Before 978: The third part is on waging war and waging peace, / In which honor accompanies anything good↩back to note source
Lines 996–98: The Lily-white Lion, alas! treasonous / Is his color (i.e., not innocent) and might; and yet to subjugate / The land they intend, and to end it↩back to note source
Lines 1139–40: Take everything, [if] your foe [is] coming, and make a proclamation / That every man must take his supplies to strong places↩back to note source
Lines 1242–43: They are unconcerned to be allotted [their individual shares of] the sin, / They think, if there are many of them involved↩back to note source
Lines 1268–71: And it is called mute or silent, like a dragon [banner] / Or the eagle or the [emperor’s] image or the pennon, / Banner, battle-streamer, knightly emblem, or [helmet] tassel or crest / Or the liveries (heraldic badges) [displayed] on the shoulder, arm, or breast↩back to note source
Lines 1338–41: And set a secret watch on them, [such that it is] behind / When they think it is in front; / They, seeing this, will well guide and lead [you], / Either in hope of great reward or in fear of death↩back to note source
Lines 1363–64: In a sense he betrays himself, / He who is ambushed due to neglecting scouts↩back to note source
Lines 1403–04: Do not separate the cavalry, since wherever the [lines of] men are thin, the enemy will begin the attack there↩back to note source
Lines 1407–08: The officer in front to set his pace, / And those who are too slow, to bring them forward↩back to note source
And avoid that (i.e., traveling at that time). It is also to [be] seen↩back to note source
Lines 1464–65: And if that will not work, set over [it] a thick rope: / [And] on empty barrels lay many planks↩back to note source
Lines 1542–44: And first, as for the standards, the highest [leaders are] assigned their headquarters, for it is known that nothing is more venerated than they are↩back to note source
If you learn that your foes are disorganized (i.e., in foraging)↩back to note source
And to them belongs the fault who whirl like the weathervane (i.e., the Yorkists)↩back to note source
Let them hurl insults and gnash their teeth and beat their gums (i.e., talk ineffectively)↩back to note source
Lines 1760–61: Furthermore, [if your] footmen are to attack horsemen, or [your] horsemen to attack footmen, / The former is helped by cliffs (i.e., rough ground), the latter is helped by plains↩back to note source
The sun will [move] west, and the wind [will move] by chance↩back to note source
Until they give their (i.e., the enemy’s) bodies to sanctuary (i.e., burial ground)↩back to note source
Lines 2144–46: When those who went after them (i.e., the smaller force) advance on their ground (i.e., catch up to the retreating enemy), / Their job is to make a light attack / And then depart, [as if] afraid to stay there↩back to note source
Lines 2206–07: Order every man to go to his tent at once, / And the men will see the one who is the spy↩back to note source
fol. 19rTercia bellatrix pars est et pacificatrix, In qua quosque bonos concomitatur honos.footnote
[Proem: The Present Yorkist Position]
Comprised is in smal this part secounde,second part [of the poem] An ooste to numbir, and a legioun.The numbers in an army line980In foylis is it fewe, in fruyt fecounde:folios fruit fertile The salvature of al religiounsalvation Is founde heryn for every regioun.explanatory note 1 Wel to digeste this, God graunte us grace,understand And by the werre His reste to purchace!explanatory note 2war His peace
line985O gracious our kyng! Thei fleth his face.They (i.e., the Yorkists) flee Where ar they now? Summe are in Irelonde,explanatory note 3Some In Walys other are, in myghti place,Others are in Wales And other han Caleys with hem to stonde:explanatory note 4have Calais standing with them Thei robbeth and they reveth see and londe.plunder sea and land line990The kyng, or his ligeaunce or amytee,loyal people or friends Thei robbe anende, and sle withoute pitee.explanatory note 5constantly slay
The Goldon Eagletextual note 1 and his Briddys III,three Birds (see note) Her bellys ha they broke, and jessys lorne.explanatory note 6Their bells have fetters lost The Silver Bereexplanatory note 7 his lynkys al to fle,Bear flees his chains line995And bare is he behinde and eke beforne.explanatory note 8also before The Lily-whit Lyoun,explanatory note 9 alas! forsworne Is his colour and myght; and yet detrude Entende thei the lond, and it conclude.footnote
fol. 19vOf bestialité, lo! ye so rude!Lo! Like beasts you are so uncivilized line1000The noblis alle attende on the Antilope;explanatory note 10Antelope Yourself and youris, ye yourself exclude, And lose soule and lyif. Aftir your coopeguilt Axe humble grace, and sette yourself in hope,Ask [for] For and ye wiste hou hard lyif is in helle,if you knew line1005No lenger wolde ye with the murthre melle.consort with murderers
Ye se at eye, it nedeth not you telle,You see by eye not [be to] you told Hou that the beestis and the foulys alle,birds That gentil are, ar sworn your wrong to quelle;noble end Ypocrisie of oothis wil not walleoaths protect line1010You fro the sword, but rather make it falle On your avarous evel governaunce,avaricious That may be called pride and arrogaunce.
This geve I theim to kepe in remembraunce: Goode Antilop, that eny blood shal spille,Antelope line1015Is not thi wille. Exiled is vengeaunce From al thi thought; hemself, alas, thei kille.themselves O noble Pantere! Of thi breth the smylle,Panther smell of your breath Swete and pleasaunt to beest and briddis alle,birds It oonly fleth the Dragon fild with galle.explanatory note 11Dragon alone flees it, filled with gall
line1020What helpeth it, lo, th’angelis wil falle On him with al our werreours attonys;warriors at once Thei muste nede his membris al to malle.must need to crush all his members Of this matere I stynte until eftsonys,cease later And fast I hast to write as it to doone is,hasten line1025That myght in right uppon the wrong prevaile In londe and see, by knyghthode and bataile.explanatory note 12explanatory note 13textual note 2
[Size of an Army (Veg. 3.1)]
fol. 20rLo, thus th’electioun with exerciseselection training And ordynaunce, as for a legioun,formations Exployed is, as writeth olde wise.Presented line1030What ha we next? Belligeratioun.have Warfare O Jesse flour! Jhesu, salvatioun And savyour, commaunde that my penne To thin honour go right heryn and renne.move quickly
An oste, of exercise, exercitusarmy, from exercising line1035Hath holde of olde histextual note 3 name; a legiounits name [in Latin] As an electioun is named thus, And a choors of cohortatioun.textual note 4cohort The princys of her mynystratiountheir Her namys have, and aftir her degré line1040The chevetaynys undir named be.chieftains
Exercitus, that is to seyn an ooste, Is legiounys, or a legioun. Tweyne is ynough, and IIII is with the moste,Two four And oon suffiseth in sum regioun. line1045Therof, with ayde and horsmen of renoun,auxiliaries and horsemen As needful is, growethtextual note 5 good governaunce In every londe, and parfit prosperaunce.perfect
What is an ayde? It is stipendiaryisauxiliary paid men (i.e., mercenaries) Or souldiours conduct of straunge londe,brought from other lands line1050To such a numbir as it necessary is. Aftir the legioun thei for to stonde In ordynaunce, to make a myghti honde.formation mighty hand Heryn who wil be parfit and not erre,Of this perfect Tak maysterys of armys and of werre.Achieve mastery war
fol. 20vThis was the wit of princys wel appreved,explanatory note 14approved line1056And ofte it hathtextual note 6 be seid and is conclude,has been said That oostis over-grete be myschevedover-large armies are undone More of her owne excessif multitudeby their own Then of her foon, that thenne wil deludeby their foes, who line1060Her ignoraunce, that cannot modifie[Them because of] their control The suffisaunce, an ooste togeder and gye.multitude, [of] an army guide [it]
To gret an oost is hurt in mony cace.Too large many cases First, sloughtextual note 7 it is in journeyinge and longe:sluggish long (i.e., it stretches out) Forthi mysaventure it may difface,mishaps may disorganize it line1065Passagis hard, and floodis hye amonge.footnote Expense eek of vitailetextual note 8 is over stronge,also of victuals too costly And if thei turnetextual note 9 bak and onys fle,flee at once They that escape, aferd ay aftir be.will be ever after afraid
Therfore it was the gise amonge the wise,guidance line1070That of the werres had experience,wars Oonly to take an oost as wil suffice, Of preved and acheved sapience,proven wisdom In chivalerystextual note 10 that han done diligenceknights who had In exercise of werre. A lerned oosteexperienced (i.e., veteran) army line1075Istextual note 11 sure, an unlerned is cost for-loste.a cost already lost
In light bataile, oon legioun with ayde, That is, X Ml men o fote, and too10,000 footmen Thousand on hors, sufficed as thei saide.2,000 on horseback They with a lord notextual note 12 grete estat to goo,lesser lord line1080And with a gret estate as mony mo. And for an infinit rebelliounlong-term Twey dukys and tweyn oostys went adoun.Two dukes and two armies
[Maintaining Health in the Army (Veg. 3.2)]
fol. 21rProvisioun be mad for sanyteesanitization In watre, place, and tyme and medycynewater-supply season line1085And exercise. In place, ther hath bewhere has been The pestilence, his place anoon resigne.this place immediately abandon To weet marice and feeld to hard declyne.Over-wet marshes fields too To high, to lough, to light, to derk, to colde,Too low To hoot, is ille. Attemperaunce be holde.hot Temperaunce
line1090In snow and hail and frost and wintir shouris,showers An ooste beyng, most nedes kacche colde. For wyntir colde affrayethexplanatory note 15 somer flourys,wears away summer flowers And mareys watir is unholsom holde.marsh held unhealthy Good drinke and holsom mete away wil foldewholesome foods will drive away line1095Infirmytee; and fer is he fro wele,far from well-being That with his foon and sekenesse shal dele.with [both] foes and illness deal
Cotidian at honde ha medycyne:Ever at hand have First for the prince, as needful is his helth[for] his health is as vital To th’ooste as to the world the sonne shyne;as the sun’s shining is to the world line1100His prosperaunce procureth every welth.explanatory note 16prosperity But let not exercise goon o stelthe;go neglected Holde ever it. Fultextual note 13 seelde betextual note 14 thei seekVery seldom are they sick That ever uppon exercise seeke.
In over-colde and hoot, kepe thee covert,keep yourself sheltered line1105And exercise in tymes temperate: Footmen in high and lough, feeld and desert;Footmen [train] low An hors to lepe a dich, an hege, a yate.hedge gate Tranquillité with peax and no debateRelaxation peace Be sadly kept, exiled al envie;rigorously line1110Grace in this governaunce wil multiplie.
[Feeding the Army (Veg. 3.3)]
fol. 21vHa purviaunce of forage and vitaileHave provisions victuals For man and hors; for iron smyteth notsmites So sore as honger doth, if foode faile.as hunger does The colde fyer of indigence istextual note 15 hoote,textual note 16destitution burns line1115And wood therontextual note 17 goth every man, God woot;insane God knows For other wepen is ther remedie,remedy [from wounds] But on the dart of hongir is to deye.
Or have ynough, or make a litil werre,Either make [more] by raiding And do thetextual note 18 stuf in placys stronge and sure.hold the materials line1120In more then ynough, me may not erre;[having] more than enough, men The moneyles by chevishaunce procure —borrowing [must] procure [it] As lauful is, I mene, nat usure.lawful not [through] usury But taktextual note 19 aforn the day of payment:payback before It loseth not, that to the prince is lent.footnoteexplanatory note 17
line1125What man is hool in his possessioun,secure possessions If he ha no defense of men of armys?has armed men Beseged if me be, progressiountextual note 20if I am, further acquisition That ther be noon, and noo vitail in arm is,none victuals are in hand O woful wight, ful careful thin alarm is!woeful man, full of cares is your line1130Honger within, and enmytee abowte,textual note 21[If] hunger [is] enmity A warse foo withinn is thentextual note 22 withoute.worse
And though thi foo withoute antextual note 23 honger be,if your foe He wil abide on honger thee to sle;textual note 24wait slay Forthitextual note 25 comynge a foo, vitaile thee,Therefore supply yourself line1135And leve hym noght, or lite, unworth a stre;not worth a straw Whete and forage and flesh, fissh of the see,meat Wyn, salt, and oyle, fewel and every thingeoil, fowl That helpeth man or beest to his lyvinge:
fol. 22rTak al, thi foo comyng, and mak an oye line1140That every man to strengthestextual note 26 ha ther goodis,footnote As thei of good and lyvestextual note 27 wil ha joye, And negligentys to compelle it good is.it is good to compel [those who are] negligent The feriage be take away fro flodis,ferries from rivers The briggis on the ryverys to breke,bridges line1145And passagis with falling tymbour steke.blocked
The yatis and the wallys to repare,repair The gunnys and engynys and tormente,tormenta (i.e., torsion engines) And forge newe, ynowe if that ther nare;enough near Ful late is it, if thi foo be presente,Too line1150And fere ingoth, if hardinesse absente.fear arises Bewar of this, and every thing provide, That fere fle, and good corage abide.So that fear flees
Golde it is good to kepe, and make stoora stockpile Of other thing, and spende in moderaunce.moderation line1155More and ynough to have, it is not soor, And spare wel, whil ther is aboundaunce:save To spare of litil thing may lite avaunce.help little By pollys dele, and not by dignitee,By individual rations rank So was the rewle in sage antiquytee.
line1160And best bewar, when that thin adversaryyour Wil swere grete, yetextual note 28 by the Sacrament,Makes great oaths, even And use that, yetextual note 29 and by Seint Mary, And al that is undir the firmament. Beleve nat his othe! His false entent line1165Is this: thi trewe entent for to begile. The preeftextual note 30 herof nys passed but a while.proof of this is shown soon enough
fol. 22vWel ofter hath fals simulatiounFar more often has Desceyved us, then opontextual note 31 werre. And whereopen war Me swereth ofte, it is deceptioun.Men line1170Judas, away from us! Comtextual note 32 thou no nere!nearer Thou gretest, Goddis child as thaugh thou were,God's You weep, as if But into thee is entred Sathanas,Satan has entered And thou thiself wilt hange, an hevy cas!explanatory note 18explanatory note 19
[Preventing Mutiny (Veg. 3.4)]
Sumtymetextual note 33 amonge an ooste ariseth roore.a riot arises line1175Of berth, of age, of contré, of coragebirth (i.e., social class) Dyvers thei are, and hoom thei longe sore,Diverse they sorely long for home And to bataile thei wil, or out of wage.be discharged What salve may this bolnyng best aswage?assuage this tumor Wherof ariseth it? Of ydilnesse.idleness line1180What may aswage it best? Good bisinesse.busy-ness
With drede in oost to fight thei are anoyed,fear of fighting the army is afflicted And speke of fight, when theim wertextual note 34 lever fle,they would rather flee And with the fode and wacch thei are acloyed.rations wearied “Where is this felde? Shal we no batail see? line1185Wil we goon hoom?textual note 35 What say ye, sers?”textual note 36 “Ye, ye!”go home sirs And with her hed to fighting are thei ripetheir head (i.e., commander) ready Al esily, but he the swellinge wipe.tumor [must] remove
A remedie is, whentextual note 37 thei are asonder, The graunt tribune, or els histextual note 38 lieutenaunt,great tribune (officer) line1190With discipline of armys holde hem undir Severously, tech hem be moderaunte,Severely, teach To God devout, and fait of werrys haunte,feats of war (i.e., military drills) repeat The dart, baliste, and bowe, and cast of stoon, And swymme and renne and leep, techtextual note 39 everychoon.swim run leap
fol. 23rArmure to bere, and barrys like a sworde,Armor bars [made] like swords line1196To bere on with the foyn, and not to shere,carry point cut And smyte thorgh a plank other a boorde,thrust through board And myghtily to shake and caste a spere,brandish And loke grym, atextual note 40 Ml mentextual note 41 to fere,1,000 men to frighten line1200And course a myghtitextual note 42 hors with spere and shelde,ride And daily se ho is flour of the feelde.see who is the flower (best) in the field
To falle a grove or wode, and make a gatefell wood Thorgh it, and make a dike, and hewe adoun A cragge, or thurl an hil, other rebatetunnel a hill, or reduce line1205A clyf, to make an even regioun,flat area Or dowbil efte the dike abowte atextual note 43 toun,double the height of To bere stoon, a boolewerk forto make,carry stones, a bulwark Other sum other gret werk undirtake.explanatory note 20Or some
The chivaler, be hetextual note 44 legionary,knight, whether he [is a] legionnaire line1210As seide it istextual note 45 beforn, on hors or foote, Or aydaunt, that istextual note 46 auxiliary, On hors or foot — if that thei talk or motediscuss Of werre, and reyse roore, up by the rootewar, and raise riot Hit shal be pulde with myghti exercisepulled line1215Of werreourys, governed in this wise.
Commende, and exercise, and holde hem inne,them in For when thei ha thetextual note 47 verrey craft to fight,have the very skills Thei wil desire it, wel this for to wynne. He dar go to, that hath both art and myght.dares go to [it], who line1220And if a tale is tolde that eny knyght Is turbulent other sedicious,or Examyne it the duke, proceding thus:
fol. 23vThe envious man, voide his suggestioun, And knowe the trowth of worthi and prudent line1225Personys, that withouten questioun Wil say the soth, of feith and trewe entent.truth And if the duke so fynde him turbulent,disorderly Dissever him, and sende hymtextual note 48 ellys where,Separate Sum myghti feet to doon as thaugh it were:
line1230To kepe a castel, make a providence,gather provisions Or warde a place, and do this by th’advyceguard Of counsel, and commende his sapience,wisdom That he suppose hymself heryn so wise,[In order] that That therof hath he this honour and price.distinction line1235So wittily do this, that he, rejecte,textual note 49[though] rejected Suppose that totextual note 50 honour he is electe.elected
For verreily, the hole multitudetruly, the whole assembly Of oon assent entendeth not rebelle, But egged ar of theim that be to rude,are egged on by those who line1240And charge not of heven or of helle,have no regard for With mony folktextual note 51 myght thei her synnys melle;they might mix their sins Thei were at ease her synnys forto wynne, Suppose thei, if mony be therinne.footnote
But use not thetextual note 52 medycyne extreme line1245Save in thin utterest necessitee.Except in your most utter That is, the crymynous to deth to demetextual note 53to condemn the guilty to death The principals: by hem that other bering-leaders: by them (their example) Aferd to roore.Yettextual note 54 better is to seAfraid to riot see An oosttextual note 55 of exercise in temperaunce line1250Obeysaunt, then for feere of vengeaunce.
[Military Signals (Veg 3.5)]
fol. 24rThe werriours ha myche thing to lerne,many things to learn And grace is noon, to graunte negligence, Wher mannys helth is taken to governe.men’s safety To lose that, it is a gret offense. line1255And sikerly,textual note 56 the best diligencecertainly Unto th’onour of victory t’ascende, The seygnys is or tokenys t’attende.Are the signals
For in bataile, when al is on a roore,in uproar The kynge or princys precept, who may hereking or commander hear line1260In such a multitude? And evermoretextual note 57 Is thinge oftextual note 58 weght in hond, and gret matere,in progress And how to doon, right nedful is to lere;do [it] learn Therfore in every oste antiquitee Hath ordeyned III signys forto be.3 kinds of signals
line1265Vocal is oon, and that is mannys voys.a man’s voice Semy-vocal is trompe and clariounSemi-vocal And pipetextual note 59 or horn.explanatory note 21 The thridde macth no noys,makes no noise And mute it hight or dombe, as is dragoun Or th’egil or th’image or thetextual note 60 penoun, line1270Baner, pensel, pleasaunce, or tufte or creste Or lyvereys on shildir, arm, or breste.footnote
Signys vocal in wacch and in batailewatch Be made, as wacch woordis: “Feith, hope, and grace,”watch-words (i.e., camp passwords) Or “Help us God,” or “Shipman, mast, and saile,” line1275Or other such, aftir the tyme and place.textual note 61according to Noo ryme or geeste in hem be, ner oon trace,No rhyme or story not one Ne go thei not amonge us, lest espyesNor should they go [unchanged] spies With wepon of our owne out putte our eyis.eyes
fol. 24vSemy-vocals, as trumpe and clarioun line1280And pipe or horn, an hornepipe thoo It myghte be; the trumpe, of gretter soun, Toward batail blewe uptextual note 62 “Go to, go to!” The clarions techeth the knyghtys do, And signys, hornys move. And when thei fight,And signals [or] horns move [them] line1285Attonys up thetextual note 63 soun goth al on hight.At once goes on high (i.e., all over)
To wacch or worch or go to felde, a trumpework Hem meved out, and to retourne; and signysMoved them Were moved, how to do, by hornys crompe,curved First to remeve, and fixe ayeyn ther digne is.appropriate line1290Oonly the clarioun the knyghtis signe is; Fight and retrayt and chace, or feer or neer,retreat either far or near The clarion histextual note 64 voys declareth cleer.explanatory note 22
What so the duke commaundeth to be doonWhatever do In werk or wacch or feeld, or frith or werre,either peace line1295At voys of these it was fulfild anoon.At the sound at once The signys mute, in aventure a sterre,visual signals perhaps a star A portcolys, a sonne, it wil not erre,explanatory note 23portcullis sun In hors, in armature, and in arrayOn They signifie, and make fresh and gay.
line1300Al this in exercise and longe usagetraining and long usage Is to be knowe. And if a dust arise, Theere is an oost, or sum maner outrage.trouble With fiyr a signe is madtextual note 65 in dyvers wisefire made in many ways Or with a beem. Uche in his contré gise[hanging] beam. Each country’s way line1305His signys hath, and daily is to lerne,(i.e., they must be changed daily) That aftir hem men gide hem and governe.
[Caution When Near the Enemy (Veg 3.6)]
fol. 25rTho that of werre have had experience, Afferme that ther is in journeyingetraveling Gretter peril then istextual note 66 in resistencetextual note 67Greater peril than fighting line1310Of fers batail. For in the counteryngeA fierce battle Men armed are oonly for yeynstondingedefense And expugnatioun of hem presentovercoming of those In fight; theron oonly ther bowetextual note 68 hath bent.their bow is only bent on this
Their sword and hert al preste ereither fight;are both pressed into the fight line1315In journeyinge ereither lesse attente is.are less ready Assault sodeyne a day other bytextual note 69 nyght, For unavised men ful turbulent is.unprepared Wherfore avised wel and diligent is The duke to be purveyed for unwist,prepared unknown [things] line1320And redy is the forseyn to resiste.foreseen [things]
A journaltextual note 70 is in every regiounAn itinerary First to be had, wheryn he thinketh fight,expects to Wheryn have hetextual note 71 a pleyn descriptioun Of every place, and passage a forsight,an intelligence line1325The maner, wey, both turnyng and forthright,straight The dale and hil, the mountayn and the flood. Purtreyed al to have is holdon good.Illustrated held
This journal istextual note 72 to shewe dukys wisetextual note 73to [be] shown [to] Of that province, or as nygh as may be,as near [to it] as possible line1330The purtreyture and writing forto advise.illustrations And of the contrey men a serch secrénatives secret Himself he make, and lerne in veriteeand [also] learn the truth Of hem, that ontextual note 74 her lyf wil undirtake,From them on [peril of] their life That thus it is, and under-warde hem make.his loyal subjects make them
fol. 25vTak gidis out oftextual note 75 hem, beheste hem grete,guides promise them great [things] line1336As to be trewe, her lyif and grete rewarde,truthful their lives And other if thei be, with deth hem threte,otherwise death And sette a wayt secret on hem, frowarde Whethourtextual note 76 thei thinke be other towarde; line1340Thei, this seynge, wil wel condite and lede, Of grete rewarde and deth for hope andtextual note 77 drede.footnoteexplanatory note 24
Tak wise and used men, and not totextual note 78 fewe;experienced Good is it not to sette on II or III The doubte of al, though thei be perfittextual note 79 trewe;fate of all, even if they are perfectly line1345The simpil man supposeth ofte hetextual note 80 be Weywiser then he is, and forthitextual note 81 heMore wise therefore Behesteth that he can not bringe aboute;Promises And such simpilnessetextual note 82 is forto doubte.
And good it is, that whidirward gothtextual note 83 th’ooste,wherever the army goes line1350Secret it be.textual note 84 The Mynotaurys maseMinotaur’s maze Doctryned hem to sey: “Whidir thou gooste, Kepe it secret. Whil thi foomen go gasegaze Aboute her bekenys, to tende her blase,their watchfires their blaze Go thou thetextual note 85 way that thei suppose leesteleast line1355Thou woldest go. For whi? It is sureste.”explanatory note 25
Espyis are, of hem bewar! Also[There] are spies The proditours that fle from oost to ooste,traitors Bewar of hem, for sweretextual note 86 thei never so,even if they swear never [to do] so They wil betray, and make of it their booste.boast line1360Escurynge is to have of every cooste;Reconnoitering coast Men wittiest on wightesttextual note 87 hors by nyghtstrongest May do it best, but se the hors be wight.strong
fol. 26rIntextual note 88 a maner himself betrayeth he, Whos taken is by negligence th’espie.footnote line1365Forthi bewar, and quicly charge hem seTherefore look out On every side, and fast ayeyn hem hye.return Horsmen beforn eke ever have an eye;in front On uch an half footmen, and cariageOn both flanks footmen baggage Amyddis is to kepe in the viage.journey
line1370Footmen it is to have and of the beste Horsmen behinde; uppon the tail a fooupon the rear a foe Wil sette among, and sumtyme on the breste,front And on the sidis wil he sette also. With promptitude it is to putte him fro.speed he must be repulsed line1375Light herneysed, and myghtiest that ride, Doubte if ther is, putte hem uppon that side.
And archery withaltextual note 89 is good to take, And if thetextual note 90 foo falle on,textual note 91 on every side, Good wacch on every side ittextual note 92 is to make. line1380Charge every man in herneys fast abide,textual note 93Order to stay in secure harness And wepynys in hondys to provide.weapons Selde hurteth it, that is wel seyn beforn,textual note 94Seldom does it hurt anything And whos is taken sleping, hath a scorn!
Antiquitee provided eek, that roorechaos line1385Arise not in th’oost, for trowbelingethe army The chivalers behinde other before,knights As when the folk that cariage bringe,lead the baggage Ar hurt, or are aferd of on comynge,afraid a [foe] coming And maketextual note 95 noyse. Herfore helmettisexplanatory note 26 wightTherefore strong helmets line1390A fewe uppon the cariours were dight.carters were given
fol. 26vA baner hadde thei togedre to, Alway CC undir oon banere;200 under each banner The forfighters asondred so therfro,fighters in front were separated from them That no turbatioun amonge hem were,confusion line1395If that ther felle a conflicte enywhere. And as the journeyinge hadde variaunce, So the defense had divers ordynaunce:diverse
In open felde, horsmen wold rather fallefields, horsemen On then footmen; in hil, mareys, and woodis,marshes line1400Footmen rather. In feeld and frith to wallefield and woods protect An oost with myght, as wil the place, ittextual note 96 good is,as well as And totextual note 97 bewar that slough viage or floodis.textual note 98muddy road or rivers Asondre not the chivalerys, for thynne If that me be, ther wil the foo bygynne.footnote
line1405Therfore amonge it is to sette wyse Doctours, as of the feelde, or other grete: The forgoer to sette unto his sise, And hem that beth to slough, forthward to gete.footnote To fer aforn, and sole, a foo may bete;Too far ahead alone beat line1410He may be clipped off, that goth behinde.cut off, who goes behind And to goon hole as otextual note 99 man, that is kynde.So to go together proper
In placys as him semeth necessary, Antextual note 100 adversaunt wil sette his busshement,ambush Not in apert, but in covert to tary,open space in secrecy wait line1415And falle uppon. The duke heer diligent It is to be, to have his foomen shent;foes harmed But every place it is the duke to knowe, So that his witte hertextual note 101 wylis overthrowe.their plots
fol. 27rIf thei dispose in mountayn oponlythey array line1420T’assaulte, anoon ha prevely men sentTo assault, at once have secretly To an herre hil, that be therto neer by,higher nearby And so sette on, that of the busshement Above her hed, and oftextual note 102 thiself present.their heads Thei be aferd, and sech away to fle,[will] be afraid seek line1425When over-hedetextual note 103 and in the frount thei se.they see [you]
And if the way be streyt and therwith sure,road safe Let hewe adoun aboute, and make it large:hew down [growth] around it In large way, peril istextual note 104 noo good ure.peril is uncommon Also this is t’attende as thinge of chargeto be practiced as an important matter line1430(Ye,textual note 105 rather then governe ship or barge): That whertextual note 106 the foo by nyght other bytextual note 107 daywhether Is used oon to falle and make affray,typically
And voyde that. Ittextual note 108 is to seen also,footnote What is his use, on hors outher o foote,preference or on foot line1435With fele or fewe his feetys for to doo,many or few his feats That sapience his werkys alle unroote.wisdom (i.e., forethought) render useless Of balys also grete is this the boote:even great evils remedy Dayly to gynne go in such an hourbegin to march As may be sure both oost and governour.
line1440And yet bewar of simulatioun.deception To festeying calletextual note 109 in sum fugitiffeasting deserter And here him wel with comendatioun, And lerne first, hou fellen thei in strif,how they fell in trouble And him beheste an honorabil lif.promise him line1445Lerne of him al, and thenne aday or nyght,everything [about the enemy] When thei suppose leest, mak hem afright.
[How to Cross a River (Veg 3.7)]
fol. 27vAgreved ofte are oostis negligent, When it is hard passage over the floodys,rivers For if the cours be over violent line1450Or over deep, gret peril in that flood is. A remedy to fynde heryn right good is, For hevy men,textual note 110 pagis, and cariagepages Ar drowned oftyn tyme in such a rage.
The depth assay, and make of horsys hyeTest the depth go line1455Tweyne eggys: oon be sette ayenst the streem,Two lines current The myght therof to breke;textual note 111 another plyetextual note 112strength of it to break set Benethetextual note 113 that, t’awayte uppon the fleemflow And charge theim, that thei attende on hemorder them watch for those That faile foote, and brynge theim alonde,Whose footing fails line1460And thus til th’ooste be over, shal they stonde.
The flood is over deep in playn cuntré,[If] flat country Departe ittextual note 114 ofte, and make it transmeabil:fordable (i.e., more shallow) That most be doon with dykis gret plenté.many ditches And wil it not be so, sette ore a gabil, line1465On empti vesselling ley mony a tabilfootnote Fro lond to lond a brigge is made anoon, And sure ynough it istextual note 115 for hors and mon.secure horse and man
Horsmen have had of reed or seggis shevys,bundles made of reeds or sedges Theron carying their armure as thei swymme, line1470But bettertextual note 116 is, to voiden al myschevys,avoid all accidents Ha skafys smale, and hem togedir trymmesmall skiffs Withtextual note 117 coorde alonge, atteynynge either brymme,attached to either side And anchore it and tabiltextual note 118 it at large,cover And sure it is as arch or shippe or barge.secure bridge
fol. 28rYet war the foo, for uppon this passagebeware line1476He leyt awayt! Anoon thin ooste dyvidelies in wait! At once And stakys picch, encounter their viage,drive [into the ground] And in that stede, if good is thought t’abide,place to wait Mak uptextual note 119 a strong bastel on eyther side,bastion line1480And there,textual note 120 as axeth chaunce, it is to stonde And ha vitailetextual note 121 out of ereither londe.have victuals from either bank
[How to Build Camp (Veg. 3.8)]
Nowtextual note 122 castellinge in journey is to write.fortifying an encampment Not everywhere is founden a citee, An ooste to loge, and vilagis to litelodge villages too little line1485For it ther ar, and siker thei ne be,secure they are not As, to be sure, it is necessitee To take a grounde as good as may be fonde, And theruppon to make our castel stonde.
Leve not the better grounde unto thi foo. line1490Bewar of that se, watir, ayer, andtextual note 123 londeBe sure Holsom betextual note 124 there, and foode ynough ther toWholesome For man and hors, and woode ynough at honde.textual note 125 No force if rounde or anguler it stonde,It matters not But feyrest is the place and moost of strengthe,Though the best line1495When twey in brede is thryis in the lengthe.two in breadth thrice (i.e., 2x3)
Mesure a grounde, as wil thin ooste suffice. To wide it is, thin ooste therin is rare.[If] it is too wide, your sparse To streyt, thei be to thicke. A myddil siseToo narrow size Is beste. Now make it up, no labour spare.establish it line1500It mot be doon, theryn is our welfare!It must be done As for a nyght, mak up of turf a walea turf wall And stake it, on our foo the poyntis t’avale.against our foe directing the points
fol. 28vA turf it is, when gras andtextual note 126 herbe is gravepulled Uptextual note 127 with the grounde, with irons mad therfore.made [by] iron tools line1505A foote brode, a foote and half it have In lengthe, and half a fotetextual note 128 thick, no more.foot But if the lond solute be, not herforetextual note 129earth is loose, not of that kind Turftextual note 130 like a brik to make of necessary, Thenne is to make a dike tumultuary.temporary (hastily raised) ditch
line1510Make it III foote deep, and V obrede,3 feet deep and 5 [feet] wide And stake it as beforn, utward to stonde;angled outward O nyght to dwelle heryntextual note 131 it is no drede.One And if thi foo be nygh, him to yeynstonde,near withstand A gretter werk it is to take on honde. line1515Sette up in ordir every man his sheeld, Whil princys and prudentys parte a feeld.officers and instructors mark out
Uch centyner take up the werk footmel,century a footage of the work With sword igord, anoon caste up the dich,textual note 132armed ditch And IX foote obrede wil do wel,9 feet wide line1520XI is as good; but poore and rich11 feet poor and rich [alike] Most on this werk, and even worch ilich,Must work alike XIII foote obrede or XVII13 or 17 feet wide Is best of alle a werre to sustene.
The numbir odde is ever to observe, line1525And hege it, other stake it up to stonde,raise it, or Therto ramayle and bowys ar to kerve,small branches boughs carve Areyse ittextual note 133 to his hegth above londe, And make it castel-like with myghti honde, With loupis, archeturis, and with tourys.loopholes, barbicans towers line1530O chivalers! In this werktextual note 134your honour is
.fol. 29rX footemel the centeneris takeA length of 10 feet This werk to doon, and ther uppon attende, That every company his cant up makeshare And stynte not,textual note 135 until a perfittextual note 136 endecease perfect line1535Of al be mad. And who doth mys is shende.wrong punished Forwhi? The prince himselftextual note 137 goth al aboute And by and by behaldeth every rowte.company
But lest assault felle on hem labouringe,fall on those The hors, and thei on footetextual note 138 of dignitee, line1540That shal not worch, in circuyte a rynge Shal make, and kepe off al hostilitie.prevent all And first, as fortextual note 139 the signys, majestie Assigne place, for more venerabil Then thei,textual note 140 ther is nothing,textual note 141 this is notabil.footnote
line1545And aftir that, the duke and erlys haveearls The pretory, a grounde out settextual note 142 therfore,praetorium (i.e., headquarters) And for trybunys out a grounde thei grave,tribunes Her tabernaclis thei theryn t’enstoretents pitch For legions and aydis, lesse and more,auxiliaries line1550On hors other o foote; a regioun And place is had to picchtextual note 143 her paviloun.their
And IIII on hors and IIII o foote a-nyght4 on horseback and 4 on foot each night In every centeyn hadde wacch to kepe,century watch And it depertedtextual note 144 was, to make it light,divided line1555That reasonabil tymys myght thei slepe. For right as houris aftir houris crepe, So went the wach, and kept his cours aboute, Footmen withinne, and horsed mentextual note 145 withoute.
fol. 29vThei go to wacch by warnyng of the trumpe,trumpet line1560And there abide until their houris ende. Away thei go, by voys of hornys crumpe.curved horns A wacch of serch also ther was t’attendeA check on sentries That wel the tyme of wacchinge were spende. Trybunys made of theim th’electioun, line1565That hadde of al the wacch directioun.command
And twye a day the contrey was escuredtwice a day scoured By horsmen, in the morn and aftirnoon; Not by the same alway, fortextual note 146 that endured Shuld not ha been. This feleship hath doon:have line1570They most reste, and other wynne her shoon.explanatory note 27win their shoes (i.e., prove themselves) Thus bothe man and hors may be releved, Ye,textual note 147 ofte ynough, and not but litil greved.
And on the duk hangeth the governaunce, That in this castellinge he ha vitaileencampment he has victuals line1575For every wight withoutyn variaunce,man Clooth, wepon, herneysing, that nothing faile.harnessing And in fortressis nygh it is availe[smaller] forts nearby Footmen to have and hors; ferde is thi foo,afraid is your foe If thou ontextual note 148 every side uppontextual note 149 him goo.
[Choosing Battle or a Raid (Veg. 3.9)]
line1580Mortal bataile in hourys II or III2 or 3 hours Termyned is, and hope on that oon sideIs ended Is al agoon. But a good princetextual note 150 is he That can him and his ooste so wisely gide, With litil slaught to putte his foo fro pride,little slaughter line1585Pluck himtextual note 151 unwar, and fray his folk to renneCatch him unaware frighten run Away, and myghtily sette aftir thenne.
fol. 30rOn this behalve it is ful necessary, That olde and exercised sapiencetrained wisdom The duke to counsel have, and with hem tary,explanatory note 28stay line1590As wil the tyme, and here their sentencehear advice Of vinqueshinge covertly by prudencevanquishing craftily Or by apert conflict, that is, bataile;open The surer way to take and moost availe.
Here hem heryn, and what folk hath thi foo,Hear them line1595And charge that thei glose not, for itflatter Doth oftyn harm. And here theim alsohear them Speke of her exercise, hertextual note 152 strength and wit,their And to their adversayrys how thei quytacquitted Hemself aforn, and whether his horsmenThemselves before line1600Be myghtier in fight, ortextual note 153 his footmen.
Also thetextual note 154 place of conflicte is to lerne, And what thi foo himself is, what his frendis; Whertextual note 155 he be wys a werre to governe,Whether And whar thei lyve as angelis or fendis,whether fiends line1605Wher variaunt, or uchon others frend is,footnote And wher thei use fight in ordynauncetypically fight in formation Or foliously, withoute governaunce.incautiously
And every poynt forseyd, and other moo,aforesaid more Considir in thin oost, and tak avisadvice line1610Of hem, what is thetextual note 156 beste to be do. And peyse al in balaunce,textual note 157 and ay be wys.weigh everything always be wise And if thin ooste is ace, and his istextual note 158 syis,explanatory note 29an ace a six What so thei sey, covertly by prudence Dispose thee to make resistence.
fol. 30vDischere nat thi folk in eny wise:Despair not line1616The ferde anoon is redy for to fle.fearful are soon ready Be vigilaunt and holde inne exercise, And se thin hour. Ful oftyn tyme hath heawait your time. Very often The herre hand, thattextual note 159 kepeth him secré.higher hand (i.e., victory) line1620Avaunte not for colde nertextual note 160 for hete,Boast nor For smale dooth that speketh over grete.
[How to Lead an Inexperienced Army (Veg. 3.10)]
Certeyn it is, that knyghthode and bataile So stronge is it, that therby libertee Receyvedtextual note 161 is with encreste and availe:growth and aid line1625Therby the crounetextual note 162 is hol in majesteecrown is held And uche persone in his dignitee. Chastised is therby rebellioun, Rewarded and defensed is renoun.
Forthi the duke, that hath the governaunce, line1630Therof may thinke he is a potestate,great dignitary To whom betakyn is the prosperaunceprosperity Of al a lond and everych estate. The chivalers, if I be fortunate, The citesens, and alle mentextual note 163 shal becitizens line1635If I governe wel, in libertee.
And if a faut is founden in my dede,fault deeds Not oonly me, but al the commyn welecommonwealth So hurteth it, that gretly is to drede Dampnatioun, though no man with me dele.Condemnation line1640And forthi, negligence I wil repeledisavow And do my cure in feithful diligenceexplanatory note 30best With favoraunce of Goddis excellence.
fol. 31rIf al is out of use and exercise,inexperienced and untrained As forto fight in every legioun line1645Chese out the myghtiest, the wight and wise, And aydis with, of like condicioun.[among] auxiliaries also With their avice unto correctiounadvice Reduce it al by his auctorité The duke, and use a grete severitee.severity [in punishment]
line1650Amended al as sone as semeth thee,as soon as you can Make out oftextual note 164 hem a stronge electioun: Disparpiled lerne if thi foomen bee,footnote And when thei lest suppose in their reasoun,least think it possible Fal on, and putte hem to confusioun.Fall upon [them] line1655Therof thi folk shal take an hardinesse And daily be desirous on prowesse.
At brigge or hard passage or hillis browe[a] bridge hill’s pass Is good to falle uppon. Or if ther be Mire or mareys, or woode or grovis rowemarsh a row of trees line1660Or aggravaunt other difficultee, To falle uppon is thenne utilitee The hors to sech. Unarmed artextual note 165 aslepe;horsemen seek To falle uppon is good to take kepe.remember
Thus hardy hem, for whos is unexpertThis emboldens them line1665Of werre, and woundis seeth, and summe slayn,sees wounds, and some slain He weneth every strok go to his hert,feels And wiste he how, he wolde fle ful fayn.If he knew how flee quickly But and he fle, retourne him fast agayn.if he flees Thus with severitee and good usage line1670Ther wil revive in theim a fyne corage.explanatory note 31worthy courage
fol. 31vDissensioun among foomen to meve,foes to stir Be thei rebellious or myscreaunt, It is to do; theimselven thei myscheve.they may harm themselves The traditourJudas was desperaunt;traitor despairing line1675Himself he hynge. So wulle thei that haunthanged will they engage in Rebellioun or ellis heresie. Alas! to fele thus wil lyve and deye.explanatory note 32too many die
Oon thinge heryn is wisely to be seyn,herein (i.e., in this book) seen Of this matier that ther no man dispayre:despair line1680As hath be doon, it may be doon ayeyn;explanatory note 33 A desolat castel man may repayre. In wynter colde, in somer dayis fayre Is good to se.explanatory note 34 So fareth exercisefares [the] practice Of knyghthode and oftextual note 166 werre, as seyn the wise.explanatory note 35
line1685In Engelond til now was ther no werretextual note 167there were no wars This LX yere, savynge at Seynt Albane,For 60 years, except St. Albans And oon bataile aftir the blasing sterre,explanatory note 36comet And longe on hem that whirleth as the fane.footnoteexplanatory note 37 Is not theirtextual note 168 owne cryme her owne bane?destruction line1690Ther leve I that, and sey that exercisereadiness Of werre may in peax revyve and rise.explanatory note 38explanatory note 39restore and raise up peace
Seyde ofte it is: the wepon bodeth peax,explanatory note 40weapon presages peace And in thetextual note 169 londe is mony a chivalere, That ha grete exercise doubtlesse line1695And think I wil that daily wil thei lere,learn And of antiquitee the bokys here,hear And that thei here, putte it in devoyre,what they hear into practice That despetaunce shal fle comynge espoyre.despair hope
fol. 32rMore esily a thing is al mad newetextual note 170 line1700In many cas, then is an olde repared;than The plauntys growe, as olde tren up grewe,trees And otherwhile a riche thing is spared.sometimes somthing splendid It nedeth not to crave this declared, But go we se, what helpeth to prevaile line1705Uppon the feelde in sette apert bataile.
[On the Day of Battle (Veg. 3.11)]
Here is the day of conflict uncerteyn, Here is to se deth, lif, honour, and shame. Glade us, o Lord, this daytextual note 171 and make us fayn,Gladden rejoice And make us of this grete ernest a game!explanatory note 41seriousness line1710Lord, make in us magnificent Thi name, Thin angelis commaunde in us t’attende,to wait upon us And she, Thi Modir, have us recommende.explanatory note 42
Now is the duke the rather diligent,more especially That forth he goth bytwene espoyre and drede.hope and dread line1715Now glorious the prince istextual note 172 sapient;[is] the prince [who] is wise Now th’ignoraunt shal deye or harde spede.fare badly In this moment manhode and knyghtly dededeeds With Goddis honde is oonly to prevaile.God’s hand Now lettextual note 173 se first, how wil our foon assaile.foe make the assault
line1720The chivalers set forth first at the yate,gate Whether ye dwelle in castell or citee,textual note 174 And sette a frount or eny foo come ate,before Til th’ooste come out undir securitee. Go not totextual note 175 fer ne faste, for ye se,too far nor too fast line1725A wery wyght hath spended half his myght,weary man And with the fresh is hard for him to fight.
fol. 32vAnd if thi foo the yatis ha forsette,foe has already beset the gates Delay it and attende what thei mene.observe what they intend Let hem revile and gnaste and gomys whette,footnote line1730And breke her ordynaunce, and when thei wenebreak their formation think Ye be aslepe, and they foryeton clene, Breke on hemtextual note 176 unavised day or nyght:by surprise This wisdom is to do, manhode and myght.
[Judging the Temper of the Men (Veg. 3.12)]
It is to frayne also with diligence,[best] to inquire line1735Wher chivalerys think it be to fight, Her countynaunce of fere or confidenceTheir measure of fear Wil be the juge: and truste not the knyght That is aferd, ner hym that of his myghtnor Presumeth. Inexpert what is bataile,textual note 177Boasts. Those inexperienced in line1740Conforte hem yet.textual note 178 Telle hem thei shal prevaile,explanatory note 43
And reasounynge reherce rebellioun Or myscreaunce, and how thei be forsake[will] be stripped Of alle goode. A prynce as a lyoun May telle that aforn thei ha be shake;textual note 179speak before those [who] had been shaking line1745And if he may with reasounynge awake An hardinesse in hem he may procedeA boldness And ellys uttirly he stont in drede.otherwise he stands in danger
The first sight is ferdfullest for thomost fearful for those That never were in fight;explanatory note 44 and remedie line1750Is in beholdinge ofte uppon her foo Out of a sikertextual note 180 place or placys heye.secure high places Confort therof comyng,textual note 181 dispayr wil deye,despair will die Eke issuynge on hem with atextual note 182 prevaileissuing against them advantage Is hardyinge to falle to bataile.Emboldens [them]
[Selecting the Battleground (Veg. 3.13)]
fol. 33rPart of the victory is for to chesechoose line1756The herre grounde, and ay the herre it be,higher always The more myght thou hast thi foo totextual note 183 ceese,you have to stop your foe And more sharp dounward the taclys fle,arrows fly Thi foon her fight is with the grounde and thee;The fight of your foes you line1760Yet footmen hors, and hors footmen t’assaile, Theire is the cleef,textual note 184 the playn is hem t’availe.footnote
[Ordering the Battle Lines (Veg. 3.14)]
And if thou may ha with the sonne and wynde,have with you sun Ereithertextual note 185 on the bak is grete availe,Either at the back Ereithertextual note 186 also wil thi foomen blynde.Or line1765Ayeinst the wynde to fight,textual note 187 it is travaile,Against A cloude of dust wil therwithal assaile Thi foomen in the frount, and stony hem sotextual note 188paralyze them That they hertextual note 189 wit shal seke what to do.shall search their wit to know
Forthi the prince it is be providentought to have fore-thought line1770Andtextual note 190 have a sight to wynde and dust and sonne, And on the turnyng take avisement,positioning Remembering hou certeyn hourys ronne:hours run (i.e., time changes things) It wil not stonde, astextual note 191 stood when thei begonne.remain, as it stood began West wil the sonne and happely the wynde,footnote line1775But seen hetextual note 192 wil that thei come ay behinde,he (i.e. the prince) will see
And ever smyte his foomen in the face. And there an ende of that. Now wil we se, This ooste embateled uch in his place,engaged each in his position That noon errour in eny parti be: line1780Therof wel ordeyned utilitee.well-ordered Wil nede arise, and his inordynaunceneeds May brynge (as God defende!) us to myschaunce.
fol. 33vFirst istextual note 193 to sette a frounte, an ege his name[battle-]front, a line Is. Whi? The foontextual note 194 it shal behalde and bite,It shall behold and strike the enemy line1785Ther chivalers, the worthiest of fame,There knights That wil with wisdom and with wepon smyte,direct [themselves] Noo knyght apostata, noon ypocrite:apostate hypocrite Feers, feithful, ofte appreved, olde, and wiseFierce veteran Knyghtys be thei, none other in no wise.no way
line1790This ege in dayis olde a principaunt:textual note 195line a first-line (principes) Of wurthi men, as princys, had his name.explanatory note 45 In th’ordre next personys valiaunt, Such as ha sought honour and voyded shamehave avoided That ure have had, to make her foomen tame,typically their foes line1795Sette hem theryn, armure and shot and spere That myghtily can use and wel bewere.defend
Next to the firste frount this is secounde, And as of old thei called hem hastatehastati Bycause of use of spere and shaftis rounde. line1800Of armure is noon of hem desolate. III foote atwene had every man his state,3 feet between So in atextual note 196 Ml pacetextual note 197 o length stood fixea length of 1,000 paces A Ml DCexplanatory note 46textual note 198 LX and VI.1,666 [men]
Footmen were alle these, and stode in kynde line1805In duble raunge, and everych hadde IIItwo lines each had 3 Foote, as byforn is seide, and VI behinde6 behind (i.e., between the lines) The raungis hadde a sondir, sotextual note 199 that helines were offset That stood beforn, unlatted shulde beunfettered To drawe and welde his wepon, and to take line1810His veer to lepe or renne, assaut to make.leap or run
fol. 34rIn tho tweyn orderys wer ripe and oldetwo lines Appreved werryours of confidence, That worthi men of armys had ben holde, With wighti herneysing for to defense.harnessing line1815These as a wal to make resistence Ay stille stode, hemtextual note 200 may noo man constreyneAlways T’avaunce forth or reeretextual note 201 o foote ayeyne.To move forward or back one
Thei trouble not, lest other troubled were, But fixe abide, and welcom th’adversarywait motionless line1820With sword and axe, with shot and cast of spere, Until thei yeve her coors to seyntewary,footnoteexplanatory note 47 Or fle. For whi? Thei dar no lenger tary. Thenne aftir hem that ar to go for al,them (i.e., those in flight) For these stille abide as doth a wal.
line1825Tho tweyne eggys ar clept ‘the gretetextual note 202 armure,’two lines are called And aftir hem the thridde cours is settetextual note 203 Of wighte and yonge and light herneysed sure, With dartys and with taclis sharpply whette,arrows whetted (i.e., sharpened) In dayis olde thei ferentayris hette.were called ferentarii line1830The firthe cours was called the scutate,fourth scutati Spedy to renne and glad to go therate.run go out
Wighttextual note 204 archery with hem to shote stronge, The yongest and the best and lustyeste Archers with crankelons and bowys longe.crossbows and long bows line1835The ferenters and thei togedir kestetextual note 205put together [are] Named the light armure, as for the beste Thorgh shulde passe and first with shot provoke The adverse part, and on hem reyse a smoke.explanatory note 48raise a smoke (i.e., cause trouble)
fol. 34vIf foomenexplanatory note 49 fle, thei and horsmen the chase line1840Go swift uppon, and ellis thei retreteotherwise And thorgh the frount indresse hem to their place.through the front [line] return The grete armure, if thei com on an hete,come in an attack Is hem to yeve of sword and axis grete.give On hem the feeld is now for to defende. line1845Thei gynne wel, God graunte hem a good ende!begin
The fifthe cours was the carrobaliste,carroballistae Manubalistys, and fundibularyManuballistae fundibulatores And funditours, but now it is unwiste,fustibalii unknown Al this aray, and bumbardys thei cary,bombards line1850And gunne and serpentyn that wil not vary,[a] gun and serpentine Fouler, covey, crappaude, and colveryne,footnotetextual note 206 And other soortis moo then VIII or IXne.explanatory note 50more than 8 or 9
Heer faughtetextual note 207 thei, that hadde as yet no sheelde,Here As bachelers,explanatory note 51 with shot of dart or spere.recruits line1855The sixte cours, and last of al the feelde Wer sheeldys, of the myghtiest that were, The bellatourys beste in every gere;warriors Antiquytee denamed hem triayrys,triarii In theym, as in the thridde, al to repayre is.explanatory note 52
line1860Thei to be sadde in strength and requyete,resolute More fervently to make invasioun, To take her ease in ordir alwey seete,(i.e., be well-rested) And if aforn wer desolatioun,if [those] ahead were destroyed In theym therof was reperatioun:textual note 208recovery line1865In eny part if ther wer desperaunce,desperation Thei turned it anoon to prosperaunce.quickly to success
[Spacing the Lines of Battle (Veg. 3.15)]
fol. 35rNow the podisme — as whos wil sey, the spacepodismus Of grounde upon to fight — it to se:textual note 209 Aforn is seide, hou in a Ml paceBefore 1,000 paces line1870XVI C LX and VI may be,1,666 [men] So chivalers everych ha footis IIIeach have 3 feet To stonde upon a foote and VI abacke6 [feet] behind them That for his veertextual note 210 and leep no rowme hym lacke.dodge and leap no room
VI eggys heer sette in a Ml pace6 lines set here line1875Shal holde II and XLti feet in brede,42 feet in breadth And so X Ml wil this grounde embrace.10,000 [men] Thus t’embataile is sure, and fer fro drede!to fight far from fear And to II Ml pas III cours for nede3 lines would need 2,000 paces In long goth out, so that the latitutedepth line1880In XXI foote itself enclude.21 feet
As here is taught, X Ml men may stonde10,000 In oon or ellys in II Ml pace,1,000 or 2,000 paces And XXti Ml in the double londe,textual note 21120,000 And XXXti Ml in the threfolde space,30,000 line1885And XL Ml IIII folde is t’embrace;40,000 fourfold And this mesure is named the podisme,textual note 212podismus Untaught in Doctrinal or in Grecisme.explanatory note 53
A prince heryn expert, and hath to fightherein His feelde and of his folk the multitude, line1890Shal seen anoon how thei shal stonde aright,stand rightly (i.e., be organized) And if the feeld is short andtextual note 213 brod, concludebroad On rangistextual note 214 IX, and by this similitude,nine lines Be short and huge in brede, or longe and rare.breadth thin But myghtier is brede,textual note 215 and mo may spare.
fol. 35vAnd rare, an ooste if th’adversary seeth, line1896He breketh on with hurt peraventure, Wher thicke outholdeth him ayenst his teeth.footnote And ther an ende of that. But hoo shal curewhoever shall care Ereither, horn and myddis, to be sure,horn (i.e., wings) and center line1900Ordeyne that, or aftir digniteeeither Or aftir th’adversayris qualitee.
[Deploying Horsemen (Veg. 3.16)]
The feelde o foote ordeyned in this gise,of footmen arranged manner To sette it is these hors at eyther horn,horsemen [placed] at either wing As writeth in her werkys olde wise,their works (i.e., books) line1905That herneysed sperys betextual note 216 sette aforn,harnessed spearmen in front Unharneysed abak, that of be bornin order to carry The storm fro theym, whil myghti hors defendefight from them Stronge archerye o foote to shote on ende.
For to defende have horsis myghtieste, line1910Tho hornys in attempting is to sendewings Out hors the swiftest and the wightieste,most powerful To trouble theym sette on a pace on ende. The duke it is to knowe and comprehende, What hors ayenst what throngys ar to goon,against which throngs line1915And whar he have hors as goode as his foon.foes
Their hors ar over us, theryn is boote:[If] their horsemen outnumbers remedy Tak wight and yonge men with sheeldis light, With twene on hors, sette one of theim o foote.footnote With hem resiste our adversayrys myght. line1920But this to take effecte and spede aright,for this go well These yonge men herof grete exercisetraining Moste have, as telleth werreourys wise.Must warriors
[Reserves (Veg. 3.17)]
fol. 36rAnd aftir al his ooste, a duke shal havebehind all his army A myghti choyce of men ontextual note 217 hors and foote, line1925Ereither horn and breste for to save,Either wing or front (i.e., center) That if the boorys hed in wolde wrote,boar’s head roots around in the trees A sharretextual note 218 shere his groyn of by the roote.Shears [will] shear his snout off The boorys hed is a triangulere Of men, a boorys hed as thaugh it were.
line1930If that come on, with tuskys forto breketusks The breste or egge or wyngetextual note 219 or outher horn,center, edge other wing A sharre clippe hemtextual note 220 off, right by the cheke,shear [will] cut them off And with the same his wrot away be shorn,snout And set it al in ordir as beforn.explanatory note 54it (i.e., the line) line1935And if a place feynte, anoon a yaweexplanatory note 55place [in the lines] weakens saw (see note) Of myghti men aforn it is to drawe.before
Tribunys, erlis, or their lieutenauntys,Tribunes, earls Of these, myghtiest to renne and riderun Wer madtextual note 221 the capitayns and governauntys,Were made line1940And werriours hem named the subside.warriors named them the reserve For thei releved th’oost on every side, So that no man remeved from his place, For so to doon, myght al an oost difface.disorder
Eek out herof thei make a boorys hedAlso out of these boar’s head line1945And cuneus thei name it, or a wege.wedge As thondirynge with leyting flammys redflame-red lightning It russheth on our adversayrys eggefoe’s line And shaketh off, yetextual note 222 mony a myghti segge,mighty man says And if it falle on either of the hornys,wings line1950It cracketh hem, as fiertextual note 223 to-cracketh thornys.fire
[Positioning Commanders (Veg. 3.18)]
fol. 36vThis stood behinde al other ordynaunce; Now is to se the place of uche estate.each leader On the right honde, withoute variaunce, The principal captayn or potestate,commander line1955That al the governaunce is taken ate,the command of everything There as the foot men and the hors dyvide,horsemen He hath his place, al to governe and gide.guide
Footmen and hors to rewle heer stondeth he,rule here The potestate and al this oost to gide, line1960By premynence of his auctorité,preeminence To chere theim thattextual note 224 myghtily shal ride, And theim o foote, as myghtily t’abide.textual note 225 A wynge is him to bringe aboute the hornaround (i.e., flanking) the wing Him counteringe and on comynge beforn,
line1965That is the lift horn of our adversary,left wing Aboute a wynge, and on the backe hem clappe,rear strike them And thei of their comyng the tyme wary. And if (as Godtextual note 226 defende!) amys it happe,a problem occurs Anoon the subside is to stoppe a gappe:reserve plug a gap line1970For soveraynly on him that is t’attende,that (the reserve) is to attend And, as the cas requyreth, come on ende.
The duke secounde,and next in governaunce,second-in-command Amydde the frounte or forfrount is to stonde And sustene it t’abide in ordinaunce.encourage it to stay in formation line1975The boorys hed his part is to withstonde,boar’s head A sharre out of the subside is at honde.share reserve hand Clappe it theron, and if ther nede a yawe,there [is] needed a saw Out of the same anoon it is to drawe.
fol. 37rThe thridde duke, right wys and vigorous,third-in-command line1980His part ittextual note 227 is to stonde on the lift hornleft wing And myghti men with hym, for dangerous Is that to kepe, as writon is beforn.protect written His wynge he muste extende, and hadde thei sworn It,textual note 228 let hem not her wynge aboute hym clappe,(i.e., flank him) line1985Subside at him be sone, if ought myshappe.Reserves [sent] soon
A clamour, clept an harrow or a shout,war-cry, called Until the fight begynne, noon is to rere.no one is to raise No werreour that wise is, out of doubt,veteran without doubt Wil shoute afer, therwith his foo to fere.from afar foe to frighten line1990But when the shoute and shaftys fille histextual note 229 ere,shafts (i.e., sounds of spears and arrows) ears Theirtextual note 230 voyce yferetextual note 231 is sotextual note 232 fel and horribil,textual note 233voices together fierce That for to fere, it is not incredibil.explanatory note 56textual note 234to frighten
Be redy first, and first to sette uppon,ready [for battle] And first to shote and shoute and make affray,shoot attack line1995With myghti countynaunce, that is the mon,moon That mornynge is to have a ful fayr day.explanatory note 57 This promptitude and wit and stronge arayarray Thi foo seynge, is trembeling to fle,foe seeing [it] The palme of victoryexplanatory note 58 goynge with thee.palm [branch]
[Counter-actions (Veg. 3.19)]
line2000And ay bewar, lest his right wynge clappealways beware assail Aboute thi lift horn. This is remedie:left wing To rech it out; and if that wil not happe,extend The wynge aboute thyn horn bacward replieFold back your wing in response And fende hemtextual note 235 off. Now fight for the maistrye,fend them off line2005And if a bosh come on on enytextual note 236 side,ambush come about on any A better bosh on hem from our subside.reserve
[A Digression]
fol. 37vHere angelike valiaunce, here is puissaunce Archangelik in ooste and legioun, And it governeth dukys principauncegoverns it line2010With myght, power, and dominatioun. Omnipotens,textual note 237 this is His champioun!Omnipotence (i.e., God) God lovethtextual note 238 this, His throne and sapiencetextual note 239wisdom Is sette heron, justice totextual note 240 dispence.hereupon
What is this oost adverse? Rebelliounsopposing army line2015Presumptuous, perjurious, mischevous, Heresious with circumcelliouns!Heresies vagrants A legioun attaynte,explanatory note 59 untaken thevous,attainted, uncaptured thieves That, as thei ar myscheved, wold myscheve us.led astray Her lord is Lucifer, the kyng of pride,Their line2020In every feeld with him doun goth his side.explanatory note 60down goes
Thei ha no breste, here hornys and her wyngiscenter, their Ful febil are and out of ordynaunce.formation Subside is goon, nootextual note 241 socour in their kynge is,Reserves are gone And moost amonge hemself is variaunce.what they have most among them line2025They wil away, now fletextual note 242 they to myschaunce. Goon is their herte, and iftextual note 243 the body dwelle, Their hope is aftir deth and aftir helle.hereafter after that
Here is o breste, here hornys are and wyngysone And myghtieste in raunge and ordynaunce.[they are] the mightiest line2030Subside is here, and socour in our kynge is, Amonge us is ther noo contrariaunce. We wil abide undir our governaunce, Here is noo drede of deth or peyne of helle. Here or with angelys is us to dwelle!
fol. 38rTherfore our eye is to the kyngis signe.king’s banner line2036We here his voys, as trumpe and clarioun.hear His eyes are obeyed; we enclynebow Attonys unto hym. His legiounAt once We are, and aftir God, his regioun.nation line2040His capitayn and his vicapitaynysvice-captains T’obey everych of us right glad andtextual note 244 fayn is.To obey we are all
This champioun, this ooste and Goddis knyght, With fele and also fewetextual note 245 may prevaile.many Miraclis here and there God sheweth myght. line2045But first (as seide is erste) is hem t’assaile.first (as is said before) to attack them The gretter ooste is this. Now mostetextual note 246 availe Is ordinat bataile, as is befornordinary battle Seide, and with wyngys clappe in eyther horn.explanatory note 61
[Set Actions in Pitched Battles (Veg. 3.20)]
With wyngis wight hem umbego, ley onstrong wings surround them line2050Behinde and holde hem streyt on every side,hold them fast And cleche hem up. Whi wolde they be foon?close them foes Tech hem obeyssaunce. Sey: “Fy! o pride! Com on your way, we wil our self you gide.” This way is good, so that this bestes ridethese rude beasts line2055Be not a gret horribil multitude.
With multitude we myght been umbegoon.be surrounded War that perile; holde off on othertextual note 247 sideBeware off on either With wyngis wight, and strengthe hem faste anoon.strong wings [of men] reinforce With myghtiesttextual note 248 elect of the subsidestrongest select [men] reserves line2060Prevaile on hem. Yet more is to provide, That if the boorys hed com in, a sharreboar’s head blade Be made for him, his tuskys forto marre.to destroy
fol. 38vBut wurthi men aretextual note 249 in this ooste atextual note 250 fewe: Sette hem in wise and myghti governaunce! line2065For heer the Lord wil His myracle shewe, Their multitude or myght be noo turbaunce.no trouble Truste in thi Lord and mak good ordynaunce. Ordeyned wel, in fewe is to prevaile,footnote So that theryn no poynt or poyntis faile.
line2070Do thus when th’egys are at the congresse:the lines encounter Thi lift hond, hold ittextual note 251 from thin adversary,Your left hand That of his shot it have noo distresse And thi ryght wynge uppon hem wightly cary.manfully Theer to begynne it is most necessary; line2075Sette on in circuyte,textual note 252 and bringetextual note 253 abowte, And to prevaile it nedeth nat to doubte.
But dotextual note 254 this with thin horsmen myghtyesteyour mightiest horsemen And footmen of the beste, and ha noo drede,the best have no fear Thi foomen undir foote to be keste.foes cast line2080And if thi foo totextual note 255 thee the same bede,textual note 256to you attempt A myghtiest subside uppon hym ledereserve lead Of horsmen and footmen, and thus delude Hir arte with arte, and theruppon conclude.Their artifice with artifice
Or otherwise, if men be myghtieste line2085On the lift hond, the right is to retreteleft side retreat And fal on her right horn with wightieste Footmen and hors. And til thei yelde hem, beteyield themselves, beat Hem on the bak and breeste,explanatory note 62 and overgetefront overcome Hem myghtily. But the right honde elonge,side stretch out line2090That of thi foo noo forfeture it fonge.no loss is suffered
fol. 39rWar heer the boorys hed and everywhere.Beware here the boar’s head Or otherwise al puttetextual note 257 in ordynaunce: CCCC or Dtextual note 258 pace yfere400 or 500 paces together Aforn the counteringe it is t’avaunceAway [from] the enemy to advance line2095Our wyngis wight uppon their ignoraunce.(i.e., in surprise) Prudence it is on hem to make affray,[an] attack Whil thei beth out of reule and of aray.line array
If hors be myghtiest, this wey is best And doon anoon, andtextual note 259 ellis is grete drede:If done at once otherwise line2100A remedy therfore is to be keste,attempted That al the light armure wightly procede, And archerye, as sparkil out of glede.sparks embers And embataile anoon the frounte aforn, The breste to defende, and either horn:
line2105If this be doon, the frounte alonge is sure. Unlabored with fight, or otherwise, Like as beforn is seyde, it is to cureremedy [the situation] That thi right wynge uppon histextual note 260 lift horn rise. But myghtiest and wittiest dyvise line2110Unto that feat, and archers with hem fongestrike Of wighte men, o foote that be stronge.of footmen
And this doyng, retretetextual note 261 thi lifte hornyour left wing Fer, al abak, and raunge it like a spere,Far spear (i.e., in a straight line) Dyvers heryn unto the way beforn,Different line2115So that the foo noo strook theron bewere.foe no strike can manage This wil devicte anoon withoute fere.achieve victory In this manere a smal and myghti ooste Shal overthrowe a multitude of booste.speedily
fol. 39vOr finally, this ooste is but of fewe line2120And not so myghti men as hath the foo: Heer hath the werreour his craft to shewe, And embataile hym nygh a flood that goonear a river On outher half; a cragge is good also,On one side Lake or marice or castel or citee,marsh line2125A side to defende is good to se.flank
There embataile and putte ereither wyngeboth wings On oon side, and herwith pul off his horn,pull off the enemy’s wing But fro behinde aboute is beste it brynge,explanatory note 63behind around (see note) And with the boorys hede route in beforn.boar’s head ahead line2130The myghtiest to this be not forborn,held back Ner they, theryn that have had exercise, Thus hath be seyde of werryourys wise.
[Encouraging the Enemy to Flee (Veg. 3.21)]
The foo peraventure is ferde and fledfoe by chance is fearful Into sum holde, and ferther wolde he flestronghold farther flee line2135Fayn, wiste he how. What is the beste reed:Gladly, if he knew how advice That he go forth, or heer beseged be?here be besieged To lete hem goon is moste utilitee And no perile is it that foo to chacedanger chase That turnethtextual note 262 us the bak and nat the face.turns his back to us
[Retreat and Ambush (Veg. 3.22)]
line2140Yet heer be wys and sende a fewe aforn,in this case be prudent ahead Right aftir hem, and with a myghty hondestronger force Another way on even or amornevening or morning Caste to come in and in their light to stonde.Arrange in their path to take position When thei that aftir go wynne on hem londe, line2145Her part it is t’attempte hem esily And so departe, aferd to bide therby.footnote
fol. 40rThis seyn, thei wil suppose a wayt be goon,an ambush is not coming And disolute anoon be negligent.freed (i.e., from that threat) at once [will] Thenne is the wit, that myghti honde come on line2150And take hem up aslepe or vynolent.drunk Thus easily we have our owne entent,intention Therof to God thetextual note 263 commendatioun Be madde, and doon sacrificatioun.do give thanks
If part of th’ooste be fled, and part prevaile, line2155Heryn the prince exploye his valiaunce,employs Hem myghtily retournyng to bataile. Forwhi? The foon be fled unto myschaunce. Arere anoon unto your ordynaunce.Raise up at once your formation The feelde is youre, and trumpe and clarioun line2160And scryis make of victory resoun.explanatory note 64textual note 264shouts resound
[General Precepts of War (Veg. 3.26)]
Of knyghthode and bataile in special Thus seide th’electioun and ordynaunce, Here is to sette up rewlys general,general rules [of conduct] As this: The gracious good governaunceSuch as line2165Observeth everywhere.textual note 265 Al suffisaunceAll needs Hath he that is content.explanatory note 65 Al may be bornHe has [fulfilled] who carried Save wele.explanatory note 66 And scorned is that useth scorn.explanatory note 67wealth
Thi disavaile availe is to thi foo,Your harms help your foe His hurt availeth thee.explanatory note 68 Voide his advice,helps you line2170Do thin availe. Do not as he hath do.textual note 266has done In thin electioun se thou be wys. War negligence. Do every man justice.Beware Be vigilaunt. Attende thin honour. Thi providence be to thin oost socour.
fol. 40vHa not to fight a knyght unexercised.textual note 267Have untrained line2176Ha confidence in preved thing. SecréIn secret Thi counsel have. Lerne of thi self disgised.explanatory note 69 The fugitif herd and untrestedtextual note 268 be.should be heard but not trusted Be gided wel by folk of that contré line2180That thou wilt over ride. Have in writynge Every passage, and eke in purtreyinge.illustration
Better is brede in oost to fight then lengthe.textual note 269breadth in an army than Good is in stoor to havetextual note 270 a grete subside.reserve great reserve With sapience socoure a feebil strength,wisdom support line2185Fendetextual note 271 off thi foo. Let not thin oost divide.your army Whette up thin ege. Bidde horsmen wightlytextual note 272 ride.Whet (i.e., sharpen) your line Fight in a raunge aforn with multitude Ayenst a fewe, and hem anoon detrude.subdue
A fewer oost falle on with the right horn,falls upon [you] wing line2190And crokyng of the lift horn is t’elonge,left to lengthen So that the myghtiest be sette beforn. And if the lift horn be both wyce and stronge,wise and strong Sette it beforn, and bak the right be wronge.fight the right wing the atypical way Or on thin unadvised foo with wightunaware foe line2195And myghti wyngis go beforn and fight.
The light armure and every ferentarylight-armored [man] Aforn thetextual note 273 frount in nede anoon procede With subside on the wyngys for to tary.reserves wait And he that hath a litil ooste, hath nede line2200Of mych wit, and myghti men in dede, And on his honde a flood or place of strengthe,flank a river And either wynge on his oontextual note 274 horn t’enlengthe.to lengthen
fol. 41rYe truste in hors: the playn is beste. Ye truste[If] you horsemen Uppon footmen: the cleeftextual note 275 is good. Espietextual note 276hilly ground A spy line2205Amongis us to be ther is distruste: That every man go hoom, anoon do crye, And which is he, fortextual note 277 with me shal espie.footnote But sodenly this most be doon be day, The yatis shitte, lest he go steletextual note 278 away.gates shut escape
line2210What is to doon, with mony take advice. What shalbe doon, tak fewe or be alone. Tak his advice that is secret and wyce,wise Be juste, indifferent to everychone.impartial For idelnesse have ay sumwhat to doone. line2215To straunge not, not totextual note 279 familier,Not too distant, nor too Make of a lord. Chere a good chivaleer.Treat Cheer
And here an ende I thus the thridde partthird In this tretice of knyghthode and bataile. What ha we next? Forsothe, a subtil arthave Truly line2220To bilde a stronge citee, and for t’assaile It and defense. And aftir, fight navayle, That is bataile in ship, I heretextual note 280 entende For chivalers to write, and make an ende.