❧ certain ways for the ordering of soldiers in battelray, and setting of battles, after diuers fashions, with their maner of marching: And also Fugures of certain new plattes for fortification of towns: And more over, howe to make saltpetre, gunpowder, and diuers sorts of fireworks or wild fire, with other things appertaining to the warres. Gathered& set forth by Peter Whitehorne.  
¶ Imprinted at London by W. Williamson: for john nought.  
Anno. 1573.   


¶ A perfect rule to bring men into a square battle, of what number so ever they be. Cap. i.  
FOr to make a square battle of a number of men, or of an army, the foursquare roote or quadrant number of them, must be taken, and so many as the same roote contains, so many ought to be set in array. As for example in a little number, for the better understanding thereof: admit there be a .100. men, the foursquare roote of .100. ought to be taken out, which is ten: Then putting ten of these men in a rank, there will be ten ranks, ten to a rank. which ten ranks placing them ordinarylye, the one behind the other, so that all the distances that shall be between man and man, as well on the sides, as before and behind be equal, such .100. men will make a foursquare battle, as by the figure here following appeareth.  
 diagram of a square battle 
Head flank o o o o o o o o o o flank o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o   
But for that men ordered in battelraye, stand not, nor march not, as above is supposed, I mean in equal distance, for that every man( as Vegetius affirmeth) would haue for largeness three foot, that is from shoulder to shoulder, and for length séeuen foot, that is three foot before him, and three foot behind him, and one foot that his own person will occupy, for which cause the above written order, men standing according to the said ordinary, distance, shall not be a just foursquare, but the length thereof shal be .70. foot, and the breadth .30. foot, as appeareth by the figure following.  
 diagram of a square formation, 27 ranks of 3 men 
flank o o o o o o o o o o Head o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o flank   
And where some number of men cometh not after such sort to be foursquare, as .200. the roote whereof is .14. although there be .4. overplus: in this case there ought to be put fourteen in a rank,& the said battle will come nevertheless to be foursquare: That is, it shall be of .14. ranks of men 14. to a rank, and as for those four men that are overplus out of the array, the Sergant may place either in the tail thereof, or elles where seems him best out of that order:  
Likewise after this manner, an army of men howe great a number so ever it be, may be brought into a foursquare, as for example, admit there were an army of .35000. of these .35000. men, the foursquare roote is to be taken out, according to the order that I haue declared before, and the same shall be found to be .187. and .31. men remaining overplus, so that placing .187. men in a rank, such an army will be in fashion foursquare, that is, it will amount unto 187. ranks .187. men for a rank. And as for the .31 odd men, the captain may appoinctte where he shall think good.   

¶ To know howe many men may march in a rank, and at a sudden to bring them into a foursquare battle, so that their Ansigne, may come to be in the midst. Cap. 2.  
FOr to do this thing with speed, the foursquare roote of what number of men so ever it be, is straight way to be taken: and if the same roote be so that it may be equally divided into three, so many as shall be the third parte of that roote, so many of the said men for a rank ought to march by the way. As for example, if the men that are to be conducted, be .81. the roote of those .81. must be taken, the which is .9. And for as much as the roote of this may equally be divided into .3. and the third parte thereof being .3. the said. s1. men must therefore be made to march in iorneing three in a rank, and they shall make in all .27. ranks, as here under appeareth.  
 diagram of 27 ranks of 3 men 
    c   a     tail o o o o o o o o o   o o o o o o o o o   o o o o o o o o o Head o o o o o o o o o   o o o o o o o o o   o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o   o o o o o o o o o   o o o o o o o o o     d   b       
And when need is that they must be brought into a foursquare battle, all these 27. ranks would be divided into three equal partes, as is declared by a b. and c d. So that to every parte there come to remain 9. ranks, three men in a rank, and afterward the first parte that is in the front must be caused to stay, and the other twain to procede forward, the one on the right hand, and the other on the left hand of the first( now standing still) until the head or front of either of the said two partes do unite or come to be even with the head of the first, and there to stay. As by the figure following may be understood.  
 diagram of containing 27 ranks of 3 men divided in 3 parts 
o o o o o o o o o                 front. o o o o o o o o o                 o o o o o o o o o                                 o o o o o o o o o                 o o o o A o o o                 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o                 o o o o o o o o o                 o o o o o o o o o                   
The which three partes thus brought and ordered, shall make a foursquare battle, as appearethe by this figure following: and to cause that the Ansigne do fall in the midst of such a battle, always it ought to be placed in the midst of the first parte, as before appeareth in the point. A.  
 diagram of previous 3 parts brought and ordered into a square battalion with the flag standard in the center 
Head o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o A o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o   
But to know howe to divide the said .27. ranks into three equal portions without standing to tell nine ranks, considering that if it were a great number of men, it should be a thing very long so to do: therfore seeing that to every number of men, there is commonly placed a rank of hackbutters or Bowemen in the forward,& an other in the rearward, in this figure above written of four score men and one, there would be .18. hackbutters: that is 9. in the forward, and 9. in the rearward: and setting two ranks of hackbutters in the places where the divisions are to be made, as hereafter appeareth in figure, understanding the hackbutters by this letter H.  
 diagram of 27 ranks of 3 men divided into 3 parts by harquebusiers 
H o o o o o o o o o H H o o o o o o o o o H H o o o o o o o o o H H o o o o o o o o o H H o o o o o o o o o H H o o o o o A o o o H H o o o o o o o o o H H o o o o o o o o o H H o o o o o o o o o H   
By those hackbutters you may always understand where the divisions are to be made of the said 27. ranks, and likewise in every other greater number. And when such a roote cannot be divided into three equal partes, of necessity there must remain over one or two. Now let us first take for example this, where remaineth over one, as it should be if it were a hundred men, the roote whereof is ten, which ten divided into three, cometh to three times three, and one remaining overplus. Wherefore there must be made ten ranks to march three and three( that is so many ranks as the number of the roote is of) and other ten ranks four& four together, and the last .10. ranks also three& three together: as here following appeareth with their 20. hackbutters or Bowemen, besides the said hundred men.  
 diagram of 100 men divided into 11 ranks of 3, 11 ranks of 4, 11 ranks of 3 with harquebusiers in between 
  H o o o o o o o o o o H   Front H o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o H     
And these three partes when it is needful to bring them into a foursquare battle, must be ordered as above is rehearsed, or elles causing the first parte in the forward to stay, and to make the second part to proceed onwarde until the head or front of the second parte come to be even with the head of the first, and so the said second part standing still, to cause also the third parte to procede forward after the same maner, the which thing being done, such a battle shalbe brought into fashion foursquare, with their hackbutters or Bowemen before& behind: as appeareth by this figure.  
 diagram of the 100 men and harquebusiers in square formation with the flag standard in the middle 
back H o o o o o   o o o o o H Head H o o o o o   o o o o o H H o o o o o   o o o o o H H o o o o o   o o o o o H H o o o o o   o o o o o H   A   H o o o o o   o o o o o H H o o o o o   o o o o o H H o o o o o   o o o o o H H o o o o o   o o o o o H H o o o o o   o o o o o H   
But when in dividing the said roote there shall happen to remain .2. overplus, as should be when there were .121. the roote whereof is .11. which .11. perting into .3. comes to .3. times .3. and two remaining overplus( as I haue said) in this case and in other like, I would make a .11. ranks to march( that is, as many as the roote contains) .4. men in a rank, and an other .11. ranks .3. men together in a rank, and the other .11. ranks also .4. men to a rank: As hereafter appeareth in figure, with their .22. hackbutters, beside the said .121. men.  
 diagram of 121 men divided into 11 ranks of 4, 11 ranks of 3, 11 ranks of 4 with harquebusiers between them 
H o o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o o H   H o o o o o o o o o o o H   
The which men always, when they would be brought into a foursquare battle, must be ordered as before is declared.  
And this rule may serve likewise in what little or great number so ever it be, as well quadrant as not quadrant. As for example onely in words: put the case that there be .3969. whereof being minded to know how many men in a rank should be caused to march togethers by the way, so that commodiouslye they may at a sudden, be brought into a foursquare battle, then must be taken the quadrant roote of this number of men( by the same way that I haue taught) which shall be found to be .63. so that on every side of the square battle shall be .63. ranks of men, and for as much as this roote( which is .63) may be divided into .3. equal partes, the third parte thereof is to be taken( for a general rule) that is .21. and therefore .21. men in a rank would be made to march togethers by the way. And always there shall be as many ranks in all after .21. to a rank, as are three times so many as the roote is of, which is, three times .63. which comes to 189. so that .189. ranks of men shal be the number therof after .21. to a rank. And by the roote that is .63. you may understand that such division is to be made between .63. and .63. so that the first shall be as well .63. part as also the second and the third. In which divisions the two double ranks of hackbutters are to be placed for the readier knowledge to bring them into a square battle. But if in dividing the roote into three, there should remain .1. overplus, as should happen if the presupposed men were .5776. the roote whereof being 76. which roote divided into .3. shall come unto .25. and one to remain overplus. now I say, that all the ranks that riseth of these men, shall be notwithstanding three times so many as the roote, that is three times .76. which makes .228. And for as much as all these orders of ranks, are divided evermore into .3. partes( as before hath been declared) .76. ranks to ā parte( that is so many as the roote is of) therefore it is to be understand, that the first and the last of these three partes must bee made to march .25. men in a rank, which is as much as is the third parte of the roote, and for that there remaineth one overplus( as above appeareth) I say that the same one must be put always in the second parte, which is in the middeste, I mean causing those of the said second parte, to march .26. men in a rank, so that the first and the last part of the great rue of ranks, be .25. men in a rank, and the second parte to be .26. men in a rank, and the very same ought to be done of every other roote that may be divided into three, where onely remaineth overplus one but when there remainethe overplus .2. it followeth, clean contrary: For that the first and the last parte would be of one man more, thē the same that the third part of the roote is of. As for example if the said men were 2809. the roote whereof is .53. which divided into three, coomes to .71. and .2. remaining overplus: therefore of so many men, there shall be made .159. ranks( that is three times .53.) which .159. ranks dividing them also into three partes cometh unto .53. to a parte, that is the number of the roote. And the first and third parte would be of one man more then the third parte of the roote, that is, it would be of .18. men to a rank, and the second parte, which is the parte in the midst, would be the very third parte of the roote: that is, 17. men to a rank, so that of all the .159. ranks, as well the first .53. ranks, as likewise the last .53. ranks ought to be of .18, men to a rank, and the .53. ranks in the middeste would be onely of .17. men to a rank And, wherein parting the roote into .3. there remaynethe overplus only one, it goeth clean contrary to this. For that the first and the third parte of the said great rue of ranks, will always be of as many men to a rank as shal be the whole third parte of the roote, and the middle parte, which is the second, will bee of one man more then the third parte of the roote. And for as much, as there can never remain overplus above one or two in dividing the roote into three, therfore this foresaid rule shall serve in what number of men so ever it be, as well quadrant as not quadrant, for that like as before is said in numbers not quadrant, always there is taken the roote which goeth nearest to such a number, and therewith to do accordingly, as above hath been said. And as for the residue of the men that cometh to be overplus of the quadrant of such a roote, may be placed some other where as shall be thought most beste. For example if there were four thousand men, which number is not quadrant, yet notwithstanding of the same number there ought to be taken out the nearest roote therof, which is lxiii. so that there shall remain overplus one and thirty men, whom minding in a sudden to bring into a foursquare battle, there ought to be put in a rank. lxiii. men, and such a battle shall come to be fowersquare, as in the beginning hath been said: and where there remains overplus those .31. men, the Sergiant may place thē as he shal think good. Likewise minding to cause those 4000. men to march, there ought also to be taken the nearest roote therof, which as aforesaid, is .63. which dividing into three, comes unto three times 21.& nothing remaining overplus. And therefore the said men ought to be caused to march .xxi. in a rank,& the said rank to be divided into three parts. lxiii. to a rank according to the foresaid rule, in such sort that the last parte shal be .64. ranks, and also .10. men more because of those .31. men that were overplus in the beginning, the which as hath been said remained out of the array: And after the same maner, it is to be done when the roote of such a number that is not quadrant, doth not agree with the perfect division by three, which is, if there be overplus one, to procede as above hath been declared. I mean to put a man more in a rank to the middle parte, and to the other two partes, the first, and the third, to put onely so many men in a rank, as the third paite of the roote shal contain, and when there remaineth overplus two, to procede clean contrary: that is, to put a man more in a rank to the first, and to the thyrde parte, and to the second, to put only so many men in a rank as the third parte of the roote shall be of, and those men that are remaining overplus, in taking out the roote in the beginning, to place them as above I haue said.   

¶ Howe to ordain a number of men or an army into a battle, like unto a wedge, or three square, so that it may be apt to march with the point thereof toward the enemies. Cap. 3.  
THis fashion of battle, is made after this maner, first placing one man, and after three, and next five, and after seven, and then .9. after a .11.& so to increase awaies two men more, till such time as there bee no more men to place. Albeit there may be such a number of men, that at the last they can not, or there shall not be sufficient to make up the last rank, which happening, those men may be left out of the array to serve where their captain shal think most meet, for that the like happeneth often times, and in every maner of ordering men, that always there resteth some man out of the array. And for the better understanding hereof: admit for example that the men that is to be brought into a three square battle be a .100. I say that first one is to be placed, after .3. after 5, after .7. after .9. after .11. and so to proceed: adding always two men more in a rank, until they be all placed, as here following appeareth in figure. Where the last rank in this case, shall come to be 19. men, not remaining any man overplus: and this is, for that the number of men,( which is .100.) is a quadrant number: and likewise in every other number that is quadrant, the said Triangle battle shal be made without any man remaining overplus.  
 diagram of 100 men in a wedge formation  
But if the said number of men be not a quadrant number always there shall remain overplus so many men, as the said number of men shall bee more then the great quadrant number contained of the same: as for example, if the presuposed men to make the three square battle were .120. I say that there shall remain overplus .20. men out of the array of the three square, that is so many as the .120. exceadeth .100.( being the greater quadrant number contained in the same) which also shall be .20. but if the said men were .123. there should remain overplus only two men, for as much as the greatest quadrant number that can be taken of .123. shall be .121. and .123. is more then the said .121. by the said two, and the very same is to be understand in every great number.   

¶ To make the battle called the shears, which in old time they used to set against the Triangle. Cap. 4.  
THe shears are made with two Triangles joined togethers, for to receive bewene them the said battle, made like a wedge or Triangle. The example whereof I will make also with .100. men, as the Triangle or wedge was made, so that thereby may be judged if there were two armies of equal numbers of men, and that the one of them were pitched like a Triangle, and the other like a shears, which of them should haue the advantage. Wherefore minding of .100. men to make the battle called the shears, they ought to be divided into two equal partes, and of every one of these partes being .50. to make a Triangle according to the maner above declared, and to ioigne them together, as here following appeareth in figure with their points towards the enemies: I mean towards the wedge, to receive it between them: And it is to be nooted how in making of these two Triangles, there shal remain overplus one man of every one of them out of the array, for that the number of .50. is no Quadrant number, and it is more then the quadrant number contained of the same( which is .46. by a man onely) so that between them both, there shall remain overplus two men, as here appeareth in Figure.  
 diagram of a Sheeres formation opposing a wedge formation   

What advantage it is to order men in a Triangle battle against the enemy that knoweth not how to make the battle called the Shreeres to set against it, inespecially where there is as many men of the one part as of the other. Cap. 5.  
WHen the contrary parte would come against a threesquare battle, with a battle that were foursquare, as now a dayes is used, by all reason it shalbe broken and overthrown. As admit for example that there be 100. in a thréesquare battle,& a hundred other men in a foursquare battle, pitched against the iii. square, as here following appeareth in figure.  
 diagram of a wedge formation opposing a rectangular formation  
And for that the order of the Triangle in fighting, is after such sort, that all those which shoot with any kind of weapon, as pieces of ordinance, Harkabuses darts, bows, or crossbows, ought all to direct their shot, and to strike only in the same place, where the point of the Triangle seeks to enter, I mean in in the point A. whereby the men that are in the same place, shall either be slain or else constrained to give place to the point of the said Triangle through the great multitude of shot striking in that place. So that the point of the said Triangle entering therein, may continually penetrate al the said array clean through. For as much as all the hackbutters,& Archers which remain without, must not cease to shoot in the very same place,& no other where else: which thing doing it is impossible but that way shall be given for the said Triangle to enter in, and once entred, such an army is overthrown without any reméedye. For all the force and strength of such a Triangle being made in that place onely, it is not possible that men in such a place may be able to withstand, although there were many more in such quadrant array, then those that be in the said Triangle, because the place of. A cannot be succoured of any of those of the same battle, considering that if those which are placed towards. B. or elles towards. C. would come to succour the place where the violence and force is made, it must needs be, that they must disorder themselves: and being once disordered, they run into the very same mischief, after such sort, that they shall remain altogether broken: and remaining in their places, their strength or power, resteth of none effect: for as much as none of them can be able to do any thing, howe valiant soever he be.  
Whereby may be understood of what importance this Triangle battle is against the enemy, that knoweth not the medesin or remedy thereof.   

¶ To bring a number of men or an army, into a battle, which in old time was called a saw. Cap. 6.  
THis fashion of battle according to the quality of the name, ought to be made is it were with téethe, like unto a saw which they use to saw timber withall. And therefore minding to bring a number of men, or an army into such a fashion, there must be considered two things, the one, howe many téethe, this saw is to be made of, and whether besides those téethe, there would be any other rays to sustain such teeth or no. As for example, admit that the men of whom must be made those onely téethe of this foresaid saw, be .100. now these .100. men ought to be divided into the number of the teeth that this Saw shall haue, and of every of one those parts, to fashion a Triangle, by the Rule declared in the third Chapter: and those Triangels to join close together, according as was done of those two that made the shears: As put case that of the said hundred men there would be made four teeth of a saw, then the said .100. men must be divided in to four partes, in which divisions it will come to 25. for a parte. now of every one of these partes, there ought to be fashioned a Triangle, according to the order given in the foresaid third Chapter. And these four Triangles to join them strait together, as here following appeareth in figure: and this is in as much as in making the teeth only: but if peradventure there would be put an other order behind the said four teeth, it is needful first to determine of how many men such a ray is to be made, and those to take out by themselves, and of the rest to  diagram of a saw formation make the teeth, and behind the said teeth to place those number of men which first were taken out, and to ordain them so many men in a rank, as shall be found directly in length in all the hinder partes of the teeth that are made, as for example, admit there be two hundred& xliiij. men, and that with a hundred men therof, there must be made four teeth of a saw,& the other 144. to be made certain ranks to sustain the said four teeth: Therefore the hundred men being brought into four teeth, as about is declared, consequently behind those 5 there ought to be placed those C.& xliiii. men. xxxvi. men to a rank: for as much as in all the four lower partes of the said four téethe there be 36. men as in the figure next following appeareth. And after this maner and order, if there were a hundred thousand men, they might be set in a ray, placing them, as above is done with that little number.  
 diagram of a saw formation with replacement ranks   

¶ To fashion a battle of a number of men or an army like unto two Triangles joined together, so that they may bee apt to march with a corner therof toward the enemies. Cap. 7.  
WIth the rule whereby the single Triangle is made, with the very same almost this fashion battle is also made: for as much as dividing all those men, or that army wherewith this fashion battle is made into two equal partes, and of the one half thereof to make a Triangle, and that done, vpon the very last side of the same, there ought to be placed the other half number of men in ranks, which continually go decreasing by two men less, I mean clean contrary to that was done at the beginning with one, where beginning to make the point of the Triangle, the ranks were continually increased with two men more. But it is to be understand, that if in making the first Triangle, there happen to remain overplus any men, that are not sufficient to make up an other rank, yet the very same rank ought to be finished up with some of the other half number of men, for that one of these two Triangles joined together, cometh to be of one rank more then the other. As for example, admit the men, wherewith this fashion battle is to be made, be .320. which must be divided into two equal partes, so that by such division there will be .160. men for a parte, and of the one of these partes, there would be made a Triangle, according to the order declared in the third chapter, which done, there shall be found to remain overplus .16.( by the reason alleged in the said third Chapter) so that there shall lack .9. men to finish the said last rank of the first Triangle: Therefore the said rank must be made up, with the men of the other half, as taking those .19. men which lacks, so that in the said first Triangle may be .169. men, and in the other parte only .151. men, wherewith the other Triangle ought to be made vpon the last rank of the first, which last rank shall be of .25. men: wherefore vpon the same, there must be placed an other rank of two men less, that is .23. and upon the same said .23. men, to place an other of .21. men, and vpon the .21. mean, to place an other of .19. men, and vpon those .19. men, to place an other of .17. men, and so to procede always with two men less, till such time as it cometh to the rank of one man onely, as here following appeareth in figure: true it is, that there shall be found in the end, to remain overplus .7. men, the which the Sargiant may place where he shall think good. And thus with this maner of order, there may be brought into like array, any army howe great so ever it be, and they may turn themselves, and in marching, make of the rearward, the forward, and likewise of what so ever side they list.  
 diagram of two wedge formations joined into a diamond formation   

¶ What is best to be done where the ordinance of the enemies being shot into the army hath slain many men. Cap. 8.  
AN army of men that happeneth to haue certain ranks thereof to be stricken down& killed with the enemies ordinance, and marching after such sort, leaving void the places of those men which are slain with the artillery, or else drawing themselves close altogether, to fill such empty places, the one of these ways is very evil, and the other much worse: for as much as leaving those places after such sort open, inespecially in the forward, there is given thereby great faciletie unto the enemies to enter into the said rays, and to overthrow them. And likewise causing after such misfortune the said rays to draw together, to fill the said places, those rays must needs altogether be disordered; and shall be brought almost into confusion: for that it is to be thought that the said artillery, doth not destroy any rank of men July from one end to an other in length, but only a parte of some, and a parte of other, and some to remain untouched, or vnhurte. In which case being minded to cause them to draw together, to fill up the said void places, it must needs follow that the whole rank do disorder in lengthing those that lack, so that some of the ranks shall remain with a greater number of ranks of men( in length) in the rearward, then in the forward, whereby if such a battle would march of necessity it will immediately run into confusion, because of those ranks that are unperfect in length, Wherefore that captain, is to be praised, which instructethe his men that in like chances, they never remain without a companion before them, except it be in the front, as to advertise every one of them, that if fortune to happen any of them to lack the same man, which was wont to march before them, or elles mo, that then incontinente, and with selerette they do march forward, until they find an other companion in the accustomend distance before them, and where it fortunethe noo man to be found, to advertise them, howe they should then proceed till they come to the head or front, and in such place to stand still, or elles to march according as the other ranks in the head or in the front shall do. And this being a general rule that every man must take the measure of his marchyng softelye or fast of his compaignions that gooeth before him, and not of any that be of their sides. All those men therefore that shall be found in the very same rank behind such a man that doth lack his companion or compaignions before him, shall be constrained to run, or go a pace according as that man shall march, which shall be next before him: which thing being observed of every man in the battle, always the forward or front thereof, shall come thereby to be whole and sound, and those empty places of the deade to be transeformed into the rearward, in which places there shall not almost be any peril. As for example, admit, that in a battle of 144. men in fashion foursquare, the enemies hath slain .12. men, as by the void places in the figure following appearethe, I say that having advertised every man to do as much as before I haue declared, which is, that every time that he lacketh his fellow( or more men) that marched before him, he do straight way make hast, and with all speed possible not to seace going forward, till he find an other companion in the accustomend distance that goeth before him.  
 diagram of a square formation missing soldiers in the front  
And if it fortune in such a rank that in the end he find no man, yet he ought to proceed so much till he come to the last rank in the Front, and there to stand still, or else to march according to the order of the said rank. And likewise every man ought to take heed that in his marching fast or softelye, he do rule himself by his companion that goeth before him, and not of any of those that be on his sides: which thing being observed, as in the figured rays above  diagram of a square formation missing soldiers in the back written, they same battales, shal be transformed in this other maner, like unto the last figure, that is, those 12. void places shalbe translated into the reward, as plainly may be seen.   

¶ How to change with speed an army, that is, in battelray foursquare, into a triangell fashion, without disordering the first ranks, and without peril of confusion. Cap. xix.  
LIke as the captain with sound of the Trompette, or with voice shall cause the soldiers to be advertised and taught to know howe to turn that way, which is between the front and the right side, or the left, and likewise that way that is between the right, or left side, and the back, and after that they shall be well informed therein, even so I would also haue thē to be well advertised of the same, that was declared in the last chapter, which is to show and teach every man, that always when he shall be caused to turn towards any of the foresaid sides, and shall not find to haue his fellow in the accustomend distance before him, that then the same man with all speed do procede, or march so far right forth, till he find a companion before him in the accustomend distance: Of which thing every soldier being well informed and instructed, with the twinkling of an eye, an army that is in fashion .iiij. square, may be transeformed into a triangle. As for example, minding to make the right corner the point of the said triangle, with sound of trumpet, or with voice, causing every man in the army to turn themselves with their faces that way, which is between the front and the right flank, and incontinente, so soon as they are turned, every man observing the foresaid order, that is, that all those, which shall perceive not to haue his fellow before him in the accustomend distance, do procede straight forth until he haue one, which done, the said foursquare fashion, shalbe found to be changed into a triangle fashion, and the point of the same triangle figure, shall come to be the right corner of the front of the first figure. which thing, is as easy to be done as is possible: for the trial whereof, let there be for example .25. men standing in fashion four square, as hereafter appeareth in figure, and to cause it to be better understand, I haue thought good to make this figure with the 25. letters of the a b c. Now minding to change this four square figure, into a triangell figure, it is needful to cause thē all to turn  diagram of a square formation 
Front A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V X Y Z & '  with their faces that way, which is between the head and the same side, where I haue thought good to make the point of the wedge or triangle: as for example purposing to make the corner. E. the point and head of the triangle, I shal cause that every man do turn with his face that way, between the front& the right flank, towards the corner. E. which thing done, the foresaid figure shall come to stand as here appeareth: in which figure may be seen many men, that hath no fellow in the accustom distance before him, although they haue a fellow strait before him, much more further  diagram of the square formation rotating into a diamond formation 
  Front A B C D E   F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V X Y Z & '  of them the ordinary, which is double so much as the ordinary, as appeareth by . F. who hath right before him . B. but the distance that is between the said . F. and the said . B. is double so much as the ordinary distaunse, wherefore if . F. shall observe the precepts above declared, immediately so sone as he shall haue turned his face that way, he should incontinent go, to come nearer to the said . B. in the accustomend disstaunce, which doing, he shall bring himself between A. and . G. Albeit the said . G. shall not remain in his first place, but shall go nearer unto . C. to the accustomend distance, and in the place where . G. was first L. must come. So that . F. shall stand between . A. and . L, and likewise if all the other shall procede forward, according to the said order, until every man find a fellow in the accustomend distance before him H. shall go nearer unto . D. and . M. shall follow the said . H. and . Q. shall follow after the said . M. every one of them, until they come to their accustomend disstaunce. And in like maner . I. shall go near unto . E. and N. shall follow . I. and . R. shall follow . N. and . X. shall follow the said . R. every one of them until they come to their accustomend distance. Likewise . O. shall go nearer to . K. and . S. shall follow . O. and . Y. shall follow . S. also to the ordinary distance: and likewise .&. shall also go nearer to . V. to the accustomend distance, which thing being observed, such a four square battle shal be transformed into a triangle battle, as here following appeareth in figure, the point whereof shall come to be the corner . E. and with this order a captain may change an army, with turning of a hand, though it were of 100000. men from the fashion of a four square to the fashion of thréesquare. So that the said men be advertised  diagram of the diamond formation changing into a wedge formation and taught, as afore hath been declared, both as well to know howe they ought to turn as to march. which is of wonderful importance: for as much, as at a sudden to reduce an army after this sort into a triangel fashion, it is almost impossible that the enemies shalbe able, or shall know how to make their army like the Sheres to set against it, whereby shal come great advantage as by the 5. chapitex above is plainly proved: for that it seems unto me that a triangle battle, may bee alway sufficient able to break all maner of foursquare battles as is used now a daies, although it had half so many more men, so long as those of the triangel battle be well instructed of the maner of their fighting declared in the v. chapter.    


¶ Of the perfect form or fashion of strong places.  
THe form which unto the circular fashion doth most resemble, of expert and skilful soldiers, is above all other with most reason praised, so that the Curtine or walls therof, be made strait, and of such length, that of the bulwarks they may be flancked: which fashion being made with many corners, is very meet and necessary if in a sufficient great place it be erected: for where in small rooms the just length of the courtin is shortened, it is convenient to build them with few corners; because if otherwise they should be shortened with a number of corners, the shorter of necessity the spaces between those must be; so that besides that the one bulwark may hurt the other, they shalbe moreover to no purpose, but rather an occasion of infinite coste, their courtins néeding as is requisite to be defended of platforms, and the corners therof shall come to be less blunt, and much sharper then they ought to be, by reason of the little distance between them and the platforms.  
Therfore the more that they be made distant from those bulwarks( the due length of the curtin being kept) so much the blunter the corners will come to be, which by them must be defended, and the more of those corners that there are in the same fashion, so much the blunter they shall also come to be. So that where the fashion of the places that are built bee sufficient great to contain all the foresaid particulars, which for a sure fortress is requisite to be made, all thing commodiously will come to pass: and the greater that they shal be, the more men they may haue to defend them and more commodious space within, for to retire with great and strong fortification, and the platforms may be made much further in, and haue the corners of their bulwarks blunt, and with a large back, meet for defence, and in an assault, much surer then the sharp, because the sharp poincted bulwark, being battered defendeth the enemy from the platforms, so that under the same, being covered, he may almost out of danger, make an assault. Where against a town or fortress, that were built after the fashion of these plattes following, in what so ever parte of such places, the enemy should approach marching towards them to incampe, or in battle raie to assault them, or with Trenches, and artillery to batter them, either high or low or by the curtin within, or otherwise, he shall always, from many of those flankers of the same place, be greatly hurt and repulced, and of the platforms in especially, more then from any other where, because they be most near, and stand higher then all the other, and they shall also hurt him more, when he shall be somewhat far of, then near hand, as may be sene by the plain perfit that hath the number .1. and in the same that is raised up, that hath the number .2.  
The which with two other are also here after pictured, to the end that thereby may be considered of such as shall see them, the sundry good and notable effects that be in them, the which although it be not possible so easily with writing to be expressed, yet by their help they may be better understand and comprehended, and moreover by them shalbe gotten this knowledge, whereby every man commodiously may understand, where the enemy gowing about with his power, may best devise to assail them, and howe they within may provide to defend and withstand the same with their men, taking them from those places where they may best be spared, so the building the fashion of fortresses, in the said maner, there shall in no place happen any such incommodities, as in other that are ignorauntly made, after the ordinary fashion with less corners, as also by these figures, here following is more plainly declared.  
There ought also to be noted, that these and the other plattes, in this treatise set forth, being drawn in a little space, could not be fashioned with their due proportion: albeit to the end that same which is reasoned about them, might partly be understand, they are not left out or omitted: for without their help it should haue been impossible for any man, to haue comprehended that, which I seek to declare, concerning fortification, although they were expert soldiers: as by the foresaid plattes of the nombre of 1. and 2. may manifestly be seen, howe well the courteynes of such a town, is by the bulwarks therof defended, and howe the ditches of the platforms, and of both of them are flancked and scoured, besides other things, which by the lines that are drawn be declared, where otherwise it could not be shewed after such sort, as it might be understand, and the like happeneth in the other.  
 diagram of a fortification 
1 D C B V F H K M O Q S T E G I L N P R   
 diagram of a fortification 
2 G F D O B    

¶ The strongest and perfectest fashion of all other for the building of the cortin or wall of a hewn or fortress.  
BEfore being showed concerning the perfection that for the fashion of Fortresses is requisite, howe thy ought to be builded with a nombre of corners proportioned nevertheless, with a just length of the cortin, and a sufficient distance between every bulwark, so that the more that with like conditions to the circular fashion it resembleth, so much the more it becometh perfect.  
There now remained to be considered, what fashion is to be judged of most perfection, either the same which without any edification placed in the midst of the cortin therof, shal be builded, or that which shal haue either cavaliers, or platforms, or what so ever other maner of edification or figure, that for to defend the cortins of the bulwarks may be placed: or whether it be of those fashions, which unto this present hath been used of other in building, or some new maner that might be devised Therefore in this part leaving to reason of those, that shall haue cavaliers or platforms as also of those bulwarks that the cortins shall haue, which from the one to the other most straightly without other edification placed in the midst do shoot, for this time I shall only show a new fashion, the which I judge to be the most perfectest, that is possible to be imagined, as may be seen by the lines that are drawn from the plain plate of the number of 3.& by the plate that is raised up of the number of .4. here under figured, which resembling so nere the circular figure, as the due length of the curtin will suffer, they shal haue this difference from the other which directly are distended, that the cortin being made back a convenient distance, that spase may be left meet to make from the one and the other point of the same retire, a flanker, as two like flankers may be seen, in the plain perfit of the number of .3. by the letters . E. and . F. and in the perfit that is raised up of the number of .4. by the letters . A. and . C. they shall haue commodity to direct their ordinance to flank, as well high as low, like unto those that are commonly built now a dayes: whereby, not onely the same space of the curtin, that is between the one and the other of them shal be perfectly defended, as may be perceived by the perfit of the number of .3. by the line drawn from the letter . E. to the letter . F. but also that which lieth between them and the bullwarkes, as in the said perfit, by the lines that describeth the manner of the shot the one from the letter . E. to the letter . S. the other from the letter . F. to the letter . R. may be understand, and likewise the curteines of those bulwarks, as also in the very same, by the line that is drawn from the letter . F. to the letter . Q. is showed, with a better maner than in other fashion of building that is used can be defended, so that all the partes of them shall not only be made to be able to shoot by flank, but also thereby to shoot by righe line, as in the perfit of the number of .4. by the line that passeth from the letter . C. to the letter . D. and from the letter A. to the letter . B. may be perceived. And whereas they may be builded with less coste then otherwise, they haue also commodity to make their gates equally distante the one from the other, from the next bulwarks: where they are placed most safely and commodiouslie with great strength, and those gates be as well, as all the rest of the wall, and greatlier in that parte, much surer from the assailing of the enemies, thē in what so ever other maner of fashion might be devised: for as much as the platforms, and cavaliers be nothing so strong, but more easy to be overthrown, in respect to this maner of building, which is most sure from such danger, and exceedingly well defended from the force of the enemy: to the which, the nearer that the enemy shall approach, so much the more he shal of those within be hurt, contrary to that, which in the platforms happeneth. moreover there may be certain slaughter houses built in the ditch, as in the plate of the number of .4. by the letters . F.H. is shewed, which the enemies with great difficulty must first seek to win, before they can come nere the walls. And those being won, shall be but small preiudise to the town or fortress: wherefore without comparison, this fashion is greatelier to bee praised, then the same with platforms for that the nearer the wall, the enemy shall come, so much more from the bulwarks by flank, and all most on the back, and from other places, both by flank, and by front in one instant, he shalbe hurt and strooken.  
Where also in such a kind of fashion with many corners, the greatness and room of the town within, is somewhat diminished, in respect to those that are made with platforms. Therefore I conclude, for the considerations a foresaid, these to be the most perfectest fashions that any strong fortress, is possible to be made.  
 diagram of a fortification 
5 A B D G K N   
 diagram of a fortification 
6. C G B F N M D I K ●●●   
 diagram of a fortification 
3. A C E D F F G I H K Z P Q   
 diagram of a fortification 
4. D B E G H    

¶ An example of the quadrant form to prove that it causeth debilletie and weakenesse.  
THE capitains& fortresses that are builded after a four cornered fashion, in what so ever maner they be made, are subject to most great inconveniences: for that the sharp corners of their bulwarks which of necessity the same fashion will cause them to haue, may very easily be battered, and under the ruin therof, the assaults of the enemies defended, as in the perfit following of the nombre of 7. by the bulwark C. battered of the artillerle D. is seen. Whereby also may be perceived how the ordinance may be planted to make a breatche, and to take away their flanckers after such sort, that the enemies may safely approach to any place, either marching in battelray to incampe, or assault, or with pianers to work, or for any other purpose, as by the four flanckers of the three bulwark. L.E.C. may be understand, the which of the artillery. H.F.K.G. not onely are battered, but also two of them that haue the letters. L. C. as is seen, may of the artillery. K. G. be beaten through their flanckers,& the back of the bulwark. E. nearest to them, which is on both sides of the flanks battered, the which for having in such place less thickness then any where else, and great height, may bee the more easilier ruinated. as is to be seen in the said bulwark. E. battered with the artillery F. and H. and also by the breatche of the batterye, which in the cortin is made of the ordinance B. as is seen where the artillery G. by the cortin doth beate through the same in the breatch of the batterye A. as manifestly appeareth: and moreover when they within would do any thing, they shall be beaten with the artillery over the wall within the cortin N. from the caualier M. without, so that no man shalbe able to stand behind the same to defend. And not onely in this sort, but in sundry wise, and in diverse manners, what soever town or fortress is builded after such fashion, may easily be battered& soon made sautable, whereby without further declaration it is plainly to be understand, how much the foresaid plattes of the other fashion excel this.  
 diagram of a square fortification 
7. Y S A N     

¶ Of the nature of saltpetre, and the maner how to make and refine it.  
saltpetre is a mixture of many substances, gotten out with fire and water of dry& dirty ground, or of that flower, that groweth out of new walls, in Sellars, or of that ground which is found lose within tombs, or desolate caues, where rain can not come in: in the which ground( according to my judgement) the same is engendered of an airy moistenesse drunk up, and gotten of the yearthy dryness: whose nature( by the effect therof) considering, I cannot tell how to be resolved, to say what thing properly it is. The well learned and most wise physicians( besides medicinal experience) by the taste( finding it salt, and with exceeding sottill sharpness, and considering the great biting therof) suppose verily that it is of nature hot and dry: on the other parte, seeing it to be a thing engendered of air, and touched of fire to fall in a flamme, and vapore, and rise with a terrible violence( as the same compounded, is seen by Gonpoulder most manifestly declared) seemeth to be of an airy nature, hot and moist: and again seeing it with shining and glittering whiteness, as a thing to the nature of water conformable, it seemeth that it may be said, that it is of a waterye nature, finding it heavy: to which may be joined the experience of the taste, and of the exceeding coldness that in summer it causeth the water to be of, wherein it is put to keep Wine cold, as they use in italy, and by the brittelnesse therof, it may be thought to be of the nature of earth: and so much the more, where burning it with as much brimstone, it will turn into a hard white ston: so that to conclude, it seemeth that it hath the certainty& quality of every element. now this of ancient writers, was called nitro: and Plinie in his natural history in the .xxxj. book saith, that it differeth not much from salt: whose nature seems also that unto physicians hath not been hide:& it is found in many places, but the best is found Macedonia: Albeit the late writers, spetially they of our partes, say that Plinie, and the other writers believed that it was minerable:& peradventure they are deceived: for that there is of the artificial: which hath the very same virtue,& as some think, more stronger of nature:& is found for the very same medicinal effect, better then the natural. now this( as I haue said) is drawn forth from the said dirty earth, so that the yearthie dryness by rain hath not been extinct: but the most excellenteste of all other, is made of the dung of beasts, converted into earth, in stabells or in dunghilles, of long time not used: and above all other, of the same that cometh of hogs, the most and best is gotten: what so ever dung it be of, it is requisite the by continuance of time it be well resolved into yerth, and the humidity therof dried: yea and it is needful that the same earth be as it were dusty. To mind too haue a say to know whether it be good, by the taste of the tongue it may be felt if it be biting, and howe much: and finding it strong, so that you determine to work of it( making a great quantity) it is necessary to provide many Cauldrons, fornesses, barrills or tubbes: and likewise wood, white lime, and ashes of old oak: but chiefly must be provided a great barn, or other walled house nere to the water( whereof it is needful to haue enough, as also of earth, both commodious for the place,& likewise every other thing.) But first the fornesses must be made for the cauldrons, and they must be placed thereon, as those be that the diers use: then there must be prepared ioystes as long as the house, and so broad, that commodiuslie above ground may stand butts with their heads knocked out, square chests, barrels or tubbes to the number of .50. or .60. or .100,( according to the cauldernes, and the capacetie of the place) and between every two of those vessells, there must be set a half tub to receive the water that shall run out: or there would be placed a channel of wood that may gooe along under the holes of the vessells that are set above ground, so that it may convey all the water that cometh from them, into a great tub or two sufficient to hold all the water full of substance of saltpetre: and the butts that haue their heads knocked out, or barrels or tubbes, in the bottom of every of them there must be made a hole on the one side, with an Awgar, or else three or four little holes made with a good big perser: and vpon them must be laid a little thin linen cloth or else the end of a broom, or some straw, to the intent that it may keep the earth up and strain the water that shal be put amongeste the same earth which is to be wrought, when it is tasted with the mouth, so that it be certain, that it containeth saltpetre. Then there must be made thereof, in the midst of the house where it is to be wrought, a great hill, next unto which must be made an other half so big, which must be made with two pares of vnslaked lime, and three of oak ashes, or other ashes, which in taste are very strong and sharp: and then the one hill must be well mingled with the other, and with the same composition, the tubbes must be filled that are set a loft vpon the ioystes, within a span of the mouth, or else( minding not to mingell with the earth the ashes& the lime together) you may put first a span thickenes of earth in the bottom of the tub, and then three fingers thickness of the foresaid lime and ashes: and vpon the same after, an other span thickness of earth, and on that likewise, an other three or four fingers thickness of lime and ashes: and so putting one rue of one thing, and an other of an other, you shall fill all the butts and tubbes, or other vessells that you haue placed, even as above I haue said, within a span of the mouths of them, and the rest that is then empty, which you left, you must fill with water: the which running through all the earth, by a little and a little, you must let it drop in the tubbes that stand under to receive it, or in the gutter or channel, or where you list, so that it be conveyed into one or into sundry tubbes, or where you think good: and so you must see well that you gather all the water that you powred upon the earth, after it is passed through the holes of the bottom of the tubbes, in such wise, that it bring with it all the substance and virtue of the saltpetre that was in the said earth: whereof by putting some of it on your tongue, you may taste: and finding it biting and very salt, it is a token that it is good and that you haue done well: if not, power it again vpon the very same earth, or vpon some other new: but finding the first earth full of substance as much as sufficeth, you may again power vpon it more water, too wash better the remnaunte of the earth: albeit this second water would be saved in an other vessel, and after this, the earth may likewise be washed the third time, to thintente that all the substance thereof, may perfectly be gotten: but this second nor the third, ought not to be mingled with the first, if it happen not to come of the very same taste: the which I believe that it will not: but it must be put by itself in other vessells, for that it is good to power vpon the change of the next earth, and so you may procede, gathering a good quantity of such water, taking heed nevertheless, that it be full of the substance of saltpetre: the which if it seem unto you, not of the same perfection, as you would haue it, you may power it again vpon the very same earth, or vpon other new, till such time as it satisfy you, and that you know, that it be full of the substance of saltpetre. Besides this, there must be made a furnes with one or .ij. cauldrons of brass walled thereon, which must be as great as those that the Diers use, and these cauldrons must then be filled, with the foresaid saltpetre water: the which( as already I haue told) ought to be as full of substance as may be, so that it haue about the .ij. third partes, and make it faire and softly to boil so much till it come to one third part, or there abouts: and after take it of, and put it to settell in a great vessel, covered, which must be well bound about, with hoops of iron, and sure and close in the joining thereof, to the intent it spill not: and thus when the same water is settled and well clarefied, and from the earth and gross matter, which in it remained, diligently purged, it must be taken out and boiled again of new in the same cauldron, or in some other: and for as much as every time that it boileth, if it be not taken heed of, it turneth into skum, and sometimes swelleth so much, that often times running over it spilleth, and carrieth away therewith much of the good: the which minding to reméedie, you must take three partes of oak ashes, and one of lime, and moreover, in every hundrethe pound weight of water, there must be dissolved four pound of roche Alum: and when the cauldron boileth, take of the said water with a pot, and power into it ones or twice, and spetially when you see the saltpetre water rise in skum, which in a little while you shall see it alaie, both clear and faire, and of an azure colour: and it must be boiled so long, till all the thin watrinesse be vapored away and the substance of the saltpetre thickened: so that it being taken out, and put in chests or tubbes and coled, may congeal: the which is best done, when the water is brought to least quantity, taking it out and putting it into a less cauldron, wherein it will sooner congeal: the which water being tasted, and seen to be brought to such pass, to be read to congeal, you may take it out, and put it in vessels of wood, or of earth that are rough within, with certain sticks of wood, to congeal, and so you shall let it cool, and rest. iij. or iiij. daies, so as it may drop, and be strained through some little hole, in the bottom of the vessel: and all the water that is not then congealed, you must take out and save for to seeth again: and the saltpetre that is in any quantity congealed, you shall find to be, according to the virtue that was in the water, or in the earth: but the clearness and fairness thereof, will come of the master virtue of the water, that is put into it in the boiling, which hath strength to purgeit, and make it come, as it were refined in the first seething: now this being taken from the sides of the vessel, where it congealed, and in the water therof washed, you must lay it vpon a table to dry throughly: and the same seeming unto you to haue need, or nevertheless minding to haue it above the common use, for some purpose, more purefied,& without earthy grossness,& altogether without fatness and saltness, which for to make exceeding fine powder, or aqua fortis, is most requisite so to be: to be short, for what so ever cause it ought to be refined, I council you, to do it after one of these ij. ways, which here following, I shall teach you. The first, which I like best, is with water: and the second is with fire, with water it is refined in this maner, taking of the foresaid mixture made of lime, ashes, and alum dissolved: and then for every barrel of water that you haue put in the cauldron, for to disolue the saltpetre, you must put into it six pottefulls of the foresaid strong water: and in the same quantity of water so prepared, put so much saltpetre as you think may well be dissolved: and with boiling make it to resolve very well, and seeing it in boiling too haue cast up scum, you shall then take it out of the cauldron, and put it into a tub, in the bottom where of, you must first haue put four fingers thickness of fine sand clean washed, and that must be covered with a linen cloth: and by a little hoole made in the bottom of the tub, you shall suffer it to drop by little and little into some other vessel set under to receive it:& so this water thus strained, you must after put in the very same or in an other cauldron to boil again, and to make the greater parte of the same water, that you put into it séethe away: finally make it boil so much, until you see it ready to thicken, powering now and than, in making it, a little of the foresaid strong water, and specially when it swelleth and casteth up scum: and this thing( being so handled) you must take it out of the cawldron, and put it in chests or other vessells of wood, to congeal: which, being a great quantity, in three or four dayes, you shall find all that congealed, which will congeal: which, being taken out, you must order as you used afore the other: and the same water that is not congealed, must be boiled again: and so you shall do from time to time as it gathereth together and congealeth: and after this sort you shall make the saltpetre most white and faire, and much better thē at the first seething.  
Also saltpetre is refined in an other manner, which is with fire, but in a little quantity minding to do it well: and although it be a ready way, yet few use it: albeit it serveth to get out the fatness of saltpetre, for that it sendethe into the bottom very much yearthynes, notwithstanding I like better the foresaid way in purging it with water, then this with fire:  
But to do this, take a salet, or some other iron or brazen vessel, and fill it with saltpetre, and cover it with a cover of iron, brass or earth, so that it be made big enough, meet to be taken of and put on when you list, that the vessel may be well covered: and then it must be set in the midst of a good fire of cools, and so the saltpetre will melt, which is soon perceived of the expert artificer: but when you think that it is molt, look vpon it: and if it be not well melted, cover it again and let it melt well: then it being well melted, take brimstone most finelye beaten in powder, and straw some thereon: and if of itself it take not fire, do you kindell it: and being kindled let it burn till such time as the brimstone be all consumed, so that nothing ells be burnt, but the vpper parte, and certain gross vnctiousnes of the saltpetre, the which when it is burned, will leave the rest faire and clear: and then it must be taken from the fire letting it cool, where in the vesseell you shall find it( when it shalbe could) all in one piece white like unto a piece of marbell: and all the yearthinesse thereof remaining in the bottom: which shalbe good saltpetre to make powder withall, but not very commendable to any other use: and about saltpetre the wit of men haue so much imagened, that means are found to cause it to grow in the ground, and in places: that never had any before, by disoluing saltpetre in water: for with the same water wetting the ground, and letting it stand so a certain space of time, saltpetre will be engendered, so that the same that was put there, will multiply wonderfully: and it is a most certain thing, that in making saltpetre, the earth that hath been occupied, heaped up in a place that is covered, so that the rain do not wash it, within the space of five or six yeres, may again be laboured, and saltpetre shalbe found to be engendered, and yield much more, then it did the first time:& this that I haue declared in this chapter, is as much as I can say of saltpetre.   

¶ The maner how to make all sorts of gunpowder. Chapter xxiiii.  
GVnpouder, is made of three simples onely: that is, saltpetre, Brimstone and coals: and some proportioneth it after one fashion, and some after an other, and also according to the guns, and purposes, wherewith they will occupy it. For that one sort is occupied for great ordinance, and an other sort for less pieces: and this is known to every Bombardier: In Harkabuses, and hand guns, is not occupied common powder, but about certain fire works: and therefore to every of the said purposes, the powders is proportioned accordingly For that if Serpentine powder, should be occupied in hand guns, or Harkebuses, it would scant be able to drive their pellettes a quaites cast from their mouths: and if hand gun powder should be used in pieces of ordinance, without great discretion, it would quickly break or mar them: and to mind to haue all sort of powders good, three things is requisite to be observed, in making therof. The first is to see, that the substance, wherewith it is made, haue no earthy grossness. The second, that it be finely beaten: the third, that it be very well dried, from all humidity or moistenesse, and this done, you shall haue strong and excellent good powder. And it is to be vnderstanded, that the chief thing that is in powder, is saltpetre: for that of it( by the same that is seen) dependeth all the force. And therefore provision is to be made, to haue a good quantity thereof, and that it be clean and neat: the which by burning, may well be known, for that in all sorts of powder, it is needful, that the saltpetre be good.  
Now, for to make common powder, for great pieces of artillery there must be taken three partes, of refined saltpetre, two of willow cools,& one of Brimstone, and grinding every thing: all must be well mingled together,& all the moistness thereof dried up, as I haue said. To make powder for small pieces of artillery, there must be taken five partes, of refined saltpetre, and one and a half of cools, and one of Brimstone,& grinding it most finely, and mingling it well together, it must be corned, and then dried. The maner of corning all sorts of powder, is with a Séeue made, with a thick skin of parchment, full of little round holes, into the which Séeue the powder must be put, while it is dancke, and also a little bowl, that when you sift, it may roll up and down, vpon the clottes of powder, to break them, that it may corn, and run through the hooles of the Séeue.  
To make Harkebuse and hand gun powder, there must be taken ten partes of refined saltpetre, and one of young hasell cools of a year old made clean, and one parte of Brimstone, and beating all in a mortar, or grinding it exceedingly well that it may be mingled together and so fine as is possible, thē it must be corned and throughly dried. And note that if it be not marueylously well beaten, it will never be good. But because making of powder, which are of things that will easylie kindell, cannot be without peril of him that maketh it, except it be remedied with wetting: therefore it behoveth to take heed that it be not beaten dry, as well to avoyde such peril, as also for that it will be beaten better: for which causes it must be wet with comun water to a certain degree of moistenes, so that taken up in ones hand it may cling together. Some moist it with vinegar: and some, for to make it more stronger, with camphored, aqua vitae. When I haue caused gunpowder to be made, I haue used comun water,& therefore I am able to say which of those things is beste: and to tell my opinion, I doubt whether vinegar or, aqua vitae, causeth the gunpoulder to be any better then the comun water: for as much they vaporyng away, as they do,& as of necessity they must, I believe that little of their substance remaineth.  
There be some which in making cool( béesides willow) make thē of hasell:& some of vine sticks:& some of bay sticks: some of reeds: some of kexses:& to be short, all the cools that are made of soft wood, are of wood which haue much pith: but it is requisite that they be small, young, and tender, and without hardness of knots: otherwise they be not good.  
Albeit they be made in diuers manners: but in making of any great quantity of powder, the ordinary cool is to be taken: and making a little, they use to take young hasell of a year old, cut in short pieces, and they putting them into a great yearthen pot, 
how too make cool where with gunpoulder is made.  or other vessel of iron, or brass, they shut it and cover it close, and lute it, or daub it very well about, so that it cannot breath: and then they make fire round about it and vpon it, till such time as it may be thought that the heat is well entred in through all, and that the wood that is within is very well fired: and without fire-brandes, or flamme, burned onely through such heat: and then they take the fire from the pot and let it cool, and so they find the same wood become coal. I happening once to haue need of coals( to thintent to make some quickly,) took as many dry hazel sticks that had their rinds scrapes of, as I thought sufficient to serve my purpose: and breaking them in pieces and laying them close together on a heap, I set them on fire and burned them all well, and then sprinckeled water vpon them with a brown, and with the same wet browme quenched the fire: and so scattered abroad the coals héere& there, always sprinkling water vpon thē till I quenched them: and thus I haue served my purpose without so much difficulty.  
moreover, it is a very profitable thing, yea and a necessary, that I declare the maner and facility of beating it, for to be able safely to make a great quantetie thereof. In old time they were wont to grind gunpowder with certain handemilles, as they use to grind corn, but( besides the pain) it is a way very perilous: for that such a composition ground together with stones, will catch heat in such wise, that it will soon engender fire, inespecially every thing being a matter disposed to fire: as also by rubbing together with violence a couple of bay sticks, you shall straight way kendel fire. Some grind powder in such milles as they use to grind crabs or apple to make vargis or cider: and some hath it stamped in mortars with a water mill or a horsemill, which way is the beste of all other, and most surest and also it is beaten finelier, and with less labour and pain: Some( that hath not the commodetie of water) make a great wheel, devised after such sort, that with the cogs thereof it may raise up many heavy pestels, which falling, beate in diuers mortars of wood made in a beam of oak, of the which there be some haue the bottoms of brass.  
Some stamp with their arms, with a great pestel tied to the end of a pole with a cord, right ever a mortar of wood or brass, and so they bease the easilier: other some beate it in a ston mortar, with the mouth some what large, with a wooden pestle, with the handle thereof made like unto a hammer or a mall. And these, and other, that may be made, is as much as about the deeuise of bealing and making gun powder is needful.  
They haue used heretofore to waighe every matter by itself, and then they haue gone mingling and beating all together: There haue been after, some that haue devised to beate every thing severally by itself, and then mingelled altogether and made it. But finally the beste and most readiesse way, is to take a quantetie of saltpetre, wherewith you will make your powder, and put it into a catildron with so much water( as being set vpon the fire) may be thought sufficient to dissoule it: which so sone as it is resolved, must be taken of and set on the ground in a cold place: and the quantetie of beaten coals that is sufficient, must be put into it, and so stirring it about, must be mingled well with the saltpetre dissolved: and then taking your brimstone finely beaten in powder, and with a staff stirring about the coals and the saltpetre, you must straw it finely vpon the same, as well as you can, with continual stirring and mingling them together, which composition thus made, you must then dry somewhat in the sun: and then to haue it excellently well made, there needeth no other to be done, but to beate it altogether, to the intent that it may incorporate most finely, which done, you must dry it with most great diligence: and then si●t it very well through a sieve, and moisting it again with water or vinegar, stirring it somewhat together in a sieve, you may corn it as already hath been declared: and then again for to occupy it about your business your must day it well: and so being dried put it into day vessels of wood to keep: and set it in the highest places of your house, where few cometh for diuers respects: and though it were for no other, at least to keep it dry. They tha● are expert, know good powder in this maner, by the colour: for that if it be very black it is a sign that it is made with very much coals: or that it is moist: and when you rub it upon a piece of paper it will black it more then it ought to do: and drawing it with your finger, you may see whether it be finely beaten or no: for it must be so much beaten that nothing, neither of saltpetre nor of Brimstone bee diserned in any, wise: for with reason they ought not to be seen: they take also for a trial, three or four cornes of powder, and lay them vpon a white Paper, distant three fingers, the one from the other, and fire one of them: and if the powder be good, you shall see them all to fire at ones: so that there shall be no residence remaining, neither grossness of Brimstone, nor of saltpetre, nor of any other thing, and the paper not burnt.  
And if it be not so found, then know that it is evil made, or not good, but full of earth●nesse of saltpetre: or that it is moist, so that it is nought for shooting of ordinance, besides the peril that it putteth them in. And vndoubtedl●e naughty powder, is a cost half cast away: and it is a great fault in him that maketh it, or that causeth it to be made: for that in time of need, it is of no effect, and causeth much shane to the Gunners, which occupy it: and therefore diligence ought to be used, and good heed taken that it be made according as I haue taught. There are many which bring up lies, saying: that they can tell howe to make powder that shooting it in guns shall make no noise, the which is impossible, the fire and the ai●e violently encountering together, where besides th●t they are not able to do the same they say, with a piece of ordinance, they are less able to do it with one of those potgunnes of elder, that boyes use to shut paper and borrows in, by the noise of which, may well be perceived, that all proceedeth of breaking of the air. Also there be many that say, that they can make white powder, that shall not black ones hands, by putting in a certain thing in the steed of cools: some other, red, with dried read flowers: and other blewe, with blew flowers: some other say that to make the powder of more force and strength, that it is very good to put to every pound of brimstone an ounce of mercury, the brimstone being first put in by a little, and a little. moreover there are some other that say, that for to make the like, there ought to be put to every pound of saltpetre, a quarter of an ounce of Salt armoniack: some other therebe also, which say that in the steed of coals, it is better to take linen cloth and to burn it to tinder, and therwith to make powder, which is more excellenter then any other coal that is possible to be used, about such a purpose. And although that in my iudgement I haue declared alréedy the best hermits, that is for the making of all sorts of gunpowder, yet to the intent that it may be understand howe much men haue travailed and imagened to bring the same to all perfection, I haue thought good to show herefollowing diuers more receiptes both good and bad, which for the making of powder hath been experiensed of sundry men.  


The first invention and oldest maner in making of sarpentine powder, or powder for ordinance.  
1 saltpetre i. parte.  
Brimstone i. parte  
coals i. parte.   

The next practice of making powder for ordinance.  
2. Saltepter iij. partes.  
Brimstone ii. partes.  
coals ii. partes.   

¶ powder for ordinance of a newer making.  
3. saltpetre x. partes.  
Brimstone iij. partes.  
coals iij. partes.   

¶ powder for ordinance not so old.  
4. saltpetre xij. partes  
Brimstone iij. partes.  
coals. ii. partes.   

powder for ordinance not very old.  
5. saltpetre ix. partes.  
Brimstone ij. partes.  
coals iij. partes.   

powder used of late daies for handgunnes.  
6. saltpetre iiii. partes.  
Brimstone i. parte  
coals i. parte.   

powder for ordinance used not so long ago●.  
7. saltpetre xx. partes.  
Brimstone iii. partes.  
coals x. partes.   

¶ powder for ordinance used of latter daies.  
8. saltpetre x. partes.  
Brimstone x. partes.  
coals xxxuj. partes.   

¶ Grossepouder of a newer sort.  
9. saltpetre x. partes  
Brimstone xx. partes.  
Colds. xxxvii. partes.   

¶ Fine powder of a making not very old.  
10. saltpetre ix. partes.  
Brimstone iij. partes.  
coals v. partes.   

¶ gross powder of a newer making.  
11. saltpetre ij. partes.  
Brimstone i. parte.  
coals. i. parte.   

Harkabus powder of a newer making.  
12. saltpetre iij. partes.  
Brimstone. i. parte.  
coals of willow sticks i. parte.   

¶ Fine powder of a newer making.  
13. saltpetre often refined v. partes  
Brimstone i. parte.  
coals of young hasell sticks i. parte.   

¶ gross powder of a newer making.  
14. saltpetre refined iij. partes.  
Brimstone i. parte.  
willow coals ii. partes   

powder of a newer making.  
15. saltpetre x. partes.  
Brimstone ii. partes.  
Willow coals iii. partes.   

¶ Harkabus powder used now adays.  
16. saltpetre very often ●●fined x. partes.  
Brimstone i. parte.  
coals made of Hasell ●●●gges with th●● like peeled i. parte.   

Hand gun powder of a newer making  
17. saltpetre refined xvi. partes.  
Brimstone iii. partes  
coals of hasell having their rinds peeled of .iiij. partes.   

¶ Handgun powder of a stronger and of a newer making.  
18. saltpetre refined vij. partes.  
Brimstone. i. parte.  
coals of young hasell i. parte.   

¶ Finer and stronger handegun powder.  
19. saltpetre diuers times refined viij. partes.  
Brimstone i. parte.  
coals of young hasell twigs having their rinds peeled of i. part.   

¶ gross powder used now a daies.  
20. saltpetre iiij. partes.  
Brimstone i. parte.  
willow coals i. parte.   

¶ gross powder used now adays.  
21. saltpetre xx. partes.  
Brimstone iiii. partes.  
Willow coals v. partes.   

¶ Handegun powder used now a daies.  
22. saltpetre refined dry xlviii. partes.  
Brimstone cetrine vii. partes  
Hasell coals ii. partes.   

Handegun powder used now adays.  
23. saltpetre refined xviii. partes.  
Brimstone ii. partes.  
hazel coals iii. partes.     


¶ The maner that is used of charging and shooting of ordinance. Cap. xxv.  
FOr asmuch as if Gunners should chance to be slain or otherwise lacking, to the intent that every soldier in time time of need may know how to serve in one of their stéedes, I haue thought good and necessary to show and declare the maner of charging& shooting of pieces of ordinance. wherefore it ought to be understood, howe much powder is occupied at once in charching of every piece, which most commonly, is is two third partes, of that which the shot or bullet thereof weigheth: as for example if the boolet of a piece of ordinance waighe .xxi. pound, then there must be taken .xiiii. pound of powder for the just charge of the same piece. And then with a long staff that hath at the one end a bob as big as the boolet of the piece, and at the other end a ladle made for the same purpose that will take so much powder up at twice or thrice, as is aforesaid, the piece must be charged, after this fort. Take the ladle full of powder, and thrust it into the gun so far as it will go,& then turn your hand with the ladle that the powder may fall out& remain there behind when you pull out your ladle: which done, you must with the bob end thereof, thrust the powder home faire and softelye: and so with the ladle taking up the rest of the powder you must do likewise, and thrust after at the last a wisp of hey or of some thing else, to sweep all the powder together, and then the bullet which must be of a fit biggnesse for the piece: And also an other wisp to stay the bollet for rolling out: and putting some powder in the touchehole and about the touchchole, the gun is then charged. now to level it, a man must stand directly behind it, and with a lever, turn it this way, or that way till such time as it be brought to lye just, as a man will haue it, so that looking straight from the breach or hinder parte of the piece as low as may be vpon the vpper parte thereof, he may see the mouth of the piece to lie even with the mark and as it were to cover it: which done, if the ground whereon it standeth, be even, as it is requisite to be, and that the one wheel stand not higher then the other, giuing fire to it with a lint stock which is a match fastened to the end of a staff of a yard or two shepherds long, you shall see the shot to strike the same thing that you shot at, if it be within any reasonable distance. And for more speedy shooting of ordinance, the just charge in powder of every piece may aforhande be prepared in a readiness, and put in bags of linen or in great papers made for the same purpose, which in a sudden may be chopped into the mouth of a piece with the boollet or shot thereof thrust after, as far as they will go, and then thrusting a long wire into the touchehole that may pierce through the bag or paper wherein the charge of powder lieth within the piece, filling the same touchehole with corn powder so soon as it is leueled, it may incontinent be shot of: which maner of charging is done most quickly and a great deal sooner then any other way, and when hast requires, very needful.   

¶ How to get out quickly the nailes that should happen by treason, or otherwise to be driven into the toucheholes of ordinance. Cap. xxvi.  
IF it should fortune at some sudden assault, the toucheholes of the artillery to be nailed up, after such sort as they cannot be discharged, or shot of, the speediest way to vnnaile them, is first to charge again all such pieces of artillery, with smaller bulletes thē their ordinary: and when they are so charged, to unveil them toward those places where need requires, even as they should haue been, if they had not been nailed: and then there must be made a train of powder, along the bottom of the canes, from the mouths to the bollettes of every piece of ordinance: and to the intent not to shoot them in vain, you may tarrye for occasion, and occasion serving to shoot them, you may give fire at their mouths, where besides that they shall do their ordinary effects, they shall all in the discharging, be vnayled, blowing out the same nailes or pings of iron, wherewith their toucheholes were stopped: and so doing, of such nailing there shall happen no great harm. But if some of them for being beating in harder then other, should chance at the first not to be driven out, then the reméedye is, to charge them again,& to shoot them of, after the said maner, putting on the toucheholes a little oil made very hot, heating also first the place that is nailed, with a burning coal, making moreover with clay, vpon the piece, a little cup about the hole, that may hold the hot oil that is poured vpon it, after such sort, that through the heat thereof, it may soak into the hole with the iron in it, whereby the same iron shall then be made so slippery, that at the next discharging of the piece, the fury of the fire most easily shall blow it out.   

¶ How much the artillery ought to be esteemed of the armies now a daies, and whether the same opinion of them which is had universally, be trewe, Cap. xxvij.  
COnsidering howe many battailes and deeds of arms, were made of the romans at sundry times, there is come unto me in consideration, the universal opinion of many men, which is, the if in those times there had been ordinance, the Romaines should not haue been able to haue conquered, nor so easily haue won the countries, and made the people their tributaries, as they did, nor they should not haue in any maner made so mighty conquests. They say also, that by mean of this instrument of fire, men cannot use, nor show their strength and virtue, as they might in old time. And they add a third thing, that they come with more difficulty to fight a field then they came in those daies, nor their cannot be kéepte in them the orders of those times, so that at length the war shalbe brought to consist altogether in artillery. And minding to writ, whether such opinion be true, and howe much the artillery hath increased, or diminished the strength of armies, and whether it taketh away, or giveth occasion to good captains to do valiauntlye, I will begin to speak concerning their first opinion, that the ancient roman armies should not haue made the conquests which they did, if the ordinance had been in those dayes. To which answering I say, how that war is made either to defend, or to offend.  
Where first it is to be examenid, to whom these two maner of warres causeth most profit, or most hurt. And albeit there is what to say of either part, notwithstanding I believe, that without comparison, they do more harm to him that defendeth, thē to him that invadeth. The reason is, that he that defendeth, is either in a town, or in a camp within a trench. If he be within a town, this town is either little, as the most parte of fortresses are, or it is great. In the first case, he that defendeth, is altogether lost: for that the violence of the artillery is such, that there is no wall, how great so ever it be, which in few dayes it battereth not down. And if he that is within, haue not space enough to retire, both with ditches, and with carriers, he is over come, because he is not abel to withstand the violence of the enemy, who through the breach of the wall, will after enter: nor in this case, the artillery which he should haue, shall not help him: for that this is a general rule, that where men in a throng,& with violence may go, the artillery cannot withhold them. Therfore in the defence of a town, the fury of the enemies cannot be withstand. Though the assaults the which are not thronged, but scattered, which be called scirmushes be easily withstode. And they which go with this disorder, and coldness to a breach of a wall, where artillery is, do go to a manifeste death, and against them the artillery preuailethe: but those, which assault a breach in a throng hard together, so that the one thrusteth forward the other if they be not holden out of ditches, or of carriers, they enter in every place, and the artillery keepeth them not back, and though some be slain, they cannot be so many, that they shall not let the victory. This is known to be true, by many expugnacions of tounes made in Italy, and in especially in the same of Briscia: for as much as the same town being rebelled from the frenchmen, and yet the fortress being kept for the King of france, the Venetians for the withstand the violence, which from the same might come into the town, had laid all the street full of artillery, which descended from the fortress to the city,& they planted them on the front, and in the flanks, and in every other fit place. Of the which monsieur de Fois made no other coumpte, but with his squadrons, coming down on foot passing through the midst of them, got the city: nor it was not known that he received by those any notable hurt. So that he that defendeth himself within a little town( as hath been said) and findeth the wall on the ground, and hath not space to retire with carriers, and with ditches, and is constrained to trust vpon the artillery, is overcome strait way. If thou defendest a great town,& where thou hast commodity to retire, yet notwithstanding without comparison, the artillery is more profitable to him which is without, then to him that is within. first, to mind to haue a piece of artillery hurt those without, thou art constrained to get thee up with it from the plain ground of the town, because standing vpon the plain ground, every little bank and rampire that the enemy may make, shall cause him to remain safe, and thou canst not hurts him, so that being driven to stand a loofte on the top of the wall, or in what so ever other maner on high, thou drawest after thee two difficulties. The first is, that thou canst not bring up so great and mighty péeses of artillery, as he without may shoot, being not able in little spaces to handle great things. The other is, that although thou couldst bring them, thou canst not make such strong& sure defence for to save the said artillery from dismounting, as they without may do, being on the ground, and having that commodity& that room, that they themselves list. So that it is impossible for him that defendeth a town, to keep the artillery on high places, when they which are without haue great ordinance enough. And if they be driven to come with thē on low places, they become for the most parte vprofitable, as hath been said. So that the defence of the city, is brought to be defended with arms, as in old time they did, and with small artillery. Of which if there be gotten a little profit( having respect to the same small artillery) there is gotten so much incommodity, as counterpeaseth the commodity of the artillery: for as much as having respect to the same, they make the walls of tounes low, and as it were under ground in ditches, so that so soon as they come to the battle at hand, either because the walls are battered, or because the ditches are filled up, he that is within, hath much more disadvantage, then he should haue had in times paste. And therefore( as afore is said) these instruments helpeth much more him that besiegeth a town, then he that is besieged. Concerning the third thing, to lie in camp within a trench, to the intent not to fight the field but at thy commodity, or advantage, I say, that in this parte thou hast no more remedy ordinarelie to defend thee from fighting, then they had in old time.  
And sometimes, considering the artillery, thou hast greater disaduauntage: for that if the enemy meet with thee, and haue a little advantage of the country, as may easily chance, and find himself higher then thou, or that in his coming thou hast not yet made thy banks or carriers, and covered thee well with those, strait way, and before thou hast any remedy, he vnlodgeth thee, and thou arte constrained to issue out of thy fortress,& come to fight: the which happened to the spaniards in the battle of Rauenna, who being fortefied between the river of Ronco, and a bank, because they lay, not so high as sufficed, and for that the frenchmen had a little the advantage of the ground, they were constrained of the artillery to issue out of their fortress, and come to fight. But admit that the place, which thou hast taken with the camp, were much higher, then the other against it( as for the most part it ought to be) and that the banks or carriers were good and sure, so that by means of the situacion, and thy other preparacions the enemy durst not assault thee, it shall come in this case to those manners, which in old time it came, when one was with his army in place not possible to be hurt: the which are to over run the country, to take, or besiege the tounes that are thy friends, to stop thee thy victuals, so that thou shalt be constrained of some necessetie to vnlodge, and come to fight the field, where the artillery( as hereafter shal be said) doth not much hurt. Considering then what kind of warres the Romaines made, and seing how they made almost all their war to invade other men, and not for to defend themselves, it shalbe seen( when the things said afore be true) how they should haue had more advantage, and much sooner should haue made their conquests, if ordinance had been in those daies. Concerning the second thing, that men cannot show their strength, as they might in old time, because of the artillery, I say, that it is true, that where men scattered do show it, they stand in more peril, then in those dayes, when they had to scale a town, or to make like assaults, where men not thronged together, but severally the one from the other did appear.  
It is also true that the Capitaines, and heads of armies, stand more subject to the peril of death: then in those times, because they may be reached with artillery in all places, nor it helpeth not them to be in the rerewardes, guarded with most strong men. Not withstanding it is seen, that the one and the other of these two perrills, do seldom times extraordinary hurts, for that the Tounes well appointed and furnished with munition are not scaled, nor they go not with weak assaults to assault them: but minding to win them, the matter is brought to a siege, as in old time they did. And in those, which nevertheless are won by assalte, the perrills are not much greater then they were in those daies: for that also in those times, they which defended a town, lacked not things to throw and shoot, the which( though they were not so furious) they did concerning the killing of men the like effect. Concerning the death of captains and conductor, there hath been in .xxiiij. yeares that the war was of late dayes in Italy, less examples, then there was in .x. yeares with the antiquetie: for that except count Lodouike of Mirandola, who died at Ferare, when the venetians, a few yeares agone, assaulted the same state, and the Duke of Nemors, which died a Cirignuola, there hath not happened of the artillery any to be slain: for as much as monsieur de Fois at Rauenna, died of iron, and not of fire.  
So that if men show not particularly their strengths, it groweth not of the artillery, but of the naughty orders,& of the weakness of the armies, the which altogether lacking strength, cannot show it in parte. Cocerning the third thing said of them, that men cannot come to hand stroke, and that the war shalbe brought to stand altogether vpon artillery, I say, that this opinion is altogether false: and so always shal be taken of those, who according to the ancient virtue will occupy their armies: for that he that will make a good army, it behoveth him with exercises, either feigned, or true, to accustom his men to give the charge on the enemy, and to come to the sword point with him, and to the graspine by the bosom: and he ought to ground himself more vpon the footmen, then vpon the horsemen. And when he shall ground himself vpon the footmen, and vpon the foresaid manners, the artillery becometh altogether unprofitable. For that with more facelity, the footmen in aproching near the enemy, may avoid the shot of the artillery, then they were able in old time to avoid the violence of Elifants, of carts full of hooks& of other strange encounters, which the roman footmen encountered withall, against which, always they found the remedy, and so much more easily they should haue found against this, the shorter that the time is, in the which the artillery may hurt thee, then the same was, in the which the Elifantes& the carts were able to hurt: for as much as they in the midst of the fight, disordered men, these only before the fight do trouble men: the which impediment the footmen easily avoid, either with gowing covered by the nature of the situacion, or with falling down vpon the ground, when they shoot: the which also by experience hath béens seen not to be needful, in especially to be defended from great ordinance, the which cannot in such wise be leveled, because if they gowe high, they touch thee not,& if they gow low, they will not come near thee. Then the armies being come to hand stroke, this is more clear, then the light, that neither the great, nor the little can after hurt thee: for that if the same, which hath the artillery, be before, it becometh thy prisoner, if it behind, it hurteth the friend before thee. again on the back it cannot hurt thee after such sort, that thou art not able to gow to win it, and it cometh to follow the said effect. Nor this need not much disputation: for that there hath been seen the example of the Suizers, who at Nauara in the year of our lord .1513. without artillery, and without horse, went to encounter the french army furnished with artillery within their fortress, and they overthrew thē without having any impediment thereby: and the reason is( besides the things  told afore) that the artillery minding to haue it work, hath need to be guarded either of a wall, or of ditches, or of banks. And when it lacketh one of these guards, it is taken, or becometh unprofitable, as it happeneth when it is defended with men, for when they chance to be in a battle, and in the fight on the land, they cannot be occupied by flank, but in the same maner, that the antiquity occupied the instruments to shoot, which they placed out of the squadrons, for that they should fight out of the orders, and always when either of horsemen, or of other they were charged vpon, their refuge was behind the legions: he that otherwise maketh account of them, hath no skill, and trusteth vpon a thing, which easily may deceive him. And though the turk by means of artillery, against the sophy and the sultan, hath had victory, it hath not happened through other means, then through the fear that the horsemen were put in by the strange rumour thereof. Therefore to make an end of this discourse, I conclude, that the artillery is profitable in an army, when the ancient virtue is mingled therewith, but without the same, against a puissant army, it is most unprofitable.    

¶ Of Muynes and placing of powder under ground, wherewith inuinsible fortresses, by fire may be ruignated, when ordinance cannot bee brought unto them. Capi. xxviiii.  
THe better and greater quantetie of powder which is put in a cave that is made to overthrow a fort or castle, the greater vndoutedlie shalbe the effect thereof: which cave is best to be made a good way within the ground, and in a hard place, to the intent that when the same is shut& well walled up, the fire be not able easily to haue any other way out, then in overthrowing the thing that is to be ruined, for as much as if the air,& the fire in the room of that enclosed place, may haue means to breath out, the force therof will be of no effect. Also it would be taken heed of, that the cave be not by no other means marred, so that the fire may break out:: for which cause, it ought to be made, with the beginning thereof somewhat distant from the place, that you mind to overthrow: to the intent that in making thereof, the men of the same place do not issue out to let you, nor perceive the certain place of the hurt, to be able to provide for it, and to make countermuynes to let the fire brethe out and pas without any effect, whereby all your coste and labour may become vain, moreover they make these muines the most naroweste and most crookedest that may be, and in especially near the very place that is appointed to be overthrown, and therefore under such a place there must be digged a hole that may be at least three shepherds high or more, and two shepherds broad and that the entry unto it be vndergrounde in the maner, as by this present figure you may see described.  
 woodcut of a cave and tunnel containing barrels of explosives 
THE FOVNDATION ON THE MVINE DISCOVERED  
THE PLACE OF GREATEST effect   
And in this to put barrels with their heads knocked out full of good strong powder, between which you must also straw powder enough vpon the boards whereon they stand, laying to it a good great match made of cotton, boiled in vinegar, brimstone, and saltpetre, which must be well roled in good serpentine powder well dried in the sun: and having laid it to the place, you must make a train of powder vpon it, even to the going out, so that it may be covered therwith: placing it in pipes of earth or tronkes of wood in the place of the entry therof:& that done, you must wall it up most strongly, laying overthwart great blocks of oaks or other wood: so that with those& with the wall, if may be strong to resist the fury of the fire, as much as is possible: and the entry in such maner made up and fortefied, when you shall think it time to bring the effect to pas, to destroy the aduersaries, or to make a ruin, you may cause the train to be set on fire, where you shall see a marvelous and horrible effect follow. More about this matter I need not to declare saving that if it should chance the muyne to be made in a stony place, where the stones will fall down, that then the best is to vnderproppe them with pipes of wood filled full of powder.   


¶ The maner how to make trombes or trunks of fire, as well to assault as to defend a breach, or gate, and to set a fire a town or camp or any thing else. Cap. xxix.  
FIrst cause a cane of good wood to be made at the corners as big as a mans thigh and the length of an ell, after such sort that the hole therof be as wide that a man may thrust in his naked arm, and cause that the bottom of the said trunk be made in such wise with a little hole, that the staff of a partesan may enter into it, and so to be made fast thereunto, binding the said trunk with iron wire at both ends, and in the midst for more surety that it break not, through the fury of the fire. Then fill it with this mixture here following. Take serpentine powder iiij. pound rosin i. pound, camphere half a pound, beaten glass iiij. onces,& mingle everything together, then begin to fill and put in the trumbe a handefull of serpentine powder vnmixte, next a handefull of the foresaid mixture, after a little powder, then a stoppell of cotton wet in oil of gineper, and put in upon the said cotton as you haue done at the first, that is to say powder, and then mixture &c. And thus you must do till you haue filled it full, stamping in the stuff always lightyly, and if for lack of gineper oil you wet the cotton in aqua vitae, it is very good putting after every quantity of powder a little quick silver, then when it is full, put in the mouth some good powder, making it a single cover of parchment bound about with packthréed,& with a little hole in the midst of the parchment, wherein you must put a match made with gunpowder, the which easily and quickelye with your common match may kindle the fire, being come to the face of the enemy: which is an excellent thing for the fight on the sea, or for to disorder a band of horsemen.  
 woodcut of 3 trombes   

¶ Howe to make bottles or pots offyre work to throw into ships or among men that are in battelraye. Cap. xxx.  
such earthen bottles or pots as is commonly used to keep vinegar or oil and such like is best for this purpose, which must be filled with this composition: serpentine powder two partes, rosin one parte, pitch one parte, beating most finely, all these things together in a mortar, then take turpentine,& a little gineper oil, or linséede oil, and mingel them therewith in a cauldron vpon the fire with a stick of a yard long, and fill the bottles half full of this foresaid receipt, that done, take serpentine powder one parte, rosin one part, brimstone half a part, pitch half a part, and of this last mixture the bottles or pots must be filled up: thē in the mouths of them there must be put some good powder, to the intent that with the match it may quickly kindle the fire: which bottles or pots serve well to throw into a town or out of a town among enemies, for that the fire of them breaking out flieth all abroad and burneth most horribly where it lighteth, but good heed must be taken that it be first well kindled before it be thrown, in especially if it be cast from above.   

¶ An other composition of fire work. Cap. xxix.  
CAuse as many earthen bottles or pots to be made as you list to haue, which must be as it were but half baked, then fill them with this mixture following, serpentine powder three partes, saltpetre one parte, turpentine half a parte, pitch half a parte, brimstone one parte, bay salt half a parte, and when you will throw them, set them on fire and see that they be well kindled.   

¶ balls of mettell to throw among men in battelraye or otherwise, which breaking shall do wonderful hurt. Cap. xxxii.  
TO dissorder and to make the enemies to give place, there may also be provided, certain hollow balls of mettel as big as small boules, and a quarter of an inch thick, cast in moulds and made of three partes of brass and one of tin: but the brass ought to be molt before the tin be put to it, which balls filled half full of fine corn powder, and the other half full, of serpentine powder mingled with rosin beaten into powder, so that for three partes of serpentine powder there be one part of rosin, and then putting in the mouths of the holes of them a little fine corn powder to make the rest to fire the sooner and after being fired and thrown, they will break and fly into a thousand pieces, and both hurt& kill whom so ever is near or about them. Wherefore they are very good to throw over the walls into a town or fortress, or into a camp, to hurt and to give a terror to those that are within: but these balls after they are fired and well kindled, and having blown a little, must be quickly thrown, least they hurt such as would hurl them: and therefore the experience of one, ought first to be made in a close place, to see howe long it will tarry before it break,& the holes that it will make in diuers places, whereby the other may the better bee known howe to be used.   

¶ The maner how to prepare pots and balls of fyreworke to throw with hand. Cap. xxxiii.  
IN the world there hath been always men of such prengnant wits, that haue excelled in sundry and infinite inventions, as well for the safeguard of human bodies as also for the destruction of the like. By whose help there haue been Capitaines, which imitating their counsels haue caused their footmen to carry in their hands, certain earthen pots and balls, filled full of a certain composition of powder, or some vnctius liquour, apt to take fire quick quickly: with the which encountering the enemies in battle at hand, haue vigorously whorled those among them, for to prove, whether with such means they might be able not onely to disorder them, but also to make them give place, and to overthrow them: for as much as such fyreworkes will marvelously hurt the enemies not only with the smooke of them, but also a great deal and much more with the horrible and unquenchable burning of thē, so that thereby such men haue always had most happy success, with most glorious laud and praise. These fyreworkes are made in this wise: Take as many earthen pots or bottelles as you list, caused to be made for this purpose, either baked or vnbaked which maketh no matter, so that the moistenesse of the earth be dried up: and these must be filled half full of serpentine powder, and somewhat more: and the same powder must be mingled with pitch and brimstone beaten to powder to the quantity of the third parte thereof: then there must be put vpon it a finger thickness of hogs grease, to the intent that it may make the fire to dure the longer and it being in this maner ordered, there must be made a hole into it and a piece of gunpoudred match put therein, with a little good powder, and firing it, and holding it so long till it be well kendeled, you shall then throw it. Also there is made a liquid composition in a cauloron, wherein is put hogs grease, oil of stones, brimstone, saltpetre twice refined, aqua vitae, pitch, turpentine and some serpentine powder:& the pitch, the brimstone, and the saltpetre being liquid, putting thereto the grease, the turpenline, the oil, and the powder over the fire, all must be stirred and mingled together very well in an earthen pot, or some other thing prepared for the same purpose with a stick, to the intent that it may the better incorporate: and then it must be covered about with good powder, that it may fire the easilier when you will haue it. And that done, you may occupy it when you will, and whorle it either with a sling, or with a cord tied unto it, or otherwise with the hand as you shall think best: also of this composition their may be filled certain little purses of linen cloth, which being bound about with a cord willbe fashioned like a ball: and these may be whorled or shot out of trunks of fire, or otherwise as shall please him that maketh them. Also with this composition may be anointed whatsoever a man would haue quickly burnt, as Gates of Tounes, bridges of wood, carts, monicions, and such like, for that it is a matter that will sone kendell and set a fire any thing, and also able to maintain it: moreover little balls thereof may be tied to the heads of darts to throw among the enemies, or where one would haue any thing fired.  
 woodcut depicting pots of fireworks   

¶ Howe to make balls of wild fire, to shoot in ordinance or to throw with hands. Cap. xxxiiij.  
TAke serpentine powder five partes, saltpetre refined three partes, brimstone two partes, Rasapina one parte, camphor half a part, turpentine half a parte, half a part of glass grossly beaten, bay salt half a part, half a part of oil of stones, and oil of lint seed, as much of the one as of the other, Aqua vitae half a part, and all these things being mingled together very well, take thē a piece of canvas as big as you will make the ball and make it like unto a purse, and fill it with the said mixture, and then make two or three holes therein with a round iron somewhat bigger then a bodkin, and put in every hole a little stick.  
And it is to bee understand that this foresaid mixture may be also made vpon the fire in a cauldron, and the balls that are made thereof must be rolled in serpentine powder, and then in the mixture, often times covering them with to, well plastered on, of a good thickness, then when they shal be a little dried, take the said sticks out of the holes, and fill them half full of serpentine powder, and the other half with corn powder, and giuing fire to the said balls, and throwing them among the enemies, they will do marvelous& wonderful hurt. For that the said balls will burn within the water, so that falling vpon the armor of soudiours, water cannot quench them nor any thing else, except abundance of mire or dirt. And adding to the said mixture that is vns●d half a parte of beaten glass and half a parte of bay salt, you may fill a trumbe therwith after the maner as I haue taught a little afore.   

¶ To trime targets with firework to assault, or to defend a breach. Cap. xxxv.  
GEt pipes of brass as many as you list, and nail them vpon a target, either six viij. or x. and fill the said pipes full of the foresaid mixture vnsod,& order the pipes after such sort that they fire not altogether, but one after an other, so that when one is almost burned out, the same may give fire to an other by a little pipe as small as ones finger, that must go from the bottom thereof to the mouth of an other, and so successiuelye to all, which shall continue a long time, but the said target must be covered with black buckeram that the fyreworke be not perceived and the giuing of fire the one to the other.   

¶ To make an other kind of firework. Cap. xxxvi.  
TAke willow coals, saltpetre, aqua vitae, brimstone, pitch, rosapina, camphor, oil of stones, vernice liquid, turpentine as much of the one as the other, mingling every thing together,& thē take a little purse of canvas,& all it full of serpentine powder,& cover the purse all over with the foresaid mixture of a good thickness, and with as much to as you shall think good, and then make a hole that may go to the midst of the ball, which must be filled full of powder, so that thereby all the composition therof with a match may be set on fire when you list.   

¶ Howe to make a mixture in ston that shall kindle fire with water or spittle. Cap. xxxvii.  
THis ston is very necessary for a Captain to give fire to his gunners, when through foul wether, all their matches should happen to go out, and where they cannot kindle thē again because of the rain. First take vnslaked lime one parte, Tutia alessandrina unprepared one parte, saltpetre very well refined one part, quick brimstone two partes, camphor two parts calamite ston one parte: All these things must be well beaten and sifted, and bound hard together with a piece of new linen cloth,& put into a couple of earthen cups, such as Goldesmithes use to melt in, the mouths of which must be joined together and fast bound with iron wire, and daubed over with lutum sapientia that it breath not out, and then dried a little, till it become yellow, that done, put it into a forneys where they burn brick or earthen vessels, and let it tarry therein as long as the brick or earthen vessels be a baking, and then taking it out, you shal see it made like unto a brickestone.   

¶ To make an other kind of ston to kindle fire with water or spittle. Cap. xxxviii.  
TAke camphor three partes, saltpetre well refined two partes, vnslaked lime two partes brimstone two partes, all these things( being well beaten together, and put into a couple of goldesmithes melting cups well stopped with lutum sapientia) must then be baked in a forneys, and when the earthen vessels be taken out, this shall also be made.   

¶ Howe to make lutum sapientia. Cap. xxxix.  
TAke of the best white potters earth that you can get, for in one place there is better then in an other, that is to say, of that which can best endure the fire, as such as they make pots of in Padua, and likewise in germany: for it is of such perfection, that the pots, which be made of it, and wherein that they dress their meate, may also serve to found metalles in. Take then of the beste, and specially if it must serve for a thing that hath need to be long vpon a great fire, otherwise, take such as you can get. There is found of it, that is of a graye colour, as the common sort is, and also there is white, that men use in some place of Vicence, which is like loaves of Gispom, or plaster, and is called of the Italians Florette de Chio. we here in england upon the use thereof, may give it what name we will. Potters use of it in Venise, for to whit the dishes, and other things, before they varnish or polish them.  
There is also found of it that is rod, as in Apulia, where there is great quantetie, and that they call Boale, and is the very same that some Apoticares do sell for Boale armoniac,& the venetians use of it, for to paint red the forefrontes of their houses with lime, brick, and vermilion, covering it afterward with oil of line. This red earth is the fattest, and the clammiest of all the rest, and therefore it cleaveth soonest by the fire, if it be not tempered with some other substance. And because that all the said earths be to fat, the one more than the other, therefore men put to them some lean substance. now, if you take of that of ash colour, which is most commen, and the least fatty, you may compose and make it in this maner. Take of the said earth four partes, of clothmakers floxe or shearing, one part, ashes that haue served in a buck, or other, half a parte, dry horse dung, or the dung of an ass, one part. If you will make it parfiter, put to it a few stamped bricks, and sparks of iron: let all these things be well stamped, and sifted, that is to say: the earth the ashes, the horse dung, the bricks, and the sparks of iron: than mingle all together, and make it into earth, and make a bed thereof, upon the which you shall cast by little and little, the floxe, as equally as you can. This done, power to it water, styring it well first with a stick,& then with a pallet broad at the end. And when all is well incorporated together as you would haue it, lay it upon some great board, and beate it well, and that a good space with some great staff or other instrument of iron, mingling and stearing it well, for the longer you beate it, the better it is. By this mean you shall haue a very good clay, for to lute or day, and join violles, flagons of glass to still with, and bottles of gourds for stilling, and other great things, as fournesses and such like. But he that will make it with more ease, let him put the earth onely, the floxe, and the horse dung, with a few ashes. Some put no horse dung to it, and some no floxe, according to the purpose that they make it for. For to stop and close up the mouths of stilling glasses, or violles, to the intent they take no vent on the fire, the said day will be very good: nevertheless men put to it two partes of quick lime, and the whites of eggs, and then it will be surer to let nothing vent out but the glass itself. All kind of day or earth would be kéept moist, and réedy dressed for him that will occupy it continually, but it must not be kept to watery, nor yet left to dry, for then it would serve for nothing, seeing that after it is once hardened, a man can not dress it any more to do any good withall.  
And when you put water to it, it is mollified by little& little above, and is as it were a sauce, but within remaineth hard, and if you put to much water to it, you mar it utterly. Therfore, when you see that it beginneth to wax dry, feed it a new little and little with water, styring it till it be well, and so shall you make it perfect.   

¶ How to make certain firework to tie at the points of pikes or horsemen staues. Cap. xl.  
FOr to assault or to defend a breach, and also to work some policy in the night against the enemies, it is sometimes good to tie at the points of pikes or lances, certain canes like unto squibbes made of paper vpon a form of wood as long as the breadeth of a sheet of paper, filled full of serpentine powder, amongeste the which must be mingled little pieces or crumbs of pitch, of brimstone, grains of bay salt, filinges of iron, and beaten glass, arsinic, crystal beaten to pieces, and such like, and after they are closed up, and tied fast at one of the ends, this composition must be well beaten into them, with there own forms or moulds: unto every one of which there must be put a good match sod in saltpetre and Gunnepouder, and then well dried, and fastening them to staues, after such sort that the issue of the fire be turned towards the aduersaries, when you think good, you or some other may fire them: where you shall then see the fire blow out two shepherds long, which in the night will seem terrible: but in a calm wether, or at least when the wind is in the faces of the enemies they are best to be used.  
And moreover for the fight on the sea, they are most excellent.  
 woodcut of pikes and spears tipped with squibbs   

¶ Howe to make diuers compositions of fireworks. Cap. xli.  
EVery thing that will quickly burn, and that by some proper virtue is apt to multiply fire, and maintain it, may be put in firye compositions: for the in effect of such things they are made: of which things there are some that are mineral, as Brimstone, and the oil therof, and saltpetre,& some other substances, hot, dry,& thin,& some vnctius, as grease, and all sorts of oils: some very dry, as pitch or wood: and of these there be some natural, and some artificial: But now leaving to seek such difference of their compositions, among as many things as well old as new that I know, I haue found only these: out of which I haue chosen some of the notablest, specially these, that for to make them, there must be taken rosin, Alchitrean, quick Brimstone, tartar, sarcocolla, saltpetre, and oil of stones, and of every one some parte, but double so much of vnslaked lime,& al must be compounded with the oil of eggs: and put into a vessel of glass or of earth that is leaded,& covered very well: putting it after under hot dung for a month: thē taking it from thence and setting it over a soft fire, the vessel being well stopped, it must be melted: which done, the licor thereof may be put into hollow staues, or in year- then bottells, or other vessells made of purpose: unto every one of which, must be put a piece of a gunpoudred match, in the midst with some gunpowder also, to the intent that they may the easilier fire.  
Also there may be made an other sort of firework after this maner: taking Brimstone, or oil of Brimstone yf it may be had, oil of stones, or of the famed stony oil of juniper, saltpetre very well refined: and for every portion of such things, five of aspallto: and moreover goosegrease, pure pitch, vernis, powder of pigeons dung, and so much aqua vitae, that may thoroughly moist all the foresaid things: which then must be put into a vessel of glass, and the mouth thereof well stopped with wax, and then put under a hot dunghill .xxv. or .xxx. dayes: and after to make it the better incorporate, it wolde be set over a soft fire: and that done, this composition may be put into hollow staues, or yearthen pots or like vessells to be thrown with the hand: also there may be taken a bullet of ston with a ring fastened therein, whereunto wolde be tied a cord of a yard long: and about the same ston, putting to embrewed with the foresaid composition, or ells péeses of linen cloth all to rayed therewith, which tiring, when it is well kindled, may then be thrown. Also balls of this composition may be shot in péeses of ordinance, or a ston that hath a ring of iron fastened in it, to the which ring may be tied a piece of a rope steeped and sod in the foresaid composition, or ells a little bag full thereof, which may be shot or thrown as one list. moreover balls of this, being made with linen cloth as afore is shewed, may be cast with all sorts of slinges which way one will.  
Also there is made an other composition in this maner, with vernice liquid, oil of quick Brimstone, and oil of the yolks of eggs, turpintine oil, juniper oil, linséede oil, and olium saxum, or oil of stones, and half as much of aqua vitae as all the said compositions: and also as much powder of bays finely beaten as will suffice to thicken all, with as much more saltpetre: and all these things must be put together in a vessel of glass, or some vessel of earth leaded with a little mouth, which with wax must be so stopped that it vent not: and this must be kept after three months in hot dung, to putrifie, removing it every month four or five times, and shaking it together every time: and this matter being brought in such wise, when you will occupy it, it is requisite that you anoinct the same thing that you will use, or to put thereof into that vessel, where you will haue the fire to work: for that the same fire is such, that putting thereto some gunnepouder, or a gunnepoudred match, it will strait way kendell: and it is so unquenchable, that it burneth till he, or the thing that it lighteth on, be altogether consumed: and if this composition fired, chance to be thrown and light vpon armur, it will make it so glowing red in such sort, that he that hath it on his back, shalbe constrained to put it of, if he will not be burnt to death.  
Also there is made an other sort: and it is a most thin liquour apt to fire, with the which if in the canicular daies a piece of wood, or other thing apt to burn be anoincted, the heat of the sun is then able to set it on fire, and to burn it: and so sone as it is touched with fire, it kendeleth incontinente, and is unquenchable: except it be chooked up with sand, or wet with very stale vrin, or most strong vinegar: also it will burn in the water: the making, whereof is in this wise: there must be taken camphor, oil of quick Brimstone, oil of turpentine, oil of dung, oil of iuneper, oil of stones, oil of lintesede, alchitrean, colofonia, most finelye beaten, oil of eggs, pitch, goose grease, saltpetre, and as much aqua vitae as all the rest of the composition, and as much arsinic, tartar, and armoniack salt, as the eight parte of altogether.  
Which thing must be put into a glass or pot well stopped, and then set to putrefy in a hot dunghill for the space of two months: and after al the foresaid things must be destilled with a gentle fire: where within viii. houres, there will come of those things a most suttill liquour, into the which putting then so much oxedung dried in an oven and most finelye beaten to powder, as may make it so thick as soap or somewhat thinner: and after minding to occupy it, the thing that is to be burnt, must be anointed therewith: and this also the sun will set on fire, and burn what so ever is near it.  
Also there is an other composition of fire, that any thing that is anointed therewith, will maruaylouslye burn and fire with weting of rain, or otherwise: which to make, there must be taken new whitelime made of flinte, calamite made to powder by fire, vitrioll gross beaten the two and thirtieth parte, saltpetre refined eight partes: and as much camphor as all the foresaid things: oil of quick brimstone: oil of turpentine, salt armoniacke, by weight as much as the vitrioll, and as much tartar and bay salt: salt of vrin, Aqua vitae made of strong wine as much as all the rest of the composition: the which things compounded together, must be put like as the otherwere, into a great glass well stopped that it breath not out: and then it must be set in a hot dounghill for two or three months, removing the glass and changing the dung at least every ten dayes, to the intent that the same matter may ripen well, and be like unto a liquour all of one thing: the which after ought to be boiled so much vpon a soft fire, that all the oily humidetie, and other moystenesse that is in it, may vapour away, and the rest to become dry and stony: and when it is dry and stony, breaking the glass& taking it out, it must be ground to powder: the which when it is to be occupied, must be strawed vpon the place that is dressed for the same purpose, so that it being rained vpon or any maner of ways wet, will kindle& fall on a fire.   

¶ How to make a girdle for soldiers or Fisshers whereby they may go in the water and pass over a river without either bridge or boat. Cap. xlii.  
THis Girdle ought to be made according to the fashion of the figure next following, and of such leather that must be dressed in like sort, as the same is where with footebals are made: whereunto a pipe must be fastened like unto a baggepipe, so that the girdle, when it is girte about a Soudiour vpon his armor, may be blown full of wind: by help whereof, he may then safely pass over a river, going through the same, howe deep so ever it be, where he shal not sink in the water, further then from the girdle steed down ward: which for men of war, is very commodious and a most necessary thing.  
 diagram of a girdle used for flotation    

¶ How to writ, and cause the same that is written to be red a far of without sending any message. Cap. xli.  
WHen a captain were so besieged of enemies in a town or fortress that no man could come unto him, or be sent from him with letters, whereby his mind, or the distress and inconvenience that he is in, might of his friends be understand. Yet his mind being written, may of thē not withstanding in the night be red, as far of as a light can then be seen, and by day, as far as a burning glass can cast the sun, or a hat or any other such like mark may perfectly be decerned, so that the order therein be first known and agreed vpon between both parties. The maner in doing it in the night, is thus: he that giveth the aduise, must hold his letter in the one hand wherein his mind is réedy written, and one light or ij. lights in the other hand, and the other that should read and copy the same, ought to haue paper, and pen and ink with this a b c, etc. herefollowing, and understand: a b c d e f g h i k l   m n o p q r s t v w this part of letters with 1. light, & this part with twoo lights. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1   2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  
And for the plainer understanding hereof, it is to be noted that the first parte of the letters are shewed with one light, and the second parte beginning at, M, are signified with two lights, and every letter of the a b c must be understand, and known by the number or often showing and hiding of the sight or lights: As for example, if this word, Man, were to be written, because M is the first letter standing in the second part, M must be signified by two lights shewed once, and then hidden, and stayed so long as may be thought that he that doth copy after the light so severally shewed, and the number diligently marked, may haue convenient time to writ M: then one light being shewed once, and so hid and ovid, a must be written: for that a is the first letter in the first parte: and again two lights being shewed twice and stayed, n, ought to be written, because n is the second letter in the second part: which done, there shalbe written Man. And thus by marking well the number of showing, hiding and staying of the light or lights, the letter that thereby is signified, may most easily be understand and perceived. So that after this sort, there may be expressed and written what so ever a man list.   

To the Reader.  
WHen the Britons the ancient inhabitants of this Isle( for lack of skilful men of war of their own, being afraid of the Franki,& Burgundi, which were certain barbarous nations, who at the time over ran, spoiled,& possessed France) caused the Germaine people called Angly to come to aid and defend them, by whose procurement the Angly under Vortiger their King, taking vpon the the same enterprise, after they had ones defended them, did then incontinente drive them out of this island, remaining here themselves to inhabit: and after their name called it England: even as also of later daies, the like chance happened to the Greekes, by calling in the Turckes to help them against their enemies. Which examples, with innumerable like being well considered, do most manifestly show, how daungerous& pernitius it is for a Prince and his realm, to be driven to trust to the service of strangers, for lack of sufficient skilful men of their own for their defence. Wherfore sithence my intent in setting fourth this book of marshal affairs, hath been onely to the end to declare my good will, to haue my natural countrymen not to bee inferior to any in warlike knowledge, but rather to excel in the same, tendency without aid or help of any foreign nation, we may always bee most renowmed and famous, I shall beseech all gentle readers, for this my labour done for their commodities, to judge and report therof accordingly. And although my doings herein, be not correspondent to my desire, nor to the satisfaction of every mans mind( which were impossible) yet my trust is, that some nevertheless by diligent reading therof, and imitating the example of Lucullus,( who chiefly by study of like books, in very short space, became one of the valiantest and worthiest wariour of all the romans,] may if they list, take commodity and profit, whereby the knowledge in wars, may of such as never haue been trained in them, be the more easily gotten and attained. For which cause, my endeavour and travail taken herein, for to profit this our common sea-coal, deserveth not utterly to be despised, seeing that the most virtuous life, and government of Alexander severus Emperour of Rome, with many other Princes, and common weales, could not, being negligent in this kind of study and practice therof, save or defend themselves, from most shameful ends,& miserable deaths wherein fortune was not to be blamed, but only their folly& ignorance, for having never thought in time of tranquilitie and pease that it could change into adversity and trouble: the which is a common fault of men, not to make account in fair whither, of the tempest to come.   

¶ The table of the additions.  

A perfect rule to bring men into a square battle, of what number so ever they be. Fol. ij.  
To know howe many men may march in a rank,& at a sudddaine to bring thē into a fowersquare battle, so that their Ansigne, may come to be in the midst. Fol. iij.  
Howe to ordain a number of men or an army into a battle, like unto a wedge, or three square, so that it may be apt to march with the point therof toward the enemies. Fol. vi.  
To make the battle called the shears, which in old time they used to set against the Triangle. Fol. vij.  
What advantage it is to order men in a triangle battle against the enemy, that knoweth not howe to make the battle called the shears to set against it, inespecially where there is as many men of the one parte as of the other. Fol. viii.  
To bring a number of men or an army, into a battle, which in old time was called a saw. Fol. ix.  
To fashion a battle of a number of men or an army like unto two Triangles joined together, so that they may be apt to march with a corner thereof toward the enemies. Fol. x.  
What is best to be done where the ordinance of the enemies being shot into the army hath slain many men. Fol. xi.  
Howe to change with speed an army, that is, in battelray foursquare, into a Triangle fashion, without disordering the first ranks, and without peril of confusion. Fol. xiii.  
Of the perfect form or fashion of strong places. Fol. xvi.  
The strongest and perfectes fashion of all other for the building of the cortin or wall of a town or fortress. Fol. xviii.  
An example of the quadrant form to prove that it causeth debilletie and weakness. Fol. xxii.  
Of the nature of saltpetre, and the manner howe to make and refine it. Fol. xxiij.  
The manner howe to make all sorts of gunpowder. Fol. xxvij.  
The manner that is used of charging and shooting of ordinance. Fol. xxxiii.  
Howe to get out quickly the nailes that should happen by Treason, or otherwise to be driven into the toucheholes of ordinance. Fol. xxxiiij.  
Howe much the artillery ought to be esteemed of the armies now adays, and whether the same opinion of them which is had universally, be true. Fol. xxxiiij.  
Of Muines and placing of powder vndergrounde, wherewithe inuinsible Fortresses, by fire may be ruignated, when ordinance cannot be brought unto them. Fol. xxxviij.  
The manner howe to make trombes or trunckes of fire, as well to assault as to defend a breach, or gate, and to set a fire a town or camp, or any thing elles. Fol. xxxix.  
Howe to make bottells or pots of firework to throw into ships, or among men that are in battellraye. Fol. xl.  
An other composition of firework. Fol. xl.  
balls of mettell to throw among men in battelraye or otherwise, which breaking, shal do wonderful hurt. Fol. xli.  
The manner howe to prepare pots and balls of fire work to throw with hand. Fol. xli.  
How to make balls of wild fire, to shoot in ordinance or to throw with hands. Fol. xlii.  
To trim targets with firework to assault, or to defend a breach. Fol. xliij.  
To make an other kind of firework. Fol. xliij.  
Howe to make a mixture in ston that shall kendel fire with water or spittle. Fol. xliij.  
To make an other kind of ston, to kendell fire with water or spittle. Fol. xliiij.  
Howe to make lutum Sapientia. Fol. xliiij.  
Howe to make certain firework, to tie at the points of Pikes or Horsemenstaues. Fol. xlv.  
Howe to make diuers compositions of fireworks:  
Howe to make a girdle for soldiers or Fisshers, whereby they may go in the water and pass over a river without either bridge or boot, Fol. xlviij.  
Howe to writ, and cause the same that is written to be red a far of, without sending any message. Fol. xlviij.   
¶ The end.   

¶ Imprinted at London, by W. Williamson: for john nought.  
¶ Anno salutis. M.D.LXXIII. mensae. Septembris.