fol. 3r

Of Knyghthode and Bataile

[Military Manuals (Veg. 1.preface)]

Sumtyme it was the gise among the wise Once mannerline90 To rede and write goode and myghti thingis, And have therof the dede in exercise. deed exercised [in the mind] Pleasaunce heryn hadde emperour and kingis. Pleasure in this O Jesse flour, whos swete odour our kinge is, Jesse’s flower (i.e., Christ) Do me to write of knyghthode and bataileline95 To Thin honour and chivalers t’availe. Your to profit knights

[Invocation of Christian Militarism]

Mankyndys lyfe is mylitatioun, strife And she, thi wife, is named Militaunce Ecclesia. Jhesu, Salvatioun, (i.e., the Church Militant) My poore witte in Thi richesse avaunce, through Your riches advanceline100 Cast out therof the cloude of ignoraunce, Sette up theryn Thiself, the verrey light, true Therby to se Thi militaunce aright. militarism

O Lady myn, Maria, lode-sterre, lodestar Condite it out of myst and nyght, that dark is, Leadline105 To write of al by see and lond the werre. all the war by sea and land Help, angelys, of knyghthode ye ierarkys hierarchies In heven and here. O puissaunt patriarkys, powerful patriarchs Your valiaunce and werre in see and londe wars at sea and on land Remembering, to this werk putte your honde. hand

line110 Apostolys, ye, with th’almyghti swoorde Of Goddis woord, that were conquerourys God’s Of al the world, and with the same woorde Ye martirys that putte off sharpe shourys, Ye virgynys pleasaunt and confessourys virginsline115 That with the same sworde have had victory, Help heer to make of werre a good memory. account

fol. 3v And every werreour wil I beseche, warrior beg Impropurly where of myn ignoraunce [If] incorrectly out of Of werre I write, as putte in propre speche [that you] put it more properlyline120 And mende me, prayinge herof pleasaunce correct To God be first, by Harry, kyng of Fraunce Henry VI And Englond, and thenne ereither londe, then in either Peasibilly, that God putte in his honde. Peacefully

Thus seide an humble invocatiounline125 To Criste, His Modir, and His sayntis alle: With confidence of illustratioun, inspiration Criste me to spede, and prayer me to walle, to assist me to protect me Myn inwit on this werk wil I let falle, My mind And sey what is kynyghthode, and in bataile,line130 By lond and see, what feat may best prevaile.

[Definition of Knighthood]

Knyghthode an ordir is, the premynent; preeminent Obeysaunt in God, and rather deye Obedient to die Then disobeye; and as magnificent exulted As can be thought; exiled al envye;line135 As confident the right to magnifie As wil the lawe of Goddis maundement, God’s commandment And as perseveraunt and patient. persevering

[Celestial Example of Knighthood]

The premynent is first th’Almyghti Lord, Emanuel, that every lord is undirline140 And good lyver; but bataile and discord righteous person With him hath Sathanas: thei are asondir Satan they are as separated As day and nyght, and as fier wasteth tundir, fire destroys tinder So Sathanas his flok; and Cristis ooste Satan [destroys] his flock Christ’s army In gemmy gold goth ardent, every cooste. bejeweled goes gleaming coast

fol. 4r Th’Emanuel, this Lord of Sabaoth, Heavenly hostsline146 Hath ostis angelik that multitude, Has hosts of angels That noon of hem, nor persone erthly, wote not one of them earthly, knows Their numbir or vertue or pulcritude. Our chivalers of hem similitudeline150 Take as thei may, but truely that ful fer is, As gemmys are ymagyned to sterrys.

Folk angelik, knyghthode archangelike, knights are like archangels And the terrible tourmys pryncipaunt, ruling troops [are] principalities The potestates myght, ho may be like, powers’ strength, theyline155 The vigoroux vertu so valyaunt, vigorous The regalye of th’ordir domynaunt, dominions The thronys celsitude of cherubyn. thrones’ highness of cherubim Who hath the light or flamme of seraphyn? seraphim

Yit true it is, man shal ben angelike;line160 Forthi their hosteyinge the Lord hath shewed Therefore their war-waging Ofte unto man: the crafte therof to pike, the art of it thereby to learn In knyghthode aftir hem man to be thewed. instructed By Lucyfer falling, rebate and fewed reduced and made small Her numbir was, and it is Goddis wille, Their God’s willline165 That myghti men her numbir shal fulfille. replenish

[Contents of the Book (Veg. synopsis)]

Of myghty men first is th’electioun selection To make, and hem to lerne and exercise; An ooste of hem for his perfectioun, army Be numbred thenne; and aftir se the gise see the mannerline170 Of strong bataile, fighting in dyvers wise; In craft to bilde, and art to make engyne build engines [of war] For see and lond, this tretys I wil fyne. treatise complete

[Regional Recruitment (Veg. 1.2)]

fol. 4v Th’electioun of werreours is good selection of warriors In every londe; and southward ay the more, but the further southwardline175 The more wit thei have and lesse blood, Forthi to blede thei drede it, and therfore Therefore Reserve theim to labour and to lore. And northeward hath more blood and lesse Wit, and to fight and blede an hardinesse.

[Rural Recruits Are Best (Veg. 1.3)]

line180 But werreours to worthe wise and bolde, become Is good to take in mene atwix hem twayne, common between these two Where is not over hote nor over colde. too hot or too cold And to travaile and swete in snow and rayne, In colde and hete, in wode and feeldys playne, woods and flat fieldsline185 With rude fode and short, thei that beth used, To chere it is. The citesens seclused.

And of necessitee, if thei be take they [city-dwellers] are assigned To that honour as to be werreourys, In grete travaile her sleuth is off to shake. labor their slothline190 And tolleraunce of sonne and dust and shourys, sun showers To bere and drawe, and dayes delve and hourys First use thei, and reste hem in a cave, First they must learn And throute among, and fode a smal to have. Or outside of it

In soden case emergent, hem elongeline195 Fro their cité, streyt out of that pleasaunce. So shal thei worthe, ye, bothe bolde and stronge. become, yes But feithfully the feld may most avaunce [from] the country advance A myghti ooste. Of deth is his doubtaunce army A man fears his death Ful smal, that hath had smal felicité. Very little, who little fortuneline200 To lyve, and lande-men such lyvers be. rural men

[Age of Recruits (Veg. 1.4)]

fol. 5r Of yonge folk is best electioun, selection In puberté thing lightlier is lerned, youth things are easier learned Of tendre age up goth perfectioun From raised up Of chivalers, as it is wel governed. knightsline205 Alacrité to lepe and renne unwerned, leap and run without limits Not oonly be, but therto sette hem stronge set them to it aggressively And chere theim therwith, whil thei beth yonge. cheer young

For better is that yonge men compleyne On yerys yet commyng and nat fulfilled, [fighting] years not yet reached210 Then olde men dolorouxly disdeyne, Than sadly regret That thei here yougthe in negligence ha’spilde. their youth have spent The yonge may seen alle his daies filde days filled In disciplyne of were and exercise, training for war That age may not have in eny wise. any way

line215 Not litil is the discipline of werre, No trivial thing war O fote, on hors, with sword or shild or spere, On foot The place and poort to kepe and not to erre, battle station appropriate demeanor Ne truble make, and his shot wel bewere, To dike and voyde a dike, and entir there, dig defensive trenches excavateline220 As is to do; lerned this governaunce, No fere is it to fight, but pleasaunce.

[Height of Recruits (Veg. 1.5)]

The semelyest, sixe foote or litil lesse, most fitting The first arayes of the legyoun, lines legion Or wyngys horsyd, it is in to dresse. wings of horsemen to take up a positionline225 Yet is it founde in every regioun, That smale men have had myght and renoun: strength and renown Lo, Tideus, as telleth swete Homere, Tydeus That litil man in vigour had no pere. peer

[Recognizing Good Recruits (Veg. 1.6)]

fol. 5v And him, that is to chese, it is to se choose observeline230 The look, the visagynge, the lymys stronge, eyes, face, strong limbs That thei be sette to force and firmytee; For bellatours, men, horsis, hondys yonge, warriors hounds As thei be wel fetured, is to fonge. accept As in his book seith of the bee Virgile, As Vergil says of the bee in his bookline235 Too kyndis are, a gentil and a vile. noble worker

The gentil is smal, rutilaunt, glad-chered, fit, ruddy-colored with a good mood That other horribil, elenge, and sloggy, wretched, and slothful Drawinge his wombe abrede, and ugly-hered, Dragging his belly ugly-haired To grete the bolk, and tremulent and droggy, Too large his bulk trembling sluggishline240 The lymes hery, scabious, and ruggy. limbs hairy unshapely That be wil litil do, but slepe and ete, And al devoure, as gentil bees gete. devour all, as noble bees get it

So for bataile adolescentys yonge Of grym visage and look pervigilaunt, ever-alertline245 Upright-necked, brod-brested, boned stronge. broad-chested Brawny, bigge armes, fyngeres elongaunt, long fingers Kne deep, smal wombe, and leggys valiaunt Knees shapely, firm-bellied ready To renne and lepe: of these and suche signys run and leap signs Th’electioun to make ascribed digne is. worthy

[The Trades of Good Recruits (Veg. 1.7)]

line250 For better is, of myghti werryourys To have ynogh, then over mych of grete. enough, rather than too much size What crafty men t’abide on werrys shourys, trades hinder men from battle-storms It is to se; fisshers, foulers, forlete fishermen, fowlers, bypassed Hem alle, and pigmentaryes be foryete, dyers be disregardedline255 And alle they that are of idil craftys: idle trades Their insolence and feet to be forlafte is.

fol. 6r The ferrour and the smyth, the carpenter, ironworker blacksmith The huntere of the hert and of the boor, deer boar The bocher and his man, bed hem com nere, butcher bid them come nearline260 For alle tho may do and kepe stoor. maintain merit An old proverbe is it: Stoor is not soor, Merit is not hardship And commyn wele it is, a werreour a common truth To have as wel good crafte as grete vigour.

The reaumys myght, the famys fundament,line265 Stont in the first examynatioun Depends upon Or choys, wheryn is good be diligent. choice Of the provynce that is defensioun; [its best] defense A wysdom and a just intensioun Is him to have, an ost that is to chese,line270 Wheryn is al to wynne or al to lese. In this is everything won or lost

If chivalers, a land that shal defende, who shall defend that land Be noble born, and have lond and fee, landed and movable property With thewys goode, as can no man amende, good morals Thei wil remembir ay their honesté,line275 And shame wil refreyne hem not to fle; will prevent them from fleeing Laude and honour, hem sporynge on victory, Praise spurring them on [to] To make fame eternal in memory.

What helpeth it, if ignobilitee unworthy [men] Have exercise in werre and wagys large? compensationsline280 A traitour or a coward if he be, Thenne his abode is a disceypt and charge. deceit and burden If cowardise hym bere away by barge bears him away Or ship or hors, alway he wil entende intend To marre tho that wolde make or mende.

fol. 6v Civilians or officers to make Juristsline286 Of hem that have habilité to werre, affinity to combat Is not the worship of a lond t’awake. Will honor land awaken Sumtyme also lest noughti shuld com nerre; Thei sette hym to bataile, and theryn erre. send them [the unworthy] intoline290 Therfore it is by good discretioun And grete men to make electioun. And [by] to select [recruits]

[Training: The Will and the Mind (Veg. 1.8)]

And not anoon to knyghthode is to lyft immediately into knighthood A bacheler elect; let first appare selected recruit be revealed And preve it wel that he be stronge and swiftline295 And wil the discipline of werrys lere, will learn With confidence in conflict as he were. Ful oftyn he that is right personabil, Is aftir preef reported right unabil. demonstration incompetent

He putte apart, putte in his place another. [If] he is pushed backline300 Conflicte is not so sure in multitude not so much about numbers As in the myght. Thus proved oon and other Of werre an entré or similitude, an introduction to war or its likeness Is hem to shewe. But this crafte dissuetude Hath take away; here is noon exerciseline305 Of disciplyne, as whilom was the gise. as once was the case

How may I lerne of hym that is unlerned? How may a thing informal fourme me? instruct Thus I suppose is best to be governed: In this way Rede up th’istories of auctoritee, the histories of the authoritiesline310 And how thei faught, in theym it is to se, Or better thus: Celsus Cornelius Be red, or Caton or Vegetius. Cato [the Elder]

fol. 7r Vegetius it is, that I entende Aftir to goon in lore of exercise,line315 Besechinge hem that fynde a faut, amende those who fault [in my work] It to the best, or me t’amende it wise: advise As redy wil I be with my servyce T’amende that, as ferther to procede. To amend that (i.e., my own sources) Now wel to go, the good angel us lede.

[Training: The Military Pace (Veg. 1.9)]

line320 First is to lerne a chivalerys pace. knight’s pace [of steps] That is to serve in journey and bataile. marching and battle Gret peril is if they theryn difface deface this [good order] That seyn our enemye wil our oste assaile, Who say And jumpe light; to goon is gret availe, And [thus] jump [too] quicklyline325 And XX ML pace in howrys fyve a pace of 20 miles in five hours Wel may they goon, and not goon over blyve. too rapidly

And wightly may thei go IIII ML moo, (i.e., in forced march) four miles further But faster and they passe, it is to renne. if they go faster run In rennyng exercise is good also, runningline330 To smyte first in fight, and also whenne strike first To take a place our foomen wil forrenne And take it erst; also to serche or sture, first scout or take action [in battle] Lightly to come and go, rennynge is sure.

Rennynge is also right good at the chace, chasing [of enemies]line335 And forto lepe a dike is also good, leap [over] a defensive trench To renne and lepe and ley uppon the face, That it suppose a myghti man go wood And lose his hert withoute sheding blood. For myghtily what man may renne and lepe,line340 May wel devicte and saf his party kepe. defeat [his enemy] and keep safe

[Training: Swimming (Veg. 1.10)]

fol. 7v To swymme is eek to lerne in somer season: swim is also [best] learned in summer Men fynde not a brigge as ofte as flood. find bridges less often than rivers Swymmyng to voide and chace an oste wil eson; Eeke aftir rayn the ryveres goth wood. Also rivers run wildline345 That every man in th’oost con swymme is good: Knyght, squyer, footman, cook, and cosynere squire kitchen-man And grome and page in swymmyng is to lere. groom learn

[Training: Shields and Posts (Veg. 1.11)]

Of fight the disciplyne and exercise Was this: to have a pale or pile uppight pole or pillar erectedline350 Of mannys hight, thus writeth olde wyse. a man’s height Therwith a bacheler or a yong knyght recruit Shal first be taught to stonde and lerne fight: A fanne of doubil wight tak him his shelde, Of doubil wight a mace of tre to welde. double weight wood to wield

line355 This fanne and mace, which either doubil wight is each of which is double weight Of shelde and sword in conflicte or bataile, [used] in fighting or battle Shal exercise as wel swordmen as knyghtys. And noo man (as thei seyn) is seyn prevaile say is said [to] prevail In felde or in gravel though he assaile, In fields or in rocksline360 That with the pile nath first gret exercise — pole did not Thus writeth werreourys olde and wise.

Have uche his pile or pale upfixed faste, each [trainee] And, as in werre uppon his mortal foo, battle foe With wightynesse and wepon most he caste speed must he prepareline365 To fighte stronge, that he ne shape him fro, stoutly not retreat himself from On him with shild and sword avised so, That thou be cloos, and prest thi foo to smyte, ready Lest of thin owne deth thou be to wite. your own death you will be blamed

fol. 8r Empeche his hed, his face, have at his gorge, Assault throatline370 Bere at the breste, or serve him on the side Thrust breast With myghti knyghtly poort, eve as Seynt George, show of strength just as St. George Lepe o thi foo, loke if he dar abide. Leap upon your foe Wil he nat fle, wounde him, mak woundis wide, If he will not flee Hew of his honde, his legge, his thegh, his armys. hand armsline375 It is the Turk: though he be sleyn, noon harm is.

[Training: Strike with the Point (Veg. 1.12)]

And forto foyne is better then to smyte. thrust than to slash The smyter is deluded mony oonys: The slasher [on] several counts The sword may nat throgh steel and bonys bite, bones Th’entrailys ar covert in steel and bonys. are coveredline380 But with a foyn anoon thi foo fordoon is: thrust foe is undone Tweyne unchys entirfoyned hurteth more Two inches thrust into [the body] Then kerf or ege, although it wounde sore. blade or edge

Eek in the kerf, thi right arm is disclosed, Also in the act of slashing exposed Also thi side; and in the foyn, covert but in the thrust, coveredline385 Is side and arm, and er thou be supposed even before you are Redy to fight, the foyn is at his hert the thrust is [already] Or ellys where — a foyn is ever smert. always fast Thus better is to foyne then to kerve; thrust than to slash In tyme and place ereither is t’observe.

line390 This fanne and mace ar ay of doubil wight, are always of double weight That when the bacheler hath exercise recruit Of hevy gere, and aftir taketh light With heavy gear Herneys, as sheeld and sword of just assise, Harness standard sizing His hert avaunceth, hardynes t’arise. heart cheers, [his] boldness risesline395 “My borthon is delyvered,” thinketh he, burden is lessened And on he goth, as glad as he may be.

[Training: Importance of Drills (Veg. 1.13)]

fol. 8v And over this al, exercise in armys The doctour is to teche and discipline: drillmaster For double wage a wurthi man of armys double wagesline400 Was wont to take, if he wer preved digne able were proven proficient Aforn his prince, ye, tymes VIII or IX. Before 8 or 9 times And whete he had, and barly had the knyght That couthe nat as he in armys fight.

Res publica right commendabil is, ‘The common good’line405 If chivalers and armys there abounde, For, they present, may nothing fare amys, [where] they [are] present amiss And ther thei are absent, al goth to grounde. all goes to dirt In gemme, in gold, in silk be thei fecounde, gems even if they are numerous It fereth not. But myghti men in armys Cause no fear [among enemies]line410 They fereth with the drede of deth and harmys. harms

Caton the wise seith: where as men erre Cato says: whenever In other thinge, it may be wel amended; But emendatioun is noon in werre: none in war The cryme doon, forthwith the grace is spended,line415 Or slayn anoon is he that there offended, Or putte to flight, and ever aftir he Is lesse worth then they that made him fle.

[Training: Throwing Spears (Veg. 1.14)]

But turne ayeyn, inwit, to thi preceptys! again, mind, to your teachings With sword and sheld the lerned chivalerline420 At pale or pile, in artilaunce excepte is; A dart of more wight then is mester, javelin weight standard Tak him in honde, and teche hym it to ster, steer And caste it at that pile, as at his foo, So that it route, and right uppon hym go. root [into it]

fol. 9r Of armys is the doctour heer t’attende,line426 That myghtily this dart be take and shake, And shot as myghtily, forthright on ende, And smyte sore, or nygh, this pile or stake; strike deep, or near Herof vigour in th’armys wil awakeline430 And craft to caste and smyte shal encrece; The werreours thus taught, shal make peax. peace

[Training: Archery (Veg. 1.15)]

But bachilers, the thridde or firthe part, a third or quarter part of recruits Applied ar to shote in bowes longe Are trained to shoot With arowys. Heryn is doctryne and art: doctrineline435 The stringys up to breke in bowes stronge, And swift and craftily the taclis fonge, let fly the arrows Starkly the lifte arm holde with the bowe, Firmly hold the left arm Drawe with the right, and smyte and overthrowe.

Set hert and eye uppon that pile or pale, Focus the mind and eyeline440 Shoot nygh or on, and if so be thou ride, On hors is eek the bowys bigge uphale. Smyte in the face or breste or bak or side, Compelle fle, or falle, if that he bide. flight remain Cotidian be mad this exercise, Daily make this practiceline445 On fote and hors, as writeth olde wise. as old authorities say

That archery is grete utilitee, It nedeth not to telle eny that here is. any Caton, therof in bookys writeth he, Cato Among the discipline of chivalerys, In [his books on]450 And Claudius, that werred mony yeres, fought for many years Wel seide, and Affricanus Scipio Scipio Africanus With archerys confounded ofte his foo. foe

[Training: Casting Stones (Veg. 1.16)]

fol. 9v Use eek the cast of stoon with slynge or honde. casting of stones It falleth ofte, if other shot ther noon is, It often happensline455 Men herneysed in steel may not withstonde The multitude and myghti caste of stonys. It breketh ofte and breseth flesh and bonys, bruises And stonys in effecte are everywhere, And slyngys ar not noyous forto bere. troublesome to carry

line460 And otherwhile in stony stede is fight, often warfare happens in stony places A mountayn otherwhile is to defende, [Or] a An hil, a toun, a tour, and every knyght tower And other wight may caste stoon on ende — person The stonys axe, if other shot be spende. Ask for the stonesline465 Or ellys thus: save other shot with stonys, Or use hem, as requireth, both at onys.

[Training: Throwing Darts (Veg. 1.17)]

The barbulys that named ar plumbatys, ‘lead balls’ missiles Set in the sheld is good to take fyve. That used hem of old wer grete estatys.line470 As archerys, they wolde shote and dryve Her foo to flight, or leve him not alyve. Their foe This shot commended Dioclisian Diocletian And his co-emperour, Maxymyan. Maximian

[Training: Mounting Horses (Veg. 1.18)]

The chivalers and werreourys alle, knightsline475 Quicly to lepe on hors, and so descende Uppon the right or lyft side, if it falle, however it happens That exercise is for to kepe an ende: Unarmed first, and armed thenne ascende, And aftir with a spere or sword and shelde.line480 This feet is good when troubled is the felde. feat

[Training: Carrying Gear (Veg. 1.19)]

fol. 10r And LX pounde of weght is good to bere, 60 pounds of weight bear And go therwith a chivalerys pace, knight’s pace (i.e., a military step) Vitaile and herneysing and sword and spere, Victuals and harnessing Frely to bere; al this is but solace. Readily to bear child’s play (ironic)line485 Thinge exercised ofte in tyme and space, Things practiced Hard if it be, with use it wil ben eased, will get easier The yonge men herwith beth best appesed.

[Training: Wearing Armor (1.20)]

And exercise him uche in his armure, armor As is the gise adayes now to were. manner nowadays to wearline490 And se that every peece herneys be sure. piece of harness is secure Go quycly in, and quyk out of gere, And kepe it cler, as gold or gemme it were. clean, as [if] it was [made of] Corraged is that hath his herneys bright, Braver is [he] who harness And he that is wel armed, dar wel fight.

[Training: Keeping Watch (Veg. 1.21)]

line495 To warde and wacche an oste it is to lerne guard and watch an army learn Both holsom is that feet and necessary. proper skill Withinne a pale an oste is to governe, palisade That day and nyght safly theryn they tary safely they remain And take reste, and never oon myscary. have no one come to harmline500 For faute of wacch, ha worthi not myscheved Now late, and al to rathe? Is this nat preved?

[Where to Construct a Camp (Veg. 1.22)]

To make a fortresse, if the foon be nygh, fort foes are near As sure a grounde, and se that ther be fode see that there is food For man and beest, and watir deep myd-thigh, [at least] mid-thigh deepline505 Not fer; and se there wode or grovys goode. Not far [away] wood and trees Now signe it, lyne it out by yerde or rode. allocate it, measure yard or rod An hil if ther be nygh, wherby the foo May hurte, anoon set of the ground therfro.

fol. 10v Ther flood is wont the felde to over-flete, Where [a] to overflow the groundline510 Mak ther noo strength; and as is necessary no stronghold Unto thyn oste, as mych is out to mete — For your army, that much measure out And cariage also theryn most tary. the baggage-train Men dissipat, here enemy may myscary, spread out, their harm [them] And combred is an oste that is compressed; obstructedline515 Tak eve ynough, and hoom have uch man dressed.

[Shape of a Camp (Veg. 1.23)]

Trianguler, or square, or dymy-rounde, semi-circular The strength it is to make of hosteyinge, for [each] campaign Th’avis therof is taken at the grounde. plan And estward, or uppon thi foo comynge, in the direction of the foeline520 The yatys principal have ussuynge, primary gates for issuing out To welcom him; and if an ost journey, army is on the march Tho yatis ar to sette uppon his wey. Those gates

The centenaryes theruppon shal picche centuries (i.e., the cohorts) pitch Her pavilons, and dragonys and signys Their dragons and standardsline525 Shal up be set, and Gorgona the wicche [images of] a Gorgon witch Up sette they — to juste batail condigne is permitted Uch helply thing. Another yate and signe is: [there] is Ther trespassers shal go to their juesse, judgement That oponeth north, or westward, as I gesse. opens

[Constructing a Camp (Veg. 1.24)]

line530 In III maneer a strengthe is to be walled, By three means a fort If ther oppresse noo necessitee. Delve up the torf, have it togedir malled, turf piled Therof the wal be mad high footys III three feet Above grounde; the dike withouten be ditch outsideline535 IX foote brode, and VII deep dounright; nine feet broad seven [feet] Thus dike and wal is wel X fote in hight.

fol. 11r This werk they calle a dike tumultuary. temporary (hastily raised) ditch To stynte a rore, and if the foo be kene, stop a tumult foe is keen Legytymat dykinge is necessary: Proper ditchwork (i.e., a fosse)line540 XII foote brod that dike is to demene, measure And nyne deep, his sidys to sustene. to sustain (i.e., using revetments) And hege it as is best on either side, lined [with revetments] That diked erth upheged stonde and bide. dug-up earth heaved up

Above grounde arise it foure foote: they (i.e., the revetments) ariseline545 Thus hath the dike in brede footys XII, And XIII is it high fro crop to roote. (i.e., from top to bottom) That stake of pith which every man himselve stake of strong wood Hath born, on oneward is it forto delve. Have carried, are driven in above And this to do, pikens, mattok, and spade picks, mattocksline550 And tole ynough ther most be redy made. tools must be made ready

[Constructing a Camp Under Threat (Veg. 1.25)]

But and the foo lene on forwith to fight, But if the foe moves nearby The hors men alle, and half the folk o’foote horsemen footmen Embataile hem, to showve away their myght. Engage them That other half, to dike foot by foote, dig the ditchline555 Be sette, and an heraude, expert by roote, herald, according to form The centrions other the centenaryis centurions centuries In ordre forth hem calle, as necessary is.

And ay among the centrions enserch, ever among [them] the centurions inspect The werk, if it be wrought, kept the mesure,line560 In brede and deep and high, perch aftir perch, bit by bit And chastise him that hath nat doon his cure. punish not done his duty An hoste thus exercised may ensure army thus trained trust In prevalence, whos debellatioun In victory defeat Shal not be straught by perturbatioun. caused by disarray

[Training: Maintaining Order in the Lines (Veg. 1.26)]

fol. 11v Wel knowen is, nothinge is more in fight known [it] is more [advantageous]line566 Then exercise and daily frequentaunce. practice Uch werreour therfore do his myght Each does To knowe it wel and kepe his ordynaunce: know and maintain his order well An ooste to thicke, I sette, is encombraunce, An army too dense, I declareline570 And also perilous is over-thynne, Thei sone fle that be to fer atwynne. too far between

We werreours, forthi go we to feelde; And as our name in ordir in the rolle is, Our ordunaunt so sette us, dart and sheelde ordinariusline575 And bowe and axe, and calle us first by pollys. individually [as units] Triangulys, quadrangulys, and rollys, Triangles, rectangles circles We may be made; and thus us embataile, made [to form] Governed, undir grate to prevaile. under attack

A sengil ege is first to strecch in longe, single line lengthline580 Withoute bosomynge or curvature, bending in or out With dowbeling forwith let make it stronge, Then doubling the line stronger That also fele assiste, in like mesure. And with a woord turne hem to quadrature, rectangle [formation] And efte trianguler, and then hem rounde,line585 And raunge hem efte, and keep everych his grounde. range in his order

This ordynaunce of right is to prevaile. Doctryne hem eek whenne it is best to square, Teach them also And when a triangul may more availe, And orbys, how they necessary are,line590 How may be to condense, and how to rare. how to tighten up disperse The werreours that ha this exercise, have Be preste with hardynesse, and stronge and wise. instilled

[Marching Maneuvers (Veg. 1.27)]

fol. 12r And over this, an olde usage it was practice To make walk thryes in every mone, march thrice a monthline595 And tho they wente a chivalerys paas [at] a knight’s pace (i.e., military step) X myle outward, the men of armys, none Ten miles Unharneysed: the footmen everychone Bowed, tacled, darted, jacked, saladed; Vitaile eke born withal, her hertis gladed. Victuals also carried hearts

line600 In hom comynge among thei wente faste Returning to camp at times And ranne among. Eek tourmys of ryderys ran troops of riders Sumtyme journeyed on foote in haste, Shelded and herneysed with myghti sperys — Not oonly in the playn, but also where isline605 A mountayn or a clif or streyt passagys. difficult paths Thus hadde thei both exercise and wagys.

Ereithre ege in this wise exercised All lines [of the army] way Was by and by, so that no chaunce of newe surprise Nas to be thought that thei nere of avised,line610 And hadde way the daungerys t’eschewe to avoid Undaungered. And this wisdom thei knewe Unharmed By discipline of their doctour of armys, drill instructor To wynne honour withouten hate or harmys. injury or wounds

[End of Part I]

Th’electioun and exercise anended, Recruitment and training completeline615 An ooste is now to numbre and dyvide ordered in numbers and divisions And seen uch officer his part commended, And how to sette a feeld to fight and bide. fight and engage Goode angelys and sayntys, ye me gide And lighte me, O Lady Saynte Mary!line620 To write wel this werk and not to tary. tarry