if that you have viewed any piece of ground, to know how many men it will receive to stand in their marching form, according unto Tartalias order that he describeth, and not according as Nicolas Machavells description, to allow for every man three foot in breadth, & seven foot in length, but according unto the order of Tartalia, to allow for every man three foot in breadth, & but six foot in length. Wherefore I do think it necessary to know how many men will stand in their marching form upon any ground, for two necessary causes, & the one is this, if that you have viewed the ground, & do know the length & the breadth thereof, than you may know how many men that it will receive, and by that means you do know whether that it be big enough, or too small to serve your purpose, etc. And the second point is this, by that means you may know upon the view of any ground, how many men that there be of your enemies, if that they be either in their battle form, or in their marching form, as they will be always if that they be going, except that it be for policy sake, as if that they would show themselves to be fewer in number than they are, than they will go closer together than they do of custom, and if that they would show themselves to be more in number than they are, than they will go wider asunder than of custom. And for to know how many men will stand upon any piece of ground, do this first, when that you do know the length and the breadth of any piece of ground, how many foot that it is, then multiply them together, that is to say, the number of feet of the length, with the number of feet of the breadth, and then look what that number cometh unto, and then divide that number by 18. and that will show unto you the true number of men, that will stand in their marching form, according unto Tartalis order, that is to say, to allow every man three foot in breadth, and six foot in length, etc. and now according unto our English measure, that is to say, to know how many men will stand upon an acre of ground, as an acre of ground doth contain of our land measure 160. roads or poles, of 16. foot and a half in length, and that will make in square measure 208. foot and 8. inches and better every way square, so that there will stand upon one acre of ground in their marching form, allowing unto every man three foot in length and six in breadth. 2420. men, & after that rate you may know how many men will stand in any piece of ground, how big or small soever that the ground is, as a quarter of an acre will receive 605. men, so that less than seven rods of ground, will receive 100 men, etc. The 78. Devise. ANd furthermore, I do think it convenient for to show how many ranks of men will be in the length of a mile whereby that if you do see the length of men in their marching, you may give a very near guess of their number: as this, an English mile doth contain 5000. foot, and then (as before is declared) to allow for every rank 6. foot, wherefore divide the 5000. foot by six, and that will show unto you how many ranks of men will be in a mile in length, as it is 833. ranks, so that you may conclude that there will be 416. ranks in half a mile, and 208. ranks in the length of a quarter of a mile, and in the length 600. foot, just 100L. ranks, and that is less than part of a mile, and then you knowing how many men that there is in a rank, you may know the number of men, etc. The 97. Devise. ANd furthermore I do think it convenient for to show unto you, how to set a battle square, that is to say, for divers numbers of men, and the number of men being known, to have so many men in a rank, as the number of ranks cometh unto, and first for 100 the square root, and so increasing by the half hundred, unto 500 and then increasing by the 1000 until it be 40000. the first number is the number of men, the second is the square root or battle, and the rest is the remainder that will not be square. The Table for the 29. Devise. The number of men. The Square root or bat The Remainder. The number of men. The Square root or bat The Remainder. 100 10 0 10000 100 0 150 12 6 11000 104 184 200 14 4 12000 109 119 250 15 25 13000 114 4 300 17 11 14000 118 76 350 18 26 15000 122 116 400 20 0 16000 126 62 450 21 9 17000 130 100 500 22 16 18000 134 44 600 24 24 19000 137 231 700 26 24 20000 141 119 800 28 16 21000 144 264 900 30 0 22000 148 96 1000 31 39 23000 151 199 1100 33 11 24000 154 284 1200 34 44 1 25000 158 36 1300 36 4 26000 161 79 1400 37 31 27000 164 104 1500 38 50 28000 167 111 1600 40 0 29000 170 100 1700 41 19 30000 173 71 1800 42 36 31000 176 24 1900 43 51 32000 178 316 2000 44 64 33000 181 239 3000 54 84 34000 184 144 4000 63 31 35000 187 31 5000 70 100 36000 189 279 6000 77 71 37000 192 136 7000 83 111 38000 194 304 8000 89 79 39000 197 191 9000 94 164 40000 200 0 The 87. Devise. ANd furthermore for that the square root or battle is not the strongest way for you to embattle yourself, for that the front is much narrower than the side or flank of the battle, wherefore in mine opinion, and also it is the opinion of divers of them that have written in Martial affairs, that the strongest way for to embattle himself, is to be square upon the ground, that is to say that the side of the battle, and the front of the battle be as many foot one way, as it is the other way, and then the number of men in the front will be double unto the number of the ranks, and so by that means there be the more men occupied to fight all at one time, etc. wherefore I do think it good to show unto you, how many men be in a rank on the front, and also how many ranks that there will be in the side or flank, and also in how many foot of ground square every way, that they may stand upon, accordingly as before is rehearsed, allowing every man three foot in breadth and six foot in length, beginning at 100 until that they be 2000 and then increasing by the 1000 until that they be 40000. And the first numbers is the number of men, and the second is the number of men in a rank for the front, and the third numbers, is the numbers of ranks for the side or flank, and the fourth numbers, is the remain that will neither come in to be a whole rank in the front, neither will they be sufficient to serve to make one more in a rank. Wherefore they are to be employed according unto the will of the General or the Captains of the leaders of those men, etc. and the fifth number is the number of the seat that those men may stand upon in their battle form, to be square on the ground, that is to say, to be so many foot every way, etc. And now followeth the table of the things rehearsed. The Table for the 80. Devise. The number of men, the whole sum. The number of men in a rank. The number of ranks. The Remainder. The number of feet that the ground is square. 100 14 7 2 42 150 16 9 6 51 200 20 10 0 60 250 22 11 8 66 300 25 12 0 74 350 26 13 12 78 400 28 14 8 84 450 30 15 0 90 500 31 16 4 94 600 35 17 5 103 700 36 19 16 111 800 40 20 0 120 900 42 21 18 126 1000 45 22 10 133 1100 47 23 19 140 1200 48 25 0 147 1300 50 26 0 153 1400 53 26 22 158 1500 55 27 15 164 1600 57 28 4 170 1700 58 29 18 174 1800 60 30 0 180 1900 61 31 9 183 2000 62 32 16 189 3000 76 39 36 231 4000 88 45 40 267 5000 100 50 0 300 6000 109 55 5 328 7000 118 59 38 354 8000 126 63 62 378 9000 134 67 22 402 The Table for the 80. Devise. The number of men, the whole sum. The number of men in a rank. The number of ranks. The Remainder. The number of feet that the ground is square. 10000 140 71 60 423 11000 148 74 48 444 12000 155 77 65 464 13000 160 81 40 483 14000 166 84 56 501 15000 172 87 36 519 16000 179 89 69 536 17000 184 92 72 552 18000 189 95 45 568 19000 195 97 85 584 20000 200 100 0 600 21000 205 102 90 614 22000 209 105 55 628 23000 214 107 102 642 24000 218 110 20 657 25000 223 112 24 670 26000 228 114 8 684 27000 232 116 88 696 28000 237 118 34 710 29000 241 120 80 722 30000 245 122 110 734 31000 248 125 0 747 32000 253 126 122 758 33000 257 128 104 770 34000 261 130 70 782 35000 265 132 20 794 36000 268 134 88 804 37000 272 136 8 816 38000 275 138 50 826 39000 278 140 80 837 40000 283 141 97 848 The 81. Devise. ANd furthermore, as it is the strongest way for you to embattle yourself to be square upon the ground, for that there is the more men occupied to fight, so in like manner it is the weaker way than to be square in number, if that you should have any charge given unto the flank or side of the battle: wherefore I do think it very necessary for to show unto you, how that the side of the battle may be as strong as the front, if that the weapons be sorted thereafter, for that they shall have as many men in a rank for the side, as there is in the front, upon the sudden, and the battle never departed from that ground, as this, the number of men in the front, being double unto the number of ranks, then if there be any charge given unto the side of the battle, the ground being square, than it is but to turn their faces unto their enemies, and then two ranks will make one just: as for an example, of one hundred men, and to be square upon the ground, there shall be fourteen men in a rank, and seven ranks, and the ground shall be 42. foot square: then if that they have a charge given unto the side, than they turning their faces unto their enemies, than they are but seven in a rank and fourteen ranks, and then there is six foot a sunder between every man, then let the next rank come unto the first rank, and then there will be fourteen men in a rank, and so every two ranks may make one rank, and then there is but three foot as was before between every man in the front of the battle, and six foot between every rank, etc. The 82. Devise. ANd furthermore, I do think it convenient for to show unto you, how for to be square upon the ground, for any number of men, what space soever that you would have between man and man, both in length and breadth is according unto the order of Nicholas Machivel, which is in length for every man 7. foot, and in breadth 3. foot, or else if that you would have your army of men to show bigger and to be square upon the ground, than your space between man and man must be wider, as to allow nine foot in length for every man, and four foot in breadth, according unto the mind or fancy of the General, etc. Although the accustomable manner hath been according unto the opinions of divers authors in Martial affairs, to allow but 6. foot in length & 3. foot in breadth, called of most authors the broad square, according unto the tables in the eighty Devise. And now to be square upon the ground, then what space soever that you would have between man and man, both in length and breadth, then do this first, look how many foot that you will allow in length of ground for every man, than you must multiply your number of men, by the number of feet in length, that done, then divide that number so multiplied by the number of feet in breadth that you do allow for every man: and that done, then extract the square root of that number, and that shall show you how many men shall be in a rank for the front of the battle, and then to know how many ranks of men, do this, look how many men that you have in the rank for the front, then divide that number by your proper or true number of men, and that shall show unto you how many ranks that there shall be of them, etc. As for an example thus; I having thirty thousand men, and I would know how many men that there will be in a rank, and how many ranks of them to be square upon the ground, allowing for every man 7 foot in length, and 3. foot in breadth, according unto Nicholas Machivels order, and to know that, do this, first your number of men being 30000. and allowing 7. foot in length for every man, therefore multiply 30000. by 7. and that cometh unto 210000. and then divide that number again, by that number in feet that you do allow in breadth for every man, and that is by 3. wherefore divide 21000. by 3. and then there will stand in the quantity line 70000. then extract the square root of 70000. and there will stand in the quantity line 264. so that you may conclude that 264. men shall be in a rank for the front of the battle. And now to know how many ranks of men that there shallbe for the side or flank of the battle, then do this: your number being 264. men in a rank, and your number of men being 30000. wherefore divide the 30000. by 264. and then there will stand in the quantity line 113. and then remaineth over 168. so that you may conclude, that 30000. men to stand square upon the ground, allowing seven foot in length, and three foot in breadth, for every man, will be 264. men in a rank, and 113. ranks, and 168. men will remain over, which 168. men you may employ at the discretion of the General: and also it will make one man more in a rank, and then there shall be 265. men in a rank, and 113. ranks, and 55. men will remain over, etc. And also by this order, you may embattle yourself square upon the ground, what space soever that you would be between man and man in length and breadth: wherefore I will give a second example, you having ten thousand men, and would have nine foot in length for every man, and four foot in breadth, wherefore multiply ten thousand by nine, and that maketh 90000. then divide that 90000. by four, and then there will stand in the quantity line 22500. then extract the square root of 22500. and then there will stand in the quantity line one hundred and fifty: so that you may conclude, that 150. men shall be in a rank for the front of the battle, and then your number of men, being 10000 therefore divide the number of men by the front, that is to say, 10000 by 150. and then there will stand in the quantity line 66. and then there remaineth over 100 so that you may conclude, that 10000 men, allowing every man 9 foot in length, and 4. foot in breadth, to stand square on the ground, will be 150. men in a rank, and 66. ranks, and 100 will remain over, which 100 men will make one man more in a rank, that is 151. men in a rank, and 66. ranks, and 34. men will remain over, & so by this means you may inbattell yourself square upon the ground, what space soever that you would have between man and man both in length and breadth, and then if that you would know how many foot square in ground that they do occupy, than it is but to do this: multiply the number of men in a rank, by the number of feet that they do occupy in breadth, & that shall show unto you how many foot square is the ground that they do occupy, or else you may do this: multiply the number of ranks by the space of the number of feet, that they have in length, & that in like manner shows the square of the ground that they do occupy in like manner. etc. The 83. Devise. ANd furthermore, you having any number of men, and you having so many weapons of every sort more or less as it happeneth, whether that you would be square on the ground or otherwise, you knowing how many men that you would be in a rank, you may know how many ranks that there will be of every sort of weapon at your pleasure, as this, that is no more but to divide the number of weapons of every sort, by that number of men that you would be in a rank, and that number that standeth in quantity line shall be the number of ranks. etc. And thus by dividing every sort of weapons by itself, by a number in a rank, you shall perfectly know how many ranks that there shall be of every fort of weapon, etc. And thus I do cease to say any further, as touching the setting of the sorts of the weapons, referring that unto them that are expert in those causes, and also the forms of sundry battles, as triangles, double and single battle, called the half Moon, either with the horns or corners forwards or backwards, and the sleeves or wings of battles. I will not take upon me to deal in those causes, but I do refer that unto those men of experience in such affairs. The 84. Devise. NOw you being imbattelled in any place, where that you are near unto your enemies, and yet for an advantage sake, you would take another piece of ground more better for your purpose, and yet you cannot come unto it in your battelforme by the means of some strait that you must pass through before that you can come unto it, and for that you are imbattelled, and would not alter them from that form of battle: then to pass through the strait do this, the place being viewed before hand, how many men may march through in a rank through that strait, and then appointing your officers, as the Captains of the hundreds, and the vintners, or the other officers for that purpose, to march through the strait, according unto that number that you may march through, and then when that they do come at the strait, let the whole battle stay, & then if that it be so narrow that there may but 3. men pass through, more or less as the place is, then begin at the side of the battle, and then let 3. of the front begin to enter and march in, and then 3. of the next rank, and so forth unto the last rank, and then at the end of the last rank, let them 3. of the first rank follow again, and so forth, until that they be all entered & gone into the strait, and then when that the first 3. in a rank is through the strait, let them stay, and then let the next 3. in a rank come up by them, until that he that was in the front be with them that are in the front that first entered the strait, etc. and so let them all stay, and the one come up by the side of the other, until that the whole battle be in that form that it was before. etc. The 85. Devise. ANd furthermore, if that you in the marching have any occasion to shift the number of men in a rank, that is to say, to be sometime more men in a rank, and sometime fewer men in a rank, and yet would keep your weapons sorted as they were at the first, as in the Devise next before in the passing through a strait, where the weapons that were in the front are dispersed in every place, according unto the often separating of the front of the battle, so that in that form they are but weak, if that they were abroad out of the strait where that they might have any charge or battle given unto them: wherefore for an easy way to shift yourself to be what number of men in a rank that you list, and to keep your weapons sorted as they were before, and not to be altered, but them that were in the front to be in the front still, and so consequently in every place to be as they were before, etc. And now for a speedy way for to bring your men from one number of men unto another, this is to be noted, if that you be 3. men in a rank and would be 5. then 5. ranks will make 3. ranks: and you being 3. ranks and would be 7. in a rank, than 7. ranks will make three ranks: and being three in a rank, and would be nine in a rank, than three ranks will make one: and being three in a rank, and would be eleven, than eleven will make three: and being three in a rank, and would be thirteen, than thirteen will make three: and being three in a rank, and would be 15. then 5. ranks will make one: and then if that you would be 17. in a rank, than 17. ranks will make 3: and if that you would be 19 in a rank, than 19 will make 3: and if that you would be 21. in a rank, than 7. will make one rank, etc. And if that you be 5. men in a rank, and would be 7. in a rank, than 7. ranks will make 5: and still you being 5. in a rank, and would be 9 then 9 will make 5: and if that you would be 11. in a rank, than 11. will make 5: and if that you would be 13. in a rank, than 13. will make 5: & if that you would be 15. men in a rank, than 3. ranks will make one, etc. And furthermore, you being 7. men in a rank, and would be 9 then 9 ranks will make 7: and you being still 7. and would be 11. then 11. will make 7: and if that you would be 13. in a rank, than 13. will make 7: and if that you would be 15. then 15. will make 7: & if you would be 17. then 17. will make 7: and if that you would be 19 then 19 will make 7: and if you would be 21. then 3. ranks will make one, etc. And furthermore, by that same order you being the more men in a rank and would be fewer, then as is showed before you being 21. in a rank, and would be but 3. then one will make 7. ranks: and if you being 21. men in a rank, and would be but 5. then 5. ranks will make 21: and if that you would be but 7. in a rank, than one rank will make 3. ranks, etc. And so by this means you may alter yourself from one number unto another, and never unsorte your weapons, as when that you list to alter your number of men in a rank, than it is but to appoint your officers in every place at the end of so many ranks, to point them into what number that you do assign them etc. at your pleasure. The 86. Devise. ANd if that it happen when that you are set in your battle form, and your enemies at hand ready to fight with you, and by fortune either of great Ordinance or by small got, that the front or divers ranks of your battle that the men are slain or spoiled, and then if that your enemies do encounter with you, than you must needs be overthrown, except that the front and those ranks be new supplied or finished again with men: neither you must not be out of order, for then in like manner you should be overthrown: and to run away then you in like manner should be overthrown: wherefore this is to be noted, and that those that are the officers of the bands have a diligent foresight, that as soon as any man is stroke down by any misfortune, that the room be supplied again forthwith: which way is this to be done, and never to be out of order for the matter, and the ranks afore to be furnished forthwith, and this the Soldiers must have this Instructions, that as soon as he doth see his foreman strooken down or missing, that he doth step into his place and so every one of them to step forwards until that it do come unto the last rank, and so by that means that those men, that were taken away in the first ranks, that they shall be turned unto the hindermost ranks of all, etc. And this they may do both in their marching or going, as well as in standing still, for in the going he must go faster than his fellows, until that he doth come so far forwards till that the ranks be furnished again, & if so be that it were so, that in the first ranks that the men were spoiled until the middle of the battle, should never cease but to over go his fellows, until that he were in the forefront of the battle, and so in all the ranks, until the last rank to come forwards in like manner, and so by that means the wants of men should be in the hinder part of the battle, and furnished in the forepart of the battle, etc. The 87. Devise. ANd furthermore, as touching the joining of battle, there is great policy, and wisdom, both in the sorting of their weapons, & also in the imbattelling of them, considering in what form that your enemies be in, and how that they are prepared both in their weapons and otherwise, and so you to embattle yourself against them, that you may have the advantage of them if that it be possible, considering of every thing that may happen, as well of things that are against you, as of things with you, that is to say, considering of the number of men of both the sides, the furniture and the weapons on both the sides, the form of the battles on both the sides, the advantages of the grounds, whether that it be by hill, or by any other means, as the wind, or the Sun or water, or such other like, etc. And also there is great matters that may happen by the using of some kind of fight, considering of the weapons on both the sides, for they must use the fight of any weapon, according unto that weapon that he fighteth against, and so seek the advantage that ways if that it may be: as in my opinion, if that there were two battles ready to be joined together, the one against the other, and the number of men on both the sides to be equal, and also in their appointment weapons and furniture to be a like, and also in form of battle all one, and also the one to have no advantage of the ground of the other, neither in no other thing, but to be all alike in all points, etc. and suppose that the front of both the battles is pikes, and the one as many men in a rank as the other, yet it is possible that the one may overthrow the other at the first meeting of the battle without any recovery, by the means of the order of the fight: as this: the one battle cometh according unto the accustomable manner, thinking to to stand at the push of the pike with them, and the other battle coming in that form in like manner, until that they are in manner hard unto them, and then upon the sudden, they do all the fore front run in narrower and together so close as they can, coming in shoulder unto shoulder, and then the ranks that are behind, for the quantity of near the half of the battle, doth the like, and so doth come close unto the back of them that are before, and so running with great violence, and the points of their pikes forwards, that they must pierce and enter the front of the other battle, for they that are before must needs run in unto them, for that they that are behind do force them in: and they that are of the other battle must needs give way, or else fall down and be trodden under feet, and then if that they be once separated, and put out of their order, they must needs be overthrown with out any recovery, etc. Wherefore there is great policy to be used in fight at the joining of battles, and also in the sorting of their weapons, and also in the form of the battles, as in the dividing of themselves in sundry battles, as wings and such other like, which I pass over, referring it unto those that have seen the experience thereof. The 88 Devise. ANd furthermore, if that it hap so that you do chance for to be over matched, and that you do know that your enemies be to strong for you, by the great strength of their horse men, and the number of men to many for you, that if you should fight with them, that you must needs be overthrown, then to prevent them that they shall not be able to give any charge upon you, then environ or compass yourself round about with your carriages, that is to say, with your wagons or carts, and so by that means the horsemen shall not be able to enter upon you, neither the foot men, but that you shall be able to defend them, etc. and if that it happen so that you have not sufficient of wagons or carts to environ or compass you round about, than you may go near unto some hedge or ditch, or such other like to be your refuge for the one side, and then you may place your carriages on the other side, etc. The 89. Devise. ANd furthermore, if that it happen so, that you are abroad with a band of men, and that you are belaid between you and home, both by horsemen and by foot men, and that it is not possible for you, but if that they do charge upon you, but that you must be overthrown, and you having no wagons or carriages to compass yourself, then repair unto such a place that is full of bushes, as thorns, and brambles, and there you may with ease defend yourself, for that the Horsemen shall not be able to give any charge upon you, and also as for the footmen you may defend yourself, etc. The 90. Devise. AS touching this, if that it doth happen so, that you are driven to travel by night, whether that it be to do any exploit or otherwise, and that you are small shot as harquebusses or calivers, and that you would carry your match close, that you would not have it to be seen of the scouts, or watch of your enemies, than you must do this, every man must prepare a piece of a cane of five or six inches long, and must put a string thereunto, and hang that by his girdle, as you do the sheath of a knife: and the piece of cane must be open at both the ends, and then the match being light, you must put into the hollow cane that end that is light, and so the match will burn in the cane, and the light thereof nebee espied, etc. and this Devise is very good to carry your match in the rainy weather, for that the wet shall not touch the fire of the match, and you may ever, as the match burneth, feed it, or put it in further and further, etc. The 91. Devise. AND furthermore, if that you have any watch or scouts abroad in the night, and that you would know whether that there be any horsemen coming, and the night being so dark that you cannot see if that any were coming, yet by this means you may know if that there were any coming, as this, make a hole in the ground with a dagger or knife, of a two or three inches deep, and a three or four inches over, and then stoop down unto the ground, and lay your ear thereunto, and then you hearkening unto it, if that there be any horsemen coming you shall hear them, and you shall know whether that they do come fast or softly, and whether that there be one or two, or a number of them, by the very noise of the ground, half a mile before that they do come near unto you by the very noise of the ground: and also if that it be upon some kind of ground, you may hear them more than a mile, and also upon such ground you may hear footmen a quarter of a mile, and whether that there be but one or two or a number of them. The 92. Devise. ANd furthermore, as touching them that do travel by night in such places, that is, in their enemy's country, and that cannot travel by day for fear of being spied, neither dare keep the common high way for fear of being met withal, as it may happen by them that have been taken of enemies, and have broken prison, or otherwise to carry letters, & such other like, than it behoveth them to know which way that the place doth stand from them, that is to say, unto what quarter of the world, whether that it be East, West, North or South, & then according as the place doth bear, so to direct their way, and according unto that to coast over the Country the nearest way, & to govern them by night in their way, they must use the North star, & so in the night to direct their way by that, if it be star light, & by day they may use the needle of a Dial when they travel in such places that be out of the high way, as in woods, forests, & such other like places, and if that they have no Dial, than they must note the place of the Sun rising and the setting, and the place of noon, etc. until that they do come near unto the frontiers of the Country where their friends are, etc. The 93. Devise. AND if an armed man be pursued, and is in danger to be taken except that he may swim over a water, then for him to swim, he may prepare this, to make a thing to bear about him, as a girdle made of leather and sowed tied, and blow that full of wind by a pipe that must be made fast thereunto, and so that thing will make him swim, although he have an armour on his back. The 94. Devise. ANd if that an army of men and their carriages are to pass over a river or water, and they having no provision of boats, yet they may make a bridge in this manner, first prepare cask, as pipes, or hogsheads, and then take long timber, and then make a frame therewith in this manner, to frame two pieces together somewhat shorter in breadth than the length of the cask, like unto a ladder, but much bigger and stronger, and you having prepared a sufficient number of these, then take your cask being made tied, and then take those timbers so made together, and then put the cask between two of these framed timbers, the one being laid close unto the other, and then make fast those two frames, the one being of the one side of the cask, and the other on the other side of the cask, and then make them so fast, that the cask will not stir, and so to make it so long that it will go over the river or water, and so to have two ranks of cask in those forms, and then those two ranks of cask being placed cross the river, then prepare planks to lay upon those two ranks of cask close together, and then being made fast unto the timber that they do not stir from the place, than the whole army may pass over, and their carriages and all, for that the cask will not suffer the bridge for to sink, although that they do draw the Ordinance over it, etc. The 95. Devise. ANd furthermore, if that an army of men be for to pass over a broad water, where that there doth run a great tide or stream, and by the means of the great breadth, and the swift stream, it is not possible to make any bridge to pass over it, yet notwithstanding it is possible to carry such provision with them, that may make so many boats within less time than a day, as will carry the whole army over at once, although that the water were two or three mile over it, & yet that provision that they should carry with them, should not ask any great matter in carriage, for one waggon or cart should carry as much provision to make boats to carry over 400. or 500 men, etc. As this, first, prepare leather, and then let them make the mould of a boat of 20. or 30. foot long more or less, at your discretion, and in deepness three or four foot at your discretion, and of 8. foot broad more or less at your discretion, and that done, let the leather be made like the mould of the boat, that it may be fit to be drawn on upon it, and the seams so sowed or closed, that it doth not leak, that it may be tied to hold out water, and that done, then to have in sundry places certain strops or strings to make it fast, and then it is finished, and then it may be folded up and laid in carts or wagons, and then you may make such a number of them as shall be sufficient to serve your turn, as a boat of 30. foot long, and eight foot broad, and four foot deep, will carry a 40. or 50. men at ease, etc. And then whensoever that you do mean to pass the army over any river, then repair unto some place near unto the river side, where there is some young woods, & then that shall serve your turn, to the intent to make your boats: as this, cut down of that young wood, and then cut one main piece to make it for the keel of the boat, and to cut that of that length according to the length of the mould that was first made, and so a piece for the stem and the stern post, accordingly unto the first mould made, and then certain poles to serve for the sides, and so forth▪ and so consequently to every place, and then let them be framed and nailed together in all places, & that done let the leather be drawn on over that, and then made fast with the strops, and then it is finished: and then for that the men may not tread upon the leather in the bottom of the boat, they may either prepare boards, or else to make hardels of purpose, and then these boats being put into the water, they will swim aswell as any other boats, and may row too and fro, if that it were to go 100 miles, etc. Wherefore they must make some provision of oars for them. The 96. Devise. ANd furthermore, as is before expressed in this book of Devises of Ordinance, that in the carrying of their field Ordinance, as their Sakers, and their Minions, and their other field pieces, that when that they do travel amongst their enemies, or otherwise in the front of their battles, when that they do see that their enemies be ready to give charge upon them, either with their horsemen or footmen, they may draw or carry their field Ordinance before the battle, and their mouths forwards and laden, and may shoot them off unto their enemies, and yet the horses shall still draw forwards, and be behind the Ordinance, so that their Artillery shall go forwards as fast as the army of men, and always in the front of the battle: as this, where as the accustomable manner is for to have the Lymers that the horses doth draw in, to be made fast unto the stock or carriage of the piece, and so to draw it with the breech or tail forwards: this must be unto the contrary, for it shall have no Lymers at all, but in the stead of the Lymers it must have a long piece of timber, as of fir, or such as they make masts of, & that must be made fast unto the carriage or stock of the piece, in such sort that it doth stand fast, that it may not serve by no means, and to stand backwards right out from the tail of the piece wards, and the piece of timber or mast to be of sufficient bigness and length, according unto the piece of Ordinance, and then they may make their provision of their horse harness fast unto the long piece of timber, and the horses heads to go towards the piece of Ordinance ward, the one half of the number of horses upon the one side of the long piece of timber, and the other half on the other side, and then the horses in their drawing shall thrust the piece of Ordinance forwards, so that the horses shall go behind the piece, and the mouth of the piece forwards towards their enemies, so that they may shoot them off continually without any staying, so that the horses will be ruled: but if that the horses will not be ruled, yet than they may be driven forwards by the long piece of timber, with the strength of men▪ etc. The 97. Devise. ANd furthermore, as you do see by the last Devise, for the drawing of the Ordinance, and the piece for to go before the Ordinance, so in like manner if that it should happen so, that you had no Ordinance with you, but had carriage with you, as wagons or carts, then in my opinion it were very good to be set in the front of the battle, for the preservation of them against the horsemen, as before is said, to have a long piece of timber made fast behind the cart or waggon, and so to draw it, and the cart or waggon to go before the horses, etc. The 98. Devise. IT furthermore seemeth unto me to be very necessary, and especially for an army of men that should travel amongst their enemies, or also where as any battle is to be fought, my opinion is, that this kind of provision were very necessary both for the forefront of an army, and also for to empale them round about, and that is this, for to prepare certain small Ordinance, so that it be not too heavy, as Muskets and small single Baces, and some Calabasses that do shoot small stones, as single and such other like. And then let them prepare small light wheels of 4. foot high, and so prepare an axle-tree for two of those wheels, and place those small Ordinance upon them in some handsome provision made of purpose, and that done, than those small Ordinance may be driven forwards with the mouth towards their enemies by men, for any man may draw or thrust forward 3. or 4 score pound weight, being upon wheels, better or withmore ease than he shallbe able to bear 20. pound weight, & these small light Ordinance may be driven forwards being upon wheels, as men do commonly drive a wheelebarrowe, and so the mouth shall be forwards, and he behind the piece, and the piece may have a sight as the Calivers have, so that he may shoot as near with that piece, as they may do with a Caliver: but the force of that piece is six times more than the force of the Caliver, so that it is not possible for to make any armour of proof to keep out the force of that shot: wherefore I am of this opinion, that being upon plain ground, that any man may travel as far in a day with a small piece with all his provision with him, as any man with a corselet furnished: for he that traveleth with that piece may hang all his provision of powder and shot upon the axle-tree of his piece, and so travel with ease: & also any army of men being environed round with such kind of provision, with the help of the other Ordinance & provision before specified, that it is not possible for any horsemen to enter in upon them, but that they may defend them for the horses cannot run over the wheels and carriage of this kind of small Ordinance, but that they that are within those small Ordinance, may defend them with their pikes and Calivers, and their other weapons, etc. The 99 Devise. ANd furthermore, as touching the force of horsemen, when that they do give the charge upon any band of men, they do come with no small force, the horses being lusty and strong: wherefore some men's opinion hath been this, that if that the pikemen, for that they are the strength of the army, and especially to defend the horsemen, that if that every pikeman did prepare a bladder blown, and a few peason in them, and so made fast hard unto the head of the pike, and so shaking the pike, the pease in the bladder will make a great noise, and so fear the horses, that the horses will scant come upon them that have their pikes in that order, the lustier horses the more they will be feared, except that they be the better broken unto those causes, etc. The 100 Devise. AS touching this, to know whether that any ground be hire or lower than the ground that you do stand upon, that is known by that order, as in the first Devise by the line of the Horizon, that always looking and marking, how the furthest part that you do see, doth cut upon that ground that you do desire to know, whether that it be hire or lower, and look at what height you do see the Horizon, that is equal in height with the sight of your eye, and then rebating that height upon the other ground, then that is equal with your feet, and if that you do see the Horizon circle over the other ground, than the ground is lower than the ground that you do stand upon, etc. And also if that you are amongst hills, and that you can not see the Horizon circle, than you may know whether that it be hire or lower, by a square, hanging a plummet of lead at the corner, and set the edge of the square just with the line, and then take your sight by the upper part thereof, and so beholding the place, you shall know whether that it be higher ground or lower. etc. The 101. Devise. FOr to know whether that it be possible to bring the water of any spring unto any place assigned, it is thus known, or to know how high that it may be raised, it will always come unto any place that is any thing in lowness underneath the place that the spring cometh forth of, and it may in like manner be raised in height at your pleasure, so that it be any thing lower than the head thereof, allowing for a mile in distance to the head of the spring, to be three inches and a half higher than the place that you would raise it up unto, and for two miles 14. inches, etc. from the circularnesse of the earth, etc. and for to know whether the ground be hire or lower, it is declared in the Devise going before. The 102. Devise. ANd also the principallest annoyance that you can do unto any town that is besieged, is to take away their fresh water, whether it be by any river or Conduits: & to take away a water course or river, this must be considered: first view the ground that the same doth pass through, & that done, look where there is any ground lower or inferior in height unto it, and also how the passages may be led besides the town, & not to seek to the town wards again, and then cut trenches or ditches to lead or carry the water another way: and that done, make a dam at that place you mean to stop the water, to turn the course, that it may go beside the town, as always water is apt to seek unto the place any thing lower than itself: but if that it happen so that the water course is between two hills, that there be no room to turn the water from the town, than you may poison their water with divers things that the same may annoy them, but if that they have water brought unto them by conduits, than you may but dig between the conduit head and the town, and cut the pipes thereof, and so by that means for to take away their water. And this is one of the principalest annoyances that you may do unto any place, etc. The 103. Devise. FOr that I do think it very necessary and convenient, for to show unto you how for to know what weight that you are able for to poise or lift up from the ground, if that is to say, to let the one end under it, and to weigh or press down the other end, that it were after the order of colepresse wise, that is to say, to let the one end under it and to weigh or press down the other end, for that it is used many times about the lifting of great and heavy things, as the lifting of great and heavy Ordinance, or great and heavy timber or stones, and it is thus known, how much or what weight that it will lift or poise up: look how much of the colepresse is more over that which beareth the thing underneath, more the one way than it is the other way, so accordingly unto that proportion the thing will be lifted, as the thing of 100 weight, laying the coale-presse thereafter, will weigh up a 1000 weight, yea 5000. as you do place the thing for the purpose: As for an example, this the thing that I have for to lift up is a 1000 weight, and the piece of timber that I do make my waving tree that it is eleven foot long and better, wherefore I do place the block or thing underneath at one foot, from the thing that is to be lifted, and so I do lay the weighing tree that it is 10. foot over the one way, and but one foot the other way, and lying in that form a 100 weight will weigh up the 1000 weight, and by this order you may make your provision in that sort, that you may lift any thing at ease. etc. The 104. Devise. AND furthermore, in like manner you may know what weight will be lifted with a wheel: as this, look how much in Deametre or in circumference that the wheel doth exceed the axle-tree that the rope goeth about, so much in proportion shall the wheel lift the lesser weight, to raise or lift the bigger: as for an example, a wheel of 12. foot in diameter, and hath an axle-tree that the rope goeth about of one foot in Deametre, than a person that weigheth a little more than 100 weight to go in the wheel, shall weigh a thing of twelve hundredth weight, and according unto the compass of the wheel, and the compass of the axle-tree, that the lesser weight will weigh up the bigger: and the like effects be in the often foldings of ropes, for to run in pulleys, as we may see by the tackles of ships, etc. The 105. Devise. AND also in wheels, if that one wheel do turn an other, you may know by the one wheel, how oftentimes that the other wheel shall turn it about, whether that the wheels do turn or go by teeth, or as some do term them by cogs, or by a rope or line, etc. As this, if that the one wheel doth turn the other by teeth, than it is known by the number of teeth, taking in the other wheel, as if the number of teeth of the one wheel be double unto the other, then for the one wheel in the going about one time, the other shall be turned two times, etc. And if that it be so that the number of teeth be ten times the lesser, then at the going of the bigger wheel one time the lesser shall be turned ten times about: and in like manner, if the number ofteeths were 100 times the number of the lesser, then for the once going about of the one, the other shall be turned 100▪ times, always according unto the number of the one, by the number of the other, proportion for proportion, accordingly unto the number of the teeth in both the wheels. etc. The 106. Devise. ANd also in like manner you may know, how many times that one wheel doth turn the other wheel about, that the one wheel doth turn the other wheel by a rope or line, or by a chain, or such other like, as this by the circumference of both the wheels; for if the one wheel be double the circumference, or compass of the other, then for the going of the bigger wheel once about, the lesser shall turn twice about: and furthermore, if the bigger be ten times the compass of the lesser, then for the going of the bigger wheel one time, the lesser shall turn ten times about, etc. accordingly unto the circumference or compass of both the wheels, proportion unto proportion, etc. The 107. Devise. ANd furthermore, it is possible for to place a glass in a chamber or a parlour in a house, for to see any thing abroad in the fields, or if that it be near unto any haven or river where as ships or boats do pass too and fro, that they may see in the glass within the house, the things that are abroad, as plainly as if that they should go abroad and get them up unto some high hill, or high tower, for to see them of purpose, the which thing is very necessary, either for men of Honour or Gentlemen for to behold in their chambers what is abroad in some such parts of their ground, as they have any pleasure for to behold and see into it, what is stirruing: therefore that quantity that it will show as their Deer in their parks, or cattle in their pastures, or what persons that there is stirring in their Gardens or Orchards: and also it is very necessary for a Captain or the General of a Town, Forte or Castle, whether that it be in such places, that is, within the land, or that they have any charge to look towards the sea or haven, or river, it is very necessary for them, for that the glasses may be so placed, that they may see if that there be any ships coming or going in the sea, river or Haven, or any persons in the high way. But the greatest impediment that the glasses have, you shall see no great circuit of ground in compass, except that the glasses be very large, and also the window that the sight cometh in at, be large in like manner, etc. And furthermore▪ for the placing of a glass in a chamber or parlour, to see the things abroad, it must be thus done, first you must prepare divers glasses of a great proportion, that are very perfect and good looking glasses, either of steel or Crystal, and that done, the place must be viewed where that it must stand, for it is not possible to place a glass in some chabers to see any thing abroad, but it must be in such a chamber as is convenient for the purpose, that hath a very high roof, and that hath windows that are of a great height from the floor, or else some high Tower near unto it, etc. And if that the place be convenient for that purpose, than this you must do first, the place must be assigned that you would see in the glass, and then whether the place be far of or nearer, than you must place the first glass aloft against a window that is open unto that place, and that done, if that it be very high, then turn the shadow of the glass accordingly as you do see cause for your purpose, bringing the beam downwards: and against that glass place an other glass to receive the beam or shadow, of the things abroad, and that done, you may turn the beam or shadow of that glass downwards unto what place that you list, and so place an other glass against that at your discretion, and so to place as many glasses, until that you have brought it unto the place that you would bring it until, and then to set all the glasses fast, for if that any of them be stirred never so little, than the beam or shadow will be turned out of the glass, etc. And by this means you may convey the beam or shadow of any thing by glasses made of due proportion from one place unto an other, until that you have brought it unto what place you do desire at your pleasure, and so by that means to see in a house what things be abroad. The 108. Devise. FOr to cause iron, lead, stone, or any kind of metal what soever it be, to swim in the water, without the aid of any thing to support it or bear it, is this to be done, to make it hollow or concave like a bowl, or boat, or a trough, or what shape so ever that it have, until that the sides may be raised so high, that the water can not come over the top of the side, until that there is the magnitude or quantity of the rate for every foot square to be in weight under. 50. pound, and the more that it is lighter the better it swimmeth, and then it will swim without any fail, etc. The 109. Devise. AS it is not unknown in respect unto all persons, that you may burn any thing that is apt to burn with a glass at hand, which is done by the Sun beams piercing through the glass, for that the Sun beams be united and knit all together in the centre thereof, which is the very cause that it burneth, and as we do read that Archimedes burned the Roman Navy at Syracuse in the Island of Sicilia, some have supposed that he did burn them with such kind of glasses, which is most unpossible: wherefore it must needs be, that they were burned with divers glasses, and the reflection of the Sun beams turned unto them. But this is to be noted, that it is possible that fewer glasses may serve to burn any thing there in that Latitude, than that it will do here in this Latitude, for that the Sun beams be more hotter: for the Latitude of Syracuse is but five and thirty degrees and a half, and to burn anything any great distance off with glasses, it requireth to have some sight in Geometry, or else it is not possible for to do it, and for to burn any thing that is apt to burn, it must be thus handled: they must prepare a number of glasses made of metal, such as the common people call of steel, made of purpose, and well polished, and to place those glasses to burn, as if that it were gun powder, flax or tow, or occom, pitch, tar, or such like things that will take fire quickly, the Sun shining very bright: then set the glass against the Sun, and then turn the reflection beam or shadow to the place assigned that you would burn, and then place another glass in the like manner, and turn the reflection beam or shadow unto that place in like manner, right upon the first end of the beam or shadow, and so to place more glasses, and to be sure that all the reflected beams or shadows do rest upon one place, and so by a great number of glasses to multiply the heat, that in the end it will be set on fire and burn: but you must be sure that all the reflected beams or shadows do rest in one place, or else it will be unto no purpose, and at a great distance you shall have much to do to decern or see it, etc. Wherefore you must have the aid of Geometry, to use it according unto the distance, and to place the glasses in a frame, which I do omit at this time for brevity. The 110. Devise. FOr to see any small thing a great distance of from you, it requireth the aid of two glasses, and one glass must be made of purpose, and it may be made in such sort, that you may see a small thing a great distance of, as this, to read a letter that is set open near a quarter of a mile from you, and also to see a man four or five miles from you, or to view a Town or Castle, or to see any window or such like thing six or seven miles from you. And to declare what manner of glasses that these must be, the one glass that must be made of purpose, is like the small burning glasses of that kind of glass, and must be round, and set in a frame as those be, but that it must be made very large, of a foot, or 14. or 16. inches broad, and the broader the better: and the property of this glass, is this, if that you do behold any thing thorough the glass, than your eye being near unto it, it showeth itself according unto the thing, but as you do go backwards, the thing showeth bigger and bigger, until that the thing shall seem of a monstrous bigness: but if that you do go to far back, than it will debate and be small & turn the fashion downwards. But now to use this glass, to see a small thing a great distance, then do this, the thing or place that you would view and discern, set that glass fast, and the middle of the glass to stand right with the place assigned, and be sure that it do not stand obliqne or awry by no means, and that done, then take a very fair large looking glass that is well polished, & set that glass directly right with the polished side against the first glass, to the intent to receive the beam or shadow that cometh thorough the first placed glass, and set it at such a distance off, that the thing shall mark the beam or shadow so large, that it may serve your turn, and so by that means you shall see in the looking glass a small thing a great distance, for if that the first placed glass be well made, and very large, you may discern and know the favour or phisnomy of a man a mile of from you: wherefore in my opinion, this is very necessary in divers respects, as the viewing of an army of men, and such other like causes, which I do omit, etc. The 111. Devise. FOr to make a crane, engine or gin, to weigh any great weight, you may know before hand what it will weigh, as in the 109. Devise, and also you may multiply the thing in such sort, that you may make a 100 weight to weigh or lift up 20000. yea 100000. weight if that you will, as thus, the crane or engine that hath a wheel of 12 foot in Deametre, and the axle-tree is a foot in Deametre, now one person going in the wheel of any thing more than 100 weight, will way 1200. weight, and then you making another wheel of that Deametre, and the axle-tree also, and a rope to go about the circumference of the first wheel, unto the axle-tree of the next wheel, than that person to go in that wheel, will way or lift 14400. And furthermore, if that you do make a third wheel of that Deametre in all points, than that person going in that wheel, should weigh or lift up. 172800. and that contain. 86. tons, but than it will rise but very slowly, and that thing that doth bear or support it underneath, had need be very strong to bear such a huge weight, and also the first wheels: and by this order you may multiply the thing to lift weight infinitely. The 112. Devise. ANd furthermore, you may make an engine to thrust from you or to pull unto you, to lift up or to press down with great force, either to go with wheels as before is declared, or else to go with screws, or to go with both, as to thrust open huge and strong gates, or else you taking good hold, to pull them open unto you wards, and will make but little noise in the doing thereof, but you must be sure to set the engine fast, if to thrust from to be strongly and well backed, and to pull to them it must be strongly bolstered before, sufficient to be of force to serve the turn. The 113. Devise. AS touching the making of any strange works that the world hath marveled at, as the brazen head that did seem for to speak: and the Serpent of brass for to hiss: or a Dove of wood for to fly: or an Eagle made by art of wood and other metal to fly: and birds made of brass, tin or other metal to sing sweetly, and such other like Devises, some have thought that it hath been done by enchantment, which is no such thing, but that it hath been done by wheels, as you may see by clocks, that do keep time, some going with plummets, and some with springs, as those small clocks that be used in tablets to hang about men's necks. And as the brazen head, that seem for to speak, might be made by such▪ wheel work, to go either by plummets or by springs, and might have time given unto it, that at so many hours end, than the wheels and other engines should be set to work: and the voice that they did hear may go withbellowes in some trunk or trunks of brass or other metal, with stops to alter the sound, may be made to seem to speak some words, according unto the fancy of the inventor, so that the simple people will marvel at it. And for to make a bird or foul made of wood & metal, with other things made by art, to fly, it is to be done to go with springs, and so to beat the air with the wings as other birds or fowls do, being of a reasonable lightness, it may fly: and also to make birds of metal to sing very sweetly, and good music, it may be done with wheels, to go at any hour or time appointed by plummets, and then to have pipes of tin or other fine metal to go with bellows, & the pipes to have stops, and to go with a barrel or other such like devise, and may be made to play or sing what note that the inventor shall think good when he doth make it: and also there may be divers helps to make it to seem pleasant unto the ears of the hearers, by letting the sound or wind of the pipes to pass through or into water, for that will make a quavering as birds do. etc. And also you may make a small puppet, either like a man or woman, to seem to go by wheels and springs, and shall turn and go circular according unto the setting of the wheels and springs, and also the birds made to fly by Art, to fly circularly, as it shall please the inventor, by the placing of the wheels and springs, and such other like inventions, which the common people would marvel at, thinking that it is done by Enchantment, and yet is done by no other means, but by good Arts and lawful. FINIS.